Abatayo pleads not guilty to charge of robbery

CEBU, Philippines - Robbery suspect Ramses Abatayo, 29, who was charged for victimizing Cebu Provincial Board Member Julian “Teban” Daan, pleaded not guilty to the charge during his arraignment yesterday.

Abatayo, assisted by Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Fatima Asjali, entered a not guilty plea before Judge Soliver Peras of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10.

However, before the arraignment of the case, Abatayo declared to the media that he will enter the guilty plea.

“I will enter the guilty plea so that my imprisonment will become lesser as I have three children and family to feed,” he said.

Peras said if Abatayo will plead guilty, he will be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment or even lesser from eight years to 15 years.

But Abatayo changed his mind and go on with the case.

Daan said he had forgiven Abatayo for taking P1.2 million worth of jewelry from inside his house but added the accused must face the court.

He added Abatayo lost the chance of having a lesser sentence of imprisonment when he pleaded not guilty.

Daan’s Chief of Staff, Eulanda, his wife, averred that there were other jewelry that were not returned to them.

Abatayo and Julius Racaza, 34, were arrested less than 24 hours after the robbery by the Talisay City police.

However, only Abatayo was arraigned yesterday.

Racaza was arrested in Sitio Iba, Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City while Abatayo was arrested inside his residence along Cabreros St., Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City.

Racaza was assigned as look out while Abatayo allegedly went inside the house of Daan in Palmview Village, Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City and pointed a knife at Daan.

Abatayo successfully took the jewelry from the cabinet. The loot were recovered by the police and returned to Daan after the suspects’ arrest.

The choker necklace made of white gold worth P25,000 and a Rado watch of Daan were not recovered by the police.

At first, Abatayo admitted that they robbed the house of Daan and having pawned the necklace for P9,600 wherein he showed a receipt.

Racaza denied any participation in the crime.

He said when the incident happened, he was in Barangay Lagtang gathering wood that he would make into charcoal.   - (THE FREEMAN)