Charges vs. suspect in Zambo judge's murder filed

ZAMBOANGA CITY - - Police authorities have formally filed cases of murder and frustrated murder against an arrested gunman tagged as behind the gun slaying of a Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge in this city, according to an official Tuesday.

Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro, City Police Director, said Mohamad Alkhalidz Paradji Amisali was presented late Monday afternoon to the City Prosecutor Office where the charges were subsequently filed.

Casimiro said Amisali was identified as the gunman in the murder of RTC branch 14 Judge Reynerio Estacio on February 28 at Barangay Tugbungan in this city.

Estacio, 65, was on board his sports utility vehicle with his wife  and was on their way to his office when they were attacked by the gunman.

Casimiro said they identified Amisali following a review on the cases that were handled by Estacio, which included important cases.

Casimiro said Amisali was discovered to be one of the 11 suspects involved in the Oct. 10, 2012 grenade throwing incident on the pick-up truck of Hadja Farida Hajia along Gov. Camins.

Casimiro said Amisali along with two others were released from the previous case due to insufficient evidence. On February 27, however, one of his co-accused turned as state witness.

He said the review led them to the discovery on the involvement of Amisali, who was initially arrested for illegal possession of drugs last Sunday.

Casimiro said Amisali is  presently placed under the custody of the 9th Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit while awaiting the trial of the case.

The local Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) lauded the early arrest of the suspect and hoped the mastermind of Estacio's murder be identified.