The first item in our Constitution’s Bill of Rights states: “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”
AFP chief Hermogenes Esperon must think he is above the law and that he is not covered by the Constitution.
For almost one and a half years, 40 soldiers have been languishing in detention in Camp Capinpin, without having been told of their offense nor charged with any violation of the law. This is an “open secret” in Camp Capinpin in Tanay where 28 officers led by Maj. Gen. Miranda and Brig. Gen. Danny Lim are also detained. The 28 officers are accused by Esperon of mutiny for allegedly planning to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006.
The plight of the 40 enlisted man was brought to the public’s attention by Sen. Rodolfo Biazon who visited the detained officers last Oct. 8 following the initial refusal of Esperon to allow Miranda to have executive check up despite the fact that the former Marines commandant had collapsed in the bathroom of his detention cell.
Biazon had written to Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro about blatant human rights violations going on in Camp Capinpin. “The 40 enlisted personnel continue to be placed in confinement without investigation and appropriate charges for any crime in violation of the Articles of War,” Biazon said.
The 40 are: SSgt. Reynaldo A. Bala, SSgt. Marciano R. Seraspi III, SSgt. Alexander G. Verzon, SSgt. Ronnie S. Dizon, SSgt. Rodelio M. Tuazon, Sgt. Orlando A. Valencia, SSgt. Nelson V. Alquiza, Sgt. Arthur I. Arienda, Sgt. Pastor de Guzman, Sgt. Benito S. Baggay, Sgt. Jose T. Famularcano Jr., Sgt. Juanito B. Tercero Jr., Sgt. Richard B. Javier;
Cpl. Reynaldo C. Pacete, Cpl. Medel A. Calda, Cpl. Dennis F. Marzan, Cpl. Walter A Francisco, Cpl. Ramon P Perania Jr., Cpl. Jorlie V. Espejo, Cpl. Zaldy A. Cabico, Cpl. Nicomendes P. Fernandez, Cpl. Giovanni B. Bonagua;
Pfc. Celso P. Castromayor, Pfc. Arvin R. Daligdig, Pfc. Pinley L. Amarante, Pfc. Jerry V. Avila, Pfc. Winston M Tingabagab, Pfc. Arleen S Garcia, Pfc. Rommel S. Puma, Pfc. Isidro R. Areja, Pfc. Emmanuel M. Derilo;
Pfc. Dylan F. Monton, Pfc. Robert B. Palaruan, Pfc. Kernell F. Pahimnayan, Pfc. Aristotle D. Lucena, Pfc. Larry A. Quinto, and Pfc. Leon O. Ones Jr.
Not surprisingly, Esperon is insisting on his own perverted version of the law. He said the fate of the 40 enlisted men would depend on the outcome of the case against the 28 officers. “Do you discharge the enlisted personnel when the officers have not yet even been arraigned? A good timing would be to arraign the officers first and decide what punishment would be fit for the offenses committed by the enlisted personnel, because they were simply led to doing it by some officers.”
Atty. Vicente Verdadero, lawyer for Gen. Lim is flabbergasted. “There is no connection between the case of the 28 officers and the 40 enlisted men. The determination of guilt is on individual basis.”
As far as I know, the 40 were allegedly part of the group that was moved from Bicol to Metro Manila on Feb. 23, 2006. But their names were never mentioned in the pre-trial investigation report conducted by the judge advocate general’s office on the incident.
Also, their commanding officer, Maj. Oriel Pangcog, has been cleared by Esperon and subsequently dropped from the list of those charged of mutiny and conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman in relation to the February 2006 incident. If the commander was cleared, what’s the justification of Esperon for detaining the foot soldiers?
From Esperon’s statement, it is clear that he is holding the 40 hostage to pressure the 28 officers to agree to be arraigned for charges that they have been cleared by the military’s own investigation team.
I don’t know if Esperon derives happiness from the miseries of these soldiers and their families. Due to lack of money, many of them have not seen their families since they were detained.
I was told that a pregnant wife of a detained soldier rented a room in a house outside the camp to be able to visit her husband frequently. One time, on her way out, there was no available vehicle. She walked about five kilometers from the detention quarters to the camp’s gate. It was a good thing she was already nearing the gate when she delivered her baby.
Clearly, the 40 soldiers have been deprived of their liberty without due process of law. Under the Human Security Act, which took effect last July 15, if a person has been illegally detained, he is entitled to P500, 000 per day for each day that he is illegally detained.
Esperon has a lot to answer to.
Certainly, esperon has a lot to answer to.
Iisa na ang kilos ni glorya at esperon. Wala nang kinikilalang batas o relasyon. To hell with existing laws. Sila ang batas at gagawin nila yan habang nasa kapangyarihan. Pero sinong tao ang nanatili sa poder? Magwawakas din yan, kung hindi ngayon, bukas. Kung hindi bukas, darating din ang panahon. At marami silang utang na dapat pagbayaran. Kung hindi dito sa lupa mangyari, mayroong impiyerno na kanilang tiyak na kasasadlakan.
Wala nang kinikilalang batas o regulasyon.
Di nga ba yan ang style ni Esperon Inc. Yon yong itatago nila swerte nga at military ang mga yan kung hindi e di matagal ng sinalvage ang mga yan. Kita niyo na lang ang ginawa nila kay Burgos. Malas nga lang niya siguro sinalvage na ng mga walang pusong mga tao ni Esperon.
Bakit wala bang Abogado ang mga sundalong yan at mahigit isang taon ng nakapiit ngayon lang nila alam na illegal ang ginagawa sa kanila. Ano ba yan na kay Glorya na ba lahat ang magagaling na Abogado?
Wala na bang matinong General na magsasabi na mali ang ginagawa ng Panggalatok na General na yan. Mana talaga sa among niyang Ramos. TUSO.
Ang turo sa amin noon – Congress…the legislative branch of government makes the laws…the Executive branch executes the laws (with the military to protect the rights of the citizens)..and the judiciary..interpretes the laws..And this is so to have check and balance in the system…pero ngayon under GMA, Congress, Executive and Judiciary are all one in breaking the laws..Bakit nagkaganoon?
Etnad, walang mga abogado ang mga sundalo. There are some lawyers of the officers detained in Camp Capinpin who are helping them but there’s a problem. They were told that if they make noise and talk to media, they will be charged. Once they are charged, since they are enlisted men, their salaries will be cut off.
As of now, they still have their meager salaries that their families live on. Some of them are due to retire this year and they don’t want to lose everything that they worked for in the military service so they suffer the injustice imposed on them by Esperon.
That’s why Sen. Biazon’s visit was a blessing.
Klingon’s post in an earlier thread is instructive:
klingon Says:
October 11th, 2007 at 8:50 am (Edit this comment)
.
Anong puso mayroon ang Esperon na yan. Kung tutuusin sumusunod lang ang mga yan sa mga nakakataas sa kanila. Kagaya niyang Esperon na yan na kahit maling mali na ang pinag-uutos ng Pekeng Glorya niya siya ay sunod sunuran lang. Biruin mo 40 family ang pinahihirapan niya.
Bakit hindi nila madaliin ang paglilitis at ikulong o firing squad na lang nila kung talagang may kasalanan ang mga magigiting na sundalo. Akala ba nila may kasalanan ang mga yan dahil sa kudeta na sinasabi nila. Papano may kudeta e hindi naman totoong Pangulo yong nasa Malakanyang. Sila dapat ang i-firing squad dahil sila ang may kasalanan.
What does Senator Biazon intend to do to stop these abuses by this Esperon, who should be sacked pronto for he cannot be above the law? I wonder!
Golly, parang US in the roaring 20’s! People are not talking to media, etc. because they would not like to jeopardize the welfare and interest of their families. Wow, ang tindi! Something must be done to stop this. Puede ba, mag-alsa na iyong mga sundalong hindi labas ang mga tumbong? Tignan lang natin kung may magawa si Boba de la Yuca!
Darating ang araw, batas ng lansangan ang ipapatikim sa iyo Esperon.
Wala kang karapatan para ilagay pa sa balikat mo ang apat na estrella. Para lamang yan sa mga taong may prinsipyo na karapatdapat igalang ng lahat. Wala ka noon!
Quote of the Day
The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.
Paul Valery
The Constitution says “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.” but we the people must awake and be prepared to protect The Constitution not stand in Silence.
“I am not a liberator.
Liberator does not exist.
The people liberate themselves.”
–—hindi ako nagsabi nyan,
si Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevarra de la Serna!
From Rolly Rosales:
Nakakalungkot talaga ang mga nangyayari sa ating bayan bunga ng kabulukan, corruption at pagkabaliw ni Gloria sampu ng kanyang mga alagad. Talagang garapalan!
Kahit na magkandakuba kami sa katatatrabaho sa ibang bansa para may maipadala sa pamilya sa pinas at makadagdag tulong sa ating ekonomiya talagang hopeless ang sitwason dahil sa mga magnanakaw at gahaman.
Tingnan mo nga si Abalos( noong panahon ni Marcos, still in my high school) ang mga tao ng Mandaluyong ay nakikiisa at nakikisimpatiya sa kanya dahil alam na dinaya sya sa mayoralty election ni Domingo(KBL party candidate) sa tulong ng Comelec ni Marcos.Kaya nga si Abalos naappoint as Mandaluyong Mayor after Edsa 1 dahil sya ay nasa oposisyon at masasabing may prinsipyo at integridad. Pero lumipas ng tatlong dekada nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin. Patuloy pa rin akong nag-aabang sa mga mangyayari.
ellen,
i think theirs would be a clear case of habeas corpus. the courts may also address the issue of their salaries because even if they are charged, the witholding of salaries would be a deprivation of property without due process. that rule witholding their salaries should be challenged constitutionally. the military, or any one else, should not be allowed to make such a rule that contravenes the basic provisions of the bill of rights.
It seems now Mayuga need not have to bring to his grave the results of his report after all. The salient points of the Mayuga report is slowly finding its way out to public. The disclosure of such had been suppressed and will continue to be shielded thru a bill on state secrets that PGMA wanted legislated. The case of the officers and men detained in Tanay will be the key that will unlock the secrecy of the Mayuga report. The dare put out by the detained officers in Tanay to Esperon to tell the truth on the hello Garci and Esperon’s counter-challenge to tell the truth on the “coup” plot had more to it than just a trade of dares. Esperon knew what the 28 officers know. Mayuga was with Esperon in that meeting where Lim and Querubin informed Senga of the plan and the tape.Mayuga called for a command conference where Miranda and everyone else who are now at Tanay were heard. Mayuga gave his word to his men. This had been used against him because there was then at that time a contest for the the CSAFP post to succeed Senga. And there was also another report courtesy of the PNP and the Army intelligence that tainted Mayuga’s every chance to be CSAFP. The highlight of the Mayuga report had drawn basis from disclosures, attestations and confirmations made in confidence by some of those detained in Tanay…and even unexpectedly among the EPs. Esperon knew what Pangcog knew, and Pangcog’s men knew why he is out and they’re still in jail without charges.
Merong Liberator Nelbar.
Diba si Che Guevarra?
Sa loob nga ng Vatican ang dami eh! Mga nakasutana pa at may mga Pectoral Crosses pa.
Liberators do exist.
TCS, that’s an interesting input.
Re :”And there was also another report courtesy of the PNP and the Army intelligence that tainted Mayuga’s every chance to be CSAFP.”
What’s this? Please elaborate.
Also this”Esperon knew what Pangcog knew, and Pangcog’s men knew why he is out and they’re still in jail without charges.”
Please elaborate.
Macshock, the withholding of salaries of enlisted men undergoing court martial is a provision of the Articles of War and has been upheld by the Supreme Court. Habeas corpus cures the detention of a person without charges, but will be moot once charges are filed. The lawyers know that if they bring a case for habeas corpus, all the AFP will do is cure it by charging these men.
Ellen,
Mayuga’s chance at being FOIC earlier than his predecessor was already tainted in 1998 through a spin. He got hold of the FOIC position thanks to the Mayuga report! Nothing more nothing less. I don’t believe he had a chance therefore of becoming CSAFP at all (he only had a year after all when his predecessor was given the boot to make way so Mayuga could become FOIC).
I am aware of what went on back in 1998 during that time when Mayuga and his predecessor were trying to obtain a field command or to land ahead in the seniority rating, a pre-requisite for the infighting that would ensue eventually for the FOIC position because I was part of the ‘spin’ to prevent Mayuga who was Angie Reyes’ baby from becoming FOIC…
I’m intrigued, Anna.
Like Mayuga, there are a number of officers who were able to advance their career because of Hello Garci. Esperon, Allaga, Habacon, Danga,etc.etc.
Sorry, Ellen the spin against Mayuga landing the FOIC position ahead of his predecessor was NOT in 1998 it was in 2000. That spin enabled his predecessor with whom he would be neck on neck in the ultimate race to succeed Admiral Hingco to land the final Board of Generals top list. The spin was necessary because Angie was prepared to do a dirty trick to make Mayuga FOIC after Hingco eventually (the accidental FOIC following brave Admiral David Wong’s relief – remember the Phil Marines’ mutiny against Wong?)
All a game of months and weeks of seniority at that level. Ultimately Mayuga would have lost all chances of getting FOIC position had not his predecessor agreed to cut short his stint by accepting an ambassadorial post. (No doubt in my mind that this happened because Mayuga agreed to bury his report which we can surmise contained damning evidence of cheating in 2004.)
Re Danga: I am sorely disappointed with Tirso Danga. I thought he would have been more honourable than that.
Esperon, I never doubted! He was a sipsip even when he was still a lieutenant colonel seconded to Joey Calimlim at PSG. Didn’t trust him at all. Even then when I met him, I told myself, this guy has no principles just like Calimlim.
Now, I remember. Yes, the French-speaking Admiral de Leon who is now ambassador to Australia.
They thought that by Mayuga doing a snowjob on the military’s involvement in the 2004 elections,everything would be smooth and dandy.
It continues to haunt Gloria Arroyo and her generals.
Ellen,
That’s why Gloria and Esperon are hell bent on crafting a bill to be made into a law “protecting miltiary secrets.” They want to make it criminal for their dirty election cheating “secrets” to be made public.
Esperon is aware, and if he is not yet aware then he’s the ultimate pillock, that when he goes, those reports, those documents, those paperwork detailing his complicity to defraud the nations’ voters of their right votes as well as his meaningless incarceration of the 40 troops would be brought out in the open.
I’m all for that kind of law but heck, not under Gloria, not during Esperon’s term.
The “spin” was in December 2000… that was Erap’s final approval of very important military documents containing the promotion of military officers to senior level.
One of my friends in Erap’s cabinet rushed the document to Erap personally because Angie was sitting on the AFP recommendations to help his boy, Mayuga, to gain a lil bit of time on the seniority front. You see, Mayuga had been promoted to captain (Navy) ahead of his upperclassman and would have been first on the seniority level to have a crack at FOIC position had there not been a direct intervention at the Malacanang level.
Are military secrets- kept secret kahit na hindi para sa pakanan ng bayan? or are they to be kept secret only until a solution is found for the good of the country? I firmly believe that “the truth will set us free” sisingaw din ang baho ng mga secretong ito. God is just and rules the earth with justice..kaya malapit na ang The End to the story of The Reign of GMA and the Help of Esperon…What I can not understand is the silence of many retired generals–retired na nga kayo but it does not mean na inutil na kayo..am I wrong in saying this Mr. Retired Generals? I pray not..and I pray you will work for Justice, Peace and Progress of the Philippines. We all need your help…
Actually, Esperon has 41 hostages. The other one is this GMA.
Hostage si GMA ng AFP sa pamumuno ni Esperon.
Paano ba mako-correct ang mga pagkakamaling ito?
Meron tayong nagpapanggap na pangulo na kamag-anak daw ni Rajah Soliman at mga Santa sa Espanya, ngunit binaboy ang dignidad ng pagiging isang Pilipino. Walang kurap ang mata pag nagsinungaling, walang kabusugan sa pangungurakot, garapal kung mandaya, hayag na kunsitidor ng mga mamamatay-tao’t mapang-api.
Hindi kaya ng Kongresong gampanan ang kanyang papel bilang taga-balanse ng katiwalian ng ehekutibo. Ang nag-aaway doon parehong kaalyado ng pekeng pangulo kaya manalo’t matalo sinuman, tiyak sisipsip rin sa suso ng tiyanak kahit pa may nana.
Ang Senado, pag nagsimulang gumalaw, may kasabay kaagad na intriga na pang-camera lang daw ang aksiyon, pero nakakalungkot na kasama sa mga nagsasabi nito ang wala namang ibang maasahan kundi ang Senado rin.
Ang mga korte, bukod sa mabagal, wala namang matinong desisyon hanggang hindi pa umaabot sa Korte Suprema. Meron pang kaso ngayon ng suhulan, gaya ng Malakanyang.
Ang matitino sa kasundaluhan at kapulisan, puro bahag naman ang buntot, pagkatapos nating gastusan ng pera sa kanya-kanyang Academy, tayo pa ang inaargabyado ng mga walanghiyang mga opisyal. Iilan yata ang matatapang, nakakulong pa.
Ang taumbayan, dahil hilahod sa hirap, kahit abut-langit ang galit, iwas-gulo na lang kesa maging magulo ang hanapbuhay.
Yung mga tunay na ngitngit at gustong makagawa ng aksiyon, nasa abroad naman. Ang mga naiwan dito sa Pilipinas, eto’t nagkakasya na lang sa blog.
Yung mga mangmang, naghihintay sa gagawin ng mga may dunong, pero yung mga matatalino, walang maisip na solusyon sa ganitong sitwasyon, samantalang yung mga kampon ni Satanas, laging may naakahandang bala.
Ang Diyos, naaawa man, sabi nga e, naghihintay pa ng gawa. Lunukin na lang kaya tayo ng dagat.
Iyan naman ako, sa milagro na lang yata umaasa.
Kasama mo ako sa dasal mo TT. Right now, busy din kami dito cracking our heads na hindi maglalabas ng pera ang Japan para sa pangsuhol ng ungas na ipinagpipilitan iyong mga caregiver daw kuno na nabasa ko sa isang magazine namin na hindi handa ang Japan na tumamnggap ng caregiver daw pero category ng mga domestic helper ang qualifications. Tawag nga “helper” sa totoo lang. But the government is deleting such category para sa mga foreigners dahil kailangang pangalagaan ang welfare and interests ng mga workers na hapones.
Iyong program ni unano as a matter of fact, pagnanakaw din ng mga trabaho na mainly para sa mga natives ng bansang sinisingitan nila ng mga Filipino workers, legal and illegal.
Sa totoo lang perhuwisyo ang palakad ng ungas na iyan na boba na magnanakaw pa sinungaling pa. Since 1986, mas masahol pa kay Marcos ang mga pinauupo ng mga pilipino sa Malacanang. Itong GLORC ang pinaka-worse! No doubt about that!
Esperon derives his power from an illegally installed president. That’s why he has no qualms about violating the law.
Kawawa lang at pati ang mga sundalong dukha isinasama niya. Wlang puso. Walang kaluluwa.
Gabriela:
Merong kaluluwa iyan si Esperon. Suhi ng lang.
Does Satan have a soul? Lucifer was once an angel..turned devil..Walang kaluluwa si Satanas pero ang mga alipores niya ay mayroon..tama ka Golberg..suli nga lang. BTW bisaya ako pero Western..kaya suli ang suhi sa amin.
Sa Tagalog naman ay “suki”. Mga suki ni GMA ang mga tumanggap na pulitiko.
esPWEron,
you have no legal right to order any and even the lowest ranked enlisted personnel being a SHIT of staff of the AFP.
everything in you is BOGUS. including maybe your name.
you do not have any moral right to be sitting inside the honorable office of CSAFP. even a second. you’re just a lying fool SHIT!
Golberg Says: “Gabriela, Merong kaluluwa iyan si Esperon. Suhi ng lang.”
goldberg,
mali! ang kaluluwa ni eaPWEron ay HALANG.
“It was a good thing she was already nearing the gate when she delivered her baby.”
esPWEron,
hayup ka talaga!
isa kang demonyong nagkatawang tao!
esPWEron has 40 hostages in incarceration hidden to death by his crotchless stooges, one of them the CG, 2ID, PA aided by the CO, HHSG, 2ID.
talaga naman, hoho!
Mrivera,
Maayos ayos pa ang halang kaysa sa suhi. Yung halang medyo may damdamin pa yun at marunong kumilala ng mali. Ang suhi, wala ng pag-asa yun. Pero maawain ang Diyos. Tingnan mo ang tagal mamatay. Pero lahat tayo binibigyan pa ng pagkakataon.
goldberg,
sabagay tama ka.
pero, alin ba kaya ang mas madaling palabasin sa kinalalagyan (kung ang kaluluwa ay nasa isang sisidlan) ang SUHI o ang HALANG?
Mrivera,
Kung ang kaluluwa ay isang materyal na nilalang, mahirap talagang palabasin iyan kung yan ay na isang sisidlan. Since ang kaluluwa ay walang katawan, pag ipinasok sa sisidlan mapa halang o suhi, makakalabas yan.
Sa kaso ni Esperon, naku!!!!! Mas mabuti pang maging kaibigan mo o natin ang mga taga Tondo (dun sa dulo) kaysa mapasama ka sa kampon ni Esperon.
to the tune of Little Drummer Boy (Christmas Song)
paaallliitaaan mo naaa ang passsaddorrrr mo….
pam… pam… pam…
(namumula naaaaa, ….Madame Pampasaaadoorrr!)
goldberg,
meron tayong nakalimutan.
si esPWEron nga pala ay WALANG budhi at kaluluwa!