MANILA, Philippines—The gunman in the killing of a Caloocan City barangay councilor—an act that was caught on camera—and his two cohorts were arraigned on a charge of murder in court Thursday.
But since Arnel Buenaflor, Michael Rollon and Frederick Sales refused to say anything, Judge Oscar Barrientos of the Caloocan Regional Trial Court Branch 123 entered a plea of not guilty on their behalf.
Their lawyer, Ulysses Gallego, told the judge that he intends to appeal the court’s earlier decision to junk a motion to quash the information against his clients.
Barrientos set the pre-trial hearing on April 19.
On January 1, a few minutes after the start of the New Year, Barangay 35 councilor Reynaldo Dagsa was shot by Buenaflor as he was taking a picture of his family in front of their house in Maypajo, Caloocan.
The photograph, which first saw print in the Inquirer, showed Buenaflor aiming a .45-cal. pistol at Dagsa while a lookout, later identified as Rollon, stood behind the victim’s family.
Two other alleged accomplices, Francis Bronjal and Rommel Oliva, remain at large.
Buenaflor, who went into hiding after the shooting, was arrested on January 6 in Aurora, Isabela.
When sought for comment by the Inquirer, Randy Serrano, counsel for the Dagsa family, said he was confident of the pieces of evidence against the accused, including Buenaflor’s statement that he did not regret killing the victim.
For his part, Gallego was more evasive. “Let’s leave it to the courts,” he told the Inquirer.
Attempts to interview Buenaflor, Rollon and Sales inside a temporary detention cell behind the courtroom proved futile.
The arraignment started at 8:30 a.m. in the courtroom, which was packed with supporters of the slain councilor.
They were clad in black T-shirts which bore the message: “Justice for Kagawad Dagsa.” Arlene, the victim’s wife, was also present.
“Justice will be served,” she told the Inquirer.