QC judge junks Isnajis' petition for habeas corpus

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City judge junked the petition for the issuance of the writ of habeas corpus filed by detained Indanan, Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son, Haider, radio dzBB reported Tuesday. Radio dzBB's Tuesday Niu reported that Judge Leah Domingo-Regala of QC regional trial court Branch 226, in an eight-page resolution, found the petition lacking in merit. The report also said the petition is already moot and academic as a case has already been filed before a court in Sulu. The Department of Justice on Monday recommended the filing of kidnap-for-ransom charges against the Isnajis for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of an ABS-CBN crew headed by Cecilia Victoria 'Ces' Drilon and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo. No bail was recommended for the Isnajis, who are both detained at Camp Crame. The Isnajis earlier filed the urgent petition for the issuance of the writ of habeas corpus. In Monday's hearing, the court asked the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to justify the continued detention of the Isnajis. During the proceedings, Joventino Diamante, the Isnaji's legal counsel, told the court that his clients were arrested without warrant of arrest. Diamante added that during the debriefing at the CIDG in Camp Crame, the Isnajis were subjected to threats and were not even assisted by a counsel of their own choice. “The debriefing is the only basis of filing of the case against the Isnajis before the Department of Justice. They executed a waiver since they want to avail of the preliminary investigation," Diamante told the court. He further stressed that the Isnajis were still confused when they were made to sign a waiver, allowing authorities to detain them indefinitely. He also said that the Isnajis withdrew their waiver last July 16 since it is their right. Diamante added that under the rules, the preliminary investigation should be terminated within 15 days and yet it already lapsed but no case has yet been filed against the Isnajis. “The preliminary investigation was conducted beyond 15 days and the case has not yet resolved, their (Isnajis) detention cannot depend on how long the DOJ will resolve the case," Diamante added. Tang, on the other hand, told the court she received information that the case was already submitted for resolution. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV