Hultmans suffering from amnesia - DOJ

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez turned the tables on Anders and Vivian Hultman yesterday as he accused the couple of amnesia for denying that they were consulted on the executive clemency granted to Claudio Teehankee Jr., the convicted killer of their daughter Maureen and her friend Roland Chapman.

In separate news forums at the Usapang Daungan sa Danarra Hotel and Serye Café in Quezon City yesterday, Gonzalez stressed the Hultmans knew that the convict was applying for presidential pardon.

“The Hultmans are suffering from amnesia. As early as 2005, they were aware of the possibility of pardon for Teehankee,” Gonzalez told reporters.

“They knew about it because it was contained in the settlement they signed with the Teehankees in 1999, in which they accepted payment for civil damages,” he said.

To prove his claim, the justice secretary showed to reporters an agreement signed by Mr. Hultman and Philippine Representative to the World Trade Organization Ambassador Manuel Teehankee, the younger brother of Claudio Jr.

The document, approved by branch 145 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Makati, is a settlement agreement, which also served as a quit claim and a promise not to bring future legal actions.

The agreement stated that “the Teehankee Family has expressed their deepest regret and sympathy to the Hultmans and Chapmans. The Hultmans recognize that Claudio Teehankee Jr. has shown and exhibited great remorse and has been serving his time in good behavior.”

It was agreed that Teehankee would pay Roland Chapman’s family indemnity for their son’s death in the amount of P50,000.00; attorney’s fees in the amount of P1,000,000.00; and moral damages in the amount of P1,000,000.00; or a total amount of P2,050,000.00.

“For Maureen Hultman’s family, indemnity for death, P50,000.00; actual damages, P2,350,461.83;  loss of earnings, P564,042.57; moral damages, P1,000,000.00; exemplary damages, P2,000,000.00;  and attorney’s fees, P1,000,000.00; or a total amount of  P6,964,504.40,” it stated.

The agreement also involved the transfer of the rights and interests of the house located at Barangay Capitolyo, Rizal, in consideration of the P6,964,504.40 as full and complete payment of Teehankee’s civil obligations to the Hultmans.

Gonzalez also disputed the claims of Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio, who led the prosecution panel in Teehankee’s case, that the justice secretary violated his own rules in recommending convicts for clemency.

Villa-Ignacio has said the justice secretary disregarded his own rules requiring publication of convicts endorsed for clemency and notification of the convicting judge, handling prosecutor and the victim’s family.

“There was publication as early as 2004, and the Hultmans received notification through the 1999 settlement,” he said, showing a publication in The STAR on Feb. 6, 2004 which informed the public about the review by the Board of Pardons and Parole of the cases of 16 prisoners, including Teehankee.

As for the rules requiring that a convict serving two life sentences should have spent at least 17 years in jail before becoming eligible for presidential pardon, Gonzalez said Teehankee has served more than 20 years, including his good conduct time allowance and his four-year detention at the Makati jail while his case was being tried. 

Gonzalez also reiterated that the power of the President to grant executive clemency to convicted prisoners is absolute and cannot be questioned.

“There is absolutely no politics because the Teehankee family does not possess political power,” Gonzalez said.

 “In the case of former President Estrada, yes, there were political considerations. But not in Teehankee’s case.”

Gonzalez also denied that another high-profile convict, Rolito Go, will be released soon.

Teehankee was meted two life terms for shooting to death 16-year-old Maureen Hultman in 1991. He also shot her two companions, killing Chapman, while Jussi Leino recovered from his gunshot wound and testified in court.

Meantime, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday said he supports the call to review the power of the president to grant executive clemency.

Rodolfo Diamante, executive secretary of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care (ECPPC), told Radio Veritas, “There is a need to review the power of the President, because there should be a basis in granting executive clemency.” - With Jess Diaz, Evelyn Macairan, Sandy Araneta