Suspect never left PH

Public Attorneys Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda Acosta yesterday refuted the claim of the police the alleged mastermind in the killing of a mother and her son in 2016 escaped abroad.

In a radio interview, Acosta said Richard Sta. Ana went to see her Wednesday to ask for legal advice after learning the police tagged him as mastermind in the killing of his wife and son following the arrest of another suspect in the case.

“He’s not abroad. He’s here in the Philippines. In fact, he went to see me at the office yesterday to ask what he needs to do,” Acosta said.

The first case filed against Sta. Ana in 2016 was dismissed for lack of evidence. But following the recent arrest of a second suspect, Brian Avestado, the police said they will charge Sta. Ana anew.

Sta. Ana’s defense is being handled by a special panel of PAO lawyers, according to Acosta.

Acosta said she believed Sta. Ana’s claim he did not order the killing of his wife Pearl and his infant son.

“If you’re a father can you have your 10-month-old son killed? Only those who are high on drugs can possibly do that,” Acosta said.

Acosta said PAO lawyers grilled Sta. Ana repeatedly and they found his statements claiming his innocence credible.

“It’s very easy to accuse somebody to be the mastermind but to prove it is very difficult,” Acosta said.