Bomb suspect case trial moved to Manila

THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Davao City is set to forward the cases filed against bomb suspect Temogen Tulawie to RTC-Manila after the Supreme Court (SC) granted the petition filed by Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan requesting the transfer of venue for the case trial.

In an interview, RTC Branch 11 Judge Virginia Europa said she received the decision of the SC through fax on Monday.

"So ibalik nako ang records didto sa Manila (I will return the records to Manila) and any court in Manila will handle it (case)," Europa said, adding she will forward it anytime this week.

She said the lawyers of the accused were the first ones who received the copy of the SC order.

"Primero gi-deny nako kay wala pa ko kadawat (At first, I denied it because I have not yet received the order). I told them I will not transfer it unless I receive the order," the judge said.

She said the clerk of court in RTC Manila will be in charge of the raffling of the violation of section 3 in relation to section 3-c of Republic Act 8294 (Illegal Possession of Firearms), multiple frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder cases to a regular court.

"He (Tulawie) was already arraigned here and he pleaded not guilty," Europa said.

Records showed that the accused, assisted by lawyers Glocelito C. Jayma and Raissa Jajurie, was arraigned on August 3.

Meanwhile, the hearing for the application for bail of Tulawie slated September 19-21 will be cancelled due to the change of venue order by the SC.

Jajurie, one of the counsels for the accused, said they still have to discuss with the other lawyers as to what would be their next move regarding with the transfer of venue.

"Wala pa akong na-receive na notice (I have not yet received any notice),' she said in a phone interview.

She said they would eventually follow the order of the SC and see what else they could do to vindicate Tulawie.

To recall, Tulawie, through his lawyers, asked the SC to transfer the venue of the case trial from Sulu to Davao City claiming the former's security in Sulu.

The SC granted it, thus the forwarding of records to Davao City.

Tan, on the other hand, filed another petition before the SC requesting to transfer the case from Davao City to any court in Manila "to bring the legal war to a neutral ground."

Executive Judge Pelagio Paguican of RTC branch 12 earlier said he received the copy of the petition of Tan at 11:30 a.m. of February 3.

Tan, in his petition, said it is his turn to ask the SC to reassign the venue of the trial due to respondent's "influence" in Davao City.

Paguican said Tan's petition cited Tulawie's influence on two Davao City-based non-government organizations, the Mindanao Peoples Caucus and the International Solidarity Conference.

Tan also said he would have a difficulty in going to Davao City since there are no daily flights at present from Zamboanga City.

"This would affect public service," Tan said.

Tulawie earlier said he is amenable with the petition of Tan to transfer venue as he will abide it if ever the SC would grant it.

"I'm not worried. It's a delaying tactic," he said.

As of press time, the Free Cocoy Tulawie Movement was scheduled to conduct an Interfaith prayer vigil around 6:30 p.m. at the Hall of Justice on Tuesday.

The group, in a statement, said the prayer vigil will "seek for Divine Intervention over the case."

"The Islam, Catholic and Evangelical Believers are to gather together, light a candle and offer a prayer for the liberty of Cocoy Tulawie," the group said.

"We also ask for the inner strength and courage for Cocoy Tulawie for him to be able to endure more of this suffering. We also pray for the courage for the Tulawie family to inflame further their hope that their father will come back to them anytime soon," the group added.

They said the ecumenical prayer vigil also aims to manifest the "solidarity and mutual respect" of the Islam and Christian Faith in Davao City.