People walk past the Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
The Supreme Court has allowed the transfer of cases filed against members and supporters of the Maute terror group from Cagayan De Oro (CDO) to Taguig City.
During Tuesday’s en banc (full court) session, the high court also ordered the transfer of detention of arrested Maute members and supporters to the Special Intensive Care Area (SICA) inside Camp Bagong Diwa also in Taguig. SICA is one of the highly restrictive detention facilities in the country.
The high court issued the resolution based on the two letters of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. Aguirre had wanted to transfer the cases citing Cagayan De Oro’s proximity to Marawi and Lanao Del Norte.
READ: Aguirre wants Taguig court, jail to handle Maute cases, detention
Aguirre sent a second letter to the Supreme Court reiterating his request following the arrest of Mohammad Naoim Maute alias Almahid Pangompig Romato in Cagayan De Oro City.
In the resolution made public Tuesday, the high court instructed the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to expedite the relocation of the suspects.
While some Maute members and sympathizers are already in Camp Bagong Diwa, the others are still in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan De Oro.
The DOJ also designated 30 Metro Manila prosecutors who will be divided into two panels to handle the cases. JE/rga
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