GMA gives moral support to kidnap victim

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — Breakfast and moral support. President Arroyo arrived here early yesterday morning to lend moral support to kidnap-for-ransom victim Jackie Rowena Tiu.

Mrs. Arroyo shared breakfast with Tiu, 29, and her relatives at the family hardware store before Tiu took the witness stand to identify her kidnappers.

Tiu pointed to Shi Chun Qi, alias Jacky Sy Ocampo; Zhang Xi Wang, alias Michael Zhang; Xu You Kwang, alias Tony Co and Johnny Chua Co; Shi Jian Hui, alias Jacky King Sy; Lim Jiang Feng, alias Jason Lim; Wu Chang; and Zhang Du, alias Wilson Zhang as the "Fookien-speaking" gangmen who kidnapped her on Sept. 27, 2001.

The kidnappers had demanded $2 million for Tiu’s freedom. She was released eight days after her father paid P10 million.

Presiding Judge Antonio Carbonell of the Regional Trial Court of San Fernando City said he would not allow any postponement of the trial unless justified.

Hearings will be held twice a month upon the request of the prosecution and defense counsels, he added. Carbonell set the next hearing for Sept. 6.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said Mrs. Arroyo wanted to attend the trial but he was able to dissuade her by warning that her presence in court could be misinterpreted.

Mrs. Arroyo told reporters her presence at the trial might be misconstrued as interference with the judicial process or trying to pressure the judge.

"Secretary Perez, assisted by (Chief State) Prosecutor (Jovencito) Zuño, will be there to give moral support, but I will not enter the court because I do not wish to be misunderstood as interfering with the judicial process," she said.

"Nevertheless, I must lend my voice to the multitude of Filipinos who cry out for equal and impartial justice. I must extend my morale support to the kidnap victim, Jackie Tiu. Jackie is an example of courage. She deserves the support of everybody. She deserves the support of the pillars of our criminal justice system."

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. told Mrs. Arroyo that all the suspects, except for Zhang who was granted bail, are in jail in Baung, La Union.

"I have instructed the (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) to make sure that the accused will not be able to escape," he said.

Mrs. Arroyo said the Department of Justice is investigating San Fernando City First Assistant Prosecutor Oscar Corpuz, who had downgraded the charges against suspect Zhang from principal to accessory in the kidnap-for-ransom.

"And I’m happy that while on one hand, we have those erring prosecutors and judges that we are taking action against, there are also very good prosecutors like the gentlemen who are here with us today," she said.

"They are handling the plunder case (against ousted President Joseph Estrada) as well as (former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Nur) Misuari’s rebellion case. So in other words, we have Team A with us."

Mrs. Arroyo commended Tiu for pursuing the criminal case against the suspects.

"And we are very grateful that we have good citizens like Jackie who is willing to recount her ordeal over and over again in order to bring the criminals to justice," she said, adding that Jackie is a model that other kidnap victims will hopefully emulate.

Mrs. Arroyo said her administration’s crusade for law and order is "gaining ground" because of her visits to various law enforcement agencies these past few weeks to present suspected drug lords, kidnappers, tax evaders, smugglers, and grafters to the media.

"This has paid off not only in terms of solid outpouring of public support," she said. "It has paid off in more crimes being reported and more arrests being made. Public vigilance is being heightened."

Mrs. Arroyo announced that earlier this week a member of a major kidnap-for-ransom gang, prompted by the government’s stepped up campaign against crime, surrendered to law enforcement authorities and is currently being interrogated by police.

Three other members of separate kidnap gangs are reportedly also sending surrender feelers.

She also urged citizens to help the government by utilizing the 117 anti-crime hotline, saying that "many cases (have been) solved because of 117."

Also with Mrs. Arroyo were Lina, Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., and Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza. – With Marichu Villanueva, Doreen Yu