Suspects in death of altar boy charged

CEBU, Philippines - The three suspects in the killing of an altar boy have been committed to the Cebu City Jail following the filing of robbery with homicide charges against them before the Regional Trial Court.

No bail was recommended for Marvin Sanchez, Joypher Enriquez, and the 16-year-old boy who drove the getaway vehicle.

A separate complaint for attempted murder was also filed against Sanchez, the minor suspect, and a certain Jason Villarama.

Meanwhile, frustrated murder charges were hurled against Sanchez and Villarama while charges for violation of the election gun ban were filed against Enriquez. The prosecutors office recommended P24,000 bail for the attempted murder charge; P40,000 for the frustrated murder charge; and P20,000 for the gun ban violation.

The suspects shot Carlo Mangitngit, 14, because of a P500 mobile phone. The incident happened in Horseshoe Hills, Barangay Guadalupe last Sunday morning.

Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Noel Cellona who conducted the inquest proceeding found probable cause to indict the suspects to the charges.

The attempted murder case stemmed from an alleged incident that happened 9pm on March 6 wherein Sanchez and Villarama allegedly tried to assault Elmo Lasaga by stabbing him twice. The victim, however, was able to elude the thrusts.

The frustrated murder charge was based on the complaint filed by Fortunato Ibon who the accused allegedly stabbed using an ice pick also in the evening of March 6. These two incidents happened just hours before the incident on Sunday morning.

Mangitngit was walking around 8 am last Sunday to a vegetable stall along with an eight-year-old companion when the three of the accused, on board a black XRM motorcycle with no plate number, grabbed his mobile phone while he was texting.

Mangitngit reportedly tried to run away, which prompted Enriquez to pull his gun out and shoot the victim in the head.

A joint team from the Theft and Robbery Section, Guadalupe Police Station and the Investigation and Detective Management Branch arrested Sanchez and Enriquez while the minor voluntarily surrendered. — Fred P. Languido/JMO (FREEMAN NEWS)