DOJ creates new panel to handle Nida slay case

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has created a new panel of prosecutors to handle the Nida Blanca murder case.

Gonzalez designated Senior State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva as chairman and State Prosecutors Christine Terolino and Rolando Ramirez as members of the new panel to represent Blanca’s only daughter Kaye Torres in the prosecution of principal accused Roger Lawrence Strunk and Pedro Philip Medel Jr.

Blanca, Dorothry Jones in real life, was murdered in 2001.

"In the interest of the service and pursuant to the provisions of existing laws, a new panel of prosecutors is hereby constituted," Gonzalez said.

Last Aug. 25, Torres asked Gonzalez to relieve Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Lead Tanodra-Armamento as prosecutor in the murder. In a letter to Gonzalez, Torres said Armamento "cannot effectively and impartially prosecute the case."

Torres cited that despite her decision to terminate the legal services of Lawyer Harriet Demetriou last Aug. 2, Armamento continued to confer with Demetriou.

Torres had asked Gonzalez to designate Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño as Armamento’s replacement. — Jose Rodel Clapano