Murder Case Against Pastor Dimver Andales Dismissed by DOJ
PASTOR DIMVER ANDALES – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed the murder complaint against the bishop of Lapasan Baptist Church, who was linked to the killing of Adrian Fornillos, a candidate for Mr. Cagayan de Oro 2023.
The DOJ cited a lack of probable cause in its nine-page resolution, which favored a petition for reconsideration filed by Andales. He, along with a man known only as “Kuya,” was arrested in October 2023 after being accused of the murder, which occurred on May 19, 2023, when Fornillos was shot while heading to his mentor’s house for pageant practice.
The DOJ found insufficient evidence to support Andales’ involvement but identified probable cause against the alias “Kuya” based on witness testimonies. The City Prosecutor’s Office was instructed to withdraw the case against Andales from the Regional Trial Court and report the action within ten days. Atty. Rhobert Maestre, Andales’ former legal counsel who filed the petition, considered the dismissal a victory.
Maestre noted that he has not been part of Andales’ legal team since July 2024 but did not provide further details. The Fornillos family has yet to comment on the case, and their lawyer has not responded to requests for statements.
Meanwhile, Pastor Dimver Andales is a bishop at Lapasan Baptist Church. The case gained significant attention online, with Andales being named as the alleged mastermind behind Fornillos’ murder. He has denied all allegations, expressing confusion about being implicated, especially since it had been nearly four months since the murder occurred. Andales indicated plans to file a case against those tarnishing his name, particularly since his son is running in the upcoming barangay elections.
In addition, Pastor Dimver Andales received a subpoena as a respondent in the murder case, having previously spoken out against the accusations that arose following posts from Fornillos’ partner.