No bail for man accused of killing 11-year-old girl

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office has recommended no bail against a man accused of strangulating an 11-year-old girl to death.

Prosecutor 1 Benison Harayo held Jesus Eglesya Repiso, a resident of Barangay Cabatbatan, San Fernando, for trial for murder.

 “By not submitting his counter-affidavit, respondent (Repiso) waived his right to air his side of the story leaving the accusatory allegations against him undisturbed, hence, the undersigned finds that there sufficient ground to engender a well-founded belief that the crime of murder have been committed by the respondent and that he is probably guilty thereof and should be held for trial,” read the resolution.

 Police Chief Inspector Sara Jean Recla of San Fernando Police Station alleged that on May 9 at around 5:40 p.m., Presco Depio, neighbor of Repiso, saw him and the victim passed by a shanty where he rested.

Depio allegedly asked Repiso where they were heading and the latter answered that they were going to get grass for their cow.

 At about 8 p.m., Recla alleged Depio saw Repiso coming alone, half-naked and perspiring. When Depio asked Repiso why he was perspiring, the latter said he was chasing his cow.

 At 8:45 p.m., Depio said he again saw Repiso and asked him where he came from and the latter said he gave water to his cow.

 Aquino Cablay II, the older brother of the victim, alleged that on May 10, at around 5 a.m., Repiso, who was their neighbor, fetched him to accompany him to gather grasses for their cow.

 While they were on their way to the farm, he wondered why Repiso brought him to the river. When he asked Repiso why they went there when there were many grasses in the upper part, Repiso allegedly told him that his sister was committing suicide.

 Cablay then allegedly saw a straw around the neck of the victim and he cut it using scythe. He said he carried the body of the victim to their house while Repiso followed him carrying his scythe.

 Harayo directed Repiso to file his counter-affidavit to answer the allegations filed against him but he failed to submit any.

 Harayo then found sufficient ground to indict Repiso for the crime of murder. He said the pieces of evidence were sufficient to prove the crime has been committed.

 “The fact that respondent was seen by the witness together with the victim late in the afternoon before the incident happened; and, that witness also saw respondent passing by the shanty alone perspiring at 8 p.m. indicates a strong circumstantial evidence that it was respondent who perpetrated the death of the victim,” read the resolution. (FREEMAN)