Oversight saves convict

A Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) withdrew yesterday the death penalty it imposed on a poultry worker barely two days after meting it out after realizing an oversight on the year the murder case was committed.

Philip Hammer will now instead serve up to 40 years in jail or reclusion perpetua for murder since it was committed on Dec. 25, 1993, a week before the Death Penalty Law was to take effect. Hammer was convicted by Judge Perfecto Laguio Jr. of Manila RTC Branch 18 for killing his neighbor in his sleep.

"It was a mistake. I will issue an order modifying the death sentence to reclusion perpetua. This is not the first of its kind, this is because we have so many things to do," said Laguio, a heinous crime court judge who hands out decisions almost weekly. – Jose Aravilla, Delon Porcalla