By Ronron
May 11, 2007
More than 8,000 police forces will be deployed in Metro Manila to man the upcoming elections.
Supt. Rommel Miranda, spokesman of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said a total of 8,735 personnel were sent off yesterday (Friday) by NCRPO chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Calderon at Camp Crame, Quezon for their poll duties.
Miranda said 4,601 troops of those sent off will man 780 polling centers all over the capital.
“Gen. Varilla issued a directive to ensure that all actions pertaining to election duty of every policeman in the field must be covered by specific instruction from the Comelec representatives,” Miranda said.
Miranda said Varilla does not foresee any serious violent incidents that will occur in the capital during the election day this Monday.
He noted that of the 151 election-related violated incidents recorded by the PNP nationwide since the start of the election period on January 14, only one happened in Metro Manila.
Miranda was referring to the killing of Quezon Congressional aspirant Vicente Rabaya, Jr. in Quezon City last March 31st.
Nevertheless, Miranda said the NCRPO will closely monitor the cities of Caloocan, Pasig, and Pasay due to the intense political rivalry in these areas.
“Gen. Varilla assures the public that the NCRPO is ready and capable of ensuring an honest, orderly and peaceful election in Metro Manila,” Miranda said./DMS
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Police bares NPA plan to disrupt Masbate elections
By Ronron
May 11, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed on Friday an alleged plot of communist rebels to disrupt the elections this Monday in Masbate province.
Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr., spokesman of the PNP, said the plot was contained in a document seized by government troops from an encounter site between members of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) and the New People’s Army (NPA) last month.
Chief Supt. Leocadio Santiago, Jr., head of the PNP SAF, said the NPA allegedly plans to carry out ballot-snatching and prevent people from voting, based on the document.
“Apparently, to break the confinement and to divert the offensive of our troops, the insurgents plotted to destabilize the conduct of election by orchestrating power failure, armed attacks on bridges, and even mobilizing their sectoral groups to stage mass rallies and demonstrations during the election day,” he said.
The document was seized from a safehouse of suspected NPA rebels in Barangay Lahong, Bolino town where members of the PNP SAF clashed with some 50 heavily armed rebels.
Apart from the document, the SAF troopers recovered several firearms and ammunitions from said house.
As a result, two companies of the PNP SAF were deployed to the province about two weeks ago to augment the existing police force in the province and the initially deployed PNP-SAF company in early April.
Santiago said the SAF troopers were ordered to intensify security operations on vital installations like powerlines, bridges, and government offices which may be subject of NPA attacks.
“The deployment of additional SAF operatives in Masbate is part of the contingency plan of the PNP in preempting these threats and to ensure a high level of security from opening to closing of polling precincts in the province,” Santiago said.
Masbate is among the provinces placed under Comelec control due to intense political rivalry and heightened insurgency attacks./DMS
May 11, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed on Friday an alleged plot of communist rebels to disrupt the elections this Monday in Masbate province.
Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr., spokesman of the PNP, said the plot was contained in a document seized by government troops from an encounter site between members of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) and the New People’s Army (NPA) last month.
Chief Supt. Leocadio Santiago, Jr., head of the PNP SAF, said the NPA allegedly plans to carry out ballot-snatching and prevent people from voting, based on the document.
“Apparently, to break the confinement and to divert the offensive of our troops, the insurgents plotted to destabilize the conduct of election by orchestrating power failure, armed attacks on bridges, and even mobilizing their sectoral groups to stage mass rallies and demonstrations during the election day,” he said.
The document was seized from a safehouse of suspected NPA rebels in Barangay Lahong, Bolino town where members of the PNP SAF clashed with some 50 heavily armed rebels.
Apart from the document, the SAF troopers recovered several firearms and ammunitions from said house.
As a result, two companies of the PNP SAF were deployed to the province about two weeks ago to augment the existing police force in the province and the initially deployed PNP-SAF company in early April.
Santiago said the SAF troopers were ordered to intensify security operations on vital installations like powerlines, bridges, and government offices which may be subject of NPA attacks.
“The deployment of additional SAF operatives in Masbate is part of the contingency plan of the PNP in preempting these threats and to ensure a high level of security from opening to closing of polling precincts in the province,” Santiago said.
Masbate is among the provinces placed under Comelec control due to intense political rivalry and heightened insurgency attacks./DMS
Authorities seize kids of Dulmatin in Tawi-tawi
By Ronron
May 11, 2007
Combined police and military operatives seized on Friday morning the four children of suspected Indonesian terrorist Dulmatin at an alleged safehouse of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in the southern island province of Tawi-tawi.
Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan, spokesman of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), identified the kids as Adiba, 9; Osama, 7; Adija, 5; and Musaiba, 2, but could not immediately say about their gender and citizenship.
The four were found when elements of the Philippine Marines, Philippine Navy, and Philippine National Police (PNP) raided at around 5:30 am yesterday the alleged ASG and JI safehouse in Barangay Bacung, Simunol Island in Tawi-tawi.
“The kids are now under the care of the military authorities in the area and they will be brought to Zamboanga City. They will be given due care and attention by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, considering that they are minors,” Caculitan said.
“We respect that these minors be given due attention and that they should not be treated like terrorists,” he added.
Caculitan said he has no immediate information if somebody was taking care of the four kids at the time they were seized.
But he said the raiding team found an M16 rifle inside the alleged safehouse.
“We don’t want to confirm or deny the presence of Dulmatin in the area in view of the ongoing efforts to locate him. That is something internal to us,” Caculitan said.
He said local officials helped authorities in locating the whereabouts of the kids, although he has no available information about the owner of the house.
Asked if it is already confirmed that the kids are those of Dulmatin, Caculitan replied: “These are reports coming out from the field and I think it is already validated that they are the children of Dulmatin.”
Pressed on how they reached such conclusion, he said: “Our intelligence operatives should not be taken lightly. Of course, there were questions or proper investigations that have been conducted to verify if they are confirmed, or that they are really the children of Dulmatin.”
Dulmatin is among the suspected JI bombers that have flown and hid in the country after masterminding the Bali bombing in 2002. The US government has offered a reward of $10 million for his capture or neutralization.
He and fellow bomber Umar Patek were believed to have sought refuge from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Central Mindanao before fleeing towards Sulu island further south.
In October last year, the wife of Dulmatin and their two children were also seized by authorities in Patikul, Sulu. The three have since been deported.
Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. said that while there may be no charges filed against the four children, their capture will benefit the intelligence community.
“At least, if the family is there, then the man is still there around,” he said in a separate interview./DMS
May 11, 2007
Combined police and military operatives seized on Friday morning the four children of suspected Indonesian terrorist Dulmatin at an alleged safehouse of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in the southern island province of Tawi-tawi.
Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan, spokesman of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), identified the kids as Adiba, 9; Osama, 7; Adija, 5; and Musaiba, 2, but could not immediately say about their gender and citizenship.
The four were found when elements of the Philippine Marines, Philippine Navy, and Philippine National Police (PNP) raided at around 5:30 am yesterday the alleged ASG and JI safehouse in Barangay Bacung, Simunol Island in Tawi-tawi.
“The kids are now under the care of the military authorities in the area and they will be brought to Zamboanga City. They will be given due care and attention by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, considering that they are minors,” Caculitan said.
“We respect that these minors be given due attention and that they should not be treated like terrorists,” he added.
Caculitan said he has no immediate information if somebody was taking care of the four kids at the time they were seized.
But he said the raiding team found an M16 rifle inside the alleged safehouse.
“We don’t want to confirm or deny the presence of Dulmatin in the area in view of the ongoing efforts to locate him. That is something internal to us,” Caculitan said.
He said local officials helped authorities in locating the whereabouts of the kids, although he has no available information about the owner of the house.
Asked if it is already confirmed that the kids are those of Dulmatin, Caculitan replied: “These are reports coming out from the field and I think it is already validated that they are the children of Dulmatin.”
Pressed on how they reached such conclusion, he said: “Our intelligence operatives should not be taken lightly. Of course, there were questions or proper investigations that have been conducted to verify if they are confirmed, or that they are really the children of Dulmatin.”
Dulmatin is among the suspected JI bombers that have flown and hid in the country after masterminding the Bali bombing in 2002. The US government has offered a reward of $10 million for his capture or neutralization.
He and fellow bomber Umar Patek were believed to have sought refuge from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Central Mindanao before fleeing towards Sulu island further south.
In October last year, the wife of Dulmatin and their two children were also seized by authorities in Patikul, Sulu. The three have since been deported.
Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. said that while there may be no charges filed against the four children, their capture will benefit the intelligence community.
“At least, if the family is there, then the man is still there around,” he said in a separate interview./DMS
PNP raises alert to full level a day ahead of schedule
By Ronron
May 11, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) raised on Friday morning its alert status to full as it sent off in a ceremonial rite at Camp Crame, Quezon City the elements of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) for their poll duties.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr. said the red alert status took effect at 8am and will stay on until further notice from the national headquarters.
The PNP initially planned to raise its alert to full status today (Saturday) in preparation for the May 14 polls, but because of the attack last Thursday by the New People’s Army (NPA) against policemen in Mindoro Occidental, it was moved a day earlier.
“It was moved in advance because we had a send off of our personnel this morning for their election duties and anti-criminality operations and because we suffered a heavy casualty in yesterday’s (Thursday) attack by the NPA in Mindoro,” said PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Director Wilfredo Garcia.
Under a full alert status, all leaves-of-absence by PNP personnel are cancelled as they are required to report to the stations to ensure maximum availability of manpower and resources, explained Pagdilao.
“The heightened security stance will also involve police operations to secure vital installations, critical infrastructure, public utilities, and key government installations against possible hostile activities of the local communist movement and domestic threat groups,” Pagdilao said.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has deputized the entire PNP force for this year’s elections after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chose not to be involved to avoid allegations of engaging in partisan politics like what happened in the 2004 polls.
PNP Chief Gen. Oscar Calderon assured all 115,000 policemen that the Comelec has provided funds for their duties, particularly the supplemental three-day subsistence allowance for May 13, 14, and 15, 2007.
“As Comelec deputies, the PNP is tasked to provide security to candidates, election officials, polling centers, and Comelec accountable forms and election materials,” Pagdilao said.
But all police units and personnel are under strict orders to be neutral, apolitical and non-partisan.
“My message to our police personnel is that this May 14 elections, the credibility of the PNP will be put to a test,” Calderon said.
NCRPO chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla is bolder in its pronouncement. “The PNP ensures that the May 2007 election will be the cleanest and most orderly we have in recent years,” he said.
As of Thursday, the PNP has already recorded 151 election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) since January 14, which have resulted to 104 persons killed and 112 wounded.
Garcia said the figure is still much lower than the 249 ERVI’s in 2004, and 269 in 2001.
Garcia said he is confident that this year’s ERVI figure will remain lower than in the previous elections, citing the current measures of the PNP to deter violence such as setting up of checkpoints and active dialoguing with local candidates.
In a separate interview, Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. said all military personnel are already aware that they should remain apolitical this season, especially this coming Monday.
He said the reminder was given on different occasions since the department signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Comelec in October 2006 that limited the role of the Armed Forces in this year’s elections.
“A reminder to them is to provide an atmosphere of peaceful and orderly elections, specifically not to provide direct security to candidates, and to conduct security operations in areas of insurgents like checkpoints and prevention of collection of permit to campaign fees,” Ebdane told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in a forum at Makati City.
He said troops should only make their presence felt near polling precincts when called upon the Comelec.
“There must be written order,” Ebdane said.
In an earlier interview, Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said some troops were already deputized to secure the provinces of Abra, Masbate, Nueva Ecija, and San Carlos City in Pangasinan.
Esperon said more than one battalion each are already in Abra and Masbate; almost a thousand troops in Nueva Ecija; and a small team is in San Carlos City.
Esperon had placed the entire 110,000-strong military to red alert status last Thursday in preparations for the elections.
“The whole Armed Forces is on call,” Esperon said./DMS
May 11, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) raised on Friday morning its alert status to full as it sent off in a ceremonial rite at Camp Crame, Quezon City the elements of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) for their poll duties.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr. said the red alert status took effect at 8am and will stay on until further notice from the national headquarters.
The PNP initially planned to raise its alert to full status today (Saturday) in preparation for the May 14 polls, but because of the attack last Thursday by the New People’s Army (NPA) against policemen in Mindoro Occidental, it was moved a day earlier.
“It was moved in advance because we had a send off of our personnel this morning for their election duties and anti-criminality operations and because we suffered a heavy casualty in yesterday’s (Thursday) attack by the NPA in Mindoro,” said PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Director Wilfredo Garcia.
Under a full alert status, all leaves-of-absence by PNP personnel are cancelled as they are required to report to the stations to ensure maximum availability of manpower and resources, explained Pagdilao.
“The heightened security stance will also involve police operations to secure vital installations, critical infrastructure, public utilities, and key government installations against possible hostile activities of the local communist movement and domestic threat groups,” Pagdilao said.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has deputized the entire PNP force for this year’s elections after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chose not to be involved to avoid allegations of engaging in partisan politics like what happened in the 2004 polls.
PNP Chief Gen. Oscar Calderon assured all 115,000 policemen that the Comelec has provided funds for their duties, particularly the supplemental three-day subsistence allowance for May 13, 14, and 15, 2007.
“As Comelec deputies, the PNP is tasked to provide security to candidates, election officials, polling centers, and Comelec accountable forms and election materials,” Pagdilao said.
But all police units and personnel are under strict orders to be neutral, apolitical and non-partisan.
“My message to our police personnel is that this May 14 elections, the credibility of the PNP will be put to a test,” Calderon said.
NCRPO chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla is bolder in its pronouncement. “The PNP ensures that the May 2007 election will be the cleanest and most orderly we have in recent years,” he said.
As of Thursday, the PNP has already recorded 151 election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) since January 14, which have resulted to 104 persons killed and 112 wounded.
Garcia said the figure is still much lower than the 249 ERVI’s in 2004, and 269 in 2001.
Garcia said he is confident that this year’s ERVI figure will remain lower than in the previous elections, citing the current measures of the PNP to deter violence such as setting up of checkpoints and active dialoguing with local candidates.
In a separate interview, Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. said all military personnel are already aware that they should remain apolitical this season, especially this coming Monday.
He said the reminder was given on different occasions since the department signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Comelec in October 2006 that limited the role of the Armed Forces in this year’s elections.
“A reminder to them is to provide an atmosphere of peaceful and orderly elections, specifically not to provide direct security to candidates, and to conduct security operations in areas of insurgents like checkpoints and prevention of collection of permit to campaign fees,” Ebdane told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in a forum at Makati City.
He said troops should only make their presence felt near polling precincts when called upon the Comelec.
“There must be written order,” Ebdane said.
In an earlier interview, Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said some troops were already deputized to secure the provinces of Abra, Masbate, Nueva Ecija, and San Carlos City in Pangasinan.
Esperon said more than one battalion each are already in Abra and Masbate; almost a thousand troops in Nueva Ecija; and a small team is in San Carlos City.
Esperon had placed the entire 110,000-strong military to red alert status last Thursday in preparations for the elections.
“The whole Armed Forces is on call,” Esperon said./DMS
Friday, May 11, 2007
AFP pulls out troops in Metro Manila
By Ronron
May 10, 2007
Military men deployed in Metro Manila for civil-military operations since November of last year have started going back to barracks last Wednesday after the completion of their mission and to save them from allegations of electioneering.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. ordered the junior officers and soldiers, who belong to the Civil Military Operations (CMO) Battalion of the Philippine Army, to leave the barangays where they are deployed not later than today (Friday).
“I have a given a deadline of May 11 so that we will be out of here before the elections to remove the suspicion and all attributions from groups that we are here for election purposes, (which is) not at all,” Esperon said in an interview Wednesday at a slum area in Quezon City.
He denied that it is a response to the petition of some sectors at the Supreme Court for the same purpose.
AFP National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino said the 260 personnel have so far completed eight engineering projects, mostly day care centers, and several medical and dental missions through the six-month period, aside from successful dialogues with local residents among 19 barangays in the cities of Caloocan, Taguig, Manila and Quezon.
On Wednesday, Esperon and Dolorfino launched the newly built Day Care Center at Upper Nawasa, Commonwealth, Quezon City.
“I’m sure that as the soldiers were immersed here, friendships have been forged. And so, from the friendship, there could be more unity and cooperation. It may be little to others but for us, it is very important,” Esperon said.
In an earlier interview, Esperon and Dolorfino admitted that the CMO operations of the troops in Metro Manila is in support of the AFP’s anti-insurgency campaign since Left-leaning organizations, according to them, take advantage of the people’s poverty to convince them to rebel against the government.
Dolorfino said yesterday that so far, the troops assigned in Taguig City already pulled out as of Wednesday, and those in Caloocan and Manila cities followed yesterday.
He said that only those in Quezon City are expected to pull out today (Friday), thereby completing the extraction process.
Dolorfino could not immediately give a percentage as to the number of troops already pulled out as of yesterday.
Asked of a possible return of another batch of troops to the communities in the capital, Esperon said: “We are reviewing, assessing the matter. And if there is a need for us to further deploy in the same formation, then we will.”
The deployment of troops in Metro Manila was met with several criticisms from both cause-oriented groups and those in government as it allegedly reeks of Martial Law and they are allegedly being used to campaign against party-list organizations critical of the government/./DMS
May 10, 2007
Military men deployed in Metro Manila for civil-military operations since November of last year have started going back to barracks last Wednesday after the completion of their mission and to save them from allegations of electioneering.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. ordered the junior officers and soldiers, who belong to the Civil Military Operations (CMO) Battalion of the Philippine Army, to leave the barangays where they are deployed not later than today (Friday).
“I have a given a deadline of May 11 so that we will be out of here before the elections to remove the suspicion and all attributions from groups that we are here for election purposes, (which is) not at all,” Esperon said in an interview Wednesday at a slum area in Quezon City.
He denied that it is a response to the petition of some sectors at the Supreme Court for the same purpose.
AFP National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino said the 260 personnel have so far completed eight engineering projects, mostly day care centers, and several medical and dental missions through the six-month period, aside from successful dialogues with local residents among 19 barangays in the cities of Caloocan, Taguig, Manila and Quezon.
On Wednesday, Esperon and Dolorfino launched the newly built Day Care Center at Upper Nawasa, Commonwealth, Quezon City.
“I’m sure that as the soldiers were immersed here, friendships have been forged. And so, from the friendship, there could be more unity and cooperation. It may be little to others but for us, it is very important,” Esperon said.
In an earlier interview, Esperon and Dolorfino admitted that the CMO operations of the troops in Metro Manila is in support of the AFP’s anti-insurgency campaign since Left-leaning organizations, according to them, take advantage of the people’s poverty to convince them to rebel against the government.
Dolorfino said yesterday that so far, the troops assigned in Taguig City already pulled out as of Wednesday, and those in Caloocan and Manila cities followed yesterday.
He said that only those in Quezon City are expected to pull out today (Friday), thereby completing the extraction process.
Dolorfino could not immediately give a percentage as to the number of troops already pulled out as of yesterday.
Asked of a possible return of another batch of troops to the communities in the capital, Esperon said: “We are reviewing, assessing the matter. And if there is a need for us to further deploy in the same formation, then we will.”
The deployment of troops in Metro Manila was met with several criticisms from both cause-oriented groups and those in government as it allegedly reeks of Martial Law and they are allegedly being used to campaign against party-list organizations critical of the government/./DMS
Court denies Trillanes plea for bail, grants motion to vote on May 14
By Ronron
May 10, 2007
A Makati City court denied the request of former Navy officer Antonio Trillanes IV to post bail, stressing there is strong evidence against him as leader of the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, but granted, nonetheless, his petition to cast his vote on election day.
In a nine-page order dated May 9 but released only yesterday, Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 said an earlier ruling on the same issue on July 8, 2004 stated that Trillanes is among those found with strong evidence of guilt for the crime of coup d’ etat, thus he cannot be granted bail.
“A belated grant of bail to accused Trillanes will certainly set a bad precedent for criminal law and procedure jurisprudence, and undoubtedly, will send the wrong signal to the public that the mere expedient of filing a certificate of candidacy for Senator automatically vests a high-profile accused charged a non-bailable, capital offense with instant special privilege and treatment,” Pimentel said.
In his motion, Trillanes pleaded that he be granted to post bail in the amount of P100,000 so he could campaign for his Senatorial bid.
The former officer, with a rank of Lieutenant Senior Grade, is running under the Genuine Opposition ticket.
A fellow accused in the same case and also fellow senatorial candidate, Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, was earlier allowed by the same judge to post bail since he was only charged as a co-conspirator, and not as leader.
Citing the Revised Penal Code, Pimentel explained on Honasan’s case that only those charged as leaders of coup d’ etat may not be granted bail because the crime is punishable by reclusion perpetua, while a co-conspirator may only be punished with reclusion temporal.
The case against Honasan has yet to be heard in court while that of Trillanes and his fellow 28 officers and two former enlisted personnel is now midway through the trial, the prosecution having already rested its case.
The delay in the case against Honasan is because it was only filed in court in February 2006 by the DOJ.
In the allegation, Honasan allegedly served as the supremo of the mutineers, who called themselves Magdalo soldiers.
Meanwhile, as to Trillanes’ request to leave his detention cell on May 14 so he could cast his vote, Pimentel found no reason to deny it, especially that there is no opposition from the prosecution.
“The Motion of Accused Trillanes to Vote in Caloocan City on the May 14, 2007 elections at Precinct No. 0687B, Barangay 169, B.F. Homes Phase I, Deparo, Caloocan City … is hereby granted,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel set conditions that Trillanes should leave the Philippine Marine Brig where he is detained at 9 am of May 14 and should be back by 12 noon.
He should also be escorted by an adequate force from the military going to and from his precinct, and that that there should be no other itinerary.
“Accused Trillanes is directed by this Court to refrain from discussing the merits of this case with members of the press, avoid any form of election day campaigning and from issuing inflammatory and seditious statements against the government,” Pimentel said.
He directed the lawyer of Trillanes to submit a written manifestation to the court within 24 hours after the accused finished voting./DMS
May 10, 2007
A Makati City court denied the request of former Navy officer Antonio Trillanes IV to post bail, stressing there is strong evidence against him as leader of the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, but granted, nonetheless, his petition to cast his vote on election day.
In a nine-page order dated May 9 but released only yesterday, Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 said an earlier ruling on the same issue on July 8, 2004 stated that Trillanes is among those found with strong evidence of guilt for the crime of coup d’ etat, thus he cannot be granted bail.
“A belated grant of bail to accused Trillanes will certainly set a bad precedent for criminal law and procedure jurisprudence, and undoubtedly, will send the wrong signal to the public that the mere expedient of filing a certificate of candidacy for Senator automatically vests a high-profile accused charged a non-bailable, capital offense with instant special privilege and treatment,” Pimentel said.
In his motion, Trillanes pleaded that he be granted to post bail in the amount of P100,000 so he could campaign for his Senatorial bid.
The former officer, with a rank of Lieutenant Senior Grade, is running under the Genuine Opposition ticket.
A fellow accused in the same case and also fellow senatorial candidate, Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, was earlier allowed by the same judge to post bail since he was only charged as a co-conspirator, and not as leader.
Citing the Revised Penal Code, Pimentel explained on Honasan’s case that only those charged as leaders of coup d’ etat may not be granted bail because the crime is punishable by reclusion perpetua, while a co-conspirator may only be punished with reclusion temporal.
The case against Honasan has yet to be heard in court while that of Trillanes and his fellow 28 officers and two former enlisted personnel is now midway through the trial, the prosecution having already rested its case.
The delay in the case against Honasan is because it was only filed in court in February 2006 by the DOJ.
In the allegation, Honasan allegedly served as the supremo of the mutineers, who called themselves Magdalo soldiers.
Meanwhile, as to Trillanes’ request to leave his detention cell on May 14 so he could cast his vote, Pimentel found no reason to deny it, especially that there is no opposition from the prosecution.
“The Motion of Accused Trillanes to Vote in Caloocan City on the May 14, 2007 elections at Precinct No. 0687B, Barangay 169, B.F. Homes Phase I, Deparo, Caloocan City … is hereby granted,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel set conditions that Trillanes should leave the Philippine Marine Brig where he is detained at 9 am of May 14 and should be back by 12 noon.
He should also be escorted by an adequate force from the military going to and from his precinct, and that that there should be no other itinerary.
“Accused Trillanes is directed by this Court to refrain from discussing the merits of this case with members of the press, avoid any form of election day campaigning and from issuing inflammatory and seditious statements against the government,” Pimentel said.
He directed the lawyer of Trillanes to submit a written manifestation to the court within 24 hours after the accused finished voting./DMS
5 cops killed, six wounded in NPA attack in Occidental Mindoro
By Ronron
May 10, 2007
Five policemen were killed while six others were wounded after they were attacked by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Thursday morning while conducting road security operations in Mindoro Occidental province, officials said.
Sr. Supt. Audie Arroyo, provincial police director, said the victims were part of the 14-man team from the 407th Police Provincial Mobile Group that were tasked to ensure the safety of Governor Josephine Sato who was set to pass by the ambush site later in the day.
Arroyo said the policemen were riding a Toyota Hilux back-to-back mobile patrol car when ambushed by some 30 suspected rebels at around 7:30 am yesterday (Thursday) along the Zigzag Road in Sitio Tugtugin, Barangay Batasan, in San Jose town.
In his initial report to Camp Crame, Region IV-B Police Director Chief Supt. Napoleon Cachuela said that four members of the team alighted from the vehicle upon arrival at the zigzag road since they are already aware that it is a possible ambush area.
Suddenly, a loud explosion, believed to be from a landmine or an improvised explosive device, was heard from the back of the vehicle, causing it to overturn. Immediately, gunfires were coming from the left side of the road, targeting the policemen and the patrol car.
Although the government troops managed to retaliate, ensuing a five-minute exchange of gunfires, they still suffered many casualties due to the surprise attack.
Killed were PO3 Leonardo Medilla, PO2 Nelson Barrientos, PO2 Gabriel Ordanes, PO2 Rommel Caleze, and PO2 Alberto Hilario.
And those wounded were PO3 Elmer Legayada, PO1 Ronnie Rivera, PO2 Joel Vizcarra, PO3 Mario Barbosa, PO2 JuliusVillaflores, and PO2 Jonathan Alvarez, who were all brought to Murtha District Hospital in San Jose for medical treatment.
Arroyo said the guerillas used long firearms such as M16, M14 and carbine in the attack.
In a separate report, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command spokesman Lt. Col. Roderick Parayno said they received information that there were also casualties on the NPA side but were successfully brought along by their fleeing comrades.
“Information has it that while withdrawing, the enemies were carrying two improvised stretchers believed to be carrying killed comrades,” Parayno said.
Arroyo said the fleeing rebels carted away eight long firearms of the policemen.
The police car was rendered useless after it was damaged, especially its engine, by the blast.
Cachuela said reinforcement elements from the provincial police and the Charlie Company of the 80th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army were organized and proceeded to the area.
“Joint pursuit operation by reinforcing units is ongoing to track down the perpetrators while checkpoints were established all over the province at major routes by police stations in their respective area of responsibility,” Cachuela said.
In a phone interview, Sato expressed condemnation of the ambush and said that the NPA was just trying to show force because it is hurt by her anti-insurgency campaign in the province.
A few months back, Sato said she has convinced all local candidates in the province not to give in to the permit-to-campaign and permit-to-win fees being collected by communist rebels in the province.
“As Governor, I have declared a total war against insurgency. I have responded to the call of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to end the insurgency problem in two years,” Sato said.
And so, even with the attack, Sato said she will continue to exert more efforts to fight the problem of insurgency./DMS
May 10, 2007
Five policemen were killed while six others were wounded after they were attacked by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Thursday morning while conducting road security operations in Mindoro Occidental province, officials said.
Sr. Supt. Audie Arroyo, provincial police director, said the victims were part of the 14-man team from the 407th Police Provincial Mobile Group that were tasked to ensure the safety of Governor Josephine Sato who was set to pass by the ambush site later in the day.
Arroyo said the policemen were riding a Toyota Hilux back-to-back mobile patrol car when ambushed by some 30 suspected rebels at around 7:30 am yesterday (Thursday) along the Zigzag Road in Sitio Tugtugin, Barangay Batasan, in San Jose town.
In his initial report to Camp Crame, Region IV-B Police Director Chief Supt. Napoleon Cachuela said that four members of the team alighted from the vehicle upon arrival at the zigzag road since they are already aware that it is a possible ambush area.
Suddenly, a loud explosion, believed to be from a landmine or an improvised explosive device, was heard from the back of the vehicle, causing it to overturn. Immediately, gunfires were coming from the left side of the road, targeting the policemen and the patrol car.
Although the government troops managed to retaliate, ensuing a five-minute exchange of gunfires, they still suffered many casualties due to the surprise attack.
Killed were PO3 Leonardo Medilla, PO2 Nelson Barrientos, PO2 Gabriel Ordanes, PO2 Rommel Caleze, and PO2 Alberto Hilario.
And those wounded were PO3 Elmer Legayada, PO1 Ronnie Rivera, PO2 Joel Vizcarra, PO3 Mario Barbosa, PO2 JuliusVillaflores, and PO2 Jonathan Alvarez, who were all brought to Murtha District Hospital in San Jose for medical treatment.
Arroyo said the guerillas used long firearms such as M16, M14 and carbine in the attack.
In a separate report, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command spokesman Lt. Col. Roderick Parayno said they received information that there were also casualties on the NPA side but were successfully brought along by their fleeing comrades.
“Information has it that while withdrawing, the enemies were carrying two improvised stretchers believed to be carrying killed comrades,” Parayno said.
Arroyo said the fleeing rebels carted away eight long firearms of the policemen.
The police car was rendered useless after it was damaged, especially its engine, by the blast.
Cachuela said reinforcement elements from the provincial police and the Charlie Company of the 80th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army were organized and proceeded to the area.
“Joint pursuit operation by reinforcing units is ongoing to track down the perpetrators while checkpoints were established all over the province at major routes by police stations in their respective area of responsibility,” Cachuela said.
In a phone interview, Sato expressed condemnation of the ambush and said that the NPA was just trying to show force because it is hurt by her anti-insurgency campaign in the province.
A few months back, Sato said she has convinced all local candidates in the province not to give in to the permit-to-campaign and permit-to-win fees being collected by communist rebels in the province.
“As Governor, I have declared a total war against insurgency. I have responded to the call of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to end the insurgency problem in two years,” Sato said.
And so, even with the attack, Sato said she will continue to exert more efforts to fight the problem of insurgency./DMS
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Makati Court allows Misuari trip to Jolo to campaign and vote
By Ronron
May 9, 2007
The Makati City court hearing the rebellion case of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Nur Misuari granted the latter’s petition to go to Sulu to campaign and vote.
In a three-page order issued yesterday afternoon, Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 59 Judge Winlove Dumayas said Misuari and his co-accused, Ustadz Abu Haris Usman, will leave on May 11 and come back to Manila on the 14th.
“This Court had previously allowed accused Nur Misuari to travel to Jolo to register as a voter, and later, to file his certificate of candidacy for provincial governor. It is but logical for this Court, to likewise allow him to cast his vote,” Dumayas said.
“This likewise goes true for accused Ustadz Abu Haris Usman. Since the prosecution is not interposing any objection to the instant motion, the Court finds no compelling reason to deny said request,” he added.
The order said Misuari and his escorts should leave Manila for Zamboanga City on the first available flight at 5 to 5:30 in the morning of May 11 and leave Zamboanga City for Jolo on the same date by the first available flight at 11 in the morning to 12 noon.
On May 14, they should leave Jolo for Zamboanga City immediately after the voting at 2 to 3 in the afternoon, and leave Zamboanga City for Manila on a 5 - 5:30 pm flight.
Misuari is a candidate for Sulu governor, while Usman is a mayoralty candidate in Jolo town.
The Court tasked the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force to provide the necessary security arrangements to the tandem.
“The final details of the itinerary of travel and security requirement shall be the responsibility of the PNP-SAF, particularly Police Chief Inspector Fernando Ortega, who shall be accountable to the Court for the faithful compliance of this order and safety of the two accused and their return to their place of detention in Quezon City,” the order reads.
The Court specifically ordered Ortega to submit his compliance report upon arrival in Quezon City on that day.
The two were charged with rebellion after allegedly leading an uprising in Jolo in November 2001 that claimed the lives of hundreds./DMS
May 9, 2007
The Makati City court hearing the rebellion case of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Nur Misuari granted the latter’s petition to go to Sulu to campaign and vote.
In a three-page order issued yesterday afternoon, Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 59 Judge Winlove Dumayas said Misuari and his co-accused, Ustadz Abu Haris Usman, will leave on May 11 and come back to Manila on the 14th.
“This Court had previously allowed accused Nur Misuari to travel to Jolo to register as a voter, and later, to file his certificate of candidacy for provincial governor. It is but logical for this Court, to likewise allow him to cast his vote,” Dumayas said.
“This likewise goes true for accused Ustadz Abu Haris Usman. Since the prosecution is not interposing any objection to the instant motion, the Court finds no compelling reason to deny said request,” he added.
The order said Misuari and his escorts should leave Manila for Zamboanga City on the first available flight at 5 to 5:30 in the morning of May 11 and leave Zamboanga City for Jolo on the same date by the first available flight at 11 in the morning to 12 noon.
On May 14, they should leave Jolo for Zamboanga City immediately after the voting at 2 to 3 in the afternoon, and leave Zamboanga City for Manila on a 5 - 5:30 pm flight.
Misuari is a candidate for Sulu governor, while Usman is a mayoralty candidate in Jolo town.
The Court tasked the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force to provide the necessary security arrangements to the tandem.
“The final details of the itinerary of travel and security requirement shall be the responsibility of the PNP-SAF, particularly Police Chief Inspector Fernando Ortega, who shall be accountable to the Court for the faithful compliance of this order and safety of the two accused and their return to their place of detention in Quezon City,” the order reads.
The Court specifically ordered Ortega to submit his compliance report upon arrival in Quezon City on that day.
The two were charged with rebellion after allegedly leading an uprising in Jolo in November 2001 that claimed the lives of hundreds./DMS
Two foreign journalists barred from joining FOCAP interview with Trillanes
By Ronron
May 9, 2007
Two foreign journalists were barred from joining the interview of members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) with senatorial candidate and former Navy officer Lt. Sr. Grade Antonio Trillanes IV yesterday morning.
Douglas Bakshian of the Voice of America and Sebastian Farcis of the French International Radio were not allowed to attend the scheduled interview at Trillanes’ detention facility inside the Marine headquarters in Taguig City due to their failure to present a clearance from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Office, or J2.
Lt. Col. Luciardo Obeña, commander of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) Headquarters Battalion, said there is a standing order from the AFP General Headquarters, requiring foreign nationals to seek a J2 clearance when entering any military establishments in the country.
PMC spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan said the policy is meant to ensure that anybody who enters the camp has been background-checked and is therefore safe.
But Bakshian complained, saying that in past instances when he entered Camp Aguinaldo, the AFP main headquarters, and other camps in Sulu, he was not required to present such clearance.
“This is a new policy… This is the new Philippines,” Bakshian said, before leaving the camp at around 9:45 am or after waiting for 45 minutes.
The FOCAP advisory regarding the interview states that it was supposed to start at 9am.
Aside from Bakshian and Farcis, Filipino reporters, photographers and television crew from Reuters, Associated Press, NHK and Manila Shimbun were present to join the interview with Trillanes, who is running under the Genuine Opposition ticket.
“I’m here to do some work… We were just responding to the FOCAP notice,” Bakshian said.
Thus, instead of getting the J2 clearance, he and Farcis decided to leave the camp.
FOCAP President Manny Mogato of Reuters conceded to the policy since he was shown a black and white of that but said that the problem lies in the fact that the FOCAP was not informed ahead of such requirement.
Being a former defense reporter, Mogato acknowledged that indeed, foreign journalists have long entered military camps for coverage but were not required of the J2 clearance.
Told about this, Caculitan said this was so because the entry of foreign journalists was coordinated with the public information offices of the respective camps.
When the media arrived at the interview venue, there was another delay as another guard interrogated Wilson Flores, columnist for the Philippine Star and writer for a Hongkong-based magazine.
The guard suspected Flores, a Filipino-Chinese, for not being a Filipino national.
Flores was asked to present his identification card to prove his Filipino citizenship but could only show is FOCAP ID.
It took a copy of the Philippine Star that showed his photo, name and column for the guard to allow him to join the interview.
The interrogation happened while Trillanes was already seated, ready for the interview.
Trillanes got irked all the more when he learned about what happened to Bakshian and Farcis so he threatened Obena and the battalion’s executive officer, Maj. Bautista Provido, that he will ask the court to cite them in contempt.
“This (barring of the two foreign journalists) will only put you in more trouble… Tell your boss that I will file contempt charges against you both,” Trillanes told Provido at the start of the interview.
Trillanes claimed that when he was interviewed the past few days by foreign journalists from the Associated Press, Channel News Asia and Yomiuri Shimbun, no such requirement was asked of them.
Trillanes said it is frustrating to know that despite their rank, Obeña and Provido do know how to decided on simple matters.
“These are incompetent officers,” Trillanes said of the two.
He said he hopes that with the charging of contempt against the two officers, the military would learn to respect any court order./DMS
May 9, 2007
Two foreign journalists were barred from joining the interview of members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) with senatorial candidate and former Navy officer Lt. Sr. Grade Antonio Trillanes IV yesterday morning.
Douglas Bakshian of the Voice of America and Sebastian Farcis of the French International Radio were not allowed to attend the scheduled interview at Trillanes’ detention facility inside the Marine headquarters in Taguig City due to their failure to present a clearance from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Office, or J2.
Lt. Col. Luciardo Obeña, commander of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) Headquarters Battalion, said there is a standing order from the AFP General Headquarters, requiring foreign nationals to seek a J2 clearance when entering any military establishments in the country.
PMC spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan said the policy is meant to ensure that anybody who enters the camp has been background-checked and is therefore safe.
But Bakshian complained, saying that in past instances when he entered Camp Aguinaldo, the AFP main headquarters, and other camps in Sulu, he was not required to present such clearance.
“This is a new policy… This is the new Philippines,” Bakshian said, before leaving the camp at around 9:45 am or after waiting for 45 minutes.
The FOCAP advisory regarding the interview states that it was supposed to start at 9am.
Aside from Bakshian and Farcis, Filipino reporters, photographers and television crew from Reuters, Associated Press, NHK and Manila Shimbun were present to join the interview with Trillanes, who is running under the Genuine Opposition ticket.
“I’m here to do some work… We were just responding to the FOCAP notice,” Bakshian said.
Thus, instead of getting the J2 clearance, he and Farcis decided to leave the camp.
FOCAP President Manny Mogato of Reuters conceded to the policy since he was shown a black and white of that but said that the problem lies in the fact that the FOCAP was not informed ahead of such requirement.
Being a former defense reporter, Mogato acknowledged that indeed, foreign journalists have long entered military camps for coverage but were not required of the J2 clearance.
Told about this, Caculitan said this was so because the entry of foreign journalists was coordinated with the public information offices of the respective camps.
When the media arrived at the interview venue, there was another delay as another guard interrogated Wilson Flores, columnist for the Philippine Star and writer for a Hongkong-based magazine.
The guard suspected Flores, a Filipino-Chinese, for not being a Filipino national.
Flores was asked to present his identification card to prove his Filipino citizenship but could only show is FOCAP ID.
It took a copy of the Philippine Star that showed his photo, name and column for the guard to allow him to join the interview.
The interrogation happened while Trillanes was already seated, ready for the interview.
Trillanes got irked all the more when he learned about what happened to Bakshian and Farcis so he threatened Obena and the battalion’s executive officer, Maj. Bautista Provido, that he will ask the court to cite them in contempt.
“This (barring of the two foreign journalists) will only put you in more trouble… Tell your boss that I will file contempt charges against you both,” Trillanes told Provido at the start of the interview.
Trillanes claimed that when he was interviewed the past few days by foreign journalists from the Associated Press, Channel News Asia and Yomiuri Shimbun, no such requirement was asked of them.
Trillanes said it is frustrating to know that despite their rank, Obeña and Provido do know how to decided on simple matters.
“These are incompetent officers,” Trillanes said of the two.
He said he hopes that with the charging of contempt against the two officers, the military would learn to respect any court order./DMS
Police nabs possible suspect in Tacurong blast
By Ronron
May 9, 2007
Policemen in Sultan Kudarat province nabbed on Wednesday morning a man who allegedly left the improvised explosive device (IED) beside a billiard hall in Tacurong City the other day that blew off and killed three people (not five as earlier reported) and wounded 30 others (not 32, as earlier reported).
In a phone interview yesterday afternoon, Sultan Kudarat Police Provincial Director Supt. Ping Tucao said the possible suspect was apprehended at around 10 am in the nearby Isulan town of same province.
Tucao said the apprehension of the suspect came after they conducted surveillance, monitoring and manhunt operations since Tuesday evening until yesterday morning.
He said the person, whose identity he purposely withheld pending further investigation, was positively identified as the one who left a thermos at the side of the billiard hall.
Quoting bomb experts that investigating the blast site, Tucao said the IED was believed to have been contained inside the thermos since torn pieces of the latter were retrieved from the area.
Bits and parts of a cellular phone, nails, and suspected C4 substances were also recovered from the rubbles, Tucao said.
Asked if the incident was a terrorist act, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said: “Well, it is a homemade bomb, improvised device so it is similar to the other explosives before. So, it is possible.
On the part of the PNP, Tucao said he still cannot issue a categorical statement about the motive of the blast since their investigation is still ongoing.
Esperon said with the incident happening, the terror alert level in Mindanao is immediately raised to Extreme-Critical Level, the highest of four levels./DMS
May 9, 2007
Policemen in Sultan Kudarat province nabbed on Wednesday morning a man who allegedly left the improvised explosive device (IED) beside a billiard hall in Tacurong City the other day that blew off and killed three people (not five as earlier reported) and wounded 30 others (not 32, as earlier reported).
In a phone interview yesterday afternoon, Sultan Kudarat Police Provincial Director Supt. Ping Tucao said the possible suspect was apprehended at around 10 am in the nearby Isulan town of same province.
Tucao said the apprehension of the suspect came after they conducted surveillance, monitoring and manhunt operations since Tuesday evening until yesterday morning.
He said the person, whose identity he purposely withheld pending further investigation, was positively identified as the one who left a thermos at the side of the billiard hall.
Quoting bomb experts that investigating the blast site, Tucao said the IED was believed to have been contained inside the thermos since torn pieces of the latter were retrieved from the area.
Bits and parts of a cellular phone, nails, and suspected C4 substances were also recovered from the rubbles, Tucao said.
Asked if the incident was a terrorist act, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said: “Well, it is a homemade bomb, improvised device so it is similar to the other explosives before. So, it is possible.
On the part of the PNP, Tucao said he still cannot issue a categorical statement about the motive of the blast since their investigation is still ongoing.
Esperon said with the incident happening, the terror alert level in Mindanao is immediately raised to Extreme-Critical Level, the highest of four levels./DMS
Police commander in Quiapo survives attack by suspected drug addict
By Ronron
May 9, 2007
The police precinct commander in Quiapo, Manila City was stabbed by a suspected drug addict yesterday morning in front of Quiapo Church.
Senior Inspector Benito de Leon, Jr., 54, sustained a stab wound on his side after he was attacked with a kitchen knife by a certain Mario Daligdig at around 7:45 am.
Quiapo police precinct desk officer SPO3 Rustico Saldua said de Leon was responding to reports the Daligdig was displaying to the public two kitchen knives and appeared to be not in his right mind.
“While Capt. de Leon was pacifying him, Daligdig stabbed him. Capt. De Leon retaliated by shooting Daligdig,” Saldua said in Filipino by phone.
De Leon was brought to the Ospital ng Maynila for medical treatment, while Daligdig was rushed to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for the same purpose.
Saldua said de Leon was already out of danger as of yesterday afternoon.
Saldua said charges of direct assault resulting in frustrated homicide will be slapped against Daligdig./DMS
May 9, 2007
The police precinct commander in Quiapo, Manila City was stabbed by a suspected drug addict yesterday morning in front of Quiapo Church.
Senior Inspector Benito de Leon, Jr., 54, sustained a stab wound on his side after he was attacked with a kitchen knife by a certain Mario Daligdig at around 7:45 am.
Quiapo police precinct desk officer SPO3 Rustico Saldua said de Leon was responding to reports the Daligdig was displaying to the public two kitchen knives and appeared to be not in his right mind.
“While Capt. de Leon was pacifying him, Daligdig stabbed him. Capt. De Leon retaliated by shooting Daligdig,” Saldua said in Filipino by phone.
De Leon was brought to the Ospital ng Maynila for medical treatment, while Daligdig was rushed to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for the same purpose.
Saldua said de Leon was already out of danger as of yesterday afternoon.
Saldua said charges of direct assault resulting in frustrated homicide will be slapped against Daligdig./DMS
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
5 killed, over 30 wounded in Tacurong City blast
By Ronron
May 8, 2007
Five persons were killed while 32 others were wounded in an explosion Tuesday afternoon in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat province, police said.
Provincial Police Director Supt. Ping Tucao said in a phone interview that the blast happened at around 4:45 pm at a billiard hall along Bonifacio St. and Magsaysay Avenue.
Tucao said almost all of the victims were spectators and players at the billiard hall.
Sr. Supt. Rolando Dalangin, Deputy Director for Operations of the Region 12 Police, said the explosive was an improvised explosive device. Joint personnel from the Explosives and Ordnance Division of the police and military in the area have begun gathering pieces of evidence to ascertain the make up of the device.
Two persons died on the spot, while 35 others were wounded and rushed to three different hospitals in the city.
But three of the injured victims died later.
Tucao could not immediately say if the blast is terror-related or has something to do with the election season or business operations of the billiard hall owner.
“We can not determine the motive yet because the investigation is still ongoing,” he said.
Tucao said police investigators are trying to gather statements from those wounded for the possible identification of the suspect./DMS
May 8, 2007
Five persons were killed while 32 others were wounded in an explosion Tuesday afternoon in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat province, police said.
Provincial Police Director Supt. Ping Tucao said in a phone interview that the blast happened at around 4:45 pm at a billiard hall along Bonifacio St. and Magsaysay Avenue.
Tucao said almost all of the victims were spectators and players at the billiard hall.
Sr. Supt. Rolando Dalangin, Deputy Director for Operations of the Region 12 Police, said the explosive was an improvised explosive device. Joint personnel from the Explosives and Ordnance Division of the police and military in the area have begun gathering pieces of evidence to ascertain the make up of the device.
Two persons died on the spot, while 35 others were wounded and rushed to three different hospitals in the city.
But three of the injured victims died later.
Tucao could not immediately say if the blast is terror-related or has something to do with the election season or business operations of the billiard hall owner.
“We can not determine the motive yet because the investigation is still ongoing,” he said.
Tucao said police investigators are trying to gather statements from those wounded for the possible identification of the suspect./DMS
Retired generals bare alleged intel report about massive cheating on May 14 polls
By Ronron
May 8, 2007
A group of retired generals bared on Tuesday an alleged plot by the military leadership to cheat this May 14 polls to ensure the victory of Team Unity (TU) candidates.
In a press conference in Quezon City, retired Navy Commodore Ismael Aparri said the plot is allegedly called “Operation Plan MERCURY RISING,” which ordered commanders in the field to make sure that the administration-backed candidates win over the Genuine Opposition (GO) candidates.
“There are activities being planned and funded to alter the results of the May 14 election. We will not allow the fraud of the 2004 election to happen again,” said Aparri, who now belongs to the group called Bantay Boto (Guard the Votes), which comprise of seven organizations of retired police and military officers.
Aparri said OPLAN Mercury Rising is contained in an intelligence report that active members of the AFP leaked to his group.
Quoting the intelligence report, Aparri said election officers in particular regions and provinces have been allegedly ordered “to see to it that TU candidates Michael Defensor, Miguel Zubiri, and Prospero Pichay should rank in the first three slots.”
The massive election fraud will allegedly be committed in the following provinces: Ilocos Sur, Pampanga, Camarines Norte, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Eastern Samar, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and Shariff Kabunsuan; and in the following regions: Region VI, Region XI, Caraga, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The above-mentioned areas, Aparri noted, represent 14,762,228 voters of 32.8 percent of all registered voters in the country.
“We also have reports that certain local government and Comelec officials whom we will not name here, were offered huge cash incentives (when they are) able to deliver 12-0 vote in favor of TU, and an added bonus is promised if GO candidate Alan Peter Cayetano gets ZERO vote,” Aparri said.
Aparri alleged that no less than AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. gave verbal instructions to all military commanders to ensure a 12-0 vote win for TU, otherwise they will be relieved from their assignments.
“We call upon the AFP, the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the Comelec to do their sworn duty under the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines to stay neutral and non-partisan to ensure that the election is honest, clean, orderly, peaceful and reflects the sovereign will of the Filipino people,” Aparri said.
“Against any and all attempts to subvert the election, we will use without hesitation all forces and resources at our disposal,” he added.
The 73-year-old retired officer (retirement 01 April 1986) revealed that there are active military officers sympathetic with Bantay Boto’s cause who will always relay to them whatever irregularity is detected in the military organization.
Aparri retired from the service in 1986 and was vocal about the alleged electoral fraud in 2004./DMS
May 8, 2007
A group of retired generals bared on Tuesday an alleged plot by the military leadership to cheat this May 14 polls to ensure the victory of Team Unity (TU) candidates.
In a press conference in Quezon City, retired Navy Commodore Ismael Aparri said the plot is allegedly called “Operation Plan MERCURY RISING,” which ordered commanders in the field to make sure that the administration-backed candidates win over the Genuine Opposition (GO) candidates.
“There are activities being planned and funded to alter the results of the May 14 election. We will not allow the fraud of the 2004 election to happen again,” said Aparri, who now belongs to the group called Bantay Boto (Guard the Votes), which comprise of seven organizations of retired police and military officers.
Aparri said OPLAN Mercury Rising is contained in an intelligence report that active members of the AFP leaked to his group.
Quoting the intelligence report, Aparri said election officers in particular regions and provinces have been allegedly ordered “to see to it that TU candidates Michael Defensor, Miguel Zubiri, and Prospero Pichay should rank in the first three slots.”
The massive election fraud will allegedly be committed in the following provinces: Ilocos Sur, Pampanga, Camarines Norte, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Eastern Samar, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and Shariff Kabunsuan; and in the following regions: Region VI, Region XI, Caraga, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The above-mentioned areas, Aparri noted, represent 14,762,228 voters of 32.8 percent of all registered voters in the country.
“We also have reports that certain local government and Comelec officials whom we will not name here, were offered huge cash incentives (when they are) able to deliver 12-0 vote in favor of TU, and an added bonus is promised if GO candidate Alan Peter Cayetano gets ZERO vote,” Aparri said.
Aparri alleged that no less than AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. gave verbal instructions to all military commanders to ensure a 12-0 vote win for TU, otherwise they will be relieved from their assignments.
“We call upon the AFP, the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the Comelec to do their sworn duty under the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines to stay neutral and non-partisan to ensure that the election is honest, clean, orderly, peaceful and reflects the sovereign will of the Filipino people,” Aparri said.
“Against any and all attempts to subvert the election, we will use without hesitation all forces and resources at our disposal,” he added.
The 73-year-old retired officer (retirement 01 April 1986) revealed that there are active military officers sympathetic with Bantay Boto’s cause who will always relay to them whatever irregularity is detected in the military organization.
Aparri retired from the service in 1986 and was vocal about the alleged electoral fraud in 2004./DMS
AFP ready to pull out troops in MM this week; PNP to go on full alert two days ahead of election day
By Ronron
May 8, 2007
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is prepared to pull out its troops deployed in Metro Manila for the conduct of civil-military operations (CMO) anytime this week, before the election day this coming Monday.
National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino said the 260 military personnel currently on CMO mission in the capital have already completed their engineering activities and may already be brought back to their barracks.
“We have completed as of today all our engineering projects. In fact, tomorrow, we are inaugurating one in Quezon City. So tomorrow, we are already ready for pull-out but the final decision will be made by the Chief of Staff,” Dolorfino said.
Also, the pull out is in relation to the upcoming May 14 polls, he said. “We want to show that the deployment is not really related to any election duties because we are not deputized by the Comelec.”
The presence of military troops in Metro Manila was criticized not just by militant groups but some sectors in government as well, like the Commission on Human Rights.
Militant groups alleged that the troops are being used by government to campaign against Left-leaning party-list groups, while the CHR said the deployment reeks of Martial Law.
In earlier interviews, Dolorfino admitted that the deployment is also in support to the AFP’s anti-insurgency campaign because the troops are tasked to encourage the people not to join street demonstrations and reject calls of some sectors to criticize and pull down the government.
Dolorfino said that the deployment of another batch of troops after the election will have to be determined by the military leadership, based on its assessment on the performance of those deployed since November of last year.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will go on full alert starting this Saturday in preparation for the May 14 polls.
Director Wilfredo Garcia, chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations, said the highest alert level will take effect at 6am of May 12.
Garcia maintained that the AFP, PNP and Comelec have “worked hard” together and made “pro-active measures” to ensure a peaceful and orderly elections.
He said that the 133 election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) recorded by the PNP since January 14 until May 7 is still much lower than the 249 ERVI’s in 2004, and 269 in 2001.
The 133 ERVI’s have resulted in 98 deaths, mostly local politicians, and wounding of 98 persons.
“I am optimistic that this coming elections will be peaceful and orderly,” Garcia said./DMS
May 8, 2007
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is prepared to pull out its troops deployed in Metro Manila for the conduct of civil-military operations (CMO) anytime this week, before the election day this coming Monday.
National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino said the 260 military personnel currently on CMO mission in the capital have already completed their engineering activities and may already be brought back to their barracks.
“We have completed as of today all our engineering projects. In fact, tomorrow, we are inaugurating one in Quezon City. So tomorrow, we are already ready for pull-out but the final decision will be made by the Chief of Staff,” Dolorfino said.
Also, the pull out is in relation to the upcoming May 14 polls, he said. “We want to show that the deployment is not really related to any election duties because we are not deputized by the Comelec.”
The presence of military troops in Metro Manila was criticized not just by militant groups but some sectors in government as well, like the Commission on Human Rights.
Militant groups alleged that the troops are being used by government to campaign against Left-leaning party-list groups, while the CHR said the deployment reeks of Martial Law.
In earlier interviews, Dolorfino admitted that the deployment is also in support to the AFP’s anti-insurgency campaign because the troops are tasked to encourage the people not to join street demonstrations and reject calls of some sectors to criticize and pull down the government.
Dolorfino said that the deployment of another batch of troops after the election will have to be determined by the military leadership, based on its assessment on the performance of those deployed since November of last year.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will go on full alert starting this Saturday in preparation for the May 14 polls.
Director Wilfredo Garcia, chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations, said the highest alert level will take effect at 6am of May 12.
Garcia maintained that the AFP, PNP and Comelec have “worked hard” together and made “pro-active measures” to ensure a peaceful and orderly elections.
He said that the 133 election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) recorded by the PNP since January 14 until May 7 is still much lower than the 249 ERVI’s in 2004, and 269 in 2001.
The 133 ERVI’s have resulted in 98 deaths, mostly local politicians, and wounding of 98 persons.
“I am optimistic that this coming elections will be peaceful and orderly,” Garcia said./DMS
Five MNLF rebels killed in Sulu clash
By Ronron
May 8, 2007
Five followers of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) renegade commander Ustadz Habier Malik were killed in an encounter against government troops early yesterday morning in Sulu province.
Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan said the bodies of the five slain Moro rebels were recovered by government troops during the clearing operations for the 5:55 am encounter yesterday at Barangay Kambing, Kalingalang Caluang town.
Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman Maj. Eugene Batara said elements of the Special Operations Platoon of the 1st Marine Battalion Landing Team were conducting combat operations when they encountered the more than 200 rebels believed to be under the command of Malik.
Aside from inflicting casualties on the rebels, Caculitan said government troops also recovered one M14 rifle from them.
Batara said it is not immediately known if Malik was with the band of rebels that figured in yesterday’s clash.
Malik is on the run, especially with the issuance of arrest warrant against him by a Jolo court, following his mortar shelling against civilian and military establishments several weeks ago in Panamao town that resulted to some deaths and several injuries./DMS
May 8, 2007
Five followers of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) renegade commander Ustadz Habier Malik were killed in an encounter against government troops early yesterday morning in Sulu province.
Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan said the bodies of the five slain Moro rebels were recovered by government troops during the clearing operations for the 5:55 am encounter yesterday at Barangay Kambing, Kalingalang Caluang town.
Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman Maj. Eugene Batara said elements of the Special Operations Platoon of the 1st Marine Battalion Landing Team were conducting combat operations when they encountered the more than 200 rebels believed to be under the command of Malik.
Aside from inflicting casualties on the rebels, Caculitan said government troops also recovered one M14 rifle from them.
Batara said it is not immediately known if Malik was with the band of rebels that figured in yesterday’s clash.
Malik is on the run, especially with the issuance of arrest warrant against him by a Jolo court, following his mortar shelling against civilian and military establishments several weeks ago in Panamao town that resulted to some deaths and several injuries./DMS
Alleged NPA leader arrested in Ormoc City while in the company of Bayan Muna Rep. Casiño
By Ronron
May 8, 2007
An alleged regional leader of the New People’s Army in Eastern Visayas was arrested on Monday night while in the company of Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teodoro Casiño, Philippine Army officials said yesterday.
Maj. Felix Mangyao, public information officer (PIO) of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said Vicente “Bebot” Borja, 36, a resident of Barangay Lao in Ormoc City, Leyte province, was arrested by joint police and military elements at around 8:30 pm the other day (Monday) in Barangay Linao, same city.
Mangyao said members of the Ormoc City Police Station, led PO2 Arturo Quilantang, Jr., and who were supported by elements of the Philippine Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion, were armed with two arrest warrants against Borja issued by Judge Apolinario Buaya and Judge Aquiline Inopeques, Jr.
Mangyao said Borja has two murder cases and an attempted destruction of property case pending in different courts in the city.
One of the murder case is about the killing of Sgt. Guillermo Analasan of the 19th IB last November 7, 2006 at the Kanangga Public Market in Southern Leyte province, said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.
Esperon tagged Borja as an NPA hitman and Regional White Area Committee Chair of the underground Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.
Esperon pointed out that when Borja was being arrested, Casiño allegedly physically obstructed and vigorously argued with the arresting team.
But in a statement, Casiño denied that Borja is a communist rebel. He said Borja is an Anakpawis Regional Campaign Officer, and it is in this capacity that he was attending a campaign staff meeting when the arrest was effected.
Casiño said Borja is also a National Council member of the National Federation of Labor Unions (NAFLU) – Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).
“We are contesting the illegal arrest of … Borja. Members of the Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion showed a defective warrant that had a name of another person when they suddenly entered and held us at past 9pm Monday as we were having a campaign staff meeting in Barangay Linao,” Casiño said.
He alleged that even the arrest warrant for Borja’s attempted destruction of property case has no bearing because he is out on bail for said case.
But the military insisted that police still has the power to arrest Borja for his murder case.
“I’m wondering why Mr. Casiño is in the company of an NPA hitman and executive committee officer of the NPA. If you put the legal organization there with the NPA, it reminded me of the statement of Joma Sison in the video presentation we made,” said AFP PIO Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro.
A few months back, the AFP presented a video that showed Sison, the founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, enumerating cuase-oriented groups, including Bayan Muna, as alleged legal fronts of the NPA.
The video taking was allegedly done in 1987.
The AFP has long tagged Bayan Muna, and other militant groups that found their way to the Lower House of Representatives, such as Gabriela and Anakpawis, as legal front organizations of the communist movement in the country./DMS
May 8, 2007
An alleged regional leader of the New People’s Army in Eastern Visayas was arrested on Monday night while in the company of Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teodoro Casiño, Philippine Army officials said yesterday.
Maj. Felix Mangyao, public information officer (PIO) of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said Vicente “Bebot” Borja, 36, a resident of Barangay Lao in Ormoc City, Leyte province, was arrested by joint police and military elements at around 8:30 pm the other day (Monday) in Barangay Linao, same city.
Mangyao said members of the Ormoc City Police Station, led PO2 Arturo Quilantang, Jr., and who were supported by elements of the Philippine Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion, were armed with two arrest warrants against Borja issued by Judge Apolinario Buaya and Judge Aquiline Inopeques, Jr.
Mangyao said Borja has two murder cases and an attempted destruction of property case pending in different courts in the city.
One of the murder case is about the killing of Sgt. Guillermo Analasan of the 19th IB last November 7, 2006 at the Kanangga Public Market in Southern Leyte province, said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.
Esperon tagged Borja as an NPA hitman and Regional White Area Committee Chair of the underground Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.
Esperon pointed out that when Borja was being arrested, Casiño allegedly physically obstructed and vigorously argued with the arresting team.
But in a statement, Casiño denied that Borja is a communist rebel. He said Borja is an Anakpawis Regional Campaign Officer, and it is in this capacity that he was attending a campaign staff meeting when the arrest was effected.
Casiño said Borja is also a National Council member of the National Federation of Labor Unions (NAFLU) – Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).
“We are contesting the illegal arrest of … Borja. Members of the Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion showed a defective warrant that had a name of another person when they suddenly entered and held us at past 9pm Monday as we were having a campaign staff meeting in Barangay Linao,” Casiño said.
He alleged that even the arrest warrant for Borja’s attempted destruction of property case has no bearing because he is out on bail for said case.
But the military insisted that police still has the power to arrest Borja for his murder case.
“I’m wondering why Mr. Casiño is in the company of an NPA hitman and executive committee officer of the NPA. If you put the legal organization there with the NPA, it reminded me of the statement of Joma Sison in the video presentation we made,” said AFP PIO Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro.
A few months back, the AFP presented a video that showed Sison, the founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, enumerating cuase-oriented groups, including Bayan Muna, as alleged legal fronts of the NPA.
The video taking was allegedly done in 1987.
The AFP has long tagged Bayan Muna, and other militant groups that found their way to the Lower House of Representatives, such as Gabriela and Anakpawis, as legal front organizations of the communist movement in the country./DMS
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Solicitor general to ask Ombudsman to defer suspension order
By Ronron
May 7, 2007
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will formally ask the Office of the Ombudsman today (Tuesday) through the Office of the Solicitor General to defer the suspension order against Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay until after the election period.
Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera said in a television interview yesterday (Monday) afternoon that she will make a manifestation regarding the matter during today’s public hearing at the Ombudsman building in Quezon City at 9am.
“We will be manifesting to the Ombudsman that we are supporting the decision of the Secretary (of DILG, Ronaldo Puno) because after all, he evaluated the matter,” Devanadera said.
Devanadera said Puno formally wrote her office, requesting the Solicitor General to ask the Office of the Ombudsman to temporarily lift the suspension order against Binay for the meantime because implementing it at this time would resort to disorder in the affairs of the city government.
“The Secretary (Puno) said that implementing the order will cause or create chaos and havoc because no one will take charge of the city,” Devanadera said.
This after the city vice mayor, Ernesto Mercado, refused to take over the mayoralty post following the serving of the suspension order to Binay late Friday night. Devanadera assumed that the same action will be adopted by the councilors of Makati City, whom she believes are sympathetic with Binay.
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered last May 3 the preventive suspension of Binay and city treasurer Luz Yamane for not more than six months for allegedly placing “ghost employees” on the city government’s payroll.
The order stemmed from a complaint filed by former Makati City Councilor Oscar Ibay last December 21, 2006.
According to Ibay, several employees of the city government whose employment were severed in 2003 and whose names were delisted as government employees in the official records of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the year 2004-2005 remained listed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue employees list of the city government.
“The said list indicates that these employees whose services were severed, continued to receive wages and salaries from the city government of Makati City, which likewise remitted their respective computed income taxes for the year 2004 and 2005. No remittances were however made by the city government to the GSIS with respect to the monthly contributions of these employees,” reads a part of Gutierrez’ six-page order.
To support his allegation, Ibay submitted to the Ombudsman the following: 1) partial list of employees whose employment was severed; 2) GSIS official list of employees of the city government of Makati covering the years 1999-2005; and, 3) Schedule of Witholding Tax deducted from officials and employees of the city government of Makati for the year ending 31 December 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
“These documents were made as basis for which complainant alleges the existence of ghost employees in the city government of Makati and the unlawful payment of wages and salaries to such employees,” wrote Gutierrez.
A witness for Ibay, Franco Miro, stated in his April 27, 2007 affidavit that another “ghost employee” scheme is “being perpetrated by naming individuals to be included in the list of employees of non-government organizations being funded and in the payroll of the Office of the Mayor.”
But actually, “these individuals are not legitimate employees as they do not actually receive any salary from the city hall and neither do they render any service to the city government,” the order reads.
Miro, himself, allegedly claimed that he was one of those individuals “schemed into claiming salaries from the Office of the Mayor, when in reality, he said he was working as a coordinator with a non-government organization called the “Bagong Ina ng Bayan Foundation” (BINB).
Another witness, identified as Joselito Binay II, whose relationship with the Mayor is not immediately known, claimed that as a former employee of Makati City councilor Jejomar Erwin Binay, Jr., he has personal knowledge of the scheme being perpetrated allegedly by the city officials, using BINB as front for “hiring ghost employees.”
Finding Ibay’s complaint “impressed with merit,” Gutierrez ordered the preventive suspension of the mayor and his city treasurer so that both the complainant and the respondents would be “placed on equal footing, allowing both sides to present their cases, defense and charges on equal ground.”
“A preventive suspension can be decreed on an official under investigation after charges are brought and even before the charges are heard since the same is not in the nature of a penalty, but merely a preliminary step in administrative investigation. The immediate issuance of the order is required in order to prevent the subject of the suspension to commit further irregularities,” Gutierrez wrote, citing Republic Act 6770 or the Ombudsman Act of 1989.
While under suspension, the two should not also receive their salaries.
The order stressed that the suspension is “immediately executory, and shall not be interrupted by any motion, appeal or petition by the respondents, unless ordered by the Ombudsman or any court of competent jurisdiction.
But last Sunday, Puno said he is deferring the implementation of the suspension order for the duration of the election period “in the interest of fair play.”
Binay had cried foul over his suspension, saying that it is another form of pressure against him by the Arroyo administration, him being a leader of the political opposition.
Binay is seeking for another term as Makati Mayor and he is being challenged by administration-backed former Senator Lito Lapid.
DILG Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus, who served the suspension order against Binay last Friday night at the Makati City hall, denied that the order was sanctioned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Corpus said that in fact, Malacañang only got in touch with him when he was already at the Makati City Hall, asking him about the incident, which had drawn thousands of supporters of Binay to gather around the city hall.
Following deferment of the suspension order, Binay said yesterday that he no longer sees any reason to seek an injunction from the Court of Appeals.
At 9am today, the Ombudsman is set to conduct a public hearing of the case at its office along Agham Road in Quezon City.
In a statement, Gutierrez said yesterday that there is no political color in the suspension order against Binay, pointing out that her office “is an independent institution.”
“It is important to stress that evidence and not politics dictates our actions, nothing more, nothing less,” she said.
It should be noted though that Gutierrez is Arroyo’s former Presidential Legal Counsel.
As to the timing of the issuance of the suspension order, Gutierrez said: “People should not treat the work of the Ombudsman as that of politicians who are concerned with political timing, political cost and benefits. The only timing the Ombudsman is concerned with is, will respondents continued presence in office jeopardize the investigation? If the answer is yes, then that is when the suspension must be ordered and implemented.”
“When we ordered the suspension of two mayors in southern Visayas several weeks ago, we did not hear of anyone saying the orders were ill-timed,” lamented Gutierrez.
The anti-graft chief also maintained that the suspension of Binay does not need any clearance from the Commission on Elections since the charges against him are violations of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), for alleged grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and dishonesty./DMS
May 7, 2007
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will formally ask the Office of the Ombudsman today (Tuesday) through the Office of the Solicitor General to defer the suspension order against Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay until after the election period.
Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera said in a television interview yesterday (Monday) afternoon that she will make a manifestation regarding the matter during today’s public hearing at the Ombudsman building in Quezon City at 9am.
“We will be manifesting to the Ombudsman that we are supporting the decision of the Secretary (of DILG, Ronaldo Puno) because after all, he evaluated the matter,” Devanadera said.
Devanadera said Puno formally wrote her office, requesting the Solicitor General to ask the Office of the Ombudsman to temporarily lift the suspension order against Binay for the meantime because implementing it at this time would resort to disorder in the affairs of the city government.
“The Secretary (Puno) said that implementing the order will cause or create chaos and havoc because no one will take charge of the city,” Devanadera said.
This after the city vice mayor, Ernesto Mercado, refused to take over the mayoralty post following the serving of the suspension order to Binay late Friday night. Devanadera assumed that the same action will be adopted by the councilors of Makati City, whom she believes are sympathetic with Binay.
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered last May 3 the preventive suspension of Binay and city treasurer Luz Yamane for not more than six months for allegedly placing “ghost employees” on the city government’s payroll.
The order stemmed from a complaint filed by former Makati City Councilor Oscar Ibay last December 21, 2006.
According to Ibay, several employees of the city government whose employment were severed in 2003 and whose names were delisted as government employees in the official records of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the year 2004-2005 remained listed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue employees list of the city government.
“The said list indicates that these employees whose services were severed, continued to receive wages and salaries from the city government of Makati City, which likewise remitted their respective computed income taxes for the year 2004 and 2005. No remittances were however made by the city government to the GSIS with respect to the monthly contributions of these employees,” reads a part of Gutierrez’ six-page order.
To support his allegation, Ibay submitted to the Ombudsman the following: 1) partial list of employees whose employment was severed; 2) GSIS official list of employees of the city government of Makati covering the years 1999-2005; and, 3) Schedule of Witholding Tax deducted from officials and employees of the city government of Makati for the year ending 31 December 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
“These documents were made as basis for which complainant alleges the existence of ghost employees in the city government of Makati and the unlawful payment of wages and salaries to such employees,” wrote Gutierrez.
A witness for Ibay, Franco Miro, stated in his April 27, 2007 affidavit that another “ghost employee” scheme is “being perpetrated by naming individuals to be included in the list of employees of non-government organizations being funded and in the payroll of the Office of the Mayor.”
But actually, “these individuals are not legitimate employees as they do not actually receive any salary from the city hall and neither do they render any service to the city government,” the order reads.
Miro, himself, allegedly claimed that he was one of those individuals “schemed into claiming salaries from the Office of the Mayor, when in reality, he said he was working as a coordinator with a non-government organization called the “Bagong Ina ng Bayan Foundation” (BINB).
Another witness, identified as Joselito Binay II, whose relationship with the Mayor is not immediately known, claimed that as a former employee of Makati City councilor Jejomar Erwin Binay, Jr., he has personal knowledge of the scheme being perpetrated allegedly by the city officials, using BINB as front for “hiring ghost employees.”
Finding Ibay’s complaint “impressed with merit,” Gutierrez ordered the preventive suspension of the mayor and his city treasurer so that both the complainant and the respondents would be “placed on equal footing, allowing both sides to present their cases, defense and charges on equal ground.”
“A preventive suspension can be decreed on an official under investigation after charges are brought and even before the charges are heard since the same is not in the nature of a penalty, but merely a preliminary step in administrative investigation. The immediate issuance of the order is required in order to prevent the subject of the suspension to commit further irregularities,” Gutierrez wrote, citing Republic Act 6770 or the Ombudsman Act of 1989.
While under suspension, the two should not also receive their salaries.
The order stressed that the suspension is “immediately executory, and shall not be interrupted by any motion, appeal or petition by the respondents, unless ordered by the Ombudsman or any court of competent jurisdiction.
But last Sunday, Puno said he is deferring the implementation of the suspension order for the duration of the election period “in the interest of fair play.”
Binay had cried foul over his suspension, saying that it is another form of pressure against him by the Arroyo administration, him being a leader of the political opposition.
Binay is seeking for another term as Makati Mayor and he is being challenged by administration-backed former Senator Lito Lapid.
DILG Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus, who served the suspension order against Binay last Friday night at the Makati City hall, denied that the order was sanctioned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Corpus said that in fact, Malacañang only got in touch with him when he was already at the Makati City Hall, asking him about the incident, which had drawn thousands of supporters of Binay to gather around the city hall.
Following deferment of the suspension order, Binay said yesterday that he no longer sees any reason to seek an injunction from the Court of Appeals.
At 9am today, the Ombudsman is set to conduct a public hearing of the case at its office along Agham Road in Quezon City.
In a statement, Gutierrez said yesterday that there is no political color in the suspension order against Binay, pointing out that her office “is an independent institution.”
“It is important to stress that evidence and not politics dictates our actions, nothing more, nothing less,” she said.
It should be noted though that Gutierrez is Arroyo’s former Presidential Legal Counsel.
As to the timing of the issuance of the suspension order, Gutierrez said: “People should not treat the work of the Ombudsman as that of politicians who are concerned with political timing, political cost and benefits. The only timing the Ombudsman is concerned with is, will respondents continued presence in office jeopardize the investigation? If the answer is yes, then that is when the suspension must be ordered and implemented.”
“When we ordered the suspension of two mayors in southern Visayas several weeks ago, we did not hear of anyone saying the orders were ill-timed,” lamented Gutierrez.
The anti-graft chief also maintained that the suspension of Binay does not need any clearance from the Commission on Elections since the charges against him are violations of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), for alleged grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and dishonesty./DMS
Monday, May 7, 2007
Pacquiao killed in rumors
By Ronron
May 6, 2007
Filipino boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao was killed in rumors that circulated around midnight of Saturday.
According to text messages the started in Mindanao, the 28-year-old boxer and aspiring politician died in an ambush.
The rumors reached Manila dawn of Sunday that even jeepney drivers in Quezon City were asking their passengers if the report is true.
But Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, and wife, Jinky, belied the report when reached by Manila Shimbun by phone yesterday morning.
Dionisia said she received queries whether or not the report is true as early as late Saturday evening.
In an interview aired on television yesterday, Pacquiao just dismissed the rumor, saying, “when it’s your time (to die), then that’s it.”
Asked who could be behind the rumor, he replied: “I’m not really accusing anyone but who could have a reason to threaten my life now? Ever since, nobody threatened me until I joined politics. Who is my rival now in politics?”
Pacquiao is challenging South Cotabato Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio for the Congressional seat of the province this May 14 polls. He is running under the administration ticket, while Custodio belongs to the opposition.
Custodio claimed she has nothing to do with the recent rumor.
A few months back, Pacquiao sought for additional police security escort after he received reports that he or any member of his family will be abducted. Just recently, his camp also bared reports that a gunman was hired to kill him.
Pacquiao’s most recent victorious fight was against Jorge Solis last April, held in San Antonio, Texas, USA.
He is currently the World Boxing Council International Super Featherweight Champion./DMS
May 6, 2007
Filipino boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao was killed in rumors that circulated around midnight of Saturday.
According to text messages the started in Mindanao, the 28-year-old boxer and aspiring politician died in an ambush.
The rumors reached Manila dawn of Sunday that even jeepney drivers in Quezon City were asking their passengers if the report is true.
But Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, and wife, Jinky, belied the report when reached by Manila Shimbun by phone yesterday morning.
Dionisia said she received queries whether or not the report is true as early as late Saturday evening.
In an interview aired on television yesterday, Pacquiao just dismissed the rumor, saying, “when it’s your time (to die), then that’s it.”
Asked who could be behind the rumor, he replied: “I’m not really accusing anyone but who could have a reason to threaten my life now? Ever since, nobody threatened me until I joined politics. Who is my rival now in politics?”
Pacquiao is challenging South Cotabato Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio for the Congressional seat of the province this May 14 polls. He is running under the administration ticket, while Custodio belongs to the opposition.
Custodio claimed she has nothing to do with the recent rumor.
A few months back, Pacquiao sought for additional police security escort after he received reports that he or any member of his family will be abducted. Just recently, his camp also bared reports that a gunman was hired to kill him.
Pacquiao’s most recent victorious fight was against Jorge Solis last April, held in San Antonio, Texas, USA.
He is currently the World Boxing Council International Super Featherweight Champion./DMS
DILG defers Binay’s suspension
Ronron
May 6, 2007
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) deferred on Sunday the implementation of the suspension order against Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay to give the latter time to seek legal remedies.
In a statement, DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the deference will be for the duration of the election period.
“In the interest of fair play, I have decided to defer the implementation of the order of preventive suspension against Mayor Jejomar Binay for the duration of the election period,” Puno said.
Last Friday evening, DILG Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus served the suspension order against Binay at the Makati City Hall following receipt of said order from the Office of the Ombudsman.
The order stemmed from a complaint by Makati City councilor Oscar Ibay about Binay’s alleged maintenance of ghost employees at the city hall.
The Ombudsman found probable cause against Binay and Makati City Treasurer Luz Yamane to investigate them for grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and dishonesty.
The action of preventive suspension for a period not exceeding six months was imposed so both will not influence the investigation.
In a phone interview yesterday (Sunday), Corpus said their action last Friday is just in compliance with the mandate of the department to implement the orders of the Ombudsman within five days from its receipt.
Binay had called the second suspension order against him next to last October 2006 as another pressure from the administration especially that he is a sure winner over his rival, former Senator Lito Lapid, a known ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Nonetheless, he said he will seek an injunction from the Court of Appeals to prevent the DILG from implementing the order.
The serving of the second suspension order against the mayor came 10 days ahead of the May 14 polls.
Asked if Malacañang had a hand in the deferment of Binay’s suspension, Corpus said: “I can’t really say but it’s possible because many have been said about this. People are blaming the President, and they are putting political color to this when in fact, we are just implementing the order of the Ombudsman.”
But Corpus admitted that the serving of the order may have fallen at the wrong time, considering that election day is fast approaching.
Told that Ibay may cry foul against the department for the deferment, Corpus said: “I don’t think so because actually, we have until Wednesday to serve the order.”
Corpus explained that under the law, the DILG has five days to carry out the order of the Ombudsman for any administrative sanctions against erring officials.
Besides, he said the Ombudsman will also hear the case of Binay on Tuesday.
Corpus said that should Binay get a favorable resolution from the Court of Appeals, then, the DILG will observe the status quo.
Binay is a strong critic of the Arroyo government and seeking another term in the mayoralty post./DMS
May 6, 2007
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) deferred on Sunday the implementation of the suspension order against Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay to give the latter time to seek legal remedies.
In a statement, DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the deference will be for the duration of the election period.
“In the interest of fair play, I have decided to defer the implementation of the order of preventive suspension against Mayor Jejomar Binay for the duration of the election period,” Puno said.
Last Friday evening, DILG Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus served the suspension order against Binay at the Makati City Hall following receipt of said order from the Office of the Ombudsman.
The order stemmed from a complaint by Makati City councilor Oscar Ibay about Binay’s alleged maintenance of ghost employees at the city hall.
The Ombudsman found probable cause against Binay and Makati City Treasurer Luz Yamane to investigate them for grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and dishonesty.
The action of preventive suspension for a period not exceeding six months was imposed so both will not influence the investigation.
In a phone interview yesterday (Sunday), Corpus said their action last Friday is just in compliance with the mandate of the department to implement the orders of the Ombudsman within five days from its receipt.
Binay had called the second suspension order against him next to last October 2006 as another pressure from the administration especially that he is a sure winner over his rival, former Senator Lito Lapid, a known ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Nonetheless, he said he will seek an injunction from the Court of Appeals to prevent the DILG from implementing the order.
The serving of the second suspension order against the mayor came 10 days ahead of the May 14 polls.
Asked if Malacañang had a hand in the deferment of Binay’s suspension, Corpus said: “I can’t really say but it’s possible because many have been said about this. People are blaming the President, and they are putting political color to this when in fact, we are just implementing the order of the Ombudsman.”
But Corpus admitted that the serving of the order may have fallen at the wrong time, considering that election day is fast approaching.
Told that Ibay may cry foul against the department for the deferment, Corpus said: “I don’t think so because actually, we have until Wednesday to serve the order.”
Corpus explained that under the law, the DILG has five days to carry out the order of the Ombudsman for any administrative sanctions against erring officials.
Besides, he said the Ombudsman will also hear the case of Binay on Tuesday.
Corpus said that should Binay get a favorable resolution from the Court of Appeals, then, the DILG will observe the status quo.
Binay is a strong critic of the Arroyo government and seeking another term in the mayoralty post./DMS
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