Metrobriefs

DOJ throws out ex-NBI chief’s petition

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Wednesday decided to proceed with its preliminary investigation into the purported kidnapping of a Japanese woman after it threw out the 10 separate motions filed by former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Magtanggol Gatdula and his coaccused.  In their separate petitions, the respondents pointed out that a Manila regional trial court had declared as unlawful the fact-finding investigation ordered by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima into the case of Noriyo Ohara.  “The only issue raised in this preliminary investigation is whether or not there is sufficient ground … that crimes alleged by (Ohara) in her affidavit and by her witnesses [were committed], and the respondents are probably guilty thereof and should be held for trial,” the DOJ panel headed by State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said. It added: “(O)ur rich jurisprudence on the matter consistently declares [that one of] the purposes of [a] preliminary investigation [is] ’to secure the innocent against hasty, malicious and oppressive prosecution.’” An undocumented alien, Ohara was forcibly taken by unidentified men from the house of her foster family in Pangasinan in October 2011. She was later taken to the NBI headquarters in Manila for alleged violation of the country’s immigration law where some NBI officials extorted money from her. Marlon Ramos

Meat trader shot dead in front of market

A 48-year-old meat trader was killed by a lone gunman at a market in Antipolo City Wednesday morning. Police identified the victim as Roberto Mamita, a resident of the city’s Barangay Inarawan and a meat vendor at Rublou Market Place on Marcos Highway. Senior Supt. Rodino Elfa, Antipolo police chief, said the trader was in front of the market, unloading his meat products from his tricycle around 5 a.m. when a man came up from behind him and shot him repeatedly. The victim died on the spot as the gunman escaped. Elfa said investigators were still trying to determine the motive for the killing. Niña Calleja

Another cop dies after gun goes off by accident

Another policeman was killed after his service firearm went off by accident on Tuesday afternoon. SPO3 Hirro Hernandez, 49, assigned at the Manila Police District Traffic Enforcement Unit (MPD-TEU), died of a gunshot wound in the head when his firearm went off after he placed it under a pillow. The incident happened while Hernandez was on duty as desk officer at the MPD-TEU office on Atlanta Street in Port Area, Manila. MPD homicide section case investigator PO3 Henry Navarro said in his report that just before the shooting, Hernandez had complained of a headache and went over to a sofa to lie down. He placed his gun under a pillow but it went off with the bullet hitting him in the ear. Last month, PO2 Elden Castillo of the Caloocan City police died in his house in Tondo, Manila, when his gun went off just as he was putting it under his pillow. In March, PO3 Angelo Garcia Agulto of the MPD Station 11 was also killed when he accidentally shot himself as he was cleaning his service firearm in Tondo, Manila.  Jaymee T. Gamil

Orates ask CA to stop QC judge from trying case

The family of Noel Orate Sr. has urged the Court to Appeals to stop a Quezon City court from exercising jurisdiction over the homicide case filed against the son-in-law of former Rep. Nanette Castelo-Daza. Orate, Daza’s former boyfriend, was shot and killed by Romeo Alan Robes, who is married to the ex-solon’s daughter, in February. Robes, however, claimed he shot the victim in self-defense after an armed Orate barged into Daza’s house in Quezon City in a supposed attempt to win her back. The Orates’ lawyer, Eduardo Bringas, asked the appellate court to issue a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to stop Judge Luis Cenon Maceren of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 218 from hearing the case. He said the continued exercise of jurisdiction by the Quezon City judge may lead to injustice as the victim’s kin had asked the Department of Justice to review the case and upgrade the charges against Robes from homicide to murder. Julie M. Aurelio