OFW gets 38 years for twin slay

A Manila judge yesterday sentenced an overseas Filipino worker to suffer 38 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of killing his common-law wife and her mother and attempting to kill one of their relatives following a heated argument over the custody of their son five years ago.

Judge Reynaldo Alhambra of the Manila City Regional Trial Court, found Roberto Santiago guilty of two counts of homicide for killing 26-year-old Sandra Michelle Bolalin and her mother Gloria, 51. He was also charged for attempted homicide after he fired shots at Andres Bayrante, 44, a nephew of Gloria. Santiago was ordered by the judge to pay the heirs of Bolalin and Gloria P50,000 each and another P50,000 each for moral damages. He should also pay an additional P212,000 for actual damages, specifically to cover the burial and funeral expenses. Bayrante was entitled to P20,000 indemnity.

Joezer Bolalin, Gloria’s son, expressed disappointment over the decision since Santiago can be a free man once he serves his term.

Bayrante said the punishment given to Santiago was not enough.

Prosecutor Danilo Formoso said the obvious remedy would be to appeal the case.

"But there are risks to consider because once it reaches the Court of Appeals, the CA could either affirm the decision, reduce the sentence or acquit Santiago," he said.

Formoso said for this particular case, he had to seek the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Interpol Division because Santiago fled to the US, where he worked as a waiter after the shooting incident.

With the help of US authorities he was extradited to the Philippines on Jan. 4, 2002. He pleaded not guilty to the murder and attempted murder charges.

Court records showed that Bolalin and Santiago previously worked in a club in Osaka, Japan and soon became sweethearts. Their relationship led to the birth of a son on Jan. 23, 1998.

On Aug. 4, Santiago had an argument with Bolalin and her mother, who had demanded that he turn over his grandson.

At that time, the two-year-old boy was staying with the father based on an agreement that he have temporary custody of the child whenever he was in the country. He was due to leave for the US the next day.

Following a heated argument, the accused drew out a caliber .45 handgun and fired at the trio.

Bolalin sustained two gunshot wounds in the head and another in the body. Her mother was hit three times.

In court, the accused said the shooting was done in self-defense. He said the victims threatened to kill him.

Santiago said he saw his common-law wife pulled out a gun from her bag and that he succeeded in grabbing the weapon from her. He then saw Bolalin’s mother and Bayrante approaching him with guns pointed at his direction.

"The court is convinced that the acccused’s narrative was purely concocted by him in an attempt to give color to his claim of self-defense. His version is incredible and could not be believed because the version of the accused is contradictory to the medico-legal examination reports and the ballistic reports," the judge said.