Masangkay's son testifies in dad's homicide case

CEBU, Philippines - Reginald Masangkay, the son of retired regional state prosecutor Hernando Masangkay, testified yesterday as the first prosecution witness in the case of his father’s homicide.

He said he called his father prior to the death of the latter on June 27, 2010 but got no answer and presumed that his father was busy.

On June 27 he again called but got no answer. Worried, he called his cousin Carl Montenegro to check on his father since he was in Ormoc that time.

Reginald added when his cousin went to his father’s house around 11:30 a.m. the gate and the main door were slightly open.

With the information he received from his cousin he flew from Ormoc City to Cebu and arrived in the afternoon on June 27.

Reginald said upon his arrival, he was approach by his cousin and assisted in going inside. They proceeded to the bedroom of his father.

“I saw my father lying on his back with blood,” he told with teary eyes.

He added that policemen who responded recovered the wallet, a gold ring and the cellular phone of his father. However, he said a necklace worth P10,000 and gold watch worth P4,000 were missing.

Reginald said these two items were always worn by his father.

He said on same day he received a call from the 17-year-old driver of his father who is also the suspect in the case for robbery with homicide. The suspect asked about the incident involving his father and said he can help to solve the case.

The minor told him that he wanted to clear his side as his mother was worried.

The two agreed to meet in a mall where the minor worked in a spa, but when Reginald arrived in the said mall, the accused sent a message that he was home.

When Reginald told him he wanted to talk, the minor said he already released a statement to the police.

During cross-examination, defense lawyer Edgar Seguerra asked him the basis of his estimation of his father’s necklace and watch.

Reginald said it was said by his sister who bought the items for their father.

Earlier, according to the police, neighbors of the victims saw the minor in his house around 6:30 a.m. of June 25, 2010.   - (THE FREEMAN)