Former Rep. Nanette Daza's son-in-law pleads not guilty in Noel Orate case

Published April 23, 2012 11:23am

Romeo Allan Robes, Bulacan provincial board member and son-in-law of former Quezon City Rep. Nanette Castelo-Daza, on Monday pleaded not guilty to the homicide charges filed against him in connection with the death of Daza’s boyfriend Noel Orate Sr. last February.

Robes entered the plea during his arraignment at the sala of Judge Luis Cenon Maceren of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 218.

The arraignment was held despite efforts by the Orate family to have it postponed pending the petition for review they filed Friday before the Department of Justice.

The Orate family asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to review the case, saying it should be a case of murder, not homicide.

This was opposed by Robes, through his legal counsel Alfredo Villamor, who said the arraignment should proceed since the DOJ affirmed the filing of homicide charges as earlier recommended by the QC Prosecutor’s Office.

“There was a condition during the April 10 hearing that the court will proceed whether or not a DOJ resolution has already been issued with regards to the motion for reinvestigation sought by the complainant. And since there is already a DOJ resolution, we vehemently object the deferment of the arraignment today,” Villamor said.

Robes allegedly shot and killed Orate last Feb. 10 in Daza’s house in Bgy. Teacher’s Village in Quezon City.

He is currently out on bail, having posted a P10,000 bond. A hold departure order has been issued against him.

Atty. Eduardo Bringas, legal counsel of the Orates, said he will file a motion for reconsideration to seek for the nullification of the “not guilty” plea entered by Robes.

The pre-trial of the case has been scheduled for May 29 at 8:30 a.m. –KG, GMA News

Tags: nanettedaza, noelorate, romeoallanrobes