Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors have postponed the scheduled preliminary investigation (PI) hearing of the criminal complaint filed against Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board member Sandra Cam and her co-respondents, including her son Marco Martin, over their alleged involvement in the killing of Batuan, Masbate Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson III.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
The PCSO executive and her son were scheduled to submit before a panel of prosecutors on Monday, March 16, their counter-affidavits which will refute the allegations against them.
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, who heads the panel conducting the preliminary investigation, said Monday’s hearing was canceled pursuant to the Department Order (DO) issued by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
“Because of SOJ’s DO re suspension of work due to quarantine, we have no PI,” Navera said.
“We will just issue orders resetting the hearings,” he added.
Assisted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Yuson’s widow Lalaine, his brother Charlie Jr., and Rufino Alforte, filed a murder and frustrated murder complaint against the PCSO executive, her son, and five others before the DOJ last Feb. 21.
The vice mayor was slain in Sampaloc, Manila on October 9, 2019 while he was having breakfast with some companions at an eatery in the area.
The victim was in Manila to visit his brother Charlie who is a barangay official in Manila.
The PCSO executive previously denied Lalaine’s allegations that the former was behind the killing.
Cam claimed she only got dragged into the issue since her son ran and lost against the victim’s son, Charmax, in the 2019 mayoralty elections in Batuan.