(CMFR/IFEX) – The General Santos City Prosecutor’s Office claims that it has strong circumstantial evidence against suspects in the killing of broadcaster Ely Binoya, who was murdered on 17 June 2004. In a three-page resolution, a copy of which was obtained by CMFR, General Santos City Prosecutor Edilberto Jamora said his office has found “probable […]
(CMFR/IFEX) – The General Santos City Prosecutor’s Office claims that it has strong circumstantial evidence against suspects in the killing of broadcaster Ely Binoya, who was murdered on 17 June 2004.
In a three-page resolution, a copy of which was obtained by CMFR, General Santos City Prosecutor Edilberto Jamora said his office has found “probable cause for murder qualified by treachery and evident premeditation” against Ephraim “Toto” Englis, a local political leader in Datal Tampal (town of Malungon, Sarangani), Alfonso Toquero and two other individuals.
Binoya, station manager of Radyo Natin (Our Radio), was riding on a motorcycle on his way home when he was shot by two unidentified individuals who were also on a motorcycle in Crossing Upper Labay.
The suspects, however, are believed to have gone into hiding as the Prosecutor’s Office could not contact them at their last known addresses.
Earlier, the slain broadcaster’s widow, Mary Grace Binoya, said in a sworn statement that she strongly suspected her husband was killed because of his commentary against local politicians, including Englis, whom he had denounced for alleged bribery.
In a sworn statement, witness Reynaldo La Cerna said that on the morning of 17 June, he overheard Englis and his two companions talking about their plan to kill someone. La Cerna was not able to identify the other two persons because “they were new faces,” but identified Toquero from police records as the driver of the motorcycle used by the gunmen.
Another witness, Allan Barrios Jacinto, also identified Toquero as the driver of the motorcycle.
Roger Pendatun, another witness, said that at around 1:30 p.m. (local time) on 17 June, 10 minutes after Binoya passed by going towards Malungon, Englis dropped by Precinct 8 and talked to police officer Pastor Romero. Their conversation was cut short by a call on Englis’ cellular phone, to which he answered, “Oo sige paadto na ko diha” (“Yes, I’ll be there shortly”). A few minutes after Englis left, a certain Toto Moraga reported a shooting incident at the highway.
Witness Allan Rosaldez testified in a sworn statement that on 16 June, one day before the killing, he saw a blue pick-up parked about 150 metres away from Binoya’s house. A few minutes later, a red motorcycle stopped beside it. The front seat passenger of the pick-up then got on the back of the motorcycle. The pick-up left and proceeded towards Malungon while the individuals riding the motorcycle went to a nearby shed and asked about Binoya.
John Cena, one of the witnesses, pointed out Binoya’s house. Rosaldez said one of the men, who was about 5’7″ and armed with a .45 calibre pistol, presented himself as an intelligence officer from Davao. However, Rosaldez was not able to see the face of the driver, who was wearing a helmet.
