By Ronron
April 22, 2005
The prosecution team in the on-going trial against Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia at the military court martial ended its case Friday afternoon and consumed the almost three hours of hearing by presenting its list of evidence.
Prosecutors Capt. Karen Ong, and Lt. Cols. Al Perreras and Pedro Herrera-Davila formally offered their list of documentary evidence which include Garcia’s Sworn Statements of Assets and Liabilities from 1993 up to 2003, Land Transportation Office records of his vehicles, and investigation authorization documents from his superior in the military.
Garcia is on trial at the military’s justice system for violation of the Articles of War 96 and 97 for his “unexplained wealth.” The hearing of the case started November 2004, two months after it was filed before the General Court Martial.
The prosecution has so far presented 14 witnesses since then.
After its formal offer of evidence, the defense will have the chance to comment on each piece within 10 days./DMS
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Japanese robbed of P20,000 in Cebu; fights back, gets hurt
By Ronron
April 22, 2005
A 63-year-old Japanese national was robbed last March 31 by an unidentified local in Cebu City but gets hurt after fighting back.
According to the report at the Cebu City Police Office, Eiji Suda, a resident of Burawin, Leyte, was waiting for a taxicab at the back of SM City Cebu at around 10:30 pm at the North Reclamation Area (NRA) when the hold-upper struck.
Suda, who hails from Tokyo, Japan, fought back at the suspect after the latter showed up and pointed a gun at him. He told investigators that he tried to perform judo against the suspect but was overpowered and even lost his P20,000 cash.
As a result of the brief scuffle, the Japanese sustained a sprained right forearm. The suspect, meanwhile, ran away with his loot.
Suda was reportedly trying to find a KTV bar in Cebu City prior to the attack. The driver of the cab he hired however could not understand the place he was specifying.
Police investigator SPO1 Genilo Beraque said Suda was first brought to Infinity KTV on Archbishop Avenue, Cebu City, then at Arena KTV at the NRA. But both were not the ones Suda was specifying. That was why the driver dropped him off at SM City.
Suda just arrived that afternoon from Leyte. He reportedly has a family there, and only went to Cebu City for leisure.
After the incident, Suda was rushed to the Cebu Doctors’ Hospital where he was treated and confined./DMS
April 22, 2005
A 63-year-old Japanese national was robbed last March 31 by an unidentified local in Cebu City but gets hurt after fighting back.
According to the report at the Cebu City Police Office, Eiji Suda, a resident of Burawin, Leyte, was waiting for a taxicab at the back of SM City Cebu at around 10:30 pm at the North Reclamation Area (NRA) when the hold-upper struck.
Suda, who hails from Tokyo, Japan, fought back at the suspect after the latter showed up and pointed a gun at him. He told investigators that he tried to perform judo against the suspect but was overpowered and even lost his P20,000 cash.
As a result of the brief scuffle, the Japanese sustained a sprained right forearm. The suspect, meanwhile, ran away with his loot.
Suda was reportedly trying to find a KTV bar in Cebu City prior to the attack. The driver of the cab he hired however could not understand the place he was specifying.
Police investigator SPO1 Genilo Beraque said Suda was first brought to Infinity KTV on Archbishop Avenue, Cebu City, then at Arena KTV at the NRA. But both were not the ones Suda was specifying. That was why the driver dropped him off at SM City.
Suda just arrived that afternoon from Leyte. He reportedly has a family there, and only went to Cebu City for leisure.
After the incident, Suda was rushed to the Cebu Doctors’ Hospital where he was treated and confined./DMS
One dies in sea mishap off Mindoro Occidental
By Ronron
April 22, 2005
One person died, two others are missing and 11 were rescued after a motorized banca capsized Thursday dawn off the waters of Mindoro Occidental due to bad weather.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard, M/B San Apolinar was carrying six crewmen and eight passengers from Looc town bound for Mamburao, both in Mindoro Occidental, when the accident happened.
The vessel, with 14.25 gross tonnage, was also loaded with 30 sacks of salt and two sacks of dried squid. It left the port of Looc at around 12:30 am that day.
Upon reaching six nautical miles northwest of Calavite Point, also in Mindoro Occidental, the boat encountered big waves and strong current, causing it capsize at past 2am.
Responding personnel from the Coast Guard Detachment of Tilik under Coast Guard Station San Jose in the same province rescued seven persons at around 4:40pm that day.
Another passing vehicle rescued four others.
They also retrieved one dead passenger, identified as Buena Zapata, 42.
Two persons, by the name of Rona Zapata, 10, and Andrea dela Fuente, remain missing as of this writing./DMS
April 22, 2005
One person died, two others are missing and 11 were rescued after a motorized banca capsized Thursday dawn off the waters of Mindoro Occidental due to bad weather.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard, M/B San Apolinar was carrying six crewmen and eight passengers from Looc town bound for Mamburao, both in Mindoro Occidental, when the accident happened.
The vessel, with 14.25 gross tonnage, was also loaded with 30 sacks of salt and two sacks of dried squid. It left the port of Looc at around 12:30 am that day.
Upon reaching six nautical miles northwest of Calavite Point, also in Mindoro Occidental, the boat encountered big waves and strong current, causing it capsize at past 2am.
Responding personnel from the Coast Guard Detachment of Tilik under Coast Guard Station San Jose in the same province rescued seven persons at around 4:40pm that day.
Another passing vehicle rescued four others.
They also retrieved one dead passenger, identified as Buena Zapata, 42.
Two persons, by the name of Rona Zapata, 10, and Andrea dela Fuente, remain missing as of this writing./DMS
Friday, April 22, 2005
21 people seized, rescued in Lanao del Sur
By Ronron
April 21, 2005
Twenty-one people, mostly students and employees of the Mindanao State University (MSU), were accosted Thursday morning in Lanao del Sur province by unidentified armed men but were later rescued by authorities.
Reports reaching the police and military headquarters in Quezon City said the victims were on board a passenger jeepney bound for Marawi City, Lanao del Sur when the vehicle was asked to be stopped at around 7am by one of the two suspects on board it.
The jeepney, coming from Iligan City, was traversing the national highway in Barangay Emie, Piagapo town, Lanao del Sur at that time, the reports said. From there, four more unidentified companions, armed with handguns, rode the jeepney.
Then, the suspects, believed to be members of the local lawless element group called Magaloyan Group, took over the vehicle and brought the victims towards Barangay Gakap, still in Piagapo.
Upon arrival there, four more suspects in camouflage uniforms, joined them. They also released six passengers and the driver, identified as Mauyag Cosain, 36, after learning that the latter were Christians.
The released victims were identified as Joy Janice Closas, 24, fourth year college student of MSU; Esterlita Gaas, 48, a housekeeper; Noel Villacorte, 50, a cook at the MSU Cafeteria; Monalinda Macarampat, 18, second year Nursing student at MSU; Rose Pascual, 16, a resident of Iligan City; and, Glorietta Castillano, 53, a clerk at MSU.
The 10 suspects then brought the remaining 14 victims, composed of 12 females and two males, to a mountainous area in the municipality of Pantao Ragat, leaving behind the jeepney.
Hot pursuit operations immediately conducted by elements of the Philippine Marines, the Regional Mobile Group of the Philippine National Police, and the Balindong Municipal Police station, in Lanao del Sur resulted in the rescue of all remaining victims at around 1pm.
A policeman from the RMG, identified as PO1 Edris Sultan, got killed in the firefight.
The motive of the abduction was not yet known as of this writing, but military officials described the perpetrators to be involved in kidnap for ransom activities in said locality. The Magaloyan Group reportedly comes from Barangay Ulango, Baloi, Lanao del Norte./DMS
April 21, 2005
Twenty-one people, mostly students and employees of the Mindanao State University (MSU), were accosted Thursday morning in Lanao del Sur province by unidentified armed men but were later rescued by authorities.
Reports reaching the police and military headquarters in Quezon City said the victims were on board a passenger jeepney bound for Marawi City, Lanao del Sur when the vehicle was asked to be stopped at around 7am by one of the two suspects on board it.
The jeepney, coming from Iligan City, was traversing the national highway in Barangay Emie, Piagapo town, Lanao del Sur at that time, the reports said. From there, four more unidentified companions, armed with handguns, rode the jeepney.
Then, the suspects, believed to be members of the local lawless element group called Magaloyan Group, took over the vehicle and brought the victims towards Barangay Gakap, still in Piagapo.
Upon arrival there, four more suspects in camouflage uniforms, joined them. They also released six passengers and the driver, identified as Mauyag Cosain, 36, after learning that the latter were Christians.
The released victims were identified as Joy Janice Closas, 24, fourth year college student of MSU; Esterlita Gaas, 48, a housekeeper; Noel Villacorte, 50, a cook at the MSU Cafeteria; Monalinda Macarampat, 18, second year Nursing student at MSU; Rose Pascual, 16, a resident of Iligan City; and, Glorietta Castillano, 53, a clerk at MSU.
The 10 suspects then brought the remaining 14 victims, composed of 12 females and two males, to a mountainous area in the municipality of Pantao Ragat, leaving behind the jeepney.
Hot pursuit operations immediately conducted by elements of the Philippine Marines, the Regional Mobile Group of the Philippine National Police, and the Balindong Municipal Police station, in Lanao del Sur resulted in the rescue of all remaining victims at around 1pm.
A policeman from the RMG, identified as PO1 Edris Sultan, got killed in the firefight.
The motive of the abduction was not yet known as of this writing, but military officials described the perpetrators to be involved in kidnap for ransom activities in said locality. The Magaloyan Group reportedly comes from Barangay Ulango, Baloi, Lanao del Norte./DMS
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Protest strike stalls transpo in MM, rest of the country
By Ronron
April 18, 2005
The nationwide strike Monday staged by different transport groups, and supported by militant organizations, paralyzed almost completely the transportation in Metro Manila and other key cities and provinces in the country.
In separate accounts, the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Transport Operators at Drivers Nationwide (PISTON) and the government claimed that transportation in different areas from Regions 1 to 12 were stalled from at least three up to 100 percent from 12 midnight until 3pm yesterday.
"As of this time, it shows that the transport strike is successful, particularly in terms of the wide number of drivers, private individuals and established organizations that participated," PISTON Vice President for the National Capital Region Modesto Floranda told the Shimbun at 10am yesterday at Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City, one of the 10 mass rally converging points in Metro Manila.
Aside from PISTON, yesterday's protest activity was joined by members of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Alliance (MJODA), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Assocation of the Philippines (ALTODAP), and the Philippine Confederation of Drivers Organization-Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (PCDO-ACTO). It was also supported by the Kilusang Mayo Uno, Anakpawis, BAYAN, Gabriela, Bayan Muna, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Health Alliance for Democracy, Union of the Masses for Democracy and Justice, PAMALAKAYA, and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, among others.
FEJODAP President Zenaida Maranan, for her part, said transportation around the country was paralyzed by 95 percent because of the strike.
Floranda said the strike was launched to press the government to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law and to order a rollback of the gasoline prices. (Shell, Caltex and the small oil companies yesterday raised again the prices of diesel and other petroleum products, including liquefied petroleum gas, by 75 centavos per liter or kilogram, according to Energy Undersecretary Peter Anthony Abaya).
"This is an urgent call. The Oil Deregulation Law in the last 10 years has not served the interest of the drivers and the public in general. It is in fact the reason why oil prices could not be controlled or stopped. The rollback of oil prices should also be immediately implemented because the continuous oil price hikes is the reason why prices of basic goods and services are also increasing," Floranda said in Filipino.
Based on reports received by Floranda from other PISTON members in other parts of the metropolis and of the country, transport paralysis was achieved one hundred percent at the University of the Philipppines in Diliman, Quezon City; in Sta. Rosa, Laguna; in Makati City; and in Malabon.
The following places were also severely affected: Cubao (80%), Proj. 2 and 3 (90%), and Novaliches (90%) in Quezon City; San Pedro, Laguna (80%); Alabang, Muntinlupa City (70%); Sorsogon (98%); Camarines Sur (90%); Albay (90%); Cagayan de Oro City (98%); Tanay, Rizal (90%); Pier Area in Tondo, Manila (98%); Pampanga (80%); Tarlac (60%); and Pangasinan (80%).
But according to Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Ma. Elena Bautista, the transport strike only paralyzed 30-40% in Metro Manila.
"Definitely, it was not fully paralyzed because the buses, taxis, tricycles, and (Tamaraw) FX were operational," Bautista told the Shimbun.
A separate report from the Philippine National Police, meanwhile, showed that the transportation paralysis in Metro Manila ranged from 30-70% as of 2pm yesterday.
It also cited total or partial transportation paralysis in the provinces of Pangasinan, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Batangas, Albay, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley; and in the cities of Iloilo, Bacolod, Mandaue, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Davao, and General Santos.
So far, only one bus liner complained of being hit by transport strikers all throughout the duration of the protest activity, said Bautista.
JAC Liner reported that two of its buses were hit by stones yesterday dawn while plying the national highway in Quezon province, leaving its window glasses broken. Another four buses were also left with flat tires after running over spikes thrown on the streets also in Quezon.
No one was reported injured or killed in those incidents.
Bautista warned that if they can ascertain those responsible, they will suffer not only revocation of their franchise but also criminal liability for civil disturbance.
Although some jeepney drivers, particularly members of the transport group PASANG MASDA, continued to ply their respective routes, the strikers remained harmless to them and only appealed for support by shouting at them.
The LTFRB chair stressed that yesterday's nationwide strike is illegal since franchise holders are not allowed to "participate in street protests or any actions that will paralyze transportation."
"We will summon those who took part and ask them to explain why they joined the strike. If they can't satisfy us with their reply, we will cancel their franchise," Bautista said. She disclosed a hearing on May 3 will be conducted by the LTFRB for this matter.
Bautista said the issues raised by the strikers to justify their protest actions were not within the bounds of LTFRB.
On the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law, Bautista said "they will have to go through Congress to effect that."
"Besides, President Gloria (Macapagal-Arroyo) already ordered the creation of a review panel for that. So they should present their position paper to the panel because that is the right forum for their position and recommendation. Going to the streets will not write down their recommendations," said Bautista.
Energy Undersecretary Peter Anthony Abaya, in a radio interview, disclosed the result of the study group report on the Oil Deregulation Law is already expected by the first or second week of June. It may recommend some amendments, or total scrapping of the law, he said.
Bautista said LTFRB is serious in giving its warning to cancel franchises, citing the 150 cases of cancelled franchises that the agency handed down in the past strikes.
"Although we understand their demands, they should take note that there is a process to be followed... We actually find their causes to be legitimate and valid. But they should not raise it in a manner that the riding public will suffer," said Bautista.
Meanwhile, after a meeting yesterday afternoon with Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza and Bautista, Maranan announced that their demand to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law will already be addressed by the government, together with 13 other agenda.
"We submitted 14 agenda to Sec. Mendoza. Hopefully, it will be addressed in a week's time, and before we hold the Transport Summit," Maranan said.
Aside from this, Maranan also expressed elation over the government's assurance that the LTFRB will hear on April 21 the P2.50 fare hike petition the FEJODAP filed on April 1. They are expecting a decision 10 days after the hearing.
"These (review of Oil Deregulation Law and April 21 fare hike hearing) show that government is doing something on their demands," said Abaya.
Some commuters yesterday complained to Manila Shimbun because of the hassle brought to them by the strike.
"I was late for 30 minutes from my class because I could not ride from Balintawak (in Quezon City)," 18-year-old Jeany Vi Talal, a nursing student, told Shimbun upon her arrival at her school located at Welcome Rotonda.
"I totally disagree with their protest actions even if I support their cause," she added./DMS
April 18, 2005
The nationwide strike Monday staged by different transport groups, and supported by militant organizations, paralyzed almost completely the transportation in Metro Manila and other key cities and provinces in the country.
In separate accounts, the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Transport Operators at Drivers Nationwide (PISTON) and the government claimed that transportation in different areas from Regions 1 to 12 were stalled from at least three up to 100 percent from 12 midnight until 3pm yesterday.
"As of this time, it shows that the transport strike is successful, particularly in terms of the wide number of drivers, private individuals and established organizations that participated," PISTON Vice President for the National Capital Region Modesto Floranda told the Shimbun at 10am yesterday at Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City, one of the 10 mass rally converging points in Metro Manila.
Aside from PISTON, yesterday's protest activity was joined by members of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Alliance (MJODA), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Assocation of the Philippines (ALTODAP), and the Philippine Confederation of Drivers Organization-Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (PCDO-ACTO). It was also supported by the Kilusang Mayo Uno, Anakpawis, BAYAN, Gabriela, Bayan Muna, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Health Alliance for Democracy, Union of the Masses for Democracy and Justice, PAMALAKAYA, and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, among others.
FEJODAP President Zenaida Maranan, for her part, said transportation around the country was paralyzed by 95 percent because of the strike.
Floranda said the strike was launched to press the government to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law and to order a rollback of the gasoline prices. (Shell, Caltex and the small oil companies yesterday raised again the prices of diesel and other petroleum products, including liquefied petroleum gas, by 75 centavos per liter or kilogram, according to Energy Undersecretary Peter Anthony Abaya).
"This is an urgent call. The Oil Deregulation Law in the last 10 years has not served the interest of the drivers and the public in general. It is in fact the reason why oil prices could not be controlled or stopped. The rollback of oil prices should also be immediately implemented because the continuous oil price hikes is the reason why prices of basic goods and services are also increasing," Floranda said in Filipino.
Based on reports received by Floranda from other PISTON members in other parts of the metropolis and of the country, transport paralysis was achieved one hundred percent at the University of the Philipppines in Diliman, Quezon City; in Sta. Rosa, Laguna; in Makati City; and in Malabon.
The following places were also severely affected: Cubao (80%), Proj. 2 and 3 (90%), and Novaliches (90%) in Quezon City; San Pedro, Laguna (80%); Alabang, Muntinlupa City (70%); Sorsogon (98%); Camarines Sur (90%); Albay (90%); Cagayan de Oro City (98%); Tanay, Rizal (90%); Pier Area in Tondo, Manila (98%); Pampanga (80%); Tarlac (60%); and Pangasinan (80%).
But according to Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Ma. Elena Bautista, the transport strike only paralyzed 30-40% in Metro Manila.
"Definitely, it was not fully paralyzed because the buses, taxis, tricycles, and (Tamaraw) FX were operational," Bautista told the Shimbun.
A separate report from the Philippine National Police, meanwhile, showed that the transportation paralysis in Metro Manila ranged from 30-70% as of 2pm yesterday.
It also cited total or partial transportation paralysis in the provinces of Pangasinan, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Batangas, Albay, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley; and in the cities of Iloilo, Bacolod, Mandaue, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Davao, and General Santos.
So far, only one bus liner complained of being hit by transport strikers all throughout the duration of the protest activity, said Bautista.
JAC Liner reported that two of its buses were hit by stones yesterday dawn while plying the national highway in Quezon province, leaving its window glasses broken. Another four buses were also left with flat tires after running over spikes thrown on the streets also in Quezon.
No one was reported injured or killed in those incidents.
Bautista warned that if they can ascertain those responsible, they will suffer not only revocation of their franchise but also criminal liability for civil disturbance.
Although some jeepney drivers, particularly members of the transport group PASANG MASDA, continued to ply their respective routes, the strikers remained harmless to them and only appealed for support by shouting at them.
The LTFRB chair stressed that yesterday's nationwide strike is illegal since franchise holders are not allowed to "participate in street protests or any actions that will paralyze transportation."
"We will summon those who took part and ask them to explain why they joined the strike. If they can't satisfy us with their reply, we will cancel their franchise," Bautista said. She disclosed a hearing on May 3 will be conducted by the LTFRB for this matter.
Bautista said the issues raised by the strikers to justify their protest actions were not within the bounds of LTFRB.
On the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law, Bautista said "they will have to go through Congress to effect that."
"Besides, President Gloria (Macapagal-Arroyo) already ordered the creation of a review panel for that. So they should present their position paper to the panel because that is the right forum for their position and recommendation. Going to the streets will not write down their recommendations," said Bautista.
Energy Undersecretary Peter Anthony Abaya, in a radio interview, disclosed the result of the study group report on the Oil Deregulation Law is already expected by the first or second week of June. It may recommend some amendments, or total scrapping of the law, he said.
Bautista said LTFRB is serious in giving its warning to cancel franchises, citing the 150 cases of cancelled franchises that the agency handed down in the past strikes.
"Although we understand their demands, they should take note that there is a process to be followed... We actually find their causes to be legitimate and valid. But they should not raise it in a manner that the riding public will suffer," said Bautista.
Meanwhile, after a meeting yesterday afternoon with Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza and Bautista, Maranan announced that their demand to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law will already be addressed by the government, together with 13 other agenda.
"We submitted 14 agenda to Sec. Mendoza. Hopefully, it will be addressed in a week's time, and before we hold the Transport Summit," Maranan said.
Aside from this, Maranan also expressed elation over the government's assurance that the LTFRB will hear on April 21 the P2.50 fare hike petition the FEJODAP filed on April 1. They are expecting a decision 10 days after the hearing.
"These (review of Oil Deregulation Law and April 21 fare hike hearing) show that government is doing something on their demands," said Abaya.
Some commuters yesterday complained to Manila Shimbun because of the hassle brought to them by the strike.
"I was late for 30 minutes from my class because I could not ride from Balintawak (in Quezon City)," 18-year-old Jeany Vi Talal, a nursing student, told Shimbun upon her arrival at her school located at Welcome Rotonda.
"I totally disagree with their protest actions even if I support their cause," she added./DMS
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