Court orders De Lima, Esmeralda to answer Gatdula amparo petition

MANILA, Philippines - A Manila regional trial court ordered yesterday Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, National Bureau of Investigation officer-in-charge Nonnatus Caesar Rojas and deputy director Reynaldo Esmeralda to answer a petition for writ of amparo filed by former NBI director Magtanggol Gatdula.

Branch 26 Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. gave the three respondents 15 days to answer Gatdula’s petition. He set the hearings on March 1, 2, 5 and 6.

Gatdula asked the court to order De Lima, Rojas and Esmeralda to “cease and desist from further threatening his life, liberty and security and that  of his family.”

Gatdula, through his lawyer Abraham Espejo, asked the court to stop the respondents from “framing” him for the Feb. 21 “fake ambush” on Esmeralda.

Esmeralda, on the other hand, told reporters to tell Gatdula he “will do no harm to him or anybody else in the future.” He said the regular course of the investigation should continue, but added that “there’s a legal maxim which states that those who go to court must come with clean hands.”

De Lima and Esmeralda had stated that the ambush is connected with the Noriyo Ohara case, wherein the Japanese woman was allegedly kidnapped by NBI agents and personnel.

Gatdula was among those charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the case.

The former NBI chief also asked the court to issue a temporary protection order and a production order to compel investigators to produce documents on the attack on Esmeralda and allow his camp to inspect and photograph the vehicles the victim used during the ambush.