The Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld the Manila Regional Trial Court’s denial of bail to businessman Alan Dennis Sytin, who is accused of masterminding the 2018 killing of his brother, Dominic Sytin, at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
In an 11-page decision, the CA Eleventh Division ruled that the trial court did not commit grave abuse of discretion in finding strong evidence of guilt against Alan in the murder and frustrated murder cases.
The appellate court also rejected Alan’s challenge to the credibility of alleged gunman Edgardo Luib and alleged accomplice Ryan Rementilla, saying inconsistencies in their accounts were minor and did not overturn their positive identification of him.
“[The inconsistencies] are minor and insufficient to discredit the testimonies,” the CA said, adding that they did not weaken the evidence against Alan.
The RTC had also considered Alan a flight risk after he admitted leaving for Malaysia and evading arrest for five years despite outstanding warrants and a hold departure order.
Alan was arrested in Malaysia on March 22, 2025 and later brought back to the Philippines to face trial.
The prosecution alleges that Rementilla introduced Luib to Alan, who allegedly hired the latter to kill Dominic.
Luib was later convicted and sentenced to reclusion perpetua for Dominic’s murder and imprisonment for the frustrated murder of his bodyguard.
The CA said the RTC was in the best position to assess the witnesses’ credibility, having personally observed their testimony during the proceedings.
“All told, the assailed Order and the assailed Resolution were issued after a thorough evaluation of the parties’ evidence and a deliberate consideration of the applicable law and jurisprudence. Absent any showing that public respondent exhibited an arbitrary, capricious, and whimsical exercise of authority, We find no grave abuse of discretion on the part of public respondent. ACCORDINGLY, the instant petition is DISMISSED,” the decision said.#