THE GUNMAN of the notorious Dominguez car-theft gang was found guilty Tuesday of killing a woman and stealing her brand-new car—even running over her body in his haste to escape—in Kamuning, Quezon City, in 2011.
Rolando Talban a.k.a. Eduardo Fernandez, who was described by the victim’s father as a “demon,” was sentenced to reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years in jail) by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 87 after he was convicted of qualified car theft under Republic Act No. 6539.
Judge Aurora Hernandez-Calledo also ordered Talban to pay P300,000 in damages to the family of the victim, Marie Teresita Teaño, an administrative assistant at the Land Registration Authority.
Car theft becomes qualified or aggravated when, in the course of the commission of the crime, the owner, driver or occupant is killed or raped, the court explained.
“I’m satisfied because the penalty was reclusion perpetua. At least my daughter was given justice after four years,” the victim’s father, lawyer Odon Teaño, said after the promulgation.
“When I see him (Talban), my chest goes…” he added as he pounded his chest. “What kind of person does those things? He’s a demon.”
Talban, together with brothers Roger and Raymond Dominguez—
the alleged leaders of the Dominguez car-theft gang—are also accused of being behind the death of car dealer Venson Evangelista in 2011. The case is pending in the Quezon City RTC Branch 215. Evangelista was shot and killed while the sport utility vehicle he was selling was stolen.
“I’m happy, this is justice for everyone although my son’s case is still pending. This will serve as [a] warning to future [car thieves] that the criminal justice system is still working,” Venson’s father, Arsenio, said.
“At least, Talban was held accountable. He has a lot of cases. He was also accused of killing Rejoice Rivera of the Baywalk Bodies,” Arsenio said. Rivera, a starlet who was allegedly dating Raymond Dominguez, was found dead on the North Luzon Expressway in December 2010. She had been shot twice in the head.
Teaño was killed in front of Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center on Kamuning Road corner T. Gener Street in Quezon City around 6 a.m. on June 15, 2011. Three men approached her as she was getting out of her red sedan, a newly purchased Hyundai Accent.
According to an eyewitness, it was Talban who grabbed Teaño’s bag. At first, the witness thought it was a marital quarrel as the man hugged the woman during the struggle. When the woman broke free and attempted to run, the man shot her.
“Eyewitness Rosemarie Quintos made a direct, positive, categorical and straightforward testimony during the trial that she actually saw the accused as the very same person who shot Marie Teresita Teaño,” the court decision said.
Quintos said that after shooting Teaño, Talban went to the victim and shot her again. He then drove off in the victim’s car with his two cohorts, running over the victim who was lying in the street, the police said. Quinto was able to identify Talban from a police gallery.
In his defense, Talban said he was working in his uncle’s sugarcane plantation in Batangas from June 2008 to June 2011 and never went to Metro Manila during that period.