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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ asked to resolve, file murder case in court on 2017 Samar killing

DOJ asked to resolve, file murder case in court on 2017 Samar killing

Published Mar 8, 2026 04:39 pm

At A Glance

The Department of Justice (DOJ) was asked to file a murder case in court against five suspects who were charged in the 2017 killing of a man in Sta. Margarita, Samar.
In a March 3, 2026 letter to DOJ Acting Secretary Fredderick A. Vida, the law firm Gargantiel and Associates asked that the department file the murder case against Emilio Zosa and four other persons for the killing of Enrique Manas Sr. on July 23, 2017.a
Aside from Zosa, also charged were Arturo Deborbon, Joel Calagos, Sofronio Meduranda Jr., and Reymart Antivo.
The criminal charge was filed in 2017 but the law firm said that after almost nine years, the case has not reached the trial stage in court.
The law firm informed Vida that on Jan. 16, 2025 then Justice secretary and now Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla issued a directive “to file the necessary information in court and ensure compliance within ten (10) days.”
However, it said that the supposed criminal charge has not been filed as of March 3, 2026.
“In the absence of any lawful impediment, we respectfully request the immediate implementation of the 16 January 2025 directive,” the letter to Vida stated.
The law firm said that “the families of Mr. Manas continue to endure uncertainty, grief, and the emotional strain of unresolved justice.”
“They hope for clarity and the opportunity to see the case progress, not for retribution, but to achieve closure and finality in accordance with the law,” it added.
It also told Vida: “We trust in your leadership and respectfully urge the Department of Justice to take the necessary action to ensure the full and immediate implementation of its 16 January 2025
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