DOJ to file car theft, homicide raps vs Dominguez brothers

The Department of Justice has recommended the filing of car theft with homicide charges against Roger and Raymond Dominguez, the alleged leaders of a car theft syndicate allegedly responsible for the killing of car dealer Emerson Lozano, son of Marcos lawyer Oliver Lozano. In a resolution issued Wednesday, the DOJ found probable cause for the filing of car theft with homicide charges, even as the Lozano family filed a complaint of car theft and murder. In an interview with GMA News Online, Prosecutor General Claro Arellano said the department did not recommend any bail against the Dominguez brothers. As of posting time, GMA News Online is still trying to reach the brothers' lawyer, Jose Cruz, for comment. The Lozano family has accused the brothers of masterminding Emerson's killing. "Emerson Lozano was killed in the course or occasion of the carnapping. He was mercilessly, unexpectedly, suddenly and treacherously shot with intent to kill and without any opportunity to defend himself... He was burned almost beyond recognition," said the family in their complaint filed last February. Emerson and driver Ernani Sencil were last seen alive on January 12 while meeting a prospective buyer of a Kia Carnival van in Quezon City. Sencil's charred body was found the next day in Tarlac province while that of Lozano was found two days later in Pampanga. Members of the Dominguez Carnapping Syndicate were also tagged as the culprits behind the killing of another car dealer, Venson Evangelista. The circumstances of Evangelista's death is similar to that of Emerson and Sencil. The brothers are detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City for a separate murder case they are facing in connection with Evangelista's death. The separate case is pending before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. Brothers deny link to Lozano's killing The Dominguez brothers have already asked the DOJ to dismiss the car theft and murder complaint against them for lack of evidence linking them to Emerson Lozano's killing. In their joint-counter affidavit, the brothers said that aside from the testimonies of Alfred Mendiola and Ferdinand Parulan, who both linked them to the crime, “there was no solid evidence to implicate them (Dominguezes) for the death(s)." Their lawyer also said Parulan’s testimony is not reliable because it is riddled with inconsistencies. He pointed out that Parulan claimed that he was released from a Bulacan jail on Jan. 14, a day after Emerson was killed. — RSJ, GMA News