Reclusion perpetua for cop's murderer

A court sentenced an alleged drug pusher to reclusion perpetua after he owned up to the killing of a policeman five years ago.

In his five-page resolution, Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises said he would have meted Reynante Flores with the maximum penalty of death, had it not been abolished, for killing SPO4 Davinci Pestanas on August 18, 2001.

Moises ordered Flores to pay the heirs of Pestanas P42,902.15 as reimbursement for his hospitalization and funeral expenses, P50,000 in death indemnity and P150,000 in moral and exemplary damages.

Pestanas, a multi-awarded policeman, was shot to death together with his relative, Reynaldo Pestanas, while they were having drinks to celebrate his 43rd birthday. Flores, armed with two handguns, barged into the cafeteria where the victims were drinking and shot them dead.

Pestanas' wife, Fe, said her husband was responsible for a series of raids on Flores' house in barangay Ermita because of Flores' alleged involvement in drug trafficking. She added that Flores and his mother, Esterlita, were even arrested by her husband for drug possession.

According to Fe, the conflict between their family and that of Flores had forced them to relocate to barangay Carreta, especially when Flores threatened to kill them.

In fact, Fe said her husband's brother, Herbert, was also shot by Flores' brother, Sydney.

Flores at first denied any involvement in the policeman's killing but later decided to change his plea, hoping to avail of a lesser penalty under a plea bargaining agreement. - Fred P. Languido/LPM