Security Supervisor charged for shooting superior

CEBU, Philippines - A charge for murder was elevated to court against the security supervisor accused of killing his senior officer inside the Paseo complex in Barangay Mabolo in 2008.

Prosecutor Gandhi Truya recommended no bail for suspect Michael Rodriguez of Subangdaku, Mandaue City. Truya was accused of shooting Ariel “Jake” Ponla evening on May 22, 2008.

Ponla died after the bullet pierced the right side of his chest.   In an affidavit, warehouseman Ruel Basoy said he was inside Paseo at the time of the incident when he heard a burst of gunfire coming from the main entrance of the complex. Moments later, he reportedly saw Ponla already wounded and heading towards him.

Basoy said he tried to stop Dominguez from firing a second shot, but the suspect allegedly pointed his gun at him. “Apil ka?” Basoy quoted Dominguez as saying, which reportedly prompted him to back away. Dominguez subsequently fled in a taxicab.

It was Romulo Wagas, Jr., a bouncer at Paseo, who brought Ponla to the hospital. Ponla later passed away. 

Ponla’s older brother, Diosdado, also executed an affidavit, saying it was their relative, Judith Ponla, who informed him of the incident through a phone call.

Diosdado said he immediately rushed to the hospital only to know that Ponla had passed away. Diosdado said Dominguez was allegedly envious of the victim, but no details were disclosed.

A subpoena dated October 1, 2009 was sent to Dominguez, but the suspect failed to appear before the prosecutor’s office and further failed to submit his counter-affidavit. — THE FREEMAN