Aklan ex-mayor testifies in court

CEBU, Philippines - After sitting thrice on the witness stand, former Lezo, Aklan mayor Alfredo Arcenio ended his testimony yesterday to defend himself against accusation that he killed the station manager of Bombo Radyo Kalibo.

Arcenio is accused of killing Herson Hinolan on November 13, 2004. The case was elevated to court due to the accounts of the prosecution witnesses. Hinolan was reportedly shot several times near a carnival.

In his testimony, Arcenio claimed he was not in the crime scene. He said he was at home during the shooting incident contrary to the statement of eyewitness Niño Suñer who allegedly saw him opened fire at Hinolan.

Arcenio said he cannot afford to kill a person without any reason. He added that he learned of the shooting incident after it was relayed to him.

Defense lawyer Eduardo Arriba told the media the gist of Arcenio’s testimony was to establish his whereabouts on the date of the shooting incident.

“It proved that during the incident Arcenio was in Lezo the whole morning and evening,” he said.

As to the issue of detention, Arcenio told the media that if the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) and Cebu City Jail will not accept him, it’s better that he be sent back to Aklan.

“I feel like I am nobody,” Arcenio said in Tagalog.

Earlier, the Province of Cebu filed a motion to transfer Arcenio from CPDRC to Cebu City Jail. Lawyer Ritchie Capahi of the Provincial Government told the media “there was no order issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) specifically directing the accused to be committed in the CPDRC.”

However, such move was vehemently objected by the City Government.

Arcenio was detained at the CPDRC after the case was transferred from Aklan to Cebu sometime in March 2008.

The next hearing will be on June 15, 2012. The defense will present their eyewitness, Eddie Hidrata.  (FREEMAN)