Zenaida Luz 鈥擯HOTO COURTESY OF CITIZENs CRIME WATCH
The two police officers charged with the murder of anticrime crusader Zenaida Luz in Oriental Mindoro province were released on bail after the court found the evidence presented against them as weak.
Juan Agapito Tria III, lawyer of Citizens Crime Watch (CCW) and of the victim鈥檚 family, confirmed on Thursday the temporary release of Senior Insp. Magdalino Pimentel Jr. and Insp. Markson Almeranez.
Luz, head of the anticrime watchdog CCW in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) region, was gunned down in Gloria town, Oriental Mindoro on Oct. 9 last year.
鈥淲e were surprised to see them (Pimentel and Almeranez) in civilian clothes and no longer in handcuffs this morning,鈥� Richard Albert, Luz鈥檚 partner, told the Inquirer in a telephone interview after Thursday鈥檚 hearing at the Manila regional trial court (RTC).
In a 15-page order issued on Aug. 3, Manila RTC Judge Daniel Villanueva granted the policemen鈥檚 petition for bail and set the bond at P500,000 each.
Lack of merit
This reversed Villanueva鈥檚 June 6 decision that denied the policemen鈥檚 petition for bail 鈥渇or lack of merit.鈥�
The policemen, on July 6, filed a motion to reconsider the denial.
The policemen鈥檚 bail petition was anchored on the 鈥渋ncongruent testimonies鈥� of witnesses and on the results of the cross-matching where bullets recovered from the crime scene did not match the .45 cal. Caspian pistol seized from Almeranez.
It also said that 鈥渃onspiracy鈥� was not established.
鈥淸In] the interest of justice and the exercise of its sound discretion, the court finds at this time that the evidence against the accused does not appear to be strong,鈥� read Villanueva鈥檚 order, a copy of which was furnished by the family to the Inquirer.
Settlement try
In a separate telephone interview, Luz鈥檚 sister, Perlita Alvarez, said the family was 鈥渆ven more surprised鈥� as the release of the policemen came after several failed attempts to settle with Luz鈥檚 family.
Tria said they would file a motion for reconsideration.
Pimentel was formerly assigned at the Provincial Public Safety Company while Almeranez was a former police chief of Socorro town in Oriental Mindoro.
They were arrested by fellow policemen after a brief chase on the night Luz was attacked.
Investigators, however, said two more suspects remained at large. 鈥�MARICAR CINCO