Before Filing Murder Raps: Prosecutors wait for DOJ resolution on Pigon request for reinvestigation

The murder charge against policeman Arnulfo Pigon will not be elevated to court just yet until the Department of Justice resolves Pigon’s request for reinvestigation.

Pigon is the prime suspect in the shooting of Sta. Fe mayoralty bet Rogelio Illustrisimo last May.  Prosecutors earlier found probable cause to formally charge the policeman in court.

After speaking with city prosecution chief Nicolas Sellon, Prosecutor Marla Barcenilla said they have opted to hold in abeyance the filing of the charge in court until the DOJ rules on Pigon’s request.

Sellon had said earlier that if procedure is to be followed strictly, they can already file the information for murder in court considering that Pigon did not file a Motion for Reconsideration within the given time.

Likewise, Sellon said Pigon’s move of filing the motion before the DOJ did not follow procedure as it should have been filed before the city prosecutor’s office that resolved the complaint against him.

Waiting for the move of the DOJ would also prevent duplicity and conflict of action, Sellon also said earlier.

In his Motion for Reinvestigation, Pigon asked the DOJ to hold in abeyance the filing of a formal charge in court until after reinvestigation. He also reiterated that the case against him should be transferred to Manila because his witnesses are reportedly residing there. 

He alleged that he was not adequately given the chance to present his defenses or contest the charge and that if his request for transfer would be granted, he will be able to present evidence to prove that he did not commit the offense.

Pigon also said that the transfer of the case to Manila is necessary because “the threat to the life of herein accused is real, factual and imminent and should be seriously considered.”

Sellon already told the DOJ earlier that he was not aware of threats to Pigon’s life and that the prosecutor’s office has not received any complaint as regards any threat.

In indicting Pigon to the murder charge, prosecutors said the former policeman’s alibi of reportedly being in Cupang, Antipolo on the day of the shooting last May 2, could not prevail over the positive identification made by three “disinterested witnesses”.

Prosecutors, however, cleared from charges Pigon’s co-respondent and Illustrisimo’s political rival Domingo Zaspa.  Zaspa was suspected to have masterminded the shooting after he ran away from the crime scene and after he was allegedly seen talking with Pigon in an uptown hotel shortly after the shooting.

Illustrisimo was shot outside the provincial Commission on Elections office shortly before noon on May 2 shortly after the hearing of the disqualification case Zaspa filed against him. — Joeberth M. Ocao/BRP