There were several typographical errors in today’s issue which this publisher left uncorrected due to the late arrival of the edited file.
One extraneous phrase in the headline story that was supposed to be deleted and three in the accompanying story.
Printing was already going on by the time this column was being written so we seek the understanding of our loyal readers.
In another matter, at least six stories did not make it to this issue due to lack of space: San Andres Mayor Leo Mendoza’s launching of his flagship programs, a complaint against colorum passenger vans, a police operation against a drug pusher, the results of a bike race in Caramoan, CamSur in which island cyclists competed, the entries in the Bb. Catandungan 2022 and the public auction of delinquent real properties.
These articles will appear in the Oct. 5 issue.
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On a more serious note, the management of the Tribune apologizes to the reading public, the family of the victim and the accused in the Sept. 14 headline story on the 660 counts of rape and child abuse filed against a “former OFW,” and the Regional Trial Court.
The mother of the now 17-year-old victim was forced to reach out to this writer due to several inaccuracies in the story.
One, it was the mother who was the former OFW, not the accused.
Two, the child was under the care of the mother’s sister during the five-year period in which the incidents occurred.
Three, while the prosecutors filed 660 counts of rape and acts of lasciviousness against the accused, the RTC found him guilty, by plea bargain, to one count of rape thru sexual assault and 276 counts of violation of Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610.
The Tribune based the story on verbal accounts of the incident and court ruling rendered by a law enforcement officer and an employee of the court, respectively.
A cursory check of the schedule of cases at the Hall of Justice led to this paper’s discovery of the multiple cases filed against the Virac resident whose name was in the list.
But we were unable to secure or even read a copy of the complaint.
At the Virac police station, the personnel on duty at the Women and Children’s Protection Deck (WCPD) was kind enough to read the pertinent parts of the victim’s affidavit.
When we verified the decision at the RTC Branch 43, we asked the clerk of court to read out the dispositive portion of the decision.
You see, WCPD personnel are prohibited from releasing information on complaints filed before it.
Like the prosecution office, the RTC also made it a policy not to release to the media the copy of decisions involving sex crimes and those involving minors.
But the Supreme Court circular on which the policy is based does not specifically prohibit the lower courts from releasing such decisions. Instead, the SC circular mandates the RTC to make copies in which the names of those involved are referred to using letters, say “AAA” or “BBB.”
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POLITICIANS IN HEAVEN. St. Peter was standing at the pearly gates of Heaven When a group of politicians walked up. “Hey Petey, may we come in too Heaven?” asks one jovially. St. Peter replies “Well, we have never had a group of politicians come in to heaven before, let me ask God.” He then turns around and goes to consult God. “My lord, there is a group of politicians at the pearly gates of Heaven. Should I let them in?” God thinks for a moment and says “We have never had politicians in Heaven before. Let’s see how it goes. Let them in.” St. Peter leaves God, only to come running back a few minutes later. “THEY’RE GONE!” He said. “The politicians?” “THE PEARLY GATES!!”