Couple, son plead not guilty in robbery-slay of Canadian

CEBU, Philippines - A couple and their 17-year-old son who were accused in the robbery and murder of a Canadian national, whose body was found buried in a piggery at the mountain Barangay Adlaon last month, plead ignorance to the crime.

Rolando Alburot, his wife Marilyn and their son entered the not guilty plea when arraigned yesterday for robbery with homicide at the Regional Trial Court Branch 6.

The arraignment was held inside the chamber of Judge Ester Veloso instead of holding it in open court because it involves a minor. The accused were assisted by lawyer Isidro Ungab.

Rolando recanted his earlier admission before the media and the police that he killed Canadian national Darcy Hanz Rentenberg last month.

“I did not kill Rentenberg, I don’t know why he died,” Rolando said.

Rolando earlier said he was forced to kill Rentenberg after the latter got irked when he asked for the P5,000 payment of his labor in building his rest house in Barangay Adlaon.

He claimed the victim pulled out a .357 magnum revolver and tried to shoot him prompting him to grapple for the gun and eventually killed him.  

After killing Rentenberg, Rolando said he had the victim’s body wrapped in a blanket and buried it in an improvised kiln near the pigpen.

Rolando also admitted taking the victim’s P50,000 cash, a laptop and a cellphone. The police recovered the laptop and the cellphone from where the suspects sold.

Rentenberg, who lives in Mandaue City, has been reported missing since June 25 until his body was found last month. – (FREEMAN)