A Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) has issued a show cause order against the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Custodial Center head for failing to transfer Customs fixer Mark Ruben Taguba II to the Manila City Jail.
During a court hearing聽on Friday, Manila RTC Branch 46 Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa gave NBI Custodial Center Chief Menardo Cariaga 48 hours to explain why he should not be cited in contempt.
For now, however, the judge allowed Taguba to stay under the NBI鈥檚 custody pending the resolution of his 鈥渧ery urgent motion鈥 seeking continued detention at the NBI headquarters.
Montesa ordered on February 2 Taguba鈥檚 transfer to the Manila City Jail after she denied the Customs fixer鈥檚 motion to stay in NBI custody.
The judge earlier ruled that there was no evidence to prove that Taguba鈥檚 life was in danger.
Moreover, the judge stressed, there was no mandate from the NBI or any agency attached to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to continue keeping Taguba in their custody,
Taguba is one of the accused in the controversial P6.4 billion shabu shipment from China.
Taguba was ordered arrested for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, specifically for importation of dangerous drugs.
Aside from Taguba, the trial court also ordered the arrest of the following: Li Guang Feng alias Manny Li, Dong Yi Shen Xi alias Kenneth Dong, Eirene Mae Tatad, Teejan Marcellana, Chen I-Min, Jhu Ming Jhyun, and Chen Rong Juan.
The arrest order was issued after the court found probable cause in the criminal charges filed by the DOJ against Taguba et al.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 /kga