Lozano: No to downgraded charges vs Dominguez brods

Veteran lawyer Oliver Lozano is objecting the filing of downgraded criminal charges before a Pampanga court against the Dominguez brothers for the abduction and slay of his son last year.

The lawyer said he is appealing for the transfer of the venue of the case from Pampanga, which he said was the bailiwick of the accused, to Quezon City where the crime took place.

According to the elder Lozano, his son, Emerson, was kidnapped in Quezon City along with his driver, Ernani Sensil with their Kia Carnival in January 2011.

But the Department of Justice downgraded the charges from the original murder complaint to only car theft with homicide, a move which the father appealed but was denied.

“We have asked the Pampanga court to order the transfer of venue for the hearings to Quezon City, but we were told that the San Fernando judge endorsed it to the Supreme Court,” the lawyer said.

According to Lozano, Central Luzon which includes Pampanga is the stronghold of Roger and Raymond Dominguez, alleged leaders of a notorious carjacking syndicate.

The brothers are facing raps for the death of the younger Lozano and Sensil. Also charged were Jayson Miranda and Rolando Talban.

These are the same people being tried for the death of car dealer Venson Evangelista, who was abducted just days apart from Emerson Lozano.