Cauayan brothers get
15 years for homicide

A Regional Trial Court Judge yesterday sentenced two brothers from Cauayan, Negros Occidental to a minimum of eight years and a maximum of 15 years imprisonment for the crime of homicide.

Judge Henry Arles of RTC Branch 61 in Kabankalan City found Crisanto Marinias and Godofredo Marinias guilty beyond reasonable doubt of killing Reymundo Gregas in June 13, 2003 in Brgy. Isio, Cauayan.

Arles ordered the Marinias brothers to jointly pay the heirs of Gregas P670,000 for indemnity, moral damages, exemplary damages, actual damages and loss of income and costs.

He also ordered the immediate remittance of the Marinias brothers to the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa.

Prosecution witness Espiridion Mahilum Jr. positively identified the Marinias brothers, who are his uncles, as the ones who stabbed the victim. Arles said the testimony of Mahilum appears to be "credible and spontaneous".

Court records show that Gregas was trying to pacify the Marinias brothers, who were chasing Mahilum, but, instead, the two accused stabbed him repeatedly causing his death.

Both Godofredo and Crisanto Marinias pleaded not guilty when arraigned in January 16, 2004. But the justifying circumstances of self defense invoked by Crisanto and the alibi relied upon by Godofredo could not be given credence, Arles said.

Meanwhile, the court also found minor Richard Jopillo guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of theft and sentenced him to a minimum of four years and maximum of six years imprisonment.

The enforcement of the sentenced, however, is suspended and Jopillo, who is only 17, will be committed into the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development until he reaches 21. *CPT

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Mayor convenes committee
on anti-trafficking in persons

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday signed Executive Order No. 4 convening the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Committee as a major contribution of the city to the Women's Month celebration, a press release from the office of Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said.

The Bacolod City Gender and Development Council, which Sigue chairs, will boost the effective implementation of Republic Act. No. 9208, or "The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2002," it also said.

Leonardia will be the chairman of the ATPC and its members and chairpersons are Batapa-Sigue of the Committee on Women and Gender of Sangguniang Panlungsod; Councilor Ana Marie Palermo - Committees on Children and Family and Social Services, and Councilor Dindo Ramos - committee on Labor and Management.

Other members are the City Health Office, City Social Welfare and Development Officer, Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Bureau of Immigration, National Bureau of Investigation, Bacolod City Police Office, City Prosecution, BC-GAD Council, Liga Ng Mga Barangay, City Legal Office and a non-government organization working against trafficking in persons.

The ATPC will monitor and document cases of trafficked persons in Bacolod City and recommend the cancellation of licenses of establishments, which violate the provisions of Republic Act No. 9208 and ensure its effective prosecution, the press release said.

It will also undertake an information campaign against trafficking in persons through the establishment of Migrants Advisory and Information Desk, in coordination with other government agencies and non-government organizations, the press release added.*

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Honest cop commended

The exemplary honesty displayed by Police Inspector Libertad Teruel and SPO2 Rene Infante may have inspired others to emulate them.

Police Officer 3 Tito Sia, a member of the San Carlos police, in Negros Occidental, yesterday returned a wallet containing P2,625 in cash, identification cards and other documents to its owner identified as Maria Luz Repita.

Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, city police chief, said Sia was on his way home when he saw a wallet fall from a passenger cab at FC Ledesma Street in San Carlos City.

De la Paz said Sia took the wallet from a motorcab driver who had picked it up ahead of him, and brought it to the police station.

Repita who claimed his wallet from Sia at the police station of San Carlos, thanked the policeman.

De la Paz said he commended Sia for his honesty that not only uplifted the image of the San Carlos police, but the entire police organization as well.*GPB

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