NBI investigation of Navarro’s case, pending
THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is still unable to investigate the shooting of broadcaster Orly Navarro owing to a pending motion for reinvestigation filed by the arrested suspect, Rolando Lim Jr.
Atty. Diosdado Araos, officer in charge of NBI Dagupan, admitted his office cannot conduct the investigation until the Office of City Prosecutor is done with its preliminary investigation filed by Lim last September 9, as ordered by Presiding Judge Florentino Dumlao Jr.
Based from the investigation conducted by the Dagupan City Police Station (DCPS), Navarro, a radio commentator and manager of DWIZ News Radio, was shot at the back upon alighting from a tricycle near his house early morning of August 26 by a suspect later identified as Lim, using a caliber 22 handgun.
Lim was arrested on the basis of the statements of two witnesses.
A frustrated murder case was filed against Lim.
However, Navarro, assisted by legal counsel Atty Ferdinand Topacio of the Amb ALC Holdings, asked the NBI to conduct it’s own investigation, and the request was approved by Department of Justice Sec. Leila de Lima.
In his affidavit, Navarro mentioned four personalities he assumed as the possible masterminds in his failed assassination including chief of DCPS, P/Supt. Christopher Abrahano and Mayor Belen Fernandez.
Araos said NBI’s investigation will have to wait until the motion is resolved in order to avoid any legal complication in the process.
Lim filed a motion for reinvestigation in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 42 here as the two witnesses reportedly retracted their sworn statements pointing to Lim as the man who shot Navarro.
City Prosecutor Atty. Joven Maramba said the witnesses retracted their statements saying they were only forced by somebody to point to Lim as the suspect.
Last November 4, the police officers who recorded the statements of the two witnesses were subpoened by the Office of the City Prosecutor.
The result of the reinvestigation can be expected within 60 days after the preliminary investigation, said Araos. (Hilda M. Austria)
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