A PRINCIPAL suspect in the killing of Radio Mindanao Network commentator Dennis Cuesta snubbed the initial hearing of the preliminary investigation into the case at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila.

Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, head of Task Force 211 that is tasked to investigate media and political killings, said Insp. Redempto Acharon, who was supposed to shed light on his alleged involvement in the killing of Cuesta, did not appear during the preliminary investigation.

Task Force 211 earlier filed murder charges against Acharon and two other still-unidentified assailants before the justice department in connection with the August 4 gun-slaying of Cuesta in General Santos City.

A witness who is now in the custody of the DOJ has tagged Acharon as the gunman who shot and killed Cuesta in broad daylight while the victim was walking along the national highway in barangay Lagao, General Santos City.

Acharon has vehemently denied his involvement in the killing, saying the charges were trumped up to discredit his cousin, General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr.

Inspector Acharon served as chief of the city hall’s Civil Security Unit until his reassignment as chief of the city’s Traffic Enforcement Unit.

Director General Avelino Razon Jr., National Police chief, has ordered the relief of Acharon from the city’s police force and reassigned him to Camp Crame, Quezon City, pending the investigation of the case.

Blancaflor said the task force will ask the National Police why Acharon has been allowed to defy the order detailing him at Camp Crame.

He said that Acharon was supposed to submit his counteraffidavit during the preliminary investigation being conducted by State Prosecutor Misael Ladaga, who had scheduled two other hearings on September 19 and on September 26.

“If the accused [Acharon] fails to submit himself to preliminary investigation, then the state prosecutor will resolve the case based on the evidence presented by the task force,” Blancaflor said during a telephone interview.

He said the schedule of the preliminary investigation given by the DoJ is non-extendable, explaining that Acharon could not seek for any postponement of the hearing.

“It seems that the accused has been showing defiance of the legal process, especially his failure to appear during the last hearing and comply with the relief order which detailed him to Camp Crame,” Blancaflor said.

Cuesta’s wife, Gloria, who was present during the preliminary investigation, said that she expected to personally confront the suspect during the hearing.

“I was dismayed when the suspect did not appear at the hearing. He did not even send his lawyer or a notice that he can not attend the hearing,” Gloria said. (J. Adlaw)

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