Imok’s camp, police to file MR

CEBU, Philippines — The camp of slain Ermita village chief Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta will file a motion for reconsideration before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, which dropped the charges against the alleged mastermind.

While he respects the recent decision of the city prosecutor’s office, Cebu City Councilor Jose Daluz still considers Winefredo Miro as the main culprit in the ambush-slay of Rupinta.

“While the prosecutor was not satisfied, it does not mean that Miro is not a suspect. He remains the main culprit and the co-mastermind whoever he is,” Daluz said.

Recently, the prosecutor’s office has dismissed the charges filed against Miro, the alleged mastermind of Rupinta's death, for lack of probable cause to indict the former.

“The evidence on record being insufficient to establish probable cause against the respondent, the herein complaints are hereby dismissed,” read the resolution of Assistant Prosecutor Hyacinth Jadraque.

It was the Regional Special Operations Group - 7 that filed the murder and attempted murder charges against Miro.

Miro is a former Cebu City Market Administrator who was pointed to as the mastermind of Rupinta’s ambush in Liloan town on November 23, 2017.

Daluz told The FREEMAN that their party, Barug Team Rama Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban, will continue to help Rupinta’s family so that justice will be served.

He added that the recent decision of the CCPO would not stop them from seeking “more hard evidence” to pin down Miro.

“Yes an MR (motion for reconsideration) is the next step to ask the prosecutor to reconsider the (decision). Then an appeal if we cannot get a favorable order, (with the) Department of Justice.  If not, (with the) courts on certiorari,” Daluz said.

The FREEMAN tried but was not able to get the side of Ermita councilor-elect Efe Rupinta, Imok’s daughter, on the issue.

Even though it will be a long process, he is hopeful that justice will be served to the family of Rupinta.

“It’s a long process but eventually the long arm of the law will finally catch the killers.  To my mind there should be more than the testimonies of the killer. An evidence that a reasonable man would believe that a crime has been committed by the alleged suspect. I’m not saying that Miro is off the hook. He will eventually run of luck,” he said.

The FREEMAN tried to get Miro's side but no to avail, as of press time.

Earlier, former Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Jose Mario Espino claimed that the police has strong evidence against Miro and the two alleged gunmen, including affidavits of witnesses pointing about the former’s involvement in the ambush.

Jocelyn Mendoza, Imok’s common-law wife, had executed an affidavit stating Miro and others "might have orchestrated the assassination of Rupinta taking into consideration the long-standing feud between Miro and Rupinta for the control and dominance of the vendors association and other sources of income in Carbon Public Market in Barangay Ermita."

Another witness, Rolando Pacres, submitted an affidavit claiming he was approached by Jimmy Largo, the alleged gunman to kill Rupinta for P150,000.

Pacres claimed it was Largo who told him that the order allegedly came from Miro.

In his affidavit, Miro allegedly oriented him where the residence of Rupinta.

Daluz admitted that he was dismayed with the outcome of the criminal complaint.

“Yes, disappointed. But we will continue the fight for justice. Justice is slow but always coming,” he said.

In a separate interview, Mayor Tomas Osmeña says it’s impossible that Miro would do the crime saying the latter has no money to hire killers.

“Miro has no money because I lend him money. He simply can’t afford it,” he told The FREEMAN.

The (PRO)-7 will also be filing a motion for reconsideration before the CCPO.

Senior Inspector Ricardo Tero, Deputy Chief of RSOG-7, in a phone interview with The FREEMAN, said they haven’t read the document pertaining to the result of the charges.

However, he was certain that the PRO-7 legal services will be filing the motion for reconsideration.

“Wala pa mi kabasa. Maghimo sila (PRO-7 legal service) motion for reconsideration,” he said.

Tero added that he was still in the middle of a closed-door meeting with the chief of the Regional Intelligence Division and was not able to expound further on the issue. (FREEMAN)