SC designates Taguig court to handle rebellion cases vs Maute

The Supreme Court (SC) has designated the Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to handle cases filed against members of the Islamic State-affiliated Maute terror group related to the conflict in Marawi City.

SC spokesperson Theodore Te told a press conference Tuesday, July 18, that the 15-man tribunal in a resolution dated June 27 ordered the Taguig RTC to handle cases against the Maute group, instead of the Cagayan de Oro City RTC, upon the request of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

Te said the SC has also designated the Special Intensive Care Area (Sica) located at the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City as the temporary detention center for arrested suspects.

Aguirre in a statement welcomed the high court’s decision.

“That is great news for DOJ (Department of Justice) and its panels of prosecutors in CDO,” he said. “It will solve a lot of problems like where the detainees are to be confined and whether we are going to rent a new place to hold the inquests and conduct preliminary investigations.”

The high court earlier directed the officials in Camp Evangelista Patag in Cagayan de Oro to allocate temporary jail facility inside the military camp to house arrested suspects but it was opposed by Aguirre in a letter he sent to the SC magistrates last June 13 and 14.

In the letter, Aguirre said the DOJ’s panel of prosecutors and members of the judiciary expressed fear for their lives if the trial of the cases will continue in Cagayan de Oro.

He also said high profile inmates should be transferred to Sica, as some of their relatives are living near the detention facility.

Aguirre said Sica can guard the inmates better and meet their needs for food.

A number alleged Maute group members have been charged with rebellion since martial law was declared in Mindanao last May 23.

Among them are Maute matriarch Ominta Romato Maute and former Marawi City mayor Fajad Salic.

Meanwhile, local officials of Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental welcome the SC decision.

Cagayan de Oro City councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr. said he is thankful that the High Court heeded the request to transfer the hearing of rebellion cases.

Lao had authored a resolution earnestly requesting the SC to transfer the venue of the hearings against Maute suspects because of security reasons and terrorism threats.

“We appreciate that SC took heed to our request with regards of the transfer of the venue for the hearing on rebellion and sedition case filed against Maute, et.al,”Lao said.

Misamis Oriental vice governor Joey Pelaez is also pleased with the SC decision saying the transfer of venue reduced security risks in relation to the hearings.

“I am very pleased about this development and I thank the Supreme Court for this. I am happy that the resolution I have authored was heard by the Supreme Court,”Pelaez said.

“We the officials and the people of Misamis Oriental appreciate the consideration of SC,”Governor Yegveny Emano also said.

Lawyer Eddie Cuaresma, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Misamis Oriental (IBP-MisOr), said the SC decision was a good news not only for the legal community but for the entire people of the city. SunStar Philippines and Alwen Saliring