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Temporary judge assigned to handle case vs 9 cops in Jolo shooting
Temporary judge assigned to handle case vs 9 cops in Jolo shooting
The Supreme Court (SC) has assigned a judge to handle temporarily the pending cases in Branch 3 of the Jolo, Sulu Regional Trial Court (RTC) where the four counts of murder had been filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against nine police officers for the killing of four soldiers last year.
In an administrative order issued by Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, assigned to RTC Branch 3 of Jolo was RTC Judge Alsad Hailil Alfad Jr. of Branch 25 in Siasi, Sulu “to take cognizance of all urgent matters pending in the said court….”
Aside from the Jolo branch, Judge Alfad will also handle temporarily all cases pending in RTC Branch 4 of Parang, also in Sulu.
The order mandates Judge Alfad to continue handling the cases in the two RTC branches “until the return of Judge Tillah (Judge Grace Tillah Alasco) and Judge Canete (Judge Shene Chiong Canete).”
“Judge Alfad Jr. shall be entitled to additional expense allowance and judicial incentive allowance,” Peralta’s order also stated.
The cases for four counts of murder had been filed with the Jolo RTC against police officers PSMS Abdelzhimar Padjiri, PMSg. Hanie Baddiri, PSSg. Iskandar Susulan, PSSg. Ernisar Sappal, PCpl. Sulki Andaki, Pat. Moh Nur Pasani, PSSg. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Pat. Alkajal Mandangan, and Pat. Rajiv Putalan.
Based on the criminal charge sheet filed by the DOJ, the nine policemen killed four Army intelligence soldiers Maj. Marvin Indammog, Capt. Irwin Managuelod, Sgt. Jaime Velasco Jr., and Cpl. Abdal Asula in June last year.
With the imposition of a total lockdown in Sulu due the new variant of corona virus disease, the Jolo RTC branch failed to act on the cases.
Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez said the total lockdown in Sulu prevented the judge from acting on the murder cases, particularly on the issue of arrest orders.
“The judge could not return to the province because it was on lockdown. Had to designate a judge to act on (the) filings,” Marquez said.
With no arrest order issued, the Philippine National Police (PNP) was forced to release the suspects after their dismissal from the service.
Early this week, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said:
“The nine police officers were released from custody despite requests of the DOJ with the PNP to hold them awhile until the arrest warrants were issued. We hope that the nine accused will voluntarily turn themselves in when such warrants are eventually released by the court. Otherwise, law enforcement agents will look for them and take them into custody.”
Guevarra had also instructed the prosecutors handling the murder cases to secure from the trial court an order for the issuance of a hold-departure order against the nine dismissed policemen.