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Panel wraps up probe with apology from 'Alabang Boys'


MANILA, Philippines - "Sorry for the pain and anguish." This was the message of detained drug suspects Richard Brodett, Joseph Tecson, and Jorge Joseph – the so-called Alabang Boys – to their parents at the conclusion of the investigation by the fact-finding panel formed to probe the alleged bribery of Justice prosecutors handling the case. The apologies were contained in a statement read by Felisberto Verano Jr., counsel of two of the accused. The statement was signed by the three suspects. "The respondents have asked me to relay to their parents their apologies for giving them so much pain and anguish over the incident within which they were involved," Verano said. Verano said his clients had already suffered during their five-month incarceration at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) since their arrest last Sept. 20 in a buy-bust operation. "But what has caused them much consternation is to see their beloved mothers cry on so many occasion and to feel the sadness of their dear fathers," the statement said. The three-man panel concluded its 10-day investigation Wednesday with a request from Verano to "do what is legally right and not what the political powers dictate." The lawyer expressed confidence that the result of the investigation would finally shed light on the issue and perhaps vindicate the "Alabang Boys." "Perhaps, it is here that we finally get that elusive concept commonly known as justice. We are confident that after all that has been said and done, justice will be served," the statement read. Verano further said it would be "critical" for the panel to define if any violations were committed against the suspects. "For if this is not done, military minds will crush us until democracy no longer exists," he said. Verano also lashed back at the critics who prejudged his clients, saying common sense was not applicable to the law. "Common sense has no bearing with our laws… to those who say without any regard to a person’s constitutional rights that common sense dictates that they are guilty simply because drugs were found on them, then we… might as well do away with inquest, preliminary investigation and even the courts," he said. Verano also reminded critics that laws are written codes which people need to abide by. "The law may be hard but it is the law," he said. NEXT:10-day inquiry 10-day inquiry The panel – composed of retired Supreme Court Justice Carolina Griño Aquino, retired Sandiganbayan Justice Raoul Victorino, and San Beda Law School Dean Fr. Ranhilio Aquino – wrapped up its probe after 10 days of marathon hearings. The special investigating body said it might submit to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo its findings and recommendations on the supposed bribery of Justice prosecutors within 10 days. The panel also expressed hope that the DOJ and anti-drug enforcers would be able to cooperate in their fight against illegal drugs. Conflict broke out between the DOJ and the PDEA after the latter alleged that state prosecutors had been bribed into recommending the release of the three suspects, who are all from affluent families. The embattled fiscals – state prosecutor John Resado, senior state prosecutor Phillip Kimpo, and chief state prosecutor Jovencito Zuño – have since denied taking bribes. At the conclusion of the hearing, the panel likewise thanked the three drug suspects, the PDEA, the Office of the Solicitor General, and several other witnesses for their participation in the inquiry. Fr. Aquino thanked President Arroyo for the trust she bestowed on the panelists. NEXT: 'Starsky' 'Starsky' At the last day of the inquiry, PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon testified that it was Marissa Brodett – aunt of Richard – who informed them of the supposed bribery of DOJ prosecutors in October 2008. Carreon said Marissa initially identified herself as "Starsky," apparently getting the code name from "Starsky and Hutch," a 70s television series about two undercover cops. Marissa is the wife of Dave Brodett, brother of Richard’s father, Richard Sr. According to Carreon, "Starsky" started calling and texting him sometime in October, a few weeks following the arrest of the suspects. He said that the caller had refused to identify herself, and that he himself was not sure if he was talking to a male or female informant because the voice was husky." Carreon said that "Starsky" informed him that the case of the “Alabang Boys" was being "fixed" at the DOJ, and that she learned that the Brodett family was taking steps to have the case dropped, and that someone in the family was already talking to DOJ and PDEA officials. He said the caller also asked him if PDEA had anything to do with the supposed dropping of the case, but he said he assured her that no such "fixing" would be made to release the suspects. Carreon, however, said he could not verify Marissa’s disclosure because "it was beyond his mandate" as chief of PDEA’s Public Information Office. A few days before the DOJ resolution recommending the dismissal of the drug case came out, Carreon said "Starsky" finally revealed herself as Marissa. Asked why he did not verify Marissa’s allegations, Carreon told the panel: “It was beyond the jurisdiction of my office so I did not follow up that information. I merely reassured her that no such thing will be done because I believe that there is a presumption of regularity on the part of the PDEA and the DOJ. Carreon also noted said that Marissa appeared to be against the release of the suspects. "She wanted the boys detained and the case filed. She had three children, two of them exposed to drugs," Carreon told the panel. The fact-finding body was not able to grill Marissa, who was not present during the hearing. NEXT: No proof No proof Interviewed after the hearing, Verano said Marissa did not want to testify because she had no proof to nail his clients. "Obviously, she has nothing to show. That’s why she’s scared to come out, you know, on the witness stand. It’s easy to make a mistake especially when you’re not telling the truth," Verano said. Also during the hearing, the fact-finding body also tackled the report of Ayala Alabang Village’s security agency on the arrest of Brodett and Joseph. The panel found it suspicious that the report was "too detailed." Part of Bulldog security agency’s report noted such details as "one pack in 60 capsules of suspected >Ecstasy (Motorola type), eight packs of shabu, and several packs of suspected Ecstasy in three big plastic bags (Motorola type)." - with Carlo Lorenzo, GMANews.TV
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