Monday, October 27, 2008 Seares: ‘Rashomon’ and euro scandal By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
WHAT comes to mind viewing the fallout from the Moscow incident involving PNP general Eliseo de la Paz and the euro scandal is the classic 1951 film “Rashomon” by Japanese director Akiro Kurosawa.
Four versions of the rape of a young bride and murder of her husband are told by the bride, a bandit, a woodcutter, and the slain spouse (through a medium).
What the film says is that “absolute truth in human experience is impossible to attain” and “truth lies in the perception of each individual.”
Set in 12th-century Japan, when techniques of crime investigation were non-existent or crude, the movie suggests that evidence is unreliable.
These days, it can still be. A police official was caught with a large fortune in his travel bag and many days later, the public still doesn’t know what to believe from evidence.
Indicias
What Napolcom and police officials said bears some indicias of falsehood. The Napolcom head said he approved only a “cash advance” for travel expenses, not stashed euros. De la Paz said it was “contingency fund” and the PNP chief, after saying he didn’t know, now says the money was for buying firearms and spy equipment.
Witnesses may submit to a lie test, awkward for high police officials, yet can help verify honesty. Testimony may also be checked against other people’s declarations as well as records and documents.
Sleuth’s devices without using torture weren’t available then. They now are, though truth is tough to seek in this age of coverup and stonewalling.
Yet, some kind of truth can be attained. It’s not as elusive as the truth they chased in “Rashomon.”
