Prosecutor to file murder raps vs Wal suspects

THE Regional State Prosecutor’s Office (RSPO) will file murder charges against the suspects in the killing of Jude Wal II based on the resolution signed by former Justice secretary Agnes Devanadera.

Wal Jr., was shot dead along M. Roxas Street on January 25, 2008. Police named Ernesto Genetiano and Rolando Tomon as suspects in the murder, while Architect Joseph Marrero was identified as the mastermind in the killing.

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The resolution signed by Devanadera reversed an earlier resolution issued by Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zunio which cleared Marrero of murder charges.

The Wal case reached the justice department after the Wal family filed a petition for review on the resolution rendered by Prosecutor Jesica Viloria of Vigan City which absolved Marrero of the charges.

Prosecutor Daniel Bumacod, who first handled the Wal case, found probable cause to charge Marrero of murder charges.

Marrero sought a reconsideration of Bumacod’s recommendation and the case was reviewed by Viloria, who absolved Marrero of any charges.

City Prosecutor Alfredo Centeno said the RSP in La Union or Bumacod should file the information of murder with the Office of the Clerk of Court where the case will be tried.

Centeno added that the Zunio resolution, although promulgated since January, has not been transmitted to either the RSP or the CPO.

When asked which of the two documents are authentic, Centeno said he could not determine because they do not have a copy of the Zunio resolution, which he could use for comparison.

Centeno, however, confirmed that most if not all documents signed by the secretary contains a bar code.