Heir of rich family convicted
After 12 years, the family of two brothers killed in Calamba City, Laguna in July 2003 got justice Monday when a court found Jose Maria Panlilio, 63, son of the late Fe Sarmiento Panlilio, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of robbery with homicide.
Acting Presiding Judge Louis Acosta of the Calamba Regional Trial Court Branch 36 sentenced Panlilio to reclusion perpetua without the eligiblity of parole for the killing of brothers Ariel de Castro Real and Albert de Castro Gutierrez during a promulgation at the New Bilibid Prison courthouse in Muntinlupa City.
The court ordered Panlilio to pay the families of Real and Gutierrez ₱600,000 in civil indemnity, moral damages, and exemplary damages and ₱275,000 for actual damages and temperate damages for burial expenses.
Lawyer Carmencita de Castro, mother of the victims, was in tears as the verdict was read inside the courtroom.
On the day of the crime, Real and Gutierrez went to Calamba to redeem a Starex van of Panlilio for P250,000. According to Real’s widow, Laura, her husband withdrew the amount from a bank.
Laura later learned that the two were already dead.
“Salamat sa Diyos,” Mrs. De Castro exclaimed in the court after the guilty verdict was announced. She said she spent a total of ₱15 million for seven years just to find Panlilio, who hid in Thailand after the case.
During those years, Mrs. De Castro got the criminal records of Panlilio from the NBI and published his photo in newspapers with a ₱5-million reward. She distributed flyers in Metro Manila and provinces and posted the suspect’s photo all over the country.
Through an informer, she tracked Panlilio in Bangkok where he was working at the Thailand International Art Jewelry Store.
Through the help of the NBI, Camp Crame Interpol, Thailand Interpol, and Thailand Immigration office, she was able to find Panlilio, who was eventually deported back to the Philippines on June 12, 2010.
Outside the NBP courthouse, Mrs. De Castro said, “Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos, nagpapasalamat ako sa judge at tama ang ginawa niya.”
Of the accused Panlilio, she said, “Sana matikman niya ang ginawa nya sa aking dalawang anak.”
She said she didn’t fear the fact that the Panlilios are well-known, adding that it was for the justice of her sons.
“He deserves to rot in jail,” said Real’s daughter, Patricia, who came back to the Philippines from California last August 10 for the promulgation. She said she was just 12-yearsold when her father and uncle were killed.