Belmonte slay try suspects snub pre-trial

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines – None of the suspects in the slay try on Iligan Rep. Vicente Belmonte showed up during the preliminary investigation of the case last Friday, a spokesman for the lawmaker said yesterday.

Belmonte’s lawyer, Rejoice Subejano, told a local radio station that only the lawyers for Iligan mayor Celso Regencia and his two police escorts appeared during the hearing.

Subejano refused to disclose the venue of the hearing for security reasons.

Regencia and his two police escorts were among 17 persons indicted for the attack on Belmonte’s convoy in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental last December.

Three of Belmonte’s aide were killed in the incident.

The lawmaker and other complainants attended the hearing along with their lawyers.

Earlier reports said Regencia did not receive any subpoena for the hearing. His lawyers went to the court to ask for a copy and more time to file their counter-affidavits.

The court granted the request, giving Regencia’s lawyer until April 13 to submit.

Belmonte asked for the transfer of the trial venue to Cagayan de Oro City. The court has yet to hear his request.