Former soldier gets 12 years for shooting civilian

CEBU -  The Regional Trial Court yesterday sent an ex-soldier to 12 years in jail for shooting a man in 2001.

RTC Branch 13 Judge Meinrado Paredes also ordered Rodelio Tamarra of Cabul-an, Buenavista, Bohol to pay the victim, Armando Mabatid, P150,000 for the moral and actual damages.

Mabatid originally filed the case against Tamarra and his son Roldan but the latter was exonerated from charges because Roldan was still a minor when the incident happened.

Tamarra had denied the charges but Paredes said his defense of alibi that he was not at the crime scene and that he did not know Mabatid before or after the shooting was a “weak defense,” as it was easy to concoct.

Mabatid lived in Mambaling, the same place where Tamarra was renting a house. Mabatid also positively identified Tamarra as the one who shot him.

Mabatid said he was having a snack with his friend Eric Rodriguez in barangay Mambaling last September 20, 2001, when the younger Tamarra reportedly approached them and made fun at them.

Roldan eventually left but later returned with his father, both armed with guns, and fired at Mabatid, hitting the victim in his head and neck. - Jasmin R. Uy/JMO (THE FREEMAN)