RTC sets Boratong’s murder trial

The Pasig Regional Trial Court yesterday denied the motion to quash the warrant and withdraw information filed by alleged Pasig City shabu bazaar or tiangge operator Amin Imam Boratong and his co-accused in the murder of a television informant two years ago, paving the way for the trial of the case.

Judge Nicanor Manalo Jr., of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 161, set the arraignment of Boratong, his wife Memie, Police Officer 2 Ramil Along and Nasser Labay on Sept. 4.

Boratong and his co-accused were charged with murder by a government prosecutor for the killing of German Colisao, an asset of GMA Channel 7 on Nov. 17, 2005.

The filing of the murder case was based on the testimony of witness Samer Palao, the former right-hand man and security officer of Boratong.

Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales had earlier directed prosecutors not to file the murder charges against Boratong and his co-accused claiming that Palao is a polluted witness since he was also charged with kidnapping with murder in Marawi City.

Senior Superintendent Francisco Uyami Jr., Pasig City police chief said Colisao was caught by Boratong’s henchmen while trying to take video footage of the shabu tiangge located at F. Soriano street, Sitio Mapayapa, Barangay Sto. Tomas in Nov. 14, 2005.

Uyami said Colisao was kept in a safehouse where he was tortured for several days and was later found dead.

The Pasig City police blotter showed that Colisao was gunned down by motorcycle-riding men in Barangay Pinagbuhatan.

However, Palao said Boratong and his wife gave Along and Labay the go signal to “execute” Colisao after a barangay official reported to them that GMA-7 was asking for his whereabouts.

Palao said the last time he saw Colisao alive was when Along and Labay left Boratong’s safehouse in Sitio Mapayapa.

The shabu “tiangge” was raided by government agents on Feb. 10, 2006 resulting to the arrest of at least 300 people.

Boratong is now under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The alleged drug lord and his second wife, Sheryl Molera, are facing separate charges for the maintenance of a drug den. The case is now pending at the sala of Judge Abraham Borreta of the RTC Branch 154.

Uyami said relatives of Colisao are happy over Manalo’s decision.

“Finally, their prayers were heard. The case is now moving,” said Uyami.

Prosecutors also welcomed the Pasig court’s decision to push through with the murder charges against Boratong and the other suspects for the murder of Colisao.