Kuh Ledesma's ex-hubby surrenders to NBI to face murder raps

MANILA, Philippines - Luisito Gonzalez, the ex-husband of singer Kuh Ledesma, surrendered before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Wednesday and denied participation in the murder of his step-brother, businessman Federico Delgado. Accompanied by his lawyers, Gonzalez went to the NBI office to undergo fingerprinting before he was escorted to the Manila regional trial court where he is facing murder and serious physical injury charges. “He is innocent of the charges made against him and he welcomes the opportunity to prove his innocence,” Gonzalez’s lawyers said in a statement. The lawyers said the murder charges against their client should be dropped for lack of probable cause. Gonzalez is the grandson of late President Elpidio Quirino. Delgado, son of shipping magnate Francisco Delgado, was killed on March 10, 2007 at his apartment in Malate, Manila. Gonzalez, along with his driver Antonio Buenaflor, was positively identified by Delgado’s girlfriend, Analisa Pesico, who survived the attack, as the killers. The case is pending before the Court of Appeals for oral arguments Thursday with head counsels Estelito Mendoza, Jose Flaminiano and Anacleto Diaz. Gonzalez’s lawyers said their client voluntarily surrendered after learning that a warrant of arrest was issued by the court against him. They said Gonzalez could not have done the crime since he was confined at the Makati Medical Center from March 7 to 18. To recall, the CA in a decision dated March 24 gave its go-signal for the filing of murder and serious physical injury charges against Gonzales and Buenaflor before the Manila regional trial court. The CA Seventh Division through Associate Justice Enrico Lanzanas affirmed the findings of the Department of Justice through Acting Secretary Agnes Devanadera which found probable cause against Gonzales and Buenaflor and reversing an initial finding of Acting City Prosecutor Cielito Lindo that Pesico's testimony is self-serving and that she is not a credible witness in the case. The appellate court ruled that the argument of Gonzales questioning the credibility of Pesico as witness is a matter that is best threshed out in a full-blown trial. - GMANews.TV