De Lima vows to take 1st step for ‘Abadilla 5’ - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

De Lima vows to take 1st step for ‘Abadilla 5’ - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos


By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:55:00 04/13/2011

Filed Under: Crime and Law and Justice

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has "promised" to endorse an appeal for clemency from the five men convicted of the murder of Marcos intelligence officer Rolando Abadilla, opening the door to a pardon from President Benigno Aquino III, activist priest Fr. Robert Reyes said Tuesday.

‘Abadilla 5’ now seek pardon - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

‘Abadilla 5’ now seek pardon - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

‘OUR ONLY HOPE’
‘Abadilla 5’ now seek pardon


Philippine Daily Inquirer
Source: Inquirer.net

Filed Under: Crime and Law and Justice

File photo source: AHRC

MANILA, Philippines—They are no longer interested in seeking justice, in being declared innocent of a decade-old crime they claim they did not commit.

The five men convicted of the murder of the Marcos-era intelligence officer Rolando Abadilla just want their freedom, by way of a presidential pardon.

Case analysis: Supreme Court's rulings on Vizconde and Abadilla cases are contradictory - AHRC

Augusto Santos (AHRC)

Cesar Fortuna (AHRC)

Joel de Jesus (AHRC)

Leonido Lumanog (AHRC)

Rameses de Jesus (AHRC)

(In the light of the latest update about the Abadilla 5 case we are sharing with you this article below of AHRC, posted in www.article2.org. Please follow the link for the original post.CAT ALERT!)


Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong
Source: http://www.article2.org/mainfile.php/1001/395/

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to draw the attention of the Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines to its recent decision on two well-known cases tried in the lower courts; the conviction in the Vizconde Massacre case was overturned while that of the Abadilla murder case was affirmed. The SC rendered its judgment on the Abadilla case on September 7 and on the Vizconde case on December 14 of this year [2010].

Revisiting credibility of police witness - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Revisiting credibility of police witness - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

The five allegedly innocent men accused of murdering the notorious Colonel Rolando Abadilla. (Photo: Philippine Daily Inquirer) source http://www.hrsolidarity.net

RELYING on the lone testimony of an eyewitness, the Supreme Court, in its decision of Sept. 7, 2010, affirmed the conviction of Senior Police Officer 2 Cesar Fortuna, Rameses de Jesus, Lenido Lumanog, Joel de Jesus and Augusto Santos – known as the Abadilla 5 – for the June 13, 1996 ambush-slay of Colonel Rolando Abadilla, a Marcos henchman.

In contrast, in the Vizconde murders, the Supreme Court disregarded the testimonies of four eyewitnesses in favor of Hubert Webb’s alibi.

Two cases. Different results.

The Abadilla 5 bring to fore a question long explored by experts in human behavior: Is eyewitness testimony or identification reliable?

(to read the whole article please follow thw link http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/talkofthetown/view/20110122-315990/Revisiting-credibility-of-police-witness)