November 2007 – Page 4 – ellen tordesillas

Walkout for justice

Published by Ellen on November 11, 2007

Update: Army Scout Ranger and Marine officers who walked out of their hearing before a military court last week could be held liable for “breach of discipline,” Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Monday.

Click photos above to enlarge.Officers pay tribute to Maj. Basilio Pooten, military defense lawyer, (next to Gen. Miranda)who refused to be used by the court to trample upon the rights of the accused officers.

Last Friday, the officers accused of planning to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006 led by Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and their lawyers walked out of the court martial hearing in Camp Capinpin, Tanay Rizal.

It was an occasion where officers and lawyers were called upon to make a stand. Many courageously responded.One man stood out: Maj. Basilio Pooten, the military defense counsel.

Trahedya at komedya

Published by Ellen on November 10, 2007

Sa gitna ng maraming trahedya na nangyayari sa ating bansa katulad ng pagkakamatay ng 11-taong gulang na si Mariannet Amper, marami ring komedya ang nagaganap.

Ang pangunahing komedya ay ang hindi magkatugma-tugma na kwento ng mga kampon ni Gloria Arroyo tungkol sa bigayan ng mga bayong-bayong na pera sa Malacañang noong isang buwan.

Noong isang linggo, narinig ko sa radyo si Sergio Apostol, chief presidential legal counsel na sinasabihan si Deputy House Speaker Ma. Amelita Villarosa na tumigil na sa pagdadaldal tungkol sa pinamigay na pera, na nagkahalaga mula P200,000 hanggang P500,000 sa Malacañang. “Tumigil na siya sa pagdadaldal. Hindi ba niya alam na sinabi na ni Secretary Puno na kay JDV galing ang pera?”

Accused ‘plotters’ walk out on ‘sham’ court martial

Published by Ellen on November 9, 2007

By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net

The Scout Ranger and Marine officers accused of an alleged coup plot in February 2006 walked out of their court martial hearing on Friday, after military prosecutors insisted on proceeding even with a crucial document remaining unsigned by the chief of staff.

Defense lawyers walked out first, followed by the officers, who allegedly plotted to overthrow President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on allegations of election fraud.

“I cannot take part in these sham proceedings because the accused are not legally charged. They have the right to know the allegations against them. They have the right not to participate in these sham proceedings,” defense counsel Francisco Chavez said.

Weeping with Rene

Published by Ellen on November 8, 2007

My condolence to former senator Rene Saguisag and his family for the loss of Dulce in a tragic vehicular accident in the early hours of yesterday.

My most memorable coverage of Rene and Dulce was the downfall of President Joseph Estrada in January 20, 2001. We were there since afternoon of January 19 and we were monitoring, how one by one, starting with then Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, Estrada’s cabinet members and friends were abandoning him.

Late morning of Jan. 20, Rene and Dulce came out of Malacañang Palace compound. It was obvious they had had a long night. Rene said they had to go home because Dulce, a cancer survivor, needed rest.

‘Agreement was to charge only 5 Magdalo leaders’

Published by Ellen on November 8, 2007

by Ashzel Hachero and Evangeline de Vera

Two generals yesterday said government negotiators and junior military officers who staged the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003 forged a “gentleman’s agreement” that only five of the core leaders of the Magdalo group would be charged for the mutiny.

Commodore Feliciano Ange, commander of the Ready Force of the Philippine Fleet, and Brig. General Eduardo Oban, commander of the Air Force Air Defense Wing based at Villamor Air Base, took the witness stand at the Makati regional trial court which is hearing the coup d’état case of the mutineers led by now Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

Defense lawyers have said government reneged on the agreement.

Querubin’s optimistic he’ll get justice

Published by Ellen on November 8, 2007

By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net

Colonel Ariel Querubin, one of the alleged leaders of the botched February 2006 coup, found an ally in former vice president Teofisto Guingona, who attended the officer’s habeas corpus hearing at the Court of Appeals on Thursday.

Guingona, who wore a button pin bearing Querubin’s face, sat beside the colonel during the proceedings.

“I give full support to Colonel Querubin because I know how it means to be imprisoned,” Guingona told reporters after the hearing.

Saguisag hurt in car acident; wife died

Published by Ellen on November 7, 2007

Breaking news!

Former senator Rene Saguisag, wife Dulce and two others figured in a vehicular accident.

Dulce, a breast cancer survivor, died. Saguisag is in a critical condition.

Saguisag is supposed to appear at the Magdalo hearing today at 8:30 a.m at the Makati Regional Trial Court. He is lawyering for a group of Magdalo officers.

Patalsikin na!

Published by Ellen on November 7, 2007

Pati ba naman ang Our Lady of Fatima, security threat na pala.

May block rosary kasi sa Fort Bonifacio at naka-schedule noong Nov. 4 ang Our Lady of Fatima sa Marine Brig kung saan nakakulong si Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV at ang 29 pa na mga junior officers na kasama sa tinatawag na “Oakwood mutiny” noong July 2003.

Alam naman siguro ng lahat kung ano ang block rosary ano? Bumibisita ang imahen ng Our Lady of Fatima sa isang bahay ng insang linggo. Sa kanyang pananatili sa bahay na yan, may rosaryo araw-araw.

Bastardized mural reflects dark side of journalism

Published by Ellen on November 6, 2007

I’m glad I’m no longer a member of the National Press Club.

I used to be a member of NPC in the late 80’s when the likes of Tony Nieva were trying to assert their leadership in the club. But eventually they were eased one by the more entrepreneurial kind of journalists.

I got out of the NPC even before the Rolito Go scandal in 1991. One of its directors, Bobby Capco, then of the Philippine Star, was exposed to have served as public relations guy of the convicted criminal. (Go shot to death La Salle student Eldon Maguan over a traffic incident). In a press conference by the lawyers of Go at the NPC, a reporter revealed that Capco handed her money to “kill” a story not favorable to Go.

Magkasama na naman ang mga tuso

Published by Ellen on November 5, 2007

Updates: Two impeachment complaints against GMA filed.

Third Arroyo impeachment complaint to be filed soon

A minor distraction – Bunye

Mukhang naisahan na naman ang madlang Pilipino. Nagsama-sama na naman ang manloloko.

Sa meeting ng Lakas-NUCD noong Sabado, ayun sa report, napagkasunduan ng tatlong mga tuso – si Gloria Arroyo, House Speaker Jose de Venecia at si dating Pangulong Fidel V. Ramos na magtulungan.

Month: November 2007