Arraignment moved anew no lawyer takes fiscal killer's case

CEBU, Philippines - For the third time, the arraignment of the accused in the murder of assistant city prosecutor Patrick Ian Osorio was postponed because of the absence of a lawyer to defend the rights of accused Lyndon Horandoy.

RTC Judge Silvestre Maamo was supposed to arraign Horandoy yesterday after he was forced to postpone the last schedule because the accused also did not have a lawyer. However, Horandoy’s wife, Virgie, told the court that they still have not found a lawyer to represent her husband.

According to Virgie, they have already asked assistance from the Public Attorneys Office but the agency turned down their request because it has already provided one to Horandoy’s co-accused Allan Sinogat.

Virgie said they have also asked assistance from the Cebu City Hall but they were only referred to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. She said they were given a set of requirements to comply.

Virgie told the court that at the moment they are still trying to comply with the requirements asked by the IBP but the lack of money has also affected her compliance of it.

Lawyer Rodulfo Cabrera, who was in the courtroom for another case, gave Horandoy’s wife P500 to process the requirements.

Maamo lamented how some lawyers have forgotten their oath of office.

“It’s not about your defending the accused’s act but the rights of the accused. Any lawyer could have presented you in court, that was their oath,” Maamo told Horandoy.

Maamo said that to defend a client is not for business but to practice and satisfy what they promise. Maamo has again moved the arraignment on October 24, 2011 to give the accused the opportunity to get a lawyer.

Horandoy is accused in the killing of Osorio in January 2009. – (FREEMAN)