Accused in Pestaño case will go to trial, Court of Appeals says

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MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Appeals has once more junked a petition seeking to dismiss proceedings against ten ex-Philippine Navy officers implicated in the death of Ensign Philip Andrew Pestaño in 1995.

As such, the former Navy officers will be tried before the Manila Regional Trial Court for their alleged participation in the death of Pestaño, who was found dead in his cabin on board the vessel, in what was initially declared a suicide.

Pestaño’s family, however, contested the findings, and expressed their suspicions that the sailor was killed because he had threatened to reveal anomalous practices on the ship.

“The arguments advanced by the petitioners are the very same arguments in their petition for certiorari, all of which had been duly, considered and resolved by the court. It would be an exercise in futility to be repeating our discussion thereof,” the resolution stated, as it upheld the court’s initial ruling dated June 2014.

“It is with greater reason that their petition for certiorari should be denied outright,” the 2-page ruling added.

Charged for Pestaño’s death and dismissed from the service are retired Navy Capt. Ricardo Ordoñez, Commander Reynaldo Lopez, Commander Alfrederick Alba, Lieutenant Commanders Luidegar Casis, Joselito Colico and Ruben Roque, Machinery Repairman 2nd Class Sandy Miranda, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Welmenio Aquino, Petty Officer 1st Class Carlito Amoroso and retired Petty Officer 2nd Class Mil Leonor Igacasan