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DAVAO CITY — The judge handling the homicide case against a doctor who allegedly killed on July 2 a 19-year-old student at a bar in this city has inhibited from the proceedings.
In a Sept. 21, 2022 order, Presiding Judge Marie Estrellita Tolentino-Rojas said she is “voluntarily inhibiting” from the case as the accused, Dr. Marvin Rey Andrew Pepino, is represented by a lawyer from the law firm founded by her father.
Records of the proceedings of the Office of the City Prosecutor show that Pepino is represented in the case by lawyer Adam Dandro Jambangan.
Her inhibition from the case, according to Rojas, is to “avoid any perception of bias and partiality.”
Pepino, a non-uniformed personnel of the Davao police regional office, was accused of killing Grade 9 working student Amierkhan Mangacop.
The Davao City prosecutor’s office downgraded his charge from murder to homicide, hence, he was able to post bail for his temporary liberty.
The Mangacop family has secured a court-issued precautionary hold departure order against Pepino, preventing him from traveling abroad.
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