| 1 convicted, 4 acquitted for 2003 Sasa wharf bombing; 5 acquitted for airport bombing |
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| by MindaNews | |
| Friday, 29 January 2010 20:13 | |
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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/29 January) – Only one of five persons jailed in connection with the April 2, 2003 bombing at the international seaport in Sasa, was found guilty of multiple murder with multiple frustrated murder but four of his co-accused were acquitted.
Judge Pelagio Paguican, of the Regional Trial Court Branch 12, found Toto Akmad “guilty beyond reasonable doubt as principal by direct participation of the complex crime of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder” and imposed the penalty of reclusion perpetua. Under the Supreme Court’s Administrative Circular No. 6-A-93, reclusion perpetua “entails imprisonment for at least thirty 30 years after which the convict becomes eligible for pardon.” Acquitted and ordered released are Jimmy Bululao, Tohami Bagundang/Tohami Ulong, Ting Idar and Esmael Mamalangkas. But Akmad and the four others were all acquitted of charges they were responsible for the March 4, 2003 bombing at the waiting shed of the Davao International Airport. Twenty-two persons were killed and 145 others injured but Paguican said the prosecution was unable to provide sufficient evidence that would prove the guilt of all the accused beyond reasonable doubt But in the April 2, 2003 bombing at the international seaport, where 22 persons were killed and 55 others were injured, Akmad was ordered by the judge to pay each of the 16 victims -- Jemarie Grace Espera, Solidad A. Puno, Mark Gabriel D. Espera, Gadelyn Mae Duran Espera, Bonnel Espera Songaling, Ma. Dulce de Guzman, Albert Gumata, Noriel Juarez, Jay Lord Amarillento, Nicko Banail, John Ray Morales, Rodito Asis and Pableta Y. Espera, and three others -- P50,000 in civil indemnity, P50,000 in moral damage, P25,000 in temperate damages and P25,000 in exemplary damages. Share this story through the following Social Media sites:            |
