Canadian Citizen Killed In Surigao City

[jamesmusslewhite]

Something that also has struck me rather odd during the last three hearings I have attended in this murder case which I believe is note worthy, is the interaction between Jerome Devocion and Jeffer Parian at these hearings. Perhaps it is due to their situation of both being confined at Silop prison? Perhaps it is because of the fact that they are both being accused taking part in the murder of Harry Doyle, or that each are claiming of being innocent of the charges being laid against them, but they both seem quite comfortable, friendly and often jovial as they sit on the bench together.  

 

 Here is Jerome Devocion (Harry Doyle's driver/bodyguard) being accused of conspiring with Jane Doyle to help kill his boss and suspected of fathering Jane Doyle’s infant son Daniel Doyle, sitting on a long bench at the courtroom next to Jeffery Parian who is the very man being accused of brutally murdering his unarmed boss in front of the Doyle family. Jerome Devocion in his statement to the PNP investigators at the murder scene stated that he had never seen nor had ever known either of the two men who murdered his boss. Jerome Devocion who claims that he is completely innocence of any part in such a conspiracy, a person who first hand witnessed the brutal slaying of his boss in front of the Doyle family he was being paid to protect. The man who claims that the shooters merely walked up to Harry Doyle, with faces masked, begging for food before shooting to death his former boss: sitting quite comfortably next to the accused boss killer engaging in friendly conversation and often joking around. All the while listen to witness testifying how they personally witnessing Jeffery Parian and his brother Johnny Parian being at the resort literally for hours and never once did these witnesses never see the Parian brother mask their faces; and told how they saw the two Parian brothers have interaction and face to face conversations with both Jerome Devocion and Tess Silvosa (Harry Doyle’s new secretary) at the resort before the shooting event occurred.  

   

Now it is easy for me to second guess this behaviour not being confined together, but I certainly know what it is like being accused by both Jane Doyle and Jerome Devocion as being the one they believe was the one who had Harry Doyle murdered. I just could not see myself under the same condition and being an innocent man sitting next to very man identified as the one who murdered his former boss. I know myself and I would not want the murder of boss to be handcuffed to me, nor sitting next to me, in fact the prison security team would probably have their hands full keep me separated from the man because I would be punching him upside his head ever chance I could get. I do believe with some certainty that I would not be acting like best buds during the court trial. It may just be me but I find this to be a bit odd.

 

There is also something that PNP investigator Rosemarie Almazan once remarked to that still lingers in the back of my mind, she said, “Is it not strange that the witnesses sitting at the other bungalow could positively identify the two shooters, while all those who were much closer can neither identify these two shooters as being the ones who did or did not shot Harry Doyle?”     

[jamesmusslewhite]

I forgot to mention this earlier...  Last month I drove out to Nova Scotia to see my children and grandchildren before I head to the Philippines...  And I spent a night in Fredericton where Jane is staying in Canada.   I asked the desk clerk at the first hotel what she thought of what was going on and i was kicked out of the hotel.  No recourse - gone.  So I asked at the next hotel the same question.  No reply - just dirty looks.  I wish I knew what they were thinking.

 

:unsure: 

I thought Canadians were all suppose to be so friendly? :mocking:

 

I do hear the locals are not too happy since Harry was born and raised in their community and he was very active in commercial real estate and purchased small hotels and small strip canters within the community, perhaps you hit a major nerve or was in a hotel he once owned; also as it is in the National news with regularity they may get that question a lot. I do find their behaviour being a bad business practice. You should post the name of the hotel as I know with certainty that the Fredericton locals read this thread for regular updates.

[HarryBeatMeAtTennis]

I forgot to mention this earlier...  Last month I drove out to Nova Scotia to see my children and grandchildren before I head to the Philippines...  And I spent a night in Fredericton where Jane is staying in Canada.   I asked the desk clerk at the first hotel what she thought of what was going on and i was kicked out of the hotel.  No recourse - gone.  So I asked at the next hotel the same question.  No reply - just dirty looks.  I wish I knew what they were thinking.

 

:unsure:  :mocking:

say what?

[i am bob]

I won't give the names of the hotels as I will probably be staying there again sometime next month.  Let me just say that they are well known international brands that usually fall into the business class and surprisingly were priced as the more expensive hotels in town.  

[jamesmusslewhite]

Update: Harry Doyle Murder Trial 9/30/2014

 

Yesterday was the defense attorneys representing Jerome Devocion and Jeffery Parian the opportunity to properly conduct their cross examination of the prosecution’s witness Miss. Edelyn Diadula. On Monday of this week the Private Prosecutor representing the Canadian family of Harry Doyle Attorney and law professor Alfonso S. Casurra had Miss. Diadula take the stand so he could have her Statement presented before the court and the judge, he asked a line of query touching on various points pertaining to Miss Diadula’s sworn Statement taken by PNP Investigators SPO1 Rosemarie Almazan.  There was not enough time left Monday for the defence attorneys to be able to properly conduct their cross-examinations so the judge had Miss, Diadula return Tuesday morning to continue with the line of questioning.

 

Tuesday morning 9/30/2014 Miss. Diadula once again took the stand in courtroom ‘Branch 29’ of the Capital Surigao City Courthouse.  Atty. Casurra once again led off the hearing and asked Miss. Diadula several questions that had either received objections or seemed to have caused confusion among the defense attorneys during the previous morning hearing. He asked how the two brothers were dresses and if their faces were covered. Miss. Diadula told him that they wore black jackets, ball caps and one was wearing striped scarf and both were wearing long pants. She said that neither men had their faces masked at anytime she observed.  Atty. Casurra then asked who did she see pull the trigger when the shooting started. Miss Diadula replied that when they pulled their pistols and began to fire that she jumped and ran for cover outside the fence behind their bungalow. She said she had just enough time to see them pull their weapons and heard Jane Doyle yell “Ajaw diri, Ajaw diri!” (‘Not here, Not here!’) and start running towards the bungalow occupied by the Orquina party  just as the shots were being fired. She stated that as she was running to take cover outside the resort that she was not sure exactly who fired their pistols or exactly how many shots were fired.  Then Atty. Casurra closed his line of questing and handed the witness over to the defense attorneys for their opportunity to conduct their cross examines.

 

First defense attorney to question Miss. Diadula was the Surigao City appointed Public Defender assigned to represent detainee Jeffery Parian, his client is one of two man accused of actually conducting the shooting which led to the death of Canadian businessman Harry Doyle while at a family outing at the Palma Beach resort in Punta Bilar, Surigao City on August 12th, 2012. Jeffery Parian.

 

The Public Defender asked her relations to the Orquina family? And Miss. Diadula responded that she was at the time a first year working student. The Public Defender asked how the two men she observed in the resort were dressed? Miss Diadula responded “black jackets, ball caps and long pants and one man wearing a striped shawl. He remarked that she had previously stated that she had seen the two shooters enter the water and appeared to try to get close to Harry Doyle who was swimming, and how did she know this? Miss. Diadula told him that she saw them enter the water fully clothed and were moving in the direction of the foreigner, but then the two men stopped and returned to the shoreline. The Public Defender mentioned that she had described one of the men laying on the large stones and that she saw one man with a firearm in his waistline, and if this was after they had gone into the water and were wet. She told him that they were lying on their backs with their jackets open and when she saw the pistol she thought it was a toy gun.  He asked several questions pertaining to the walls and gates within the resort, which she seems to answer to his satisfaction.

 

The Public Defender queried her as to the position that Harry Doyle was sitting while in the bungalow and she told him that he was sitting facing the ocean. He asked if she was able to see the faces of the two men as they approached Harry Doyle s faces. Miss. Diadula said that from where she was sitting she could see their profiles from the side.  He then asked her about the casaba she said she saw Jerome Devocion hand to the two men who approached this foreigner, how was it prepared. She told him it looked like it was steamed cassava.  The Public Defender then asked her to stand a demonstrate just exactly how the foreigner pushed the two men who had entered into the bungalow where he was hitting. She stood and with both hands began to demonstrate a chest-high forward pushing motion. The attorney then asked her how close were the two men when the foreigner was doing this shoving? She replied close enough for him to be shoving them.  He then ended his line of questioning and handed the floor to the attorney representing Jerome Devocion Atty. Zerda.

 

Atty. Zerda employed by Jane Doyle to represent Jerome Devocion (Harry’s bodyguard) opened by asking if she had decided to make a Statement because she was told to do so by Mr. Martlaw Orquina? Miss Diadula said, “no that she had done so because she felt like it was the right thing to do. Atty. Zerda then asked if Mr. Orquina had told her to give a Statement she, No sir.” Then Atty. Zerda asked if she had talked to Mr. Martlaw Orquina during the time she worked for him before she gave her statement to the PNP? Miss. Diadula told him, “yes”. He then asked if Mr. Orquina had arranged for PNP investigator SPO3 Rosemarie Almazan to come to Mr. Orquina’s home so she could make a statement? She said, “That I do not know sir” At this time Jerome Devocion could be heard in the courtroom repeatedly saying “Binayaran bakak, Binayaran bakak!” (Paid lies, Paid lies!). Atty. Zerda then questioned the fact that she was able to know the names of Jane Doyle and Tess Silvosa to put them on her statement? She said, “Officer Almazan showed me pictures of both Jane Doyle (Harry Doyle’s wife AKA, woman in black blouse) and Tess Silvosa (Harry Doyle’s new secretary AKA. Sexy lady) and that was when I learned their names. Atty Zerda if she had not known their names at the time she made her statement how did the names of the two women appear on her statement? Miss. Diadula responded that at the time Inspector Almazan took her statement she showed her the photos of Jane Doyle and Tess Silvosa, and that when Inspector Almazan returned with the final copy of the Statement for her to sign, the two names of the women had been filled in by Inspector Almazan.  Once again Jerome Devocion could be heard repeatedly saying “Binayaran bakak, Binayaran bakak!” (Paid lies, Paid lies!).

 

Then Atty Zerda stood up and asked for a photo that was entered as an exhibit in the case file, once the photo was located in the file Atty. Zerda showed it to Miss. Diadula and asked is this the photo Inspector Almazan showed to you that day? She replied, “No sir, this is not the photo she showed me.” Then Atty. Zerda appeared to be trying to pressing her you mention she was wearing a black blouse but do you see her wearing a black blouse in this photo, and this photo clearly shows she is not wearing a black blouse. Once again Miss. Diadula responded that the photo he was showing her was not the shown by inspector Almazan. Atty. Zerda seemed Irate and was emphasizing the different in the way Jane Doyle was dressed and her description in her Statement of a black blouse being warn. Atty. Casurra stepped in and said, Miss. Diadula has repeatedly stated this is not the photo that was shown to her. Then Atty Zerda said to Miss. Diadula can you identify Jane Doyle in this picture? So Miss. Diadula looked at the photo and with a index finger at someone in the photo and said, “Yes, there she is.” Atty. Casurra looked over her shoulder to view the photo and the person she was pointing to and said, “May it be noted your honor that the witness is pointing at Mrs. Jane ‘Undang’ Doyle and that she has successfully identified her in both photos, so what is the relevance as to the clothing your honor?  Zerda began questioning the different structures in reference to what he called the big house which has a stage and is towards the very front of the resort with the male and female CR/Changing rooms.  I get the feeling Atty. Zerda was trying to emply that the Doyle group were near the front and not in the bungalow. It was all kind of confusing but Atty. Zerda closed his line of questioning and Miss. Diadula then left the stand.  Miss. Diadula was very confidant and poised and when pressed by the defence attorneys she maintained her composure and tried to answer their questions the best she could. 

 

I also have been quite impressed with Atty Casurra as he has a commanding presence in the courtroom and is well prepared every step of the way. When the defense attorneys were trying to pressure the witness or carefully wording their questions to confuse her, he stepped in and quickly insured the facts were presented correctly. The demeanor of the witness never wavered and though it is only my own impression, I feel that because Atty. Casurra has been at the helm the more they have tried to use her statements and testimony to somehow discredit not only Miss. Diadula, Mr. Orquina and SPO2 Rosemarie Almazan. Their plan was obviously was to try to instill doubt and imply wrong doing by the prosecution witnesses and PNP investigators. They wanted to discredit the witnesses and I feel the harder they tried to do this, the worse it looked for their own clients. I feel they lost far more than anything they may think they have gained. I believe Atty. Casurra has been both masterful and instrumental and I also feel that SPO2 Rosemarie Almazan and SPO1 Anthony Miole conducted a smart and thorough investigation.

 

The next hearing dates are scheduled for November 4, 5, 6, 7 & 10. I also received a text this morning from PNP Inspector SPO3 Rosemarie Almazan saying that Miss. Diadula  had been successfully transported back out of the city. Her sworn statement made her a target and acts of intimidation committed against her involving Jerome Devocion, Jeffery Parian and Johnny Parian which forced her to drop out of college and go into hiding. Her willingness to try to do the right thing for a foreigner and fellow expat has caused her great hardship. Her only reward was in knowing she had done the right thing for someone she has never known. I hope she can pick up the pieces of her life and she can move on. I hope her continued safety and a fruitful life.  She is certainly one of my heroes.

 

Side note:

The big house/ stage area and the male and female CR/Changing room structures are on the right side of the resort as you enter in through the front gates and vehicles park on the left side. The two bungalows are located on the back of the resort area if facing from the front looking towards the back the Orquina birthday party were in the left bungalow and the Doyle family occupied the right bungalow. There is a low picket fence that runs the length of the back of the resort with a small gate which leads down to the shoreline behind the resort. It was here where Harry and his family were swimming and playing. The large stones mentioned are on the shoreline on the far right of the resort. Below I will post a short video taken at my sons’ martial arts x-mas party on December 12, 2010 as well as a few photos taken at the same even which shows certain features of the different structures. This will allow members a sense of the size and distances in relation to the different areas.

 

Video of Palma Resort, Punta Bilar, Surigao City taken on December 12, 2010

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1596824800379&set=vb.1228755709&type=3&theater

 

Facing the ocean the "Large rocks" mentioned on far right side of resort shoreline

 

Left side Bungalow which would have been occupied by members attending Orquina birthday party, taken from right side bungalow which would have been occupied by the Doyle family gathering. Ocean to the right and you can see the small picket fence.

 

 

The "large house" stage area with men's and woman's dressing area to the left of stage area.

 

Picture taken from front of stage area looking towards the back of resort and the ocean, both bungalows. The Orquina birthday party would be on the left and the Doyle family gathering would have been on the right.

Edited October 1, 2014 by jamesmusslewhite

[Methersgate]

Thank you James. The photos and video are a great help.

[HarryBeatMeAtTennis]

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=philippines-signs-resolution-against-death-penalty&id=95877

 

This news regarding the death penalty will help with the extradition process from Canada

[jamesmusslewhite]

Update:

 

Last week two witnesses for the Prosecution took the stand in the murder trial of Harry Doyle. One was Ann Doyle who along with her sister Joan Doyle travelled here from Canada to be a part of these proceedings. It was nice to see these two ladies, and upon leaving Surigao City they commented were both quite pleased with their legal council Atty. Alfonso S. "Pons" Casurra for the way he has handled the case so far. Friday morning I took the stand and after I was questioned by Prosecution atty. Casurra I was crossed-examined by the public defender assigned to represent suspect Jeffery Parian who is being accused of being one of the two suspects accused of gunning down Harry Doyle as he had his arm raised, killing his in front of his family in the Palma Beach Resort in Punta Bilar, Surigao City. Time expired Friday so the council paid by Jane Doyle, wife of Harry Doyle, Atty. Zerda did not have the time to conduct his cross-examination of me; so I am scheduled to once again take the stand Monday morning at the Surigao City Capital Courthouse. I am quite sure Atty. Zerda is just chomping at the bits to try his ongoing campaign of trying to implicate me in the Feb. 1, 2012 attempted shooting of Harry Doyle and trying to imply I masterminded the murder of Harry Doyle on   Aug. 12, 2012. Well it helps keep life more interesting living here in the Philippines.

 

 

Second Update:

 

I was told by Atty. Casurra who is the private prosecutor representing the Canadian family of Harry Doyle that the documents and extradition request paperwork for Jane Doyle, wife of Harry Doyle, will be completed in the next five days; so the case file, arrest warrant and extradition request are finally going to be sent to Manila so they can be handed over to the Manila office of INTERPOL who will be tasked with forwarding all documents to Ottawa, Canada.   

[Methersgate]

Keep it up.

[HarryBeatMeAtTennis]

James they cast the wrong guy to play Ironman..It should have been you.

I must say you have an exemplary attitude. 

My hat is off to you sir