I should have immediately taken note of yesterday morning's breaking news of http://www.inquirer.net about the diving spree of PGMA in Apo Reef last Thursday, April 24, 2008. It was a day after she went to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro concerning, expectedly, the rice issue that's hounding not just her strong republic but more so the poor Filipinos.
So, what's the news about the president visiting the Apo Reef? Of couse, Apo Reef is famous across the globe as among the most beautiful diving spots.
Actually, it was not that the president took notice of Apo Reef that caught my attention. It was the information based on inquirer.net's breaking news that together with the president aboard the presidential yatch were Rep. Girlie Villarosa and Gov. Nene Sato of Occidental Mindoro. The internet news provider adds that the reason for the two political stalwarts' unusual getting together was to mend their fences.
In the first election that Gov. Nene Sato participated in, she ran as vice governor to the husband of Rep. Girlie Villarosa. Until... well, the more-seasoned politicians and "feeling-close-to-the-politicians" in the province could tell us more about how the two politicians started to part ways.
In 2001, Occidental Mindoro saw the head-on meeting of Sato and Villarosa for governorship -- which the latter miserably lost, and during which the former nearly met her death not once but twice.
I could only suppose that the ensuing political war between their two camps has been taking its toll on both of them. I mean, individually. Villarosa's murder case, as reasoned by the Quintoses, was politically motivated. Sato, for her part, had to endure a couple of ambushes. On the level of the personal, their political war has threatened and in fact grossly affected already the personal integrity of both.
I can only imagine the anguish of a man behind bars, and the fear that is known to anyone who had to crawl -- literally -- for cover as live bullets were very narrowly missing her head.
And, ... well, the president of the Philippines was reportedly trying to reconcile the two..
I would like to put forward that the costliness of their political feud is not limited to their personal or individual spheres. It spills over and drowns the province, actually. And it is the people of Occidental Mindoro who suffer more than they -- individually -- do.
While this is debatable, I would like to say that partly their political war is the reason for the absence of a long-term governance plan for Occidental Mindoro. The plan of action of the Capitol is dependent on who sits as the governor. Anyone who wins the election is expected to begin from the scratch as he/she would refuse to build on his/her predecessor's gains (and follies) and as the loser scrambles also to tear down what he/she has built on ensuring that his/her successor could have a rather late start.
If sustainable plan for governance is too abstract as a topic, let us take the case of the Capitol employees. Their's is definitely a more existential proof of my point. After every elections in Occidental Mindoro, the succeeding news to hear is about who's in and who's out in the Capitol. Casual employees are replaced, and even career employees are "floated".
Still, this is just the tip of the real effect on the people. The most crucible thing to happen to the people of Occidental Mindoro as a result of this political war is very poor service.
Occidental Mindoro is more than half-a-century old as a province; and yet the more than 200 kilometers highway from the northmost tip to the southmost municipality of Occidental Mindoro is still rough road. And this is very telling.
In the end, I can only await the outcome of the PGMA-arbitrated reconciliation between Villarosa and Sato. For one, it likewise tells that politicking in Occidental Mindoro (which is the microcosm of Philippine politics) is patronage, and is divorced from the real political animals -- the people.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Thanksgiving Masses
In the height of the Lozada expose on the very controversial NBN project of the Arroyo regime, Masses for Truth and Accountability were held in many parishes, schools and even in streets. We expect more to be held sooner than later particularly now that the Supreme Court is going to rule with finality on the petition filed by Romulo Neri -- still in connection with NBN deal, especially on the subject of executive privilege.
As the holding of these Masses for Truth and Accountability was the most recent to copy from, the acquittal of Jose Tapales Villarosa is being celebrated in Occidental Mindoro with Thanksgiving Masses. One was held in San Jose (cf. earlier posts) and the second will be on Saturday, 19 April, 2008 in Mamburao.
Of course, I do not discount the possibility that the Villarosa's are among the traditional Catholics. (My apology to those who consider themselves traditional Catholics, but I would just like to deliver my point.)
According to the Catechism that I knew, there has already been a shift in the understanding of the Mass -- which happens to be the supreme form and act of worship or prayer for Catholics -- following the epoch-changing convocation of Vatican II. The Tridentine concept of the Mass was on the celebration's sacrificial nature and meaning. The Mass is said to be a sacrifice. And truly it is! It is the bloodless memorial (in its Greek etymology, memorial is more than remembering, as it is not a re-enactment. In Tagalog, it is pagsasa-ngayon. That is, a past event is re-lived in its entirety in the here and now).
The problem with this understanding of the Eucharist is its inability to provide even an ample space for the ideals of communion. For, accordingly, an act of sacrifice may be between I and my God. Hence, until now, people are writing on a sheet of paper their "pamisa" -- which is to remain as the diocese's one of the main source of revenue until the Catholics learn and wholeheartedly embace the spirituality of tithing.
Precisely because of the absence of the ideals of communion in a pre-Vatican II understood Mass, we see people of questionable social standing who attend and even actively participate in the sacred celebration.
My catechetical training further tells me that what the Council of Trent took for granted, the Vatican II made as its primary theme in all its documents. Among others, the architecture of the Church should reflect more the actual gathering of people; hence, the tabernacle was moved to the side and the communion rails are gone. The notion of collective over individual salvation is emphasized in eschatology. The Church per se is said to be the sacrament of communion, that is, the sign of and the one who is to effect communion. And the Mass is, over and above all, a faith-community-event.
Along this line, a couple of things may be inferred. For one, as it is a faith-(community-)event, Mass is at the service of faith. The ordering of the universal and national catechism of the Church suffices to explain the different components of a living Catholic faith -- it is doctrine, morals, (prayers), and liturgy. To the liturgy, the Mass belongs. As a faith-event, anyone who attends and participates actively in the Mass is expected to improve on his/her doctrine (thus, while it is the homily that directly instructs people, all the other parts of the Mass are similarly pedagogical), and celebrate his/her everyday triumph in terms of faithfully living out the requirements of the moral living as taught by the Church. This is the over-riding design, so that at the end of every Mass, the faithful has grown on their knowledge of the faith and become more resolved in committing themselves to Catholic morality.
Obviously, it has no place for partisan political agenda.
And this leads me to my second point -- that a mass is about community life. I remember a story of a Jesuit priest who in the beginning committed himself to lead the celebration of the Sunday Mass for a far-away community. On his way to the barrio, he passed along two or three houses in the outskirt of the community. He came to know that these huts were well within the territory of the barrio, and that the reason for their not joining the Sunday Mass was a long-ago feud with the families living in the center of the place. The priest used the occasion to give a particular slant in his preaching on community life and brotherhood, among others. After a month or so, the people were surprised when the priest said that he's no longer coming for the Mass. When pressed for the reason, he truthfully said to them: "Bakit kayo magmimisa kung hindi kayo mabuo bilang isang pamayanan?"
After San Jose, for every succeeding celebration of Thanksgiving Mass for JTV, an insult is even added to the wounds of the Quintoses.
I pray for the pastor's/pastors' discretion over this...
As the holding of these Masses for Truth and Accountability was the most recent to copy from, the acquittal of Jose Tapales Villarosa is being celebrated in Occidental Mindoro with Thanksgiving Masses. One was held in San Jose (cf. earlier posts) and the second will be on Saturday, 19 April, 2008 in Mamburao.
Of course, I do not discount the possibility that the Villarosa's are among the traditional Catholics. (My apology to those who consider themselves traditional Catholics, but I would just like to deliver my point.)
According to the Catechism that I knew, there has already been a shift in the understanding of the Mass -- which happens to be the supreme form and act of worship or prayer for Catholics -- following the epoch-changing convocation of Vatican II. The Tridentine concept of the Mass was on the celebration's sacrificial nature and meaning. The Mass is said to be a sacrifice. And truly it is! It is the bloodless memorial (in its Greek etymology, memorial is more than remembering, as it is not a re-enactment. In Tagalog, it is pagsasa-ngayon. That is, a past event is re-lived in its entirety in the here and now).
The problem with this understanding of the Eucharist is its inability to provide even an ample space for the ideals of communion. For, accordingly, an act of sacrifice may be between I and my God. Hence, until now, people are writing on a sheet of paper their "pamisa" -- which is to remain as the diocese's one of the main source of revenue until the Catholics learn and wholeheartedly embace the spirituality of tithing.
Precisely because of the absence of the ideals of communion in a pre-Vatican II understood Mass, we see people of questionable social standing who attend and even actively participate in the sacred celebration.
My catechetical training further tells me that what the Council of Trent took for granted, the Vatican II made as its primary theme in all its documents. Among others, the architecture of the Church should reflect more the actual gathering of people; hence, the tabernacle was moved to the side and the communion rails are gone. The notion of collective over individual salvation is emphasized in eschatology. The Church per se is said to be the sacrament of communion, that is, the sign of and the one who is to effect communion. And the Mass is, over and above all, a faith-community-event.
Along this line, a couple of things may be inferred. For one, as it is a faith-(community-)event, Mass is at the service of faith. The ordering of the universal and national catechism of the Church suffices to explain the different components of a living Catholic faith -- it is doctrine, morals, (prayers), and liturgy. To the liturgy, the Mass belongs. As a faith-event, anyone who attends and participates actively in the Mass is expected to improve on his/her doctrine (thus, while it is the homily that directly instructs people, all the other parts of the Mass are similarly pedagogical), and celebrate his/her everyday triumph in terms of faithfully living out the requirements of the moral living as taught by the Church. This is the over-riding design, so that at the end of every Mass, the faithful has grown on their knowledge of the faith and become more resolved in committing themselves to Catholic morality.
Obviously, it has no place for partisan political agenda.
And this leads me to my second point -- that a mass is about community life. I remember a story of a Jesuit priest who in the beginning committed himself to lead the celebration of the Sunday Mass for a far-away community. On his way to the barrio, he passed along two or three houses in the outskirt of the community. He came to know that these huts were well within the territory of the barrio, and that the reason for their not joining the Sunday Mass was a long-ago feud with the families living in the center of the place. The priest used the occasion to give a particular slant in his preaching on community life and brotherhood, among others. After a month or so, the people were surprised when the priest said that he's no longer coming for the Mass. When pressed for the reason, he truthfully said to them: "Bakit kayo magmimisa kung hindi kayo mabuo bilang isang pamayanan?"
After San Jose, for every succeeding celebration of Thanksgiving Mass for JTV, an insult is even added to the wounds of the Quintoses.
I pray for the pastor's/pastors' discretion over this...
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Untold Truth Behind JTV Acquital
Note: The following came as a comment to one of the posts of this blog. I deem it very informative to copy-paste the comments into a main post for people to more easily see and read.
------------------------
Power, Politics & Influence
The Untold Truths on the Acquittal of Jose Tapales Villarosa
1. The Government, through the Department of Justice, found probable cause to file two (2) separate Informations against Jose T. Villarosa and his gang for the murder of Paul Quintos and Michael Quintos, sons of former Cong. Ricardo Quintos, the political rival of Villarosa in Occidental Mindoro.
2. After eight (8) years of trial, Hon. Judge Ma. Theresa Yadao of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City rendered a Decision finding Villarosa and his gang, GUILTY of double murder and imposed upon them the mandatory penalty of DEATH;
3. Jose Tapales Villarosa is the spouse of Congresswoman Girlie Villarosa, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, KAMPI Officer, President GMA’s rapid ally and constant travel companion. The public remembers Congresswoman Villarosa as the same “fall guy” who voluntarily and publicly admitted that KAMPI was the source of the P500K “assistance” to each governor and congressman present in Malacanang last October 11;
4. Jose Tapales Villarosa and his gang appealed the Decision of Judge Yadao to the Court of Appeals. On December 2006, Ex-Congressman and then Solicitor General Antonio Nachura filed a Manifestation recommending the acquittal of Jose Tapales Villarosa. Less than 60 days from the filing of said Manifestation, SolGen Nachura was elevated to the Supreme Court.
5. While supposedly being detained at the National Bilibid Prisons, Jose Tapales Villarosa enjoyed special privileges such as numerous “hospital leaves” without the prior consent of or knowledge of the Court of Appeals.
6. Jose Tapales Villarosa’s appeal was assigned to Justice Tijam of the 5th Division of the Court of Appeals, for study and report. As there were very disturbing reports on the partiality of Justice Tijam in favor of Jose Tapales Villarosa, a Motion to Inhibit Justice Tijam was filed by the Quintos family. A motion to suspend proceedings was also filed by the Quintos family.
7. The acquittal was handed out even though there were two (2) separate pending incidents, namely the Motion for Inhibition before the Supreme Court and the Motion to Suspend Proceedings before the 5th Division;
8. Justice Tijam and the 5th Division reasoned that while conspiracy existed and that gunmen and look-outs played out their respective roles and therefore deserved to be convicted, THERE WAS NO MASTERMIND. More importantly, while the confession of the gunman was entitled to full credence and was sufficient to uphold his conviction and those of his co-conspirators, insofar as powerful Villarosa was concerned, said confession cannot be used;
9. Justice Tijam and the 5th Division plainly disregarded the conspiratorial facts such as the established linkage between Villarosa and the gunmen before, during and after the murders, and that Villarosa gave financial assistance to the gunmen as proven by encahsed checks that were presented in evidence;
10. Justice Tijam and the 5th Division completely disregarded the testimony of Co. Winston Ebersole recounting how four (4) months prior to the murders, he attempted to arrest one of the gunmen on a robbery charge, only to be prevented by Villarosa. This gunman eventually disappeared only to be seen again on the night of December 13, 1997 repeatedly shooting Michael Quintos until his gun ran out of bullets. (A few weeks after his damaging testimony against Villarosa , Col. Ebersole was murdered.)
11. Justice Tijam and the 5th Division completely ignored and disregarded the confession of the one of the look-outs who disappeared from Mindoro right after the murders, only to be arrested in 2002 working as a security guard for an agency where Congresswoman Girlie Villarosa had been a long-time officer. Moreover, while in NBI custody by virtue of an outstanding warrant of arrest, Congresswoman Villarosa and her lawyer rushed to the NBI and tried to have the self-confessed look-out released to their custody, but this was aborted due to the timely arrival and vigorous protest of former Congressman Quintos.
12. Meanwhile, Malacanang in rather bad taste, considering the sensitiveness of the issue, immediately congratulated Congresswoman Villarosa on her “early Easter gift”. The acquittal apparently did wonders for Villarosa’s health, since he had been confined at the Makati Medical Center for months recuperating from “major lung surgery”: He walked out of the hospital smiling the afternoon the CA decision was handed down;
13. Under the Administration, the perception grown that there are two types of justice in this country, one for the rich and well connected, another for the hoi polloi. Those in the first category are granted bail for murder, never serve time in prison for corruption, and see their convictions for double murder overturned by the Court of Appeals. To the second category belong those who rot in prison for picking pockets to feed their family (Editorial, Philippine Star March 31, 2007).
14. Congressman Jose T. Villarosa is more equal than others. Established rules and jurisprudence may be twisted to suit his needs. Power, Politics and Influence have once again reared their ugly heads;
To the Quintos family, we sympathize and share your pain in the senseless loss of Paul and Michael.
To our dear friends Paul and Michael Quintos, we will continue to pray and soldier on for you. DIVINE JUSTICE will be yours.
JUSTICE FOR PAUL AND MICHAEL QUINTOS MOVEMENT
Concerned Citizens of Occidental Mindoro , Friends and Fraternity Brothers, Class of 1983 and 1988, Xavier School , University of the Asia & Pacific (Pioneer Batch) 1993
------------------------
Power, Politics & Influence
The Untold Truths on the Acquittal of Jose Tapales Villarosa
1. The Government, through the Department of Justice, found probable cause to file two (2) separate Informations against Jose T. Villarosa and his gang for the murder of Paul Quintos and Michael Quintos, sons of former Cong. Ricardo Quintos, the political rival of Villarosa in Occidental Mindoro.
2. After eight (8) years of trial, Hon. Judge Ma. Theresa Yadao of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City rendered a Decision finding Villarosa and his gang, GUILTY of double murder and imposed upon them the mandatory penalty of DEATH;
3. Jose Tapales Villarosa is the spouse of Congresswoman Girlie Villarosa, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, KAMPI Officer, President GMA’s rapid ally and constant travel companion. The public remembers Congresswoman Villarosa as the same “fall guy” who voluntarily and publicly admitted that KAMPI was the source of the P500K “assistance” to each governor and congressman present in Malacanang last October 11;
4. Jose Tapales Villarosa and his gang appealed the Decision of Judge Yadao to the Court of Appeals. On December 2006, Ex-Congressman and then Solicitor General Antonio Nachura filed a Manifestation recommending the acquittal of Jose Tapales Villarosa. Less than 60 days from the filing of said Manifestation, SolGen Nachura was elevated to the Supreme Court.
5. While supposedly being detained at the National Bilibid Prisons, Jose Tapales Villarosa enjoyed special privileges such as numerous “hospital leaves” without the prior consent of or knowledge of the Court of Appeals.
6. Jose Tapales Villarosa’s appeal was assigned to Justice Tijam of the 5th Division of the Court of Appeals, for study and report. As there were very disturbing reports on the partiality of Justice Tijam in favor of Jose Tapales Villarosa, a Motion to Inhibit Justice Tijam was filed by the Quintos family. A motion to suspend proceedings was also filed by the Quintos family.
7. The acquittal was handed out even though there were two (2) separate pending incidents, namely the Motion for Inhibition before the Supreme Court and the Motion to Suspend Proceedings before the 5th Division;
8. Justice Tijam and the 5th Division reasoned that while conspiracy existed and that gunmen and look-outs played out their respective roles and therefore deserved to be convicted, THERE WAS NO MASTERMIND. More importantly, while the confession of the gunman was entitled to full credence and was sufficient to uphold his conviction and those of his co-conspirators, insofar as powerful Villarosa was concerned, said confession cannot be used;
9. Justice Tijam and the 5th Division plainly disregarded the conspiratorial facts such as the established linkage between Villarosa and the gunmen before, during and after the murders, and that Villarosa gave financial assistance to the gunmen as proven by encahsed checks that were presented in evidence;
10. Justice Tijam and the 5th Division completely disregarded the testimony of Co. Winston Ebersole recounting how four (4) months prior to the murders, he attempted to arrest one of the gunmen on a robbery charge, only to be prevented by Villarosa. This gunman eventually disappeared only to be seen again on the night of December 13, 1997 repeatedly shooting Michael Quintos until his gun ran out of bullets. (A few weeks after his damaging testimony against Villarosa , Col. Ebersole was murdered.)
11. Justice Tijam and the 5th Division completely ignored and disregarded the confession of the one of the look-outs who disappeared from Mindoro right after the murders, only to be arrested in 2002 working as a security guard for an agency where Congresswoman Girlie Villarosa had been a long-time officer. Moreover, while in NBI custody by virtue of an outstanding warrant of arrest, Congresswoman Villarosa and her lawyer rushed to the NBI and tried to have the self-confessed look-out released to their custody, but this was aborted due to the timely arrival and vigorous protest of former Congressman Quintos.
12. Meanwhile, Malacanang in rather bad taste, considering the sensitiveness of the issue, immediately congratulated Congresswoman Villarosa on her “early Easter gift”. The acquittal apparently did wonders for Villarosa’s health, since he had been confined at the Makati Medical Center for months recuperating from “major lung surgery”: He walked out of the hospital smiling the afternoon the CA decision was handed down;
13. Under the Administration, the perception grown that there are two types of justice in this country, one for the rich and well connected, another for the hoi polloi. Those in the first category are granted bail for murder, never serve time in prison for corruption, and see their convictions for double murder overturned by the Court of Appeals. To the second category belong those who rot in prison for picking pockets to feed their family (Editorial, Philippine Star March 31, 2007).
14. Congressman Jose T. Villarosa is more equal than others. Established rules and jurisprudence may be twisted to suit his needs. Power, Politics and Influence have once again reared their ugly heads;
To the Quintos family, we sympathize and share your pain in the senseless loss of Paul and Michael.
To our dear friends Paul and Michael Quintos, we will continue to pray and soldier on for you. DIVINE JUSTICE will be yours.
JUSTICE FOR PAUL AND MICHAEL QUINTOS MOVEMENT
Concerned Citizens of Occidental Mindoro , Friends and Fraternity Brothers, Class of 1983 and 1988, Xavier School , University of the Asia & Pacific (Pioneer Batch) 1993
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Quintoses File Second Plea in Murder Case
(http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080414-130211/Quintoses-file-2nd-plea-in-murder-case)
MANILA, Philippines—The family of another Quintos brother is seeking the reversal of the Court of Appeals’ decision acquitting former Mindoro Occidental Rep. Jose Villarosa and three others in the Quintos double murder case.
Earlier, the parents of Michael T. Quintos, Paul’s younger brother, made the same plea.
In a partial motion for reconsideration, Paul’s wife said the appellate court ignored evidence that would have shown the participation of the four in the 1997 murders of the Quintos brothers.
The Quintos family argued the appellate court should not have decided on the case because they were still appealing the Supreme Court ruling that denied their motion to have Justice Noel Tijam inhibit himself from the case.
After eight years of trial, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Ma. Theresa Yadao found Villarosa and his co-accused guilty of double murder and sentenced them to death.
But the appellate court, in a decision penned by Tijam, reversed the murder convictions of Villarosa and farmers Ruben Balaguer, Gelito Bautista and Mario Tobias, but upheld the guilty verdicts on farmers Eduardo Hermoso, Manolito Matricio and Josue Ungsod.
The appellate court ruled Hermoso’s extrajudicial confession implicating all seven accused in the killings was admissible, but it could not be used to convict the former lawmaker and the three others since it was uncorroborated by other evidence.
The brothers were sons of Villarosa’s political rival, former Mindoro Occidental Gov. Ricardo Quintos.
Paul’s heirs said the appellate court focused on Hermoso’s extrajudicial confession made before the National Bureau of Investigation, where he had made another confession, and a judicial one, before the Mamburao Municipal Trial Court.
There was also plenty of evidence to prove the four men’s involvement in the crime, they pointed out.
“Moreover, what is frustrating and clearly erroneous is the ignorance of this Honorable Court of the other evidence of the Appellees showing the conspiracy between the Appellants in the killing of Paul and Michael Quintos,” they said.
Evidence ignored
Among those not considered by the court, they said, was the fact that Hermoso and Matricio were Villarosa’s political followers and illegal occupants of the Quintoses’ Golden Country Farms Inc.
They also insisted that Villarosa was present at the October 1997 meeting of the conspirators to the killing, and that Villarosa had given money to the families of Hermoso, Matricio and Balaguer.
Villarosa had interceded for Matricio when the latter was being arrested during a congressional hearing, they said, while another accused, Orlando Estanes, was employed by Villarosa’s wife.
Paul’s heirs said Estanes had issued a confession that interlocked with Hermoso’s. Since Hermoso’s and Estanes’ confessions corroborated each other, they bolstered the guilt of all seven accused, they said.
But this circumstantial evidence was ignored by the court, they said.
“From the foregoing, the Appellees humbly submit that the acquittal of the Appellant Villarosa and his cohorts was inevitable and that the decision of the Honorable Court is marred with grave abuse of discretion,” they said.
MANILA, Philippines—The family of another Quintos brother is seeking the reversal of the Court of Appeals’ decision acquitting former Mindoro Occidental Rep. Jose Villarosa and three others in the Quintos double murder case.
Earlier, the parents of Michael T. Quintos, Paul’s younger brother, made the same plea.
In a partial motion for reconsideration, Paul’s wife said the appellate court ignored evidence that would have shown the participation of the four in the 1997 murders of the Quintos brothers.
The Quintos family argued the appellate court should not have decided on the case because they were still appealing the Supreme Court ruling that denied their motion to have Justice Noel Tijam inhibit himself from the case.
After eight years of trial, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Ma. Theresa Yadao found Villarosa and his co-accused guilty of double murder and sentenced them to death.
But the appellate court, in a decision penned by Tijam, reversed the murder convictions of Villarosa and farmers Ruben Balaguer, Gelito Bautista and Mario Tobias, but upheld the guilty verdicts on farmers Eduardo Hermoso, Manolito Matricio and Josue Ungsod.
The appellate court ruled Hermoso’s extrajudicial confession implicating all seven accused in the killings was admissible, but it could not be used to convict the former lawmaker and the three others since it was uncorroborated by other evidence.
The brothers were sons of Villarosa’s political rival, former Mindoro Occidental Gov. Ricardo Quintos.
Paul’s heirs said the appellate court focused on Hermoso’s extrajudicial confession made before the National Bureau of Investigation, where he had made another confession, and a judicial one, before the Mamburao Municipal Trial Court.
There was also plenty of evidence to prove the four men’s involvement in the crime, they pointed out.
“Moreover, what is frustrating and clearly erroneous is the ignorance of this Honorable Court of the other evidence of the Appellees showing the conspiracy between the Appellants in the killing of Paul and Michael Quintos,” they said.
Evidence ignored
Among those not considered by the court, they said, was the fact that Hermoso and Matricio were Villarosa’s political followers and illegal occupants of the Quintoses’ Golden Country Farms Inc.
They also insisted that Villarosa was present at the October 1997 meeting of the conspirators to the killing, and that Villarosa had given money to the families of Hermoso, Matricio and Balaguer.
Villarosa had interceded for Matricio when the latter was being arrested during a congressional hearing, they said, while another accused, Orlando Estanes, was employed by Villarosa’s wife.
Paul’s heirs said Estanes had issued a confession that interlocked with Hermoso’s. Since Hermoso’s and Estanes’ confessions corroborated each other, they bolstered the guilt of all seven accused, they said.
But this circumstantial evidence was ignored by the court, they said.
“From the foregoing, the Appellees humbly submit that the acquittal of the Appellant Villarosa and his cohorts was inevitable and that the decision of the Honorable Court is marred with grave abuse of discretion,” they said.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Victims' Kin Seek Reversal of Villarosa Acquittal
(http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080411-129682/Victims-kin-seek-reversal-of-Villarosa-acquittal)
Since a conspiracy to kill the Quintos brothers existed, all the participants should have been convicted.
The family of Michael and Paul Quintos made the argument in seeking the reversal of the Court of Appeals’ acquittal last month of former Mindoro Occidental Rep. Jose Villarosa and three others in the killings.
In the motion for reconsideration they filed separately in the appellate court for Michael, who was single, his parents also said that it appeared from the way the case was going that the acquittal of the four was certain.
The family of Paul Quintos, who was married with children, will file a separate motion for reconsideration.
Aside from Villarosa, farmers Ruben Balaguer, Gelito Bautista and Mario Tobias were acquitted and ordered freed by the appellate court.
The court, on the other hand, upheld the convictions of farmers Eduardo Hermoso, Manolito Matricio and Josue Ungsod who were sentenced to 40 years in prison for each count of murder and ordered to pay damages to the Quintoses’ heirs.
Hermoso, Matricio and Ungsod, in two separate motions for reconsideration they also filed in the Court of Appeals, questioned the affirmation of their guilt.
The court had ruled that Hermoso’s confession implicating all seven men in the December 1997 killing of the Quintos brothers was admissible, but could not be used to pin down Villarosa and the three others because it was uncorroborated by other evidence.
Hermoso confessed to being the gunman and admitted being present at the Oct. 7, 1997, meeting during which Villarosa allegedly discussed killing Michael.
In its motion, Michael’s family said the appellate court erred when it stated that the rules of court require that the participation of a coconspirator named in the statement of another conspirator must be proved by other evidence. They said only the existence of a conspiracy must be shown by separate evidence.
“In this case, the existence of a conspiracy has been sufficiently shown by independent evidence, namely, the eyewitnesses who testified that Hermoso, Matricio, Ungsod and other persons acted as one and in concert to kill the unsuspecting brothers,” Michael’s family said.
They also said the court’s ruling that the extrajudicial statement made by Hermoso was not enough to convict the four men was “not true, incomplete and misleading.”
In the first place, they said, Hermoso made a judicial statement to the Mamburao court, aside from the extrajudicial one he made to the National Bureau of Investigation.
They said Hermoso’s statements were corroborated by Orlando Estanes, who had been arrested earlier in connection with the murders, in the latter’s two sworn statements.
Since a conspiracy to kill the Quintos brothers existed, all the participants should have been convicted.
The family of Michael and Paul Quintos made the argument in seeking the reversal of the Court of Appeals’ acquittal last month of former Mindoro Occidental Rep. Jose Villarosa and three others in the killings.
In the motion for reconsideration they filed separately in the appellate court for Michael, who was single, his parents also said that it appeared from the way the case was going that the acquittal of the four was certain.
The family of Paul Quintos, who was married with children, will file a separate motion for reconsideration.
Aside from Villarosa, farmers Ruben Balaguer, Gelito Bautista and Mario Tobias were acquitted and ordered freed by the appellate court.
The court, on the other hand, upheld the convictions of farmers Eduardo Hermoso, Manolito Matricio and Josue Ungsod who were sentenced to 40 years in prison for each count of murder and ordered to pay damages to the Quintoses’ heirs.
Hermoso, Matricio and Ungsod, in two separate motions for reconsideration they also filed in the Court of Appeals, questioned the affirmation of their guilt.
The court had ruled that Hermoso’s confession implicating all seven men in the December 1997 killing of the Quintos brothers was admissible, but could not be used to pin down Villarosa and the three others because it was uncorroborated by other evidence.
Hermoso confessed to being the gunman and admitted being present at the Oct. 7, 1997, meeting during which Villarosa allegedly discussed killing Michael.
In its motion, Michael’s family said the appellate court erred when it stated that the rules of court require that the participation of a coconspirator named in the statement of another conspirator must be proved by other evidence. They said only the existence of a conspiracy must be shown by separate evidence.
“In this case, the existence of a conspiracy has been sufficiently shown by independent evidence, namely, the eyewitnesses who testified that Hermoso, Matricio, Ungsod and other persons acted as one and in concert to kill the unsuspecting brothers,” Michael’s family said.
They also said the court’s ruling that the extrajudicial statement made by Hermoso was not enough to convict the four men was “not true, incomplete and misleading.”
In the first place, they said, Hermoso made a judicial statement to the Mamburao court, aside from the extrajudicial one he made to the National Bureau of Investigation.
They said Hermoso’s statements were corroborated by Orlando Estanes, who had been arrested earlier in connection with the murders, in the latter’s two sworn statements.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Is the (Woman) Deputy Speaker for Women?
(This is culled from Women of the House, an article by PCIJ dated 7 September 2007.)
The 14th Congress boasts of having the most number of lady-solons in its roll. Observably, however, not most of them are staunch promoters and/or defenders of causes of/for women.
Of course, outside of party-list groups for women rights, we have our memory of Leticia Ramos-Shahani. She and Santanina Rasul were the first female senators in the post-Marcos Congress. While she rhetorically refused to be “a class legislator,” her first bill was RA 6725 that seeks to strengthen the prohibition of discrimination against women and workplace. In 1994 too she was able to introduced into the national budget the mandatory allocation of five percent of the budget of every government department and agency for gender development. Further, according to her, the two laws on rape (RA 8353 redefining the crime of rape and RA 8505 which provides assistance to rape victims and their families) are the centerpieces of her feminist legislation.
Congress observers say few women in the Lower House can actually matched Shahani (and Rasul and the late Raul Roco – the honorary woman) for their pro-women legislative efforts. An exemption may be Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, who was a strong advocate not only of women’s rights but also of gays and lesbians during her stint in Congress. (She is now the provincial governor of Aurora).
And, so, what are women-solons - except those with women’s-issues activists -- doing for women issues?
Observers for one say that women legislators choose to be quiet because of their lack of skills to defend bills on the floor. Likewise, women solons have different profiles – from the most conservative to the most progressive – thus, explaining why they do not act as one.
In fact, several female legislators ended up in their seats primarily because they belong to political families – and not because they were seen as potential supporters of women’s causes! The deputy speaker of the House, Amelita Villarosa, herself took the seat vacated by her husband JTV several years ago.
Interestingly, when Villarosa was named deputy speaker, the former House Speaker, JDV himself said that her (political) appointment to the post “(was) to address the gender imbalance in the House, so that women legislators will be represented in the House leadership.” Paining to explain her appointed, though, Girlie Villarosa reportedly said: “I was elected as a deputy speaker, period, not a deputy speaker for women. There is no such position in the House… I am deputy speaker for everyone, not just for a particular sector.”
At the very least, Villarosa is never known for women’s causes. Of the 57 house bills she filed in the 13th Congress, only one could be described as being pro-women. It was House Bill 4948, seeking to expand the grounds for legal separation and to amend the definition of psychological incapacity under the Family Code.
For the current (14th) Congress, Villarosa says she co-authors two major pieces of legislation on women. The first being the Reproductive Health Care Bill; the second is the Magna Carta for Women, which would “operationalize” the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), an international women’s rights treaty to which the Philippines is signatory.
If Villarosa’s output as (women) deputy speaker is to be a gauge, she is miserably failing the women’s rights advocates who expect her to fight for the women’s issues with all her muster.
Hontiveros-Baraquel says: “Villarosa’s election is a victory for women in the sense that it created gender balance. But it is yet to become a fully realizable victory (until) (she) (lends) her position and influence to advance women’s causes.”
To which Senator Legarda agrees: “Women legislators have to support women-related legislations. Women comprise half of our population, and while women in our country are considered better off than (women in other cultures) in terms of rights and welfare, there is much to be desired in terms of women’s participation in governance and decision-making. So those who have the opportunity to speak up for other women because of the positions and posts that they hold must do so with zeal and dedication.”
Very diplomatically put, I would say.
But it boils down to this challenge: If you cannot, then give way to the more able.
The 14th Congress boasts of having the most number of lady-solons in its roll. Observably, however, not most of them are staunch promoters and/or defenders of causes of/for women.
Of course, outside of party-list groups for women rights, we have our memory of Leticia Ramos-Shahani. She and Santanina Rasul were the first female senators in the post-Marcos Congress. While she rhetorically refused to be “a class legislator,” her first bill was RA 6725 that seeks to strengthen the prohibition of discrimination against women and workplace. In 1994 too she was able to introduced into the national budget the mandatory allocation of five percent of the budget of every government department and agency for gender development. Further, according to her, the two laws on rape (RA 8353 redefining the crime of rape and RA 8505 which provides assistance to rape victims and their families) are the centerpieces of her feminist legislation.
Congress observers say few women in the Lower House can actually matched Shahani (and Rasul and the late Raul Roco – the honorary woman) for their pro-women legislative efforts. An exemption may be Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, who was a strong advocate not only of women’s rights but also of gays and lesbians during her stint in Congress. (She is now the provincial governor of Aurora).
And, so, what are women-solons - except those with women’s-issues activists -- doing for women issues?
Observers for one say that women legislators choose to be quiet because of their lack of skills to defend bills on the floor. Likewise, women solons have different profiles – from the most conservative to the most progressive – thus, explaining why they do not act as one.
In fact, several female legislators ended up in their seats primarily because they belong to political families – and not because they were seen as potential supporters of women’s causes! The deputy speaker of the House, Amelita Villarosa, herself took the seat vacated by her husband JTV several years ago.
Interestingly, when Villarosa was named deputy speaker, the former House Speaker, JDV himself said that her (political) appointment to the post “(was) to address the gender imbalance in the House, so that women legislators will be represented in the House leadership.” Paining to explain her appointed, though, Girlie Villarosa reportedly said: “I was elected as a deputy speaker, period, not a deputy speaker for women. There is no such position in the House… I am deputy speaker for everyone, not just for a particular sector.”
At the very least, Villarosa is never known for women’s causes. Of the 57 house bills she filed in the 13th Congress, only one could be described as being pro-women. It was House Bill 4948, seeking to expand the grounds for legal separation and to amend the definition of psychological incapacity under the Family Code.
For the current (14th) Congress, Villarosa says she co-authors two major pieces of legislation on women. The first being the Reproductive Health Care Bill; the second is the Magna Carta for Women, which would “operationalize” the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), an international women’s rights treaty to which the Philippines is signatory.
If Villarosa’s output as (women) deputy speaker is to be a gauge, she is miserably failing the women’s rights advocates who expect her to fight for the women’s issues with all her muster.
Hontiveros-Baraquel says: “Villarosa’s election is a victory for women in the sense that it created gender balance. But it is yet to become a fully realizable victory (until) (she) (lends) her position and influence to advance women’s causes.”
To which Senator Legarda agrees: “Women legislators have to support women-related legislations. Women comprise half of our population, and while women in our country are considered better off than (women in other cultures) in terms of rights and welfare, there is much to be desired in terms of women’s participation in governance and decision-making. So those who have the opportunity to speak up for other women because of the positions and posts that they hold must do so with zeal and dedication.”
Very diplomatically put, I would say.
But it boils down to this challenge: If you cannot, then give way to the more able.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Where have our values gone?
Some weeks ago, the governor of New York Eliot Spitzer was forced to resign from his office because of a scandal. He engaged the service of a high-profile prostitute for his sexual gratification. More than a month ago, a Malaysian health official was caught by a CCTV inside a hotel room with “a friend of (his)”. He too was sacked from his office. Some time ago, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin, resigned from his post following the accusations of corruption; he is facing them now. During the same time, there was a Japanese Prime Minister who was joined by his men in resigning on account of their similar scandal. (Actually, one of them even hang himself out of shame…)
Values – although still being debated whether these are innate – are the principles, standards or quality, which guide human actions. Personal values evolve from circumstances with the external world; these are changeable over time. Those that were developed early in life may be resistant to change. These are derived from those of particular groups or systems – such as culture, religion, and political party.
Let us compare the scenario in Occidental Mindoro last Friday when the pardoned JTV came home to San Jose. After all the shame and disgrace that he heaped upon himself and the province that he once ruled as a governor and represented as congressman after the RTC under Judge Yadao found him guilty of double murder, his homecoming was prepared as if a king was going to return to his turf and he was welcomed as dramatically as possible.
Well, what could account for the difference?
I would contend that values spell the distinction. And, at play in here is the personal value of the main persona of the scandal. And I would like to point out to hiya, Filipino as we are.
Hiya is the consciousness of dishonor or disgrace. It comes from being humiliated for our behavior.
Another values that I would like to stress is the society’s acceptance and tolerance of the practice of right and wrong. In the examples that I cited -- unfortunately from the other countries -- the people of, say, New York, Thailand, Japan and even Malaysia knew and accepted the fact that a discredited leader has no more place in the government, much less a moral ascendancy to govern them – which is tantamount to entrusting their future into the leader’s hands.
The homecoming of JTV very clearly manifested that these two values of hiya and the communal sense of right and wrong – at least, in San Jose – are inoperative. And, of the two, I would like to dwell more on the people’s sense of right and wrong. Which to me is very clearly superseded by other values – like pagtanaw ng utang na loob (Pinaaral kasi ni JTV! or Natulungan kasi ni JTV) – or simply formed by being-un-informed of who really this guy is, while in fact at the base of our personal and societal values it is the sense of right and wrong that should be found, serving as the foundation and the unifying elements as it were of our other moral standards…
If some people consider JTV’s homecoming as a sort of a political comeback, I definitely see it as an indication of our value-crisis…
Sino pa kaya ang dapat magtuwid ng ganitong kalagayan?
Gusto ko sanang manawagan sa Simbahan…
Values – although still being debated whether these are innate – are the principles, standards or quality, which guide human actions. Personal values evolve from circumstances with the external world; these are changeable over time. Those that were developed early in life may be resistant to change. These are derived from those of particular groups or systems – such as culture, religion, and political party.
Let us compare the scenario in Occidental Mindoro last Friday when the pardoned JTV came home to San Jose. After all the shame and disgrace that he heaped upon himself and the province that he once ruled as a governor and represented as congressman after the RTC under Judge Yadao found him guilty of double murder, his homecoming was prepared as if a king was going to return to his turf and he was welcomed as dramatically as possible.
Well, what could account for the difference?
I would contend that values spell the distinction. And, at play in here is the personal value of the main persona of the scandal. And I would like to point out to hiya, Filipino as we are.
Hiya is the consciousness of dishonor or disgrace. It comes from being humiliated for our behavior.
Another values that I would like to stress is the society’s acceptance and tolerance of the practice of right and wrong. In the examples that I cited -- unfortunately from the other countries -- the people of, say, New York, Thailand, Japan and even Malaysia knew and accepted the fact that a discredited leader has no more place in the government, much less a moral ascendancy to govern them – which is tantamount to entrusting their future into the leader’s hands.
The homecoming of JTV very clearly manifested that these two values of hiya and the communal sense of right and wrong – at least, in San Jose – are inoperative. And, of the two, I would like to dwell more on the people’s sense of right and wrong. Which to me is very clearly superseded by other values – like pagtanaw ng utang na loob (Pinaaral kasi ni JTV! or Natulungan kasi ni JTV) – or simply formed by being-un-informed of who really this guy is, while in fact at the base of our personal and societal values it is the sense of right and wrong that should be found, serving as the foundation and the unifying elements as it were of our other moral standards…
If some people consider JTV’s homecoming as a sort of a political comeback, I definitely see it as an indication of our value-crisis…
Sino pa kaya ang dapat magtuwid ng ganitong kalagayan?
Gusto ko sanang manawagan sa Simbahan…
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
How's our Representative?
JTV says Didaskalos has a strong sentiment against his wife, the Deputy Speaker of the House. Didaskalos thinks so, too. But he's not without reason.
Consider this: She was elected into Congress in order to represent the people of Occidental Mindoro in the lawmaking body for the Philippine Republic. And, from this viewpoint, one might ask: so, how's she so far?
I would refer you to http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?congress=14&id=villarosa-ma#. This site is the data bank of the Philippine Congress especially about the authorship or sponsorship of individual solons.
Well, according to the site, Villaroze -- for the 14th Congress -- already has more than 30 house bills under her name. But what is observable are the following: for one, all these house bills have the same label pertaining to their status: PENDING. Secondly, Villarosa is really until to date still has to come up with a bill that's going to be a landmark legislation. Most of hers are too local in scope -- for instance, establishing a school named after a former governor with whom she or her husband share(s) their surname, or appropriating a fund for the concreting of Villarosa Street in Mamburao. Thirdly, most of the bills that Villarosa has filed in the 14th Congress are actually the bills that she herself in the 13th Congress -- Remember, the costliest Congress? -- but were all shelved? And, finally, one suspects that the reason for Villarosa's filing of so many "pagawaing bayan" is pertinent to her CDF -- particularly, since CDF at the present is no longer handed in to the reputable solons in cold cash, but most in the form of projects to be handled by government line agencies like the DepEd or the DPWH.
An unsolicited advice for Madame Girlie: Ma'am, you enjoy your perks from the taxes paid by us as you represent us in Philippine Congress. Puwede po bang seryosohin na lamang ninyo ang paggawa ng batas, at bawasan na ang pagiging alalay ng iyong Pangulo?
Anyway, Ma'am, you've gotten your heart's desire.. You're husband is already OFFICIALLY freed..
Please, ... for the sake of Occidental Mindoro.
Consider this: She was elected into Congress in order to represent the people of Occidental Mindoro in the lawmaking body for the Philippine Republic. And, from this viewpoint, one might ask: so, how's she so far?
I would refer you to http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?congress=14&id=villarosa-ma#. This site is the data bank of the Philippine Congress especially about the authorship or sponsorship of individual solons.
Well, according to the site, Villaroze -- for the 14th Congress -- already has more than 30 house bills under her name. But what is observable are the following: for one, all these house bills have the same label pertaining to their status: PENDING. Secondly, Villarosa is really until to date still has to come up with a bill that's going to be a landmark legislation. Most of hers are too local in scope -- for instance, establishing a school named after a former governor with whom she or her husband share(s) their surname, or appropriating a fund for the concreting of Villarosa Street in Mamburao. Thirdly, most of the bills that Villarosa has filed in the 14th Congress are actually the bills that she herself in the 13th Congress -- Remember, the costliest Congress? -- but were all shelved? And, finally, one suspects that the reason for Villarosa's filing of so many "pagawaing bayan" is pertinent to her CDF -- particularly, since CDF at the present is no longer handed in to the reputable solons in cold cash, but most in the form of projects to be handled by government line agencies like the DepEd or the DPWH.
An unsolicited advice for Madame Girlie: Ma'am, you enjoy your perks from the taxes paid by us as you represent us in Philippine Congress. Puwede po bang seryosohin na lamang ninyo ang paggawa ng batas, at bawasan na ang pagiging alalay ng iyong Pangulo?
Anyway, Ma'am, you've gotten your heart's desire.. You're husband is already OFFICIALLY freed..
Please, ... for the sake of Occidental Mindoro.
Of Which Side Are You, Sir?
Last Friday, the supporters of the acquitted murderer Jose T. Villarosa enthusiastically welcomed his homecoming to San Jose. There was a parade, where JTV was made to ride on an open rear section of a car, with two -- or more than two, who knows? -- bodyguards; emotional was the throng of the supporters, with some shedding tears upon the sight of their leader and on hearing their leader's speech; a thanksgiving Mass was celebrated on the Cathedral, with no less than the Parish Priest of the Cathedral officiating -- he must be the priest-of-the-day, or his assistant pastors must have their respective schedules; and a press conference was held.
At long last, the "efforts" of the Deputy Speaker of the House cum "alalay" of the President of the Strong Republic paid off. What I heard lately simply confirmed what I was expecting to happen -- that is, that JTV's acquittal was a handiwork of The Palace after Madame Girlie poured out her crocodile tears following the JTV-pronounced lung cancer that afflicts him. (What's unconventional about this sickness -- to state the obvious -- was the absence of any pronouncement from the doctor, or the availability of any medical transcript that the-man-of-the-hour really has this life-threatening illness... Unless JTV, on account of his resolve to make his years behind bars productive, decided to take a course on medicine and passed the medical licensure exam. Who knows?)
But, before we get sidelined from the topic of our post for today, I would like to point out that, during the press conference held in his bailiwick in Bubog, JTV BADMOUTHED the Church and the priests. One might wonder why; to him/her, my answer is well accordingly JTV never sat well with a number of the diocese' clergy. I repeat -- only with some. For definitely among the priests in Mindoro, one is his relative; one or two or three or even more are recipients of his "benevolence;" and one even became his candidate for a provincial post last 2007.
Yes, this posting is about the last priest that I referred to -- him who ran for gubernatorial post. For JTV to badmouth the Church is no surprise to me. I knew him to really have a "foul-smell emitting mouth" -- not that he is badbreath, for he has a fortune to procure for his use drums of Listerine sourced out from the misery of electric consumers in Occ. Mindoro (remember his connection to and the benefits he reaped out of the exclusive contract of OMECO to IPC, which he previously owned?), but that he is simply known to have badmouthing anyone and everyone whose demeanor or attitude or principle he does not like his way of life.
JTV is practically cursing the Church -- and, what I knew is that the employees of the Church-owned DZVT, who were invited to invite the homecoming as a media event, walked-out! But what was a sight to behold was the continued presence of the priest-turned-political-pawn during that part of the press con, as if JTV was proclaiming the Gospel from the ambo!
Hu!!!!
What has the Church done to you, Sir (pun intended for not addressing you Father), that you publicly betrayed your true color -- that is, that to date you are clearly on the side of your political benefactor and in effect you have turned your back from the faith community leaders who were once your co-ministers and, until now by virtue of your ordination -- if my college religious education is rightly remembered -- are your sacramental brothers????
This is practically the problem with people who have never known principles. They are backbone-less, that they are swayed where the strong wind goes. Now, as in a bamboo, they are tilted towards you (and this gives an impression that they are on your side); by and by, they tilt towards the opposite direction (and profess their loyalty to whoever or whichever side they find themselves in).
Finally, Sir... Of which side are you?
At long last, the "efforts" of the Deputy Speaker of the House cum "alalay" of the President of the Strong Republic paid off. What I heard lately simply confirmed what I was expecting to happen -- that is, that JTV's acquittal was a handiwork of The Palace after Madame Girlie poured out her crocodile tears following the JTV-pronounced lung cancer that afflicts him. (What's unconventional about this sickness -- to state the obvious -- was the absence of any pronouncement from the doctor, or the availability of any medical transcript that the-man-of-the-hour really has this life-threatening illness... Unless JTV, on account of his resolve to make his years behind bars productive, decided to take a course on medicine and passed the medical licensure exam. Who knows?)
But, before we get sidelined from the topic of our post for today, I would like to point out that, during the press conference held in his bailiwick in Bubog, JTV BADMOUTHED the Church and the priests. One might wonder why; to him/her, my answer is well accordingly JTV never sat well with a number of the diocese' clergy. I repeat -- only with some. For definitely among the priests in Mindoro, one is his relative; one or two or three or even more are recipients of his "benevolence;" and one even became his candidate for a provincial post last 2007.
Yes, this posting is about the last priest that I referred to -- him who ran for gubernatorial post. For JTV to badmouth the Church is no surprise to me. I knew him to really have a "foul-smell emitting mouth" -- not that he is badbreath, for he has a fortune to procure for his use drums of Listerine sourced out from the misery of electric consumers in Occ. Mindoro (remember his connection to and the benefits he reaped out of the exclusive contract of OMECO to IPC, which he previously owned?), but that he is simply known to have badmouthing anyone and everyone whose demeanor or attitude or principle he does not like his way of life.
JTV is practically cursing the Church -- and, what I knew is that the employees of the Church-owned DZVT, who were invited to invite the homecoming as a media event, walked-out! But what was a sight to behold was the continued presence of the priest-turned-political-pawn during that part of the press con, as if JTV was proclaiming the Gospel from the ambo!
Hu!!!!
What has the Church done to you, Sir (pun intended for not addressing you Father), that you publicly betrayed your true color -- that is, that to date you are clearly on the side of your political benefactor and in effect you have turned your back from the faith community leaders who were once your co-ministers and, until now by virtue of your ordination -- if my college religious education is rightly remembered -- are your sacramental brothers????
This is practically the problem with people who have never known principles. They are backbone-less, that they are swayed where the strong wind goes. Now, as in a bamboo, they are tilted towards you (and this gives an impression that they are on your side); by and by, they tilt towards the opposite direction (and profess their loyalty to whoever or whichever side they find themselves in).
Finally, Sir... Of which side are you?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
He was actually released... long before his acquital??
Exoneration does wonders for Villarosa’s health
By DJ Yap, Jocelyn Uy, Julie M. AurelioPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 03:29:00 03/20/2008
MANILA, Philippines—His exoneration appears to have done wonders to the health of former Rep. Jose Villarosa, who had been confined at the Makati Medical Center where he said he was still recuperating from “major” lung surgery more than two months ago.
Villarosa left the hospital Wednesday afternoon to go to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) facility in Muntinlupa City for his official discharge, according to NBP officer in charge Supt. Ramon Reyes.
He came with his wife, Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa, and about five bodyguards, Reyes said.
“He was smiling but he looked very frail,” the prison official said.
By then, the former congressman, whose conviction for the murders of the sons of a political rival was overturned by the Court of Appeals, was already garbed in civilian clothes, “a light blue polo shirt and dark pants,” Reyes said.
Reyes said prison authorities officially released Villarosa from the NBP custody Wednesday afternoon.
“He is no longer in the custody of the NBP. He’s free to go,” the prison official said.
Release order
The correctional facility received the order of release from the Court of Appeals midmorning Wednesday and Villarosa, a former congressman from Occidental Mindoro, was formally discharged at past 4 p.m.
The release order was signed by the appellate court’s 5th Division Justices Martin Villarama Jr., Noel Tijam and Sesinando Villon, Reyes said.
Villarosa said the favorable court decision was expected because his lawyer, Estelito Mendoza, had raised very good points in asking the appellate court to overturn the guilty verdict.
“We appealed the decision because we believe that we are not guilty. So I am very thankful for the decision of the Court of Appeals,” he said.
Based on ‘conjectures’
His family hailed his acquittal as a “triumph of justice” and a vindication of his innocence.
“He’s happy that justice prevailed,” Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa said in a phone interview shortly after visiting her 65-year-old husband at the Makati Medical Center.
“I’m glad that justice prevailed. My husband has been innocent all this time,” she added.
To celebrate his acquittal, his family might hold a reunion in Tagaytay City after his release from the hospital.
The Villarosa family expected the acquittal because Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Teresa Yadao had convicted him and his co-accused, and sentenced them to death based on “conjectures,” according to Villarosa’s wife.
“My husband can’t be in two places at the same time,” she said, referring to prosecution testimonies supposedly given weight by the judge.
The death sentence was lowered to life imprisonment after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo abolished the death penalty.
Villarosa made a last visit to the NBP to pack his things and give away some personal items.
An insider spotted Villarosa back at the NBP at around 4 p.m., packing his luggage at his “kubol” (a structure like a house where he was detained) at the maximum security compound.
“He auctioned his other stuffs like his electric fan to other inmates. It seems like he’ll spend Holy Week a free man,” said the source, who asked not to be named.
Cask gifts to inmates
The insider added that as a last act of generosity, Villarosa gave his close “staff” of inmates about P500 each.
Other prisoners got P100 as a going away gift.
The source noted that Villarosa sported a shaven head and had visibly slimmed down after reportedly undergoing an operation.
In December, Villarosa went on hospital leave and underwent surgery reportedly for cancer. He has stayed out of the NBP since then.
Doctors operated on him and removed his left lung in early January this year. He has been undergoing treatment since then.
Villarosa also reportedly made a last visit to his capiz-making livelihood stall at the maximum security compound to assure the workers that operations would continue.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer source said he spotted Villarosa exiting the NBP’s Gate 1 at around 6:50 p.m.
Villarosa told Reyes that he would likely be back at the Makati Medical Center very soon, but he did not say when.
Itching to return to his hometown, Villarosa had said before he went to the NBP that he was expecting his doctors to release him by the end of next week.
“My doctors said I should stay here two to three weeks more. But by the end of next week, I could be out of the hospital,” he said in a phone interview with the Inquirer Wednesday.
Medical furloughs
In his two-year incarceration, Villarosa had enjoyed “medical furloughs,” which were approved by jail authorities and the Department of Justice.
Ricardo Quintos, father of the slain brothers, had complained to the appellate court about Villarosa being brought to the hospital in December, contending that the latter was not really sick and only wanted to enjoy the amenities of the private hospital which are more luxurious compared with the prison facilities.
Sources in the NBP earlier said that the former lawmaker had even put up a livelihood center and a five-foot deep “pond” next to his “kubol” to pass time.
Warning to NBP
In its decision, the Court of Appeals took to task the NBP for failing to inform it of Villarosa’s hospitalization.
It warned the NBP that failing to inform the court of a prisoner’s release for hospitalization or any other purpose would be dealt more severely next time.
The appellate court asked the NBP to inform it if Villarosa had returned to the NBP or was still at the hospital.
Glad about the appellate court’s ruling, he is set to get busy with politics and his businesses again and might file a case against the judge that meted him the death penalty two years ago.
When he returns to his hometown next week, he said he would attend full-time to his fish ponds, cattle ranch and mango plantation.
“I would also resume my meetings with my allies in politics,” he told the Inquirer on the phone before he went to Muntinlupa.
Disbarment
Villarosa said he would meet up with his lawyer to talk about the possibility of filing a disbarment case against Yadao “to preclude her from doing judicial injustice to others.”
He said there could be others who suffered his fate, but unlike him, chose to keep silent.
The former lawmaker accused the judge of handing down an “unjudicial verdict” by coming up with conjectures in his case.
“In her decision, she said I could have used a helicopter to get to Congress on time after a supposed meeting with the New People’s Army in Mindoro. But this was not in any of the affidavits of the prosecution,” he said.
Time to move on
With the acquittal, the Villarosa couple and their five children could “now move on with their lives” without the tag “murder convict” attached to the elder Villarosa’s name.
“We will go on with our life. But it’s much nicer having the shadow of conviction reversed finally,” said Villarosa’s wife, 64, who rued that she had often been referred to in the news as the wife of a “convicted murderer.”
Traumatized
The stigma of the Villarosa patriarch’s conviction and later incarceration at the NBP took a heavier toll on the children, especially the youngest who is now 19.
“Our children were traumatized. When my husband was convicted, the youngest was in grade school, and his grades took a nose-dive. It’s a good thing a guidance counselor was around to guide him,” the congresswoman said.
“The trauma made them stronger, but I wouldn’t wish that on my friends,” she added.
Otherwise, the whole experience brought the family even closer together.
Much closer now
“We bonded together; we’re much closer now. The family is intact all this time. We’re stronger than ever,” Ms Villarosa said. “We look forward to moving on with our lives, with our children and grandchildren.”
The Villarosa couple have three boys and two girls, aged 19 to 38, and eight grandchildren.
The Villarosas are looking forward to spending the Holy Week together at the Makati Medical Center, or at their home in Makati City, if Villarosa is discharged.
“It all depends on the doctor,” Ms Villarosa said, when asked if her husband would be discharged in the next two weeks. With a report from TJ Burgonio
By DJ Yap, Jocelyn Uy, Julie M. AurelioPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 03:29:00 03/20/2008
MANILA, Philippines—His exoneration appears to have done wonders to the health of former Rep. Jose Villarosa, who had been confined at the Makati Medical Center where he said he was still recuperating from “major” lung surgery more than two months ago.
Villarosa left the hospital Wednesday afternoon to go to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) facility in Muntinlupa City for his official discharge, according to NBP officer in charge Supt. Ramon Reyes.
He came with his wife, Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa, and about five bodyguards, Reyes said.
“He was smiling but he looked very frail,” the prison official said.
By then, the former congressman, whose conviction for the murders of the sons of a political rival was overturned by the Court of Appeals, was already garbed in civilian clothes, “a light blue polo shirt and dark pants,” Reyes said.
Reyes said prison authorities officially released Villarosa from the NBP custody Wednesday afternoon.
“He is no longer in the custody of the NBP. He’s free to go,” the prison official said.
Release order
The correctional facility received the order of release from the Court of Appeals midmorning Wednesday and Villarosa, a former congressman from Occidental Mindoro, was formally discharged at past 4 p.m.
The release order was signed by the appellate court’s 5th Division Justices Martin Villarama Jr., Noel Tijam and Sesinando Villon, Reyes said.
Villarosa said the favorable court decision was expected because his lawyer, Estelito Mendoza, had raised very good points in asking the appellate court to overturn the guilty verdict.
“We appealed the decision because we believe that we are not guilty. So I am very thankful for the decision of the Court of Appeals,” he said.
Based on ‘conjectures’
His family hailed his acquittal as a “triumph of justice” and a vindication of his innocence.
“He’s happy that justice prevailed,” Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa said in a phone interview shortly after visiting her 65-year-old husband at the Makati Medical Center.
“I’m glad that justice prevailed. My husband has been innocent all this time,” she added.
To celebrate his acquittal, his family might hold a reunion in Tagaytay City after his release from the hospital.
The Villarosa family expected the acquittal because Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Teresa Yadao had convicted him and his co-accused, and sentenced them to death based on “conjectures,” according to Villarosa’s wife.
“My husband can’t be in two places at the same time,” she said, referring to prosecution testimonies supposedly given weight by the judge.
The death sentence was lowered to life imprisonment after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo abolished the death penalty.
Villarosa made a last visit to the NBP to pack his things and give away some personal items.
An insider spotted Villarosa back at the NBP at around 4 p.m., packing his luggage at his “kubol” (a structure like a house where he was detained) at the maximum security compound.
“He auctioned his other stuffs like his electric fan to other inmates. It seems like he’ll spend Holy Week a free man,” said the source, who asked not to be named.
Cask gifts to inmates
The insider added that as a last act of generosity, Villarosa gave his close “staff” of inmates about P500 each.
Other prisoners got P100 as a going away gift.
The source noted that Villarosa sported a shaven head and had visibly slimmed down after reportedly undergoing an operation.
In December, Villarosa went on hospital leave and underwent surgery reportedly for cancer. He has stayed out of the NBP since then.
Doctors operated on him and removed his left lung in early January this year. He has been undergoing treatment since then.
Villarosa also reportedly made a last visit to his capiz-making livelihood stall at the maximum security compound to assure the workers that operations would continue.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer source said he spotted Villarosa exiting the NBP’s Gate 1 at around 6:50 p.m.
Villarosa told Reyes that he would likely be back at the Makati Medical Center very soon, but he did not say when.
Itching to return to his hometown, Villarosa had said before he went to the NBP that he was expecting his doctors to release him by the end of next week.
“My doctors said I should stay here two to three weeks more. But by the end of next week, I could be out of the hospital,” he said in a phone interview with the Inquirer Wednesday.
Medical furloughs
In his two-year incarceration, Villarosa had enjoyed “medical furloughs,” which were approved by jail authorities and the Department of Justice.
Ricardo Quintos, father of the slain brothers, had complained to the appellate court about Villarosa being brought to the hospital in December, contending that the latter was not really sick and only wanted to enjoy the amenities of the private hospital which are more luxurious compared with the prison facilities.
Sources in the NBP earlier said that the former lawmaker had even put up a livelihood center and a five-foot deep “pond” next to his “kubol” to pass time.
Warning to NBP
In its decision, the Court of Appeals took to task the NBP for failing to inform it of Villarosa’s hospitalization.
It warned the NBP that failing to inform the court of a prisoner’s release for hospitalization or any other purpose would be dealt more severely next time.
The appellate court asked the NBP to inform it if Villarosa had returned to the NBP or was still at the hospital.
Glad about the appellate court’s ruling, he is set to get busy with politics and his businesses again and might file a case against the judge that meted him the death penalty two years ago.
When he returns to his hometown next week, he said he would attend full-time to his fish ponds, cattle ranch and mango plantation.
“I would also resume my meetings with my allies in politics,” he told the Inquirer on the phone before he went to Muntinlupa.
Disbarment
Villarosa said he would meet up with his lawyer to talk about the possibility of filing a disbarment case against Yadao “to preclude her from doing judicial injustice to others.”
He said there could be others who suffered his fate, but unlike him, chose to keep silent.
The former lawmaker accused the judge of handing down an “unjudicial verdict” by coming up with conjectures in his case.
“In her decision, she said I could have used a helicopter to get to Congress on time after a supposed meeting with the New People’s Army in Mindoro. But this was not in any of the affidavits of the prosecution,” he said.
Time to move on
With the acquittal, the Villarosa couple and their five children could “now move on with their lives” without the tag “murder convict” attached to the elder Villarosa’s name.
“We will go on with our life. But it’s much nicer having the shadow of conviction reversed finally,” said Villarosa’s wife, 64, who rued that she had often been referred to in the news as the wife of a “convicted murderer.”
Traumatized
The stigma of the Villarosa patriarch’s conviction and later incarceration at the NBP took a heavier toll on the children, especially the youngest who is now 19.
“Our children were traumatized. When my husband was convicted, the youngest was in grade school, and his grades took a nose-dive. It’s a good thing a guidance counselor was around to guide him,” the congresswoman said.
“The trauma made them stronger, but I wouldn’t wish that on my friends,” she added.
Otherwise, the whole experience brought the family even closer together.
Much closer now
“We bonded together; we’re much closer now. The family is intact all this time. We’re stronger than ever,” Ms Villarosa said. “We look forward to moving on with our lives, with our children and grandchildren.”
The Villarosa couple have three boys and two girls, aged 19 to 38, and eight grandchildren.
The Villarosas are looking forward to spending the Holy Week together at the Makati Medical Center, or at their home in Makati City, if Villarosa is discharged.
“It all depends on the doctor,” Ms Villarosa said, when asked if her husband would be discharged in the next two weeks. With a report from TJ Burgonio
Truly an Easter Gift... From the Palace???
Palace congratulates Villarosa on ‘Easter gift’
INQUIRER.netFirst Posted 16:31:00 03/19/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang congratulated former MindoroOccidental congressman Jose Villarosa for getting an "Easter gift" -- the decision of the Court of Appeals to overturn his conviction for murder.
"I can just congratulate them on their Easter gift," ExecutiveSecretary Eduardo Ermita said, referring to the former lawmaker, andhis wife, Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa of the House of Representatives.
"We are living by the rule of law. We have to respect the decision of the court," he said.
Ermita said the court's decision had nothing to do with the Villarosa couple's close ties with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
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Palace congratulates Villarosas, shrugs off rumors
By Christine AvendañoPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 03:31:00 03/20/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang shrugged off speculations that the acquittal of former Occidental Mindoro Rep. Jose Villarosa resulted from his and his wife’s closeness to President Macapagal-Arroyo.
“We are living by the rule of law,” said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, a former congressman, as he congratulated the Villarosa couple for the “Easter gift.”
Speculations were rife last year that Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa’s move to defend Malacañang from allegations that it bribed a number of members of the House of Representatives to kill an impeachment complaint against the President had something to do with her lobbying for her husband’s freedom.
At the height of the alleged payoff scandal, Villarosa said the funds received by House members and a number of governors belonging to her and Ms Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) party were the political party’s money.
Brown envelopes containing P500,000 were handed to the legislators and governors in Malacañang in October.
Villarosa, secretary of Kampi, is also a regular part of Ms Arroyo’s delegation on the President’s trips abroad—Spain last December and Davos, Switzerland last January.
Ermita said the speculations stemmed from the Deputy Speaker’s close working relationship with the President.
“It has nothing to do with the Court of Appeal’s [ruling] because in law, it’s better to release 99 percent of the criminals who had been brought to court than imprisoning just one percent who had not been proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt,” the executive secretary said.
INQUIRER.netFirst Posted 16:31:00 03/19/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang congratulated former MindoroOccidental congressman Jose Villarosa for getting an "Easter gift" -- the decision of the Court of Appeals to overturn his conviction for murder.
"I can just congratulate them on their Easter gift," ExecutiveSecretary Eduardo Ermita said, referring to the former lawmaker, andhis wife, Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa of the House of Representatives.
"We are living by the rule of law. We have to respect the decision of the court," he said.
Ermita said the court's decision had nothing to do with the Villarosa couple's close ties with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
-------------------
Palace congratulates Villarosas, shrugs off rumors
By Christine AvendañoPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 03:31:00 03/20/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang shrugged off speculations that the acquittal of former Occidental Mindoro Rep. Jose Villarosa resulted from his and his wife’s closeness to President Macapagal-Arroyo.
“We are living by the rule of law,” said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, a former congressman, as he congratulated the Villarosa couple for the “Easter gift.”
Speculations were rife last year that Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa’s move to defend Malacañang from allegations that it bribed a number of members of the House of Representatives to kill an impeachment complaint against the President had something to do with her lobbying for her husband’s freedom.
At the height of the alleged payoff scandal, Villarosa said the funds received by House members and a number of governors belonging to her and Ms Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) party were the political party’s money.
Brown envelopes containing P500,000 were handed to the legislators and governors in Malacañang in October.
Villarosa, secretary of Kampi, is also a regular part of Ms Arroyo’s delegation on the President’s trips abroad—Spain last December and Davos, Switzerland last January.
Ermita said the speculations stemmed from the Deputy Speaker’s close working relationship with the President.
“It has nothing to do with the Court of Appeal’s [ruling] because in law, it’s better to release 99 percent of the criminals who had been brought to court than imprisoning just one percent who had not been proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt,” the executive secretary said.
Political Influence in JTV Acquittal?
VACC: Villarosa acquittal a huge setback for justice
By Jerome AningPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 21:37:00 03/19/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption expressed its “dismay” over the Court of Appeals reversal of former congressman Jose Villarosa’s conviction for the murders of his political rival’s sons.
“I'm dismayed. We're not happy with the decision. This is a setback in the crime victims' quest for justice,” VACC founding chair Dante Jimenez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview.
Through its “Court Watch” program, VACC monitored the Villarosa trial at the Quezon City regional trial court. Jimenez said that based on their monitoring, they established that Judge Teresa Yadao “made the right decision” in convicting the former congressman for the murders of the two sons of former congressman Ricardo Quintos.
While he hoped “no political influence was involved in rendering the reversal,” Jimenez said VACC has been “alarmed” by the number of high-profile convictions that have recently been reversed by the Court of Appeals.
“We hope that the CA justices who reviewed the Villarosa case are able to sleep peacefully at night,” Jimenez said.
By Jerome AningPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 21:37:00 03/19/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption expressed its “dismay” over the Court of Appeals reversal of former congressman Jose Villarosa’s conviction for the murders of his political rival’s sons.
“I'm dismayed. We're not happy with the decision. This is a setback in the crime victims' quest for justice,” VACC founding chair Dante Jimenez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview.
Through its “Court Watch” program, VACC monitored the Villarosa trial at the Quezon City regional trial court. Jimenez said that based on their monitoring, they established that Judge Teresa Yadao “made the right decision” in convicting the former congressman for the murders of the two sons of former congressman Ricardo Quintos.
While he hoped “no political influence was involved in rendering the reversal,” Jimenez said VACC has been “alarmed” by the number of high-profile convictions that have recently been reversed by the Court of Appeals.
“We hope that the CA justices who reviewed the Villarosa case are able to sleep peacefully at night,” Jimenez said.
Here's the Side of the Victim-Family...
Quintos hopes for ‘divine justice’ after Villarosa acquittal
By Jocelyn UyPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 23:31:00 03/19/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Crushed by his rival's acquittal, former congressman Ricardo Quintos now only hopes for the "ultimate divine justice."
Though he was not surprised about the acquittal of former lawmaker Jose Villarosa, Quintos said it only illustrated the "dysfunctional" judicial system in the country.
But he would not give up the fight, Quintos resolved.
"I still believe in the ultimate divine justice. Doon walang lagayan, walang palakasan. [With God, there are no bribes, there is no patronage.] But we will also do everything humanly possible," Quintos told the Philippine Daily Inquirer over the phone on Wednesday
His two sons Michael and Paul were killed in 1997 over a land and political dispute in Occidental Mindoro. Ricardo accused his longtime rival, Villarosa, of masterminding the killing.
Quintos said he was planning to question the Court of Appeals resolution acquitting Villarosa of two counts of murder before the Supreme Court.
"It took Judge Theresa Yadao eight years and six months to study the case, but the appellate court came out with the ruling [so soon], that it didn't bother to read the transcripts of the case," Quintos pointed out.
He also accused the Court of Appeals Associate Justice Noel Tijam of accepting bribes for a decision in favor of Villarosa.
Quintos claimed the "speedy" resolution of the case buttressed his suspicions. "Totoong bayad nga siya (It’s true he’s been bribed]," Quintos said boldly.
He added that the Villarosas were trumpeting about the former lawmaker's acquittal three days ago over the radio.
"They were very sure of an acquittal. They have been boasting about it even before the CA issued the ruling today (Wednesday)," he said.
Since the radio announcement, Quintos has been bombarded with calls from concerned people. "I was really expecting his acquittal already," he said.
Quintos was also set to file an administrative case against Tijam for supposedly disregarding his motion for certiorari which he filed with the high court after the CA junked his petition asking for Tijam's inhibition.
He pointed out that Tijam handed down the resolution on Wednesday, while his motion was still pending with the Supreme Court.
Suspecting that Tijam was on the take, Quintos earlier sought his inhibition but was turned down. The court, in turn, threatened to cite him in contempt.
"But I told the court that I was ready to go to jail just so that Justice Tijam would inhibit from the case," Quintos recounted.
He also doubted the reasons Villarosa gave for his hospital confinement, saying that his doctors kept mum about his real condition. "It is he who always explains his condition, not the doctors or the hospital," Quintos observed.
Quintos’ efforts to retrieve hospital documents were futile as his lawyers were always instructed to seek a court order first
According to Villarosa, he has not been released from Makati Medical Center as he was still susceptible to infection following a "major" lung surgery last January. He has not gone back to the New Bilibid Prison since December.
By Jocelyn UyPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 23:31:00 03/19/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Crushed by his rival's acquittal, former congressman Ricardo Quintos now only hopes for the "ultimate divine justice."
Though he was not surprised about the acquittal of former lawmaker Jose Villarosa, Quintos said it only illustrated the "dysfunctional" judicial system in the country.
But he would not give up the fight, Quintos resolved.
"I still believe in the ultimate divine justice. Doon walang lagayan, walang palakasan. [With God, there are no bribes, there is no patronage.] But we will also do everything humanly possible," Quintos told the Philippine Daily Inquirer over the phone on Wednesday
His two sons Michael and Paul were killed in 1997 over a land and political dispute in Occidental Mindoro. Ricardo accused his longtime rival, Villarosa, of masterminding the killing.
Quintos said he was planning to question the Court of Appeals resolution acquitting Villarosa of two counts of murder before the Supreme Court.
"It took Judge Theresa Yadao eight years and six months to study the case, but the appellate court came out with the ruling [so soon], that it didn't bother to read the transcripts of the case," Quintos pointed out.
He also accused the Court of Appeals Associate Justice Noel Tijam of accepting bribes for a decision in favor of Villarosa.
Quintos claimed the "speedy" resolution of the case buttressed his suspicions. "Totoong bayad nga siya (It’s true he’s been bribed]," Quintos said boldly.
He added that the Villarosas were trumpeting about the former lawmaker's acquittal three days ago over the radio.
"They were very sure of an acquittal. They have been boasting about it even before the CA issued the ruling today (Wednesday)," he said.
Since the radio announcement, Quintos has been bombarded with calls from concerned people. "I was really expecting his acquittal already," he said.
Quintos was also set to file an administrative case against Tijam for supposedly disregarding his motion for certiorari which he filed with the high court after the CA junked his petition asking for Tijam's inhibition.
He pointed out that Tijam handed down the resolution on Wednesday, while his motion was still pending with the Supreme Court.
Suspecting that Tijam was on the take, Quintos earlier sought his inhibition but was turned down. The court, in turn, threatened to cite him in contempt.
"But I told the court that I was ready to go to jail just so that Justice Tijam would inhibit from the case," Quintos recounted.
He also doubted the reasons Villarosa gave for his hospital confinement, saying that his doctors kept mum about his real condition. "It is he who always explains his condition, not the doctors or the hospital," Quintos observed.
Quintos’ efforts to retrieve hospital documents were futile as his lawyers were always instructed to seek a court order first
According to Villarosa, he has not been released from Makati Medical Center as he was still susceptible to infection following a "major" lung surgery last January. He has not gone back to the New Bilibid Prison since December.
A Longer Version of the Sad Story..
Court acquits Arroyo ally
CA rules gunman’s confession not enoughBy Leila SalaverriaPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:52:00 03/20/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Former Occidental Mindoro Rep. Jose Villarosa Wednesday walked out of the Makati Medical Center a free man. He had been staying in the hospital since December after reportedly undergoing lung surgery.
Saying the mere confession of the gunman implicating Villarosa as one of those who planned the killing of brothers Paul and Michael Quintos was not enough, the Court of Appeals overturned his and three others’ murder conviction handed down by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court in 2006.
Estelito Mendoza, Villarosa’s counsel, said the acquittal of the four men was immediately executory.
In acquitting Villarosa, the appellate court said circumstances failed to show “an unbroken chain which leads one to fairly and reasonably conclude that accused-appellant Villarosa planned or authored the crimes.”
“If a person is acquitted after trial, his presumption of innocence becomes conclusive because of the principle of double jeopardy ... Those who are acquitted are completely free,” Mendoza told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview.
The appellate court’s fifth division, in a decision penned by Justice Noel Tijam and dated March 18, ordered the release of Villarosa and “Mamburao 6” farmers Ruben Balaguer, Gelito Bautista and Mario Tobias.
The other members of the fifth division are Martin Villarama and Sesinando Villon.
Prison authorities officially released Villarosa from custody Wednesday afternoon, said Supt. Ramon Reyes, the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) officer in charge.
Conviction of 3 others upheld
The appellate court upheld the conviction of three other farmers, including that of Eduardo Hermoso whose confession had implicated the ex-lawmaker in the planning of the killings.
Hermoso, Manolito Matricio and Josue Ungsod were sentenced to reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years) for each count of murder and ordered to pay damages to Paul and Michael Quintos’ heirs.
Because it was established that the three had conspired to shoot the brothers, each of them should suffer a “three-fold penalty of reclusion perpetua for each count of murder,” the appellate court added.
Sons of political rival
Paul and Michael were the sons of Villarosa’s political rival Ricardo Quintos, who were slain in an ambush inside a friend’s house in Mamburao town on Dec. 13, 1997. Michael was shot first by a group of gunmen, who followed him as he tried to escape from the house. Paul was later seen slain inside the same house.
Villarosa and a group of farmers known as the “Mamburao 6” were sentenced to death for the murders.
As for Ricardo Quintos’ plan to question the acquittal in the Supreme Court, its spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez said such a petition could be filed based on the possible grave abuse of discretion on the lower court’s part.
But Marquez said reversals of acquittals are not common.
Uncorroborated confession
The court said Hermoso’s extrajudicial confession was not corroborated by any other evidence, hence it could not be used to pin Villarosa down.
The appellate court added that even the political rivalry between Villarosa and Quintos was not enough proof of the former’s involvement in the crime. That Villarosa knew Matricio did not necessarily mean that the former lawmaker was involved in killing the brothers either.
Hermoso, in his confession, said that he was the gunman and that he was present in the Oct. 7, 1997 meeting where Villarosa discussed the killing of Michael. Hermoso later recanted the confession, however, and alleged that he was tortured by the National Bureau of Investigation to make the confession.
“The political dispute between Villarosa and Ricardo Quintos, or Villarosa’s association with Matricio, did not place Villarosa in the conspiratorial meetings or at the scene of the crime. Indeed, the prosecution presented no independent physical or testimonial evidence that could connect Villarosa to the crime or its preparatory stages,” the appellate court said.
Circumstantial
“In the end, the circumstantial evidence relied upon by the Trial Court consists merely of familiarity and motive; these are clearly insufficient to corroborate Hermoso’s confession as to prove Villarosa’s guilt to a moral certainty,” it added.
The appellate court also pointed out that Villarosa’s alibi that he was at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on the day of the alleged planning of the attack in Mindoro appeared to be credible.
It pointed out that the House’s journal showed that he was in Congress from 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. of that day and was defending a fisheries bill that he sponsored, thus corroborating his argument that he was far from the province during the alleged planning. The planning allegedly took place in the afternoon of that day.
The Quezon City RTC had ruled that there were other modes of transportation that Villarosa could use, such as a helicopter or a light plane, which was why he could have been in Mindoro in the afternoon and then flew to Quezon City later.
“The Trial Court’s opinion, however, overly stretches the realm of possibilities in the appreciation of Villarosa’s alibi ... Mindoro, by common standards, cannot be considered geographically proximate to Manila (or Quezon City where the Batasan is), and travel by helicopter or light plane remains an uncommon and infrequently utilized mode of transportation,” it said.
Money given to farmers
The checkbooks presented by the prosecution to show the alleged connection between Villarosa and Matricio and Hermoso were also inadequate proof of a conspiracy.
What these showed, said the appellate court, was that Villarosa gave money to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the families of Matricio, Hermoso and Balaguer, “but they do not show that the payment was made in pursuance of the plan to kill the victims or in consideration of the killing.”
As for the three farmers also cleared of the murder charges, the appellate court said the only evidence presented against them was Hermoso’s uncorroborated extrajudicial confession.
The court said the constitutional presumption of innocence of Villarosa, Balaguer, Bautista and Tobias was not overturned by the prosecution.
“We commiserate with the bereaved families of the victims Michael and Paul Quintos, but as a court, we can only render judgment based on the evidence, and apply the law and jurisprudence,” the appellate court said.
Eyewitness accounts
In ruling to uphold the conviction of the three farmers, the appellate court gave greater weight to eyewitness accounts that placed them at the crime scene. It also said it was shown that the three men had conspired to kill the brothers.
It also said Hermoso’s confession was admissible because he failed to provide evidence that it was not voluntarily given.
The appellate court noted that Hermoso had many instances during which he could complain about allegedly being forced to own up to the crime.
The voluntariness of Hermoso’s confession was shown by the many details of how the crime was planned and executed, despite his claim that the NBI and another man had fed him the details, according to the appellate court.
Contrary to OSG comment
The court’s finding was contrary to the contention of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which had told the court in a comment that the confession should not be admitted because it was made in the absence of Hermoso’s lawyer.
The OSG had also sought the acquittal of Villarosa, Bautista, Balaguer and Tobias and the conviction of the three others.
The appellate court said a videotape, plus pictures, also showed that Hermoso had confessed on his own volition, with the help of a lawyer and without any intimidation from NBI agents.
The death of another accused in the custody of the NBI did not prove torture or that Hermoso had been maltreated, it added.
The appellate court also said that even if Hermoso’s confession was admissible, this did not mean that it was completely credible.
Lookout
It said Hermoso claimed to be a lookout along with Tobias, while Matricio shot Michael, but eyewitness accounts showed that Hermoso was the one who shot Michael in Nicasio Tadeja’s house.
As for Matricio, the appellate court said there were also eyewitnesses who testified that he shot Michael and poked a gun at a woman who had tried to help the victim.
Ungsod’s conviction was also upheld because a witness saw him firing his gun upward outside Tadeja’s house during the killing.
Artist sketch
The appellate court junked Ungsod’s argument that the artist’s sketch presented in court looked too different from him. It said there were similarities in the shape of the face, prominence of cheekbones and size of the ears.
It also said the credibility of the eyewitnesses were untarnished, and added that it was immaterial that Tadeja used to work for the Quintoses at GCFI Farms.
As for Hermoso, Matricio and Tobias’ argument that the elder Quintos had wanted to implicate them in the murder to silence their fight for farmers’ rights, the appellate court said it was unnatural for a father who lost two sons to push for his political interests instead of punishing the true culprits behind the killings.
The appellate court also found no merit in the three men’s alibis that they were in another place during the time of the killing.
It said KMP chair Rafael Mariano, who testified that Matricio had asked his permission to work in a construction site in Batangas where the latter was supposedly working during the killings, had no personal knowledge of Matricio’s whereabouts that day.
Motive
As for the three men’s motive, the appellate court said there was animosity between the Quintos family and the farmers who claimed to be beneficiaries of GCFI Farms.
The elder Quintos had been accused of abuses, with farmers alleging that he refused them entry into the farms and had his security guards fire at them.
Hermoso’s confession also showed that the killing of the Quintos brothers was to vindicate the farmers’ rights and avenge the killing of Marcelo de la Cruz.
“Taking these circumstances together with other evidence pointing to the accused-appellant Hermoso, Matricio and Ungsod as the culprits, this Court is convinced that they had a sufficiently plausible motive to kill the victims who are sons of Ricardo Quintos,” the appellate court said.
NPA admission not enough
The communist New People’s Army’s alleged admission of the crime was also not enough to acquit the three men because the one who gave the statement, a Rizaldy Prado, was not presented in court. NPA spokesperson Ka Roger Rosal’s admission was also hearsay, it added.
CA rules gunman’s confession not enoughBy Leila SalaverriaPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:52:00 03/20/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Former Occidental Mindoro Rep. Jose Villarosa Wednesday walked out of the Makati Medical Center a free man. He had been staying in the hospital since December after reportedly undergoing lung surgery.
Saying the mere confession of the gunman implicating Villarosa as one of those who planned the killing of brothers Paul and Michael Quintos was not enough, the Court of Appeals overturned his and three others’ murder conviction handed down by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court in 2006.
Estelito Mendoza, Villarosa’s counsel, said the acquittal of the four men was immediately executory.
In acquitting Villarosa, the appellate court said circumstances failed to show “an unbroken chain which leads one to fairly and reasonably conclude that accused-appellant Villarosa planned or authored the crimes.”
“If a person is acquitted after trial, his presumption of innocence becomes conclusive because of the principle of double jeopardy ... Those who are acquitted are completely free,” Mendoza told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview.
The appellate court’s fifth division, in a decision penned by Justice Noel Tijam and dated March 18, ordered the release of Villarosa and “Mamburao 6” farmers Ruben Balaguer, Gelito Bautista and Mario Tobias.
The other members of the fifth division are Martin Villarama and Sesinando Villon.
Prison authorities officially released Villarosa from custody Wednesday afternoon, said Supt. Ramon Reyes, the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) officer in charge.
Conviction of 3 others upheld
The appellate court upheld the conviction of three other farmers, including that of Eduardo Hermoso whose confession had implicated the ex-lawmaker in the planning of the killings.
Hermoso, Manolito Matricio and Josue Ungsod were sentenced to reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years) for each count of murder and ordered to pay damages to Paul and Michael Quintos’ heirs.
Because it was established that the three had conspired to shoot the brothers, each of them should suffer a “three-fold penalty of reclusion perpetua for each count of murder,” the appellate court added.
Sons of political rival
Paul and Michael were the sons of Villarosa’s political rival Ricardo Quintos, who were slain in an ambush inside a friend’s house in Mamburao town on Dec. 13, 1997. Michael was shot first by a group of gunmen, who followed him as he tried to escape from the house. Paul was later seen slain inside the same house.
Villarosa and a group of farmers known as the “Mamburao 6” were sentenced to death for the murders.
As for Ricardo Quintos’ plan to question the acquittal in the Supreme Court, its spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez said such a petition could be filed based on the possible grave abuse of discretion on the lower court’s part.
But Marquez said reversals of acquittals are not common.
Uncorroborated confession
The court said Hermoso’s extrajudicial confession was not corroborated by any other evidence, hence it could not be used to pin Villarosa down.
The appellate court added that even the political rivalry between Villarosa and Quintos was not enough proof of the former’s involvement in the crime. That Villarosa knew Matricio did not necessarily mean that the former lawmaker was involved in killing the brothers either.
Hermoso, in his confession, said that he was the gunman and that he was present in the Oct. 7, 1997 meeting where Villarosa discussed the killing of Michael. Hermoso later recanted the confession, however, and alleged that he was tortured by the National Bureau of Investigation to make the confession.
“The political dispute between Villarosa and Ricardo Quintos, or Villarosa’s association with Matricio, did not place Villarosa in the conspiratorial meetings or at the scene of the crime. Indeed, the prosecution presented no independent physical or testimonial evidence that could connect Villarosa to the crime or its preparatory stages,” the appellate court said.
Circumstantial
“In the end, the circumstantial evidence relied upon by the Trial Court consists merely of familiarity and motive; these are clearly insufficient to corroborate Hermoso’s confession as to prove Villarosa’s guilt to a moral certainty,” it added.
The appellate court also pointed out that Villarosa’s alibi that he was at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on the day of the alleged planning of the attack in Mindoro appeared to be credible.
It pointed out that the House’s journal showed that he was in Congress from 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. of that day and was defending a fisheries bill that he sponsored, thus corroborating his argument that he was far from the province during the alleged planning. The planning allegedly took place in the afternoon of that day.
The Quezon City RTC had ruled that there were other modes of transportation that Villarosa could use, such as a helicopter or a light plane, which was why he could have been in Mindoro in the afternoon and then flew to Quezon City later.
“The Trial Court’s opinion, however, overly stretches the realm of possibilities in the appreciation of Villarosa’s alibi ... Mindoro, by common standards, cannot be considered geographically proximate to Manila (or Quezon City where the Batasan is), and travel by helicopter or light plane remains an uncommon and infrequently utilized mode of transportation,” it said.
Money given to farmers
The checkbooks presented by the prosecution to show the alleged connection between Villarosa and Matricio and Hermoso were also inadequate proof of a conspiracy.
What these showed, said the appellate court, was that Villarosa gave money to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the families of Matricio, Hermoso and Balaguer, “but they do not show that the payment was made in pursuance of the plan to kill the victims or in consideration of the killing.”
As for the three farmers also cleared of the murder charges, the appellate court said the only evidence presented against them was Hermoso’s uncorroborated extrajudicial confession.
The court said the constitutional presumption of innocence of Villarosa, Balaguer, Bautista and Tobias was not overturned by the prosecution.
“We commiserate with the bereaved families of the victims Michael and Paul Quintos, but as a court, we can only render judgment based on the evidence, and apply the law and jurisprudence,” the appellate court said.
Eyewitness accounts
In ruling to uphold the conviction of the three farmers, the appellate court gave greater weight to eyewitness accounts that placed them at the crime scene. It also said it was shown that the three men had conspired to kill the brothers.
It also said Hermoso’s confession was admissible because he failed to provide evidence that it was not voluntarily given.
The appellate court noted that Hermoso had many instances during which he could complain about allegedly being forced to own up to the crime.
The voluntariness of Hermoso’s confession was shown by the many details of how the crime was planned and executed, despite his claim that the NBI and another man had fed him the details, according to the appellate court.
Contrary to OSG comment
The court’s finding was contrary to the contention of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which had told the court in a comment that the confession should not be admitted because it was made in the absence of Hermoso’s lawyer.
The OSG had also sought the acquittal of Villarosa, Bautista, Balaguer and Tobias and the conviction of the three others.
The appellate court said a videotape, plus pictures, also showed that Hermoso had confessed on his own volition, with the help of a lawyer and without any intimidation from NBI agents.
The death of another accused in the custody of the NBI did not prove torture or that Hermoso had been maltreated, it added.
The appellate court also said that even if Hermoso’s confession was admissible, this did not mean that it was completely credible.
Lookout
It said Hermoso claimed to be a lookout along with Tobias, while Matricio shot Michael, but eyewitness accounts showed that Hermoso was the one who shot Michael in Nicasio Tadeja’s house.
As for Matricio, the appellate court said there were also eyewitnesses who testified that he shot Michael and poked a gun at a woman who had tried to help the victim.
Ungsod’s conviction was also upheld because a witness saw him firing his gun upward outside Tadeja’s house during the killing.
Artist sketch
The appellate court junked Ungsod’s argument that the artist’s sketch presented in court looked too different from him. It said there were similarities in the shape of the face, prominence of cheekbones and size of the ears.
It also said the credibility of the eyewitnesses were untarnished, and added that it was immaterial that Tadeja used to work for the Quintoses at GCFI Farms.
As for Hermoso, Matricio and Tobias’ argument that the elder Quintos had wanted to implicate them in the murder to silence their fight for farmers’ rights, the appellate court said it was unnatural for a father who lost two sons to push for his political interests instead of punishing the true culprits behind the killings.
The appellate court also found no merit in the three men’s alibis that they were in another place during the time of the killing.
It said KMP chair Rafael Mariano, who testified that Matricio had asked his permission to work in a construction site in Batangas where the latter was supposedly working during the killings, had no personal knowledge of Matricio’s whereabouts that day.
Motive
As for the three men’s motive, the appellate court said there was animosity between the Quintos family and the farmers who claimed to be beneficiaries of GCFI Farms.
The elder Quintos had been accused of abuses, with farmers alleging that he refused them entry into the farms and had his security guards fire at them.
Hermoso’s confession also showed that the killing of the Quintos brothers was to vindicate the farmers’ rights and avenge the killing of Marcelo de la Cruz.
“Taking these circumstances together with other evidence pointing to the accused-appellant Hermoso, Matricio and Ungsod as the culprits, this Court is convinced that they had a sufficiently plausible motive to kill the victims who are sons of Ricardo Quintos,” the appellate court said.
NPA admission not enough
The communist New People’s Army’s alleged admission of the crime was also not enough to acquit the three men because the one who gave the statement, a Rizaldy Prado, was not presented in court. NPA spokesperson Ka Roger Rosal’s admission was also hearsay, it added.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
I saw it coming...
(UPDATE) CA overturns Villarosa murder conviction
Lack of evidence citedBy Maila Ager, Tetch TorresINQUIRER.netFirst Posted 10:06:00 03/19/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The Court of Appeals has overturned the ruling of a lower court that convicted a former congressman and six others of murder.
The 5th division of the appellate court said there was not enough evidence to convict Jose Villarosa, husband of Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa of the House of Representatives.
This was confirmed to INQUIRER.net Wednesday by Villarosa himself when sought for his comment at the Makati Medical Center (MMC) where he has been undergoing treatment for lung cancer.
“The decision came out at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. But we were advised by my lawyer at 5:00 p.m.,” Villarosa said.
Aside from him, Villarosa said also acquitted were Gelito Bautista, Mario Tobias, and Ruben Balader.
However, the court upheld the murder convictions of three others.
With the decision of the appellate court, Villarosa said he might be released in a few days.
Villarosa and his co-accused were convicted in 2006 for the murders in 1997 of Paul and Michael Quintos, sons of the lawmaker’s political rival, former Occidental Mindoro governor Ricardo Quintos, and were sentenced to death by Judge Teresa Yadao of the Quezon City regional trial court.
Villarosa appealed his conviction before the appellate court thereafter.
But Villarosa said his lawyers were now preparing a case against Yadao for alleged “abuse of the judiciary and ignorance of the law.”
“Pinag-aaralan ng mga lawyers ko kung ano ang isasampa naming kaso sa kanya [My lawyers are studying what case to file against her]. Maaaring kasuhan namin siya ng [We can file a case of] disbarment sa [before the] Supreme Court at [and] ignorance of the law,” he said.
“In effect, we are condemning her guilty verdict on us. Papatayin niya kami sa maling desisyon niya [She’s going to kill us with her wrong decision] that is totally biased and unjust?” he said.
During his stay at the National Bilibid Prison, the former representative of Occidental Mindoro was diagnosed with lung cancer and was allowed to leave jail for confinement at the MMC.
--------------------------
I saw it coming. And I suppose Quintos saw it coming, too.
For this, Amelita Villarosa literally licked the ass of her Madame President -- serving as great alalay, and even sold her personal integrity for (remember her "lie" to divert to herself the media attention in the light of the bagged-cash distributed to the governors in Malacanan?).
I saw it coming in a country where the judiciary is for sale and hence reproachable..
I saw it coming in a country where the right is make wrong and the wrong rendered right.. If one has money and "right" (read: dubious) connections...
What makes me fearful is what I am seeing to happen in Occidental Mindoro... Now that JTV is back..
Lack of evidence citedBy Maila Ager, Tetch TorresINQUIRER.netFirst Posted 10:06:00 03/19/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The Court of Appeals has overturned the ruling of a lower court that convicted a former congressman and six others of murder.
The 5th division of the appellate court said there was not enough evidence to convict Jose Villarosa, husband of Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa of the House of Representatives.
This was confirmed to INQUIRER.net Wednesday by Villarosa himself when sought for his comment at the Makati Medical Center (MMC) where he has been undergoing treatment for lung cancer.
“The decision came out at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. But we were advised by my lawyer at 5:00 p.m.,” Villarosa said.
Aside from him, Villarosa said also acquitted were Gelito Bautista, Mario Tobias, and Ruben Balader.
However, the court upheld the murder convictions of three others.
With the decision of the appellate court, Villarosa said he might be released in a few days.
Villarosa and his co-accused were convicted in 2006 for the murders in 1997 of Paul and Michael Quintos, sons of the lawmaker’s political rival, former Occidental Mindoro governor Ricardo Quintos, and were sentenced to death by Judge Teresa Yadao of the Quezon City regional trial court.
Villarosa appealed his conviction before the appellate court thereafter.
But Villarosa said his lawyers were now preparing a case against Yadao for alleged “abuse of the judiciary and ignorance of the law.”
“Pinag-aaralan ng mga lawyers ko kung ano ang isasampa naming kaso sa kanya [My lawyers are studying what case to file against her]. Maaaring kasuhan namin siya ng [We can file a case of] disbarment sa [before the] Supreme Court at [and] ignorance of the law,” he said.
“In effect, we are condemning her guilty verdict on us. Papatayin niya kami sa maling desisyon niya [She’s going to kill us with her wrong decision] that is totally biased and unjust?” he said.
During his stay at the National Bilibid Prison, the former representative of Occidental Mindoro was diagnosed with lung cancer and was allowed to leave jail for confinement at the MMC.
--------------------------
I saw it coming. And I suppose Quintos saw it coming, too.
For this, Amelita Villarosa literally licked the ass of her Madame President -- serving as great alalay, and even sold her personal integrity for (remember her "lie" to divert to herself the media attention in the light of the bagged-cash distributed to the governors in Malacanan?).
I saw it coming in a country where the judiciary is for sale and hence reproachable..
I saw it coming in a country where the right is make wrong and the wrong rendered right.. If one has money and "right" (read: dubious) connections...
What makes me fearful is what I am seeing to happen in Occidental Mindoro... Now that JTV is back..
Saturday, February 23, 2008
The Un-Reported Is...
Consider this news item from Philippine Star, February 23 2008:
2 soldiers dead, 8 hurt in Mindoro encounters (The Philippine Star)
Life is important, of course. Thus, the strongest counter argument against the continuing insurgency in the Philippines is the toll that it exacts on the lives of people.
Soldiers and rebels -- and even civilians -- are victimized by this internal strife.
Yes, I emphasize civilians. Specifically, as in the military encounters mentioned in the news item, the Mangyans of Occidental Mindoro.
And to think that they were not even mentioned in the news item.
The reporter made mentioned of two soldiers who were killed and eight who were injured. But no mention was made about the hundreds of Mangyans who were displaced from at least three communities in San Jose.
What to expect from people who do not even regard the existence of the Mangyans, by the way?
Malungkot ito...
2 soldiers dead, 8 hurt in Mindoro encounters (The Philippine Star)
CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – Two Army soldiers were killed while eight others were wounded in separate encounters with the New People’s Army in the towns of San Jose and Magsaysay in Mindoro Occidental this week, an Army official said.
Maj. Randolf Cabangbang, of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command, identified one of the two slain soldiers as Pfc. Gonzalo Muyco of the 23rd Division Reconnaissance Company of the Philippine Army.
Eight men of the same Army unit were wounded. They were identified as 2Lt. Julius Daog, Sgt. Julito Cosgata, and Pfcs. Allan Curangcurang, Jerry Imalay, Herbert Lindog, Erwin Desinggano, Erwin Gomez, and Guillermo Reduca.
Cabangbang said the Army personnel were on a combat mission in Sitio Bantulaw, Barangay Paclolo in Magsaysay town last Tuesday when they chanced upon at least 30 rebels, resulting in a 30-minute firefight that led to Muyco’s death.
The following day, a member of the Charlie Company of the 80th Infantry Battalion was killed in an encounter in Sitio Quintal, Barangay Murtha in San Jose town. – Arnell Ozaeta
Life is important, of course. Thus, the strongest counter argument against the continuing insurgency in the Philippines is the toll that it exacts on the lives of people.
Soldiers and rebels -- and even civilians -- are victimized by this internal strife.
Yes, I emphasize civilians. Specifically, as in the military encounters mentioned in the news item, the Mangyans of Occidental Mindoro.
And to think that they were not even mentioned in the news item.
The reporter made mentioned of two soldiers who were killed and eight who were injured. But no mention was made about the hundreds of Mangyans who were displaced from at least three communities in San Jose.
What to expect from people who do not even regard the existence of the Mangyans, by the way?
Malungkot ito...
Monday, February 18, 2008
Ex-Solon: Ex-Gov Does Not Look Sick To Me
(cf. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080218-119557/Doesnt-look-sick-to-me-ex-gov-says-of-ex-solon)
MANILA, Philippines -- If former Occidental Mindoro Representative and murder convict Jose Villarosa underwent surgery for lung cancer at the Makati Medical Center, he did not look it, former provincial governor Ricardo Quintos said, basing his statement on photographs purportedly taken in the former’s hospital room.
Instead of a hospital gown, Villarosa in the pictures was wearing a polo shirt. He also had on a necklace but no tubes -- such as for dextrose, for instance -- in his arms, Quintos told the Court of Appeals which is hearing Villarosa’s appeal of his murder conviction for the killing of two of Quintos’ sons.
The photos showed Villarosa lying on a bed sheet and pillow with the MMC logo on them. He had a copy of the Philippine Daily Inquirer of Jan. 16, 2008, lying across his chest. The photos were taken by a Malacañang photographer who accompanied Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye to the MMC the day an Inquirer story came out saying Villarosa could not be found at any of the hospitals he was supposed to have sought treatment at.
Villarosa was sentenced to death for the killing of Paul and Michael Quintos in 1997. He had been incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. The Villarosas and Quintoses were political rivals.
Villarosa’s wife, Amelita, is the incumbent representative of Occidental Mindoro and is an ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Villarosa denied he had gone missing, saying he was at the MMC -- where he remains to this day -- and underwent surgery on Jan. 5.
“As a matter of fact, the appellant Villarosa, after his alleged surgery, was wearing a necklace, a polo shirt and not a hospital gown and without any IV fluid being introduced to him as shown in the newspapers that circulated two weeks ago after he was reported to be missing,” Quintos said in his Feb. 5 reply to the Court of Appeals in response to Villarosa’s comment to the court that he had had surgery for lung cancer and had to be confined at the MMC.
Villarosa was originally taken to the MMC on Dec. 7, 2007, with chest pains secondary to pneumonia, hypertension and type-2 diabetes. The Court of Appeals sought his comment after Quintos complained about his hospital stay.
Quintos said Villarosa had failed to present to the court the records of his operation as well as the pathology report on his illness that would justify his continued hospital confinement.
He said Villarosa could recover from his surgery at the NBP since its medical facilities were more than adequate for his needs.
“As of the moment, appellant Villarosa is a free man and not in prison inside the MMC considering that he is receiving special and unwarranted benefits above that of the ordinary convicted felon. The appellant Villarosa is being allowed to receive guests and is staying in a luxurious suite of the MMC, which is a hundred-fold better than the cells of the NBP where he is supposed to stay for his reformation and rehabilitation,” Quintos said.
He said the NBP violated the Bureau of Corrections’ operating manual when it allowed Villarosa to go to MMC.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
If I May Say Something About the IP's...
February 13, 2008 was rather historic for the indigenous peoples -- or aborigines -- of Australia. It was on this date that the Prime Minister of the Aussies, in behalf of the government that he leads at present, has apologized to the IP's of the Down Under because of the First Step. TV footages showed manicured green lawn with lighted bulbs aligned to form the message: Sorry for the First Step.
What is/was the First Step?
It refers to the intervention of the Aussies, intending to bring about what was perceived then -- i.e., during such historical point -- as beneficial to the aborigines. On account of the abject conditions of the IP's of Australia, the government moved -- or authorized the move -- to "confiscate" the children of the natives of Australia from their families, place them in separate communes where it was thought they could be reared better and educated better.
Studies about the effect or results of the so-called First Step pointed to social trauma of different sorts that have been endured by generations of the Australian IP's.
In any case, what matters now is that the government has acknowledged its wrong in the past. And the confession of its sins is done, according to PM Rudd, in view of achieving the healing of the past as together the Australian society moves on -- the IP's and the non-IP's together.
This to me is extraordinary opus coming from a government.
As of this posting, I cannot but think of the Mangyans of Occidental Mindoro.
Well, at present, there is an impending -- or it must be on-going now -- military operations in the bondocks of San Jose, right in the ancestral domain of the Mangyans. Hundreds of NPA cadres are reportedly seen in the area, thus provoking the Philippine Army to prepare for a possible clash.
Obviously, we in Mindoro are still far from acknowledging the wrongs that we have inflicted against the IP's. For until now, we are still in the process of inflicting them with harm..
Masasabi ko na kahit hindi na muna sana mag-sorry dahil sa mga nagawang hindi maganda sa mga Mangyan; sana man lang matigilan na ang kasalukuyang pagkakamali laban sa kanila...
What is/was the First Step?
It refers to the intervention of the Aussies, intending to bring about what was perceived then -- i.e., during such historical point -- as beneficial to the aborigines. On account of the abject conditions of the IP's of Australia, the government moved -- or authorized the move -- to "confiscate" the children of the natives of Australia from their families, place them in separate communes where it was thought they could be reared better and educated better.
Studies about the effect or results of the so-called First Step pointed to social trauma of different sorts that have been endured by generations of the Australian IP's.
In any case, what matters now is that the government has acknowledged its wrong in the past. And the confession of its sins is done, according to PM Rudd, in view of achieving the healing of the past as together the Australian society moves on -- the IP's and the non-IP's together.
This to me is extraordinary opus coming from a government.
As of this posting, I cannot but think of the Mangyans of Occidental Mindoro.
Well, at present, there is an impending -- or it must be on-going now -- military operations in the bondocks of San Jose, right in the ancestral domain of the Mangyans. Hundreds of NPA cadres are reportedly seen in the area, thus provoking the Philippine Army to prepare for a possible clash.
Obviously, we in Mindoro are still far from acknowledging the wrongs that we have inflicted against the IP's. For until now, we are still in the process of inflicting them with harm..
Masasabi ko na kahit hindi na muna sana mag-sorry dahil sa mga nagawang hindi maganda sa mga Mangyan; sana man lang matigilan na ang kasalukuyang pagkakamali laban sa kanila...
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Write Up On OSG for Villarosa
SolGen under fire
(http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=felMaragay_jan25_2007)
(http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=felMaragay_jan25_2007)
Solicitor General Antonio Nachura has made it to the short list of five nominees to the vacant slot in the Supreme Court. He probably has a pretty good change of inheriting the coveted position, considering that he is the chief government lawyer and there is a need to beef up the number of justices in the bench who are “friendly” to Malacañang.
Nachura’s bid for a seat in the highest tribunal is bound to provoke objections from people who are unimpressed by his handling of government cases before the courts. With him as solicitor general, the government suffered successive losses in major political cases before the Supreme Court, such as those pertaining to Executive Order 464 banning Cabinet members from appearing in congressional inquiries without presidential clearance, the Calibrated Preemptive Response dealing with street protests, Proclamation 1017 placing the country under a state of national emergency and the petition for people’s initiative to amend the Constitution.
Now here comes a private citizen, Ricardo Quintos, who believes that Nachura does not in any way deserve a seat in the high tribunal. Quintos, a former congressman of Mindoro Occidental, is the father of Paul and Michael Quintos, who were murdered by gunmen in a neighbor’s house in Mamburao town on Dec. 13, 1997.
Seven persons, led by former Mindoro Occidental Rep. Jose Villarosa, Quintos’ political archrival, were found guilty in the twin murder case and meted out a death sentence by Judge Ma. Theresa Yadao of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court-Branch 81 in March 2006. The decision came after more than eight years of trial.
The others who were sentenced to death by execution—who came to be known as “Mamburao Six”—included Josue Ungsod, Manolito Matriciio, Mario Tobias, Ruben Balaguer, and Gelito Bautista. Villarosa and his fellow accused were convicted on the strength of the confession of Eduardo Heromoso, one of the gunmen, who was caught by the police two weeks after the murder.
But there is a possibility that the guilty verdict on Villarosa, Balaguer, Bautista and Tobias handed down by Judge Yadao may be reversed by the Court of Appeals. The Office of the Solicitor General has filed a manifestation with the CA recommending the acquittal of the four. The OSG cited a supposed retraction by Hermoso on his sworn statement.
The OSG said the statement made by Hermoso “was not voluntary,” and cited his allegation that he was subjected to torture and coercion by his police handlers. It said Hermoso’s extra-judicial confession was “inadmissible as evidence,” and could not be used against his other co-accused.
Naturally, Quintos was outraged by the action taken by Nachura in recommending the acquittal of Villarosa and the overturning the lower court’s verdict. Quintos and his lawyer contended that the position adopted by Nachura on the case “is a clear breach of its legally mandated duty to act as counsel of the People of the Philippines in call criminal proceedings before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.”
“It should be borne in mind that a criminal offense against the People of the Philippines and the State, by reason of its inherent duty to protect its people, acts as prosecutor in all criminal cases. This duty to prosecute criminal case is delegated by the state upon the Office of the Public Prosecutor in the lower court, and in the Office of the Solicitor General in the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court,” the complainant said.
The complainant also presented the following arguments:
The law specifically mandates the OSG to act as the lawyer of the government or state in all criminal proceedings before the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Thus, the law created a system for the prosecution of criminal cases in the higher courts. It therefore leaves no discretion to the OSG to act in any other capacity than to stand for the cause of the government or the state, which is to prosecute the accused in the case.
“With the OSG taking the side of the accused, the People of the Philippines was effectively left without any counsel to advance and/or argue its position with the Court of Appeals. The proceedings before the Court of Appeals would center both on questions of facts and law. In the absence of counsel then, the people would have nobody to explain to the Court the factual antecedents of the case, as well as the legal implications of the same, and would be left totally at the mercy of the defense.”
With the manifestation, the OSG was attempting to substitute its judgment with that of the lower court judge. This is improper, considering its duties and responsibilities as defined under the law.
The complainant pointed out that Matricio and Hermoso were acknowledged political followers of Villarosa. He said the execution of the sworn statement by Hermoso was voluntary, as shown by the records of the case, and was taken with the assistance of a counsel. He said no proof was offered by the defense to show that Hermoso was tortured coerced into giving his testimony that incriminated Villarosa and his co-accused.
Former Rep. Villarosa’s wife is the incumbent congresswoman of Mindoro Occidental. Amelita Villarosa, a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention, is perceived to be very close to Malacañang. Quintos, also a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention, suspects that the congresswoman flexed her influence with the powers-that-be so that the OSG would take a position favorable to her husband. Quintos, by the way, has no plans of running for any public office in the May polls.
Quintos and Amelita Villarosa faced each other during the 1998 congressional race in Mindoro Occidental. Villarosa was proclaimed winner by the Commission on Elections, but Quintos claimed he was cheated and filed his protest before the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal. The tribunal in 2000 ruled that Quintos was the legitimate winner over Villarosa. Villarosa appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, which subsequently upheld the tribunal’s ruling.
Money and Power Dethroned JDV -- and Girlie Villarosa Lent her Hand!
(http://news.ph.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1230125)
The ouster of the leader of the Philippine congress has once again highlighted how a small group of political elites here use their power to sway colleagues and enrich their loved ones, analysts say.
Jose de Venecia -- who accused President Gloria Arroyo, her government and her family of corruption -- was voted out of his seat after a marathon session that started on Monday, and replaced with close Arroyo ally Prospero Nograles.
Experts said the move showed how lawmakers, whose monthly salary is a mere 35,000 pesos (850 dollars), are easily swayed by more powerful members with lots of cash and influence in the worlds of politics and business.
"It is not like other democracies where you have a solid party system," political analyst Antonio Abaya, of the Foundation for Transparency and Public Accountability, told AFP.
"Here it is all about money and power. We call it the politics of patronage."
Edmund Tayao, a political scientist with the University of Santo Tomas, agreed, saying: "Politics in this country is dominated by a small group of rich and very powerful families."
One of the most sought-after jobs in the country is Speaker of the House, a position that wields enormous power -- especially when it comes to dividing up the yearly congressional budget for local spending.
This year the financial allotment totals around 16.7 billion pesos (481 million dollars) for just 239 lawmakers to be used in their constituencies for projects such as roads and schools.
For some lawmakers, "pork-barrel" allocations for their congressional districts can be upwards of 70 million pesos -- which, along with all the other perks of holding public office, are not audited.
"With all that largesse at his fingertips, the speaker of the House has one of the most influential positions in the Philippines," said Clarita Carlos, a political scientist with the University of the Philippines.
"This is the taxpayer's money and we have no idea how it is spent or where it is spent. Why should these clowns be allowed to have all that money without any accountability?"
De Venecia -- who served as speaker for 12 years -- was the fall guy in a classic dispute between two powerful political families over money, Tayao explained.
The 72-year-old veteran had been an ardent supporter of Arroyo for years, guiding her through the fallout following the disputed 2004 presidential election and deflecting repeated congressional attempts to impeach her.
He rewarded those lawmakers who fell in line with generous financial support for their constituencies.
But on Monday, he turned on her, delivering a stinging speech against her on the House floor, accusing her of corruption and cheating to win re-election.
According to Tayao, De Venecia lost faith in Arroyo when his son Joey lost a controversial broadband contract last year to a Chinese company -- a deal Joey says was tainted by massive corruption at the highest levels.
Joey de Venecia also accused the president's husband, lawyer Jose Miguel Arroyo, of trying to silence him over the deal.
During a Senate investigation, it was alleged the 330-million-dollar project was overpriced by 200 million dollars.
"That was the straw that broke the camel's back," Tayao said.
Arroyo's two lawmaker sons, Juan Miguel and Diosdado, eventually led the campaign to remove the speaker.
Amando Doronila, a columnist for the Philippine Daily Enquirer, described De Venecia's ouster as "a vendetta between the Arroyos and the De Venecias over the spoils of office -- an issue basically concerned with corruption."
Another commentator, Jarius Bondoc, wrote in the Philippine Star that with Nograles as speaker, control over the congressional pork-barrel "would land in the hands of the Arroyos -- including First Gentleman Mike."
"That would make their family truly the most powerful in the land -- with Mrs Arroyo in charge of the executive and the other Arroyos lording over the House."
Tayao said Arroyo had taken a "big gamble" in dumping De Venecia.
"He has been around for a long time and knows where the skeletons are buried," he said.
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This is already the degree of rotten-ness of our politics, as practised even at the national level...
And, lest we forget, may I add that to this political quagmire, we have seen how Girlie Villarosa participated..
Anyone wondering why her district is still backward?
Monday, February 4, 2008
When Our Representation Votes...
As of this posting, the House of Representatives has a new Speaker. JDV, the personification of traditional politics in the Congress, lost the Palace-initiated and -backed mutiny against his unprecedented -- in almost all respect -- speakership.
Amado Doronila, in his commentary (PDI, 4 February 2008), warns the Palace about the possible negative political effects of dethroning JDV.
But, well, as matter-of-factly said by one of the representatives in explaining his vote, the exercise is nothing but a number game.
But, to me, the significant thing in the nominal voting of the representatives for or against the motion to declare the position of speaker vacant was how the Representative of Occidental Mindoro.
Well, her YES vote is not surprising. I expected her to vote for or in favor of the Malacanan resident. For, it is PGMA who's going to grant what her heart truly desires -- the eventual clemency for her husband.
The more interesting occurrence was when she voted. Her family name was called: "Villarosa..." Despite the quality sound system of the Congress and the good coverage of DZMM TeleDyaryo, I did not hear her vote. Actually, the presider of the nominal voting even had to ask: "What's the vote of the Representative of Mindoro?" And then he quickly quipped: "PLEASE USE YOUR MIC..."
Of course it is not naive to think that our representative did not only know how to vote... for a baser thing is that she did not even know how to use the Congress' microphone...
Amado Doronila, in his commentary (PDI, 4 February 2008), warns the Palace about the possible negative political effects of dethroning JDV.
But, well, as matter-of-factly said by one of the representatives in explaining his vote, the exercise is nothing but a number game.
But, to me, the significant thing in the nominal voting of the representatives for or against the motion to declare the position of speaker vacant was how the Representative of Occidental Mindoro.
Well, her YES vote is not surprising. I expected her to vote for or in favor of the Malacanan resident. For, it is PGMA who's going to grant what her heart truly desires -- the eventual clemency for her husband.
The more interesting occurrence was when she voted. Her family name was called: "Villarosa..." Despite the quality sound system of the Congress and the good coverage of DZMM TeleDyaryo, I did not hear her vote. Actually, the presider of the nominal voting even had to ask: "What's the vote of the Representative of Mindoro?" And then he quickly quipped: "PLEASE USE YOUR MIC..."
Of course it is not naive to think that our representative did not only know how to vote... for a baser thing is that she did not even know how to use the Congress' microphone...
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Kuryente Issue in Mindoro (sigh...)
Prior to the end of 2007 and most likely in the entire 2008, the global buzz word happens to be global warming (and its related terminologies and phrases). Remember the Bali Conference conducted under the auspices of the UN in the last part of 2007, where there was a high-level of diplomatic acumen and of course a forgetable emotional instance pushed the US to sign -- finally, though with much reservations -- the Kyoto Protocol? By and large, the significance of this lies in the country-signatories' avowal to gradually improve in their use of renewable energy sources and -- the other side of the story -- to subsequently lessen the use, if not the dependence, of fossil fuels.
As of this writing, China is experiencing the worst winter in the last half of the century. Last year, we saw a number of wild fires that did not only consumed forest reserves but also devastated even the posh communities of the rich and the celebrities in US and in Australia. Last year, too, the continuing melting of the iceberg in a number of sites in the world had been brought to the consciousness of the world.
And all of these is said to be in one way or the other connected or related to the phenomenon of global warming.
As this issue hits the media headline around the world, I wonder if it could hit the same chord of interest in the mind of Mindoro people. Well, for some probably -- and I hope so!
As I do this post, I come to realize that in San Jose where the power producer and distributor -- the notorious IPC, NPC and OMECO -- is heavily dependent on bunker fuel to go about with their syndicated business, i.e., to produce electricity.
Naisip ko lang: "Kailan kaya mapapag-usapan ang isyu ng global warming na pinapalala ng kasalukuyang elektripikasyon sa Mindoro dahil sa kanila mismong sistema ng paglikha ng elektrisidad?" Sa ngayon, ang mahalaga sa mga taga-Mindoro ay may ilaw sila (kahit pa nga ba hindi maaaring ihalintulad sa ibang lugar); at hindi pa kasama sa pagtaya ng lipunang Mindoro ang paggamit ng renewable source of energy.
In fairness, may nakausap na akong personalidad at grupong sibiko na nagnanais na magsimula upang masimulan at mapagyaman ang posibilidad ng paggamit ng hangin para panggalingan ng enerhiya. Pero dahil sa takot sa katotohanan ng byurukrasya ng pamahalaan, hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin nagiging realidad ang kanilang nasa kukote.
May isa pang nakakalungkot na katotohanan kasi, ... Ano yun?, maitatanong ninyo.
May sariling problema kasi ang OMECO -- ang kooperatibang hindi naman kooperatiba -- kaya't hindi pa bahagi ng mga pinagkakaabalahan nito ang ibang posibilidad ng pagkukunan ng enerhiya.. Halimbawa, napakalaking problema ng OMECO ang kontrata nito sa IPC. Ang OMECO, ibig sabihin, ang mga consumers ay apektado; samantalang ang pamunuan nito -- ang general manager at mga miyembro ng board of directors -- ay nakikinabang..
Sa katulad na dahilan, di nakakagawa ng hakbang ang OMECO kasi ang mismong lugar ng kanilang bakuran ay napaka-kalat... at nangangailangan ng seryosong paglilinis..
As of this writing, China is experiencing the worst winter in the last half of the century. Last year, we saw a number of wild fires that did not only consumed forest reserves but also devastated even the posh communities of the rich and the celebrities in US and in Australia. Last year, too, the continuing melting of the iceberg in a number of sites in the world had been brought to the consciousness of the world.
And all of these is said to be in one way or the other connected or related to the phenomenon of global warming.
As this issue hits the media headline around the world, I wonder if it could hit the same chord of interest in the mind of Mindoro people. Well, for some probably -- and I hope so!
As I do this post, I come to realize that in San Jose where the power producer and distributor -- the notorious IPC, NPC and OMECO -- is heavily dependent on bunker fuel to go about with their syndicated business, i.e., to produce electricity.
Naisip ko lang: "Kailan kaya mapapag-usapan ang isyu ng global warming na pinapalala ng kasalukuyang elektripikasyon sa Mindoro dahil sa kanila mismong sistema ng paglikha ng elektrisidad?" Sa ngayon, ang mahalaga sa mga taga-Mindoro ay may ilaw sila (kahit pa nga ba hindi maaaring ihalintulad sa ibang lugar); at hindi pa kasama sa pagtaya ng lipunang Mindoro ang paggamit ng renewable source of energy.
In fairness, may nakausap na akong personalidad at grupong sibiko na nagnanais na magsimula upang masimulan at mapagyaman ang posibilidad ng paggamit ng hangin para panggalingan ng enerhiya. Pero dahil sa takot sa katotohanan ng byurukrasya ng pamahalaan, hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin nagiging realidad ang kanilang nasa kukote.
May isa pang nakakalungkot na katotohanan kasi, ... Ano yun?, maitatanong ninyo.
May sariling problema kasi ang OMECO -- ang kooperatibang hindi naman kooperatiba -- kaya't hindi pa bahagi ng mga pinagkakaabalahan nito ang ibang posibilidad ng pagkukunan ng enerhiya.. Halimbawa, napakalaking problema ng OMECO ang kontrata nito sa IPC. Ang OMECO, ibig sabihin, ang mga consumers ay apektado; samantalang ang pamunuan nito -- ang general manager at mga miyembro ng board of directors -- ay nakikinabang..
Sa katulad na dahilan, di nakakagawa ng hakbang ang OMECO kasi ang mismong lugar ng kanilang bakuran ay napaka-kalat... at nangangailangan ng seryosong paglilinis..
Friday, January 25, 2008
Girlie Villarosa Joins PGMA's Foreign Trip for the Nth Time!!!
Wondering where the Representative of Occidental Mindoro?
Well, she is where her boss is -- in Switzerland. Of couse, it is her boss' official business. She tags along.
She is said to be one of the 86 companions of the President.
According to PDI report (25 January 2008), the lawmakers in the President's entourage have come along in order to talk with prospective investors in the Philippines. And, lo and behold, they were to talk with Dr. Zuellig, a pharmaceutical investor in the Phillipine, in the wake of the issue of the passing of the cheap medicine bill in the congress.
The PDI further insinuates on the cost that each one may incur for the daily board and lodging in the Swiss county -- it was (three years ago!) US$300.00!
Anyway, the 2008 budget is done; and if reports are to be believed it contains heftier porks for the solons...
Sarap maging kongresista! Pag malapit ka sa Pangulo, nagiging insensitive ang iyong konsensiya habang kumakapal ang iyong bulsa...
Well, she is where her boss is -- in Switzerland. Of couse, it is her boss' official business. She tags along.
She is said to be one of the 86 companions of the President.
According to PDI report (25 January 2008), the lawmakers in the President's entourage have come along in order to talk with prospective investors in the Philippines. And, lo and behold, they were to talk with Dr. Zuellig, a pharmaceutical investor in the Phillipine, in the wake of the issue of the passing of the cheap medicine bill in the congress.
The PDI further insinuates on the cost that each one may incur for the daily board and lodging in the Swiss county -- it was (three years ago!) US$300.00!
Anyway, the 2008 budget is done; and if reports are to be believed it contains heftier porks for the solons...
Sarap maging kongresista! Pag malapit ka sa Pangulo, nagiging insensitive ang iyong konsensiya habang kumakapal ang iyong bulsa...
Post Script to The Changing of Guards in Magsaysay..
There was a rather "confirming", in the sense of validating, observation that many of the people who were in Magsaysay witnessed when the legal-winner Barrera took the mayoralty seat from the election-winner Tria. It was the presence of the priest-defeated-gobernatorial-candidate Omanio serving as aide-de-camp of Barrera.
Talk of a continuing negation of all his brouhaha during the campaign period, it was it!
Of couse, he began accordingly as an independent candidate -- who was simply adapted or adopted by the Villarosa party. Their partnership was not only evident in the campaign paraphernalia that they jointly had; it even extended up to the life-after-elections of Omanio, when he served to manage his lord's radio station, nay propaganda mechanism.
In a way, the presence of Omanio beside Barrera is politically explainable. Marunong lang siguro talagang tumanaw ng utang na loob ang pari (of course, he technically remains a priest). Yan ay kung hindi siya inutusan ng kaniyang panginoon para samahan sa isang napakahalagang pagkakataon ang isang kapanalig sa pulitika, o kasama sa partido.
Nonetheless, Didaskalos for one finds such a scenario morally distressing. At the surface level, it testifies to the continuing actions of the priest to sow division. As I said he remains technically a priest (on account of the indelible mark that ordination effects).
I understand he has expressed his intention to get back into the priestly ministry -- from which he's been suspended.
Thus, one wonders how this transpiration is received by the hierarchy of the AVSJ.
For Didaskalos, the black-and-white scenario is: for Omanio to make up his mind once and for all -- to get back into his ministry (and seriously mean so), or to totally serve the political interest of his current lord and master..
Talk of a continuing negation of all his brouhaha during the campaign period, it was it!
Of couse, he began accordingly as an independent candidate -- who was simply adapted or adopted by the Villarosa party. Their partnership was not only evident in the campaign paraphernalia that they jointly had; it even extended up to the life-after-elections of Omanio, when he served to manage his lord's radio station, nay propaganda mechanism.
In a way, the presence of Omanio beside Barrera is politically explainable. Marunong lang siguro talagang tumanaw ng utang na loob ang pari (of course, he technically remains a priest). Yan ay kung hindi siya inutusan ng kaniyang panginoon para samahan sa isang napakahalagang pagkakataon ang isang kapanalig sa pulitika, o kasama sa partido.
Nonetheless, Didaskalos for one finds such a scenario morally distressing. At the surface level, it testifies to the continuing actions of the priest to sow division. As I said he remains technically a priest (on account of the indelible mark that ordination effects).
I understand he has expressed his intention to get back into the priestly ministry -- from which he's been suspended.
Thus, one wonders how this transpiration is received by the hierarchy of the AVSJ.
For Didaskalos, the black-and-white scenario is: for Omanio to make up his mind once and for all -- to get back into his ministry (and seriously mean so), or to totally serve the political interest of his current lord and master..
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Changing of Guards in Magsaysay
Days ago, a rather not-altogether expected transpiration took place in the idyllic town of Magsaysay. Mayor Cesar Tria, Jr was unseated in favor of the already "two-timer" (read my lips, as Clinton said) Mayor Marleo Barrera. The latter lost in the elections of May 2007, but -- with a rather legally bizzare manner -- won the seat via a court decision.
I am in contact with another fellow from Magsaysay who's now based in the US of A, and it was him who confirmed or validated my hunch...
What made Barrera snatched the seat from Tria is... Girlie Villarosa!
Well, the issue is significant to me. As in the past elections, the Catholic Church in Occidental Mindoro mobilized its entire resources in order to fulfill its socio-political apostolate that is to ensure a clean, orderly and peaceful election. Now, it is precisely this that baffles me. As per the count of the NAMFREL/PPC-RV, it was actually Tria who won! The thing is, the election sheets that served as the basis for the parallel count done by the Catholic Church ought to be the electiosn sheets that were based upon by the court.
Are we talking here of confusion of basic mathematical operation, presuming that indeed one and only one election sheets were used?
I supposed otherwise... that is, that the election documents that were presented in and used by the court were distinct.
Nonetheless, a consideration of another factor may be made in here -- that which is called HUMAN FACTOR.
Human factor may mean a lot of things... For one, it means Villarosa Factor.
Disgusting... It is our top politicians who decide for whoever is going to govern us...
I am in contact with another fellow from Magsaysay who's now based in the US of A, and it was him who confirmed or validated my hunch...
What made Barrera snatched the seat from Tria is... Girlie Villarosa!
Well, the issue is significant to me. As in the past elections, the Catholic Church in Occidental Mindoro mobilized its entire resources in order to fulfill its socio-political apostolate that is to ensure a clean, orderly and peaceful election. Now, it is precisely this that baffles me. As per the count of the NAMFREL/PPC-RV, it was actually Tria who won! The thing is, the election sheets that served as the basis for the parallel count done by the Catholic Church ought to be the electiosn sheets that were based upon by the court.
Are we talking here of confusion of basic mathematical operation, presuming that indeed one and only one election sheets were used?
I supposed otherwise... that is, that the election documents that were presented in and used by the court were distinct.
Nonetheless, a consideration of another factor may be made in here -- that which is called HUMAN FACTOR.
Human factor may mean a lot of things... For one, it means Villarosa Factor.
Disgusting... It is our top politicians who decide for whoever is going to govern us...
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Done in the still-ness of the night...
There is a rather significant development concerning the supply of electricity in Occidental Mindoro that was realized before the 2007 closed, and which unfortunately was never made public. No, this is not about OMECO -- the fate of which is very bleak insofar as the present administrator clings to his seat and enjoys all the perks made available to him (thanks hugely to complacent electric consumers!).
This is about the alleged sale of the IPC to a what is said to be a foreign personality.
IPC, or Island Power Corp., previously owned by a corporation comprised of the Villarosa's and their business associates, is into a contract with OMECO for exclusive supply of electricity for 25 long years! The power producing corporation, despite its failure to supply the stipulated volume of electricity as per the contract, was recipient -- at least in last year's statistical and financial reports of OMECO -- of millions of pesos as this is provided for in the said contract.
So, if IPC was already sold, what's the heck?
I am raising this point precisely because it is never known to me if together with the sale of the plant and machineries the contract with OMECO is (was) also sold? For, if so, then what can be anticipated as eventualities can be too important to ignore.
While I knew that IPC is a private corporation, I understand that for such a public utility any major corporate decision -- such as the alienation of its major assets -- must be made known to all its consumers.
Unless one argues that Villarosa's are more politician than businessman...
This is about the alleged sale of the IPC to a what is said to be a foreign personality.
IPC, or Island Power Corp., previously owned by a corporation comprised of the Villarosa's and their business associates, is into a contract with OMECO for exclusive supply of electricity for 25 long years! The power producing corporation, despite its failure to supply the stipulated volume of electricity as per the contract, was recipient -- at least in last year's statistical and financial reports of OMECO -- of millions of pesos as this is provided for in the said contract.
So, if IPC was already sold, what's the heck?
I am raising this point precisely because it is never known to me if together with the sale of the plant and machineries the contract with OMECO is (was) also sold? For, if so, then what can be anticipated as eventualities can be too important to ignore.
While I knew that IPC is a private corporation, I understand that for such a public utility any major corporate decision -- such as the alienation of its major assets -- must be made known to all its consumers.
Unless one argues that Villarosa's are more politician than businessman...
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Thanks to Free Media!
Today, we read about Girlie Villarosa's clarification about the PDI report that her husband -- the convicted murderer JTV -- is not actuallymissing. Notwithstanding the cries of the Madam Deputy Speaker (with all the pun intended), I am reminded of the role that the national media played in relation to the Jalosjos release case.
Specifically, what was media's role?
It consisted in their effort to bring to the open the entire brouhaha.. Nobody knew that Jalosjos was already released. In fact, if we are to believe the Secretary of Justice, he himself was not aware that his former colleague in the House of Representatives was already released.
Thanks to the media, we were informed. And thanks to the media, a concerted outcry was made manifest. Which eventually accounted for the metanoia of the prison officials..
We still do not know how PDI would respond to Villarosa's denial that her husband is missing. Baka nga naman nagkamali ang PDI. On such account, PDI will definitely be professional to publish an erratum and seek an apology from the Villarosa's.
But, it would take a resident of Occidental Mindoro to dismiss -- if not altogether -- Villarosa's rebuttal of PDI's report. Why, and on what ground? Well, the lady solon has proven herself that she's very very capable of lying. Remember how she had to tell lies just to distance the president of the strong republic from the bribery issue last year?
Needless to say, between Villarosa and the PDI, I would subscribe to the latter.
---------------------
If indeed the convict is really illed with lung cancer, I realize the veracity of a conventional pinoy wisdom that goes: ano/sino ka man (i.e., you may be convict or a free man, a rich or a pauper, an ordinary citizen or a government official, truthful or a duper) darating din ang panahon na haharap ka sa iyong "limit-situation"...
Specifically, what was media's role?
It consisted in their effort to bring to the open the entire brouhaha.. Nobody knew that Jalosjos was already released. In fact, if we are to believe the Secretary of Justice, he himself was not aware that his former colleague in the House of Representatives was already released.
Thanks to the media, we were informed. And thanks to the media, a concerted outcry was made manifest. Which eventually accounted for the metanoia of the prison officials..
We still do not know how PDI would respond to Villarosa's denial that her husband is missing. Baka nga naman nagkamali ang PDI. On such account, PDI will definitely be professional to publish an erratum and seek an apology from the Villarosa's.
But, it would take a resident of Occidental Mindoro to dismiss -- if not altogether -- Villarosa's rebuttal of PDI's report. Why, and on what ground? Well, the lady solon has proven herself that she's very very capable of lying. Remember how she had to tell lies just to distance the president of the strong republic from the bribery issue last year?
Needless to say, between Villarosa and the PDI, I would subscribe to the latter.
---------------------
If indeed the convict is really illed with lung cancer, I realize the veracity of a conventional pinoy wisdom that goes: ano/sino ka man (i.e., you may be convict or a free man, a rich or a pauper, an ordinary citizen or a government official, truthful or a duper) darating din ang panahon na haharap ka sa iyong "limit-situation"...
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Let us compare... (Kuryente uli!)
It was in November of the previous year when I posted my last post in this blog. The succeeding month of December -- being the last month of the year, i.e., the time when office reports are to be drafted and sent to appropriate authorities -- practically prevented me from keying in some thoughts in this blog.
This time, when I have more time to ponder things over -- and when I am enjoying a little distance from Mindoro -- I cannot but draw a number of comparison and contrast between the province where I am from and the locales I am privileged to see and live in even temporarily.
To the readers of this blog, may I say that in Singapore, an island state which if not for its ports initially was thought to be a place that is not capable of development, a rather interesting plan concerning the household and even industrial use of electricity is being proposed.
In the Philippines, we know of the "tingi" system -- which has been employed even in securing our pre-paid load for mobile phones. Load is secured by card -- in the amount of 300 or 500 pesos (depending on the network provider).
In Singapore, the availment of electricity is proposed to be made akin to "by-card" system. That is, households and even industries can procure electricity "by-card", too. Say, one can go to the store and secure a pre-paid power-card, bring it home and he/she has a supply of electricity for specified period of time...
Hearing this proposal over the broadcast, I cannot but think of our beloved OMECO.
The proposal concerned is to a certain extent not primarily about an out of this world technology. It is born out of, I suppose, a strong desire to innovate -- all for the convenience of and better service to the consumers.
This time, when I have more time to ponder things over -- and when I am enjoying a little distance from Mindoro -- I cannot but draw a number of comparison and contrast between the province where I am from and the locales I am privileged to see and live in even temporarily.
To the readers of this blog, may I say that in Singapore, an island state which if not for its ports initially was thought to be a place that is not capable of development, a rather interesting plan concerning the household and even industrial use of electricity is being proposed.
In the Philippines, we know of the "tingi" system -- which has been employed even in securing our pre-paid load for mobile phones. Load is secured by card -- in the amount of 300 or 500 pesos (depending on the network provider).
In Singapore, the availment of electricity is proposed to be made akin to "by-card" system. That is, households and even industries can procure electricity "by-card", too. Say, one can go to the store and secure a pre-paid power-card, bring it home and he/she has a supply of electricity for specified period of time...
Hearing this proposal over the broadcast, I cannot but think of our beloved OMECO.
The proposal concerned is to a certain extent not primarily about an out of this world technology. It is born out of, I suppose, a strong desire to innovate -- all for the convenience of and better service to the consumers.
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