Fiscal junks Roxas slay suspects' motion for reinvestigation
ROXAS CITY – The City Prosecution Office has denied the motion for reinvestigation sought by the lawyers of two accused in the murder of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) dyVR commentator Martin Roxas.
Chief city prosecutor Erwin Ignacio, in a four-page resolution, said the motion for reinvestigation filed by the lawyers of the accused was denied for lack merit.
It was learned that the accused Kristian Tan and Joenel Lastimoso through their lawyers signed a waiver for preliminary investigation.
“To hold otherwise would be a bad precedent, allowing the accused to conveniently feign ignorance of the consequences of the waiver and claim that they were deprived of their right to a preliminary investigation, despite having been duly assisted by counsel, simply delay the proceeding in court,” the resolution said.
Ignacio told The News Today (TNT) that the lawyers of the accused could still elevate the motion for reinvestigation with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
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.
The murder case which is docketed in Criminal Case No. C-209-08 is being handled by Regional Trial Court Presiding Judge Edward Contreras of Branch 17.
Roxas 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.