Court orders Sandra Cam’s arrest

Over Masbate vice mayor’s slay

MANILA, Philippines — A Manila court yesterday issued warrants for the arrest of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board member Sandra Cam, her son and five others in connection with the murder of a vice mayor in Masbate whose family clashed with hers in the 2019 elections.

Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 42 Judge Dinnah Aguila-Topacio found probable cause to order the arrest of Cam and her co-accused with no right to bail after examining the complaint, resolution of the Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors and other supporting documents.

Also ordered arrested were Cam’s son Marco Martin and alleged gunmen Nelson Cambaya, Junel Gomez, Bradford Solis, Juanito de Luna and Rigo de la Cruz.

Last year, the National Bureau of Investigation filed before the DOJ charges of murder and frustrated murder against them over the killing of then Masbate vice mayor Charlie Yuson III.

Yuson was shot dead while having breakfast in an eatery in Sampaloc, Manila on Oct. 10, 2019. His companion, Alberto Alforte IV, was wounded in the attack.

Yuson’s wife, Lalaine, accused Cam of masterminding his death.

Lalaine claimed that the gunmen were previously spotted in Cam’s resort in Masbate.

Cam had denied any involvement in Yuson’s death.

Cam and Yuson were political rivals. The PCSO official’s son lost to Yuson’s son, Charmax Jan, for mayor of Batuan, Masbate in 2019. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab