SC orders transfer of Tiu kidnap case to Manila court

The Supreme Court has ordered the transfer of the celebrated Jackie Tiu kidnap-for-ransom case from San Fernando City in La Union to the Manila regional trial court (RTC).

The High Tribunal’s Third Division ordered the San Fernando court "to transfer the venue of the case to any appropriate court in Manila."

The high court also directed its Office of the Clerk of Court "to forward all documents to the executive judge of Manila RTC."

The Supreme Court granted the petition of Tiu to have the trial transferred to Manila to expedite hearings in the four-year-old kidnapping case.

Tiu pointed out the case was raffled off several times with the first three judges inhibiting themselves.

She said the last trial was held in August 2004 under San Fernando RTC Branch 27 Judge Antonio Carbonel who inhibited himself from presiding over the case following the request of prosecutors.

The case was last handled by Judge Rosemarie Alim who had set the trial for Oct. 24 and 25 until the Supreme Court granted Tiu’s petition for a change of venue last Wednesday.

Tiu claimed she was forced to file the petition before the Supreme Court last April, citing the apparent delay in resolving the case notwithstanding the strong evidence against the seven accused.

One of the accused, Chinese national Zhang Du, was able to flee the country after being escorted out of detention by some immigration officials last May 7.

"I was not blindfolded and they (the suspects) didn’t even cover their faces so I positively identified them. But why is justice this elusive?" Tiu lamented.

"It’s very exhausting and frustrating. It feels like I have a sword hanging over my head," she said.

Following the controversial escape of Zhang, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez ordered the suspension and investigation of the officials involved in the illegal deportation.

Zhang was freed after he posted bail when the charges against him were reduced from principal to accessory in the kidnapping of Tiu in September 2001.

But he was again arrested in 2002 when immigration officials discovered that he was an illegal alien. — With Jose Rodel Clapano