Arrest warrant vs Salapuddin suspended

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court ordered yesterday law enforcement agencies to refrain from enforcing the  warrant of arrest against former Basilan congressman Gerry Salapuddin pending the filing of an amended complaint against the suspects in the Batasan Pambansa bombing. 

“To avoid injustice, this court will be suspending the implementation of the warrant of arrest against Salapuddin. I am directing all the police agencies to defer the enforcement of the arrest warrant. I am giving all the parties time to file their necessary pleadings,” Judge Ralph Lee said during an open court hearing yesterday morning.  

Lee issued the ruling after assistant state prosecutor Maryjane Systat formally filed a motion to exclude Salapuddin from the multiple murder and frustrated murder charges sheet.

The court released arrest warrants on Monday against Salapuddin and his co-accused Hajaron Jamiri, Benjamin Hataman and Bayan Judda. No bail was recommended for their temporary liberty.

“It’s a triumph of right over wrong and truth over disinformation. I am appealing to law enforcers to respect the rule of law,” Salapuddin said.    

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez had earlier ordered Salapuddin’s exclusion in the multiple murder and frustrated murder case.

The former Basilan congressman was included in the amended complaint after suspect Ikram Indama implicated him in the bombing.

Lee has given the government prosecutors and defense lawyers 15 days to file their comment after a lawyer representing Indama said that he will seek a reconsideration of Gonzalez’s ruling.

During the hearing, Lee clarified that the warrant was not recalled or quashed and the court may issue a new ruling depending on developments in the case. – Perseus Echeminada