Matobato’s plea for transfer of venue received by MTCC

THE Davao City Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 3 has already received yesterday a furnished copy of the request of the self admitted Davao Death Squad hitman, Edgar Matobato to transfer the venue of the hearing of his case of illegal possession of firearms case from Davao to Manila.

The secretary of the legal counsel of Matobato, Atty. Jude Sabio delivered at 8:20 a.m. yesterday the copy of the request he filed before the court administrator in the Supreme Court to the Presiding Judge Silverio Mandalupe of MTCC Branch 3.

A copy of the request was also furnished to the Prosecutor in Charge Joy B. Largo.

Largo in a previous interview Tuesday said that it is up to the high court to ask from the prosecution to reply for the request as it is its sole authority whether to grant or deny the request.

Despite such development, the prosecutor said that she is still expecting that the arraignment of Matabato on November 3 within Davao City may still be pushed.

The staff of MTCC branch 3 also confirmed that the arraignment may only be cancelled if the court will grant the request of the accused, or if his counsel will give valid reasons for his absence.

The same staff also said that if Matobato fails to appear again in the said hearing date, he will be obliged to pay bail bond again.

Matobato as of the previous information is currently under the protection of Senator Antonio Trillanes.

His counsel earlier said that their request for transfer of venue is stemmed from the security considerations and risks that his client will face if his case will be tried in Davao City.