DOJ asks Morong courts to drop raps vs Morong 43

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday asked Morong, Rizal courts to drop the charges filed against the so-called "Morong 43" health workers arrested in February on suspicion of being communist rebels. The DOJ, through State Prosecutor Gerald Gaerlan, filed the motions to withdraw the informations slapped against the health workers facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, as well as violations of the election gun ban. Four Morong regional trial courts are handling the charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, while two Morong metropolitan trial courts are handling the gun ban violation raps. Withdrawing the information is tantamount to dropping the charges against them, Gaerlan explained. "The information, by its nature, is the way of the state to indict the person. Once it is withdrawn, he or she no longer has a criminal case filed against him or her. But that is subject to the approval of the court," said Gaerlan in an interview with GMA News and GMANews.TV. As of posting time, the DOJ has yet to provide copies of the motions. Order to withdraw case The DOJ's move stemmed from President Benigno Simeon Aquino III's order to withdraw the information filed before the courts. "We recognize that their right to due process was denied them. As a government that is committed to the rule of law and the rights of man, this cannot stand. Therefore, I have ordered the DOJ to withdraw the informations filed before the court," Aquino said at an event marking Human Rights Day on December 10. Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said that the President had acknowledged that the government may have used a defective warrant of arrest when the workers were nabbed on February 6 this year in Morong, Rizal. The military had claimed that the workers were conducting an explosives training but the workers had insisted that they were only attending a health seminar. Five of the health workers have been placed under separate military custody at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, after they allegedly admitted they were New People's Army supporters. The rest of the workers are detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City. The other two—Mercy Castro and Judilyn Oliveros—have been confined at the Philippine General Hospital after giving birth while in detention. Standing warrants Aquino's order, noted that the DOJ's withdrawal of the charges could pave the way for the workers' release, provided that they have no standing warrants of arrest against them. On Friday, De Lima said six of the 43 workers may have standing arrest warrants against them. On Monday, the Justice chief said her department has verified that standing warrants are indeed out against two of the six workers. "We're still verifying [for the four others]," De Lima told reporters. – VVP, GMANews.TV