Court defers arrest of ex-Isabela mayor

SANTIAGO CITY — The Manila Regional Trial Court has put off the arrest of a former mayor of this Isabela city pending the Supreme Court decision on his motion for reconsideration in connection with the murder case against him for the 1996 killings of two civilians.

Judge Augusto Gutierrez of Manila RTC Branch 47 granted the petition of former mayor Jose Miranda seeking to recall his arrest warrant issued by Santiago City RTC Judge Anastacio Anghad last April 20.

Miranda, together with three others, is indicted for the killings of Elizer Tulio and Vicente Bauzon in 1996.   

Besides deferring the arrest order, Gutierrez also suspended the trial of Miranda, former police officers Alberto Dalmacio and Romeo Ocon, and Rodel Maderal pending the Supreme Court action on the former mayor’s motion.

Anghad had ordered the arrest of Miranda and his fellow accused after the Supreme Court’s first division directed him to reinstate their warrants of arrest, which he himself quashed four years ago.

The first division, acting on the petition of the father of one of the murder victims, also ordered Anghad to transfer the case to the Manila RTC.