Imok’s ‘killers’ enter “not guilty” plea

CEBU, Philippines — Two of the alleged hitmen who killed Barangay Ermita captain Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta yesterday pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder and attempted murder.

Jimmy Largo and Jordan Gera stood before Judge Ferdinand Rafanan of the Regional Trial Court Branch 88 in Mandaue City for the arraignment, a process wherein they were informed of the charges against them.

Largo and Gera were tagged by the witnesses as the gunmen who killed Rupinta on November 23, 2017 at 7:55 p.m. in Sitio Simborio, Barangay Yati, Liloan. Rupinta and his live-in partner, Jocelyn Mendoza, were on their way home to Liloan on board an Isuzu D-Max pickup when they were ambushed.

Both accused were arrested during the follow-up operations conducted by the police. Largo, an ex-convict, denied the charges. He accused the police of using him as fall guy, but police officials insist they have evidence to prove he was at the vicinity of the crime scene when Rupinta was ambushed.

According to the police, they have five other cohorts who will be tried separately as soon as they are identified. The court has set the pre-trial conference on January 19, 2018 and the pre-trial on March 2, 2018 at 2 p.m.

The pre-trial was supposed to be done immediately after the arraignment yesterday but one of the defense lawyers, Romeo Reyes, asked for more time to study the case. Reyes, counsel for Gera, said he needs more time to study the case as he was only hired recently.  (FREEMAN)