Minor pleads not guilty to rob-slay of ex-prosecutor

CEBU, Philippines - The 17-year-old accused in the murder of retired Regional State Prosecutor Hernando Masangkay has re-entered his not guilty plea during the re-arraignment of his case yesterday.

The accused, name withheld for being a minor, was assisted by his counsel Edgar Seguerra when the information of the case was read to him inside the chamber of Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso.

Seguerra said his client entered the same plea as he entered when he was first arraigned on October 27, 2010 before the sala of RTC Judge Sylva Paderanga. The case for robbery with homicide was transferred from Paderanga to Veloso because the accused was found to be a minor.

Veloso’s court was designated as family court which handles cases involving minors. The court also granted yesterday the transfer of the accused from the Talisay City Jail in Maghaway to the Operation Second Chance in Kalunasan Cebu City.

The minor, who used to be Masangkay’s driver, was accused of killing the former prosecutor on June 28, 2010 after robbing the latter in his residence in Talisay.

Reginald, Magsangkay’s son, said his father was robbed of his gold necklace and expensive watch before he was killed. The victim also lost P4,000 cash.

The accused was arrested in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental after the police traced him through facebook. The accused joined a male fashion show during his arrest. (FREEMAN)