THE 14-YEAR-OLD suspect allegedly involved in the killing of University of the Philippines student Sophia Coquilla in La Filipina, Tagum City, will not face criminal charges.
Major Anjanette Tirador, an officer with the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of the Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office, said that one of the four individuals implicated in Coquilla’s death might be exempt from legal responsibility.
The decision aligns with Republic Act No. 9344, also known as the Philippine Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, which stipulates that “children-in-conflict-with-the-law” who are 15 years old and younger at the time of the offense won’t be criminally prosecuted. Instead, they would be subjected to a government intervention program.
Meanwhile, the three other suspects—a 15-year-old, a 17-year-old, and their alleged leader, identified only as alias “Royroy”—will be charged with robbery with homicide.
On Saturday, the fourth suspect linked to the gruesome robbery-homicide case that took the life of a 19-year-old student in Tagum City fell into the hands of authorities at the corner of Lakandula and Lapu-Lapu Streets in Barangay Agdao Proper around noon.
Police identified the suspect only as alias Roy-Roy, legal age, single, and a resident of Sitio Logdeck, Barangay Caningag, Caraga, Davao Oriental.
The three other suspects in the killing of a UP student, who succumbed to 38 stab wounds, were already arrested in various manhunt operations.
During the arrest, authorities confiscated a .38 caliber revolver with two live rounds in its cylinder. The firearm had no serial number or make. The suspect failed to present documents for the gun.
The arrested suspect is currently in the custody of the apprehending office for standard police booking procedures. The confiscated firearm will be subjected to ballistic examination at the Regional Forensic Unit XI.
The operation was spearheaded by intelligence operatives of the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) XI, led by Major Joel Caesar Cabe under the supervision of Col Melvin Montante.
