‘Mabinay 6’ indicted for illegal possession of firearms, explosives

DUMAGUETE CITY — Youth leader Myles Albasin and her five colleagues, better known as the "Mabinay 6," will now have their day in court as they have been formally charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

The case filed against the six suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels, who were allegedly involved in a firefight with the Philippine Army's 62nd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Luyang in Mabinay on March 3, has been assigned to Branch 45 of the Regional Trial Court in Bais City, which has jurisdiction over cases in the said town.

Their first court appearance has been set to next month for their arraignment, where they will be formally read of their charges and are expected to enter a plea.

In a commitment order dated April 13 and signed by Judge Rosario S. Carriaga, the six have been ordered to be transferred to the Bais City Jail, approximately an hour away from the Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center (NODRC) in this city where they are currently detained.

Albasin, 21, and a fresh graduate of the University of the Philippines-Cebu, along with her five co-accused—Jomar Indico, Carlo Ybañes, Randel Hermino, Joey Vailoces, and Bernard Guillen—are set to move to the Bais City Jail anytime soon.

However, lawyer Benjamin Ramos, one of the lawyers of the "Mabinay 6," told GMA News Online in a phone interview that their camp is studying the possibility of filing a motion for reconsideration to transfer their case from Bais City to Dumaguete City.

This is to avoid inconvenience in part of the accused and their families, and to rule out fears of a possible ambush by the NPA in an attempt to rescue them during their transfer.

During his visit to the NODRC on Friday, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo personally talked to the "Mabinay 6."

The six appealed to the governor to help them remain in the NODRC, to which Degamo reportedly said yes.

Degamo, however, did not give specific details during their conversation about how he will assist in the Mabinay 6 case, NODRC warden Franklin Culanag told GMA News Online.

"Ganahan ra pud sila (Mabinay 6) nga diri ra sila, kay mas secure kuno sila diri," he said. [The Mabinay 6 prefer to stay (at the NODRC) as they feel more secure here.]

The governor's visit was in time for the Supreme Court's "Justice On Wheels" program, where some inmates were given legal assistance on their cases.

Degamo will also see to it that the Mabinay 6 and the more than 400 inmates in the NODRC will not be victims of prison abuse, Culanag said.

NODRC, more commonly known as the Provincial Jail, is directly under the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental and reports to the governor.

Negros Oriental Provincial Police Director Senior Superintendent Edwin Portento previously told reporters that police will collaborate with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Philippine Army to ensure the safe transfer of the Mabinay 6 from Dumaguete City to Bais City. — RSJ, GMA News