Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Judge asks NBI for security aid
DAYS before the result of the election protest in Daanbantayan became known, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge who penned the ruling asked for bodyguards.
Antonio Marigomen wrote National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 Chief Medardo de Lemos to ask that two of the latter’s men be assigned as the judge’s “close-in bodyguards.”
“This court is handling all cases coming from nine municipalities, namely Tabogon, Bor-bon, Bogo City, San Remigio, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Bantayan, Madridejos and
Sta. Fe,” he said.
“In view of the work-related incidents that happened to the judges of the courts and death threats coming from party-litigants, the undersigned deems it proper to ask for help from your good office,” he added.
De Lemos, when sought for comment, confirmed that a letter dated Aug. 12 reached his office but refused to speculate on whether or not it was related to the tension now felt in Daanbantayan.
He said he processed the request by referring it to their unit in Manila formed specifically to cater to the protection of judges and justices.
“As much as we would like to act on the request at our level, our office does not have much in terms of human resource,” he said, hence the referral to the Central Office.
He also explained that the job of protecting officials requires agents to undergo special training. In contrast, the agents at the NBI 7 are investigators by training.
Marigomen, in his ruling, said a recount shows that Corro won against Shimura by over 3,000 votes, while de Leon defeated Loot by over a thousand ballots.
Corro, according to Marigomen’s resolution, earned a total of 13,915 votes during the elections last May 2007, while Shimura only had 10,524.
De Leon, on the other hand, earned 12,903 votes while Loot got 11,592. Loot served as the town mayor until the term-limit rule disallowed her from running for reelection last year.
Before the recount, Shimura was proclaimed the mayor by a margin of 3,000 votes.
Tension rose in Daanbantayan after the results of the recount were revealed, with Mayor Shimura and Vice Mayor Loot holding a rally. They lambasted Corro’s reference to them as “fake” officials.
They also vowed to withhold benefits from the Municipal Government from those who will support Corro.
Corro has asked that a writ of execution be issued to allow him to assume the post. Marigomen was scheduled to hear the case yesterday.(KNR)
