Ex-Negros village exec gets 200 years for colleagues’ slay

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – A former village chairman of Silay City in Negros Occidental has been sentenced to more than 200 years in prison for killing his four fellow officials and wounding three others in 2011.

In a ruling issued on Monday, Silay Judge Felipe Banzon found Noel Ayalin, former village chief of Kapitan Ramon, guilty of four counts of murder.

Ayalin was meted a life sentence or a maximum of 40 years for each count of murder, and 12 to 20 years for each count of frustrated murder.

The court also ordered Ayalin to pay the heirs of his victims more than P1.8 million in compensatory, civil, moral and exemplary damages.

Records showed that on March 6, 2011, Ayalin, armed with a caliber .45 pistol, barged into the village hall and shot the victims, who were holding a barangay council session.

Village councilmen Luzviminda Cotamen, Pedrito Orocio and Freddie Juno, and Sangguniang Kabataan chairman Imee Occeña died at the scene.

Ramon Celebre, who succeeded Ayalin, Salvacion Corugda and barangay treasurer Leni Llorca were wounded in the attack.

Ayalin, tagged as Western Visayas’ most wanted man, was captured in Iba, Zambales in May last year. 

Celebre said that justice has been served. He said although they were happy with the ruling, it was difficult for them to forgive the suspect.