QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has ordered additional prosecutors to handle the increasing number of rebellion cases filed against members and sympathizers of the Maute Group, including the parents of Maute brothers Omar and Abdullah.
Based on a department order issued on Wednesday, June 21, the DOJ will be assigning additional prosecutors to help in the inquest proceedings of these rebellion cases.
The prosecutors to assist in the inquest proceedings in the rebellion cases involving the Maute members are Cagayan de Oro Assistant City Prosecutors Alfonso Vicente Jr., Louie Borja and Ansharey Lalia, and Misamis Oriental Assistant Provincial Prosecutors Lito Sanchez and Tadeo Polestico.
“In the event that there are several complaints with numerous respondents involved and the same could no longer be accommodated by the existing panel of prosecutors, the following shall form part of a pool prosecutors who may be called upon to assist in the inquest proceedings of rebellion cases involving the Maute group,” the department order issued on Wednesday, June 21 said.
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The government has issued arrest orders for more than 300 individuals identified as members of the Maute group, the Abu Sayyaf group, and their sympathizers for the crime of rebellion.
Some of them have already been arrested and charged in court. Among those arrested are Cayamora Maute, the father of the Maute brothers Omar and Abdullah who are leaders of the Maute Group, as well as their mother, Ominta Romato Maute, also known as Farhana. Police have also arrested suspected bomb maker Mohammad Noaim Maute, and former Marawi City Mayor Fajad Salic.
Because of the voluntary inhibition of Provincial Prosecutor Mangontawar Gubat, Aguirre reorganized the second panel of prosecutors.
Gubat, whose reason for inhibiting was not known, was replaced by Iligan Deputy City Prosecutor Celso Sarsaba.
The other panel members are Cagayan de Oro Assistant City Prosecutor Abdullah Macagaan and Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Gerald Cecilio Roa.
The inquest proceedings will be done inside Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro.
Aguirre had wanted the high court to transfer the cases outside of Mindanao because of security issues. The parents of the Maute brothers are also detained in Metro Manila, specifically in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.
The DOJ chief said that it would be safer and more secure for everyone if the cases were to be tried in Metro Manila.
