By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
A Filipino-American businesswoman who initiated an investigation into the alleged US assets of Senator Panfilo Lacson is now singing a different tune and has accused Malacañang of concocting the charges against Lacson.
Blanquita Pelaez claimed that it was Major General Delfin Bangit, the former chief of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), who had ordered her to make up the charges against Lacson involving the latter’s US-based assets.
Pelaez, a local agent of Smith and Wesson, had negotiated the purchase by the Philippine National Police of handcuffs worth P50 million from the US company in 1996. Lacson, the PNP chief at the time, disapproved payment for the handcuffs deal.
As a result, Pelaez filed a civil case against Lacson in a California court in 2001. She won a $3 million default judgment after the senator failed to answer the charges.
In a bid to have the $3 million judgment enforced, Pelaez went after Lacson’s alleged assets, consisting of bank accounts and real property, in the US.
However, Pelaez now claims that her pursuit of Lacson’s alleged US assets was made at the instance of Malacañang.
She said Bangit had invited her to the Palace to discuss the plan against Lacson.
“I got a call from Del Bangit, who is the close-in security of Ma’am [President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]. He told me to come up with a case against Lacson,” Pelaez told the Inquirer in an interview.
Pelaez said Bangit offered her $200,000 to pay for her lawyers and other expenses that would be incurred in filing the suit against Lacson. But she said she only received P3 million.
According to Pelaez’s affidavit, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer, in June 2001 she was contracted by Malacañang to look into Lacson’s reported bank accounts in the US.
She said Chief Superintendent Rodolfo “Boogie” Mendoza was the one who talked to her and asked her to look into Lacson’s alleged assets in the US. She said they were joined in the meeting by General Victor Corpus, Mario Chan, Don Liscano, Mary “Rosebud” Ong, her lawyer Stephen Jarumay and a former Inquirer reporter Christine Herrera.
Pelaez said she was given P6 million for the mission. She said she found only a $18,000 account under Lacson’s name at the Bank of America in Los Angeles. She said she invented a story that Lacson had $500 million.
Upon her return from the mission, Pelaez said she found out that the President had “expressed disappointment over the results of the trip and that PMA Class of 1979 had let her down.” The class has adopted the President as an honorary member.
Pelaez later filed a civil case against Lacson in the US to have the $3 million judgment enforced.
In 2003, when the Jose Pidal controversy erupted, Pelaez said that the then National Bureau of Investigation chief Reynaldo Wycoco called her in the US and asked her to come to the Philippines. Upon her arrival, Pelaez said she was instructed to take orders from former Presidential Spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao, who then told her to follow instructions of Bobby Capco, the then publisher of the Journal newspaper.
Pelaez was then ordered to give an interview to ABS-CBN television where she revealed that Lacson had $60,000. Later, she said she held a press conference where she was given a statement by Capco to read, attacking Lacson. She was also given two or three pictures of houses which she said belonged to Lacson.
“That was the first time I saw the pictures. Honestly, I don’t know and have no basis for claiming that the houses in the pictures were Ping Lacson’s,” she said.
She also said that she agreed to hold the press conference and to say those things about Lacson “because it was a one-time paying job. I was ordered to do it. I was paid to do it.”
After the press conference, Pelaez said Capco told her that the “demolition job” against Lacson was ordered done by the President’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo.
After that she went to the US with an ABS-CBN team to take pictures of the Lacson houses. The story never came out, she said.
Pelaez is like Ador Mawanay who after being used by Malacanang
later recanted. Ping Lacson is no saint; but since he remains to be a threat to this Evil Bitch government, they keep destroying him.
Am I supposed to believe that Ping Lacson does not have real estate nor a couple of bank accounts in the United States?
Pepito:in this country,it’s extremely difficult to differentiate the good guys from the bad guys.sigh…
Of course he MIGHT have those you mentioned. Many politicians and government officials do. Whether or not those are obtained legally, that’s the question. Not that I’m defending Ping…during his short stint as PNP Chief, he solved many kidnappings the victims of whom were mostly Tsinoys. Ping was being financially rewarded by the victims’ families; but he declined. In gratitude, the Tsinoy Community supported his political career. It was only when FPJ entered the political arena that some Tsinoys switched their support to FPJ for obvious reason. Had FPJ not run, the entire Tsinoy Community would have been behind Ping. Again, is Ping a saint and perfect? Of course not.
What Lacson should have done was to present his rebuttal against this woman since it was supposed to be a government transaction that he was supposed to have ordered but since he did not, I wondered in fact why he did not bother fight it, especially in a US court.
Now, maybe, it would be best to file a case of perjury, extortion, etc. against Pelaez and even her lawyer, Rodel Rodis, who actually once accused my sister of having received money from Marcos for starting a Marcos Loyalist Movement in the Bay Area after the downfall of Marcos.
Sabi panahon na ng singilan. “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” Problema nga lang sa Tate, iyong mga naiipit magaling mag-file ng bankruptcy. Hindi tuloy makasingil ang dapat na bayaran.
Tama ka, BD, the piggy couple truly feel threatened by Ping Lacson that they have tried from day one to destroy this guy, even his reputation worldwide as a well deserving, competent law enforcer.
When he was PNP Chief, he got good publicity in many foreign newspapers including those of Japan. In fact, I saw a TV feature on him when he was trying to inculcate discipline in the Philippine police.
My cousin, who was POLCOM regional chief, then, told me of the plan to clean up the police of those policemen on AWOL for years, not just days or months, but were still receiving salaries. He actually asked me to help check with the Japanese Immigration here about the list of Filipino illegal entrants and find the names of the “missing” policemen there.
I thought that was good. Kinausap ko na nga ang kakilala kong superintendent ng police sa Japan, but unfortunately, Erap was removed and so was Lacson, who ordered such clean-up/check up on those marauding policemen.
I think that was the reason why a lot of the kurakots in the police department in the Philippines were willing collaborators of the First Couple, who are indeed first in all “kabulastugan” and “kahayupan.”
May mga taong gaya ni Blanquita Pelaez na gustong maging bilyunaryo kaagad at kung maloko ng ka-partner in crime ay nagsi-sing along.
Medyo hindi pa lubos na mabahong burak noon ang mga Pidal kaya kuntodo halik kili-kili siya kahit sa alila ni Pidal na si Bangit. Ngayon na umaalingasaw na si Pidal at malapit ng ma-tsugi ay mea culpa na si Blank.
Gosh! kaya hindi tumino ang Pinas ay dahil sa mga lider na tulad ni Gloria na peke,mandaraya, magnanakaw, sinungaling, korap,etc. na may asawang Mike na kriminal, at mga taong tulad ni Blanquita na nagpapagamit sa intensyong magkamal ng salapi. Dapat sa mga taong ganito ay hinuhulog sa imburnal at hayaang kainin ng mga daga.
Am I supposed to believe that Ping Lacson does not have real estate nor a couple of bank accounts in the United States?
*********************
And am I supposed to believe the Pig has no bank accounts in Germany?
Am I supposed to believe no Congressman received the same half a million as Panlilio?
Am I supposed to believe Garci was just being given a wake up call by the hobbit?
Di ba si Christine Herrera ay asawa ni Bobby Tiglao? Just asking.
With Blanquita’s mea culpa, what will Ping do to her? Dapat ay bigyan ng matinding leksyon ang babae na iyan. $18,000 lang ang naging $500M. Kay Brat Pig yan a!
No,Chi. Bobby Tiglao’s wife now is Getsy Selirio.
Thanks, Ellen.
Si Sen. Ping Lacson ng tunay na opposition….
Ping for PRESIDENT……
Yan ang hirap sa grupo ng Mafia, sila-sila nagkukupitan ng kwarta kaya may kumakanta. Bawat daanan ng pera may tongpats kasi.
Diba si Rosebud, kumanta na rin na binayaran siya ni Taba ng pera para ibaon si Lacson? Ang reklamo niya kaya umamin, kulang yung bayad sa “serbisyo” niya. Kaya lang mukhang naayos din kaagad kasi tumahimik na.
Maraming Heneral ng PNP ang sinagasaan ni Lacson diyan sa handcuffs deal na iyan. Yung pambayad sa Customs ng Duties and Taxes ang hinarang ni Ping dahil alam niyang ibubulsa lang iyon ng mga bata niya. Ang alam ko nasa Customs warehouse pa rin yung mga posas hanggang ngayon dahil kahit sila Ebdane at Mendoza ayaw pirmahan yung voucher ng Duties and Taxes dahil hindi yan palulusutin ng COA, ang gobyerno kasi ay tax and duty-free, at lahat ng transaction ay COD, maliban kung government loan. Basic yan sa mga supplier ng gobyerno. Madaling salita, yung kumpanya ni Blanquita ang nag-import ng mga posas bago maibenta sa PNP, bakit ang PNP ang magbabayad ng duties and taxes? May punto si Ping.
Mukhang malakas lang si Blanquita sa mga sinundan ni Lacson, sa conversion siguro kinukuha yung pondo.
Ellen,
Ambassador pa rin ba si Tiglao sa Greece?
Pagkatapos ng “grease”, sa Greece naman, ha?
Yes, Tiglao is still ambassador to Greece.
He was in town a few weeks ago. He was one of the guest speakers in the book launching of Greek-American Steve Psinakis “A country not even my own”.
Dinky Soliman was there and she told me Tiglao greeted her, “Hi Comrade.” Dinky said she replied, “Comrade-comrade” and left.
Bayan’s Carol Araullo was also there. I asked her if she talked with Tiglao. She replied, “No. I knew him when he was thin and hungry. I don’t know him now.”
Mahirap talaga ang mga taong walang prinsipyo na nagkukunyaring meron kasi, kung meron never na kakabit sa mga katulad ni Gloria Dorobo for sure. No bilib ako sa Tiglao na iyan kasi kung meron siyang delikadeza, matagal na siyang tumiwalag sa grupo ng demonya.
Kung merong prinsipyo, maaalibadbad at maaalibadbad talaga na makisalamuha sa mga katulad ni Gloria at asawa niya. In fact, that was how I felt when a friend, who was the Dorobo’s classmate at Assumption, suggested that I tied up with her. Isang kilatis lang, nakita ko na ang diablo sa likod ng pagbabalatkayo. Hindi pa nga siya senadora noon. Papasok pa lang sa politika sa totoo lang.
Speaking of Dinky Soliman, nakakaawa din siya when she was SWD Chief. Hindi Chief ang dating niya noon kundi tsimay ni Gloria. Masuka-suka ako noon sa itsura niyang pinapayungan si Gloria Dorobo nang salubungin nila iyong mga na-deport sa Sabah for the photo-op.
Iyon ding si Pat Sto. Tomas, mukhang tsimay din ang dating sa tabi ni Gloria Dorobo na kuntodo pustura na sa palagay sinasadya talagang magmukhang pindangga ang mga alalay niya para hindi mahalata na mas mukha siyang pindangga kahit na bihisan pa siya ng mamahaling jusi na damit. Tarantado talaga ang animal na akala mo siya ang nagpapasuweldo sa mga ina-appoint niya. But then, hindi lang naman siya ang ganoon sa Pilipinas na majority, pag nakaangat na akala mo kung sino nangn talagang may power! Abusado talaga.
Dito sa amin, magalang lang talaga ang mga taumbayan, pero sa totoo lang puede nilang kutusin ang mga public servants namin. Kaya nga si Fukuda, sa takot na magalit ang mga mamamayan, nag-reshuffle ng gabinete niya. One more year siguro, pag hindi nag-improve ang economy ng bansa, pihado sibak siya. Iyong mga ina-appoint naman dito ay hindi talagang mga political appointee na katulad sa Pilipinas na mga kaibigan at kamag-anak ng nakaupo kundi mga pinuno ng iba’t ibang factions sa partido ng nakaupo at iba pang partido na tumangkilik sa kanila. Walang mga political appointee na walang kinalaman sa political party ng nag-a-appoint. Dapat ganyan sana sa Pilipinas para iyong mga kaibigan ng asawa ni Pandack Omama hindi makakapuwesto dahil for sure sila ang ginagamit noong matabang mama na ploy niya.
Dapat sa mga political appointee na iyan, sinisibak!
“Am I supposed to believe that Ping Lacson does not have real estate nor a couple of bank accounts in the United States?”
———–
lacson had a bank account in the US, pero konti lang ang laman, according to the bank records and transactions provided by the US authorities and the bank officials mismo.
and it’s none of the 16 BOGUS account numbers presented by victor corpus supposedly containing BILLIONS $$$ worth of drug and kidnapping money.
Here’s a link-rich post on Blanquita Pelaez re her history. her step-sister in crime rosebud wasn’t that credible either with the US authorities.
And here’s my latest on her “walkback”.
(the BOGUS bank account numbers presented by victor corpus were obviously fake from the get go because CITIBANK uses 10-digit acct numbers in the US, and 11-14 digits in CITIBANK HK, but this idiot Corpus’ CITIBANK account numbers had 16 digits.)
I’m perplexed with the role of C.Herrera in this Lacson account, that’s why I asked the question in my previous post.
Thanks, John, for pointing that out in your blog.
dati bang mag-asawa sila christine herrera at bobby tiglao?
NO, Ellen said.
That’s what I thought, iba pala.
I read CH’s articles re Lacson’s US bank accounts kuno, but until now couldn’t link her follow ups on this when she transferred to another daily. Alangan naman na hindi niya alam ang totoo after their ‘travel’ to the US that produced nothing but the Pidal’s own concoction of the said account… unless she and Tiglao are/were journalism buddies and couldn’t say no to the then Gloria’s spooksperson. I would like to think na ganun nga.
I’m waiting for Ping’s action on this revelation of Blanquita. Dapat ay bigyan ng leksyon ang mga ito as they are accomplished of Pidal, Pinas number one criminal and husband of the soon -to be -ruler of hell.
chi says:
Ang sa akin lang ay para magtanda na hindi nila dapat suportahan ang mali. Of course, korek ka jesusa na ang pinaka-mastermind ang dapat ay kitlin ang pamamayagpag.
Puna ko ay masyadong maliit ang ginagalawang mundo ng mga dating magkakasama sa pagluklok kay Gloria. Imagine, sa isang sosyalan sa book launching ni Psinakis ay nandun sina Tiglao, Soliman, at Araullo…isang level ng entablado ang sinasayawan!
The revelation of Ms Pelaez should be a cause for concern for General Yano and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It only confirms that the prostitution of the AFP is not limited to the “Hello Garci” scandal, but extends to the very core of the organization’s professionalism, as well. Gen Bangit, the Emperor who threw wads of crisp 500/1000 peso bills during a unit’s Christmas Party, should know that as Chief of the PSG, his job description DOES NOT include engaging in an obviously criminal act. His responsibility is limited to protecting a BOGUS president and her immediate family.
I believe that the immediate action of the Chief of Staff regarding this unfolding scandal is to relieve Bangit from his position, investigate and charge him under the Articles of War should evidence warrant. The detailed revelation of Pelaez leaves little doubt that an investigation and swift action is in order.
I hope Gen Yano does not shirk from his obvious responsibility to protect the reputation of the AFP as an institution and to disabuse the minds of its members that there is a double standard of justice in the AFP.
chi says: “Puna ko ay masyadong maliit ang ginagalawang mundo ng mga dating magkakasama sa pagluklok kay Gloria. Imagine, sa isang sosyalan sa book launching ni Psinakis ay nandun sina Tiglao, Soliman, at Araullo…isang level ng entablado ang sinasayawan!”
Mga sosi nga sila eh. Kaya nga di ma-take si Erap. Me ayaw na ayaw ko din dati k Estrada pero sa lahat ng ayaw ko pinaglololoko me. Alam ko kc karamihan ng nagpapababa k Erap nun corrupt din or more pa, eh ba’t ko naman bababuyin ang boto ng marami (kahit masa “lang” sila) para pakinabangin lang ng mas corrupt? Na unfortunately, 7 taon nang nangyayari sa bayan ni Juan at Juana.
I believe that the immediate action of the Chief of Staff regarding this unfolding scandal is to relieve Bangit from his position, investigate and charge him under the Articles of War should evidence warrant. – Sulbatz
Question is: Will Yano do it?
Mas malakas si Bangit kay Pidal. Si Yano ay mukhang compromise lang para tuluyang maiwasan ang alburuto.
Hindi ko nasilip yung angle ni Sulbatz, salamat at naipahayag niya. Ang CSAFP ay dapat na parehas, walang pinipili, walang tinititigan, walang tinitignan. Serbisyong totoo lang…oops.
Para sa integridad at muling pagkakabuo ng AFP nararapat lang na imbestigahan ni Yano ang pagpapagamit ng isang heneral sa isang ilegal na gawain upang hindi pamarisan kailanman.
Hindi pa naman nawawala ang respeto ko kay Yano sa ngayon. Huwag niya sanang bibiguin ang taumbayan. Manmanan.
Magkano naman kaya ang kinita ni Blanguita dito sa latest na turn-around niya. Ang mga ganyang klaseng character, pera-pera lang.
Ka-grupo ni Rosebud yan.
You are right Sulbatz. Dapat pa-imbistigahan ni Yano si Bangit.
At least si Razon sabi niya paimbistigahan ang SAF na nagpalit ng 2004 election returns sa Batasan. Kung ano ang mangyari sa investigation, iba yun. I won’t be surprised if it will be another Mayuga Report.
Pasensya na Irene, gusto ko rin si Ping kc naayos niya PNP and magaling siya sa exposes BUT his selfishness caused the disunity and defeat of the opposition in the 2004 polls. Sayang kung pumayag siyang VP noon, wala na ang walanghiyang Pekeng Pangulong at mas ayos ang bayan.
Gabriela Says: “At least si Razon sabi niya paimbistigahan ang SAF na nagpalit ng 2004 election returns sa Batasan. Kung ano ang mangyari sa investigation, iba yun. I won’t be surprised if it will be another Mayuga Report.”
Parang sinabi mo, si Razon marunong maglaro upang magpaikot ng tao kasi wala ring mangyayari sa imbestigasyon ng pandaraya ni Pangulong Arrobo.
Jesusa: Sayang kung pumayag siyang VP noon, wala na ang walanghiyang Pekeng Pangulong at mas ayos ang bayan.
*****
Sinabi mo pa. Di sana presidente na siya kung pumayag siyang maging bise ni FPJ dahil ang layunin naman ng pagpapatakbo sa Da King ay dahil mas popular siya at pihadong iboboto ng mga tagahanga niya at ni Erap. Presidente na sana siya ngayon kasi nakatalaga na palang mamatay si FPJ.
Ambisyoso rin kasi. Hahanga na sana ako noon kay Lacson pero nasira. Suportado ako noon sa Be Not Afraid Movement niya noon pero nasira nang hindi niya itinuloy ang banat niya laban doon sa magkapatid na Pidal. Kung baga sa pagluluto, sinasalang lang niya pero hindi naman tinitignang mabuti. Labas tuloy either hilaw o sunog ang niluto, walang pakinabang.
Pero amenado akong siya ang isa sa kinatatakutan ni Pandack Omama na kalaban kaya ganoon na lang ang paninira kay Lacson na kung titignan ang sinasabi ni Luling nuno nila, sa totoo lang magkamag-anak, malayo man o malapit, si Ping at si Mike Pidal!!! Hopefully, hindi applicable sa kanila iyong sinasabing, “Blood is thicker than water.”
Sulbatz,
Revelation of Pelaez is not the right word dahil sa totoo lang ay wala namang bagong revelation. Alam na ng lahat ang pinagsasabi niya. Magaling nga lang magmaniobra ng mga kawalanghiyaan ang mga “amo” ni Pelaez. The word is more “confirmed” o sa tagalog, “amenado” siyang paninira lang kay Ping ang pinaggagawa nila ng mga kakutsaba niya sa PNP, AFP at Malacanang. Bistado na kasi wala pa ring magawa kasi iyong mga ahensiya na dapat nanghuhuli ng mga kriminal ay mga political appointee ni Gloria Dorobo ang hepe.
BTW, kahit na lahing hapon si Yano, wala akong tiwala sa kaniya kasi political appointee din siya noong demonya. Hindi kikilos iyan laban kay Gloria Dorobo, pustahan tayo!
“BUT his selfishness caused the disunity and defeat of the opposition in the 2004 polls.”
that’s what the arroyo loyalists want you to believe. it would not have mattered if lacson ran or not, garci and his COMELEC and military cohorts weren’t going to allow FPJ to win.
johnmarzan Says:
August 5th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
… that’s what the arroyo loyalists want you to believe. it would not have mattered if lacson ran or not, garci and his COMELEC and military cohorts weren’t going to allow FPJ to win.
________
No, johnmarzn, I’m sober and wise enough not to be misled by the devious Arroyo loyalists. The Pekeng Pangulo of course did not plan to let the opposition win but had the margin of votes been substantial enough, they would have had a much harder time making their plan work. Look at Trillanes: even the most evil scheme can only do so much, depending on circumstances. Had the opposition been united, courtesy of unselfishness SANA of Lacson, mas malamang sa hindi, ayos na ang bayan.
Of course, kulong pa si Trillanes but he’s now a Senator and there are international avenues we’re seeking re his case. The point is, mas may laban tayo and the people could have been moved to fight for FPJ’s win kung united nga sila ni Ping (and taong bayan solidly behind them).
johnmarza says:
“that’s what the arroyo loyalists want you to believe. it would not have mattered if lacson ran or not, garci and his COMELEC and military cohorts weren’t going to allow FPJ to win.”
No, I don’t think so johnmarzn, I’m sober and wise enough not to be misled by the devious Arroyo loyalists. The Pekeng Pangulo of course did not plan to let the opposition win but had the margin of votes been substantial enough, they would have had a much harder time making their plan work. Look at Trillanes: even the most evil scheme can only do so much, depending on circumstances. Had the opposition been united, courtesy of unselfishness SANA of Lacson, mas malamang sa hindi, ayos na ang bayan.
Of course, kulong pa si Trillanes but he’s now a Senator and there are international avenues we’re seeking re his case. The point is, mas may laban tayo and the people could have been moved to fight for FPJ’s win kung united nga sila ni Ping (and taong bayan solidly behind them).