Court convicts 3 ex-RAM soldiers over Olalia-Alay-Ay murders

An Antipolo City court on Tuesday convicted three former rebel soldiers involved in the 35-year-old double murder of labor leader Rolando Olalia and his driver Leonor Alay-ay.

According to National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) president Edre Olalia, the court sentenced the three — Desiderio Perez, Dennis Jabatan, and Fernando Casanovas — to reclusion perpetua or maximum imprisonment of 40 years.

"Iko-confirm ko na a few seconds ago, guilty 'yung tatlong akusado," Olalia, cousin of the slain labor leader, said in a press conference. "Guilty beyond reasonable doubt."

Perez, Jabatan, and Casanovas were members of the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM), a group of military officers who attempted to seize power during the presidency of Cory Aquino.

The three were accused of abducting and killing Olalia and Alay-ay in November 1986.

A principal suspect in the case, retired Air Force officer Lieutenant Colonel Eduardo "Red" Kapunan Jr., was cleared in June 2016 after the court granted his demurrer to evidence. 

Olalia said the three former RAM members were arrested in 2012, which means they still have 31 years left in prison.

"They were arrested only in 2012, so that means to say that’s been only nine years. So they will still have to spend 31 years at most," he said.

"They were arrested one after the other in 2012, including the now Ambassador Eduardo Kapunan."

Olalia said nine out of the 13 individuals that were formally charged remain at large.

He also said private prosecutors, lawyers, and the families of Olalia and Alay-ay welcomed the conviction.

"It is with deep relief mixed with a tinge of frustration that we welcome the decision of the trial court convicting three of the accused in this long, drawn-out case of unspeakable murder and torture," Olalia said.

"On the one hand, others were allegedly involved based on the disturbing testimonial evidence of the prosecution remain off the hook and are in our midst. Nine of those formally charged are still at large despite 35 years on the run."  

'Fight for justice not yet over'

Meanwhile, the family identified the nine individuals who stood accused of the murders. These were Cirilo Almario, Jose Bacera, Ricardo Dicon, Gilbert Galicia, Oscar Legaspi, Filomen Maligaya, Gene Paris, Freddie Sumagaysay, and Edger Sumido.

"The whereabouts of 9 of the 13 accused are still unknown today, leaving only Fernando Casanova, Dennis Jabatan and Desiderio Perez to be pronounced guilty by the trial court," the Olalia family said in a statement.

Due to this, the family stressed that its fight for justice is not yet over, saying that only when all accused and unnamed principals are brought before the courts will justice be served.

"Our victory today has only stiffened our resolve to never abandon our search for the remaining 9 men involved in our father’s brutal killing," the family said.

The family also expressed their gratitude to the NUPL, the panel of public prosecutors, which was Deputy Chief State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva, volunteer colleagues, KMU, and Bayan.

"Today is a day of celebration and of restored belief in our judicial system.  It is also a day of loss and a day of remembrance in honor of two brave and honorable men we were privileged to know as father and as a friend," the family said. — KBK/RSJ, GMA News