Security guard convicted in death of top lawyer

Before the verdict was read, former security guard Nemuel Sumabong told Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras in Cebuano, “Your Honor, whatever your decision is, I would just like to tell you that the Lord loves you. I’m innocent.”

But his plea didn’t change one word of Peras’ decision.

Sumabong only bowed his head and wept while the court interpreter announced that he was deemed guilty for the murder of lawyer Richard William “Dick” Sayson four years ago.

Shortly after the “guilty” verdict was announced, Sumabong sat down on the floor, stood up and screamed, “Inosente ko. Naa intawn koy anak (I’m innocent. I have a son).”

The 32-year-old Sumabong was sentenced to 20 to 40 years imprisonment.

He was also ordered to pay the heirs of Sison P120 million in compensatory damages to represent the amount the victim would have earned in his law practice.

Sison, the former lawyer of Rep. Arturo Radaza of the lone district of Lapu-Lapu City, was shot dead by an assailant at 11 a.m. at the intersection of M.J. Cuenco Avenue and V. Sotto Street on May 21, 2008.

Justice served

Sumabong was identified by at least two witnesses as the gunman while the driver of the getaway motorcycle remains unidentified.

Apart from compensatory damages, Judge Soliver Peras of Branch 10 mandated Sumabong to pay Sison’s family P500,328 in actual damages, P50,000 in moral damages, and P25,000 in exemplary damages.

Yesterday’s promulgation was thick with tension as the court’s verdict was read past 3 p.m.

Sumabong was led to the courtroom handcuffed and clad in a yellow prisoner’s T-shirt and denim pants by jail personnel.

After the verdict was read, Sumabong’s family wept openly while Blandina Sison, widow of the lawyer Sison, voiced relief over the ruling.

“We’re really happy. At least justice has been served,” Blandina told reporters.

However, the 57-year-old widow is hoping the mastermind behind her husband’s murder will be identified.

“There is obviously a mastermind here. I would have felt better if Sumabong revealed the mastermind’s identity,” Blandina said.

Held liable

She believed the killing of her husband was “job related.”

The Sison family’s lawyer Jennie Aclan said they will commemorate the death of Sison on Monday, May 21.

“He (Sison) would be very happy,” Aclan said. Judge Peras said Sumabong has 15 days to contest his ruling by filing a motion for reconsideration.

In an interview after the proceedings, Sumabong said he has nothing to do with the ambush of Sison.

Sumabong’s lawyer Wendell Quiban was dismayed with the court’s ruling saying it didn’t consider their defenses.

“There are inconsistencies in the testimonies of the (prosecution) witnesses,” Quiban told reporters.

He said he is still contemplating whether to seek the lower court’s reconsideration or contest the verdict before the Court of Appeals.

Sumabong’s 62-year-old father Florence Sumabong insisted on his son’s innocence. “The person who didn’t commit the crime is held liable,” he said.

Sumabong’s lawyer earlier asked Judge Peras to inhibit from the case since he and the slain lawyer were members of the Armed Forces’ Reserved Command.

Straight-forward

But the judge denied the plea, saying that being a member of both the Army Reserve Command and the Judiciary “requires the highest standard of probity and integrity which can be expected of the presiding judge.”

In his 32-page decision, Judge Peras gave credence to the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, particularly the accounts of the two persons who saw the crime.

He said their testimonies agreed on material points and were straightforward, spontaneous and devoid of any contradictions.

Though Sumabong claimed he was the security guard on duty at Gochan Building along Magallanes Street in downtown Cebu City when the incident happened, Peras said it was still possible for him to commit the crime.

Sison was the counsel of the Gochan family with whom Sumabong worked for.

“The building is three to four kilometers from the scene of the incident. By motorcycle, the distance can be negotiated within 10 to 15 minutes,” Peras said.

Judge Peras also didn’t gave weight to Sumabong’s alibi and said the two witnesses positively identified the security guard in the crime scene.

Conscience

Crisanto Lagasca, a technician of Gideon Calibration, positively identified Sumabong as the gunman who shot Sison, who drove a white Toyota pickup.

Lagasca said he earlier refused to testify since he feared for his life.

But he testified saying the murder bothered his conscience.

Carla Vergara, the cashier and secretary of Gideon Calibration, also saw Sumabong holding a firearm before boarding a motorcycle driven by another.

Lagasca and Vergara identified Sumabong through a lineup at the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) office.

Sumabong was arrested in his home in barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City, on June 10, 2008, by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7).

Sumabong, a native of barangay Banban, Bogo City, is a cousin of Joel Sumabong who was accused in the 2005 robbery of a Land Bank of the Philippines branch in Bogo City. About P9.4 million was taken from the bank.