Arrest order out for convicted Army major

DAVAO CITY — A Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge here has issued a warrant of arrest for an Army major who has been sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment in connection with the 1990 killing of a city councilor.

RTC Branch 8 Judge Salvador Ibarreta Jr. issued the warrant for the arrest of Maj. Angel Adrian Sievert II after granting the petition of the family of slain councilor Cesar Robillo to revoke the "military custody" status accorded the military officer.

Sievert was only a lieutenant at the time Robillo was shot dead in a bar at the family-owned Hotel Maguindanao.

Ibarreta also issued an order barring Sievert from leaving the country.

Despite his conviction in a capital offense, Sievert was able to enjoy military custody. The Robillos, fearing that he might flee the country like what another accused did, sought for its revocation.

Two other convicts, Army Pfc. Roberto Gocila and Henry Adriano, are now serving their sentence, while broadcaster Joey Herbolingo managed to slip out of the country before Ibarreta handed down his verdict in January last year.

The Robillo family lamented that Sievert was even promoted to higher ranks despite his conviction.

Ibarreta has also ordered the four convicts to pay the victim’s family a total of P1.86 million in damages.

In his decision, he said there was enough evidence that Sievert, Herbolingo, Gocila and Adriano conspired in killing the city councilor.