Ex-Marawi judge barred from public office over detainee’s release

GLEE JALEA | The Manila Times

Decmber 17, 2018

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur: A former presiding judge of the Marawi City Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) was barred from public office for releasing a detainee from the city jail without any lawful authority.

The Sandiganbayan Second Division found former MTCC judge Baguinda-Ali Ahmad Pacalna guilty of violation of Presidential Decree 1829 or the “Penalizing Obstruction of Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal Offenders.”

In a 15-page decision, Pacalna was sentenced to pay P6,000 as penalty with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

On Sept. 19, 2007, Menor Saud, who had a gun tucked in his waist, was accosted by policemen while on a routine patrol and also found out that Saud had a pending carnapping case. 

On the same day, then Judge Pacalna allegedly exerted undue influence over jail warden to turn over the custody of Saud to him to bring him to the hospital as he sustained injuries during the arrest. 

A month after, a subpoena from the court was returned with the notation “accused under the custody of Judge Barguinda Ali Palcana.” 

Palcana admitted having executed and signed a handwritten note acknowledging the release of Saud to him while detained at the Marawi City Jail but pointed out that he only took him to the hospital for treatment. 

Saud was never returned to the city jail afterwards. The Manial Times/MNY/RSP)