Former soldier jailed for shooting neighbor

CEBU - Regional Trial Court Branch 13 judge Meinrado Paredes sentenced a former soldier to 12 years in prison for shooting a man last September 20, 2001.

Paredes also ordered Rodelio Tamarra of barangay Cabul-an, Buenavista town, Bohol, to pay Armando Mabatid the amount of P150,000 for the moral and actual damages incurred after he shot the victim.

There were two accused in the case filed by Mabatid, these were Rodelio and his son Rolando, who allegedly both shot the victim last 2001.

Rolando’s case was dropped because he was still a minor at that time when the incident happened.

Last September 20, 2001 Mabatid was in Mambaling having a snack with his friend Eric Rodriguez when one of the accused, Roldan, approached and made fun at them but the suspect left and came back with his father who were both armed with a handgun.

The two shot the victim in the head and the neck which caused him to be hospitalized at the Cebu City Medical Center last September 2001.   The two suspects pleaded not guilty of the crime filed against them.

Tamarra said that he did not know Mabatid before or during the incident.

Mabatid lives in Mambaling, the same area where Tamarra has rented a house.

But Paredes said that the alibi of Tamarra of not knowing the suspect is a weak defense as it is easy to concoct and Mabatid positively identified him as the one who shot him.

He was also ordered to pay P150,000 to the victim as payment for the hospital expenses that he has incurred. — Jasmin R. Uy/BRP (THE FREEMAN)