THE Manila City Prosecutor’s Office cleared 30 individuals accused of attacking the Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. (HCPTI) at Manila South Harbor last year at the height of the ownerhip dispute between businessman Reghis Romero II and his son Michael Romero.
In a three-page resolution, Assistant City Prosecutor Evangelene Narvaez-Isidro said that complainant HCPTI through security officer Miguel Mabalay failed to present evidence that would warrant the filing of a criminal case in court.
The pieces of evidence of the complainant, according to Narvaez-Isidro, are” vague and bereft of the fact” to warrant the filing of trespassing, grave coercion, grave threat, frustrated murder, robbery and violation of Republic Act, or better known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
“After a careful review of the allegations of the complainant, the undersigned finds no probable cause to indict the respondents of any of the offense referred for further investigation against them. There is no specific or particular act in the affidavit of the complainants to conclude that these respondents have violated the laws,” the resolution, a copy of which was provided to the media over the weekend.
“There is neither evidence of lost property nor proof of ownership thereto to charge respondents with robbery,” she added.
Among those cleared of criminal culpabilities are Jomar de Guzman, Ariel Usman Dipatuan, Abdul Basser, Mohammad Ali Lanson, Jun Animbang, Cosme Sangkupan, Tisoy Samadalan, Akmad Solaiman, Rino Vergara, Leonardo Delfin, Abdul Ryan Abduullah, Edmund Abdula, Kawinan Kamad, Sakar Akmad, Rene Boy Caito, Mudz JJamilon, Amer Adzed, Mino Casan, Teng Sanan, Teng Dro, Alex Cuaresma, Reynold GGonzaga, Orlando Payoyo, June Villacruses, Rex Ortiz, Baltazar Castillo, Rene Villammor, Nasser Sugadol, James Jamarolen and Raffy Dalandan.
They were falsely accused of being part of a group of armed men that engaged the security personnel of HCPTI in a shootout last December.
In their affidavit, the accused claimed they didn’t know of any plan to “attack” HCPTI and that they were only “promised jobs” as security guards, janitors and even movie stuntmen.
“In view of foregoing, the undersigned investigating prosecutor recommended the dismissal of the complaint referred for further investigation against all of the respondents for lack of probable cause,” the resolution added. AC