Category: Justice

Aquino’s hard sell a turnoff

Published by Ellen on March 24, 2011

Aquino in Cagayan de Oro — Speaking in a press conference as a private citizen?

President Aquino should be told there are times when things are better left unsaid.

If he is worried that some people underestimate his intelligence and competence and thinks that by indiscriminately sharing information and his thoughts, he will earn respect as a leader, he is mistaken.

One flabbergasted political observer described him as “a male Kris Aquino.” And that’s not flattering at all for a leader.

A day after the House of Representatives approved in an overwhelming vote the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, the President appealed to the people: “As the Senate prepares to try the Ombudsman, I urge you to support this (impeachment) and other efforts to fight corruption.”

Reminded of the principle of separation of powers in a republican state which the Philippines is, Aquino said, “I may be a president but I am also a citizen of this republic.”

Alerto: hindi titigil ang kampo ni Arroyo

Published by Ellen on March 22, 2011

Ang nangyari noong Lunes (Martes na nga pala ng medaling araw) ay hindi maisip mangyari kung si Gloria Arroyo pa ang nasa kapangyarihan. Iba na talaga ang panahon.

Sabi nga ni Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, ilang impeachment complaint na na kasama siya sa pagsulong para mabigyan hustisya ang taumbayan na pinagsamantalahan ng mga nasa kapangyarihan ngunit walang nangyari dahil hawak ni Arroyo ang mga kongresista.
Iba na talaga ang panahon.

Maganda ang sinabi ni Anak Pawis Rep. Rene Mariano na ang impeachment complaint laban kay Gutierrez ay laban ng mga magsasaka na siyang ninakawan nina Arroyo at ng kanyang mga kasama na ang mga opisyal sa Department of Agriculture. Isa sa kaso sa Articles of Impeachment ay ang P728 milyon na anomalya sa abono.

Merceditas Gutierrez impeached

Published by Ellen on March 21, 2011

Click here for Sun Star’s list of Impeachment voting

In a historic vote of 212 “Yes”, 46 “No”, and four abstentions Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez was impeached by the House of Representatives for betrayal of public trust.

After eight hours of deliberation, the House vote was completed at 12:13 a.m of March 22, 2011.

This is the first time in the country’s history that an anti-graft chief has been impeached.

The Articles of Impeachment, which will be transmitted to the Senate for trial, contained in House Bill 1089 cites inaction on the following cases : fertilizer scam; $329.5 million controversial National Broadband Network-ZTE telecommunications deal; Mega Pacific poll automation contract; Euro-Generals cases; 1995 death of Navy Ensign Phillip Pestaño; low conviction rates.

Under Section 3, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution, the impeachment case against the Ombudsman would have to get a one-third vote of all House members (95 ) before it can be transmitted to the Senate for trial.

Lacson manhunt illegal -Court of Appeals

Published by Ellen on March 21, 2011

Click here:Court of Appeals final decision on Lacson

By Jomar Canlas
Manila Times

lacson rallyA — Expect Lacson at the Senate anytime now?

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is now a free man and could return to the Senate immediately.

This was the ruling of the Court of Appeals (CA), which also declared that the Department of Justice’s standing order for the senator’s arrest and detention could be a ground for a possible criminal charge of arbitrary detention against Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

In a 16-page resolution of the appellate court’s Special 16th Division, a copy of which was obtained by The Manila Times, the court said that the ruling automatically lifted the warrant of arrest issued against Lacson and immediately nullifies his indictment before the Regional Trial Court of Manila in connection with the Dacer-Corbito double-murder case.

The appellate court promulgated the ruling, written by Associate Justice Ramon Bato Jr., on March 18, 2011.

It stressed that the lifting of the arrest warrant against Lacson is immediately executory, unless the Supreme Court, through preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order, restrains the appellate court.

Naintindihan ba ni Mayor Lim ang karapatang pantao?

Published by Ellen on March 20, 2011

Nagsalita na rin si Etta Rosales, chairperson ng Commission on Human Rights, tungkol sa order ni Manila Mayor Lim na shoot-to-kill sa limang pulis na nangbulsa daw P12 milyon, mula sa P16 milyon ransom money na ibinayad ng nakidnap na negosyanteng Malaysian.

Sabi ni Rosales para naman “gangland” tayo sa order ni Lim.

Nauna nang binatikos ni Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, na dating chair din ng CHR, sa kanyang order. Sabi ni Lima akala yata ni Lim ay nasa “Wild,wild West” tayo.

Nagsalita na rin si Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Badillo. Sabi niya, kahit nga mga huwes hindi nagbibigay ng ganyang order. May proseso. May warrant of arrest.”Sino si Mayor Lim? May kapangyarihan ba siya magbigay ng ganyang order?”

Sabi ni ng spokesperson ni Lim, kaya naman daw sinabi yun ng mayor dahil armado daw ang limang pulis na mga suspek. Ang sinabi daw na shoot-to-kill ay kung lalaban kapag inaresto.

Senate indicators

Published by Ellen on March 10, 2011

When it rains, it pours.

After years of being protected by Gloria Arroyo’s Malacañang, House of Representatives,and Supreme Court, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is getting it from all directions.

Click on related documents:

Executive Summary Blue Ribbon report on Carlos Garcia Plea BargainAgreement

BLUE RIBBONCOMMITTEE REPORT Garcia plea bargain

Last Monday, the House Justice committee voted that there’s probable cause to impeach Gutierrez for betrayal of public trust on five cases at the same time that the Supreme Court denied with finality her motion for reconsideration to stop the House from proceeding with her impeachment.

Merci impeachment moves forward in House, Senate iffy

Published by Ellen on March 8, 2011

Update: Senate Blue Ribbon Committee recommends the resignation and impeachment of Gutierrez over plea bargain agreement with former military comptroller Carlos Garcia.

The approval by the House Justice Committee of the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez shows momentum in the fight to make government officials accountable of their actions.

Thirty-nine of the 55 members of the Justice committee found there are “reasonable grounds that an impeachable offense has been committed “by Gutierrez and that she is “probably guilty” and that she should face trial.”

The committee voted on two complaints against Gutierrez. The first one was filed by Akbayan led by former Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel alleged that Gutierrez betrayed public trust as shown by the low conviction rates of the Office of the Ombudsman under her leadership; inaction on the $329.5 million controversial National Broadband Network-ZTE telecommunications deal; inaction on the 1995 death of Navy Ensign Phillip Pestaño.

House Justice Cmte finds probable cause to impeach Gutierrez

Published by Ellen on March 8, 2011

In a vote of 39 out of 55 members, the House Committee on Justice found probable cause to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

Nine members voted against the motion and one, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, abstained.

In a related case, The Supreme Court dismissed with finality in a vote of 7-5-2, the motion for reconsideration of Gutierrez to stop the House from proceeding with the impeachment proceedings against her.

Arroyo should be nervous as search for truth continues

Published by Ellen on February 15, 2011

There’s a saying in Tagalog “umiikot ang puwit” which means jittery; feeling uneasy and nervous.

The decision of the Supreme Court allowing the House of Representatives to proceed with the impeachment proceeding against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez should make not only Gutierrez nervous but her patrons, the former occupants of Malacañang.

The Supreme Court justices are supposed not to be influenced by public opinion but they would not be human not to be affected by the public outrage over the plea bargain agreement entered into by the Ombudsman with former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia.

Ang panig ng abogado ni Zaldy Ampatuan

Published by Ellen on February 6, 2011

Sumulat sa akin si Atty. Howard Calleja, na binabatikos ngayon dahil sa kanyang pagtanggap kay Zaldy Ampatuan bilang kliyente.

Kasama si Zaldy sa nakasuhan ng multiple murder sa masaker ng 58 na tao, 32 doon ay mga journalists, noong Nobyembre 23, 2009. Ang itinurong nagsagawa ng masaker ay ang kanyang kapatid na si dating Mayor Andal Jr. Sabit din ang kanilang ama na si Andal Sr. Sobra isang daang tao ang nakasakdal sa kasong ito.

Pinuna ko si Calleja sa aking kolum noong isang buwan. Nadismaya ako sa kanya dahil kilala ko si Howie bilang ma-prinsipyo na abogado. Abogado siya nang Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, isang organisasyun na ang misyun ay malinis at maayos na eleksyun. Alam naman natin kung anong eleksyun ang pinaiiral ng mga Ampatuan sa Maguindanao. Ang tawag nga doon bangko ng mga boto. Magdeposito ka lang ng cash, makukuha mo ang boto na gusto mo. Tanungin nyo si Gloria Arroyo at si Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.