Accused pleads not guilty
Not guilty. This was the plea of Jonathan Sanchez, the accused in the killing of lawyer Goering George Paderanga Sr. and his son, lawyer Gerik Caesare Paderanga last December.
Sanchez, 43, a resident of Tabada St., Mambaling, Cebu City, submitted a not guilty plea during his arraignment yesterday before the sala of Judge Anacleto Debalucos of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 17.
The shooting incident happened on December 22, 2016 at around 8 p.m. outside the Paderangas’ law firm along F. Ramos Street, Barangay Sta Cruz, Cebu City.
With the assistance of public attorney Paul Tristan Sato, Sanchez, who stood before Debalucos wearing a yellow t-shirt, denied the killing of the lawyer who also happens to be the husband of RTC Judge Sylva Paderanga.
In his complaintaffidavit, Goering George Jr., alleged his father, Goering Sr. and brother, Atty. Gerik Caesare, 37, were shot by the accused without any prior confrontation.
Goering Sr., 62, died two hours after he was shot while Gerik, 37, died three days later.
Sanchez, who was arrested on December 23, reportedly admitted shooting the victims because their cars were allegedly blocking a cement mixer from entering a construction site he was guarding.
Prior to the incident, the Paderangas were returning to their law firm from a dinner with their family.
Gerik allegedly parked their vehicle in a narrow street near F. Ramos St, while Goering Sr. went inside their office.
Gerik was shot in the nape. Goering Sr., who allegedly went out of the office after hearing gunshots, was shot in the chest.
A motion for reconsideration was filed after the first motion to place Sanchez under psychological examination was denied.
Sato claimed Sanchez looks like he was lost and sometimes he was not responding properly to his questions.
To examine if Sanchez was fit for trial, Debalucos questioned the accused.
After the questioning, Debalucos believed that the accused was fit for trial after he properly and intelligently answered all his questions. Thus, he denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the defense.
The prosecution will be presenting nine witnesses during trial while the defense will be presenting three witnesses including the accused.