2 suspects in slay of DPWH engineer plead not guilty

CEBU, Philippines – Two men accused of killing of Department of Public Works and Highways engineer Ciriaco Salazar last August 5 pleaded not guilty to the crime during yesterday's arraignment.

Rene Garcia, the alleged mastermind, and Norman Agbay, the driver of the getaway motorcycle, assisted by his lawyer Ricardo Labial Jr. pleaded not guilty during their arraignment yesterday.

"We will prove that Agbay is innocent and we will present witnesses in court to testify but as of now I will not divulge the witnesses as our investigation is ongoing," Labial said.

Judge Estela Alma Singco asked Garcia where his lawyer was but Garcia said that he will find another lawyer to assist him in the hearing.

Earlier, Garcia's wife, Nanette Jane, was assisted by lawyer Giovanni Luna in filing a writ of habeas corpus claiming that her husband was arrested without a warrant.

Garcia and Agbay are facing a charge of murder for the killing of Ciriaco, but Garcia reportedly admitted his target was Ciriaco's wife Dolores, who also works with the DPWH.

Garcia, on board a motorcycle driven by Agbay, overtook the car of Ciriaco in sitio Tigbao, Barangay Talamban, Cebu City, last August 5 and shot the driver, thinking it was Dolores.

Ciriaco was rushed to North General Hospital but failed to make it there alive.

During a follow-up investigation policemen received a tip from a nephew of Dolores to investigate Garcia, who allegedly had a grudge against her. Policemen were able to trace Garcia and arrested him with a .45 cal. pistol with a magazine loaded with six live rounds.

Garcia said he was angry at Dolores for firing him from his job as a driver of the DPWH.

Aside from blaming Dolores for the death of her husband, Garcia also asked the murder case filed against him to be downgraded to homicide saying he has a lot of mouths to feed.

Agbay insists he had no part in the planning of the murder and says Garcia just paid him P400 to drive the motorcycle. He added he does not know why the police included him in the charges. (FREEMAN)