Inhibition plea rejected before it was filed

Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude. ALLAN MACATUNO / INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—How could there be a decision when we haven’t filed a formal request?

A puzzled Harry Roque said this on Thursday in response to reports that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had rejected moves to disqualify Olongapo City Prosecutor Emelie Fe de los Santos from the case involving the killing of transgender woman Jennifer Laude.

“I am now concerned about procedures in the DOJ, because I have confirmed that in fact, [Prosecutor General] Claro Arellano denied a request that we haven’t filed,” Roque said in an interview yesterday.

“Where will we get the confidence that we will be granted a fair hearing when we were already denied?,” he said on the sidelines of a conference on judicial integrity and accountability in Makati City yesterday.

Roque had publicly expressed his intent to seek De los Santos’ removal from the prosecution panel, citing her alleged bias in handling the case. Arellano, in a text message to reporters, said on Wednesday that “there is no basis for inhibition” as the Laude camp’s “claim of bias is mere allegation.”

“I’m very concerned about the sense of fairness [at the DOJ]. There is already a decision when we haven’t filed yet,” Roque said.

The lawyer reiterated his allegations of bias against Delos Santos in the latter’s handling of the preliminary investigation against United States Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, the primary suspect in Laude’s Oct. 11 killing in Olongapo City.

“She’s been antagonistic to us, and you saw that on TV,” said Roque, referring to the Olongapo hearings broadcast live.