New judge named for slay case vs 9 cops

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta on Wednesday assigned an acting judge to temporarily preside over the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Jolo, Sulu, after Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra complained of the delay in the issuance of arrest warrants against nine dismissed policemen who killed four military intelligence agents in Jolo. Peralta designated Presiding Judge Alsad Halili Alfad of RTC Siasi Branch 25 as acting presiding judge of Jolo RTC Branch 3 and Parang RTC Branch 4 for the “effective administration of justice” in addition to his other regular duties. Guevarra earlier said the Department of Justice was still awaiting the warrant of arrest against the former police officers after state prosecutors filed criminal charges against them in Jolo RTC on Jan. 4. —MARLON RAMOS