ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 83 issued a warrant of arrest against former Basilan congressman Gerry Salapuddin in connection with the Batasan blast in 2007.
Charges of multiple murder and frustrated murder were earlier filed against Salapuddin in connection with the bombing in November 13, 2007 that killed Basilan Representative Wahah Akbar and two others. Eleven people were also injured in the blast.
RTC Branch 83 Judge Ralph Lee deemed the case against Salapuddin, who is also former Deputy House Speaker, non-bailable.
Lee ordered the arrest of Salapuddin although the former official still has a pending petition for review before the Supreme Court, citing the High Tribunal has not yet acted on the petition.
"Until now, the Supreme Court has not issued any directive for this court to cease and desist from moving forward in the case. Had the Supreme Court determined that the rights of the accused will be violated if the proceedings in this case continued, then it would have issued a provisional remedy or temporary restraining order," Lee said in his order penned Friday, August 13. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)
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