Two men were sentenced to reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years for the killing of Assistant City Prosecutor Patrick Ian Osorio who was shot dead while driving home in barangay Mambaling, Cebu City in 2009.
Barangay tanod Allan Senogat, 34, and Lyndon Horandoy, 29, were ordered to pay P1.05 million in damages to the victim’s heirs and another P7 million, the amount which Osorio was supposed to earn as a public prosecutor.
The conviction was handed down by Judge Silvestre Maamo of the Regional Trial Court Branch 17.
However, no motive was mentioned in the court decision for why Osorio was ambushed.
The court based its decision on the witness account of Sergio Abala, an overseas worker (OFW), who saw the ambush on Jan. 6, 2009.
Senoga’s alibi that he was home in Talisay city was rejected.
Osorio was driving his Toyota Revo which slowed down in traffic on Maria Gochan Street in the afternoon. Two men on a motorcycle drove up to the side of the van. The backrider fired several times, hitting Osorio twice in the body. He died in the hospital the following day.
Osorio’s family welcomed the decision.
“We prayed hard for this. I believe divine justice came to intervene,” said Osorio’s father Jesus in an interview .
Senogat continued to insist on his innocence.
“Totoki ninyo og maayo kon kami ba gyud. Wala mi sala. Kab-ota ninyo ang hustisya og maayo. (Look at us closely so you’ll know if we are the same persons who actually killed the victim. We’re innocent,” Senogat told Osorio’s family in the courtroom.
Horandoy, the person tagged as the gunman, stared hard at Osorio’s family as he and Sinogat were led out by armed guards of the Cebu City Jail.
“Our joy isn’t complete because we have no idea who the mastermind is,” said Osorio’s widow Julia.
Julia, nonetheless, said she hopes her husband will find peace with the conviction.
“Wherever the Lord brought him, I hope he will be happy. I pray that he will find eternal joy,” she said.