Episode 4

Lt. Col de la Cruz: Hey, if you can hold the fort for me for today. The General seems to want to see me in person.

Lt. Berdin: I guess so.

Lt. Col de la Cruz: I have new orders for both of you. I mean you and Lt. Herasta. I’ll have Nuñez print them out. I think that is all for now Detective Inspector.

He keeps his composure of getting promoted, deep down he is just so happy. Lt. Berdin has been waiting for this moment, five years of waiting after meeting the qualification and passing the commissioned officers’ exam.

Lt. Berdin: Gladly sir.

Lt. Berdin turns his head back to Mr. Marcon while Lt. Col. de la Cruz goes back into his office.

Mr. Marcon: My my, apologies Inspector.

Lt. Berdin: Now, where were we? Ah, as I have said the evidence that you guys presented will not qualify. Now let me finish, if you do not have witnesses that he did it, we can’t pursue it, we cannot sue him. Do you have the original message on the computer?

Suzee Marcon: You mean the actual email with the email addresses?

Lt. Berdin: Yes, precisely.

Mrs. Marcon: There is no need to look at them, it has all been deleted.

Lt. Berdin: Then you have just destroyed the very evidence that we can use in court.

Mrs. Marcon: Suzee, you cannot tell them that, this is so embarrassing.

Lt. Berdin, with an authoritative voice, puts his foot down.

Lt. Berdin: Ma’am, sir, your daughter is not on trial here. It would be best to let her talk about it. If not, you are just like obstructing justice. Now Suzee, is it really degrading to you that you need it to be private. And please parents let her speak.

Suzee Marcon: It’s at home actually, on my laptop. It’s just an email. Well a series of emails.

Lt. Berdin: Can you bring it here? That way we can examine it more closely.

Suzee Marcon: I guess so.

Mr. Marcon: Look inspector, with all due respect, if we can resolve this today, I can have my eldest son bring the laptop here.

Lt. Berdin: No, we cannot resolve it today, if we have the evidence, it will take time to go to court to get a warrant. Maybe three days the least, we are kind of swamped around here. If you bring it here now, we will be able to decide what to do. That is all that I can assure you for now.

Mr. Marcon: Okay, I’ll have my son bring it here.

Synod Community

An hour has passed and Defendant Jenny Lynn Villamar is a no show.

The timer alarm sounds off. Joseph Liston turns on the voice recorder to record their session.

Joseph Liston: The defendant Jenny Lynn Villamar is a no show. For the record it has been an hour since I set the timer. The time now is 9:18 AM. We will begin the hearing in absence of the defendant to hear out the complaint of the plaintiff Robert Tan, a Councilor of Synod Community. In attendance we have Councilor Robert Tan and several co-workers at the Synod Community Hall, namely Ms. Claudia Ylaya, Mr. Roel Cimafranca, Mr. Dublin Cabigon, Ms. Emma Matinao, and Ms. Sol Estardante.

Mediator Liston takes out the log book to record the attendance of said hearing.

Joseph Liston: With me is the log book to record the attendance of said hearing and will have the attendees sign their seal for initial records.

Joseph Liston writes the case number, the date, the parties involved and his name as the mediator. He writes the names of the attendees and then attendees sign their signature next to their respective names.

Joseph Liston: The attendees have signed their signatures; we will now begin taking down and listening to the stories of the witnesses. To start we shall begin with the version of the plaintiff. For the record sir please state your name and your current occupation.

Councilman Tan: My name is Robert Tan and currently a councilman for Synod Community.

Joseph Liston: Councilman Tan will you please state your grievances.

Councilman Tan: Ms. Villamar, called me names on social media specifically on TheDagWay. She said I am a homosexual, and my pretty face is only good for the posters, I am an inutile, and she also said I am a coward.

Joseph Liston: Are you saying that in your own words or do you have evidence that would actually lead to her actual words?

Councilman Tan: I have a screenshot here, of which I printed out.

Joseph Liston: For the record the complainant has submitted a printout. Would you please read the actual statement that Ms. Villamar actually said?

Councilman Tan: Yes, she has several of them here is the first one. “Haah! This is what you get with a pretty face councilman. Councilman Tan, is nothing but a pretty boy gay.” Second, “What can he do? Tan is so tiresomely inutile.” Lastly, “What can you do? Robert is a coward.”

Joseph Liston: Do you have anything else to say?

Councilman Tan: No, those are my statements.

Joseph Liston: What do you think made her say that?

Councilman Tan: I would not know. Hey! What kind of question is that? I thought I was here to complain about her actions.

Joseph Liston: I am sorry councilman, old habits. Actually, I am treating this as if she is present, this is just the way I handle things, well mediation. But what started this feud anyway?

Councilman Tan: I wouldn’t know actually, as far as I was concerned she had some squabbles over something with Claudia.

Joseph Liston: Oh, would you please specify which Claudia?

Councilman Tan: Her co-worker Claudia Ylaya. I attempted to mediate their feud and it seems later she started calling me names.

Joseph Liston: So, Ms. Claudia Ylaya, would you be so kind and inform us what the problem was?

Claudia Ylaya’s eyes widened, her face became white, and nothing came out of her mouth as she opened it, only silence.

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