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DOJ pledges Impartiality in the Kuratong Baleleng Case
October 21, 2003
Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong assured yesterday of an impartial prosecution of the accused involved in the alleged cold-blood murder of members of the Kuratong Baleleng group in 1995.
Datumanong made the assurance after the release by the Supreme Court of its decision calling for the reopening of the suspected rubout case and ordering for the immediate reraffle of the case among the branches of Quezon City RTC designated for heinous crimes.
He said, "the DOJ is ready and prepared to prosecute the case as it is ready to prosecute all other cases handled by the Department."
Noting that Sen. Panfilo Lacson is primary involved in the SC's decision, he emphasized "the DOJ will handle this case in the same way it used to do against other persons in other cases.
Immediately, he created a team of government prosecutors, to be headed by CSP Jovencito Zuno and QC Prosecutor Claro Arellano with DOJ State Prosecutors Peter Ong, Olivia Non, Ruben Zacarias, Anthony Fadullon and three other QC prosecutors to handle the prosecution.
Datumanong added that some private prosecutors-particularly Attys. Arnold Sanidad, Efren Moncupa and Chito Marinas - have signified initiatives to join government prosecutors in the prosecution of former and active members of the defunct Pres. Anti-Crime Commission created during the term of former President Joseph Estrada to go after hardened members of crime syndicates.
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