DOJ erred on rape-slay convict's transfer - Miriam

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Tuesday said the Department of Justice (DOJ) erred in handling the controversial transfer of rape-slay convict Juan Francisco "Paco" Larrañaga to Spain. Santiago, chairman of the Senate committee on foreign affairs, said the DOJ should have conducted a public hearing first so that those who were not in favor of the transfer would have been given a chance to air their opposition. “I think the only error made here was there should have been a public hearing of the petition to transfer. The DOJ just thought it was automatic as long as they comply with the treaty but due process requires that you must always hear the other party," she told reporters. She was referring to the RP-Spain Transfer of Sentenced Person Agreement, which the Senate approved in 2007. The DOJ approved the transfer of Larrañaga to a penal facility in Spain to serve the remainder of his life sentence for the rape and murder of sisters Jacqueline and Marijoy Chiong in Cebu in 1997. Santiago said after the hearing, the DOJ could have made the proper decision or recommendation to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who has received flak in connection with Larrañaga's impending transfer. Larrañaga is a scion of Cebu’s Osmeña clan and a citizen of Spain by virtue of his father’s citizenship. Thelma Chiong, the mother of the victims, said she was shocked over the DOJ’s sudden approval of the transfer of Larrañaga, adding that she was not even informed about it. Santiago said since the DOJ is the administering state, she recommends that it issues implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the treaty, set the petition for transfer for public hearing and make it necessary and compulsory for the family affected in the Philippines to be notified and to file an opposition to the motion. - GMANews.TV