Homicide filed vs 3 guards for ship passenger’s slay

Police filed yesterday charges of homicide in the Manila Prosecutor’s Office against three security personnel of a local shipping firm based in North Harbor, Manila for the death of a passenger whom they reportedly mauled after he created trouble while on board the ship.

Western Police District-Homicide Section investigator Detective Virgo Villareal identified the suspects as Delon Maslang, Vicente Suarez and a certain Sombillo, security personnel of the SuperFerry, owned and operated by William, Gothong and Aboitiz (WG&A) Shipping Lines.

Villareal said the names of the three security guards were furnished by their officer-in-charge, Jose Fortin. The three were allegedly responsible for the death of Roland Orian, 36, of Silay City, Negros Occidental, whose heavily bruised naked body was found in the mini forest park across the Metropolitan Theater in Ermita, Manila by passersby on the morning of Sept. 27.

Villareal said they could not apprehend the suspects after the lapse of reglamentary period for arrest without a warrant.

The victim’s body was identified by his mother, Mercedita, at a funeral parlor two days after the discovery of his body.

According to Mercedita, she had no inkling of the tragic fate of her son after he left home last Sept. 24 to board a SuperFerry at Pier 4, North Harbor for Negros Occidental.

Relentless investigation by Detective Villareal revealed the victim failed to board the SuperFerry after he was detained by the ferry’s security personnel reportedly for being drunk.

Fortin told Villareal the victim was mauled by the guards after he destroyed a telephone, a computer and several tables during his frenzy. Fortin also told probers that Suarez and Sombillo brought the victim to the Maritime police detachment in North Harbor.

The police refused to accept the badly bruised victim unless he was first treated, but were prevailed upon by the two guards.

The following day, the injured victim was fetched from his detention by Maslang and Suarez. Witnesses saw the trio board a tricycle.

Villareal said that was the last time the victim was seen until the discovery of his dead body in Ermita.– Nestor Etolle