Fiscals wait for PNP to confirm death of suspect in car trader's slay

MANILA, Philippines - The prosecution has yet to formally file in court the death of Napoleon Salamat – a suspect in the killing of car dealer Venson Evangelista – who was slain in an encounter with the police last week.

In an interview following what was supposed to be a hearing yesterday, Assistant City Prosecutor Irene Resureccion said they were still waiting for the formal notice from the Philippine National Police that Salamat was indeed one of those killed in Meycauayan, Bulacan.

Resureccion said they were still waiting for pieces of evidence like fingerprints of the slain suspect.

Salamat, along with fellow suspect Rolando Talban, had been at large despite having been charged with car theft with homicide before a Quezon City court for the brutal killing of Evangelista in January 2011.

Following the police encounter last week, reports had indicated that Salamat’s wife had come to claim the slain suspect’s body.

Their fellow accused, brothers Raymond and Roger Dominguez and Jayson Miranda, are detained while the case is being heard.

Apart from Evangelista’s case, the same set of suspects are facing similar charges for the killing of another car dealer, Emerson Lozano.

Assistant City Prosecutor Ramoncito Ocampo Jr., also from the prosecution panel in Evangelista’s case, said the court has junked the motion for reconsideration filed by the Dominguez brothers to appeal the discharge of Alfred Mendiola as state witness.

Mendiola was initially among the suspects in the case. He admitted to having posed as the buyer of the SUV that Evangelista was selling on the day he was abducted. Mendiola’s testimony was used to charge the other suspects in court.