Wysteria Blend
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Are you for death penalty? I'm NOT!Are you for the death penalty? I'm not! I most definitely do not believe that you should right a wrong with another wrong.
I've had this sort of conversation with people in the past. I've even participated in a class debate about it and my stand has always been the same. I AM AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY because it is unethical and there is always a chance that the accused is INNOCENT!!!
Why did I bring this up? I've been following the case of one Francisco Larranaga, aka Paco, who was wrongfully accused of participating in a gang rape and murder of the Chiong sisters in Cebu. Based on the testimonies of his friends, teachers, and condominium security guard, plus evidence such as pictures, logbook entries, and test papers, one can clearly see that the guy is innocent, was nowhere near Cebu during the date and time of the crime, was happily partying in a bar in Quezon City right after taking his test in a Culinary school in Katipunan, and only flew to Cebu the next afternoon where his friend picked him up to take him home. And yet our judicial system chose to undermine the alibi and believe in the lone star witness who happens to be a drug addict and former member of a satanic cult. To top it off, they put Paco on death row. Now, where's the justice there?
That was just the short of it. Other parts of the story include:
1. There are 6 other boys implicated in the case: 4 also to be executed, the other 2 given double life imprisonment because they were minors at that time.
2. There was an announcement in the Cebu police force that promotions would be made. So those policemen took it as an incentive to "solve" the case, implicate whoever the star witness told them to, and even made arrests WITHOUT a warrant of arrest. That's how the other boys got into the picture. Isn't that illegal?
3. There are 4 witnesses referred to as police assets who claim similar stories; however, there are some discrepancies. One claims to have seen a red car; the 2nd says there was also a white car; the third said the red car was a taxi but no white car; the fourth said there was only a van and a red car. So why did they all see different things?
4. When asked who the suitors of the Chiong sisters were, the mother mentioned some names... Paco's name was not one of them. However, when asked to testify in court, she claimed that Paco threatened her daughter, just before she was abducted, to leave her boyfriend and go out with him instead or else... How did she know that?
5. The lone star-witness, Rusia, confessed to being part of the gang who kidnapped the sisters, and in fact said he raped Jackie, one of the sisters. Because of this he was acquitted. Just for confessing? That hardly seems right.
6. So now, the mother of the sisters admitted to giving money to Rusia, a birthday cake, and some gifts, because she believes, eventhough he did the bad deed and even to the point of his being abusado, he will give justice to her daughters. Talk about stupidity.
7. The body of Joy, the other sister, was said to have been found. But where is the Jackie? Still missing after 7 years!
There are too many other stories included. I can't relay them all. But on that note, please spare a few seconds to join in the appeal to GMA to save Paco. All you have to do is visit http://www.es.amnesty.org/actua/larranaga_ago05/index.php and leave your name and email as a signature for the petition. To know more about the goings-on, visit http://www.framedinthephilippines.com/html/index.htm.
