MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang is urging all parties concerned to respect a lower court's decision that convicted former Batangas governor Antonio Leviste for the 2007 killing of his aide.

"We should respect the verdict and allow the rule of law to prevail," deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Judge Elmo Alameda, Branch 50 of the Makati regional trial court found Leviste guilty of homicide in the death of his long-time aide, Rafael delas Alas, sentenced him from 6 to 12 years in prison, and ordered him to pay P100,000 in damages.

Leviste had claimed that he killed Delas Alas in self defense
following an argument in his office at the LPL tower in Makati.