Police file murder raps vs. ‘Biggest Loser’ star, cousin

LARRY Martin, The First Pinoy Biggest Loser, down to 154 lbs during the final weigh-in. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

NAGA CITY, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed murder charges on Monday against a reality television star and his cousin for the death of a court sheriff who suffered serious head injuries after being being mauled near a drinking joint on the first night of the Peñafrancia festival last September 7, police said Tuesday.

PO2 Alexander Lapid, police investigator, said Larry Martin, winner of the reality show “Biggest Loser,” and his cousin Faustino Galvan, would face murder charges for the death of Rommel Licmoan, a court sheriff of a regional trial court in this city.

Lapid said Galvan’s girlfriend had confessed to police that on the evening of Sept. 7, Galvan had rushed to the drinking joint after she called him for help as Licmoan was allegedly making sexual advances at her at the drinking establishment.

Investigation showed Galvan punched Licmoan at the back of his head, causing him to fall on the pavement. Licmoan was rushed to the hospital where he was in coma for two weeks before he died.

A witness pointed to Martin as the driver of the car who accompanied Galvan to the scene. Martin allegedly stepped out of the car and checked on the victim before fleeing with his cousin.

Martin emerged winner in season 1 of ABS-CBN’s “The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition” in 2011, which showed showed overweight contestants undergoing gruelling challenges to lose the most weight for the top prize of P1 million and a new house.

Martin was mum on the murder raps but said his lawyer would just answer the allegations in court.