(Photo courtesy of KMU) MANILA - The Antipolo Regional Trial Court Branch 97 convicted three former servicemen for the killing of labor leader Rolando Olalia and companion Leonor Alay-ay 35 years ago. In a 34-page judgment dated September 24 and made available Tuesday, Judge Marie Claire Victoria Mabutas-Sordan found Desiderio Perez, Dennis Jabatan, and Fernando Casanova guilty of murder and sentenced them to reclusion perpetua (maximum 40 years) without eligibility of parole. They were likewise ordered to pay PHP2.2 million in damages and indemnity for the November 1986 twin deaths. "All monetary awards shall earn interest at the legal rate of six percent per annum from the date of finality of this decision until fully paid," the court ordered. Olalia, 52, was an official of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) at that time while Alay-ay was an employee at the National Federation of Labor Union and was the driver when they were abducted in Pasig City. "Today is a day of celebration and of restored belief in our judicial system," Olalia's son, lawyer Rolando Rico Olalia, said in a statement. "It is also a day of loss and a day of remembrance in honor of two brave and honorable men we were privileged to know as father and as a friend." The court based much of its ruling on the testimony of state witness Medardo Barreto, a retired policeman who had been a member of the Philippine Constabulary and detailed under the Department of Defense's Special Operations Group. "The Court has carefully sifted through the volumes of records of these cases and is fully convinced that the prosecution was able to establish beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused in these cases," the decision reads. "Through evidence adduced during hearing on the petitions for bail, it is clear that the operation involved in these cases involved careful planning and surveillance. There should be no doubt, therefore, that the qualifying circumstance of evident premeditation, has been satisfactorily proved," the ruling added. What happened The three originally reported to then-Col. Eduardo Kapunan, currently the Ambassador to Germany. Kapunan was one of those originally charged but was subsequently cleared when a court granted his demurrer to evidence in 2016. The convicts were part of the group that conducted surveillance on Olalia at a Japanese restaurant along Edsa, Quezon City on Nov. 12, 1986. They then trailed Olalia's vehicle and intercepted it along Julia Vargas Avenue near the Kaimito Gate of Valle Verde 2 and proceeded to a safehouse in Cubao. The victims' bodies were found in Antipolo the following day, reportedly mutilated beyond recognition. The cases against nine others have been archived and will be reactivated once they are arrested. "We are still expecting the masterminds to be prosecuted. Justice will only truly be served if they are named and judged. There are still nine suspects at large. They must also be sought and convicted," a KMU statement read. (PNA) }
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Antipolo , Philippines , Germany , Pasig City , City Of Pasig , Manila , Japan , Philippine , Benguet , Cubao , Quezon City , Japanese , Medardo Barreto , Rolando Olalia , Fernando Casanova , Eduardo Kapunan , Desiderio Perez , Dennis Jabatan , Valle Verde , Kilusang Mayo Uno , Department Of Defense Special Operations Group , Antipolo Regional Trial Court Branch , National Federation Of Labor Union , Leonor Alay Ay , Judge Marie Claire Victoria Mabutas Sordan , National Federation , Labor Union , Rolando Rico Olalia , Philippine Constabulary , Special Operations , Julia Vargas Avenue , Kaimito Gate , Hoto Courtesy Of Kmu Manila The Antipolo Regional Trial Court Branch 97 Convicted Three Former Servicemen For Killing Labor Leader Rolando Olalia And Companion Leonor Alay Ay 35 Years Ago Ina 34 Page Judgment Dated September 24 Made Available Tuesday , Udge Marie Claire Victoria Mabutas Sordan Found Desiderio Perez , Nd Fernando Casanova Guilty Of Murder And Sentenced Them To Reclusion Perpetua Maximum 40 Years Without Eligibility Parole They Were Likewise Ordered Pay Php2 2 Million In Damages Indemnity For The November 1986 Twin Deaths Quot All Monetary Awards Shall Earn Interest At Legal Rate Six Percent Per Annum From Date Finality This Decision Until Fully Paid , Uot The Court Ordered Olalia , 2 , As An Official Of The Kilusang Mayo Uno Kmu At That Time While Alay Ay Was Employee National Federation Labor Union And Driver When They Were Abducted In Pasig City Quot Today Isa Day Celebration Restored Belief Our Judicial System , Uot Olalia 39s Son , Awyer Rolando Rico Olalia , Aid Ina Statement Quot It Is Alsoa Day Of Loss Anda Remembrance In Honor Two Brave And Honorable Men We Were Privileged To Know As Father Asa Friend The Court Based Much Its Ruling On Testimony State Witness Medardo Barreto , A Retired Policeman Who Had Beena Member Of The Philippine Constabulary And Detailed Under Department Defense 39s Special Operations Group Quot Court Has Carefully Sifted Through Volumes Records These Cases Is Fully Convinced That Prosecution Was Able To Establish Beyond Reasonable Doubt Guilt Accused In , Uot The Decision Reads Quot Through Evidence Adduced During Hearing On Petitions For Bail , T Is Clear That The Operation Involved In These Cases Careful Planning And Surveillance There Should Be No Doubt , Wherefore , Hat The Qualifying Circumstance Of Evident Premeditation , As Been Satisfactorily Proved , Uot The Ruling Added What Happened Three Originally Reported To Then Col Eduardo Kapunan , Urrently The Ambassador To Germany Kapunan Was One Of Those Originally Charged But Subsequently Cleared Whena Court Granted His Demurrer Evidence In 2016 Convicts Were Part Group That Conducted Surveillance On Olalia Ata Japanese Restaurant Along Edsa , Uezon City On Nov 12 , 986 They Then Trailed Olalia 39s Vehicle And Intercepted It Along Julia Vargas Avenue Near The Kaimito Gate Of Valle Verde 2 Proceeded Toa Safehouse In Cubao Victims 39 Bodies Were Found Antipolo Following Day , Eportedly Mutilated Beyond Recognition The Cases Against Nine Others Have Been Archived And Will Be Reactivated Once They Are Arrested Quot We Still Expecting Masterminds To Prosecuted Justice Only Truly Served If Named Judged There Suspects At Large Must Also Sought Convicted , Uota Kmu Statement Read Pna ,
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