School slay suspect out on bail

MANILA, Philippines - The prime suspect in the killing of a male student of San Sebastian College has been released on bail after the murder charge filed by the police was downgraded by the Manila prosecutor’s office to homicide, a bailable offense.

Investigators said prosecutors see no clear intent by Romeo Ephraim Lim, 20, a third-year hotel and restaurant management student, to plan the killing of Cromwel Duka Jr., a second-year business management student at the same school, which is one of the elements for the crime of murder. The footage from the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera installed at the school canteen also showed Duka as the aggressor.  

Lim was nabbed by security guards of San Sebastian College after he was identified by witnesses as the opponent of Duka in a fistfight inside the school canteen. Investigators said the fight was provoked by a dirty look between the two students.

When the fight was broken up, Duka Jr. collapsed and died at the Mary Chiles Hospital due to four stab wounds in the body. Lim denied inflicting the wounds on the victim.

Police said the fight was recorded by the school’s CCTVcamera, but the actual stabbing was not clearly seen in the video footage. In the same video, another male student was seen joining the fight.

Homicide section head Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo said his investigators will confer with school officials to determine the identity of the third student involved in the fight.

Police, meanwhile, are studying whether the school guards could be held liable for the death of the student. Investigators said they will see if there are lapses in the security procedure since the suspect was able to sneak a bladed weapon inside the school compound.        

School officials, meanwhile, will implement stricter security measures when classes resume to prevent a repeat of the incident. – Nestor Etolle