Philippines' 'most wanted' sentenced to reclusion perpetua

(Updated 5:51 p.m.) Businessman Jose Maria Panlilio, who was the Philippines' most wanted murder suspect, was sentenced by a local court on Tuesday to reclusion perpetua or 20 years and one day up to 40 years in jail.

 

A report from GMA News' Ian Cruz said the sentence was laid down by Calamba Regional Trial Court Branch 36 Judge Louis Acosta after finding Panlilio guilty for the robbery-slay of brothers Albert Gutierrez and Ariel Real in Calamba City in July 2003.

 

After shooting the victims, Panlilio took P250,000 from the brothers.

 

The businessman, was listed No. 1 in the Philippine National Police's most wanted list. He was also placed on the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Red Notice.

 

With a P5-million bounty on his head, Panlilio was nabbed by Interpol agents in Pattaya, Thailand in 2010, which was witnessed by the victims' mother, Carmencita.

 

Tuesday's sentencing only lasted a few minutes since only a dispositive portion of the decision was read before a court room inside the New Bilibid Prisons, the report said.

 

It added that Panlilio did not give any statement on the decision.

 

The sibling's mother, Carmencita, and Ariel's daughter, Patricia, turned emotional after hearing the verdict, the report said. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/ALG, GMA News