US forensic experts to help in Nida Blanca’s case

Forensic experts from the United States will help the Department of Justice (DOJ) in preparing evidence that will bolster the second extradition case against American Roger Lawrence Strunk, who was accused of masterminding the killing of his wife, veteran actress Nida Blanca.

At the same time, Acting DOJ Secretary Merceditas Gutierrez said two persons surfaced and volunteered to give information on the murder of Blanca. She, however, refused to elaborate saying their statements are still being evaluated by DOJ lawyers.

Gutierrez said the DOJ had to ask for assistance from the US government with respect to forensic evidence because the US magistrate court that junked the initial extradition request of the Philippine government noted this as a major concern.

"The US forensic experts will help us in the analysis and evaluation of our forensic evidence gathered by the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the Nida Blanca murder case," Gutierrez said.

She said that since the US agreed to the DOJ’s request, forensic experts might come to the country or the government will just send the evidence to the US.

On Nov. 12, 2003, US Magistrate Gregory Hollows of Sacramento, California denied the Philippines’ extradition request for Strunk for insufficient and inconsistent evidence.

The denial sparked a controversy as Blanca’s only daughter, Kaye Torres and her lawyer, former Sandiganbayan Justice Harriet Demetriou blamed the DOJ and the NBI for the prosecution’s failute to bring Strunk back to the country and face the charges against him.

Later, the parties involved agreed to cooperate in gathering evidence for the DOJ’s filing of another extradition case before a new US court.