SC grants amparo bid of Pangasinan-based journalist

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted the request for issuance of writ of amparo by Pangasinan-based journalist Jaime Aquino, who was linked to the killing of Infanta, Pangasinan, mayor Ruperto Martinez on December 12, 2012.   It also asked the respondents — the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation and and Akap Bata-Caritas — to explain why Aquino's 16-year-old son was taken into government custody following the killing of Martinez. "The SC resolved to issue the writ of amparo... [and ordered] respondents to make a verified return of the writ of amparo within 72 hours from receipt of the writ," said the SC Public Information Office in a text message. In his petition, Aquino, publisher of community paper Northern Weekly, demanded that his son, who is being groomed to testify against him, be returned to him, saying the boy would not be a credible witness given his history of drug use, lying, and theft. The high court referred Aquino's case to the Court of Appeals, which was directed to hear the case on February 28 and issue a decision within 10 days after submitting it for resolution. The SC PIO clarified that the issuance of the writ of amparo does not mean the boy's custody was already being returned to the father. "The issuance of the writ only calls for the submission of a return, and not custody of the minor." "The return is an explanation or justification as to the basis for custody," it added. Aquino, in his petition, said government authorities could not force his son, Jestin, to testify against him because he has no personal knowledge or had not witnessed the crime. He also said it would be "contrary to habit of life for a son to seek imprisonment of his father even if the father is a bad father." Quoting news reports, Aquino said his son was "taken" by NBI agents to testify that Martinez's killing was plotted by his father together with Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and Pangasinan Rep. Jesus Celeste. Aquino claimed that the families of Espino and Celeste were "extremely angry" at him because they thought he was using his son to implicate them in the killing. The Espinos and the Celestes also accused Aquino of supporting Alaminos mayor Hernani Braganza, who is going up against Espino in the gubernatorial election this May. Aquino feared that Jestin and the rest of his family would become "collateral casualties of the extremely heating up political issues between the camps of Braganza and Espinos." — Mark D. Merueñas/KBK, GMA News