TACLOBAN CITY– A lawyer who has been earlier tagged to have shot and killed an architect inside a school campus seven years ago was acquitted by a regional trial court here.

Lawyer Aquilino Mejica was acquitted of the murder charge by the court for lack of probable cause.

The court said that for Mejica to be convicted of the charge against him, not only due to circumstantial evidence but also on direct evidence.

“Be it noted that the accused was convicted not by direct evidence but by circumstantial evidence. Nobody saw the accused killed the victim,” Judge Evelyn Lesigues, the presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 43, said on her decision.

Earlier, Mejica was convicted for killing Archimedes Moscare by Judge Alphinor Serrano of the RTC-Branch 6.

The accused, however, filed for inhibition against Serrano resulting in Judge Lesigues handling the murder case.

The murder case against Mejica happened on June 6, 2016 inside the engineering building of Leyte State University.

|”I want to thank God for my acquittal (and) I want to thank Judge Lesigues for being just. She applied the law, rules on evidence and applicable jurisprudence,” he said.

He also expressed his gratitude to his wife and family including their relatives and friends for their ‘unceasing love and support.’

Mejica was detained at the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog on April 11, 2019 and was released from prison on May 6,2022.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Police Regional Office 8 under the leadership of PB/Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, the police regional director, dismantled a drug den which resulted in the arrest of seven individuals during a buy-bust operation in Brgy. 59-A Sampaguita, this city, Monday (March 20).

Marbil said that the suspects were charged for violation of Sections 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, and 15 of Article II of Republic Act 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Joint operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 8 together with Tacloban City Police Office Drug Enforcement Unit (TCPO-DEU) conducted a sting operation which led to the dismantling of a drug den and the arrest of the following suspects: alias “Encio”, 52, maintainer; alias “Eque”, 54, co-maintainer; alias “Ely”, 34, visitor; alias “Toper”, 37, visitor; alias “Enn-enn”, 36, visitor; alias “Elago”, 21, visitor; and alias “Obet”, 57, visitor.

Marbil added that the operation was carried out after several months of intensive surveillance and tight case build-up.

“We will be relentless in our efforts in stopping the spread of illegal drugs in the region. More importantly, is the dismantling of every single drug den in our AOR and the arrest of those people involved,” he said.

Based on the report, suspects yielded eight pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu weighing around 15 grams with an estimated market value of P102,000.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

CAMP VICENTE LUKBAN, Catbalogan City – Five communist terrorist group (CTG) members and two militiamen surrendered along with their firearms to 87th Infantry “Hinirang” Battalion, 8th Infantry “Stormtroopers” Division, Philippine Army at Barangay Poblacion 2, San Jose De Buan, Samar last March 22, 2023.

The surrenderee were members of Yakal Platoon, Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Browser, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).

Their surrender is the result of the continuous effort of the local peace engagement (LPE) cluster of the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist and Armed Conflict of Paranas, San Jose de Buan, Motiong and San Jorge.

Fear, hunger, and dismay are the main reasons they return to the folds of the law. They handed over one 60mm mortar, three M14 rifles, one M16 rifle, one cal .45 pistol, a homemade shotgun, and assorted ammunition.

In his statement, Lieutenant Colonel Luzelito Q. Betinol, the commanding officer of 87IB, encourage the remaining members of the CTG to return to the folds of the law to enjoy and take advantage of the services of the government.

“The continuous disintegration and surrender of CTG members indicate the effective program of our government,” Lt.Col. Betinol added.

The 8th Infantry “Stormtroopers” Division Commander, Major General Camilo Z. Ligayo is grateful for the trust given by the seven surrenderees to the government.

“I hope that the seven surrenderees will serve as an example, to encourage the remaining CTG members to give up violence and embrace the path of peace and development. It’s never too late, our government will support your reintegration to the mainstream society,” said Maj. Gen. Ligayo. (PR)