Court resets arraignment of radioman's slay suspects to Sept. 6
ROXAS CITY –Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 17 Presiding Judge Edward Contreras has reset the arraignment of the two suspects in the killing of radio broadcaster Martin Roxas.
The arraignment supposedly held yesterday was moved to September 16 after the lawyers of the accused asked for a reinvestigation of the case.
Contreras told The News Today (TNT) that he granted the deferment of the arraignment pending the motion for reconsideration filed by the defense lawyers.
It was learned that the lawyers of accused Kristian Tan and Joenel Lastimoso are Atty. Marites Layo of this city and Atty. Ma, Remalaine Joy Tipo of Iloilo City.
Fiscal Anthony Firmalino, one of the three special prosecutors, told The News Today that he opposed the motion for reinvestigation during the oral argument.
Earlier, city prosecutor Erwin Ignacio formed a special prosecutors team to handle the prosecution of the case. They are composed of Fiscal Chuchi Asis P. Ramos, Fiscal Alma Delfin and Fiscal Firmalino.
The murdered case is docketed in Criminal Case No. C-209-08.
Earlier, Ignacio also formed a special panel of three-men prosecutors headed by Asst. City Prosecutor Salvador Dellota for the purpose of conducting a speedy inquest-investigation and evaluation of the case.
The panel found that there was "probable cause" that would warrant the filing of murder charges against the suspects.
There were 14 witnesses who are willing to testify against the suspects, 4 of whom are civilians and 10 are policemen.
No bailbond was recommended against the suspects who were arrested at the check point in Ivisan an hour later after the incident.
Roxas, radio commentator of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) - dyVR was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding suspects at around 1:30 p.m. on August 7 along Bayot Drive here. He has just finished his noontime program "Targetanay sa Udto" and was about to go home for lunch when shot by the suspects.
He was buried last August 24 at the Maayon Public Cemetery where thousands of supporters, family and friends attended the interment.