Ducayag case accused wants early arraignment

CEBU, Philippines - One of the accused tagged in the killing of a shopper mistaken for a shoplifter at a downtown department store last year is seeking for an early arraignment.

Jeffrey Aquino wants to be arraigned at the soonest time possible as he also plans to apply for bail.

Aquino’s lawyer, Salvador Solima, said his client wants the trial to immediately start following his arrest on Monday.

“We are filing this motion so we can start with the trial. We believed that the evidence against Aquino is weak,” Solima said.

 Aquino, a former closed-circuit television camera operator of a downtown department store, along with Mauricio Doblados, Jr., former head security, were charged with murder over the death of Mario Alfie Ducayag in April last year.

Ducayag, 23, a resident of Tuyan, Naga City, Cebu, were mistaken for a shoplifter. He was accused of stealing a pair of sandals and was brought to the security room for questioning but was instead mauled to death.

Aquino was arrested Monday by the members of the Fuente Police Station by virtue of the warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 19 Judge Wilfredo Navarro.

Solima claimed that his client was already planning to surrender before the National Bureau of Investigation before his arrest.

“I told him to surrender though our petition for review before the Department of Justice is still pending for resolution,” Solima said.

Aquino, through Solima, earlier filed a petition for review questioning his indicted for murder for lack of probable cause.— (FREEMAN)