The Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld the conviction of
several members of the notorious Rajah Solaiman Movement in connection with the
Awang Airport
In a 24-page ruling written by Associate Justice Marie
Christine Azcarraga-Jacob, the CA's Special 16th Division denied the appeal
filed by Zulkifli/Julkifli alias Donis/Doni, Ofracio/Ahmad Faisal, Taufiq
Rifqui, Feliciano Delos Reyes alias Box and Dinno Amor Pareja alias Khaleel who
sought to set aside the ruling rendered by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court
(RTC) Branch 154 finding them guilty of the crime of murder with double
attempted murder.
On Feb. 20, 2003 at around 2:30 p.m., a loud explosion
rocked the airport where Sgt. Nelson Corpuz was killed while many others were
injured.
Several houses were burned and the airport's terminal
building was damaged.
Investigation showed that the explosion was caused by an
improvised explosive device that was placed in a white Suzuki multicab, which was
parked in a restaurant that was placed across the entrance gate of the airport.
The incident led to the arrest of the accused as well as
their conviction.
In its April 20, 2016 ruling released on Monday, the CA said
that "appellants were properly convicted of the complex crime of murder
with double attempted murder and should thus be meted out a single
penalty."
However, in view of the enactment of Republic Act No. 9346,
which prohibits the imposition of death penalty, the CA said that "the
penalty for the crime should, therefore, be reduced to reclusion perpetua
without eligibility for parole."
The CA also ruled that the award of moral damages be
modified and increased to Php 75,000 for the heirs of Sgt. Corpuz, Haydee Bello
and Luna Umpal.
Concurring with the ruling were Associate Justices Ricardo
Rosario and Ramon Paul Hernando.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=894696
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