Air force chopper crash Lawyers withdraw  support for three  complainants

The lawyers assisting the families of the victims of the helicopter crash in Lapu-Lapu City have withdrawn as counsels for three of the 11 complainants in the criminal and administrative cases against air force officials and the pilot of the ill-fated aircraft.

Lawyers Rameses Villagonzalo and Alex Tolentino yesterday filed their respective manifestations before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Military and the Judge Advocate Generals Office withdrawing their appearances as counsels for siblings Michelle and Cheryl Jumao-as and Erika Nagao after the three took their oaths as members of the Philippine Air Force.

Villagonzalo said, they will continue to represent the rest of the complainants Panfilo Garcia Jr., Cecil Ledesma, Marina Ginoo, Roque Palalay Jr., Casimera Yamson, Noel Ymbong and spouses Rodrigo and Beatriz Bejerano.

All 11 complainants earlier filed charges against helicopter pilot Capt. Allan Villagarcia, and crewmember Johnny Reyes before the Ombudsman for the crash that killed seven civilians and another two crewmen.

A separate complaint for violation of the articles of war was also lodged with JAGO against B/Gen Arthur Mancenido, commanding officer of the 205th helicopter wing, Maj. Gen. Pedro Insierto of the Tactical Operations Center and Lt. Gen. Horacio Tolentino.

The complainants claimed that the recklessness of the respondents resulted to the deaths of their loved ones. 

Villagonzalo clarified the withdrawal is to avoid conflict of interest, which is a violation of the code of ethics in the legal profession.  He also said this does not mean the cases against Villagarcia, Reyes and the air force officials before the military tribunal are also withdrawn.

Villagonzalo said that even if the enlistment of the Jumao-as siblings and Nagao is irregular because they did not undergo the required training they will no longer question it.

“It was a fraudulent enlistment,” he said.  — Fred P. Languido/BRP