Pinayagan ng Supreme Court (SC) na mailipat ng lugar ang paglilitis sa kasong murder na may kaugnayan sa pagpatay kay Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe sa Maynila mula Albay court.
Sa dalawang pahinang notice ng SC 2nd division, pinayagan nito ang kahilingan ng biyuda ni Batocabe na si Geetrudes, anak nitong si Atty. Justice Caesar Anthony Batocabe, at Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr.
Sa kanilang magkakahiwalay na liham sa SC, inireklamo nila ang umano’y pagiging bias sa paglilitis ni Legazpi City, Albay Regional Trial Court Branch 10 Presiding Judge Maria Theresa San Juan-Loquillano, kasunod ng kanyang kautusan noong Agosto na payagan na makapagpiyansa ang umano’y mastermind na si dating mayor Carlwyn Baldo.
Gayundin, sinabi nila na nababahala sila sa seguridad ng pamilya ng biktima dahil nakapagpiyansa si Baldo at ang kanyang aide na si Master Sgt. Orlando Diaz .
“Although there was no proof that accused Baldo would threaten them and there is the indisputable fact that the prosecution was able to freely present its witness during the bail hearings, the fact remains that there is now an apprehension or fear on the part of private complainants regarding the proceedings in the subject cases; that such fear could easily prevent them and their witnesses to freely testify if the trials were to continue in Albay and this may eventually result in a miscarriage of justice,” ayon sa SC .
Inatasan ng SC ang Executive Judge ng Manila na i-raffle ang kaso sa mga hukom. (Juliet de Loza-Cudia)