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Counterfeiting witnesses may be flown in to CNMI
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Posted on Apr 20 2001
Instead of sending court-appointed attorneys to depose witnesses in the Philippines, the US District Court may allow the witnesses to enter the CNMI for the sole purpose of testifying in the forthcoming June 11 US counterfeiting jury trial.
The alternative was floated yesterday as a backup plan should the defense panel fail to secure assurance from the Philippine jail warden to depose suspected illegal recruiter Emma R. Cabigting, who is currently detained inside a Manila prison.
The court may bring in Perla Valdepenas and Elma Florendo, relatives of defendants Romeo G. Montoya and to Nelia Baradi Florendo to deliver their testimonies.
The two women are reportedly prepared to provide testimonies that are expected to strengthen the defense’ case.
The proposal is also anticipated to save travel expenses of having to send off-island five defense attorneys plus government lawyers who may want to conduct cross-examination on the witnesses.
District Judge Alex R. Munson also told the defense lawyers that they would have to obtain, on their own, permission from Philippine authorities to interview Ms. Cabigting, since the federal court has no jurisdiction to issue an order as regards the matter.
According to earlier reports, Ms. Cabigting, has expressed willingness to attest that the defendants had no knowledge the money they received from the recruiter was counterfeit.
The suspect was arrested and detained for Estafa and Syndicated Illegal Recruitment last March 13, 2001 before the Office of the Inquest Prosecutor in Caloocan City, with no bail recommended.
Meanwhile, the US government has lodged new charges against five of the seven defendants facing US currency counterfeiting raps before the US District Court.
But the suspects, all citizens of the Republic of the Philippines, have maintained innocence from the charges, claiming no knowledge that the money they carried to US soil last January 24, 2001 were bogus.
The group has been indicted in the federal court for conspiracy to commit counterfeiting.
The defendants arrived on Saipan early this year as tourists when they were discovered by immigration officials to be in possession of counterfeit greenback.
