The Olongapo City Regional Trial Court on Wednesday convicted the gunman who confessed to the killing of businessman Dominic Sytin inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone last November 18 and sentenced him to suffer imprisonment of reclusion perpetua or life.
Olongapo City RTC Branch 72 Judge Richard Paradeza found Edgardo Luib guilty of the murder of Sytin.
“Accused Edgardo Luib is hereby found guilty of the crime of murder, defined and penalized under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Section 29 of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Act, and is hereby meted the supreme penalty of reclusion perpetua,” the court said, in its decision.
The court also found Luib guilty for frustrated murder for the injuries sustained by Sytin’s bodyguard, Efren Espartero, during the attack and sentenced him to a minimum prison term of between six to 12 years.
“In the service of the sentence, accused shall be credited with the duration of his preventive imprisonment under conditions of Article 29 of the Revised Penal Code,” the court said.
During his arraignment, Luib pleaded guilty for murdering Sytin and for frustrated murder for injuring Espartero.
Luib was arrested in Sto. Tomas, Batangas last March 5 due to existing arrest warrants over murder cases he is facing including the killing of journalist Mae Magsino and Municipal Councilor Michael Caringal of Bauan, Batangas.