by Ellen Tordesillas and Tessa Jamandre
(Conclusion)
Hundreds of junior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who took over the Oakwood Hotel in 2003 in a mutiny against military corruption continue to face the consequences of their actions, with lives derailed and careers destroyed.
Most of them spent years in jail, were physically and mentally tortured, and endured the betrayal and humiliation from a government they had rebelled against. But they are now trying to rebuild lives and careers outside the military.
“We may not have suffered as much as our tormentors wished us to but to this day we are suffering the consequences of what we have done: lost opportunities, destroyed careers, broken friendships and homes, and the ‘rebel’ stigma,” said former Air Force 1Lt Francisco Ashley Acedillo, one of the accused and Magdalo spokesman, now the group’s chairman.
Acedillo was among the more than 300 junior officers who seized Oakwood the morning of July 27, 2003, and were led by captains in their thirties belonging to the PMA Class of 1995. A TV anchor christened the group “Magdalo” after mistaking the officers’ red armbands with an image of a radiant sun with 16 rays, inspired by Andres Bonifacio’s Katipunan logo, as the symbol of Magdalo, Emilio Aguinaldo’s faction in the Philippine revolution.
Click here (VERA Files) for the rest of the story
SNV, you asked in the Part One thread “When is the deadline for the defense to submit its memorandum of law?”
This part was edited from the final version of two-part article:
I understand after the lawyers have filed their summaries of arguments, the judge has 90 days to decide on the case.
Did I understand correctly?
What I wanted to ask is when is the Memorandum of Law (or summary of arguments) due for submission?
“Justice delayed, Justice denied”..Ito ang sistema ng Batas sa atin, lala na malakas ang connections ( links ). Palagay ko tama yong, iminu-nungkahi ni Senador G. Honasan, sa pag-palaya ki Senador Sonny Trillanes, Amnesty or pardon yata galing sa Pangulong P-Noy. Sabi niya, ang kalayaang tinamo niya, ay galing sa kapangyarihan nito, sa panahon ni Pangulong F. Ramos. Mag-FUCUS na lang sa kapangyarihang ito.
Sana mag-karoon ng ” JURY SYSTEM ” ( grand and trial jury ) sa Pilipinas, na mabisa yata, katuwang-katulung ang ” boses” ng ordinaryong Pilipino, sa pag-papakulong sa mga ” maling-di tamang pagsasabatas, or injustices ” ng mga naka-upo, na sabi ni Erap noon, ” hoodlums in robe “. Sobra
kasing abusado at na-iinpluwyensa ng pera ang karamihang
judges and fiscals sa bansa ( kung walang kurap, walng mahirap ).
Sobra
kasing abusado at na-iinpluwyensa ng pera ang karamihang
judges and fiscals sa bansa ( kung walang kurap, walng mahirap )——————–>Rudolfo
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hindi naman natin nila-lahat, pero, mas marami bang corrupt na mga huwes kesa doon sa mga hindi ? Kayo, ano sa tingin niyo ? Ako, hindi ko alam. But in fairness, I believe there are still those few unsung men and women of the profession who adhere to the dictates of their true calling and are dutifully doing their jobs faithfully.
I am simply at a loss looking at those pictures of youthful exhuberance and idealism when these once-upon-a-time youngish lawyers-to-be took their oaths as one. But then, where do their idealism and practice of un-adulterated jurisprudence stop and where does corruption begin to take place ?
As it is, ordinary, everyday Pinoys do not trust these men and women in black robes, much like they distrust and fear the police who are supposed to be the vanguards of peace and order. Why? Because at times, one cannot distinguish anymore who the legal authorities are and who the criminals are.
Worse, Juan de la Cruz cannot even rely on the (supposed) superior wisdom of those men and women in the Supreme Court. Why ? Because for the past 9-1/2 years of gloria’s reign, the (supposed) independent judiciary served as a footstool dummy to the (supposed) independent executive. The last bastion of what people thought as the final arbiters of “true law” are themselves tainted because of corruption and transactional politics. Unless justice Corona does something to get the people to believe in the Supreme Court again, this branch of our government will never have any credibility,………..much like the IMP of a woman who named most of them in that god-forsaken chamber of horrors.
If Sen. Trillanes is finally freed from incarceration in case that dragged on with no clear justification, the Magdalo Saga may finally end but the principle they`re fighting for will continue. Maybe in another endeavour but for the common good.
Si le sénateur Trillanes est enfin libéré de l’incarcération dans le cas où traînait en longueur et sans justification claire, la Saga Magdalo peut-être enfin la fin mais le principe qu’ils «se battent pour se poursuivra. Peut-être dans une autre entreprise, mais pour le bien commun
OT:
Naglalabasan na ang mga may alam sa Garci operations. Gusto daw ni Querubin humarap sa Truth Commission.
Bakit patumpik-tumpik pa? Bakit sa Toothless Commission pa?
The investigation properly falls within the jurisdiction of the DOJ of Secretary De Lima, not the Ombudsgirl. For a crime to be cognizable by the Sandiganbayan, and subject of the investigatory powers of the Ombudsgirl, the crime must be in connection with the office of the government official.
http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1994/feb1994/gr_111616_1994.html
In no way is election cheating connected with the duties of the President, the Comelec, or the military officials working under them. This is an ordinary crime, cognizable by the DOJ.
Larga na. Huwag niyo nang hintayin pa si Divided. Divided ang loyalty niyan – Aquino and the Glue; may Lucio Tan pa.
Talagang nababagalan tayo sa kilos ng mga bata ni PNoy lalo na rito sa Toothless Commission na sinasabi at hindi joking na si Sen. Joker Arroyo. Isang buwan after PNoy announced on the formation of the Truth Commission to be headed by former Chief Justice Davide, hanggang ngayon wala pa? Kaya nga yan ang comment ko noon pa bago umupo si PNoy, dapat before maglabas ng mga statement, areglado na.
Sa aking obserbasyon, ang pagkakaroon ng 3 bilang Secretary ng Communication group sa OP (na ngayon lang nangyari sy siguradong wala sa plantilla of personnel yan) ay lalong nagpagulo at nagdulot ng kalituhan. Kahit pa sinabing may kanya-kanya silang duties, hindi maiiwasan dito ang iringan. At imagine, one month pa lang sila sa Malakanyang!?
Sax, mahirap ding magvolunteer na maging whistle blower under the midgets rule. Querubin and the other officers would have been devoured by the rotten system. At least these incarcerated officers still have a big hope to walk free.
Do these incarcerated officers have any other choice but to air the truth with the “Divide”. If I heard it right, kay “Divide” lang talaga ang bagsak ng “Hello Garci”. Ang masama kamo, the Chedeng of the Ombudsman can not be by-passed too. There are so many stumbling blocks. One thing very positive though is that Gen Sabban (who had been so quiet while his comrades suffered in incarceration) says that the other junior officers (who fueled Querubin to stand up for them) is finally talking. I understand the silence of the Tanay Boys while in incarceration, as it was so easy to get rid of them. But I do not understand why those in the system had to wait for promotions to higher office before they talked. Hindi ba self preservation yun? Dapat naman ngayon sila Sabban naman ang magtuloy ng inumpisahan nila Querubin. Afterall nakuha na nila ang promotions nila at sina Querubin and the other incarcerated junior officers have lost all their chances. Querubin cried when he was relieved from his position. He said soldiering was what he was good at. Did anyone of the junior officers who were involved in the election rigging ever come to his rescue? Nagtago na silang lahat. Now they are making noise. Let them make the noise now. As far as I am concerned, those who were incarcerated already did more than they should. Those who were fence sitters and “wise” and simply shut up while their comrades were locked up should now talk. I hope the people will see the merits of all these officers. Sino ba talaga sa kanila ang totoong nagmahal sa bayan?
Ellen, I am not a lawyer but for me delaying the proceedings on his( Trillianes) case during the midgets reign was the best strategy as the midget already corrupted the judiciary. Any one who went against her reign ended up in the freezer with no promotions at all and those who patronized her got juicy promotions. What I do not understand is Pimentel’s continued loyalty to the midget.
SNV, can Trillianes request his case to be transferred to another judge?
Bilib pa naman ako kay Sonny Coloma dahil kilala siya bilang isang mahusay na professor sa Asian Institute of Management. Pero dito sa sinabi nyang may precedent daw ang Truth Commission and he cited the Agrava Commission, among others, sa time ni Marcos. He got it wrong. Marcos can issue Presidential Decree at batas na ito. It’s not the same situation at the moment.
To strengthen the Truth Commission, bakit hindi bumuo ng isang panukalang batas at pagusapan agad ito sa Kongreso? Sa gagaling ng ating mga legislators, they can easily craft a bill to create the Truth Commission and pass it in a few days and become the first to be signed into law by PNoy. Give it a timetable of say, 2 years to complete the job with a provision that the Commission will be automatically dissolved. Hindi katulad ng PCGG na hanggang ngayon, after 26 years, nandyan pa at punong-puno rin ng anomalya.
Paging Rep. Manny Pacquiao! Ikaw ang bida kapag ikaw ang nagpasimuno nito.
Re 11:
PSB, no can do. That is considered forum-shopping. Lalo na, hinihintay na lang ang decision.
I don’t know if the 30 days to file the summary of arguments has already lapsed, or waiting pa. Thirty days from when ba yon?
As I mentioned in post # 7, wala sa eksena yang Ombudsgirl sa Hello Garci. Her jurisdiction involves crimes committed in relation to the public officials functions.
For instance, in approving a contract, humingi ng lagay, that is in relation to the office, because approval of contracts is actually part of the function of an official.
Another example is when a DBM official signs the SARO. Kung humingi ng lagay before signing, then that is also in connection with official functions to be investigated by the Ombudsgirl.
But cheating is not at all a function of the Comelec, nor the President. So it is not in relation to the office.
It may be argued that protection of the ballot was the function of the military. But snatching the ballot is not part of protection, but the opposite of protection, so that is not “in relation” to the function. Ganyan nga ang argument in the case I cited above. The mayor said peace and order was part of his function. He wanted the Ombudsman, not the provincial prosecutor to investigate his case.
Okay, pero ang pagpatay, the reverse of peace and order, is not part of the function of Mayor. So the Supreme Court, in that case, upheld the jurisdiction of the provincial prosecutor over the Ombudsman.
Ganayn din ang kaso ni Garci. It is an ordinary crime, not one cognizable by the Sandiganbayan, therefore out of the jurisdiction of the Ombudsgirl.
Saan ba nangyari yan?
Mayroon sa Bonggao, according to Querubin. I’m sure mayroon din sa other parts of the ARMM – Iligan, maybe CDO, Zamboanga, Davao even.
Simple lang. Let the whistleblowers file a complaint with the fiscal. Yung prosecutor na gustong sumikat, mag-investigate na, based on the precedent above.
In this case the TOOTHLESS DIVIDE can be bypassed. Kaya lang kailangan ng pera to file the case etc and hire a lawyer unless Atty Roque will do this for the whistle blowers pro bono. Let Sabban and the other officers pick up the ball and run with it!
Mabuti pa si Sonny Trillianes, come what may naninindigan pa rin! Those who inspired and promised support in the Manila Pen are still sitting in their airconditioned rooms. Yung iba nasa taas na and just a heartbeat away from possibly running the country. Sonny for the meantime is languishing in his cell. What an inequity!
Matanda na ba itong Pimentel na ito? The only hope of Sonny is when this judge retires or expires. Siguro naman with the pronouncements of Pnoy on the mishandling of Sonny’s case, pahiwatig na ito that this judge should shape up and do the right thing.
PSB:
The complainant does not need a private lawyer in a criminal case. He/she merely files a complaint, and the prosecutor/fiscal will take it from there.
If he finds merit, he will ask the respondent to file his/her counter-affidavit. After which, if the fiscal finds probable cause, a case will be filed in court (RTC).
May alam ba si General Sabban? Let him prove his sincerity.
Instead of passively waiting for the invitation of the Toothless Commission, let Sabban take the initiative and file a complaint before the fiscal where the cheating took place.
Instead of passively waiting for the invitation of the Toothless Commission, let Sabban take the initiative and file a complaint before the fiscal where the cheating took place.
Yaan nga ang problema eh.. walang gustong lumabas para magsimulang complaint sa kabila ng maraming nakakaalam… kaya kahit sinaasbi nyong toothless ang TRUTH COMMISSION, ngayon pa lang may magandang senyales na dahil marami ng nagpapahiwatig at lumalakas ng loog lumabas…
30 araw pa lang naiinip na kayo… nakatiis nga kayo ng mahigit 9 na taon eh… buhay pinoy talga!
joeseg – July 30, 2010 1:19 am
Sa aking obserbasyon, ang pagkakaroon ng 3 bilang Secretary ng Communication group sa OP (na ngayon lang nangyari sy siguradong wala sa plantilla of personnel yan) ay lalong nagpagulo at nagdulot ng kalituhan.
hindi lang 3… lahat ng cabinet magkakaraon ng tigiisang spokesperson… transpancy ang dahilan igan.. para mas madali ang pagbibigay ng information sa sambayanan…
nung nagtatago ng impormasyon nakaraang gobyerno natin, nagrereklamo tayo.. ngayong gumagawa ng paraan para mailabas ang impormasyon.. nagrereklamo pa din tayo…
pamnbihira talaga, mga pinoy.. sala sa init.. sala sa lamig! Magbago na tayo!
perl:
Relax lang. Hindi ko binabatikos si Sabban. Ibig ko lang sabihin, sa halip na parang black pieces ang hawak sa chess, puwede namang white pieces ang hawakan, push pawn agad.
Ang Truth Commission, kung tulad man ng Agrava Commission, ay maaari lamang magmungkahi (recommend). Maaari namang dumeretso na sa DOJ, para makapaghabla na.
Sa paraan lang ako naiiba, hindi sa layunin ng Pangulo. Ang di ako sang-ayon ay ukol sa kapangyarihan ng Commission. Nagkataon lamang na si Davide ang ulo ng Commission. Magiging ganyan din (kapangyarihan ng Commission) ang pagtutol ko kahit si Carolina Grino-Aquino pa o si Vicente Mendoza ang pinuno. Collateral damage lang si Davide. Ang ugat ng aking di pag-ayon ay ang kapangyarihan ng Commission.
Maglaan na lang ng special division sa DOJ, na kakatawanan ng mga piling prosecutors.
The creation of a Truth Commission by law to give it more powers is very iffy.
I don’t think it would pass Congress peopled by crocodiles. Will Gloria Arroyo’s cohorts allow it?
Even those who have left Arroyo’s Laka-Kampi CMD would still not welcome the Truth Commission. They might find themselves being investigate by that body someday.
Even if it’s PNoy’s man who won as speaker of the House, it doesn’t mean the Aquino administration has the numbers to push reform legislations.
You have to remember that Belmonte won with the support of many of Arroyo’s allies. When it comes to voting for the Truth Commission or impeachment against Arroyo and Merceditas Gutierres, those opportunist-congressmen would protect their own.
atty sax,
alam natin lahat ang labanan satin… hindi simple ang mga babangain… sino inaasahan maghahabla diresto sa DOJ? Ang katulad ni Sabban? Yung magiting na senador nga na lumalaban sa katiwalian… hanggang ngayon.. nagtatago pa din…
Gusto ko ang pagtatag ng commission, sa paniniwalang mas bibilis ang usad ng kaso at madami ang lalakas ng loob na lumabas dahil alam nilang kakampi na nila ang gobyerno…
Pero kugn walang mangyari sa kaso at naging dahilan pa ng pagabswelto ng mga demonyo… ibang usapan yon… pero tingin ko namang, hindi hahayaan ni PNoy!
Isa ibang salita.. malaki ang tiwala ko sa Presidente ngayon..
What is needed is really political will. P-Noy’s heart is in the right place. What is needed is putting into action his plans.
The people supporting him -88 per cent trust rating. That should inspire him to push reforms he wants.
Tama ka Ellen, the tongressmen are still the same ones except the 109 new ones. Pag dating sa botohan, walang mangyayari dahil sila pa rin yung mga tongressmen ni putot na nagpalit lang ng damit. TONGressmen pa rin ang dating. Na kay Pnoy lang talaga if he really wants to know the truth. With an overwhelming mandate, he can sell salt to people and say the salt is diamond and the people will believe him.
What is needed is really political will. P-Noy’s heart is in the right place. What is needed is putting into action his plans.
The people supporting him -88 per cent trust rating. That should inspire him to push reforms he wants.
——————————
I have the same sentiments and fears Ellen. Some crocodiles in congress may try to protect themselves and fight tooth and nail to preserve their lifestyles, if PNoy makes a mistep we might even see him being impeached.
…but the SONA set the tone, he has brought the case to the people, in so doing, he also tested the waters, see if some people will react, true enough we have Lagman taking the bait. Now we’ll see if may “hiya” ang mga taong ito, the people must demand that these “congressmen” who are professing undying love for country and service for their constituents to “follow the leader.”
marami sa mga sundalo ang talagang alam kung ano ang nangyari sa dayaan ng 2004 election, dahil sila ang ginagamit hindi naman ang mga matataas na opisyal ang gumagawa taga utos lang sila kapag bulilyaso ididiin ka pa kapag hindi ka naman susunod sasamain ka. walang lakas ng loob ang ordinaryong sundlao o pulis na kalabanin ang mga opisyal nila yan ang doctrina eh bawal sumagot sa opisyal. sana mam ellen bigyan nyo ako ng pagkakataon para maiprisinta ko sa inyo ang mga kaso ko sa pnp nang sa gayon makita ninyo kung ano ang talagang kalakaran.
Para sa aking pana-naw, sana, ” Whistle blower” Commission na lang ang itinatag ni Pangulong P-Noy..Headed by, Col. Querubin or Gen. Lim, or Gen. Gudane..mga members: JdV, Jun Lozada,Engr.Dante, sa halip na ” Truth Commission “. At ito, ay nasa “umbrella ng DOJ” or bilang isang agency or departamento ng DOJ ( para walang complikto ) sa kapangyarihan, na ISA-sa-BATAS ng House of Tongress. Para din sila Lgman at joker, etc ( GMA’s allied )di na mag-tatalak hingil sa mga “legal” issues. Mas tipid sa oras, at, mabilis ang pag-usad sa mga ” sangkot ” sa mga conspiracy ” na pinag-gagawa nila na sobrang nag-lumpo ki Juan de la Cruz ( NFA-Over Supply ng Bigas, at mga kumisyon sa pag-angkat; MWSS na nag-bulgaran ng singaw sa over spending sa mga emplyados; Road-MLRT-contracts; NBN-ZTE; Hello-Garci; Magdalo Case-Trillanes; Euro-generals; Partylist; saka Kumolect; Ampatuans Genocide, Ondoy-Pepeng flood victims, etc..)..nasa hanay ng mga naka-uniporme ang naging, issues sa pag-kaka-upo ni GMA, ay di, hayaan ding sila-silang naka-uniporme, ang gumawa ng pag-lilinis ( mas sanay sila sa PAG-lilinis, kaysa sa mga civilians ). Ang pagkaka-latag ng ” Truth Commssion ” para ki Davide ( divided )ay may-kala-buan, dahil sa kanyang pag-kakasangkot sa Edsa-2 ( Conspiracy: AFP-CBCP-Mikey and Co.-Nalinlang-o naba-yarang mga kabig ni “Pidal”).ANg truth commission ay parang nag-lalagare ng “mga bakal-bato-matitigas”, na mismo “ngipin ng lagare” tiyak na mababali at masisira, hanggang sa 6-na-taon ni PNoy, bali-bali ng “ngipin” at magastos pa yata, katulad sa PACG ni abcede..siguro ang pana-naw ko ay 60/40 ( 60%tama,40%mali ).
P.Noy to sign EO on Truth Commission today
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/30/10/aquino-sign-eo-truth-commission-today
“De Lima, meanwhile, defended President Aquino’s move, saying that it would take too long to officially create the Truth Commission if it goes through the legislative mill. She said creating it through an executive order is more practical.
De Lima said that the Truth Commission could investigate and recommend the charges to be filed before the proper bodies. She said the commission can compel witnesses and other stakeholders to appear before it, the only visible stumbling block for the Truth Commission is the Office of the Ombudsman, which is held by Merceditas Gutierrez, who has a close relationship with the family of former President Arroyo.” – Justice Sec. De Lima
Ellen – July 30, 2010 8:34 am
The creation of a Truth Commission by law to give it more powers is very iffy.
I don’t think it would pass Congress peopled by crocodiles. Will Gloria Arroyo’s cohorts allow it?
Kaya nga dinaan na lang sa EO eh… dahil malamang na sa basurahan ng kongreso bagsak nyan.. asahan din natin na may mag question sa pagkakatatag ng Truth Commission sa Supreme Court.. matinding laban talga ni PNoy ito…
Ellen – July 30, 2010 8:42 am
What is needed is really political will. P-Noy’s heart is in the right place. What is needed is putting into action his plans.
So far so good. Maganda ang mga pinakikita ng mga mga liderato ng DOJ, DPWH, NFA, DOH, etc… at sa 30 days pa lang.. may ilan ng magandang resulta… Good Job PNOy!
I have the same sentiments and fears Ellen. Some crocodiles in congress may try to protect themselves and fight tooth and nail to preserve their lifestyles, if PNoy makes a mistep we might even see him being impeached. – Jug
Hindi talga dapat magkamali si PNOy, kaya siguro napapansin natin na may kabagalan ang paglabas ng pahayag at mga desisyon.. tripleng ingat… dapat maging malinis ang mga aksyon… dahil sa konting pagkakamali.. may nakaambang mga buwaya na kakagat sa kanya sa kongreso!
30 days pa lang… may intel report na din na may banta sa buhay ni PNoy… Dapat matuto sya sa naging karanasan ng kanyang mga magulang… assasination at Kudeta… at ng mga ng mga nakalipas na Presidente… PP1, PP2, Impeachment, Kudeta, Etc… para masiguro ang kanyang seguridad…
God Bless our President! God Bless the Philippines!
the only visible stumbling block for the Truth Commission is the Office of the Ombudsman, which is held by Merceditas Gutierrez, who has a close relationship with the family of former President Arroyo.” – Justice Sec. De Lima
Ito ang pinaka importanteng dapat gawin ni Speaker Belmonte.. ang mapatalsik si Malditas Gutierrez…
..ang mga crocodiles sa congress ay dapat balatan at gawing sapatos at sinturon ang mga balat….
PNoy and the entire country need all oour prayers for their success in cleanning up the mess of gloria..daging mabaho ang ating bayan dahil sa kanya…she certainly stinks!
SnV:I don’t know if the 30 days to file the summary of arguments has already lapsed, or waiting pa. Thirty days from when ba yon?
I was told by one of the defense lawyers that the last of their panel to present his offer of evidence did so early this month, July.
The 30-day deadline to file summary of arguments should be early August.
That means I have this weekend to post something.