A court in Isabela City, Basilan province has temporarily stopped law enforcement agencies from enforcing the arrest warrants against a lady town mayor and her co-accused.
This situation stays until the resolution on their motions before the court is issued.
The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 2 in Isabela City issued the order Monday after the accused, through their legal counsel, filed a very urgent motion for reinvestigation and to recall the warrant of arrest.
On Aug. 20, the RTC Branch 2 issued warrants of arrest for murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder against Hadji Muhtamad Mayor Arsina Kahing Nanoh and her co-accused – Nadz Nanoh, Walihul Allama, Hadji Rahim Kahim, Lucman Kaling, Tudy Bayro, Sing Hassan, Arsina Kahing Nanoh, and seven John Does.
In a statement Tuesday, lawyer Quirino Esguerra Jr., legal counsel for the accused, said they have asked the court to dismiss the cases for alleged lack of probable cause or to remand them to the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor for further investigation.
Esguerra said the court has scheduled the hearing on their motion at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 4.
‘The court likewise ordered the prosecution to file its comment or opposition within 10 days from receipt of the order,’ he said in a statement.
The criminal cases against Nanoh and her co-accused stemmed from the May 12, 2025 attack near Barangay Sangbay Big, Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan.
This incident resulted in the deaths of Ben Bakil, Murasidol Abdurahman and Samir Jamiri Allil and in the wounding of several others.
Abdurahman was a poll watcher at the May 12 midterm elections, while Bakil and Allil were supporters of former Hadji Muhtamad Mayor Jamar Mansul, who was then running for mayor against Nanoh.
Esguerra noted that the Aug. 24 court order temporarily halting the implementation of the arrest warrants does not dismiss the cases or permanently recall the warrants.
‘It just temporarily prevents their enforcement while the court considers and resolves the defendants’ motions,’ he said