MANILA, Philippines – The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Misamis Oriental Chapter expressed support to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II's request asking the Supreme Court (SC) to reconsider its earlier decision to hold the trial of members of the Maute terrorist group in Cagayan de Oro City and allow the transfer of the trial of cases against the Maute group members due to security concerns and lack of adequate detention facilities.
In a resolution sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday,
the group expressed concern over the high court’s June 6 resolution designating
the Cagayan de oro City courts as venue of the Maute cases.
The lawyers group cited the "proximity of Cagayan De Oro to Marawi
City and security concerns and risks involved while hearing the case."
“(We) strongly oppose the transfer of trial of (cases against) Maute
(members) in the courts of Cagayan de Oro City,” the local IBP chapter said in
its single-page resolution dated June 8.
“Cagayan de Oro City is not prepared to accommodate the Maute cases and
instead, it should be heard in neutral areas and insulated from the outside
pressure or distractions like the courts in Cebu City or in Metro Manila,” it
added.
They explained that the city has no facility to effectively handle the
cases given that the courts are only temporarily housed at the City Tourism
Hall after the Hall of Justice was gutted by a fire in January 2015.
The IBP chapter also revealed that there are relatives and families of
Maute Group members in the city "which might add outside pressure while
the case would be heard in the courts of Cagayan De Oro City."
On Tuesday, Aguirre said members of judiciary and national prosecution
service fear their safety in the conduct of inquest, preliminary investigation
and trial of the cases involving the Maute group.
“We cannot jeopardize the safety of anyone. While we do not lose sight
of the fact that the full prosecution and conviction of everyone involved in
the attacks in Marawi City is our avowed purpose, however the safety of
everyone, our Prosecutors and employees and that of our Court Personnel is the
primary consideration,” Aguirre said who alreadysent letter request addressed
to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno of the Supreme Court .
The letter request, delivered to the Supreme Court on Tuesday,
specified that the Regional Trial Court of Taguig City be designated as the
court to try, and decide all cases and incidents arising from the Maute group
attacks in Marawi City. It was further requested that the Special Intensive
Care Area (SICA) located at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City be designated as
the detention facility for apprehended members of the Maute group since the
same houses high profile and dangerous individuals.
“Our decision to seek a reconsideration of the Supreme Court’s June 6,
2017 Resolution designating the Regional Trial Court of Cagayan de Oro City to
hear, try and to decide all cases arising from the Maute group takeover of
Marawi City, was borne out of the facts we established during the ocular
inspection we personally conducted of Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City
on June 12, 2017,” the Justice Secretary explained.
“It is our fervent hope that our Supreme Court will understand the
concerns we raised and the reasons we gave, which I believe speak for
themselves. Ultimately, we hope that our request will be granted the soones,”
he stressed.
Last week, the high court has designated the Cagayan De Oro regional
trial court to handle cases filed against the Maute members and supporters
while the military's Camp Evangelista will serve as the detention of the
arrested suspects.
The Court also assigned the military's Camp Evangelista in the same
city to serve as the detention of the arrested suspects.
The DOJ earlier asked the SC to designate special courts in Luzon or
Visayas to hear the cases due to the security threat in Mindanao.
Last Monday, the DOJ has started inquest proceedings for rebellion
against Maute clan matriach Ominta Romato-Maute, alias Farhana, and 11 others
in connection with the Marawi City siege.
Also facing charges is former Marawi mayor Fajad Salic, who was
arrested at a checkpoint in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental on June 7.
Last week, authorities nabbed Farhana’s husband and Maute patriarch
Cayamora at a checkpoint in Davao City.
Cayamora is detained along with several other suspects at Camp Bagong
Diwa in Taguig City, where he is considered a high-risk detainee.
As of this posting, there are 58 government troops confirmed death and
around 120 wounded in the fighting which is now entering its fourth week.
The conflict started when government forces tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf
leader and ISIS 'emir' in Southeast Asia, Isnilon Hapilon, last May 23.
Thirteen of the recent losses were Marine troopers who were killed in a
major engagement which lasted for some 14 hours, erupted between Marine units
and Maute Group terrorists at Barangay Lilot Madaya in Marawi City last June 9.
(Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan/PNA) posted by becky D. de Asis- The Redline News.
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