Panfilo "Ping" Lacson

Bukas na Liham Para sa mga Magulang at Kabataan

Mga minamahal naming magulang at kabataan;

Sa maikling panulat na ito, sana ay mamulat tayo sa mga pagkakataong maaring masira ang kinabukasan ng ating mga anak, kabarkada, kaibigan at kapatid. Hatid ng liham na ito ang babala ukol sa mga nangyayari na lingid sa ating mga kaalaman.

Si Rose Anne Gumanoy ay isa sa mga kabataang nahikayat na sumapi sa New People’s Army o NPA. Siya ay isang biktima ng mga mapanlinlang na makakaliwa. Isa siya sa mga kabataan na dapat sana ay kabilang na ngayon sa mga produktibong mamamayan.

Si Rose Anne ay anak ni Eddie Gumanoy, isang militante na sinasabing pinaslang ng militar. Nagtamo si Rose Anne ng sugat matapos makaenwentro ang mga sundalo sa probinsya ng Quezon. Nagpagaling siya sa AFP Medical Center sa pangangalaga ng gobyerno, ngunit sa kabila nito ay ang pagsampa kasong rebelyon laban sa kanya. Sa pagkakataong ito, nagprisinta ang grupong Karapatan na tulungan siya para sa kanyang proteksyon at depensa sa korte. Taliwas sa kanyang inaasahan, pinabayaan siya ng grupo at hindi na natutukan ang kaso niya. Dahil dito, napilitan and korte na maglabas ng “arrest warrant” sanhi ng hindi pagtugon sa mga “court hearing” at dahil na din sa kapabayaan ng grupong Karapatan.

Ang grupong Karapatan ay isa lamang sa mga “legal fronts” ng CPP/NPA na ginagamit ang mga kasong tulad ng kay Rose Anne. Sinusunggaban nila ang mga kasong pwedeng palabasin na pagmamalupit ng militar upang mabiggyang dahilan na kalabanin at siraan ang gobyerno. Kailanman, hindi para sa intesest ng umanoy mga biktima ng karahasan ang kanilang adhikain, ngunit para itaguyod ang CPP/NPA at palaganapin ang rebelyon.

Isa si Rose Anne sa mga kabataang nahimok na sumali sa NPA. Kadalasan, ang pag-uudyok ay nagsisimula sa panghihikayat na makilahok sa mga kilos-protesta at mga gawaing laban sa gobyerno. Dahil sa murang pag-iisip ng mga kabataan, madaling nakukumbinsi ng mga “militant leaders” ang mga ito na makibahagi sa kanilang mga aktibidades. Kapag hinog na sa kaalaman at buo na ang loob na lumaban sa gobyerno, karamihan sa kanila ay umaanib na sa armadong pakikibaka. Dito nasasayang ang kinabukasan ng ibang kabataang nalululong sa aktibismo.

Ikaw, bilang magulang, kapatid, kaibigan o kakilala, hahayaan mo na lang ba ang iyong mga mahal sa buhay na sirain ang kinabukasan nila sa pagsisimulang makilahok sa mga kilos-protesta? Hahayaan mo na lang bang madagdagan pa ang mga kaso at pangyayaring katulad ng kay Rose Anne? Maging mapagmatyag at alerto. Alamin ang kinabibilangan na grupo ng mga minamahal nating kabataan …

A Hoodlum in Senate

Human rights violations relative to summary executions has been top issues in forums, lectures, debates and most especially, during protest actions. The matter has reached a certain degree that even the international community took notice of them prompting special envoys to make studies and evaluation on how the government is addressing the problem. However, incidents of alleged human rights violations were obviously being exploited by leftist militants and anti-administration groups. They almost always focus only on violations that were allegedly perpetrated by government agents, leaving serious cases neglected, and worst, forgotten.

Such contentious cases were those that involved Sen. Panfilo Lacson which includes the Kuratong Baleleng gang rub out case and the double murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito. The glaring fact that Lacson is still off the hook have sent a strong message that he can put himself above the law, using his position to be immune from being implicated. It is noteworthy that Sabina Reyes, one of Dacer’s daughters, has recently testified at the Manila Regional Trial Court. Reyes claimed that her father told the family on two occasions that if anything happened to him, it would be Lacson’s doing. Reyes said that Lacson was irked when Dacer supported former Gen. Roberto Lastimoso’s bid for the top post at the Philippine National Police (PNP). Since Dacer is an influential individual, this prompted Lacson to eliminate him.

Lacson by fact is a dangerous man. Nobody can argue with this since the man is still out there, dodging murder cases against him and even landing as a senator. With his resources, connections and influence, he can practically do whatever he wants against his enemies, just like what he did to Bobby Dacer. The loyalty of his cohorts is unquestionable such as the likes of Glenn Dumlao, Cesar Mancao and Michael Ray Aquino. They and some others are willing to give up their life for the senator.

The big question is why did the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) missed Lacson’s vicious activities considering that the family of the victims are still crying and asking for justice? Perhaps the CHR is just too busy handling juicy issues such as manhandling incidents that are only seen on TV, leaving and/or intentionally neglecting those who are really in dire need of their assistance. Aside from such, the media is not fair enough in updating old issues such as the Kuratong Baleleng rub-out case and the Dacer-Corbito murder. The media always play a major role in pressing authorities and bringing out issues but they do not intend to make follow ups unless it is a sought after story. They evidently only use their capabilities to earn extra ratings. On the other hand, militants and activists who cries foul whenever someone got killed sets aside old issues since they are not anymore exploitable.

Now that Dacer’s children revived their search for justice, it is high time that those who were implicated in the Dacer murder should face due process. When Lason told that it was “unfair” of Dacer’s daughter to accuse him of being the mastermind of their father’s murder eight years ago, it is quite more unfair that Lacson did not underwent due process and stepped out of the case just like that. Questioning the timing of Reyes’ revelations, the answer is because Dacer’s kin know that they cannot face Lacson during the height of the controversy due to lack of resources which was drained by the long process of seeking justice. On the other hand, they know that Lacson has everything at his disposal to avoid the case. Now that the case has been re-opened, is the time for Lacson to answer the accusations against him. He should face what every accused have faced and make a point that no one is above or below the law…

Jose De Venecia Handa Na Raw Tumistigo?

Handa ng tumistigo si JDV hinggil sa naantalang NBN-ZTE deal, handa na ring marinig ang mga gawa gawang detalye na isisiwalat nya.