Friday, August 01, 2008 Seares: Covering faces of suspects By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
GENARO Jorolan, widely known as Jan-Jan in the infamous sodomy case, covers his face with bandanna and dark glasses.
But Jan-Jan is a victim, not a suspect.
Sotto Hospital workers allegedly violated his privacy and dignity by making a circus of the removal of a body spray container which a male prostitute had stuck into Jan-Jan’s rectum.
Maybe he was raped but Jan-Jan insisted he was not and thus lost his right not to be identified as he pursues his quest for justice and court-awarded money.
Jan-Jan is named in media reports but the public still has to see his face. And he’s likely to keep hooded forever except when he attends a town fiesta or prowls a gay bar.
Nobody is pressing him to unmask himself, except doctors and nurses Jan-Jan sued: “He’s ruining our careers and we can’t even see how he looks?”
New images of a covered face, or faces, flash before the public eye as three suspects in the “chop-chop” murder of two women in Talisay City go through the due process drill.
Their identities were publicized upon their arrest but now, ala Jan-Jan, they’re covering themselves against news and “usisero” cameras.
Killing machines
Richard Gudelosao, Joseph Rey Cellar, and Jean Antoinette Medalle admitted they murdered two women, cut them up, stuffed body parts into garbage bags, and dumped them.
They are apparently ashamed of what they had done and want to hide. But an outraged public wants a clear and full view of the accused.
How will the judge hear their plea?
Without seeing faces, lips, and eyes as they say guilty or not guilty, not even a glimpse into their dark souls?
