Open letter to President Noynoy

Dear President Noynoy,

May we first express our elation in hearing your inaugural declaration that, “There can be no reconciliation without justice!”

As the father of two young men senselessly murdered in the prime of their lives, His Excellency’s pronouncement makes our family hopeful in our quest for justice.

The 2nd Division of the Supreme Court has given due course to our petition seeking to annul the Court of Appeals decision reversing the Regional Trial Court conviction of now San Jose, Occidental Mindoro Mayor Jose Villarosa (husband of former Lakas Kampi Party-Chair Congresswoman Amelita Villarosa).

In effect the 2nd Division of the Supreme Court is carefully evaluating our petition and may even declare that Court of Appeals Justice Noel Tijam committed grave abuse of discretion in acquitting Mayor Jose Villarosa.

It is in this light that we appeal to the President to disregard Justice Tijam’s nomination by the JBC to the lone vacancy in the Supreme Court and appoint from the five other names submitted.

During the pendency of our case before Justice Tijam, we sought his inhibition as Mayor Villarosa had been going out of the Bilibid prisons without securing any consent from the Court of Appeals and after Mayor Villarosa had been publicly announcing that the Court of Appeals would soon reverse his conviction. However, Justice Tijam refused to inhibit himself and even declared the undersigned in contempt. Please find enclosed a copy of our objection under oath to the nomination of Justice Tijam filed with the Judicial and Bar Council last September 1, 2009.

Considering that this will be the President’s first appointment to the Supreme Court we hope and pray that it will be someone of unblemished integrity like Dean Raul Pangalangan of the University of the Philippines or COMELEC Commissioner Rene Sarmiento.

We will continue to pray for Your Excellency’s success. Thank you very much.

Ricardo V. Quintos