3 accused in Cebu City slay acquitted

CEBU CITY — The three accused in the 1988 killing of a son of a former city councilor, one of them a policeman, were acquitted last Friday.

Spared from a murder conviction in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Ravina, son of former councilor Arnolfo Ravina, were policeman Ceferino Tabay Jr., Eutiquiano Agudo Jr. and Antonio Tecson.

A fourth suspect, David Sadaya, had turned state witness.

All of the accused were members of the Kalihukan Alang sa Demokratikong Reforma, an anti-communist group.

On March 10, 1988, the suspects allegedly brought Charlie Ravina to the Osmeña cemetery where he was shot twice by Tabay as the three others looked on.

Sadaya testified that prior to the incident, he had drunk a lot of alcohol with Tabay, Agudo, and Tecson along Martires street.

As they were drinking, a stranger who seemed to be 19 or 20 years old appeared and sat down near them. At that point, Tabay reportedly ordered them to frisk the stranger who, he later learned, was Charlie Ravina.

Upon frisking, Ravina reportedly struggled, prompting Tabay to order his companions to bring him to the cemetery.

Sadaya said that except for Tabay who rode his motorcycle, they walked to the cemetery which was 300 to 400 meters away from where they were drinking.

When they were already near the cemetery, Ravina again tried to break free, which prompted Sadaya and Tabay to punch him.

Forty meters away from the cemetery gate, Ravina reportedly sat on the ground, but Tabay dragged him anyway and shot him twice.

Regional Trial Court Judge Ramon Codilla Jr., however, said Sadaya’s testimony had "inconsistencies and contradictions that left many loose ends" and proved no "moral certainty of guilt of any or all of the accused." — Freeman News Service