Here is one good reason why so many Filipinos do not believe anymore that justice is being served faithfully in the Philippines.
Very recently, the Court of Appeals clears 17 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) of two counts of murder charges in connection with the Parañaque robbery shootout in 2008 that killed 16 people, including two innocent people.
The CA's Special 7th Division denied a petition that sought the reversal of an earlier order by the Parañaque regional trial court to clear the policemen of criminal liability.
In the complaint, Lilian De Vera accused the policemen of violating the PNP's rules of engagement that led to the death of her husband and 7-year old daughter.
She said her husband, Alfonso De Vera, a vacationing seaman, and daughter were on board their Isuzu Crosswind when they were intercepted by policemen inside the United Parañaque Subdivision IV in Sucat district on 5 December 2008.
Lilian said her husband and her daughter were going to fetch her in Pasay City when the policemen fired at them repeatedly, apparently mistaking the family vehicle, with license plate van XEW-327, for one of the robbers’ getaway vehicles.
When the shooting stopped, the bullet-riddled body of De Vera was found slumped near a parked passenger jeepney, where he reportedly tried to take cover.
His daughter’s body was found in the family vehicle, which had more than 80 bullet holes.
The appellate court said evidence against the accused are not strong enough to reverse the previous judgment. It was not stated why it is not strong when ballistic analysis showed that the ammunition used to shoot the car of the two victims clearly matched those owned by the authorities.
Some of the policeman involved are Chief Inspectors Lawrence Cajipe and Joel Mendoza, Inspector Gerardo Balatucan, Police Officers 3 Jolito Mamanao Jr. and Fernando Rey Gapuz, Police Officers 2 Eduardo Blanco and Edwin Santos, and Police Officer 1 Josil Rey Lucena.
Very recently, the Court of Appeals clears 17 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) of two counts of murder charges in connection with the Parañaque robbery shootout in 2008 that killed 16 people, including two innocent people.
The CA's Special 7th Division denied a petition that sought the reversal of an earlier order by the Parañaque regional trial court to clear the policemen of criminal liability.
In the complaint, Lilian De Vera accused the policemen of violating the PNP's rules of engagement that led to the death of her husband and 7-year old daughter.
She said her husband, Alfonso De Vera, a vacationing seaman, and daughter were on board their Isuzu Crosswind when they were intercepted by policemen inside the United Parañaque Subdivision IV in Sucat district on 5 December 2008.
Lilian said her husband and her daughter were going to fetch her in Pasay City when the policemen fired at them repeatedly, apparently mistaking the family vehicle, with license plate van XEW-327, for one of the robbers’ getaway vehicles.
When the shooting stopped, the bullet-riddled body of De Vera was found slumped near a parked passenger jeepney, where he reportedly tried to take cover.
His daughter’s body was found in the family vehicle, which had more than 80 bullet holes.
The appellate court said evidence against the accused are not strong enough to reverse the previous judgment. It was not stated why it is not strong when ballistic analysis showed that the ammunition used to shoot the car of the two victims clearly matched those owned by the authorities.
Some of the policeman involved are Chief Inspectors Lawrence Cajipe and Joel Mendoza, Inspector Gerardo Balatucan, Police Officers 3 Jolito Mamanao Jr. and Fernando Rey Gapuz, Police Officers 2 Eduardo Blanco and Edwin Santos, and Police Officer 1 Josil Rey Lucena.