Cops secure QC judge handling Maguindanao massacre case

The Quezon City police have steps to secure Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, who was chosen to handle the multiple murder case against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. in connection with the November 23 massacre in Maguindanao province. Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego said in a radio interview Friday that he has deployed personnel to secure the house and sala of Reyes amid earlier claims by the judge that she does not need security for now. "As soon as the case was raffled to Reyes, I assigned five men to guard her court sala. And while I laud the judge for saying she does not need security at this time, our responsibility is to ensure her safety. We do not need to hear about a reported threat to provide security for her," San Diego said in Filipino in an interview on dzXL radio. The QCPD security is separate from the personal bodyguards that the Philippine National Police’s Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) will assign to Reyes, he said. Reyes replaced Judge Luisito Cortez in handling the murder case against Andal Jr. Cortez earlier begged off from handling the case, citing the security of his family and staff. [See: QC judge inhibits from Andal Jr. multiple murder case]

San Diego said it was better to stay one step ahead of possible threats to Reyes. He said they are studying possible enhanced security measures at the Quezon City Hall of Justice, where Reyes’ sala is located. The enhanced security measures may include added security personnel as well as K-9 units that can sniff out explosives and weapons, he said. "We will help the security personnel already there. We will place police guards at the entrance, and deploy sniffing dogs to make sure no one enters the court," he said. Lay off Cortez Meanwhile, two former Justice secretaries called on the public to lay off Cortez for inhibiting himself from the case. Several groups had blasted Cortez for his decision. Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera even suggested that he look for another job if he is easily scared. But chief presidential legal counsel and former Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez said Cortez did not violate judicial ethics when he chose to inhibit from the case. "I don’t think that is even a ground for dismissal. I don’t think that violates judicial ethics," Gonzalez said in a separate interview on dzXL radio. He said threats by some groups such as the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption to sue Cortez are "overreaction." The VACC sought Cortez’s dismissal and disbarment for his decision. [See: VACC to file charges vs judge who inhibited self from Ampatuan case] Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III, another former Justice secretary, also admitted the public has to give Cortez the "benefit of the doubt," even as he scored the judge for his lack of courage. "As a judge you have to be courageous. If you cannot handle the hazards of the job find another one. On the other hand we have to give him the benefit of the doubt. He may have his reasons, or he may know something we don’t. So it’s hard to judge him," Bello said in Filipino. - RSJ, GMANews.TV