Main suspect in 2016 Laguna parricide case pleads not guilty

The main suspect in the 2016 Laguna parricide case maintained his innocence on Thursday in a tense arraignment at the Sta. Rosa Regional Trial Court.

According to a Balitanghali report by John Consulta, Ricardo Sta. Ana pleaded “not guilty” in relation to the death of his wife Pearl and their one-year-old son Denzel.

Authorities believe Sta. Ana hired the two killers who brutally murdered his wife and son inside their home.

The suspected middleman named alias “Jojo,” the star witness of the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police, also surfaced in the courtroom.

In an exclusive interview with GMA News, Jojo revealed that Sta. Ana spoke with him in Muntinlupa on February 22, 2016 to seek revenge on a man who allegedly aggravated his sister.

One day before committing the crime, Jojo said he was ordered by Sta. Ana to target Pearl and Denzel instead.

Authorities believe the case against Sta. Ana is airtight as CCTV footage also showed Sta. Ana and the two killers meeting up after committing the crime on March 2, 2016, the wedding anniversary of the prime suspect and the victim.

There was also some tension between the families of the suspect and victims after the arraignment.

The father of Sta. Ana was caught on video shoving people by the staircase as they were exiting the courtroom, but he denied such an incident took place.

The relatives of the victims were also seen hitting the van used to transport Sta. Ana to and from the court.

There is no date yet for the next hearing. — Julia Mari Ornedo/MDM, GMA News