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Whitewash

Nagsayang lang ng oras itong si Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga sa kanyang ginawang imbestigasyon sa isyu ng paggamit ng military sa pandaraya noong 2004 eleksyon.

Anim na buwan kuno niyang ginawa. Wala naman pala siyang ginawa. Whitewash ang ginawa niya.

Labinlimang pahina raw ang summary at sobra raw isang talampakan ang kakabit na mga annexes. Sinabi sa report na 70 raw na tao ang kanilang ininterview. Wala naman sa report kung ano ang tinanong at kung ano ang sagot.

Ngunit walang sinabi tungkol sa narinig natin sa Hello Garci tapes na sinabi ni Comelec Commissioner ang partisipasyon ng mga opisyal katulad ni Army Chief Hermogenes Esperon,Army chief Maj. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon, at retired Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko.

Wala rin sinabi bakit inalis si Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani, ngayon retired sa Lanao noong kainitian ng canvassing, na hindi pumayag magpagamit sa dayaan.

Walang sinabing may kasalanan. Ngunit ito ang nakakatuwa: sinabi ni Mayuga na tingnan raw ang papel na ginampanan ng mga miyembro ng military bilang mga election deputies at dapat raw magkaroon ng imbestigasyon sa mga sundalo na sangkot sa ano mang paglabag ng batas.

Ano? Di ba yun ang dapat ginawa niya?

Tuwang-tuwa siguro sina Arroyo, Mayuga, Senga, Esperon na naisahan na naman nila ang mga naghahanap ng katotohanan tungkol sa pandaraya na ginawa ni Arroyo noong 2004 eleksyon. Siyempre nang lumabas yun walag reaksyon dahil sarado ang halos lahat ma Tv, radio at diyaryo. Kung mayroon man bukas, kuaresma ang palabas.

‘Yan ang akala nila.

Bakit, naiba na ba ang paniniwala ng mga sundalo na naka-alam ng pandaraya na ginawa nila noong eleksyon? Sabi nga ng isang Marine officer, “Binaboy nila kami.”

Noong Aug. 2005, naglabas ang Young Officers Union ng listahan ng mga opisyal sa military at pulis na sangkot sa pandaraya noong 2004 eleksyon para panlunin si Arroyo. Maliban kay Esperon, Habacon, Kyamko at noon ay PNO Chief Hemogenes Ebdane.

Ito pa ang pinangalanan ng YOU.
· Brig. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito, then colonel and commander of the 104th Brigade assigned to Sulu’s first district
· Brig. Gen. Nelson Allaga, then colonel and commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade assigned to Sulu’s second district
· Navy Capt. Feliciano Angue, then head of Naval Task Force 62 operating in Tawi-tawi and now Navy operations chief
· Marine Lieutenant Colonel Fred Pelonia, commanding officer of the 1st Marine Battalion based in Tawi-tawi
· Marine Lieutenant Colonel Elmer Estopin, commanding officer of the 10th Marine Battalion based in Sulu
· Army Colonel Rey Arde
· Army Colonel Aminkadra Undog
· Col. Gominto Pirino
· a Captain Perez
Karamihan sa mga ito ay nabigyan na ng promosyon. Si Allaga ay marine commandant na. Ganyan ang magigiting na sundalo ni Gloria Arroyo.

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21 Comments

  1. Happy Easter Ellen and to all!
    Pashare lang… kagabi nagkataon nakasabay ko mag Starbucks coffee si General Gudani at di ko lang alam kung si Col. Balutan di nagpakilala ako na ama ko yung nakasabay nila sa interview ni Pia Sa Strictly politics last November.
    Di ko na pinahaba di naman kami close eh.

    Opinion ko lang na nagsayang nga ng resources itong si vice admiral mayuga.

    Sa kinauuukulan sa administrasyon..ang mga opinion ko dito ay sarili ko lamang at walang kinalaman ang ama ko sa lahat ng mga opinion ko dito at sa ibang blog.

    Alam kong binabasa nyo itong blog na ito, Happy Easter sa inyo!

    Karl Garcia

  2. Happy Easter too, Karl.

    Talaga, nagsayang lang ng pera at oras ng taumbayan.

  3. happy easter ellen wishing you
    more easters to make Pinoy’s lives
    worth living.

    multiply what mayuga did
    ten thousand times in wasting
    people’s money and official time
    is what gloria’s gift to Filipinos
    since she began appropriating all
    government resources to maintain
    herself in power, and to create
    conditions that will perpetuate
    herself and her dynasty in power.

    I think Filipinos should THINK BIG
    when it comes to gloria’s crime
    against the people. mayuga and the
    other afp and pnp officers should
    be tried as accessesories or
    accomplices to these crimes of
    malversing the people’s money.

    mayuga’s report is gloria’s
    easter gift and message to the
    Filipino people.

  4. WHAT IS THIS ORDER OF THE FAKE PRESIDENT TO
    COMMUTE DEATH SENTENCES TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
    OF ALL(?) DEATH ROW CONVICTS?

    IS THIS NOT ANOTHER POLITICAL POINT
    SCORING TO WIN THE HEARTS AND APPROVAL
    OF ALL LIVING RELATIVES OF THE DEATH
    CONVICTS. AND THE BISHOPS?

    SINCE THIS PROCLAMATION FAVORS THE
    CATHOLIC CHURCH’S POSITION ON CAPITAL
    PUNISHMENT, PINOYS SHOULD HEAR FROM THE
    BISHOPS ON THIS. PINAKAKAGAT NA NAMAN SILA
    NI GLORIA. LET THEM SING THEIR ALLELUYAHS
    TO THE SMIRK AND GUFFAWS OF GLORIA.

    IS THIS NOT A TRANSGRESSION OF THE SEPARATION
    OF THE CHURCH AND THE STATE?

    WHAT IS THE BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS OF
    THIS NEW POLICY, IS IT ONE TIME OR
    PERMANENT? IS THIS NOT A BLATANT VIOLATION
    OR MOCKERY OF EXISTING CRIMINAL LAWS?
    IS NOT THE FAKE PRESIDENT GUILTY OF UNDERMINING
    ALL LAWS THAT PROVIDES DEATH PENALTY AS A
    PUNISHMENT. DID SHE NOT VIOLATE THE PRESIDENTIAL OATH SHE FALSELY TOOK TWICE?

    PRESIDENTS BEFORE HER HAD DONE THIS
    PIECE MEAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH POWERS GRANTED
    BY THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS. IS THIS NOT
    ANOTHER ABUSE OF POWER BY THE FAKE PRESIDENT? LET THE NON-FANATIC CATHOLICS SPEAK OUT ON THIS.

    THE FAKE PRESIDENT IS PROBABLY TRYING TO BE
    A MODEL CHRISTIAN DURING EASTER. SHE FAILED
    TO REALIZE THAT SHE CAN BE CONSIDERED A
    CHRISTIAN WHO HAD ABUSED CHRISTIANDAD AS
    CURSILISTAS WILL SAY?

    THE FAKE PRESIDENT TO PROTECT HERSELF IS
    CONCERNED ABOUT INCONVENIENCE OF THE PUBLIC BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC CAUSED BY RALLYISTS. BUT SHE IS NOT CONCERNED THAT HER ORDER TO VIRTUALLY ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY COULD EVENTUALLY ENDANGER THE LIVES OF THE PUBLIC AGAINST A FEW CRIMINALS ENCOURAGED BY HER TO VIOLATE THE LAW INTENDED TO PROTECT THE MANY.

    IT’S LIKE NEVER MIND THE MANY, I NEED TO
    PROTECT ME, BECAUSE THESE MANY ARE
    AGAINST ME. WHO CARES ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN
    TO THEM IN THE LONG RUN?

    THE FAKE PRESIDENT PERHAPS DOESN’T KNOW THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE CRIMINALS IN THE INSIDE, (EXCLUDING THOSE INSIDE MALACANANG) BUT THOSE CRIMINALS AND THE POTENTIAL CRIMINALS ON THE OUTSIDE.

  5. cocopilot cocopilot

    What a double tragedy…victims of rape and families of murder victims who pay taxes supporting the lives of their criminals! Won’t this encourage more terrorists?

  6. Tedanz Tedanz

    HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYBODY!!!

    Kawawa na naman si Juan de la Cruz, siya na naman ang fall guy. Pinatagal pa nilang ilabas ang findings, yon lang pala ang nilalaman. Nasaan na yong statement ni Gen. Gudani at Balutan? Hindi ba sila kasama doon sa mga Witnesses?? BAKIT GANOON NA LANG ANG PAGTATAKIP NILA KAY PUNGGOK??? BAKIT HINDI NILA SABIHIN ANG TOTOO??? HOY MGA GAGONG GENERAL, MAGPAKALALAKE KAYO, HUWAG NIYO NG IPAGTANGGOL PA ANG UNANONG YAN? BISTADO NA NG BUONG BAYAN KUNG ANONG KLASENG TAO YAN. MALI ANG GINAGAWA NIYO, KAYO AY GINAGAMIT LAMANG NG MGA PEKENG NAKAUPO SA MALAKANYANG. KUNG SA AKALA NIYO NA ANG PAGTATAKIP NIYO SA BABAENG YAN AY NAKAKATULONG SA NAKAKARAMI, NAGKAKAMALI KAYO!!!!!!. LALO NIYO LANG IBINABAON SA HIRAP ANG MGA TAONG UMA-ASA NA GUMINHAWA AT TUMAHIMIK ANG MGA BUHAY. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW, KAHIT PA YANG HINAYUPAK NA AMBISYOSANG GLORYA NA YAN.

    GLORYA, WA EPEK NA LAHAT ANG MGA PINAG-GAGAWA MO. WALA NG NANINIWALA PA SA IYO KAYA MAIGI PANG UMALIS KA NA DIYAN AT PA-UPUIN ANG ORIHINAL NA PRESIDENTE NA IBINOTO TALAGA NG TAONG BAYAN. HINDI IKAW ANG LUNAS NG PAGHIHIRAP NG MGA TAO, LALO MO LANG SILANG PINAPAHIRAPAN. ASIKASUHIN MO MUNA ANG PAMILYA MO BAGO MO AYUSIN ANG ATING BANSA SA TAMANG PROSESO. HINDI YONG MAGMAMAKA-AWA KANG DAGDAGAN NG 1M ANG BOTO MO. YON ANG MALAKING PAGKAKAMALING GINAWA MO SA BUHAY MO AT PATI NA YONG PAGMANIOBRA NG ASAWA MO DOON SA HULING ELEKSIYON. NA-AAWA AKO SA IYO, DATI KALA KO PA NAMAN IKAW ANG MAG-AANGAT NG BUHAY SA NAKAKARAMI PERO MALI PALA AKO. KAYA GANON NA LANG ANG INIIIIIIIIIIIIS KO!!!! PUWEEEEEEE!!

  7. Statement of Rep. Roilo Golez:

    The President, by making a general commutation of all death sentences to life in effect repealed the death penalty.

    This is usurping the powers of Congress. Commutation of a death sentence is teh President’s prerogative. But it should be based on an individual review of the cases and commutation should apply selectively in meritorious cases.

    The question now:were all the cases subjected to review, i.e. due process? Were they reviewed by the Supreme Court, DOJ, Malacañang legal,the executive secretary before going to PGMA? If not, then there’s basis for claims that commutation was whimsical and politically motivated to woo the church which is now increasingly critical of PGMA.

    If whimsical, then commutation did injustice to teh victims of crimes behind the death sentences.

    That would appear to be a violation of of president’s oath to do justice to every man, including the victims of the crimes and their grieving families.

  8. ELLEN,

    ANG KAWAWA DITO AY SI GENERAL GUDANI AT ANG KASAMA NIYANG COL. NA NAGSASABI NG KATOTOHANAN AT SILA PA NGAYON ANG NASA ALANGANIN DAHIL SA COURT MARTIAL. ITO ANG NANGYAYRI SA BANSA NATIN KUNG IKAW AY MILITAR TAPAT SA BAYAN AY ANG BAGSAK MO AY KULUNGAN AT KUNG IKAW AY MILITAR NA PANIG SA MGA ARROVO AY ANG BAGSAK MO AY SA ULAP AT INSTANT MILLIONER KAPA HINDI LANG IYUN GUMAWA KA NA NG KASAMAHAN AY MAY PABUYA KA PA SA KATUNGKULAN MO KATULAD NG STAR SA BALIKAT.
    KUNG TUTUUSIN AY SILA LANG NAMAN ANG NANINIWALA NA WALANG NANGYARING DAYAAN NOON. PERO ANG TAONG BAYAN AY HINDI NILA MALOLOKO. MAY ARAW RIN ANG MGA ITO AT MAS MASAKIT ANG MARARANASAN NILA. NAKAKAHIYA ANG PAMILYA NINYO GENERAL MAY-LUGA…….. GENERAL MAY-LUGA ISA KANG KRIMINAL NG BAYAN…

  9. Tedanz Tedanz

    Ellen,
    Kung tama si Golez sa sinabi niya at hindi tama ang ginawa ni PUNGGOK, bakit hindi niya ipaglaban gumawa siya ng hakbang hindi yong puro dada. Yang mga Congressman at Senators na yan puro lang dada. Gaya na lang ang sabi ni Biazon na may inutusan daw na mga sundalo na magdala ng bomba sa Maynila, asan na yon? Yong mga iba pang isyu, bigla na lang naglaho. Mag-uumpisa sila ng isyu tapos ikaw naman na si gago ay papatol doon sa isyu, sa kalaunan ikaw na ang maga-gago. Ibig ko pong sabihin, INUMPISAHAN niyo … TAPUSIN NIYO!!!
    Bakit pinapatulan nila ang Pekeng Presidente? Dapat lahat na mga pinag-gagawa niya ay dapat balewalain (Ibalik sa dati) oras na lumayas siya sa Malakanyang. Wala siyang karapatang gumawa ng ano man dahil hindi siya ang ibinoto ng nakakarami. Kung papatol ka at sinusunod mo siya … e di totoo siya ….

  10. MORE ON THE DEATH TO LIFE SENTENCE:

    I concur with the following editorial
    and hope I didn’t violate any provision of
    the copy right law. It’s today’s editorial
    from Malaya.

    Editorial

    ‘Commuting all death sentences follows from Gloria’s tried and tested transactional way of doing business. But will the bishops bite?’

    We believe the death penalty is barbaric and does not serve its purpose of deterring crime. It also constitutes cruel, degrading and inhuman punishment, a penalty the Constitution prohibits. In fact, the charter explicitly says the death penalty should not be imposed, “unless, for compelling reasons involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides for it.”

    Congress, however, has provided for it. And while we may question the wisdom of the legislature, the law stands and ought to be implemented.

    So what do we make Gloria Arroyo’s wholesale commutation of all imposed death sentences? The President’s power to grant reprieves and pardons is not in question here. It’s the sweeping exercise of such powers that is disturbing.

    The reason for the mass commutation is obvious. The bishops are starting to close ranks against Gloria’s attempts to revise the Constitution in order to stay in power. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has expressed its concern over the haste with which the proposed shift to a parliamentary system is being carried out. It has also questioned the purported people’s cry on charter change, saying there appears to be manipulation in the gathering of signatures for a people’s initiative. Some bishops have gone beyond the CBCP stand, saying the so-called initiative is fake. More bishops are expected to take a similarly critical stance as Cha-cha heats up.

    Commuting all death sentences follows from Gloria’s tried and tested transactional way of doing business. But will the bishops bite? Drop their opposition to Cha-cha in exchange for the de facto abolition of the death penalty?

    Actually there’s a much neater way of abolishing the death penalty. Congress can simply repeal the death penalty law. There’s a long-standing consensus among senators that that law ought to be repealed. In the House, the opposition also favors an end to the death penalty.

  11. luzviminda luzviminda

    Ellen,

    First, about the Mayuga report. I think na sapilitang ‘pinalinis’ ang summary report na inilabas. But i believe there is more disturbing findings in the complete report. Kailangan malaman natin yung ‘kabuuan’ ng report, including the testimonies of the soldiers. At malamang nandito yung sinasabi ni Mayuga na ‘kailangang further investigation’. Para bang ‘Part I and Part II’. Delaying tactics kung baga para iwas pusoy at bidding for time. baka nga naman maka-uto sila at ‘mapaniwala tayo’ eh di tahimik na. Pero yun ang akala nila. Kaya kailangan… HUWAG SILANG TANTANAN!

    Second, dun naman sa commutation ng death penalty to life sentence… Obvious na ‘irresponsible sweeping exercise’ ito ni GMA para ma-uto ang mga bishops. Imagine 1200 or so heinious criminals. It would be unfair to the families of the victims. Every case should be reviewed meritiously kung dapat ngang bigyan ng commutation. Or else change the law on maximum penalty.

  12. luzviminda luzviminda

    As reported in Phil Daily Inquirer:

    “Confidential information-
    But Mayuga has said the panel’s report — turned in officially to AFP Chief of Staff General Generoso Senga months ago — was a “secret” document due to the “confidential information” given by witnesses.”

    Kung wala din lang namang SABIT ang mga Heneral, bakit kailangang “SECRET” at “CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION” ? Malamang nandyan sa ‘tinatagong part’ na yan ng report ang “sabit” ng mga nakikinabang na corrupt and dishonorable generals. At pag sabit sila, natural na sabit din ang mga PEKE sa MALAKANYANG!!!

  13. warrior warrior

    forgive me my fellow forum members…but im really for death penalty..yes we can say that its cruel and heinous in our own perception..quoting GOD as a shield against death penalty..but havent you read in the bible how more tough their laws are? ex. is achan..during the time of joshua..he stole a gold from the place they conquered,defying GOD’s order to kill all living (men,women,children and their livestocks) and to bring the treasures to the house of GOD. and with that one single act joshua brought achan and all his family in the courtyard and they were stoned to death as ordered by GOD.
    my point is…we have the law…the law may be harsh BUT it is still the law.
    what would you feel if heinous crimes happen to you…your family was killed in a cold blood and your wife was raped and so was your little daughter?
    commuting 1000 convicts is a complete absurdity and show of lack of wisdom.

  14. anna de brux anna de brux

    Hi Elen,

    At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I never thought the Mayuga whitewash, er report would really amount to anything.

    It is very easy for members of the AFP to limit an investigation to the dictates of a higher authority particularly when the lead investigator is contending openly for the position of Flag Officer-in-Command Philippine Navy.

    It is also very easy to “slant” a sensitive report that involves “controversial” figures in accordance to the desiderata of someone from a very high office. When that happens, the report becomes no more, no less “sanitized”.

    Vice-Admiral Mateo Mayuga had been gunning for the top PN post way back in 1998 when Angie Reyes, his close friend and ally was AFP chief. He was only beaten to the finish line when a lobbyist got some promotion papers signed in extremis by then President Estrada or sometime in the last quarter of 2000 thus putting him and his predecessor on an even keel to compete for the top PN post.

    We all know that before the report was ordered officially released, Mayuga’s predecessor had been promptly asked to retire ahead of schedule so that Mayuga, the AFP Inspector General could take over the PN top chief position while the former was given a plum post as Philippine ambassador to Australia.

    Let’s not forget that Vice-Admiral Mayuga, the AFP’s newest 3-star ranking official, will only serve as PN chief for less than a year with his retirement in December 2006.

    What kind of horse trading took place in the corridors of power between the time Mayuga finished the report and in early December 2005 when his predecessor accepted to resign officially as FOIC PN by January 2006? What if in exchange for a well crafted report, acceptable to the commander in chief, ex-AFP Inspector General Mayuga was promised his dream post as top gun of the Philippine Navy?

    Granted that Mayuga’s predecessor was due to retire officially when he turns 56 in September, 2006, there was no reason to kick him out as early as January 2006 unless his commander in chief wanted to please Mayuga for the service he had rendered!
    Let’s get it straight: Mayuga’s predecessor was forced to retire earlier before reaching the mandatory age of retirement of 56 because Mayuga is slated to retire in December 2006 himself at age 56 or there is a current AFP ruling that bans the appointment of an AFP officer as commanding general of a major AFP service command if he has less than 1 year to do it.

    While we are at it, I wonder if Mayuga will also receive a “plum reward” when he himself retires in eight months…

    Given the political circumstances of Mayuga’s sudden change of fortunes, I never believed the Mayuga Report would contain anything substantial or anything that would help Philippine authorities, members of Congress and certainly not COMELEC to investigate further or to prosecute “erring” generals alleged to have conspired with Virgilio “Garci” Garcillano, a Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Commelec appointee to rig election returns in Mindanao in 2004 in favor of presidential candidate Arroyo.

    I don’t have to wait for the AFP so-called confidential records of the Mayuga investigations either to be able to judge the Mayuga whitewash, er the Mayuga Report as a useless report, a futile exercise and a waste of precious military time.

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