Court decision on Esperat slay out tomorrow

KORONADAL CITY — After more than a year of hearings, the Cebu City regional trial court is handing down its decision tomorrow on the killing of Sultan Kudarat journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat.

Lawyer Nena Santos, legal counsel of the Esperat family, said Esperat’s husband and their four children are flying to Cebu City to attend the promulgation in the sala of Judge Eric Menchaves of the Cebu City RTC Branch 21.

"They are hoping for the conviction of the suspects," Santos told The STAR.

She said Esperat’s relatives, friends and journalists from across the country are also attending the promulgation.

Santos said the court will decide whether to convict accused Jerry Cabayag, Estanislao Bismanos and Randy Grecia or not.

Esperat, 45, a former government employee who turned to writing to fight graft and corruption, was gunned down inside her house in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat on the night of Maundy Thursday while she was having dinner with her daughters.

Police said the gunman greeted Esperat "Maaying gabii (Good evening), ma’am" before firing a single shot into her face.

One of the Esperat’s alleged killers tagged two ranking officials of the Department of Agriculture in Central Mindanao as the alleged masterminds.