Pasay court junks criminal raps vs. US missionary ‘tanim bala’ victim

The Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 119 dismissed the criminal case filed against “tanim bala” victim Lane Michael White, the 20 year old American missionary who was arrested and charged last September.

Court’s ruling came after the NBI filed a criminal case against personnel from the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) and the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG).

The Pasay Court has granted the motion for judicial determination of probable cause filed by White’s camp.

Judicial determination of probable cause is made by the judge to find out whether a warrant of arrest should be issued against the accused. Also, the Rules on Criminal Procedure also allow a court to immediately dismiss a case if the evidence on record fails to establish probable cause.

White was arrested last September after ammunition was found in his luggage while on his way to Palawan with his family.

White’s family has also submitted to the court a video footage of the incident showing that White’s luggage went through the X-ray machine more than five times before the bullet was seen on screen.