Regencia’s lawyers slam order, file MR

By LITO RULONA,
NITZ ARANCON
and GENEVIEVE CANTOR
Correspondents

DETAINED Mayor Celso Regencia’s legal team has asked a regional court in Initao, Misamis Oriental, to reverse its order for the transfer of the local chief executive from a prison facility in Iligan to Cagayan de Oro.

Leo Zaragoza, one of Regencia’s lawyers, yesterday revealed that the motion was filed ask Judge Marissa Estabaya of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 44  in Initao to reconsider.

Zaragoza also warned against any plan to bring Regencia out of the prison facility in Tipanoy, Iligan, saying that the court order is not considered final and executory because of the pending motion.

“We are trying to protect the integrity of the court apan dili namo tumong nga makuhaan ang pagtan-aw sa katawhan sa korte. Lawyers are also considered as officers of the court but this is public interest. Kini nga order dili angay. This is irregular and highly questionable, and beyond the jurisdiction of the court,” Zaragoza said.

He said there was no motion to transfer Regencia to the Misamis Oriental provincial jail in Cagayan de Oro in the first place.

Zaragosa said it was the Department of Juctice (DOJ) that earlier filed a motion to move Regencia to the BJMP facility in Initao town, Misamis Oriental, and Regencia’s lawyers opposed it due to security reasons.

“The BJMP-Initao prison is not capable of handling highisk detainees. The BJMP-Initao issued a certification that it cannot assure the safety of Mayor Regencia, and the court accepted its reason. Dapat unta buhaton sa korte is mo-ingon nga the motion is denied,” Zaragoza said. “Ang korte man gud unta dili mo issue og order kung walay motion nga gi-file. They can only resolve kung dunay gilalisan nga isyu.”

He said the DOJ did not file a motion to transfer Regencia to another prison facility outside Initao.

“Mao nga nakurat ang warden sa Misamis Oriental provincial jail nga wala sila pahibaloa. Wala sila kabalo ang jail warden. Puno sab kaayo sila, and they are not capable of handling highisk inmates,” Zaragoza said.