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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Plunder and Lt. Col. Rabusa By Antonio C. Abaya Written April 26, 2005 For the Manila Standard Today, April 28 issue For the third time in six weeks, Clean Hands Inc. (Frank I. Chavez and Mario E. Ongkiko, chair and vice-chair, respectively), together with private lawyers Marc Anthony B. Antonio, Don Carlo R. Ybanez, and Jero Cel Joseph G. Joaquin, have filed a Plunder charge against a ranking military officer. This time the respondent is Lt. Col. George A. Rabusa, who was the chief budget officer at the office of the AFP Deputy Chief-of-Staff for Comptrollership (J6) from 1999 to July 2002, where his immediate superior was Maj. Gen. Carlos F. Garcia, respondent in another Plunder charge by both Clean Hands Inc. and the Office of the Ombudsman. Co-respondents are Jane Doe, John Doe, James Doe, Joel Doe, Jake Doe and Jade Doe, as yet unidentified co-conspirators of Rabusa in opening and maintaining 16 bank accounts in three banks plus the AFP Savings and Loan Association Inc., one million shares of stock in a family corporation, seven luxury vehicles, and four prime real estate properties in Metro Manila. The complainants allege that Lt. Col. Rabusa�s monthly salary plus allowances totaled P26,639.88, with monthly deductions amounting to P23,355.88, leaving him a take-home pay of only P5,084.00 (P3,284.00 by my reckoning. ACA). Which cannot explain why his Sworn Statements of Assets and Liabilities for 1999, 2000 and 2001 showed net incomes of P2.7 million, P6.2 million and P6.7 million respectively. His 16 bank accounts include four accounts in dollars, and the complainants allege that their total deposits would amount to at least P10 million. The colonel and his wife Debbie have a combined savings of P10.5 million in the AFPSLAI. And his investments in a family corporation (Arevalo Rabusa Templora Inc.) are worth another P1 million. According to an article by Glenda M. Gloria in the December 20, 2004 issue of the investigative newsmagazine Newsbreak, respondent paid in February 2004 a total of $132,485 or P7.3 million for dollar insurance policies covering his two minor daughters. In addition, respondent traveled abroad nine times, his wife 12 times, and the family together four times during his tenure in J6, an expense that the complainants estimate to have amounted to at least P3 million. The travels took place between May 30, 1996 and June 10, 2002. In addition, in June 2002 respondent sold for $153,000 a house and lot located at 13230 Ashington Pointe Drive, Orlando, Florida, which he had originally acquired in 2001, while he was still in J6. All in all, including properties acquired in Metro Manila, the complainants allege that the respondent Rabusa illegally acquired assets and incurred expenses totaling P62.2 million, way above the P50 million threshold for Plunder, which cannot be explained by his legitimate P26,000 monthly salary plus allowances in the military. The Newsbreak article, which can be accessed in the Newsbreak archives at www.inq7.net, mentions that Rabusa was known as having close ties to now DILG Secretary Angelo Reyes when then Gen. Reyes was AFP deputy chief-of-staff for intelligence (J2) in the mid-1990s, under whom Rabusa served as budget officer. According to Newsbreak, �Former aides of Reyes say Rabusa was one of the favorite officers of Mrs. Teresita Reyes,� who in turns appears to have been the favorite traveling companion of Mrs. Clarita D. Garcia and Mrs Erlinda Y. Ligot, both of whose husbands have been charged with Plunder.. Said Newsbreak: �Months after Gen. Reyes became chief-of-staff in July 1999, Rabusa was plucked from Mindanao and transferred to Camp Aguinaldo by the J6 then, Maj. Gen. (later Lt. Gen.) Jacinto Ligot.� The Plunder charges filed by Clean Hands Inc.�s Frank Chavez and Mario Ongkiko and the revelations by Newsbreak last December 2004, quoted extensively in my articles that have been distributed by email, have unleashed a flood of responses from Filipinos, both here and abroad. There is not enough space to quote all of them, but here are some: Wrote Ren Arrieta, in California: ��a glimmer of hope that we have people like Mr. Ongkiko and Frank Chavez who take the initiative in their personal capacity to rid our society of corruption�� Rene Tanaba: �Way back during the decade of struggle against the Marcos Dictatorship, Attys Chavez and Ongkiko earned their badges of honor as true WARRIORS (Mandirigma) of the Filipino People�..� Senator Jun Magsaysay: �Chavez and Ongkiko with their initiatives deserve to be supported, funded and encouraged for their courage�..� Auggie Surtida, in Iloilo: �Kudos to Frank Chavez and Mario Ongkiko!. I agree with you that all upright and decent Filipinos should affirm their solidarity with these two crusading lawyers to give hell to all the big-time corruptors�..� Roger Olivares, in Atlanta, Georgia: �I have been following your column for sometime now and have always wanted to email you�but somehow postponed doing so. But now I am compelled to email you to give you support as well as to Chavez et al�for at last someone is trying to do something concrete and brave, and you are calling for action. That is what our country needs�mass action in the right direction..� Tom and Ruth de Guzman: �We support and encourage you and the fearless �generals� (Chavez and Ongkiko) with our moral support and prayers. Take good care of yourselves, please. You don�t know what lurks in the minds of evil doers. God Bless!� Emil Diaz Jr., in Vancouver Canada: �Corruption can be controlled more effectively by encouraging and protecting whistle blowers to report anomalies in their departments. In the US, Canada and other countries like Australia, laws are being written to protect whistle blowers from retaliation from their superiors�.� Jorge Matanguihan: �Indeed together as one we can make a difference. I praise Messrs. Chavez and Ongkiko for gathering the will and courage to commit themselves to such an endeavor. That voice beyond the wall that galvanized people to commit themselves in Edsa 1 and Edsa 2 may still be there. If our leaders cannot gather the will and courage to commit themselves to that voice, then let people once again commit themselves through this mode that you are initiating�.� Rey Abella in Tarlac: ��..If somebody will start up a fund to support this movement, I am willing to contribute in my own humble way.� Pauline Paguia, in Southern California: ��.Shame on these public officials, including those 40 officials who are the true owners of Garcia�s bank accounts. But, alas, they do not know the meaning of the word.� Ross Tipon, in Baguio City: �Ombudsman? Another useless institution. Let�s just have a revolution.� Jose Acierto: � It is imperative for this case to go on and be processed expeditiously. Perhaps a swift trial (not one that will drag on until it is again swept under the rug) will bring back the faith of the Filipino people in their government�..� Yett Montalvan: ��.Why can�t we have �clean� officials? I�ve long admired Singapore. I salute Messrs Chavez and Ongkiko, and I wholeheartedly support their efforts to pursue this case.� Nito Gatus: �It�s people like you who can help expose the anomalies of the people who are supposed to help us, the Filipino people. We don�t need bantay-salakays like Gen. Garcia and his fellow officers. And it�s lawyers like Frank Chavez and Mario Ongkiko who could be greatly instrumental in hauling these jerks to jail. Thanks for doing this bit for our country. As my humble contribution, at least initially, I have forwarded (your article) to my friends here and abroad.� Magdaleno Albarracin, of Phinma: �I hope your article will awaken Filipinos to action against corruption. You are doing a service to the nation. More important, I take my hat off to Atty. Chavez and Atty Ongkiko for having the courage to file the plunder cases. I hope they will succeed. What can little �soldiers� like me and other citizens do to help?� Dr. Rodolfo Villarica: �I congratulate you, too, Tony, together with Mario Ongkiko and Mr. Chavez for this courageous step to clean up our country. Let this first step to a giant leap not falter. May your tribe increase!� Monica Bascon, information analyst in the World Bank, Washington DC: �Our unit at the World Bank deals with issues of Anti-Corruption. For this reason, I am writing on behalf of the Anti-Corruption and Governance Thematic Group to request your written permission, to post your article on our website�..� Ben-Hur L. Malana, Jr., of San Miguel Packaging Products: �Bravo!!! Our country needs more men like you who have the courage to speak up when injustice is done. Let justice be done, though the heavens fall.� Capt. (Ret.) Rene Jarque, in Indonesia: � �.And I applaud the courage and conviction of Atty. Frank Chavez and Mario Ongkiko. I also applaud your own courage, Mr. Abaya, for ensuring that this issue is not forgotten. I know that the risks are enormous and the stakes are high. And do the people care? Certainly not the Commander-in-Chief nor the other politicians and ex-generals who will be caught in the web. Knowing the risks and still doing it is moral courage�..� Teresa Taningco, Doctoral Fellow in Policy Analysis, in Santa Monica, California. �I read Antonio Abaya�s March 22 piece on �Plunder and Gen. Garcia� and was outraged at the false daring of Garcia and his family. I am glad that there are people like (Chavez and Ongkiko) who are willing to champion the cause of the Filipino people in the legal arena. I�ve sent the Abaya article to my friends. Thank you for being brave.� Capt. (Ret.) Chris Mesias, PAF, of the RAM-SFP-YOU, in a �Letter to God�: ��.Recently, three good men, Mr. Antonio Abaya, Atty. Frank Chavez and Atty. Mario Ongkiko, filed cases against those generals et al at the Ombudsman. All they want is that the cases be tried rightfully. Some may look at them as the Three Kings bringing the gifts of courage, integrity, loyalty and transparency back to the Filipino people and the soldiers as well. To some, maybe three Don Quixotes fighting the windmills of a lady. Whatever it is, kindly protect them, God. Give them the strength and perseverance to pursue their endeavors�..� Daniel Moya: �These acts perpetuated on a poor country should be dealt with as acts of treason, resolved in front of a firing squad.� Gil Avila: �After reading your article, I was very proud that someone like you guys stand up for the masses. This is one rotten apple in a basket which probably already contaminated the name of our Armed Forces�.� Tina Berenguer Peralta in Denmark: �We should all stop analyzing to death the hows and whys we are one of the most corrupt nations in the world because we know that already. So I thank you and the organization you run for having the courage to take on the nasty Goliaths in our government. We need doers, not blabbers�..� Cynthia A. Prat, for the High School Class of 1971, Ateneo de Davao University, University of the Immaculate Conception, and the Philippine Women�s College in Davao City: ��.We believe it is of great public interest that this case be heard and judged rightfully for our military and the Filipino people who put their faith in our soldiers. Thank you for fulfilling your duty to represent the public interest and to ensure the enforcement of our laws. We are very proud of you. We salute you for your bold initiative. Mabuhay kayo.� Cita Y. Abad-Dinglasan, in Rome, Italy: �I will definitely agree with whatever anybody can do to fight corruption in the Philippines: capital punishment, jail for life, whatever. My great-grand-uncle railed against it in his Noli and Fili, (but) today, after more than a hundred years, corruption is ingrained deeper in the Philippine way of things. Makes me feel like he died for nothing. Same with Ninoy. How tragic.� Boy S. Gonzalo, in Isabela City, Basilan: ��.You wrote (in �Ten Best Countries�) �No crime in the Philippines is so heinous or monumental that it cannot be forgiven or forgotten as long as you can afford to hire the shrewdest lawyers and media manipulators, or you have the right political connections, or you become a media celebrity, or, better yet, all three at the same time. If you�re a criminal or you�re accused of being one, there is no place like home.� How true. Just punish Garcia with 100 push-ups. Nothing would really come out of this case. The morass of cynicism is simply too overwhelming for me. Yawn. Until then, I will just snore myself for a catnap. Hohum.� Maria Obias-Bonnefoy, in Potomac, Maryland: �I commend you for your courage in writing the article�.. exposing General Garcia�s plunder of taxpayer funds. It is through brave journalists like you who give us hope to stamp out corruption in the Philippine government and military. Please keep up the good work.� Virgil C. Bernarte, in Landquart, Switzerland: �I have been living in Europe since 1962 but haven�t given up my intent of returning home for good on retirement�.With you and your group, there is still some hope that these criminal practices will at least be instrumental in furthering our countrymen�s awareness of this sorry situation�.I�ll try helping in making your earnest endeavor heralded across borders�.� Oscar Lagman: �I do hope Clean Hands Inc. can dig out the sordid facts about Teresita Reyes. What is her business that she was able to make 50 trips abroad within six years? That is one trip every six weeks. I tend to think that even a big businessman or big exporter does not travel that frequently. He or she has to attend to his or her business here or abroad�..� Ogie Reyes: ��.I am forwarding your article to seven egroups that I am a member of, and to all my friends and relatives. I wish I could do more. God bless you all, including you Tony, all crusaders for the betterment of the Filipino life. Thanks to you fellas, you really help in redeeming our hopes for a better tomorrow. We owe you guys�.� Fe Abogadie, in the United Kingdom: ��.Please let the people behind Clean Hands Inc�.know that they have many supporters among the Pinoy expat community worldwide. They also have the support of many Filipino students here in the UK (undergrads and postgrads). Rest assured that I always forward your articles appropriately to my mailing list�.� Virgilio C. Leynes: ��.I would like to support them not only morally, but also financially. I am sure money is also necessary for such a difficult and long-drawn out undertaking that the two gentlemen have imposed upon themselves. If there is a fund already established to help defray the cost of the lawsuits, I would like to make a token contribution. Where should I send it?� Tet Gambito, in Cebu: � Your initiatives deserve the support and encouragement of the citizenry, and I would like to contribute whatever little I have, hoping that Clean Hands Inc. would become the anti-corruption vehicle that would weed out the corrupt officials not only in the government, but also in public enterprises�..� Bernardo Vidal, in Singapore: �Clean Hands Inc.�s action means so much to the many Filipinos who would want to see a change, but are resigned to the futility of even hoping that there will be one in this generation or even the next. Please keep up the good fight.� Gus Lagman: �More power to you. If there�s something I can do, just holler.� Dondi Joseph: �Can this government afford a clean military? We would be having coups d�etat everyday. The government has no moral authority to do anything about these plunderers. These cases will drag and drag and drag. Long live the Philippines.� Reactions to [email protected] or fax 824-7642. Other articles in www.tapatt.org. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Plunder and Lt. Col. Rabusa� (Copy furnished) Dear cv, I think it's in a roll now. There are sleeping cases against past Commanders in the AFP. Sana gisingin din ito nang Clean Hands. Nung panahon ni LtGen Acebera, PAF before he became Chief of Staff---marami ding nakawan noon. Nilalangaw na rin yung mga kaso sa Office nang Ombudsman. Chris April 28, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir You and the group around Clean Hands must be among the endangered species in the face of the earth! It's so alarming how several columnists including those of The Daily Tribune and The Malaya National Newspaper have apparently written their 'last testament' specifying possible or probable sources in case 'something' (certainly not 'out of the ordinary') may ever happen to them. Such strong 'premonitions' make me forcibly mindful of Nazi Germany when many indeed knew what was going on but very few were ready to admit to. Thanks to justice, these few have made it to being declared as glaring samples against the atrocities committed against humanity. I hope most deeply that we don't have to shed so much blood in our quest for a better and just society in that corner of the world. Pinpointing the curse and extracting the right and just action in the proper venues are certainly the best weapons in counteracting the repetition of the not so bloodless history of the recent past. Virgil C. Bernarte, [email protected] Landquart, Switzerland, April 29, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, All the ofw's I spoke with in Rome, Italy say they came over, NOT to see the pope BUT to find work in a strange land where even Filipino engineers and doctors become ragatsi -cleaning people - because they cannot find a decent-paying job IN THE PHILIPPINES, which can support their families. When I asked them why they couldn�t find decent pay for a decent job, everyone said, it is because of the corruption in the government, which causes all kinds of problems...so I hope Chavez and Ongkiko go all the way--to the very top of the military or whoever in government, if necessary. Let us not be afraid of the military, or a possible failure in our democracy like the possibility of another martial law--our government will survive, nay THRIVE, WITHOUT the corrupt officials... Cita Abad-Dinglasan, [email protected] Rome Italy, April 29, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya: I've read your today's column re Plunder and Col. Rabusa. I wish there are more "TRUE SOLDIERS" like you and Atty. Chavez and Ongkiko - Kindly keep up the crusade you are you doing and more Filipino people will definitely follow thru - God Bless. Gener S. Porto Drina Ampil, [email protected] Phinma, April 29, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hope springs eternal for a few good men. May your tribe increase. Glorina N. Villanueva, [email protected] United Laboratories Inc., April 29, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Tony Abaya: Please continue with your briliant exposes. If there is a way we can financially support the work of Clean Hands, Inc., kindly let us know. The people need to have their faith in the system rekindled by such good deeds. PGMA should not be beholden to any more military sacred cows. She should clean out the AFP, and PNP General staff. Let Truth and Justice prevail. Otherwise, the next Oakwood mutiny will succeed with the people strongly behind it. PGMA should stop the selective application of law, and ensure the equal administration of Justice for all. She holds the power of appointment to the Judiciary. Is this a truly Herculean task? As for Frank Chavez and his group, I am reminded of the late Speaker Jose B Laurel Jr.�s famous words in describing true Batanguenos" May bayag sa utak, may utak sa bayag". Bravissimo! Jose Caedo, [email protected] April 29, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony! Thank you for keeping me on your mailing list. I appreciate receiving your articles on a regular basis. As a matter of practice, I always ensure that my friends here and abroad are as updated as I am by forwarding your article to them. You are doing our country a big favor as you write articles of this nature. I know it takes courage and zeal to do so, and for that alone I take my hat off to you. May the good Lord guide and protect you as you pursue your noble mission. Nito Gatus, [email protected] PRIORITY ONE Corporate & Marketing April 29, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww My Dear Abaya, I salute you and your fellow Patriots in your fight to put the Philippines back on the right track. In another place at another time, Your articles would be devastating to the guilty. "Watergate" should be the prize for your kind of exposure. Sadly, The Philippines is not ready yet for transparency and exposure. The latest exposure, of a mere Lt. Colonel grafting many millions, means that the system is even worse than we imagined.. The Philippine Graft system is continuous from the Apex to the roots. The Previous "Chief Politician" is facing plunder charges two of his Generals, who hold the second rank down from the Politicians are facing plunder charges. One of their Lt.Colonels who holds the next rank down from the Generals is facing charges of plunder. This does not need rocket science, who is powerul enough to join the dots. More pragmatically, Is a Lt. Colonel considered a low enough rank to sacrifice to save the others? How much political weight do two retired generals carry? If they truly are the head of this particular snake will they be sacrificed to save the other snakes. Or will the sacrifices be postponed until a future date. Hopefully all concerned do not live to be 100. The US has been throwing so much untraceable money into Terrorism and the AFP that the occasional $1-$5 million each that any General may scam is small potatoes, compared with the Political flows of cash. The political sytem is locked in mortal combat with itself. World events are forcing change upon the entrenched system corruption, while the remainder of the system is resisting with all its might. How much change can the system absorb without destabilizing itself?? In these times it is far more productive to expose corruption from the bottom of the system, where it is in full view, affects all the people's lives, every day. Every citizen in the country could point to many culprits. It is time to test the true convictions of the people. The "bottom up" has at least some chance of getting results. The "top down" is an impossible approach. Was it not the President of South Korea a few months ago who was fired for corruption. He is back in power again. Last week was it not Berluscconi the head of the Italian State who was fired for corruption, He is back in power this week. I seem to remember the bosses of both Germany and France being fingered a year or so ago. Equador this week. Venezuela not very long ago. Peru's Boss had to run back to Japan. Japan's own leader was fingered just before Koizumi if I remember. The list is endless. To beat corruption from the bottom up, all that needs to be done is to empower the people directly affected to point the finger and see results, starting with the small fry. The change will be instant and unstoppable. The result will have been achieved. Graham Reinders, [email protected] April 29, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir, When will you write plunder and Angelo Reyes?; Plunder and Jose Miguel Arroyo? Plunder and Juan Miguel Arroyo? Plunder and Ignacio Arroyo?; Plunder and Luis Chavit Singson?; Plunder and Fidel V. Ramos?; Plunder and Hermie Esguerra? Plunder and Ephraim Genuino? Plunder and Jocelyn Bolante; Plunder and Arthur Yap?; Plunder and Robert Barbers? Plunder and Leandro Mendoza? Plunder and Lucio Co? Plunder and Bong Pineda? Etc Bru no, [email protected] April 30, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww What you are doing is great for the Country. Finally we have people who have the guts to doing something about the graft and corruption there. Please do not stop with the "Military". I am sure this entails a lot of expenses. Where can I send my contributions to support this cause. Victor Quimson, [email protected] San Francisco, California, April 30, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Forwarded by Jose caedo) Jr.: There will be others here who will also not support " Clean Hands Inc." simply because Frank Chavez also defended the rspondents in the Rolando Olalia murder case. Jay April 30, 2005 Wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Great job. I read in the papers that Frank Chavez and Mario Ongkiko are filing tax evasion charges against Ignacio Arroyo for the Php 200 million Jose Pidal account. Can you communicate to them that they should aim a little higher, In Max Soliven�s TV show during the election GMA claimed that the Jose Pidal money was hers. It was excess contributions from her Vice Presidential campaign. In the process some people who swore in the senate that Jose Pidal was Ignacio Arroyo may be charged with perjury. I wonder why so few people caught Gloria�s confession. Mano Alcuaz, [email protected] April 30, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: Among the cases filed against AFP officials, talagang "WOW' ang inter-related cases against Garcia, Ligot & Rabusa (at sigurado may mga AFP CS na kasali). Pero mukhang hindi si Taguy, dahil sa napakaliit ang perang nabanggit sa kaso niya: ocho-ocho lang at di pa umabot ng plunder! It's really a sign of the times when P8 million is already considered a small amount to filch. Tito Osias, [email protected] April 30, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww |
| Greetings, It was nice to open up the mess that is going on in the Philippine government. I hope they can really clean up and wipe out all the grafts and corruptions in its entirety - from top to bottom. The only thing I could say, JUSTICE WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL. GOD IS NOT SLEEPING. Our beloved country the Philippines is one of the most beautiful islands in the Pacific. We, as a person, should also and always portray outward what is beautiful within us. KUDOS to the Clean Hands Inc. (Frank I. Chavez and Mario E. Ongkiko, chair and vice-chair, respectively.) I hope we will have more people like them who could clean up our beautiful country and its people in the government. What?s next? SOCIAL JUSTICE! God bless, Tessie D. Barcelona Southern California wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Kindly browse the web site below: http://anticorruption.homestead.com/Preface.html Submitted by: Marlowe Camello Homeland, California, May 02, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Ousting Gloria It is sad and unfortunate that the hassle and dazzle going on in the Philippines with the honchos of different organizations opposed to this illigitimate, corrupt and incompetent administration of Gloria Arroyo differing in their strategy and game plan on how to topple her and of course with the superb psychological operations apparatus of Malacanang, the die is cast for the Filipino people to suffer more under Gloria Arroyo who is leading the Philippines to perdition. The Filipino people must make the choice now before it becomes too late. There should be no ifs and buts as the future of their children and grandchildren are at stake. What do you do with someone who stole the presidency twice? One who has no qualms in committing and tolerating corruption and other illegal and immoral activities? What do you do with a Supreme Court that is utterly bias having failed to render unto many their just due without distinction such as in the case of Pres. Estrada, Atty Alan Paguia, Piatco etc etc etc.? What do you do with a legislature whose members are more concerned for their own future that the future of their constituents? What do you do with both armed services, AFP and PNP whose top commanders have lost what PMAers used to cherish most, Integrity? The answer seems to be obvious but unless all good men and true will put their act together, this will be, "just but a dream" and the answer will just be "blowing in the wind". "Bless my homeland forever"! Narciso Limsiaco Ner, [email protected] May 03, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww GONZALEZ CHARGED WITH GRAFT A barangay official of Iloilo City yesterday accused Acting Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. of violation of the anti-graft law and PD no. 46 before the Ombudsman?s office in Quezon City allegedly for receiving monthly retainers from private theaters. Marietta V. Orleans, president of the Liga Ng Mga Barangay of Iloilo City, accused Gonzalez of illegally accepting retainer?s fees amounting to P156,000.00 from two Manila theaters in 2000 while still a congressman. In her complaint, filed through lawyer Bonifacio A. Alentajan, Orleans said that as representative of the lone district of Iloilo City and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Gonzalez ?continued to unlawfully engage in the private practice of law, which is expressly prohibited by the Constitution.? Orleans based her complaint on the 2002 income tax return and other documents submitted by Gonzalez himself to the Commission on Appointments where the confirmation of his appointment as secretary of the Department of Justice is still pending. According to a copy of the tax return, certified by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and submitted himself by Gonzalez on March 30, 2005, Gonzalez received as annual retainers? fees P120,000.00 from Mayfair Theatre Inc. and P36,000.00 of Odeon Theater, both located on Claro M. Recto Avenue in Manila, in the year 2002. In accusing Gonzalez of ?graft?, Orleans cited Section 14 of Article VI of the Constitution, which states that ?No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives may personally appear as counsel before any court of justice or before the Electoral tribunals, or quasi-judicial and other administrative bodies.? Orleans said that in accepting the retainers? fees, Gonzalez violated Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, particularly Section 3(e), for ?Causing any undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions, through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.? The barangay official also said that Gonzalez had violated Presidential Decree No. 46, which penalized public officials and employees who receive gifts from private persons on any occasion ?when such gift, present or other valuable thing is given by reason of his official position, regardless of whether or not the same is for past favor or favors or the giver hopes or expects to receive a favor or better treatment in the future from the public official or employee concerned in the discharge of his official functions.? For violation of the decree, the penalty is imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years and perpetual disqualification from public office. The official or employee concerned shall likewise be subject to administrative disciplinary action and, if found guilty, shall be meted out the penalty of suspension or removal, depending on the seriousness of the offense. Earlier, Orleans filed an opposition to the confirmation of the appointment of Gonzalez, describing him as an ?ex-convict,? for having been found ?guilty both of contempt of court and of gross misconduct as an officer of the court and member of the bar? by the Supreme Court on October 7, 1988, in the case of Zaldivar vs. Gonzalez. As a result, Orleans recalled, Gonzalez was ?indefinitely suspended? as member of the bar by the Supreme Court. Press release from Marietta Orleans, [email protected] Cell Phone no. 0917-302-0077, May 03, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Copy furnished) Yes, Cita, but these are also the same workers who run away and do nothing about corruption, i.e., when there is a corruption case where they have personal knowledge and their testimony is vital (particularly in submitting written complaints and testifying) they are suddenly gone! This also shows not only in corruption cases but also in ordinary complaints and I can personally attest to that. So they should not depend only on Chavez and Ongkiko but each one must put his shoulder behind the wheel and not only his mouth. So the people deserve the government they get! However, having said that, it is also important (if not essential) that leaders must set the example in implementing the laws, rules etc. Ruy Y. Moreno, [email protected] May 04, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Crusades of Atty. Chavez et al Thanks so much for your articles on the crusades of Atty. Frank Chavez, Atty. Ongkiko et al against corruption in the government. We are sharing with friends your pieces. More power to you, and warm regards. Thanks for your piece on Terrorism and other articles. Nelson D. Lavina May 05, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, I salute you Sir! Thank you very much to you, Atty. Chavez, Atty. Ongkiko and their associate lawyers for leading the fight of the Filipino people against corrupt military officials. I'm sure your next target are hoodlums in robes, corrupt cabinet members, officials of government agencies (specially Customs and BIR) and yes, rotten police officers and men. Rel Cruz, [email protected] May 07, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear sir, I am working in Saudi Arabia now as a civil engineer in one of a very reliable construction company. I was browsing the internet when I read in the column of Isagani Cruz of PDI regarding Tapatt. As I read your Tapatt statement, I now realized more than enough how corruption and greed should be eradicated totally in our country, not to minimize it but to put a period on it! I want to be a member of Tapatt. Please let me know how it can be done. From here on I will always try to open your websit . More power to Tapatt! Thank you, I remain. Regards, Perry Jor-el Alfuente, [email protected] Saudi Arabia, May 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya, Just read your articles about Gen Garcia's fiasco, the initiatives of Atty's Chavez and Ongkingko and about the consumers tax. Please provide us an update of all these things, what are now the latest developments, what are our government are doing. I'm one of the OFW's here in the UAE who labor in vain in the desert and had to endure the extreme temperature. It?s nice to know and read articles such as yours who expose the ills of our government. May the good Lord continue to bless you and inspire all Filipinos all over the world to support our country back to its tract before its too late. More power !!! We are willing to help in any way just to help your cause. Joel Nedamo, [email protected] Safety Engineer Abu Dhabi, UAE, May 08, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Rice Importation This morning I read from Manila Bulletin Online that NFA just bought 75,000 metric tons of rice at US$298.88 per MT (C&F). If my computation is right, this will translates to $22,416,000.00. The news further disclosed that the food agency have outstanding contract for rice importation to as much as 950,000 metric tons. In doing so, we are helping the farmers of Vietnam, Pakistan and other countries rather than our local rice growers. Just imagine the impact of such amount if it has to circulate in the local economy rather have it flow out to other agricultural countries. In the past we are exporting rice, now we are importing huge quantities from countries which are actually behind us before in agricultural production. These countries have even some of their agriculturist trained here in IRRI or UP College of Agriculture. This practice had been going on for quiet sometime now but I just wonder how the government consider the economics of this undertaking. Our economy is basically agri-based considering that majority of the population are in the rural communities and thriving on farming and other farm related activities. But generally, productivity is low in most areas, hence we are importing rice year in and year out. What is going on? Does the Philippine government already settled on this continuing importation of its staple food? Does the Philippine don't have really the capability to feed its people considering the resources - land, labor, capital (agricultural credit facility), technology, etc.? Or is there some other reasons (?) why importation has been prioritized by the government instead of proactively doing things that can improve the country's rice production level? What is your opinion in this particular issue. Driggs Matabaran, [email protected] May 11, 2005 MY REPLY. This is not the first time we are importing rice. We have been doing so for years, even decades. We also import corn, fish, beef., pork, chicken, fish meal, cement, lumber, second-hand cars, practically everything that we need. There are many causes for this state of affair, but it is primarily a result of poor leadership. Imagine how many hundreds of thousands of jobs would have been created if the national leaders had worked towards increasing our production of the items imported to levels of self-sufficiency. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |