Lawyer wants hold departure order issued vs Teehankee

MANILA, Philippines - The lawyer of the victims of Claudio Teehankee Jr asked Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to issue a hold departure order against the convicted killer. In a letter dated October 23, lawyer Ernesto Francisco said he was requesting the hold departure order as “precautionary measure" to prevent Teehankee from leaving the country while the Supreme Court decides on a petition to nullify the convicted killer’s release last October 2. Francisco said a hold departure order can help ensure that “[Teehankee] can easily be taken into custody and recommitted to prison." Francisco is the lawyer of Roland Chapman, Jussi Leino, and Maureen Hultman, who were assaulted in 1991 by Teehankee, son of the late former Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee Sr. Chapman and Hultman died in the attack, and led to Teehankee's conviction in 1995. In his Supreme Court petition, Francisco said the Board of Pardons and Parole’s recommendation for commutation and the eventual executive clemency should both be taken back since Teehankee has not yet settled his civil liabilities with the families of Chapman and Leino. In response, the High Court ordered last Tuesday the government to explain the controversial release of Teehankee and to submit its comment within 10 days from notice. Francisco also stressed that he addressed the letter to the Office of the Executive Secretary because under the Department of Justice Circular No. 17, a hold departure order may be issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo “in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health." “Needless to state, this will also afford the Office of the President the opportunity to rectify its mistake," Francisco said. Under the same DOJ circular, Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez may also issue a similar hold departure order. However, Francisco said he opted not to request one from Gonzalez because it was the latter who chairs the Board of Pardon and Paroles, which recommended the granting of the executive clemency in the first place. Besides, Francisco said that Gonzalez’s earlier statements in connection to Teehankee’s release manifested the Justice chief’s bias. “Considering his public pronouncement showing utmost bias against the family of one of the victims… It is highly doubtful he will consider a similar request," Francisco said. Francisco also said he did not bother to ask for a hold departure from the Regional Trial Courts because Teehankee’s criminal cases have long been terminated. - Mark Merueñas, Carlo Lorenzo, GMANews.TV