DOJ okays murder raps vs ex-mayor, 2 others in fiscal’s slay

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved the indictment of a former mayor and two others for the killing of Batangas assistant provincial prosecutor Alexander Sandoval last June 13.

A resolution by investigating prosecution attorneys Jayvee Lawrence Bandong and Omar Cris Casimiro found probable cause to file a murder case against former Sta. Teresita, Batangas Ana Marie Mendoza, her husband, village chief Hermogenes Mendoza, and a certain Richard Briones.

The three were earlier placed in the Bureau of Immigration’s alert list.

The DOJ filed the case against the three after they failed to answer charges during the preliminary investigation.

The DOJ panel earlier had issued a resolution approving the filing of murder charges against the arrested gunman, Jayson Espejo, before the Batangas regional trial court after inquest proceedings.

Espejo was arrested on the night of Sandoval’s killing and executed an extra-judicial affidavit where he tagged the Mendozas and Briones as the alleged masterminds.