3 men get life for killing neighbor

CEBU, Philippines - Three men were sentenced to spend the rest of their lives behind bars after the court found them guilty of killing their neighbor using an icepick on P. del Corro Street, Carcar more than six years ago.

Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises convicted Manuel Oliver, Junjun Alegarbes and Ronald Campugan for conspiring each other in killing Brian Cano on May 23, 2004 in Barangay Poblacion, Carcar.

Moises likewise ordered the three men to pay the amount of P75,000 as civil indemnity or insurance for the death of Cano; P50,000 for moral damages and another P50,000 for exemplary damages.

At 3:30 a.m. of May 23, while attending a disco, Oliver, Alegarbes and Campungan conspired with each other in killing Cano. Campungan was immediately arrested after the incident while the two others were arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by pairing Judge Silvestre Maamo of RTC Branch 18.

During the arraignment of their case, the three pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

However, to prove the guilt of the three men, the prosecution presented three witnesses Harry Cano, the eye witness and brother of the victim, Ruben Cano, father of the victim and Dr. Allan Mercado, physician at Carcar District Hospital.

Harry Cano, in his testimonies, they were at a disco near their residence and it was around 3:30 a.m. when he noticed that his brother Brian was already lying on the ground at the disco place. He woke his brother to go home.

But while they were walking home, he said he heard footsteps following them and when he looked back, he saw Campungan, Oliveros and Alegarbes. Harry said he knew Oliver as he is a barber in their place and his two companions as he also usually saw them.

Harry said the three men immediately attacked him and his brother. Campungan held the back of his brother while Oliver held his neck as Alegarbes attacked his face.

While the three were attacking his brother, Harry tried to pull Campungan and Alegarbes away but Oliver, while holding the neck of Brian, thrust an icepick into the latter’s chest causing him to fall to the ground.

Harry said he immediately pulled his brother up and ran towards their house and asked for help.

His parents and neighbors abruptly helped them and brought Brian to the hospital but he died later because of four stab wounds.

However, in their testimonies, the three men denied any participation in the crime.

Campungan said he was at the area to attend a disco to celebrate the annual fiesta of their barangay. At dawn, he claimed he saw Alegarbes, Oliver, Brian and Harry seemed to be quarreling and he even tried to pacify the four but Harry pulled him while Oliver stabbed him in the arm causing him to run away to protect his life.

Alegarbes and Oliver likewise denied involvement in the killing, saying they only pacified the group of men quarreling.

 But Moises said “the court finds the accused’s defense of denial unarguably hollow and wanting in substance.”

Moises said the testimony of Harry as eyewitness is credible and sufficient to convict the three. He added Harry’s only goal in testifying in court was to seek justice for his brother’s death. (FREEMAN)