LBP Bogo rob case: Prosecutor asks NBI, police to coordinate

Following the standoff in the Bogo Land Bank robbery case, provincial prosecutor Jane Petralba is set to meet with the police and the National Bureau of Investigation to ask for their coordination in the prosecution of the case.

Petralba said that since it seems that the NBI is no longer helping in the case, she wants to meet with the bureau's chief on Saturday to ask for his "coordinated effort."

She said she would also ask for the help of provincial police chief Vicente Loot and other agencies involved in the prosecution of the suspects, who allegedly carted away P9.4 million during the heist in September.

Petralba said there is a need for them to coordinate with those agencies since she received reports from Bogo resident prosecutor Ivy Masias that some motions were filed by the Bogo police before the court in the town without their knowledge.

She said the police should only be tasked to handle the investigation of the case and not to file any pleas or motions, adding that she wanted to discuss the matter with Loot.

But she explained that the matter would not affect the case because it is the judge who would decide on any motion. "Maayo there's communication to get our act together," Petralba quipped.

Meanwhile, Petralba may inhibit herself from handling the case if a formal case will be filed against Bogo mayor Celestino "Tining" Martinez III.

She said she was a lawyer for Martinez before and that if she would continue to be involved in the case, people might put color into it.

"I told Loot that if a case be filed involves Tining, I'll inhibit so no more case conference," said Petralba.

But still no formal complaint has been lodged against Martinez. - Liv G. Campo