DIGOS CITY – The new judge handling the July 2010 murder of journalist Nestor Bedolido has set the arraignment of accused former Davao del Sur governor Douglas Cagas and Matanao town mayor Vicente Fernandez Jr. on June 23.
In an order following the clarificatory hearing held Tuesday, Judge Loida Kahulugan of the Regional Trial Court Branch 21 also ordered the transfer of Fernandez from the custody of the Matanao police to the Provincial Rehabilitation Center here.
She also approved the setting of hearing on August 4, 11 and 18 for the motion to bail that Cagas and Fernandez had submitted, arguing that there was no risk for them to flee.
Self-confessed gunmen Voltaire and Henry Mirafuentes had claimed that Cagas and Fernandez ordered them to shoot and kill Bedolido.
Bedolido reportedly had a falling out with Cagas, who had previously hired him to edit his paper, The Digos Times.
The case was initially dismissed by government prosecutors but Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered its refiling last year.
Cagas and Fernandez maintained innocence and voluntarily surrendered.
The former governor has been under custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s district jail in this city.
As soon as he and Fernandez surrendered, two judges inhibited from handling the case.
With Kahulugan agreeing on taking the case, both the prosecution and the defense said the case could now move forward for resolution.
Kahulugan also set the formal hearings in September. Eldie Aguirre, Inquirer Mindanao