Habeas corpus petition filed for family of Degamo slay suspect
MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Regional Trial Court was asked to order Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Medardo De Lemos to explain why they are holding the family of one of the suspects in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others.
“Petitioner prays that said public officials, Hon. Jesus Crispin Remulla and Atty. Medardo De Lemos, or whoever acts in their place and stead, be directed to appear before this Honorable Court and produce the body of (the wife and 15 and 2-year-old sons of Jhudiel Rivero) and explain forthwith why they should not be set at liberty without delay,” read the petition for habeas corpus.
A writ of habeas corpus is a remedy applicable to cases of illegal confinement or detention where a person is deprived of his or her liberty or where the rightful custody of any person is withheld from the person entitled thereto.
Rivero, through his lawyers, said his family was taken by joint elements of the 531 IB Bravo Company of the Philippine Army and the Municipal Police Station of Bayog in Zamboanga del Sur and were taken to the Office of the Provincial Police in Camp Aberlon, Pagadian City.
He said they received information that on March 14,they were taken by the agents of the NBI or DOJ at the directive of Remulla and De Lemos.
“Petitioner is anxious about the safety and health of his family, especially that of his two-year-old child,” read the petition.
“There is no martial law in the Philippines, the confinement of petitioner’s family under the circumstances above narrated is utterly illegal,” the petition stated, adding that members of the Rivero family “did not commit any offense for which they may be arrested or deprived of their liberty without any formal charge or judicial warrant.”
Sought for comment, Remulla said he was informed by the Witness Protection Program (WPP) that Rivero’s wife does not want to talk to her husband.
“Family (wife) doesn’t want to talk to him, according to WPP,” Remulla told reporters.
Earlier, Remulla maintained that they were the last person to violate due process.
He said getting the testimonies of witnesses is properly documented with witnesses and videotaped.
