“The piece of rebar that has been found in the vicinity believed to be used in killing Ballesteros was the same piece of iron rebar used to pry open the window to gain entry to the classrooms and this is a significant piece of evidence,” Chief Prosecutor Kevin Lynch told the media after yesterday’s preliminary hearing in the courtroom of Associate Judge Ramona A. Manglona.
“The evidence came in as we expected it to, and the facts were very clear to establish that the killing of Efren Ballesteros was done during the commission of the burglary and/or robbery,” Lynch said.
Detective Simon Manacop was called in to testify in the preliminary hearing.
Manglona said there was probable cause that a crime had been committed and that the defendants committed it.
She said the three teenagers should answer for Ballesteros’ death and face charges of murder in the first degree, burglary and/or robbery. They will be charged as adults.
Manglona set no bail for Eric Rabauliman, 18, Randy Igisomar, 16, and Edward Blas, 16.
Attorney Bruce Berline represented Blas while Chief Public Defender Adam Hardwicke represented Igisomar. Attorney Lilian A. Tenorio represented Rabauliman.
In a statement, Tenorio said her client Rabauliman waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
“A preliminary hearing was not necessary for Rabauliman. Waiver of a preliminary hearing is not unusual — however, it does not mean that the accused admits any guilt,” Tenorio said.
She said her client will enter his plea on the arraignment scheduled for Dec. 9.
According to the prosecution, the three teenagers beat to death 45-year-old Ballesteros with a PVC pipe, an iron rebar and a 2×2 wood on Nov. 17.
After their arrest, the two juveniles were remanded to the custody of the juvenile detention facility while Rabauliman was turned over to the Department of Corrections.
Blas has been charged with theft, curfew violation and burglary in three other cases.
In his affidavit, Manacop said the defendants hatched a plan on the night of Nov. 16 to steal laptops from MHS.
They walked all the way from Chalan Kanoa to MHS and obtained weapons when they got there. Igisomar picked a 2×2 wood. Rabauliman got a .5-inch PVC pipe and Blas took a rebar.
Manacop stated that the three noticed Ballesteros who was resting on a concrete bench. They decided to knock him down first before proceeding to the two classrooms where they took 12 laptops.
Manacop said the defendants told him they took turns in attacking Ballesteros.
Manacop said Ballesteros’ body was discovered at around 6 a.m. on Nov. 17 with a fractured skull.
Police later spotted the three teenagers at a laundry shop in Chalan Kanoa carrying a plastic bag with laptops and a blood-stained blue shirt.
A tip receive by the Crime Stoppers led to the arrest of the defendants.
