The Cebu City Regional Trial Court has issued an arrest warrant against two former security personnel of a department store in Colon St., Cebu City who were implicated in the fatal mauling of a shopper whom they allegedly mistook for a shoplifter.
Judge Wilfredo Navarro of the RTC Branch 19 issued the arrest warrant against Jeffrey Aquino and Mauricio Doblados Jr. Both are facing murder charges for the fatal mauling of Mario Alfie Ducayag on April 12, 2013.
Ducayag’s sister Marie Shantylle was elated with the issuance of the arrest warrant, saying agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are already looking for the two men.
“(Our hopes were) raised. This is another answered prayer,” she said.
Marie Shantylle said Aquino and Ducayag should be arrested so legal proceedings can begin.
“We are looking forward to the arrest of both so the wheels can start turning. We call on everyone especially those who support our cause to help us locate Doblados and Aquino.” she said.
Probable cause
The Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office earlier found probable cause against Aquino, a former security camera operator of Gaisano Metro Colon Mall, as the man who handcuffed and beat up Ducayag.
Ducayag was detained for allegedly shoplifting a pair of sandals. Doblados, then the store’s security officer, was accused of conspiring with Aquino in killing Ducayag.
Murder is a non-bailable offense. The case drew much controversy because of initial attempts to mask Ducayag’s death as accidental.
Ducayag, a father of two, was taken into custody on suspicion of shoplifting when he couldn’t show a receipt for a pair of Sandugo brand sandals in his shopping bag. Also in the bag were milk, biscuits and diapers he bought for his children.
An inquiry by the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI) showed that Ducayag “validly purchased the sandals” but lost the receipt. NBI-7 investigators said Aquino handcuffed Ducayag and solely inflicted blows on the victim’s body.
Though he didn’t participate in the mauling, Doblados allegedly wanted to handcuff him so he could not fight back while being mauled. Aquino’s lawyer, Salvador Solima, earlier said his client would not turn fugitive.