Strunk: Charges baseless, frivolous

Baseless. Frivolous.

These were the words Rod Lauren Strunk used to describe the parricide charges filed against him in connection with the November 2001 murder of his wife Nida Blanca, asking prosecutors to junk the case which was based on mere speculations.

Speaking through his lawyers, Strunk said the joint complaint filed by the NBI and the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group had no leg to stand on, following self-confessed killer Philip Medel’s recantation on Nov. 23 last year.

In a 22-page omnibus motion, lawyers Alma Fernandez-Mallonga, Dennis Manalo and Noel Lazaro said the case "raised nothing new, and certainly offers no proof by any reasonable standard," and "stands on hollow foundation."

"There is neither rhyme nor reason in utilizing the same discredited affidavit. Absence of the recanted affidavit, (will make) the complaint against Strunk for parricide becomes baseless, if not frivolous," the motion said.

The lawyers added no less than the DOJ itself "upheld the validity of Medel’s retraction" – which was incidentally covered live by TV networks – which only meant the confession is a "non-existent affidavit.

"His recantation assumes much more powerful force than any other conceivable symbolism or formality. ‘Twas made in the most public and vehement terms captured by extensive media coverage before the unrestricted view of the whole world."

"The repudiated extra-judicial confession of Medel is hearsay against Strunk, and hence inadmissible in evidence to pin liability on Strunk. Strunk’s supposed motives for killing his wife rest entirely on suspicion," the motion added.

The only link to Strunk , they pointed out, was Medel’s alleged confession. "The rest of the so-called pieces of circumstantial evidence ring hollow, moored as they are on speculations, conjectures and guesswork."

As regards Strunk’s being lazy, irresponsible and a freeloader, the lawyers argued this could never be considered proof that he killed Blanca, 66, whose name is Dorothy Jones in real life. – Delon Porcalla and Cecille Suerte Felipe