Category: Military

Edith Burgos on Aquino’s ‘leftist propaganda’ remark

Published by Ellen on October 25, 2012

Edith Burgos, wife of press freedom icon Jose Burgos Jr. and mother of Jonas Burgos, who was never seen since he was abducted by persons suspected to be members of the military on April 28, 2007, issued a statement yesterday in reaction to President Aquino’s remark dismissing criticisms about the dismal human rights records of his administration as leftist propaganda.

Burgos statement:

“My son, Jonas, is still missing as so many others are. He was forcibly abducted during the Gloria Arroyo administration, and until now we have yet to get a categorical statement from authorities on the fate of my son. And my family had admittedly become vocal in our plea that military produce my Jonas.

“To call this propaganda and to label it leftist is the height of insensitivity to a mother who continues to search for his missing son. I stand before the Lord, who is truth Himself, in witness of this truth.

“Now, when you are looking for a missing loved one, is it justified to label you as leftist? Unless the definition has been changed, I would not subscribe to what has been officially said by Malacanang. To seek justice and to right a wrong done to families who have been victims of enforced disappearances, will that be considered a leftist act?

The Philippines as global competitor

Published by Ellen on June 21, 2012

Romela Bengzon, ambassador for international trade?

Published by Ellen on March 8, 2012

The March 7, 2012 issue of Sydney Morning Herald carried a news item, “Defence firm faces bribe probe “by Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker.

The firm involved is Tenix Defence, Australia’s biggest military contractor, which is under investigation by federal police investigation for allegedly bribing officials and politicians across Asia including the Philippines to win massive contracts.

The article said “A director of Tenix’s Philippines subsidiary, lawyer Romela Bengzon, this week confirmed a police investigation into company contracts. She declined to comment further, citing her ongoing role with Tenix.”

The article further said, “Ms Bengzon is well known to the Australian embassy in Manila and is corporate secretary of the Australian New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines. In 2005, she was made a commissioner to advise on changes to the Philippine constitution. She is now the Philippines ambassador for international trade.”

The last sentence was a shock to me because Bengzon was an ardent supporter of Gloria Arroyo. How did she get the position of “ambassador for international trade” under the Aquino administration?

Time for reckoning for Palparan

Published by Ellen on December 22, 2011

I remember that speech to be most obscene.

In her sixth State-of-the-Nation address on July 24, 2006, Gloria Arroyo, amidst cries of parents of University of the Philippines Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño and relatives of Manuel Merino, a farmer, Gloria Arroyo lavished praises on one of the most feared and hated generals – then Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, commander of the 7th Infantry Division in central Luzon, where many of the extra-judicial killings happened.

Arroyo said: “Sa ganitong mga proyekto, palalakasin natin ang ekonomiya ng mga barangay at lalawigan. And we will end the long oppression of barangays by rebel terrorists who kill without qualms, even their own. Sa mga lalawigang sakop ng 7th Division, nakikibaka sa kalaban si Jovito Palparan. Hindi siya aatras hanggang makawala sa gabi ng kilabot ang mga pamayanan at maka-ahon sa bukang-liwayway ng hustisya at kalayaan.”

Trillanes: “Mla Pen happened for a higher reason that is still unfolding”

Published by Ellen on November 29, 2011

Some “survivors” of what media calls the Nov. 29, 2007 “Manila Peninsula siege” got together with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (no, not at the Manila Pen).

Yesterday’s reunion had an added significance in the sense that Trillanes, Brig. Gen. (ret.) Danny Lim and other members of the Magdalo, who dared take on Gloria Arroyo at the height of her power, are now free. Trillanes is serving his electoral mandate in the Senate and Lim is deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Customs.

And Arroyo, their jailer?

It is now being debated whether she should be granted her request for a house arrest or be confined at a government facility. She has been charged with electoral sabotage in the 2007 election, a crime punishable by a life sentence and bail is not recommended.

Pang-apat na taon ng Mla Pen rebelyun: malaya na sina Trillanes at Lim, si Arroyo, nakakulong

Published by Ellen on November 27, 2011

a few minutes before end of seige — This was taken inside Rizal room, a few minutes before authorities started tear gassing the hotel.

Sa Martes,Nob. 29, ay pang-apat na taon makalipas ang tinatawag natin na “Manila Peninsula siege.”

Kinumusta ko sa aming abogado na si Romel Bagares ng Roque, Butuyan law office kung ano na ang nangyari sa aming isinampang kaso laban sa mga pulis at military na nanghuli sa amin (ang iba sa amin ay pinusasan) na inapela naming sa Court of Appeals. (Kinampihan kasi ni Makati RTC Judge Reynaldo Laigo ang mga pulis at military kahit na sinabi ng Commission on Human Rights na ang paghuli sa amin a”constitutes arbitrary arrest/detention in violation of human rights standards.”)

Related links:
http://www.ellentordesillas.com/2007/12/14/media-concerns-in-nov-29-incident/
http://www.ellentordesillas.com/2007/12/02/bibeth/
http://www.ellentordesillas.com/2007/11/30/hours-media-grit-in-the-manila-pen/
http://www.ellentordesillas.com/2007/12/14/maria-ressasposition-paper-on-media-at-the-pen/
http://www.ellentordesillas.com/2007/12/14/nhks-chairmaine-deogracias-on-manila-pen-incident/

Sinabi ni Romel, nandun pa rin sa CA ang aming kaso, natututulog.

Paano ma-enjoy ng mga Ligot ang kanilang pera?

Published by Ellen on November 1, 2011

Sana hindi na tuluyan sumama sa mga kaluluwa ang pinaghahanap na dating military comptroller retired Maj. Gen. Jacinto Ligot at ang kanyang asawang si Erlinda.

Update:
Days after they were reported missing, former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot and his wife Erlinda appeared before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) on Wednesday to post a P150,000 bail
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/02/11/ligots-show-post-bail

Kawawa naman sana sila kaya lang parang mas pinapahalagahan naman nila ang perang kanilang ninakaw kaysa ang kanilang pangalan at katahimikan. Kaya ayan,marami nga silang pera, tago na tago naman sila.

Nag-isyu noong isang linggo ng warrant of arrest ang Court of Tax Appeals sa mag-asawang Ligot para sa isinampang kaso ng Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Sinisingil ng BIR ng P153.3 million sa buwis ang mga Ligot kasama na doon ang interes at multa sa hindi nila pagdeklara ng kanilang kinita noong 2003.

Umaasa si Justice Secretary Leila de Lima na magpapakita na ang mag-asawang Ligot sa korte at magpiyansa ng P20,000. Kayang-kaya naman nila yan.

Destab rumors as diversion: a turnoff

Published by Ellen on October 27, 2011

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte — Abigail Valte

No doubt that Gloria Arroyo and her cohorts would encourage dissatisfaction with the Aquino government but floating a destabilization rumor to divert attention from the Malacanang’s public management bungling of the Oct. 18 Albarka tragedy is a big turnoff.

Peace adviser: MILF to be charged if P5-M aid misspent

The Aquino administration on Thursday vowed to hale the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to court if a P5-million “aid” for a leadership institute is found to be spent for “lawless elements” instead.

But presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles insisted the P5-million transaction was above board, and that the money was for establishing a Bangsamoro Management and Leadership Institute.

“Certainly if we can see the P5 million was spent for lawless elements, criminal charges will follow. That is the way it is in any such transaction,” Deles said in an interview on dwIZ radio.

Probably anxious to contain the public’s outrage over the seemingly lack of anger by the President against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which killed 19 soldiers in an encounter last Oct, 18, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte confirmed rumors of destabilization plot against the Aquino government in the wake of talks of widespread demoralization in the military.

Inis si Aquino sa military, hindi sa MILF, sa nangyaring trahedya sa Al-Barka

Published by Ellen on October 22, 2011

fallen comrade — Pagdating ng mga bangkay sa Villamor Air Base. Thanks to Inquirer for photo.

Kung hindi nagagalit o ayaw galitin ni Pangulong Aquino ang Moro Islamic Liberation Front sa nangyari sa Basilan at sa Zamboanga Sibugay, siguro dapat huwag na muna siya manisi sa military na ngayon ay nagdadalamhati sa pagkamatay ng 26 nilang kasama sa loob ng isang linggo.

Ewan lang kung ganun din ang dating sa iba. Ngunit ang dating sa akin sa reaksyun ni Pangulong Aquino sa nangyari sa Basilan ay mas galit siya sa military dahil pumalpak ang kanilang operasyon kaysa sa ginawang pagpatay ng MILF sa mga sundalo kahit na may ceasefire sa labanan dahil sa peace talks sa pagitan ng pamahalaan at MILF.

Naintindihan ko na pangkalahatan at pangmatagalan na kapayaaan ang hangad ni Aquino ngunit bilang commander-in-chief meron siyang obligasyun para damayan ang kanyang mga tauhan sa oras ng trahedya.

Questions nobody asked ‘Garci’

Published by Ellen on July 31, 2011

Who is Maj. Jason Aquino and who was he representing?

The press conference of former Commission on Elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano raised more questions which the reporters didn’t ask.

It seemed that reporters in that press conference held in Bukidnon wanted only to hear Garci say “I was ordered by Gloria Arroyo to cheat” and when they didn’t hear that, they didn’t know any more what questions to ask.

They didn’t question when Garci said that there was no point for them to cheat because it was ten days after elections.

The reporters didn’t point out to Garcillano that in 2004, it was still manual elections and counting and canvassing took even more than a month. They were still tampering with election results in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao to make up for the unexpected avalanche of votes for Fernando Poe Jr that came from the vote-rich Lingayen-Lucena corridor.