MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has reconstituted its special panel of prosecutors handling the rebellion and criminal cases against arrested members and supporters of the Maute group.
In a department order issued yesterday, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II designated acting Iligan City Prosecutor and Deputy City Prosecutor Celso Sarsaba as the new chair of the second panel to replace Provincial Prosecutor Mangontawar Gubat, who voluntarily inhibited from the cases.
Aguirre earlier said prosecutors in Mindanao – and even judges – have expressed concerns on handling the Maute cases due to safety concerns.
Sarsaba will be joined by Cagayan de Oro Assistant City Prosecutor Abdullah Macagaan and Misamis Oriental Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Gerard Cecilio Roa as members.
The DOJ earlier created four panels of prosecutors with three members each to handle the Maute cases.
The other chairs are City Prosecutor Eduardo Cueto of Iligan, Provincial Prosecutor Chuchi Azis of Misamis Oriental and Senior State Prosecutor Lilian Doris Alejo of DOJ Manila.
Senior Assistant Regional Prosecutor Merlynn Barola-Uy, meanwhile, was designated the overall chair of the panels.
In a separate department order, Aguirre also assigned five prosecutors to assist in the inquest proceedings of arrested Maute suspects: Cagayan De Oro Assistant City Prosecutors Alfonso Vicente Jr., Louie Borja and Ansharey Lalia and Misamis Oriental Assistant Provincial Prosecutors Lito Sanchez and Tadeo Polestico.
“In the event that there are several complaints with numerous respondents involved and the same can no longer be accommodated by the existing panel of prosecutors, the following shall form part of a pool of prosecutors who may be called upon to assist in the inquest proceedings of rebellion cases involving the Maute Terror Group,” the directive read.
Aguirre earlier said he plans to again reconstitute the panels handling the Maute cases once the Supreme Court grants their request for transfer of the cases and detention of arrested Maute members from Cagayan de Oro City to Taguig City.