BACOLOD CITY—The Regional Trial Court in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental has dismissed three counts of murder and one frustrated murder against Rep. Melecio Yap of the province’s 1st district and his co-accused for lack of probable cause.
In a 30-page decision, Judge Danilo Amisola of RTC Branch 57 said that the evidence was evaluated and did not meet the standards of probable cause to justify the issuance of arrest warrant against the accused.
“…The act or omission complained of does not constitute the offense charged,” the court ruled.
No bail was set for the murder cases approved for filing by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales against Yap.
But his arrest was not ordered, after Yap’s lawyer, Ariel Malunes, filed several motions.
The extra judicial killings in Escalante City were allegedly, committed against supporters of former Escalante Mayor Santiago Barcelona, a political opponent of Yap.
But the judge noted that the charges against Yap were not substantiated.
Dismissed were Criminal Case RTC 17-6301, where Yap was charged along with Bernardino Patigas and Richard Patpat for the fatal shooting of Ferjun Damalerio in the chest in Escalante City on Nov. 8, 2007.
In Criminal Case No. RTC 17-6302 Yap, Bernardino Patigas, Gregory Lobaton Tuayon, Hernando and Joey Lollorente, alias Renan and Bam-Bam and Eleazar Nava were charged for the murder of Jury Alsado Sr. in Escalante City on Jan. 13, 2008.
Charged along with Yap in Criminal Case No. RTC17-6304 are Bernardino Patigas, Joel Villarin, Gregory Lobaton Tuayon, Jay Vargas, Joey Llorente, alias Bob Soler and Jr. Buhat for the shooting to death of Armando Lutrago in Escalante City on Dec. 3, 2011.
In Criminal Case RTC 17-6300, Yap was charged for frustrated murder with Bernardino Patigas and Richard Patpat of Escalante City for shooting Fernando Demalerio in the waist in Escalante City on Nov. 8,2007.
It was not known if there was a ruling on Criminal Case RTC 17-6303 filed against Yap, Gregory Lobaton Tuayon, Hernando Llorente, Rolando Llamata and Lorenzo Perolino for the murder of Eric Matugas by shooting him several times in Escalante City on July 25, 2010.