Lotto winner released from jail

After spending four days in jail for allegedly masterminding the killing of his neighbor in Marikina City, the winner of a P38-million lotto jackpot is now a free man.

Assistant city prosecutor Loreto Asejo, ordered yesterday the release of Luisito de los Reyes from jail after finding no hard evidence linking him to the killing of his neighbor, Johnny Tuaño, 31.

The decision to release de los Reyes drew a howl of protest from Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., Marikina City police chief, who vowed to appeal Asejo’s order before Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong.

Asejo’s directive came in the heels of the recommendation of prosecutor Merba Waga to release de los Reyes for preliminary investigation, Rojas told The STAR.

Rojas said de los Reyes should not have been released since a certification from the Firearms and Explosive Division (FED) from Camp Crame showed that the weapon used by the hired gun, Ramil Gonzales, 36, was registered under the lotto winner’s name.

"We have a strong evidence against de los Reyes and I’m surprised why he was released by the city prosecutor," Rojas said in an interview.

Gonzales was ordered by Asejo to remain in jail. It was Gonzales who linked de los Reyes to the killing of Tuaño.

Gonzales was caught by bystanders after shooting Tuaño inside a billiard hall on I. Jocson street in Barangay Malanday at 2:30 p.m. last Monday when cornered by bystanders. He yielded a caliber .9mm Jericho automatic pistol, which the FED said was registered to de los Reyes, and two fully-loaded magazines.

Police filed murder charges Tuesday against de los Reyes and Gonzales. De los Reyes was tagged as accessory to the crime. – Non Alquitran