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Manila Bulletin devider devider DOJ downgrades raps vs Espenido, 2 others from murder to homicide

DOJ downgrades raps vs Espenido, 2 others from murder to homicide

Published Sep 20, 2018 02:37 pm
By Aaron Recuenco and Jeffrey Damicog The Philippine National Police (PNP) is not leaving its men behind. In the case of Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido – the police official who led the raid on the lair of suspected robbers and killed six people in Ozamis City last year – he will be given legal assistance by the PNP. Philippine National Police Spokesperson Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. (Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANILA BULLETIN) Philippine National Police Spokesperson Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr.
(Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANILA BULLETIN) Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr., PNP spokesman, said Thursday that the organization respects the decision of the Department of Justice (DoJ) to file six counts of homicide against Espenido and his co-respondents, SPO4 Renato Martin Jr. and PO1 Sandra Nadayag. The DOJ resolution to file the charges was signed by Assistant State Prosecutor Loberhette Jeffrey Villordon and approved by Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon. “That’s their legal remedy under the law but at the same time those that are being accused have also the right to due process and the legal remedy to defend themselves,” said Durana. As such, legal assistance will be provided to them by the PNP, he said. It was still a welcome development for Espenido and his co-accused that the DOJ downgraded the cases originally filed against them from murder to homicide. An additional case of arbitrary detention was also filed against them. On June 1, 2017, Ozamis City police stormed into the house of Fancracio Manzano and allegedly engaged robbery suspects in a shootout which resulted in the deaths of Francracio; his son Jerry; his daughter’s common-law spouse Victorino Mira Jr.; his nephew Lito Manisan; his niece’s common-law husband Romeo Libaton; and Alvin Lapeña. Police, however, said that they shot at the suspect to defend themselves. The six slain suspects were accused of being involved in a series of robberies in Ozamis City. The operation that led to their deaths happened weeks before the operation on the clan of Ozamis City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog who was killed along with his wife, and 13 other relatives and supporters.
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