Bacolod houseboy found guilty of murdering 3 minors with a hammer

A Bacolod City court has sentenced a houseboy to 120 years in prison for the murders of eight people in the city 13 years ago, a Negros newspaper reported Saturday.

Bacolod Regional Trial Court Branch 52 Judge Raymond Joseph Javier on Thursday found Bemon Barrios Gallo guilty of the gruesome crime, the Visayan Daily Star reported.

Gallo was sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty beyond reasonable doubt on three counts of murder for killing Mark Anthony Rivilla, 13, Guillermo Benrico Rivilla, 11, and John Michael Rivilla, 9.

Javier also ordered Gallo to pay the heirs of the minors P150,000 in civil indemnity, P150,000 in moral damages and P90,000 in exemplary damages.

Gallo had earlier been convicted for the murder of other victims in the massacre, including the owners of a sugar central, their son, three grandchildren and two house helpers in Bacolod City.

Killed were Carlos Rivilla Jr., 76; his wife Florinda, 75; son Guillermo Benrico, 42, father of the three minors; and helpers Dolores Ogatis, 20, and Ritchell Gonzales, 19.

Evidence recovered from the crime scene pointed to Gallo, including "vengeance letters" written in blood on the walls of the victims’ room - which matched his handwriting.

Judge Javier also noted the attack on the three minors was deliberate, sudden, and unexpected.

Investigation had shown Gallo entered the room of the minors and bashed their heads in with a hammer.

Javier ordered Gallo immediately transferred to the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City to serve his sentence. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News