Judge inhibits from shootout case

Manila, Philippines - A trial court judge has inhibited himself from handling the 2008 Parañaque shootout double murder case.

Judge Jaime Guray of Regional Trial Court Branch 260 said it will better for both the defense and the prosecution camps to have the case tried by another judge “at this early stage.”

The case stems from the deaths of Alfonso de Vera and daughter Lia, who were in an Isuzu Crosswind when the policemen mistook their vehicle as the getaway car of robbers they were chasing on Dec. 5, 2008.

Twenty-five policemen were originally charged but Guray, in 2010, dismissed the case against eight members of the police Highway Patrol Group (HPG). The Court of Appeals, however, reversed Guray’s decision last June and ordered the re-arrest of Chief Inspectors Lawrence Cajipe and Joel Mendoza, Inspector Gerardo Balacutan, PO3 Jolito Mamanao Jr., PO3 Fernando Rey Gapuz, PO2 Eduardo Blanco, PO2 Edwin Santos, and PO1 Josil Rey Lucena.

Their 17 other co-accused, who belong to the Special Action Force, were acquitted last May.