Former TESDA guard acquitted of robbery, homicide

CEBU, Philippines – A former security guard of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 7 was cleared of robbery with homicide charges after authorities failed to establish his guilt.

Cleared from charges is Danilo Torrenueva, a resident of Pugot, Argao, Cebu. He was earlier pointed to as the suspect in a robbery at St. Michael's Village in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City two years ago.

PO3 Romwin Matulac of the Mobile Patrol Group told the court that he was patrolling around 9am on March 2, 2008 with PO2 Alfredo Casas when they received instructions to respond to a robbery alarm at St. Michael's Village.

Upon reaching the village, they met a tricycle driver who reportedly saw the suspect so they invited him on board the patrol vehicle. Later, the tricycle driver pointed to a man on the road who, upon noticing the patrol car, reportedly ran inside the village.

Matulac said they pursued the man and eventually accosted him at a creek when the latter slowed down due to an injury on the head. The man was later identified as Torrenueva. Matulac said they recovered a .38 caliber revolver and money from him worth P1,650.   Torrenueva, however, denied any involvement in the robbery, much more in killing the man robbed at St. Michael's Village.

He explained that he was in Barangay Banilad on that day because he was looking for a place to transfer to. He reportedly stopped at a sari-sari store to have snacks when some youngsters arrived and struck his head with a G.I. pipe.

Torrenueva said he did not know why they attacked him, but one of them reportedly said, "You are a strict security guard." He said the youngsters were about to strike him again, but he managed to run away with blood oozing from his head.

The youngsters reportedly chased him, but chickened out when he fired a warning shot.

Torrenueva said he had his firearm that day because he was on his way to TESDA to do overtime work, as the security guard scheduled for duty was reportedly absent.    He said he even lost consciousness while waiting for a tricycle only to see a police car arrive when he regained consciousness. 

In his decision, Moises said that the testimonies of the police officers are inadmissible for being hearsay. The police also failed to present the tricycle driver in court and could not even recall his name. (FREEMAN)