2 suspects in Aklan broadcaster's slay arraigned today
Rolando Ureta
Two suspects in the 2001 killing of Aklan broadcaster Rolando Ureta will be arraigned today (Thursday) after the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed their appeal against their indictment to the killing.
Jessie Ticar and Amador Raz will be arraigned before the Kalibo Regional Trial Court (RTC) presided by Judge Marietta Homena-Valencia.
In a two-page resolution promulgated on January 4, 2008, DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzalez dismissed the motion for reconsideration filed by the suspects for lack of merit.
The suspects had sought the reversal of the DOJ resolution issued on January 16, 2007 that reversed an earlier ruling of the Aklan provincial prosecutors office which dismissed the complaint against Ticar and Raz.
Gonzalez said in his order that the grounds of the appeal are "merely a rehash of previous allegations which have been previously considered and passed upon in our resolution for review."
He stood by his earlier resolution that there is "convincing proof" that Raz and Ticar shot and killed Ureta while the two were on board a motorcycle.
Gonzalez said the testimony of lone witness Gerson Sonio is credible compared to the testimonies of Sonio's father Perlito and uncle Diego Masangya.
Perlito and Masangya had executed separate affidavits stating that the witness was in Iloilo City during the time of the incident and could not have been present during Ureta's killing.
But Gonzalez said that evidence presented showed that the witness was in Iloilo City only during 1999 to October 10, 2000. Ureta was killed on January 3, 2001.
"If there is anyone whose statement appears to be tainted, that is the statement of Perlito Sonio since he could have asserted his moral ascendancy and dissuaded his son when the latter first gave his statement if indeed what he stated therein is untrue," said Gonzalez in his order.
Ureta's widow Emely welcomed the DOJ ruling. "I thank Secretary Gonzalez for his help in finding justice for my husband," she said in a text message.
Ureta was driving a motorcycle on his way to his parents' house when two suspects on a motorcycle drove alongside the broadcaster and shot him along the national highway in Barangay Bagtu, Lezo town, Aklan, around 7 km west of the capital town of Kalibo.
Ureta fell on a ditch and managed to reach a house alongside the national highway before he was finished off by the suspects.
The victim hosted the nightly program "Agong Nightwatch." He was investigating the proliferation of illegal gambling and illegal drugs in the province when he was killed.
Gerson Sonio, a balut vendor, tagged Raz and Ticar and as the ones who shot dead Ureta.
The suspects have repeatedly denied involvement in the killing.
Raz was arrested on Nov. 26 last year in Numancia town in Aklan while Ticar surrendered to the Kalibo police last December 18. They are detained at the Aklan District Jail in the capital town of Kalibo.