Atty Ferdinand Topacio Reacts to Vhong Navarro’s Transfer to Taguig City Jail
ATTY FERDINAND TOPACIO – the former legal counsel of Deniece Cornejo praises the decision to transfer Vhong Navarro to Taguig City jail.
Topacio reacts to Vhong Navarro being moved to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). Topacio said that the BJMP should have taken possession of him earlier in an interview with him conducted by the Manila Bulletin.
He emphasized that a defendant in a criminal trial must be held in a facility that is close to the courthouse where his case is being heard. He continued by saying that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention facility is just for suspects who have been temporarily apprehended and turned in.
“Napapanahon na talaga yan sapagkat dapat iyan noon pa nailipat. Sapagkat ayon nga sa ating reglamyentos sa criminal procedure, ang isang taong nasasakdal at naglilitis ng kasong kriminal, ay dapat nakapiit dun sa lugar na pinakamalapit dun sa hukuman kung saan dinidinig ang kanyang kaso, kung saan may hurisdiksiyon yung hukuman na naglilitis sa kayang kaso,” said Topacio.
“At iyan po ay sitwasyon naman talaga ni Ginoong Navarro. Ang NBI po ay hindi piitan para sa mga detention prisoners. Ang detention facility po ng NBI ay pansamantala lamang sa mga taong nahuhuli in flagrante delicto o mga sumusuko katulad ni Ginoong Navarro, pansamantalang pwedeng ipiit doon,” he added.
The only people who can remain in NBI custody for an extended period of time, according to Topacio, are those who are protected as witnesses. Vhong was also given the chance by the court to argue against being returned to the BJMP’s custody.
Recall that in September, Vhong failed to demonstrate that being detained in the Taguig City Jail would endanger his life. The communication that the accused’s wife reportedly received, according to the court, cannot be believed.
The motion’s failure to include evidence of the SMS message and the fact that the message itself might be read in a variety of ways—not always as a threat to the accused’s safety—were both explained by the court. Additionally, the remaining allegations in the instant motion have zero substance in fact.
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