DOJ submits request for extradition of Strunk

It’s now in black and white.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) formally submitted to the United States government yesterday the Philippines’ request for the extradition of Roger Lawrence Strunk, principal accused in the November 2001 murder of his wife, actress Nida Blanca.

Justice Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez said the request was submitted through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which would transmit the documents to the Philippine Embassy in Washington.

The embassy will then forward the request to the US government. The US Justice Department will represent the Philippines in its case against Strunk before a US extradition court.

"All the material documents were submitted to the DFA and we hope to be able to succeed in our request for the extradition of Mr. Strunk from the US to the Philippines," Gutierrez told reporters.

Strunk is now detained at the Sacramento County Jail. On May 30, US magistrate Gregory Hollows denied Strunk’s request to be released on bail pending the hearing on the Philippine government’s request for his extradition.

The 63-year-old Strunk, a 1960s recording artist and movie actor, was arrested by US marshals in Tracy, California upon the request of the DOJ.

Gutierrez said those under provisional arrest are normally denied bail.

She said the Philippine government will also oppose any petition for bail that Strunk may file while the extradition hearing is underway.

The DOJ official said the country can prove that Strunk is a flight risk through the documents it submitted.

The evidence against Strunk includes witness statements translated verbatim from Filipino to English, including statements that Blanca had cut financial support for her husband and closed their joint bank account before her death.

Also included in the evidence transmitted to the US government are the criminal records of witness and self-confessed hit man Philip Medel, who said Strunk hired him to kill Blanca and a video showing Medel signing an extrajudicial confession.

Other pieces of evidence include a video taken of Strunk at the time Blanca’s body was found in her car in the Atlanta Centre carpark in Greenhills, San Juan town and during the first few days of her wake; other video tapes; photographs, including pictures of Strunk as identified by witnesses; certifications from experts who examined Blanca’s body; and undertakings of persons implicated in the case.

Former Sandiganbayan justice Harriet Demetriou said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) failed to produce Strunk’s personal undertaking, in which he promised to return to the Philippines after the burial of his mother in the United States.

Strunk left the Philippines on Jan. 10, 2002 and showed no intention of returning, even after his mother was interred.

Demetriou, representing Blanca’s daughter Kate Torres, said Strunk’s undertaking must be produced to prove he is a flight risk and should remain in detention during the extradition proceedings.

Gutierrez admitted there was such a document executed by Strunk, adding that the NBI has been trying to find it.

"As of this time, I cannot say that it’s lost. Maybe it was just misplaced and they’re looking for it," she said. "We’re asking for that document, but, even without (it), we are confident we can still pursue and we will succeed in the extradition of Mr. Strunk."

Gutierrez added that the NBI managed to produce a letter from Strunk’s lawyer stating the same assurance from Strunk, which he did not honor.

Gutierrez said other documents can be submitted later to the US government. The DOJ has until July 11 to forward more evidence against Strunk.