Former mall security camera operator vows to clear his name

A tearful Jeffrey Aquino yesterday said he won’t run away after he was charged with murder for the fatal mauling of shopper Mario Alfie Ducayag last April 12.

“Gipasalig nako nga dili ko molayas. Sa time nga mogawas ang warrant of arrest batok nako, dili ko modagan kay inosente man ko. (I promise not to flee once a warrant of arrest will be issued against him because I’m innocent of the charges),” he said.

The 32-year-old Aquino, a former security camera operator of Gaisano Metro Colon, was accused of single-handedly mauling Ducayag after he was suspected of trying to sneak out a pair of sandals with his groceries.

Aquino of Pinamungajan town said he’s still in Cebu City looking for a job after the store didn’t renew his contract following the incident.

Aquino, along with Mauricio Doblados Jr. and Melvin Boyles will go on trial for murder charges.

Doblados, the former chief security officer of Gaisano Metro Colon; and Boyles, the former confidential intelligence of the department store earlier accused Aquino of mauling Ducayag to death.

Aquino claimed that it was Doblados who killed Ducayag.

“(I will stand by what I said before. It was Doblados who mauled Aquino. Since it was him who killed the victim, he should admit what he did instead of accusing me),” he said.

His lawyer Salvador Solima said he will ask the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office to reconsider its ruling.

Legal options

“Our first option would be filing a motion for reconsideration. But if it will be denied, then I’m planning to elevate the case before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for review,” Solima said yesterday.

The Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office recently approved the filing of murder charges in court against Aquino, Doblados, and Boyles.

Based on a resolution by Asst. City Prosecutor Anna Lou Fernandez-Cavada, Aquino mauled and killed Ducayag. But Doblados and Boyles were equally liable for failing to stop Aquino from killing the victim.

Ducayag’s family yesterday offered Mass at the Basilica del Sto. Nino in downtown Cebu City, a day after they received a copy of the resolution of the prosecutors’ office.

Wearing black shirts with print “Mad Justice,” the family visited Cebu City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon at the Palace of Justice.

They later met with Regional Director Antonio Pagatpat of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI). Ducayag’s mother Fe Soledad said they won’t give up on the case.

truth and justice

“We won’t be enticed with money because what we’re after is truth and justice,” she told reporters.

Ducayag’s sister Marie Shantylle appealed to the suspects to admit their guilt and surrender once they were issued arrest warrants.

The family celebrated Ducayag’s 24th birthday last Tuesday. The three respondents have 15 days from receipt of the resolution to file a motion for reconsideration.

Otherwise, murder charges will be elevated against them before the Regional Trial Court which will issue arrest warrants against them. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol