20 October 2008

Alert

Murder charges filed against alleged masterminds in killing of journalist


Incident details

Marlene Esperat

(CMFR/IFEX) - Murder charges against the alleged masterminds in the 2005 killing of journalist Marlene Esperat have been filed before a local court in Sultan Kudarat. Sultan Kudarat is approx. 968 km from Manila.

Nena Santos, private counsel for the prosecution, said the information against Osmena Montaner and Estrella Sabay was filed at around 11:40 a.m. on 20 October 2008 at the Tacurong City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 20 of Judge Melanio S. Guerrero. It is docketed as Criminal Case no. 3064.

Santos said there is a big possibility that the court would issue warrants of arrest against Montaner and Sabay by Wednesday, 22 October. "If not, the Department of Justice (state prosecutors) will file a motion for the issuance of a warrant of arrest," she added.

The Cebu City Court of Appeals issued on 14 May 2008 a writ of preliminary injunction prohibiting the Cebu City RTC from proceeding with the case against Montaner and Sabay. The appellate court also stopped the implementation of the 4 February 2008 warrants of arrest against them.

Esperat was killed by unknown assailants on 24 March 2005 while having dinner with her children in her home in Tacurong City. She had been exposing alleged corrupt practices involving the Department of Agriculture Region 12 office where Montaner and Sabay serve as finance officer and regional accountant, respectively.

Estanislao Bismanos, Gerry Cabayag and Randy Grecia-the gunman, lookout, and co-conspirator-were sentenced to life imprisonment on 6 October 2006 by Cebu City RTC Branch 21 Judge Eric Menchavez. Another suspect, Rowie Barua, became a state witness and was released.

Seventy-five journalists have been killed in the line of duty in the Philippines since 1986. Only in two cases have the assassins and their accomplices been convicted since 2001. No mastermind has been successfully prosecuted.



Source:

Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
2/F Ateneo Professional Schools - Salcedo
130 H.V. dela Costa St., Salcedo Village
Makati City 1227
Philippines
staff (@) cmfr-phil.org
Phone: +632 8400903
Fax: +632 8400889
 

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More on this case

CPJ draws attention to two unsolved murders 29 March 2012 Appellate court denies petition of alleged masterminds in Esperat case 20 September 2011 Statement on fifth anniversary of journalist Marlene Esperat's killing 26 March 2010 Appeals court prohibits service of warrants against alleged masterminds behind Esperat killing 15 December 2009 Court affirms ruling rejecting dismissal of case against alleged masterminds of journalist's murder 28 May 2009 Court denies motion to dismiss charges against suspected masterminds in Esperat murder 21 April 2009 Court indefinitely suspends case against suspected masterminds of journalist Marlene Esperat's 2005 murder 20 May 2008 Suspected masterminds of Esperat killing granted temporary restraining order 27 March 2008 CPJ welcomes Supreme Court decision to change venue of murder trial of columnist Marlene Esperat-Garcia 12 December 2005 Charges against suspects in Esperat killing dismissed 30 September 2005 RSF denounces tampering and lack of progress in Marlene Esperat murder investigation 24 June 2005 Five officials named as new suspects in columnist's murder 29 April 2005 Radio broadcaster shot; suspects arrested in columnist's murder 13 April 2005 CPJ investigating whether columnist's assassination was linked to her work 30 March 2005 Newspaper columnist assassinated 28 March 2005

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