Ex-general’s son pleads not guilty

MANILA, Philippines - A son of a former general of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) yesterday pleaded not guilty to various charges filed against him in connection with a shooting incident that killed two people in September.

Jose Maria Abaya, son of retired PC general Antonio Abaya, pleaded not guilty to murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder charges filed against him before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 81.

Judge Madonna Echiverri set the pre-trial conference of the cases on Dec. 7.

Abaya was charged over the shooting along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City on Sept. 1, which resulted in the death of assistant bank manager Joyce Santos and van driver Ronebert Ycot.

Passengers Duke Angelo David II, Shaira Duruin, and Charmagne Angcaya were wounded in the incident.

Records showed that Abaya shot at the van driven by Ycot, who died a few hours later while being treated at the Medical City hospital for a gunshot wound in the head. Santos died at the scene.

The suspect later surrendered to the police and admitted that he shot the van because he thought its driver was tailing him to return him to the drug rehabilitation center.

Abaya was earlier charged with homicide following the shooting incident at his house in Quezon City on Oct. 20, 2012.

Ricardo Biquit, a security guard at rehabilitation facility Silvercrest Foundation was supposed to take custody of the suspect, died in the incident.

The case was settled after the widow of the victim, as well as the two witnesses in the case, filed an affidavit of desistance.