Man indicted for trying to kill his cousin

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor's Office has indicted a man for allegedly trying to kill his cousin in Barangay Luz, Cebu City last February.

Assistant city prosecutor Ferdinand Collantes found probable cause to hold Ariel Echavez for trial after he failed to submit his counter-affidavit on the criminal complaint for frustrated homicide filed by Mario Victor Narido.

The prosecutor’s office has recommended P24,000 bail for Echavez’s temporary liberty.

Narido, 45, resident of Sitio City Central in the same barangay, said he was fixing his motorcycle on February 21 at 10 a.m. when the accused arrived. Echavez reportedly confronted the victim why he cheated on him of his salary.

The victim said he tried to explain to the accused that he did not cheat on him and even showed the latter receipts of his earnings as proof but he was not convinced. The accused took a piece of coconut lumber and hit the victim in the head.

The victim fell on the ground half-conscious while the suspect fled from the crime scene. The victim was later brought to the hospital for treatment.

The suspect was summoned by the prosecutor’s office to answer the complaint but did not submit his counter-affidavit, prompting the investigating prosecutor to resolve the case based on the evidence at hand.

In 2016, however, the Ombudsman dropped the case for lack of probable cause.

Ayuman, a political ally of Rama, then brought the matter up to the president. He lodged two administrative complaints: grave misconduct and serious dishonesty.

In an interview, Ayuman said he is confident the dismissal of the complaint at the Ombudsman will not affect the complaint he filed at the president’s office.

“Wala ra ta maguol, no, kay naa man koy additional documents nga i-submit within the week before the Office of the President that would prove nga katong dodge cars were donated sa city government,” he said. (FREEMAN)