Lone survivor in 2021 Calbayog ambush shows scars in court

SAMAR, Philippines – The lone survivor of the March 2021 ambush on Calbayog Mayor Ronaldo  Aquino showed his scars in the courtroom of Calbayog Regional Trial Court Judge Reynaldo Clemens on Tuesday, October 11, the second day of bail hearings for nine cops accused of staging and planning the attack.

Mansfield Labonite, the personal assistant of Aquino, was the second prosecution witness. 

The first witness, Colonel Raymundo Picot, was the former commander of the  43rd Infantry Battalion. He had rushed to the site of the ambush that also killed the mayor’s driver, Dennis Abayon, and his other police escort, Staff Sergeant Rodeo Sario. 

Alma Uy, lawyer of Aquino’s widow Lina, said Labonite testified that Abayon and Sario, were hit in the first burst of gunfire.

The mayor, Labonite said, still struggled after seeing his other companions go down. 

“Pagkatapos rapid fire na ang sumunod (After that first burst, a rapid fire followed),” Uy quoted him as saying. 

The private prosecutor said the testimony of Picot also added more evidence against the nine cops. 

Labite will return on November 9 to continue his testimony.  – Rappler.com