BACOLOD City – Atty. Jose Max Ortiz – one of the 11 individuals facing murder and frustrated murder charges at the City Prosecutor’s Office in relation to an ambush incident in Talisay City, Negros Occidental last month – said he will file a “million-damage suit” against Atty. Erfe del Castillo.
The National Bureau of Investigation on Monday lodged the charges against Ortiz and 10 others listing del Castillo and Moheden Palmares as complainants.
“I am filing a million-damage suit against her (del Castillo),” Ortiz told Panay News via text message yesterday.
“Dragging innocent people into the picture is shocking to their families,” he added.
The Dec. 21 shooting led to the death of former policeman Efren Palmares, del Castillo’s fiancé and Moheden’s son.
Palmares and del Castillo were bound for Bacolod City that day on board a Porsche car when armed men peppered them with bullets around 10:45 p.m. on the access road in Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City, a police report showed.
Efren died of multiple gunshot wounds on the body while del Castillo was injured.
“I saw who shot me…That area in Talisay City was well-lighted so I remembered all of them,” said del Castillo in a press conference on Monday.
Ortiz, for his part, said: “I think my compañera should take a rest and consult a psychiatrist. Her story of the ambush is contrary to sense of logic.”
Aside from Ortiz, among those accused were three police officials, two noncommissioned police officers, a businesswoman, two civilians, a media practitioner, and two unidentified persons.
Task Force Kasanag (TFK) national commander John Chiong appealed to the public yesterday not to “make any conclusions” about the accused since they are not yet convicted.
Chiong also called for a thorough investigation into the case.
TFK is a civil organization that promotes peace and good governance in the country./PN
