Lawyer denies role in slay try on ex-Batangas governor

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyer Jose Christopher Belmonte has denied charges linking him to the alleged attempt to kill former Batangas governor Armando Sanchez in 2006, decrying violation of his right to defend himself before the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

In a statement, Belmonte said the DOJ resolution that recommended the filing of charges of double murder with frustrated murder before the Batangas regional trial court against him, former Batangas vice governor Richard “Ricky” Recto and at least four others was unfair. 

He said the resolution of the investigating prosecutor that found probable cause against them “came as a surprise” since most of them were allegedly not given a chance to file counter-affidavits.

He said there was “utter disregard of due process and rule of law” on the part of the DOJ. 

“As far as I know, most, if not all my co-respondents likewise have incidents pending before other venues. Worse, most if not all of us have yet to file our counter-affidavits for the consideration of the DOJ panel. No such order has been made compelling us to do so. In effect, the panel merely relied on the affidavits submitted by the complainants, and completely disregarded the rights of the respondents to raise defenses on our behalf,” he said. 

Belmonte believes that he was only linked to the case because of his work “as a lawyer championing the rights of the marginalized and the oppressed (which) has consistently made me suspect to conspiracies aimed toward destabilizing the Arroyo government.” 

“I am innocent and I believe that the circumstances surrounding this fiasco show that the charges are politically motivated,” he said. 

“I have been very open about my plans to run as a congressional representative of the second district of Quezon City. My opponents, who have been instrumental in preventing me from running in 2007, are known allies of the present administration,” he added. 

In an 18-page resolution issued last Monday or exactly three years after the incident, the DOJ said it found probable cause against Recto and the other respondents and recommended the filing of charges against them.

Also recommended for indictment were Christina Antonio, Bettina Balderama, 1Lt. Angelbert Gay, and Lt. Junior Grade Kiram Sadava. The DOJ investigating prosecutor recommended no bail.

Investigating prosecutor, however, dismissed the charges against two other respondents in the complaint, 2nd Lt. Aldrin Baldonado and Lt. Nathaniel Rabonza for insufficiency of evidence. 

Gay and Sadava were also recommended to become state witnesses. 

Records showed that Sanchez was about to board his Hummer H-2 (Humvee) vehicle when it blew up inside the Batangas provincial capitol compound, killing his driver and close-in security Luisito Icaro and PO2 Eric Landicho. Sanchez survived with burns and other injuries. 

A joint investigation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group resulted in a CIDG recommendation to the Batangas city prosecutor the filing of murder and frustrated murder charges against Recto, Belmonte, Balderama, Antonio, Gay, Baldonado and Ltjg. Kiram Sadava and six John and Jane Does. 

The DOJ said that the purpose of Belmonte, Antonio, Balderama and others was to earn money through the so-called special operations, although this was not sanctioned by the soldier’s group, Makabayang Kilusan ng Pilipinas (MKP), which was primarily in furtherance of its political objectives. 

Recto’s motive was purely personal, to replace Sanchez in the gubernatorial seat. Sadava testified that Gay asked Belmonte to abort the mission regarding Sanchez for the needed funds arrived already, but Belmonte insisted that he was already committed to do it. – Edu Punay