Masbate governor acquitted of slay raps
First posted 11:51am (Mla time) June 14, 2006
By D.J. Yap
Inquirer
 


MASBATE Governor Antonio Kho was acquitted of murder charges by a Quezon City regional trial court on Wednesday.

 

Judge Ma. Theresa Yadao of Branch 81 however found the alleged gunman Blas Rosario guilty for the 1995 killing of Masbate Representative Tito Espinosa and sentenced Rosario to life imprisonment.

 

Rosario was also ordered to pay the heirs of Espinosa a total of 550,000 pesos in indemnity and damages.

 

Two other co-accused -- Roberto Pidlaoan and Arnel Quidato -- were also acquitted.

 

Yadao, in her decision, said there was not enough evidence to support the prosecution’s claim that Kho masterminded Espinosa’s killing.

 

In August 2005, a Makati court also acquitted Kho of murder charges in connection with the 1989 killing of Espinosa’s brother Moises Espinosa Sr.

 

 

Source: http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=79094