3 suspects in Cebu lawyer slay charged

CEBU, Philippines — Three men accused of killing former state prosecutor and veteran criminal lawyer Salvador Solima and shooting his wife, Verose, are now facing charges before the court.

The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has found sufficient basis to indict the respondents on charges of murder and frustrated murder.

No bail was recommended for murder. For frustrated murder, on the other hand, bail was set at P200,000 each.

In an inquest proceeding, suspects Ricarte Del Corro, a resident of Barangay Labangon in Cebu City, and brothers Alberto and Alvin Baluyos, both residents of Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City, opted not to answer the allegations filed against them.

Instead, they manifested to face the charges in court.

Prosecutor III Naruzen Delfin-Lorete yesterday filed the cases before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City with approval from the City Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas.

The cases were raffled off to the sala of Judge Gilbert Moises of Branch 18.

The victims’ family friend, 47-year-old Raquel Faogali, in her affidavit, said she was at the couple’s house at Singson Village in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City when Del Corro and an unidentified man arrived.

Faogali was with the couple’s cook, nanny, and Solima’s younger brother, Ronald, at that time.

The men, who were clutching a black sling bag, reportedly wanted Solima's counsel for an acquaintance who is detained at the Cebu City Jail for drug charges.

Solima reportedly told the suspects that his acceptance fee for the case is P150,000 but reportedly lowered it to P120,000 to which the suspects agreed.

After Solima and the suspects agreed on the fee, Solima reportedly stood and was about to approach his five-year-old child when Del Corro also reportedly stood, pulled out a gun, and shot the lawyer.

Even after Solima fell to the floor, Del Corro allegedly shot him a second time. The suspect's companion also stood and shot Solima.

After shooting Solima, the two suspects reportedly left the room only to also shoot Verose who was outside.

The witness also said that Alberto may be one of the lookouts as she reportedly recognized his voice. Solima's neighbors who attested to seeing Alberto in the area during the incident.

Faogali said she grappled for possession of the gun and begged the suspects to stop shooting the couple.

Solima and his wife were brought to the hospital, but the former did not make it there alive. Verose is now in stable condition

The gunmen fled onboard two motorcycles allegedly driven by the Baluyos brothers.

Three of the suspects were arrested in a follow-up operation, while the other one remains at large. (FREEMAN)