Widow of policeman acquitted of parricide

A Manila regional trial court acquitted a housewife of the killing of her policeman-husband seven years ago for reasonable doubt.

Judge Perfecto Laguio Jr. acquitted Victoria Cama for the death of her husband, Police Officer 3 Raul Cama, due to a gunshot wound in the head from his own service firearm.

A grown-up nephew of Victoria, Gilbert Ojeda with whom she is alleged to have had an "amorous relationship", had been separately charged with homicide in the same court for the incident.

Ojeda remains at large and his case is still undecided.

According to the defense, to which the court gave more "credence and weight,"the victim was cleaning his gun and at the same time chatting with Ojeda in the living room of their home in Barrio Magsaysay, Tondo when Victoria stepped in.

Raul reportedly told her: "Kung may aabuso sa iyo ganito ang gawin mo, puntiryahin mo sa ulo (If somebody abuses you, point a gun at his head)," simultaneously pointing his gun at his temple.

The gun went off.

But according to the prosecution witness, Odulfo Cama, Raul’s brother, he saw Ojeda handing the gun to Victoria before bringing his wounded brother to the hospital. He said he had heard a gunshot while manning the variety store located on the ground floor, prompting him to go in and see the accused and the victim.

But in his statement executed some three months after the incident, Odulfo said he saw Ojeda and Raul grappling for the gun. He also said he had known that the suspect and his sister-in-law were having an illicit relationship.

The judge took note of the fact that Odulfo never saw the actual shooting and of his own contradiction. – Jose Aravilla