Evangelista case gets new judge

The Venson Evangelista case has been turned over to a new judge in the person of Judge Wilfredo Maynigo.

Maynigo replaced Maria Rita Bascos-Sarabia as assisting judge of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 215. Bascos-Sarabia, on the other hand, has been appointed to another branch, Ramoncito Ocampo, lead state prosecutor in the Evangelista slay case, told the Inquirer.

Bascos-Sarabia took over Branch 215 and the Evangelista case in late 2012 after presiding Judge Luisa Quijano-Padilla was promoted to the Court of Appeals.

Evangelista was a car dealer whose charred body was found in Nueva Ecija on Jan. 14, 2011, a day after he disappeared while on a test drive with potential buyers in Quezon City. His death was blamed on the Dominguez car theft gang.