3 Olongapo cops get life for slay of trader

DINALUPIHAN, Bataan — Three policemen were sentenced to life imprisonment Thursday for killing a businessman in Olongapo City and wounding of his brother in 1996.

Found guilty of murder and frustrated by Judge Benjamin Viazon of the local Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 5 were SPO4 Rafael Obina, SPO1 Florentino Gonzales, PO3 Jesus Cagungun, all former members of the Olongapo City police station, and two John Does who are still at large.

The incident took place on Oct. 14, 1996, between 7:45 and 8:00, when brothers Reynaldo and Rolando Ampunin, and their nephew Dexter Oxales, were attacked while traveling from Olongapo to this town to attend a court hearing at RTC Branch 5.

Five armed men, on board a Mitsubishi Lancer (CFY-129), cut the path of the jeep and started firing at the victims. Reynaldo sustained four gunshot wounds and died on the spot, his brother Rolando was seriously wounded while Oxales miraculously survived unhurt.

The survivors positively identified Cagungun, Obina and Gonzales as their attackers along with two still unidentified civilians.

The accused were ordered jointly and severally to pay P100,000 in moral damages, P50,000 for burial expenses, and costs of the suit. — Ric Sapnu