2 cell phone snatchers sentenced to life term by Quezon City court

Two robbers now face a life behind bars after being convicted by a Quezon City court for robbing a sales clerk of her cell phone 10 years ago.

Judge Bayani Vargas, of Regional Trial Court Branch 219, found  Virgilio Brazil and Raul Ocampo guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of robbery with homicide.

Another suspect, Ildefonso Gratela II, was killed during the incident.

The suspects had  engaged pursuing agents of the Quezon City Police District in a   gun battle that lead to the death of Gratela.

In its decision, the court said  one of the robbers (Gratela)  was killed and that it was  the responding law enforcers who most probably shot him, but this did not affect the nature of the charges.

Vargas cited jurisprudence stating that “it is immaterial … that the victim of homicide is one of the robbers; the felony would still be robbery with homicide. Once a homicide is committed by or on the occasion of the robbery, the felony committed is robbery with homicide.”

Having survived the gun battle, Brazil and Ocampo were charged in court for  robbing sales clerk Ayson Dumadag at gunpoint along N. Domingo Street.

Dumadag was on  her way to church when a Toyota Corona sedan stopped near her and a man, later identified as Brazil, alighted and approached her.

Brazil allegedly snatched her  cell phone from her right hand at gunpoint after which he jumped back into the car and sped away.

The complainant shouted for help  from a roving QCPD mobile patrol car, which chased the suspects’ vehicle.

The chase led to a running gun battle which ended in Maybunga, Pasig City, after the suspects’ getaway car hit a parked vehicle and an electric post.

Law enforcers immediately nabbed Brazil and Ocampo while Gratela was found dead of  gunshot wounds, slumped on the front passenger seat.