CA orders Harbour Centre to comment on bid to lift arrest warrant

The Court of Appeals Sixth Division has ordered Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. (HCPTI) to respond to the bid to stop the implementation of the arrest warrant against a former company official in connection with a P3.4-million qualified theft case.

In a two-page resolution, the appeals court ordered Jerome Canlas of HCPTI to comment on the petition of former company cashier Felicia Aquino to stop the serving of the arrest warrant issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Cicero Jurado.

The appeals court gave Canlas 10 days to comment and explain why a restraining order should not be issued.

Aquino’s co-accused include 1-Pacman party list Representative Michael “Mikee” Romero and Edwin L. Jeremillo.

Aquino was the cashier and Jeremillo the chief operating officer when Romero was HCPTI chief executive officer.  The three allegedly connived to embezzle P3.4 million from the company.

In January, Jurado denied the motions filed by Romero and Jeremillo to suspend the serving and lifting of the arrest order issued against them last January. Only Aquino has filed a petition with the appeals court.

READ: Court junks Mikee Romero’s appeal vs arrest order

“Without meaning to give due course to the instant petition, private respondent (Canlas) is directed to file a comment thereon (not a motion to dismiss within ten (10) days from notice,” the CA said.

In her petition, Aquino wanted the CA to lift the arrest order, stop the judge from proceeding with the case, and dismiss the case for lack of probable cause.

The resolution dated March 22, 2017 but made public Monday was signed by Associate Justice Magdangal De Leon and concurred in by Associate Justices Elihu Ybañez and Carmelita Salandanan Manahan. CBB/rga