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Month: May 2009

SC grants Gadian writ of amparo

Published by Ellen on May 21, 2009

Breaking News:

Philippine Navy welcomes SC grant of privilege of writ to Gadian; hopes she will face investigation.

The Supreme Court granted today the writ of amparo for Lt. Nancy Gadian, the navy officer who has been declared AWOL by the Philippine Navy. (Download writ-of-amparo)

The Supreme Court also directed the Court of Appeals to hear the petition on March 28, 2009 at 10 a.m. and decide it within 10 days.

The petition was filed last Tuesday by Nedina Gadian Diamante, sister of Lt. Gadian with the assistance of CenterLaw Philippines. (Download petition)

CenterLaw’s Harry Roque said, “This is unpredented that a military officer is granted relief by the Supreme Court.”

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Order of battle

Published by Ellen on May 20, 2009

Nagsampa noong Martes ng petition para sa Writ of Amparo para kay Navy Lt. Nancy Gadian ang kanyang kapatid na si Nedina Diamante. Tinutulungan siya ng Law Center Philippines nina Atty. Harry Roque.

Sabi ni Atty. Roque, kinaka-ilangan ito dahil sinabi ni Nedina nag text sa kanya si Nancy noong Sabado at sinabing may nagsabi raw sa kanya na may ”shoot-to-kill” order para sa kanya. Pinabula-anan ito ng spokesman ng AFP na si Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr.

Sinabi ni Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo na binibigyan nila ng assurance si Gadian na ligtas siya at gagalangin ang kanyang karapatang pantao.

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Lessons from the past

Published by Ellen on May 19, 2009

ANC viewers watching the interview of Metropolitan Trial Court Judge Jorge Emmanuel Lorredo by Willard Cheng aired live on the lunchtime news “Dateline” Wednesday last week were puzzled why it was abruptly cut.

It was the part when Lorredo was warning about the return of martial law. Lorredo, by the way, is the judge that stirred public attention with his unusual May 4 order for the arraignment of Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada on the perjury case filed by Mike Defensor, former presidential chief of staff.

I asked a friend close to Lorredo and she shared with me Lorredo’s ruminations about the topic that is being mentioned when talking about the direction of the Arroyo administration but is not quite taken seriously because people can’t seem to imagine the depth of her obsession to stay in power.

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Journalist in AFP’s order of battle

Published by Ellen on May 19, 2009

Carlos Conde’s statement on AFP’s “order of battle”

I am Carlos H. Conde, a journalist based in Manila.

I found out yesterday that my name is included in the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s “order of battle,” specifically in a document titled “JCICC ‘AGILA’ 3rd QTR 2007 OB VALIDATION RESULT” purportedly prepared by the intelligence staff of the armed forces’ 10th Infantry Division in Southern Mindanao.

In this “order of battle,” more than a hundred individuals – mostly leaders and members of progressive and leftist groups like Bayan, Bayan Muna, among others – are listed and classified as “organized,” “dominated,” or “targeted.” As far as I can tell, I am the only journalist on the list, which classifies me as “targeted,” whatever that means.

It would seem that the army considers me an enemy of the state, as the document, which shows the alleged links of these individuals with the communist movement, seems to be implying.

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May eleksyon ba?

Published by Ellen on May 18, 2009

Nago-organisa na ang mga gustong kumandidato para sa 2010 na eleksyon. Hindi lang sa pagka-presidente. Pati na rin ang mga gustong kumandidato sa mga lokal na pwesto.

Sa Pilipinas kasi ang eleksyon ay parang piyesta. Ang tingin ng marami sa atin sa eleksyon ay isang masayang okasyon kung saan umuuwi tayo na busog ang tiyan at kung swertehin ay may pabaon pa.

At yun lang ang panahon na nilalapitan tayo ng mga pulitiko. Kapag hindi eleksyon, pinatataguan tayo.

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Arroyo’s dream team

Published by Ellen on May 17, 2009

martir2 gen-delfin-bangit

boysie-rosales PHILIPPINES-POLITICS-ARROYO-UNREST

A well-placed source in the Arroyo administration told us there would be movements in the next few weeks in the mid-level of the military that would compel a three-star general to move out of his area command a month before his retirement.

The source said the movement is apparently towards putting in place Arroyo’s dream team that would help her implement her no-exit plan in 2010.

The information we got is that Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga will be turning over the Western Mindanao Command to Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, currently the Marines commandant, sooner than his (Allaga) July 16, 2009 retirement.

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Trial for an unknown crime

Published by Ellen on May 17, 2009

Breaktime, May 5, 2009 hearing

mrs-galia-with-foster-sons cordero flordelizas

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Update: The hearing for May 19 has been reset to May 26.

I never harbored the illusion that the 28 officers accused of mutiny in connection with something that did not happen in February 2006 will get justice as long as Gloria Arroyo is in power.

That view is becoming a disturbing concern by the decisions of the panel presiding in the court martial led by Maj. Gen. Jogy Fojas.

On Tuesday, the defense lawyers will start the cross-examination of Maj. Gen. John Martir.

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AWOL

Published by Ellen on May 16, 2009

Ibig sabihin ng AWOL ay Absence without leave. Nag-absent ka sa trabaho na walang paalam.

Sa military malaking kasalanan yan at iyon ay paglabag ng Articles of War 58 at 59. Oo nga naman. Biruin mo kung may giyera at biglang umalis ka ng walang paalam. Di maiwan ang mga kasama mo doon na makipaglaban sa kaaway.Court martial ang bagsak ng isang miyembro ng military na nag-AWOL.

AWOl ang ikinaso ng Philippine Navy kay Ltsg. Nancy Gadian. Maganda ito kasi mabubuhay ang AWOL ni Maj. Gen. John Martir na magiging marine commandant sa sunod na buwan daw.

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