The police yesterday filed homicide and frustrated homicide charges against two suspects linked to the death of a Baptist pastor and barangay tanod, and for causing injuries to another tanod in La Castellana, before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Negros Occidental.
Senior Inspector Allan Reloj, La Castellana police chief, said a complaint for homicide was filed against Gerry Belotendos, who allegedly mauled Pastor Andrew Mariano, after they figured in a motorcycle accident on Feb. 28.
Mariano was beaten up, allegedly by Belotendos, a former member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit and a son of the barangay captain, after the accident, in Brgy. Cabacungan, La Castellana.
The Baptist pastor died on March 1, at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.
The Katilingban sang Naghili-usa headed by John Chiong extended legal help to the family of Mariano, who was buried on March 9 at the La Castellana public cemetery, with about 1,000 mourners attending.
The Pastors’ Network have joined the Mariano family in seeking justice for his death.
Reloj said they have also filed homicide and frustrated homicide charges against Vicente Legaspi, a suspect in the fatal stabbing of barangay tanod Jupiter Tagnia, and in the injuries of his colleague, identified as Roberto Gonzales, in Brgy. Camandag, La Castellana, last week.
Legaspi was arrested by the police on March 11 in a pursuit operation in Brgy. Magallon Cadre, Moises Padilla, a day after he allegedly stabbed Tagnia and Gonzales at the La Castellana public plaza.
Reloj said the court has recommended a total of P64,000 as bail for Legaspi, in connection with homicide and frustrated homicide charges filed against him before the Negros Occidental Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
Legaspi is now detained at the La Castellana Police Station Jail.*GPB
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