The public can expect the Department of Justice (DOJ), this time around, to be fair in handling the investigation into the murder of Palawan radio broadcaster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega.
The new DOJ panel of prosecutors rejected an appeal from former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes to defer the reinvestigation of the murder case pending the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Court of Appeals.
Reyes, the alleged mastermind of the murder of the popular Palawan broadcaster, had petitioned the appellate court for a TRO on the reopening of the murder case.
Let’s hope the new panel cannot be swayed by power, influence and money which its predecessor was accused of having succumbed to.
There was even ugly talk that millions of pesos changed hands when the first panel of prosecutors handled the preliminary investigation into Ortega’s murder.
As we now recall, the principal suspects—including Reyes—were exonerated by the first panel of prosecutors.
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If memory serves, the ex-governor has a close relative who is an appellate court justice.
I met this justice a few years ago during the birthday party of Joel Reyes at his resort in Aborlan town in Palawan.
Reyes is most likely banking on this justice to talk his fellow magistrates handling the petition into issuing the TRO.
The TRO can easily graduate to a preliminary injunction which could prolong the reopening of the case, or even completely close it.
To the good justices of the Court of Appeals: The public is closely watching the Ortega murder case.
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Manila policeman Harold Meneses, who shot dead Filipino-Norwegian Mikael Troy Rasay in July, has been ordered arrested by a Quezon City court.
The case against Meneses is murder since he shot Rasay in the back while the latter was running away.
The cop has not surfaced since the murder despite repeated appeals from his superiors to surrender.
The only way for Meneses to surrender is for Philippine National Police chief Nick Bartolome to issue a “shoot-to-kill” order on him.
The heck with his human and constitutional rights: He didn’t consider his victim’s human rights.
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Puregold chair Lucio Co spoke before traders at the Philippine Stock Exchange in Makati City.
Co’s firm expects to earn a net profit of P1.6 billion for going public.
Lucio Co has made a quantum leap—from an alleged smuggler to a legitimate business tycoon.
Congratulations!