Thursday, May 10, 2007

Elections in Nueva Ecija: DOJ panel formed to probe Bloody Jaen incident

CABANATUAN CITY - A panel of prosecutors have been formed here that will conduct the preliminary investigation on the cases to be filed in connection with the April 26 violent incident in a road blockade near a political rally in Jaen town that claimed the lives of a candidate for councilor and a police escort, and injured 17 others.

To-date, at least four separate cases for murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder have been filed by the camp of Jaen ex-Mayor Antonio Prospero Esquivel with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor here.

Named respondents in the cases are: Nueva Ecija 4th District Congressman Rodolfo W. Antonino, police Inspector Gamilo, SPO2 Hermenigildo "Gil" Eduardo, PO1 Modesto Catacutan, PO1 William Catacutan and several other "John Does,"

According to Prosecutor Floro F. Florendo, Provincial Prosecutor officer-in-charge, the preliminary investigation of cases I.S. Nos. 07D-1011, 07D-1012, 07E-1038 and 07E-1047, will be conducted by a panel of prosecutors composed of Assistant Provincial Prosecutors Felicisimo Villaflor, Eddie Gutierrez and Dionisio Ledda Jr.

During an interview, Region 3 police director Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan said that the soon-to-be issued findings of the "Task Force Jaen" formed to probe the April 26 Jaen incident will be a "no-holds barred" finding of the group.

He said that the third version of the investigation has been submitted only last Monday and he said he expects the full report to be ready latest Wednesday, or within the week.

"Masaktan kung sino man ang masaktan, ma-pulis o sino man siyang malaking tao, kakasuhan natin ang mga iyan kung ito ang lalabas sa ating imbestigasyon. Siguradong walang white-wash dito." ("The investigation we are conducting will spare no one, be he a police officer or somebody big. If he is found guilty in our investigation he will get the full force of the law.") - MAGTANGGOL C. VILAR

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