MANCAO DAPAT PROTEKTAHAN

Dumating na sa bansa mula sa America si S/Supt Cezar Mancao II noong June 4. Tulad ng inaasahan, ang kaniyang pagdating ay binantayan ng mahigit kumulang 200 na alagad ng National Bureau of Investigation o NBI at sinubaybayan ng buong bansa dahil na rin sa matagal na pagkabinbin ng kaso sa korte at lalo na sa pagkakasangkot ng ilang mga kilalang personalidad sa pagpatay kina Salvador “Bubby” Dacer at ang kaniyang driver na si Emmanuel Corbito noong Nobyembre 2000.
Bagamat maraming taga-NBI ang nagbantay sa pagdating ni Mancao ay marami pa rin ang nag-aalala sa kalagayan ng nasabing potential state witness lalo na patungkol sa kasiguruhan ng kaniyang buhay. Hindi kasi natin maiaalis na marami sa ating mga kababayan ang mag-alangan at makapag-isip na posibleng ipapatay si Mancao dahil sa lalim ng kaniyang mga alam sa twin murder nila Dacer at Corbito. Kung ganito ang mangyayari ay paniguradong hindi na naman uusad ang kaso at bibilang na naman ng taon bago mabigyan ng hustisya ang pagpatay kina Dacer. At dahil dito ay dapat mas maging masigasig ang gobyerno na protektahan si Mancao upang maibigay na ang katahimikan sa mga naiwang pamilya ni Bubby at ni Emmanuel na matagal na din naman nagtitiis ng kanilang pighati sa karumaldumal na pagkamatay ng kanilang mahal sa buhay.
Bukod sa paninigurado sa seguridad ng buhay ni Mancao, dapat tamang institusyon lamang ang diretsong hahawak sa nasabing kaso upang ang isyu at ang kaso ay huwag maging isang malaking circus. Dapat paigtingin din ang panawagan na huwag pahintulutan na magamit si Mancao ng kung sino-sinong pulitiko na nagnanais lamang palawigin ang kani-kanilang mga pangalan para sa 2010. Ang kasong kaniyang kinasasangkutan ay hindi isang palabas ng moriones bagkus ay isang kriminal na kaso na dapat seryosohin ng lahat ng panig. Siya ay iniuwi dito sa Pilipinas upang magbigay linaw sa kaso at magbigay testimonya sa kaniyang nalalaman at hindi upang magamit para sa ano pa mang bagay.
Ang pagdating ni Mancao ay sapat na upang muling buhayin ang kaso sa korte. Hindi na kinakailangang hintayin pa ang napipintong pag-uwi ni Glenn Dumlao – na kasalukuyang dinidinig pa ang kasong extradition nito sa America at sinasabing may malalim na kaalaman sa pagpatay - upang tuluyan nang umusad ang double murder case na hinihain ng mga anak ni Dacer na sina Emily Dacer-Hungerson, Sabina Dacer-Reyes, Carina Lim-Dacer at Ambaro Dacer laban kay Panfilo Lacson na siyang hepe ng dating PAOCTF nang naganap ang pagpatay sa dalawang sibilyan.
Malaki ang papel na ginagampanan ngayon ni dating S/Supt Cezar Mancao II sa pagbibigay linaw sa kaso at upang patunayan na ang hustisya sa bansa, bagamat kung minsan ay matagal makamtam, ay patuloy pa rin umiiral at naniningil sa mga taong nagkakautang dito.

KURATONG BALELENG’S SILENT PLEAS AGAINST LACSON

Exactly fourteen years ago on May 18, eleven members of the dreaded bank robbery gang who called themselves as the Kuratong Baleleng were ruthlessly killed in a rubout operation along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City allegedly by several rogue members of the Philippine National Police. Included among those who lay dead were two minors, Meleuren Sorronda and Sherwyn Abalora, who were merely on a vacation from Dipolog City. The following day, the head of the so-called gang was also found killed together with another alleged member in Biñan in Laguna.

Sadly, up until now this classic case of extrajudicial killings remain unsolved as the Supreme Court is yet to give a decision on the pending administrative case filed by the families of the slain Kuratong Baleleng members against Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 81 Judge Ma. Theresa Dela Torre-Yadao who mysteriously dismissed the multiple murder charges against 11 police officers involved in the alleged rubout.

Up until now, the accused officers are yet to spend jail time and are yet to answer for their crimes for violating the rights of these people. Ironically, Senator Panfilo Lacson who was already directly linked to the rubout case by a living witness is still blissfully occupying a seat in the very halls of the Senate and is now even into an in-depth political warpath against his presidential nemesis in the 2010 elections – Senator Manny Villar. But how long will the families of the slain robbery gang members have to wait before the Supreme Court would finally issue an edict on the pending administrative case?

How many witnesses should come forward before the Supreme Court would realize that it can now revive the case and finally resolve the 11 multiple murder charges filed against 11 police officers? In March 2001, two witnesses - Senior Insp. Abelardo Ramos and Insp. Ysmael Yu – already braved the threats to their lives and came forward to issue affidavits stating that Senator Lacson himself assented to the rubout operation and was even quoted as saying “‘Baka may mabuhay pa diyan (make sure no one survives)” during a briefing held in Camp Crame. Aside from Yu and Ramos, nine more witnesses to the crime are now in the custody of the Justice Department’s Witness Protection Program. Four of these witnesses were among those who directly fired at the victims. And yet, the Supreme Court is mysteriously blind to their existence and to the pleas of the families of the slain victims. Since 2006, the Supreme Court after issuing an en banc resolution noting the urgent resolution filed by the private counsels of the Kuratong Baleleng members for the Court to resolve the case is yet to give out a decision. Does Senator Lacson have a hand on the seeming inaction and indecision of the Supreme Court specifically Chief Reynato Puno to finally give justice to these eleven victims who are clearly fatalities of extrajudicial killings?

NASAAN ANG HUSTISYA PAGKATAPOS NG 14 TAON?

Nasaan na ang matagal nang hinihintay na hustisya para sa 11 miyembro ng kilalang Kuratong Baleleng gang na pinaslang noon Mayo 18, 1995 sa kahabaan ng Commonwealth Avenue sa Quezon City? Pagkaraan ng 14 na taon ay patuloy pa rin nakabinbin ang kaso sa Korte Suprema. Ang isa sa mga sinasabing direktang nag-utos ng pagpatay ay naging senador na ngunit tila ang mga kaluluwa ng 11 miyembro ay patuloy pa din nananaghoy para sa katarungan at hustisya.

Malinaw na ang nasabing pagpatay ay kongkretong halimbawa ng isang hindi makaturan na pagsupil sa mga kriminal. Ito rin ay malinaw na nagpapakita ng isang paglabag sa karapatang pantao. At dahil sa nabanggit na dalawang rason ay dapat maparusahan ang lahat ng nasasangkot sa nasabing kaso, maging sya pa man ay kilalang personahe sa ating bansa.

Hanggang kailan magiging mailap ang hustisya para sa mga pamilyang naiwan ng mga Kuratong Baleleng members? Hindi pa ba sapat ang apat na testigo tulad nila SPO4 Ed Delos Reyes, SPO4 Corazon Dela Cruz, P/INSP Ysmael Uy at Leonora Sorondra upang tuluyang tuldukan ang pighati ng mga naiwang pamilya ng mga napatay na Kuratong Baleleng members? Ano pa ang kinakailangan na mga ebidensya upang umusad nang tuluyan ang kaso at mahatulan ang mga sangkot? Nakakalungkot na ang pagtestigo ng apat na nabanggit na personalidad ay nauwi sa wala dahil sila ngayon ay mga kapwa umurong sa pagbibigay testimoniya dahil na rin sa mga pananakot, sa kanilang buhay.
Sa 2010, tatakbo sa pagkapresidente si Senador Panfilo Lacson. Kung sakaling siya ay manalo at maging pangulo ng Pilipinas ay mas magiging malabo pa ang hustisya para sa mga pinatay at lalong mabibinbin ang kaso sa Korte Suprema. Hindi ba’t dahil sa tinatawag na “time element” dahil sa nalalapit na 2010 election ay mas dapat bigyan ng atensiyon ngayon ng mga huwes ng Korte Suprema ang nasabing kaso at iresolba ito sa lalong madaling panahon?

Maski sila pa ang pinakamasamang mga kriminal sa ating bansa, ang mga napatay na Kuratong Baleleng members ay dapat binigyan ng pagkakataon na harapin ang kani-kanilang kaso sa korte at pagdusahan ang mga katumbas na kaparusahan sa mga ito. Ngunit sa isang iglap, ang kanilang karapatan ay nawala kasama ng pagkitil sa kanilang buhay.

Marami silang nabiktima sa mga krimen na kanilang ginawa laban sa kanilang mga kapwa Pinoy pero sila din ay naging biktima noong May 18, 1995 o labing apat na taon nang nakakalipas. Hanggang kailan sila hihingi ng hustisya?

ERAP PRESIDENT

The Erap-Jeepneys are back. The old “for the interest of the poor” tunes are at it again. The Kuratong Baleleng rub-out case celebrated well before is now getting its fourteenth year anniversary for nothing. A gang got killed in May 18, 1995 with handcuffs and implanted guns in the crime scene. Witnesses in the likes of Armando Capili, a reporter of Remate as well as SPO2 Eduardo delos Reyes who both gambled their safeties may not be the next presidentiables or senatorial bets but they Erap and Ping could never be half the man these witnesses have been.

Justice failed when the Kuratong victims’ relatives desisted from their testimonies. It failed again when Lacson and Erap both have their tickets into mainstream politics despite the fact that they were both “at question” with Kuratong Baleleng and Dacer Corbito cases. Unfortunately, it will fail over and again for the fourteenth year as the politicking sets in for the forthcoming 2010 elections. This is one concrete example of justice that was not only delayed but altogether denied.

Have we forgotten the fact that Erap plundered millions of tax payers’ money where he was convicted but was later let loose? If the PACC or the PAOC-TF were both criminals shrugged under the rug is the Malacañang or the presidency worth a trash by 2010? By now, Erap is practically rejoicing over the fact that Juan dela Cruz is stubborn enough to take him back. People who might be opposed to the idea are long dead; like the Kuratong, Dacer or Corbito for a case.

The presidency for Erap is made possible by the fact that he had got out of a murder case in flying colors. He was not alone; in fact, he is carrying his best “army” and confidant with him-Lacson. Politicking and gimmickries were both their tickets to a future bearing another stab at graft and corruption. They all have their tempting facades to wave at unwitting voters. Lacson proved he was amazing at nipping the bud out of every malpractice he sniffs under his nose; but for one. He made the PACC and PAOC-TF get away with murders with subordinates paying for his own ill-doing. Erap on the other hand, brush his plunder case aside and is now working at another hocus pocus for the presidency. Eventually by the time we begin holding these people accountable of the crimes they committed it will apparently be too late. They are either untouchable or rallying behind their immunity status.

Erap and Lacson vying for the presidency is nevertheless disgusting after fourteen years of their well-taken cared off high crimes. If fourteen years are still not enough to wake our consciousness then there will be more. Not another gang used and then dismissed for the obvious “turf” covering but maybe 90 million Filipinos exploited to get into absolute power.

JUDGE LORREDO, DAPAT I-DISBAR

Siya ang nag-apruba ng warrant of arrest para kay Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada sa kasong perjury na sinampa ni Mike Defensor ngunit siya ngayon ang naghihimok sa mismong naghain ng kaso na makipag-areglo na lamang kay Jun at iurong ang sinabing kaso. Hindi ba’t nakakapagtaka ang biglang pagbaligtad ni Judge Jorge Emmanuel Lorredo ng Manila Metropolitan Trial Court? Hindi lamang nakakapagtaka ngunit ito ay isang nakakagimbal na balita lalo na ang kaniyang mga binitawang mga salita na hindi dapat marinig mula sa kahit kaninong hukom sa bansa.

Sa isang limang pahinang desisyon ni Judge Lorredo noong May 4, 2009 ay nasaksihan natin ang ilan sa mga pagkakamali ng nasabing judge. Imbes na isang legal na desisyon, ang mababasa ay nagmistulang isang sermon na may halong pruweba ng pagiging biased ng hukom. Sinabi ni Judge Lorredo na mas mainam para kay Mike Defensor na makipag-ayos na lamang kay Lozada dahil ito ay makakasira lamang sa kaniyang political career at kalusugan tulad ng nangyari sa unang ginoo na si Mike Arroyo. Hindi ba’t bilang hukom ay hindi dapat siya nagbibitiw ng kahit ano mang komento hinggil sa kasalukuyang kasong kaniyang hinahawakan? Ito ay upang maprotektahan ang kaniyang magiging judgement na inaasahan ng sambayan na mamaging patas at walang kinikilingan.

Bukod dito, ang kaniyang kontrobersyal na order ay nagmistulang isang pag-uudyok lamang sa kampo ng depensa dahil siya ay nagsambit na ang perjury case ay pwedeng maging daan upang ma-aresto at ipatawag ang mag-asawang Arroyo upang magbigay testimoniya hinggil sa kaso. Dahil kay Judge Lorredo ay nagkakagulo ngayon ang ilang grupo mula sa oposisyon dahil sa kagustuhan nilang maka-isa sa tinatawag na executive privilege. Hindi ba’t malinaw na pagkakamali ang kaniyang mga naging hakbang? Pati mga kapwa hukom at abogado ay napapa-iling sa ginawa ni Judge Lorredo.

Tulad ng paratang niya kay Mike Defensor, hindi kaya siya ay nabayaran na din upang magbigay siya ng isang order na malinaw na may kinikilingang grupo. Dahil dito, dapat siyang magbitiw at ibigay na lamang sa ibang hukom ang nasabing kaso.

Bukod sa paghingi ng tawad tulad ng una nang hiniling ng mga miyembro ng National Association of Lawyers for Justice and Peace ay dapat din kastiguhin ng Supreme Court, Integrated Bar of the Philippines o IBP at ng DOJ pati na ang mga kilalang lawyers’ group sa bansa tulad ng CODAL at NUPL ang kaduda-dudang payo ni Judge Lorredo dahil ito ay nagpapahiwatig lamang na ang perjury case laban kay Lozada ay nahusgahan na bago pa man ito ay opisyal na maisalang. Ang isang hukom ay dapat patas sa lahat ng kaso ngunit dahil sa kaniyang order noong May 4 ay napatunayan natin na galit si Judge Lorredo kay Mike Defensor upang ito ay kaniyang bastusin at apakan ang karapatan ni Defensor na maghain at ipaglaban ang kaniyang karapatan ayon sa kaniyang ninanais. Ito ba ang gusto nating hahawak at hahatol sa mga ligal na kaso natin?

CHANGE WHO, DINKY? “Forcing to hold the next administration at its neck”

Former President Arroyo Cabinet Secretary Dinky Soliman had just launched ChangePolitics, a movement seeking renewed and responsible voting for 2010 and beyond. But is the public overlooking a salient but alarming statement taken on Soliman’s very mouth? In particular when she insists that the people behind ChangePolitics to include her ofcourse would have to be forcing their way-in on executive decisions and policies by 2011. Try to imagine a crowd of “politicize” honchos who merely wanted to get through power by making the so-called movement as a façade. To which, political egoist like Soliman belonged. The one who had disclosed her plans for the 2010 senate seat fairly early this year but was taken aback after her stumpy confidence ratings.

A former lapdog like Soliman who had been trying to find ways to absolve herself to get into the mainstream politics can’t and should not be trusted. The word “insisting” to quote her so-called stamen on the role of ChangePolitics involves “her” and “company” to dictate no less than the elected president in 2010. That would be her worst role other than being a legendary lapdog. Soliman is practically making gimmicks to get to her most coveted “position”. She walked away with her closest ally teary-eyed when she signed-up for the Hyatt 10. She secretly made a pact with Opposition TRAPOs she once opposed in the likes of Panfilo Lacson and even Erap Estrada. This was the same pact that involves multi-million financial aids, which up until today had been used for her pre-election campaigns. She wanted to test the waters and unfortunately the one who gave her the much needed assistance were her former adversaries.

Soliman is nonetheless planning to resuscitate her dying “career” in government as she first tried it out with INCITEGOV along with other HYATT 10 members. But just as her plans to run for the senate was out in the open, INCITEGOV got thrown-out the window. People simply would not give her the chance to deceive them over and again. Obviously, ChangePolitics was another “nome de plum” that was set to hide Soliman’s true identity. Like a fictional writer, Soliman wanted to create a scenario where she would ofcourse be hailed a hero. Sad to say, the “stinky” fish with her tactlessness ruined the entire drama. It was worse when she was “siding” with GLORIA before in exchange for a handful of powerful positions. It would be far terrible when she gets to dictate the voting public on who to vote and later on the president with what to do.

Are we up for a Soliman shadow-led government? Is it not evident enough that she is unfit to take any position when her fallibility to politicking is about 100%? That when things turn upside-down, Soliman jettisons to another camp and suck-up her former stand just to “cleanse” herself?

Other than changing “politics” we should be annihilating “politicking” where Soliman and other TRAPOs belong. It is not our suffrage that has to be scrutinized. In fact, it should be these “posing” morally right groups, who like false prophets, deceive us in exchange for “votes”.

LOZADA SICK IN CUSTODY BUT HEALTHY WITH POLITICAL JOURNEY

Jun Lozada is a second-rate Trillanes. He was more than just a “whistleblower” who blew-out his welcome in the public by practically portraying an overly-rated actor with his perjury case martyrdom. At first, he denied himself of freedom after he snob the six thousand bail bond. Lozada wanted to play it hard so that he would eventually looked hard-up and victimized behind bars ofcourse. But should he drag the word “hospital arrest” over and again? Juan dela Cruz have had enough of these “I am sick excuses”.

Is it not true that Lozada flies from city to the next during his so-called campaign for reform and the truth that centered in Central Visayas and NCR and Baguio? These were recent engagements Lozada had participated with quite a healthy note and presence. Printed pictures of him about months ago in closed-fists and braced-arms with other anti-GLORIA loyalists give as an idea about Lozada was practically hale and hearty. This is apparently the reason why he chose the chilly bars over six thousand pesos right?

But about two days after having been detained in a cozy room in the Manila Police district and just as the public cared less for his so-called battled “oppression” he ram the signal of high blood pressure and nausea. Lozada threw the white towel and screamed “let me out”. Well, can we really blame the guy? He thought the Filipinos are that anxious to have a Jose Rizal copycat. Maybe one thing that made the whole “I need help” drama was its “perfection”. The histrionic Rizal t-shirt with his sad and almost worn-out face spread on the early dailies was a give-away. It was too perfect to be true.

The only way to draw attention and ultimately to make a name recall for Lozada’s nearing senatorial plight is this perjury thug with Defensor. The arrest was supposed to portray him helpless and in dire need of public sympathy but I think the people leave it up to midnight soap operas. Fictional characters are worth the masses’ outrage other than Lozada who by the end of 2008 had generated about millions of peso for his supposed “well-being”. The plain Tagalog lingo “ginagatasan” is ideal to explain how Lozada and company had dealt with Church goers and youths in their invented “truth campaign”. Where did the millions go at this point when basically the campaign vanished in thin air as soon as Lozada decided to test drive his “support base” in 2010? Was that “hard-earned” cash turned into a political trash?

People aren’t stupid and they do know when to stop idolizing “Baals”. Lozada should have kept that in mind before he trapped himself in a detention cell. As they say, red hand convicts with political hold always get nauseated when confronted with handcuffs and police warrants. Getting sick had been an overused understatement for red hands to find their way-out; making Estrada as a fitting example ofcourse. Ironically, it worked for Erap since he got absolved with plunder, but it never went well as an alibi for Lozada who simply is nothing less but a politicking neophyte.