Daily Tribune
CALBAYOG CITY — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has filed a motion at the Regional Trial Court to transfer the custody of the nine suspects in the killing of former Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino and three others last 8 March 2021 to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
In a letter to the RTC Branch 31 dated 25 October 2022, CIDG acting director P/Brig.Gen. Ronald O. Lee requested to the court to transfer the suspects' custody to the BJMP as the CIDG's facility is not designed for detention.
The nine suspects are presently detained in a CIDG facility at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
The suspects — identified as Lieutenant Colonel Harry Sucayre, Major Shyrille Tan, Captain Dino Goles, Lieutenant Julio Armeza Jr., Staff Sergeant Neil Cebu, Staff Sergeant Edsel Omega, Staff Sergeant Randy Merelos, Corporal Julius Garcia, and Patrolman Niño Salem — are accused of murdering Aquino, his police security aide Master Sergeant Rodeo Sario, his driver Dennis Abayon, and bystander Clint John Paul Yauder.
Lee said that transporting them to Calbayog City where they are tried "entails considerable amount of funding and effort which the CIDG has not been allotted to expend" for the purpose.
He added that CIDG also lacks manpower to bring the accused to the court.
"Transporting them seriously exacts toll on primary objectives and functions which have to be sacrificed while doing this extra task," he said in his letter.
Lee said it is not a remote possibility that the court hearings may also coincide with important missions and operations of the CIDG which may require manpower.
"In the process, the CIDG may not have the capacity to do its extra work of bringing the accused to court, hence, may affect the smooth flow of court proceedings against them and may imperil the delivery of justice," Lee said.
He said transferring the custody of the nine accused to BJMP "will ensure the presence in court any time when required" and lessens the possibility of delay in the court proceedings.
