MANILA, Philippines -- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officials assured the public on Thursday that businessman Luisito Gonzales, a grandson of the late President Quirino who was accused in the killing of his step-brother and trader Federico Delgado, would only be released upon the issuance of a court order.

NBI deputy director Ruel Lasala said that the agency would abide by the court order, whether to release him from or to continue his detention at the bureau detention facility.

?He is still here (NBI detention center)? He remains detained at the NBI Jail mixed with other inmates,? Lasala emphasized, adding that he heard that the Delgado family filed an appeal on a Supreme Court decision and a Manila court is still hearing the case.

Maridel Asadon, clerk lawyer of the Manila regional trial court branch 32, told the Inquirer that Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina has not issued any order for Gonzales? release.

Asadon explained that counsels of Gonzales filed an urgent motion for the release of their client before the court during the hearing for the case in the light of a Supreme Court decision dismissing the murder charge filed against him.

?There were oral arguments during the hearing and the public prosecutor was given three days to submit a comment to the urgent motion filed by the defense,? the branch clerk of court said, adding that Judge Medina would then decide on the motion after the submission of the prosecutor?s comment.

Gonzales has been accused of the March 10, 2007 killing of businessman Federico Delgado, the son of shipping magnate Francisco Delgado, inside his apartment in Manila.

Gonzales was indicted for the attack along with his driver Antonio Buenaflor.