Court of Appeals ordered to report status of disappearance of World Bank consultant

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) ordered the Court of Appeals (CA) yesterday to report on the status of the investigation into the disappearance of World Bank consultant Morced Tagitis in Sulu three years ago.

In a resolution penned by Associate Justice Arturo Brion, the SC gave the CA 10 days to submit its first quarterly report and recommendations on the police investigation.

In the same order, the SC reminded the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to submit its plan of action to the CA.

Earlier, the SC affirmed the CA’s ruling granting the petition of Tagitis’ wife Mary Jean for a writ of amparo. 

It remanded the case to the CA for appropriate proceedings and to monitor the police investigation.

In the same ruling, the SC held police officials accountable for Tagitis’ disappearance.

Records show that Tagitis, senior honorary counselor for the Islamic Development Bank Scholarship Program, was last seen in Jolo, Sulu on Oct. 31, 2007.

Named respondents in the case were retired Philippine National Police chief Avelino Razon Jr., CIDG’s Chief Superintendent Raul Castañeda, Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police director Gen. Joel Goltiao.

The writ of amparo is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty, and security has been violated or is threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity.