Skip to content

Puno: DILG moved Smith late night to avoid traffic

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno thinks we are all stupid. Ginagago tayo.
Read this story by Norman Bordadora from the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Tarra Quismundo said the operation was done in 30 minutes. Really well- planned.Click here.

Update: Gloria Arroyo didn’t know of Smith’s transfer to US Embassy- Ermita. Click here.

INTERIOR Secretary Ronaldo Puno yesterday said it was his office that decided to hand over American Marine Daniel Smith to US custody and this was in line with a Malacañang decision to comply with treaty obligations, to which President Macapagal-Arroyo agreed “in principle.”

Puno and Interior Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus said that the transfer pushed through late in the night to avoid security complications in case the convoy bearing Smith had to go through heavy traffic between the central business district in Makati and the US Embassy compound in Manila.

“We wanted to reduce security threats from traffic problems. Also, it took some time to do the bilateral, operational and diplomatic coordination which started in the afternoon,” Puno said.
“(We transferred Smith during the night) for security reasons because there’d be less traffic,” Corpus said.

“It was a DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) decision,” Puno said in a text message to the Inquirer.

Puno said Ms Arroyo and the Cabinet’s national security cluster agreed even before Christmas that the departments of foreign affairs, justice and the interior should find the most appropriate legal means to comply with the Visiting Forces Agreement with regard to Smith’s custody.

“There was an approval in principle to find the appropriate mechanism in complying with the VFA. And we decided that the most appropriate means was to comply with the court decision,” Puno said in a separate phone interview.

Puno noted that Makati Judge Benjamin Pozon, in his Dec. 4 decision convicting Smith of rape, ruled that the American shall be kept in the Makati City Jail “until such time that the Philippine and US governments agree on the place of detention” in accordance with VFA provisions.

Place of detention

He claimed that this was complied with when Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo and US Ambassador Kristie Kenney signed an agreement on Dec. 22 to the effect that Smith would be detained at the Rowe Building inside the US Embassy compound.

The agreement also said that the Philippine government will have access to Smith’s place of detention “to ensure that the US is in compliance with the terms of the VFA.”

“The agreement signed by (Kenney and Romulo) is meant to assure the Philippines that Smith wouldn’t be spirited away while he is detained at the American Embassy here,” Corpus said.

Corpus has custodial supervision over Smith, being in charge of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology that oversees the Makati jail.

First time

“(It’s) the first time they have allowed access to their premises anytime,” said Corpus.
Puno said the interior department on Friday contacted the US Embassy after receiving the Romulo-Kenney agreement and the DOJ opinion favoring Smith’s transfer to US custody.
The DOJ opinion was signed by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez on Thursday.

“The specifics of whether the manner of complying with the VFA was legally sound were left to the departments. So we went to the Department of Justice for a legal opinion,” Puno said.

“It’s not so much the DOJ opinion as the fact that the transfer was in full compliance with the court decision that we decided to push through with the transfer.. This was already the opinion of our legal (division),” Puno said.

“It was a DILG decision to comply with (Pozon’s) decision in accordance with the DOJ opinion,” Puno said.

“We were just the implementer of the court decision in accordance with our treaty obligations under the VFA,” he added.

“The minute that the (Romulo-Kenney) agreement was signed we already lost the right to have custody of Daniel Smith,” Puno said.

Executive prerogative

He said Smith’s transfer happened close to midnight because

Published inGeneralHuman Rights

86 Comments

  1. isabel isabel

    ang mga hunghang!
    binaboy na tayo, gusto pa tayong gawing tanga. anong court decision ang pinagsasabi ng mga traidor na ito? kahit hindi ako nag-aral ng law, komon sense lang na kung ano mang compliance ang hinihingi ng korte ay dapat na isumite muna ito sa korte para desisyunan ng judge kung tumpak at tama at saka magbibigay ng order ang judge kung ano ang susunod na dapat hakbang o gagawin.
    si gloria, si puno, at lahat ng kampon ni gloria ang mga gago, rapist at balahura!

  2. Traffic daw. They use all the time their “wang-wang” (sirens) to breeze through traffic. If that’s really their problem. It’s so infuriating being taken for a moron.

  3. joeseg joeseg

    Baka ma-trapik ha? Wala bang wang-wang ang mga kapulisan for a just short distance from Makati to US embassy? Grabeh na’toh!

    Whatever excuse the GMA and her sychophants will have to say, nobody will believe them anymore but themselves. What sums up this latest pang-gago could be gleaned from Ninez Cacho-Olivarez column at the Daily Tribune, Dec. 31: Whither the Rule of Law?

    “The Constitution was raped then. What’s another rape of the Charter, when the serial rapist is Gloria Arroyo herself?

    Again, in the dead of the night, and again, like the thief in the night, Gloria ordered the transfer of convicted American rapist Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith from the Makati City Jail to the United States Embassy, thereby illegally and unconstitutionally granting the American government custody of Smith. This was done in defiance of a pending petition before the Court of Appeals which had not granted custody of Smith to the Americans.”

  4. This Cabinet member should be ashamed of himself giving such lousy excuse, for the issue is not when or where or what but why should the Philippine government insult its own justice system and make Filipinos look stupid and forever slaves of Americans by giving in to the wiles and whims of whoever has asked for the transfer of the horny American soldier, who should have been fairly warned about raping a Filipino woman that used to merit a death penalty.

    Sorry, Ellen, but allow me to use the word GAGO to describe this lackey of the Great Switik! He should be ashamed of himself really. I have yet to hear of such stupid lot in the Japanese government where anyone who wants to be in a position needs to be Japanese first before trying to be anything else. Even Koizumi, who loved Elvis, tried to love his country more than the US.

  5. mandirigma mandirigma

    I did mention in another post that Puno thought we’re stupid. Kung iyan lang ang dahilan na naisip niya, let’s hang Puno on the tree ala-Saddam. Sabi ko na nga walang magawang mabuti iyan taong iyan. That’s why he was appointed by Arroyo to that DILG post. For those who still don’t know him well, Puno was the brain behind the Dagdag-bawas scheme on election.

  6. I would be very furious for being taken for a fool if I were Judge Pozon or a Filipino national!!! 😡

  7. joeseg joeseg

    Mr. Ystakei sir, kindly refrain addressing us Filipinos as Filipino national. Filipino lang po, ok na. Salamat po.

    Lumalabas na kasalanan pa ngayon ni Judge Pozon because he ruled that the American shall be kept in the Makati City Jail “until such time that the Philippine and US governments agree on the place of detention in accordance with VFA provisions.”

    Tuwang-tuwa pa si Undersec Corpuz because“(It’s) the first time they have allowed access to their premises anytime.” Ngayon lang siya siguro nakatungtong sa US Embassy.

    At any rate, the DOJ, DFA and DILG functionaries not to exclude their big little bossa will be in for a big trouble for this dastardly act.

  8. Yuko, I changed “fool” to “moron” because that’s what Puno thinks of the Filipino people. Akala niya kaya niyang lokohin tayo kasi mga kulang ang ating pagi-isip. Nakakainis! Nakakagalit!

  9. Chabeli Chabeli

    “Puno: DILG moved Smith late night to avoid traffic”

    Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha!
    Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha!

    Only those with no brain cells will accept that reasoning. Only those with no brain cells will give a reason like that.

    Talk to hand, Puno ! And while you’re at it, fix your brain ! Your sitting on it !

  10. apoy apoy

    This is a blatant display of hipocrisy!! Ilan bang mga OFW ang nakakulong sa Middle East at humihingi ng tulong? Most of them falsely accused mga amo? Ilan na ang na-rape? Anong malasakit ang nagawa ng mga taong gobyerno na ito?/
    Diyos ko, tirahin mo na sila..Masunog sila ng buhay ayos lang.

  11. isabel isabel

    sana putukan ng kwitis ngayong new year ang tumbong ng mga gagong ito. makarma sana silang lahat. sabi nga ng mga drayber “god knows HUDAS not pay”.

  12. GodSaveDConstitution GodSaveDConstitution

    Ellen,

    Parang hanggang headline lang ang binabasa ng iba rito. Malinaw naman ang sinabi ni Judge Ben Pozon mismo, na sa Makati City Jail si Smith ilagay hanggang magkasundo ang dalawang gobyerno.

    Bakit kung gusto ng iba ang epekto, dapat sundin si Pozon na parang diyos. Ngunit kung sunding mahigpit ang kanyang iniutos bilang hukom, katulad niri, ay bakit naman biglang kasalanan ng mga kampon ng kadiliman.

    Kahit ano ang mangyari ngayon ganiri ang inyong pagtugon.
    Kahit ba nagparada’t nagprosesyon sa tanghaling tapat, ay siguradong naghahagulgol rito sa kung anong pangaapi umano.
    Sapagkat hindi na layunin yata ang Hustisya sa isang panggagahasa, kundi ang isulong ang pagbabatikos sa imperyalismong mandirigma.

    Ito naman ang bilangguan ni Nicole: na maging alipin ng mga kaliwa at kaliwete, na gamitin at gamitin siya sa pulitika
    Hanggang siya’y magtataka sa mga sinasabi raw niya,
    Na biglang nagiging headline at kumentaryong dalubhasa.

    Susmaryosep!

    YSTAKEI,
    You are so proud of Japan. Yet I find it supernally ironic that you are blissfully unaware that Japan is the perfect model of a compleat semi-colony of America. Look, her entire defense for a half a century was ceded to America. Her sovereignty is nonexistent even today. That is because unlike some of us, the Japanese long ago discovered that Americans are not a nation of rapists, either of women or Constitutions. And that Justice bears no nationality, because the love of justice, is a virtue greater than, bigger than nationalism, bigger even than patriotism.

    I repeat: Japan is a perfect semi-colony of America.

  13. GodSaveDConstitution GodSaveDConstitution

    FYI:
    “There are approximately 90 U.S. military facilities including major military bases throughout mainland Japan and Okinawa, with an area total of 3,130,000 sq.meters, 75% of which are in Okinawa. They are concentrated in a few areas (prefectures), 37 in Okinawa, 15 in Kanagawa, 11 in Nagasaki, and 7 in Tokyo. About 52,000 U.S. troops are stationed in these bases, 26,000 in mailand and 25,000 in Okinawa (2001). In mainland Japan, the largest contingent is the air force with 6,600 and that in Okinawa marines (15,500).”

    So what do rape incidents actually have to do with sovereignty again?

  14. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Punong-PUNO ang kalokohan sa gobierno ni Gloria. Puro pasulot palpak naman. Wala na ang rule of law. Loko-loko rules!

  15. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Is Interior Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus a former catholic priest? Why he is lying?

  16. zenzennai zenzennai

    GdSaveCon,

    Nahihirapan ako sa iyo tuwing may kwestiyon sa soberenya at pagpapatupad ng batas sa Inang Bayan, dahil palagi mong ginigiit na ang mga nagtatanong at tumutuligsa sa kalakaran ay kaliwa at kaliwete (na kung ano ibig sabihin nito, hindi pa ninyo ipinaliliwanag).

    Kahit saan ka magpunta, rape is a crime. And crime is a crime, na may kaparusahan.

    Mas marami akong direct relatives na naninirahan sa ‘Merika at sa ibang panig ng mundo, pero gaya ko, tutol kami sa astang asong ulol na ginagawa ng mga naturingang lider ng bansa na para lang makapuntos kapalit ng basbas, gagawin lahat ang pambababoy sa batas ng bansa.

    Sabi ng mga gunggong, ” pwede na man daw tignan sa loob ng compound kung nakakulong si Smith ayon sa napagkasunduan…”
    Alam ng lahat na ayon sa Int’l. Law, ang premises ng embahada ay tinuturing na pagmamay-ari ng occupant at HINDI ng host country!

    Ngayon, papaano mo i-tsek si Smith, aber?

    Nang magrali ang halos buong sambayanan ng Okinawa kasama ang kanilang Governor, para tutulan ang US bases nuong nakaraang taon at magpahayag ng suporta sa ni-reyp na isang dalagang kababayan ng isang US sailor, WALA kang marinig sa kababayan nila o kahit na sa mga foreign observer na ito ay pakana ng “kaliwa o kaliwete” ang mga protesta.

    Pero nakakagulat dito sa Pilipinas, meron pa ring bumibili ng ganitong palusot at suportado pa ng mga kunwa’y edukado, susmaryosep! Nabili na yan nuong unang panahon, tignan mo nasaan ninyo dinala ang mahal na bansa— parang alipin kung ituring ng ibang bansa.

    Paano, walang salamat sa tulad ninyo!

  17. GodSaveDConstitution GodSaveDConstitution

    Regarding Pinoys jailed in countries where they customarily stone women adulterers, chop off heads, limbs and pudenda for various crimes, they are treated by the Law just as ordinary foreigners are in the Philippines when they are accused of and tried for crimes in this jurisdiction. There is no “Visiting Filipinos Agreement” with Sudan or Somalia or even Saudi Arabia. Perhaps there ought to be.

    But the attempt to portray the US government as colluding with the Philippine government to somehow help Daniel Smith escape justice and to withold it from Nicole is pretty much insanity and psychosis. It is just plain untrue and you folks are giving Filipinos a bad name: immature and undignified.

    Beating our breasts and tearing off our clothes won’t make such a brazen falsehood any less of an insult to our intelligences and and a lie that contradicts everything we know of both our countries and countrymen.

    Most Filipinos don’t believe these scary fairy tales or hyperbolic ululations of leftist ideologues and pseudonationalist lynch mobs any more. They are growing more secure in themselves and not prone to victimological hypnoses of the Left, which preys on their old weaknesses and mental habits.

    Most Filipinos understand that the Golden Rule is NOT “Do unto others what they do unto you.” That’s the Olden Rule.

    Diego, There is no lack of defrocked priests and nuns, not even in the central committee of the see-pee-pee-en-pee-ay.

  18. GodSaveDConstitution GodSaveDConstitution

    zenzennai,

    Ang aking sinasabi ay ginagamit lang ang kasong rape upang wasakin ang VFA at ang laban sa terorismo, na kung saan ang mga “kaliwa at kaliwete” ay gumagamit ng mga landmine laban sa pulis at taong bayan; pinapatay ang mga opisyal panglokal at mga karibal sa kilusan; nagsasagawa ng extortion, kidnapping, blackmail at humuhuthot ng rebolusyonaryong buwis sa maliit at malaki, at naglulunsad ng armadong pakikibaka sa pulitika, na higit na labag sa batas ng Diyos at ng sambayanang Pilipino.

    Sino ang kampon ng kadiliman kung hindi ang mga teroristang ito? Bakit nila gustong sirain ang pagtutulungan ng Pinoy at Amerikano laban sa kanila?

    Eh kasi $5 million ang nawawala sa kanila taon taong nasa terrorist list sila ng EU at America, dahil bawal na silang bigyan ng donasyon ng mga makakaliwang grupo sa Europa at America.

    Ang pakay nila ay hindi hustisya para kay Nicole, kaya nga walang “moral consistency” hinggil kahit sa ruling ni Pozon.

    Malaking pagkakaiba ang “jurisdiction” sa “custody”.

    Hindi tayo magiging malaya at maunlad kung ang kaisipan natin ay walang modo, walang prinsipyo, walang kabaitan, walang pagmamahal sa katotohanan at hustisya.

    Si Nicole at Daniel ay bilanggo ng Kaliwa, at kahit kailan ay hindi sila pakakawalan sa abang kalagayang iyon. Kahit ano pa man ang mangyari sa “judicial proceedings.” Kahit bitayin si Smith o ibigay sa Pinoy na rapists, tuloy ang kanilang digmaan, dahil yon ang tunay nilang pakay.

  19. Left, right, left, right! If you are for the Switik, you are right. If not, you are left! Gago din ano? Lumang tugtugin sung by the idiots headed by the Great Switik at the palace by the murky river.

    Europe does not talk of the commies anymore as Communism in Europe is practically dead. On the other hand, I see amazingly more leftists in the USA in fact regardless of Bush’s national security BS.

    So, what is this idiot saying in this blog, lurking in various names, nakikipag-away pa sa sarili?! Same tune according to my friend who has warned me about this fellow in fact for being sometimes pro and sometime anti-Switik but in the end says that the Switik cannot be removed no matter how Filipino nationals try hard in an apparent attempt in fact to discourage them and remain passive and resigned to their fate of being saddled with an idiot!!!

    Nice try, M. Y. (Macapagal You!!!) of various aliases! Better luck next time, for majority of the bloggers here share the same sentiments against the Macapagal daughter squatting at the palace by the murky river, and those who kiss her smelly butt.

    PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!

  20. Chi:

    You bet, madaling mahuli ang mga lurkers. Kundi ba naman gago, nagkukunyari pang hindi alam na babae ako! Stupid is as stupid does.

    Ellen, you bet, talagang nakakangitngit!!! Ginawa pang stupid ang mga pilipino nitong pangong pinoy na ito!!!

  21. Ellen:

    Ramsey Clarke, one of the lawyers defending Saddam said that the late dictator stood up against the US but not that hard enough to withstand US pressure that was why he was liquidated even when he was in fact a US baby like Marcos before him.

    Now, we’ll see who’s going to be the next, Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez? My secretary is asking if the Great Switik won’t be the next target of termination by the US! I replied, “Not when she is flirting with staff of the US Embassy!”

  22. GodSaveDConstitution GodSaveDConstitution

    Ystakei,
    In the blogosphere, we are largely anonymous, though some of us know who some of us are. But that is the beauty of it. Here we are all “equals” in the sense that it is only the power of our arguments and ideas to convince others, to win them, honestly and forthrightly to our point of view, that truly matters. “Ystakei” is just a “meme” to me, a name, a tag, a label for a set of ideas that is alive and competes with other names and other ideas. IN case you are wondering, my blog is Philippine Commentary. You are most welcome to visit there. Perhaps Joseseg thought you were a man — so what? But even that is okay in the blogosphere too, though emotional arguments only give the emoter temporary relief, and no one else edification or food for thought. I offer all good will but a fierce fight over principles because I sincerely believe that we learn the most from those with whom we disagree the most. But we must have more than anger and prejudice and rash judgment to offer as arguments and to use as rhetorical weapons.

    For example, you often compare the situation here and in Japan. But Japan gladly hosts over 90 US military installations, including several major military bases and possibly even nuclear weapons capability associated with the permanently stationed forces in or around Japan.

    Am I right or wrong to portray Japan as a perfectly willing wisely benefitting semicolony of the United States of America? (Plus their jails don’t contain 20,000 minor age children or inhumane conditions not fit for human beings of any nationality?)

  23. GodSaveDConstitution GodSaveDConstitution

    Definitely Mahmoud the Holocaust-monger.

    No one like that, or the guy with the scary hair-do from Korea, should ever have possession of the secret of the stars just to please those who view nuclear proliferation as a spectator sport and wish rogues could get into the game.

  24. chi chi

    Ellen,

    I am speechless. Naiinis at naiiyak ako sa nangyaring ito! Winasak-wasak na nila ang Constitution at kapurihan ng mga pinoy at bansa! SIPAIN NA AGAD SI GLUERIA!

  25. chi chi

    Chabeli,

    DILG Puno won’t fix his brain, he doesn’t have one!

  26. mandirigma mandirigma

    Mr. Guerrero, do you mean you don’t believe that Catholic priests lie? Whether they are former or presently priests, of course they do. They have been lying for centuries. Pasensiya na at nagulat din ako sa tanong mo. Hindi na itinatanong iyan ngayon.

  27. hawaiianguy hawaiianguy

    Nicole’s problem apparently has varied implications. It is not just a case of a person being raped, but a nation’s honor and dignity being vilified and trampled upon by a stronger one. To insist that the law or whatever document “rightly” governs Smith’s transfer to US custody is missing a big picture. At the end of the day, one always asks, why is that the case? Why would the Phil. govt allow itself to lose its dignity and sovereignty? Talking of the nitty gritty, while helpful in pointing out wrong (or right), makes one miss a greater image – that of a nation yielding, or even pandering, to the rapist. Is the Philippine State really this helpless? Are its officials truly that bobo not to discern things they do for the nation? Nicole derisively pointed it out when she said that she felt better becoming an American citizen because the US govt can protect her, but not as a Filipino whose govt does otherwise.

  28. chi chi

    Well said, hawaiianguy. The Philippines under this bogus Glueria has turned into a mere basahan!

  29. chi:
    Puno does have a brain, its just that you cannot see it because its up his anus!

  30. Oh! BTW happy new year Puno with your brain hidden, maybe you can get surgery on Phil Health.

  31. florry florry

    Ang galing talaga ni Puno na magpatawa. Ang akala niya siguro ma-gagago niya ang mga tao. Ang hindi niya alam (or alam niya) na siya ang lumalabas na pinaka-tanga, pinaka-gago, pinaka walang utak, pinaka-stupid, at pinaka-idiot. Ano pa nga ba ang maaring itawag sa taong ito?
    Anyways, kahit na galit na galit na tayo sa pang-wawalanghiya ng mga kampon ng satanas na mga ito, I want to extend my greetings for the new year:
    I’m wishing everybody a succession of success to succeed in your successful succeding.
    H A P P Y N E W Y E A R to one and all!

  32. joeseg joeseg

    HAPPY NEW TO Ate ELLEN and EVERYBODY!!!

    Oh, I’m sorry to address Ystakei as Mr. & Sir. Ma’m, I’m new in the blog, hindi ko talaga alam. Pasensiya na po. I hope I’m not the one you’re referring to as gago or stupid because I’m not. But I repeat, kindly refrain addressing us Filipinos as Filipino national. Filipino lang po, ok na. Salamat po.

    Peace!

  33. joeseg:
    Just as some friendly advice, if you don’t like the comments of a fellow blogger maybe its better to just ignore that particular posting. It’s my view that everyone has an opinion, and thank goodness it’s not always the same opinion as mine. Anyway they are entitled to their opinion and the way they want to express it, don’t you think.
    Just relax, its good to be able to communicate, there are many filipino who would enjoy to be able to communicate as we bloggers do, if only they had the facilities.
    Its just my advice, take it or leave it – WWNL

  34. joeseg joeseg

    WWNL, thanks for your friendly advice and happy new year!!!

    A repost from another thread:

    I would like to dedicate this to Ate Ellen and everybody in the blog who I know shares and believes in what Ate Ellen is fighting for as a journalist and as a Filipino:

    PERSIST
    When you’re weary, it means you’ve been making a Difference. Keep going and see it through.When each obstacle is more difficult than the one before, it means you’re making real progress. Persist, and make it all count for something great.

    The exhaustion you feel is preparing you for the sweet taste of accomplishment that is surely to come. Every effort you make serves to give that accomplishment more value and meaning.

    Sure, the way is difficult, and by moving through each difficulty you’re creating something that can never be taken away. Keep going, and enjoy the priceless reward of knowing you did it.

    As the path become steeper, it means you’re nearing the summit. Now is when it’s especially important to keep climbing.

    Your efforts have already brought you a long, long way. Persist, and enjoy the full rewards of your labor.

    May God Bless Us All!!!
    ==

  35. mandirigma mandirigma

    Gonzalez brushed aside opposition claims that the United States pressured the Philippines to effect Smith’s transfer.

    “There was no pressure on (me). I don’t even talk to the Americans,” he said.

    My comment: Gonzalez doesn’t talk to the Americans because it’s the Americans who talk to him. He just listens. Anyway, what if it’s election period meaning election next month or next week? Would Arroyo ordered the transfer of Smith? My answer is a big NO.

  36. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Re: Do you mean you don’t believe that Catholic priests lie?
    I’m not saying he can’t tell a lie. As a former priest, he should practice what they preach.

  37. mandirigma mandirigma

    Mr. Guerrero, I have the same question as yours for many years. If the Catholic priests practice what they preach, would the church be what it is today? Very disunited and full of contradictions. Pero hindi lang naman Simbahang Katoliko ang ganyan, they are so many other religious leaders and servants who don’t practice what they preach.

  38. mandirigma mandirigma

    If we follow the argument of DILG’s Puno that Smith was transfered at night to avoid traffic, then all the prisoners who are to be transfered to other jails or who would attend court hearings should also be done at night to avoid traffic. Puno ng katangahan itong si Puno talaga.

  39. Sinabi mo pa, Hawaiianguy! If the Japanese court can convict US servicemen in Japan under the US=Japan Military Pact for crimes committed against Japanese nationals, why can’t the Philippine Court? What is the logic behind these violations of criminal procedure law of the Philippines by the very same people who are supposed to uphold them? Now, what is the presiding judge in this case going to do about this?

    This calls indeed for a review of Philippine laws by not just the judges of the court in the Philippines who are not and should not be under the control of an unconfirmed justice secretary, and the members of all bar associations of the Philippines who should protest against this meddling in criminal proceedings by the US Embassy that should not have been allowed to take custody of a convicted criminal because of the immunity granted the embassy as provided by a Geneva convention that would make it difficult for the Philippine court to take legal action against the US Embassy unless the Philippines opt to cut diplomatic ties with the US that many Filipinos themselves would not allow to happen!

    Labas tuloy, ginagago ng mga kanuto ang mga pinoy! Kawawang bansa!

  40. mandirigma mandirigma

    The fact of the matter is the US has more respect for Japan and other countries than the Philippines. We need to wake up one day and face this reality. Akala kasi ng mga Pilipino mahal na mahal tayo ng Amerika. Gaya ng sinabi ko, laging may kapalit ang kanilang mga tulong. But again, I can say that America did help and is helping many countries. Kahit papaano nakinabang din tayo sa kanila. Sa English na lang di hamak na mas magaling tayo sa ibang bansa sa Asia.

  41. florry florry

    GodSaveDConstitution:
    I understand you really like the VFA. Personally, I don’t.
    VFA, that’s BS. Who needs a VFA if the provisions therein are not on equal footing? Do you think you can get the US to sign an agreement in which both parties are equal? If you forge a contract or an agreement with the US, you will never be treated as an equal partner. It will be always lopsided in their favor. As far as I know, in the entire world, only the Philippines has a VFA with them, and the agreement provided an assurance that whatever CRIME committed by any of their citizens, they can always claim custody under the provision of the VFA and who knows, may even spirited out of the country, and gone. What can the government do about it? That’s the reality, and we should have been used to it by now. Maybe the next time we wake up in the morning, Smith is already gone, and you still believe that the Phil. government has no hand in his escape from justice and all of those who do not believe are suffering from insanity and giving the Filipinos a bad name. Sobra ka naman, bakit hindi mo man lang sinabi na ang nagbibigay ng kahihiyan at masamang pangalan sa Pilipinas ay yong mga illegal na nakaupo na mangungurakot at mandaraya at yong mga extra judicial killings na nangyayari sa bansa, na para yatang may “kindat” pa na galing sa kanila.
    BTW I just can’t stop laughing about your suggestion of having a new kind of Visiting Filipino Agreement with some African and Middle East countries. Maybe in dreams, but in reality, it’s just one of those hare-brained ideas coming from a minion. What is the need for a VFA with them? Bakit, bibisita lang ba ang ating mga OFWs at “mag-war-games” practice sila at sino naman ang counterpart nila? Yong bang mga employer nila? Maybe what you mean, ay mag-practice sila na humawak ng panglampaso, mag-kuslos ng kubeta, magpaligo at maghilod ng mga matatanda at kung ano-ano pang trabahong pambahay. Akala ko ba may super-maid program si Aling Glue, bakit pa kailangang mag-VFA pa ang mga Pinoy para mag-train o magpractice ng magtrabaho. And in case you have something in mind, why will these countries enter into a VFA with the Philippines when they can do anything as they pleased to their Filipino domestics, atsays or whatever? Wow, what a stupid and idiotic idea. Nice try, and maybe a better idea next time.

  42. mandirigma mandirigma

    An opinion is still an opinion no matter how stupid it appears. Let’s start the New Year with this kind of tone rather than criticizing another blogger. Para sa kanya, baka okay ang VFA dahil baka meroon siyang pinapanigan. We can’t expect all Filipinos to be only pro-Filipino. Marami sa atin mga kababayan ang nalason na ang pag-iisip at lumalabas na mas mahal pa ang ibang bansa kesa sa sariling bayan. Talagang ganyan. But for me, it should not be called Visiting Forces Agreement because these GIs are not visiting. They are actually staying. Better call it Staying Forces Agreement (SFA).

  43. Florry,

    Good argument. I hope yours is shared by all patriotic Filipinos, nationals and otherwise. Pag nangyari iyan I bet you hindi na gagaguhin ng mga kano ang mga pilipino!!!

    PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!

  44. isabel isabel

    kaawa-awang nicole,
    una, ginahasa ng bisitang kano
    ikalawa, pinagtulungan ni gonzales at mga alagad niya
    (buti na lang sinagip ni ursua at pinanigan ni pozon)
    pangatlo, binawian ng dangal, binastos ni gloria, puno at mga aswang at bampira
    at ngayon, bilanggo siya ng kaliwa at kaliwete at kasama pa sa bilangguan ang gumahasa sa kanya.

    ito naman po ay pagsisiwalat lang sa pagkakaintindi ko dun sa post sa itaas. ang tumatak sa isip ko, hindi natin dapat batikusin si gloria et al, dahil ang may pakana ng kaguluhan na ito ay mga kaliwa at kaliwete kasi matindi ang pagtutol nila sa VFA at ang tunay nilang pakay ay ituloy ang digmaan (hindi malinaw sa akin kung anong digmaan. digmaan ni bonifacio ba?)

    ako naman po ay isang meme lang, isang faceless idea sa blogosphere na may user name. and my meme is never unique with the billions of bloggers in the world wide web.

    pero sa tutuong buhay po, ako ay isang unikong indibidwal, may sariling prinsipyo at paninindigan, may kabutihang asal, may sariling bait, at may pagmamahal sa katotohanan at hustisya.

    kung ang pagtatanggol sa isang ginahasa at ninakawan ng dignidad ay pagiging kaliwa o kaliwete, guilty po ako.

    kung ang pagbatikos sa mga nanggahasa, at nambastos sa batas at dangal ng pilipino, ay pagiging kaliwa at kaliwete, guilty ulit ako.

    kung ang pagtutol sa isang tratado na hindi pantay at tayo naman ay tinatarantado lamang, ay pagiging kaliwa at kaliwete, guilty ulit ako.

    panghuli po, hindi po ako anti-american people, pro-filipino lang po,
    subalit kung ang pagiging pro-filipino ay pagiging kaliwa at kaliwete, guilty po ako, matagal na.

  45. isabel isabel

    ystakei,
    repeat ko lang dito yung sinabi mo na yang paggamit ng “red scare tactics” ay passe at obsolete na. kumita na sila marcos diyan. ngayon, gusto ulit pagkitaan ni gloria. sasabihin niya sa amerika, oh i need your millions of dollars and your vintage helicopters, because i have to fight these npa and all the terrorists and wipe them out in the face of the earth. ano ka? ang pinapatay eh yong mga aktibista at journalists ang mga panlaban ay ballpen at camera. istupida! hindi ba niya alam na pag pinatay mo isang aktibista, sampo sa mga kamag-anak niyan at kaibigan ang papalit sa kanya. baka nga yong iba mag-npa pa. ay oo, nga pala, pag dumami ang npa, mas maraming dolyares na aid, mas maraming makukurakot itong si gloria. ang suma total nito, si gloria at ang mga kampon niya ang biggest recruiter ng mga npa.

  46. GodSaveDConstitution GodSaveDConstitution

    Florry, Isabel,
    In places like Somalia and Sudan, women adulterers are often stoned to death, robbers and rapists are decapitated, or they have certain strategic parts of the their bodies dismembered, and various forms of internationally forbidden tortures and disfigurements are practiced (such as circumcizing women by cutting off their clitorises). These are barbaric practices from our point of view, and I wanted to make a point that Filpinos in these places, even when they are guilty of the indicated crimes don’t deserve the indicated punishments and conditions because they are still human beings? The point of “Visiting Filipinos Agreement” (millions of whom work in such places) is quite entirely the same concern for our citizens as the “Visiting Forces Agreement” is the same concern by the US Govt for its citizens, because though the Filipinos seem to tolerate the incarceration of minor age children mixed in with adult inmates in their own jails, neither Americans Somalis nor Sudanese penal colonies do!

    But I ask you: is not the Philippine Govt obligated to protect the rights of its citizens in every way it can, such as by a VFA say for its OFWs, just as America does for its soldiers?

    This is the moral inconsistency of the Lynch Mob in the Subic Rape Case, ideologized by “kaliwa at kaliwete” whose prime motivation is a psychological anti-Americanism, (though they are strenuously in self-denial over this latter fact.)

  47. mandirigma mandirigma

    The Lynch Mob was that group of women who’re mostly wives of servicemen; and who were reported sent by the US Embassy. It worked. It neutralized the supposed to be widespread protest against this rapist Smith. Higit sa lahat, nailipat si Smith. The VFA must not have been used to shield this rapist. It’s so one-sided. I suggest that the RP government sends Filipino soldiers to the US for some training and then they rape the American girls. Tingnan natin kung ano ang gagawin ng mga Kano sa atin mga sundalo. Not lone ago, a Filipino officer was arrested, jailed and deported for some misdemeanor case in a department store. The officer was in the US on a military class or seminar sponsored by the US. What he did was to switch the tag price of an item then attempted to pay and check out but was caught. Ikinulong at na-deport. Ganyan ang ginawa ng mga Kano sa isang maliit na pagkakamali ng isang young Filipino officer na PMA graduate. Ang balita’y isa sa nag-top sa kanilang Batch. I’m not saying we should condone his wrongdoing. Nagkasala siya at dapat lang parusahan. Pero hindi yata bagay ang parusa sa kanyang kasalanan. It was not even a case of shoplifting; but price switching. Pero tama ka din, walang tulong na ginawa ang Philippine Consult at atin gobyerno doon. But look at this rapist Smith. I bet you he’s receiving VIP treatment inside the US Embassy. Baka nga nakatakas at nakalipad na pauwi sa Amerika. People should keep a close watch over this convict and make sure that he’s still there inside the US Embassy.

  48. Sorry, Isabel, lumang tugtugin na ang sinasabi mo. At saka anong pinagsasabi na kagagawan ng komunista, kaliwa’t kanan, ang panggagahasa ng malibog na amerikano kay Nicole. Iyan ang hirap sa inyo panay ang tanggol ninyo sa mga kano kahit na taehan kayong mga pilipino ng mga iyan sa ulo!

    FYI, walang nagkusang tumulong kay Nicole. Kaibigan ko ang nalapitan niya na nagtraining sa Japan, at sila ang nagturo kay Nicole kung saan siya makakahingi ng tulong. Bakit mo sinasabing ginagamit ng mga kaliwa si Nicole? Sila nga ang tumutulong sa kaniya para maintindihan ng mga bobo kung bakit dapat itaguyod ng mga uto-utong pilipino ang kaso ni Nicole at mabigyan ng leksyon ang mga abusadong kano na sa totoo lang ay hindi uubra ang mga kalokohan dito sa Japan dahil hindi gunggong na nagpapauto ang mga hapon sa mga kano

    Tagalog na ito, kung hindi mo pa maintindihan e, talagang ayaw mong intindihin. Puede ba tama na ang arte ninyong mga planted ni Switik dito!

    At saka anong anti-Americanism ang maging patriotic ang isang tao sa sariling niyang bansa. Bakit Amerikano lang ba ang may karapatang maging patriotic sa bansa nila! Lumang tugtugin na kinakanta pa ninyo! Baka mabobo kayong lalo!

    Dapat ang kinakanta ninyo “Bayang Magiliw” at bigyan ng diin iyong dulo na nagsasaad na mamatay nang dahil sa Pilipinas hindi ng dahil sa mga malibog na mga Amerikano!!! Anti-Americanism? BS! E, ano ang feeling sa anti-Filipinoism ng mga taga-US Embassy na iniinsulto ang justice system ng Pilipinas?

    Kawawang bansa! PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!

  49. isabel isabel

    godsavedconstitution,
    tama po kayo, the philippine govt or any govt for that matter (america included) is obligated to defend and protect the rights of its citizens saan mang panig ng mundo sila naruon. kaya nga’t hindi ko pinupuna ang us embassy for trying its best to regain custody of smith, karapatan nila yun at obligasyon. subalit ibang usapan na kung ang sarili mong gobyerno, sa sarili mong bansa ay nilalapastangan ka at inalisan ng dangal at mas pinapanigan pa ang dayuhan na bisita lamang at nagsamantala sa iyo.
    garapalan kasi kung kumilos itong gobyerno ni gloria palingkera, walang finesse. tit for tat ika nga.

    ps. maraming documented cases kung paanong ang mga ofw natin ay wina-walang bahala ng mga opisyal ng embahada ng pilipinas. yung iba, kung hindi pa nadyaryo hindi kikilos ang mga opisyal na ito para tumulong.

  50. isabel isabel

    ystakei,
    paumanhin po, mukha yatang mali ang dating ng post ko sa inyo. naging satirical lang po ako duon sa upper part. binawi ko naman duon sa lower part. ulitin na lang po ninyong basahin. salamat po.

  51. Yuko, Dean (GodsaveDConstitution) is not a GMA minion. Definitely not. I’m sure of that. At the time when almost everybody had accepted Gloria Arroyo’s 2001 power grab, Dean continued to harp on the illegality of Davide’s decision to administer oath to Arroyo.

    But we may differ in views on other issues. Dean, I know, defends the US invasion of Iraq (am I right, Dean?) and in this case the VFA.

    We may not agree with him but we have to respect his views and not suspect him as a GMA tool.

  52. Ermita: Arroyo didn’t know of Smith’s transfer to US embassy.

    This is either a confirmation that Gloria Arroyo is no longer in control of the government and is merely the tool of the military mafia led by Ermita or he us lying through his teeth. Talagang ginagago tayo.

  53. chi chi

    This was exactly the reason why I said in another thread that the bogus president is no longer in control. Imagine, Smith was transfered to the US Embassy in the dark of the night and Glueria didn’t know anything about it!

    My gosh, if I were the president at ganyan ang sinabi ni Ermita ay sipa kaagad siya. Sabagay ay bogus naman si Glueria kaya kung laruin man siya ni Ermita ay bow na lang ang bruha.

    Pero hindi ako naniniwala na walang alam ang bogus Glueria. In fact, sa opinyon ko ay siya ang kaporal niyan lahat kapalit ng tapik ni Dubya.

    Balik kay Glueria, Ermita and minions ang panggagago nila sa atin. GAGO sila! Nakakainis talaga, nakakapag-init ng dugo.

  54. Ellen:

    I have not read this American lover nor replied to him. I was answering a post by Isabel that was as confused as confusing as those who love the US and cling hard to the US apron even when the Americans regard the Filipinos as their perennial white men’s burden!

    My Eurasian mother and part-Japanese father are both US citizens, so I do not see myself as anti-American, just being sensible enough that if the Americans can be loyal and patriotic to America, Filipinos SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO BE LOYAL AND PATRIOTIC to the Philippines as well. They should not be confused into believing that to be pro-Filipino is being anti-American, nor should they be intimidated that to demand equality with the Americans is stupidity and impossible! I don’t buy that as a matter of fact. It sounds masochistic to me coming from a native Filipino!

  55. Chi:

    As Ellen has pointed out, nanggagago lang. Who says that the Great Switik does not know anything about the transfer of the horny American soldier to the US Embassy in the wee hours of the evening? Pontio Pilato pa ang gimmick ngayon ha! Nag-uugas ng kamay!

    Si Great Switik, walang alam? Tsismosa iyan sa totoo lang kaya sinong maniniwalang hindi niya alam? Nice try, Ermita-san! Better luck next time.

    Natakot lang ang mga ungas na baka gawin kay Switik ang ginawa kay Saddam! Parang sinipa sa mukha ang mga pinoy tapos hinahalikan pa sa puwit ang mga kano nitong mga kolokoy na ito!

    Nakakaawa talaga ang mga pilipino lalo na ang mga pilipina na binubugaw ng mga opisyal nila! Wala na bang katapusan?

  56. cocoy cocoy

    GodsaveDconst.:You’re right my friend but,at least save some for me for a little bit of arguement.You disposed all the arsenal in your position.All I can say is “Good Job’.That’s what I like about you and Mandirigma.You’re both a good orator.You are the man and so with my warrior.Happy New Year!

  57. GodSaveDConstitution GodSaveDConstitution

    Thanks for that Ellen.

    Yes, I believe we could all be together at the barricades some day because GMA will never now willingly give up power. Ever. I’m with Manolo now on that theory. That is why I would rather she be impeached and properly convicted, just as I had wanted Erap to be properly impeached and convicted, not coup d’etated by one who is now the head pa of the Knights of Rizal. Pweh and double pweh.(see I can be mighty emotional too!) Davide had no business being at a partisan political affair at a religious shrine on 20 Jan 2001. If he does not want History (with our everlasting help and Google’s) to revile him for what he is–a derelict in his bounden duty–Davide himself should confess everything that happened on that bright Saturday morning six years ago on 20 January 2007, when Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, by every light of the Constitution, and as God himself would save it, should resign the Presidency and save herself a similar ignominious place in the History of the World.

    You see Ellen, as a meme, you are already far more powerful than them. For your name and your ideas will be remembered and will add a rivulet of truth to the river that washes away the sins of Humanity.

    There is no need for Ellen or Ystakei to shout. Every day the Google Bus comes by to pick up our little emanations and reverberations of feeling and observation. Adding to the evidence that awaits the vast audience of the Future!

    Be at peace everyone. Our sovereignty is in no danger. Even Uncle Sam will be there with us at the Barricades. He’s a changed man form 1898. He’s been through many wars and many a broken peace and promise. But he IS changed. He has toppled one of his own sonsabitches, as the trapdoor swung open beneath Saddam Hussein’s feet.

    The corpse of Saddam Hussein looks the same to me as that of Ferdinand Marcos’ own sorry cadaver — whom his loyalists lovingly shave each week in pretense — floating above a greenish-purple light with Wagner’s stentorian tunes behind.

    And so our own 10,000
    share with Dujail
    a single burning memory
    of tyranny
    so brutal
    it laid thousands of lives to waste
    in a single day of sovereign pique.

    But look, at least the Iraqis wronged by their Baathist Dictator have surely gotten some measure of JUSTICE in the hanging of the butcher of Baghdad.

    Yet ask, what have the Filipinos righted about their Fascist Dictator in a Court of Law?

    Only an American Court has EVER done anything close to that, and so a salute to Judge Manuel Real of Hawaii.

    Iraq could beat the Philippines to a strong, prosperous and free democracy if we keep going the way we are going: hating what is good for us now because we cannot seem to cope with sovereignty, cannot wear its robes with dignity and confidence. We are given to hissy fits when we ought be calm and self-assured.

    But by toppling Saddam Hussein, and going to war in order to do it, by asserting that the Lone Superpower has the right and duty to protect the world from madmen, that it IS the policeman of the world, does not scare me now one bit. Why after all, should every barangay deserve police protection, but not the whole world?

    Everyone like and Marcos and Saddam has got to now wonder what in the world will happen when the American people insist on moral consistency in all things, that dictatorships and autocracies of all sorts make the world an unsustainable place for justice and freedom and prosperity.

    I miss the comfortable old 20th Century too, Ellen, but now in the 21st Century we must really understand the Metaphor of the Single Jetliner if we are to understand the world and our place in it.

    Dean Jorge Bocobo
    Philippine Commentary

  58. florry florry

    GodSaveDConstitution:
    OK, I understand your concern about the OFWs, especially for those who go nuts and do something which they are not supposed to. But do you honestly believe that the Philippines can convince these other countries to agree and sign a VFA just like the one the US have with us? I don’t think so. All countries except the Philippines under this evil want to prosecute suspected wrong-doers or criminals, have them under their custody and jail them if proven as such under their own laws, and not under any agreement. Extending protection and help to OFWs, I believe can be done even without VFA. What’s the use then of those various Philippine embassies, consulates and all that diplomatic relations with other countries. What I know is one of the purpose of these embassies. etc. is to help distress Filipino nationals.Ang sabihin natin ay mga tamad, walang mga balls at walang kahit na kaunting pagmamalasakit sa kapuwa Pilipino ang mga taong naka-assign o nagtratrabaho doon. Kailangan pa yatang “lagyan” sila bago kumilos, o kaya hihintayin maging hot ang issue saka sila sasakay. Iyan ang totoo. Ang mahalaga ay may pagmamalasakit at pagsisikap at tiyaga na makatulong sa mga kababayang nangangailgan ng tulong. And VFA has nothing to do with it.
    Mandirigma:
    Sorry to say that you came too late with your fact of the matter dahil matagal ng gising sa reality ang karamihan sa mga Pilipino na walang respeto at ginagawang basahan lang ang Pilipinas ng US. Iilan-ilan na lang ang natutulog at nananaginip pa hanggang ngayon.

  59. You’re right, Florry, why should the countries in the Middle East sign a VFA with the Philippines that cannot even protect its own territory without US “generosity”? Iyon ngang mga pilipino hindi mailigtas ng AFP, sasabak pa sila sa mga gulo ng mga Moro sa Middle East. And for what? For the doughs at the peril of their lives? Ano sila, sira?

    Mayroon US-Japan military pact because Japan was not allowed to bear arms. This is however being revised with majority of the Japanese voicing out against the retention of the US military installations in Japan, but not to change the Constitution to accommodate hawkish Japanese clamoring for the militarization of Japan in the guise of nationalism/patriotism or the much advertised North Korean threat.

    I’m not reading Japanese news nor watch Japanese programs presently because I dread hearing about the establishment of a Ministry of Defense that may turn back Japan in time that a lot many of my friends born after WWII (including myself) dread happening during our lifetime. Having this additional ministry in fact will mean higher taxes! Patay!

Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.