SC dismisses case vs Lacson with finality

MANILA,Philippines – The Supreme Court has dismissed with finality the murder case linking former National Police chief and now Senator Panfilo Lacson to the 1995 Kuratong Baleleng “rubout.”

In a ruling dated Jan 15, 2013 but released only on Monday, March 4, the SC denied with finality the motion for reconsideration filed by the Office of the Solicitor General on the dismissal of the case against Lacson and 33 other policemen who were accused of killing members of the Kuratong Baleleng gang more than a decade ago.

The SC said that “no substantial arguments were presented to warrant the reversal of the questioned decision.”

Lacson was head of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force under the Ramos government when authorities shot 11 members of the Kuratong Baleleng in an operation criticized as a “rubout.”

Murder charges were filed against Lacson and his men but  in 2003, Judge Theresa Yadao of Quezon City regional trial court dismissed the case against them for lack of probable cause.

Nine years later, in 2012, the SC voted unanimously — 14-0 — to uphold Yadao’s ruling. Justice Antonio Carpio, a former Ramos government official, inhibited from the case.

The High Court was also unanimous in dismissing the motion for reconsideration with finality, voting 13-0. Carpio again inhibited from the case while Justice Arturo Brion was on leave. – Rappler.com