By MALU CADELINA MANAR
KIDAPAWAN CITY – A local court here yesterday declared guilty beyond reasonable doubt three former police officers for supposedly ordering the murder of a wealthy Tsinoy trader 12 years ago.
In his promulgation, Judge Arvin Sadiri Balagot of Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 17, said ex-Senior Police Officer 1 Rene Mamburam, ex-Senior Police Officer 1 Ignacio Rinsulat, and ex-Police Officer 3 Edwin Pacana, are all guilty of the murder having allegedly “induced” hired guns Reynaldo Camus, Roland Gabais, and Ramil Silonga in executing the same.
Balagot, citing Article 7 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), said when someone induced another to commit a crime, the person could be considered as having “directly participated” in the same.
Prior, Mamburam denied knowing Camus, Gabais, and Silonga. He also insisted he has no knowledge of the plan to kill Ong.
The court, however, found Mamburam’s denials and alibis “weak” particularly with the confession of Camus and Gabais.
According to Camus, Mamburam, Rinsulat and Pacana supposedly “induced” them to execute the crime in exchange of P150, 000.
With their confession, Camus and Gabais will now serve a reduced sentence of 8 to 16 years imprisonment.
Silonga, Mamburam, Rinsulat and Pacana, meanwhile, were afforded the penalty of reclusion perpetua.
Salome Liza Ong, the murder victim’s wife, cried upon hearing the decision.
“Twelve years. We’ve suffered this much for 12 years. Finally, we got the justice we deserve,” she said.
Court records showed Ong’s murder was masterminded by a certain Robert Ong, a Tsinoy hardware store owner who has since died from a lingering illness.