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A 21-year old injustice

“The best defense is letting the world know what really happened.” At this time, people have been well-acquainted with social media and the sense of flexibly expressing their thoughts. Everyone is empowered; everyone sees the gray phase of the picture. But up to now, some cases were reality is twisted remains unseen, just like the 1997 Rape Slay Case of the Chiong Sisters. Through documentaries here and there, we have substantiated how our justice system can be easily manipulated by those who have the means and those that are in power. As the public sees the difference on how a case is interpret on the documentary films Jacqueline Comes Home and Give Up Tomorrow, two sides of the story arise, and people are investigating further hand in hand. Francisco “Paco” Juan Larrañaga, a half-Spanish culinary student of the Culinary Center for the Arts (CCA) along with 6 other men, has spent 21 unjust years in prison for a crime that the Chiongs and the civilian-like police officers with expired licenses speculated, regarding the disappearance of Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong on a rainy night in July 1997 at Carcar, Cebu. In the gunk of conspiracy, it seems that the law is already against Paco and the 6 other men from the very start. The 30+ witnesses composed of the staff and students from CCA testifying that Paco was in Manila at the day of the crime were denied, even if photos were provided. Also, Paco’s team wasn’t allowed to examine the body the police insisted to be Marijoy’s, and no face of the victim was ever presented. Then, Paco was denied of having to testify on things regardless of strong urges. A little later, the court judge was found dead on his hotel room at the Waterfront Hotel, with a .25 caliber pistol, slashes on his wrists and contusions on his chest. Unhindered by many threats, Judge Ocampo is obviously pressured as he was criticized on giving the suspects a life sentence instead of the death penalty. This verdict outraged the Chiongs. The burden of proof was obviously more on the defense and not the prosecution. The inbred rights of the suspects were suppressed. 10 months later, David Rusia gatecrashes the picture. His statements showing accuracy to the murder kidnap, and rape that happened catapulted him into a star witness, with the court giving him chock-full credence despite of his concession that he took part in the incident. This gets us to Section 9, Rule 119 of the Rules of Court which states, “One can only be a state witness if he/she hasn’t been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude.“ Yet, this hole in the case was left taken for granted. Quite perplexing, isn’t it? Inherently, instead of them being innocent until proven guilty, they were guilty until proven of innocence. Rather than administering proof beyond reasonable doubt, they were given way beyond reasonably doubtful proof. Embroiled in a David and Goliath battle, we can also see that Larrañaga only knew 2 men from the 6 others who got arrested with him. We can also question why the police didn’t go as far as getting a DNA sample from Larrañaga, when the fingerprint analysis was the evidence that proved the corpse was Marijoy’s. It is also appalling to think of how Paco could be present in Manila, while he was also allegedly present in Cebu, doing the kidnapping. The police didn’t even find plane tickets, let alone check passenger logs from the aviation authority. Though plane tickets are thrown once used, isn’t it leverage against the defense once they make use of it? But why didn’t they bustle to do so? On the other hand, Florencio Villarin, the NBI regional director that time, claimed that Larrañaga’s name was not on the list they got from a tip; but then Supt. Labra (Chief of the Cebu Intelligence and Investigation Branch (CIIB) was "in a hurry” that time and immediately rounded up the Chiong seven. It then later revealed that the police officers involved in the case got promoted once the case settled. Following a meeting between Erap (which was President that time), with the Chiongs. The evidences are there, the reality is obvious, yet through money and power, an injustice is pushed through. Unless concrete evidence is presented, the Chiong seven remains innocent. Paco now remains imprisoned with a crime he never did, only to be free from parole if he claims guilt— which he chooses not to do. He’d rather be behind bars, than taint his name with blood and shame. As modern-day journalists, we have the tools and the capacity to be Paco’s hands. “…I have no voice; I need you to be my voice. My hands are shackled, I need you to be my hands.” let us not make a fool of ourselves, for justice should be served. As for Paco, a 21 year old injustice won’t hurt, as long as your heart remains pure.

Photo by The Philippine Star

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