DOJ: SC granted Mamasapano case transfer to Taguig

The Supreme Court (SC) has granted the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the venue transfer of the criminal cases over the Mamasapano bloodbath, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Thursday.

"Because of the possible security issues, we requested or we asked the Supreme Court that the venue for the trial of those cases be transferred to Metro Manila and the Supreme Court recently granted that petition," the Justice chief said in an interview on CNN Philippines.

"These cases will be tried before the Regional Trial Court in Taguig," he added.

Guevarra later told GMA News Online the request was granted last May.

Sixty-seven people, including 44 Special Action Force troopers, were killed in a botched police operation to capture terrorist and bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias "Marwan" in January 2015. Marwan was among those killed.

Eighty-eight people composed of Moro rebels and members of private armed groups face charges of direct assault with murder over the deaths of 35 of the slain elite police forces before the Shariff Aguak Maguindanao Regional Trial Court Branch 15.

Citing security concerns, the DOJ last year asked the SC to transfer the case to Metro Manila. — MDM, GMA News