Richard Gutierrez cleared in death of personal aide

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) cleared with finality actor Richard Gutierrez of the criminal charges filed against him by the widow of his personal assistant who died when they figured in a car accident in May 2009.

DOJ Secretary Alberto Agra affirmed a resolution of his predecessor, Agnes Devanadera, last March 10 dismissing the charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Gutierrez.

In a press briefing, Agra said he dismissed the complaint filed by the widow of Nomar Pardo, Lorayne, as he has found “no cogent reason to reverse the earlier resolution.”

The widow filed the complaint against the actor on July 23, 2009 at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Imus, Cavite, a few months after the tragic death of her husband, Nomar Pardo.

The DOJ said there is no evidence to prove that Gutierrez was speeding at the time of the accident and dismissed Lorayne’s complaint as hearsay since she “could not have known the road conditions, the manner by which the accident happened, the damages caused to the vehicle and its passengers, the respondent’s actuations immediately after the accident because she simply was not present at the scene of the incident.”