The Olongapo City Regional Trial Court has issued a hold departure order to stop from leaving the country businessman Dennis Sytin who is on trial for allegedly masterminding last year’s killing of his elder brother, Dominic, inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Subic, Zambales.
Besides Dennis, also covered by the July 30 order issued by Olongapo City RTC, Branch 72 Presiding Judge Richard Paradeza is Sytin’s co-accused, Oliver Fuentes alias Ryan Rementilla.
“Acting on the motion for the issuance of a hold departure order filed by the prosecution and finding the reason stated therein to be well taken, the said motion is hereby granted. As prayed for, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration, Manila is hereby directed to hold the departure of the following Oliver Fuentes alias Ryan Rementilla and Alan Dennis Sytin,” Paradeza said, in his two-page order.
Paradeza was the same judge who last month issued a warrant for the arrest of Sytin and Fuentes.
The Philippine National Police had accused the younger Sytin as the mastermind behind the assassination of his brother, citing the confession of Edgardo Luib, the alleged gunman.
Last May, an Angeles City court issued a precautionary hold departure order against the younger Sytin, Fuentes and Luib in connection with the killing.
The order issued by the Executive Judge of the Third Judicial Region in Angeles City was based on a request by the victim’s wife, Ann Marrieta, who asked the court to issue a hold departure order against her brother-in-law, Fuentes and Luib.
Luib was arrested in Sto. Tomas, Batangas last March 5 due to existing arrest warrants over murder cases he is facing including the killing of journalist Mae Magsino and Municipal Councilor Michael Caringal of Bauan, Batangas.
He later executed an extrajudicial confession and pointed to Dennis as the one who masterminded the hit on his elder brother, who at the time of his murder was the chief executive of the United Auctioneers Incorporated (UAI).
Luib also tagged Fuentes in the killing.
Fuentes was formerly employed at the UAI before he was fired by Dominic for allegedly embezzling P1 million from the company.
The younger Sytin has denied any hand in the killing of his brother, saying Luib was a “polluted source,” motivated by “self-preservation.”
He said there was no categorical evidence to support Luib’s claim that he was the one who masterminded the hit on his brother.
Sought for comment, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, who is the head of the prosecution panel in the case, said the issuance of the HDO against the accused is a welcome development in the case.
“The issuance of the warrant of arrests and the hold departure order ensures that all accused remain within Philippine jurisdiction and once they are in custody that the trial of the case proceed with dispatch. This is a uniquely heinous case that cry out in the high heavens for justice,” Navera said.
