CA affirms Cagayan mayor's conviction

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The Court of Appeals has affirmed the conviction for multiple homicide of Mayor Licerio Antiporda III of Buguey town in Cagayan for killing three people on May 8, 1995.

 Manuel Molina, legal counsel for the relatives of the victims – Edwin Cusit, Johnny Alonzo and Ben Magguddayao – said Antiporda’s conviction is a “triumph of justice” after 17 years of trial.

The appellate court’s ninth division upheld the conviction of Antiporda by Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Teresa Soriaso in February 2000 and sentencing him to 44-year imprisonment.

The CA division also ordered Antiporda to indemnify each of the families of the three victims with P50,000 each.

The CA likewise upheld the attempted murder charges against the mayor for plotting to kill Jimmy de Guzman also in May 1995. Antiporda, then only 22, was Sangguniang Kabataan chairman.

Noting that the CA ruling is not yet and final and executory, Antiporda said his lawyers would file a motion for reconsideration.

Antiporda said their camp only received a copy of the decision last Jan. 24.

“Besides, we still have the Supreme Court as the final arbiter of the case,” he said.

Antiporda said he was surprised by the CA ruling since witnesses for the prosecution had recanted their testimonies. – With Charlie Lagasca