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Bacolod City, Philippines Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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3 meted 40 years
for killing tanod

BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Two brothers and their cousin were sentenced to reclusion perpetua, or 40 years of imprisonment, by Silay Regional Trial Court Judge Felipe Banzon for the brutal killing of a barangay tanod in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, more than four years ago.

The convicted persons identified as Ricky Sanches, his brother, Francis, and cousin, Rey Lozada, were also ordered by Banzon to indemnify the heirs of barangay tanod Edwin Bones, P170,000 in civil indemnity, exemplary, moral, actual and compensatory damages.

In a 13-page decision dated Jan. 31, Banzon, said the Sanchez brothers and Lozada were prove guilt by the prosecution beyond any reasonable doubt.

Court records show that the Sanchez brothers and Lozada, who were armed with bladed weapons, a .38 caliber revolver and a hand grenade, hacked and stabbed Bones with a bolo and a bladed weapon, respectively, in Brgy. 18-A, Victorias City, on Dec. 3, 2007.

Not contented of with just hacking the victim, Lozada even slashed the throat of Bones.

The three, assisted by a counsel of the Public Attorney’s Office, denied the accusations.

Banzon, however. said positive identification of the accused persons was made by three eyewitnesses, who provided a vivid narrative on how the victim was attacked and killed.

He said there was no evidence presented to show that the three witnesses had the ill-motive to prevaricate, noting also that they gave their testimonies in a straightforward