SC remains idle on DOJ request to transfer venue of Mamasapano case

The Supreme Court symbol in Manila. (File photo LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

A year after the first request was submitted to transfer the trial of the case against 88 MILF, BIFF and private armed group members involved in the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos in Mamasapano, the Supreme Court has yet to act on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) motion.

The first request submitted by the DOJ to the Supreme Court was on Jan. 19, 2017. The DOJ wants to transfer the case from Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao Regional Trial Court to a suitable court in Metro Manila.

However, after 11 months of inaction, the DOJ, through acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan Jr. submitted another letter requesting a change of venue dated Dec.7, 2017, reiterating its January request.

“To date, the Supreme Court has not resolved the prosecution’s request for the transfer of venue of the case from Cotabato City to Metro Manila,” Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rosanne Elepano-Balauag said in a letter sent to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

The case pending in court was only for the death of 35 SAF commandos belonging to the 55th Special Action Company (SAC) in Barangay Tukanalipao in Mamasapano.

The 55th SAC served as the blocking force for the 84th Seaborne, the main unit that attacked and killed Marwan inside his hut in Brgy. Pidsandawan, Mamasapano.

Only PO2 Christopher Lalan survived the day-long firefight with combined elements of the MILF, BIFF and PAGs.

The DOJ still has not filed any case in connection with the death of the other nine members of the 84th Seaborne due to lack of witnesses.  /jpv

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