Argao slay witness gets 3 months in jail

THE lone witness in the killing of a 15-year old female student of Bulasa National High School in Argao town, south Cebu pleaded guilty to lesser charges of abandonment or failure to render assistance to a person in danger in his arraignment yesterday.

Roweno “Roy” Saraosos, 41, was meted with three months of imprisonment by Argao Municipal Trial Court Judge Leonardo P. Carreon, according to SP02 Meliton Agadier Jr.

Agadier, who served as investigator in the killing of Jezreel Higida, said Saraosos’ move to admit the crime did not surprise them.

Agadier said Saraosos indicated during the investigation that he would plead guilty of failing to assist the victim when two other suspects Elmo Relativo, 24, and Raymond Albuera, 22, killed her in the morning of March 7.

Higida was walking toward the school in Bulasa when the two suspects grabbed her and hit her head with a rock.

Agadier said Saraosos also executed a judicial confession, which was used as basis in the filing of murder charges against Relativo and Albuera.

While Relativo and Albuera were transferred to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Saraosos remained at the Argao Police Station detention cell.

Agadier said Saraosos may serve his jail term in the Argao detention cell if Judge Carreon will not order to commit him to other jail facility.

Agadier said Saraosos is also planning to talk to the family of Higida and apologize for failing to help the victim.

Saraosos also wanted to explain to the family that he was not part of the crime, fearing that once he will be released from jail, he will be harmed by any of the relatives of the victim.

Saraosos as well as the two murder suspects are neighbors of the victim in Barangay Bulasa.

On the evening prior to the killing of Higida, the suspects were having a drinking spree and reportedly sniffed shabu.