Davao court suspends arraignment of accused in killing of Grade 9 student

Victim Amierkhan Mangacop
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

DAVAO CITY — The Regional Trial Court Branch 17 here suspends the arraignment of Dr. Marvin Rey Andrew Pepino, accused in the killing of Grade 9 student Amierkhan Mangacop effective Tuesday.

Mangacop’s legal team on July 22, filed a motion to suspend proceedings pending their request on the resolution of the motion for reconsideration they already filed.

The court order was released at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday citing paragraph C, Section 11, Rule 117 of the Revised Rules of Court.

RTC Branch 17 Judge Emmanuel Carpio re-scheduled the arraignment of the accused on September 22, 2022.

“The family has already filed a Motion For Reconsideration on July 22 before the City Prosecutor’s Office, this is in hoping that the City Prosecutors will review the case with fairness and equality. The Family would like to believe that there is still justice in the Philippines and that justice be done though the heavens fall,” the family’s statement read.

According to the Mangacop family, they strongly believe that it should be a case of murder due to the gravity of injuries inflicted to Amierkhan; the use of hollow point bullets by Dr. Pepino, which has been prohibited by the Hague Convention Declaration III; and that Dr. Pepino is a champion shooter and accurately, in almost linear pattern, hit his targets and all these in the presence of a police officer who was at the scene.

The family, in close coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation here, has also requested for a clarificatory hearing with the City Prosecutor’s Office.

“We are asking for everyone’s prayers and support in our David Vs Goliath fight for Justice for the Murder of Amierkhan Pulalon Mangacop,” the statement said.

Dr. Pepino on July 22 posted P180,000 bail (P120,000 for homicide and P60,000 for RA10591 (absence of permit to carry outside of residence) after his case was downgraded from murder to homicide.

The Mangacop family also awaits the decision of the motion to cause issuance for a precautionary hold departure order they filed also on July 22.

“The family feels that since he has the financial capacity, he would escape prosecution by going abroad for good,” said Mangacop’s legal team in a statement issued to reporters last week.

The family maintained that Amierkhan was not in the bar, not intoxicated and he only arrived at the scene to fetch his cousin while the commotion was going at the parking area outside the Lugar Cafe and Bar along Camus Extension corner Mapa Streets.

Amierkhan’s body bore six fatal gunshot wounds.

A day after the killing of Amierkhan, videos released on social media showed that Mangacop was seen still wearing his motorcycle helmet when he and his cousins arrived at the parking lot just outside the bar and passed by the commotion involving Pepino. Joselle R. Badilla, Inquirer Mindanao

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