Man gets 17 years for killing mother

CEBU, Philippines - The nursing student accused of killing his own mother inside their house then burying her body in their property about four months ago was sentenced 10 years to 17 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to homicide.

Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises of Branch 18 meted Christian Lucky Dalangin the sentence after both parties earlier agreed to the plea bargaining.

A plea bargain is an agreement between the prosecution and the defense whereby the accused of the criminal offense may plead guilty usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.

Moises likewise directed the accused to pay the heirs of the victim P50,000 for indemnity.

Dalangin was earlier accused of parricide for killing his mother Rubirose Tenchavez.

It was Virgelio, the husband of the deceased and the father of the victim, who sent a letter to the City Prosecutor’s Office asking for a plea bargaining.

The victim’s sister, Vivian, likewise sent a letter on behalf of other relatives, including the other siblings of the victim, expressing their consent to the plea bargaining.

“Victim’s sister Vivian told Cebu City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon that after consultation with victim’s family members they agreed to accept the plea bargain,” the letter reads.

Moises ruled the plea bargaining agreement of parties was accepted.

When Moises confronted the accused if the latter understood the consequences of the plea bargaining he answered yes.

Dalangin asked for the forgiveness from those people who were involved in his case and said he has no objection to the penalty imposed against him.

In his “extra-judicial confession” the accused said he slit the throat of his mother twice last Aug. 23 after the latter kept on nagging and accusing him of things he reportedly did not do.

After the killing he buried his mother inside their lot along M. Gochan St. in Barangay Mambaling.

Earlier, accused pleaded not guilty to parricide case during his arraignment last Sept. 28, 2011.

This came after the victim’s family initially did not agree to the plea bargaining, according to Assistant City Prosecutor Ricky Jones Macabaya.

During the pre-trial conference of the parricide case, Cruz denied the existence of an extra judicial confession executed by Dalangin.

To prove that there was a confession, the prosecution presented their first witness, National Bureau of Investigation agent Bernard Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz told the court that Dalangin signed an extra-judicial confession before him when investigated the death of his mother.

He added he can prove that accused executed a confession with the presence of his aunt and lawyer from PAO. (FREEMAN)