By Jeffrey Damicog
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday gave the alleged gunman, who killed businessman Dominic Sytin, more time to file a counter-affidavit in response to the complaint filed against him.
In a hearing held yesterday, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera gave Edgardo Luib until May 7 to submit his counter-affidavit.
Luib was supposed to submit his counter-affidavit, however, his lawyer failed to appear and he had to be represented by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).
Also, in yesterday’s hearing, the victim’s brother Dennis Sytin, who is one of the suspects in the crime, submitted the statements of his five witnesses and the affidavit of a forensic expert.
The panel of prosecutors, chaired by Navera, is currently conducting a preliminary investigation on the complaint filed by Dominic’s wife, Anna Marietta, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Olongapo City Police Station.
In the complaint, Dennis, Luib, and Oliver Fuentes were accused of committing murder and frustrated murder in connection with the shooting Dominic and wounding of his bodyguard Efren Espartero Jr. last November 28, 2018 in front of the Light House Hotel in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
Luib was arrested in Batangas last March 5 due to existing arrest warrants over murder cases he is facing, including the killing of journalist Mae Magsino and Municipal Councilor Michael Caringal of Bauan, Batangas.
In the referral letter to the DOJ, Olonapo City Police Station officer-in-charge Sr. Insp. Ailyn Rosario said Luib has issued an extra-judicial confession which stated “how he (Edgardo Luib) committed the killing of Dominic Sytin and wounding of his bodyguard Efren Espartero Jr. on the night of November 28, 2018.”
“Edgardo Luib likewise stated that a certain Dennis Sytin was the one who induced him to kill Dominic Sytin in exchange for reward money thru contact person Oliver Fuentes a.k.a Ryan Rementilla who was said to be his childhood friend,” Rosario added in the complaint said.
Fuentes was fired by Dominic from the United Auctioneers Inc. (UAI) due to alleged anomalies.
Dennis, on the other hand, was removed as chief operating officer of UAI by Dominic.