Wounded radioman identifies attacker

CAGAYAN de Oro Journal (Ben Balce / Oct 12) — Radio commentator Jose "Joe" Pantoja, who was shot on Oct. 8 in Iligan City, has furnished police the name of one of his assassins after he woke up at the intensive care unit, a police official said yesterday.


THE GUNMEN. Pantoja shows to Cagayan de Oro mediamen the cartographic sketch of the three suspects during a press conference held at the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC).

Pantoja, who remains in hospital after surgery was done on his intestines and liver which were punctured by bullets, reportedly whispered the name to his wife Grace who then reported it to the police.

Sources said the identified suspect, believed to be a gun-for-hire, could be hiding out in Lanao del Norte. He is said to be a bodyguard of a lawyer closely associated with a politician.

"It seems he (Pantoja) knows all the assailants," said Insp. Venancio Reuyan, chief of the Iligan police precinct 1, said in a phone interview. He said they are waiting for Pantoja to recover enough to sign an affidavit against the suspects.

Two names surfaced earlier after authorities leaked a cartographic sketch of three suspects, and a mugshot of one of them. Reuyan said Pantoja’s revelation would help the police investigating the case even as he hinted of a new angle. "We cannot name names yet. But we will not stop on our previous lead," he said.
He reiterated that investigators suspect that the attack is related to politics and a ranking government official is behind it.

He also said they transferred Pantoja to an undisclosed place to secure him since the threat against his life remains.

Pantoja, a hard-hitting political commentator and block-timer of radio station DxLS-Love Radio, was attacked near the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) as he was about to have a document photocopied.

Home

Press Club links Radioman's shooting to drugs, illegal gambling

CAGAYAN de Oro City (Mike Baños / Oct 9) – A task force organized by the Cagayan de Oro Press Club to probe the shooting of a colleague believes it is linked to organized crime dealing in illegal drugs and gambling.


SURVIVOR. Pantoja shows the cartographic sketch of the gunman in a press conference held at the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC).

Three armed men aboard a motorcycle shot Jose C. Pantoja , a radio blocktimer in Iligan City early Monday morning near the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) as he was having some documents photocopied.

Mr. Pantoja is the host of the radio program " Isumbong mo kay Joe Pantoja" aired daily over dxLS Love Radio. He was shot three times with a .45 –caliber pistol and sustained gunshot wounds in the intestines and liver.

"Police sources have told COPC's Task Force Pantoja that the surveillance camera used to monitor traffic in the area was turned off at the time of the shooting, but only for this particular area ," said former COPC president Herbie Gomez.

"We have reason to believe a powerful politician may have given the sanction against Joe Pantoja. The Iligan city hall must find out and tell us why the cam was not functioning at that time."

Contrary to earlier reports, there were three, and not two assailants and they did not wear bonnets. At least ten people witnessed the shooting.

The Iligan City Police Office under Police Sr. Supt. Virgilio Ranes has come up with artists sketches of the three suspects based on witnesses accounts. One of the suspects has been identified as Romeo Ragasajo y Maglasang of Zone Pisces II, Suaraez, Iligan City. However, all three eluded arrest and remain at large as of presstime.

Mr. Pantoja ran for city councilor in the last elections but did not make it. He openly supported a politician from a nearby province who was opposed by another political figure who has been rumored to be linked to illegal drugs and gambling in Iligan and Lanao.

Although Mr. Pantoja reportedly gained consciousness Tuesday morning, he remains under heavy police guard in the Intensive Care Unit of the Mindanao Sanitarium and Hospital following a direct request of COPC President Jerry Orcullo to Police Regional Office 10 Regional Director Chief Supt. Teodorico Capuyan.

From San Francisco, California , former COPC President Ben Emata expressed his sadness at the shooting of his colleague in the press club.

"We must not leave a single stone unturned for the arrest of the suspects. Joe was a member of good standing of the Cagayan de Oro media and I know him very well. He was so young when he joined the media. I used to give him tips on how to write and report news items as well as the ethics of journalism. He was a friend and an asset to the COPC. I hope he will survive in his predicament and tell his story about the crime. This is the first to happen to our member. Please let us unite always and fight the enemies of press freedom."

In a press conference called by Task Force Pantoja at the COPC office Tuesday morning, former COPC President said the Pantoja shooting marked the first time in fifty six years that a journalist has been directly attacked in Region 10.

Home

CAGAYAN de Oro Journal (Ben Balce / Oct. 9) - A hardhitting political commentator Jose Cagalawan Pantoja was shot three times in the stomach by a still unidentified, motorcycle-riding gunman along the national highway fronting Mindanao State University (MSU-IIT) in Tibanga, Iligan City, police officials said Monday.

Pantoja, 38, was taken to the Mindanao Sanitarium Hospital in Iligan City. He remains in serious condition.

Pantoja is known as an anti-administration commentator. He works at Love Radio, an FM station in Iligan City.

Iligan City police chief Senior Supt Virgilio Ranes said Pantoja was shot on his way home at around 7 a.m. after taking his 10-year-old son to his school.

He said investigators are still looking for the real motive of the shooting but also said, "I think it's all about politics here in Iligan. Almost everyday 'yan (politics) ang topic niya sa kanyang radio program at diyan siya nakilala."

Ranes said Pantoja visited him in his office last April asking for poli
Home

Pacman hammers Barrera into retirement

LAS VEGAS, Nev — Manny Pacquiao scored a unanimous decision over Marco Antonio Barrera in their super featherweight clash Saturday, sending the Mexican icon into retirement.

Two judges scored it 118-109 for Pacquiao who retained his WBC international super featherweight crown.

The third judge had it 115-112.

It was Pacquiao’s second victory over Barrera after an 11th round technical knockout in November 2003.

President Arroyo led Filipinos in lauding Pacquiao saying the people’s champ is the Philippines’ gift to the world of boxing.

"Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao once again buoyed the nation’s spirit with his excellent fighting form and indomitable spirit. We join all Filipinos in celebrating his well-deserved victory," she said.

"It was a good fight," said Pacquiao.

"It was different from our first fight. He is a good, smart boxer. I knew he’d have to box me, and that’s what he did."

Although the bout was widely expected to be explosive, it was frequently tactical, with Barrera working behind a steady jab and circling to his left to stay away from Pacquiao’s powerful southpaw left hand.

However, after a relatively cautious opening four rounds, the fight came to life in the fifth.

Barrera, a former three-time world champion, landed an uppercut.

Pacquiao responded with a left and the two exchanged furious combinations against the ropes.

The sixth round saw more toe-to-toe action but in the succeeding rounds Pacquiao asserted control, moving to his right to cut Barrera off and unloading flurries of punches before the Mexican could counter.

In the 11th, a solid left from Pacquiao drove Barrera to the ropes but he fought back with a flurry before being hurt again with another right-left combination.

As referee Tony Weeks moved in to separate them from a clinch, Barrera threw a punch on the break, causing Weeks to halt the action and deduct a point.

"He has such a strong defense, it was difficult to break through," Barrera said after the fight.

"I’m sad because I lost the fight, and he didn’t land many punches. He didn’t hurt me. I thought I controlled the fight with my left hand." – Reuters/ Malaya

Home

NGOs present result of studies in a forum on Mindanao issues

CAGAYAN de Oro Journal (Ryan Rosauro / Sept 26) - Leaders of 10 non-government organizations and representatives of government agencies gather on Friday to discuss major policy issues that are "significantly affecting peace and development endeavors" in communities across Mindanao.

The policy issues were identified in a series of studies undertaken by the 10 NGOs grouped as the Mindanao ICCO Partners. ICCO or the Inter-Church Development Organization is a Dutch international development institution.

According to Mary Luz Feranil, executive director of the Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM) and convenor of the Mindanao ICCO Partners, the identified policy issues fall under the broad areas of land rights, governance, and models and strategies for grassroots economic development.

The studies analyzed the policies that have bearing on each of the broad areas, examined how these were able to enhance and/or hinder efforts towards peace and development in specific communities.

Feranil emphasized that "sustainable community development is the bedrock of lasting peace in Mindanao, and even throughout the country."

That is why the findings of the studies are very helpful in rethinking existing policies with the view of enhancing the environment for community development in Mindanao, she added.

Feranil pointed to the need for harnessing unities among various peace and development stakeholders to push for specific policy reforms and develop broader people's participation in policy processes.

Highly relevant in the ongoing public discussions are the reviews on the implementation of the 10-year old Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) and on undertaking agrarian reform in commercial plantations in southern Mindanao, Feranil said.

IPRA has been under intense public scrutiny lately amid intensifying demands from indigenous communities for concrete results of the law's relevance to their development struggle. The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), too, has been the subject of continuing debate especially on the question of its fate beyond 2008 with the expiry of its enabling law.

The study on land rights examines the varied issues arising from conflicts over ownership, possession and control of land as experienced by varying socio-cultural groupings of peoples. It was subdivided into the specific experiences of indigenous peoples, Bangsamoro, and settler communities as each have distinct policy environments.

The study on governance delved into the situations of select communities in Davao del Sur, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte and Lanao del Sur provinces. It tried to examine the challenges posed by the distinctive socio-cultural contexts of indigenous peoples, Moro and settler communities in carrying out local political administration.

The study on economic models and strategies looked at grassroots initiatives for development in southern Mindanao and presents the limitations imposed by existing policies that effectively serve as obstacles to the undertaking.

Representatives from government agencies are expected to give their responses and comments on the specific policy papers that will be presented during the forum.

Among those slated to attend are executives from the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process, Mindanao Economic Development Council, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, National Economic and Development Authority, Departments of Agrarian Reform, Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Trade and Industry. Several personalities from the academic community were also invited to attend.

The policy forum will be held on September 28 at the Grand Menseng Hotel, Davao City, and runs from 9am to 1pm.

The Mindanao ICCO Partners include Alterdev Services Foundation Inc., Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao, BALAOD Mindanaw, Kalimudan Foundation Inc., Kasanyangan Foundation Inc., Mindanao Farmers Development Center, Philippine Network of Rural Development Institutes, Tri-People Concern for Peace, Progress and Development, Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation Inc., and Centro Saka Inc.

Home

Alipala of anonymous: "Whatever label they put, I don't care!"

(hi ben, comrade na talaga tayo. Oo! Inaamin ko... AKO AY LEFTIST! LEFTIST TALAGA AKO AT ALAM NG MILITAR AT NANG ATING MGA KAPATID NA MUSLIM YAN KASI PAG KUMAKAIN AKO, LEFT ANG GINAGAMIT KONG KAMAY. Alangan namang gamitin ko yung RIGHT HAND KO, di ba medyo...)

Alipala: "Whatever label they put, I don't care!"

Maganda ngang pakinggan leftist kesa envelopmentalist o di kaya bayarang publicist. Whatever label they put, I dont care! They know that i can never be bought, me mga leftist dyan nababayaran naman.

Dapat sana nandun na ako sa hanay ng mga left oriented organizations para at least kahit papaano may protection ako. The point here is that I know my rights and I know what is right or wrong during that fateful July 10 and August 18 incidents and that's the reasons these "so called anti-terrorists organizations" like AFP wanted to silence me. Duwag sila (AFP) because they cannot find any weakness in me other than labeling me as leftist and harassing me using my four year old innocent son.

Kung talagang nagkamali ako sa mga nirereport ko, there's so many halls of justice in the country where they can file a case against me.

Hiding as anonymous then label me with names or tags indicates that I still have balls kahit babae ako. Julie

Home

NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Subject: NUJP statement on Julie Alipala and Jarius Bondoc
(Statement September 22, 2007)

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is alarmed over reports that no less than the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has prevented a reporter from covering legitimate news events in Mindanao, particularly in the province of Basilan.

The banning of Julie Alipala, a reporter of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, from covering ongoing military operations in Basilan is a violation of press freedom and the people's right to know as enshrined in the Philippine Constitution.

She has also repeatedly received threats because of her reports on military operations in Basilan and Sulu that exposed lapses and abuses on the part of the AFP.

The NUJP looks at the military's action against a legitimate media practitioner as pure harassment and an indication of the military's penchant for human rights violations.

The NUJP is also deeply concerned for her safety. What makes this even more alarming are reports that another journalist has received death threats for exposing corruption in the government.

Philippine Star's Jarius Bondoc sought assistance after receiving death threats allegedly due to his expos� on the controversial $330-million contract for the government's national broadband network project with China's ZTE Corp.

Bondoc has been receiving text (SMS) messages warning him that he could be shot or his office bombed anytime for his exposes.

The NUJP calls on the authorities to look into these incidents even as we urge the military to stop harassing media practitioners, especially in the provinces.

References:Joe Torres Jr., NUJP chairpersonRowena Paraan, NUJP secretary-general.

Home

Bayan leads noise barrage; calls to junk HSA

(A Press Release sent to CDO Journal by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan on September 21, 2007)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - BAGONG Alyansang Makabayan-Northern Mindanao Region spearheaded a simultaneous noise barrage to drumbeat their call to junk the Human Security Act of 2007 around 6pm yesterday (Sept. 21) in Capistran-Abejuela Sts., Divisoria and in Licoan this city.

“As we commemorate the dark martial law period, we not only remember the victims of human rights violations during the Marcos dictatorship but we also continue to condemn the existing dictator in Malacañang who already claimed the lives of 863 members of progressive organizations, human rights advocates, mediamen and churchpeople and the more the 200 victims of enforced disappearance”, Kristin Lim, Deputy Secretary-General of BAYAN-NMR said.

Lim also claims that since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was installed as president through the People Power I in 2001 and until her reign as fake president up to the present, there were already 5 victims of extrajudicial killings in the region, the latest being Dalmacio “Daki” Gandinao and Siche Gandinao both from the highly militarized Salay, Misamis Oriental and members of Bayan Muna.

“It is frustrating to note that not one of the agents of the AFP who were pointed as perpetrators of the said vicious killings in the region was arrested and trialed. The military and police were quick enough to wash their hands of their crimes and even quicker enough to blame the NPA. The lack of will and the insincerity of the state to stop the intensifying human rights violations shows that the armed agents of the state can brazenly attack us with impunity,” Lim further added.

Moreover, the group believes that these incidents will further bolster with the implementation of the Human Security Act of 2006.

“In the pretext of going after terrorists, the state, through the Human Security Act of 2007, can go after groups who continue to pursue Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s ouster. However, there is no other way for a dictator to go but down”, Lim finally stated.


Reference:
Kristin Lim
BAYAN NMR Deputy Secretary General
Address: # 266 Pinikitan, Brgy. Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City Contact # 09216771894 email: ram_oxbow@yahoo.com

Home

No let up in defense after Joma release

CAGAYAN DE ORO Journal (Ben Balce / Sept 16) – The military here yesterday (Saturday) said there would be no letup in the government’s security efforts in the wake of the release of communist leader Jose Ma. Sison in The Netherlands.

The army’s 4th Infantry Division said it would intensify its proactive defense and would continue securing vital installations in this part of the country.

“Even if he (Sison) is now free, still there will be no letup in our operations against his men in the region,” said 4th ID spokesperson Maj. Samuel Sagun.

Sison was released from jail after a Dutch court found insufficient evidence to hold him on murder charges he gave out orders to kill two other communist leaders in the country.

Sagun said the Armed Forces, including the Joint Task Force Kilat here, would pursue internal operations against the New People’s Army (NPA). 4thID commander Maj. Gen. Jose Barbieto heads the task Force.

Sagun downplayed reports that Sison’s release would adversely affect the military campaign against communist rebels.

Rebels are reportedly contemplating on launching attacks to cripple vital installations, particularly in the Agusan provinces.

But Sagun said the 4th ID has no information that the NPA was planning on undertaking a major operation in Regions 10 and 13.

“But our troops continue to be ready,’ said Sagun.

Neither is Sison’s release a threat to Northern Mindanao or Caraga’s peace and order situation, he said.

“Whether he is in jail or not, our regions will continue living peacefully,” said Sagun.

Sagun also said the National Police in Northern Mindanao headed by regional director Chief Supt. Teodorico Capuyan has greatly contributed in the campaign against the communist insurgency here. The 4th ID and Camp Alagar have recently signed a memorandum of agreement in connection with the anti-communist insurgency campaign.

“The joint AFP-PNP campaign against insurgency started early last month. We have scored so much not only in terms of combat operations but even on civil-military operations,” said Sagun.
Sagun said soldiers her were optimistic about President’s Arroyo’s objective to rid the country of communist insurgency by 2010.

Home

Conflict-Sensitive Reporting aims to rethink journalist's role

BACOLOD, Negros Occidental (Mike Baños / Sep 13) - The Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON) recently completed its first ever trainer's training in a bid to multiply its advocacy to revisit the journalist's role especially in the reportage of conflict stories.

PECOJON International Coordinator Antonia Koop lectures PECOJON trainers during the first PECOJON trainor's training held in Bacolod City recently.

"PECOJON is the only network of journalists worldwide that links theory and practice in conflict-sensitive journalism as defined by German journalist Nadine Bielke, based on peace journalism tools and techniques developed by British journalists Jake Lynch and Annabel McGoldrick, who in turn started their ground breaking work from the works of peace scholar Johann Galtung" said Antonia Koop, international coordinator for PECOJON based in this city.

"We are an international network of journalists who work in, with, and about conflict," said Jeanette C. Patindol, national coordinator. "The members are print, radio and broadcast journalists, journalism teachers and students as well as writers and filmmakers who have committed themselves to solidarity and networking for a constructive conflict reporting."

"The network is a platform for investigation and practical support but also acts as a base for common projects, trainings and discussion," said Ledrolen Manriquez, chief of operations of the PECOJON national secretariat, who together with Ms. Koop and Ms. Patindol, co-founded PECOJON in 2004.

Ms. Koop clarifies that conflict-sensitive journalism is not peace advocacy but rather seeks to create space for peaceful resolution, instead of escalation, as many news stories are now researched, written and presented.

"This new reporting paradigm seeks to re-establish the journalist's role in reporting conflict by using peace journalism tools and techniques such as conflict analysis, to help the stakeholders involved in a conflict to understand its nature, who are involved in it, and the information they need to resolve it themselves," Ms. Koop said.

The "round-table" approach to reportage gives voice to the goals of the various stakeholders involved in a conflict, thereby opening up space for creative solutions to the conflict, she added.
"I got years of extensive experience in the profession but learning has always been a continuing process for me. I have dedicated my career on achieving excellence in journalism," said Dennis Jay Santos, Davao correspondent of a national broadsheet, following the first trainer's training.

"PECOJON gives me a fresh understanding on how journalism takes an important role in the modern world and insights on how to best meet the challenges that confronts us as journalists."
PECOJON started as a Philippine-German partnership and now has some 350 members in Australia, Austria, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kosovo, Nigeria, Somalia, Thailand, Togo, United Kingdom, United States and the Philippines.

Currently better known as a training institution, PECOJON has been running a series of trainings on conflict-sensitive reporting with assistance from the International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) of InWent, Berlin. However, Ms. Koop feels its time for members to take their learnings to the next step and use it in their profession.

"Our network is member-driven," she said. "Everything comes from the members, everything is for the members. Transforming the world, all ideas come from members. How the world covers conflict is how members want it."

At present, PECOJON has six chapters in the Philippines : Manila, Luzon, Visayas, Western Mindanao, Northern Mindanao and Davao.

"We have no "top-down" culture," said Ms. Patindol. "We are on track with our own vision which is "member-driven." Members present ideas on how they can grow better, we just support."
For now, all chapter coordinators all volunteers, but in the future each chapter is envisioned to nominate three coordinator candidates with the National Secretariat making the final choice.

"The National Secretariat's criteria on who is best suited to coordinate the chapter would depend on its current development and needs," said Ms. Manriquez. "We need coordinators who have the ability, time and most important, commitment to lead their chapters."

German journalist Antonia Koop tours visiting journalists at the PECONON Headquarters in Bacolod City.

The National Secretariat is composed of all chapter coordinators and acts as the body that would shape the network, and choose a national coordinator from among themselves. It will be the center of the national network and its main channel of communications, Ms. Patindol said.

"The international coordinating committee consists of a representative each from each national network and we envision this to be organized in five to seven years," Ms. Koop said.

Like in the Philippines, all international chapters will be manned by volunteers with each country given the leeway to choose its own legal personality, given the peculiarities inherent of the law in each country.

As of now, PECOJON will focus on its trainings and coming out with the PECOJON Handbook before the end of the year, Ms. Patindol said.

From the Philippines, PECOJON will eventually conduct its trainings in East Timor and Indonesia by 2008; adding one training each for Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia by 2009 and two trainings in these same countries by 2010.

In the long run, PECOJON visualizes itself as one international network with which journalists can work together. Other projects online include media consultancy to invite media leaders to ask their opinion on how they can improve journalism and exchange programs to strengthen international ties starting with Togo, West Africa.

Eventually, the network aims to establish a PECOJON Palm Academy which aims to close the gap between theoretical background and practical application of conflict-sensitive journalism based on a training needs analysis which shall identify the gap between academe and PECOJON members in the field.

"The idea is to run a complete program for conflict-sensitive journalism perspective on quality management on air TV, radio stations from a united newsroom," Ms. Koop said. "The core idea is to have resources shared by all media organizations and grow the young ones together for better reporting."

Home

Life sentence for Erap

P876M deposits, house forfeited

CAGAYAN de Oro Journal (Peter Tabingo / Sept 13) FORMER President Joseph Estrada was convicted yesterday of the crime of plunder and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a maximum of 40 years.

But the Sandiganbayan Special Division acquitted him of the crime of perjury for lack of evidence.

Estrada’s co-accused in the plunder case, Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada and lawyer Edward Serapio, were acquitted for insufficient evidence.

The Special Division decided to allow Estrada to be detained at his Tanay rest house pending his appeal owing to his stature as former president.

Estrada’s lawyers will file a motion for reconsideration.

The Sandiganbayan ordered the forfeiture of his documented bank accounts and a house and lot dubbed as "Boracay Mansion" in New Manila, Quezon City, which the graft court held was purchased by Estrada using P142 million from jueteng payola.

The bank deposits included the P200 million in the bank account of the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation and the P189 million Estrada was supposed to have received as commission from the purchase of Belle Corporation Shares by the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System.

All in all, he stands to give up P876.29 million.

Estrada was barred from holding public office either by election or appointment.

The court session which was broadcast live started at 9:20 a.m. and adjourned 15 minutes later as defense lead counsel Jose Flaminiano manifested the wish of Estrada that only the dispositive portions of the decision on the plunder and perjury cases be read.

Estrada arrived at around 8:40 a.m. and was brought to the holding room at the sixth floor.

He was led to the courtroom at 9:13 a.m., accompanied by former Sen. Luisa "Loi" Estrada, and his sons, Jinggoy, San Juan Mayor Jose Victor Ejercito, Jude Estrada and daughter Jackie Ejercito-Lopez.

Also in the courtroom were former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa, Sen. Loren Legarda, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, Malabon Mayor Toby Tiangco, Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, former Estrada spokesman and Shariff Kabunsuan Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, Cavite Rep. Crispin Remulla, and Estrada spokesman Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

Ma. Teresa Pabulayan, special division clerk of court, read the perjury ruling first and although Estrada was acquitted, there was no cheering or hardly any sound from either side as both waited for the court’s pronouncement in the main case of plunder.

TEARS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS

When Pabulayan announced that Estrada was guilty in the plunder charge, the former president shook his head twice while Jackie broke down in tears.

Later, JV and Jude Estrada also cried. Estrada made his way out of the courtroom barely controlling his tears.

The former president himself had red-rimmed eyes as he made his way out of the courtroom.
But he consented to requests from reporters for his reaction.

"It (conviction) was to be expected. I subjected myself to the rule of law against the advice of my close friends. This was a special division created to convict me," Estrada said.

Rene Saguisag, co-lead counsel for Estrada, told the court that the former president would rather be jailed in the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City.

"President Estrada has absolutely no intention of seeking special treatment, Your Honors. Far be it from him to seek special privileges. This may be confirmed by the convict himself," Saguisag said.

Flaminiano said they had expected the guilty verdict noting: "History has it that special courts were made to convict an accused."

Saguisag and Flaminiano said that Estrada secretly nurtured a hope he would be exonerated.

"In his heart of hearts, he believed that it was a case of ‘guilt not proven,’" Saguisag said.

THE VERDICT

Prosecutors secured Estrada’s conviction in two of the four predicate crimes that formed Estrada’s indictment for plunder.

The graft court held that evidence of Estrada’s involvement in illegal gambling protection as well as his application of pressure on the GSIS and SSS to buy P1.88 billion worth of Belle Corp shares were each sufficient to convict him for plunder.

"(The) repeated collections of jueteng money from November 1998 to August 2000 would fall within the purview of a "series" of illegal acts constituting plunder," the court declared.

"It is unnecessary to indulge in an exposition of whether the two series of acts… proven in the course of the trial could have amounted to two counts of plunder. It would be a purely academic exercise, as the accused cannot be convicted of two offenses or two counts of plunder on the basis of a single Information," it added.

The court said the prosecution failed to connect the alleged illegal diversion of P130 million tobacco excise tax funds to Estrada since none among the alleged "couriers" were even connected to Estrada.

"Not a scintilla of evidence links former President Estrada to any of the obscure personalities who withdrew the P130 million namely, Delia Rajas, Alma Alfaro, and Eleuterio Tan and to any of the official bank documents that made possible the diversion and misappropriation of the aforesaid public funds," the court noted.

"In sum, the paper trail in relation to the P130 million diverted tobacco excise taxes began with Gov. Singson and ended with Atong Ang. This Court does not find the evidence sufficient to establish beyond reasonable doubt that President Estrada or any member of his family had instigated and/or benefited," it stressed.

What drove the court to convict Estrada in relation to illegal gambling protection were the testimonies of various bank officials and the paper trail of the gambling money including the P200 million that eventually found its way to the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation.

"The slew of bank documents, involving mind-boggling amounts of money and authenticated by competent and credible bank officers, convinces the Court that collection of jueteng money for former President Estrada indeed took place and the entries in the ledger were not manufactured by Gov. Chavit Singson," the court said.

JV’S CHECKS HELPED CONVICT ERAP

Ironically, the court found that seven checks containing P182.76 million traced from the Urban Bank account of JV Ejercito were strong proof that Estrada was the owner of the "Jose Velarde" account.

"The evidence of the Prosecution which showed that three Urban Bank Manager’s checks for the amounts of P10.88 million, P42.72 million and P54.16 million received by JV Ejercito as well as the four Urban Bank Manager’s Checks totaling P75 million were deposited to EPCIB S/A No. 0160-62501-5 of Jose Velarde constitutes corroborative evidence that, as between Estrada and (Jaime) Dichaves, it can be inferred that JV Ejercito, being the son of Estrada, would contribute to the account of his father but not if the account were owned by Dichaves," the court said.

Prosecutors claimed the Velarde account at one time contained P3.2 billion but the deposits were drained shortly after Estrada’s ouster in January 2001, before the court could issue a freeze order on his assets.

The Sandiganbayan held that Estrada’s admission that he signed bank instruments as "Jose Velarde" in front of prosecution witnesses Clarissa Ocampo and Manuel Curato, former officials of Equitable-PCI Bank, was additional evidence that he and Velarde were the same person.

"Being a judicial admission, no proof is required and may be given in evidence against him. Being an admission against interest, it is the best evidence which affords the greatest certainty of the facts in dispute. The rationale for the rule is based on the presumption that no man would declare anything against himself unless such declaration was true," the court said.

Another crucial evidence against Estrada was his office trustee, Baby Ortaliza, who was identified by bank officials testifying for the prosecution as the one who transacted various businesses relative to the Velarde account and the other accounts of the Estrada couple.

"The evidence of the Prosecution which showed that Baby Ortaliza - a trusted person of former President Estrada and who enjoyed (his and Loi Ejercito’s) confidence - transacted the various personal bank accounts of (the Estrada couple) as well as the Jose Velarde accounts, also constitutes corroborative evidence that the Jose Velarde Accounts are owned by former President Estrada and not by Dichaves," the court ruled.

Documents on the purchase of the Boracay mansion showing that the funds came from the Velarde account clinched the prosecution’s case against Estrada.

"The evidence of the Prosecution that the Boracay Mansion was purchased from funds coming from the Jose Velarde accounts is another corroborative evidence that the Jose Velarde accounts are owned by former President Estrada. The documents found in the Boracay Mansion show that the beneficial owner is former President Estrada and is used by Laarni Enriquez whose relation to former President Estrada was never denied," the court held.

On accusations that Estrada profited from the GSIS and SSS purchases of Belle Corporation shares, the court said that "Estrada took advantage of his official position, authority, relationship, connection and influence to unjustly enrich himself at the expense and to the damage and prejudice of the Filipino people and the Republic of the Philippines."

Although the defense claimed that Estrada merely made suggestions to former SSS chairman Carlos Arellano and former GSIS president Federico Pascual over the Belle purchases, the court held that, coming from an appointing power, the calls had coercive effect particularly when repeatedly made.

Malaya

Home

Moreno meets Pia of ANC on Erap's plunder verdict

CAGAYAN de Oro Journal (Transcribed by Maricel Casiño / Sept. 13)

PIA HONTIVEROS : Governor, tell us what you thought when you first heard the verdict?

GOV. MORENO: Well, actually Pia, before this verdict, what really was bothering me was - this is a no win situation for this government , for this administration. Either way, there would be political statements that would tend to polarize our people. So to me, it didn’t matter whether he would be acquitted or convicted. What should still be important is our people, our country would be able to survive this politically motivated crisis and move on. Now there are many principles here that the decision, one way or the other, I had hope would strengthen:

Independence of the Judiciary - judiciary must be respected and preserved, protected as an independent branch.

Rule of Law – no one is above the law, and we are a government of laws and not of men.
Principle of accountability of public officials- public office is a public trust and all government officials must at all times be accountable.

Equal protection and the law is obliged equally to all.

I have observed the comments earlier of the defense lawyers and I appreciate the comment of Atty. Mendoza, the comment was focused on the legal side but other comments were focused on the political side.

PIA : Your referring to comments made by Atty. Rene Saguisag?

MORENO: He was my professor Pia, in San Beda.

PIA: So you thought that Atty. Mendoza made his case well?

MORENO: I think he had explained quite well what he perceives as the defects of the decision and let it be. Let them raise those defects and let the Sandiganbayan take another look at that and assess whether they have made a good decision or not. Now the problem that we now face is that there will be certainly attempts to destabilize or weaken… and of course, that problem is exacerbated with complaints of corruption in government and so you have the moral ascendancy issue. But I would like to look at that as separate from what we are going through now. And what is important is we are able to survive this crisis and emerge stronger and respecting the independence of the judiciary and adhering to the principles that I have mentioned.

PIA: Governor, I cant help but think that or ask you how different things would have been had the impeachment trial not been aborted because you were halfway through - presentations of prosecution’s evidence and there was no time for Mr. Estrada to present his case in his defense, how would things have been so different, or how would things have been different, had there been a completed impeachment trial?

MORENO: I agree with you totally Pia that very unfortunate that the impeachment did not end up on its natural conclusion. Now for instance, on the Jose Velarde account which I have focused in the impeachment trial, the opening of the second envelope could have led us to the transaction documents that would have proven the 3.2 billion-peso deposits over as a span of 7 to 8 months and they’re withdrawn. Full withdrawal that ended sometime in November 2000. We would have had the chance to prove were the money came from and where the money went. But the second envelop did not show up because the second envelop contained only the ledger of the account- just the debit, credit but the transaction number in the second envelop could have brought as to the transaction document. The beauty in banking is that transactions are documented and bank documents do not lie.

On the “jueting” money, we have demonstrated that a total of 200 billion was placed in an account. Now the defense have asserted, although they had not presented their case yet but in the press statement, they had asserted that the 200 billion went to the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation. Ostensibly, the money did not belong to the former president because it belong to the foundation which is a separate entity. But had the impeachment went on, we would have had the chance to look deeper into that. And I had theorized then that the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation was just an after thought. Anyway that’s now a thing of the past. Now on the excise tax, the money was in fact released and eventually withdrawn from a private bank, by the way, let me add, I would like to congratulate that Landbank, a government bank because they did not cooperate with what the plan was, in relation to the release of the funds. But the money was released.

PIA: Governor, will there be closure now that there is the decision on the plunder and perjury charges that former president Estrada had faced?

MORENO: I hope so Pia, but I’m afraid not especially since the presidential election of 2010 is not far away anymore.

As to the closure, I said I hope that the decision when it becomes final, they go all the way to the Supreme Court will put a closure to this sad episode. Unfortunately, the reality is that, people are now looking at 2010, the presidential elections.

PIA: Governor Moreno, a final word from you sir.

MORENO:I know that its very difficult for this government. It’s a pity because things are looking good, looking bright especially for Mindanao and I just hope that we will now be able to move on as nation and survive this sad episode like I said. One way of looking at it is - had the former president not been prosecuted, the consequences would have been much greater for our country to carry, not only for this generation but for many other generations in the future that would have meant that we have a different application of our justice system. One is for the poor, the under privileged and another for the powerful and the rich. This is a very painful exercise or episode but I hope it we will emerge stronger than we had been in the past.

PIA: And I suppose Governor, that this is some sort of message to all former, incumbent and future officials.

GOV. MORENO : Yes Pia, certainly.

Home

Man from Macasandig shot, killed in Marawi

CAGAYAN DE ORO JOURNAL (Ben Balce / Sept. 12) – A STILL unidentified man shot and killed a resident of Macasandig, this city, in Marawi on Tuesday.

The victim, Eldie Caingin, 26, was shot thrice in the chest and once in one of the shoulders along Omaira Ave., Marawi City.

Witnesses said Caingin was forced to step down an Iligan-bound public jeepney by the suspect who was armed with caliber .45 pistol. The suspect had posed as a jeepney passenger.

Caingin was rushed to the Amai-Pakpak General Hospital in Marawi where he subsequently died.

Passengers said Caingin was shot in front of them.

Caingin’s elder brother Rustom said he suspected that the gunman had planned the attack.

He said Caingin had received death threats because of his relationship with a woman from Marawi identified only as Jamailah.

Caingin and Jamailah had live together but the woman’s brothers reportedly took the woman by force last year. The men were reportedly armed when they barged into the Caingin’s family house in Macasandig.

To avoid violence, he said Caingin opted to go Manila and stayed there until July.

The victim and Jamailah reportedly continued to communicate with each other.

Once, said Rustom, he overheard Caingin telling Jamailah they should consider breaking up to avoid further trouble.

Rustom said the victim then showed him a text message that read: “ Kung dili ka maako, dili ka maila.”

Vice Mayor Vicente Emano sent acting city police director Antonio Montalba and Macasandig officials to get the remains of Caingin. He also asked the city police to investigate the Caingin case and identify the suspect.

Montalba said investigators were looking into reports that Jamailah’s relatives have owned the killing.

He said Caingin’s mobile phone showed text message that could be used as evidence against suspects.

Home

British Council, MSU sign MOA peace education pact

MARAWI City (Ben Balce / Sep 11) - The British Council and Mindanao State University (MSU) yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement (Moa) on peace education consisting 44 modules aimed to broaden understanding and appreciation and enhance personal skills in dealing with conflicts in Mindanao.

"These modules would be the response in reaching out for peace in Mindanao," British Council assistant program director Nannette R. Mercado.

Mercado said the modules that will form part of the instructional materials for the Civil Welfare Training Service (CWTS), a component of the National Service.

"This peace education is first of a kind that will start here in this University," said Mercado adding that the importance of peace education not only here in Mindanao, but schools in the country.

Meanwhile, MSU president Dr. Ricardo de Leon said the modules would also help in resolving the current conflict in Mindanao.

"We are not saying this would help lessen armed violence in the island, but this would be the start in achieving peace in Mindanao," said De Leon.

De Leon also said, the Philippines including foreign governments are all interested in peace-building efforts like the ongoing MILF-GRP peace talks that is now ongoing in Mindanao.

De Leon said the module-making, which took place early August this year, assembled peace experts throughout the MSU System in various parts of Mindanao, who crafted the modules with assistance from the United Kingdom-Philippine Partners for Peace (UK-PPK), an affiliate of the British Council.

"The integration of peace education in the MSU System is aimed to be a "peace university" for other learning institutions in the country to follow," said De Leon.

He said MSU in the previous years produced quality graduates and now through the help of the peace education modules could produce graduates who are well-educated on conflict management.

"Students who understand the roots of the conflict in Mindanao lead the ways to peace, not war," de Leon said.

De Leon also said that someday with this first step, students that would become workers would help and knowledgeable in the maintaining peace in Mindanao.

The recent signing of the peace modules de Leon said, would become a reality for the MSU students, nationwide and even those in foreign countries.

Home

Mindanao Olympic qualifying games kicks off today

MISAMIS ORIENTAL - (By Maricel Casiño / Aug 13) - All roads lead to Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center today for the opening ceremony of the 2nd Philippine Olympic Festival Mindanao Qualifying Games.

Regarded as one of the must-see parts of the Olympics, the opening ceremony will be highlighted by a parade to be participated in by the different delegations from 17 provinces and cities.

Delegates will assemble at the Provincial Capitol grounds at 2:00 in the afternoon. The parade will move from the Capitol towards Claro M. Recto St, turning left to Capistrano St. all the way to R.N. Abejuela St.

It will then turn left to A. Velez St. and ends at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center where the opening ceremony will be held.

The respective government officials of each delegation and its muses and the officials of the Philippine Olympics Committee will lead the hoisting of the flags to mark the opening of the ceremony.

The Misamis Oriental Provincial Choral Group will lead the invocation and the singing of the Misamis Oriental march. A soprano named Vita Joy Penas will lead the singing of the Philippine national anthem acapella.

A choreographed torch entrance will ensue to be followed by the lighting of the cauldron of fire by Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno.

Gov. Moreno and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Constantino Jaraula will deliver their welcome address followed by the speeches of POC chairman Robert Aventajado and POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco.

The congressmen of the two districts of Misamis Oriental Rep. Yevgeny Vincent “Bambi” Emano and Rep. Danilo P. Lagbas are also invited to deliver a solidarity message.

Muay trainer Kru Enrico C. Razalo will lead the oath of amateurism while powerlifting trainer Raul Gevero will conduct the oath of officiating officials.

Selected pupils of the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School will entertain the crowd with a lively cheer dance followed by a presentation of its drum and bugle corps.

Another presentation of a drum and bugle corps will also be conducted by Pilgrim Christian College while a group of karatedo and arnis enthusiasts will also present a sport demonstration.

As host of this weeklong event, Gov. Moreno will formally declare the opening of the 2007 Mindanao Qualifying Games. A fireworks display will cap the opening ceremony sponsored by Dragon Fireworks.

At least 2,000 athletes are expected to compete in 17 sports events namely athletics, aquatics, karatedo, taekwondo, gymnastics, table tennis, judo, archery, baseball, chess, sepak takraw, basketball, arnis, football, muay, powerlifting and wrestling.

Home

Keeper of billions of US treasury bills urges Bush to send inspection team

THE ANNOINTED ONE: Gospel Ministry of the Holy Spirit for Salvation head and the United Humanitarian Organization, Phil., Incorporated chairwoman Her Majesty Salvacion Legaspi-Kempe crowned the Queen of the South held at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology last July 18, 2006.

ILIGAN CITY (Ben Balce / Aug. 3 ) - The chosen one who found the reported billions of dollars of treasury bills and Federal Reserve notes is now urging Pres. George W. Bush and the US government to send inspection team to the Philippines, to check the authenticity of the lost and found items.

Her Majesty Salvacion Legaspi-Kempe, head elder of the Gospel Ministry of the Holy Spirit for Salvation (GMHSS) said while she is confident it is genuine items but she still needs a team of experts from the US government to confirm the authenticity.

In her letter to Pres. Bush thru US ambassador to the Philippines Christy Kenney dated June 22, 2007, Her Majesty Salvacion said the US government should immediately act on her request if they wanted to redeem their lost treasury bills as soon as possible.

“I am willing to return to the US government all these properties which have been lost for more than seventy years because they are the rightful owner,” said the anointed one Salvacion, adding: “All I need for now is their immediate response on my letter.”

Her Majesty Salvacion said she still believes all these while already demonetized last year has left a significant and sentimental value to the US government.

Her Majesty Salvacion, head elder of the Ministry, showed to the witnessing national and regional media reporters including ABS-CBN television all the billions (could even amounted to trillions) of dollars of treasury bonds, federal reserved notes and currencies that the US government has been looking for in the Philippines.

HRM Salvacion said although she is not 100 percent sure of the authenticity of the items but she said the way she look at it and how it is being kept in black boxes so secured, it is the original items the US government wanted to redeem.

At present, the Wellsfargo Blue Book of Redemption is now in her possession.

To her my knowledge including some of the national media who witnessed the opening of one black box containing the treasury bonds of the country of Georgia and the opening of a small Yamashita black box which also contained two treasure maps of the Philippines showed authentic.


She also said earlier the Gospel Ministry of the Holy Spirit for Salvation (GMHSS) based in Iligan City, and which she founded, had several thousands of highlander members (Lumads) in Mindanao, where he got the reported items.

But for security reasons, she said, she would only reveal the place when the US government would visit Iligan City to redeem the lost treasury bonds.

In fact, she said, all these items need to be airlifted though a plane because they are too many and too heavy.

Gospel Ministry of the Holy Spirit for Salvation and United Humanitarian Organization, Phils., Inc.

4ID's greening program plants 37,000 seedlings; vow to plant 1.5-M trees

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Ben Balce / July 18) - The simultaneous nationwide tree planting activity under the Diamond Greening Program of the Army's 4 th Infantry Division here yesterday held at Makaluesa Watershed and Reforestation area in Sitio Camingawan, Bgy. Patag, Opol, Misamis Oriental.

PGMA Berdeng Pilipinas Program dubbed here by the 4ID as "Puno Para sa Kinabukasan" has been postponed and schedule yesterday. The simultaneous tree planting is supposed to be conducted on June 29, at 9:00 o'clock in the morning at various chosen sites all over the country.

4ID spokesman Major Samuel Sagun said that the activity is in support to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Greening Philippines Program.

"We planted 37,000 seedlings with 3,700 participants," said Sagun adding this tree planting activity would also compete with the new Guinness record.

Sagun said the planting site and area covers 36.02 hectares of cosmic land resting in Opol, Misamis Oriental.

Sagun said the manpower was provided by the local government units in Opol, the students at the host areas from different high schools and the partner government agencies.

"Macapagal Arroyo's Greening Philippines program described as an ambitious but achievable plan for environmental protection," said Sagun.

Berdeng Pilipinas Tree Planting is a nationwide activity aimed to encourage the civil society to plant trees, whether fruit bearing or not according to Sagun.

The coordinating agencies for the Diamond Greening Program included the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Philippine Information Agency, ABS CBN and the Philippine Army which serves as the chairman.

Meanwhile on his statements, 4ID's commanding general Maj. Gen. Jose T. Barbieto, said they want to project the other side of the Army as environmentalist soldiers by taking the opportunity to showcase our non-traditional activity that would impact on Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's development program of a Green Philippines.

Barbieto said it involved soldiers, students, local and non-government units and other well-meaning organizations to plant a total of 1,500,000 tree seedlings in military camps, school premises and other selected areas.

It is also aimed at generating significant awareness of the Filipino people on the impact of global warming and the importance of protecting the environment and replenishing our forest resources through tree planting according to Barbieto.

Along with this, 4ID will be implementing the "Diamond Greening Program" within its area of responsibility (AOR), i.e., Region 10 in Northern Mindanao except Lanao del Norte and Region 13 in Caraga. Its three (3) brigades, namely: 401st Bde based in Tago, Surigao del Sur , 402nd Bde in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur and 403rd Bde in Malaybalay City to include the 52nd Engineer Construction Bde in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon and all the battalions and attached units under them have each a designated area within their respective AOR's where trees will be planted.

Home

Billions of US treasury bonds unearthed in Iligan City

BILLIONS of US treasury bonds: Dr.Salvacion Legaspi-Kempe shows Thursday to the witnessing local and national media all the billions of dollars of treasury bonds and federal reserved notes that the US government has been looking for in the Philippines during press conference held at White Castle, Gospel Ministry of the Holy Spirit for Salvation in 11th St. Pala-o, Iligan City.(Photo by Gerry Gorit)



ILIGAN CITY (Ben Balce / July 13) - After the United States massive information in the past years on the so-called lost treasury bonds and federal reserved notes, a religious leader in Iligan City reported to the media she has in her possession the lost items.


In a press conference in Iligan City yesterday attended by the national media and the regional ABS-CBN television, Dr. Salvacion Legaspi-Kempe showed to the witnessing media all the billions of dollars of treasury bonds and federal reserved notes that the US government has been looking for in the Philippines .



Dr. Kempe said although she is not 100 percent sure of the authenticity of the items but she said the way she look at it and how it is being kept in black boxes so secured, it is the original items the US government wanted to redeem.

“ I cannot say it is 100 percent authentic but basing on how it is being securely kept in the black boxes including its markers and symbols, I think this is what the US government is looking for, “ she said.

Kempe, leader of a religious organization, Gospel Ministry of the Holy Spirit for Salvation (GMHSS) based in Iligan City , had several thousands of highlander members (Lumads) in Mindanao , where he got the items.

But for security reasons, she said, she would only reveal the place when the US government would visit Iligan City to redeem the lost treasury bonds.

“ There are lots of these in one of the places in Mindanao . But for now, while the US government has not yet responded to my letter on what action to take to redeem their belongings, I would not reveal where it could be located,“ she said.



She said she is willing to return to the US government all the valuable items that they lost in the past in a proper time, and with the US top leaders personally redeeming it in Iligan City .

“ In fact, all these items need to be airlifted though a plane because they are too many and too heavy, “ Kempe added.

The religious leader also said she had already sent her letter to US president George W. Bush last June 22, 2007, informing him she has the possession of the lost treasury notes of the US government.

In her letter, Kempe said, she urged the president to send a team to check the authenticity of the treasury bonds and to make a visit to Iligan City , for him to personally check the lost items for more than 75 years old already.

Cagayan de Oro Journal also witnessed the opening of one black box containing the treasury bonds of the country of Georgia and the opening of a small Yamashita black box which reportedly contains two treasure maps of the Philippines .

Meanwhile, a financial analyst who requested anonymity said all these US treasury bonds, genuine or not, were already demonetized last year and have no value at all.

“ They are already expired and therefore it has no more value at all, “ the financial expert said.

The financial expert said one chance the redemptor can get hold of some cash is only through public auction in the US . “ It’s already an antique collectors items and it may have bigger value if it can be proven to be rare items.”

But Dr Kempe said while it is already demonetized last year, there is still the redemption fund that maybe worth billions of pesos to be rewarded to those who can turn over the lost items to the US government.

In the past years, the National Bureau of Investigation in northern Mindanao arrested several persons who reportedly imprinted trillions of fake Philippine currency money and US treasury bonds.

One of those arrested by the NBI was a young computer wizard and his cohorts in Barangay Bonbon in Cagayan de Oro where they have chosen the place as their hideout and where their printing equipment were kept.

Home

On anti-terror law: Militants hail CBCP’s call for a review anti-terror law

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - (Ben Balce / July 11)A MILITANT group yesterday welcomed the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called for a review of the Human Security Act of 2007, or the anti-terrorism law, citing apprehension among lawyers and other sectors.

The militant group and the CBCP even condemned the soon-to-be-implemented Act as “even worse than PP1017, CPR and EO464.”

“We welcome the timely objection of the CBCP to the HSA implementation on July 15,” said Karapatan regional head Beberly Musni.

The CBCP on Monday in a statement released after its 95th plenary assembly, the bishops expressed concern over the morality dimension of the law which is set for implementation on July 15.

“We hope the other faiths and sectors will follow suit,” said Musni adding people should expressed on the widest and strongest condemnation to the HSA.

Musni said, like the opposition of the multi-sectoral on Charter Change will compel the GMA regime to abandon the HSA.

“This is like impact on the peoples’ freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and in right to liberty and privacy,” she said.

Musni, a human rights lawyer-activist, said her groups Gabriela and other militant organizations are now planning to join as they are now contemplating big rally in Cagayan de Oro.

Late last year, the Supreme Court dealt President Arroyo three slaps by declaring EO464, CPR policy and PP1017 as partly unconstitutional, unconstitutional and partly unconstitutional.

“Our outrage over the attempted charter change should be again being expressed on the HSA,” said Musni.

Earlier, militants urged the CBCP to issue statements condemning the implementation of the said Anti-Terror law.

Musni even challenged Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro head Archbishop Antonio Ledesma to maintain supporting the CBCP’s statements as urging the Supreme Court to intervene on the legality of the HSA.

The bishops issued statements against the HSA, after they found out that the HSA is so controversial and considered highly sensitive issues said Musni.

The HSA is supposed to be implemented on July 15 but government is still fine-tuning its implementation. The law was signed by President Arroyo on March 15.

“The new law could be used to abuse the rights of government critics,” said Musni.

Musni claimed that it is ironic that instead of making the people feel secure, the law would most likely cause chaos and insecurity.

The Karapatan also yesterday called for the suspension of the implementation of said HSA.

"Since we, as pastors, have to look more into the morality of this law and make a pronouncement in that level,” said in a CBCP’s statement however, reiterated their pursuit for peace as well as condemnation of terrorist acts.

Yesterday, during peace summit here, National Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales maintained that the public has no reason to fear the HSA "if you are not planning anything illegal."

"The law is for the protection of human rights and not for its (human rights) violation," he said.

Cagayan de Oro Mayor Constantino Jaraula over DxIF Bombo Radio said the country needs the new law to address the threat of terrorism.

Jaraula said they would later to meet Arroyo with the Cabinet security cluster at Pryce Plaza Hotel to check on the preparations for the implementation of the new law.

The Cabinet meeting with Arroyo highlighted of the Summit, which is aimed at identifying the problems faced by stakeholders and formulating programs to improve the anti-terrorism campaign according to Gonzales.

Gonzales added that the government is now seriously considering recommending the proscription of the CPP and the NPA once the law becomes effective, noting the communist group has already been classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.

<$BlogItemTitle$>

Cops raise alert level as anti-terror law show on

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY- Cagayan de oro City police head Senior Supt. Aurelio Trampe Jr., starting yesterday (Monday) placed the entire city on heightened security alert under the two-day consultation, dubbed the “Mindanao Peace and Order Summit” to be held at the Pryce Plaza.

“Additional personnel will be deployed in crowded places in the entire city,” said Trampe.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will meet with her Cabinet security cluster also today (Tuesday) in the city in the first leg of public consultations on the Human Security Act (HSA) which is set to take effect on July 15.

Trampe said they expect about 500 participants to attend the two-day consultation.

“We provide 2nd and 3rd layer security to President Arroyo,” said Trampe adding that including route security of the participants and security to all places of activities and billeting hotels.

Expected to attend the summit are leaders and experts in the security field from the government, business, religious and the academe, according to Trampe.

Meanwhile, protest action would also be seen today, as known Arroyo’s critics like Karapatan and other militant groups in the city and Misamis Oriental would stage protest actions during her arrival at the Cagayan de Oro Lumbia airport today.

Militants feared so-called terror suspects would immediately be arrested once the HSA took effect.

But National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales in his capacity as defense department officer in charge yesterday reassured the public the HSA had enough safeguards to prevent its abuse.

“There is nothing to fear really, we only have a few terrorists in the country. The law is there to protect the public, not to harm them,” he said, adding people must commit a terrorist act before they can be arrested.

“The terrorist act has to happen after the affectivity of the law,” he said.

Trampe said they expect militant groups to hold protest actions but this would not hinder the consultation.

He said security had been tightened at the venue and in other areas of the city.

“We are prepared with our civil disturbance management team in case of rallies,” said Trampe.

Gonzales also said the anti-terror law was all set for implementation but its organizational structure was still being finalized.“We’ve already complied with most of the requirements but I’m not sure how complete our organization is because we have to identify members of the office that would implement it,” he said.

City Mayor Constantino Jaraula who was the one welcomed the opening program yesterday said President Arroyo would be arriving at 3 pm today.

Jaraula with Gonzales led the kick-off public consultation with more than 500 participants from the different local government officials in Mindanao including different sectors from all over the region.

Gonzales, however, was mum on what changes would be adopted to fine-tune the HSA which has been heavily criticized even before it could take effect.

Gonzales said the national government is now the one initiating the information campaign on the HSA in partnership with other departments such as Justice and interior and local government in Mindanao.

“The campaign will focus not only on the provisions of the law. The public should see its contextual backdrop,” said Gonzales adding -- the existence of terror cells throughout the region and the world.

According to a government handout, the summit aims to identify problems and difficulties faced in fighting terrorists from the perspectives of the stakeholders and to agree on an action agenda to strengthen local mechanisms for counter-terrorism.

Home

7 narcotics agents axed

CAGAYAN de Oro City – (Ben Balce / June 23) CITY police director Senior Supt. Aurelio Trampe has relieved from Cagayan de Oro Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) seven police officers.

Trampe’s order came after the police unit was caught in a controversy that stemmed from a complaint that its agents mauled and illegally arrested a man suspected to be an illegal drug dealer in Bayabas last week.

The complaint is threatening to bungle whatever case the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) has against the suspect, Renjun Catamco.

Relieved from the CDEU were SPO1 Reynaldo de la Victoria, and PO2s Joel Deloso, George Tabian Jr., Frederick Yamis, Alvin Enzel Nacaya, Fred Yasay Jr., and Ariel Lig-ang.

Authorities however said the relief order was not a penalty.

“It was not necessarily a penalty. The case is still under investigation,” said Trampe.

Unnamed CDEU personnel are facing investigation by the Cocpo’s internal affairs service for allegedly breaking the police rules in treating crime suspects when they arrested the 32-year old Catamco during a cock derby in Bayabas last weekend.

The new head of the CDEU, Insp. Exudio Vidal said the seven officers were merely affected by a revamp ordered by Trampe.

SPO1 de la Victoria, the highest ranking officer in the group, was transferred to the City Mobile Group (CMG) while Deloso, Tabian, Yamis, Nacaya, Yasay, and Lig-ang were assigned to various police station in the city.

The relief order took effect early this week.

Vidal said the relief order for the seven police officers had nothing to do with the Catamco complaint.

Trampe said the officers had to be transferred because the new CDEU chief had to bring his trusted men.

Catamco has alleged that CDEU agents violated the rules when they arrested him. His sister and other witnesses claimed officers took turns in beating Catamco, illegally arrested and illegally detained the drug suspect.

Catamco has denied any wrongdoing and maintained his innocence despite the police’s claim that he was in the barangay’s list of suspected drug pushers in Bayabas.

SPO2 Rico Justalero has maintained that the CDEU’s use of force was justified because Catamco allegedly fought back and resisted arrest.

Home

Man hangs self

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – (Ben Balce / June 20) A MAN hanged himself following a disagreement with his common-law wife’s mother in Opol, Misamis Oreintal.

SPO4 Henry Patao identified the suicide as Rolando Gaboy, 20, of Poblacion, Opol, town.

Patao said investigators found no signs of foul play.


He said the suicide was believed to be emotionally unstable when he hanged himself early morning yesterday inside a nipa hut.

Patao said Gaboy was suffering from financial problems.

Gaboy was found dead around 6 a.m. by members of the household at the backyard of the house where he had stayed.

The victim used a thick cord in killing himself.

Patao said Gaboy had lived with a common-law wife’ who gave birth a week ago.

Investigators said Gaboy was hurt when he was told by his partner’s mother to leave the house. This supposedly happened a night before he killed himself.

Patao said the woman admitted to investigators that she had a disagreement with the suicide. But she said she did not mean to hurt Gaboy’s feelings.


Home

4 cops in trouble for beating suspect

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — (Ben Balce / June 19) AT LEAST four members of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office are now in trouble after beating and arbitrarily detaining civilian Renjun Catamco, 32, last Saturday.

Catamco is still detained at the Maharlika Detention Center for alleged involvement in drug pushing, a charge he denies.

Catamco’s relative Rose Jane Balaba claimed Catamco was beaten and kicked in the face, head and stomach by police officers. Although Balaba lodged a complaint on Saturday evening yet, it was only Monday morning when action was taken on the case.

Balaba identified the suspects as a certain Yamis, Nacaya, La Victoria and Jodaps, all members of the City Drug Enforcement Unit of the Cagayan de Oro Police.

"If that’s true. That is a violation of our policy," said City Director Senior Supt. Aurellio Trampe adding he have not yet received formal complaint.

Internal Affairs OIC Insp. Henry Peñero said they are still waiting for a formal complaint from the victim.

Home