Hearing set tomorrow on John-John motions

The hearing of the motions of John Gregory “John-John” Osmeña, a former vice governor, to dismiss the drug case and not to issue a warrant of arrest against him is set tomorrow at the Regional Trial Court-branch 13.

Osmeña has been accused of conniving with suspected drug traffickers who were also accused separately of smuggling into Cebu P3.9 billion worth of the regulated chemical pseudoephedrine in 2002.

Judge Meinrado Paredes said that only the motions of Osmeña will be tackled in the hearing, not the main issue of the case yet, and both the prosecutor and the defense were already expected to debate on this matter tomorrow.

The team of prosecutors, appointed by the Department of Justice, is headed by senior state prosecutor Archimedes Manabat while the defense will have lawyer Edgar Gica to argue Osmeña’s defense that there has been no probable cause for the indictment.

The former vice governor of Cebu could not attend the hearing because he is still abroad, but some court observers said many people are interested to witness the proceedings and be updated of the outcome.

“Daghan g’yod ang gustong masayod kon moisyu ba ang huwes og kamandoan nga dakpon si John-john, ug kon iya ba nga i-dismiss ang kaso basi sa awhag sa abogado sa depensa,” a court observer said.

Osmeña, through his lawyer, said that there is no probable cause for the indictment for his alleged violation of section 4 (5) of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

“They must prove that in court,” countered the state prosecutors insisting that based on the affidavits of their witnesses, there is a ground to charge Osmeña for allegedly seeking the release of the seized pseudoephedrine by reportedly calling the authorities.  — Rene U. Borromeo/RAE