(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.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
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
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