DOJ junks Jing Jing Espinosa’s motion for reconsideration

The Department of Justice has rejected a motion for reconsideration filed by alleged drug lord Jesus “Jing Jing” Espinosa Jr. on the resolution finding him and his first cousin, Benjie Espinosa, culpable for two counts of frustrated murder and one count of attempted murder.

In a resolution handed down last week, DOJ assistant state prosecutor Rohairah A. Lao, the DOJ ruled that there was nothing new in the arguments raised by Espinosa that have not been exhaustively tackled in her resolution dated October 12, 2012. Hence, her resolution on the case still stands, she said.

With this resolution, the Iloilo Regional Trial Court Branch 26 under presiding judge Antonio Natino is expected to issue warrants of arrest against the Espinosa cousins for allegedly shooting their own uncles — Pascual “Toto E” Espinosa III, Leo Espinosa and Sergio Espinosa — shortly after midnight on June 1, 2010 outside the victims’ ancestral house in Barangay Monica, City Proper.

Jing Jing Espinosa rose to prominence last year after he posted photographs showing his close friendship with City Mayor Jed Patrick Escalante Mabilog, Congressman Jerry Trenas and Vice Mayor Joe Espinosa III.