DOJ to Hultmans: File your appeal before 'Jesus Christ'

MANILA, Philippines — File your complaint before “Jesus Christ." This was the advice of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez to the family of Maureen Hultman and those who have any objection to the executive clemency granted by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to convicted murderer Claudio Teehankee Jr. Teehankee was convicted in 1992 of murder for the death of Maureen Hultman, then 17 years old; of homicide for the death of Roland John Chapman, 21; and of frustrated murder for the wounding of Jussi Leino, 24. But he had been locked in jail since July 24, 1991, two weeks after the sensational crime took place on July 13, 1991 at the plush Dasmariňas Village in Makati City. In an interview with the reporters on Wednesday, Gonzales was asked where those who are objecting to the release may file their appeal and he answered: "Kay Jesus Christ." He added the pardon has already “taken effect and it can’t be taken back unless there was fraud... mathematical error and misapplication of rules." In Malacañang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita dismissed the need for the government to appease the Hultmans, saying it is not necessary. "I understand that dahil syempre sila ang namatayan. Pero, (because of course they are the aggrieved. But) I don't see whether the government still has to do something to reach out to them. Parang siyempre aamuhin pa natin sila 'wag ka na magalit dahil tapos na' (It’s like we need to appeal to them not to get angry because it’s a done thing.) I don't think that is necessary," Ermita said. Gonzalez and Ermita maintained that the Hultmans were aware of Teehankee’s moves to seek clemency and that the Hultman’s “did not oppose." Gonzalez also accused the adoptive father of Maureen, Anders, of “lying" and “imagining," when he claimed that there was “corruption" involved in the release of the murderer. “He’s imagining something that does not exist and when he’s accusing me of that. Tell him he’s a liar," Gonzalez said. “He is lying because he was accusing me of agreeing to what Manuel Teehankee was asking me. Manuel Teehankee never asked me about the case; he just bade goodbye and said he’s hoping the expected commutation will happen," he added. Manuel Teehankee was the younger brother of Claudio Jr. He was a former justice undersecretary and is the current Philippine ambassador to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Both Ermita and Gonzalez also contested claims by critics that Teehankee was released because he was rich and influential. Both officials stressed that the release of Teehankee underwent proper procedures, including sending notifications to the Hultmans – a statement that was vehemently denied by the aggrieved party. According to Gonzalez, they’ve informed the Hultmans but they weren’t in the country to receive them. “Is it our duty to look for them in the four corners of the world? I don’t think so," Gonzalez said. Gonzalez maintained that the government released a notification in the papers, informing the public about such move. “There was a notice in the case of the Hultmans are early as February 2004." Gonzalez also brushed aside the claims of the Hultmans that he was indifferent that is why the clemency pushed through. “Bakit ko haharangin? Who is the secretary of justice to stop the President from exercising her clemency?" Gonzalez said. President Arroyo granted executive clemency to Teehankee in a letter dated October 2 to the Office of the National Bilibid Prisons Director. GMANews.TV*