The public drama involving businessman Mark Jimenez and wife Carol brings me back to my interview with the controversial former adviser of President Estrada in 1999 when I did an article about him for I-Magazine of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.
It was a weird interview, one that I can say was the most unforgettable in my many years in journalism.
The interview was arranged by his sister. She instructed me to just “tell the butler” about the arranged interview once I got to No. 6 Intia St. in South Forbes (Imelda Marcos used to stay there in 1992).
Butler?That was my hint that the interview would be something different.
I took a cab to South Forbes. It was Carol, not the butler, who opened the door. She was gracious and glamorous. She said MJ was sick; something to do with his heart. But she told me not to worry because he would receive me.
I followed her to the second floor bedroom. MJ was in bed with a tube attached to his nostril. The tube was connected to an oxygen tank.
Uncomfortable with the situation, I said, “Are you sure we should go on with the interview? We don’t have to do this now. No story is worth a life.”
MJ signaled for me to sit down and in a hushed voice said, “Go on.” I brought out my tape recorder. He objected to it. I started asking questions.
Immediately, he started insulting me with, “What kind of a question is that?” He said that the reason he granted me an interview was because someone told him I was a good reporter and he was disappointed that I was asking him “stupid questions.”
It was becoming apparent to me that he had no intentions of answering my questions. He just wanted to know what information I had through my questions.
I wanted to walk out but since I came by taxi, I would have to walk all the way to the gate. Besides, I had to ask all my questions so that I could use it in the article even if the reply was “That’s a stupid question.”
I asked him about the information I got that his tax evasion case in the US was just a ploy for the US authorities to have custody of him because they are more interested about his alleged connection with illegal drug operators in Latin America.
He went ballistic at the mere mention of his alleged “illegal drugs connection”. “Lies!,” he hissed. He immediately yanked out the tube of his nostril, got out of bed and went to the toilet.
I noticed that he was walking straight and didn’t look like he had a “heart problem.” Afterwards, he asked for lunch and he was served Spanish sausage with Caesar salad.
He said that we could continue with the interview two days later and he agreed to have it taped.
I heard Carol talking with MJ’s daughter (by the first wife) who was going to Makati Commercial Center. I asked if I could ride with her out of Forbes Park.
Carol asked where I lived and I replied, “Moonwalk, Las Piñas”. Carol said, “I will have you brought home.” MJ told her to let me use the Mercedes Benz. Carol led me out and I saw a gleaming, dark green, top-of-the-line Mercedes Benz waiting at the driveway. Intimidated, I told Carol, “Our place is full of potholes.”
Carol immediately told the driver, “You use the Range Rover.” So I went home in MJ’s Range Rover.
When I went back for the second interview, I was with my friend, fellow journalist Booma Cruz who had a car. Just to make sure that if he insulted us again, we could walk out and not have to walk all the way to the gate.
Not surprisingly, he still didn’t want the second interview taped. He was in pajamas although the interview was lunchtime.
No new information came out of that second interview but I saw more hints of “weirdness” that I’m seeing now in him. In the course of that interview, he grabbed my notebook and tried to read my notes. He also offered me a job.
On our way out, he offered to send money to the family of a justice reporter who died of heart attack. We declined and suggested that he send it directly to the family. To our face, he said, “hypocrites!”.
We were so glad to be out of that place fast.
Ate Ellen,
Kaya siguro nagkaganoon si Carol eh dahil sa ka-weirduhan ni MJ. Kung ikaw nga eh ilang oras lang na kaharap niya eh ‘nagulo’ ang wisyo, si Carol pa kaya. Kung walang pera itong si MJ eh malamang wala gustong makasama o magtrabaho sa kanya. Dati sigurong ‘tumitira’ itong si MJ lalo na at may connection daw sa mga druglords kaya na-weirdo!
Just from the newspaper accounts of MU’s antics, talagang may pagka-weirdo.
1. Nakausap raw niya ang diyos at sinabi sa kanyang ipagpatuloy niya ang pagtulong sa mahihirap at gagantimpalaan siya na maluklok sa mataas na pwesto. Sinangayunan ni Madam Auring sa isang hula na si MU ay magiging presidente. Hindi lang sinabi kung Pilipinas o Mutual Understanding Association (MUA).
2. Noon ay kay Erap, pero nitong makulong at bumalik sa Pinas, naging kay Gloria Macagarapal. Ang sinumang naglingkod sa isang Pangulo at biglang kumanbyo sa isa lang panggulo, numbero unong weirdo.
xanadu,
Baka presidente ng KSP. Kapisanan ng mga Sira-ulo sa Pilipinas! At gagawin niyang Bise si Madam Auring! Kaya lang baka magalit si Gloria Engkantada at agawin ang pagka-presidente!
I would feel the same way you did, Ellen, if I were going to do the same interview. Weird talaga.
But I am not surprised. This guy must have hated his parents that he would not even want to be called now by his birthname, “Mario Crespo.” E di buti nga sa kaniya, di may criminal record pa siya.
Amazingly, this guy would rather continue being called by the name by which he has served a jail term than return to his former identity and simple existence. Kung sabagay, once a criminal will always be a criminal unless of course the person has really repented. As for this Crespo guy, I doubt if he has really repented. In short, wala nang pag-asa.
LOL!Napalakas ang tawa ko sa kwento mo, Ellen.
Aba e nasira pala talaga ng drugs ang tuktok ni MJ! Hindi lang weird, space out pa! Dapat nga lang na kasama siya ngayon ni Blinky Glue kasi pareho sila ng state of mind, mga sira ulo!
Yabg kwento ni Mark Jimenez pwedeng isapelikula. Ang title ng movie: Close Encounter of the Weird Kind.
Dahil may pagka sanggano at mahangin si Mark Jimenez, pwede ring gawing titulo: Goon With The Wind
Myrna sent us a report on Gloria Arroyo’s visit to New Zealand: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10442229&ref=emailfriend&ref=emailfriend
Protests greet Gloria Arroyo in New Zealand. Nambola na naman siya about her administration’s human rights record. again
The NZ PM is definitely just being polite when she nodded her head when Pandak said she was doing something about the extrajudicial killing that she is most responsible as a matter of fact.
I actually do not know what NZ has as vested interest in the Philippines except perhaps the banana that New Zealanders cannot produce, and the Philippines in turn has no use for those wools that NZ produces in abundance.
If ever, the Pandak is most probably talking only of trafficking Filipinos likewise to NZ since it is the only industry that she is capable of offering other countries as collateral for her surmounting debts done in the name of the people of the Philippines. Tangi na talaga ng bugaw na iyan!
Ellen,
I fear for Ricky Carandang’s life! ABS-CBN just reported that after his series of exposes on poll irregularities in Mindanao, he has received death threats.
Did you see how Ricky caught Sarmiento and Boy Macarambon lyin through their teeth aboy ER’s being brought in a hotel room? The corrupt COMELEC duo were denying to high heavens the report that ER’s found their way into hotel rooms. Then Ricky whipped out his phone camera and showed them a clip of COMELEC people in flagrante delicto.
The duo them broke out into sheepish smiles and said that the ER’s were brought to the hotel for safe-keeping.
They really take us for fools. Huling huli ni Ricky ang pandaraya ng mga gagong to.
Hanep. This is brazenness taken to the extreme. Garapal na talaga. I am seething with rage. Grabe na.
Please text him to say that our prayers are with him.
Correction:
Did you see how Ricky caught Sarmiento and Boy Macarambon lying through their teeth? The corrupt COMELEC duo were denying to high heavens the report that ER’s found their way into hotel rooms.
Whereupon Ricky whipped out his phone camera and showed them a clip of COMELEC people doing just that — in flagrante delicto!
Skip,
In line w/ what you had just mentioned, I saw Ricky Carandang’s report that was aired on TV Patrol. Karen Davila reported that after that was shown on TV, he had received death threats by armed groups.
Apparently, standing up for the TRUTH & revealing anomalies in this gruesome elections is life-threatening. Now it is clearer why next to Iraq, the Philippines is the 2nd MOST DANGEROUS place for journalists !
If I may commend Ricky Carandang for a great job ! To my mind, he has made the people of the Philippines proud for what he has revealed to the nation (on the anomalies/cheating).
In the meantime, Ricky SHOULD stay safe ! It seems like a place filled w/ thugs – then again, aren’t those the types that Gloria has in her administration anyways ?
Quote from Inquirer: “Kapunan also dismissed the statement of Mark’s lawyer Frank Chavez that they would file kidnapping charges against Carol’s rescuers”. Unquote
For Pete’s Sake, kidnapping is a criminal offense and the only person of authority to file the charges is the Public Prosecutors and not any body’s lawyer. Mark Jimenez, through his platoon of lawyers can file complaints with the Police, NBI or any police authorities, and it is up for these agencies if filing of Criminal Charges against the “rescuers” of his estranged wife Carol are warranted. Well there you go, too many “smart” lawyers, whose interests are the money of their clients instead of upholding Justice that they forgot that Hippocratic oath or something like that.
When are they ever learn, and start the path to that kind of society, which sounds soo good from the mouths of those who are today’s “dream merchants”….
Chabeli,
Let us pray for journalists who are on the side of truth. Ricky Carandang is indeed doing the Filipino a service for bringing to our homes in living color what we were kept in the dark about in the 2004 elections.
You just have to admire the courage of this man. Already one of the most credible and competent anchors on ANC, he has left his comfort zone and is risking life and limb to show that Comelec is dead wrong — NO, sirs, it was not a clean and peaceful election at all.
May the Lord keep you safe, Ricky.
Liars are liars, and they will lie even at their deathbeds.
In Japan, any person in authority who shamed his or her office, usually may have to resort to too drastic to the extent of committing suicide, to redeem his soul and take responsibility for the wrongs.
In Here, those who lied, during the investigations, especially during the Judicial Inquiry, will always get the Ire of the Sentencing Judges later in Criminal courts. And those who accepted their shortcomings, maybe shamed, but will get the understanding of the public and the leniency of the Courts. And in the Philippines, sometimes they end up becoming your Senators or Presidents or even the Judges of the courts of Justice and very wealthy. And we can all weep and cry for the Mercy, and hope that soon it will come.
Wow! May katapat na ang kaweirduhan ni Imeldific. Bagay sila ni MJ. Pag nakatuluyan sila, pihado si Eddie Gil ang ring bearer at si Madam Auring ang flower girl. Syempre ninong at ninang ang mag-asawang magarapal-aruruy. 😀
Vic,
A Japanese official has just committed suicide BBC reported this afternoon because he was accused of some irregularities.
In the Philippines that happening? Hahahahahah? The more crooked government officials are in the Philippines, the happier and the prouder they are of their crooked achievements…ASBOLUTELY BEREFT OF SHAME!
Anyway, kung may mangyari kay Ricky Carandang (Lord, huwag naman sana!), alam na nating kung sinong may pakana!—iyong mga squatters ng Malacanang. Who knows baka iyong nagsasakit-sakitan ang may pakana niyan! Kaya trying hard ang mga ungas na mawala si Cayetano sa Magic 12.
Ricky and Company, huwag kayong sasakay ng tricycle sa Mindanao. If you can afford it, rent a bullet-proof car. At saka, huwag kayong lalabas ng hotel ninyo when you hear those motorcycles circling your hotel. Ganyan ang takutan ngayon sa mga areas na noted for these extrajudicial killings.
Ano ba iyan? Wala na bang katapusan?
To Ricky Carandang: Thank you for a work well done! May the Good Lord Keep you Safe. Take care. Our prayers are with you.
Skip,
Amen to your comments !
si Mark Jimenez ay isang delikadong tao (Baliw)..Best friend sila ni Chavit Singson , FYI.
Siya (MJ) daw ay hulog nang langit…baka ibig niyang sabihin ay ,”lumabas sa lupa, sugo ni satanas.”
Mabuti na lang Ellen at nakalabas ka sa bahay niya nang walang anumang nangyari..pero sana huag mo nang uulitin ang pag interbiyu kay MJ, dahil walang interesadong malaman ang tungkol sa kanya…
Matindi ha? Imagine, dahil malubak sa inyo, Ellen, imbes na Mercedes Benz, yung Range Rover ang ipinanghatid sa iyo. Umaapaw talaga ang kwarta sa tenga ni MJ. Pero kawawa rin dahil mukhang may sayad na.
Buti na lang hindi yung De-Ranged Rover ang ginamit ninyo!
Hindi lang yun, Tongue. I also saw a Jaguar.
But I learned later that he had problems paying that house. He now lives in Essensa.
MJ is giving cash gifts to senior officers in ghq and other afp camps. Loyalty bribe.
If you knew some senior officers in afp ghq, navy, army and airforce hqs, just check if they have a new car bought on or after Feb this year. Then check also whom they are associated with.
By the way, there’s no wage increase in the afp.