Karmic justice in Napoles case

Among the biggest mistakes President Aquino has made was accepting the surrender of a woman suspected of plundering the government’s coffers of P10 billion allegedly in conspiracy with some senators and congressmen.

The President not only welcomed Janet Lim-Napoles to Malacañang like a visitor, he also escorted her to Camp Crame where Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima were waiting.

Suspicions over Napoles’ surrender would have been dispelled had the President just summoned Purisima or Director Caesar Nonnatus Rojas of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to the Palace to take custody of the much-publicized crime suspect.

The President’s claim that he wanted to assure the safety of the crime suspect while in custody only made things worse for the Chief Executive.

Doesn’t he trust the PNP, NBI or the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, which has control over Makati City Jail where Napoles was  turned over later?

* * *

Did Napoles strike a deal with the government, through the President, for her to be given VIP treatment in detention as long as she keeps her mouth shut?

The President and his “wise” advisers can’t blame the public for having nasty thoughts about the Napoles surrender drama.

Already, jokes about the surrender, are spreading in text messages,

One joke said that Napoles surrendered so she could claim the P10-million reward on her head as ordered by  the President.

Jokes made by Filipinos on burning issues serve as a release valve for  their strong emotions.

* * *

Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, was brought to Makati City Jail where her former housemaid, Cadelina Domingo, is also detained.

Domingo has been languishing at the Makati City Jail after Napoles charged her with stealing money and jewelry.

Domingo said the charges have been fabricated, claiming  she never stole anything from her former employer.

Karmic justice is being played out inside the Makati City Jail.

Karma, the law of retribution and reward, provides that what you do to others will be done unto you.

* * *

Davao del Norte Regional Trial Court Judge Ma. Susana Baua acquitted murder suspect Romulo Ullegue based on his  alibi defense.

The judge ignored the claim of two young witnesses, 13 and 10 years old, that they saw Ullegue kill their father, mother and 5-year-old sibling.

An alibi, the weakest form of defense in a court trial, is a claim that the accused was somewhere else when the crime imputed to him was committed.

A positive identification of a criminal offender, which is what the two young witnesses did when they  pointed to Ullegue as the murderer, is much stronger than an alibi.

Any lawyer well versed in criminal law will tell you that.

Judge Baua needs to go back to law school.

* * *

Recah Trinidad’s new book “Tales from My Lost River” is now available at National Bookstore and Powerbook outlets.

His top-selling “Manny Pacquiao: Pacific Storm” won the National Book Award in 2006.

* * *

I will be on vacation for two weeks starting Sept. 3. This column will not appear in those two weeks.