CEBU, Philippines - Criminal complaint for murder has been filed against three men who were tagged in the killing of a businessman in Carcar City early this month.
Ronilo Montalla, Lope Gicale, Jr., and Rey Llanos were charged for murder before the Regional Trial Court for the death of Eric Uraca, 34, owner of a shop for motor parts and accessories, who was shot in front of his store on J. P. Rizal Street, Barangay Poblacion 1 last July 12.
Prosecutor 1 Richard A. Abangan Sr., of Carcar City, Cebu finds probable cause to elevate the case in court. He recommended no bail for the three accused.
In the inquest resolution, respondents filed their waiver last July 13 in order to avail their right to preliminary investigation. However, only Llanos filed his counter-affidavit to deny all the allegations thrown against him while the others two did not.
In his counter affidavit, Llanos vehemently denied all the allegations against him by witness Edwin Sarda, who, he said was lying.
“Only Sarda who pointed me as responsible for Uraca’s death while no other witness stands to prove it. It is utmost important therefore to check and analyze the credibility and integrity of Sarda as a witness, otherwise the office’s zeal to uphold justice may obscure the boundaries set by law,” Llanos explained.
Llanos further said that Sarda did not categorize him as an accused but he only alleged was how he heard him saying, “someone would be hit in Carcar and to be sure that they could identify the person to be hit, Montalla and Gicale should accompany me.”
Llanos said that the authorized persons or in position to say about his participation in the killing are Montalla and Gicale and not Sarda, who does not have any knowledge on who, how, where and when the killing of Uraca was to be made.
Montalla and Gicale allegedly did not mention any participation by Llanos.
Meanwhile, Llanos also strongly denied the statement of the arresting officers that he was arrested in a hot pursuit operation. He clarified that he voluntarily surrendered when he went to the Carcar City Police Station to clear his name.
“I voluntarily contacted SPO1 Meliton Agadier, who is my friend last July 13, 2010 in order to clear my name. We met in a fast food and Agadier suggested that we should rather went to the police station to explain my side and I’m ordered to sign a waiver and immediately detained at Carcar City Police Station,” Llanos said.
On the other hand, Llanos admitted that they were paid P15,000 by Jay Camotes.
While the police are still trying to prove the participation of Camotes to the killing, he was also charged the other day following his arrest last week for possession of illegal drugs and firearms while he was about to leave the premises of Chong Hua Hospital after a medical checkup.
On July 12, Uraca was sitting in front of his store when Montalla, 31, living in Barangay Colawin, Argao and Gicale, 27, arrived on board a black skeletal motorcycle without plate number.
Montalla allegedly disembarked from the motorcycle driven by Gicale, went inside the store and pretended to be a customer buying a motorcycle tire.
Minutes later, Montalla pulled out a gun and shot Uraca at the back of his head, followed by a second shot hitting the right side of his head. Uraca died immediately.
The accused were arrested by the police officers through the help of Sarda. — THE FREEMAN