Tulawie appeals court’s suspension of hearings

AFTER a local court suspended any proceedings for the cases filed against Temogen Tulawie, his counsels filed a motion for reconsideration before the Regional Trial Court (RTC).

In an interview during the Human Rights Defenders Forum Friday, lawyer Raissa Jajurie said they filed the motion for reconsideration on Thursday stating that it is not a ground to suspend any events in the case even if there is a pending petition filed by the complainant before the Supreme Court (SC).

"Kasi itong mga transfer of venue, it may take years. In fact yung pag transfer namin from Jolo to Davao, it took more than one year," she said.

"So ibig ba sabihin ba doon makukulong si Cocoy ng two years habang ni-reresolve ng Supreme Court lalo na ngayon may impeachment, hindi namin alam kung kalian lalabas yung order na yun," she added.

She said the court should only suspend any proceeding "unless and until there is an SC order" that says the cases have already been transferred to another court.

She said that was not what the SC said since the petition of the complainant is still pending before the High Court.

She added that there must be a speedy trial for Tulawie, which is a right of every accused as stated under the law.

She said the lawyers also asked the court that the state prosecutor of the case must immediately get an authorization from the Department of Justice (DOJ), otherwise the accused must be released provisionally.

The hearing of the motion for reconsideration is slated May 25.