One of 2 suspects in Osorio slay pleads not guilty

CEBU, Philippines - One of the suspects in the killing of city prosecutor Patrick Allan Osorio has entered a not guilty plea to the murder charge filed against him.

Allan Senogat and fellow suspect Lyndon Horandoy, who remains at large, were charged with murder in relation to Osorio’s death. Senogat entered his not guilty plea before Regional Trial Court Branch 17 Judge Silvestre Maamo yesterday.

Earlier, Senogat also entered a not guilty plea to a separate case of alleged illegal possession of firearms after police seized a gun from him during his arrest in barangay Maghaway last month.

Senogat and Horandoy were identified by a man who was standing at a bakeshop near the place where Osorio was ambushed by two motorcycle-riding gunmen last January 7 along Ma. Gochan Street in barangay Mambaling while the prosecutor was stuck in traffic. Osorio later died while undergoing treatment.

It was unclear, however, how the witness identified the suspects who were wearing full-faced helmets at that time.

Trisikad drivers Elenito Cole and a certain Tata who were also at Maria Gochan Street at that time said they did not see the suspects’ faces, as they were wearing helmets. 

Police suspect that the assailants were hired guns and that the killing was related to Osorio’s work.

Osorio left behind four children and his wife, who was pregnant with their fifth child during the killing. — Jasmin R. Uy/JMO       (THE FREEMAN)