Suspect in slay try pleads not guilty

The woman who was accused of hatching a plot to kill the owner of Maria Lina Catering Service yesterday entered a plea of “not guilty” on charges of frustrated homicide.

Manilyn Mier, a former Punta Princesa barangay councilor, denied the allegations against her during arraignment before Judge Sylvia Aguirre-Paderanga of the Regional Trial Court Branch 16 in Cebu City yesterday.

She was linked to the attack on Maria Lina Mier, owner of Maria Lina Catering Services, last March 20, 2011.

Manilyn earlier said the charges were “presumptuous and reckless.”

Two alleged gunmen, Sim Abordo and Roldan Ranolo, identified Manilyn and a certain Vicente Maestrado as the persons who hired them to kill Maria Lina.

Abordo and Ranolo, who were arrested by police in barangay Punta Princesa while trying to escape, confessed to their participation in the crime.

They said their motive was not to rob the shop but to kill the owner.

The two men said they failed to carry out the crime because they were bothered by their conscience.

Police found a photograph of Maria Lina in the possession of Abordo.

The complaint against Maestrado was dismissed for lack of evidence./REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL