THE legal counsel of self-proclaimed Davao Death Squad (DDS) hitman Edgardo Matobato is set to bolster his motion to inhibit Presiding Judge Silverio Mandalupe from the illegal possession of firearms case against his client.
Lawyer Jude Josue Sabio in a text message to Sun.Star Davao last Saturday said he already sent a copy of the supplemental motion to support his earlier motion filed last November 3.
Sabio earlier filed an omnibus motion for reconsideration to hold the issuance of warrant of arrest, motion to transmit for the court petition to change venue, and motion to ask Judge Silverio Mandalupe to inhibit from the case.
Mandalupe on Thursday morning ordered another warrant of arrest to be issued against Matobato for his failure to appear during the hearing.
The judge also denied the petition of the cancellation of the arraignment favoring the comment of the prosecution.
Sabio in his petition asked the judge for the cancellation because the Supreme Court has yet to approve his request for transfer of the hearing of the case in Manila, citing the security risk of his client.
He said that his newly filed motion is stressing how Mandalupe is unfit to handle the case.
“The supplemental motion details the indecent haste with which the judge rushed the arraignment of Matobato, betraying his bias,” Sabio said.
The legal counsel added that among other request, his client Matobato seeks the Judge to inhibit himself from handling the case and for the case to be transferred to another branch. (KVC)