Bukas ang pangalawang araw ng preliminary investigation ng Department of Justice sa 49 na taong sangkot kuno sa rebellion laban sa pekeng administrasyon ni Gloria Arroyo.
Kasama doon sa 49 si dating Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan na nahuli noong Miyerkoles sa Green Meadows sa Quezon City.
Pupunta kaya si Gringo sa DOJ bukas?
Alas-10 ang simula ng preliminary investigation. Noong Nov. 13, ng unang araw ng preliminary investigation. Mayroon pang pangatlo, sa susunod na Lunes, Nov. 27.
Ang gustong pumunta para magbigay ng suporta sa mga magigiting na akusado ay dapat maaga pa. Noong Lunes, mag alas-10 na ako dumating dahil nanggaling pa ako sa isang meeting. Nakita ko doon sina Nini Quezon-Avanceña, ang anak ng yumaong Pangulong Manuel L. Quezon, kasama ang kanyang kaibigan na si Maring Feria, sa labas at ayaw papasukin ng pulis.
Itinataboy rin ng pulis ang mga taong nakatayo sa kalsada sa Padre Faura. Praning. Naghati-hati ang grupo ng mga nagra-rally suporta a mga akusado.
Kasama doon sa 49 ang mga sundalo na pinagsususpetsahan ni Arroyo at nina AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon na magsagawa raw sana ng withdrawal of support sa bogus na presidente . Nandoon sina Gen. Renato Miranda , Col. Ariel Querubon, Col. Orlando de Leon, Col. Januario Caringal’ Lt. Col. Armando Bañez, Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon, Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon, Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian, Lt. Col.Nestor Flordeliza, Lt. Col. Edmundo Malabanot at marami pang iba.
Marami ang hindi nakarating. Wala si Honasan. Wala rin si Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim na nakakulong sa Tanay. Wala rin si Col. Caringal na nasa hospital. Wala rin si Ma. Jason Aquino.
Mayroon pang ilan na hindi nakarating at hindi natin alam ang tunay na dahilan. Hindi natin alam kung ano ang kanilang tunay na kalagayan.
Noong Lunes, tinanggihan ni State Porsecutor Deanna Perez ang petition ng ilang abogado ng mga akusado na idismis ang kaso dahil maraming pagkukulang ang isinampang kaso. Wala nga doon ang mga nag-akusa na sina Atty. Reynaldo Esmeralda at Police Director Jesus Verzosa.
Ang akusasyon ay nakabatay sa salaysay nina lst. Lawrence San Juan, lLt. Patricio Bumidang, Jr. at Ltjg Kiram Sadava. Doon sa mga salaysay na yun, sinabi na may mga pagkakataon na kinupkp daw sila ni Bishop Antonio Tobias at Bishop Julio Labayen.
Ngunit hindi kasama sa mga akusado ang dalawang obispo. Takot si Gloria na banggain ang simbahang Katoliko ngayon.
I read that Honasan’s lawyer is worried for Honasan’s health and that his being spirited from the hospital to a jail in Laguna could be disastrous to the former military desk officer turned senator.
Gimme a break!
Why is it that everytime a big fish is caught – remember Gonzalez whose heart started breaking down when he was being quizzed in the Senate, along with many others, they all go to hospital first and claim poor health all of a sudden.
If they can’t take the heat, they must get out of the kitchen or better still, they shouldn’t do the crime if they can’t do the time kind of… I mean the sudden excuse that they have poor health is pretty pathetic really.
anna de brux Says:
“I like reading Fencesitter’s entries on the legal front – they are insightful, simple, and smack of common sense.”
anna thank you, but a pat in the back is the least i need. but it would be hypocritical of me not to appreciate your sincere compliments. although we may take different stand on so many issues we tackle here, we can agree to disagree and respect each other’s views. if my facts or premise is wrong feel free to challenge and demolish it. that’s how truth is polished so that it can emerge a beacon light in a free market of ideas. throwing invectives, profanities and writing unprintables are resorted only to when one’s mind goes bankrupt, you know to fill-up a void space.
i am here to be informed and to inform as well, believing that a spark of brilliant idea, even an unpopular one, can provoke, stimulate or sharpen a dull mind ever imaginable . you will notice that before i give comments on issues posed in every thread i have to gather my own facts first and draw my own conclusion and opinion from them.
if i will not do that, i will also be feasting on peddled rumors so abundant everywhere. if by any chance i will learn to love listening to rumors then, you will no longer find me here posting my thoughts. i will not go any farther. the neighborhood could provide me the same kind and high dose of rumors this country churn and feed idle minds on a daily basis. i will not strain my eyes reading nonsensical blog entries and end my day more confused than enlightened.
ego-tripping is not my cup of tea. and i will not break my arm patting one’s back nor do i expect others to break theirs just to pat my back. otherwise, we will convert this blog spot into similar social groups (no different than mike’s rotary ), consisting mainly of influence peddlers, kibitzers, and free-loaders where probably the most insecure people loved to gather to show they are intellectually superior or a million richer than the others for no other purpose than to seek recognition they cannot find elsewhere and boost their over-inflated ego until they explode to pieces.
aren’t most social groups exist only for that purpose. They pay big amount of annual membership fees, most of which will be spent for fine dining and wining and only a pittance for charitable project to be presented in a grand launching fully covered by the media. yes, the hype and publicity can be so tempting, even intoxicating. i stop attending meetings when a very prominent member in a professional group i joined dominates every discussion just to proclaim to all and sundry the big mansions he owns, fleet of cars he kept and the places in europe he traveled. some in the group turned blue with envy! gosh! and i thought i joined the group so i can help and give back to the society what i owe.
now i understand why the saints of the church lived a cloistered and insignificant lives and why Jesus Christ chose to come to this world a poor, to teach us that true riches to be found in heaven begin from one’s lowly heart.
my purpose in contributing to this blog is to provoke and stimulate political discourse in an elevated higher intellectual plane. that is the best mental calisthenics one can usefully engage if there is nothing much more to do, an antidote to an increasing Alzhiemer’s disease affecting those intellectually deficient.
anna de brux Says:
“Why is it that everytime a big fish is caught – remember Gonzalez whose heart started breaking down when he was being quizzed in the Senate, along with many others, they all go to hospital first and claim poor health all of a sudden.”
anna, to evade arresting officer closing in on honasan in greenmeadows, he sustained serious injuries that require hospitalization. his medical condition is for real.
how the police was able to insist in securing his release from hospital confinement will be the subject of speculations for days to come, until the PNP can come up with coherent and convincing answers. normally, once a patient enters a hospital and agreed to be confined, he should stay there until the attending physician issued him a clean bill of health and authorize his release after paying all his hospital bills.
in honasan’s case, the determination of his release from the hospital will not be done by his personal physician alone. that would be jointly done by government doctors and his personal doctor. what if they do not agree? well the government doctor prevails subject to a serious responsibility he should answer later if his assessment proved to be fatally wrong. from the newspaper account i read on his medical bulletin, i think honasan’s injuries are serious but not life-threatening. the PNP leadership probably think that keeping a slippery catch like him in the hospital requires a lot of expenses and manpower than when he is placed in a more secure police facilities where they are free to implement all security measures they need.
you are very accurate in your observation of a very convenient way to avoid embarrassment and escape detention inside congested jail cells whenever one is in trouble with the law. take note, though, that only the rich and famous suspects can do that. petty criminals and ordinary citizens like us, when apprehended just go with the police with minimum or no resistance at all, and with bowed head go straight inside the jail and wait there where fate will bring us.
and if you care to remember, marcos did it in the early days of his exile in hawaii to remain in his makiki resthouse. government doctors then examined him and with the aid of sophisticated and modern medical equipment found he was just faking the pains. good try!
sen. jinggoy also had been sick and sought medical furloughs when he was still in jail. good that he is out on bail now. that contributed to his improved health.
compartmentalized justice we have here, one for the rich and another for the poor? you bet. but that had been going on for as long as i can remember! honestly, i cannot think of an easy solution for this. maybe we keep on trying to solve the wrong problem so that we end up solving nothing. are you not fed up with this?
Kapag bata o tuta ka ng Malacanang, kaunting sakit sa ulo ay ospital agad ang dala sa kanila. Natatandaan niyo pa ba si Gen. Garcia? Sus, sobrang asikaso sa kanya. Palibhasa kasi kasama sa krimen ni tiyanak. Pero kung kaaway ka o taga-opposition, mamamatay ka na hindi ka pa papansinin. Dahilan nila pantay-pantay daw ang hustisya sa lahat ng tao. Hindi naman nila kagaya ko na kapag may sumpong at wala sa mood, sa mamahalin hospital ang pahinga sa loob ng luxury room. Hindi bababa na apat na nurse specialists ang nagbabantay sa akin. May pera ako, eh paano na iyong iba?
Ako rin, excited malaman ang kasagutan sa tanong mo, Ellen! It looks like this Arroyo “Zarzuela” keeps on getting longer and longer. Everytime I open my computer every morning, I can’t help but wonder, what surprise awaits me. The “surprise” that am referring to, and feeling hopeless afterwards , is: Is SHE still in Malakanyang?
As Fencesitter mentioned: “Maybe we keep on tring to solve the wrong problem so that we end up solving nothing. Are you not fed up with this? Yes, I admit I am, at times. Am not and was not fond of politics…but living away from home, has made me aware of my country’s situation. To borrow Ystakei’s statement: Kawawang bansa!
I wasn’t around anymore when Honasan once occupied the headlines, but i believed this man is really fighting for something …not only for his own good but also for his poor countrymen! I am praying for his “CAUSE!”
fence,
You forgot to mention “high-risk”. Just like the case of Atong Ang who was ordered detained at the Quezon City Jail and whose motion to be held in the custody of the NBI was rejected by the Sandiganbayan. Well, you can also say that special privileges are extended to those whose “services” are still needed by this administration.
Ellen,
I hope you can see the pattern of demolition with Honasan and Ang. The administration has no senatorial slate to square off with the opposition. Cayetano, Honasan and the Estradas and throw in Ping Lacson into the list and you’ll see the pattern. I expect more to join them in this list targeted for demolition. Its easier to take out the competition than spend billions on losers. This is how I see it. Speculative bordering on absurdity? Maybe, but with the absurd ideas this administration comes up with, its better to analyze their actions using the same wavelength and mindset.
Schumey, I see clearly Arroyo’s demolition team against Honasan. But against Atong Ang? It’s Ang doing the demolition with those juicy crime tidbits that Raul Gonzales is sharing with media.
Over here, Anna, politicians who fall from grace usually commit suicide to save face. Those who cannot have that courage, fiend sickness, but the pressure and burden of conscience is just too heavy, I guess, that they end up being really sick and eventually die.
There is only one I know who has served a term in jail, and tried to get back his position at the Diet after coming out of jail, but failed. In short, they cannot fool the people here twice.
I wish it were like that in the Philippines. Ang dami sigurong mamamatay!
Anna, bush and Gloria Arroyo, indeed met for 10 minutes on the sidelines of APEC. Ph di, pinagbigyan nga. I can imagine Palace minions jumping up and down with joy.
Did you see Inquirer’s account of it as reported by Foreign Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio?
Big deal, di ba?
You’re right, Anna, why should Honasan be given any special consideration. Now is the time for him to show his bravery and courage in fact.
When he was on the lose, I thought it was to make sure that his friends in the military are up to something, making a successful takeover that will remove the bogus president from the palace. Golly, wala rin palang sinabi.
Now, the matter is up to the people of the Philippines to do what is right. Dapat natuto na sila. Ang daming palpak na dumaan, wala pa rin ba?
Is that a meeting? Big deal indeed, Ellen. Kakasuka! Not worth reporting by the biggies. Puede lang sa Inquirer! Hahuh!
fencesitter, I’m also concerned about the disclosure of specific health facility where a suspect is confined. Usually in a high risk suspect, not only that security is provided, but even a location is kept from the general public for a very obvious security precaution. And even police can not start their investigation or interviewing a wounded suspect, unless with the ‘go ahead’ by the attending physicians with the presence of councels. But again in our case, Physicians do not conspire with the suspects. Hard to prove, but perceptions are even physicians in the Philippines, especially Family or Personal physicians are just like politicians and will also lie and conive for a price. Like politicians, a few could give a bad name to a majority.
reported by Foreign Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio?
“The two (Bush and Arroyo) looked very affable. They just pulled a chair and said, let’s have our meeting here.
…
Dubya must be squirming inside, looking at Condi and said to himself: “what am I doing here talking to a kleptocrat?”
Ellen,
What’s the truth about the Pandak offering Mindanao in exchange for a 10-minute photo-op with the Dubya? Halatang-hatalang taeng-taeng makumbida sa Texas ranch ni Dubya! Lagot ang mga Moro. Ubos ang lupain nila kapag nagkataon. Maghahalo na talaga ang balat sa tinalupan nito! Heaven forbid!
Katakot-takot na landgrabbing na naman!
ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit nasa malakanyang pa si gloria ay hindi lang ang hindi pagkakaisa ng oposisyon, hindi lang ang pagsuporta sa kanya ng mga K9 niya sa AFP gaya nina asoperon KUNDI ang masisibang CONGRESSMEN AND WOMEN na ipinagbili ang kanilang mga prinsipyo at kaluluwa sa reyna ng impiyerno!
kung pinairal nila ang pagiging indipindyente sa bawat isa ng tatlong sangay ng pamahalaan – executive, legislative & judiciary, at binigyang halaga o pansin ang mga ebidensiya noon pa mang unang impeachment na inihain, hindi na magkakagulo nang ganito sa pilipinas.
Ms. Ellen,
The so-called meeting, if one can even call it that really, was aparently a no biggy! If that meeting had any weight, they would NOT have “…just pulled a chair and said, let’s have our meeting here.” It was more of a tet-a-tet.
In desperation, Gloria will take on ANYTHING to improve her image, most especially, internationally! Fortunately, Gloria and her Legions are hard sell to the the world. Watching the 14th APEC Leaders Meeting, CNN barely panned on the Midget! I guess she doesn’t carry much weight.
Yup, Chabeli, walang billing si Bansot! Trying hard to make pansin. Palakad-lakad sa beach na akala mo nandoon siya sa Cannes parang katulad noong trying hard to sell themselves na laos na artista. Hahahahaha! Walang coverage ng mga major international media. Trying hard ang ungas! Kawawa naman! Buti nga sa kaniya! Belat!
panalo na naman si pacquiao via third roud knock out. nanalo rin ang mga sugarol na kaalyado ng private gentlepig pidal, partikular na sina sabit singson at mga tongresmen na lumipad sa las vegas at ipinusta ang perang galing sa buwis ng taong bayan. habang mahigit kalahati ng populasyon ang nagkakandaduling sa gutom, ang mararangal na lingkod bayang ito ay nagpapasarap sa kabuuan ng kanilang termino at parang walang pakialam sa tunay na kalagayan ng kanilang mga nasasakupan.
… third round knockout…..
Does anyone know how much Morales was paid in his fight with Pacquiao?
Pacquiao won a round 3 knockout!
Sorry, Pacquiao got a $3Mil, while morales was $2.75Mil guarantee.
Ang laki na naman ng kinita ni Fatso and Chavit! Last January, I’m told that they won 257,000 dollars in bets each! I wonder how much they got this time!
Sabi ni Pacman, protection daw niya si Fatso. Kundi sa Customs palang ubos na ang kita niya.
Tuwang-tuwa si Pandak kasi malaki na naman ang kinita nila. I told a friend who needed help for a child stricken with cancer to contact Pacquiao. No pansin daw sila. Pinagtataguan daw ang mga pumipila para humingi ng abuloy sa kaniya. Sana magkawanggawa naman siya kahit kaunti! Hindi iyong puro abuloy siya sa mga squatters ng Malacanang! 🙁
Ellen,
Out of topic ito. But I have received an email from ‘confimation@emailenfuego.net’ for my activation daw of ‘Subscription to Ellen Tordesillas Latest News’. I don’t remember subscribing, kasi nasa internet naman lagi ang mga messages & write-ups mo. And it is instructing me to click a link to the website of ‘feedburner.com’. Is this email coming from your end? Kasi baka may nagmomonitor na rin sa email address ko.
Luzviminda,
I submitted your email so that you can be alerted everytime there’s a new posting. It’s a blog alert. If you want it you may click to feedburner.
It’s easier because fromthe alert article, you can click, and you go to the blog. Thanks.
Thanks Ellen.
Now i am relieved! I love visiting the MOST CONROVERSIAL but INFORMATIVE, INTELLIGENT, COURAGEOUS, AWESOME & LOVED blogsite of yours!!!
josephs, di pala nagkakalayo ang bayad ni Pakyaw at Morales, ano? :).
******
ystakei, you may wanna check, mukhang superimposed lang ang body ni Pandakekang sa scenery!
Barring untowards circumstances and poor health, i think Honassan is man enough to face his detractors. Let us face it, he’s been in many battles. i cannot say the same to the men on the other side of the fence, though.
And about Gringo. Siguro dapat nating malaman ang tunay na mga pangyayari sa Oakwood. Why these young patriotic soldiers engaged in this extra ordinary action. And why up to now the conditions of our soldiers were being neglected. Every time na mapapanood ko ang ang equipments ng mga sundalo ng ibang bansa lalo na ng mga Asian countries na kulelat nuong panahon ni Marcos na ngayon ay mga high-tech na ay naiinggit ako. Samantalang tayo ay NAMAMALIMOS NG MGA LUMA AT OUTDATED EQUIPMENTS GALING SA AMERIKA KAPALIT NG ATING PATRIMONY AT KUNG ANUPANG PWEDENG MAISAKRIPISYO NG ATING PEKENG GOBYERNO. Hanggang ngayon ay PINAGKA-KWARTAHAN lang nga mga corrupt na opisyal at mga politikong pulpol ang ating mga kasundaluhan at the expense of their lives. The ideals and dreams of our brave patriotic soldiers originated from the ideals and dreams of Gringo, hence his National Recovery Program (NRP). And I believe that the betterment of our country is their ultimate goal. LET US LISTEN TO THE GRIEVANCES OF OUR SOLDIERS. THEY ARE ALSO VICTIMS OF OUR CORRUPT MILITARY LEADERSHIP IN CONNIVANCE WITH THE FAKE MALACAñANG LEADERSHIP. LET US GIVE ATTENTION TO THEIR SACRIFICES! LET US SEE IF THEIR GOALS WILL DO OUR COUNTRY GOOD!
Magbabago lang ang takbo ng Pinas kung mababago ang pananaw ng mga trapos. Nakakaiingit. Sa Amerika at matitinong bansa, ang mga mamamayan ay nagsasabing dapat ay sundin nila (presidents) ang nais nating mangyari dahil sila ay ating empleyado, not the other way around. Sa Pinas, ang alam ng pekeng pangulo at mga minions ay ari nila ang mga pinoy at ang bansa!
Tribune Headline:
Yes-Arms calls on Esperon to apply AFP law equally
11/20/2006
The military does not apply the law equally when it comes to favorites of the hierarchy.
A group of idealist military and police officers challenged Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to apply equality in the dispensation of the law and allow the prosecution of a certain Marine colonel who had gone Awol (absence without leave) from the service for more than a year but who still receives salaries and other benefits from the AFP.
Young Enlisted Soldiers with Active and Retired Military and Police for Solidarity(Yes Arms) spokesman, retired Cmdr. Ismael Aparri charged that Col. Jonathan Martir, a batallion
commander had over 945 days of absences, 500 days of which were authorized from the period of 1994 up to this year but not without incurring another 400 days of unauthorized absences. Yet the Yes Arms spokesman stressed that this military officer has never been investigated.
“How will he (Esperon) earn the respect of his men in uniform if there are sacred cows in his turf who were never touched despite their wanton disregard of law,” Aparri said.
“And yet there are two medal of valor awardees who had sacrificed lives in fighting insurgents but had been placed in solitary confinement for speaking up against the illegitimate regime of Mrs. Arroyo,” he stressed, referring to Marine Col. Ariel Querubin and Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon.
The accused officers are being detained in a site where there are hidden spy monitors to photograph their movements, as well as tape their conversations, as a means to check on any coup or escape that is being plotted by these Marine officers.
Aparri said aside from Querubin and Parcon four other officers such as Col. Orlando de Leon, Col. Januario Caringa, Col. Armando Bañez and Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian, are being persecuted by Esperon and had been placed in a maximum security prison for standing up to their principles.
The Yes Arms spokesman charged that Martir leaves the country whenever he wishes even when this is not authorized and is in violation of the Articles of War Art. 62.
“He (Martir) went to the United States to study and exceeded his authorized leave of absences for over two years, drawing his salaries and other fees all along. The Marine Corps did not declare him Awol nor did it investigate him on his unauthorized absences despite this being in violation of the anti graft and corrupt practices act under RA 3019,” the spokesman said, adding “worse he deceived authorities by declaring that he was not a member of the Armed Forces on his frequent unauthorized foreign trips,” he said.
Aparri said Esperon should investigate Martir including those who covered up for his Awol status because the AFP had been effectively defrauded.
“Colonel Martir should be immediately relieved from his post and investigated so he could be cleared or if not, he should be discharged from the service. How come he has been in and out of the country without authority? Is he working for the (US) CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)?” he asked.
Martir who commands the Combat Service and Support Brigade of the Philippine Marines, specializing in urban warfare, leads 1,500 men under six battalions that include the Marine Corps assault armor, field and antiaircraft, inshore boat, motor and maintenance, force recon and service support battalions.
Documents obtained by the Tribune from the Philippine Navy and the Bureau of Immigration show that Martir has accumulated more than 945 days of absences. There is a discrepancy of more than 75 days or more than two years of unauthorized absences considering that he was only allowed a total of 195 days of authorized leave to be spent abroad.
The Tribune tried to reach Martir for his side but was unable to reach him in his office.
But a ranking naval officer who requested not to be identified defended Martir and described the latter as a “pillar of democracy” because he has never joined any military uprising.
“He (Martir) is known for his consistently pro-government stance throughout his military career, even during the Aquino administration” we often hear him telling his men and fellow officers that a military man must protect the institution. He has no right to become a rebel,” the Navy officer said. Sherwin C. Olaes
Honasan confession to be “explored”
Palace eyes Gringo as state witness vs Feb “coup plotter”
By Sherwin C. Olaes
11/20/2006
Malacañang is planning to tap captured former Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan as the government’s state witness principally against the Palace-suspected political opposition figures and financiers of the alleged Feb. 24 and 26 coup d’etat, it was learned yesterday.
The talk is that Malacañang reportedly received word from Honasan that he is ready to “cooperate” with the government on the issue of coup plots to help bring about political stability to the Arroyo government.
Malacañang sources told the Tribune yesterday that a “confession” from Honasan is forthcoming, which will reportedly identify several coup plotters and financiers of at least two failed coup attempts, namely the Oakwood mutiny staged by the junior officers going by the name of the Magdalo group, who are now facing both a military
court trial before the Makati Regional Trial Court on charges of coup d’etat.
Honasan was earlier charged in the same coup d’etat case for rebellion, while he remains a suspect and an accused in the Feb. 24 rebellion case. His arraigment has been postponed.
President Arroyo’s chief aide, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita also yesterday disclosed to reporters that he had ordered the Department of Justice (DoJ) to “explore and exploit” the forthcoming confession of Honasan which he said is expected to be a tell-all on the plotters and financiers of the claimed Feb. 24 failed power grab attempt.
In a phone patch interview, Ermita said, “Whatever he (Honasan) says must be explored and exploited by the DoJ to help the government run after the people behind the attempted coup d’etat and help the country achieve political stability.”
Ermita said Malacañang is looking forward to Honasan’s promise of cooperation even as he declined to confirm that talks for the amnesty of the former lawmaker have already begun. Amnesty needs Congress’ concurrence, however.
“I think we have to look at this positively. If he will indeed cooperate then that is a very good development which can help mitigate (destabilization attempts) and send a correct signal to those not yet accounted for that they must return to the fold of the law,” he said.
Honasan could not be contacted to confirm or deny the Malacañang claims, as he has not been allowed a cellphone for his use.
It is not known whether the Palace is using psy-war ops to get the rebellion and coup cases against the military officers, both active and retired officers and use this against them as well as turn this into a campaign propaganda against the political opposition while Honasan stays incommunicado in his cell at the Sta. Rosa detention center.
The fate of the military officers implicated in the failed plan to overthrow the administration of Mrs. Arroyo is said to be known tomorrow, the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.
In a chance interview at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. yesterday said he has already acted on an earlier recommendation to try the renegade officers before a general court martial.
The AFP chief said he is going to announce his decision in a press conference today to be held at the Lakambini room of the AFP Commissioned Officers Country Club.
“I already have one,” said Esperon, when asked if he already has a decision on the case of the 38 Army and Marine officers which included former First Scout Ranger Regiment commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and former Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, along with Col. Ariel Querubin, a medal of valor awardee.
“But I’m still subjecting it to another review, another round (of review)… I’m still reviewing it as of now,” Esperon added.
The word in military circles is that Esperon is facing resistance from the officers and men for him to subject these officers to a court-martial, since Esperon himself has reportedly been involved in the 2004 poll cheating operations, said to be the root of the alleged move by these officers to join the Feb. 24 demonstrators’ march, where a withdrawal of support from Mrs. Arroyo would have been announced.
A fact-finding body recommended in July the trial of the renegade officers in a military tribunal. Then AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga subsequently ordered a pre-trial investigation against the officers, preparatory for the conduct of court martial.
On Oct. 26, the pretrial investigation panel headed by Col. Al Pererras recommended to Esperon the convening of a court martial against the officers, saying there was “probable cause” to proceed with the trial.
The officers were subjected to investigation for violation of several provisions of the Articles of War, including attempting to begin or create mutiny, conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman, among others, in connection with the coup plot.
Esperon, however, referred the more than 200-page recommendation of the Pererras panel to his staff judge advocate for review before deciding on the matter.
“I’ll announce it (his decision) (today) at 10 a.m.,” said Esperon, who is expected to convene a general court martial if he upholds the recommendation of the Pererras panel. Esperon has the power to overturn the recommendation but military observers said this will be unlikely.
The AFP chief’s apparent prejudgment of the case had been hit by the lawyers of the coup plotters.
On Sept. 12, Esperon said that “within the month, we are going full stream ahead and go on with the court martial proceedings.”
He stressed that he would not give the renegade officers a second chance, noting that Lim and Marine Colonel Querubin, both bemedalled officers linked to the plot, have been involved in the failed coups in the late 1980s.
Esperon said would be standing as a witness against the accused.
The military earlier said Esperon’s appearance at the witness stand had already been cleared by military lawyers, even as the testimony of the AFP chief is vital to the case.
At the same time, Honasan’s alleged co-conspirators of the coup, retired military men Felix Turingan and Jake Malajacan, are still at large despite an eight-month effort by authorities to locate them.
Honasan personally informed Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno that he is willing not only to cooperate in the investigation but also to assist the government in “achieving political stability.”
The opposition earlier said that Honasan would be included in its Senate slate, with some Malacañang aides claiming that Honasan may well win since he would be exploiting his capture.
The latest word from Malacañang sources is that with Honasan under the administration wing, and on his way to becoming a state witness against the Magdalo group and the Feb. 24 suspects charged in a rebellion case, he is likely to be included in the administration’s Senate slate.
Ermita, however, said Malacañang is more interested in ending future threats of coups d’etat than ensuring that Honasan’s political ambitions will be beneficial to the administration.
“We have to strengthen our political stability. That is a must because whatever economic headway we achieve is still dependent on our political stability,” he added.
Earlier, Malacañang claimed that with the capture of Honasan, the end of coups has come and that political stability has been achieved.
But the opposition remains unfazed at the possibility of the names of its members being dragged in Honasan’s confession.
“We’re not concerned about that. I don’t think Greg will drag our names just to be able to give names,” Senator Eduardo Angara said in a recent interview.
Not a single case has been filed against opposition lawmakers in relation to the power grab attempt, but National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales did not discount the possibility that politicians critical of the Arroyo administration had a hand in the attempts to unseat her.
The former senator who has been in hiding for at least nine months, was arrested following a brief chase from home to home in a Green Meadows Subdivision in Quezon City a few days ago.
Honasan, former leader of the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM) who led at least two serious attempted coups d’etat against the Aquino Government from 1986 to 1989, sustained a deep laceration on his sole and a fracture in his left foot when he attempted to escape from the pursuing government agents by fleeing from house to house inside the Enclave Townhouses in Green Meadows at 2:30 am.
With PNA and Tribune wires
abangan ang susunod na kabanata ng panlilinlang!
Any Government official who intervene in the Judicial Process already in the court system should resign. Such is the case of Secretary Ermita, making a propaganda a case which has a serious implications to the political situation in the country at present or in the future. I believe Honasan or the Group of individuals suspected of plotting to overthrow the Government had already been charged in the Proper Court of Justice. Let the Justice System takes its course, instead of the administration undermining it by releasing “propaganda” about this and that that may prove to be nothing but just the same old BS the same people had been saying for quite some times. And who’s gonna believe a word coming from the mouths of individual such as Ermita, Bunyetta, or Gonzales anyways??
Topic related to bad policies of the bogus president:
From Malaya-
They should be in schools,
not in farms and factories
CLOSE to a million Filipino children are working to help their families survive, a report of the Department of Labor and Employment’s Bureau of Women and Young Workers showed.
As of last year, around 880,000 children, five to 14 years old, were earning a living. Males make up 64.5 percent of working children. The rest are females.
About 748,000 are 10 to 14 years old while 132,000 are 5 to 9 years old.
“Serving as a survival strategy of the family is one of the causes of child labor. Parents see their children as someone who can help them earn money and put food in their tables,” said BWYW director Cynthia Cruz.
Regions 10 and 8 have the highest number of child workers, with 196,000 and 119,000, respectively.
Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao are among the poorest regions.
Labor Undersecretary Arturo Sodusta said they are targeting a more realistic goal of reducing the number of child workers rather than completely eliminating them.
“We are looking at the reduction of the number of child laborers and not to immediately eliminate them because it will not be realistic,” he said.
Cruz said they are looking at six specific industries as priorities where they can rescue victims of unjust labor practices.
These are deep-sea fishing, sugar cane farming, pyrotechnic manufacturing, mining, prostitution and domestic labor.
Cruz said their advocacy aims to educate families and industries on the practice of child labor and to prevent the exploitation of working children because “some don’t even know what the concept of child labor is.” – Gerard Naval
*****
Now that they cannot be deployed to Japan to work as bar and club hostesses cum prostitutes, they are now send to factories where they are definitely exploited.
This reminds me of the children who are not in schools being lured to take up some Jr. Caregiver course (kuno) and have the kids do actual caring of the elderly without fees. Training daw kuno.
Kawawang mga pilipino! Wala na bang katapusan sa mga kahayupan ito? STOP CHILD SLAVERY! STOP CHILD PROSTITUTION! STOP CHILD EXPLOITATION!
Vic, welcome back after a brief pause.
If I can only read mind, I want to know what Gringo is thinking right now. If evidences against his previous coup involvment are very strong, he might just agree to a compromise. And such compromise or compromises would directly or indirectly harm the opposition. On one hand, this macho lady killer former officer and senator is reputably tough even under extreme pressure. But, would health and age affect his decisions and judgment?
On Pacquiao: I’m not a gambler but I know how gamblers work. This is how I think the Pacquiao-Morales match went. First, Morales got paid for the fight not far from what Pacquiao received. But behind these official prize purses the two received were the under the table bonuses both got. Morales could have been paid much more than that by the gambling syndicates to take it easy on Manny. The fight was a non-title bout so he had nothing to lose. Morales has long thought of retiring from the ring anyway. This fight was arranged just for the money. Second, take note that Morales refused to continue the fight when knocked down in the third round despite his corner asking him to go on. Why? Did he already think of quitting on the 3rd even before the fight began? Those who betted that Manny would win within the first 5 rounds made lots of money. Las Vegas is a gambling city where the crooks and crime syndicates live. The Mafias are as strong and alive as ever. Their counterparts some of which might have become America’s Mafia’s partners were part of it. Mob groups from Hongkong and other Asian countries. Now, we can include the Pidal’s Mafia. Mexico has her own crime groups most of which are engaged in drug trades. Drugs and gambling are like brother and sister. The Fat Guy and his gang made lots of money? You bet. At the moment, they are celebrating. When they return, they resume their evil activities, and the victims once again are poor Filipinos like us.
This FAKE Government will just INVENT STORIES and PLAY DIRTY POLITICS with the investigation of Gringo and the Patriotic Military in connection with the Oakwood Incident and the unexecuted February Withdrawal of Support. They will implicate politicians and civilians who they consider HINDRANCE TO THEIR EVIL SCHEMES. The Fake Administration does not really want the people to know the TRUTH ABOUT THESES INCIDENTS BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT THEIR CORRUPTION , FRAUD, INCOMPETENCE AND ILLEGAL GOVERNANCE!!!
A Gringo Honasan sings a song scenario to save his ass is possible. DOJ chief Raul Gonzalez is promising heaven and earth to have a credible rebellion charges and persecution of the opposition and its supporters. Malacanang’s dirty tricks department at work. May 2007 midterm elections will be the judgment day for Gloria Arroyo and her political allies in Congress.
Noel,
Been busy back and forth to my doc for exams,cus my LDL (bad cholesterol is up and doc wants to include me in some study about this new drug that competes with the “blue pill”, but decided against the idea,because it may aggravate the BP issue…you think our friend Gringo needs it, just kidding..anyways just watched the Santa Claus parade and it lightens up things a bit. Heard our PM is playing a go between the allies and the North Korea and also getting hard on the Chinese (artsee’s) regarding human rights issues. I hope he has something to say to Madame Gloria, but again he might not as well, it’s like talking to the night wind, no ears, beside being deaf, will just embarrassed our good looking PM.
schumey Says:
“fence,
You forgot to mention “high-risk”. Just like the case of Atong Ang who was ordered detained at the Quezon City Jail and whose motion to be held in the custody of the NBI was rejected by the Sandiganbayan. Well, you can also say that special privileges are extended to those whose “services” are still needed by this administration.”
schumey all detention prisoners and convicted prisoners should be considered “high-risk”. if you are the one in charge of any of them in your custody you should not put your guard down. no matter how meek and mild you look at them, i tell you, they will surely attempt to escape at any small chance available. people normally hide and make themselves scarce when their privacy is threatened, how much more if the threat involves one’s liberty.
the ground that atong ang used to support his motion to be detained at the nbi facilities is a grave threat to his life. that the sandiganbayan rejected the plea simply means that his ground did not hold water. ang may have a strong feelings about a “grave threat” to his life because he only knew what free-wheeling and dealings he previously made with whom but “feelings” no matter how strong are not competent evidence to support a cause in court. for all we know, the threat could be so real, but for the court to grant his motion, he needs to present other evidence to independently prove the said threat.
the jail facilities in q.c. i heard is good only for 800-900 inmates. wanna guess the prison population there now? it’s brimming with 3,000 inmates, more or less. with that number, i guess the entire floor area of each cell will be occupied with prisoners standing. of course, you could not sleep standing only some animals can! to get more space and afford them more room for movement, they improvised wooden layers all the way up so they can sleep with their backs lay flat on its floors.
if you are a wealthy suspect about to be detained there, will you not be tempted to commission your brilliant lawyer to invent all sort of reasons, including the most outrageous one just so you can’t set foot on that jail facilities more apt to be called institutional torture chamber?
the jail condition alone is already a horrible torture so i don’t understand why even the most petty criminal will trade his hollowed liberty in exchange for a snatched cell phone he can later convert into cash to buy meals lasting only for a day or two. oh no body can underestimate what a criminally inclined is capable of doing once the pang of hunger attacks. but some go to prison for reasons other than hunger or to raise fund to buy an ailing family member medicines.
one time i saw on tv news a group of 3 apprehended for staging a hold-up in a passenger jeep and when interviewed by a tv reporter why they did the committed the crime, one suspect readily volunteered: “to buy liquour to celebrate a group-member’s birthday.” i am really so sorry for the parents of that guy, they bring forth into this world one lost soul to terrorize an otherwise peaceful society the right-minded are trying so hard to build. unfortunately for us, there is no school offering courses in responsible parenting. but if all of us have eyes to see and ear to hear, this world is a wide university where we can learn a lot. another failure but the whole society suffers and we could not escape the blame because one way or the other, we have contributed to the ills multiplying like cancer cells, by our own acts and, in subtle ways, our own indifference!
correction, the phrase “why did they commited the crime” should read WHY DID THEY COMMIT THE CRIME. hmmm writing directly here does not afford enough time for correction of grammar especially when one is in a hurry to do some other important things.
correction still, the phrase “no matter how meek and mild you look at them” should read NO MATTER HOW MEEK AND MILD THEY APPEAR TO YOU”. please bear with me.
Fencesitter,
I understand. That’s why I expressed a view with regard to your previous entry – short and to the point – that’s in keeping with what I do when I believe the commenter knows what he is talking about.
One thing you do realize is that Ellen’s blog is not a “trier of facts”. I suppose commenters here feel the blog is a place where they can express their thoughts without having to engage in philosophical discourses, after all, the news that hog the headlines, particularly those that involve Gloria, her greedy spouse and her terribly warped minded minions, do merit disdain.
But it’s always good to have a commenter with a legal background, someone who can provide a different perspective more balanced with less raw passion – comments emanating from one who has the capacity to raise reasoning to a logical level akin to mathematical thinking almost always give the discussion a different flavor – it becomes spicier, or saucier but never bland.
As they say in France, “Eh ben, mon vieux! Ca c’est de quelque chose!”, Keep em coming, Fencesitter!
What’s this crap the Malacanang gossipmongers are passing around that Honasan is now about to give in, and join the Pidal camp versus his comrades in arms re the bogged down coup (kuno) in February that everyone knew was no coup at all!
Golly, magdamag namin inabangan ang transmission from Manila, walang nangyari. Sabi nga ng mga kasama kong hapon sa TV, “Mata! Kore ja news ni naranai ne!” (Again! This is not going to make the news!) because what we saw there was only Querubin shouting “Foul!” He was not even holding a gun! And there was the other bansot telling ABS-CBN that Malacanang would file a lawsuit against ABS-CBN if it would broadcast everything that was happening at the camp then especially when Cory Aquino, et al started coming in and giving support to the brave marines.
Yup, tinakot pa ni Bansot Defensor ang ABS-CBN, and his voice clearly transmitted to the TV studio where I was translating those video clips from Manila. I translated that part into Japanese word for word as a matter of fact.
sige lang ystakei, maganda ‘yang feed mo :).
takutan na naman. sira na ang ulo ng little mike na ito dahil sa kayabangan. manang- mana sa amo.
Balita ko kabit pa nga e, pero sabi ko naman, “What? Pinatolan iyong malibog? Wala rin taste ano?” Kahit na sino na lang. Matakaw kasi! Ipinagmalaki pa nga e. 3 times a day, seven days a week, 30-31 days a month daw! Ganid talaga! 😛 Siya mismo ang nagsabi nyan ha. No libel iyan! Iyon lang nga ang sabi iyong dambuhala ang kaboglihan!
Sorry for the kababuyan, pero baboy naman ang pinag-uusapan, OK ngarud! 😛
TonGue-tWisTeD & hawaiianguy
contact address now on the site.
Maganda ang sinabi ni Mr. Macasaet tungkol sa kaso ni Mia at Gingo.
*********
Panakot sa media
11/20/06
Amado Macasaet
Wala namang masama kung maaresto ang isang tao, lalo na kung nasa media at kung may warrant of arrest. Wala ring masama kung madaling hanapin ang akusado at arestuhin.
Pero sobra naman yata kung anim na pulis ang pupunta sa press room ng Malacañang para arestuhin si Mia Gonzalez ng Business Mirror. Puwede naman na sa gate na lamang hintayin at arestuhin.
Ang normal na proseso ay pupuntahan ng pulis ang akusado sa kanyang bahay o opisina. Bakit naman sa press room pa ng Malacañang. Parang hindi makahintay.
Parang gustong mapahiya ang akusado.
Katulad ng kasong libel na isinampa sa akin ni Unang Ginoo, ang sinulat ni Mia na hindi nagustuhan ni Attorney Arroyo ay noon pang 2004 sa weekly na Newsbreak.
Ang tagal bago naisip ni Mike Arroyo bago idemanda si Mia at 40 pa na kasama namin sa media. Sana noon pa. Pero, wala naman kaming paki kung kailan niya gusto.
Ang napapansin namin ay biglang sunud-sunod ang demanda. Iyong dalawa kong kaso ay nasa regional trial court na sa Maynila. Ilang beses nang nag-hearing iyong una. Nakatakda na ang petsa roon sa pangalawa.
Wala pa akong nababalitaan na na-dismiss sa prosecutor level. Sa korte ang labanan. Maghihirap kami sa kababayad sa abogado. Kung matalo kami, pati kaluluwa namin ay kulang pambayad sa hinihingi ni Mike Arroyo sa civil damages.
Baka nga makulong pa.
Sa aking palagay, ang media ay katulad ng relihiyon, lalo na ang Katoliko. Habang pinupuksa lalong nagkakaisa at lumalakas. Lumalaban.
***
Si Gringo at si Joc Joc
Kung sa palagay nila ay may kasalanan at sangkot sa rebellion si dating Senador Gringo Honasan, dapat talagang hulihin. Pagkatapos idemanda, ikulong kung mapatunayang nagkasala.
Sa laki ng galit ng rehimeng Arroyo sa sino man na komukontra sa kanilang pamamalakad, nagbigay pa ng gantimpalang P5 million sa sino man na makakapagturo kung nasaan si Gringo.
Nahuli sa Quezon City. Nagtangka pang tumakas ng walang sapatos, kaya puro sugat ang paa. Tapos na iyon. Demanda na lang ang kailangan.
Pero kung ako sila, magpapa-survey ako sa maraming tao para malaman kung natutuwa sila sa pagkasakote kay Gringo o nagagalit. Palagay ko baka lumabas sa survey ay malaki ang simpatiya ng tao sa kanya.
Sa kasalukuyan, sino man ang magtangka na patumbahin ang pamahalaan ay ipinalalagay na bayani. Kaya nga lang wala isa man sa mga balak ang nagtagumpay.
Ganyan talaga ang rebolusyon. Kung mabigo ang kilusan, binibitay ang mga pinuno. Kung magtagumpay, mga bayani sila.
Kung hindi nagtagumpay ang EDSA II, siguradong nakakulong ang mga heneral na sumuporta rito. Inamin pa nga ni Gen. Angelo T. Reyes na nag-mutiny sila. Nagdemanda kami dahil ang mutiny ay malakaing pagkakasala.
Dinismis ng Ombudsman ang kaso.
Ngayon, ang pag-aresto sa isang nagkasala ay depende sa koneksyon sa poder. Kung malakas ang kapit, balewala iyang mga warrant of arrest na iyan. Nalulusutan.
Ang isa sa halimbawa ay ang kaso ni Joc Joc Bolante. Nagwaldas umano ng P728 million na dapat na gagamiting pambili ng pataba sa mga magsasaka tulad ng pamilya ko at maraming kamag-anak sa Lipa.
Sa kampanya ni Pangulong Arroyo ito ginamit noong 2004. Katunayan, may listahan ako ng mga congressmen, gobernador at mga mayor na nakatanggap ng mula sa P5 million hanggang sa P2 million.
Nag-imbestiga and Senado. Hindi sumipot si Joc Joc. Pero noong panahong iyon dito lamang nagtatago sa Pilipinas si Joc Joc. Hindi masakote.
Sa bandang huli, nalaman na nagpunta pala sa Amerika at naaresto sa paglabag umano sa immigration laws ng Amerika.
Ang tanong ay paano nakalusot sa immigration ng Pilipinas si Joc Joc. Dahil pinaghahanap para magpaliwanag sa paglustay ng malaking halaga, dapat sana ay may “hold departure order” si Joc Joc.
Wala. Katunayan nakalusot at nakalabas.
May hinaharap na kaso sa Amerika. Delikado siya roon.
Ang gusto ni Joc Joc ay makabalik sa Pilipinas. Kunwari, haharapin ang demanda sa Ombudsman. Pero alam niya na walang mangyayari dahil may proteksyon siya sa malalakas na pulitiko.
Magkaiba talaga ang kaso ni Gringo at ni Joc Joc. Kung nagtagumpay ang sinasabing rebellion na pinamumunuan niya, bayani siya ngayon. Dahil nabigo, iyan ang nagbigay pa ng gantimpalang P5 million para madakip siya. At nadakip nga. Pero hindi dahil sa gantimpala. Mukhang nagpabaya si Gringo.
Anong tagumpay na pakikinabangan ng bayan ang ginawa ni Joc Joc. Wala. Ang pandarambong ay hindi nagpapahirap pang lalo sa bayan.
Pero nakatakas si Joc Joc. Buti na lang nahuli sa Amerika. Doon pantay ang hustisya. Walang pulitiko na magbibigay sa kanya ng proteksyon.
Ano naman kaya ang kalalagyan ni Gringo? Depende! Kung puwersahin ang huwes na palabasin na may pagkakasala siya, e, ‘di tuloy sa kulungan.
Kung malinis ang budhi ng huwes, ang pagbabatayan sa paghusga ay ebidensya. Puwedeng makalusot. Puwede ring makulong.
Frankly, I cannot understand why the judges of the courts in the Philippines should allow themselves to be at the mercy of the wannabe permanent squatters of the palace by the murky river. Is it because they all have skeletons in their closets that the libel suit compiler for example threaten them with? Pathetic indeed!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Why be surprised about the judges in the Philippines? They are not from Japan. Japan has the best judges in the world isn’t it?