SENATORS have assailed the recent decision of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to downgrade charges against police Superintendent Marvin Marcos and his men accused of killing Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. from murder charges to a bailable offense of homicide.
Expressing dismay, Senator Panfilo Lacson who led the investigation on the Espinosa killing said this decision of the DOJ is "totally unfair."
Lacson said his committee even commended Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II when he earlier recommended the filing of information indicting Marcos and his cops for double murder.
The Senate panel concluded that the CIDG Easter Visayas cops murdered Espinosa inside a jail in Baybay, Leyte.
Even before the panel made its final report, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) made its own recommendation where it found Espinosa's killing as a rubout and not a shootout as claimed by the suspects.
Senator Risa Hontiveros meanwhile called Aguirre “flip-flop king” for approving the downgrade of charges against the suspects.
Hontiveros said that prior to the downgrading of charges, the DOJ issued a resolution in March 2017 supporting the findings of both the Senate and the NBI that the killing of Espinosa was a clear premeditated murder.
“This is an obvious attempt at a cover-up through an unabashed flip flop. It is an act of impunity to cover up another act of impunity,” Hontiveros said.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, for his part, said the DOJ must follow its own vision "of a just and peaceful society anchored on the principle of transparency, accountability, fairness, and truth."
Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito Estrada also supported Lacson as he explained that the downgrading of charges was "really disappointing."
“I agree with Senator Lacson that the downgrading of murder charges against Supt. Marcos et. al to homicide is a travesty of justice and it is too obvious [that it was cover up],” Ejercito said.
For Senator Francis Pangilinan, the downgrading "will surely reflect on the failure of the government to give equal justice to the Filipino people." (SunStar Philippines)