The Iloilo Police Provincial Official (IPPO) respects the decision of the Prosecutor’s Office to junk the murder complaint against a former mayor and his family.

Senior Master Sergeant Francisco Lindero, IPPO spokesperson, said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) did everything to gather evidence on the killing of Claire Diergos, a 36-year old businesswoman.

According to a resolution released by the Prosecutor’s Office, IPPO failed to present sufficient evidence to prove the involvement of former San Dionisio, Iloilo Mayor Peter Paul Lopez, his wife Saliha ‘Sally’ Lopez, and their three sons Felix Paul Lopez, Carlos Paul Lopez, and Christian Paul Lopez, in the slay.

The resolution was signed by Provincial Prosecutor Shaun Cary Acot and Deputy Provincial Prosecutor Edwin Sustituya.

Lawyer Dwight Trasadas, the legal counsel for the Lopez family, said they had been anticipating the decision.

Meanwhile, the Prosecutor’s Office found probable cause to charge Raffy Sorioso and Gardo Ibrahim and Ma. Rudelyn Sumbong with murder.

Sorio and Ibrahim were former aides of the Lopez family while Sumbong was Diergos’ newly-hired house helper.

Diergos was found lifeless inside her abandoned sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Barangay Inangayan, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo on October 26 last year.

She sustained multiple stab wounds on different parts of her body.IMT