Teen charged for murder; fiscal recommends no bail

FOR KILLING NEIGHBOR

A teenager is facing charges before the court for allegedly killing his 65-yearold neighbor in Barangay Bulacao-Pardo, Cebu City last year.

City Prosecutor Leah Cruz found probable cause and held 18-year-old Michael Briones for trial for murder. No bail was recommended for the teen’s temporary release.

“Based on the uncontroverted evidence, it appears that there is reasonable ground to believe that respondent may be held responsible for the offense. It appears that respondent, with evident premeditation, caused victim’s death,” said Cruz.

As indicated in the death certificate, victim Cristita Limbaga died of blunt traumatic injuries to the head and neck. The suspect allegedly killed her on June 10, 2015 inside her house.

Limbaga’s daughter, 42year-old Aimee Libres said that prior to her mother’s death, she told her she was scared of Briones because he was always roaming around the victim’s house.

The teenager, Libres said, was allegedly a known robber and illegal drug user in their place.

At about 3 a.m. on June 10, 2015, Libres said she received a call from her younger sister informing her that their mother was found dead inside the house.

She said a neighbor approached her and told her that at around 11 p.m. of June 9, he saw Briones and some companions outside the house of her mother acting suspiciously.

“…based on the circumstances, where my mother told me about her suspicion to the suspect that might do something to her and to the testimony of (witness)… their statement collaborates and coincide, thus made me decided to sue the suspect,” read Libres’ affidavit.

The prosecutor summoned Briones in his last known address, but the subpoena was returned with the annotation that “respondent moved and left…no forwarding address.”

The prosecutor then resolved the complaint based on the evidence of the complainant and found sufficient ground to indict the teenager for murder.