‘Killer’ of VM’s nephew charged

CEBU, Philippines - The man accused of killing the nephew of Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella is facing a string of cases before the court.

Manuel Richards “Patchoy” Corominas, a resident of Upper Day-as, Cebu City, has been charged for murder, attempted murder, alleged violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and the law against illegal possession of explosives.

Corominas chose not to file a counter-affidavit at the prosecutor’s level and opted to answer the charges straight in court. He is now detained at Cebu City Jail.

During his arrest last week, authorities recovered from Corominas a .45 homemade pistol marked “government model colt automatic caliber 45,” a magazine with three bullets, a fragmentation grenade, a .38 homemade revolver with a defaced serial number, and three more bullets.

After Corominas waived his right to a preli-minary investigation, Gabud elevated the cases to court and recommended P24,000 bail for the attempted murder case. However, no bail was recommended for the murder case.

Corominas was accused of killing Teodorico Tolentino Jr. on May 29 in Sitio Cogon, Barangay Labangon past 9 p.m. and for attempting to kill Jerome Pasolohan in Sitio Libo, Barangay Mojon, Talisay City on May 8.

He was also accused of killing Ronald Colina, the nephew of Labella, on May 28 at around 1 p.m. in Sitio Lower Day-as, Barangay Day-as.

Corominas was also charged for murder for the death of Victoriano Balungkit in Sitio Libo, Mojon on May 8. He also has a pending case for violation of the anti-carnapping law.

Based on reports, Corominas admitted firing at the motorcycle driven by Gasoni Alibango and firing at Julius Capuno. He also admitted hitting the head of Ramil Abatayo with a handgun and taking the latter’s motorcycle, as well as shooing Eleanor Rivera and taking her SUV, which he later abandoned.

He and his companion allegedly took the motorcycle driven by John Paul Zamora and a multicab they met in the road and abandoned it in Plaza Housing, Busay, Cebu City. (FREEMAN)