QC court suspends arrest warrant vs Salapuddin

Former Basilan congressman Gerry Salapuddin scored an initial legal victory on Friday after a Quezon City Regional Trial granted his motion to suspend the issuance of warrant of arrest pending a review of the charges against him by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Salapuddin has been charged with multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder for his alleged involvement in the Nov. 29, 2007 House of Representatives bombing, which killed Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar and five others.           

Judge Ralph Lee of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 83 granted the motion of the lawyers of Salapuddin and his co-accused — Hajarun Jamiri, Benjamin Hataman and PO1 Bayan Judda – pending the resolution of their motion for judicial determination of probable cause and deferment of the issuance of warrants of arrest.

Lee set the pre-trial hearing of the case on April 30.

Aside from Akbar, the other fatalities in the Batasang Pambansa south wing lobby bombings were Akbar’s aide Junaskiri Hayudini, Negros Oriental Rep. Pryde Henry Teves’ staff Maan Gale Bustaliño, Dennis Manila and Vercedita Garcia, and Marcial Taldo, driver of Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan. Teves and Ilagan were also seriously injured along with several others. – Perseus Echeminada