Canadian Citizen Killed In Surigao City

[bootleultras]

Is there any updates on this?

Has anyone heard from James since his last post?

[Adventurer]

Is there any updates on this?

Has anyone heard from James since his last post?

 

yeah, what's the latest on this story?

[Jollygoodfellow]

Is there any updates on this?

Has anyone heard from James since his last post?

 

yeah, what's the latest on this story?

 

I would say he is busy here, http://www.philippines-expats.com/topic/15345-any-members-been-to-maldives/#entry91024

[i am bob]

Lucky bugger...

 

I offered to carry his luggage but....

 

:mocking:

[Adventurer]

 

Well yesterday we had another meeting before the prosecutor’s office. This time Jerome Devocion appeared in handcuffs and with an armed four guard escort. I observed a man who had lost weight and was rather pale with a foreboding and rather uneasy if not scared look about him. I actually felt a sense of pity looking at this man who had earlier walked so tall and proud as he tried to intimidate others. We sat mere inches apart and never once did he give me a leering look or a scoured face.

 

So there we were, the PNP investigators and the witnesses sitting before the city prosecutor and his council Atty. Zerda was not there to represent him in his case of Perjury and Deformation of Character against us. This was the second consecutive meeting Atty. Zerda failed to appear for his client. The prosecutor asked were was his council and Jerome told her he had not been able to get in contact with Atty. Zerda for a week, and that he had text the lawyer without yet receiving a reply. The prosecutor asked what was he going to do and all Jerome could do was ask for an extension. There is only one problem. Only his lawyer can ask for the extension and he failed to show up for the meeting. Then the prosecutor explained that the case could easily be thrown out, and she looked at me and told me to tell her if we were willing to allow him the extra time to council with his attorney? This to me raised a paradox do to my core religious beliefs and my Texas upbringing of fair play.

 

As a Christian I must show even one who has chosen to be an enemy or an adversary compassion. And my Southern upbringing under the Gentlemen's Code and the Code of Chivalry dictates that one does not kick another when they are down or to seize a victory on the basis of a technicality. Here was a man who had tried to intimidate the PNP investigators and the witnesses, who had tried to falsely accuse me of being the murder of Harry Doyle and tried to set me up in an earlier staged shooting event, who is believed to have had masterminded, directed, and hired murders, and even had filed Perjury and Defamation of Character charges against me. And here he is asking for more time because his lawyer did not show up, so he and his lawyer can have time to try to sue me? Hummmm give him more time, or simply to laugh at him and yell, “Hell no!”

 

I found myself telling the prosecutor that it was only fair since he is presently being held in a cell, that he be allowed to have time to properly talk with his attorney, and to allow him the extra time. To my surprise the prosecutor, the PNP investigators, and also the other witnesses all agreed. We now have to once again return to the prosecutor's office next Wednesday the 6th, and if Atty. Zerda fails him again by not appearing then he will be just out of luck and his case he filed against us will simply be dropped. I am sure all you good members would have chosen to have done the same thing if you were in my situation?.......

 

Some will say I and the others were crazy by doing this, but once he goes to trial in the Harry Doyle murder case he and his lawyer can not make claims that he was treated unfairly. If they try to use the event as a way to try to discredit me, than it will be known that I had given him a break that was not needed under the law. I also have a clear conscience that I had done the right thing for a man who I am sure would probably had not done the same for me. I also know that I have only been truthful in my signed statement and am free of any wrong doing and I know that time will reflect this fact.

 

After Jerome was given an extension in the prosecutor’s office, he was then taken to the court hearing on the Arson case filed my Miss. Kima (Harry Doyle’s former secretary) were it had to be postponed because his council Atty. Zirda was not there for those proceedings either. I guess Jane Doyle really needs to buy Jerome a better lawyer?

 

That was the last we heard about the actual case proceedings. I guess it looks like the police are going to do nothing after all the hype about how they are going to be different than the usual .....foreigners getting murdered in the Philippines with hardly ever an arrest. I was hoping this case would be different. I wonder if James had enough and needed to get away from that BS there and take his family to a safer environment?

[Americano]

My wife says that the people who could make the case continue are waiting for someone to pay them.  Very little gets done in the Philippines without money being paid to someone. I'm sure all of you know this by now.

 

The victim doesn't have any relatives in the Philippines or anyone willing to pay so that means a family member in Canada needs to go to Surigao City to find out who is waiting to get paid.

 

Also, since the victim can't be at the hearings, a relative needs to attend all hearings to represent him.

Edited March 4, 2013 by Americano

[jamesmusslewhite]

 

Well yesterday we had another meeting before the prosecutor’s office. This time Jerome Devocion appeared in handcuffs and with an armed four guard escort. I observed a man who had lost weight and was rather pale with a foreboding and rather uneasy if not scared look about him. I actually felt a sense of pity looking at this man who had earlier walked so tall and proud as he tried to intimidate others. We sat mere inches apart and never once did he give me a leering look or a scoured face.

 

So there we were, the PNP investigators and the witnesses sitting before the city prosecutor and his council Atty. Zerda was not there to represent him in his case of Perjury and Deformation of Character against us. This was the second consecutive meeting Atty. Zerda failed to appear for his client. The prosecutor asked were was his council and Jerome told her he had not been able to get in contact with Atty. Zerda for a week, and that he had text the lawyer without yet receiving a reply. The prosecutor asked what was he going to do and all Jerome could do was ask for an extension. There is only one problem. Only his lawyer can ask for the extension and he failed to show up for the meeting. Then the prosecutor explained that the case could easily be thrown out, and she looked at me and told me to tell her if we were willing to allow him the extra time to council with his attorney? This to me raised a paradox do to my core religious beliefs and my Texas upbringing of fair play.

 

As a Christian I must show even one who has chosen to be an enemy or an adversary compassion. And my Southern upbringing under the Gentlemen's Code and the Code of Chivalry dictates that one does not kick another when they are down or to seize a victory on the basis of a technicality. Here was a man who had tried to intimidate the PNP investigators and the witnesses, who had tried to falsely accuse me of being the murder of Harry Doyle and tried to set me up in an earlier staged shooting event, who is believed to have had masterminded, directed, and hired murders, and even had filed Perjury and Defamation of Character charges against me. And here he is asking for more time because his lawyer did not show up, so he and his lawyer can have time to try to sue me? Hummmm give him more time, or simply to laugh at him and yell, “Hell no!”

 

I found myself telling the prosecutor that it was only fair since he is presently being held in a cell, that he be allowed to have time to properly talk with his attorney, and to allow him the extra time. To my surprise the prosecutor, the PNP investigators, and also the other witnesses all agreed. We now have to once again return to the prosecutor's office next Wednesday the 6th, and if Atty. Zerda fails him again by not appearing then he will be just out of luck and his case he filed against us will simply be dropped. I am sure all you good members would have chosen to have done the same thing if you were in my situation?.......

 

Some will say I and the others were crazy by doing this, but once he goes to trial in the Harry Doyle murder case he and his lawyer can not make claims that he was treated unfairly. If they try to use the event as a way to try to discredit me, than it will be known that I had given him a break that was not needed under the law. I also have a clear conscience that I had done the right thing for a man who I am sure would probably had not done the same for me. I also know that I have only been truthful in my signed statement and am free of any wrong doing and I know that time will reflect this fact.

 

After Jerome was given an extension in the prosecutor’s office, he was then taken to the court hearing on the Arson case filed my Miss. Kima (Harry Doyle’s former secretary) were it had to be postponed because his council Atty. Zirda was not there for those proceedings either. I guess Jane Doyle really needs to buy Jerome a better lawyer?

 

That was the last we heard about the actual case proceedings. I guess it looks like the police are going to do nothing after all the hype about how they are going to be different than the usual .....foreigners getting murdered in the Philippines with hardly ever an arrest. I was hoping this case would be different. I wonder if James had enough and needed to get away from that BS there and take his family to a safer environment?

At this point the PNP have done all they can do right now. It is now in the hands of the City Prosecutor and the court system. The Perjury charge was merely a stalling tactic done by Jane and Jerome’s lawyer. What it did was reopen the case and stalled the issuing of the arrest warrants because there are statements, rebuttals, claims and counter claims. February 6^th was the last day for Jerome’s “Perjury” and “Deformation of Character” case. The case was then reclosed and went before the Prosecutor’s desk to determine if the case will now be presented to the courts and a formal request for a hearing date will be pursued. That process takes 2 weeks, then the court will request the issuing of arrest warrants on the suspects (2 more weeks); then the formal issuing of the International arrest warrant on Jane and the local arrest warrants of the two Parian brothers. (2 more weeks). This is the normal process of Filipino courts. In a country where one can wait years for the scheduling of a hearing date in a case, the process on this case is progressing nicely. The warrants should be finalized in the next 2-3 weeks

 

The Surigao courts and local PNP investigators fully understand that Jane is hiding in Canada as if it were a sanctuary. That the Surigao courts will have to now pursue extradition just to get her returned to face the charges against her. They know that Canada will be hesitant to return her, and they are fully aware that they will get only one shot at this process. They have to show the Canadian judicial system that the Philippine court system has been more than fair with Jane Doyle or she will be allowed to stay in Canada.  Who is to be really blamed in this complex mess? “CANADA”. To my knowledge not one Canadian official, Embassy members, or law enforcement official has traveled down to Surigao City pertaining to this case. They did call the PNP Chief and the City Prosecutor and are being advised of the progress. Harry’s sisters did travel here were they secured an excellent lawyer to be their private prosecutor and represent their interest in these proceedings, Atty. Alfonso Casurra who is a man I have great respect for.  At least the Doyle family and friends are well represented on this end of the Big Pond..

 

The Canadian Mounties may always get their man, but they are being bamboozled and bafooned by one Filipino woman….

[Jake]

My wife says that the people who could make the case continue are waiting for someone to pay them.  Very little gets done in the Philippines without money being paid to someone. I'm sure all of you know this by now.

 

The victim doesn't have any relatives in the Philippines or anyone willing to pay so that means a family member in Canada needs to go to Surigao City to find out who is waiting to get paid.

 

Also, since the victim can't be at the hearings, a relative needs to attend all hearings to represent him.

Hello guys,

 

I haven't had the pleasure of actually meeting James but the first pitcher of MoJo is on me and would

actually salute this mild mannered Texan, who walks softly but carries a big stick.

 

If memory serves me correctly, I believe our James was a grunt (US Marine Corp) and kicked ass as

a gunnery sergeant or above.  Nickname Gunnie, this rank along with Master Guns and the top dog

Sergeant Major actually runs the corp.  You've seen them before - jaws like a bull dog, yelling at his

young Marines in order to protect them like his own children.  

 

I believe James took the initiative of getting out of dodge in order to fight another day.  I would not

want to be caught in a US Marine kill box (lines of fire).  

 

Regarding Americano's post above, his source of information is street level news, coming from a very

reliable source, his wife.  Thank you sir, respectfully -- Jake

 

 

 

[jamesmusslewhite]

My wife says that the people who could make the case continue are waiting for someone to pay them.  Very little gets done in the Philippines without money being paid to someone. I'm sure all of you know this by now.

 

The victim doesn't have any relatives in the Philippines or anyone willing to pay so that means a family member in Canada needs to go to Surigao City to find out who is waiting to get paid.

 

Also, since the victim can't be at the hearings, a relative needs to attend all hearings to represent him.

 

In many cases you and your wife are probably correct. The Doyle family are very well represented in this case. When I first was contacted by the Harry's Canadian family I suggested they seek a local lawyer to represent their interest during the proceedings. I suggested Atty. Casurra (former 2-term Mayor of Surigao City), President of the Surigao del Norte lawyer’s committee on ethics. He was voted “Most Popular Mayor in the Philippines 2007, law professor. He had to step down last term due to term limitations but is expected to win his 3^rd term as mayor this election. He is a man whom I have a lot of respect for. His being on this case insures there will be no monkey business during these proceedings.

[Americano]

Next week on March 12th will be 7 months since the murder occurred.  In those 7 months what has happened to bring the suspected murder(s) to justice?  One suspect was allow to leave the Philippines while two others are still roaming around free and able to intimidate witness and commit more crimes.  One suspect was arrested but not for this crime.  He was arrested for a crime he committed in the past.  He should have already been in prison so he couldn't take part in this murder.

 

The Philippines justice system is incompetent and a joke to the rest of the world.