FORMER Davao Police Regional Intelligence Unit chief Leonardo Felonia, tagged in the murder of Cebu-based businessman Richard King, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 16 in Davao City last Friday.
The arraignment was supposed to be held in Quezon City, as partially granted by the Supreme Court (SC) in response to petition for the change of venue filed by Felonia's legal counsel, but this was reversed after the High Court granted the motion for reversal filed by King's legal counsel.
In response to the reversal, Felonia's legal counsel lawyer Caesar Europa told Sun.Star Davao through text message that two weeks ago, they filed a motion for reconsideration on the reversal of the transfer of venue before the SC.
It was earlier reported that Felonia's case was raffled off to RTC Branch 225 in Quezon City days after his case records were transported there after the three other respondents Paul Dave Molina Labang and siblings Rommel and Rodel dela Cerna were arraigned in Davao City RTC Branch 16 last September 24.
RTC Branch 16 Presiding Judge Emmanuel Carpio previously ordered a not guilty plea on behalf of the three accused in King's murder after series of their failure to appear before the court for their arraignment for several reasons which include the previously reported bomb threat received by the Hall of Justice from an unknown caller and the alleged diarrhea that the three got after eating shellfish. (RCP)