Suspects in radioman's slay plead 'not guilty'
Two suspects in the 2001 killing of Aklan broadcaster Rolando Ureta pleaded not guilty to the crime during their arraignment Thursday.
With the plea, the trial of Jessie Ticar and Amador Raz will proceed before the before the Kalibo Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 1 presided by Judge Marietta Homena-Valencia.
Private prosecutor Emmanuel Sodusta said they are confident that they have enough evidence against the suspects.
Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera III acted as public prosecutor during the hearing.
During the hearing, Dacera raised concern why the suspects were not handcuffed when they were taken inside the court. This prompted Valencia to order the suspects' security escorts to put the two in handcuffs, according to Sodusta.
The pre-trial hearing has been set on February 13.
The two suspects were arraigned after the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed their appeal against their indictment to the killing.
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.