De Lima's challenge for lie detector test useless

I have some suggestions for Justice Sec. Leila de Lima in her investigation of who was the ‘sir’ Gerardo Biong was talking to before he burned the evidence in the Vizcomde Massacre.

First, zero in on ALL of Biong’s former superiors in the police force.

By all, I mean not just Biong’s superiors or those higher in rank than him in the Paranaque Police at the time of the massacre.  

Not just the chief or deputy chief or his commanding officer.  Everybody. Remember, a person with a higher rank is addressed as ‘sir’  whether or not he is the boss of the one paying respect.

Include the Southern Police District officials, since Paranaque is part of its jurisdiction.

Find out if Biong had a second job or sideline at the time of the crime and if he did, include his former bosses too in the investigation, especially those related to or with links to any of the acquitted suspects in the slaughter.

Going through Biong’s income tax return and its supporting papers, if any, or those of his wife and other loved ones might help in doing this.

FORGET the lie detector’ test you’re asking from Hubert Webb and company for them to prove that they are with everybody in the search for truth to the massacre.

It’s NOT CONCLUSIVE, right and EASILY DISPUTABLE.

WALA kayong mapapatunayang KATOTOHANAN kung iyon lang ang pakay ng lie detector test na gusto ninyo.  

Even if Webb ‘s gang agree to a lie detector test and the results are not in their favor, you think they would accept it? Will that prove they’re the real killers, or anyone else for that matter?

All they have to do is challenge the results, get their own expert and in the end it will the the word of their expert against yours.

ANO MAPAPALA NINYO?

If you want to use a lie detector, it’s Biong whom you have to challenge, and pressure, not Webb and company.

I remember Biong saying that it was relatives of the Vizcondes who asked him to burn everything and clean up the crime scene. But the relatives DENIED THIS.

Take it from there,  Madam Secretary. 30

   

Attention, Bulacan residents!

My apologies for missing out on our daily blog yesterday. I had to attend to an emergency in the family.

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This is for Bulacan residents.

I have received reports that as many as 10 out of 13 blocks of tearose marble transferred from a cancelled mining operation in the Biak na Bato National Park in San Miguel to the Provincial Engineering Office in Guiguinto are allegedly MISSING.

The marble blocks, which had come from the Rosemoor Mining, had been moved out allegedly without the required one transport permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

For your information, guys, one block of tearose marble costs as much as P300,000. So at 10 blocks, we’re talking of P3 MILLION.

Hindi lang barya-barya, tama?

The marble blocks were moved out of the Rosemoor vicinity in Barangay Sibul, San Miguel on Oct. 23 last year, a day after people from the Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) inspected the site.

BENRO and the Provincial Engineering Office are both DIRECTLY UNDER the Office of the Governor.

A group of residents who asked not to be named also told me they are now verifying reports that Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado had written to the DENR to ask for permission to sell the marble blocks, purportedly to finance some provincial projects.

That is VERY, VERY DISTURBING.

I am not a lawyer but I don’t think Alvarado has the right, legal or moral, to se\l the marble or even think about doing so regardless of his purpose.

The marble was STILL OWNED by Rosemoor UNTIL THESE WERE MOVED OUT. Meaning, it was still PRIVATE PROPERTY. Therefore, Alvarado had NO RIGHT to just grab and sell the marble blocks.

He can only do so if the marble has already been seized in favor of the provincial government, for which a legal and usually lengthy process has to be followed.

Or if he will sell the marble as a private individual and with the written consent of Rosemoor.

I will readily stand corrected if I have to.

                                                                       

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From our blogmates:

VENUS AMORANTO of Binan, Laguna on our blog “Start a House probe on Garcia now”:

Continue the good work, Mr. Antonio.

DARLENE LOGAN of Louisiana, USA on our blog “Never, ever, underestimate women”:

Very well said, Mr. Antonio.  30

Start a House probe on Garcia now

Paranaque Rep. Roy Golez has a point in saying that former Armed Forces comptroller Carlos Garcia could not have amassed P300 million without the knowledge of his superiors.

Then, why don’t you congressmen  immediately start a probe, sir?

It would not be difficult to conduct an initial hearing or two. Garcia was the military comptroller so there were only a few officials who were higher or more senior than him.   

These bosses include the secretary of Defense and the undersecretaries, the Armed Forces chief of staff, the vice chief of staff and the commanding generals of the Army, Air Force and Navy.

Mayrooon na agad puwedeng tanungin, congressman. Hindi iyong totally ay MANGANGAPA muna sa dilim o hindi malaman kung saan magsisimula ang imbestigasyon.

From the Armed Forces bosses, the investigator can readily go down the line to Garcia’s accountants and purchasing officers for records and receipts of ALL THE TRANSACTIONS entered into by Garcia.

Next are the suppliers of Garcia for possible OVERPRICING of the goods and services paid for by the Armed Forces when he was still the comptroller.

These personalities, and the facts and figures they know about Garcia, are out there, waiting for the latest developments in the case.

Kaya’t ano pa ang hinihintay ninyo sa House, Mr. Golez?

Related to this, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV should initiate a similar probe in the Senate based on his claim that Garcia, was “fronting” for a powerful person in 2009.

Trillanes said Garcia had wanted to reveal the person but got scared to do so.

But what I find PUZZLING is Trillanes refused to name the person in media, but added that he had revealed the identity to certain people in Malacanang.

Senador, hindi naging kapani-paniwala ang sinabi mo dahil sa ginawa mong pambibitn sa tao sa media. Kung nagawa mong sabihin ang pangalan nung tao sa mga taga-Malacanang, walang dahilan para hindi rin ito malaman ng Sambayanan.

Unless it’s nothing less than a PUBLICITY STUNT.

                                               

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From our blogmates:

SHIELA Bees of San Diego, California on our blog “Never, ever, underestimate woman”:

I just read your blog. Two thumbs up.

DARLENE LOGAN of Louisiana, United States on our blog “Congratulations, Black Nazarene devotees”:

This blog inspired me to hang on to my faith. Have a great week, Mr. Antonio.

Never, ever, underestimate women

I don’t see anything wrong with hiring women as bus drivers. Everybody has a right to earn a decent living.

But I strongly recommend three qualifications before any woman is taken in even on a probationary basis.

First, the woman must be a professional driver for the last 10 years. She must be experienced enough in dealing SAFELY with the chaos and the madness in the traffic, especially in Metro manila.

Second, she must be at least 35 years old. It’s safe to assume that at that age, both men and women have matured enough to keep their cool on and off the road.

Lastly, they will have to first pass security or self-defense courses and seminars.

I’m NOT UNDERESTIMATING the strength of women, let me be very clear on that. But women are generally weaker than men so strength is not the only thing they’ll need in dealing with trouble or controlling troublemakers.

For example, they will have to know how to DISARM a holdup man IN A SPLIT-SECOND or so.

They must be taught how to talk to drunks who will harass other passengers., or psychopaths who will suddenly pull off a criminal act once inside the bus.

We still remember the bus hostage tragedy last year in Luneta, don’t we?

Bus companies should be the one to spend for these security and self-defense seminars or courses. But they have to be sure that the instructors are certified professionals.

If the woman meets these three qualifications, then bus companies should not be barred from hiring them as bus drivers and giving them a decent means of  livelihood.

Nobody should underestimate women. NEVER, EVER.

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From our blogmates:

MARIBEL NIALA of Quezon City on moves to amend the Constitution:

I feel sad that some people cannot really see the true problems our country is facing. Those in power should learn to prioritize and see what is crippling the nation and not waste so much energy doing unnecessary things!

Kick Magsaysay out of the House of Representatives

Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE) party-list Rep. Eulogio Magsaysay should be EXPELLED immediately from the House of Representatives for calling a Philippine Airlines (PAL) attendant a “menopausal bitch.”

For  being POWERLESS to get him a seat beside his sons on a US-bound flight.

Even if he is asking for forgiveness, the fact remains that he HARASSED, HUMILIATED and DEHUMANIZED a helpless woman for not getting what he wanted.

All because he was a congressman whom he obviously thought should have his way anytime, anywhere for whatever reason.

Kung makakalusot siya sa ASAL-HARI niyang  ito, DELIKADO na sa  KABASTUSAN at PANG-AABUSO niya ang sinumang ordinaryong manggagawa na makakasama niya saanman, at anumang oras.

Magsaysay’s defense for his gutter language is an INSULT to the intellect that only further proved his ARROGANCE.

He claims the attendant was the first to raise her voice at him while he and his family waited for their flight at the Mabuhay Lounge of the airport.

Now hold on a second: Apart from other passengers, surely there were other people present like the attendant’s co-workers and their immediate superior, or airport personnel

Kaya’t kung mambabastos siya ng pasahero, alam ng attendant na makakarating ito sa mga boss niya o sinumang kinauukulan at mapaparusahan siya.  

lMagsaysay claims he immediately complained in writing to the PAL management about Ocampo’s behavior.

Assuming that this is true, think about this guys:

It goes without saying that PAL will conduct an investigation. But from the moment the attendant revealed her ordeal in public up to now, there have been NO REPORTS of sanctions or disciplinary action against her by management.

Or an apology by PAL management to Magsaysay for being the aggrieved party in the incident.

Isa pa, HINDI IPAGLALABAN NG LANTARAN ng kaniyang mga kasamahan sa trabaho ang attendant kung alam nilang ito ang nambastos, at hindi ang binastos.

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Is hunger being really fought?

The latest survey claims 3.4 million families have experienced hunger.

Malacanang’s reaction, as expected, was everything was being done to fight hunger.

Really? What is being done? By whom, and where?

I have yet to see or hear of a truly WIDE-RANGING project for the MASS PRODUCTION of chicken, pigs or cows. And by massive I mean by the thousands or tens of thousands.

Fisherfolk continue to lament the very little support (sometimes NONE AT ALL), financial or logistical, that they get from the Government to help them increase their catch, and their income.

Rice, fruit and vegetable farmers are complaining that agricultural lands on where they could plant their crops are getting smaller and fewer. RARELY, if ever, do we hear of farmers getting subsidies for seeds, equipment and fertilizers.

These are all basic foodstuffs.

Most of all, there is no known and clear-cut on-going Government program on how to REDUCE and KEEP LOW the prices of basic commodities.

What is SICKENING, or should I say INSULTING, is our politicians READILY allocate tens of millions of pesos in public funds to NON-ESSENTIALS like purportedly official trips abroad and the Truth Commission.

Pero pagdating sa mga magsasaka, mangingisda at iba pang mahihirap, kung puwedeng libre ay libre na lang.

So what kind of a fight, if there is indeed any, is being fought against hunger? Just imagine, guys, how many cavans of rice, how much meat and seafoods can be bought with the P83 million budget of the Truth Commission, for example?

I would appreciate any clarification from anybody. Promise. 30 

Congressman Evardone is up to something

I see NO SANE REASON to prioritize amendments to the Constitution, or Charter change, at this time.

So I will dare say that Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone is UP TO SOMETHING in his burning desire for Charter change as soon possible.

UNCONTROLLABLE oil and power companies continue to choke us at will, redirecting our meager finances and the way we live at a moment’s notice whenever they feel like raising prices.

There is NO END in sight to rice importations and the poverty of rice farmers with their loose change earnings.

MILYUN-MILYON pa rin ang mga squatter at walang bahay, o  mga kabataang HINDI NAGAARAL, o hindi makatapos ng pagaaral dahil sa sobrang taas ng matrikula at kahirapan sa buhay.

Drug addiction and drug pushing is a nationwide problem. The police and the military is as POORLY-EQUIPPED as it has always been.  Salaries and benefits of government workers are still among the LOWEST in the labor force.

There are a lot, lot more MAJOR problems plaguing the country.  

Problems that could have quick, even though initial, solutions with programs or projects and appropriation of funds, proposed laws and marathon deliberations in the House of Representatives and the Senate, and other similar moves.

I’m not a lawyer but I’m sure these concerns cannot be addressed with equal speed through Charter change.

Evardone himself has said that as a first step, he will propose an election for delegates to a constitutional convention to work on Charter changes.

Eleksiyon pa lang yan, mga kababayan. Ilang linggo o ibuwan pa muna ang mauubos sa botohan, sa bilangan ng mga boto at proklamasyon ng mga mananalong delegado.

Only then can the winning delegates be convened and actual deliberations started Charter changes, before these changes are approved and whatever else follows.

Even if I’m not a politician, ONE-HUNDRED is to one P500 million will not be enough for an election and all these entailing procedures.

Isipin ninyo, mga kababayan, ang PANAHONG MASASAYANG, at higit sa lahat, ang MILYUN-MILYONG BUWIS nating gagastusin sa gustong mangyari ni Evardone.

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From our blogmates:

SUSAN CUNANAN of Makati on our blog “Congratulations, Black Nazarene Devotees:

Amen to that, Mr. Antonio.

Justify the rice importation first, Mr. Banayo

National Food Authority (NFA)  head Lito Banayo says the country may have to import rice in the first quarter of this year to ensure ample stocks should La Nina reduce global grain production and affect prices.

Before he does that, he had better have JUSTIFIABLE explanations to a lot of factors and concerns to us taxpayers.

BUWIS NATIN, ang ipambabayad sa bibilhing bigas na iyon.

Banayo must first render a DETAILED accounting or audit of what has happened to the supposedly over-importations of rice during the previous Administration, as claimed by no less than President Aquino himself in his State-of-the-nation Address.

He must first show that these purported over-supply is gone, or will not last long enough to meet the people’s requirements. There must be proof that these had been disposed of judiciously and without irregularities.

Kailangan ding  ipaliwanag ni Banayo kung ilan pa bang sako ang natitirang supply, hanggang kalian lang tatatagal ito at gaano lang ba karami ang inaasahang aanihin sa buong bansa at ano ang basehan nito.

Third, how many tons will be imported, for what areas and what is the basis for the allocation.

Banayo did not give these details in published reports wherein he revealed the possibility of the first-quarter importation of rice.  All he said was the generic justification that “we want to lock in our requirements as early as possible. We don't have the volume yet,"

Consider this, guys: the lean months of crop production are from July to September.

But Banayo is already talking of importation, even if it’s just a possibility as he says, as early as the first quarter. That would be from this month until March, at the latest.

It’s still six months away to July, and eight months away to September.

MASYADONG MAAGA naman yata para ibabala agad ang importation.

How to erase doubts on AFP modernization

From now on, it’s really just one blog per topic guys every time you come in. That’s for sure, 3 times a day, seven days a week.

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The buzz on the proposed sale of camps Crame and Aguinaldo isn’t  over yet but  plans are already up for the lease of Villamor Airbase and two other camps to the private sector for the modernization of the Armed Forces.

I’m doubtful on the SINCERITY of the motive for the planned leases. Modernization was the purpose given for the sale of Fort Bonifacio and yet, our Armed Forces still rely on grants and hand-me-downs or ‘bigay’ from other countries for their modern equipment.

Saan napunta iyong pinagbilhan sa Fort Bonifacio?

I am a thousand and one percent behind the modernization of the Armed Forces.

But pessimists like me will only be at peace if proponents of the leases, and the sale of Crame and Aguinaldo, can come up with the following specifics:

1.    The equipment and supplies that will be bought, their volume and specifications, purpose and recipient.

2.    The suppliers, terms and conditions of the purchase, costs of the merchandise and offers by competitors of the suppliers to ensure that the Government is getting the cheapest price available.

3.    The disbursing officer, his track record and proof of his integrity and honesty, and mechanics in the release and accounting of  funds.

4.    Monitoring or tracking system in the release of the equipment or materiel to be bought to prevent loss or misappropriation.

Remember, we are talking of BILLIONS OF PESOS here.

Our soldiers fight against, and die in the hands of, Communist rebels and Muslim separatists just to keep us free.Making it easier for them to do their job is the least we can do.

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From our blogmates:

SHEILA BEES of San Diego, California on our blog “Congratulations, Black Nazarene devotees”:

I just read your Black Nazarene article. You are ringing bells in me about the Black Nazarene and my faith. You inspired me to pray and believe in the power of prayers.

MARIBEL NIALA of Quezon City on the temporary release of Nick Faeldon:

Here we go again with a classic example of the ‘palakasan’ system! Justice for all should always prevail.

DOJ impartiality now doubtful

Whether or not Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta is ousted, one thing is for certain – the impartiality of the Department of Justice (DOJ) is now HIGHLY DOUBTFUL.

Acosta has headed the PAO since 2001. So it was SHOCKING, to put it mildly, why her eligibility for the post is suddenly being questioned.

At a time when she is ALL-OUT in assisting Lauro Vizconde in seeking for the reversal of the acquittal of Hubert Webb and company for the slaughter of her family.

Consider this, guys:

PAO is an attached agency of the DOJ.

It is BASIC for any incoming boss like Justice Sec. Leila de Lima to immediately check on the personnel files of his or her staff, especially the department heads, to ensure their qualification for the job.

Since she assumed office in July, De Lima NEVER RAISED DOUBTS publicly on the legality of Acosta’s position. But in a legal opinion dated Jan. 3, the DOJ suddenly said Acosta’s appointment and those of her deputies “are without merit.”

It would be DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE that an opinion as sensitive as that came out without De Lima’s approval.

Now, in a phone interview with the Philippine Star yesterday, De Lima says the Career Executive Service (CES) Board and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) have conflicting positions on the issue, and that she wants something written from both parties for her guidance.

Kumbaga, SINITENSYAHAN muna si Acosta noong Jan. 3 bago biglang sinabi kahapon na ‘teka muna, lilinawin muna nating mabuti, baka naman hindi.’

Anyway you look at it, this is GROSSLY UNFAIR for Acosta.

I’M NOT DEFENDING Acosta, let that be for the record. If eventually she has to be ousted, then so be it.

But the least that De Lima and her minions could have done was to clarify first the conflicting stands of the CES and the CSC before saying that Acosta’s appointment was without merit.

A rather basic act of courtesy, if I may so.

Because one very crucial thing is starting to suffer, and will continue to suffer, until this controvery is over – THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH in the Vizconde massacre. 30

Congratulations, Black Nazarene devotees!

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.

And I mean everyone, from those who joined the overnight vigil at the Quirino Grandstand until the early morning mass, to those who joined the procession despite the risks to life and limb, to the faithful who packed the Quiapo Church to the rafters the whole day, everybody.

You have all PROVEN, not only to our countrymen but to the WHOLE WORLD, that for all our trials and tribulations, our Lord JESUS CHRIST is still KING.

By disregarding personal safety and health just to pay homage to the Saviour, you have proclaimed to the world that the Filipino will never turn his back on God.

And that NOTHING can shake our faith, now and forever.

May your tribe increase a million times, May you always have the strength to continue your devotion. May you all be blessed with the charisma and the gift of speech to draw more and more of our countrymen to your legion.

To Manila city and police officials: better start planning now for next year’s fiesta to reduce the number of injured and the chaos. To the business sector: please extend all possible assistance to city and police officials.

You’ll do it not just for the people but for Jesus of Nazareth.

And please, guys, let us honor the Black Nazarene every single day of our lives, Believe me, it works. 30