Soldiers in 2010 slay of activist Benjamin Bayles get reclusion perpetua

Two soldiers of the Philippine Army have been found guilty by the Bacolod Regional Trial Court of murder in connection with the killing of activist Benjamin Bayles in 2010 .

In a 33-page decision,  Judge Ana Celeste Bernad found Rafael Cordova alias Rogen Bajon and Reygine Laus alias Ronnie Caurino guilty of murder.

Both were sentenced to suffer reclusion perpetua or between 20 to 40 years in prison.

The court said that based on testimonial and documentary evidence, the prosecution was able to establish the guilt of the accused by that quantum of proof sufficient to produce a moral certainty “that would convince the conscience of those who are to act in judgment.”

It added that the accused used an unlicensed firearm to kill Bayles.

"The prosecution was able to prove the existence of firearm and that the two accused are not licensed to possess the same and that he was positively identified by the witnesses as the one who fired shots against the victim," the court order read.

Bayles was shot and killed on June 14, 2010 at Barangay Su-ay in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.

Meanwhile, National Union of People's  Lawyers president Edre Olalia said the conviction of the two military personnel was a clear message and warning to those who believed in "immunity for impunity."

"We even waited more than three decades for some of the killers and torturers of labor leader Ka Lando Olalia and unionist Ka Leonor Alay-ay to be convicted by an Antipolo court," Olalia said.

"Now we waited more than a decade before two army personnel who killed in 2010 Benjamin Bayles, Bayan Muna coordinator and Iglesia Filipina Independiente member, to be convicted by a Negros court," he added. -NB, GMA News