Victim’s dad on Ivler’s conviction: ‘I have redeemed my promise to my boy’

Former presidential chief of staff Renato Ebarle Sr. on Tuesday welcomed the ruling of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) finding Jason Ivler guilty for the killing of his only son, Renato Victor Ebarle Jr., in 2009.

"As we laid Victor to his final rest six years ago, I promised him that we will not stop until Jason Ivler was brought to justice and that he would pay for his crime,” Ebarle said in a press statement.

"Today, with Jason Aguilar Ivler found guilty of Victor’s murder by a competent court, I have redeemed my promise to my boy."

In a ruling promulgated Tuesday, the QC RTC Branch 84 found Ivler guilty of murder for killing the younger Ebarle on November 18, 2009 following a road altercation. He was sentenced to reclusion perpetua or a maximum of 40 years of imprisonment and ordered to pay the Ebarle family civil damages totaling P9.373 million.

"It was an agonizing and long-drawn process coming to today’s verdict, but the outcome nonetheless reinforces our confidence in the judicial system," Ebarle said.

In an interview at a restaurant near the Quezon City Hall of Justice, Ebarle said he opted not to attend the promulgation of the ruling as he could not bear to face Ivler.

"We are taught to forgive, but as a father, you should understand 'yung suffering na dinaanan ng family namin – the emotional and mental pain," he said. "Hindi mo basta-basta masasabi na mapapatawad mo yung tao. Hindi ko pa nga siya kayang makita."

Ebarle said he regrets that the Philippines has already abolished the death penalty. "I’m quite certain kung meron tayong death penalty, the court will render a death penalty sentence to him (Ivler)," he said.

Ebarle said he is confident that the Court of Appeals will affirm the QC RTC ruling given the strong evidence presented by the prosecution at the course of the years-long trial.

In its ruling, the QC RTC Branch 84 said the case is considered automatically appealed by the defense before the CA.

“Hindi kapani-paniwala ang alibi nila that he (Ivler) was not there [at the crime scene]. Napakalakas ng forensic evidence at testimonial evidence. Kaya tiwala kami na talagang mako-convict siya,” Ebarle said.

Ebarle admitted that up to now, he cannot yet fully accept the death of his son.

“The shock and the pain remain because of the utter senselessness of the murder,” he said, adding that his son was only 27 when he was killed and had a “bright career ahead of him” as a recruitment manager in Peninsula Hotel Manila.

Ebarle Jr. was the eldest and the only boy among four siblings.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Ivler maintained that he is innocent of the crime.

"For this [case], I am not guilty...For what happened to Secretary Ponce, I do apologize to the Ponce family, but for this murder case (on Ebarle Jr.) I am not guilty," Ivler said.

Ivler was referring to the late former Malacañang adviser Nestor Ponce Jr.

In August 2004, Ivler's vehicle rammed into Ponce's vehicle in Pasig City. Ponce died in the incident while his wife, Evangeline, sustained injuries.

In November 2010, the Supreme Court dismissed the reckless imprudence resulting in homicide case against Ivler for Ponce’s death.

The SC dismissed the case due to the rule against "double jeopardy." The SC said Ivler cannot be tried for the crime of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to property, as he had already been convicted by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court of reckless imprudence resulting in slight physical injuries for the same incident. —KBK, GMA News