CA thumbs down Quirino grandson's bail bid

The Court of Appeals (CA) has dashed the hopes of Luisito Gonzales and his driver Antonio Buenfalor of stepping out of the Manila City Jail anytime soon.

The CA has denied their appeal for the immediate execution of its amended decision dismissing the murder and less physical injuries charges filed against them in connection with the murder of businessman Federico Delgado.

The Manila Regional Trial Court had ordered the continued detention of Gonzales, a grandson of the late President Elpidio Quirino, and Buenaflor the pending the resolution of the appeal filed at the Supreme Court by the prosecution.

The CA also denied the motion of Gonzales and Buenaflor for a partial entry of judgment to be made in the case on the grounds that the Office of the Solicitor General failed to file a petition for review within the required period.

The Delgado family had earlier filed a petition before the Supreme Court asking that the CA’s amended decision on the case be nullified.

The Delgado family argued that the CA’s Special Former Seventh Division committed grave abuse of discretion in granting the motion for reconsideration filed by Gonzales and his driver to set aside its March 18 ruling that upheld the finding of probable cause by the Department of Justice to file murder charges against them.

Last Aug. 29, the CA granted the motion for reconsideration of Gonzales and his driver, and ordered the dismissal of the murder complaint against them.

Earlier, Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina of the Manila Regional Trial Court directed that the proceedings in the case “be suspended “ subject to the outcome of the petition for review by the prosecution before the SC assailing the amended decision rendered by the CA, which had ruled in favor of the two accused.

“In the meantime, let both accused remain in custody.” Medina ordered.

The 51-year-old Delgado is the son of shipping magnate Francisco “Don Paco” Delgado. He was killed on March 10, 2007 at his Manila apartment. Gonzales and Buenaflor were later identified by a witness as the attackers.       – Mike Frialde