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A former barangay captain tagged in the killing of an employee of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) last June 5 is charged with homicide by the City Prosecutor's Office.

However, the suspect, former Dampas barangay captain Godofredo Ingles, is set to challenge the resolution of the City Prosecutor on the grounds of "uncorroborated testimonies" of the two witnesses who accused him as responsible in the killing of LTO traffic enforcer Apolinario Reyes.

In a resolution dated August 9, 2009, City Prosecutor Conrado Supremo stated that there is a probable cause to charge Ingles for the crime of homicide.

Between 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. last June 5, Reyes, 42, a resident of Sta. Catalina, Sagbayan town was shot dead in front of the LTO-Tagbilaran office.

Two lady witnesses, also employees of LTO, pinpointed to Ingles as the alleged gunman. The two witnesses were inside the LTO office at the time of the shooting.         

One witness said she heard the loud voice of Ingles saying, "Trouble, if you want trouble" immediately prior to the gun burst and saw the suspect holding a gun pointed at the victim who fell to the ground.

The second witness said she saw Ingles and heard him say that he had an altercation with Reyes and that he "was prompted to do it".

The suspect also presented five witnesses, whom he had a drinking spree prior to the shooting incident, to disprove the accusations of the two lady witnesses.

All five witnesses supported the respondent's denial that he was the gunman with the assertion that Ingles was with them drinking beer until the time they heard what sounded to be a gunshot.

They also claimed that it was impossible for anyone at the LTO office to see the trigger man and the victim due to the obstruction of a passenger bus parked in front of the office.

Moreover, another witness, who also submitted a sworn statement to the city prosecutor, said that he saw the gunman, but could not identify him as it was dark, and that he was sure that it was not Ingles having known the latter for a long time.

According to City Prosecutor Supremo, even assuming that it was impossible for anyone to see the triggerman and the victim at the time of the incident, the testimony of the two lady witnesses would "suffice to make circumstantial evidence and or establish probable cause".

"A finding of probable cause merely binds over the subject to stand trial, it does not impose a guilty verdict."

The city prosecutor recommended a bail bond of P40,000 for the respondent. - the Bohol Chronicle

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