Court indicts man for killing cop’s son

CEBU, Philippines – The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor has indicted a man for allegedly killing the son of a policeman earlier this month.

State Prosecutor Alex Gabud held Vince Winard Villareal alias Amang, a resident of Sitio Babao, Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City, for trial after finding probable cause of shooting dead Jayford Romanillos.

During the inquest proceeding, Villareal opted not to file a counter-affidavit to negate the allegations filed against him. Instead, he manifested to face the charges before the court.

Gabud recommended no bail against the Villareal for his temporary liberty.

In January 11, 2015, the homicide section of the Cebu City Police Office, led by SPO4 Alex Dacua, responded to a shooting incident at Sitio D’ Who, Inayawan at around 7 p.m. The police said Romanillos was shot by the group of alias Amang, Adoy and Atong.

“We then conducted a hot pursuit operation against the suspects whose full name we now knew as Vince Winard Villareal alias Amang, who was incidentally at his home in F. Jaca St. Sitio Babao, Inayawan, who was hiding inside the comfort room,” the joint-affidavit reads.

The police said Villareal was positively identified by the eye-witness as the one who shot the victim.

In his affidavit, the eye witness said at past 7 p.m. while walking towards the house of his friends, he saw a group of bystanders whom he frequently sees when he visits the place, as well as the victim.

The eyewitness said that he then saw Villareal shoot the victim.

Jaron alleged Adoy later identified as Joseph Bas and Atong identified as Atong Rafols acted as back-up of Villareal.

Jaron said he went to the house of the victim and talked to his father, Police Senior Inspector Samuel Romanillos, and told him what he saw.

Senior Inspector Romanillos said while he was attending holy mass at Sto. Niño Church, he received a text message from his brother Samson informing him that his son Jayford was shot and died on the spot.

On January 12, he said Jaron went to their house and confessed before him that he witnessed the incident.

Gabud said Bas and Rafols who are still at large will be separately prosecuted as soon as procedural requirements were complied. — (FREEMAN)