[APWSLMembers 283] Second judge in Beltran's case inhibits, But consolidates old and new rebellion raps

[Kilusang Mayo Uno]

 From the Office of Anakpawis Representative Crispin B. Beltran
Lisa C. Ito, Public Information Officer (+63)927.796.7006
Tel. # (+632) 931-6615 Email: 
<mailto:crispinbeltran at gmail.com>crispinbeltran at gmail.com
  URL: http:// <http://www.geocities.com/ap_news>www.geocities.com/ap_news

NEWS RELEASE
July 6, 2006

Second judge in Beltran's case inhibits,


But consolidates old and new rebellion raps

The new judge handling Anakpawis Congressman Crispin Beltran's case 
has inhibited herself from further proceeding, but not before 
affirming the consolidation of old and new charges filed against 
Beltran and and 47 other individuals, including Beltran's five other 
colleagues from Congress.

In her order dated July 3, 2006, Judge Encarnacion Jaja Moya 
forwarded to the Makati Regional Trial Court (MRTC) Branch 146 the 
rebellion case ordered consolidated by MRTC Branch No. 57 Judge 
Renato Quilala with the rebellionc case against Beltran and Lt. San 
Juan pending before Moya.

"The consolidation of these cases is on account of the fact that the 
accused in Criminal Case No. 06-944 before the RTC Branch 157 were 
alleged in the information to be conspiring, confederating, and 
mutually helping each other together with the accused in this case 
before this Court, who are likewise accused of rebellion. Thus, based 
on the ground that there are common evidence to be presented which 
will entail a joint hearing necessitating a joint decision," Moya wrote.

Moya however inhibited herself from sitting in the consolidated cases 
as she is a "personal friend and close associate" of Atty. 
Christopher Belmonte, one of the accused in the consolidated case.

Beltran's lawyers led by Atty. Romeo Capulong will be filing a Motion 
for Reconsideration to Moya's consolidation, saying that Moya's move 
violates Beltran's right to due process. The new information 
consolidated with Beltran's case is based on the amended information 
that was previously rejected by Judge Jenny Lind Aldecoa Delorino, 
Beltran's lawyers noted.

The new information (CC- No. 06-944) was previously heard by Judge 
Renato Quilala of the MRTC Branch 57, w hile the old information (CC. 
No. 06-452) was handled by Judge Moya. The DOJ previously asked the 
courts to consolidate the separate rebellion charges filed.

Meanwhile, the Free Ka Bel Movement (FKBM), an alliance calling for 
Beltran's immediate release, denounced Moya's "unjust decision to 
consolidate the case". "Moya's decision is a disappointment. This 
maneuver will invariably and unjustly delay the legal battle for Ka 
Bel's liberty," Dennis Maga spokesperson of the FKBM said. "There's 
obvious pressure on all the judges handling the rebellion cases to 
kowtow to the DOJ's impositions," he commented.

The case will be reraffled today 2 PM at the courtroom of Executive 
Judge Napoleon E. Inoturan of the MRTC Branch 133. ###


Cong. Crispin Beltran is confined under police custody at the 
Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. Today is the 131st day of his 
arbitrary detention by the Arroyo administration.







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