19 witnesses, 52 evidences set versus massacre suspect

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – Still under heavy security and donning, Philip Avino, the lone suspect in the April 6 massacre incident here, arrived at the sala of Judge Mia Joy Olayres-Cawed of the Regional Trial Court Branch 4 at the second floor of the Baguio Justice Hall wearing  bullet proof vest and cap for Tuesday’s pre-trial conference where both parties presented their respective witnesses and pieces of evidence during the course of the trial which will start on July 22.

Avino, who was escorted by around 30 jail guards and backed up by ciry police in full battle gear, was again brought to the court by a vehicle of the Baguio City Jail to avoid being harmed by irate supporters and relatives of the five murder victims.

Compared to his two court appearances last May 5 and May 20 where there was much tension from Avino’s detention cell up to the court room, Tuesday’s pre-trial conference was less stressful because only close family members of the victims appeared in court.

Along the route giving law enforcers a sigh of relief.

Judge Cawed issued a stern warning against relatives and supporters of the five massacre victims not to take unnecessary action that would disrupt smooth flow of the proceedings or she will  order their arrest and for them to be charged accordingly.

She told relatives of victims that they should allow the “wheels of justice to roll and for them not to take the law in their own hands because there are legal procedures that are being observed.”

 Prosecutor Maria Nenita BOpiana said the prosecution will be presenting a minimum of 19 witnesses composed of family members, law enforcers and individuals who could attest to Avino’s involvement in the celebrated massacre incident and a minimum of 52 pieces of evidence that would corroborate the testimonies of the witnesses.

For the defense, lawyer Debbie del Valle, the court appointed lawyer for Avino from the Public Attorneys Office, said the defense will be presenting a still undetermined number of witnesses who will attest that Avino was in Sta. Mesa, Manila when the massacre happened in April 6 among other necessary pieces of evidence.

Avino is facing multiple murder charges for the killing of JackilynNociete, 19, her brother Joey, 9, Jonalyn Lozano, 32, RaymunddelMundo, 8, and Dave de Guzman, 7.

During his scheduled arraignment last May 20, Avino alias Michael Geronimo pleaded not guilty in each of the five murder charges filed against him after each case was read to him in Tagalog by a staff of the court.

The prosecution will start presenting their respective witnesses and pieces of evidence starting July 22 up to the later part of December before the defense will try to present their own witnesses and pieces of evidence that would rebut the prosecution’s charges starting early next year.

While Avino was being escorted out of the court room, some of the relatives shouted at the suspect along the hallway of the Baguio Justice Hall en route to the vehicle.