Death for killers of accountant 3 years ago

Three men were sentenced to death yesterday for the death of a female accountant in Makati City more than three years ago.

In a 21-page decision, Judge Ricardo Rosario of the Regional Trial Court of Makati City found the accused Celino Nabong, Alvin Laguit and Nolfe Ladiao guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the attempted rape with homicide of 22-year-old accountant Ederlinda Gabriel on March 23, 1999. A fourth man, Arnel Miraflor, was also accused of the crime but was acquitted due to lack of evidence against him.

Based on the records of the court, on the night of March 23, 1999, the four accused together with four other companions engaged in a drinking session at a videoke bar located along Amorsolo St., in Makati City. All eight individuals were employed with the EEI construction firm, which was developing the RCBC Plaza along Ayala Avenue in Makati City. At around 11:30 p.m. the group decided to go back to their barracks at the construction site but in two separate groups.

The four accused went toward the direction of a vacant lot in front of the Makati Medical Center and decided to stay around for a while.

According to Reynaldo Patenio, one of the construction workers, he walked behind the four men until the vacant lot where he was ridiculed and harassed by the group. Patenio decided to return to the barracks alone but before he got far, he saw two women walking near the vacant lot. One of the two women took a bus, leaving the victim Gabriel alone beside the vacant lot.

Laguit and Ladio approached and stood beside her while, Nabong followed closely behind.

Nabong took out an improvised icepick and stabbed Gabriel on her thigh to immobilize her. The two other men simultaneously pinned the victim on the ground and covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming.

Miraflor then joined the three men but upon seeing what they were doing decided to walk away and headed back toward the barracks.

Moments after the incident, a traffic enforcer arrived and saw the victim lying half-naked on the ground with blood on her body and all around the pavement.

Gabriel was taken to the Makati Medical Center but died after less than an hour. According to Judge Rosario, the accused could not provide any other defense other than their alibis which was deemed weak in comparison to the statement of the eyewitnesses.

On top of the death sentence, the three accused were also ordered to indemnify the heirs of the victim in the amount of P50,000 as exemplary damages, P111,239 as actual damages, P1,508,130 loss of earning capacity and P50,000 as moral damages. – Marvin Sy