DOJ takes over case vs ‘assassin’ from Pasay fiscal

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has transferred the charges against a Chinese man a police official had tagged as an “assassin” for a crime syndicate from the Pasay City prosecutor’s office.

Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered the transfer of the case to the DOJ after receiving a protest from the Pasay City police, whose officials questioned an order from the city prosecutor’s office to release suspect Jerry Sy.

The order, signed by Assistant City Prosecutor Josefina Muego, also dismissed the charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms and explosives against him.

Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, head of the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service, assigned Assistant State Prosecutor Niven Canlapan to resolve the case.

In De Lima’s Order 26, she directed the Pasay City prosecutor’s office “to transmit the complete records of the subject cases within 24 hours from receipt of the order.”

Officials said Sy, a 42-year-old Chinese, reportedly lost his passport and is subject of a deportation order from the Bureau of Immigration. He has been overstaying in the country for several years but would not be immediately deported because of the pending criminal cases against him.

Muego ordered the Pasay City police to release Sy after she questioned the manner by which the police officers discovered the cache of guns and explosives in Sy’s car, which was parked at the VIP parking area of the Resorts World Manila casino.

Police officers responded to a call about an altercation at the parking area. They said they caught Sy alleged about to stab Joseph Ang, a casino financier. Ang refused to file charges against Sy.

Muego said the police officers arrested Sy “without proper determination of the respondent’s capacity to own or possess (guns). In fact, there is no certification from the proper government agency that Jerry Sy is not licensed to own or possess any firearms or ammunition.”