Butuan judge asked to quit from water district’s case

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Tribal folk occupying an ancestral domain where the Butuan City Water District (BCWD) is getting its water supply have asked a judge to inhibit himself from the case it filed against the BCWD and a construction firm.

The Caraga Indigenous People’s Management and Development Corp. (CIPMAD) alleged that Judge Godofredo Abul Jr. showed impartiality when he ordered the group to show cause why the case it filed against the water district should  not be dismissed.

The CIPMAD, through their counsel Froilan Montero, claimed that the rules do not allow a moto propio dismissal as a motion to dismiss is prohibited.

The CIPMAD said that even the BCWD and the Taguibo Aquatech Solutions did not file motion to dismiss as it is against the rules.

The group questioned Abul’s move, saying the judge was hinting to dismiss the case without hearing it.  

It said before requiring the group to show cause, Abul had denied its plea for a 72-hour temporary environmental protection order.