Talisay City chop-chop case: Man gets life term for double murder

CEBU, Philippines - “I regret what I have done.”This was the statement of a remorseful Joseph Roy Cellar, one of the three accused in the murder of two women in Talisay City after the court sentenced him to reclusion perpetua equivalent to 20 to 40 years in jail.

Cellar said he did not regret changing his plea from not guilty to guilty, but regrets killing Maria Eva Mae Peligro and Gwendolyn Balasta.

Cellar originally pleaded not guilty the first time he was arraigned together with co-accused Richard Gudelosao and Jean Antonette Medalle. He later asked for a re-arraignment of his case to change his plea.

Regional Trial Court Judge Generosa Labra of Branch 23 handed the guilty verdict yesterday to Cellar for two counts of murder.

Labra ordered Cellar to pay the heirs of Peligro the sum of P50,000 as civil indemnity and P50,000 as moral damages likewise to the heirs of Balasta.

Labra said there was no question to Cellar’s culpability for strangling to death Peligro and Balasta.

She added, in fact, Cellar entered a plea of guilty to both charges and executed an affidavit of confession.

However, Labra said the court would still ascertain not only Cellar’s degree of culpability, but also whether the charges of murder to which he pleaded guilty were supported by the evidence on record.

The prosecution presented eight witnesses.

Dr. Nestor Sator, who conducted the autopsy on the bodies of Peligro and Balasta almost three years ago, testified in court that the cause of the death of victims were “asphyxia by strangulation.”

Sator said the victims were chopped into seven pieces with the use of a sharp bladed instrument. He added the bodies were cut at their joint areas which was the easiest way to cut a body.

Sator said the bodies were cut after they were already dead.

According to Mercylyn Grace Ybañez, younger sister of Peligro, she knew Gudelosao because he was the brother of Felix Gudelosao, the fiancé of her sister Peligro.

Ybañez said her sister was residing at Azienda Firenze in the house owned by Felix.

But on July 25, 2008, Felix called her and told her to go to Azienda Firenze because Peligro did not any more call him.

Ybañez said she then went to the said place together with her husband Joshua. When they arrived at the house accompanied by the guard, they did not find anyone.

Ybañez reported the disappearance of her sister and her cousin to the police.

Later that day, there were reports of body parts that were found in some remote areas of Minglanilla, Talisay, Toledo City and Naga.

In the affidavit of confession of Cellar, he stated they got Peligro to come out of her room as they disconnected her Internet connection, which prompted her to check.

Gudelosao said that he then immediately choked Peligro and when she cried for help, Gudelosao allegedly punched her abdomen and then Cellar slammed her head to the floor several times.

Cellar also stated in his affidavit of confession, the decision to kill Balasta was sudden because of Gudelosao’s fear that Balasta might have an idea of what had happened to Peligro.

However, Judge Labra’s order stated there was no evidence whatsoever that accused had previously planned the killing of the victims.

Gudelosao opened up to Cellar about his planned to just disconnect the internet connection of Peligro’s room to make her come out.

Meanwhile, Diosado Peligro, father of the victim said they are happy with the decision but added they will be happier when the two other accused will also be meted the same sentence.

The counsel for the accused, lawyer Salvador Solima, said they will not appeal the decision and claimed that the confession of Cellar that he was the one who solely did the crime will strengthen their defense to acquit Gudelosao and Medalle from the case.

The trial of the two others will continue. –/NLQ (FREEMAN)