‘Mastermind' in Rupinta killing: Charges dropped

CEBU, Philippines — For lack of probable cause, the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office dropped the charges filed against Winefredo Miro, the alleged mastermind in the ambush-slay of Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo Rupinta.

“The evidence on record being insufficient to establish probable cause against the respondent, the herein complaints are hereby dismissed,” reads the resolution of Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Hyacinth Jadraque.

It was the Regional Special Operations Group - 7 that filed the murder and attempted murder charges against Miro.

Miro, former Cebu City Market Administrator, was pointed to as the mastermind of Rupinta’s ambush in Liloan town on November 23, 2017.

Rupinta and his common-law wife, Jocelyn Mendoza, were on their way home when the incident occurred. Mendoza was unharmed.

Executing an affidavit later, Mendoza alleged that Miro and others "might have orchestrated the assassination of Rupinta taking into consideration the long-standing feud between Miro and Rupinta for the control and dominance of the vendors association and other sources of income in Carbon Public Market in Barangay Ermita."

However, Jadraque said Mendoza was just told by Feliderlyn Rupinta Tamundo, daughter of the late captain, about the murder plan of the alleged perpetrator, Jimmy Largo.

This is considered hearsay and cannot be given probative value, Jadraque said.

Jadraque also raised serious doubts over the alleged conspiracy between Largo and Miro as imputed by a certain Rolando Alvares Pacres.

Pacres filed a judicial affidavit stating that Largo had offered him P150,000 to kill Rupinta.

He negotiated for a higher price and for two pistols when he learned of the target, but Largo reportedly did not agree.

Pacres said Largo told him that it was Miro who hired him and that the latter was willing to pay half of the amount in advance – the other half would be paid after the kill. 

However, when he asked for the down payment from Largo, the latter reportedly did not contact him anymore and when he went to see Miro at the City Hall, Miro allegedly told him that he has told Largo to just finish the job.

But Jadraque said he is not convinced that Miro conspired with the identified suspects.

She said “positive and conclusive evidence” must be presented to establish conspiracy.

Miro, for his part, said he cannot order someone to kill Rupinta even if they are politically opposed to each other.

“After a judicious scrutiny of the evidence on hand, the undersigned finds the evidence insufficient to establish probable cause against the respondent (Miro) for the crime/s charged,” reads a portion of Jadraque’s resolution.

While she sympathizes with Mendoza, Jadraque said the former is beholden to the elements of each of the felony she charges Miro with.

Jadraque said further that Mendoza should satisfy the complaints with “clarity and proof.”

In his counter-affidavit, Miro has said that while they were political rivals, there is no reason for him to kill the barangay captain.

“I am not a killer; neither do I have the instinct of a killer nor ambition of becoming one; I will repeat it that I am not responsible in any manner whatsoever for the death of Imok,” reads a portion of the affidavit.

Miro said he does not know Largo and Pacres.

Miro also alleged that there is a possibility and “very strong probability” that Mendoza orchestrated the assassination so she will take control of the wealth of the slain barangay captain.

Miro said the police should look into the possible participation of Mendoza who was “never touched by anyone of the assassins” despite her very proximate position with Rupinta.

Charges have been elevated to court against Largo and the second suspect arrested, Jordan Gera. — /JMO (FREEMAN)