Aves charged with frustrated murder

Gun-for-hire suspect Aristotle Aves has been accused with frustrated murder for allegedly trying to kill the half-brother of a retired Cebu City Police official in La Paloma Village, barangay Tisa eight months ago.

City prosecutor Nicolas Sellon has concurred with the findings and recommendation of investigating prosecutor Jesus Feliciano to indict Aves for frustrated murder for the shooting and the wounding of Jesson Alatraca.

Jesson, half-brother of a retired police colonel, had filed criminal complaint against Aves - and his nephew Odref Alatraca. However, the latter was cleared of the complaint by Feliciano for lack of sufficient evidence.

But the only evidence to support the charges against Aves is the testimony of the complainant that when the suspect was arrested by the police he quickly went to the police station and there he positively identified him as the one who shot him.

The records showed that Aves, who is now detained at the Cebu City Jail after he was accused of strings of criminal cases, has failed to submit his counter-affidavit, which prompted Feliciano to recommend for his indictment before the court.

Jesson narrated that he had just left his house and was driving his multicab on his way to work on the morning of September 19, last year when he passed by Odref who was standing in front of the gate of his house.

Then he saw Odref giving a thumbs-up sign to a man standing beside the road ahead, who quickly drew a gun from his waist and fired shots at him hitting his left forearm, chest and right toe.

Believing that Jesson was already dead, the gunman casually walked away. Odref was among those who visited the complainant at the hospital, although the complainant and his family have misunderstanding due to a land dispute.

The prosecutor said there is no valid grounds to indict Odref for frustrated murder just because he was seen giving a thumbs-up sign or due to the fact that his family has a misunderstanding with the complainant.

In the case of Aves, an alleged hitman of the Alpha Kappa Rho fraternity, the prosecutors office has recommended P40,000 for his bail. But he is still facing numerous criminal cases before the court for being allegedly involved in several shooting incidents. – Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV