BARELY five months after he was indicted by the Office of the Ombudsman for technical malversation, outgoing Escalante City Mayor Melecio Yap Jr. is facing more charges.
This time, the Ombudsman ordered the filing of four counts of murder and frustrated murder against Yap, the congressman-elect of the First District of Negros Occidental, along with at least 14 others for their involvement in the alleged extra-judicial killings in the northern Negros city.
The 20-page consolidated resolution dated March 14 penned by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Laurrie Layne Cristobal was recommended for approval by Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices Cyril Ramos on May 16, and approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on May 18.
The Ombudsman found probable cause against Yap, Bernardino Patigas and Richard Patpat for the murder of Ferjun Damalerio, Armando Lutrago, Eric Matugas and Jury Alsado Sr., and for frustrated murder against Fernando Damalerio.
Also indicted for the murder of Lutrago were Gregory Lobaton Tuayon, Joel Villarin, Joey Llorente, JR Buhat, Jay Vargas, and alias Bob Soler.
Charged for the murder of Matugas are Gregory Lobaton Tuayon, Hernando Larit Llorente, Lorenzo Perolino, and Rolando Llamata while for the murder of Alsado, Gregory Lobaton Tuayon, Hernando Larit Llorente, Joey Llorente, alias Renan, alias Bambam, and Eleazar Navas.
The resolution stated that between November 2007 and April 2013, six of former Escalante City Mayor Santiago Barcelona Jr.’s supporters Ferjun Damalerio, Jury Alsado Sr., Police Officer 3 Johnny Urbano, Eric
Matugas, Armando Lutrago and Joseph Lutrago were murdered. There were also serious attempts on the lives of Fernando Damalerio, Valentino Pabon, and Roger Agaton.
‘My conscience is clear’
For his part, Yap said his indictment is politically-motivated and “not surprising” at all, and was targeted against him for the May 9 elections.
Yap added that the resolution issued by the Ombudsman, which was completed last March 14, actually came out late due to lack of signatories.
“My conscience is clear and I have nothing to be afraid of,” the three-term mayor said, adding that politicians backing the complainants apparently failed to stop his political career.
Yap said he does not know personally or is even connected to the persons accusing him.
“Their allegations are very weak to indict me,” he added.
Yap said the witnesses’ affidavits will be non-admissible because these are written in Bisaya (Cebuano) and without translation.
“We are confident that the case will not prosper. Nonetheless, my legal counsel has been studying and preparing our next steps,” the mayor said, adding that they will file motion for reconsideration if needed.*