Oro court proceedings on Maute cases pause

THE court proceedings on the Maute Group cases in the city have been temporarily stopped, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said yesterday.

Aguirre said the special panel of prosecutors handling the Maute cases recently filed a motion for the suspension of arraignment of the accused and hearing of the rebellion cases pending the decision of the Supreme Court on their request to transfer the trial and detention of the arrested terrorists to Taguig City.

“We have to wait for the Supreme Court’s action on our request… because once granted, the cases would move faster since the proceedings will start with the same court and there will be no need to transfer the case while the hearing is already ongoing,” Aguirre said.

“I hope it will be approved soon. The situation there (in Cagayan de Oro) is becoming critical as more Maute members are being arrested and subjected to inquest,” he said.

He said the Regional Trial Court here has granted the DOJ’s request.

Aguirre also reiterated his call on the SC to act on his request for the transfer of venue of the cases to the Taguig court, and detention of arrested Maute terrorists in Camp Bagong Diwa in the same city.

The DOJ has already indicted several arrested members and supporters of the terror group, including Cayamora Maute and Ominta “Farhana” Romato Maute, parents of the Maute brothers who led the group behind the attack in Marawi City.

Also charged with rebellion before the RTC here were former Marawi mayor Fajad Salic, Mohaamad Maute, Faridah Pangompig Romato, Aljadid Pangompig Romato and Abdulralman Dimakuta Sevad.

In June 6, the SC tasked the courts here to handle the Maute cases while Camp Evangelista was designated as the place for detention of the arrested suspects. (pna)