3 miscarriages

Hubert Webb, Tony Boy Lejano, Michael Gatchalian, Hospicio Pyke Fernandez, Peter Estrada, Miguel Rodriguez and Gerardo Biong have been acquitted of charges of rape with homicide in the Vizconde Massacre case because of reasonable doubt. They spent 15 years and 4 months in jail.

Allan Almoite was acquitted of charges of being a terrorist by RTC Valenzuela because it was a case of mistaken identity. He spent three years in jail and claimed he was tortured.

The charges of illegal possession of firearms against the Morong 43 were withdrawn because of a defective search warrant. They spent 10 months in detention. Some of them claimed they were tortured.

These are three outstanding examples of miscarriage of justice, gross incompetence of police and prosecution officials, as well as the Judge and Court of Appeals Justices in the Webb et al case.

The defect of our criminal justice system is clearly indicated by the sad fact that it took 15 years and 4 months to decide the Webb case. The automatic review of all life imprisonment cases is mandated by the Constitution. A rational mind would easily think that such reviews should be expeditious and should be finished in two years.

The implications of the Webb et al acquittal is a black mark on the NBI, the PNP, the prosecution service of the DOJ, RTC Judge Amelita Tolentino and the Court of Appeals.

The Supreme Court decision in effect found that the testimonies of Jessica Alfaro, an NBI asset, the maids and the security guards were incredible, unbelievable and inconsistent and therefore, perjured. Recall that before Webb and his companions were arrested 3 years after the crime in 1994, the NBI and the police had come up with 2 sets of suspects who were eventually cleared.

It is not usual that when police authorities are under heavy criticisms and public pressure to solve a high profile crime, they come up with fall guys. That happened too, in the Nida Blanca murder case. There are hundreds of fall guys languishing in Muntinlupa.

It is also disturbing that Judges in high profile cases are usually promoted after convicting an accused. This “incentive” could overcome the presumption of innocence and tilt a Judge’s mind in favor of conviction. RTC Judge Amelita Tolentino admitted only 10 out of 142 pieces of evidence were presented by the defense and didn’t allow the testimony of witnesses in the United States to be taken by deposition.

And how will government and society now compensate Webb et al and their families, Almoite and the Morong 43 for their suffering, physical and mental? The passage of a compensation law is in order here. The Anti-Terrorism Law already provides a P500,000 a day payment for each day of illegal detention. A similar law should be provided in other cases of wrongful prosecution and illegal detention.

To say the least, a public apology by the Chief Executive and the Chief Justice to Hubert Webb et al and their families.

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GOOD JOB, FREDDIE AND ELIZABETH . . . Our congratulations, admiration to Sen. Freddie and Elizabeth Webb, parents of Hubert, Pinky de Leon and other parents who never lost their faith in God and patiently suffered for 15 years, even receiving verbal insults and condemnation from the likes of VACC and other cruel critics.

Freddie, Hubert et al should pursue charges of perjury against Jessica Alfaro and NBI officials who recruited her. It would also be good for Freddie and Elizabeth to write a book on their 15-year saga. I understand TV-5 has already obtained the rights to air their story.

We also express our sympathies to Lauro Vizconde for his suffering. The Supreme Court acquittal must now motivate DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima to reopen the case and resume their search for the real criminals.

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JACKPOT . . . The Philippine Air Force is buying a used C-130 formerly owned by the Tunisian Air Force for $38 million. The used C-130 had not flown for 15 years and had figured in an accident.

The bidding was done with specifications tailored to favor a Malaysian bidder. The C-130 Technical Coordination Group (TCG) of the PAF was not even consulted on the purchase. JUSMAG was also not consulted.

The $38 million price is reportedly overpriced by $8 million. Who hit the jackpot here? Why not buy a brand new C-130 which can be secured for $55 million? Or buy a used one still flying with the US Airforce for about $3 million?

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TIDBITS . . . Retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide was the one who drafted Executive Order No. 1. . . Congratulations to Amb. Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. for being awarded as a La Salle Master for his exemplary leadership, outstanding achievements and service to the Filipino nation. Amb. Cojuangco is also well known for his prize winning horses.

For the first time, the sitting President missed the annual Philippine National Prayer Breakfast held at the Manila Hotel. VP Jojo Binay attended. Don’t invite P-Noy to any affair before 10 a.m. P-Noy was seen driving a Ferrari sports car at Global City 2 weekends ago. . .He is often seen after office hours at the President’s Towers Timog, QC belonging to contractor Gerry Acuzar.

Roberto “Bobby” V. Ongpin, respected Filipino business tycoon, predicts the Philippine Stock Market coverage will easily reach 5,000 index points. It is now at 4148 as of Tuesday.

Noel Dalangin, STL manager of Guinobatan, Albay was shot dead. DAR legal officer Arnel Wahab, 41, was stabbed to death in Zamboanga City.

The prices of loaf bread and pandesal have gone up again adding to the suffering of the poor who are already paying higher rice prices.

Thirty Congressmen had a dialogue with 10 bishops led by Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop Paciano Aniceto and Archbishop Socrates Villegas at Club Filipino, Tuesday.