Punishing a crusader

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is becoming an enigma, a riddle, nowadays.

You can’t read what’s on her mind.

De Lima says transcripts of tapes from the Bureau of Immigration did not show that Hubert Webb, principal accused in the Vizconde massacre, left the country.

But the justice secretary says the investigation found no new evidence that put the son of former Sen. Freddie Webb or any of his co-accused at the scene of the crime.

She says Hubert Webb didn’t leave the country, but, on the other hand, she says there is no proof that he and his co-accused took part in the Vizconde massacre.

Which is which, Ma’am?

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If there is no new evidence that points to Webb et al.’s involvement in the massacre, why did she come out with the news that Webb was in the country at the time of the Vizconde massacre on June 30, 1991?

If there are new witnesses, how come they didn’t come out during the country’s “trial of the (20th) century?”

Why are the identities of the witnesses being kept secret?

* * *

If the transcripts of the tapes at the Bureau of Immigration did not show that Webb left the country, so what?

Why didn’t the investigators check with the US immigration bureau if Webb arrived in America in March 1991 as he claimed?

US immigration is sure to have the list of all arriving passengers at the Los Angeles City International Airport in March 1991.

Such a simple act of looking into US immigration records would have precluded De Lima’s grandstanding last Tuesday.

* * *

Margarita Juico, chairperson of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, has accused President Gloria of giving luxury vehicles to some Catholic bishops.

But can you blame Ms. Gloria?

The ex-president’s fear of going to hell with husband Mike Arroyo is so intense she had to buy a place in heaven from the bishops.

* * *

Director Owen de Luna, legal affairs service chief of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), has been relieved after he called for reforms within the police body.

Napolcom controls and administers the Philippine National Police (PNP).

During a news conference, De Luna denounced the involvement or inaction of the PNP on such crimes as drug trafficking, illegal gambling, prostitution, human trafficking and kidnapping.

Napolcom vice chairman Ed Escueta issued De Luna’s relief order.

But why punish someone who is a crusader?