THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has created a three-man panel to conduct a preliminary investigation into all criminal cases filed before department in connection with the killing of Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino and five others last March 8.
In a department order issued on June 21, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra named Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Rodan Parrocha, Assistant State Prosecutor Benny Nicdao, and Prosecution Attorney Rafael Cruz as part of the panel.
The panel will be tasked to determine whether there is probable cause to warrant the filing of criminal charges against the respondents before the trial court.
Guevarra added that after conducting a preliminary investigation, the panel should file the corresponding information before the appropriate court, if warranted by evidence.
“The panel shall likewise handle all cases between/among the same parties, which are all related/connected with, or which may have arisen or may arise as a consequence of, any of the aforementioned criminal complaints, including any and all counter-charges,” Guevarra said.
The DOJ chief also directed the Prosecutor General and the Regional Prosecutors to forward all the records to the panel.
“The Prosecutor General and/or the Regional Prosecutors are directed to notify all concerned provincial and city prosecution offices under their jurisdiction to transmit to the Panel the records of all the aforementioned criminal complaint/s and any and/or all subsequent/future criminal complaints which may hereafter be filed,” Guevarra said.
Five cases were docketed before the DOJ in connection with Aquino’s killing.
On the part of the NBI, it filed murder and frustrated murder charges against Lt. Col. Harry Sucayre, Maj. Shyrille Co Tan, Capt. Dino Goles, Lt. Julio Armeza Jr., Cpl. Julius Garcia and S/Sgts. Niel Cebu and Edsel Omega.
Civilians Niño Salem, Julius Garcia, Randy Merelos, and several John and Jane Does were also included in the charge sheet.
Aquino was killed during an alleged shootout with the suspect while traversing Laboyao Bridge, on his way to their family-owned resort to attend his son’s birthday party.