Four police officers and two civilians, including a lawyer, face murder and frustrated murder charges in connection with the 2018 ambush on Atty. Erfe del Castillo in Talisay City.

In documents obtained by the media yesterday, Catherine Berioso-Cabuga, alias Kate Brios; Atty. Jose Max Ortiz; Police Lt. Colonel Ritchie Yatar; Police Sergeant Ronald Ortiz; Police Senior Master Sergeant Joshua Barile; Police Lt. James Adrian Albaytar; and a certain ‘John Doe’ face murder and frustrated murder charges.

No bail was set for those facing murder charges. For those charged with frustrated murder, bail was recommended at P200,000 each.

According to the prosecutor, the charges were founded on reasonable grounds based on Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code, including “treachery,” “evident premeditation,” along with the “aid of armed men.”

Ortiz, legal counsel for Berioso-Cabuga, denied the allegations.

As of press time, the other respondents could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed murder and frustrated murder complaints filed against former Bacolod City Police Officer chief, Police Colonel Francisco Ebreo; journalist Dolly Yasa; Shirley Berioso; and Caselyn Berioso-Ortiz on lack of probable cause./DGB, WDJ