TAYUG – A bodyguard of a former town mayor was sentenced to life imprisonment for the gunslaying of a former policeman in Umingan town.

In a 13-page decision promulgated Sept. 19, 2006, Judge Ulysses Raciles Butuyan of the regional trial court branch 51 sentenced the accused, Esteban Navarrete, 40, of barangay Maseil-seil, Umingan to life imprisonment for the murder of Romeo Malbas Sr.

The court also ordered Navarrete to pay the heirs of Malbas the sum of P600,000 for damages.

Malbas was shot dead with .45 caliber gun by the accused on Sept. 22, 2001 along barangay Montano, Umingan. The lone eyewitness, Romeo Malbas Jr, positively identified Navarrete as he was then about six meters away only when his father was killed.

Navarrete was arrested by elements of National Anti Kidnapping Task Force in Kalentong, Mandaluyong City on April 9, 2005.

They dropped by the police station at Gerona, Tarlac and some  200 people positively identified him as the one who killed a “Father Cadena” a barrio priest in Gerona, Tarlac.

Navarette did not conceal his face when he attacked Malbas. – EVA

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