Security Group to be reactivated

CEBU, Philippines -  Following the shooting incident inside the Palace of Justice, Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez has moved to reactivate the Judicial Security Group (JSG).

During his visit Tuesday afternoon to the Palace of Justice, hours after the incident, Marquez told the media that the JSG will be operating to augment security inside the court.

The JSG is composed of court employees who volunteer to maintain peace and order inside the court. The JSG was under the supervision of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul, committee chair on security at the Palace of Justice.

During a meeting attended by RTC judges yesterday, former RTC Executive Judge Mienrado Paredes told the media that the JSG will be reactivated.

He said they may also ask the Commission on Elections to allow members of JSG to carry firearms outside their residence.

Paredes also said there will be two doors to be opened at the palace, the main entrance and the back door.

Only court employees and judges are allowed to pass through the back door, facing the Legislative Building.

DOJ statement

Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima issued a statement extending “deepest sympathies to the families of the victims.”

She said they are closely monitoring the condition of Prosecutor Ma. Theresa Casiño.  De Lima also called for immediate action on the said incident.

“Justice sector institutions encompassing the Supreme Court, the DILG, PNP, the DOJ and the concerned local government units must build and strengthen our capacities for systemic reforms. Immediate action is needed to ensure the safety and security of personnel working in the front lines of the rule of law,” she said.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and the associate justices of the Supreme Court also offered their “sincerest condolences” to the families of the victims and the assailant, Canadian John Pope.

Sereno then ordered stricter security measures in courts and urged the police to “double their efforts to expedite their investigation in the shooting incident which also resulted in the wounding of Casiño.”

Pope’s good side

One of the beneficiaries of the goodness of Pope was the daughter and nephews of DYLA reporter Dario Gil.

In an interview with The Freeman, Gil said they used to know Pope in 1998.

He said it was his sister-in law, Jessica Villamora, who first met Pope at a fast-food chain in a mall.

He said Villamora shared her problem to Pope, telling him that her husband left her and that she has three children ages 2, 3 and 4.

From thereon, he said Pope helped Villamora and sent her children to school from elementary to high school and college.

He said it was in 2009 that Pope extended his help to them, sending his daughter to school upon the request of Villamora.

However, he said his three nephews and his daughter were not able to finish the first year because Pope told them that he has a big problem.

From 2009 to 2010, there was no clear communication between them and Pope.

In 2011, there was no communication at all.

He said they asked Pope what was his problem but the latter refused to say anything and told them not to see him.

Gil said they were shocked upon learning of the incident.

He said there may be deeper reason why Pope shot Casiño, Dr. Reynold Rene Rafols and lawyer Jubian Achas.

He said they were planning to surprise Pope for his birthday last January 23, but Pope died on Tuesday, a day before his birthday.

He said Pope extended help not only to them but also to others in the towns of Alcantara, Dalaguete and Argao.

Debriefing

Kim Solon, officer-in-charge of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 6 said they are still in a state of shock following the incident.

“We were shocked by the incident. We were traumatized. Personally, I can’t sleep well,” he said.

He added they will undergo a debriefing on Monday.

Yesterday, a Mass was held at the MTCC Branch 6 as part of the nine-day novena Mass for the souls of Rafols, Achas and Pope.

Tomorrow, Pope’s remains will be claimed by a family member.

Cebu City Police Office officer-in-charge Mariano Natuel said that the Canadian Consulate has informed them that Pope’s sister will arrive from Canada tomorrow to claim the body.

The Honorary Consul, Natuel said, had contacted Pope’s family in Canada about the incident.

The Canadian national’s body still lies at the morgue of the Cebu Doctors Hospital in Cebu City, where he was taken after the incident.

Natuel said they will also know by tomorrow whether or not the sister would consent to have Pope’s body subjected to an autopsy.

The Homicide Section already sent earlier a request to the Crime Laboratory to have the body autopsied but Dr. Nestor Sator didn’t do so since there wasn’t any consent from the embassy yet.

“Huwaton g’yud nato ang decision sa tagtungod og sa Embassy, (We will wait for the decision of the family and the embassy.)” said Natuel.

Natuel said the autopsy result is “very vital” to determine if Pope indeed shot himself to the head after shooting Rafols and his lawyer Achas dead.

Natuel said they are now keeping in touch with a court employee who claimed to have seen Pope shoot himself in the head after two policemen shot the foreigner to neutralize him.

The male witness, Natuel said, was hiding at a store room some two meters away from where Pope was shot.

Natuel added that they are still convincing the witness to testify because he initially declined to coordinate with the police for fear for his life. — With Niña G. Sumacot/MIT (FREEMAN)