|
Friday, October 10, 2003
Kuratong Baleleng case back to QC court
MANILA -- A Quezon City Trial Court Judge who dismissed the murder charge earlier filed against Senator Panfilo Lacson over the Kuratong Baleleng case, was again picked to go over the case against Lacson and 22 other former and current police officials.
RTC Judge Teresita Yadao of Branch 81, a special court that handles heinous crimes, was picked in the re-raffle amid a Supreme Court ruling that denied Lacson's petition to stop the trial of the case.
A widow, Yadao was picked over Judge Monica Senaroza of Branch 76.
Yadao, in a television interview, said she will not refuse the job because if she does, she has no business being a judge.
The Supreme Court, voting 8-4, ruled with finality Tuesday that the Quezon City RTC should reopen the case filed against Lacson and 33 other former and current police officials.
Lacson aide Lito Banayo said they welcome the assignment of the case to Yadao.
State prosecutor Jovencito Zuño said he expects the hearings on the case to proceed immediately.
Lacson's lawyer, Sigfrid Fortun, earlier asked the court to halt the raffling of the case but Judge Natividad Dizon upheld the Supreme Court decision.
But despite the return of the Kuratong Baleleng case to Yadao, whom Lacson's camp had once described as an "independent-minded" judge, Fortun said on video, "We are not happy."
"What we're saying is that we should follow procedure," Fortun said.
Meanwhile, the prosecution panel claimed Thursday that it has eight new witnesses against the accused.
Prosecution lawyer Efren Moncupa said most of the witnesses are police officers who claimed that they saw the killing of alleged Kuratong Baleleng gang members.
Moncupa said the prosecution panel suggested that Lacson be given a 24-hour ultimatum to present himself in court.
Moncupa said Lacson cannot apply for parliamentary immunity because the penalty for the charges against him exceeds the six-year jail term.
In Malacañang, Bunye said the Arroyo administration is neither alarmed nor concerned with the contents of the third installment of Sen. Panfilo Lacson's "Incredible Hulk" exposé.
Bunye said they expect the third chapter "to be a hodge podge of innuendoes that still lacks solid evidence to back it up."
He added that the third chapter was simply "well-hyped" but they expect the "speech to be no different".
Meanwhile, Lacson said his possible arrest, would not prevent him from following through on the Jose Pidal exposé.
The controversy involves the controversial Jose Pidal bank accounts allegedly linked to the husband of President Arroyo and supposed money laundering transactions.
Lacson deferred the third installment of his presentation of evidence before the Senate last Monday. Lacson said tersely, "I'm not giving up the fight."
He, however, admitted that he was avoiding arrest after learning last week that a task force would be formed to arrest him.
Lacson's camp claimed the ruling was intended to cripple Lacson's chances in next year's presidential elections.
(October 10, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
 |
| click
to comment on this article or discuss it with other readers |
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
'Third Force' to stage more attacks in Minda