BARANGAY Pagatpat village chief Achilles Jude Babaran was transferred to the Lumbia City Jail on Friday, September 16, following two days of "hospital arrest" at the JR Borja General Hospital.
Bulua Police Chief Arvies Altiche said Babaran was brought to the Regional Trial Court Branch 37 Friday to face his commitment order at 3:40 p.m.
"As of 3:40 p.m., na-commit na siya at kasalukuyang dinadala sa Lumbia. It's now up to the nurses of BJMP sa disposition ng accused," Altiche said.
"Pianayagan siya ng doctor kaya nadala natin siya sa korte at na-commit," Altiche added.
Altiche said Babaran told him that he suffered from pneumonia and bronchitis.
"Pero other than that, okay naman siya," Altiche said.
Altiche also maintained that Babaran was not accorded any special treatment saying they were only following procedure.
"No special treatment, ang ginawa lang natin is in accordance with the procedure when it comes to the custody sa mga na-aresto natin. Kung may mga bisita na hindi na-entertain, or pinagsabihan ng kapulisan natin, it is because dahil yun ang sinabi ng accused natin so kung anong sinabi, respetuhin natin yan dahil karapatan niya yan," Altiche said.
But the militant women’s group Gabriela maintained that Babaran is being accorded special treatment by city officials for the latter’s supposed ties with City Mayor Oscar Moreno.
"Subo ta ana nga kahimtang, kung kinsa diay tong duol sa liderato, paboran ba diay?" Bulusan said.
Gabriela is one of the groups supporting the family of the murdered fifteen-year-old girl who testified that she was raped twice by Babaran.
Last August 26, the Regional Trial Court Branch 37 released a warrant of arrest against Babaran for two counts of rape.
Babaran then supposedly went into hiding and was only arrested Wednesday night at the city hospital.