Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez yesterday cleared alleged Pasig City drug tiangge operator Amin Imam Boratong of any involvement in the murder of an informant of television network GMA 7 on Nov. 17, 2005.
In a six-page resolution, Gonzalez said there was no clear evidence to link Boratong, his wife, Memie, Police Officer 2 Ramil Along, and a certain “Buenas” to the death of German Colisao.
It was earlier reported that police identified Colisao as an “asset” for the GMA 7 television show, “Imbestigador.” Police said Colisao’s body, which bore three gunshot wounds, was dumped along Urbano Avenue in Pasig City.
“The evidence on record is bereft of any proof positively showing the identities of the perpetrators and the manner or circumstances under which the killing of the victim was executed,” Gonzalez said in the resolution.
In issuing the resolution, Gonzalez overturned the findings of the government prosecutors who had earlier found probable cause to indict Boratong and his wife for murder.
Gonzalez said that unless there is competent and corroborative evidence, the sworn statement of complainant Samir Maniri Palao would not stand the rigors of judicial scrutiny.
He added that the chain of events leading to Colisao’s death does not justify the conclusion that Boratong was behind the killing.
Gonzalez also questioned Palao’s credibility, noting that he was an accused in a pending criminal case in a Marawi City court for the kidnapping and murder of Memie’s brother.
Gonzalez said that for evidence to be credible, it must not only proceed from a reliable source, but it must be credible in itself.
In his complaint, Palao said that he was with the Boratong couple on Nov. 14, 2005 when a certain Boy Negro called Boratong and informed him that Colisao was in their custody for taking hidden video footage of the shabu tiangge (flea market) inside the Mapayapa compound.
Palao said he saw Colisao blindfolded and handcuffed to a post while being beaten by Boy Negro inside the Mapayapa compound. After the video camera was taken from Colisao, Palao said he and Boratong went to the latter’s house and watched the video footage.
Three days later, Palao said the Boratong couple called Along and Buenas and instructed them to kill Colisao for fear that he might escape. – Mike Frialde