A CHALLENGE TO PING LACSON

Here’s a challenge to Sen. Ping Lacson:

Execute a WRITTEN PLEDGE that you won’t HIDE again if ever the Supreme Court (SC) reverses the Court of Appeals (CA) ruling dismissing the charges against you for the Dacer-Corbito murders.

Specifically provide in the pledge that you will go through ALL THE LEGAL processes entailing the warrant, including IMPRISONMENT.

The pledge should be made public and signed by witnesses, and notarized if possible. And you will NOT ACCUSE ANYBODY of anything until you prove your innocence in court in the event that the case goes to trial.  

Tutal, kung talagang inosente ka, MAABSWELTO ka sa korte at puwede mo nang balikan ng demanda ang mga nagakusa sa iyo kung gusto mo.

Pero kung MAGTATAGO ka ulit, walang samaan ng loob kung WALA NANG MANINIWALA na inosente ka.

Except for guilt, you have nothing to fear anymore in case you come out and follow the legal processes, Mr. Lacson. It’s public knowledge that President Noynoy is your POLITICAL ALLY.

In the meantime, please SPARE US, the people, from your attacks on Justice Sec. Leila de Lima on her refusal to stop the manhunt for you.

For the record, I’m not working for De Lima But since you also admit that the CA ruling can still be overturned by the SC, either just wait for the SC decision or sue her before whatever body if you want to.

NANANAGINIP ka, senador, kung sa akala mo ay maaawa na sa iyo ang taumbayan kung magiingay ka na ulit. NAGTAGO ka agad bago ka pa man lang maimbestigahan.

Huwag mong isiping TANGA ang taumbayan para hindi maintindihan ang kasabihan sa Ingles na “Flight is an admission of guilt.”

Believe me, senator, a lot of people have not forgotten that while you have been claiming innocence all these years, you once pointed to Cesar Mancao as among those who can prove that you had nothing to do with the Dacer-Corbito killings.

You also admitted having met Mancao in the US before. But you NEVER brought him home to clear your name.

So the million-dollar question is WHY? Any innocent man whose reputation is being destroyed by lies  would immediately grab the first opportunity to redeem his honor.

                                                                        ***

ANTRI LACSON BAGTAS of Toronto, Canada on “ATTENTION, OFWs WORLDWIDE!:”

There are so many things that have to be improved on how to deal  with our OFW's abroad, especially in the Middle East, as we see turmoil after turmoil. Preparedness and coordination is poor in that part. I am concerned about our kababayan. During my time in Saudi Arabia, there were less communications. But I hope that with the cyber age, coordination and emergency preparedness will be easier.

                                                                        ***

Congratulations to Brig. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III of the Army’s 1002^nd Brigade for his unit’s continued achievements in anti-NPA operations in the following areas: Columbio town,  Barangays Simsiman and Palavilla in Lutayan town, both in Sultan Kudarat;  Tampakan town; Barangays Linan, Acmonan, Cebuano, Kablon, Miasong and Bulolmala, all of Tupi town and Barangays Zulueta, Mabini, San Roque, Cacub, San Jose, Sto. Niño, Avancena, Rotonda, New Pangasinan, Morales, General Paulino Santos and Esperanz in  Koronadal City, all in South Cotabato.

Keep up the good work, general.  30

ATTENTION, OFWs WORLDWIDE!

Since military funds is the current talk of the town, it’s time to inquire on the status of an equally important budget for a sector which is 10 times more than the number of our soldiers and policemen.

The welfare fund for our more than one million kababayans working abroad.

I just don’t have the exact figures but there is a budget for the needs of our OFWs, like evacuations and legal aid, among others.

Pero wala halos tayong nababasa o nadidinig sa radyo o telebisyon kung  MAGKANO ito, o kung magkano pa ang natitira rito.

I don’t know with you guys but I haven’t even come across an AUDIT  of the budget. No itemized breakdown of expenses. No details on who got what and how much went where.

No names of disbursing officers. No public information on when, how and where can the budget be availed of. And before anybody says the details are only for OFWs and their families, don’t forget:

The budget comes from the taxes of ALL OF US, not just OFWs and their families. Every taxpayer has the right to know where the money is going.

Pangkaraniwan nang laman ng mga jaryo ang mga OFW na nakakulong o nahuli, minaltrato ng mga amo, binihag ng mga bandido, nasintensyahan na sa husgado at kung anu-ano pang problema.

But we never hear or see anything in the news as to exactly what kind of help they’re getting, if ever there’s any, or who’s assisting them and how.

What we regularly read or hear in the news is the budget is not enough for our OFWs in distress. Anybody can correct me if I’m wrong.

OFWs remit some $1 billion annually to their families here at home. That’s why their looked up to as modern-day heroes.

Pero kung BARYA-BARYA lamang ang nakalaan para sa kanilang mga problema at pangangailangan, barya-baryang ni HINDI MALINAW  kung saan napupunta, hindi lamang ito PANG-AAGRABYADO kundi PANG-IINSULTO pa sa kanila.

To our dearly beloved OFWs: Better start asking the embassies or consulates in the countries you’re in.

                                                                        ***

ATTY. JOHL MILLADO of Quezon City on “A reminder to Cesar Mancao:”

Mancao's sworn statements speak for themselves. Without pre-judging Lacson, even a komik's reader can readily observe that there are discrepancies in the statements of Mancao. Credibility has two factors: credibility of the witness and the credibility of his testimony. Some questions are: why only now Mancao; what drives you to implicate Lacson. Further explanations will only result to more questions which will cast more doubts on the credibilty of Mancao.

BHABY SEE of Makati on “More questions than answers in Noynoy’s expose:”

Wait and see muna tayo kay PNoy. Too early to judge him. The previous government din naman looked okay sa umpisa pero nagtiis mga Pilipino.

ANONYMOUS on “Bawiin ang plea bargain kung talagang walang nasuhulan:”

Kaya walang asenso ang Pilipinas kasi usong-uso ang suhulan.Kung sino pa ang mataas ang posisyon at nasa puwesto, sila pa ang nagpapayaman ng husto. 30

UNTOUCHABLE JUETENG

Despite the assorted vows or promises of all-out war versus criminality, one crime remains UNTOUCHED.
The numbers game of JUETENG.


Anything illegal is a crime. But if you will notice, guys, there has been no news whatsoever of any government move against jueteng for the past several months.


More specifically, after Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno was accused of receiving jueteng bribes, but was NEVER INVESTIGATED for it.


I’m raising this issue because just like illegal drug traffickers, jueteng lords earn BILLIONS OF PESOS yearly as acknowledged by various government studies.


They can make or destroy politicians. They can buy guns and goons and power. They can dictate on the politicians and police in their payroll. They can get away with anything.


But  take note, no new crackdown against jueteng has been reported by the Government or the Philippine National Police (PNP). 


There has been no new raids on jueteng dens, no new arrests of collectors or their bosses, no bets and other evidence confiscated, no investigation of alleged juteng lords, no nothing.


As in NONE, as if jueteng does not exist.
What makes jueteng SOOO UNTOUCHABLE? What, or who, is the PNP or the Government afraid of?


I won’t speculate, for now. But if you will recall, guys, there was talk several months ago that a man with VERY CLOSE ties to Malacanang is the new jueteng don in the country.


Kung matatandaan ninyo rin, mismong si Pangulong Noynoy ay nagsabi na HINDI niya prioridad ang 
jueteng. Nung maakusahan si Puno, hindi niya ito pinaimbestigahan at agad  na ipinagtanggol na wala namang ebidensiya laban dito, kahit na humarap sa publiko ang nagaakusa na si retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz.


Even the Senate conducted only one or two hearings on the bribery accusation against Puno. 
Whatever is behind the UNDISTURBED operation of jueteng is something VERY VERY BIG. Just like oil and power companies, jueteng lords will continue to dominate our lives unless we do something about it. 30 

A REMINDER TO CESAR MANCAO

The junking by the Court of Appeals (CA) of the case and warrant of arrest for Sen. Ping Lacson spells big trouble for the witness against him, his former ward Cesar Mancao.

And I don’t mean PHYSICAL trouble.

Unless Mancao comes up with a CREDIBLE EXPLANATION, and I mean AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, not only will he appear to be the liar.

He will lose CREDIBILITY.

Sa pagbasura sa kaso at warrant llaban kay Lacson, pinuna ng CA na PAIBA-IBA ang naging mga deklarasyon ni Mancao sa pagiging utak kuno ni Lacson ng Dacer-Corbito double murder.

The CA noted, among others, that 10 years ago, Mancao denied knowledge of an operation to kill Dacer. In a March 1, 2007, affidavit, Mancao said he had not implicated Lacson.

But, in a February 13, 2009 affidavit, Mancao claimed then police Senior Superintendent Michael Ray Aquino had said the plan had been cleared by Lacson and Malacanang.

I have to agree with the CA that there’s a whale of a difference in these claims of Mancao.

Kaya bukod sa KAPANI-PANIWALANG paliwanag kung bakit paiba—iba ang pahayag niya,  makabubuti kay Mancao na maglabas na agad siya ng ebidensiya.  

SETTLE the issue, once and for all. Not only in the interest of justice and fair play but also for the sake of the Dacer and Corbito families.

I sure hope Mancao realizes that he will be the BIGGEST LOSER if he will fail to convincingly clarify his inconsistencies, as well as present proof of his allegations against Lacson.

NOBODY will believe him anymore. He will be dropped like the proverbial hot potato by the same people who used him. He’ll have nowhere else to go.

Pagisipan mong mabuti ang susunod mong hakbang, Mr. Mancao.

                                                                        ***

A follower who asked not to be named on “Government had better tell us how we will survive:”

Sa lahat ng bumoto kay PNOY, sana malaman nila na wala siyang  kakayahan o kaalaman maging Presidente! 30

OMBUDSMAN'S QUESTIONABLE DEFENSE OF GARCIA PLEA BARGAIN

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez’s defense of the plea bargain deal between her agency and former military comptroller Carlos Garcia left more questions than answers on the justification of the agreement.

She should be investigated as intensely as Garcia.

Gutierrez said the information filed against Garcia only stated that he accumulated wealth because of contracts without any mention of who and what kind of contractors they were.

Madam Ombudsman, IMPOSIBLENG WALANG PANGALAN ang mga contractor na ka-deal ni Garcia sa records sa Armed Forces General Headquarters sa Camp Aguinaldo.

But quite obviously, you did not request for the names. WHY?

Natunton ang mga HINDI MAIPALIWANAG na yaman ni Garcia tulad ng condominium sa Amerika, mga sasakyan at milyun-milyong deposito sa bangko. Kumbaga, pisikal na ebidensiya na ang mga ito.

Garcia’s salary was only P37,000 a month. But even if it’s UNEXPLAINED wealth, Gutierrez says it’s still weak evidence simply because the alleged sources were not identified.

Ano ang ibig mong sabihin, Madam Ombudsman, baka naman tumama sa lotto si Garcia kaya yumamam, ganun ba?

Gutierrez said the audit investigation and report by former state auditor Mendoza only pointed to AFP transactions without linking Garcia. 

Kung gayon, paano ilalarawan ang isang voucher na PINIRMAHAN ni Garcia para sa isang P200-million na tseke na matapos na mai-encash ay NAWALAN na agad ng P50 milyon?

Mendoza had revealed that of the P200 million, P50 million was deposited to the United Coconut Planters’  Bank on Tordesillas St. in Makati under an UNKNOWN account, WITHOUT A DEPOSIT SLIP and record but with a passbook.

I

MPOSIBLENG HINDI ALAM ni Garcia ang naging galaw ng pera  dahil sa laki ng halaga.  Isa pa, pinangalanan ni Mendoza ang manager  ng UCPB Tordesillas kaya’t puwedeng kumpirmahin ditto ang mga snabi ni Mendoza.

Mendoza has a copy of the check.

But despite the names, facts and figures, physical evidence, documents and paper trail, all these are still weak evidence versus Garcia as far as Gutierrez is concerned.

Your guess of the reason why is as good as mine, guys!

                                                                        ***

RAFAELGOMEZ of Makati City on “UNTOUCHABLE JUETENG:”

Madali kasi magsalita kapag oposisyon ka... ngayon si PNoy ang presidente sa dami ng prblemang kinakaharap ng Pilipinas, di na nya alam kung ano ang uunahin. Minsan kapag naiipit sya sa mga ambush interview. nagsasalita nang hindi pinag-iisipan tapos bubuwelta pag nabatikos at galit pa... DI BA GANYAN ANG GAWAIN NILA NOON. HANGGANG NGAYON KE GLORIA? Tama si Anonymous bakit kaya playing safe si PNoy sa jueteng? Dahil ba sa alam nyang di nya kayang sugpuin ito? O dahil ito lang ang puwedeng kumita sya na di galing sa pondo ng gobyerno? Totoo bang kaya nyang panindigan ang paglakad sa tuwid na daan? Ilang daang milyong piso ba ang ginastos sa kampanya? Mababawi nya ba ito sa kakarampot na sweldo at allowance? NAGTATANONG LANG PO.

SIX REASONS WHY MENDOZA IS CREDIBLE

I find Heidi Mendoza’s statements credible.

First and foremost, she PERSONALLY discovered the things she revealed like the P50 million which disappeared from a P200 million military check encashed and re-deposited in a Makati bank.

The check was signed by then military comptroller Carlos Garcia.

Mga PAPELES at DOKUMENTO ang  pinagbasehan at inilabas ni Mendoza sa mga ibinulgar niya kahapon sa Kongreso.

Hindi siya tulad ng ibang nagbulgar ng mga anomalya kuno na walang naipakitang ebdensiya at sariling salita lamang ang bitbit na katibayan, o impormasyon kuno na nalaman nila sa iba.

Third, Mendoza named a lot of personalities and agencies in her exposes, like branch managers of the United Coconut Planters’ Bank and the US Department of Justice, from which anyone could validate her claims.

Fourth, she specifically pinned down Garcia and is not working for any politician so political gimmickry can be ruled out as a motive for her revelations.

Fifth, Mendoza has no known grudge against Garcia which could be a reason for her to destroy the former Armed Forces comptroller.

At higit sa lahat, WALA siyang kaso o anumang problema na hinihiling, o maaaring hilingin niyang MALUTAS kapalit ng kaniyang pagsasalita.

All that she asked for was security for her and her family.

Mendoza’s expose also left one bugging question about the Garcia plea bargain agreement with the Ombudsman.

Mendoza said she and one of the Ombudsman prosecutors were convinced there was an air-tight case against Garcia because of the things they uncovered against him.

The prosecutor, who also present when Mendoza was talking did not deny this. Subsequently, bail was denied to Garcia.

Kaya bakit lumipas lamang ang ilang buwan ay biglang humina ang kaso laban kay Garcia kaya kinailangan na ang plea bargain agreement? 

                                                                        ***

From our blogmates:

A resident of Imus. Cavite who asked not to be named on “UNTOUCHABLE JUETENG”:

Sabi ni P-Noy noong panahon ng kampanya sa isang TV ad nya galit sya sa kurakot at itutuwid nya ang landas na di dapat paliko-liko. Kung di nya to (jueteng) prayoridad, ibig sabihin pinipili nya na lang ang dapat puksain o bigyan ng atensyon? Anong klaseng mentalidad ito? Dapat maging mabuti siyang ehemplo bilang isang lider ng bansa. at sana maging transparent siya at wag siya playing safe. Kung ano ang dapat kalusin at kung ano ang dapat isaayos na problema ay tutukan nya. Kung hahayaan nyang magpatuloy ang jueteng at  wala syang gagawin, para na ring hinayaan nya ang isang kriminal na magpatuloy manalanta at mang-abuso sa mga mamamayan. Very bad. 30

Bawiin ang plea bargain kung talagang walang nasuhulan!

Since Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is denying bribery or any other irregularity in the Carlos Garcia plea bargain agreement, there is a simple way for her to prove it.

REVOKE her approval of the agreement and subject it to a THOROUGH, PUBLIC review and debate.

With her predecessor Simeon Marcelo, former Ombudsman prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio and other key players in the filing of cases against Garcia as participants.

Kung talagang WALANG KUMITA walang dapat TUMUTOL, o PUMIGIL sa anumang paraan para REPASUHIN muna itong mabuti. Para magkaalaman na kung ano ang TUTOO, at TAMA.

The review and the debate must have FULL and LIVE MEDIA COVERAGE so that the people will know everything that will happen.

Hindi mababaligtad ang katotohanan ninuman sa anumang magaganap.

And Gutierrez must be made to swear in writing that she will readily comply if the result of the review and debate will be for her recall and nullification of the agreement.

 I’m not a lawyer but I was shocked that Gutierrez was unmoved at a House of Representatives hearing yesterday in her approval of the agreement despite a lot of incriminating evidence against Garcia.

And the revelation of former Commission on Audit auditor Heidi Mendoza in the same venue that P50 million from a P200 million check signed by Garcia as military comptroller disappeared after it was encashed in a Makati bank.

Don’t forget, guys, among others:

Garcia’s wife had ADMITTED IN WRITING that their riches came from contractors who had been awarded military projects when he was military comptroller.

Cases were filed against Garcia after he FAILED to prove that he had amassed his P300 million wealth legally even though he was only earning P37,000 a month as a general.

Kaya hindi dapat sumama ang loob ni Gutierrez na isipin ng iba na  NASUHULAN siya o ang kaniyang tanggapan para sa plea bargain agreement.

                                                                      ***

From our blogmates:

CHAIRMAN LOUIE BALBAGO of the Balikatan People’s Alliance on: "Attention, OFW organizations:”

Kailangan natin ng may political will.

ATTENTION, OFW ORGANIZATIONS

Thank God none of our countrymen has been hurt so far in the raging chaos in Egypt. Let’s all continue praying for their safety.

But the risks being faced by our kababayans in Egypt should be a wake-up call for all of us on the safety of our countrymen working in various nations worldwide.

It’s time to ask the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) HOW READY are we to evacuate our overseas Filipino workers (OFW) from anywhere in the world and at any given time if necessary

We have more than a million OFWs.

How much is the budget for evacuations or other similar emergencies? For how many people is this good for? Is it ready for immediate release?

Evacuation is not just simply fetching the evacuees from the troubled country they’re stuck in. Apart from travel, there will also be expenses for transporting the evacuees to the pick-up point, food, lodging, medical care if needed and other similar needs.

What is the breakdown of the budget for these items?

Are there standing arrangements with transport and airline companies for evacuations at a moment’s notice? Are there pre-determined escape routes in every country with OFWs, or will it only be determined before the evacuation itself?

Do we have evacuations in place for each country with OFWs?

We need to know these details, guys, because in evacuations, every second is important. Especially in armed conflicts like the one in Egypt, a second’s delay can spell the difference between life and death for the evacuees.

For OFW organizations, these are the facts you must ask from the DFA, and  not just simply the evacuation of our countrymen from troubled spots in the world.

OFWs are regarded as modern-day heroes. Ensuring their safe and immediate return is the least we can d for them.

                                                                        ***

Two of our blogmates on “UNTOUCHABLE JUETENG”:

CRISTY RIVERO of Quezon City:

Good observation, Mr. Antonio. Keep it up. Thumbs up.

           

ATTY.  JOHL MILLADO of Tarlac:

There is no need for another round, or rounds, of investigation into  jueteng. The people and the government are very much aware of its existence, its operators and its protectors. Huminto ang Kongreso, pati ang media, at si mamang pulis huminto din kaya si lokal na opisyal nalibre ulit upang tuloy ang jueteng. Sigurado, sila-sila ay may sabwatan. Sa opinyon ko, sa lahat ng bagay, basta bawal, may pera.

I am not saying that gambling, especially jueteng, should be legalized but the law against all forms of gambling should be implemented. I propose that a law be passed that the mere existence particularly of jueteng, or its mere proposal, in a certain locality is a crime in itself making the government official and police officer concerned, like but not limited to the barangay chairman, mayor and chief of police, as co-conspirators even without identifying the operator, the collector and bettor.

The title of the crime: "Conspiracy and Proposal to Commit Jueteng"

UNTOUCHABLE JUETENG

Despite the assorted vows or promises of all-out war versus criminality, one crime remains UNTOUCHED.

The numbers game of JUETENG.

Anything illegal is a crime. But if you will notice, guys, there has been no news whatsoever of any government move against jueteng for the past several months.

More specifically, after Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno was accused of receiving jueteng bribes, but was NEVER INVESTIGATED FOR.

I’m raising this issue because just like illegal drug traffickers, jueteng lords earn BILLIONS OF PESOS yearly as acknowledged by various government studies.

They can make or destroy politicians. They can buy guns and goons and power. They can dictate on the politicians and police in their payroll. They can get away with anything.

But  take note, no new crackdown against jueteng has been reported by the Government or the Philippine National Police (PNP).

There has been no new raids on jueteng dens, no new arrests of collectors or their bosses, no bets and other evidence confiscated, no investigation of alleged juteng lords, no nothing.

As in NONE, as if jueteng does not exist.

What makes jueteng SOOO UNTOUCHABLE? What, or who, is the PNP or the Government afraid of?

I won’t speculate, for now. But if you will recall, guys, there was talk several months ago that a man with VERY CLOSE ties to Malacanang is the new jueteng don in the country.

Kung matatandaan ninyo rin, mismong si Pangulong Noynoy ay nagsabi na HINDI niya prioridad ang jueteng.

Nung maakusahan si Puno, hindi niya ito pinaimbestigahan at agad  na ipinagtanggol na wala namang ebidensiya laban dito, kahit na humarap sa publiko ang nagaakusa na si retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz.

Even the Senate conducted only one or two hearings on the bribery accusation against Puno.

Whatever is behind the UNDISTURBED operation of jueteng is something VERY VERY BIG. Just like oil and power companies, jueteng lords will continue to dominate our lives unless we do something about it. 30

LIE DETECTOR TESTS FOR REYES, RABUSA 2

Whatever happens to George Rabusa’s expose, the cases he’s facing must not be dropped and he must be punished if proven guilty.

This arrangement must be IN WRITING and he must agree to it first before he continues to reveal other purported anomalies in the military and the personalities involved.

Especially if he has little or no evidence at all to prove his claims other than his words.

Kung talagang gusto lamang niyang ipabatid ang katotohanan sa taumbayan, walang dahilan para tumanggi sa ganitong kondisyones  si Rabusa.

Pero kung bigla siyang tatahimik, MALIWANAG na isang OPORTUNISTA lamang si Rabusa na GINAGAMIT ang Senado para makalusot sa kaniyang kaso.

A lot of SELF-PROCLAIMED whistleblowers have surfaced with tales and details of supposed anomalies, but no physical evidence.

They received protection, security, board and lodging in safe houses,  free transport and other amenities which were all paid for by OUR TAXES, OUR MONEY. But NO ONE managed to PROVE ANYTHING.

This gargantuan waste of precious time by the Senate and of our hard-earned taxes must stop once and for all.

Tulad nang sinabi ko kanina sa nauna kong blog, HUWAG nang patagalin pa ang  sinimulan ni Rabusa. Ituloy-tuloy na agad ang imbestigasyon.

And to make the probe TOTALLY IMPARTIAL, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada should not take part in it and leave it to his colleagues.

Again, Reyes was Armed Forces chief when he withdrew support from Jinggoy’s father, former President Erap, during EDSA 2.  That move eventually sealed the ouster of Erap.

So whether he admits it or not, Jinggoy can never be expected to be 100 percent impartial towards Reyes.

Jinggoy won’t be a loss to the investigation anyway.

The other senators are more than competent enough to effectively continue the probe without him.

                                                                        ***

Congratulations to Rikki Marcelino for his two major achievements – private sector representative to the Region 12 Regional Development and Coordinating Council and as Mindanao Chairman of the Balikatan People’s Alliance.

Balikatan is a federation of 60 non-government organizations in more than 35 provinces nationwide with more than 100,000 active members. Their national chairman is my good friend and known Manila socio-civic leader Louie Balbago.

30