By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The lawyer for Rep. Melecio Yap, Ariel Malunes, held a press conference, yesterday, at the Grand Regal Hotel to give his side’s perspective, saying so much has been said by the other party against his client surrounding accusations of conducting extrajudicial killings in Escalante City from 2007 to 2011.
“The congressman is the wrong person to target in seeking justice,” he explained. “The court did not issue the warrant of arrest against my client, which the families of those who died wanted, because there was no probable cause.”
San Carlos City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Danilo Amisola earlier dismissed three counts of murder and one count of frustrated murder against Yap.
The attorney for the families of the alleged extrajudicial killings victims, Renecio Espiritu, Jr., called into question the judge’s “fairness.”
Malunes addressed the issue of bias, saying, “If there is one judge who is known for being very fair and having no controversy, that is Amisola.”
He also discussed an issue brought forward by the victims’ families about not being notified regarding the court’s decision, which he said is possible, but does not impact the final decision.
“Whether it’s in favor of your case or not, the court has to put an end to the issue by deciding the case,” he said.
In regards to the fourth murder charge, to be decided by San Carlos City RTC Branch 59 Judge Katherine Go, Malunes believes it will be dismissed on lack of evidence.
Earlier, Mary Oasis Damalerio, spokesperson for the victims’ families, released a press statement claiming the decision was “obviously done in deliberate haste, without notifying us, our lawyer, and the prosecution about each and every proceeding of the case.”
She also echoed the sentiment of Espiritu and cast doubt on Amisola’s impartiality.
“We could not help but assume he is in close contact with Mayor Yap and his lawyers,” the statement read./WDJ