SC orders trial of Land Bank-Bogo rob case moved to RTC-Cebu City

The Supreme Court recently ordered the venue of the trial of the 12 accused-in the Land Bank-Bogo robbery last year-be moved from a court in Bogo to the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City.

This granted the petition of Joel Sumabong, one of the accused and alleged leader of the rob group, to move the trial venue of his case from Bogo where Mayor Celestino Martinez III the accused had alleged as the mastermind.

Sumabong's counsel, Rameses Victorious Villagonzalo, filed the petition last February citing a possible threat against the life of his client for linking the mayor to the P9.4 million bank robbery on August 2, last year.

Finding the petition meritorious, the high tribunal ordered the trial moved to Cebu City, and transmit the records of the case to the executive judge of RTC-Cebu City.

Wilfredo Lapitan, SC third division assistant clerk of court, issued the directives to the clerk of court in Danao City and ordered also the RTC-Cebu City executive judge to raffle of the case in accordance with pertinent rules.

Sumabong earlier executed an extra-judicial confession implicating Mayor Martinez as the alleged mastermind in the bank robbery. Sumabong alleged that the mayor financed the operation, amd showed receipts as proofs that the Bogo local government paid for the food of the group.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the Police Regional Office-7, however cleared Mayor Martinez from any involvement in the robbery due to lack of evidence.

Sumabong and 11 others were eventually indicted for robbery in band. The 11 others were Joseph Ancaja, Henry Cuerda, Dindo Ancero, six unidentified men, one woman, and Ceferino Serbano, the owner of the getaway vehicle.

Villagonzalo, after receiving the SC order, yesterday assured the public that Sumabong would appear at the RTC-Cebu City. "He is not in hiding nganong motago man siya nga piansado na man siya," the lawyer said of his client.

Villagonzalo said his client was reported to have gone to Masbate for fear after implicating the Bogo mayor.

Despite the statement of Sumabong, a reliable source at the PNP Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division said Mayor Martinez was already cleared of involvement in the bank robbery. -Fred P. Languido and Ramil V. Ayuman/RAE