Court denies release of ‘Mamburao 6’

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court denied yesterday a motion filed by the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) seeking a reconsideration of its decision not to release six farmers accused of killing two sons of former Mindoro Occidental Rep. Ricardo Quintos in 1997.

In a one-page resolution, RTC Branch 81 Judge Ma. Theresa Torres-Yadao said arguments in the PILC’s motion were "simply a repetition" of what had been taken up before.

The PILC, through lawyer Edre Olalia, earlier asked the court to release on recognizance the so-called "Mamburao 6" – Ruben Balaguer, Gelito Bautista, Eduardo Hermoso, Mario Tobias, Josue Ungsod and Manolito Mauricio – accused of killing Paul and Michael Quintos on Dec. 13, 1997 in Mamburao, Mindoro Occidental.

The PILC based its motion on manifestations made by the departments of national defense, interior and local government and justice recommending the release of the six accused as a confidence-building measure to restart the talks between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF).

The recommendations of the three departments were also carried in a memorandum issued by President Arroyo last January.

In her earlier resolution, Yadao said what while she respects the presidential memorandum "because it bears the stamp of approval of no less than the President," she said the release of the "Mamburao 6" on bail or recognizance still depends on the court’s discretion.

Yadao said she could not grant the PILC’s motion because the case does not fall under legal instances where an accused could be released on recognizance. — Romel Bagares