‘I’m the lawyer in Tulfo column’s blind item’
ROXAS CITY – A Capizeño lawyer has confirmed that he was the one being alluded to in the blind item in Ramon Tulfo’s “On Target” column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer dated July 29, 2010.
Atty. Nelson Borja, a native of Panay, Capiz, admitted he was the defense lawyer of Johnny Cruz (not his real name) who was falsely accused of rape by a 15-year-old girl before the Parañaque Prosecutor’s office.
In his column , Tulfo asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to investigate a Parañaque Assistant Prosecutor for accepting a “manufactured” rape case against a wealthy businessman. Excerpts from Tulfo’s column read as follows:
‘A frame-up in Paranaque?’
“Justice Secretary Leila de Lima should investigate a Parañaque assistant prosecutor for accepting a “manufactured” rape case against a wealthy businessman.
Johnny Cruz (not his real name) was sent a subpoena by the prosecutor on a rape complaint allegedly filed against the businessman by a 15-year-old girl and her mother.
Cruz was lucky enough to hire the services of a lawyer who used to be an investigator at the defunct Metropolitan Command before hanging out his shingle.
Instead of filing a counter-affidavit on behalf of his client, the lawyer checked the police report and a medical certificate supposedly issued by the Parañaque Community Hospital.
And you know what?
The names of two police officers, who supposedly investigated the rape complaint, were not in the list of police personnel in the city.
Not only that.
The Parañaque Community Hospital never issued a medico-legal report that the girl was raped.
The prosecutor has a lot of explaining to do.”
A known criminal lawyer based in Quezon City, Borja said that his military background, being a former intelligence officer of the defunct PC Metrocom, has helped him a lot on “how to do away with a rotting system.”
The lawyer did not identify the name of the assistant prosecutor but he said that whatever is the improper motive of those who orchestrated the filing of fictitious charges remains to be seen.
For his client, it is enough that the perceived worst scenario of being charged falsely with a non-bailable offense is over and was timely prevented, Borja added.
He also shared his continuing support for media practitioners’ fearless and continuing crusade against any form of lawlessness.
“And it is very timely and viewed with public interest that the exposé would also serve as a reminder to the public and encourage those similarly situated to come out for redress of grievances – in line with pronouncement of President Noynoy Aquino for transparency and accountability in the government,” the Capizeno lawyer said.*
