Inhibition of city prosecutor's office in Osorio case granted

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional State Prosecutor’s Office yesterday granted the inhibition of the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office from investigating the criminal complaint for murder filed by the Cebu City Police Office against the two alleged assailants in the ambush-slaying of assistant city prosecutor Patrick Osorio.

Regional state prosecutor Fernando Gubalane designated state prosecutor Graeme June Elmido to conduct the preliminary investigation.

City prosecutor Nicolas Sellon earlier volunteered his office to inhibit from handling the preliminary investigation to avoid suspicions of being biased considering that the victim was his subordinate.

The police filed last week the complaint for murder against the two alleged assailants. The names of the respondents however were kept from the members of the media upon the request of the police.

The police requested cooperation from the media not to reveal the names of the suspects to prevent them from fleeing before a warrant of arrest can be issued. However, the suspects would still be notified that a criminal complaint had been filed against them because a subpoena will be issued for them to submit a counter-affidavit.

Upon the request of the police, the prosecutor’s office also did not give a copy of the complaint to the media. Even the names of the respondents were not revealed.

But a reliable source however told the media their names and that they were residents of barangay Maghaway, Talisay City.

They were allegedly identified by a witness who was standing in a nearby bakeshop in Maria Gochan St., barangay Mambaling when Osorio was shot dead on the afternoon of January 6. — Fred P. Languido/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)