Accused wants speedy trial

CEBU, Philippines - One of the accused in the botched robbery of a roving bank teller inside a midtown mall last year has asked that he be arraigned early to hasten the resolution of his case.

Rolien Castro through his lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo yesterday filed an urgent motion asking to immediately set his case for arraignment.

Villagonzalo told The FREEMAN that setting the case for arraignment at the soonest possible time would mean to shorten the injustice that his client has been suffering.

“We wanted a speedy trial. It’s not easy to be detained without evidence,” Villagonzalo said.

 Villagonzalo reiterated that his client is innocent of the crime charged.

“Wala man nay labot siya sa tulis (he was not part of the robbery),” Villagonzalo said.

Castro also moved earlier to be detained either at the National Bureau of Investigation, Cebu City Police Office or Central Command instead of the Cebu City Jail for security reason. He still remains at the CCPO pending resolution of his motion.

Castro claimed that his security would be compromised if he would be detained at the City Jail together with the alleged robbery gang leader Junjun Cabando.

“There is an imperative need that Rolien Castro must not be detained along with Junjun Cabando at Cebu City Jail for this would cause grave and serious security and safety concern on the part of Castro,” his lawyer’s motion read.

Villagonzalo said he is also planning to file a motion to post bail after the arraignment. He believes that the evidence against Castro is weak. The court has set the arraignment of Castro together with the other accused, Cabando and Merly Laguitao, on August 14.

But Villagonzalo wanted an earlier setting. The three were charged with robbery with homicide for the botched robbery of a roving bank teller inside a midtown mall in September last year resulting in the death of two security guards and three of the robbers. Cabando was also injured during the incident but was able to escape.

Two policemen who responded the alarm were also injured in the shootout. Cabando was recently arrested in Mindanao as well as Laguitao, his live-in partner. Following their arrest, Castro was also arrested in subsequent follow-up operations. (FREEMAN)