(CMFR/IFEX) – Citing the conflicting resolutions of prosecutors in the case, a local court recently dismissed the murder charges filed against the two alleged masterminds in the killing of columnist Marlene Esperat. Esperat was killed on 24 March 2005. In a resolution dated 31 August, Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, Regional Trial Court Judge Francis Palmones […]
(CMFR/IFEX) – Citing the conflicting resolutions of prosecutors in the case, a local court recently dismissed the murder charges filed against the two alleged masterminds in the killing of columnist Marlene Esperat. Esperat was killed on 24 March 2005.
In a resolution dated 31 August, Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, Regional Trial Court Judge Francis Palmones ordered the withdrawal of the charges filed against Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay, high-ranking local officials of the Department of Agriculture.
The decision came after the controversial reinvestigation conducted by the Department of Justice, which earlier charged the two suspects with murder. Led by Cotabato City Prosecutor Tocod Ronda, the second team dismissed the charges against Montañer and Sabay, a complete turnaround from an earlier recommendation made by State Prosecutor Nestor Lazaro last May to indict the two.
Nena Santos, the Esperat family’s legal counsel, said the relatives were disappointed with Palmones’ order and warned they might seek justice outside the courts.
Santos had earlier questioned the legality of the reinvestigation, saying no additional evidence was presented. She added that “unseen hands” were trying to manipulate the case.
On the urging of the Esperat family and some media groups, Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez had ordered investigators not to withdraw the complaint against Montañer and Sabay, and directed the prosecutors to reconcile the two conflicting resolutions. Gonzalez also sacked Ronda.
Earlier, ex-military officer Rowie Barua confessed his direct participation in Esperat’s murder and said the two agriculture officials ordered the killing.
Barua, who also worked as a bodyguard to Sabay, claimed the two officials ordered him to hire a group to kill the columnist. Along with three other suspects, Barua pleaded guilty to the crime in the first hearing.
