THE QUEZON City Regional Trial Court Branch 85 denied the petition to post bail of the alleged brain and two other accused of the murder of Agusan mining executive retired Col. Samuel “Saga” Afdal.
QC RTC Judge Juris Dilinila-Callanta ordered the continued detention of murder suspects Ryan Mark Baylon, Rosalino Degracia and Alemar Awado, while the trial of Saga murder case is ongoing.
In the copy of the resolution dated January 10 presented to reporters on Friday, Callanta ruled that the testimony of Mamerto, the gunman, “would establish that accused Baylon, Degracia, and Awado are probably guilty of the offense charged.”
“It is worthy to note that the essential witness accused of Mamerto’s testimony is worthy of credence. His demeanor while testifying, his consistency and boldness in telling the truth before this Court, under oath, is something crucial that this Court cannot just brush aside. He never wavered during his testimony. He was very candid, categorical, straightforward, spontaneous, frank, forthright, and bold,” the resolution reads.
It added that the accused Baylon’s inducement and command with promise of reward or monetary consideration facilitated the commission of the crime of murder.
Mamerto, who was the fourth suspect of the Saga murder confessed to being the gunman, and pointed to Baylon as the alleged brain, offering Degracia and Awado P200,000.
According to Mamerto’s confession, Degracia and Awado, who were his former New People’s Army comrades, offered him P50,000 cash for the hit job.
“It is only fitting for the three accused, especially the mastermind, who has a propensity to evade justice, to be locked in detention while trial is underway, to ensure the speedy resolution of the case,” Che Afdal, Saga’s daughter, said.
Jeffrey Mamerto is currently serving a sentence of 10 years at the provincial jail of Agusan, after being convicted of the crime last year on Nov. 15.
Baylon is the last of the four suspects in the ambush of Afdal to have been arrested on July 1, 2024 in Barangay Talahiron, Kibawe, Bukidnon by the Agusan police.
Baylon is now currently detained at the Quezon City Jail, along with Degracia, while Awado is in a jail in Bislig City where he is being tried for.
Mamerto, on the other hand, is serving a sentence of 10 years at the provincial jail of Agusan, after being convicted of the crime on Nov. 15, 2023.
