DOJ starts probe on Masbate town mayor's killing

The Department of Justice has started its preliminary investigation of a murder complaint against Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board member Sandra Cam, her son, and five others over the death of Batuan, Masbate Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson III.

Prosecutors conducted Monday the first hearing in the preliminary investigation of the complaint for murder and frustrated murder against Cam, her son Marco Martin, Nelson Cambaya, Junel Gomez, Bradford Solis, Juanito de Luna, and Rigor dela Cruz.

The Cams will file their counter-affidavit to the charges on March 16, according to their lawyer.

Sandra has earlier denied involvement in the shooting incident that resulted in Yuson's death last October 9, 2019. The vice mayor was having breakfast when he was gunned down in Sampaloc, Manila. Two men, Wilfredo Pineda and Alberto Alferto, were injured.

Yuson's wife, Lalaine, reportedly said her husband had previously told her only Sandra would do him harm. His son, Charmax, had won the mayoralty race over Sandra's son Marco.

“I have nothing to do with the ambush,” Cam said last October.

“It is so unfair that our family is being dragged into this, we’ve moved on from that election,” she said.

Gomez, Solis, De Luna, and Dela Cruz were arrested the day after the ambush. —LDF, GMA News