A TAGUM City court has dismissed the murder case against five activists and a businessman in connection with the 2018 killing of indigenous leader Garito Tiklonay Malibato in Kapalong, Davao del Norte.
“The case filed against accused Albert Mandin, Lutgardo Jurcales Jr., Jackie Valencia, Agnes Mesina, Reynaldo Gareng and Windel Bolinget is ordered dismissed for lack of probable cause,” Tagum City Regional Trial Court Branch 30 Judge Sharon Rose Saracin said in two-page order dated July 12 but released to the media only on July 21.
Bolinget is the chairperson of the Cordillera People’s Alliance, Mesina is with Makabayan, while Valencia is a member of the Karapatan National Council.
Jurcales is an officer at the national office of Bayan, Gareng is a peasant leader, while Mandin is a businessman based in Davao City.
The court said the five proved they were somewhere else when Malibato was killed.
In the same order, court directed that the warrant of arrest against five other accused in the case be archived, to be reinstated upon their arrest.
The five are Reynaldo Catarata alias Kumander SM, Edward Flores alias Cesar or Poga, Simon Naogsan, Sergio Lomonday alias Borjack and Vilma Dalanngin alias Tek-Yek.
