Senators urge SC to protect Reyes
Refuses PNP security; ‘It’s just another case’
by Angela Lopez de Leon
Malaya
The multiple murder case against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. will be heard by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Quezon City RTC Branch 221.
The case was re-raffled yesterday after QC RTC Judge Luisito Cortez filed a notice for inhibition Tuesday, citing heavy case load and concerns for the safety of his family, among others.
The re-raffle was presided by acting Executive Judge Fernando Sagun.
A staff of Reyes said she would not issue any statement on the matter as she still needs to read the case records.
Reyes, 49, was appointed on Dec. 28, 2004. She served as a public attorney (defender), public prosecutor, and as presiding judge of the Municipal Trial Court in Angeles City.
Employees of the QC Hall of Justice described Reyes as “punctual and strict.”
Colleagues said Reyes is married although they do not have information about her family.
At 9:30 a.m. today, Sagun, 1st Vice Executive Judge Bernelito R. Fernandez, and 2nd Vice Executive Judge Vivencio S. Baclig will go to Camp Crame to examine three possible sites for the hearing.
They will then make a report as to the result of their ocular inspection to the Court, through court administrator Jose Perez.
PNP Chief Supt Jefferson Soriano, chief of the National Task Force for Investigation of the Maguindanao Massacre, met with Reyes after the re-raffle.
“She (Judge Reyes) has no reservations about handling the case. She said that she is willing to handle the case and she would treat it just like any ordinary case,” said Soriano.
“In fact, Judge Reyes refused an offer to provide her police security,” said Soriano.
The Department of Justice will hold a preliminary investigation today on the multiple murder charges.
Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon, however, said Ampatuan Jr. has waived his appearance although security arrangements are being prepared by the NBI in case he decides to attend.
Fadullon said that there are about 50 more complaints that have been filed by the PNP against Ampatuan Jr., who is detained at the NBI jail.
About 25 counts of murder have been filed against the Datu Unsay mayor, originally before the Cotabato regional trial court, although the case has been transferred to the Quezon City RTC.
Also named as respondents are nearly 200 people believed to be involved in the Maguindanao massacre last Nov. 23, including 25 police officers detained at Camp Crame and members of the Ampatuan clan led by former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr.
Due to the many respondents, the DOJ expects tight security to be enforced by the joint forces of the PNP and the NBI.
The preliminary investigation will be conducted by a panel of prosecutors composed of Senior State Prosecutors Rosanne Balauag and Anjanette Ortile, State Prosecutor Rex Gingoyon and Assistant Prosecution Attorney Xerxes Garcia.
The hearing will be held at the DOJ-Multi Purpose Hall.
Prosecutors admitted that the respondents are not required to attend the preliminary proceedings but the DOJ will still implement tight security around the area as “we don’t want to be caught flat-footed if all of them appear or send lawyers.”
He added that the PI may go beyond the 60-day period as required under the Rule as the parties are expected to ask for extensions in submitting their counter-affidavits and other evidence.
“I think they would be asking for more time. We will grant them that opportunity,” Fadullon said. – With Evangeline de Vera
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano: “Apparently, the best man for the job is a woman. An outstanding display of courage and sense of duty.
“I hope the court and the executive branch will put substance to their words that judges will be protected. That the intelligence communities do their job well and foil any harassment.”
Sen. Francis Pangilinan: :We urge SC Chief Reynato Puno to pull the bull by the horns and send a strong warning to those who think they can intimidate our system of justice, that they are bound to fail.
“They should be made to realize that the threatening or the killing of judges will only worsen their status as accused persons and will not lead to their exoneration. That by intimidating our judges, they are only digging their own graves and unwittingly ensuring their convictions.
“Only when they see that our justice system has the unwavering resolve to go after these hardened criminals will our people’s faith remain strong.”
Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Francis Pangilinan should instead put their money where their mouth is by taking initiative to craft good legislation to make sure our Judiciary remains independent and strong, away from political influence, as exemplified by the Arroyo administration, to make certain that the case related to the Maguindanao Massacre will be concluded and not extended to eternity, to include other pending cases related to murders, disappearances, government thievery and corruptions, and political harassments. Both senators should also find a way to fund these initiatives so that our Judiciary can hire much needed help to proceed, if ever they opted to do so, especially the Sandiganbayan currently buried with old cases dating back since the Marcos time.
“Sobra na ang patayan at walang sawang nakawan na ginagawa ng mga tinatawag nating tagapaglingkod ng bayan.”
We need action gentlemen not just words!
just wondering..kabalen ba ni putot itong Judge? kasi ang sabi sa itaas she served sa judiciary sa Angeles City..Angeles, Pampanga ba o Los Angeles, Ca?
Itong pagtanggi ni Judge Cortez na isang lalaki at pagtanggap ni Judge Solis-Reyes na isang babae, mukhang nagluksuhan agad ang mga pundits in criticizing Judge Cortez and all praises kaagad Lady Judge Solis-Reyes. Following the inhibition of Judge Cortez, he was immediately pilloried in the press, people asking him to quit his bench surmounts and heckler have their field day calling him “no yagbols?. Mabuti pa raw ang babae, may yagbols, etc.
Gusto ko ring kondenahin si Judge Cortez at kaagad papurihan si Lady Judge, pero sa nakita natin, hindi naman sabay silang inalok na humawak ng Ampatuan case. Hindi natin alam kung sa unang raffle ay si Lady Judge ang nabunot sa raffle, karakarakang tatanggapin din nya ang kaso. Sapagkat sa pangalawang raffle siya nabunot at alam na sa buong mundo ang pagtanggi Judge Cortez, isang magandang oportunidad para kay Lady Judge na buong ningning nyang tanggapin ang hamon. Tiyak magbibigay ningning ito sa kanyang pangalan lalo na kung maging mabilis ang kanyang gagawing pagdinig sa kaso.
Hindi sa binibigyan natin ng katuwiran si Judge Cortez. Kunyari isa rin tayong judge. Titimbangin muna rin natin ang lahat bago tayo magpataw ng hatol o husgahan si Judge Cortez.
Yes, Judge Solis-Reyes is from Pampanga. Pero okay lang. It has nothing to do with rendering a fair decision. Judge Cortez has no balls. Kung takot siya sa kanyang buhay at pamilya, bakit pinili niya ang maging Judge? What happened to all the cases that he handled? Ibig bang sabihin na hindi tama ang kanyang mga decision sa mga taong nanakot sa kanya? And that would send a signal to other future respondents to threaten him to get a bias decision. Cortez has no credibility and must now resign as Judge!
mario; sa ngayon hindi siya takot..let’s wait and see kung ano ang magawa niya pag nagumpisa na ang trial…noon ba alam natin na si putot ay magkaganoon…Assumption, doctor of economics..etc. pero nakita na natin ngayon ko ano siya..kung malagyan siya ng limpak na lmpak na pera? hindi siya takot pero kung pera na ang kaharap niya..makakatangi siya? I wonder…hindi seguro siya takot na patayin..hindi naman nakakapatay ang pera..and the ampatuans have vaults of it! ang sabi nga “money is the root of all evils..
Mas matapang yata ang walang bayag kesa ang may bayag.
Judge Reyes is clearly more ready to face the risks compared to the judge earlier who had begged off.Yayaman at sisikat si Judge Reyes sa kasong ito not because the Ampatuan’s will shower her with lots of wealth but,apparently the judge will write a book and it may be a “Bestseller”.Who knows maybe,the next president will appoint her to be the next justice of the Supreme Court kapag nagkaroon ng bakante. Kaya hindi pinapalampas ang opportunity na dumating sa buhay ng tao. Bihirang mangyari ang ganyang pagkakataon.
What is Glory without Family. Magandang pakinggan itong sinabi ni Judge Cortez. Eh bakit siya nag-abogado at Judge? Sabi naman ni Nograles: What is Gloria without Cha-Cha.
Hindi lang naman abogado siguro ang naduduwag, mga kalaban ng mga enemies ng ating puersa din. Dinadaan sa magandang pakiusap upang di halata.
Fear is an accepted human behavior. Fear of death…fear of rejection. Pero sa mga abogado…may sinumpaan silang tungkulin. To reject a case even if it involves the worst criminal is not acceptable!
The next Ampatuan, Tawi-Tawi governor:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091219-242849/Turtle-island-sold-to-Tawi-Tawi-governor
I understand fear is an accepted human behavior..pero sa Philipinas may mga tao na walang takot (kahit na nga seguro sa Dios) kasi..they have the money, and they have the power..gaya ng mga Ampatuans wala silang takot..they could get a high profile lawyer..kasi ang isang abogado pwedeng palabasin na hindi sinasadya ang pagpatay o kaya ay self defense o kaya insanity..their client snapped..I understand Fortun is a high profile lawyer..the Ampatuans will be free..kahit anong bagsik ng hayop! but God rules the world with justice and we can pray to Him for justice in this case.
sense of duty or scent of glory and money?
Sabi ni Atty. Fortun, abogado ni Ampatuan Jr. na hindi siya mukhang pera. May aamin bang mukhang pera siya?
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Happy Christmas!!