Pajantoy case trials moved to next year

The supposed marathon hearings of the murder case against SPO4 Juanito Pajantoy hit full stop after the court granted the prosecution's motion to postpone the two scheduled hearings this month to January 26, next year.

Prosecution lawyer Macaundas Hadjirasul filed a motion, last October 28, asking Regional Trial Court judge Ireneo Gako Jr. to cancel the prescheduled hearings on November 14 and 15, and reset these "to any date in December or upwards."

The lawyer explained that he was invited as lecturer of the 10th Shari'ah Training Seminar for the National Capital Region from November 7 to 23 at the UPAA Hostel, University of the Philippines, Quezon City.

Gako granted the lawyer's request but he scheduled the next trial of the case further to later part of January, next year, with the defense's turn to present its evidences.

The prosecution already rested its case early October after it put two witnesses, including NBI forensic chemist Rommel Paglinawan, who testified that Sarcol was negative of gunpowder nitrates.

The prosecution earlier presented PO3 Rogacito Naval, who said he was there when the incident happened and saw PO3 Michael Sarcol, his buddy, lying on the ground with his service firearm in his hand. Naval did not say however he saw Sarcol fired it.

Pajantoy was charged for the murder of Sarcol and suspected thief Omar Patiño two years ago. -Liv G. Campo