MANILA – The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the conviction of a man found guilty by a Batangas court of stabbing to death his neighbor during a drinking session on the night of the 2016 national elections.
The appellate court affirmed Dante Aguilar’s sentence of up to 12 years in prison for homicide imposed by the Batangas Regional Trial Court Branch 04 in 2019 for the death of Roger Medrano on May 9, 2016.
The 13-page decision written by Associate Justice Ronaldo Martin dated February 2 and published online Tuesday also ordered Aguilar to pay PHP156,500 in civil and moral damages and for the funeral expenses of the family.
Medrano, a tricycle driver, was already intoxicated when he asked Aguilar to drink with him in Sitio Alikabog, Bauan after causing a scene at the polling precinct because his name was not on the voters’ list.
In the middle of the drinking session, the victim began blaming Aguilar for causing the omission of his name.
Aguilar claimed the victim was the one who pulled out a knife and attacked him but he managed to wrest control of the weapon.
He admitted he, too, was already in a drunken state and could no longer recall what had happened afterwards.
The medical examination showed the victim sustained multiple stab wounds to the chest and was declared dead on arrival at the Bauan General Hospital. (PNA)
