PTFoMS lauds Masbate judge for recalling warrant of arrest vs 2 journos
THE Presidential Task Force on Media Security yesterday lauded the decision of a Masbate Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge to recall the warrant of arrest earlier issued against two journalists and two others for a supposed murder charge.
According to PTFoMS Executive Director Paul M. Gutierrez, Judge Teofilo B. Tambago of the Masbate RTC Branch 49, 5th Judicial Region, issued a resolution granting a motion to recall/lift the warrant of arrest filed by local broadcasters Jay Alfaro and Benjamin Gigante, of radio station dyME.
“Wherefore, premises considered, the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor is ordered to conduct reinvestigation of the case. In the meantime, the WARRANTS OF ARREST issued for this case are ordered RECALLED and SET ASIDE,” part of the resolution stated.
In their motion, Alfaro and Gigante claimed that they were not afforded the benefit of preliminary investigation, as they have not received any subpoena for the case.
With the latest development, Gutierrez lauded the decision rendered by Judge Tambago, noting that it was the second time in less than one month that a warrant of arrest was ordered recalled by the same judge.
Records showed murder charges against Alfaro, Gigante and two others were filed by Masbate Provincial Prosecutor Jeremias Mapula over the killing of Richard Bauso last April 6, 2024 in Cawayan town.
Citing a media report, Gutierrez noted that in an earlier incident, the local court recalled the warrant of arrest filed against Gigante, Alfaro, and three other local journalists last July 26 in connection with the murder of Arriesgado in August 2022. The criminal information was also prepared by Mapula.
Prior to the order recalling the warrants, it was learned that Gutierrez wrote a letter to Mapula, asking for assurance that he adhered to the provisions of Department Circular 20 (DC20), series of 2023, issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in identifying Gigante and Alfaro as being members of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), and if there are enough evidence pointing to them in the killing of Bauso.
Gutierrez, in particular, have sought clarification if the purported membership of Gigante and Alfaro with the CPP-NPA had been validated by the appropriate intelligence units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
