Lawyer admits getting money from Toledo blast victims’ kin

CEBU — The lawyer of the Toledo blast victims finally admitted that money, indeed, had changed hands in the dropping of the criminal charges against American and Filipino soldiers.

Two children were killed and another was wounded when an explosive device left behind during a joint war exercise at the abandoned Atlas firing range, detonated as the boys were gathering wood on Aug. 19 last year.

Lawyer Achilles Cañete, the butt of media reports that his pro bono services turned out to be a profitable one, admitted receiving P650,000 from the families of victims Rolly Navales, Arnelo Gaviola and Jordan Villarmia.

Navales and Gaviola died in the explosion. Villarmia survived his injuries. According to Cañete, the families of the three boys offered the amount without him demanding for it.

Cañete said the entire amount did not go to his pocket. He, however, refused to give details, citing lawyer-client privilege. "My clients know about it," he said.

He said there was nothing irregular about the settlement and his acceptance of the money, and that he is willing to be investigated.

Cañete denied initiating the settlement, saying it was his clients who wanted to have the case settled.

He said that one month after the complaint against 39 Filipino and US Navy personnel was filed with the Toledo City prosecutor’s office, the families already asked him to agree to an out-of-court settlement because of their poverty.

Meanwhile, Elias Espinosa, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ Cebu chapter, denied accusations he was the "bagman" in the settlement. — Freeman News Service