Category: General

by Victor Reyes

Malaya
Marine Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian, one of 28 officers being tried for their alleged attempt to overthrow President Arroyo in February 2006, was cited for direct contempt, taken out of the court by military custodians, barred from participating in yesterday’s resumption of the court martial proceedings, and brought back to his cell at the Intelligence Service of the AFP inside Camp Aguinaldo.

Prior to that, Segumalian had confronted prosecution lawyer Col. Jose Feliciano Loy who had been engaged in a heated debate with defense lawyer Vicente Verdadero over the summoning of prosecution witnesses.

Segumalian told Loy not to shout at Verdadero and let him finish presenting his point. Loy replied it was Segumalian who should stop shouting. When Loy asked the court to cite Segumalian in contempt of court, Segumalian went to Loy and angrily pointed his finger at him.

To deflect the public’s outrage over the reported bribery in the justice department and involvement of justice officials involvement officials in illegal drugs, Gloria Arroyo ordered that prosecutors involved in the dismissal of cases against the “Alabang Boys” be investigated.

But, she in effect, cleared Gonzalez.

Related news:

Prosecutors go on leave
Gonzalez asked to resign

DOJ chief enjoys Arroyo ‘trust’–Palace

By Joel Guinto
Inquirer.net

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez continues to enjoy the “trust and confidence” of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo despite the bribery scandal his office is facing, the President’s spokesman said on Monday.

“Secretary Gonzalez enjoys the trust and confidence of the President,” deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said, as the Palace rejected calls from the political opposition for the justice chief to resign.

“Some critics of the administration will always ask [for] the head of the leaders in the Cabinet. They are just waiting for an issue or mistake [from government officials] to pursue their agenda,” he said.

Hindi ako nagulat sa balita na may mga opisyal si Gloria Arroyo na sangkot sa pagpalaya ng mga personalidad na dawit sa paglalako ng droga.

Ipinangalanan ni Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino, hepe ng Special Enforcement Service ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, si Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor na siyang tumawag sa kanya para i-release sina Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph, at Joseph Tecson na nahulihan na may dalang marijuana, Ecstasy at cocaine noong Septiembre.

May resolusyon na kasi ang Department of Justice na napirmahan ni State Prosecutor John Resado na inirekomenda naman ni Senior State Prosecutor Philip I. Kimpo na aprubahan at inaprubahan naman ni Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño.

Congratulations to the winners of the Best Blogs in 2008 by OFW or Expat.

Congratulations too to the organizers. It’s a laudable project and should be sustained.

TEN BEST EXPATS/OFW BLOG in 2008

1.Writing on Air, Australia
by Jim Paredes

Voted 7 times to the Top 10, twice as No. 1, three times as No. 2, and twice again as No. 3.
As per the judges verdict,
His blog is No. 1 in the BLOG CONTENT
No. 1 in the Blog Element
No. 2 in the Visibility and Metrics
No. 4 in the Voting/Popularity category
and
No 1 in the Over All Judges Pick

Some of judges’ notes:

“Meaningful and inspiring posts” “Brings out pride in being Filipino” “Writing on Air has depth and substance. Jim’s blog is brilliant and inspiring. His take on issues around the world and as well as personal experiences are culturally enriching as a Filipino. The lay-out and design is clean.”

May the joys and pains we experienced in 2008 add to make us stronger and wiser to face the challenges of 2009. Happy New Year!

Christmas is in the heart. The venue does not matter.

This is best exemplified by the officers detained in Camp Capinpin and their families as shown in these pictures taken midnight of Dec. 24 and on Christmas day.

(The 17 officers detained in Camp Capinpin are part of the 28 charged with mutiny for allegedly for planning to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006. Court martial trial is going on. It will resume on Jan. 9.)

Life goes on even behind barbed wires.

Last Dec. 25, Jeanne Clarisse Sababan, four -month old daughter of Capt. James and Cletty Sababan was christened in an early morning mass inside the Custodial Center in Camp Capinpin, Tanay where 17 of the 28 officers charged with mutiny (re Feb. 2006 non-event) are detained.

Here are some of the pictures. I’ll post more photos and make more kwento later. I have to treat my nieces and nephews to the Festival mall.