2 accused in Esperat slay barred from leaving RP

The Department of Justice yesterday ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to place in its hold departure list the two principal accused in the murder of investigative journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat in Sultan Kudarat three years ago.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez ordered the BI to include in its hold departure list Osmena Montaner and Estrella Sabay, both officials of the Department of Agriculture in Region 12 (Central Mindanao).

Gonzalez issued the order following the issuance of arrest warrants against Montaner and Sabay by the Cebu City regional trial court.

Esperat, a columnist of the Midland Review and a radio broadcaster, was gunned down on the night of March 24, 2005 in front of her two children in their house in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat.

More popularly known as “Madame Witness” because of her public service and media exposés, Esperat had been the target of assassination attempts, including a grenade attack on her house in 2003 and an attempted abduction in 2002, after she filed several graft cases against Montaner.

The other accused in the case, former Army Sgt. Estanislao Bismanos, Gerry Cabayag, the self-confessed hitman, and Randy Grecia, who acted as the lookout, have been convicted by the Cebu RTC and sentenced to reclusion perpetua or 40 years in jail.

The court cleared former military intelligence officer Rowie Barua, another accused who had turned state witness.