Pastor refuses to blame police.
FOR Pastor Leonardo Jastiva Sr. and his followers, the granting of the writ of habeas corpus was the start of the “truth coming out.”
Jastiva, who was released from the Cebu City Police Office stockade past 3 p.m. yesterday, said he did not have any ill feelings toward the police for placing him under arrest.
“Dili nato mabasol ang kapulisan kay naa may sila’y nakita nga kadudahan. Nagbuhat ra sila sa ilang trabaho (We cannot blame the police because they saw something suspicious. They were just doing their job),” Jastiva told reporters yesterday.
They also plan to ask that the body of his wife, Judith, to be released. Jastiva spent two nights at the CCPO stockade, but said he will just charge it to experience and that the police did not maltreat him.
While he said he was happy to be released, he still has to face the parricide case.
He said the International Missionaries of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement worldwide has learned about the events surrounding him.
“Pero gitugot ni sa Ginoo para maagian ning kahimtang. Dawaton nato ni (God allowed this to happen. We have to accept it),” he said.
Judith’s brother, Gil Dahonan, 41, was also present when Jastiva was released.
Dahonan is one of many church members who would not believe Jastiva could kill his wife. He said Jastiva showed him the messages the alleged kidnappers sent to his phone.
Pastor Arnulfo Cortez, who is the church’s vice president and pastor for Mindanao, said they have been fasting and praying for the truth to come out.
“This is the beginning for the benediction of the truth for the truth will set us free,” Cortez said.
But for the police, the latest development could not be seen as a setback for them.
Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador said this gave them time to gather more evidence and witnesses.
He said they were not questioning the integrity of the judge but admitted they were saddened by the release of Jastiva.
As for the release of the wife’s body, Comendador said he could not yet allow Jastiva to claim it because it stated in the application for writ of habeas corpus that they were not yet certain if the body was indeed Judith.
Investigation and Detective Management Chief George Ylanan, for his part, said the case was still filed last Friday and that yesterday’s hearing did not touch on the merits of the case.
“With this development, we are given the chance to strengthen our case,” said Ylanan.
This includes a photo found in one of the cellular phones that showed an area of the crime scene with the body still there.
Ylanan earlier said they will try to find out if the photo was taken from the cellular phone or merely forwarded from another phone. He also wants to find out the date and time the photograph was taken. (MEA)
Originally Posted by charles of lawaan
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