Biyernes, Disyembre 9, 2016

Why a Leila, not a Rody, serves more jail time


By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 When I was in a huddle with some politicians in a recent government function, I eavesdropped on the conversation between a lawyer and his lawyer-son regarding my recent column titled “The Immoral Senator De Lima”.
I wrote there that the controversial and hated lady senator could not be sued by the People of the Philippines because her offense of concubinage was a private crime.
It means it was only Norlyn Magalanes Dayan, the wife of De Lima’s paramour her driver Ronnie, who could sue her with that criminal case and no other person or institution.
“Are concubinage and adultery supposed to be public crime?” the lawyer asked his son.
“No, it’s only rape”.
Image result for leila delima and rody duterte
When I bumped into fellow radio commentator Ruel Camba, I told him about the lawyers and that private crime.
“Ina-antay ko lang i correct ako ng old lawyer that concubinage is not a private crime, e ni researched ko iyong anak ng bakang column ko na iyon,” I told Ruel with a funny bravado.
“This is the first time I heard about private crime, I thought all crimes are public,” he excitedly quipped.
"No, it's just like toilets, may private toilet may public toilet din," I sheepishly retorted.
Private crime, to the uninitiated who read this blog, is an offense which cannot be prosecuted except upon a complaint filed by the aggrieved party (batasnatin.com).
 Do you know that a reader, a niece of a congressman, of my blog reacted on that same column?