DOJ upholds raps vs ex-Samar solon

CATBALOGAN, Samar — The Department of Justice has denied with finality the motion for reconsideration filed by former second district Rep. Catalino Figueroa regarding the two criminal cases he is facing in the Regional Trial Court here.

Figueroa and his co-accused, police officer Diosdado Gabuay, July Fabilane, Jovencio Matarum and Romeo Bita, are facing charges of attempted murder, use of an unlicensed firearm and violation of the Commission of Elections-imposed gun ban filed by a certain Samuel Lim for a shooting incident in the island town of Zumarraga during the 2001 elections.

At the time of the incident, the mayoralty race in Zumarraga town was hotly contested, with Figueroa’s wife, Neliptha, running against then incumbent mayor Casilda Lim. Figueroa won in the elections.

In junking Figueroa’s motion, the DOJ took into consideration the basic issues raised in the motion, deciding that there was no compelling ground to grant the appeal.

The Supreme Court has approved Lim’s request to transfer the case to Manila.