THE Leyte court judge that issued search warrants against slain Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa and Raul Yap is now facing administrative charges, the Supreme Court (SC) spokesperson said Tuesday.
In a press conference, Court spokesperson Theodore Te said Basey, Samar Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 30 judge Tarcellon Sabarre Jr. is facing charges in relation to the issuance of search warrants against Espinosa and Yap, who were both detained at the Leyte Sub-provincial jail.
The Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) in its finding concluded that Sabarre is administratively liable for issuing search warrants to be implemented in a jail facility.
The OCA emphasized that jail facilities are not private dwellings that come under the protection of the right to privacy.
Judge Carlos Arguelles of the RTC Baybay Leyte, Branch 14 is also facing an administrative case for not acting immediately on the petition of Espinosa to transfer detention.
Aside from Arguelles, the SC also slapped with charges Judge Janet Cabalona of the Calbiga, Samar RTC Branch 33 for her issuance of a warrant against two other detainees in the Leyte Sub-provincial jail, who were both killed on August 11.
The instant administrative case is referred to Associate Justice Gabriel Ingles of the Court of Appeals, Cebu City for investigation, report and recommendation within three months or 90 days from receipt.
Espinosa and Yap were killed inside their cells on November 5 by the members of the Criminal Detection and Investigation Group (CIDG) Region 8 operatives, who were then serving search warrants for their alleged possession of illegal drugs and a firearm. (SunStar Philippines)