Two legal minds who seem ignorant of the law

PARAÑAQUE Regional Trial Court Judge Noemi Balitaan continues to hear the car theft case filed against Dr. Elizabeth de Guia-Godino by her husband, William, a multimillionaire businessman.

This, despite a resolution by the Department of Justice reversing a resolution of the Parañaque City prosecutor’s office.

The Parañaque prosecutor who filed the car theft case in court against the doctora made an about-face after this columnist brought the case to the attention of Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.

I asked Arellano: How could a husband file a criminal case against his wife for supposedly stealing his car when it is conjugal property?

But Balitaan has ignored the second resolution of the Parañaque prosecutor dismissing the case.

Because of the judge’s obvious bias in favor of Mr. Godino, I am entertaining a suspicion—but I’d rather keep it to myself.

I advise Dr. Godino to file an administrative case against Judge Balitaan for gross abuse of discretion.

The case can be filed in the office of Supreme Court Administrator Midas Marquez.

* * *

Every lawyer-friend I’ve consulted on the Godino vs Godino situation laughs at Balitaan for holding on to the car theft case.

The lawyers also laugh at Prosecutor Amerhassan Paudac who filed the case in Balitaan’s court.

Both Balitaan and Paudac should be dismissed from their positions, even disbarred or banned from the practice of the law profession.

The law schools where the two graduated from should also be exposed for producing alumni like them.

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Dr. Carolyn Butler, a pediatrician at Makati Medical Center, must have a heart of stone.

For why would she ignore the appeal of a close relative of 50-year-old Christine Dee, a person with disability (PWD), for her continued stay in Butler’s condominium?

I’ve also made a personal appeal to Butler in behalf of Christine, who’s mentally challenged and has a caregiver, for her to be allowed to stay in her apartment.

Christine’s mother, Regina, signed the lease contract for the condo unit in Urdaneta Apartments Condominium at 6735 Ayala Ave., Makati City.

But Regina passed away on Nov. 3, 2013, and so could no longer renew the lease contract which is about to expire.

Christine’s brother, Derek, a former movie actor, has offered to replace his mother as signatory to the renewal of the lease contract.

But Butler insists Christine must leave the condo unit she has been occupying for two years as there are others on the “waiting list.”

Butler’s reason for driving out Christine is irrational as she is a well-behaved tenant and does not bother anyone.

Displacing Christine might worsen her condition as she tends a small garden on the condo’s veranda as part of her therapy.

For the second time, this column appeals to Butler’s compassion; that is, if she has any.

For the record, I’m in no way related to Christine.

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Last year, on the 111th anniversary of the Philippine Navy, six multipurpose attack craft (MPAC) arrived at the Navy headquarters.

Each of the fast craft cost the government P90 million.

One year after they were delivered, most of the MPACs are now out of service.

About two or three of them are undergoing major repairs at the Colorado Shipyard in Cebu province.

The rest are reportedly mothballed.

This piece of information is considered “top secret” at the Philippine Navy.

Watch for details next week.