 |
 |
| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Nothing But Hearsay By Antonio C. Abaya Written June 01, 2005 For the Philippines Free Press, June 11 issue As regular readers of this column will attest, I am not a fan of President Arroyo nor of her husband, her son or any of the trapos and police officers in the front pages and radio and TV news these days. But the allegations being trotted out against them for their supposed involvement in jueteng payolas, by one Wilfredo Cimanis Mayor, are unconvincing because not a shred of evidence has been presented in the Senate inquiry to support those allegations. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, which has made such a circulation-boosting circus of this inquiry with banner headlines everyday, as it has done with previous such inquiries, deserves to be renamed the Philippine Daily Hearsay. Even its star columnist, Amado Doronila, wrote in his PDI (or PDH) column of June 01, that �From Mayor�s own admission, it was clear that his testimony was based on hearsay and that (Dagupan Archbishop Oscar) Cruz had tried to make a case of implicating a host of officials on the basis of hearsay standing on a layer of hearsay. �Mayor admitted that he had no direct evidence of pay-offs, saying that his testimony was based on what he had been told by �bagmen� or intermediaries who delivered the pay-offs to alleged recipients. �Mayor also said that he based his conclusion � not hard evidence � that pay-offs had been received on his perception that the operators were allowed to operate after meetings with police officials, implying that they were protecting the operators. �With this kind of evidence based on hearsay, it is reasonable to ask how long this process can sustain high public interest�.� As long as it can generate more readers, listeners and viewers, no matter how flimsy or non-existent the evidence may be, one can safely assume. What I cannot understand is why Doro, with his sober and analytical mind, cannot seem to prevail over the owners, the editors and some frothing-at-the-mouth columnists in his newspaper to be more responsible and circumspect in their reportage, commentaries and headline-writing, even though he (Doro) is listed in the paper�s masthead as �editorial consultant.� Don�t they consult with him at all? On the other hand, we have Private Lawyers Frank Chavez and Mario Ongkiko and their associates in Clean Hands Inc. filing plunder charges with the Ombudsman against Maj. Gen. Carlos F. Garcia, Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot and Lt. Col. George A. Rabusa, supported with wads of documentary evidence, including, in the case of Gen. Garcia, some from the US Government, and yet the PDI (or PDH) and the rest of Philippine print and broadcast media gave only cursory coverage and practically no supportive commentary. Certainly nothing like the daily media circus attending the jueteng and similar Senate or House hearings, where reputations are cavalierly shattered and good names are routinely ruined, but nobody gets convicted of anything. Is this the way to build a respectable and self-respecting nation? In my article of Dec. 15, 2002, titled �Even Roco Would Fail,� (archived in the website www.tapatt.org) written when Raul Roco was the most popular presidential wannabe, I wrote the following: ��and on top of all this, the bad-news media with guns-for-hire columnists, editors and headline-writers who think nothing of dropping innuendoes, disinformation, half-truths, outright lies, deliberate exaggerations, malicious rumors, unfounded allegations, unproven and unproveable accusations, none of which result in the arrest, trial or conviction of anyone, only in the public�s loss of confidence in the president and the government (which is the real goal), and all done in the name of absolute freedom of the press. �In such a cannibalistic environment, even Superman Lee Kwan Yew would be eaten alive and fail (as a national leader). What more a brilliant but not extraordinary politician like Raul Roco.� ***** Teddy Benigno: No One But Pygmies Around (This portion does not appear in the Philippines Free Press) The saddest aspect about the death of Teddy Benigno last Friday, June 3, was that he must have died a very disappointed man. All throughout his professional life as a newspaper columnist and political analyst in the post-Marcos era, Teddy yearned, in the most impassioned soul-searching that only he had the genius for, for the Man or Woman on Horseback who would gallop in and rescue the Filipinos from their own follies and foibles. �L�audace! L�audace!. Toujours, l�audace!� He liked to throw that taunt (from Frederick Barbarosa of Germany, if memory serves) at whoever sat in the seats of power. But none of them had the personality or the temperament or the gumption to get on their steeds and lead the charge against injustice, against stupidity, and, most of all, against mediocrity. No one but pygmies all around. Serving briefly as President Aquino�s press secretary, Teddy must have realized early on that she was not that Woman. But Teddy was too much of a gentleman of the Old School to publicly air his disappointment. In private, he was more candid. In the run-up to the 1992 presidential elections, Teddy and I co-hosted (with Rudy Romero) the TV show �Options� on ABS-CBN. Teddy leaned towards Candidate Fidel V. Ramos, while I leaned towards Miriam Defensor-Santiago. As an insider in the Ramos camp, he was aware that a lot of cheating took place in that election, and he wrote three or four very angry columns when President Ramos moved to name to his Cabinet the master magician whom Teddy knew was the chief architect of that cheating. Undeterred, Ramos went ahead and named the magician to his Cabinet anyway. For Teddy, it was another devastating disappointment. After I was fired by Max Soliven from the Philippine Star in November 1997, I lost track of Teddy�s passionate outpourings, but I have no doubt that he had no expectations whatsoever of the next president. So Teddy was perhaps not disappointed in Joseph Estrada, only in the Filipino electorate, for voting to the presidency such a patently ignorant man who had l�audace toujours only in the boudoir and the gambling table. To help remove Erap from power, Teddy allied himself with, of all people, Peping Cojuangco, the quintessential trapo, with his Council of Philippine Affairs (COPA). If Teddy had any expectations at all that Gloria Arroyo would be the Woman on Horseback that he had been yearning for, he must have been disappointed early that she turned out to be just another Little Girl on a Wright Park Pony. In his frustration, Teddy helped organize a political movement called Bangon!, with a clear intent to provide an alternative to our trapo-dominated political culture. But the man he chose to lead Bangon, Tito Guingona with an arthritic right arm, not only could not get astride his horse to lead the charge, but showed his true colors a few weeks later by defecting to the Gloria camp in exchange for the ambassadorship to China. Life, we all know, is not a bed of roses. But we didn�t know it was a bed of nails, either, Teddy must be shaking his head wherever he may be. It was not your fault, Teddy, that you were surrounded by pygmies. You were the only colossus around. Who do we look up to now? ***** . Reactions to [email protected] or fax 824-7642. Other articles in www.tapatt.org |
| OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Nothing But Hearsay� Dear Tony, Our failure to solve government graft, illegal numbers game, rebellion, secession, human rights violations, "journacides," etc. is caused by not knowing the basic cause or the ultimate cause behind them. I would like to offer my full analysis on this issue which I hope you will find time to browse it in the following web site: http://philippinegovantigraft.homestead.com/Solution1.html No one else but the collective efforts of the sovereign common people can solve our national crisis. The defect in finding its solution is our tendency of looking for a super leader (or iron lady) who has the combined qualities of a superman, a pope, a charisma of a Bill Clinton and the determined trigger happy fingers of a Sadam Hussein. Perhaps this can come about in a thousand years and that person will only be limited to rule for 6 years under the present Philippine constitution and then for 994 years we will be back to where we are. Marlowe Camello [email protected] Homestead, California, June 03, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear sir, You have a good article there but I cannot comment further about it. Just to reply on your article about the passing of Mr. Teddy Benigno ( one of my favorite columnists) in the last sentence 'Who do we look up now?', who do you suggest now that we can support to help and lead our country out of this present predicament? Is it Sen. Miriam Santiago?, Bro Eddie Villanueva? or Ms. Haydee Yorac?......to name a few.Please write an article about this matter. Thank you and more power. Joel Nedamo, [email protected] OFW @ United Arab Emirates June 06, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww You wrote: "But the allegations being trotted out against them for their supposed involvement in jueteng payolas, by one Wilfredo Cimanis Mayor, are unconvincing because not a shred of evidence has been presented in the Senate inquiry to support those allegations." ******************************************************************** When there is "smoke" there must be a "fire". Maybe we must just wait and see where this so-called "fiasco" will lead. But as of now, a lot of people are believing what has just been said, even if hearsay only. Look at how the popularity of GMA has plunged (-33) based on SWS survey recently. This is no joke anymore! People are starting to believe which is just a warning, I guess. This 'jueteng scam" may not be true but did anyone think otherwise, that this could only be the tip of the iceberg? If you were a poker player, you won't show your aces right away. Just look at the way the "Trapos" are defending the first family. Why, if its just hearsay are they reacting this way already? What more if the evidences start to be shown. Jose Genato, [email protected] June 06, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww TEDDY BENIGNO...was my former boss when I worked part-time at Agence France Presse as rewrite man - and I even wrote and transcribed the teletyped news of the Fall of Dien Bien Phu, with Policarpio and colorful Bureau Chief Pierre Brissard. I was in my Junior year at the Ateneo's Journalism class. I guess that was 1952.. The Philippines should honor Teddy and his achievements by... 1. compiling all his post-sports column into a book to be read by all high school and college students who have to have a better idea of how their country is to change in the future. 2. naming a foundation that will select bright Journalism student candidates who will, in time, after finishing a Journalism course take up the gauntlet which Teddy has cleverly wielded and continue his mission. Tony, you are another one I admire and to whom I suggested doing something about your columns for perpetuity. Take care of your health, my friend. The Philippines needs you...especially the young Filipino teens who, eventually, will be tackling the business of saving a country through their writings. Tony Joaquin, [email protected] Daly City, California, June 06, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww What is the relation of Leo Katigbak, Mikey Arroyo's friend to a certain ART KATIGBAK, a jueteng financier in Albay? What is the relation of Ito Los Banos, a name that came out in the privilege Speech of Sen Ping Lacson entitled Department of Underground to the Ito Los Banos of Albay who is one of those in charge in discrediting Wilfrido Mayor? ()Belinda Cunanan inq7.net) What is the relation of NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco to a certain Supt Melito M. Mabilin (now administrative officer of PNP Directorate for Comptrollership) who was exposed now by the second jueteng witness? What are the similarities and or differences of Luis Chavit Singson, Eduardo Udong Mahusay, Wilfrido Mayor, Mary Rosebud Ong and Angelo Ador Mawanay? What happened to Senior Superintendent Rodulfo B Mendoza Jr, the author of white paper tagging M1, M2, JS6 in jueteng and in collaboration with Blanquita Babes Pelaez extorted P100M from Jose Pidal Arroyo (M1) otherwise GF "Maricel" who was gifted with a real estate properties in San Francisco, Ortigas and Makati will be exposed? (Inbox previous issue of Newsbreak). Fixed by the "The Firm?" What will the people do if the cheating/fraud audio tape is authentic? Hearsay??? But we base our beliefs on previous hearsays? Or are we just selective? Bru no, [email protected] June 06, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww You wrote: �Who do we look up to now?� . How about to you? Lydia B. Echauz, [email protected] President, Far Eastern University June 06, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww To Mr. Abaya I agree with your article on Teddy Benigno. He was a star in Philippine journalism. But I don't agree with your "Nothing but Hearsay". As witness Mayor said, jueteng involves honor. And it is difficult to present evidence in jueteng because it is based only on a code of honor. The fact is that his testimony exploded like an earthquake. It is rocking the boat in Malacanang. If Mayor's testimony is hearsay, why is Malacanang through DOJ and NBI persecuting potential witnesses? This action is clearly an indication that Mayor's testimony is not hearsay. Or else he should be charged with perjury and not libel. Oscar R. Landicho, [email protected] Sydney, Australia, June 06, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Your doubt about the witnesses being now presented in the Senate about the jueteng payola is understandable, but who will be stupid to leave any evidence of such illegal dealing especially one involving occupants of Malacanang? However, it is common sense, and common knowledge that this jueteng payola to Malacanang has been a tradition eversince jueteng lords like Pineda and Singson started lobbying for their operations to be legalized. On the other hand, this is not a case of plunder like the squandering of the OWWA funds for Arroyo's presidential ambition but bribery. Still, it is supposed to be punishable by law. It is, therefore, the duty of these Senators in fact to mobilize the prosecutor's office and the police to investigate on this case, not for the PNP, the NBI and the Sandiganbayan to provide protection to these suspects who have been allowed alas to appoint friends, cronies and even relatives to sensitive positions in these agencies, and thus, make a mockeryof justice in the Philippines. It may sound morbid and un-Christian, but I look forward to the day when I can hear some top-ranking official of the Philippines hanging himself on some bathroom rail because of shame! Alas, the present tenants of Malacanang are bereft of such! Here's wisdom from the Old Testament: "At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death." (Deut. 17: 6) The Catholic bishop is wise to offer more than one credible witnesses. Mayor apparently is one considering the fact that he has been an Arroyo supporter unless of course he has an axe to grind! Yuko Takei, [email protected] Tokyo, Japan, June 06, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I found myself in a bad mood tonight, so this is one avenue to vent my frustrations. I think jueteng or any form of gambling plays a great role in the moral fiber of Filipinos. We Flips (pardon the innuendoes) don't really care who takes the pay-offs as long as the reading from a spider's sac proved right and got him or her the winning numbers. Just because we dreamed the no. 27 last night ( Mental case in dream book) the 1.50 php for medicol becomes a 3 number combination with emphasis to 27 as the best bet. If it wins, the bettor go crazy, if not, the headache gets cured by herbal medicine. I could be out of touch on how jueteng is run by now (with government sanctions legalized jueteng or still the "koridors" and the winning numbers rolled out behind someone's banana plantation or backyard = hearsay). We knew that Joseph's downfall has jueteng written all over it. Maybe this is a sign for MGA's critics to follow suit. If they can't bring her down through FPJ (God bless his soul) maybe they'll try a jueteng waiting game. The news here in the US of A is mixed. Some favorable to the government of MGA and some are not. But one thing I can tell you, like the rest of the world, the Philippines is looked at like a media circus. An excerpts from an e-mail forwarded says: "According to Manila businessman, (deleted for insufficient facts) there is so much wit in the Philippines because ". . .we are a country where a good sense of humour is needed to survive. We have a 24-hour comedy show here called the government and a huge reserve of comedians made up mostly of politicians and bad actors." Nury Vittachi, in the Far Eastern Economic Review I have nothing against the bet collectors ( koridors) they have sent their kids to college and became professionals. Only thing is, if you have a pen, or pencil, and a pad of paper in your shirt pocket people mistook you as a "koridor" or someone who knows how to read and write. (That flattering!) Roel Castanos, [email protected] June 06, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Is the ongoing senate inquiry about jueting is for aid in legislation or another "moro-moro" in the making. Mindless Filipino voters have done great havoc in our country now. Needless to say, with the trapos still on active "duty" nothing will definitely improve for the betterment of our country. Wake up Filipinos! turn your liabilities into assets... Perry Jor-el Alfuente, [email protected] REDICO Jubail City Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia June 06, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, First of all, salamat sa mga enlightening columns and commentaries nyo. We all heard the testimonies of the latest witnesses in the Senate probe and I have reasons to believe that they certainly knew what they are talking about. Producing solid evidence to pin down the beneficiaries and the Jueteng Lords is next to impossible, however, the payola trail could be substantiated by the probers as they are exposed if they have the tenacity to really go deeper into the hole. Sana naman ay may puntahan ang aktibidad na yan sa Senado. Ask all the kabos and kubradors in the provinces and they know who are running the "show", but ask the police force or the LGU's & you wont get any positive answer. Di ba't sila na lang ang di nakakaalam? In all this brouhaha, I have only this few words to ponder, "THEY" MAY BE GIVEN A DOSE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE. Will HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF this time? Abangan! Jun S. Aguilar, [email protected] June 06, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww With Gloria Arroyo's net satisfaction rating hitting minus 33, the message is quite clear that she has lost the TRUST of the Filipino people. TRUST entails two qualities which this illegitimate president lacks: CHARACTER and COMPETENCE. The attribute first associated with TRUSTWORTHY behavior is INTEGRITY. This crucial aspect of GOOD CHARACTER is demonstrated through scrupulous HONESTY and MORAL COURAGE. We all know how she lied about her conversation with the late Pope John Paul II, her announcement of not running for president, the non involvement of her family in jueteng and the cheating in the last election, to cite a few major ones. That she is a master of deceit and full of hypocrisy as gleaned from the smokescreening of anomalies and irregularities being exposed as in the Jose Pidal case and the IMPSA and PIATCO bribery, while her propaganda machine is trying to portray her in a positive angle with no success. For the Filipino people to TRUST Gloria Arroyo, they must believe that she will consistently DO THE RIGHT THING irregardless of the circumstances or pressures. They also expect that their leader will be RELIABLE and be RESPONSIVE to their needs. There is no doubt that Gloria Arroyo has failed miserably in all these aspects and with the LOSS OF TRUST, the only HONORABLE option for this virago rake is to call for a snap election and resign. God save the Philippines! Narciso Limsiaco Ner, [email protected] June 07, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww You're right. There have been two public hearings and they've been given all the latitude by the media and the senate and they have nothing to show for it. One or two more of these and I think they will lose the public and the senate can shut it down without any fear. Ricky Carandang, [email protected] ABS-CBN, June 07, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, If it were any other crime, jueteng could easily be cracked. It's operation is so open that it would've been no trouble for government to infiltrate undercover agents and gather enough evidence to pin down its masterminds. But why is government not doing this relatively easy task? The answer of course is that people in government are benefiting from it. It's like illegal logging. Jueteng simply cannot exist without protection from government officials. It's very existence in a province is proof enough that the congressmen, governor, mayors, barangay chairpersons and police commanders of the province are on the take. Moreover, the president can easily order the police and the DoJ to investigate, prosecute and lock up jueteng lords and their political backers. But why is the president not doing this? Unlike in the past when it was merely a backyard racket, jueteng has become a multi-million industry. It is now a major election campaign contributor to presidential candidates. What more proof do we need that the president is also involved? It's right there for everyone to see. Jueteng exists with impunity! The allegations on jueteng hugging the headlines and airwaves may indeed be "hearsay" from the strictly legal point. But, in truth, they are all true. Their motives notwithstanding, at least PDI or "PDH" and the TV networks with their "hearsay" are making all these jueteng protectors squirm in their seats. What with the legal system completely inutile in this regard. I admit that it's rather a distorted situation. But nothing is normal in this country. I would go for whatever works for good governance even if its just "hearsay". By the way, indeed, we have lost a colossus in late Teddy Benigno. Gico Dayanghirang, [email protected] Davao City, June 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, Everything you wrote was well said, even more so with what you said of Teddy. I will surely miss him as it has been over four years that we met almost weekly to vent our frustrations. We have to move on. Cesar Sarino, [email protected] June 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I am glad to know that you do notice PDI or PDH's (as you christened it lately!) as the most unscientific and rumor mongering (gossipy) newspaper in town. I am now switching to other papers. Either it's hearsay or personal ads for the Prietos. How pathetic! Walang silbi sa nation building. Generoso Octavio, [email protected] June 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony---Your reference to Tito Guingona is not quite correct . First he left Bangon for the FPJ camp when FPJ showed excellent strength in the ratings. Teddy, I remember so clearly was not only disappointed but angry. Then, recently he accepted GMA�s appointment of him as Ambassador to China. I call him now the SUBLIME OPPORTUNIST, absolutely devoid of any principles. Josie T. Lichauco, [email protected] June 12, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, Ah, Tony. What do we do? What a (almost) hopeless mess this country is in. Greed, selfish greed. Where is the love of country, of fellow men? There are times I feel like giving up, but how can we, Filipinos are too great a people to be not helped. You do a great job with your insightful articles. Peter Wallace, [email protected] June 13, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Am not sure of this essay's accuracy but I must say it sounds awfully credible. The author of this piece, Lito Banayo, was for a brief period, political advisor to qepd Enrique Zobel, soonest Cory Aquino came into Presidential office. I met him then. We travelled together extensively throughout Visayas and Mindanao for about a year. Banayo has been Ping Lacson's political advisor for past 4 years. Jayjay Calero, zenithoptimedia.com.ph June 07, 2005 ONCE UPON A TIME IN ILOILO By Lito Banayo Killing time can be fun. I discovered this the other day when I came a tad too early for a meeting at the Hyatt in Pasay. Having once heard of a book about the Lopez family, and some �interesting� anecdotes about a certain family�s ancestral lineage therein, I decided to visit the Lopez Museum nearby. I quote from Volume One of the book, �Phoenix: The Saga of the Lopez Family� by Raul Rodrigo, about Eugenio Lopez Sr.�s crusading stint as publisher of El Tiempo. It was Ening Lopez� first venture into media, which later became an empire, with the defunct Manila Chronicle and the vibrant ABS-CBN. On pp. 105 to 106, the book says: �Almost immediately, he embarked on a crusade. Using El Tiempo, Lopez would test his strength of will and principles�the Philippines has long been plagued by illegal gambling, particularly the numbers game known as jueteng, whose enormous profits are used to warp both law enforcement and the judicial process. In Iloilo in 1929, the king of jueteng was a Chinese named Luis Sane, widely known as Sualoy. He operated with impunity; his establishments were safe from raids ; secured, it was said, by generous bribe money to politicians and the local police. In September 1929, Ening and El Tiempo began a crusade against jueteng in Iloilo and the corruption it created in local government. The winning number each day was printed in a box in boldface on page one. Ening came out with one expose after another, alleging that top politicians such as Iloilo Governor Mariano Arroyo, Iloilo City police chief Marcelo Buenaflor and his brother Congressman Tomas Buenaflor, had been bribed by Sualoy to turn a blind eye on jueteng. Ening did not choose lightweight opponents. Mariano Arroyo was the most powerful man in the province. He was the brother of the late Jose Arroyo, a Nacionalista senator and good friend of Quezon. As the public�s outrage over the corruption began to mount, Arroyo issued a statement that jueteng did not exist in Iloilo. That it did and that local officials benefited from it were matters of public knowledge in the city. The question was not what needed to be done, but who had the courage to do it. As it turned out, Ening Lopez did. In March 1930, due to the pressure created by El Tiempo, Sualoy�s headquarters was finally raided; not by the do-nothing local police, but the Philippine Constabulary. Sualoy was arrested, found guilty and jailed. He was eventually deported and died in China. With Sualoy out, the conflict had narrowed to a match between El Tiempo and the governor. The crusade had captured the imagination of Iloilo and made El Tiempo the city�s leading newspaper. In August 1930, pushed against the wall, Governor Arroyo sued El Tiempo for libel. Ening struck back by filing administrative charges against the governor. He also called in his friend and former boss Vicente Francisco to lead his defense against the libel charge. As the struggle intensified, some Lopezes sensed in it some unwelcome echoes of the political tempest that had taken the life of Ening�s father (Benito Lopez) 22 years before. El Tiempo�s editor, Jose Magalona, was badly beaten by a local thug who was believed to be in the employ of the governor�s men. The older Lopezes were afraid that as the row grew more heated, Ening might eventually share his father�s fate� Fortunately, news of the case had reached Manila and attracted the attention of (American) Governor General Dwight F. Davis. Governor Arroyo and his cohorts came under minute scrutiny. As a result of the scandal, the Nacionalistas and Quezon began backing away from Arroyo. When Arroyo asked Quezon to recommend to Davis that he be acquitted of the administrative charges filed by Lopez, Quezon refused. Instead, Davis swiftly dispatched Judge Manuel Moran (later chief justice of the Supreme Court), to investigate the libel case. Moran established that Arroyo and the police chief were in fact heavily involved in illegal gambling. They even ran a gambling den as a means of generating money for the upcoming 1931 elections. Moran concluded that Ening and El Tiempo had not been guilty of libel. In Arroyo�s trial on the administrative charges, even more damning evidence against the governor came out. Pio Sian Melliza, a boyhood friend and active supporter of the governor, testified that when he had asked his friend to finally crack down on jueteng, the governor told him: �Compadre, why are you so determined to get rid of jueteng gambling? Isn�t it clear to you that most of the jueteng runners and sellers are our own political ward leaders? The elections are nearing, and I am running for re-election. Not including the money they are giving us for election expenses, they can hurt us in this election, because there are many of these jueteng runners in this province�. On October 7, 1930, Governor General Dwight F. Davis ordered Governor Mariano Arroyo relieved of his post for corruption. Timoteo Consing, a friend of Ening, was named as his replacement. Iloilo Mayor Eulogio Garganera and Marcelo Buenaflor were suspended. The ex-governor staged a protest rally and attempted to make a political comeback, but his disgrace had been marked and he sank into obscurity.� Now, a postscript to history -- Judge Manuel Moran, a Negrense, was later to scale the epitome of his brilliant legal career when he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by President Manuel A. Roxas. At one time, the Liberal Party had thought of adopting him as its presidential candidate to challenge the very popular President Ramon Magsaysay. But Magsaysay died in a plane crash, unable to finish his term. His vice-president, Carlos P. Garcia of Bohol, became the president, and won election after defeating another Negrense, the Liberal Party challenger, former Chief Justice Jose Luis Yulo. Moran was the doting grandfather of the last Filipina to win the Miss Universe title, Margarita Moran, better known as Margie, the very active wife of Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. of Davao del Norte, and a passionate promoter of Mindanao as times invoking his �right to privacy�. That �right to privacy� was acknowledged and accepted by the Chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Senator Joker Arroyo. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |