It seems that one of the suspects in the gruesome killing of an advertising executive in September got a bad advice from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“The arraignment of the three suspects in the killing of advertising manager Kristelle ‘Kae’ Davantes took a surprising turn Tuesday, when the primary accused entered a guilty plea that was later reversed by the presiding Las Piñas City judge,” reports Jaymee Gamil of Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Judge Salvador Timbang of Regional Trial Court Branch 253 changed the plea of Samuel Decimo, who earlier pleaded guilty to having a hand in the death of Davantes, after learning from the suspect his plea wasn’t made voluntarily.
The lead state prosecutor handling the case, Mark Estepa, explained that the court had to verify from the suspect whether his guilty plea was voluntary. At a recent hearing, Decimo was called to the stand where lawyers questioned how he arrived at the guilty plea.
Decimo said an NBI agent “advised him” to admit the crime so he can get a lighter punishment, according to Estepa. When prosecutors told the suspect that pleading guilty may still get him reclusion perpetua, Decimo said he did not know and broke into tears, Estepa added.
