Former soldier draws
13 years for homicide

A former Army man was sentenced to 13 years in jail by a Regional Trial Court judge yesterday, for stabbing and killing his neighbor in Cauayan town, Negros Occidental, almost seven years ago.

John Julius Dadula, 39, was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt by RTC Bracnh 61 Judge Henry Arles of fatally stabbing Ernesto Linatan and was meted a minimum of eight years to a maximum of 13 years imprisonment.

Arles also ordered Dadula to be immediately transferred to the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City.

Dadula, a former member of the Philippine Army, admitted to stabbing Linatan, 52, with a bread knife, saying he just defended himself when the latter repeatedly struck him with a piece of wood while he was cleaning a canal near his house in Purok 5, Brgy. Isio, in Cauayan on November 18, 2001.

Arles, however, said that Dadula failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that he had killed Linatan in self-defense.

The judge said that no disinterested witness could corroborate Dadula’s claim that he was attacked by Linatan, except his wife, Marlou, who, he said, could not be considered a credible witness.

Dadula told the court he managed to get the knife that was stuck in a tree in their compound while grappling with Linatan in the presence of his family and stabbed the victim lwhen the latter tried to attack him again.

Patricia Millendez, a relative of Linatan, however, testified that Dadula’s wife, Marlou, and their three teenage male children ganged up on her employer when he was passing their house on his way to their residence before the accused stabbed him.

Another prosecution witness, Pastor Abelardo Gestupa told the court that he saw Dadula, Malou, and their children, wrestling with Linatan.

Arles said that, based on the findings of the medico-legal officer who examined Linatan’s remains, his wound indicated that Dadula had intended to kill him.

Aside from the jail term, Arles also ordered Dadula to pay Linatan’s heirs a total of P100,000 in indemnity, moral damages, and other costs.*PP

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Shooting involving cops
still under investigation

Bacolod City Police Office officers yesterday said testimonies of witnesses are needed on reports that two of its men had visited a cockpit, before they were shot by a man in Bacolod City last week, in the investigation on the case.

PO1 Kenneth Ronquillo and PO1 Ricardo Villacasten are still being probed over allegations that they entered a cockpit at the interior of 18th Street, Brgy. 4, Bacolod, on March 17, moments before a certain “Kid Ramir” allegedly shot them, BCPO director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, said.

Region 6 Philippine National Police regional director, Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas, had earlier warned officers against entering cockpits.

Ronquillo and Villacasten had both denied going into the cockpit that was raided by Police Station 2 officers a day after “Kid Ramir” allegedly shot them.

Quebrar confirmed that Ronquillo and Villacasten have earlier filed criminal charges against “Kid Ramir” for shooting them.

Supt. Pedrito Escarilla, BCPO-IIB chief, said that he is still waiting for the investigation report from Police Station 2 to help them in their probe.

He said they would need witnesses to prove the allegations against them, to be able to file administrative charges against Ronquillo and Villacasten.

Police Station 2 commander, Senior Inspector Luisito Acebuche, meanwhile, said, they have finished their investigation report and will forward it to the BCPO-IIB.

“We will (report) only the truth so that our station would not be caught in the middle,” Acebuche said.*PP

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