The facial composites of four suspects in the murder of lawyer Ramon Eduardo Elesteria in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, more than two weeks ago, are expected to be released soon even as the police are still facing a blank wall on the motive for the shooting, and its mastermind.

Bayawan City police chief, Supt. Dominiciano Distrito Jr., said the cartographic sketches involved that of the four suspects seen by witnesses near the crime scene. But he refused to divulge the identities of the five witnesses for security reasons, and said they are in the process of executing their affidavits.

Distrito said the suspects are in their late 20s, of medium builds, and possibly not from Bayawan City because they were not wearing bonnets when the crime was committed.

Integrated Bar of the Philippines Negros Oriental chapter president, Cyrus Riconalla, said they already have an initial meeting with Distrito, PNP provincial director, Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos, and Dumaguete police chief, Supt. Jovito Atanacio, for the possible identification of the suspects.

Meanwhile, a Regional Trial Court in Negros Oriental requested for the establishment of a permanent police outpost near the Hall of Justice in Barangay Piapi, Dumaguete, and in the RTCs all over the province, after the shooting to death of Elesteria, just a few meters from the court where he had appeared as counsel for an accused in a criminal case.

RTC Executive Judge Gerardo Paquio Jr. has written the office of Gov. Roel Degamo if it would be possible to field police personnel regularly in the vicinity of the Hall of Justice, where adversaries meet before and after every court hearings.

Degamo welcomed the idea but Carlos said he still has to determine the personnel complement and to conduct an assessment on the possibility of providing a static security in courts.

Existing threats to judges and lawyers will also be assessed, Carlos added.*JG

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