The trial venue of the alleged masterminds in the killing of columnist Marlene Esperat of Sultan Kudarat and radio anchorman Dennis Cuesta of General Santos City was transferred to the Makati Regional Trial Court.

The murder cases against Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay for their alleged involvement in the March 24, 2005 murder of Esperat were raffled to the sala of Judge Alberico Umali of RTC branch 138.

Meanwhile, Judge Perpetua Atal-Pano of Makati RTC Branch 134 will handle the trial of P/Inspector Redempto Acharon and his cohorts for their alleged participation in the shooting of Cuesta last August 4, 2008.

A whistle blower and anti-graft worker, Esperat was killed by unknown assailants while having dinner with her children at their home in Tacurong City. She exposed alleged corrupt practices involving the Department of Agriculture Region 12 office where Montañer and Sabay serve as finance officer and regional accountant, respectively. She also exposed the alleged Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante fertilizer fund scam, in which President Arroyo was implicated.

Cuesta, on the other hand, died at the hospital five days after a motorcycle-riding gunman shot him on a highway near a shopping mall in General Santos City. A program director and anchor at the local station of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN), Cuesta was on his way home from an RMN-sponsored outreach program.

The heirs of Esperat and Cuesta, together with the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, earlier asked the High Tribunal to transfer the trial venue for their security and safety of the prosecution witnesses.

In an interview with the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), Gloria, Cuesta’s widow said the transfer of the case to Makati City is a “big help.”

“Hindi na puwedeng ma-impluwensyahan ng both parties ang case (Neither party can influence the case),” Gloria said, adding that the arrest of Acharon and his accomplices should be prioritized. News that Acharon has been allegedly seen around his farm in General Santos City reached Gloria and Cuesta’s colleagues. A reward of R90,000 has been allocated for any information that could lead to the arrest of Acharon.

A second warrant of arrest was issued against Acharon last April 7, 2009, almost two months after the first warrant was withdrawn due to the re-raffling of the case.

Esperat and Cuesta are additions to the ballooning statistics of Filipino journalists killed after the restoration of democracy and press freedom in 1986.