Court issues HDO vs Sytin for brother’s 2018 murder

OLONGAPO CITY, Zambales, Philippines — Businessman Dennis Sytin, who stands accused of masterminding the murder of his older brother, Dominic, has been barred from leaving the country by a regional trial court (RTC) here.

Judge Richard Paradeza of the Olongapo City RTC Branch 72 on Wednesday issued a hold departure order (HDO) against the younger Sytin and his coaccused, Oliver Fuentes alias Ryan Rementilla.

Sytin, Fuentes and confessed gunman, Edgardo Luib, are facing murder and frustrated murder charges in connection with the gunslaying of Dominic and the wounding of his bodyguard, Efren Espartero, in 2018.

Luib, who was arrested in Batangas on March 5, claimed that Sytin had ordered the hit against his older brother,  Dominic.  He also tagged Fuentes in the killing.

Sytin, however, denied this and said that Luib was a “complete stranger” to him.

Dominic, 51, president and founder of United Auctioneer Inc., which operates inside the Subic Bay Freeport, was shot dead by a lone gunman on a motorcycle outside a hotel at the freeport on Nov. 28 last year.

Reasonable

In a two-page order, Paradeza said he granted the prosecution’s motion for an HDO against Sytin and Fuentes after finding the order to be reasonable. He also ordered the arrest of the two suspects.

On July 31, Dennis Sytin’s lawyers filed a motion to quash or suspend the implementation of the arrest warrant, arguing that there was no evidence to support a finding of probable cause against him.

The prosecution described the motion as “downright improper and merely dilatory” and should not be granted  since the accused had yet to surrender to the court’s jurisdiction.

The prosecution also called Luib a credible witness and said his extrajudicial confession and counteraffidavit were supported by evidence on record. —Joanna Rose Aglibot