THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Misamis Oriental Chapter has expressed its opposition to the Supreme Court's (SC) latest order designating the Cagayag de Oro Regional Trial Court (RTC) to hear and try cases involving members of the Maute group.
In a resolution dated June 8, the lawyers from Mindanao said they are alarmed by the decision of the SC, considering the proximity of Cagayan de Oro to Marawi City, now the center of violent fighting between government forces and lawless armed men, and security concerns and risks involved while hearing the cases.
The resolution was signed by the IBP Misamis Oriental Board of Directors led by its President Eddie Cuaresma.
According to the group, some relatives of the Maute group residing in Cagayan de Oro might add "outside pressure" while the cases are being heard.
The group has also brought up the lack of facility in the Cagayan de Oro RTC, considering the burning of the Hall of Justice in 2015.
The lawyers asked the SC to retract its recent decision and instead order courts in Cebu or in Manila to handle cases filed against suspects arrested in the course of the implementation of martial law.
"Whereas, considering the above limitations, the IBP Misamis Oriental Chapter is of the view that Cagayan de Oro is not prepared to accommodate the Maute case and instead, it should be heard in neutral areas and insulated from outside pressure or distractions like the Courts in Cebu or in Metro Manila," the resolution read.
The Department of Justice last Monday filed a motion for reconsideration before the SC, urging the high court to designate Taguig RTC to handle cases against Maute instead of CDO.
It also asked the SC to order the transfer of the detention of the suspects from Camp Evangelista in Patag, Cagayan de Oro, to the Special Intensive Care Area in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Camp Evangelista is not adequately trained to provide jail management and funds and other provision of the detainees. (SunStar Philippines)