Dismissed police superintendent Ma. Christina Nobleza and suspected Abu Sayyaf bomber husband Renierlo Dongon will be in Bohol tomorrow for their scheduled arraignment on illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives charges filed against them.

An official of the Bohol Provincial Police Office who spoke on condition of anonymity told DYRD Balita that Nobleza and Dongon who were arrested in Bohol in April will be arraigned before the Regional Trial Court Branch 48 in Tagbilaran City.

Tight security measures are already in place for the arrival of both suspects who are currently detained in Camp Crame as “high-risk detainees” on orders of Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa, the police source said.

Meanwhile, the scheduled trial on the resistance and disobedience to persons in authority and obstruction of justice cases filed before the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in Tubigon against both suspects was rescheduled and set in October due to the absence of assigned Judge Erwin Ucat who is on leave.

Dongon and Nobleza who were married under Muslim rites were last in the province on June 6 for a scheduled arraignment before the MCTC in Tubigon.

Both pleaded not guilty to resistance and disobedience to persons in authority and obstruction of justice charges filed against them for allegedly attempting to rescue Abu Sayyaf stragglers who were being hunted down by government troops in Bohol from April to May.

Nobleza and Dongon were arrested by police at a security checkpoint in Barangay, Bacani, Clarin on April 22 amid clashes between the Abu Sayyaf and government troops in Bohol.

They were taken into police custody together with Dongon’s mother, Judith, and a minor believed to be his sibling who were also inside the vehicle driven by Nobleza.

A few days after their arrest, police found bomb-making paraphernalia inside an apartment rented by the couple in Barangay Looc, Panglao. (Rey Tutas)