h4. Verdict shines spotlight on "assassin" in Canada

An accused Filipino assassin, who has been given refuge in Canada, is still high on the wanted list despite the murder trial involving him and his father coming to a shocking conclusion in the Philippines this month.

Rodolfo Pacificador

"The acquittal of Pacificador will not affect our desire to have his son extradited (from Canada) because I think in the decision there seems to be an indication that he was the real mastermind, not his father," Gonzalez told reporters.

"...If he (Rodolfo) returns to the Philippines, he will be arrested and he will be tried."

The Pacificadors were among several people charged with killing former Antique governor Evelio Javier, an opponent of Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The murders triggered the People Power revolution in the Philippines.

After being charged, Rodolfo fled to Canada in 1987 and sought refugee status, alleging that the case against him, his dad and his co-accused was a product of political manipulation and fabrication of evidence.

In February, 2003 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled Rodolfo should not be deported back to the Philippines because he would not get a fair trial in his homeland. ( "See Asian Pacific Post Feb 13, 2003":http://www.asianpacificpost.com/news/article/66.html )

The Federal Court of Canada then ordered a review of Rodolfo's refugee claim, which was originally denied. The refugee claim is still pending.

Gonzales the Justice Secretary told media in Manila that he has asked for a status update on Rodolfo, who is believed to be married and living in the Toronto area.

"If he is denied refugee status, where will he go...To the United States He will be expelled from Canada," he said.

Rodolfo's refugee claim and court decisions in Canada are being closely monitored by lawyers for several high profile international fugitives in British Columbia, who are expected to use the judicial precedents for their clients.

The fugitives include China's most wanted man, Lai Changxing who lives in Burnaby, a Mexican politician accused of embezzlement who lives in Coquitlam and Thailand's fugitive banker Rakesh Saxena who now lives in Richmond under a unique court-arranged home-prison routine.

The Rodolfo case has its roots in the political assassination of former Antique governor Evelio Javier on Feb. 11, 1986, four days after the snap presidential elections in which Corazon Aquino was pitted against the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

The Pacificadors, who were aligned to Marcos, were also implicated in what has become known as the Sibalom massacre case, where seven supporters of political rivals were ambushed and killed.

After Rodolfo fled to Canada, his father, Arturo and several others were arrested and held in custody without bail.

Earlier this month Arturo who has always been referred to as the mastermind in the Javier case was acquitted by the Antique Regional Trial Court.

The court however found Pacificador's lawyer Avelino Javellana and seven others mostly Pacificador's security men guilty of Javier's murder.

The court ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove that the elder Pacificador had masterminded the killing of his political rival. The judge indicated that it could have been his son Rodolfo, who has denied the charges in Canada.

"I'm vindicated but I feel bad that some of my friends and co-accused were convicted," Pacificador, 74, told the Inquirer after the verdict.

Gideon Javier who was only 16 when his father was gunned down called on his family's supporters to continue their fight for justice.