Lawyer: Son did not admit killing Ma

CEBU, Philippines - The counsel of the 25-year-old nursing student who was charged with parricide for killing and burying his mother inside a storage room in their house at M. Gochan Street in Barangay Mambaling has denied that Christian “Lucky” Dalangin executed an affidavit of extra-judicial confession.

During the pre-trial conference yesterday, Public Attorney Leah Cruz denied that Dalangin executed an affidavit of extra judicial confession claiming responsibility for the death of his mother Rubirose Tenchavez.

However, Cruz admitted Dalangin who was arrested and detained at Cebu City Jail, was the same person accused in the case and that Tenchavez was the mother who was killed.

Cruz did not present any proposal during the pre-trial.

Assistant city prosecutor Ricky Jones Macabaya will present seven witnesses for the prosecution while the defense will present three witnesses.

Macabaya told Regional Trial Court Branch 18 Presiding Judge Gilbert Moises that there won’t be a plea bargaining agreement between the parties.

In plea bargaining agreements, the accused may plead guilty usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.

The family refused to issue any statements.

Earlier, Dalangin entered a plea of not guilty during his arraignment on the parricide case assisted by Cruz.

Dalangin was accused of killing his mother by slitting her throat twice with a knife on August 23, 2011.

It was the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 who recovered the body of Tenchavez buried in the storage room of their house.    - (THE FREEMAN)