Radioman to file raps vs. Iligan Court Clerk

April 8, 2008

By Lizanilla J. Amarga

Radio broadcaster Jose “Jo” Pantoja is now threatening to slap legal charges against the Clerk of Court of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) City Branch 1 in Iligan City for violating a Supreme Court order and delaying his frustrated murder case.

The Supreme Court has recently issued an order granting the petition for change of venue on Pantoja’s case from Iligan City to Cagayan de Oro City that was filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) through Regional State Prosecutor Jaime Umpa in behalf of the Pantoja and the state.

The order included directions for the Iligan RTC-Branch 1 Clerk of Court to transmit the records of the case to the Executive Judge, RTC, Cagayan de Oro City, within five (5) days from notice, for immediate re-raffling among Cagayan de Oro judges.

But Pantoja said almost two weeks had already passed since notice was served yet this Clerk of Court has sat on the above records defying the Supreme Court’s order and delaying this broadcaster’s quest for justice.

“Mao gahangyo gyud ko nga mapadala na niining Clerk of Court kay basin mapasaka-an siya namo ug kaso sa wala pagtuman sa order sa Supreme Court (This is why I am asking this Clerk of Court to immediately forward the records of our case for the latter might just be facing charges for violating the orders of the Supreme Court),” he said.

Last February 18, 2008, the Supreme Court through its Asst. Clerk of Court Ma. Luisa Laurea granted Pantoja’s request for change of venue of Criminal Case No. 13432 otherwise known as People of the Philippines vs. Romeo Ragasaojo, et. al. from Iligan City to Cagayan de Oro City “due to threats on his life” and for a “speedy trial of the case.”

Pantoja formerly worked as a blocktime-commentator at dxLS Love Radio FM in Iligan City but he is now placed under the DOJ Witness Protection Program.

Umpa confirmed that indeed the Iligan RTC-Branch 1 Clerk of Court had violated the above order which was received by the Executive Clerk of Court here in Cagayan de Oro last March 13, 2008 and immediately forwarded the next day March 14 to the RTC Clerk of Court, Branch 1 in Iligan City.

He said he has checked with the Executive Clerk of Court here in Cagayan de Oro City last Friday March 28, 2008 or some 14 days later as to whether records of the case had already been forwarded to its office but was given a negative answer.

“This RTC Branch 1 Clerk of Court had already violated this Supreme Court order that the records be transmitted within five days from notice it is very impossible that until now this Clerk of Court yet to receive the Supreme Court’s order,” he said.

He added that the sending of the records from Iligan City to Cagayan de Oro City takes barely one day and no document has been received that the adverse parties is asking the High Tribunal to reconsider its decision to grant their petition for change of venue.

Pantoja said he will be discussing with Umpa the possibility of asking the Supreme Court to sanction the Clerk of Court of RTC-Branch 1 in Iligan City.

“Kay nagduda ako nga gituyo ni ang wala pagpadala sa akong kaso aron malangan-langan akoang kaso (Because I have strong suspicions that this is a deliberate move on the part of the Clerk of Court to further delay my case),” he said.

There are also reports gathered that the Clerk of Court is related to one of the suspects involved in this frustrated murder case.

Pantoja, who is currently under the Department of Justice (DOJ) Witness Petition Program as he continues to receive more death threats, expressed his deep gratitude to the Supreme Court for swiftly granting his petition for change of venue.

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Written by admin · Filed Under Iligan City