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Mindanao: Authorities are looking for two government officials who allegedly masterminded the killing of a woman journalist, Marlene Esparat, in 2005 for writing an article about a P728-million (Dh 66.18 million) fertiliser fund scam at the agriculture department.
Officers failed to arrest the suspects, Osmee Montaer and Estrella Sabay because they were on leave when charges of murder were re-filed against them, explained Chief Superintendent Felizardo Serapio, police director of Central Mindanao.
Montaner, finance chief at the Department of Agriculture in Central Mindanao, and Sabay, an accountant at the same department, were implicated in the murder of Esparat. "Even if they are missing, they cannot leave the country," said Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.
Last October 21, a lower court called for their arrest after prosecutors of the justice department re-filed the murder charges against them. Judge Melanio Guerrero of the regional trial court in Tacurong simultaneously issued warrants of arrest for them.
The justice department called for a re-trial of the case after a review of the confession of Sgt. Rowie Barua, who claimed that Montaner and Sabay got his services to arrange the murder of Esperat.
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