Update: PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago disapproves Marcelino’s leave request due to operational commitments. But Santiago gave him clearance to help in Sulu operation to get back the ICRC hostages from the Abu Sayaff.
See PDEA statement in Comments.
When Marine Major Ferdinand Marcelino saw his mother last Saturday upon his arrival from Vienna where he attended an international conference on combatting illegal drugs, she expressed concern over reports that Gloria Arroyo has ordered that he be investigated.
In Mrs. Marcelino’s pure understanding of the way things should be in this world, her son did his job despite odds and pressure, why should he be the one to be investigated?
The order for the investigation of Marcelino, who is detailed with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, was one among the several orders issued by Arroyo based on the recommendation of the three-man fact-finding commission headed by former Supreme Court Justice Carolina Griño-Aquino.
Arroyo said Marcelino, who exposed the alleged bribery to dismiss the complaint against the “Alabang Boys”, should be investigated , for “taking into himself the job of prosecutor” by releasing Patrick El Khoury, the driver of the vehicle where the buy-bust operation drug deal was consummated.
Marcelino said their investigation showed that El Khoury has nothing with the Alabang Boys’ illegal drug operation. Jorge Joseph,one of the three “Alabang Boys” – the two others are Richard Brodett and Joseph Tecson, hitched a ride with Khoury to Ayala Alabang, where the buy bust operation happened in September 2008.
Marcelino said, “I cannot in conscience detain and charge someone whom I know to be innocent.”
But Marcelino welcomed the investigation to be conducted by PDEA’s Internal Affairs Service. “I appreciate the commitment of the agency for truth and the assurance that I will be given due process and a chance to answer the charges.”
In order that the investigation would not be tainted with suspicions of manipulation, Marcelino took a leave of absence as he also challenged other government officials who are under investigation to go on leave.
He said, “I believe that this is the right immediate action that any public servant whether civilian or military should conduct himself or herself is such a given situation.”
That would involve many officials. Aside from the Department of Justice prosecutors involved in the Alabang case who are now confused about their status because they have been on forced leave since the report of bribery came out, there are those officials involved in other anomalies like Fe Barin of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Rep. Parañaque Representative Eduardo Zialcita in the Legacy mess.
And of course, there’s Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, who is now a subject of an impeachment complaint.
Actually, the order to investigate Marcelino is a slap on the wrist compared to the order to charge Prosecutor John Resado with bribery.
Arroyo likewise ordered the filing of administrative charges against Senior State Prosecutors Philip Quimpo and Jovencito Zuño for their cursory review of Resado’s resolution and the investigation of Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor for possible violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
But those officials were found to have committed something wrong and betrayed the public trust. And Marcelino merely did his job.
Although PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago welcomed Arroyo’s orders as “partial victory”, Marcelino said Gonzalez should resign “to bring back the prestige of the Department of Justice.”
Arroyo’s order reversed the resolution penned by Resado dismissing the complaint against the Alabang Boys, which was affirmed by Gonzalez. It was a slap on their faces. And what about the National Bureau of Investigation that cleared the DOJ prosecutors from allegations of being recipients of bribe?
All these things could not have happened without the imprimatur of Gonzalez. Since Arroyo considered them wrong, thus the reversal, why is Gonzalez untouched?
I see the order to investigate Marcelino as a peace offering to Gonzalez after the “slap”. In a meeting in Malacañang at the height of the Alabang Boys controversy, a source said Gonzalez demanded from Arroyo that the Marine officer be recalled to the military. “Arogante yan,” complained Gonzalez, who cannot forgive Marcelino for standing up to him in a House hearing.
Arroyo, the source said, appealed to Gonzalez, “Pabayaan mo na ang mga bata.”
Arroyo, of course, has to appease Gonzalez who helped install her in the presidency without being elected by the people. Gonzalez will not make her forget that he and Sen. Francis Pangilinan railroaded the 2004 congressional canvassing with their “Noted. Noted.”
Gonzalez can always remind Arroyo, “You owe me, big time.”
tulad ng nasabi ko the other day. baliktad na talaga ang mundo. ang gumagawa ng tama ( marcelino ) ang na iimbistigahan. tapos sila na mag nanakaw ang nasa laya! baliktad ano? pls lang gumawa kayo ng paraan na wag na bumalik si marcelino sa gyera. Nakaka awa ang mga tulad nya at tulad ni pestano na lumaban sa katotohanan. Pero ang katotohanan ang naging dahilan ng kanilang pagkasawi!
Re: “In Mrs. Marcelino pure understanding of the way things should be in this world, her son did his job despite odds and pressure, why should he be the one to be investigated?”
No need to be a genius to be able to answer that correctly but sadly, in the land where corruption in government is the order of the day, any right answer is the wrong answer.
Sanamagan!
If you check Major Marcelino’s humble house in Bulacan, you would readily notice that he’s incorruptible. The house where his mother lives needs a lot of repairs. If Marcelino is corrupt, his beloved mother would now be staying in a more decent house. Many lower rank enlisted men even own mansions now.
If the penalty was one peso for every slip of the tongue,Glorie Arrovie would owe about the same how much she dipped her fingers on national coffers.
Get a grip everyone; we al do it. Believe me,Glorie will takes stones and arrows over this because it is the nature of our ‘bi-partisan’ politics.
I don’t think there is any uncertainty about the Political chaos that would ensue if government and justice were allowed to fail. There would be incredible civil unrest. My fear is that the fear of permitting this justice roller coaster for the rich and powerful to resolve itself will result in the emergence of a culture of ruling elites that will sooth the populace into submission while consolidating its base of power. The right has been in the process of creating a dog-eat-dog world that functions largely on profit. This system is harsh and unyielding in many ways, but forcing people to make survival decisions is, I think, superior to a system that promises to make those decisions on behalf of the populace. I would prefer a system where government is manipulated from time to time to one where government is viewed as the problem not the solution. The idea that a country is its government is being run by selfishness and greed – an ideology I thoought was invalidated in the multifaceted failures of Nazi Germany, Spain, Portugal, Communist Europe/Russia, Cuba, North Korea.Where else?
Gloria Arroyo owes Raul Gonzales big time so he can afford to make her his toy!
GMA and DOJ chief Raul Gonzales are of the same breed – kapal ng mukha! To say PDEA-Marine Major Marcelino as arrogant, Gonzales is actually applying reverse psychology depicting himself. He should resign if he has a sense of delicadeza, considering the approval for dismissal in his review of the Alabang boys case was reversed by GMA herself, what a slap in the face! But since kapal nga ang mukha ni chief… no big deal – hindi daw masakit!
“Pabayaan mo na ang mga bata.” – Duckpan
The sentence that could probably followed was: “Baka maging senator na naman yan, e”.
ooops, (kaka-cut’n’paste, nalimutan i-paste yung *have*): “…that could have probably followed…”
(parang mali pa rin? a, basta, yun na!)
“Pabayaan mo na ang mga bata,baka maging senator na naman iyan,e”-Tongue,
Hehehehe! Filipino Politics.Joc-Joc Bolante is now a famous person and the people in his district wanted him to represent them in the house.I don’t know which house? Maybe,International House of Pancakes.
Cocoy, your observation is very true. The typical Pinoy morality or the basic sense of right and wrong is lost somewhere in between politics and showbiz. The twisted mentality that favors any kind of publicity, good or bad, over no publicity at all was inculcated first in showbiz. I’m shocked it is now utilized in politics. Tsk tsk tsk.
Jocjoc is the not the original nutcase. Garci ran for Congress in his district first. His performance in the Senate and again in the HoR where he even got high fives and congratulatory handshakes probably encouraged the bastard to push his luck.
ang peace offering niya kay siraulo ay ang kanyang pissed offer sa mga mamamayan..oh well..
@chi: “Gloria Arroyo owes Raul Gonzales big time so he can afford to make her his toy!”
Raul the goon is bansot’s boy toy? Pinagpalit niya ang baboy sa isang orangutan???
Filipino politics is a continuous case of clowns commanding fools because only fools can get themselves to believe that lesser, vain and greedy men can actually lead society forward.Many have betrayed the people’s trust and confidence.I’m not sure if these Among Ed Panlilio and Grace Padaca tandem,it could only last for a sucker punch, maybe.
The surest way to win an election is to first loot the national treasury,and declare yourself candidate. Observers will then descend to declare such results “free and fair”, the “most internationally observed” elections in recent time. Even if the people are frightened of the results, they will be hypnotized with words like “human rights abuses are in conceivable.” And if the butchering understandably continues, platitudes like ‘reconciliation”, “peace” and “the voice of the people is the voice of God” are not in short supply. Judgment and demonization within the community at times depends on how cleverly the dictator institutes his reign of terror. If one can openly butcher opponents and send the accused to court, then this is acceptable. After all there is a court system in our country, it doesn’t matter if they are Kangaroo courts at the service of the Pidalista. If the weak and helpless complain of brutality but are told to take their cases to court to be heard by Pidalista appointed cronies, then this is the rule of law, law and order.
Life in Enchanted Kingdom of Pidalista Republic is tough.
well si gloria ay plastik yun lang ang masasabi ko.
gloria is an example of someone abusing the holes of the authoritarian system,that is why i believe in anarchism.
TonGuE-tWisTeD Says: “Garci ran for Congress in his district first.”
Which he later abandon since his services is much needed for the administration ticket
the oppositions are a sure win when all of a sudden kokoy was kicked out of numbers
chavit won in mindanao (ask me how??? my answer is I dont know im dumb in aritmetik)
no problem if the administration government is a mess
at the end we will be all hearing
“ay em sor-ri”
“Enrile to take Cha-cha issue to high court”
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154149/Enrile-to-take-Cha-cha-issue-to-high-court
Kunyari pa tong si Enrile… bkit hindi nya hayaang ung mga proponent ng Cha-Cha sa house ang magfile sa Supreme COurt? Lumalabas na pinabibilis lang nya yung process. Pagnagrelease ng resolution ang Supreme court infavor of cha-cha proponent’s resolution, tapos ang buto-buto! ung remaining 17 votes, napakabilis ng kunin.. at baka magunahan pa ung mga undecided tongressman to sign.
197 Votes!197 tongressman! Very high maintenance! Ilang milyon piso kaya kada 1 tongressman? at ilang tongressman Zialcita ang mabubuhay pagnagkataon…
Kawawang bansa!
Baliktad ang justice system natin. Yung kriminal eh nakapwesto sa matataas na pwesto. Yung tuwid, hinuhuli, kinukulong at pinapatay pa! Onli in da Philippines talaga!
Major Marcelino (again this time) did what his sworn duty calls for regardless of family stature of one of the apprehended being related to a cabinet official. It was at this instance that the piss-headed raul got irked over the major’s sheer guts to fight to the teeth no matter who he comes across with.
Imagine nga naman, isang major lamang pala ang sisira sa kanilang modus operandi? Ngayong mabuko, ito namang si goyang, upang huwag nang lumalim pa ang hahalukayin dahil BAKA (lang, ha?) humantong sa nunal ang imbestigasyon bunga ng pagbasura niya sa argumento ni ingkong ay pinapaimbestigahan pa rin ang magiting na major. Tapik sa brasong may kasamang landi (ngiiiih! kadiri) at parang sinasabing “makakalimutan ko ba naman ang sumpaan natin noong ako’y lumamang ng isang milyon?”
lintek na mga hunghang! dapat ay tabunang magkasama ang dalawang ‘yan sa iisang hukay!
si major marcelino, ginagawa ang trabahokahit sino ang masagasaan, sige lang, walang atrasan.
si ingkong kapag may kasong sangkot ang malalaking tao, “merong tinatrabaho”. masarap kasi ang pakiramdam kapag humihimas ka ng “matatabang manok”!
Well dapat sipain na natin si gloria sa lalong madaling panahhon.
Itong si unano, maraming utang sa bayan, sa mga alagad niyang corrupt, criminal, goons, etc…. sa dami ng utang niya bakit hindi pa naba-bankrupt?
With the amount of fraud, swindles, thefts, etc. Gloria the most notorious unanong matakaw, should have been jailed, just like Maddof!
Off-topic. There is a Supreme Court case that could stop the prosecution of the Dacer-Corbito case.
Read at:
http://frauslatet.blogspot.com/
We have seen officers disillusioned with reality at their young and idealistic age like Corpuz, Tagamolilla and a host more to Trillanes and Marcelino. Yet they were no match to the ill gotten powers.
Ang mga binabanatan natin dito simula’t sapul ay mga Puppet lamang.
Working behind the scenes is a group who call themselves Holy.
Pasensiya na Ate Ellen. I am compelled to share this to you and everyone here because i always believe as i have experience it, that the Truth Will Set Us Free, economically and spiritually.
Unless we deal the problem directly at its root, we could never get out of this mess.
As I look closely at this Major Marcelino, he looks like Erap’s former cabinet secretary Prof. Diokno.
maraming binibigyan ng konsuelo de bobo si gloria. pati si perez db? how i wish naging reporter din tayo at nandoon tayo habang nag sasalita si gonzales. babarahin ko talaga yung loko na yon!:)
Akala ko ba ay para sa buong katotohanan tayo.
What’s the problem, SumpPit?
Not anymore. Thanks a lot.
My post yesterday (25th) did not show up. Thought it was deleted.
It’s important for me to get that message across. I feel that we are all deceived. And I can’t wait for you to write a topic along that line.
Again, thanks a lot.
PDEA’s statement, March 27, 2009:
Marcelino’s leave request denied due to operational commitments
The Request for Leave of Absence filed by Major Ferdinand L Marcelino on March 23, 2009 was disapproved by PDEA Director General/Senior Undersecretary Dionisio R. Santiago.
The PDEA Chief commended Major Marcelino for his idealism and strong sense of responsibility and accountability, yet pointed out that his projected absence will adversely affect both ongoing and impending operations, thus the denial of the request for a leave of absence.
According to Director General Santiago, “Major Marcelino’s leadership and presence is vital and irreplaceable in these operations. His intent is by all means meritorious and laudable; however, I cannot approve the request at the moment.”
The PDEA Chief,however, cleared Major Marcelino’s participation in the efforts to rescue the three hostages from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) who are being held by Abu Sayaff bandits in Sulu.
I
Ellen — there seems to be a problem because Tongue has been experiencing similar difficulties; he can’t post and if you notice, the regulars are nowhere despite the topic at hand…
Here’s Tongue’s email:
Anna,
Please post this over at Ellen’s blog:
I have been sending comments over to ellentordersillas.com since last night (March 26) but all of them have been blocked. And those that have been published in ellen’s last 5 or 6 blog entries have all been erased! Does her webhost have control over the blog or somebody else does?
Maybe you can post this because it’s green and go for you in her comments section. I would not want to send either Ellen or Abe/Yuga an email since if a hacker wants to collect our email addresses, that is where he would wait to harvest them.
Thanks.
Tongue
PS
This is what the site returns after I post a comment. This or the kinda-captcha thing:
“Sorry, but your comment has been flagged by the spam filter running on this blog: this might be an error, in which case all apologies. Your comment will be presented to the blog admin who will be able to restore it immediately.
You may want to contact the blog admin via e-mail to notify him”
Pekeng rallyist:
Kung hindi tayo kikilos, baka tayo ma-stroke!
Kung hindi ngayon, next time!
It would be worth praising if Gen Santiago can do a Gen Danny Lim exposing trails leading to the mole or the pig pen and their piglets relative to drug lord’s coddling.
Imposibleng walang kinalaman ‘yang pamilyang ‘yan sa pagbabasura dahil sa teknikalidad (daw)ng mga naunang kasong isinaampa laban sa mga nasakoteng Chinese at/o Taiwanese sa mga isinagawang operasyon ng PDEA?
Bakit kaya hindi mabusalan itong si ingkong raul sa kanyang mga walang direksiyong pahayag na pumapabor sa mga lumalabag sa batas at tuloy nagdidiin sa mga nagpapatupad?
Kunsabagay, gaya nang nabanggit ko na, IHI na nga pala ang laman ng kanyang ulo.
Maj. Marcelino, you are a rare breed in an environment where corruption is the norm.
You give the people hope. We support you. Take care.
As long as there are people like Maj. Marcelino, we have hope for this country.
He may not be on the same side as the other idealistic officers like Sen. Sonny Trillanes and the Magdalo officers, BGen Danny Lim, but as long as we have these officers, we are still good.