Farmer pleads ‘not guilty’
IN an interview, he earlier admitted killing 53-year-old Canadian Darcy Hanz Reutenberg in the mountain barangay of Adlawon, Cebu City.
But 46-year-old Rolando Aburot yesterday denied participating in the crime.
“I wasn’t the one who killed him,” Aburot told reporters after he appeared before Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso of Branch 6.
Aburot along with wife Marilyn and their 17-year-old son entered a “not guilty” plea during their arraignment.
Since one of the accused is a minor, the judge held the proceedings inside her chambers.
The accused were assisted by lawyer Jonnah John Ungab.
The pre-trial is scheduled on Sept. 20.
The couple and their son are facing charges of robbery with homicide for killing Reutenberg, a retiree and family friend, last June 26.
No bail was recommended for the accused.
In an earlier interview, Aburot said he had known the Canadian for over 10 years and was a close friend.
He said he was asked by Reutenberg to build a rest house in a lot owned by Aburot’s grandmother.
Reutenberg said he sought the permission of the lot owner but Aburot found out that Reutenberg had lied to him.
The farmer was also angry that Canadian allegedly failed to pay him for building the house in a span of two weeks.
During a drinking session, Aburot confronted Reutenberg about the latter’s failure to seek the permission of his grandmother.
He said the Canadian allegedly got angry and pointed a firearm at him. Aburot said he grappled for the gun with Reutenberg.
When he got possession of the firearm, Aburot said he shot the Canadian in the head.
Aburot said he took P50,000 from the wallet of Reutenberg before he buried the Canadian in a pit used for charcoal making near his house.
Afterward, Aburot cemented the grave, which he used as a pig pen.
So no one will know about the crime, Aburot bought seven piglets and placed them in the pen. He also bought two carabaos.
