MANILA, Philippines – Inabswelto sa two counts ng murder at seven counts ng frustrated murder ang isang pastor ng United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) at mga kasamahan nito na kilala bilang “Himamaylan 7,” nitong Lunes, Nobyembre 18.
Walang nakitang sapat na ebidensya si Judge Rodney Magbanua ng Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 61 sa Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental laban kina UCCP Pastor Jimie Teves, government job order worker Jodito Montesino, Susan Medez, Jaypee Romano, Jasper Aguyong, Rogen Sabanal, Eliseo Andres, at Rodrigo Medez.
Inakusahan ang mga ito na pumatay sa dalawang sundalo ng Army ng 62nd Infantry Battalion at ikinasugat ng pito iba pa sa engkwentro sa Barangay Tan-awan, Kabankalan City, noong Mayo 12, 2018, o dalawng araw bago ang barangay election.
“We sympathize with the families of those who died and were injured in the encounter but it is also wrong to imprison those who were innocent of the charges. It does not result in justice but rather exacerbates injustice,” ayon kay defense lawyer Rey Gorgonio.
Ani Gorgonio, na red-tag at inakusahan ng ga awtoridad ang kanyang mga kliyente.
“They are farmers and indigenous people from Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan,” dagdag pa.
Sinabi ni Teves na siya ay pastor ng UCCP at mga kasamahan niya sa simbahan ang iba pang akusado.
Sila rin ay mga miyembro ng Tribu Ituman, isang Indigenous People’s group na layong tulungan ang mga magsasaka na makakuha ng proyekto ng pamahalaan.
Tinawag ang mga ito bilang “Himamaylan 7” dahil sila ay pitong mga lalaki, bukod kay Teves, na naaresto at nakulong noong Hunyo 2019.
Sa ruling, sinabi ng korte na kulang ng credible evidence at nakitaan ng procedural irregularities ang imbestigasyon.
Sinabi rin ng korte na kulang ang mga testimonya ng mga witness para patunayang guilty ang mga akusado.
“A criminal case rises and falls on the strength of the prosecution’s evidence and not on the weakness of the defense,” dagdag pa.
“The accused offered no other evidence but the twin defenses of denial and alibi. They said they were preparing for the elections on May 14, 2018. But while denial and alibi are indeed inherently weak defenses, these cannot be simply rejected when the peculiar circumstances of their arrest and their out-of-court identification cast serious doubts on the reliability of the eyewitnesses’ testimonies,” sinabi pa ng Korte.
Ayon sa UCCP, “Church leaders expressed relief over the acquittal, calling it a victory for truth and justice. The acquittal of Pastor Teves and company is an answered prayer of the whole church. It also serves as a testament to the power of community support.” RNT/JGC
