Negros solon charged with murder of rival’s supporters

BACOLOD CITY—A Negros Occidental lawmaker is facing four counts of murder and one count of frustrated murder for allegedly ordering the killing of supporters of his political rival from 2007 to 2011.

The criminal cases against Rep. Melecio Yap and 13 others were filed at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in San Carlos City on Jan. 13. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, who approved the filing of the charges, did not recommend bail for the murder cases.

Lawyer Ariel Malunes, Yap’s counsel, said the lawmaker filed motions questioning the filing of the cases for lack of probable cause. He said Yap was not involved in the killings of supporters of his rival, former Escalante City Mayor Santiago Barcelona.

No arrest warrant

Malunes said no arrest warrant had been issued since their motions had to be resolved first by the courts handling these cases. He said two of the murder cases were raffled off to Judge Kathrine Go of RTC Branch 59 and the rest to Judge Danilo Amisola of RTC Branch 57.

The cases stemmed from the resolution of Laurie Layne Cristobal, graft investigation and prosecution officer at the Office of the Ombudsman, that consolidated the complaints of extrajudicial killings in Escalante City.

The complainants accused Yap, along with his supporters and members of the Roslyn Jean Pelle Command, a vigilante group with ties to the New People’s Army, of attacking Barcelona’s supporters in separate occasions.

Yap, a former mayor of Escalante City, is facing murder  for the killings of Ferjun Damalerio in 2007, Jury Alsado Sr. in 2008, Eric Matugas in 2010 and Armando Lutrago in 2011.

Yap and two others are facing frustrated murder charges for the shooting and wounding of Fernando Demalerio in 2007.

Yap said he had nothing to do with the killings, noting all these were politically motivated. He said he would face the charges because he had not done anything wrong.

“I am happy that the cases are now in court because there I can defend myself,” Yap said. “At the Ombudsman, you do not even get to see your accusers. In court, at least, you will see them face to face.”