4 suspects in Bohol lawyer’s slay face criminal complaints

CEBU, Philippines - The British husband of a lady lawyer who was shot dead in Bohol two weeks ago detailed the gruesome killing of his wife in an affidavit as he filed the formal complaints for murder and attempted murder against the suspects before the prosecutor’s office in Tagbilaran City.

The suspects who are still at large were identified as Lloyd Lancer Gonzaga, Romarico Benigi-an, the alleged hitman, and two other unidentified persons. Gonzaga was reportedly the mastermind in the killing.

In his affidavit, Green stated that lawyer Manuelita “Mia” Mascariñas-Green used her body to shield their three children inside the vehicle during the ambush. He said his daughter recounted the incident after Gonzaga and Benigi-an allegedly shot and killed the lawyer.

After shooting the victim, the daughter said Benigi-an pointed his gun at the four of them in the backseat. After shooting Mia, the suspect pulled the trigger but he either ran out of bullets or his gun jammed.

The daughter added that the suspect reportedly laughed at them before fleeing. Green was out of the country when the incident happened.

After painfully reporting to Green what happened to the lawyer, his daughter asked him, “mommy is dead, daddy, mommy is dead, come home Daddy now.”

Two days after the shooting, a search warrant was issued against Benigi-an and Gonzaga. However, when the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) served the warrants in their places at Purok 7, Barangay Tawala, Panglao, the two were not around.

The search warrants were for violations of Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Policemen raided the Alona Embrace Hotel in Barangay Tawala, Panglao Island in Bohol where Benigi-an was reportedly staying, but the suspect had just left when the police arrived.

Seized during the operation were a .38 caliber revolver, a hand grenade, two bullets and one sachet of shabu.

 Witnesses identified Benigi-an as one of the four people on board two motorcycles who ambushed the lawyer’s Toyota Innova at the corner of H. Zamora and J.A. Clarin Streets in Dao District on her way home to Loon, Bohol at past 4 p.m. of February15.  A bounty of P600,000 will be given to those who can give information on the whereabouts of the suspects. (FREEMAN)