MANILA -- The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) has ordered the transfer of one of the accused in the smuggling of shabu inside magnetic lifters, from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to the Manila City Jail.
In a four-page order dated May 8 released on Friday, RTC Branch 35 Judge Maria Bernardita Santos denied Jaime Guban's plea that he be allowed to stay at the NBI.
"An accused cannot decide on the place where he should serve his preventive imprisonment, otherwise to allow each and every arrested person to make a choice would result in confusion and disorder," the court ruled.
"There would be mess in the criminal justice system," the court added.
Guban was previously under "voluntary confinement" as witness at the Senate.
Guban, former police official Eduardo Acierto, and six others were eventually indicted for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and a warrant was ordered for their arrest.
The court said he failed to provide evidence that the city jail is ill-equipped to provide him with proper security. (PNA)
