Court junks Comelec's transfer plea for Bedol

MANILA, Philippines - A Pasay City court on Monday denied the request of the Department of Justice and Commission on Elections lawyers to transfer the detention of former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol from the Philippine National Police custodial center to the Pasay city jail.

The Pasay City Regional Trial Court branch 112 gave credence to the the motion of Bedol's lawyers regarding the security and health of their client, a radio report said.

Comelec prosecution lawyers said they will file a motion for reconsideration before the court regarding its ruling.
Bedol has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City for six months now after being cited by the court for contempt.

Bedol is one of the co-accused in the electoral sabotage case against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and ex-Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr.

Mrs. Arroyo, who is facing a separate case of plunder before the Sandiganbayan, is now detained at the Veteran's Medical Memorial Center while Abalos is out on bail. - Dennis Carcamo