Have faith in justice system, PAO chief tells public amid Bulacan killings

Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta on Monday urged victims of heinous crimes not to take matters into their own hands following the unexplained killings of three men linked to the Bulacan massacre case.

Interviewed on the sidelines of a media forum in Manila, Acosta asked the public to have faith in the country's criminal justice system despite the perceived slow pace of the disposition of cases.

"Sana po umasa ang ating mga kababayan na may hustisya po. Ilaban po natin ang kaso. Dalhin po natin sa hukuman ang mga suspek at bigyan po natin ng due process," she said.

Acosta said the successive killings of three of the four persons of interest in the gruesome massacre of five family members in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan last June 27 was an indication of lack of trust in the criminal justice system.

"Parang wala silang tiwala sa justice system. Nababagalan sila kaya panahon na para pabilisin. Hindi naman mako-kontrol ng gobyerno ang mga vigilanteng ito. Di naman natin alam kung nasaan sila, sino sila at kung bakit nangyari yan," said Acosta, whose office has offered legal assistance to Dexter Carlos Sr., the patriarch of the massacre victims.

"In fairness sa mga pulis hinuhuli nila ng buhay, pinalaya pa nga. Gusto ng pulis din na hulihin ng buhay at madala sila behind bars."

The body of Ronaldo Pacinos alias Inggo was found at Phase 7, North Ridge Subdivision in Barangay Santo Cristo on July 4. He sustained five stab wounds and had four of his fingers chopped off.

His body was also found with a placard that read: "Rapist, Tulak - Wag Tularan."

On July 5, Rosevelt Sorema, alias Ponga, was declared dead on arrival at a hospital after he was shot by masked gunmen inside his residence in San Jose Del Monte. Sorema was said to be a brother-in-law of the arrested suspect Carmelino "Miling" Ibañes.

Three days later, Anthony Garcia alias Tony was also found dead in San Miguel, Bulacan.

Alvin Mabesa, another person of interest, has been reported missing after he was allegedly seized by unidentified men.

Ibañes had confessed to the media that he and his two accomplices - Tony and Inggo -  killed Carlos' wife, mother-in-law and three children while under the influence of illegal drugs and alcohol. He said they also raped the two women.

But the 26-year-old construction worker later retracted his statement, saying he was tortured by the police into admitting to the deed.

Acosta downplayed Ibañes' retraction, noting that media interviews are admissible in court. —KBK/KVD, GMA News