Guards charged for attack on Ileto grandson

MANILA, Philippines - Four security guards were charged before the Quezon City regional trial court for allegedly shooting a grandson of the late former defense secretary Rafael Ileto at a supermarket last year.

In a resolution, city Chief Prosecutor Donald Lee ordered the filing of frustrated homicide charges against Jomar Tamayo Jr. and Marvin Bacosa, while obstruction of apprehension charges were filed against Jennifer Motus-Abilar and Raymond Ritz Guevarra.

The frustrated homicide charges were in connection with the complaint of Florante Ileto III, who was wounded following an argument with the security guards of Cherry Foodarama supermarket along Congressional Avenue on April 27, 2012.

In his complaint, Ileto said he was at the supermarket to buy groceries. He said he and his companion were already in the selling area when he realized he was carrying a bag with items that they bought from a different store. He said he went out of the selling area to deposit the items at the baggage counter.

Ileto said the security guard manning the counter, Policarpio Dano Jr., accused him of shoplifting.

He said other guards arrived when he raised his voice after Dano opened the bag he was carrying. A guard pointed a gun at him, while another grabbed his neck and punched him in the back, Ileto said.

Ileto said he heard two gunshots during the commotion and realized that he was shot on his left shoulder. He added that he heard two other gunshots while he was trying to get away from the guards.

Lee junked the guards’ alibi of self-defense as they failed to present any evidence that Ileto was armed with any weapon at the time.