Two venues for case will affect

Two venues for case will affect

rights of the accused – Sadain

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) – City Councilor Melchor “Mel” Sadain anticipated that the hearing of the cases against those accused for the rebel attack in Zamboanga last year, in two separate courts or venues,  might bring about questions about the constitutional rights of the accused.

The Supreme Court has already issued an   En Banc Resolution addressed to  Judge Gregorio dela Pena III regarding the hearing of the cases.

The resolution says that Judge Dela Pena III will receive the testimonies of the witnesses against the accused now detained in  Taguig  City.

On the other hand Judge Rowena San Pedro of Pasig will also hear the testimonies of the accused.

Sadain has sponsored a resolution in support of the Local Chief Executive  position strongly objecting for the  274 MNLF’s  hearing to be heard in this city.

Sadain said that while Mayor Maria Isabelle C. Climaco favors that the testimonials of the witnesses will be  favorable to be heard in this city of Zamboanga, still it can not avoided that the 274 MNLFs will insists on their constitutional rights  .

The bill of rights provides that the accused can demand that they confront any witness face to face and that will not be possible if the witnesses will testify only in Zamboanga in the absence of the accused.

Sadain further said that it will weaken the cases against the accused  where the witnesses have to identify the accused  in front in any  court proceedings.(Letty M.Militante ) (090614)