MANILA, Philippines - An alleged hitman for the Dominguez carjacking syndicate, who is accused of killing car dealer Venson Evangelista in January 2011, pleaded not guilty yesterday to the car theft with homicide charges filed against him.
Rolando Talban, who was arrested in Cavite in August following a foiled carjacking attempt, entered his plea during his arraignment before Judge Maria Rita Bascos-Sarabia of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 215.
Talban was included in the charge sheet after state witness Alfred Mendiola tagged him in the murder of Evangelista along with Jayson Miranda and brothers Raymond and Roger Dominguez.
Mendiola, who was found dead in Cavite in May, said in his sworn statement that Talban was the one who shot Evangelista. Talban, however, denied Mendiola’s claim and said that his only participation in the crime was when he wrapped Evangelista’s head with packaging tape.
In a phone interview, Evangelista’s father, Arsenio, said he is glad the wheels of justice are turning.
“I am happy that the case is moving forward,” he said, adding that he does not believe Talban’s claim that he was not the one who killed Venson.
“He’s a devil inside a human body,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Court granted the request of Assistant City Prosecutor Ramoncito Ocampo to hold a joint pre-trial conference on the case against Talban, Miranda, and the Dominguez brothers to expedite the proceedings.
The pre-trial is set for next month at the New Bilibid Prison, where Raymond is being held. Raymond is serving up to 30 years in prison after a Bulacan court found him guilty in a separate carjacking case.