Kin of Kuratong-Baleleng rubout victims ask SC to resolve case

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyers for the family of slain Kuratong Baleleng group on Friday again asked the Supreme Court to resolve the pending administrative case against a Quezon City court judge who dismissed the multiple murder charges against 11 police officers involved in the alleged rubout. The call was aired during a press conference on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the incident. During the briefing, private prosecutor Arno Sanidad asked Chief Justice Reynato Puno to give priority to the case as it is a "true case" of extra-judicial killings which involves government officials while they were in power. “We implore the SC to give this case the priority it deserves and render judgment on the petition without further delay," he said. Sanidad said that the case should be an acid test for Puno's resolve to deal justice to victims of violations of basic constitutional rights. “Any further delay in the resolution of this case will have the effect that the SC seeks to avoid with its renewed commitment in issuing writs of amparo, habeas data and habeas corpus – state impunity and the continued rise in extrajudicial killings in the country," he said. The 26 accused in the case before the sala of Judge Ma. Theresa dela Torre-Yadao of QC regional trial court branch 81 were led by then police colonel, now Senator Panfilo Lacson and Chief Supts. Romeo Acop and Francisco Zubia Jr. Other respondents were P/Csupt. Jewel Canson; P/SSupt. Michael Ray Aquino; P/SSupt. Cezar O. Mancao II; P/SSupt. Zorobabael Laureles; P/Supt. Glenn Dumlao; P/Supt. Almario Hilario; P/CInsp. Jose Erwin Villacorte; P/CInsp. Gil Meneses; P/SInsp. Rolando Anduyan; P/SInsp. Joselito Esquivel; P/SInsp. Ricardo Dandan; P/SInsp. Ceasar Tannagan; and, SPO4 Vicente P. Arnado. Sanidad said the accused should be bold in confronting the state's evidence and in proving their defense that a legitimate police encounter did indeed occur on May 18, 1995. “Otherwise, they suffer the fate of being publicly accused of waiting it out until their case is rendered moot and academic by the loss of key witnesses," he said. He also said that the complainants also feared that the forensic evidence such as the medico legal reports, the van used in killing the victims and firearms allegedly used by the shooting officers, might not have been properly preserved at the PNP Crime Lab as the case has been languishing for more than a decade. - GMANews.TV