Botched uptown mall robbery Female suspect pleads not guilty

CEBU, Philippines - The live-in partner of robbery gang leader Junjun Cabando who is among those charged in the botched robbery of a roving bank teller in Fuente Osmeña last year, yesterday pleaded not guilty to the crime.

Merlyn Laguitao stood before Regional Trial Court Branch 19 Judge Wilfredo Navarro to face her arraignment after having postponed thrice.

With tears rolling down on her face, the seven months pregnant Laguitao entered the not guilty plea. 

Laguitao was assisted by lawyer Lloyd del Socorro, who was appointed by the court to represent her for purposes of arraignment, because her counsel Bryan Bantillan was not around.  Bantillan who is based in Mindanao informed the court that his flight was delayed and that he will arrive in the afternoon.

The court has also scheduled yesterday the pre-trial conference of the other accused in the case, Cabando and Rolien Castro.  But because of Bantillan’s absence the court was constrained to reset the schedule on November 21, 2012 at 8:30 a.m.

Lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo, counsel for Castro, said they were ready for the pre-trial. In fact, he said they have already prepared their proposals for the prosecution.

As of yesterday, Villagonzalo said he cannot determine if the resetting of the pre-trial was a delaying tactic of the other counsel. He admitted that the delay can affect his client’s case.

When asked about the situation of Castro inside the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), Villagonzalo said Castro was doing fine.

Both Castro and Cabando have entered a not guilty when arraigned on August 14, 2012.

The three were accused in the robbery with homicide case relative to the botched robbery of a roving bank teller at an uptown mall. 

The incident which occurred on September 5, 2011 resulted in the deaths of the two security guards.

Two police officers and a bank teller were also hurt in the shootout.— (FREEMAN)