Suspect in slay of 2 women in Siquijor found guilty

DUMAGUETE CITY — The suspect behind the killing of 21-year-old Jan Nicole “Nikki” Piñero and 17-year-old Lorraine Ramirez in Siquijor last year was found guilty on two counts of murder.

Michael Manayon was meted Tuesday with double reclusion perpetua sentences without parole by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46 in Larena town, Siquijor.

Aside from the double life sentences, the court has also ordered Manayon to pay a total of P685,000 in moral damages and litigation expenses with six percent interest per year.

Manayon, 34, was found guilty of two counts of murder after he stabbed the two girls to death during a longboarding tournament at a beach resort in San Juan town, Siquijor on April 2, 2017, said Dumaguete City Councilor Michael Bandal, the lead counsel of the Piñero and Ramirez families.

Manayon was reportedly high on drugs when he killed the two victims.

Because Piñero was three months pregnant at the time she was murdered, Manayon was charged with murder with unintentional abortion, on which the court ordered heavier damages, on top of the murder charge for killing Ramirez.

The two cases were filed separately but were tried jointly by RTC Branch 46 Judge Alejandro Bahonsua Jr., Bandal said.

Manayon’s camp still has 15 days from the day the court handed down the verdict to file a motion for reconsideration before the Court of Appeals; otherwise, the decision will be considered made with finality.

Speaking in behalf of the victims’ families, Bandal said: “They (Nikki and Lorraine’s families) are not after the money and moral damages. In the first place, ever since the decision came out, they never mentioned about the damages. They are actually after the conviction of the accused. They are simply glad because justice has been finally served.”

In his Facebook post, Piñero’s father, Dionesio, simply thanked his family’s lawyers for their efforts, which included Bandal and fellow sitting Dumaguete Councilors Atty. Alan Gel Cordova and Manuel Arbon, who took on the case pro bono.

“We all know Coach Niño well. Personally, he was my swimming coach before,” Bandal said when asked why they handled the case without charge.

Manayon, who hails from Lapu-Lapu City admitted to killing Piñero and Ramirez immediately after he was arrested on the night of April 2. He was caught with a pack of dried marijuana leaves.

He reportedly used six knives in the crime. According to an eyewitness report by Piñero’s friend, Manayon stabbed Ramirez first. He then stabbed Piñero, who chose to stay and help Ramirez.

The suspect then told investigators that he planned to kill Ramirez’s boyfriend because the latter threatened to report him to the police that he had marijuana.

Meanwhile, Bandal said that while drug charges were filed against Manayon, the case was already settled through a plea bargain with the Siquijor Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. — BAP, GMA News