Kuratong witnesses’ lawyer hits threat on SC justice

A lawyer for the witnesses in the Kuratong Baleleng rubout case has condemned an "obvious attempt" to intimidate the Supreme Court (SC) after one of its justices received a death threat in the form of a funeral wreath last Friday.

Arno Sanidad, one of the lawyers for the witnesses, said opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson and those in his camp may be behind the sending of the funeral wreath.

"Lacson and his group are the logical suspects since they will benefit most from another delay in the release of the High Court’s ruling. If the SC affirms its earlier decision, Lacson and his co-accused face arrest and detention as murder is a non-bailable offense," he said.

Sanidad was referring to the incident when SC Justice Romeo Callejo received a funeral wreath left in front of the main gate of his residence in Quezon City early Friday morning.

The delivery of the wreath, decorated with a sash that read, "Condolence to Justice Callejo," is considered to be a death threat, according to Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong.

Sanidad also criticized Lacson for using the Jose Pidal controversy to divert the public’s attention from his own wrongdoings.

Lacson had accused First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo of maintaining bank accounts under the alias Jose Pidal for his money laundering activities.

Sanidad said that Lacson should first address the criminal charges against him before embarking as a self-proclaimed crusader in the fight against crime and corruption.

Aside from being the principal suspect in the Kuratong Baleleng rubout case, Lacson also faces several charges filed with the Office of the Ombudsman for wiretapping, perjury, and violating the law that requires public officials to file a statement of assets and liabilities every year.

The opposition senator is also facing investigation by the Ombudsman for real estate properties he allegedly bought and bank accounts he allegedly maintained in the United States while he was still Philippine National Police chief.

Sanidad said three Senate committees are set to release their final report recommending that the Department of Justice start investigating Lacson’s alleged involvement in criminal activities such as kidnap-for-ransom and drug trafficking.

"Senator Lacson has used considerable resources to mount a propaganda campaign on the so-called Jose Pidal exposé, just to cover up his own legal difficulties," he said.

Sanidad is optimistic that his clients will win the Kuratong Baleleng case against Lacson.

"The evidence against Lacson and his co-accused is solid, so solid that the High Court has already ruled that Lacson and his group should go to trial for murder," he said.

Sanidad also said the Kuratong Baleleng case cannot be compared to the Jose Pidal controversy, noting that Lacson has no evidence to prove his charges against the First Gentleman.

He described Lacson’s exposé as half-baked, unproven, and "an example of the shoddy police work he is capable of."

"The Jose Pidal case just goes to show what kind of policeman Lacson was, because he accuses first before producing any solid evidence," Sanidad said.

Callejo penned the Supreme Court decision on April 1 ordering the Quezon City regional trial court to proceed "with deliberate dispatch" trying the Kuratong Baleleng rubout case in which Lacson was indicted as one of the principal respondents.

Lacson immediately filed a motion of reconsideration before the Supreme Court over the ruling. The high tribunal has yet to decide on Lacson’s motion.

Lacson, along with Chief Superintendents Jewel Canson, Romeo Acop and Francisco Zubia, Senior Superintendents Michael Ray Aquino, Cesar Mancao III and Glenn Dumlao and 31 other police officers were indicted for the murder of 11 gang members on May 18, 1995.