Photos by Mario Ignacio IV
Marking the second year of the Maguindanao massacre, journalists pledged to resist any attempt to trample a person’s right to life and free expression.
Making life worth living.
Category: Justice
I love Wikileaks.
It unmasks the two-faced. It reveals the double-life of many of the officials that we respect.
Take this one from Paul Jones, who served deputy chief of mission of the US Embassy in Manila. His cable in Sept. 2006 indicated that former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban was the protector of Filipino-Chinese businessman Mariano Nocom, whose malls were said to have been selling pirated goods.
Piracy undermines legitimate business and deprives the government of revenues.
The cable was about the demotion of Judge Antonio Eugenio who was handling intellectual property rights (IPR) cases.
Even Mike Arroyo’s nemesis, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson agreed with the Supreme Court’s grant of temporary restraining order against putting him (Arroyo) on the watch list restricting his right to travel.
“I myself am not in favor of the watch list. That’s tantamount to a hold-departure order without saying that it is one,” Lacson said.
Lacson said putting Arroyo on the watch list showed an “arrogance of power,” noting that Mike had to regularly seek permission from De Lima each time he would leave the country.
Former first gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo is now free to travel anywhere in the world.
The photos posted by “Pamatay Homesick” in his Facebook Wall give us an exhilarating feeling.
Filipinos in Kuwait came in droves, most probably took a day off from work, to give moral support to the team that is now giving Filipinos a new sense of pride.
“Pamatay Homesick”, an interior designer and project design coordinator, posted on his FB wall: “Binabati ko ang lahat, sa matagumpay na kaganapan sa larong football dito sa kuwait.Natalo man ang ating Azkals, nakita ko naman ang pagsasama sama ng ating mga kababayan dito sa kuwait.Mabuhay!”
He added: “Kahit tayo ay nasawi, tayo parin ang nagwagi!”
That’s the attitude.
The Azkals have already achieved something priceless – making Filipinos proud of being Filipino. That, by itself, is already a score.
(I did this story for VERA Files. It has been released to all media outlets.)
A highly reliable source said President Benigno Aquino III agreed to the two conditions Gutierrez set in exchange for her resignation. One, she would get her full retirement benefits. Two, government would not file charges against her.
The deal, however, does not preclude private individuals from filing cases against the former Ombudsman, who had also served as acting justice secretary during the Arroyo administration, the source said.
One by one, they fell.
First it was Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzales who was fired. Then Deputy Ombudsman Luzon Mark Jalandoni, who resigned. Then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez who also resigned. Now, Wendell Barreras-Sulit suspended.
By Jocelyn Montemayor and Peter Tabingo
Malaya
A two-page formal charge sheet signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. Tuesday said the three-month preventive suspension aims to ensure there will be no tampering with evidence and interference in the investigation.
He said the suspension would start upon Sulit’s receipt of the formal notice.
Sulit could not be reached for comment. But according to sources, she received the suspension order yesterday.
The sources said Sulit scribbled a marginal note on the order, which read, “received under protest subject to outcome of my petition in the Supreme Court and in view of the pendency thereof.”
She signed the order, signifying she was properly served.
Update:Diokno insists he was not remiss with his job as prison chief despite discovery of Leviste’s trips outside prison.http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/9111/prisons-chief-admits-dropping-the-ball-on-leviste-caper
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/9262/diokno-defends-self-at-doj
Sabit si Diokno sa kontrobersiya tungkol sa nabulgar na special treatment kay dating gubernador ng Batangas na si Antonio Leviste na nakakulong dahil sa sa kanyang pagpatay sa kanyang kaibigan at kasosyo sa negosyo na si Rafael de las Alas noong 2007.
Nakakagalit ngunit hindi naman masyadong nakakagulat ang desisyun ng Sandiganbayan na aprubahan ang plea bargain agreement ng Ombudsman at ni dating Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia.
Matagal na itong plantsado ni dating Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. Kaya nga noong Marso, nang pina-follow up noon ni Sen. Franklin Drilon kay Gutierrez sa imbestigasyon ng Senado ang kanyang sianbing ipahinto o bawiin ang plea bargain agreement kay Garcia, sinabi niya na pinag-aaralan pa nila. Mag-isang buwan na pag-aaral na yun at marami nang naibulgar si Col. George Rabusa. Talagang gusto talagang palayain si Garcia. At siyempre, nanggaling sa mas mataas ang kuntsabahan.
May nagsabi sa akin na isang mataas na opisyal sa administrasyun ni Gloria Arroyo ang lumalakad sa Sandiganbayan ng kaso ni Garcia. Ang usap-usapan kasi, malaking pera galing sa budget ng military ang napunta sa kampanya ni Arroyo noong 2004.
Former Police Officer Michael Ray Aquino is expected to be coming home soon. The mandate issued by the Court of Appeals (3rd circuit) is equivalent…
At about the time I learned that Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez resigned (noon of April 29, 2011), a friend texted that Gloria Arroyo and members opf her family arrived in San Francisco,U.S.A.
“They didn’t have any luggage ,“ the informant said adding that “Many Pinoys saw them at the airport, including Pinoy waiter at Mcdo who just texted.“
The informant added his own analysis of what he saw : “They fled to avoid arrest when they knew that knew their protector was about to resign.“
Sen Antonio Trillanes IV issued a statement on the resignation of Gutierrez from Boracay where he is attending a wedding of a Magdalo officer :“It’s a relief for everyone, including herself.“
He said,“Also we can revert back to our normal legislative schedule in the Senate so that we can tackle the more important legislative matters.“