HINDI AKO MAKAPAGSALITA NANG sinabi 'yon ni Haji sa'kin. Nanatiling nakaawang ang bibig ko sa sinabi niya hanggang sa narinig ko na magsisimula na pala ang hearing.
The opening remarks started as soon as Judge Sarmiento motioned to start. I willed myself to keep a rational mind but it was so hard after Haji just practically admitted that he's scared just as I am.
Ang hirap kalabanin ng mga may pwesto pero mas nangingibabaw ang determinasyon ko na mapalaya siya. If the outcome of this hearing doesn't favor us, at least I'll be assured with the fact that I poured in all of me.
I did everything I could to stop this from blowing up in court.
The next thing I knew, Prosecutor Pierre was already presenting evidence at the front.
I snapped in concentration as I willed my eyes to focus on what he's doing. Dapat alerto ako sa kung anong pasabog ang gagawin niya. Kilala pa naman siya sa kaniyang tactic na kunwari matatalo na siya ngunit bigla siyang magpre-present ng solid na evidence sa pinakahuling argument. I heard that he has the CCTV cameras in possession but none of those showed Haji's face so it was inadmissible.
Pierre carried himself with an overwhelming sense of sureness. When he started presenting his case, all eyes focused on his every move.
"More than four trucks of illegal drugs were confiscated in a warehouse that's titled to the defendant, Hajiro Klijster Romero, last April of 2014. Multiple CCTVs in the area captured Mr. Romero's car passing by the neighborhood way back three years ago before he was issued a warrant of arrest. Moreover, two months before his sudden disappearance, a CCTV camera obtained a footage of his car outside three warehouses that is also believed to had been stored of illegal drugs."
Pierre continued submitting video evidences, pati na rin 'yong titulo ng lupa para mapatunayan na kay Haji talaga naka-pangalan iyon. Sinubukan ko kumalma kahit pakiramdam ko lalabas na talaga itong puso ko dahil sa kaba.
"To further solidify the allegations, I now call my first witness, Rancho Calos," sabi ni Pierre nang ipinakilala na niya ang una niyang witness.
Humigop ako ng malalim na hininga nang bumukas na ang pinto at pumasok na nga si Mang Rancho. He looks like he's in his fifties already. As any previous witnesses, he looks intimidated and scared by the audience. When his eyes met Judge Sarmiento's, I saw him visibly flinch. Pumunta siya harap at nilagay ang kaniyang kamay sa ibabaw ng isang bibliya.
After he swore an oath that he'll tell the truth no matter what, Pierre started the interrogation whilst I forced myself to remain calm.
Kanina pa nakakapikon 'yang ngisi niya, I swear. He's like telling me that this is all just a kid's game to him and I'm here being anxious for something so small.
"How many years have you been working for the accused?" tanong ni Pierre.
Palakad-lakad siya sa harap ng witness stand kung saan nakaupos si Mang Rancho.
Tumikhim muna si Mang Rancho bago sumagot. "Labing-isang taon na po."
"You've worked for him for eleven years... have you noticed something off when you were guarding one of his warehouses? If so, please elaborate."
Mukhang kabado rin si Mang Rancho kaya napapikit muna siya nang mariin bago binuksan ang kaniyang mga mata. Natural lang na manerbyos dahil ang daming tao dito, lalo na ang mga reporters na kaunting slip of the tongue lang, agad ka nang ipapako sa publiko kahit 'di nila alam ang buong storya.
"Uhm... Minsan... may mga trucks na dumadating tuwing madaling araw. Napag-utusan ako na hindi na lang tingnan kung ano ang mga laman ngunit ginagawa ko pa rin para ligtas."
BINABASA MO ANG
Ace The Wager (TO BE PUBLISHED)
General Fiction[DECK OF CARDS # 1] Defending him meant signing her death certificate. Siobhan Thiago never wanted to be involved in anything that doesn't concern her. She was never socially active nor woke. Politics and business did not concern her since she was...
