Mayor facing murder charges given time to submit counter-affidavit

Trece Martires City Mayor Melandres de Sagun and his corespondents have been allowed by the Department of Justice (DoJ) more time to respond over the murder complaints filed against them concerning the killing of Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rassendell Rex Gingoyon, who chairs the panel of prosecutors conducting the preliminary investigation of the complaints, gave De Sagun and his co-respondents until Oct. 26 to file their respective counteraffidavits.

De Sagun and his corespondents were supposed to file their respective counter-affidavits during the start of the preliminary investigation yesterday (Oct. 12).

Gingoyon warned the respondents should they fail to file their counter-affidavits on Oct. 26 the complaints will be considered submitted for resolution.

“Pag di submit ng counteraffidavit nila, submitted for resolution,” the prosecutor told reporters.

In a motion for extension to file counter-affidavit, De Sagun’s legal counsel, lawyer Merito Lovensky Fernandez, explained to the panel that his services was only engaged by the mayor last Oct. 9.

“In view thereof and due to the gravity of the charges leveled against respondent, the undersigned counsel would need an additional period of 14 days from October 12, 2018 or until October 26, 2018 within which to file respondent’s counter-affidavit and the affidavits of his witnesses,” said the lawyer.

The other respondents are identified as Maragondon Municipal Councilor Lawrence “Umbe” Arca, Luis Vasquez Abad Jr., Ariel Fletchetro Paiton, and Rhonel Bersamina.

The Cavite Police Provincial Office (CPPO) filed before the DoJ last Sept. 13 the complaints against De Sagun and four other respondents.

Under the complaint, the respondents are accused of two counts of murder and frustrated murder over the ambush of Lubigan which took place in Trece Martires, Cavite last July 7.

Lubigan was aboard his black Toyota Hi-Lux when he got ambushed on the afternoon of July 7 in front of the Korean-Philippines Friendship Hospital.

Aside from Lubigan, his driver Romulo Guillemer died from the ambush.

Also hurt from the incident is Lubigan’s security aide Romeo Edrinal.