Ghosts or Money: the Witnesses of the Chiong Sisters' Case

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As it's July and it's been raining hard, it's hard for me not to think of the Chiong Sisters case. It's because the two sisters disappeared during a rainy evening. Sure, it's already been more than 20 years. However, an injustice for one is an injustice for all. In this case, it's not just injustice for the #Chiong7, the families of the #Chiong7--but also for the Chiong family. There's really no real justice when the wrong people are convicted. 

As I watched Jacqueline Comes Home--I can't help but comment where God supposedly spoke to Thelma Jimenea-Chiong, where Mrs. Chiong went to a group of seances (which may have never happened and Mrs. Chiong stormed out of the theater, crying, during the rape scenes), and a scene where Marijoy's ghost was at the ravine at Tan-awan, Carcar. Now, it's time to look at another angle of the witnesses that came forward to incriminate Paco.

Were there ghosts or money? This would be an interesting question to ask, as I watched the video I just shared. Judge Teresita Gallanida, the one who questioned why Paco Larrañaga's photo was looking sideways, (some people call her overly advanced in her thinking), and it may have been tampered with. I wonder if Atty Naunsa Ba Ni (hopefully I wouldn't have to see her as a Regional Trial Court judge or even be in the Supreme Court of the Philippines, God forbid) even believes that the recurring dreams of the people in this video as "valid proof" that Paco is indeed guilty, and that the "infallible" Supreme Court of the Philippines made no mistake in denying the motion of reconsideration. 

Williard Redobles was a security guard in Ayala Center Cebu, at that time. Can the guard be certain it was Paco or did he see somebody else? Both the late Marijoy Jimenea Chiong and the late Jacqueline Jimenea Chiong (though some still label her as "missing" but her body may have met a fate similar to the Helle Crafts case) were last seen in Ayala at night. Can the guard really be sure it was the right person? Based on the interview here, Williard isn't even sure. Did the money make him change his mind or what? It seems to be that there was a combination of blackmail and money. If there was money, it may have come from the Office of the President during that time. Joseph Estrada was a close friend of the victims, and he probably wanted the case done and over with. Maybe, Estrada was the one who released money without thinking that people would end up lying for the money! Estrada had cases of plunder, which may also be linked with moving the Chiong Case. 

Back in the 1990s, the Centre of International Education (CIE) had an Internet cafe, known as Global Village. The Internet cafe may no longer be in Ayala Center Cebu as of recent. However, Jacqueline once worked there and she was with her supervisor, Sheila Singson. I read from some YouTube comments that Sheila is now living in Canada. Maybe, that's why I don't see her name or record from people I know who work at CIE or graduated there. Atty. Florencio Villarin, who's now in his late 80s, said that Sheila couldn't identify anyone, except the person in the cartographic sketch. However, when Sheila went to court, she immediately said she saw Paco! If they mentioned anything about ghosts--was that just for added effect or was the reward money for testifying that juicy? Imagine, committing perjury just for some money. 

The witnesses surfaced only two or three months after the case was put into court--according to Judge Teresita Galanida. As a lawyer, I believe that Judge Galanida should have had the witnesses cross-examined. Was she aware of the possible bribery or what? Remember that Mrs. Chiong promised promotions to whoever could help in her case. It's because Mrs. Chiong had the backing of the "omnipotent" force of Estrada's office at that time. Cheryl Jimenea was a grieving aunt who wanted justice for her nieces. Cheryl even shouted that Jacqueline was still missing after the late Judge Martin Ocampo gave his verdict. 

What amazes me though is that Jacqueline Comes Home didn't include these scenes. I already had unintentional laughs when Donnalyn Bartolome was acting as Marijoy's ghost. That was the scene where Marijoy's boyfriend threw flowers at the ravine. Why didn't Ysabelle "Peach" Caparras even bother to make a scene where Sheila and Williard had their dreams? Instead, Peach went for the Mrs. Chiong consulting seances to find Jacqueline's body. It's possible that the scenes were filmed, with real actresses, but they were deleted in the final cut. Maybe, Peach wanted to film the scene but couldn't find people to play as those who claimed to have been visited by ghosts. 

Right now, since I'm no lawyer, I refuse to directly challenge Atty. Naunsa Ba Ni or her husband Atty. Imbento Ug Istorya. However, it doesn't mean that I don't have the right to question them, if ever, they believe that the recurring dreams are enough proof to convict Paco. Did those who claim to see ghosts really see ghosts or were they given several lie detector tests? I can't be certain and if they weren't, something's really wrong! 

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