Gov’t lawyer wants suspect examined
Is murder suspect Jonathan Sanchez really suffering from mental illness?
Government lawyer Lei Maurae Babatuan, who represents Sanchez, filed a motion asking Judge Marivic Trabajo-Daray of the Regional Trial Court Branch 16 to issue an order allowing the accused to undergo a psychiatric examination.
Babatuan’s motion aims to determine whether Sanchez is “fit to stand trial” for shooting to death lawyer Goering George “Jing” Paderanga, Sr. and his son, Gerik Ceasare.
Babatuan attached to the pleading a medical certificate issued by Dr. Joseph James Lim in January 2015, who diagnosed Sanchez as having “sleep disorder” and said that he should be treated.
The medical abstract also stated that Sanchez “has a history of substance-induced psychiatric disorder” that requires continues medication.
Private prosecutor Ian Anthony Sapayan earlier said they would oppose to the defense’s motion once they receive a copy of the motion. Murder is a non-bailable offense. Sanchez’s arraignment was reset to March 20.
Sanchez, 35, is being detained at the Cebu City Jail, while he is being tried for shooting to death the father-and-son lawyers outside their law office on F. Ramos St., Cebu City last Dec. 22, 2016.
Sanchez’s wife Charito, 35, had told reporters that her husband had been diagnosed with a mental illness and admitted at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) twice.
Investigation
Goering George’s wife, Judge Sylva Aguirre-Paderanga, had asked Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre to direct the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a “thorough and intrepid” investigation.
The probe aims to affirm or rule out the involvement of other people or that Sanchez acted on his own.
“I am not convinced that Sanchez acted alone or that he was motivated by any motive other than the inducement of a hidden principal or principals,” said Judge Paderanga in her letter.
Judge Paderanga said Sanchez shot the victims without any altercation, indicating that the guard’s act was carried out to “specifically target” her husband and son.