Hubby cleared in Sta. Rosa twin killings of wife, baby

A prosecutor has dismissed parricide charges against a man who was accused of masterminding the killing of his own wife and son inside their home in Sta. Rosa, Laguna last March.

In a 14-page resolution, Deputy City Prosecutor Oscar Co junked the complaint against Ricardo Espera Sta. Ana Jr. due to insufficiency of evidence.

Meanwhile, the city prosecutor recommended murder, rape, and theft charges against Ramoncito Galo and an alias Bryan, who posed as Internet repairmen and killed Pearl Helene Sta. Ana and her one-year-old son Denzel.

The 25-year-old Galo earlier said he accepted Rircardo's P30,000 kill contract on the victims because he needed money. Galo said his cohort also got the same amount.

"In view of the extant circumstances surrounding the execution of the written confession of Ramoncito detailing his participation and involvement in the commission of the crime, we are inclined to uphold the admissibility of his extrajudicial confession insofar as he and Bryan are concerned," said the city prosecutor.

In his confession, Galo said Ricardo gave him the instructions before entering the house, where they easily gained entry.

Galo claimed Ricardo asked them not to leave the fake Globe Telecom job order, but they were unable to do this because they left in a hurry to avoid being caught by neighbors or the police.

In dismissing the complaint against Ricardo, the city prosecutor said knowledge of the reported infidelity of her wife was not enough to prove he was the brains behind the gruesome killings.

Ricardo's wife and baby were beaten to death with a hammer.

"While such knowledge of the said relationship may fan the embers of suspicion against Ricardo to commit the crime, speculation such as this cannot be the basis of a criminal prosecution," read the resolution. —ALG, GMA News