Oscar Reyes Babauta is serving 35 years for fatally shooting Jose Boki Babauta in 1997. The inmate’s family members orally testified before the board which conducted the hearing yesterday afternoon at the Department of Corrections facility.
A brother of the inmate said they will extend support, guidance, accountability, and love for Oscar R. Babauta if he’s granted parole.
As the family’s breadwinner, Oscar’s family has suffered and continue to suffer for the crime he committed, according to his younger brother.
Oscar R. Babauta has showed considerable remorse and has no adverse report against him while serving at the Corrections facility, the younger brother added.
This reporter also obtained letters of some of the victim’s family members opposes to the parole application.
Jose B. Babauta left behind four children and his wife.
“Please, please, do not allow Oscar the satisfaction to leave behind the consequences of what he has done. Any murderer of an innocent man should be locked away to remind him every day of the pain he has brought to so many people. Please do the right thing,” a niece of the victim stated in her letter.
“In light of this mishap, to this day the grief in the family endures. The wounds that he inflicted on our hearts and souls are undeniable and never will heal,” the victim’s older brother stated.
According to court documents, the Attorney General’s Office filed a motion to increase restitution in 2004 as well as to shoulder counseling for the victim’s daughter.
The CNMI government also informed the Superior Court that “the victim’s…daughter has demonstrated increasing mental distress from the trauma of her father’s murder. The child speaks of wanting to die and going to heaven so that she may see and speak with her father.”
On Feb. 1, 1997, Oscar R. Babauta shot and killed Jose Boki Babauta in the presence of his wife and members of the Quitano family which included children he was transporting in a van to a christening at the Kristo Rai church at that time. Oscar R. Babauta was arrested on same day.
On May 1, 2002, the Superior Court sentenced Oscar R. Babauta to 35 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the charge of second degree murder.
The court suspended eight years of the original 35 years jail sentence, and allowed parole eligibility once he served nine years.
According to the parole hearing agenda, the board will continue hearing the applications today of
• Elaine Quitugua Terlaje, former Commonwealth Utilities Corp. credit and collection supervisor. She was sentenced to three years in prison. The prosecution said she was involved in a conspiracy to reconnect disconnected accounts or not disconnecting delinquent accounts in exchange for cash.
• James Michael P. Fitzgerald, former Commonwealth Telecommunications Commission chairman, sentenced to five years in prison for theft of $88,202.92 in public funds.
• Ignacio Leon Guerrero was sentenced to two years imprisonment for burglary, and two years for forgery of checks in the total amount of $3,000. The sentences run concurrently.
