A panel of Negros Oriental provincial prosecutors has dropped the murder charges filed against Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member Arnie Teves and four others for lack of evidence.
Assistant Prosecutor Rav Rocamora, in his resolution, said that the charge against Teves, Pacito Libron, Jasper Tanasan, and certain Diocares and Mayagma, of conspiracy to kill Bayawan City Councilor Victoriano “Ching” Alabastro on June 24 last year, lacked evidence.
This was after the main suspect, Herman Escora, recanted his earlier statement implicating Teves and the four others, he added.
Rocamora ruled that only Escora and Rio Siasan, who were positively identified by Alabastro, will be tried for the alleged assassination attempt outside the Negros Oriental State University Sta. Catalina campus in Bayawan City.
Earlier reports said that Alabastro was boarding his car when an unidentified gunman walked up to him and shot him several times. The councilor, who was graced by a bullet in his abdomen, survived the shooting. (Rene Genove)
