Breathe My Angel

Chapter 28

"Atty, Monteferrante, you have a client" Khyro said as soon as he opened the door of my office.

Mula sa pagkakatingin ko sa mga papels na bawak ko, nag nagat ako mg tingin sa kanya, "Let them in."

As soon as Khyro left my offcie, agad kong inayos ang papeles na hawak ko. When the door opened, inayos ko ang suit ko at inintay na makapasok nag kliente ko.

"Good noon mam, I'm atty. Monteferrante" pakilala ko sa sarili ko at nakipag kamay sa kanya, "Have a seat please."

"Attorney, hindi na ho ako magpapaligo ligoy pa. Yung asawa ko ho kasi, may kabit at tumitira po sila sa iisang bahay. Nalaman ko nalang po isang araw na kinasal na pala sila. Hindi ko alam kung papaano nya napeke ang kanyang marriage certificate namin, pero legal ang kasal nya sa kabit nya. Ngayon, nag aalala ako dahil may anak kami na nag aaral pa. Ni hindi nga kami binigyan ng pera para pantustos sa pangangailangan ng anak nya, dahil abala sya sa pangalawang pamilya nya. "

Huminga ako ng malim bago ko nilapag ang mg daliri sa desk ko at tinatapik iyon.

" We can file a case against him. First is concubinage because you said that they're leaving together in the same house. Second is Bigamy. Since yoyr husband has two legal spouses, and that's punishable by law. Third is abandonment for you and your child." 

"Attorney nangangamba ako. Baka mabaliktad lang ang situation. I heard you're one of the best attorneys dito sa Pilipinas, kaya lumapit ako sa inyo" 

I sighed, "I will do everything to give the justice you deserve." 

After how many hours, umalis na ang kliente ko. Agad akong napahilot sa sentido ko habang binabasa ang panibagong case na aasikasuhin ko.

Who would have thought na dati pinangarap ko maging criminal law, pero ngayon civil lawyer ako. Nag bago sya when Hilary came into the picture. Alam ko na when you're a criminal law, madalas kang makakuha ng death threats pag hindi mo napanalo ang kaso mk, lalo na pag malakas ang hatak. Not that civil lawyers can't experience having death threats, pero madalang lang sya compared to criminal lawyers, and ayokong madamay ang anak ko doon.

Court hearing came at maaga akong dumating para kitain ang kliente ko. I was shocked when I saw kuya Hachilah entered the korte suprema. He's weaeing his black suit and black slacks, togetger with his white dress polo. Gaya ko, may hawak din syang briefcase.

Looks like nagkatotoo ang sinabi nya before sa Bicol.

When he saw me, bahagya rin umawang ang bibig nya pero agad nya akong tinanguan. We heard the gavel was tapped thrice at sa pangatlo nag salita ang clerk.

"All rise. Department of Justice of the Superior Court is now in session." 

"Good morning lafies and gentlemen. Calling the case of the People of the State of the Philippines versus mr. Salvega. Are both sides ready?" Panimula ng hukom.

"Ready for the People, your Honor" magalang kong sagot.

"Ready for defense, Your Honor" kuya Hachilah said.

"Will the clerk please swear in the jury?" Tanong ng hukom at agad na tumayo ang clerk. 

"Will the jury please stand and rais your right hand?" Agad naman tumayo ang nga nasa jury, "Do each of you swear that you will fairly try the case before this court, and that you will return a true verdict according to the evidence and the instructions of the court, so help you, God?" 

Everyone said their I do's kays naman pinaupo na sila ng clerk 

Agad akong tumayo," Your Honor and ladies and gentlemen of the jury: the defendant has been charged with three cases. One is Concubinage since my clients husband and his mistress are both leaving on the same house. Second is bigmay, since my client and her husband are legal spouses and her husband married another woman again. Third is abandonment, because according to my client, her husband abandoned their children and did not give any financial support to them. The evidence I present will prove to you that the defendant is guilty as charged."

Agad namna na tumayo si kuya Hachilah at humarap sa hukom," Your Honor and ladies and gentlemen of the jury: under the law my client is presumed innocent until proven guilty. During this trial, you will hear no real evidence against my client. You will come to know the truth: that mr Salvega is innocent about the accusations his wife came up. Therefore my client is not guilty."

" The prosecution may call its first witness" anang ng hukom at agad na tumayo nag isang anak ni mrs Salvega para maging witness. 

" Raise your right hand. Do you promise that the 

testimony you shall give in the case before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" Taning ng clerk at agad naman sumagot ng 'I do' ang anak. 

"Please state your first and last name." The clerk said and she immediately answered. 

"Did you see your fathet and his mistress on the same house, living together?" I asked

"Yes. Ever since I'm 10 years old." 

I nodded my head, "Do you have any contract to your father, after he left your house?" 

She nodded her head, "I have. That's why I knew back then that he has another woman and they're planning to get married." 

I glanced at the side of mr. Salvega, at nakita kong umaapoy sya sa galit nya sa oanlalaglag ng sarili nyang anak. "What exactly did he tell you?" 

"At first, he's just asking me if I'm okay or not. Then later on, bigla nyang sinabi na magpapakasal sila ng babae nya sa ibang bansa at huwag ko raw sabihin kay mama, d-dahil kung h-hindi raw ay papatayin nya kami. I even recorded our phone call para may iparinig sa inyong lahat ngayon" she answered and handed me her phone. 

Agad ko iyon kinuha at binigay sa clerk para sya ang mag asikaso non. After a couple of seconds, pinakinggan namin ang record and everything she was saying is true and it happened. 

After a couple of questions and answers, "I have no further questions." 

"Does the defense wish to ask any questions?" Tanong ng hukom at agad na tumayo si atty. De Sanjose

"Yes, Your Honor."

Lumapit si atty sa witness kaya umatras ako, "how old are you?" 

"18."

"And you told us that you knew about your dad and ymhis mistress, when you're 10. Am I right?" 

"Yes, attorney." 

"When did the call happened?" 

"Last two months, that's the last time I got a call from him." 

"For almost 8 years, you didn't bother telling this to your mother?" 

"Yes. Because I was to naive and to scared of what will happened if I tell my mom. And from time to time, nagkikita naman kami ni dad para mag bonding, so I thought it's already okay." 

"Thank you. I have no further questions" atty De Sanjose said before going back to his place. 

"The witness is excused" the judge said at agad na umalis ang anak ng kliente ko. 

"Is the defense ready with its case?" Tanong ng Judge kay atty at agad itong tumayo. 

"Yes, Your Honor. I call the defendant."

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I am now going to read to you the law that you must follow in deciding this case. To prove the crime charged against the defendant, the prosecution must prove three things to you: 

First, that the defendant only live with his second wife for a couple of days, and be back to his first family. 

Second, that the wife did not know anything about what her husband is doing. 

Third, that the defendant intended to give them financial support to his child. 

If each of you believes that the prosecution proved all three of these things beyond a reasonable doubt, then you should find the defendant guilty. But if you believe the prosecution did not prove any one of these things beyond a reasonable doubt, then you must find the defendant not guilty. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt does not mean beyond all possible doubt. It means that you must consider all of the evidence and 

that you are very sure that the charge is true." sabi ng judge at tinugnan kaming dalawa ni atty De Sanjose. 

"Are you ready with final arguments?" 

"Yes, Your Honor." parehas naming sinagot ni atty. 

Nauna ako mag salita, "Your Honor, and ladies and 

gentlemen of the jury: The judge has told you that we must prove three things. There is absolutely no question about those three things we must prove. First, the defendant was arrested for living int the same hoyse together with hus mistress even if he's alread married. Second, the daughter testified about what happened within the years, and we even heard their conversation they had.  According to what the judge just told you, that is all we have to prove. Based on the evidence, you must find the defendant guilty."

Sumunod naman sa akin si atty," Your Honor, ladies 

and gentlemen of the jury: Mr Salvega, is just innocent aboyt all of your accusations about him. He got a mistress and they are living together, yes, but they are not married because he is already married to his wife, and how will he faked his marriage certificate and licence? About the phone call conversation, it's obvious that his daughter is playing tricks on him. It's not his own voice. Third, from time to time, he will visit her daughter to give them their financial needs. According to what the judge just told you, that is all we have to prove. Based on the evidence, you must firnd the defendant unguilty."

" Will the jury foreperson please stand? Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict?" Tanong ng hukom at halod kahat sumagot ng 'yes'

" The jury finds the defendant guilty as charged" anunsyo ng clerk at nakita ko kung paano sumaya ang mag ina sa tabi ko.

The jury is thanked and excused, "Court is adjourned" the judge announced before he tapped the gavel once. 

Agad na inaresto si mr Salvega para malagay sya sa kulungan. 

"Attorney, maraming salamat po" mrs Salvega said while her daughter is smiling at me. 

"Like I said, I will do everything to prove him guilty, and give you justice." 

Paglabas ko ng korte, nakasalubong ko si Atty. De Sanjose na naglalakad papunta sa sasakyan nya, dala ang briefcase nya. 

"Attorney!" I called him and he looked at me. 

"Atty. Monteferrante, congratulations to your successful case" agad na sabi nya at kinamayan ako. 

"I'm glad to meet you after 15 years" sabi nya bgai binitawan ang kamay ko. 

Pinasadahan ko ng daliri ang buhok ko, "I'm glad to see you too, kuya Hachilah." 

Nginitian nya ako, "Looks like nagkatotoo ang sinabi ko sayo 15 years ago. We're going to see each other sa court hearing, defending our clients." 

Hinarao naman nya ako bigla, "Kumusta na pamangkin ko? I assume she's doing well in her studies." 

"Well, so far so good. She loves photography, just like her mom" sabi ko at agad na napawi ang ngiti sa labi nya. 

"I hope you're supporting her to whatever she wants. Doon kasi kami nagkulang kay bunso" he said and his gaze went up to look at the sky, "How I wish we sinuportahan nalang namin sya sa mga gusto nya noon." 

I tapped his shoulders, "Hosea understands you, kuya." 

"By the way, kelan nyo balak pumunta sa Bicol? Nag hihingalo na sila papa ay gusto nila makita ang apo nila" he said, changing our topic. 

"Well maybe next next month? We're planning to visit my parents in Amsterdam next month" sagot ko sa kanya. 

"You're parents are still in Amsterdam?" Tanong nya sa akin at tumango ako. 

"Umuwi lang sila dito to help me raising my daughter, lalo na noong nada law school ako" sagot ko and I saw him pursed his lips. 

Tinapik naman nya ako sa balikat, "See you when  I see you then" he said bago sya umalis. 

ctto doon sa court hearing part.