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Friday, May 16, 2003
Face murder raps, justice chief urges Strunk
By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA -- Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong Thursday said American Rod Lauren Strunk should seriously consider going back to the Philippines to face the charges against him in connection with the murder of his wife, actress Nida Blanca, two years ago.
In a press briefing, Datumanong said Strunk's lawyers should not wait for the government to initiate formal extradition proceedings against their client and instead advise him to voluntarily come back to Manila to face the murder case filed against him.
"He can voluntarily return to the country," Datumanong said, pointing out that the justice department has yet to formally request Strunk's extradition before a California court.
He added that any commutation of sentence in case of conviction "will be up to the President (Arroyo)."
Murder, under Philippine laws, is an offense punishable by death, among the exceptional situation where extradition may be denied under the RP-US Extradition Treaty.
Speaking to reporters, another justice official, Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez, said Thursday the justice department will "move to oppose any motion for bail" filed by Strunk's lawyers in the US.
US marshals informed justice officials in the country on Wednesday that they have detained Strunk, principal suspect in the killing of Blanca two years ago.
The justice department earlier requested US authorities to detain Strunk after Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Alex Quiroz ordered his arrest last February 21 in connection with Blanca's death.
"In response to the letter request of Undersecretary Gutierrez for and in behalf of the Department of Justice dated April 10, 2003 for the arrest of Mr. Roger Strunk, who is a principal suspect in the murder of the late Nida Blanca... the Department of Justice of the United States sent a communication saying Mr. Strunk was provisionally arrested by US marshals in the Eastern District of California," Datumanong had told reporters Wednesday.
He said he hoped the US would extradite Strunk to face the murder charges filed against him in the Philippines.
A communiqué from the United States justice department dated May 13 and signed by Lee Cox, one of the "support staff" in that office, informed Manila about Strunk's arrest.
(May 16, 2003 issue)
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