Prosecutor junks case vs. Reluya

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has dismissed the murder charge filed against the husband of San Fernado Mayor Lakambini “Neneth” Reluya.

Ricardo “Nonoy” Reluya told reporters yesterday that with the dismissal of the case, he would file countercharges against those who accused him of the crime.

“Mokiha gyud ko sa tanan nga niakusar nako. Dili lalim ang ilang gibuhat nako, sa akong pamilya hilabi na kay naapektuhan gyud ang akong asawa ug mga anak,” he said.

In a five-page resolution dated April 26, 2010, Prosecutor I Eulogio Borres Jr. wrote that the allegations that Recardo masterminded the killing of businesswoman Lalaine Jore were suspicious.

Jore’s father, Luis Jore, had filed a murder charge against Ricardo for the death of her daughter on February 17, 2009.

Luis was convinced that Ricardo masterminded the killing of his daughter since he was reportedly her ex-boyfriend and business associate.

But Ricardo strongly denied the allegations, contending that they were never been lovers.

He said the accusations were politically motivated considering the timing of the filing of the case. Mayor Reluya is seeking reelection against Vice Mayor Antonio Canoy.

“All the allegations of his complicity as the mastermind of that murder of the private complainant’s daughter are all mere suspicious and hearsay that cannot stand the crucible of reason and admissibility,” the resolution reads.

Ricardo suspected that Canoy was behind the accusations against him.

Rolando Bajao, the witness who earlier accused Ricardo of being the mastermind, retracted his earlier statements.

Bajao claimed that Canoy offered him P30,000 last March 3 at a restaurant in Glorietta in Manila to pinpoint Ricardo as the mastermind.

Bajao said of the agreed P30,000 as acceptance fee, he already received P15,000, excluding airfare. He said he had received around P24,000 from the Canoys.

But Canoy vehemently denied the claim, saying they do not know Bajao at all.

But Bajao maintained he had known the Canoys for sometime already, and that he even had contacts with them in the past.

To prove that he got a partial payment, Bajao showed to the media three acknowledgment receipts from LBCs Instant Pera Padala.

The first receipt, which was dated March 12, 2010 and worth P1,980, was consigned to Bajao. The shipper’s name was a certain Maria Carmelli Canoy.

Maria Carmelli, Ricardo said, could be a daughter of the vice mayor.

The second receipt was dated March 23, 2010 and was worth P4,700. It was also consigned to Bajao and Maria Carmelli was also the name of the sender.

The third receipt, dated March 23, 2010 and was worth P300, was consigned to Bajao. The shipper’s name was a certain Dory Gervacio.

Gervacio, Ricardo said, is an employee of the vice mayor.

Aside from the receipts, Bajao also showed the copy of his PR 857 flight schedule dated March 4, 2010 with booking reference CN5HHW.

Bajao claimed he went to Cebu and met with one of Canoy’s son, Mico, who accompanied him to Guadalupe Police Station to tag the mayor’s husband in the killing.

The Freeman tried to contact Mico through his mobile number for comment to no avail.

In recanting his statements, Bajao said he came to realize that it is better to free 100 criminals than to put an innocent man in jail.

“Ako nangayo ko og dispensa sa katawhan. Ang pagsulti nako sa kamatuoran nga wala gyuy labot si Nonoy, wala kini bugti nga kwarta. Nisulti ra ko sa tinuod,” Bajao said.

Ricardo said he doesn’t know Bajao at all and the witness’ recantation is beyond monetary considerations.

“Hapit ko nakuyapan upon learning nga gikiha kuno ko ug murder. Kaning tawhana (Bajao) kung wala pa ni nibali ug nagsulti sa tinuod, ma priso unta ko nga wala gyud intawon koy kalibutan anang murder charge. Tibuok kinabuhi nako ang akoa utang kabubot-on niya,” the emotional Ricardo said.

Ricardo said he had consulted with his lawyers on the charges he would file against Luis Jore and the Canoys. — /LPM (THE FREEMAN)