Court says Boratong may stay at NBI

A Pasig City judge granted yesterday the petition of Amin Iman Boratong, the alleged operator of the dismantled shabu tiangge in Pasig, and his wife for their continued detention at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Judge Abraham Borreta, of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 154, said Boratong’s continued detention at the NBI should not be considered special treatment.

Citing threats on their lives, Boratong and wife Sheryl Molera asked Borreta last Wednesday that they preferred to be detained at the NBI instead in a Pasig City police jail. City prosecutor Conrado Tolentino made no objection.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales earlier told the court that he preferred that Boratong and Molera remain at the NBI.

"Given the factual background of the case and the circumstances that led to the filing of the information against the two accused, the court finds the reasons advanced by the accused as very plausible and highly probable," said Borreta in his two-page decision dated Nov. 30.

"The court believes that taking all the necessary precautions at this point in order to prevent and avoid any untoward incident from happening to the two accused is a legitimate concern," he said.— Non Alquitran