Minor in Negros doctor's murder sentenced to 17 years

A 16-year-old boy convicted in the murder of Dr. Andres Gumban in his home in Bacolod City was, on Tuesday, sentenced to a 17 year jail term, the Negros-based Visayan Daily Star reported Wednesday. In his eight-page decision read behind closed doors, Bacolod Judge Ray Alan Drilon found the accused guilty for the May 10 murder and, not only sentenced him to jail, but also ordered the minor to pay the heirs of the victim P75,000 as civil indemnity. The minor had voluntarily entered a guilty plea when he was arraigned last July 2. But, since the accused is a minor, he is covered by Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act. According to Filomeno Tan, the Gumban family’s legal counsel, this means that the minor will not be sent straight to jail. Rather, he will go to the Regional Youth Rehabilitation Center in Guimaras until he is 18 years old. Tan added that Drilon scheduled a disposition conference on the minor’s verdict on January 18 next year, in which the conditions which he needs to abide with while he is at the rehabilitation center will be discussed. If the minor then abides with the conditions set during the disposition conference and shows that he is reformed, he might regain his freedom instead of serving his sentence when he reaches 18 years old. Arnaldo Gumban told the DAILY STAR that he would rather not say anything because the case against the other suspect, Pof Pascual, 18, of Brgy. Tadlong, Sagay City, Negros Occidental is on-going. However, Gumban's friend, Tammy Reyes, said the verdict may be unfair because the minor may regain his freedom. Case records showed Gumban was stabbed 35 times in his house at Regent Pearl Homes Subdivision on May 10 by the minor and allegedly by Pascual. Disturbingly, the minor videotaped the murder on his mobile phone. The footage was recovered by police and presented as evidence during the trial. The doctor met the minor through Facebook. — DVM, GMA News