Ruba slay suspect denies hand in crime

CEBU, Philippines - One of the suspects in the killing of a Nursing student appeared before Branch 11 of the Regional Trial Court today as their defense presented evidence regarding the robbery and homicide of the CDU graduating student Ruby Jade Ruba last March 6, 2008 and denied any involvement in the crime.

During the hearing, Karl Marx Carticiano, who was the alleged driver of the motorcycle during the incident, strongly denied having had anything to do with the charges.

He claimed that he only knew of the victim when he saw the news about the incident the following morning. He said that he stayed at his friends’ house at B. Rodriguez St., barangay Sambag II, Cebu City from March 5 to 7, 2008.

He also added that on the midnight of March 6, 2008, he was playing computer games with his friends at the barangay hall.

During the prosecutor’s call, he was told that the certain “Lester” whom he claimed as his companion during the said dates, did not file any sworn statement or affidavit that would prove his innocence. Furthermore, not one of Carticiano’s relatives filed to recover the motorcycle, registered under his mother which was allegedly used in committing the crime.

Carticiano claimed to have no knowledge about these facts.

On the contrary, he claimed that when he confronted one of the suspects for his involvement, one of them confessed to him that they were allegedly tortured and that if they did not blame Carticiano for the crime the police would kill him.

He also said that he was not a member of the Crips gang like the other two suspects, Aivan Barabat and Mark Anthony Gabriel, were. Though he knew these people, he also said he did not know the whereabouts of the two when the incident happened.

Judge Ramon Daomillas Jr. also considered the request of the defense counsel for one of the suspects, Carticiano to withdraw earlier demurrer evidence of the accused and instead, provide present evidence.

The hearing ended as they agreed that the defense’s presentation of evidence would resume on April 27 with another of the accused. — Iris Christine Cornito and Angelica Odias, UP Masscom interns/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)