Monday, August 06, 2007 Fiscal admits bribery attempts By Ben Serrano Caraga correspondent
A state prosecutor who recommended the filing of murder and obstruction of justice charges against two Butuan traders involved in the rape-murder of a 19-year-old beauty titlist admitted getting bribery attempts just to reverse his recommendation.
Butuan City State Prosecutor Roman Villanueva Jr. told local newsmen that there were attempts to bribe him but he turned them down claiming he has to decide on the case based on the merits not on money considerations or political persuasion.
Villanueva however did not disclose the identities of personalities who tried to bribe him, saying only emissaries approached him to reverse his recommendation from murder charges to dismissal.
Villanueva said he denied the motion for reconsideration filed by lawyers of the respondents as he now awaits information of the cases he recommended for filing so that warrants can be issued against the respondents.
Villanueva said murder charges are non-bailable if filed in courts, "however the court will determine whether to grant bail," Villanueva said.
Last March 27, 2007, Villanueva issued a resolution recommending the filing of murder charges against two suspects in the rape and murder of Jemarie Varon, a high school student and local beauty titlist in Barangay Humabon.
Villanueva in his resolution claimed there is probable cause to file murder charges against Butuan trader Bonifacio "Bonnie" Lim, scion of a prominent family of traders here who owned Tam's Emporium and several business establishments and commercial buildings.
According to Villanueva, two other suspects were also charged with murder ---businessman Gerry Cubillan and a certain Cocoy alias "Ugly Filipino."
Villanueva also recommended the filing of obstruction to justice charges against local Raniel Funeral Parlor for allegedly mangling evidence in the case.
"Butuan City Prosecutor Andres Guiritan backed me up with the resolution I penned that there is really probable cause in the filing of murder charges," Villanueva said.
Neighbors claimed Lim is innocent and a victim of an extortion attempt.
Attempts to reach Lim at his store Tam's Emporium twice Sunday proved futile. His salesladies and boy helpers claimed they have not seen Lim.
Varon was found dead with 19 stab wounds in a grassy area near Butuan City Hall on May 18, 2006.
