Monday, October 09, 2006
Esperat killers get life sentence
RELATIVES of slain journalist and corruption whistleblower Marlene Esperat "half-heartedly" hailed on Friday the decision of the court in Cebu City convicting three of her four killers.
Cebu Regional Trial Court Branch 21 Judge Eric Menchavez on Friday sentenced to reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment) Jerry Cabayag, Randy Grecia and former Army sergeant Estanislao Bismanos.
The other suspect, ex-military intelligence officer Rowie Barua, who turned state witness, was acquitted for lack of evidence.
The four were accused of carrying out the murder plan against Esperat.
Although the family appeared dissatisfied with the verdict, Valmie Mariveles, sister of the slain journalist, sounded upbeat since the case against the masterminds could be still be pursued still using Barua as witness.
The Department of Justice, meanwhile, immediately reinstated murder case against the alleged masterminds -- Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay, Department of Agriculture Region 12 Finance Officer and Regional Accountant, respectively.
The case against the two ranking agriculture officials, who denied involvement in the killing of Esperat, was earlier dismissed by a Tacurong City judge for "insufficient evidence."
Esperat was gunned down on March 24, 2005, in front of her two young children while they were having dinner inside their home.
Esperat was a columnist for the weekly newspaper The Midland Review, which is based in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat province, about 85 kilometers northwest from here.
The conviction of the killers brought to four the number of cases decided by the court on killings of journalists since democracy was restored.
At least 60 journalists have been killed in the line of duty since 1986, a study by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) show.
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(October 9, 2006 issue)
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