Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 58 Clerk of Court Ma. Socorro Garces said the arraignment initially set last Nov. 8 was postponed to Dec. 13 after government prosecutors filed a motion for reconsideration to include a “grinder” for marijuana in the police list of items found in the possession of Fernandez after police cornered him with over 500 grams of marijuana in his car here last Oct. 3.
The illegal drugs case was initially filed before RTC Branch 60 Judge Eda Era who later inhibited herself from the case, saying her husband belonged to the same Guardians Brotherhood that Fernandez also belonged to.
The case was re-raffled and landed in the sala of TRC Branch 58 judge Meredith Malig who slated the arraignment on Nov. 8.
Garces said Malig deferred the arraignment set last Nov. 8 because of the prosecution’s motion on the marijuana grinder. Thus, Fernandez is expected to be arraigned on Dec. 13 yet.
At the Municipal Trial Court (MTC) Branch I, personnel said Fernandez’s case of resistance and disobedience has been set for arraignment on Jan. 12 next year. The case stemmed from his attempt to escape after cops at a checkpoint found marijuana in his car. Cops fired at his car’s tire and cornered him in traffic in neighboring San Fernando.
Fernandez remains in detention at the provincial jail in the City of San Fernando after staying briefly at the heavily crowded Angeles City District Jail.
