A complaint for murder has been filed before a Bulacan regional trial court against the alleged perpetrators in the killing of a Malolos City judge in 2015.
In a progress report to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno, the Office of the Court Administrator said an information for murder has already been filed against the suspects in the death of Judge Wilfredo T. Nieves of the Malolos City, Bulacan RTC, Branch 84, who was gunned down on Nov. 11, 2015.
Charged with murder were Jay Deogrades Joson with aliases Jepoy and Jefferson, and Raymond Dominguez. The complaint against Arnel Janoras, however, was dismissed because Janoras is already dead, while the complaint against the other respondents, including two John Does, was dismissed for lack of probable cause.
Based on the report to the OCA by P/Sr. Supt. Ferdinand O. Divina, director of the Bulacan Police Provincial Office, it was learned that, as of Feb. 1, the case was already raffled to the Malolos RTC, Branch 82 and that a warrant of arrest is to follow.
“Rest assured that the Bulacan Police will continue to monitor and coordinate for progress and best result of the murder case filed against the suspects,” Director Divina said, in his letter to the OCA.
Dominguez, who was convicted for carnapping by Judge Nieves in 2012, is currently detained at the New Bilibid Prison. He was included in the charge sheet after it was established, based on the deceased Janoras’ statement, that he had instructed Deogrades to kill Nieves. The statement of Janoras that Deogrades is a friend of Dominguez was bolstered by the fact that based on the list of visitors of NBP, the former visited Dominguez as a friend.
Judge Nieves was the 25th judge slain while in the service since 1999.