A TRIAL court in Kabankalan City, Negros Oriental yesterday acquitted a pastor and six co-accused of murder and frustrated murder.
Acquitted by the Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Branch 61 are the so-called “Himamaylan 7” — Jimie Teves, Jodito Montesino, Jaypee Romano, Jasper Aguyong, Rogen Sabanal, Eliseo Andres, and Rodrigo Medez.
Teves is a pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).
He and his co-accused have been in detention since 2019 after the criminal charges were filed against them.
The seven were arrested by members of the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion in Buenavista, Himamaylan City based on the warrant of arrest issued by RTC Branch 62 Judge Rodney Magbanua.
Human rights groups said they were wrongfully tagged as members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.
