Updated
By Analou De Vera
The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) has denied the request of customs “fixer” Mark Taguba to remain under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and ordered his immediate transfer to the Manila City Jail.
Mark Taguba (JAY GANZON / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Manila RTC Branch 46, under the sala of Presiding Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa, said that Taguba’s camp failed to establish that his life was in danger. The court also cited that the NBI is not authorized to hold Taguba under their custody.
Taguba has been arrested by elements of the NBI on Wednesday evening after the same court issued an arrest warrant against him and seven others over their alleged involvement on the controversial P6.4 billion shabu shipment.
The court also ordered the arrest of Li Guang Feng alias Manny Li; Dong Yi Shen Xi alias Kenneth Dong; Eirene Mae Tatad, Teejay Marcellena, Chen I-Min, Jhu Ming Jyun, and Chen Rong Huan, after the court found “probable cause” to charge them for violating Section 4 Article II of R.A. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
Taguba is set to appear again in court after Montesa set his arraignment on February 9.
Tags: court order, fixer, Manila Bulletin, Manila City Jail, Manila RTC, NBI, Taguba, transfer