Remulla on absence of lawyers of suspects in Degamo case: Take process seriously 

Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla during the joint briefing on recent development on the murder of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — “Take the process seriously,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said this after lawyers of the suspects, including that of Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., failed to appear during Tuesday’s preliminary investigation.

The preliminary investigation is for the 10 counts of murder and several counts of frustrated and attempted murder complaints against Teves for the March 4 Pamplona attack killing 10, including Gov. Roel Degamo and injuring several others.

But the preliminary investigation was reset to June 27, after none of the lawyers of all the suspects appeared.

“Hindi natuloy ang preliminary investigation sapagkat hindi sumipot si Cong. Teves o ang kanyang mga abugado. Yung mga abugado kailangan rin talaga mag enter ng appearance,” Remulla said.

(The preliminary investigation did not push through because Congressman Teves or his lawyers did not show up. The lawyers really need to enter their appearance.)

Aside from the lawyers of Teves, private lawyers of the 10 suspects were also absent.

The 10 suspects were supposed to affirm their affidavits of recantation but were not able to do so due to the absence of their lawyers.

Remulla said the lawyers might want to assail the complaint on a technicality by arguing that they were not able to receive a notice of the preliminary investigation.

“If they will not obey or take the judicial process or the process of the preliminary investigation seriously, then we might as well go to court if they will not respect the power of the DOJ (Department of Justice),” Remulla said.

In a preliminary investigation, suspects are given the opportunity to respond to the accusation against them by submitting a response contained in a counter-affidavit as well as supporting evidence. Failure to do so, in a given period will prompt the prosecutors to file the case in court based on the evidence at hand.

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JPV