Man charged for killing neighbor

CEBU, Philippines- A man has been charged with murder before the Regional Trial Court for allegedly stabbing his neighbor to death in November 2009 on Belgium Street, Barangay Suba, Cebu City.

Paulino Abas, a resident of the area, was tagged in the killing of Marlon Ledesma in the night of November 9, 2009.

In her sworn affidavit, Virginia Ledesma, 32, the wife of the victim, narrated that after preparing the dinner, Marlon decided to eat outside the house.

But right after he went out, Virginia said that she heard her husband calling her in a low voice followed by the sounds of smashing plates that allegedly prompted her to go out and check.

She further stated that she was terrified when she saw her husband was successively being stabbed by Abas.

According to her, she tried to stop Abas from further attacking her husband but the accused allegedly faced her and said, “Apil ka?” Afraid, that the accused would turn his ire on her, she allegedly shouted for help.

One of those who responded, Eduardo Sable, a car watcher, approached Abas to stop him from further stabbing the victim.

After the accused run away, Virginia rushed her husband to the Cebu City Medical Center on board the car of barangay councilor Butch Ledesma but he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. Virginia believed that Abas killed her husband because of ill feelings. According to her, about six months ago, the two had engaged in a heated confrontation that resulted in a fistfight while they were at the Police Station 6.

The City Prosecutor’s Office had served subpoena to Abas for his counter-affidavit on January 4, 2010 but he allegedly failed to submit any counter-allegations to refute the statements of the witnesses. Because of this, investigators has recommended for the filing of murder charge against him at the Regional Trial Court.