Asks La Union cops to show basis of charges
BAUANG, La Union — Investigating prosecutor Edilberta Casiano has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) in La Union, which was the complainant in the Filemon Asperin Jr. slay case, to show cause why their slay case against five alleged conspirators, including a daughter of Rep. Tomas Dumpit, should not be dismissed.
Asperin was an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) assigned to La Union.
He was shot dead last January.
The case filed by the La Union police is actually the second murder complaint for the killing of Asperin.
The first case was filed against Fernando Asprec on January 22, 2006.
Asprec, a former security aide of Lt. Col. Tomas "Butch" Dumpit Jr., was dismissed when the PNP itself withdrew the murder complaint.
Asked to comment on the case slapped on his daughter, the congressman said he is confident that the truth will out and justice will prevail.
Casiano’s order was issued on April 6, 2006 after finding there was no ground to proceed with the investigation, even as the PNP continued to issue information about the case and the respondents.
PNP officials in La Union were told to make a reply five days upon receipt of her order.
Casiano’s order cover the case filed against Ares Mato, SPO1 Eduardo Banay, Tess Dumpit-Michelena, Clyde Crispino and Rene Batoon.
The response of PNP officials in La Union is crucial to the case since it would have a bearing on Casiano’s determination whether or not she would send subpoenae to the five respondents.
If Casiano finds no firm basis for the charges leveled against the respondents, she would most likely dismiss the case against them within the remaining 10-day period as mandated by rules and the provisions in Letter (b) section 3 of Rule 12 of the Rules of Court.
The lawyers of the five respondents stressed that the complaint filed against their clients were fuzzy, adding that they merely owned the properties where the alleged gunman passed before proceeding to this town.
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