Suspect in judge’s slay charged

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Police have filed charges of murder and frustrated murder against the suspected triggerman in the killing of regional trial court (RTC) judge Reynerio Estacio last Feb. 28. 

Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro, city police chief, said the suspect, Mohamad Alkhalidz Paradji Amisali, was presented on Monday afternoon to the city prosecutor’s office where the charges were subsequently filed.

Casimiro said Amisali was tagged as the triggerman in the killing of Estacio of RTC Branch 14 in Barangay Tugbungan here.

Estacio, 65, was on board his sport utility vehicle with his wife on his way to the Hall of Justice when he was gunned down. His wife survived the attack unscathed.

Casimiro said they tracked down Amisali following a review of the cases that Estacio was handling. 

Amisali was among the 11 accused in the Oct. 10, 2012 grenade-throwing on a pick-up truck of Hadja Farida Hajia. He, along with two others, was cleared due to insufficient evidence until last Feb. 27 when one of his co-accused turned state witness.