Sandiganbayan allows retired PNP general to attend father’s wake, funeral  

 

The Fourth Division of the Sandiganbayan has granted the petition of retired police director Geary Barias to leave his detention for five days to attend the wake and burial of his father in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan.

 

In a resolution issued Friday, the Fourth Division allowed Barias to leave the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City at 6 p.m. on February 5. He has to return to the detention facility at 6 p.m. on February 9.

 

“For humanitarian considerations, accused Geary L. Barias’ Extremely Urgent Manifestation with Motion for Furlough…to attend the wake and burial of his father Dominador Z. Barias Sr. is granted,” the resolution read.

 

Barias is facing malversation and graft cases before the Fourth Division in connection with the alleged fictitious repair and maintenance of Philippine National Police’s V-150 armored vehicles worth P385.48 million in 2007 during the term of PNP director-general Avelino Razon Jr.

 

Barias, Razon, former PNP comptroller Eliseo Dela Paz and several other police officials accused in the case are currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

 

The court had earlier denied their respective petitions to post bail for the malversation case citing the strong evidence presented by the prosecution against tem.

 

In an extremely urgent motion filed on Monday, Barias had asked the court to allow him to leave his detention to visit his father in the hospital saying that the latter might pass away any moment due to his worsening condition.

 

 

However, in a motion filed on Wednesday, February 3, Barias, through his legal counsel, informed the court that his motion was now “deemed moot” as his father already passed away.  

 

Barias, thus, asked the court for a five-day furlough in order to attend his father’s wake and burial.

 

Barias’ father succumbed to Stage Four terminal lung cancer. He had been confined at St. Paul Hospital in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan since April 18, 2014.

 

In granting Barias’ request, the court directed the PNP Custodial Center to provide the necessary escort and security measures to ensure his safety during his travel to and from Tuguegarao City as well as “to prevent his possible escape from detention”.

 

Meanwhile, considering the 10 hours of travel time from Quezon City to Tuguegarao City, the court has given the PNP Custodial Center a grace period of until 2 p.m. on February 10 to bring Barias back to his detention cell. — APG, GMA News