Former judge Juan Miguel Castillo Pantaleón was invited to speak at the Interamerican Press Association assembly on advances in the murder case of journalist Orlando Martínez in 1975. The case, which implicates high ranking military and influential persons of past governments, moved during the present government but is now stagnated. The extradition of former Air Force corporal Mariano Durán Cabrera from the US is awaited to continue the case that is now in the hands of Judge Katia Miguelina Jiménez of the 10th Penal Chamber of the Court of Appeals of Santo Domingo. Castillo Pantaleón was responsible for investigations that resulted in the detention of former retired generals Salvador Lluberes Montás (accused of planning the assassination), Joaquín Antonio Pou Castro and José Isidoro González. Castillo Pantaleón said that even if the case eventually dilutes itself, it is important that responsibilities be established as it is the only mechanism that exists so that impunity may cease. He said that he feels that himself and other judges that confirmed his verdict were excluded from the judiciary to please influential political and business groups. Meanwhile, Lluberes Montás was released from keeping jail at the Ministry of Armed Forces. He suffers from an advanced case of prostate cancer.
