Calbayog mayor’s slay: Judge inhibits self
CALBAYOG CITY, Philippines — The Supreme Court will have to assign a new judge to handle the trial of nine policemen indicted in the killing of Calbayog mayor Ronaldo Aquino and three other persons in March last year.
Calbayog Regional Trial Court Branch 32 Judge Reynaldo Clemens announced during the bail hearing on Thursday that he was inhibiting himself from the case.
”Everyone in court was shocked. There was no provocation to inhibit himself from the case,” private prosecutor Alma Uy-Lampasa said.
She said Clemens did not state the reason for his decision as he immediately left the court.
“It happened during the last day of bail hearings and I already presented my last witness (against the petition),” Lampasa said.
“The case has no more judge. What will happen now is that the Supreme Court will look for another judge... The accused now have no one to resolve their petitions for bail,” she added.
Aquino was on his way to attend the birthday party of his son when they were waylaid. One of his escorts was wounded while two police officers and a bystander were also killed in the gunfight when the mayor’s companions returned fire.
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