Judge Bonifacio Sanz Maceda, of Branch 275 of the LPRTC, ruled that former PO3 Edgardo Besera, a resident of 181 Gabriel Compound, Pulanglupa, Las Piñas and was last assigned in Imus, Cavite, was guilty of killing his neighbor Rogelio Pamuti, an all around electronic repairman and carpenter.
Besera was ordered to pay the victim’s heirs P17,000 to cover the funeral expenses and an indemnity worth P100,000.
Maceda’s decision was based on the medico-legal report that the killer shot the victim at close range.
Maceda said this ran contrary to the argument used by the defense that they were fighting for possession of the gun. "The injury cannot be caused by simply grappling for the possession of the gun as claimed by the accused," he said.
Court records showed that at around 9 a.m. of Aug. 11, 1998, the victim went to a friend’s house who lives near the suspect.
While drinking coffee, they heard someone calling Pamuti’s name and saw Besera outside the house. Minutes later a gunshot was heard and the suspect was seen cradling the head of the victim covered with blood.
Besera denied the charges saying he merely acted in self-defense.
After the promulgation, the suspect did not issue any statement but his daughter, Edsa, they are going to file an appeal.
Meanwhile, Editha Reyes, Pamuti’s elder sister, said they were not happy with the court’s decision and said it should have been a death sentence.