Justice chief wants VFA body head out
FOR criticizing the government’s acquiescence to the abrupt transfer of convicted Marine Daniel Smith from the Makati City Jail to the US embassy, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez wants the head of Zosimo Paredes, executive director of the Presidential Commission on the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFACom).
"I will ask for his resignation. He's not consulting with Malacañang," Gonzalez said.
But Paredes stood by his position.
“The transfer was irregular. Only [Makati Regional Trial Court Judge Benjamin] Pozon’s court could order Smith’s transfer,” Paredes said.
Smith, who was found guilty of raping a Filipina in the Subic Bay Freeport November last year and sentenced to 40 years in jail, was moved out of the Makati jail and back to the US embassy in the dead of night on December 29, even before the Court of Appeals could decide on a petition the convict had filed, backed by the government, seeking his return to American custody.
Both the US and Philippine governments insist the VFA allows Smith to remain in American custody until his appeal of his conviction runs its course.
Pozon had earlier rejected a motion by Smith asking that he be returned to the US embassy.
Paredes said the midnight transfer of Smith, which the administration later admitted it agreed with and allowed, was tantamount to government’s taking the law into its own hands.
The VFACom, which is under the Office of the President, is the body mandated to check on the compliance of the Philippines and the US with the VFA.
By Tetch Torres - INQUIRER.net
"I will ask for his resignation. He's not consulting with Malacañang," Gonzalez said.
But Paredes stood by his position.
“The transfer was irregular. Only [Makati Regional Trial Court Judge Benjamin] Pozon’s court could order Smith’s transfer,” Paredes said.
Smith, who was found guilty of raping a Filipina in the Subic Bay Freeport November last year and sentenced to 40 years in jail, was moved out of the Makati jail and back to the US embassy in the dead of night on December 29, even before the Court of Appeals could decide on a petition the convict had filed, backed by the government, seeking his return to American custody.
Both the US and Philippine governments insist the VFA allows Smith to remain in American custody until his appeal of his conviction runs its course.
Pozon had earlier rejected a motion by Smith asking that he be returned to the US embassy.
Paredes said the midnight transfer of Smith, which the administration later admitted it agreed with and allowed, was tantamount to government’s taking the law into its own hands.
The VFACom, which is under the Office of the President, is the body mandated to check on the compliance of the Philippines and the US with the VFA.
By Tetch Torres - INQUIRER.net
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
6:33 AM
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