REMEMBER Jimmy Santiago, the bemedaled police officer who had been known for being a sharpshooter and whose exploits as a member of the then Western Police District (now Manila Police District) had been turned into a movie?
He is currently a Manila Regional Trial Court judge and has once again showed his mettle when he acquitted two persons — a man and a woman— who have stood as accused in a planned bombing attack in Manila way back in 2000.
In his 59-page decision, Judge Santiago of the MRTC Branch 3 also ordered the release of accused Alvin Kadil alias ‘Sinbad’ and Remedios Habin.
Likewise, Santiago directed the return of the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) said to be owned by Habin and which was previously confiscated following their arrest on January 5, 2020.
Santiago stated in his decision that the police failed to prove that the accused were the owners of the seized ingredients for explosives such as claymore mine and detonating cords, as well as of the confiscated grenades and guns.
Judge Santiago noted that what happened was a “fishing expedition,” where the police did not have an appropriate warrant.
He also stressed that it took five hours from placing the accused under arrest before a search was done by the SOCO in the suspects’ vehicle. The explosives ordnance division on the other hand, did its inspection three hours later of the SUV where the components for making bombs were supposedly found.
Santiago added that the search of the vehicle was not done in the presence of the arrested suspects.
The arresting officers, according to Santiago, also admitted that accused Remedios Habin was not included in their case operation (Coplan Pentos).
“They also did not present their COPLAN Pentos to prove the connection or membership of the other accused in the BIFF,” he said.
Judge Santiago’s decision came amid the controversy stirred by the decision handed down by another Manila Regional Trial Court Judge, Marlo Magdoza-Malagar, junking the petition of the Department of Justice which declared as a terrorist group the CPP-NPA.
A top cop during his colorful days in the law enforcement, Judge Santiago knows police work inside out, having handled various sensitive posts then.
If only for this, we know that his decision is definitely anchored on an infallible basis.
I hope no one will make the mistake of criticizing Judge Santiago the way Judge Malagar’s decision got attacked. Such efforts will be futile.
Also, may the decision of Judge Santiago serve a valuable lesson to the members of the police force to never put their badges and organization to shame.
***
Joke (from Maria Hernandez of Ilocos Norte)
BF: Gusto ko po sanang maging asawa ang anak n’yo
Tatay ng GF: Bakit, kaya mo bang buhayin ang anak ko?
BF: Bakit po, patay na po ba siya?
*** DIRECT HIT entertains comments, suggestions or complaints. Please have them emailed to [email protected] or text 0917-3132168.
Sharpshooter’ judge Jimmy Santiago clears ‘bombers’
