Sandiganbayan to issue arrest warrants vs Jaylo, 2 others

The Sandiganbayan is set to issue warrants of arrest against retired Col. Reynaldo Jaylo, and his former subordinates who were recently convicted for killing suspected drug dealers in an anti-drug operation 17 years ago in Makati City.

Jaylo, former patrolman Edgardo Castro, Private First Class William Valenzona, and Antonio Hablo, former members of an anti-narcotics squad of the Western Police District (WPD) were sentenced up to 14 years in prison.

Jaylo, Valenzona and Hablo were not present when the court’s decision was handed down on Tuesday. Castro, on the other hand, had died late last year.

The Court’s First Division which handled the case is now preparing the warrants of arrest for Jaylo, Valenzona and Hablo in accordance with the order of the court’s justices – Presiding Judge Teresita Leonardo de Castro, and Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta and Alexander Gesmundo.

Jaylo and his men’s failure to appear before the court during the promulgation of their sentence is construed as an act of evasion, according to the court’s division staff members, headed by Clerk of Court lawyerTeresita Rosette.

She said the order to arrest would be issued to Court Sheriff Edgardo Urieta "anytime soon."

The lead defense counsel of the accused, former solicitor general Frank Chavez, admitted that he hasn’t seen his clients since 2002 or the last time the court held a public hearing for the termination of the presentation of evidence of both parties.

Chavez also does not know where they are now, nor if his clients are still willing to appeal the case.