Charges readied vs. 11 who killed resto worker

CEBU, Philippines - A case of robbery with homicide will be filed against 11 men who beat and killed a restaurant employee Saturday dawn.

The group is accused of robbing and shooting to death James Lomarda, 22, an employee of the Mooon Café Restaurant and a resident of sitio Saging in barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City.

Lomarda was on board a jeepney bound for Lapu-Lapu City when one of the men tried to grab his necklace.

Lomarda resisted and ran away from the men but was chased and mauled and then shot to death.

Of the eleven suspects, only eight have been arrested while three others, who are known only for their aliases, have remained at large.

IDMB Chief P/Insp. Ramil Morpos said the police are contemplating making two suspects turn state witnesses for lesser participation in the crime.

One of the possible state witnesses could be Brian Ponte who was arrested in Sibulan Negros Oriental last Sunday.

He told police he did not expect companions Japeth Sanchez would shoot Lomarda and John Tirol would try to snatch Lomarda's necklace.

He said he was a few meters away when he saw Sanchez shoot Lomarda. He said he at once ran away from the crime scene.

While another suspect who could turn state witness is Mark Louie Sanchez who said he saw Japeth whip out a gun, aimed it, and pulled the trigger.

Earlier, both Japeth and Tirol admitted to shooting and getting the silver necklace.

Japeth Sanchez, 21, single, in an interview yesterday at the Investigation and Detection Management Branch (IDMB) in Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) admitted having shot Lomarda.

"Ako ang nagpusil kay giingnan man ko ni Nega na tirahi dayon, hubog man pud ko ato mao naratol pud ko," he said.

The 18-year-old John Tirol said he was with Sanchez when the incident happened.

He said it was he who tried to grab the necklace from the man.

Sanchez, who told police they all belong to the Crips, said they had a drinking session in a friend's house in sitio Marfa in barangay Bakilid.

He said he was together with Jerwin Indencio, 20; Mark Louie Sanchez, 20; JV Himpit, 27; Arjie Dadula, 19; Bonifacio Fuentes, 23; and a certain Nega, Eric, and Papi.

He said when they were on their way home, they were in highway Seno where Nega saw Lomarda on board a jeepney.

Japeth said "Nega" told him to shoot Lomarda or he will be shot instead.

Because he was drunk, he said he didn't know where he shot the man.

He said the gun he used was owned by Fuentes.

But Indencio, Dadula, and Himpit claimed that while they were still drinking in front of the Hall of Justice (and later transferred to sitio Marfa), Japeth and a certain Nega who was with "Eric" were already planning of robbing someone.

"Nakabalo man mi sa ilang plano mao ni nanigurado mi sa among kaluwasan," Himpit said.

He said every time Sanchez gets drunk, he shoots someone.

Months ago, he shot a colleague.

Dadula, on the other hand, said he regretted the time he joined the group a month ago.

He never thought he would be dragged into this case.

The three of them heard a gun go off but Mark Sanchez claimed he really saw Japeth draw out a gun from his waist and shoot the victim.

He said he would be willing to testify against the suspects.

"Kita jud ko pagkuha niya ug pagpusil sa biktima," he said.

Insp. Ramil Morpos, deputy chief of IDMB said the police are running after the three suspects who are still at large. (FREEMAN NEWS)