Category: Justice

The return of Michael Ray Aquino

Published by Ellen on April 26, 2011

U.S. CA Apr 25 decision: Michael Ray Aquino petition denied

The U.S. Court of Appeals denied Monday former Police Officer Michael Ray Aquino’s third appeal against the extradition requested by the Philippine government under Gloria Aquino in connection with the November 2000 murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.

“The petition for rehearing filed by Apellant having been submitted to all judges who participated in the decision of this court, and to all the other available circuit judges in active service, and a majority of circuit judges of the circuit in regular active service not having voted for rehearing by the court en banc, the petition for rehearing is hereby DENIED,” the decision states signed by Circuit Judge Thomas M. Hardiman.

The U.S. has 60 days to enforce the extradition. I suppose the National Bureau of Investigation would be coordinating with American authorities for the return of Aquino who left the Philippine in July 2001 knowing that the unelected government of Gloria Arroyo would make life difficult for them being identified with Sen. Panfilo Lacson, whom the Arroyos consider their number one tormentor.

Michael Ray Aquino in third try to void extradition

Published by Ellen on April 17, 2011

Michael Ray Aquino’s April 11 petition: MRA_petition_for_hearing April 11

Former Police officer Michael Ray Aquino cited the Court of Appeal’s judgment of lack of credibility of his former colleague Cezar Mancao II in his last-ditch appeal to stop his extradition.

In his motion for re-hearing filed last April 11, Aquino, who is currently detained at the Hudson County jail in New Jersey, said he filed his petition for rehearing “on the submission that it is not in accord with the accepted definition of ‘competent evidence’ nor is it in accord with the standards for the finding of probable cause for a murder charge…”

Aquino is facing murder charges in connection with the disappearance in November 2000 of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.

In his appeal, Aquino said three facts are clear:

Hindi baril ang solusyon sa lumalaganap na krimen

Published by Ellen on April 16, 2011

Sa halip na magbigay siya ng panahon sa pagtuturo sa mga prosecutor o piskal kung paano maging asintado sa pagbabaril, dapat siguro ang asikasuhin ni Pangulo Aquino ay ang solusyon sa nakakabahalang sitwasyun ng peace and order sa bansa.

Sa kanyang talumpati sa National Convention ng Prosecutors League of the Philippines sa General Santos City, nagboluntaryo si Aquino na maging instructor ng prosecutors sa pagbabaril. Ang isang hilig kasi ng Pangulo maiban sa mamahalin at mabibilis na kotse at maglaro ng computer games at mag-baril.

Maganda naman sana ang kanyang speech. Sinabi niya na alam niya ang panganib na sinusu-ong ng mga prosecutor na siyang tagapagtanggol ng pamahalaan at mamamayan sa mga kasong criminal. Merong public prosecutors na empleyado ng pamahalaan at merong private prosecutors, mga abogado na kinukuha ng mga biktima.

Harry Roque and Vic Agustin exchanges

Published by Ellen on April 14, 2011

Following are two columns, Cocktail Perks at BSP by lawyer Harry Roque and P200,000 to attack Tetangco by journalist Vic Agustin of Manila Standard.

Harry Roque is being criticized for charging Bancco Filipino, who recently was taken over by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for alleged insolvency, P1.28 lawyers fee plus other fees. What’s wrong with a lawyer charging clients fees for services rendered?

I personally know that Atty. Roque is doing a lot of pro bono cases.

Here’s Roque’s column answering Agustin’s criticism against him. Agustin’s column is also reproduced in this post

Cocktail Perks at BSP

By Harry Roque

Cocktales writer Victor Agustin tried to malign my law firm in his column last Monday. No effort at all was made to hear the other side, my side, which genuine journalists always do to differentiate themselves from paid hacks.

In past press releases, the BSP falsely linked me to a supposed P245 million payment made by Banco Filipino (BF) for legal services. In his smear column, however, Agustin unconsciously exposed BSP’s malice because, all along, it turns out that the BSP had records showing that my firm merely got paid one-half of 1% of the alleged P245 million amount. In fact, with P400,000 in still unpaid legal fees, my firm is a victim of the BF closure.

Pakapalan ng mukha sa Ombudsman

Published by Ellen on April 2, 2011

Akala talaga ng mga tao sa Ombudsman sa pamumuno ni Merceditas Gutierrez ay hindi sila sakop ng batas. Ang lalakas ng loob! Ang kakapal ng mukha!

Pakutya na sinabi ni Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus na sorry na lang ang Malacañang at hindi nila susundin ang order ng Pangulo na patalsikin si Deputy Ombudsman Emilio A. Gonzalez III dahil na-imbestigahan na raw nila ang akusasyon ng namatay na pulis na si Rolando Mendoza na kinikikilan siya ng P150,000 at “cleared” na raw si Gonzalez.

Pambihira naman. Sila-sila lang ang nagi-imbestiga ng kanilang sarili. Siyempre “cleared”.

Noong Biyernes pinalabas ng Malacañang ang order ni Pangulong Aquino na tanggalin sa pwesto si Gonzalez pagkatapos ma kumpirma ng team na pinangungunahan ni Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa ang resulta ng imbestigasyun at rekomendasyun ng Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) na pinamumunuan ni Justice Secretary Leila de Lima na dapat panagutin si Gonzalez dahil nagpabaya at hindi tama ang kanyang asal (gross neglect of duty and gross misconduct) sa paghawak sa kaso.

Deputy Ombudsman dismissed over Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking incident

Published by Ellen on April 1, 2011

Update: The office of the Ombudsman is defying the President’s order and said it will not implement the dismissal of Gonzales because they have conducted their internal investigation and have cleared Gonzalez of any wrong doing.

Here’s the 15-page decision from the Office of the Executive Secretary: OP decision on Gonzalez

This is a press release from the Office of Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa , who headed the panel that reviewed the recommendation of the Investigation and Review Committee headed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that headed the investigation of the Aug. 23 tragedy.

We hope Gonzalez is just the first of those that will be hold accountable for the fiasco that cost the lives of 8 Hongkong nationals and a series of blunders in the country’s relations with China.We are waiting what the government will do with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno and former PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa. They too were negligent of their duties.

Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III has been dismissed by the Office of the President (OP) for gross neglect of duty and gross misconduct in handling the dismissal complaint against hostage-taker former P/Sr. Insp. Rolando Mendoza, on recommendation of Palace lawyers who reviewed the findings of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC).

‘All I ask is a fair share of justice’ – Lacson

Published by Ellen on March 28, 2011

Statement of Sen. Panfilo Lacson at his press conference Monday, March 28, 2011:

Photo by Malaya
Unang una sa lahat I’d like to thank the members of the media for allowing me a quiet weekend with my family. I thought that was the best day of my life with my family because it was a quiet weekend. We heard mass and I visited the graves of my parents. It felt like Christmas in March.

For 13 months, I was a fugitive from injustice. I have been subjected to the vitriol of arrogance and hatred by my old and new detractors. I have been humiliated, unfairly eviscerated of my dignity and personal honor, even as I am humbled by an experience so surreal I never imagined could happen.

Every single day that I was underground, the crucible stared each time I opened my eyes. For 13 months I lived the life of a prisoner outside a prison cell. The only difference from one who suffers in confinement is that I could on my own free will navigate my movements using the best of my instinctive compass. I had only one rule to follow. Do not get caught.

Since childhood, I have struggled in life. But the last struggle I had for the past year was the most challenging. The worst pain of all is that I didn’t know who my true and real friends were. I still thank God I found a few of them.

Whistleblowers welcome Lacson’s return

Published by Ellen on March 27, 2011

Ping Lacson family reunion — Lacson with the family Sunday

Not surprisingly, Sandra Cam, president of the Whistleblowers Association, is so happy that Sen. Ping Lacson is back.

Lacson arrived in Cebu from Hong Kong last Saturday. He proceeded to Manila. His media officer, Gerry de Belen, said the senator, who left the country 14 months ago to evade the warrant of arrest issued against him in connection with the murders of public relations practitioner Bubby Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, will hold a presscon Monday (March 28) at the Senate at 11 a.m.

Cam said with the return of Lacson, members of their organization who will be called to the witness stand during the impeachment trial, feel more secure. She added that Lacson is the only one who is consistent with his help for the whistleblowers. (A whistleblower is one who exposes wrongdoing within an organization in the hope of stopping it) who testified in congressional investigation at great risk to their person and family.)

Even before the Court of Appeals came out with its final decision last March 18 saying that its earlier ruling nullifying the indictment of Regional Trial Court of Manila in connection with the Dacer-Corbito double-murder case automatically lifted the warrant of arrest issued against Lacson, the Whistleblowers Association had issued a statement giving him support warning the public that those who are protecting Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez are “hell-bent” in preventing Lacson from coming back.

Pera o preso

Published by Ellen on March 26, 2011

gen and mrs ligot — The Ligots. Photo by Manila Standard

Binigyan ng Senado nang mag-asawang Ligot kung tulungan nila ang pamahalaan na maibalik sa sambayanang Pilipino ang milyon-milyon na pera na nanakaw sa sambayanang Pilipino o magpakulong. Sa ngayon mas gusto nilang magpakulong.

Naka-detain si Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot sa Senado dahil sa ginawang niyang hindi pagsipot sa hearing na ginagawa ng Blue Ribbon Committee sa pangunguna ni Sen. TG Guingona. Ang kanyang asawang si Erlinda ay hindi pa kinukulong. Humanitarian reasons daw.

Pambabatos naman kasi ang ginagawa niton mag-asawang Ligot kasama na rin ang kapatid ni Mrs. Ligot na si Eduardo Yambao sa kanilang pagsisinungaling sa Senado tungkol sa pagnananakaw na ginawa nila sa pera ng military nang comptroller si Ligot nang panahon na ang chief of staff ng Armed Forces of the Philippines ay ang nagpakamatay na dating Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes.

Kapag pinapanood mo ang imbestigasyun ng Senado na nagsimula sa kontrobersyal na plea bargain agreement ng Ombudsman ng isa pang dating military comptroller,si Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, na ngayon ay pinalawak na sa mga corruption sa military nang lumabas ang dating military budget officer na si George Rabusa, makikita talaga ang kahalagahan ng pagsabi ngkatotohanan.

Lacson is back in Manila

Published by Ellen on March 26, 2011

From ABS-CBN: Lacson is back in Manila. Sen. Panfilo Lacson finally resurfaced after leaving the country over 14 months ago to evade arrest after he…