Wife of slain Subic trader opposes plea of accused to replace case prosecutor

Screengrab from PNP

MANILA, Philippines–The wife of slain businessman Dominic Sytin has asked the panel of prosecutors handling her husband’s case to deny the motion for inhibition filed by the victim’s younger brother, Dennis.

Ann Marieta Sytin, in her opposition, said Dennis Sytin’s claim of bias and hostility against panel head Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera “is utterly baseless and purely speculative.”

The younger Sytin and his coaccused Oliver D. Fuentes alias Ryan Rementilla Fuentes and Edgardo Luib are facing murder and frustrated murder for the killing of Dominic and the wounding of his driver, Efren Espartero Jr. in front of the Light House Hotel inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on November 28, 2018.

The motion for inhibition filed by Dennis stated that Navera sought to stop him from exercising his right to travel through precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) even when the complaint is undergoing preliminary investigation declaring him “flight risks.”

They pointed out that Dennis cannot be a “flight risks” because he respects the proceedings by voluntarily cooperating with the authorities and even underwent a lie-detector test.

The motion stated that to prevent Dennis from travelling is a violation of his constitutional right to travel and “would be an arrogation of power that the DOJ does not have.”

Ann, however, pointed out that the application for PHDO is in accordance with the rules issued by the Supreme Court.

She added that it was the Angeles Court, not the panel of prosecutors, that issued the PHDO against Dennis.

READ: Angeles City court issues precautionary HDO vs Dennis Sytin

The same motion added that the panel of prosecutors chaired by Navera conducted an “irregular and unprocedural preliminary investigation” which has violated his substantive and due process rights.

He said, instead of ordering all respondents to simultaneously file the answer to the murder and frustrated murder complaints, Luib was allowed to file his response much later than them giving an advantage to even respond to their counter-affidavit.

But Ann said the panel of investigator led by Navera was in fact lenient with Dennis after he was given the opportunity to submit a rejoinder-affidavit and memorandum even if complainants no longer submitted additional affidavits.

“While Dennis believes that SASP Navera and the Panel have acted adversely to his interest and rights in this case, his speculation is insufficient to support his claim that there purportedly exists ‘bias and hostility’ against him,” Ann said.

The DOJ panel of prosecutors has wrapped up the preliminary investigation on the case and submitted it for resolution. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

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