Valera fails in bid to stop transfer to NBP

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City judge junked the request of former Abra governor Vicente Isidro Valera to remain in the Bicutan jail despite having been convicted of masterminding the murder of Abra congressman Luis Bersamin at a church in Quezon City in 2006.

Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 94 denied the motion to defer or recall the issuance of a mittimus order (warrant committing a person to prison) for lack of merit.

In a two-page order, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR, Tria gave weight to the objection of Prosecutor Ferdinand Baylon.

“Based on the circulars of the office of the court administrator, any detention prisoner, when convicted, (becomes) a national prisoner and should be committed to the NBP (New Bilibid Prison) and retaining accused Valera in the MMDJ (Metro Manila District Jail) in Bicutan would be highly irregular,” Baylon argued.

He also asked that the jail warden inform the court whether he has complied with the order to send Valera to the NBP in Muntinlupa.

Police are still looking for co-accused Dominador Barbosa and gunman Jerry Turqueza, who went into hiding before they could be arraigned in court.