Category: Justice

A former fratman gives a glimpse of “The Brotherhood”

Published by Ellen on August 2, 2012

The death of San Beda Law student Marc Andrei Marcos due to hazing once again causes pain and frustration to many who can’t understand why fraternities have to be brutal and violent in the screening of their members.

Raymund Narag, a member of Scintilla Juris fraternity when he was studying at the University of the Philippines, was imprisoned for almost seven years in connection with the death of another fratman, Dennis Venturina of Sigma Rho, during a rumble at the U.P in 1994.

He has written several articles posted in his blog (www.raymundnarag.wordpress.com) which he shares to the public for a better understanding of what he calls “the brotherhood”.

Hopefully, these senseless deaths would stop.

The introduction of one of Narag’s articles, titled “My Honor,” gives a glimpse of how his life had been turned upside down by the tragedy:

Wrong target of Aquino’s anger over GMA’s bail

Published by Ellen on July 26, 2012

Arroyo out on bail waving to supporters — Happy

President Aquino is justified in his anger over Arroyo being out on bail.

But his anger is directed to the wrong person.

A day after Arroyo was released from detention, Aquino spoke about his displeasure with Pasay City Regional trial Court Judge Jesus Mupas.

He said Mupas was asking the “impossible” for requiring a corroborative testimony to the testimony of the government star witness,former Maguindanao provincial administrator, Norie Unas.

Arroyo out on bail in electoral sabotage case

Published by Ellen on July 25, 2012

Gloria Arroyo walking out of detention — Gloria Arroyo walking out of V. Luna detention. Thanks to ABS-CBN for photo.

From ABS-CBN:

She does not have the last laugh. There’s still the PCSO plunder case. [/caption]Gloria Arroyo leaves VMMC

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has left the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) Wednesday, eight months after being placed under hospital arrest for electoral sabotage.

Not surprising at all. Click here on the column I wrote last June 3.

Gloria Arroyo may be out on bail, thanks to DOJ-Comelec

Footage taken by ABS-CBN News showed Mrs. Arroyo walking hand in hand with a young boy, presumably her grandson, outside the hospital before boarding a coaster at around 2:30 pm.

Her legal spokesman, Raul Lambino, said the former President will pass by the VMMC chapel before going home at La Vista Subdivision. He said Mrs. Arroyo will seek alternative medical treatment in Tagaytay tomorrow, Thursday.

He said the former President will return to the VMMC every day next week to continue her therapy.

Making Arroyo accountable for stealing presidency

Published by Ellen on July 17, 2012

GMA and Rosario Uriarte close partnership — GMA and Uriarte: when the going was good

At last, Gloria Arroyo is charged with plunder.

Last Monday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales filed before the Sandiganbayan plunder charges against Gloria Arroyo who is now detained at the V. Luna Medical Center and nine others for allegedly pocketing P365, 997,915 from confidential and intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in several transfers from January 2008 to June 2010.

Charged along with Arroyo were former PCSO Board of Directors chairman Sergio O. Valencia; former PCSO general manager Rosario C. Uriarte; former PCSO directors Manuel L. Morato, Jose R. Taruc V, Raymundo T. Roquero and Ma. Fatima A. S. Valdes; former PCSO budget officer Benigno B. Aguas; former Commission on Audit chairman Reynaldo A. Villar; and former COA-Intelligence Fund Unit head Nilda B. Plaras.

P100 million to combat human trafficking

Published by Ellen on July 1, 2012

DCIM100HPDVC — De Lima with Human trafficking victim

Amidst stories of Filipinos being lured by syndicates to a life of misery and degradation, here’s a silver lining:

Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad has granted the request of the Department of Justice for P100 million for the 2013 operations of the Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking.

There were fears earlier that the DBM would only give IACAT P40 million which is even P10 million less.

Justice Undersecretary Jovy Salazar, who is in-charge of IACAT, said “The IACAT 2013 budget approval is a recognition and acknowledgment of the importance of what we do for the most vulnerable members of our society. We are truly grateful and up to the challenge.”

More funds needed in fight vs human traffickers

Published by Ellen on June 29, 2012

Relatives of victims of human trafficking from MigranteB — Relatives of victims of human trafficking. Thanks to Migrante for photo.

Okay, the Philippines has evaded going back on the Watch List of the United States Department of State’s monitoring of Trafficking of Persons.

Considering that the government has intensified export of Filipino workers overseas because it cannot provide jobs for them, continuing to avoid going back in the Watch List is a consolation, however small because the ideal situation is that there should be jobs available for Filipinos in the country so that the father or mother, son or daughter does not need to be far away from his or her family in a strange environment just to earn a living.

Corona faces conviction

Published by Ellen on May 24, 2012

Corona attempting to leave Senate2 — Blocked from leaving the Senate

The walkout by Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona sealed his fate: he will be convicted.

During his three-hour narration, wherein he didn’t mince words against those he perceived were maligning him including President Aquino, whom he scornfully referred to as “hacienderong Pangulo”, he kept on complaining about his detractors undermining the rule law and bastardizing due process.

“Binababoy nila ang proseso ng Saligang Batas para yurakan ang aking mga karapatan,” he said.

As chief justice, Corona should be the embodiment of the rule of law. His office enforces judicial code of conduct and the Code of Professional Responsibility for lawyers. He knows that a witness, which he was on May 22, does not leave the witness stand without being discharged by the Presiding judge.

Who follows court orders these days?

Published by Ellen on April 1, 2012

Take a look at these headlines the past days:

CEBU SCHOOL DEFIES COURT ORDER ON BIKINI GRADUATES

DE LIMA DEFIES COURT

The first headline was about officials of St. Theresa’s College in Cebu defying the temporary restraining order issued by Cebu City Regional Trial Court Judge Wilfredo Navarro directing the school to cease and desist from enforcing the penalties on five students graduating from highschool for posting in Facebook photos in a bikini and in poses which school authorities considered “lewd.”

STC Cebu decided not to allow the five students to join the graduation rites although they can get their diploma.

A Double Standard of Justice: The Gerry Ortega case

Published by Ellen on March 30, 2012

By Inday Espina-Varona

http://indayvarona.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/a-double-standard-of-justice/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/blogs/insights/03/30/12/double-standard-justice-gerry-ortega-case

Justice for Gerry Ortega — A call for Justice

Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa issued a call today, on the eve of Earth Day, to care more for Mother Nature. Meanwhile, Malacanang spits on the soul of a fallen environmental warrior. Here’s why:

A couple of months back, the nation was glued to the spectacle of government operatives barring former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from leaving the country. The incident happened in the absence of any hold order on the much-maligned former Chief Executive. There was no hold order because no court had yet issued an arrest warrant for her. In fact, no case against Mrs. Arroyo had even reached the courts yet. What the government had was a watchlist order (WLO) on President Benigno Aquino’s predecessor. This watchlist order was the subject of a Supreme Court temporary restraining order (TRO) — a TRO that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima refused to implement.

I will not discuss the merits of the TRO or the WLO — the latter the same weapon Mrs. Arroyo had wielded against her political opposition. The TRO later became part of the Aquino administration’s impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Renato Corona. Mrs. Arroyo has since been arraigned and remains in hospital arrest due to an ailment affecting the spine. The Chief Justice is still battling it out in his impeachment trial.

Corona’s latest offer: I’ll resign but I keep everything I have

Published by Ellen on March 11, 2012

Benigno Aquino III, Renato Corona, Juan Ponce Enrile — Unfriendly meeting

I find the revelations of Chief Justice Renato Corona of the meetings that he had with President Aquino and other administration stalwarts very interesting. I just wish that he tells the complete story and not just be selective in his sharing with the public.

I also expect the same from Malacañang.

Corona disclosed the proposal of administration ally Sen. Teofisto Guingona for a term sharing with Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, which Guingona denies.

He should also disclose his counter-offers especially the latest ,made through a retired associate justice , that he was willing to resign on condition that he would keep everything that he owns now.
What Corona has only disclosed were his meetings with President Aquino and the Guingonas, father and son.

The Aquino-Corona meeting has been confirmed by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. It took place in July 2010, a few weeks after the latter was sworn into office by Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, in the house of the President’s sister, Pinky Abellada.