Thursday, July 26, 2007 Resolve case v. Pigon, Zaspa, DOJ tells fiscals
JUSTICE Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. gave the go signal for the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office to resolve the murder complaint against former policeman Arnulfo Pigon Jr. and Sta. Fe mayoralty candidate Domingo Zaspa, suspects in the death of former Sta. Fe mayor Rogelio Ilustrisimo Sr.
City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon said that Gonzalez issued the verbal order yesterday to Tessie dela Calzada, one of his staff members.
In turn, Sellon also ordered Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Marla Barcenilla to resolve the case.
“Hopefully, ma-resolve na namo ang kaso (we will already resolve the case) on or before Aug. 1,” said Sellon.
Dela Calzada flew to Manila to personally inquire from the Department of Justice (DOJ) if they can already resolve the complaint.
Sellon earlier said they are withholding their decision whether to dismiss or file the case in court while awaiting word from DOJ on the petition of Pigon to transfer the preliminary investigation of his case to Manila.
Former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 director Reynaldo Esmeralda said the justice secretary ordered that the preliminary investigation on the murder complaints filed against Pigon and Zaspa be transferred to the DOJ.
But no written or verbal order from Gonzalez reached Sellon causing confusion whether they can already resolve the case.
When asked, Sellon said he couldn’t say if the order also means that Gonzalez denied Pigon’s petition for transfer for the threats on his life he allegedly received.
Sun.Star Cebu called Gonzalez to clarify the matter but the secretary said he still has to check the facts of the case. (KNT)
