A Father’s Plea

(Blogger’s note: What follows is the content of a letter dated June 25, 2014, addressed to Atty. Leila De Lima, secretary of the Department of Justice. In the interest of full disclosure, the victim named in the letter is my second cousin. His mother and my father are first cousins. I had no part in the creation of this letter, and I retyped the text as it exactly appears in the printed form.)

Dear Madame:

I am writing this letter with the hope that I will be accorded with ultimate justice to the death of my son RICO L. BIBANCO, who suffered torture acts and was summarily executed in his cell after being arrested by a team of policemen from the Municipality of Senator Ninoy Aquino, Province of Sultan Kudarat last October 30, 2013. The incident was investigated by NBI authorities of Region XII based in Koronadal City and has submitted their corresponding findings with conclusion that the victim has been intentionally killed based on autopsy report by the NBI who examined and conducted laboratory test to the dead body of the victim.

The case was already filed in the prosecutor’s office of the Province of Sultan Kudarat and there was no immediate action because all of the suspects who are active policemen presently stationed in the Municipality of Senator Ninoy Aquino, Province of Sultan Kudarat are using delaying tactics to the case and there could be a hidden negotiation for them not to be charged in court.

It is amazing to think that until now the filing of corresponding charges or cases against those involved policemen have not yet been made by the court who has jurisdiction to it and we are now absolutely losing our hope considering the long period of time when the incident happened last year.

In view of the foregoing premise, may I respectfully request for legal assistance from your good office to investigate the case and to charge those involved policemen for the interest of social justice.

Moreover, please allow me to say that I have spent a lot of money and using a lot of efforts believing that I can get a fair justice from the government but there seems to be a lapses [sic] on the part of the court by not speeding the filling [sic] of the case against those involved policemen.

Enclosed herewith are pertinent documents relative to the case.

Praying your favorable action on the matter.

Truly yours,

VIRGELIO S. BIBANCO
Father of the victim

 The lower half of the letter, with the sender’s signature