Negros Occidental Regional Trial Court Judge Eduardo Sayson has dismissed the murder charges filed against businesswoman, turned movie-actress, Catherine Cabuga alias Kate Brios, for lack of accusatory evidence. The case was in relation to the ambush and killing of former policeman Efren Palmares Jr.
Also acquitted were P/Supt. Richie Yatar, Police Inspector James Adrian Albaytar, PO3 Ronald Ortiz, SPO2 Joshua Barile, Atty. Jomax Ortiz, and a John Doe.
In a decision handed over by Sayson last October 16 he cited: “the evidence at hand proffered by lone witness Atty. Erfe del Castillo is obviously insufficient for the undersigned to come up with the required findings of probable cause to issue warrant of arrest”.
Further, Sayson noted that the prosecution failed to submit significant pieces of evidence to include: a report from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), final report of PNP Special Investigation Team, and sworn statement of witness/es.
Sayson has returned the case to Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office, without prejudice to its refiling.
Palmares Jr., was allegedly ambush last December 21, 2018, while driving a sports utility vehicle along Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road in Brgy. Matab-ang, Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
