Timeline: Pestaño murder case

Sept. 27, 1995 – Ensign Philip Andrew Pestaño, deck officer and cargo master of BRP Bacolod City, is found dead in his cabin with a pistol and a letter saying that he committed suicide. His death occurs after he reportedly discovered that the cargo loaded on the ship were illegally cut logs and some 50 sacks of shabu.

Aug. 5, 1997 – The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) say their investigation shows Pestaño committed suicide, concurring with initial findings of the Western Police district (WPD) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Jan. 29, 1998 – The Senate investigates the case but concludes Pestaño did not commit suicide as it appeared but was murdered.

May 2, 2000 – The Office of the Ombudsman, which acquired jurisdiction over the case in 1998, dismisses the case, saying the physical evidence to support any murder charges was already tampered, aside from the time that had elapsed in the filing of charges.

Oct. 27, 2005 – Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo reopens the case.

May 11, 2010 – The United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNHRC) releases its findings, concluding that Pestaño was murdered.

The findings came following the appeal of Pestaño’s parents Felipe and Evelyn urging the international body to solve the case.

May 17, 2010 – Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro approves the recommendations of its investigators that criminal charges be dismissed for insufficiency of evidence.

Jan. 11, 2012 – The Office of the Ombudsman under former Supreme Court justice Conchita Carpio-Morales files murder charges against 10 officials and officers of the Philippine Navy in connection with the death of Pestaño.

Morales reverses the earlier dismissal of the Ombudsman saying there is sufficient evidence to file charges against Captain Ricardo Ordoñez, Cdr. Reynaldo Lopez, HM2 Welmenio Aquino, LCdr. Luidegar Casis, LCdr. Alfrederick Alba, MR2 Sandy Miranda, LCdr. Joselito Colico, LCdr. Ruben Roque, Petty Officer 1st Class Carlito Amoroso, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Mil Leonor Igcasan.