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THE JUDGE handling the May 21 murder case of slain lawyer Richard Sison was asked to inhibit because he and the victim were close friends.
Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras’ relationship with the slain lawyer was cited by the lawyer of security guard Nemuel Sumabong, who is accused of murder.
Lawyer Wendell Quiban said the judge and Sison were close friends, and had even trained together as army reservists.
The judge, in a separate interview, assured that he would remain impartial in the trial.
“Reservist or not, all are equal to me,” Peras said.
The judge gave the prosecution five days to comment on the motion for inhibition.
He recalled one case wherein his wife’s employer was a complainant. He said he ruled with impartiality in that case.
Quiban recalled that the judge and Sison were openly friendly with each other when the lawyer was still alive.
He said the judge made no secret of his reservist status, at times wearing military fatigues under his judicial robes in court.
If the judge inhibits, the case will be raffled off to another judge. But if Peras denies the motion, Quiban said the defense would let the case proceed.
But if there are any irregularities during the trial, Quiban said he would file a motion for a new trial.
In Tuesday’s arraignment, the security guard pleaded not guilty.
Sison was shot dead in his pickup last May 21 on V. Sotto Street near its intersection with M.J. Cuenco Avenue in Cebu City.
Witnesses said they saw the gunman whom they later identified as Sumabong running away from Sison’s pickup and board a motorcycle driven by another man.
