DOJ affirms dismissal of criminal raps vs Richard Gutierrez

Justice Secretary Alberto Agra has affirmed the dismissal of criminal charges against actor Richard Gutierrez in connection with the death of his personal assistant, Nomar Pardo, in a vehicular accident in May last year. Agra said he found no reason to reverse the March 10, 2010 findings of his predecessor, Agnes Devanadera, dismissing the charge of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Gutierrez. The case stemmed from the complaint field by Pardo’s widow, Lorayne, blaming Gutierrez for her husband's death. Lorayne accused Gutierrez of being reckless in his driving that resulted to the accident in Silang, Cavite. The Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Cavite filed the criminal charges before the Silang Municipal Trial Court after finding probable cause to warrant the filing of charges against Gutierrez. According to Provincial Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco, Gutierrez was driving his Nissan Skyline GTR sports car at a “mind-boggling speed" when it slammed into an electric post while traversing a curve along the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay National Highway. Devanadera, then secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ), dismissed the case for lack of evidence, saying the complaint was merely based on “hearsay," which she said was inadmissible in evidence under Section 13, Rule 130 of the Revised Rules on Evidence. Lorayne then filed a motion for reconsideration of Devanadera’s resolution, but Agra sustained the ruling. - KBK, GMANews.TV