Bid to suspend preliminary probe on Pangasinan slay case junked

MANILA, Philippines - A three-man panel of the Department of Justice (DOJ) has denied the request of Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and first district Rep. Jesus Celeste to suspend the preliminary investigation into the murder case filed against them in connection with the killing of Infanta Mayor Ruperto Martinez last December.

The case was filed by the Akap sa Bata ng mga Guro Kalinga Philippines Inc. and the National Bureau of Investigation.

The DOJ panel also reprimanded another accused, Jaime Aquino, for preempting the preliminary investigation by filing a petition for writ of amparo before the Supreme Court to secure custody of a vital witness in the case. 

The witness, a 16-year-old son of Aquino, alleged that Espino and Celeste masterminded Martinez’s killing last Dec. 15 after the mayor supposedly learned that minerals were being smuggled into the Infanta pier.

The DOJ panel’s seven-page order was dated April 8 and signed by assistant state prosecutors Olivia Larossa-Torevillas, Rassendell Rex Guingoyon, and Aristotle Reyes.

Preliminary investigation into the case is set this morning for the submission by Espino and Celeste of their counter-affidavits and other controverting evidence.

Thereafter, the preliminary investigation shall be considered closed and terminated and the case submitted for resolution, the panel’s order said.