Court denies rob suspect's bid to transfer detention

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Trial Court has denied the very urgent motion to transfer detention filed by one of the accused in the botched robbery of a roving bank teller in an uptown mall last year.

RTC Branch 19 Judge Wilfredo Navarro denied Rolien Castro’s motion because of the monetary requirements for his sustenance outside of the Cebu City Jail. Defense lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo said they can however re-file the motion provided that they will have to shoulder the food and other incidental expenses for Castro’s transfer.

“We can seek for the transfer of Castro if we will shoulder the food and others,” Villagonzalo said.

According to Villagonzalo, Castro will remain at the city jail for the meantime pending discussion of their next option.

Villagonzalo earlier moved for the transfer of his client from the city jail to either at the Investigation Detection and Management Branch, National Bureau of Investigation or at the Armed Forces of the Philippines because of security reason.

The defense claimed that it would be dangerous for Castro to be detained with the alleged robbery gang leader Junjun Cabando at the city jail. Castro denied his involvement in the group of Cabando as well as in the robbery of the roving bank cashiers in September last year.

Meanwhile, Villagonzalo is expecting Cabando and his live-in partner Merlyn Laguitao to plead guilty of the crime charged against them.

“After Cabando and Laguitao were arrested on July 12 and 13, 2012, both of them admitted their respective participations in the mall’s robbery. Cabando even apologized to the relatives of the slain security guards,” Villagonzalo said.

He said it was Cabando and Laguitao who dragged the name of his client. Villagonzalo said his client will maintain his innocence in today’s arraignment.        - THE FREEMAN