ANGELES CITY – A Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge here has ordered speedy but fair trial of suspected serial killer Mark Dizon as he cited the “seriousness and international impact” of the case.
During the arraignment of Dizon at his sala the other day, RTC Branch 58 judge Philbert Iturralde told prosecutor Allan Pasamonte to present at least two witnesses each pre-trial starting Aug.9. He asked Pasamonte to finish the presentation of all his witnesses by September.
Pasamonte said he would present at least 16 witnesses, including four in the carnapping and robbery cases filed against Dizon way back in 2003.
Another 12 witnesses will also be presented in the multiple murder and theft cases related to the killing of five persons: Retired US air force MSgt. Albert Mitchell, 70, and her mother Janet, 53, and their househelps Isabel Fajardo, Marissa Prado, and Yulberto Catli in their home in Hensonville Court subdivision in Barangay Malabanias in this city last July 22.
Meanwhile, Dizon pleaded not guilty during the arraignment where a lawyer from the Public Attorney’s Office represented him after his private lawyers did not show up.
Iturralde set special hearings on Dizon’s case during mornings starting Aug. 9 so that the prosecution would finish its job by next month.
This, even as Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan turned over the P100,000 reward to the local citizens’ anti crime group volunteer Rey Malig for his role in the arrest of Dizon in San Fernando, La Union.
The mayor handed out the cash reward to Malig during the morning flag ceremony on Monday at Camp Tomas Pepito in Barangay Sto. Domingo here.
The amount was reportedly raised by the local expatriate community, but Pamintuan did not cite any name.
Pamintuan said Malig had convinced Dizon’s parents to arrange for a meeting in La Union, on the pretext that the suspect was to be introduced by his father to communist rebels.
This was after Dizon was reported to have told his father on the phone that he would rather join rebels in the mountains rather than surrender to the police.
During a press conference a day after Dizon’s capture, Malig said Dizon expressed fears he would be killed by cops.
City police chief Senior Supt. Danny Bautista said that evidences are being compiled so that Dizon could also be charged with the murder of South African national Geoffrey Allan Bennun, 60, and his live-in partner, Abegail Helina, 20, whose decomposing bodies were found inside their house at Oasis Hotel and Villas in Clarkville Compound in Barangay Anunas here last July 12.
He said Dizon is also the suspect in the murders last July 16 of British James Bolton Porter, 51, and his live-in partner, Melissa Madarang, 22, in their house at 4-11A Nicolas St. in Sta. Maria subdivision in Barangay Balibago here.
During the arraignment of Dizon at his sala the other day, RTC Branch 58 judge Philbert Iturralde told prosecutor Allan Pasamonte to present at least two witnesses each pre-trial starting Aug.9. He asked Pasamonte to finish the presentation of all his witnesses by September.
Pasamonte said he would present at least 16 witnesses, including four in the carnapping and robbery cases filed against Dizon way back in 2003.
Another 12 witnesses will also be presented in the multiple murder and theft cases related to the killing of five persons: Retired US air force MSgt. Albert Mitchell, 70, and her mother Janet, 53, and their househelps Isabel Fajardo, Marissa Prado, and Yulberto Catli in their home in Hensonville Court subdivision in Barangay Malabanias in this city last July 22.
Meanwhile, Dizon pleaded not guilty during the arraignment where a lawyer from the Public Attorney’s Office represented him after his private lawyers did not show up.
Iturralde set special hearings on Dizon’s case during mornings starting Aug. 9 so that the prosecution would finish its job by next month.
This, even as Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan turned over the P100,000 reward to the local citizens’ anti crime group volunteer Rey Malig for his role in the arrest of Dizon in San Fernando, La Union.
The mayor handed out the cash reward to Malig during the morning flag ceremony on Monday at Camp Tomas Pepito in Barangay Sto. Domingo here.
The amount was reportedly raised by the local expatriate community, but Pamintuan did not cite any name.
Pamintuan said Malig had convinced Dizon’s parents to arrange for a meeting in La Union, on the pretext that the suspect was to be introduced by his father to communist rebels.
This was after Dizon was reported to have told his father on the phone that he would rather join rebels in the mountains rather than surrender to the police.
During a press conference a day after Dizon’s capture, Malig said Dizon expressed fears he would be killed by cops.
City police chief Senior Supt. Danny Bautista said that evidences are being compiled so that Dizon could also be charged with the murder of South African national Geoffrey Allan Bennun, 60, and his live-in partner, Abegail Helina, 20, whose decomposing bodies were found inside their house at Oasis Hotel and Villas in Clarkville Compound in Barangay Anunas here last July 12.
He said Dizon is also the suspect in the murders last July 16 of British James Bolton Porter, 51, and his live-in partner, Melissa Madarang, 22, in their house at 4-11A Nicolas St. in Sta. Maria subdivision in Barangay Balibago here.
