No wonder Trial Judge Advocate General Ukol Paglala was laughing nervously all throughout the court martial proceedings last Thursday in Camp Capinpin in Tanay of 28 officers linked to the February 2006 coup lot against Gloria Arroyo.
He was caught in a difficult situation. The lawyers of the accused officers were demanding a copy of the pre-trial investigation (PTI) report on the February incident which Esperon had said was the basis of his decision to try the officers for mutiny before a military tribunal.
Had Paglala released the PTI as due process requires, he would have exposed his superior, AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, as not exactly telling the truth.
On Nov. 19, 2006 Esperon said he was going to announce the next day his decision on the fate 38 Army and Marines officers linked to the alleged February 2006 plot to overthrow Gloria Arroyo. He said he had made a decision based on the recommendation of a fact-finding panel head by Col. Al Perreras.
At 10 a.m. of Nov. 20, he ordered that 30 Army and Marine officers, including Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim undergo court martial for mutiny. He absolved eight other officers for lack of evidence.
He said his order was based on the recommendation of the Perreras panel. But he did not release the PTI report to the media.
Having succeeded in keeping from the media the Mayuga report about the alleged involvement of military officials in the 2004 elections, Esperon was probably confident that they could forever keep the PTI a secret.
But as wise folks say, truth is like water. Even when blocked, it will make its way out.
Indeed. At about 2 p.m. that same day, we got hold of an unsigned copy of the PTI report. The recommendation was different from what Esperon ordered. The Perreras panel recommended the dismissal of the charge of mutiny against 38 officers for “lack of factual and legal bases.” It, however, recommended that the officers be charged for Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and a Gentleman.
When confronted with the report that a PTI report was available in the internet (www.ellentordesillas.com) and the recommendation did not reconcile with his order, Esperon said, it’s his “prerogative” to overrule the recommendation.
But he also said, “There is only one copy of that original report, it is with me, and I have turned that over to the judge advocate general so anything that you see in the Internet is not the PTI report.”
As he continued talking, the more he tripped. He said “There are two reports that came in to me. One is the pretrial investigation report of the pretrial (investigation) panel and the other one is the pretrial advice of my staff judge advocate. They (PTI and PTA reports) are the basis for my decisions in directing the court martial of the 30 officers. I will not tell you the contents.”
Although he said that the two reports were the basis of this order, he also said, “I do not have to abide by the PTI report and by the PTA.”
Esperon should know that in this world, there’s no such thing as “absolute prerogative”. Lawyers of the accused said a superior’s prerogative should be sound, not arbitrary or whimsical, discretion.
Atty. Rodrigo Artuz, counsel for Col. Ariel Querubin said under the Articles of War, the commanding officer may downgrade the charge but he cannot reverse a dismissal.
Since Paglala chose not to embarrass Esperon with the release of the PTI , he had to suffer the accusations of the private lawyers that the charged officers were being denied their basic right of due process.
When Col. Marian Aliedo, the court’s lawyer member said that the PTI will be given “through channels in due time” which means through Esperon. Abraham Bermejo, lawyer for Lt. Col. Edmundo Malabanjot and Lt. Col. Nestor Flordeliza, expressed alarm, “We are afraid we are going to be prosecuted based on secret documents.”
Frank Chavez, lawyer of Gen. Miranda, said, “We don’t have the luxury of time. The accused are detained. The charges have broken the rhythm of their lives.”
Lawyer Alex Lacson reminded the panel that every time a soldier is on trial, military justice is also on trial.
Speaking in a clear, sober voice, Lacson addressed the seven-man panel: “The accused are your brothers in uniform, your comrades. An act of violating their rights is an act of injustice, against your military justice, against the Constitution.”
His plaintive appeal: “Can we just follow the rules?”
Such a simple request, yet the panel could not decide. Hearing was adjourned to resume on Feb. 27.
I’ve said that Esperon violated and continues to violate the rights of the officers, their military rights as well as their human rights.
I consulted some friends here who had sat in court martials – I outlined some of the facts; all of those I consulted gave the same answer: officers who are accused of a crime whatever the crime is are entitled to a pre-trial investigation, if there is sufficient evidence to indict them, the judge advocated should recommend from the time the evidence had been gathered for a court martial to take place; short of that the major service commander will be violating the rights of the officers.
Esperon is guilty of violating the rights of these officers – the prerogative to violate the rights of these officers does NOT LIE IN HIM.
He is absolutely wrong, absolutely misguided, he does not know what he is talking about.
He may have intimidated the rest of the military into following his ILLEGAL ORDERS (by keeping the officers detained without due process of law) BUT THEY, WHO OBEY HIS ILLEGAL ORDERS ARE GUILTY AS HELL OF VIOLATING THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THESE OFFICERS TO A JUST AND FAIR TRIAL.
Any of the officers still in active duty can in fact relieve Esperon of his command for violating the military rights of Brig General Lim, Col Ariel Querubin and the rest of the incacerated officers and for issuing ILLEGAL ORDERS.
Any colonel or any general from brigadier rank can relieve Esperon (and Tolentino if need be) and take over command!
Esperon would twist everything just to satisfy his deranged queen.
The alleged mutiny is a lame excuse for the illegal declaration of state of emergency which was directed against the enraged filipino people.
If Esperon insists that it’s his prerogative to keep these officers in incarceration without due process of military law, the BOARD OF GENERALS can make a recommendation for his destitution…
The officers of the AFP who can boast of integrity and dignity remaining in them, should put things and matters right or they too can be accused of being complicit to serious violations of military law as provided for in the Articles of War.
The way “Trial Judge Advocate General Ukol Paglala was laughing nervously throughout the court martial proceedings..” & the way Gen. Sexperon answered the questions regarding the PTI or PTA report, only shows one thing to me: When what they do don’t make sense anymore & when they speak, its all blah blah, I call that PANIC !
Indeed, “..truth is like water. Even when blocked, it will make its way out.”
Now its clearer. The GLORIA GENERALS have cracked. TRUTH, like GLORIA, IS THEIR ENEMY.
Esperon HAS NO IDEA of what he is doing.
The stars dont make an officer a general. It’s the general that makes the stars worthy to be worn! Esperon doesn’t even deserve to wear ONE SUN!
Damn illegal ordering shithead!
I’ve met many generals in my lifetime but I’ve never see someone as goddamn coward as this one!
One of the lawyers, complained to the panel about Paglala’s annoying laughing expression. “Why is the Judge Advocate General laughing at us?”
Ang tatapang ng mga accused. During the break, one of the accused, an army captain , approached Ukol (a colonel) and told him,”Bakit patawa-tawa kayo? Nakakaloko kayo ah?”
I couldn’t hear Ukol’s reply. But another officer said, “Ganoon lang talaga siya. Smiling face.”
After that, the security cordoned the area where the JAG officers were seated from the officers.
My sense is that Ukol was nervous. The array of lawyers defending the accused was impressive. Military lawyers were terribly outclassed.
My observation of the accused officers, the detention and the difficulties they are subjected to, have not broken their spirit. They are as defiant as ever of Gloria Arroyo and Esperon.
Capt. Ruben Guinolbay, another medal of valor awardee, was heard telling a JAG, “Nagsa-submit na nga kami sa proseso, binababoy pa kami.”
The military lawyer could only mumble,”Pasensya ka na.Trabaho lang ito.”
Now, tell me, who is pathetic of the two sides?
Correction:
…officers who are accused of a crime whatever the crime is are entitled to a pre-trial investigation, if there is sufficient evidence to indict them, the judge advocated should recommend from the time the evidence had been gathered for a court martial to take place. In the case of these officers, it could be inferred that the Judge Advocate General has had sufficient time from the time the so called “mutiny”, alleged coup plot took place (February 2006)to determine if the accused officers have committed any offence contained in the Articles of War.
The pre-trial investigation report and recommendation for a court martial (if warranted) should have been released 65 days from the time the officers were arrested but it’s been almost a year since the goddamn farcical investigation started and still, there’s no outcome.
In this case, Esperon MUST RELEASE THESE OFFICERS for want of evidence.
He is absolutely wrong to declare that he has the prerogative over their continued incarceration. His continuing to do so is considered an ILLEGAL ORDER!
Officers and men and women of the AFP, beware!
Kung sa tapang lang ay hindi uubra ang mga military lawyers tulad ng taga-Judge Advocate. These lawyers were commissioned via lateral entry. Captain yata agad kapag na-commissioned. They are not very familiar with the mentality of the regular soldiers and officers. Kaya huwag silang tatawa-tawa at talagang babanatan sila ng mga young officers na akusado.
Ellen,
Re: “Ang tatapang ng mga accused. During the break, one of the accused, an army captain, approached Ukol (a colonel) and told him,”Bakit patawa-tawa kayo? Nakakaloko kayo ah?””
This is bad! That kind of occurrence is outrageous.
These incarcerated officers must continue to BE COURAGEGOUS but must not lose sight of the chain of command.
They may despise their superior but must not show their disdain in that overt fashion. I can’t blame them for feeling and acting that way but they MUST SET THE MOST FORMIDABLE NERVE OF STEEL in the face of the silly reaction of the colonel, that is if they don’t want the AFP to completely disintegrate.
Should they (the incarcerated officers) truly feel that this is all a farce, then THEY MUST REFUSE TO APPEAR IN COURT… Simple! (Or take it upon themselves to relieve the officers of the court and take over the proceedings, but I do realize that is difficult!)
It’s probably too much to ask but THEY MUST ACT WITH DIGNITY AT ALL TIMES and if they feel that their their pride is hurt over a silly reaction they MUST GET OUT OF THE COURT AND MUST REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY MORE CHARADE! No ifs, no buts…
That’s how you mold a formidable professional military corps!
Ellen,
Next time you meet these officers, perhaps you can remind them: The military is there to preserve democracy but not to practice democracy within the military.
They will understand what that means.
I forgot there’s a chain in command in the military. A subordinate cannot talk back and confront his superior. Lalo na sa Korte pa nangyari. On the other hand, dala lang siguro ng pagkainis ang reaction ng mga akusado. Lutong Macao na nga ang kaso tapos makikita mong tatawa-tawa na nakaka-insulto ang Judge Advocate.
I was impressed with Alex Lacson. I didn’t get who his client is among the officers. Lacson is the author of the bestselling book “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country.”
He studied at the Philippine Military Academy but didn’t graduate. He went on to Harvard.
I’m glad he is with the accused soldiers. His presence on the side of the soldiers helped me re-affirm my belief on the righteousness of the officers’ cause.
Yeah, Ellen, I’ve heard of Alex Lacson!
Ellen,
I must disagree with this wrong assumption lest young officers and men of the AFP think it’s right: “A subordinate cannot talk back and confront his superior.”
A subordinate CAN talk back and confront his superior. The said subordinate can do so ON ONE AND ONLY ONE CONDITION: if the superior gave AN ILLEGAL ORDER. However, that subordinate must be prepared to either relieve his superior whom he’s deemed to have given an illgeal order or be prpared to be arrested for insubordination.
Either act takes enormous amount of courage and great wisdom.
Is Alex Lacson related to Senator Ping Lacson?
Esperon said “There are two reports that came in to me. One is the pretrial investigation report of the pretrial (investigation) panel and the other one is the pretrial advice of my staff judge advocate. They (PTI and PTA reports) are the basis for my decisions in directing the court martial of the 30 officers. I will not tell you the contents.”
This fake administration has always two versions of an issue. The Hello Garci Bunye has two disks, the left and the right.
Asoperon has two reports, the PTI and the PTA.
Both didn’t want the public to know the truths behind the two disks and two reports.
Glueria has also BI-polar illness.
Soon, these evils will only have two choices, to hide or run to avoid people’s attack!
When there is this kind of violation, the rule is to dismiss the case outright, and this is the rule of law, whether it is civilian or a military court, in all more civilized societies.
This only shows how this bogus government with its generals reduced as lip servers of a wannabe criminal who thinks that she get away with her legal responsibilities by playing stupid and crazy is not following any rule of law.
So, what do sane and logical Filipinos do about this? Take the challenge of the Fatso, who is definitely acting like a Rasputin and on his own admission, for a bloody revolution to get them all kicked out of the palace by the murky river since there seems to be nothing coming out from any attempt to do this removal by peaceful means, even by an election that will definitely be rigged with an appointee and a kabalen still messing up things at the commission supposedly there to insure a clean election?
Palabasin na, mga matatapang na sundalo!
This scenario is like a moro-moro sarzuela.They don’t have a strong case against this military officer.This issue is too hot to handle for those who accused.If they are convicted is a whammy and open the floodgate to the berated.
If they are acquited it’s a double whammy.
the rule of law doesn’t exist in the philippines anymore. the evil one and her minions follow the golden rule, “she who has the gold and the guns and the goons, rules”. the military under this assperon has become arooyo’s private army and persecutes all those who go against her will. rule of the jungle na nga sabi ni ms. ellen.
this evil woman has corrupted all the institutions in the country, the judiciary, congress and military. and she wants to muffle the press big time. the evil one has to go. itulak yan sa ilog pasig at itapon sa basurahan ng ating kasaysayan.
Ellen,
Sorry, error: I must disagree with this wrong assumption lest young officers and men of the AFP think it’s right: “A subordinate cannot talk back and confront his superior.”
A subordinate CAN talk back and confront his superior. The said subordinate can do so ON ONE AND ONLY ONE CONDITION: if the superior gave AN ILLEGAL ORDER. However, that subordinate must be prepared to either relieve his superior whom he’s deemed to have given an illgeal order or be prpared to be arrested for insubordination.
Either act takes enormous amount of courage and great wisdom.
Isabel,
“the military under this assperon has become arooyo’s private army and persecutes all those who go against her will. rule of the jungle na nga sabi ni ms. ellen.”
That’s exactly what is becoming of the AFP. Unless subordinates TALK BACK, CONFRONT & EXPLAIN TO THEIR IMMEDIATE SUPERIORS THAT there’s such a thing in the military as an ILLEGAL ORDER, they will all disintegrate into Gloria’s mercenaries!
The remaining officers of the AFP must feel duty and morally bound by military ethics and their obligation to their comrades to HAVE THE COURAGE to say that IT IS TIME NOT TO OBEY FURTHER ILLEGAL ORDERS!
Esperon may not tell the Media or reporters about the contents of the pre-trial reports, but under the rule of Diclosure of Evidence, it is required that all evidence in control of the prosecutors or governemnt should be made available to the defendants in proper preparation for their defense. That’s the fundanmental rule of fair trial, either in Civilian courts of Military. And the Presiding Judge or Trial Judge Advocate should enforce that rule instead of smiling and laughing his ignorance of the process.
Vic,
Re: “And the Presiding Judge or Trial Judge Advocate should enforce that rule instead of smiling and laughing his ignorance of the process. ”
The AFP is disintegrating before our very eyes. Very unfortunate.
This is why it is important for officers and members of the AFP to determine when, to realize if, to act accordingly o, ILLEGAL ORDERS…
Our officers must know when to disobey a order emanating from higer command if it IS AN ILLEGAL ORDER.
Ate Ellen
If you happened to be somewhere in Quezon and you hear somebody is called ukol, it means, crazy. Ukol is the reverse of loku but pronounced as loco.
So that man, Col. Ukol, must be crazy kaya patawa-tawa.
Isabel: the rule of law doesn’t exist in the philippines anymore. the evil one and her minions follow the golden rule, “she who has the gold and the guns and the goons, rules”. the military under this assperon has become arooyo’s private army and persecutes all those who go against her will. rule of the jungle na nga sabi ni ms. ellen.
*****
Sinabi mo pa. We’ve been saying this in fact from the time the Burot grabbed power. Alan Paguia for one tried to point this out to the Philippine public. Instead of listening because he was jeopardizing the position of the crooks sitting there with even one of them claiming to have played god, he was debarred! Hopefully, he can get back his license to practice law when the rule of law is restored.
Right now, dasal muna, and yes, revolution via cyberspace!
Tomboy power, ahoy!
Joeseg,
Thanks for removing the wrinkle from my forehead with this:
“Ukol is the reverse of loku but pronounced as loco. So that man, Col. Ukol, must be crazy kaya patawa-tawa.”
Ano pa ang take mo sa iba pa using their real name—nothing of the sort of Assperon, etc.?
Gloria’s Advocate General’s Office has an officer named Ukol Paglala?
Paglala, Ukol sa Hustisyang Militar…what destiny!
Florry,
I have the same take about what Anna said. As the old adage goes, “Great minds think alike.”
So, who says that bloggers here not patronizing the Great Switik at the palace by the murky river cannot be unified because they are Filipinos?
If agreeing that the Great Switik should go is not unity, what is? I say, “Give me five!”
What will you expect from esperon when it comes to military jutice? Here is a factual example:
When speron was the Army chief, a scandal involving an army general was the favorite topic at HPA.
A GRO from Airforce 1 (a highclass ktv bar) filed a complaint against a certain general for ‘biting her nipples’-literally. The Army immediately moved to settle the trouble. The GRO withdrew her complaint. No investigation was ever conducted. Worst of all, esperon rewarded this jerky major general by giving him an Army division command in Mindanao.
Well, they said, that’s esperon’s prerogative.
Correction, but this should read: Instead of listening because he was jeopardizing the position of the crooks sitting there AT THE SUPREME COURT with even one of them claiming to have played god, he was debarred!
Over in Japan, this kind of removal of a very qualified lawyer cannot be done without a protest from the Federation of Japanese Bar Associations that lawyers here are paying big fees to be members of for their own protection.
Unfortunately, what they have there now in the Philippines is a mob (Mafia) acting permanently as a government. Bogus it is no doubt with a wannabe criminal calling herself as president! People around the world should be told of this so that credentials of appointees like Davide, for example, to the UN will not be accepted and confirmed. A signed petition is actually a good option to do this.
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
This kangaroo court formed by Assperon is clearly one of his ways of showing to the AFP that he rules. I would say, a “bogus rule”. This moro moro court is his way of incarcerating these officers who are perceived to be obstacles to his and Tiyanak’s “Rule of Terror”. Pareho sila ng reyna niya na papogi-pogi lang ang discarte. The more he harrasses these officers, the more junior officers(even the righteous senior officers) would think twice in following him.
Ang matitira lang na susunod sa kanya ay ang mga self serving officers, those who follow the “golden rule”- more contracts(may kupit na malaki), a possible promotion (baka lahat sila ay may promise na promotion sa Chief of Staff). In other words yung mga corrupt lang na katulad niya at ng kanyang reyna will hang in there with him but the rest of the really good officers are just waiting for the oppurtune time to boot him out! These officers know who are for real and who are fake.
HANG IN THERE GOOD FELLAS! YOU WILL ONE DAY BE VINDICATED!
Yuko, Florry,
Like you, am proud, and am sure that the REAL MEN and WOMEN in this blog are as well, to share the courageous stand of this blog for and on behalf of the courageous officers, men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, here’s to keeping the spirit of the courageous officers (incarcerated by a self-styled 4-star general of Gloria’s): MAY YOUR TRIBE INCREASE! It is your duty and moral obligation to the rest of your comrades and to the brave men and women of the AFP NOT TO OBEY ILLEGAL ORDERS!
It seems to me that this Assperon , without thinking, has placed the AFP leadership in a situation whereby they are now forced to correct his mistakes. The law is there to protect the rights of the accused, whether Assperson likes it or not. Like his evil master, Assperon has also painted himself into a corner and he will be made to pay for that mistake just as she will be made to pay also. Its time to pack your bags Glo.
Parasabayan,
Re: “This kangaroo court formed by Assperon is clearly one of his ways of showing to the AFP that he rules. ”
I agree! It is really unfortunate that Esperon believes that he is the RULER of the AFP.
He IS the Chief of Staff but he is wrong to believe that the Armed Forces is HIS to rule. He is there to make sure that everything is in order and BUT NOT TO SOW DISORDER. What he is doing is totally in contradiction with the very essence of the position he holds.
Esperon is out of his depth.
Quite unfortunate for the good men and women of the AFP.
Anyone knows the whereabouts of Gen. Gudani and Lt. Col. Balutan. Besides the Magdalos, I also admire these officers and gentlemen for standing up to the truth regardless..
Anna:
Maybe in the distant past the type of officer such as Assperon could have got away with these type of actions. The military around the world have become much more sophisticated through man management training methods. It is evident that Assperon was never ready to caryy such a responsible position, (hence the reason to have a CA board)and no doubt from what we see and hear, never will be ready. This is the problem when this evil woman fake promotes someone on the strength of metal stars found in Kellogs corn flake cartons.
Re{ Brig Gen Gudani & Lt Col. Balutan if they had the support of other officers of the AFP at that time they appeared in the Senate, maybe it would have been a different story than today.
Anna, Yuko, florry,
It is my opinion that because the person who appointed Asoperon and other Glueria Generals is the bansot, who is herself an illegitimate ruler, it is, therefore, right to say that all her appointees are just like her, illegitimate.
Thus, the legitimate men of honor have all the rights to question their fake superiors.
I can’t dig why the Senate went on to accredit these Garci Generals. Perhaps to give a semblance of order in the military or the bansot had her way with them. Whatever, the military hierarchy is a total failure under the commander-in-thief. The senators were had. Wala silang magawa ngayong pinahihirapan ang mga tunay na militar! It’s so disappointing!
WWNL,
Re: “It is evident that Assperon was never ready to caryy such a responsible position, ”
I think you are right.
I’m certain he became Gloria’s choice for the position because of the dog loyalty that showed her; he was after all her prime bodyguard at the beginning and then her choice military thief.
When Cory was about to choose her own chief of staff to replace General R Biazon (she decided against extending him), she asked for the ultimate quality of each of the candidate.
The candidates were: Rear Admiral Dumancas, Commodore Marcelo, Brig General Rodriguez (Vice Com PAF), Lt General Loven Abadia (Commanding General PAF), Maj General Boy Enrile, Brig General Boy Abadia (both Army), all outstanding officers who had shown their ability as field commanders.
She didn’t seek to appoint an officer to the position because of the officer’s loyalty or what not to her personally. He chose Brig General Lisandro Campo Abadia (from Cebu), lowerclass man (PMA 72) of his own brother who was already Chief of the Air Force because all those she asked the question “WILL HE SHOOT?” Answered unanimously and unequivocally, YES!
It seems, the question Gloria asked of a would be chief of staff AFP is: WILL HE STEAL FOR ME?
Chi,
In the absolute you are right: “It is my opinion that because the person who appointed Asoperon and other Glueria Generals is the bansot, who is herself an illegitimate ruler, it is, therefore, right to say that all her appointees are just like her, illegitimate. ”
Isn’t it frustrating that our legislators cannot see this one, absolute truth?
Anna,
This is probably beyond legislators comprehension because of their political nature. They can only identify with what is relative! O baka naman masyadong mataas ang pamantayan natin? heheh!
WWNL, General Gudani has retired. He should be enjoying retirement but I think there’s a case pending before him for “disobeying” the order of Senga not to appear before the Senate based on prohibition of Arroyo under E.O 464 which was rendered illegal by the Supreme Court.
Balutan is still in service. A dedicated, honest officer.
It is unfortunate that while there is still a “pending case” against BrigGen Gudani, he cannot collect his pension.
General Senga is wrong to have left the case pending. He had no moral right to let a good military officer of the Republic be left in the lurch after more than 3 decades of service to his nation.
I am counting on Colonel Balutan. His career is “frozen” i.e., cannot expect a promotion while this moral midget is in place.
How despicable that such good officers must be sidetracked. They are the ones this nation needs and not the likes of Esperon and Tolentino.
Chi, How sad! Our legislators are not imbued with the same sense of honour and sense of moral courage as the officers and men/women of the AFP who are being incarcerated by Esperon.
Our country cannot expect to move forward, to progress even with the sacrifices of such honorable young officers, men and women of the republic as well as the unsung heroes of the nation, the OFWs!
Gloria is a nasty piece of work. Nothing nice in that moral midget. She contaminates everything she touches with her own brand of lethal immoral virus.
Anna:
One good thing Senator Lim did to boost up the morale of these good officers, Gudani and Balutan, was to set up a charity for them. It should be continued as a matter to help the families of these soldiers languishing in jail for the good sense to defy a wannabe criminal calling herself president when she should be the one being incarcerated there for crimes committed against the people of the Republic of the Philippines.
I asked a friend of mine in fact to deliver my contribution to that fund as a matter of fact. Now, she has made a name for herself! In short, I had two hits with one stone even when the real beneficiary was not me!
Ganda ng feeling, especially when such little effort can bring big results!!!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Yuko,
I remember that! Didn’t Ellen write a post about it? I coursed my tiny contribution through my sister. Btw, is Sen Lim continuing the effort?
Spy, What is a GRO?
anna,
ako na lang ang sasagot sa tanong mo kay spy, kung pwede. yung GRO is short for guest relation officer, yan ang mga bagong tawag sa hostess, euphimism kung baga. nahahalata ang tagal mo nang hindi nauwi sa pinas. he he he!
Ah, ganoon ba! Hehehe, Thanks, Isabel. I had an inkling reading Spy’s post that GRO had something to do with that sort of thing but when he said Air Force 1, I kind of got lost.
Pero nasa Pinas ako 2 years ago. Hehe! But before that I used to go to Pinas almost every month (for work) but really, with Gloria in place, not inspired to go anymore, besides the company I was working for had decided to WITHDRAW TOTALLY from the Philippines, pulling out all its investments and focusing instead to neigbouring countries in Asia.
Anna, Airforce 1 is a famous club in Parañaque.
Joey Marquez, Kris Aquino’s ex and former mayor of Parañaque, is said to be a frequent client of that place.
This is off topic but I cannot resist the joke: When Kris Aquino accused on TV Joey Marquez of giving her STD, a text joke went arround, “Those who are for Kris, go to Edsa Shrine to show your support for her. Those who are for Joey, go to AirForce1.”
another project down the drain, anna. sayang yung make-create na jobs nuon for our kababayan. wala naman talagang pakialam itong si evil one kung kumakalam na ang sikmura ng mga common tao dahil sa kawalan ng hanapbuhay. mas gusto pa nga ni arroyo na ibugaw ang mga pinoy para sa dolyares na mananakaw nila.
Ellen, hahahah! OK, next time I go to Manila, I will drop by there!
Isabel, sayang talaga. We had a couple of joint ventures with transfer of technology under the Self Reliance Programme (a Philippine law) and had invested tens of millions of dollars; manufacturing was the foundation of both JVs with captured export markets where our company was already engaged (one of the biggest world conglomerates in the domain) but too difficult an environment.
We transfered the concerns to Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.
Ka Isabel, these girls used to be called as plain hostesses. Ngayon GRO na para may kaunting class pakinggan. But they are all the same. Puwedeng i-take out pa as if they are foods that can be taken out.
oo nga, mandirigma. nakakaawa ang mga kababaihan sa ating bansa. napipilitan silang magbilad at maglako ng sariling katawan para lang may maipantawid gutom sa kanilang pamilya. dahil itong mga nasa gobyerno sa pamumuno ng pekeng pangulo, walang maibigay na disenteng trabaho. yung mga gustong mag invest sa ating bansa, lumalayas at pumunta sa ibang bansa, dahil ang hirap kausapin ng mga opisyales dito. yes na ang sagot sa ibaba, kamukat-mukat mo pahihirapan ka pa sa itaas kasi naghihintay ng grease money or ang gusto ay maging kasosyo sila sa negosyo na ang puhunan ay laway lang, kagaya siguro ng nangyari sa kompanya nila anna.
itong bruha na pekeng pangulo, naku! babae pa naman, walang pakialam sa buhay ng mga kababaihan. si arroyo ang reyna ng mga bugaw sa pilipinas. dapat lang patalsikin na ito, singilin at pagbayarin sa lahat ng kasalanan at kasalaulaan na ginawa niya sa ating mga kababayan.
Anna:
Don’t do that. Baka dumugin ka! If you plan to go there, take along some Frenchmen and pretend you are their tourist guide. If they get GROs there, may commission ka pa!
I was a tourist guide in the Philippines long, long time ago, but I used to refuse the commission for those women bought by the tourists, because I could not pay a tithing with the commission for them!
Sagwa ng tourist guide sa Philippines sa totoo lang. Parang glorified pimp ang labas!
Anna, Yuko & Chi,
Sorry pero nawawala yong post kong naging reference ninyo.
I deleted a lot of distracting, irrelevant comments here. If your comment was deleted by mistake, I’m sorry.
It it was the one about Alan Peter Cayetano, I deleted all comments on the misinformation about his candidacy. The succeeding post is one based on truth.
anna says: “Esperon doesn’t even deserve to wear ONE SUN!”
not even a stripe of an enlisted personnel! what this pulburon deserves is a kick in his ass and scrotum!!
mandirigma:
nandun sa kabilang pahina ng blog ni ellen ang sagot ko tungkol sa tanong mo sa isyu ng “crossing the somali” the new Mogadishu Line.
Yuko, Ah, sa palagay mo? I don’t think so naman.
Sometime in the late 90s, the CEO of the company I was working for and some of the European top male executives who came to Manila (Makati to be exact) for the opening of the JV we had put up, were invited by a group of our businessmen partners to a party they had prepared for him at the presidential suite of one of the most prestigious hotels in Makati. The person who organized the party (following the company’s official cocktail party that day) apparently was the lawyer I personally had signed up to set up the joint venture.
I was a bit pissed off because Pinas was part of my region and was technically in charge of operations in the country, yet had not been invited. I thought they were being extremely rude and I didn’t like that.
Was already back in my hotel with our Pinay country exec but instead of having dinner with her, I said, “I want to know what is cooking and where and I want you to take me there!” I noticed she was sheepish. (I might be slow on the intake but wasn’t completely dumb and realized right away that the PARTY was NOT the kind of executive party where women were invited.)
Anyway, I said to her, “We will surprise these honourable gentlemen and we will gate crash!”
She was adamant that we shouldn’t go but I said, “Fine, I’ll go alone, give me the name of the hotel.”
She said she wasn’t sure so I made for the concierge’s desk (who had become my personal alalay in lots of things) but she blurted the name of the hotel on time. We went. There were two guards standing by on the floor who met us and said, “Maam, private party po dito, imbitado po ba kayo?” (Our embarassed country manager stayed outside.) I just said, yes and went straight for the door, knocked and lo and behold, the cave of ali baba opened.
Guess what I found in one of the living rooms? Actresses, starlets (they themselves told me), young pretty girls by the DOZENs! There must have been at least 3 dozen girls there along with government officials I knew including a few legislators who were stunned by my sudden appearance. I shook hands with them again (coz they had been at the cocktail party earlier on) – with all the officials and of course with our European CEO (who was looking sheepish too, hahahah!)
Our corporate lawyer didn’t know what to say or do and was trying to beckon me outside the suite but I told him, “It’s alright, JR (his initials), I guess these young ladies are working now for the company, so let me shake their hands, please introduce them to me one by one!” Hahahah!
I spoke to EACH & EVERY GIRL in the room politely asking each one her name, age, profession and where she was from. After that, I wished everybody a good time and left with our corporate lawyer in tow who personally drove me back to my hotel situated a few mintues’ drive away (we were laughing all the way.)
A few minutes later, our European CEO and executives arrived back at our own hotel. I told them in French to never, ever do things on the sly if they don’t want to be embarassed again. Heheheh!
What an experience, Anna.
Hahah! That’s true, Ellen but it was good one.
Ooops, correction:
“SHE chose Brig General Lisandro Campo Abadia (from Cebu), lowerclass man (from PMA 62 and not from PMA 72) of his own brother who was already Chief of the Air Force.”
Umm what the location of this Airforce 1 just asking, (Laffin)
It’s in Parañaque, Sucat Road I think. I’m not sure of the street. It’s a prominent establishment. If you ask people there, they will tell you. You’ll not have a hard time finding it, WWNL.
Ellen:
Thanks for the info if I find it I’ll report back to you with a story … err maybe (Laffin).