Ex-Vizcaya official, 5 others cleared of murder raps

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed the murder charges filed against a former provincial board member and five others in connection with last year’s fatal shooting of a former US Navy serviceman.

Cleared of the charges were former board member Clemente Bacani, businessmen Jolly Zapata, former barangay chairman Sidioc Uy, Melonie Bacani-Afalla, Bacani’s sister and estranged wife of the victim, Henry Afalla, and two John Does.

The Bacani siblings are now both residing in the Unites States.

The DOJ, through the provincial prosecutor’s office, said the respondents "appear to have been indicted upon collective suspicion of witnesses due to their alleged standing grudges" with Afalla.

"Suspicion, however strong it may seem, cannot establish probable cause," it said in a two-page resolution dated June 10.

The resolution, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR yesterday, was signed by Ferdinand Dalpig, assistant regional prosecutor and concurrently, the acting provincial prosecutor.

The DOJ, however, advised the complainants, Florencio Afalla and Florence Afalla, the murder victim’s father and brother, respectively, that they could refile the case.

Dalpig advised the Afallas "to coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation or any investigating agency of the government for a more thorough investigation."

Uy expressed relief over the dismissal of the charges against him and his co-respondents. He welcomed moves for the refiling and reinvestigation of the case "so that the real truth will come out."

"I am innocent of the charges. I am just a plain and simple businessman. My family and our business have been affected so much with this," he said, even offering to help the Afallas identify the real killers.

Henry Afalla, a former US Navy serviceman, was shot dead last Dec. 9 while vacationing in the country.

The Afallas, who like Henry, are naturalized US citizens, alleged that the killing had something to do with the pending divorce case he had filed against Melonie in the United States.

A sister of the Bacani siblings is married to Uy, while Zapata is a close friend of the Bacanis who hail from Bagabag town.

Zapata’s family owns the only cable television network in Bagabag. He himself operates a number of gasoline stations here.

The Afallas, who also hail from Bagabag, alleged that the respondents had connived in killing Henry.