Jigger Geverola, the man who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the pawnshop robbery in Cebu City on November 25, 2023. | Emmariel Ares
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) will conduct a deeper investigation to establish more proof against Jigger Geverola, the alleged mastermind of the daring pawnshop robbery in Cebu City.
This comes after the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the robbery in band charges filed against Geverola due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
In a resolution dated December 14, Assistant City Prosecutor Misty Leah Escolar-Hupp also ordered the immediate release of Geverola from detention.
As a result, Geverola was released on Monday, December 18, 2023.
“With this development, we shall dig [deeper] in our investigation, gather more evidence and refile it once we can establish the proof as required by the DOJ,” relayed Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, PRO-7 spokesperson.
“It’s a long battle ahead,” he added.
According to Pelare, the evidence they presented was found to be insufficient at the moment, and the dismissal was without prejudice.
“Naay ebidensya pero dili pa sufficient as of the moment. This is the reason why the dismissal is without prejudice. Meaning, it can be refiled,” he said.
Pelare also disclosed that this does not rule out Geverola’s alleged involvement in the robbery case as they already have evidence.
However, he expressed that they understand the position of the Department of Justice on Geverola’s case.
He explained that the new standard in the filing of a case is “reasonable certainty of conviction,” which is akin to prima facie evidence.
Prima facie evidence refers to evidence that is neither rebutted nor contradicted, making it sufficient on its face to establish a fact that constitutes a claim or defense.
Meanwhile, the police used a lower standard, which is “probable cause based on personal knowledge of facts and circumstances.”
“This is the basis why the police pushed through with the case. We have probable cause and we stand by that, respectfully,” stated Pelare.
It can be recalled that Geverola was detained after being tagged as the mastermind in the daring daylight robbery of a pawnshop and jewelry store in Colon, Cebu City, on November 25.
He was arrested after being mentioned in the Affidavits of Confession that were executed by suspects Jordan Ramos Baquiano and Dann Carlo Flores.
Geverola, who passed the 2023 Bar Examinations, also expressed earlier that he is hopeful he will be able to take the Lawyer’s Oath scheduled on Friday, December 22.
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