Alleged Ting killer pleads not guilty

CEBU, Philippines – The alleged gunman in the killing of a businessman Manuel Ting pleaded not guilty for the crime he was accused of during yesterday's arraignment.

Assisted by his lawyer, Atty. Democrito Barcenas, the accused, Ruel Velez, 44, married, a resident of Barangay Ocaña, Carcar City, appeared before the sala of Regional Trial Court Branch 58 judge Gabriel Inglis and denied the accusations thrown against him.

Barcenas insisted on the innocence of his client, saying was just a mere "fall guy" by the police officers who conducted an investigation into the ambush of Manuel Ting in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City last June 22, 2010.

"The accused presumed to be innocent. The duty of the prosecution is to prove that there is a probable cause to be present in court," Barcenas said.

"Dili siya nagpatay, kahibaw ka sa mga police nga para dali ra ma solve ang kaso bisag kinsa nga mosulti or mo witness sa panghitabo ila dayong tuohan without investigating it deeper, I don't say nga nagtumu-tumo ko nila but there is a big possibility nga di tinuod ang mga tabi sa mga tawo," the lawyer added.

Last July 5, at about 3 pm, the elements of Cebu City Police Office arrested Ruel Velez as one of the primary suspects.

Comendador said that right after the incident, the suspect was positively identified by four witnesses.

A son of Ting told the police that he saw a man, he later identified as Velez, who appeared to be waiting for someone outside their residence in Banawa, Guadalupe two weeks before his father was ambushed.

Comendador said that two days after the killing of Ting, they had already identified Velez and tried to arrest him at his residence in Carcar City, but they did not reach him on time as he had left for Ozamis City.

Operatives of the Theft and Robbery Section and Investigation and Detective Management Branch led by Supt. Pablo Labra II arrested Velez at a mall in Cebu City. (THE FREEMAN)