DOJ wants Taguig RTC to hear cases involving Maute

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to reconsider its decision designating special courts in Cagayan de Oro to hear and try cases involving alleged members of the Maute group, instead of in Manila.

Citing the safety of the court personnel, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II urged SC to designate Taguig Regional Trial Court (RTC) instead of Cagayan RTC.

"Members of the judiciary and the National Prosecution Service fear for their safety in the conduct of inquest, preliminary investigation and trial of the cases of the Maute group," Aguirre said.

Aguirre added that upon inspection of the DOJ officials in Camp Evangelista, it found that it does not have proper detention facilities to house suspects to be arrested in the course of martial law.

The SC in its order last Tuesday said the military camp should provide temporary detention facilities for alleged Maute members to be apprehended.

The DOJ noted in its motion that the Armed Force of the Philippines is not adequately trained to provide jail management and funds and other provision of the detainees.

The agency further said there is not enough space in the CDO RTC, which is now located at the City Tourism Hall.

"The modest office space of the City Tourism Hall cannot accommodate the influx of detainees to be arraigned or to go preliminary investigation or trial," the motion read.

"Moreover the facility is not secured enough to be a venue of a high profile, very dangerous group of individuals," it added.

The DOJ has asked the SC to direct instead the Special Intensive Care Area in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig to serve as the detention facility of the inmates. (SunStar Philippines)