VACC feels guilty for not meeting Pope

CEBU, Philippines -  The founding chairman of the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption (VACC), Dante Jimenez, feels guilty that he wasn’t able to explain the justice system to John Pope, the Canadian national who shot dead two persons inside the Palace of Justice last Tuesday before reportedly killing himself.

Jimenez visited the Palace of Justice yesterday, particularly the crime scene. He was accompanied by Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Mariano Natuel.

In an interview, Jimenez said he was supposed to meet John Pope, either last Thursday or yesterday but there was an unexpected incident and the meeting did not push through.

Last week, he said he received Pope’s letter along with several documents addressing the alleged corruption and the justice system in the country.

“I feel so guilty also dahil kung siguro napaunawa ko sa kanya ang justice system natin dito, bulok masyado dahil sa kabagalan sa pag-resolve ng mga kaso, hindi sana siya nag-amok,” Jimenez said.

According to Jime-nez, problems on delays in the justice system is not new to other places and this is supposedly the topic of their meeting, however, John Pope died.

He added they will be preparing a letter addressed to Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno to address certain issues including delay in resolving cases, lack of courts and lack of security.

“Kakulangan sa security lalo na sa mga judges na dumidinig ng mga heinous crime,” he said.

One of the factors, he said that triggered the people to lose their trust in the justice system here in the country is the security, the safety of the people.

Jimenez extended their group’s sympathy to the family of the victims who were killed, Dr. Reynold Rene Rafols and lawyer Jubian Achas.

Jimenez said he wanted to meet Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Silvestre Maamo to discuss the said incident.

Meanwhile, Natuel said they are still waiting for the arrival of Pope’s sister so that they could submit Pope’s remains for autopsy.

He said there were accounts of witnesses that Pope committed suicide after he was shot by the responding officer in his thigh and wrist.

“Mabibigyang linaw ito sa autopsy,” he said.

On the issue of security, Natuel said there was an agency looking into whether there was laxity on the part of the security guards in the main entrance of the court because the security guards also have their reasons.

Last Tuesday, at 8:20 a.m. Pope shot Rafols and Achas, who were inside the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 6 attending their hearing for malicious mischief filed against Pope.  (FREEMAN)