No Mayweather The Tragedy Drop case

on May Seven of Rejoice vs Lacson

BRIBERY,
  Vol. II No. 30 • ISSN 2094-4098 Jan. 3-9, 2011 • P15.00
PAGE 8 PAGE 6 PAGE 3

By
DYARYO
MAGDALO
TEAM

ROBBERY,
Liga ng mga Barangay
president Ricojudge
Echeverri.

ECHEVERRI
H
EED that greed, young breed. Thy father is thy
power. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.
Hear no fear, our guns are there. Here are our
buys, they come by the buses. Seize the crown,
and keep them down.
The original lines above balloting and filing of a certifi- I of Caloocan City.
sprang out of disgust. Wanton cate of candidacy, they held the If these alleged offenses are
disregard of the basic rules election by nomination like in a proven, “the opponent who never
of fair play secured Caloocan high school classroom, closed was” contended that the son com-
City’s Liga ng mga Barangay the nomination instantly, and mitted the criminal offenses of
presidency for another time for literally ignored the hands of bribery under Section 3 (a) of
National Liga ng mga Barangay others wanting to nominate an- Republic Act 3019 and the crime
President Ricojudge Echiverri, other candidate. of causing undue prejudice unto
son of the city’s third-term king, This was according to the a party as written under Section
Mayor Enrico Echiverri. complaint filed before the Of- 3 (e) of the same law otherwise
The son, a law student and fice of the Ombudsman by a known as the Anti-Corrupt and
a Utopian like his father, did it would-be opponent who was Graft Practices Act.
this way. not nominated at all because His uncle, Orlan Mauri-
He determined how the the presiding officer closed the cio, a mediaman, told Dyaryo
manner of the election was to nomination right away. Magdalo that they prayed for
be conducted as provided under The complainant, Jerrboy the imposition of a preventive
the memorandum issued by the Mauricio, chairman of Baran- suspension of six (6) months
Department of the Interior and gay 68, Zone 6, District II of against Ricojudge.
Local Government (DILG) that Caloocan City, cried out loud Included by Chairman
is empowered by law to pre- it was an election by means of Mauricio as among those
scribe the conduct of elections bribery and robbery in broad sought to be punished adminis-
for all Liga ng mga Barangay daylight. tratively and criminally in their
Chapters. Ricojudge is the chairman capacities as members of the
Instead, contrary to rules of of Barangay 84, Zone 8, District To page 2

‘My son, why did PCSO forsake you?’
By TOTO CAUSING
ON December 25, they say that Baby Jesus was born. The
next day, another Baby Jesus died.
The one who was born is the greatest on earth and in
heaven. The one who died is one of unluckiest on earth but
may be lucky enough in heaven.
The Baby Jesus who died is referring to Jesus Raphael
Catiis. His death demonstrated not the love of Christmas
that is the messianic message delivered from the manger.
To the contrary, the death of this Baby Jesus displays
the reckless neglect by those who are entrusted by Presi-
dent Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III with the pow-
er to decide on how to spend the funds of the Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Born with defective liver
The unlucky Baby Jesus is the first and only son of
Katherine Raiza V. Catiis, who reside in the slums and
ghettos of Tondo, Manila.
After he was born, his mother got the shock of her life.
Philippine General Hospital (PGH) doctors diagnosed the
son to be laden with the yoke that is too much to be carried
even by adults: the only way to prolong life was a liver
transplant.
Barely two months old, Baby Jesus had to be brought to
the National Children’s Hospital and was diagnosed to be
one of a case of “billary atresia” on February 9, 2010.
He was admitted to the PGH on March 4, 2010 but it
was recommended that only a liver transplant can prolong
the life of the boy.
Thus, a referral led Katherine to go to the National
Press Club to seek help. Apprised of the cost of medication
and liver transplant that it needed several millions of pesos,
then NPC president Benny D. Antiporda decided to come
to the rescue by pledging to raise funds and seek help from
the PCSO.
The PCSO committed to give up to Php1 million and
the rest shall be shouldered by the NPC because the mother
of the boy had no capacity for being a pauper.
By whatever yardstick, the case of Baby Jesus was spe-
cial. He was born with the disease that no adult can even
bear through.
The PCSO board composed of men and women ap-
pointed by Gloria Arroyo passed a resolution approving
a grant of the maximum of Php 1 million subject to the
completion of necessary documentary requirements.
So the mother secured certificates of indigence from
their barangay and she was issued on February 27, 2010
and March 28, 2010. She also went to government agen-
cies to secure certification to support the fact of being a
pauper for her to qualify to avail of the help of the PCSO.
Katherine submitted these documents and the clinical
abstract issued by the PGH as the requirements for the ap- The pain of losing her only child is too much to bear for Katherine as
plication for medical aid. This led the PCSO board to pass she bids goodbye to her only child, Jesus Raphael, who died due to Bil-
To page 2 lary Atresia without being given the chance to fight for his life.
 2               Vol. II No. 30
‘MY SON, WHY DID PCSO FORSAKE YOU?’
From page 1
the resolution on April 14,
2010.
While waiting for the
funds to be raised by the
NPC, the mother secured
papers to ensure that the
changing medical condi-
tions are updated. Thus,
the PGH issued her a new
certificate in August of 2010
to reiterate that the only way
to prolong the life of Baby
Jesus was through a liver
transplant.
It was learned that liver
transplant locally could
reach up to Php 8 million.
However, the NPC, through
the efforts of Antiporda
managed to arrange a much
cheaper operations with Ka-
oshiung Chang Gung Me-
morial Hospital in Taiwan
for a total cost of Php 2 mil-
lion, including the transpor-
tation expenses.
Thus, on December 8,
2010, Kaoshiung Chang
Gung Memorial Hospital
wrote Katherine, saying:
“After reviewing and
discussing your son’s case
in a forum of experts, we
firmly believe that a liver
transplantation is needed
at this point to correct the
complications brought
about by billary atresia.
However, we noted some
problems that require spe-
cial attention.
“1. Your son’s portal
vein (this vessel provides
70% of the blood supply to
the liver) was conspicuously
small (3mm). Because of
this, it is probable that an in-
traoperative stenting will be
carried following the repair
of the vessel to improve the
inflow of blood to the liver.
The stent, which cost NT
50,000 each, could incur ad-
ditional expenses.
“2. The hepatic graft
(left lateral segment) from
you appears too big for the
recipient, and the segments
2 and 3 hepatic veins are
widely separate.
“In this case, it is pref-
erable to use another living
donor that will better fit the
recipient. However, in the
absence of an alternative,
a reduction in size of the
graft will be performed at
the back table following its
procurement, whereas the
widely separated segments
2 and 4 hepatic veins might
require an additional vas-
cular graft that will be pro-
cured from the living donor.
The tasks are difficult but
feasible. However, consid-
ering the given situation the
procedures that will be per-
formed could incite more
risks.”
Armed with this letter
MAGDIWANG
PUBLICATIONS
Publisher:
RONALDO E. RENTA
Editorial:
TOTO CAUSING
Editor-In-Chief
Design & Layout:
RONALDO B. HERICO
Disclaimer:  tices.
  All news articles and opinions expressed by the writers
are entirely their own and do not reflect the opinion of the
publisher, the management or the editor of this publication.
All Rights Reserved:
  No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced
nor translated in any language or form for commercial pur-
poses without prior written permission from the publisher
and its writers or columnists.
and the fact that Php 1 mil-
lion had been raised through
the initiatives of the NPC
with the help of Alyansa
ng Filipinong Mamahayag
(Afima), the mother came to
the PCSO on December 10,
2010, ironically at the time
when the people all over the
world were celebrating the
Universal Human Rights
Day.
It was on the same day
that the mother’s claim for
the Php1-million pledge
was rejected by the PCSO.
Thus, the mother re-
turned home crying. At
home with her son greeting
her eyes the well of tears
never dried up.
The revolting feeling in-
side kept on burning inside
her heart while the rest of
the Filipinos were celebrat-
ing the birth of Jesus Christ,
from the eve for the tradi-
tional “Noche Buena” up the
wee hours and the day after
waking up.
The next day, Baby Jesus
Raphael closed his eyes, as
if telling his mom: “Good-
bye, my loving mama.”
Howls of cry reverber-
ated and conquered the still-
ness of the day after Christ-
mas, exploding these words
in her heart, to wit: “My
son, why did the PCSO for-
sake you?”
The NPC released a statement
of disgust against PCSO
To understand more
what does this mean, the
statement of the National
Press Club of the Philip-
pines (NPC) released by its
president, Jerry S. Yap, is
hereby reproduced as fol-
lows:
The statement is en-
titled, “Why did PCSO let
11-month-old boy die by re-
fusing to give the pledge for
liver transplant?”
The content of this re-
lease is hereby quoted, to
wit:
“The National Press
Club’s heart bleeds tremen-
dously for Jesus Raphael
Catiis as he died at 11:35
p.m. a day after Christmas
Day of 2010 due to inborn
damaged liver.
“He could have lived
until today if only the Phil-
ippines Charity Sweep-
stakes Office (PCSO) kept
its pledge to give half of the
P2-million fund needed to
pay for the liver transplant
scheduled in Kaohsiung
Chang Gung Memorial Hos-
pital in Taiwan.
“The boy is a son of
an indigent in Tondo, Ma-
nila. Yet fate was so cruel.
He was born already with
a severe liver illness. His
mother, Katherine Raiza V.
Catiis, sought the help of the
NPC during the incumbency
of Benny D. Antiporda as its
president.
“The problem looked in-
surmountable. The amount
needed to cure the illness
was a fortune for any work-
ing class individual, P2 mil-
lion. In contrast, the boy’s
mother has been living in
the poorest slums and ghet-
tos of Tondo, Manila.
“Prompted by the situa-
tion and the fact that nobody
was going to help due to
the mountain-high cost, the
NPC accepted the challenge
to come to the rescue.
“Thus, the then NPC
president raised funds and
wrote the PCSO for help.
“In response, the PCSO
board—composed of then
Chairman Sergio O. Va-
lencia, General Manager-
Vice Chairman Rosario C.
Uriarte and Directors Jose
R. Taruc V, Raymundo T.
Roquero, Nestor A. Cama-
cho and Manuel L. Mora-
to—passed Resolution No.
1138, Series of 2010, com-
mitting a “financial and
medical assistance” in the
maximum amount of P1
million.
“The PCSO pledge left
the NPC with the problem
of raising P1 million more to
pay for the liver transplant to
be conducted in the said hos-
pital in Taiwan.
“After the NPC has
raised the P1 million coun-
terpart, the mother of the
boy came to the PCSO to
get the promised P1 million
so that Baby Raphael would
be brought as soon as pos-
sible to Taiwan for the liver
transplant.
“But she returned emp-
ty-handed. The PCSO re-
fused to honor the pledge
contained in the said board
resolution. Thereafter, she
could not help but cry to
high heavens while watch-
ing her baby die.
“At the time the mother
tried to claim the money, the
PCSO held a party at Wack-
Wack Golf and Country
Club attended by 1,200
persons. P1,000 per person
was charged by this premier
sports enclave, meaning it
spent Php1.2 million for the
partying while the baby was
dying.
Bribery, robbery...
From page 1
Board of Election Supervisors
are DILG Director Jay Timbre-
sa, Commission on Elections
(Comelec) Representative Atty.
Dinah Valencia, and NGO/PO
representative Teresita Sagum
What was crazier, Mauricio
said in his complaint, was that
the election in the city was held
two days in advance of the na-
tional synchronized election for
chapters in all cities and munici-
palities of the country.
The election was forced to
be held on December 5, 2010
instead of the December 7
scheduled in Memorandum Cir-
cular No. 2010-129 issued by
DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo.
To surprise the others who
had expressed intentions to
challenge Echiverri’s foothold,
Mauricio cried that the notice
setting the election on Decem-
ber 5, 2010 was sent out only
on December 3, 2010 such that
many did not receive the no-
To prove his claims, Mau-
ricio provided a copy of the
“invitation” dated December 1,
2010 sent by the Office of the
City Council League of Baran-
gays of the City of Caloocan,
signed by respondent Echiverri
the son.
The said letter read:
“You are cordially invited
“The chairman of the
PCSO is Mrs. Juico. Her
husband is the president of
the golf and country club.
In the face of the urgent
need for P1 million to save
the life of an extraordi-
narily pity baby, the PCSO
breached its commitment
and chose to squander funds
in a lavish manner, making
the whole mess revolting to
conscience.
“Now that the baby is
dead, can the PCSO answer
for this? The life of the boy
is priceless and yet it cannot
be taken back anymore even
with the biggest jackpot
winning from Lotto.
“Why, Mrs. Juico?
“Why, PCSO General
Manager Jose Ferdinand M.
Rojas II?
“Why, was this so,
PCSO Directors Ma. Ale-
ta L. Tolentino, Betty B.
Nantes, Mabel V. Mamba,
and Francisco G. Joaquin
III?
“What is your answer?”
Angry reactions from Face-
book and email groups
Just right after the state-
ment of the PCSO was post-
ed on Facebook and emailed
to all email groups upon the
instruction of the NPC pres-
ident, loud and angry reac-
tions flooded the comments
that followed.
This led many in the
email groups to cull the
skull of this agency that is
so rich yet its officers appar-
ently are so sick.
This led to many in the
email groups to talk about
the Php 1.3-billion adver-
tisement contract awarded
by the PCSO to movie
producer Carlo J. Caparas
during the incumbency of
Manoling Morato as its
chairman.
So many in these email
groups lambasted the PCSO
generally, referring to it as
an agency that is so corrupt.
Many said that the
PCSO will always be the
same under any President:
corrupt.
The angry reactions
from Facebook users are as
assiduous.
One says that she ac-
companied a relative to
apply for a financial assis-
tance for the medication.
to attend the Liga ng mga Ba-
rangay, Caloocan City Chapter
meeting on December 5, 2010
at 2:00 P.M. at Bulwagang Kati-
punan, Caloocan City Hall, A.
Mabini St., this City. The Order
of Business are as to follows:
“A. Opening Prayer
“B. National Anthem
“C. Call-to-Order
“D. Proof of the Required
Notice of Hearing
“E. Proof of presence of a
Quorum
“F. Announcement of the
various committees and its stated, among others, that the
members to oversee the LIga
Election
“G. Turn-Over of the chair
to the Election Committee
“H. Nomination of Candi-
dates
“I. Balloting/Election
“J. Canvassing
“K. Proclamation of Win-
ning Candidates
“L. Adjournment
“Your 100% attendance
will be greatly appreciated.”
It is clear in the said let-
ter that the manner of election
shall be by balloting and there
shall be canvassing of votes and
proclamation of winners. But
the voting was done by means
oral nomination and the nomi-
nation was closed right away
after Echiverri was nominated.
“I and my party-mates were
Katherine cries profusely as Baby Jesus is inside the coffin.
They kept on coming back
to the PCSO but they had
never received the prom-
ised money even after the
patient died.
Another said that the
PCSO’s guarantee letters
are no longer accepted by
St. Luke’s Medical Cen-
ter because it has not paid
all past guarantees it had
given.
Reply of PCSO director
PCSO director Ma.
Aleta Tolentino forwarded
to this author the following
reaction to the statement re-
leased by the NPC.
This reaction, repro-
duced in toto, reads as fol-
lows:
“That is the problem
when people react without
knowing the facts. That 11
months baby sought the
help of PCSO in April of
2010 for allegedly a liver
transplant in China for a
cost of 4 to 8 million. The
former board approved a
1 million assistance but
required that the parents
expecting that the local chap-
ter elections would be held on
December 07, 2010 because
of the DILG circular. How-
ever, I learned that it was only
on December 3, 2010 that a
written invitation/notification,
signed by the incumbent Liga
Caloocan Chapter president
Ricojudge ‘RJ’ Echiverri, was
sent to barangay chairmen in
Caloocan City,” Mauricio com-
plained.
“To my utter shock and sur-
prise, the invitation/notification
Liga chapter elections will be
held on December 5, 2010 at
the Caloocan City Hall, and not
December 7, 2010,” he added.
Mauricio described the ac-
tions done by the conspiracy
as “a blatant disregard of the
guidelines provided for under
DILG Memorandum Circular
No. 2010-129.”
The grieving barangay
chairman said he was only fur-
nished a copy of such invitation
late in the evening of December
3, 2010.
“I and my party-mates
were stunned with this develop-
ment… Since we were elected
as Punong Barangays and even
after Memorandum Circular
No. 2010-129 was dissemi-
nated, there was no written no-
tice sent to us by the incumbent
complete the documentary
requirements, like testing
etc. and raise the counter-
part before the amount is
released. The former board
never even processed the
assistance, because they
waited for the require-
ments. We assumed only
in August, and this was one
of the pending applications
when we took over, but we
could not reach the patients
mother. It was only last
Dec. 10 that the mother,
after the baby’s hospitaliza-
tion, went back to PCSO
and by then it was too late!
“If indeed the situation
was urgent, then the people
of GMA if they truly cared,
should have released the
financial assistance imme-
diately. Had they done so,
then the health situation of
the then two months baby
should not have turned
worse. Those guys released
billions of pesos for vari-
ous expenses including ad-
vertisements and supplies
before they exited in July
2010, yet they did not find
it prudent to release one
Liga President to meet for the
purpose of forming the vari-
ous committees and boards for
the chapter election,” Mauricio
complained.
He added: “Thus, prior to
December 05, 2010 we were
at a loss as to how the various
committees would be formed.
Even the members of the Board
of Canvassers (BoC) and Board
of Election Supervisors (BES)
were unknown to us.”
The bribery
Mauricio told Dyaryo
Magdalo that he and his par-
tymates were thinking that the
December 05, 2010 was for the
purpose of forming the various
committees, board of canvass-
ers, and board of election super-
visors, the reason they planned
to attend the meeting.
“What was suspicious is
that almost all Punong Baran-
gays who received the Decem-
ber 3 invitation (albeit dated 01
December 2010), were also re-
quired, verbally, through a zone
coordinator, to assemble in the
morning of December 4 at the
Max’s Restaurant along EDSA,
Caloocan City,” Mauricio nar-
rated in his complaint.
He said that more than a
hundred of barangay chairmen
who went to the Max’s restau-
rant were shuttled by three JAM
Liner buses to Kabayan Resort
in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas.
He said he learned that the
said resort is owned by Calo-
Jan. 3-9, 2011
million for this baby who
appealed to Manoling Mor-
ato for help. Why didn’t he
follow through?
“The article in the news-
paper is malicious. You
know how I work. Had the
parent gone to me to fol-
low up, I should have done
something. But the real
question is will the one mil-
lion of PCSO be enough to
save the baby, if not what
could we have done? Our
office mandate is to raise
money through numbers
game and use part of it to
give financial assistance
to the needy. We don’t get
budget from the govern-
ment, so our funds are also
limited. Why didn’t those
who were pushing for the
support approach the then
Pres. GMA for additional
assistance from her social
fund or any legislator for as-
sistance. They could spend
millions of pesos for their
lunch in New York yet they
could not spare a few mil-
lions for this poor baby!!!!
Now they try to pass the
To page 8
ocan City Mayor Enrico “Re-
com” Echiverri.
To prove his claims about
the treat given to these barangay
chairmen in Batangas, Mauricio
provided copies of the pictures.
The robbery
Mauricio said the conspira-
cy also disregarded the requisite
formation of committees.
“Worse, respondents, in
conspiracy with each other,
prevented (me) from duly filing
(my) certificate of candidacy for
the office of the Liga Chapter
President..,” Mauricio insisted
in disgust.
Caught in a trap between
the thought of not attending the
December 5 meeting and the
thought that if they would insist
on the DILG set election on De-
cember 7, Mauricio said that he
and his allies decided to appear
in the sham election.
“To our shock and aston-
ishment, while we were on our
way to the venue at around 2:30
p.m. of December 5, two air-
con-buses were already parked
beside the Caloocan City Hall,”
Mauricio complained.
He said that all chairmen
who accepted the invitation to
the Batangas resort and joined
the overnight of fun, food,
drinks and lavish entertainment
in Batangas were now seen get-
ting down the bus, one after
another, heading straight to the
venue of the Liga meeting at the
To page 7
  Jan. 3-9, 2011
Give him freedom to refute case filed upon order of Gloria administration
DROP CASE
VS LACSON!
L
ET it be clear: Dyaryo Magdalo is not saying Senator Panfilo M.
Lacson is innocent and Dyaryo Magdalo is not saying that he is
guilty.
Thus, this exposition.
On the issue about Senator Lacson, Dyaryo Magdalo strongly
urges Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to give Lacson a space for him to
refute the charge of murdering publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and the
latter’s driver Emmanuel Corbito.
By the word “space,”
Dyaryo Magdalo means
withdrawal of the criminal
information so that the ar-
rest warrant against him is
shelved and allowing him
to argue without fear of ar-
rest and with the strongest
vigor he can to prove why he
should not be hailed to court.
This is the fairest thing
to do for the DOJ. That is
even as it is true that the Re-
gional Trial Court of Manila
debunked his challenge for it
order a reinvestigation and
recall the warrant of arrest
issued against him.
Why?
The justification is as
what follows.
Remember that the dou-
ble-murder case filed against
Lacson is entitled “PEOPLE
OF THE PHILIPPINES VS
PANFILO M. LACSON.”
If this is so, should De
Lima be in dilemma to know
whether to consider the voice
of the people in wanting him
to serve them as the senator?
Should De Lima con-
sider the fact that the voice
of the people is the voice of
God? Vox Populi Vox Dei.
In all republican and
democratic governments, all
powers—to repeat, all pow-
ers—come from the people.
Included in the powers
that come from the people
are: (a) the power to judge;
(b) the power to accuse; (c)
the power to make laws; and
(d) the power to implement
laws.
To explain why the
sources of powers are the
people acting as one, let it
begin from a common idea.
The common idea is that
the 1987 Constitution cannot
be the present constitution if
the people did not cast ma-
jority vote for its ratification.
And if the people in 1986
voted “no” to the proposed
1987 Constitution, there can
be no positions for President
or Senators or Congress-
men or Justices or Judges or
Secretaries including Justice
Secretary that exist now.
The people said in the
1987 Constitution: Let there
be the President voted by
plurality of votes. That is
why the people vote every
six years for the President.
This May 10, 2010, the peo-
ple voted for Noynoy Aqui-
no, whose votes could have
been 55% were it not for the
tampering of CF cards.
The people said in the
1987 Constitution: Let there
be 24 senators 12 of them
shall be elected by all the
people every three years
By HERNZ CUARE and TOTO CAUSING
and each to serve a term of
six years. That is why the
people elect 12 senators ev-
ery three years. That is why
the people elected Lacson as
senator in the year 2007.
The people said in the
1987 Constitution: Let there
be congressmen from all dis-
tricts and from all partylist
organizations. That is why
the people elect congress-
men in districts and from
partylist groups.
The people said in the
1987 Constitution: Let there
be 15 Supreme Court Jus-
tices to be appointed by the
President from those recom-
mended by the Judicial and
Bar Council. That is why
the people appoint through
the President a Supreme
Court justice for every va-
cancy.
The people said in the
1987 Constitution: Let there
be cabinet secretaries who
shall serve as the alter ego of
the President and this cabi-
net must include a Secretary
of Justice. That is why the
people appoint cabinet men,
including the Secretary of
Justice, through the Presi-
dent and the concurrence of
the Committee on Appoint-
ments.
The people said in the
1987 Constitution: Let the
senators and congressman
acting separately have the
power to make laws and that
these laws must be followed
to the letter and spirit by all
individuals. That is why,
the Senate and the House
of Representatives made the
Revised Penal Code, includ-
ing the law on murder pun-
ishing the act with reclusion
perpetua.
The people said in the
1987 Constitution: Let
there be no bail for criminal
offenses punishable with
death, life sentence or reclu-
sion perpetua. That is why
the people deny bail for all
persons charged in court for
non-bailable crimes by the
prosecutors acting under the
delegated authority of the
Justice Secretary.
The people also said in
the 1987 Constitution: Let
the issuance of a warrant of
arrest against any individual
be based on the “probable
cause” to be determined per-
sonally by the judge upon
examination under oath the
complainant and the wit-
nesses he may produce and
the other evidence he may
present.
The people at the same
time said in the 1987 Con-
stitution: Let any person
be presumed innocent until
proven otherwise. That is
why, the prosecutors and
the judge must act in great
circumspect to avoid accus-
ing men in court when the
pieces of evidence available
are not sufficient to support
a case in court, to avoid giv-
ing prejudices of warrants
and of depriving a person of
his liberty just because the
case filed and approved by
the court is one where there
is no bail while proving in-
nocence.
This principle of avoid-
ance is necessary because
in giving this authority to
the judge the people clearly
know the priceless value of
freedom.
The freedom lost cannot
be taken back. The freedom
lost cannot be compensated
with any amount of money.
The freedom lost is in itself
a punishment to a person be-
ing tried for a non-bailable
crime while there is no con-
viction yet. The freedom lost
is revolting to conscience if
it turns out that there is actu-
ally insufficient evidence to
begin with: That the accused
has already been punished
yet he is innocent.
Now, if the prosecutor
charged a person, like Lac-
son, with murder in court
upon the delegated power
from the people, the judge
appointed by the indirect
power of the people has the
duty to approve or not the
case filed by the prosecutor.
And in knowing whether
to approve the case for trial,
the judge must comply with
the command of the people
that he or she must person-
ally determine whether the
person, like Lacson, is prob-
ably guilty on the basis of
the complainant’s complaint,
witnesses, and other pieces
of evidence.
And in so making the de-
termination the judge must
have conscience that he or
she must reject the pros-
ecutor’s case that has a small
probability that the accused
is guilty.
If the prosecutor certi-
fied that he or she conducted
a preliminary investigation
and that he or she has enough
evidence to prove the ac-
cused guilty, the judge must
act with suspicion. This is
so to show that he or she
tried his or her best with the
thought that if he or she ap-
proves a case for murder he
or she will be depriving the
liberty of the accused for two
years or more while the case
is being tried.
So that the judge must be
guided by these questions:
1. “Can I not be
pricked by my conscience
if the accused turns out in-
nocent after trial because the
accused had to stay in jail
while the trial is proceed-
ing?”
2. “Can I bring back
the lost freedom of the ac-
cused if from the start the
pieces of evidence presented
by the prosecutors are doubt-
ful?”
A judge must have a
conscience that “probable
cause” is not a tool for con-
venience but one that must
be used with extra-care,
extra-diligence and extra-
prudence reserved only for
those cases that truly have
evidence, cases that have
truly have witnesses who
have sworn to deny what he
or she swore to earlier.
This is because it is
very unfair for the accused
to keep him in jail if there
is clearly no chance for the
case against him to be prov-
en beyond reasonable doubt.
For a person like Cesar
Mancao to say one delicate
fact on one day and for to
deny that fact on another day
stinks.
A man who changes tes-
timonies from one to another
on the same issue of fact
makes that person always a
man of doubtful integrity for
honesty.
If the conviction that
will come later after the
trial is based on a proof
beyond reasonable doubt,
HOW CAN NOW THE
JUDGE AND PROSECU-
TOR CONCERNED SAY
THAT THE TESTIMONY
OF MANCAO IS A PROOF
BEYOND REASONABLE
DOUBT?
At the end of the day,
a judge must be scored or
graded on the basis of how
many cases filed by prosecu-
tors that he or she approved
for trial that only ended up
in acquittal just because the
evidence presented by the
prosecutors were actually in-
sufficient to begin with.
The judge must remem-
ber that it is better to let
loose a hundred criminals on
the street than imprison an
innocent man while the case
is being tried.
The duty of the court to
approve the indictment by
the prosecutors, equivalent
to saying “okay, let’s have
a trial because the case ap-
pears to have sufficient evi-
dence and we have to issue
a warrant of arrest for the
accused,” must be exercised
in a manner that the judge
can smile when he or she is
placed in his or her grave.
The command of the
people to the judge is he or
she must look at every crimi-
nal information sheet and
evidences with suspicion
and must personally ex-
amine them, including in it
those pieces of evidence and
circumstances that were not
presented or not considered
by the prosecutors. These
other evidence or circum-
stances must be ones that the
court can reasonably take as
a notice to the court.
In the case of Lacson,
every judge knows him as
a senator who has delivered
privilege speeches that is un-
printable to the Malacanang
occupant and her family at
the time of the filing of the
double-murder information
sheet.
In the case of Lacson,
every judge knows that the
prosecutor who filed the
double-murder case was
ordered by the Secretary
of Justice appointed by the
Malacanang occupant who
was not authorized by the
people because her votes
were made by Garci and not
by the people.
In the case of Lacson, ev-
ery judge knows that Lacson
was voted by the people and
that therefore he is the voice
of the people and the voice
of God.
As such, the judge to
whom the charge against
Lacson was filed must take
judicial notice of these cir-
cumstances.
These circumstances
must be taken with the fact
that the only evidence of the
prosecution are:
(a) the second contrary
statement of a witness; and
(b) the computer-gener-
ated papers that can be in-
vented showing that Dante
Tan of the BW Resources
gave to Lacson 300,000
shares of that stock whose
prices were manipulated to
eventually become one of the
cases used in the impeach-
ment against then President
Joseph Estrada.
The judge must not take
Vol. II No. 30
Sen. Ping Lacson
hook, line and sinker what-
ever the prosecutors said in
a case.
This is because to do it
by reason of convenience or
inconvenience is equivalent
to abdicating the duty to the
people.
As such, the judge has
the duty to take notice or
judicial notice that many
cases are actually designed
to maim political opponents
or as a means to take revenge
or as a means to compel the
accused to do something for
the accuser.
Similarly, as to the issue
of whether there is probabil-
ity that a person is guilty, the
prosecutor also has that two-
fold duty when he or she was
appointed by the indirect
powers of the people.
These duties are: (a) to
prosecute the persons he per-
sonally believes as guilty on
the basis of evidence; and (b)
to spare the person brought
to his office if there is no suf-
ficient evidence to support a
case for conviction.
The first thing that should
come to the mind of the pros-
ecutor must be this: He was
appointed to the office NOT
because of the person who
actually signed his appoint-
ment; rather that he was ap-
pointed to the office because
of the trust of the people who
agreed to form the govern-
ment that included the office
to which he was appointed.
In other words, his boss
is the people. If P-Noy ac-
knowledged the authority of
the people or that the source
of all powers is the people,
there is no reason for the
prosecutor to brag about his
being a lawyer to say he can
do what he wants.
Indeed, the President
eloquently said this: “Kayo
ang boss ko,” referring to the
people.
As in the judge, the pros-
ecutor also has that duty to
personally examine the com-
plainant, the witnesses he
may produce, and the other
pieces of evidence submit-
ted if only to assure his con-
science that he acted accord-
ing to his honest belief.
The prosecutor must not
act on the basis of the com-
3               
mand to him by his direct
boss, who is the chief city or
provincial prosecutor or the
chief state prosecutor or the
secretary of justice.
The duty of the pros-
ecutor as commanded by the
people is also the duty of the
chief city or provincial pros-
ecutor. It is also the duty of
the chief state prosecutor. It
is the same duty of the Secre-
tary of Justice. It is also the
duty of the President acting
on the issue of whether to file
a criminal complaint in court
against certain persons.
To repeat, the power to
say who should be brought
to court is a duty command-
ed to the prosecutor, the
chief state prosecutor, and
the secretary of justice. This
command, to stress again, is
ordered by the people when
the people ratified the 1987
Constitution.
As in the judge, the pros-
ecutor, or Justice Secretary
De Lima, in the performance
of duties to the people must
act with justice, give every-
one his due, and observe
honesty and good faith.
With these premises, it is
easy for De Lima to see that
Senator Lacson is a voice of
the people so that in giving
respect to Lacson is equiva-
lent to giving respect to the
people, considering that
these votes were won while
those in actual hold of power
were fabricating votes in
2007 in Maguindanao and
elsewhere.
It is easy for De Lima to
discern that the person who
authorized the conduct of
preliminary investigation
against Lacson was autho-
rized only by Garci votes.
It is easy for her to know
that the person who autho-
rized the investigation into
Lacson has the motive of
revenge considering the
scathing privilege speeches
he gave against Gloria’s
husband hiding in the name
“Jose Pidal,” and the ex-
poses he made considering
the involvement of Gloria’s
son, husband and the latter’s
brother Iggy.
These circumstances ly-
To page 7
 4               Vol. II No. 30 Jan. 3-9, 2011

Running jury system costs P60 billion but

saves P160 billion from corruption reduction
IN my burning desire to
change the country’s pres-
ent fiscal-judge system of
justice, I am now taking
the liberty of analyzing
the cost of maintaining
a jury system similar to
that of the United States
of America (USA), know
how it can reduce corrup-
tion that runs now in the
Philippines at 20% of the
national budget, and know
how much can the country
save from the thieves in
the government.
I was prompted to go
to this dissertation by a
Facebook friend who in-
sisted that the Philippines
can never ever afford to
have a jury system be-
cause it is very expensive.
I agreed that it was
very expensive. However,
I begged to disagree that
being expensive does not
mean it is not economical.
The result of my dis-
sertation, as will be read
hereunder, shows that the
cost of running a jury sys-
tem in the entire country
reaches only to Php 60 bil-
lion and the additional jury
education program entails
only Php 20 billion.
The total cost of Php
80 billion is far lesser than
the Php 160-billion sav-
ings that can be gotten
from the reduction of cor-
ruption due to the jury sys-
tem’s nature of being a far
better rigid justice system
that is too difficult to be
manipulated by the rack-
eteers, the thieves in the
government, and the lords.
Thus, the cost: Php 80
billion. The savings: Php
160 billion.
My premises:
So, here is my disserta-
tion on this matter of eco-
nomics of the jury system.
Let me begin by say-
ing that if the amount re-
quired to run the jury sys-
tems is “very expensive”
as you describe, it does not
automatically mean it is
not economical.
Amongst us who are
civil engineers, we may
choose one option that
demands triple expense
when the lifespan is at
least triple more than any
of the other choices.
A better economic
strategy I know chooses
from what options that stim-
ulate the more number of
transactions in a given period
of time; what ensure bigger
returns from these transac-
tions in terms of taxes paid
to the government and in
terms of incomes going to
participants in the transac-
tions; what attract more
number of people participat-
ing in transactions in a given
community; and what make
the number and magnitude
of transactions going and
growing.
Eventually, good eco-
nomic decisions must be
founded on what result in
most number of transactions
with biggest number of taxes
along with bigger number of
persons involved. The more
transactions, the more taxes
to the government, the more
and better services are given
by the government to its
people, and the more people
are exchanging goods and
services and monies, and the
more people are employed or
earning income.
One community for in-
stance has a total of 100 mil-
lion pesos if we sum up all
monies in each person and
in each entity (business unit
such as a corporation, part-
nership, or sole proprietor-
ship).
Assume that the govern-
ment in this place is capital-
ism and not socialism that
has more regulations about
how the funds shall be con-
trolled, or not communism
that ensures each individual
therein is as rich or as poor
as each other.
Assume further that this
capitalist place cannot com-
pel individuals to spend be-
cause it believes in free mar-
ket and as such it relies only
on the willingness of each of
the people to spend or invest
as they wish.
Now, we know that trans-
actions cannot happen with-
out buyers or without those
that are obliged to pay by
reason of deals.
With these givens, if
we want progress for all we
prefer a system of govern-
ment that brings about more
people buying services and
goods in a year so that: (1)
more taxes (sales, evat, and
income) are collected in one
tax year; (2) more busi-
nesses have better chance
to continue to live and grow
consequently resulting in
generation of more employ-
ment; (3) more chances
that people are employed to
make them acquire wealth in
the form of incomes as fruits
of their labor in order to em-
power them as having more
buying capacity to, in turn,
acquire goods, services, bet-
ter education, etc; (4) more
people becoming more cre-
ative in thinking what to do
to make decent profits; and
(5) more people continue be-
having in the way what the
laws want them to conduct in
relation to each other and in
relation to their government.
Assuming this govern-
ment has achieved these
desirable economic activi-
ties to happen, can this ideal
economy continue without
strict justice system that
compels people to behave
by the laws? I strongly be-
lieve it will not stay as ideal
with a loose justice system
that chooses to vow to those
who are the wealthy and the
influential.
Despite all these sought-
after objectives to give real
progress for all people, there
are always things that go out
of hand. This is because
there all always people who
“greed” for money or sex,
“desire to seek glory” either
in wealth or politics, err in
the performance of duties
and the exercise of rights, or
commit improprieties simply
because of intoxications like
liquor that loosen the hold
of morality over intoxicated
persons, or fall on accidents
and or else can we think of.
Co-existing with these
negative matters that any
society, rich or poor, cannot
avoid, is the NATURAL DE-
SIRE to avoid punishments.
And this natural motive
among persons to evade li-
ability breeds and grows a
culture of corruption if only
to escape the harshness of
hell behind bars, if only to
preserve reputation, or if
only to escape paying out for
Privileged spits
By TOTO C. CAUSING
liabilities incurred.
So that if the justice sys-
tem can be bought or influ-
enced, the situation in this
place will deteriorate over
time, sooner or later, into
the culture of impunity bad
as what Maguindanao has
reached.
Thus, I argue: even if
we begin to create a coun-
try with all citizens having
One Million Pesos in their
respective pockets but with
loose justice system such as
what we have for 110 years,
we will still end up as one of
the poorest and most chaotic
countries in the world.
Before continuing, let
one more truth be spoken:
crimes are offenses against
the state so that it should be
the state’s obligation to en-
sure justice is served where
it is due.
Where lies our country:
Now, take a scenario of
the Philippines where, ap-
proximately, 10% of the
people are holding 80% of
the total country’s monetary
wealth while 90% are fight-
ing for shares of the remain-
ing 20% of all monies.
Look at our country.
Our country is where
the justice system for over
a hundred years is com-
posed of fiscals deciding as
to who should be charged in
court and the court with one
judge. It has been modified
over time that the Ombuds-
man now has the sole power
to bring to court corruption
cases and the Commission
on Elections having exclu-
sive power to bring to court
election crime offenders.
Thus, you see Malaca-
ñang man Joc-joc Bolante
not getting charged in court
by the Ombudsman; or
former Comelec commis-
sioner Virgilio Garciliano
not charged in court by the
Comelec for vote rigging.
Our country is where
over time we have seen de-
cisions of trial courts over-
turned by higher courts and
where higher courts give out
decisions that amused the
people.
Our country is where we
often hear songs crying out
for justice from inside our
prison walls, as echoed by
Freddie Aguilar’s “Katarun-
gan.”
Our country is where one
can hear countless of songs
of freedom for these songs
are born only where liberty
is restrained and where injus-
tices are aplenty.
Our country is where
judgments are more based
on opinions than evidence as
proven by Hubert Webb case
where they were convicted
upon the opinion of the trial
court only to be acquitted 15
years later by another opin-
ion of the court, this time the
Supreme Court’s opinion.
Our country is where we
have seen more and more
economically-lower-classed
citizens becoming more
and more mistrusting in the
justice system because their
common experience point
to the poor rarely getting the
better end of justice.
Our country is where the
poor and have-nots prefer to
suffer the pain of injustice
in silence than to fight lords
who not only buy fiscals and
judges but also kill more if
only to ensure freedom to
kill, to steal, to cheat in po-
litical contests, and to do
what else.
Our country is where the
poor absolutely have no fair
chance at courts of law.
Name what you want and
we are on the nadir of all the
ebbs, of all the law tides.
Taking a deeper look at justice
economics:
Thus, the question now
is: JUST BECAUSE IT AP-
PEARS THAT JURY SYS-
TEM IS EXPENSIVE, DO
WE HAVE TO DISCARD
IT BECAUSE OF THE
GIVEN CIRCUMSTANC-
ES WE HAVE AS STATED
ABOVE?
On what scale should we
measure to choose a justice
system to use given the cir-
cumstances the Filipinos are
in?
Shall we have a “cheap”
court with one judge and
one fiscal deciding almost
everything, for or against
the accused, depending on
the availability of funds, just
because of the circumstances
the Filipinos are in?
Shall we continue with
this “cheap” fiscal-judge
justice system where the
supposed “learned” (pro-
nounced as “learn-ed”) in
law have, as is normal nowa-
days, been taking advantage
of the citizens’ ignorance of
the law, just because of the
circumstances the Filipinos
are in?
Shall we keep the
“cheap” status quo even
though we have heard so
many people complaining
of injustice and inability to
obtain fair game in law, just
because of the circumstances
the Filipinos are in?
Shall we prefer to resign
to this “cheap” status quo
just because of the circum-
stances the Filipinos are in?
Shall we continue to ar-
gue that “it is not in the sys-
tem but the people in the sys-
tem” even though we know
that it is actually more of
the system because we can-
not avoid the people who are
prone to fall to dishonesty,
greed and worldly desires,
just because of the circum-
stances the Filipinos are in?
This is my appeal: Please
look deeper as to what can
this big expense give us in
return.
Haven’t we thought that
by using the jury system we
are employing more people
and that this will remedy the
yearly problem of millions of
college graduates from every
private and state colleges and
universities found now in ev-
ery province and that prob-
lem is how to find jobs? And
in so doing, more people are
empowered to buy to add
taxes to the government and
income to others to generate
more employment.
Haven’t we thought that
by using the jury system it
is doubly stricter and doubly
rigid against influence and
money such that more and
more people would think
they cannot fool the jury
(grand and trial juries)
so they tend to think it is
better to behave well and
refrain from fooling, steal-
ing, and harming others?
Haven’t we thought
that with strict and rigid
justice system the number
and magnitude of corrup-
tion incidents may likely
reduce by as much as
90%?
Can we not blame
extremely-high corruption
incidences and magni-
tudes in the Philippines on
the lax justice system for a
century and a decade?
The cost of corruption:
Look at these reports
about our dear coun-
try as posted at http://
w w w. 11 . b e / 11 / i n d e x .
php?option=com_content
&task=view&id=103158
&Itemid=112:
“The Philippines has
been ranked as among the
world’s most corrupt by,
among others, the Berlin-
based non-governmental
organization Transpar-
ency International. Cor-
ruption has become so
widespread here that that
scandals coming out one
after the other dominate
the news. Worse, many of
these scandals are linked
to Malacañang Palace and
the first family. President
Gloria Arroyo was per-
ceived as the most corrupt
in Philippine history in a
survey done by Pulse Asia
in 2007.
“Corruption has di-
verted away whatever
meager resources that
could have been extreme-
ly helpful to alleviate the
lives of poor Filipinos. The
Presidential Anti-Graft
Commission (PAGC), a
government body tasked
to investigate and hear
administrative cases and
complaints against erring
presidential appointees,
has revealed that in the
Philippines, an average of
20 percent of the country’s
annual budget goes to cor-
ruption.
“In 2008, the national
budget was PhP 1.227 tril-
lion (USD 26 billion). The
To page 7

Jerry’s Blogs ES Ochoa

At first, we thought
that only wine can send
the EXECUTIVE SEC-
RETARY or LITTLE
PRESIDENT JOJO
OCHOA to becoming a
drunken master.
But, we’re proven
wrong. It seems that the
“Little President” also
got drunk with power,
the ultimate power in
hand.
Last December
29, when he arrived
at NAIA Terminal 2,
ESPO was asked by a
Customs police to pro-
vide Customs baggage
declaration for his be-
longings.
ESPO, however, got
iratated by the strict im-
By JERRY S. YAP
plementation of the airport
rules and regulations by
SA I Roberto Ramos.
The following day, Ra-
mos was washed away. He
is now on a FLOATING
STATUS at the Enforce-
ment and Security Ser-
vice (ESS) of the Customs
NAIA headquarters.
Instead of rewarding
the man for acting in ac-
cordance with his duties,
Ramos was shelved in a
four-cornered office.
We are not conclud-
ing that it was ESPO who
caused Ramos miseries.
But allow us to question:
Was the reassignment of
Ramos only a coincidence
in the performace of his
duties?
Manuela’s jueteng
rakes millions in
Muntilupa
Full-blown jueteng
operations of a certain A-
LAN MANUELA have
commenced in southern
Metro Manila, especially
in Pateros, Taguig and
Muntinlupa.
One named SHER-
WIN a.k.a. BOY LIIT is
now making his rounds of
media camps to hand cold
cash to preempt “jueteng
stories.”
Comrades in pen, start
to wear headgears. If pos-
sible, use kevlar helmets
power drunk?
We are quite puzzled
by the silence of Muntin-
lupa Mayor ALDRIN
SAN PEDRO on the bold
entry of Manuela’s jueteng
in his city.
Anyway, I gathered
that it was a kin or a “ka-
mag-anak” of San Pedro
who gave the go-signal for
the jueteng operations of
Manuela.
Manuela’s illegal oper-
ations are said to be raking
more than one million pe-
sos every week in Muntin-
lupa alone.
Could this more than
a million-peso rake that
bloated the weekly payola
be the reason Supt. ELEA-
ZAR MATTA, the chief
of police there, has been
smiling to his ears?
How about Crame and
Bicutan?
Are PNP chief, Dir.
Gen. Raul Bacalzo, and
NCRPO chief, Gen. Nick
Bartolome, getting their
share from Manuela?
Hope to hear from you,
sirs!
1602 of Tepang
back to normal
operation in QC!
The 1602 operation
of TEPANG besieges Q-
MART - the money-mak-
ing nest of TEPANG, the
front operator of illegal-
number games of TONY
BOLOK SANTOS. of VK King Buboy Go
Well, well, happy sends many to think
days for LOTTENG, STL he’s already living a si-
bookies and Basketball lent life.
38. Definitely, not.
Is the “take” already The truth is: the VK
in order, QCPD DD Gen. operation of Buboy Go
BENJARDI MANTELE? has engulfed Mala-
bon.
The tricky or sticky
Video karera influence of VK King
of Buboy Go Buboy Go to Malabon
City Mayor CANUTO
in Malabon ORETA probably mus-
cled to open view his
It seems that the anti- illegal VK machines.
1602 operations of North-
ern Police District and ***
Malabon PNP missed the For reactions, sug-
video “demonic” karera of gestions, or complaints,
Buboy Go. please contact the au-
As usual, the now-you- thor at 09278989991 or
see,-now-you-don’t tactic jerryap888@yahoo.com
  Jan. 3-9, 2011
Cash allotment program for the poor
IT is good to note that
the Department of So-
cial Welfare and De-
velopment has been
allotted P34 billion to
carry out the govern-
ment program meant to
help the poorest of the
poor to empower them
to become capable to
support themselves.
It is also pleasing to
hear DSWD Secretary
Corazon “Dinky” Soli-
man’s assurance that
P21 billion of the P34
billion will definitely
benefit 2.3 million poor
families through cash
transfer program allo-
cation.
Under the program,
the poorest of the poor
would get monthly cash
assistance provided that
they send their children
to school and make
pregnant women un-
dergo regular checkups.
However, it is quite
disturbing on how the
DSWD will implement
this program consider-
ing that it has allegedly
identified over 4.464
million poor house-
JANUARY, the birth of
“Jannarally Speaking,” is
my birth too. Moreover, it
is Zakat Awareness Month
for all Muslims.
The month of Janu-
ary in 2011 seems to be a
lucky month and a lucky
year as well for this col-
umnist not because it is
on the 10th of this month
that I was born along with
a twin brother who did not
live long. Most of all, it is
this month that this new
column entitled “Jannara-
lly Speaking” is born, too.
Thanks to the manage-
ment of Dyaryo Magdalo
headed by editor-in-chief
Toto Causing for accom-
modating this weekly col-
umn.
So far, Toto and this
columnist have more in
common. First and fore-
most, we are both Min-
danaoans. Second, we
are both alumni of the
Mindanao State Univer-
sity. Third, we were once
schoolmates at the College
of Law of the Pamantasan
ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(PLM) until I transferred
to the Philippine Law
School (PLS). Fourth, we
are both members of the
social network Facebook.
Fifth, we are both mem-
bers of the media. Sixth,
we are also both members
of the prestigious National
Press Club (NPC).
My NPC membership
dates back to 1986 after I
joined the Philippine Dai-
ly Inquirer (PDI) as news
correspondent writing for
“Batanes To Tawi-Tawi,”
the regional news section
edited by Mrs. Lita Log-
arta, the mother of former
NPC president-now-sec-
retary Louie Logarta. Our
PDI editor-in-chief at that
time was the late Louie
Beltran. Those were the
days anyway. After PDI, I
transferred to several other
broadsheets that I think
holds qualified for gov-
ernment assistance. This
number is about double
the targeted 2.3 million
poor families as benefi-
ciaries in 2011.
How I wish that this
P21 billion be doubled to
cover the over 4.464 mil-
lion identified poorest of
the poor by the DSWD.
In her latest report,
Dinky boasted that there
were one million poorest
of the poor families who
benefited from the cash
transfer program in 2010.
Forgive my ignorance,
madam secretary. But I
know nothing of any poor
family, especially in my
neighborhood in Tondo,
that has received a single
cent from this program in
2010. How I wish that the
names and addresses of
the alleged beneficiaries
be posted on the website
of DSWD for the people
to scrutinize the veracity
of your contention.
Everyime I read be-
tween the lines of Dinky,
smokes of doubt belea-
guer me, leaving me in a
cloud of uncertainty.
Jannarally
speaking
By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL
need not be mentioned any-
more for the sake of brevity
in space.
***
The search among the
Bangsamoro people of Min-
danao for the genuine peace,
called in the past by no less
than founding chairman of
the Moro National Libera-
tion Front (MNLF) Profes-
sor Nurullaji Misuari as an
“honorable peace,” has not
stopped until now. It is for it
remains elusive.
This is despite the fact
that the Government of the
Republic of the Philippines
(GRP) has already forged
the Final Peace Agreement
(FPA) with the MNLF on
September 2, 1996.
Rep. Tupay Loong, of the
1st Congressional District of
Sulu and concurrently chair-
man of the House Commit-
tee on Muslim Affairs, said
that for the GRP to resume
peace negotiations with the
Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF), there is an
urgent need to resolve first
the recurring issues with the
MNLF.
Loong particularly re-
ferred to the incomplete
implementations of the 1996
Final Peace Agreement that
Maas (Misuari) has been
complaining about every
now and then.
According to Loong,
there is a need to close the
chapter of the MNLF strug-
gle for self-determination
by making the government
comply with all the provi-
sions of the GRP-MNLF
peace accord up to its last
provision before enter-
ing into another chapter of
peace negotiations with the
MILF.
Jannarally Speaking, this
columnist agrees with the
Muslim lawmaker, who once
served as a governor of Sulu
for several terms and once
an MNLF commander and
leader of the famed “Magic
8 of Sulu.”
When Dinky says
that it is challenging to
work in the most com-
mitted bureaucracies, the
DSWD, for it works with
the poorest of the poor, I
feel a tiny pinch. Seeing
her with hair in colors
and with pieces of jewel-
ry - bracelets, danglings,
necklace, etc. – I see a
person not fit to work for
and with the poorest of
the poor.
When Dinky says that
her aim is to rid street
children, I perceived
a displayed insult. In
scratching the website of
DSWD, there are dozens
of pictures on parties for
the street children and
stories on her appeal to
public not to give alms to
street children.
These parties of
DSWD for street children
are incoherent with her
Precisely, it would be ab-
surd for the government to
enter into another round of
peace negotiations with an-
other group of Moro rebels
when there are still impend-
ing issues with the MNLF.
The government should
deal with only with one
Moro front at one time so
that it can focus its efforts
and resources or risk having
peace negotiations with two
Moro fronts and end unsatis-
factorily.
These unresolved issues
with the MNLF will always
bring up doubt on the cred-
ibility of the GRP in the eyes
of the MILF.
“There must be final
closure to the MNLF his-
tory of armed struggle be-
fore the GRP will deal with
another chapter particularly
the MILF history of armed
struggle,” the Sulu lawmaker
told this Columnist.
***
The Muslim Filipinos
have passed a manifesto to
institutionalize the month of
Muharram that is the first
month of the lunar Hijra cal-
endar as a Zakat Awareness
Month during the forum held
last Tuesday afternoon at the
SMX Convention Center at
the Mall of Asia in Pasay
City.
Thanks to my good
friend Director Kim Edres
who informed me of the Za-
kat Forum, where he was the
organizing committee chair-
man.
My fraternity brother in
the Alpha Sigma Phi (Philip-
pines), Inc., Aleem Said Ah-
mad Basher, also the chair-
man of the Imam Council
of the Philippines, explained
that Zakat is the third pillar
of Islam where every Mus-
lim is obliged to pay annu-
ally 2.5% of his wealth for
the benefit of poor Muslims
in the community.
Aleem Basher, a learned
man in Islam being a gradu-
ate of the oldest Islamic uni-
Hernz quarry
By HERNANI CUARE
aim of getting rid of street
children from the streets.
These are frontal displays
of tolerance to the pres-
ence of children in the
streets. It is an irony to
her aim!
More so, her appeal
to the public not to give
alms to street children is
equal to admission that
she failed in her aim.
***
Year 2011 can never be
cloudy nor colorful with-
out reminiscing the past.
Let me share a little
sting during my stint in
government service that
may trigger a smile, or
may boil a rage.
When I was working
with a government agen-
cy created by the former
president, I stumbled on
two unforgettable deals
involving government
funds.The first deal was
My second birth
and Zakat economy
versity, Al Azhar University
in Cairo, Egypt, imparted
so much knowledge to a lay
man like this columnist, who
is not so well-versed in the
Islamic teachings.
He said Zakat is the ma-
jor economic means for the
establishment of social re-
sponsibility to lead the Mus-
lim society to prosperity and
security.
According to Basher,
eight eligible recipients are
stipulated in the Qur’an as
entitled to receive Zakat.
These are the: Fakir
or the poorest of the poor;
Miskeen or those who have
really nothing to eat; collec-
tor of Zakat; Balik-Islam or
those who have converted
to Islam religion; those who
are having a very huge debt
to the extent of having them-
selves enslaved; those who
have huge debts only; stu-
dents seeking knowledge;
and travelers who ran short
of money.
The theme of the forum
is: “Zakat as a Social Re-
sponsibility and a Tool for
Poverty Alleviation.”
It was sponsored by Bai-
tu Zakat and Awqaaf Foun-
dation (BZAF) headed by its
president, Aleem Abubacar
Saripada in coordination
with the National Commis-
sion on Muslim Filipinos
(NCMF) headed by Secre-
tary and Chief Executive
Officer Bai Omera Dianalan-
Lucman.
The BZAF, a national
charity organization, assists
those generous and caring
people who want to reach out
those in need.
The goal of BZAF as I
understand is to address im-
mediate needs and ensure
self-reliance of the poorest
Muslims in the Philippines
through Zakat (religious
obligatory tax) and Sadaqa
(voluntary charity), through
those coming from the priv-
ileged Muslims, and also
through those coming from
sent to trash while the
other gained so much.
The agency I was in
had its own General Ser-
vices Office (GSO) re-
sponsible for buying sup-
plies and equipment.
When the agency was
in need of a xerox ma-
chine, the GSO director,
along with finance offi-
cials, went out to jockey
for lower price.
After getting the rea-
sonable price of a xerox
machine (according to
him), the director asked
for an allocation, for-
warding his papers for
approval of the head of
the agency.
Upon seeing the re-
quest, the head of the
agency got annoyed and
immeditely ordered the
suspension of the director
while the finance officials
got sermons from hell.
other generous donors.
In her keynote message,
NCMF Secretary Lucman
emphasized that viewing
Zakat in the context of social
responsibility and poverty
alleviation reveals the beauty
of Islam not as a mere reli-
gion but also as a complete
way of life.
In this perspective, Za-
kat is a potential system that
could complement govern-
ment programs in eradicat-
ing poverty, especially in the
Muslim communities.
Lucman encouraged
her fellow Muslims to re-
ligiously pay their annual
Zakat and not just to practice
it as a mere religious ritual
but rather it as an alterna-
tive economic system of
development, just like what
Islamic countries do.
The NCMF secretary said
that in “other countries espe-
cially Islamic countries, their
respective governments have
begun to exploit Zakat as an
alternative system of econom-
ic development and as a social
safety net.”
In fact two members of
the diplomatic corps who
attended the forum, First
Secretary Muhana Al-Khail
of the Royal Embassy of
Saudi Arabia and Minister
Counselor Zaenal Arifin of
the Embassy of Republic
of Indonesia, shared actual
experience of collecting
Zakat in their respective
countries as an obliga-
tory responsibility of every
Muslim especially from the
affluent for the benefit of
their poor brethren.
The Muslim Filipino
businessmen, especially in
Metro Manila, have also
pledged full support for the
institutionalization of the
month of Muharram as a
Zakat Awareness Month in
order to encourage more
Muslims to comply with
their obligatory and religious
social responsibility in pay-
ing the Zakat.
Vol. II No. 30
It was the price of
the xerox machine that
angered the agency’s
head. It was a staggering
P120,000.00 worth of xe-
rox machine.
It was a hell of a price!
The second deal was
about the P15 million un-
consumed annual budget
of the agency.
Big bosses of the
agency met and planned
on where to allocate the
P15 million unspent fund.
It was settled that it
will be allocated to build
a building to house the
agency.
However, when the
bosses consulted the
Commission on Audit
(COA), the plan was
rejected for the annual
agency’s budget was al-
located only for salary of
personnel and office op-
erations. Reallignment of
fund is strictly prohibited.
The bosses were also
informed that the re-
maining P15 million, if
returned to government
coffers, will result in a
decrease of the agency’s
budget for the next year,
These Muslim Filipino
businessmen numbering
thousands are headed by En-
gineer Yusuff Macalangcom,
president of Sta. Lucia Mus-
lim Traders Association in
Cainta, Rizal, and lawyer
Carim Panumpang, chairman
of the Council of Elders of the
businessmen belonging to the
Greenhills Muslim Traders
Association in San Juan City.
Panumpang presented
a manifesto for the declara-
tion of Muharram as a Zakat
Awareness Month to NCMF
Secretary Lucman in the
presence of NCMF Com-
missioners Solaiman Mutia,
Hatimil Hassan, and Edilwa-
sif Baddiri.
However, this Colum-
nist learned from Madame
Secretary Lucman that
there is still a need for the
NCMF commissioners to
convene en banc before the
month of Muharram that
is equivalent to January in
the Gregorian calendar can
be declared by the Muslim
commission as a “Zakat
Awareness Month,”
***
The Author, JULMUNIR
I. JANNARAL, is one of the
few Bangsamoro journal-
ists in the Philippines. He
has been writing for various
national newspapers for the
last 25 years. He used to be
the executive editor of Tawi-
Tawi Herald, a provincial
newspaper, from 1985 to
1986.
He joined the national
media in 1986 as a news cor-
respondent of the Philippine
Daily Inquirer, writing for
“Batanes To Tawi-Tawi” the
regional section.
At present, he is also a
news correspondent of The
Manila Times covering
Muslim Affairs and Philip-
pine National Police (PNP)
beats.
He obtained his degree
in Bachelor of Science in
Fisheries, major in Marine
Fisheries (1977) from the
5               
and, of course, the re-
quest for additional
annual budget will defi-
nitely be discarded.
It is a government
practice that allocation
is in accordance with
the need and the failure
of an agency to con-
sume the allotment is a
conclusion that the al-
location was more than
what is needed.
So, it was decided
not to return to govern-
ment the unspent P15
million.
The following days,
the agency’s finance
office was swamped
with receipts from de-
partment stores, res-
taurants, office supply
companies, etc. Ninety
per cent of the receipts
were in blank.
The most amazing
part of the story was -
in the year-end finan-
cial report of the agen-
cy, the P15 million was
justifiably consumed.
No question!
***
These are my quar-
ries for now.
Mindanao State Univer-
sity in Bongao, Tawi-
Tawi. He took up Master
of Science in Fisheries
Biology from the Uni-
versity of the Philippines
in Diliman, Quezon City.
He graduated with the de-
gree of Bachelor of Laws
(2007) from Philippine
Law School (PLS) where
he was awarded with a
Gold Medal for Loyalty
and a Testimonial Award
for Outstanding Student
Leader while serving as
president of the Supreme
Law Student Council in
2006. He is also a gradu-
ate of Shari’ah (Islamic
Law) from the Philippine
Shari’ah Institute.
He was elected Re-
gional Auditor for the
National Capital Region
of the Association of Law
Students of the Philippines
(ALSP) in 2006.
In 1989, he became the
chief of correspondents of
Philippine Muslim Times,
a weekly published in Ma-
nila, Philippines. In 2000,
he became a news corre-
spondent of Gulf Times, a
daily broadsheet published
in Doha, Qatar until he left
in October 31, 2007.
At present he holds
the distinction as one of
the few Tausug members
of the national media and
regular member of the Na-
tional Press Club.
His translation of Dr.
Jose Rizal’s Ultimo Adios
(My Last Farewell) is the
official translation in Tau-
sug entitled “Pama’ id Ku
Hinapusan, “approved by
the National Historical
Institute. It was published
along with the other For-
eign and Local Transla-
tions in 1989.
***
For comments and
suggestions, e-mail the
author at jannaral69@
gmail.com or contact him
at +639167957154.
 6               Vol. II No. 30
T he tragedy
of Rejoice
R ejoice Rivera, the woman gifted with beauty
of greek goddess Venus, has alluring phy-
sique, passion, love and sexuality but she
had to end in tragedy.
But not like Venus who was served by countless servants to
preserve her curbs and enchanting face, Rejoice Rivera, or Di-
anne Marie Santos in real life who is the second of three Santos
siblings, was the breadwinner of a family of four after the death
of her father three years ago.
Rejoice, 26, capital- been her final perfor-
ized on her beauty in mance.
joining an all-woman Rejoice was wearing
dance group called “Bay- a gray shirt and denim
walk Bodies” in 2007. shorts when found dead.
Baywalk Bodies cap- Her body sustained
tivated the public eyes two bullet wounds in the
when they displayed head. Her wallet and mo-
flesh in a nude art picto- bile phone were missing.
rial at the known “pasya- She was identified by her
lan ng masa,” the Manila relatives at a morgue in
Baywalk in 2007. They Malolos.
were arrested by the Ma- Her mother, Nieves
nila Police but they went Santos, said she last
out of jail after posting talked to her daughter
bail. in the night of Decem-
Since then, Baywalk, ber 28 when Rejoice told
a group of a dozen of her someone was going
sexy women, emerged to fetch her from their
more popular than other house in Malolos.
sexy bodies on the dance Rejoice’s grieving
floor, especially after loved ones who refused
the release of their nov- to see her remains for
elty hit entitled “Kiliti,” long despite unclear de-
“Bombera,” “Bibingka,” livery of justice laid her
“Kilig,” “Ang Pipiliin to final rest on January
Ko,” “Lollipop,” “El 4, 2011, in her hometown
Bimbo,” etc. These were in Bulacan.
released by LDG Pro- Bulacan Police Di-
ductions and Entertain- rector Senior Superin-
ment Recording Co. and tendent Fernando Vil-
distributed by Galaxy lanueva vowed no stones
Records. will be left unturned in
But the number of the mysterious death of
Baywalk Bodies was Rejoice.
trimmed before the year Aware that Rejoice,
2010 ended. days before she was
Rejoice, 26, a native found dead, had rejected
of Malolos City, was a gift sent to her by a
found dead on a shoul- suitor or lover, the police
der of the North Luzon closed in with the angle
Expressway (NLEX) in of love or love triangle.
Guiguinto town at 3:45 More than other peo-
in the morning on De- ple, Rejoice’s mother
cember 29, the day be- Nieves shared the first-
fore what should have hand intimate details on
Jan. 3-9, 2011
According to Zodiac Zodiac Sun reveals have junked her suitor would fill the air, blood
Sun, Virgo women who that the emblem of Virgo, to trigger the latter’s would spill, Rejoice
are in love are the most a virgin holding sheaves blood to boil, then to would breathe her last..
difficult to understand. of wheat in her hands, threaten her with death Zodiac Sun claimed
They are dramatic, emo- symbolizes wisdom, if she would refuse to re- that Virgo is ruled by
tional, or sentimental. garnered in the fields cant her decision but she Mercury, and as por-
If her Zodiac sign of experience. Like the stuck on it. trayed in ancient Roman
speaks the truth, then, true virgin, most Virgos And that impasse mythology, Mercury
her being difficult to are shy and, like a virgin would result in heated wasn’t one to sit still for
understand might have who tend to wait to give arguments that drove the long.
triggered the anger of her herself to the perfect impassioned lover to get Rejoice might have
lover, who may have no lover. the gun as the ultimate cut short her love affair
plan to kill but was mere- Rejoice might not tool to compel Rejoice and with no intention
ly driven by passion and have found a perfect lov- to change her mind. The to have a long talk for
blinded by obfuscation to er, so to speak, right at weakness of the man in reconciliation that she
pull the trigger of the gun that suspense moments. his heart that he cannot would immediately walk
that killed her. So that Rejoice might accept defeat would then away from the gunner
drive him to further out- but that gunshots would
By OMAY E. RENTA rage that would lead him chase her, and death
to pull the the trigger. would close the pages of
& HERNZ CUARE Then the powder her ordeal.
the killing before and
after the discovery of her
daughter’s corpse.
Nieves reminisced
her bonding with her
daughter: “December 28,
nagkita-kita pa kami ni
Rejoice. Basta nagkuku-
wento lang siya sa akin
na, ‘Mama, merong nag-
text sa akin. Gusto raw
makipagkita sa akin.’”
Nieves further recol-
lected the event on the
day of discovery of her
daughter’s remains:
“Wednesday [De-
cember 29], may show
sila. Ang nagkukuwento
naman nito, si Kissa
[Kurdi, Baywalk Bodies
member].
“Sabi ni Kissa, may
show raw supposedly si
Rejoice, pero no-show
raw si Rejoice. Which is
unusual para kay Rejoice
na ganoon nga, hindi
mag-text.”
Nieves gave the name
of the killer when she
read the text message:
“Noong December 31,
may nag-text sa akin.
May binanggit siyang
pangalan na bumaril kay
Rejoice.”
Probably, the death of
Rejoice was sparked by
the extreme passion of
love if her Zodiac sign
speaks the truth.
Rejoice was born on
August 29, 1984, under
the Zodiac sign Virgo, a
virgin harvest goddess.
  Jan. 3-9, 2011 Vol. II No. 30 7               

Running jury system costs Phils P60-billion... From page 4

budget for 2009 is pegged
at an all-time high of PhP
1.415 trillion (USD 30 bil-
lion) as the government
wants to boost spending to
shield the economy from a
global slump. A provision in
the bill requiring reporting
transparency was recently
taken out by the government
despite congressional and
media protests.
“PAGC chairperson
Teresita Baltazar says the
money lost to corruption
“could have been a lot to
fund spending for social ser-
vices like education, health-
care, housing and livelihood
capital, and infrastructure.”
Looking at the average
20% of the national bud-
get, it means that based on
the 2011 national budget of
Php1.6 trillion the cost of
corruption necessarily goes
around Php 320 billion.
The projected savings
from corruption through jury
system:
So that if the implemen-
tation of the jury system
reduces corruption by only
50%, does it mean a savings
of Php 160 billion?
Based on the nature that
it is a far more rigid system
of justice, the jury system
will cause a reduction of
corruption incidences by at
least half the present number
in the Philippines where the
latest national budget ap-
proved by President PNoy is
at Php 1.6 trillion.
This is guaranteed and
supported by the experi-
ence of countries with jury
systems. There in the US,
outrage over the killing of
58 persons including 33
journalists. But if she chose
to ignore these outpouring
of outrage, nothing would
happen. Even now that the
Ampatuans are held, only
one of them is facing trial
yet while the rest have suc-
ceeded in forestalling the
reading of the charges: what
with Php 2 billion a year
looted from the coffers of
city for the maintenance
of the grand jury, the body
whose members hidden
from the public shall decide
who should be tried in court
or not. By the way, grand
jurors’ name and faces are
hidden to ensure they are
independent and not afraid
of deciding who to bring to
court or not.
NOW, consider trial ju-
ries in all six branches of
112 jury system units.
To know how much
would be spent for one year
in the entire country, we
compute: 112 jury system
units x 259.2 million ex-
pense for each unit = Php
29.0304 billion in cost.
Now add to this 20%
buffer fund to answer for
unexpected costs and yearly
infrastructure constructions.
We get around Php 35 billion

Drop case vs Lacson

From page 3
ing in the backdrop are more
than enough to give a new
look at the double-murder
charge filed by the Gloria-
controlled DOJ against Lac-
son.
Further diminishing the
credibility of the case against
Lacson is the fact that there
is no direct evidence show-
ing explicitly that Lacson
ever mentioned the name of
Salvador “Bubby” Dacer in
allegedly ordering the lat-
ter’s execution.
What Mancao claimed
in his second affidavit that
he heard Lacson agreeing
to Michael Rey Aquino’s
suggestion to liquidate
“Delta” because “Bigote”
wanted it to be done. It
was not stated by Mancao
in his second affidavit that
Lacson or Aquino clearly
said that “Delta” referred to
Dacer. If at all, the affida-
vit shows that it was only a
conclusion of Mancao that
“Delta” referred to Dacer, as
he concluded that “Bigote”
referred to Estrada.
Adding to these circum-
stances and the new affidavit
of Mancao is the fact that
there is no evidence that
ecution against Lacson is the
computer-generated papers
that stated that Dante Tan
gave 300,000 shares of BW
Resources to Lacson. There
was no signature of Lacson
in these papers. Moreover,
it is easy to do these in the
computer.
It was discovered later
that the BW Resources
shares have been manipu-
lated to fool the public to
subsequently end in using
that scandal as one of the
bases for the impeachment
of Estrada.
Prior to the abduction
of Dacer, it was said that he
was holding the evidence of
the manipulations of prices
of the shares of stock of BW
Resources.
And if ever there was one
person who had the interest
in killing Dacer for keeping
the damning evidence of
insider trading of BW Re-
sources shares, it would be
no other than those who ben-
efited from the manipulation
of share prices.
By the way, who were
those who benefited from
the manipulation of prices
of BW Resources share of
stock?
Of course, it is easy and
in filing the double-murder
charge against Lacson ap-
pear to have no foundation
to prove beyond reasonable
doubt that it was indeed Lac-
son who ordered the killing
of Dacer and Corbito.
Although it was—and
is—very weak, yet it was
filed by the Gloria-presided
prosecution before the judge
obviously afraid then of the
Gloria machinery.
With the weak evidence
that clearly do not warrant a
conscientious prosecutor to
say there is probable cause
that Lacson is likely guilty
of double murder, with the
clear indication of the politi-
cal revenge against Lacson
during the time of Gloria,
and with the necessity to re-
spect the voice of the people
who voted for Lacson to the
Senate, the conscience of
Dyaryo Magdalo is strongly
urging Secretary De Lima to
issue an order to cause the
withdrawal from the court
of the information for dou-
ble for murder and conduct
a new investigation.
And because the Presi-
dent has already ordered the
reinvestigation of the case
of Lacson, De Lima must
heed the wisdom of P-Noy
corruption is an exception;
decency in government ser-
vice is the rule.
In the US alone, you can
see plenty of state and feder-
al senators and congressmen
getting charged and convict-
ed by the grand jury and trial
jury. You saw then President
Richard Nixon compelled to
resign because of the grand
jury investigation. You saw
then President Bill Clinton
vowing to get investigated
for oral sex scandal in the
Oval Office by the grand
jury and getting impeached
in the US Congress.
In the Philippines, jail
time comes to a senator only
when he rebels as in Senator
Gringo Honasan and Sena-
tor Antonio Trillanes IV; like
Senator Panfilo Lacson had
been charged only because
he was ganged up by the
then incumbent administra-
tion’s men but he is wise
enough to seek cover.
In the Philippines, you
see ex-President Joseph
Estrada getting charged
and jailed just because the
President’s men ganged up
on him.
In the Philippines, the
whole of the Ampatuan
lords in Maguindanao were
charged all because Glo-
ria Macapagal Arroyo was
compelled by the world
the Province of Maguindan-
ao as reflected in the very
recent report of the Com-
mission on Audit. Under the
Philippine jurisdiction, one
cannot be convicted if he
has not yet been read of the
charges in court.
Thus, in the Philippines,
it all depends if the Presi-
dent desires to help you in
order to have a good fight
at the prosecution offices or
the courts. And if the Presi-
dent does not know you, say
“Goodbye, justice.”
The projected expense of
running jury systems:
Now, imagine how much
is needed to run a jury sys-
tem in a province. Assume
that in each province we
have one grand jury consist-
ing of 23 jurors and 2 alter-
nates.
If each is paid Php 1,000
a day, they get Php 20,000
a month. Multiply this by
25, we spend Php 500,000
a month in salaries. Add
to this Php100,000 more a
month for the maintenance
of the staff and offices so we
spend Php 600,000 a month.
Multiply this by 13 months
in one year (13th month pay
law), we need to spend Php
7.3 million in one year for
each province or urbanized
RTCs and about six MTCs,
assuming that all courts
will have 600 cases to be
tried each year by a jury of
12 ordinary Filipinos and
2 alternates. As the long
and rich experiences in
other countries show that
jury trials last in one to two
weeks in the average, as-
sume P30,000 cost for each
juror to answer for hotel
and security escorts. Mul-
tiplying, we get 30 x 14 =
P420,000.00 for each trial.
Multiply this by 600 cases
we get: Php420,000 x 600 =
P252 million a year.
With these budgetary es-
timates, in one province we
need to spend Php 7.3 milion
+ P252 million = Php 259.2
million.
In Maguindanao alone,
one of the poorest provinces
in the country, the Commis-
sion on Audit found that the
Ampatuans stole Php 2 bil-
lion or Php 2,000 million a
year. This means that even
the poorest province can fi-
nance the cost of running a
jury system unit.
Let us look at a larger scale.
We have 79 provinces.
Add 33 highly-urbanized
cities to be considered hav-
ing own separate jury system
and we get a total number of
in total cost to be spent for
the jury system.
Compare this cost to the
savings that will be earned
from reduction of corrup-
tion: Php 160 billion in sav-
ings from corruption vs Php
35 billion in cost of running
the whole jury systems.
Now, to ensure better
understanding of the system
among all tribes, use Php
20 billion each year in jury
education projects for every
province. Yet we have too
plenty of money to spare.
Now, consider also the
fact that in civil cases, it is
the losing party that will pay
for the jury costs.
Do we see a trend of
civil suits reducing sharply
just because those who
know they have no defenses
or evidence to prove their
claims are afraid to shoulder
the cost of the jury?
Yes, it will because the
civil case litigants will tend
to save the most and they
can do so by resorting to
compromise agreements or
settlements to reduce the
dockets of the courts instead
of opting for a jury trial.
Looking at these hard
facts, can we now turn a
blind eye to jury systems for
Filipinos?
Consider these, my
friends.

Bribery, robbery...
Lacson had the motive to kill reasonable to say that those who obviously respected the
Dacer. who had the most interest in authority of the people who ately approached the BES table
To understand the mo- keeping the scandal secret, voted for the senator. and stated my standing objec-
tive behind Dacer’s killing, it must have been no other This position taken by tion to the said proceedings but
it was the motive to hide the than Dante Tan and Eduardo Dyaryo Magdalo is there- Director Jay Timbresa of the
scandal caused by the faking “Monie” Lim, two top offi- fore no doubt the fairest From page 2 to them. of the incumbent Liga officials. DILG merely ordered me to sit
of the prices of the shares cials of BW Resources. thing to do under the cir- 3rd floor of the City Hall. “The said meeting was or- In contrast, he said that he down,” Mauricio complained.
of stock of BW Resources If there is no evidence of cumstances. “Even to the unschooled ganized with an obvious and and his party-mates were de- He said that Timbreza ig-
Inc. that was presided over motive, it is a doctrine that if Dyaryo Magdalo is also barangay tanods, these acts of premeditated manipulation by liberately assigned seats far at nored, refused to entertain his
by Dante Tan and Eduardo the only proofs are circum- confident that the children of respondent PB Echiverri and the incumbent chapter officials, the end of the hall at the back pleas and did not even record
“Moonie” Lim, persons stantial evidence, it cannot the chain of events leading to respondent PB Echiverri at the and the incumbent Liga vice- to the minutes his objections the
Dacer can accept this setup
the December 5 Liga meeting helm,” Mauricio said. president, Conrado Cruz (a 5th proceedings/
closed to then President Es- stand the test of proof be- when they themselves are “Iin spite of my beg-
trada. yond reasonable doubt. not sure whether Lacson is are definitely a form of vote- He said that inside the hall termer-chairman whose candi-
buying…, given the fact that where all the chairmen were dacy, election and proclama- ging and annoying presence
As to the motive issue, Thus, it is very clear that guilty or not. in front of the table where he
PB Echiverri is also the national seated, there was a table for the tion as a barangay chairman has
the only thing presented by the evidence used by the Give Senator Lacson the (Timbreza) is seated, my party
president of the Liga entrusted Nominations Committee and a been under protest), was the one
the Gloria-ordered pros- Gloria-ordered prosecution freedom to fight back. table for the BES, mystifying officiating the nominations. mates and I were completely
with the enormous powers and
multi-million funds of the Liga Mauricio because there was no dumb-founded by the unfolding
events as if no one among the
ESSAY WRITING TILT ng mga Barangay nationwide,”
Mauricio asserted.
meeting conducted for the pur-
pose of forming the said com-
Nominate-and-close tactic
Liga committee officials seated
in the front tables were aware of
ON JURY SYSTEM He said that when he and his mittees as mandated by the Liga Mauricio said that during
allies entered the City Hall, sev- By-Laws. the nominations for the posi- our presence,” he cried.
He pointed that that they tion of president, the incumbent
FOR FILIPINOS
eral armed policemen, military
men in camouflage uniforms were shocked that there were Liga president was nominated Compelled to walk out
armed with long-automatic ri- already appointed members of by his supporter.
fles, City Hall employees, and a the said nomination committee. He said his supporter, Pu- “As a sign of protest to the
All persons, of all political and religious affiliations, rich or poor, professionals or nomg Barangay Noel Cruz,
number of equally-armed secu- Mauricio also pointed out sham proceedings, my party-
students, retirees or professionally active, are invited to the 2011 Jury Essay Contest rity guards were all at the venue. that they were shocked that passionately was raising a hand mates and I walked out of the
sponsored and conducted by Hukuman ng Mamamayan Movement, Inc. (HMMI). He also notice many in- there were already election su- to be recognized to nominate hall after the BES did nothing
Berteni “Toto” Cataluña Causing, HMMI president, said the theme for the dividuals distributing sample pervisors serving them when but, Conrado Cruz, the Nomi- about our pleas. I only learned
contest is “WILL JURY SYSTEM WORK FOR FILIPINOS?” ballots of Echiverri’s party to they were not consulted as to nations Committee, and the afterwards that they continued
The contest is being staged to commemorate the first anniversary of HMMI, the Punong Barangays at the who should be chosen. BES did not even recognize with the Liga elections with
founded on January 29, 2010 for the purpose of education all Filipinos about the entrance of the City Hall. For he had the intention him and allowed him to talk. the incumbent Liga President
system of justice where the people themselves are exercising the power to judge He sighted City Hall em- for president of the city’s ba- After Echiverri was nomi- Ricojudge ‘RJ’ Echiverri and
and leaving the judges and prosecutors with the work of implementing what they ployees listing the attendance rangays’ association, Mauricio nated, allies of Echiverri im- his entire party-mates all win-
and distributing identification said he went to the Nominations mediately moved to close the ning without any opposition,
people have spoken. Committee table and asked for nomination and seconded the in clear violation of the DILG
cards to the Punong Barangays.
Entries are expected to tackle concepts, benefits, viability, and capacity of the Mauricio said that the name a copy of the Certificate of Can- motion. Memorandum Circular No.
jury system of justice and on how it can affect the Filipino society. tags or IDs stated that the pur- didacy (Form 3) that should be “At this juncture, I immedi- 2010-129,” Mauricio decried.
Essays of at least 1,500 words should be creative in the presentation of how pose of the December 05, 2010 provided by the said committee
the jury system composed of two bodies can drastically reduce corruption and meeting was for Liga Election as written in the DILG memo-
other crimes, steeply increase obedience to the rule of law, dramatically reduce of Chapter Officers. randum circular. AFFIDAVIT OF SELF-ADJUDICATION (EXTRAJU-
inequalities and discriminations, substantially provide solid platforms to convince He added that the meeting “Sadly, the committee told DICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF SUSANA
the rebels to lay down arms and give peace a chance, rapidly form good habits was tightly-guarded with the me that they do not have a copy ANDRES COLLADO) – Being the sole heir of Susana
and culture as well as raise standards of ethics and morality among all government intimidating presence of the of the said form and informed
heavily-armed military men and me that the nominations would Andres Collado of No. 2 Mt. Everest St., Filinvest I,
officials and professionals, among others. police officers. only be done orally,” Mauricio Batasan Hills, Quezon City, CASIMIRA ANDRES COL-
It is required that participants must submit their entries by email bearing their What was sad, he said, was lamented. LADO PASCUAL adjudicated unto herself the personal
complete names, addresses, cellular phone or other contact numbers, email ad- that mediamen and his personal Frustrated, he said they property of the Estate of SUSANA ANDRES COLLADO
dresses. They may also submit by snail mail and address their pieces to Toto Caus- lawyer were barred from enter- found themselves in awkward
ing, HMMI, Ground Floor, National Press Club Bldg., No. 1 Magallanes Drive, ing the election venue. position because they were be- consisting in all the amount deposited in the Foreign
Intramuros, Manila. Among the journalists who ing forced to participate in the Currency Deposit at Metrobank under Bank Account No.
The criteria shall be as follows: (1) content, 60%; (2) style 20%; (3) grammar were barred entry, Mauricio activity that was completely in 032-2-03200261-1. Notarized under the notarial registry
& composition 10%; and (4) creativity, 10%. named Arlie Calalo, of Remate, disregard of the Liga Election of Notary Public Dervin V. Castro as the Notary Public for
who is also the president of the Rules, the Local Government
There are two categories: English and Filipino, provided that those who have Code, DILG Memorandum Manila, specifically Document No. 294, Page No. 155,
Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas
submitted entries in one category can no longer submit for another. (CAMANAVA) Press Corps. Circular on Synchronized Liga Book No. 2, whose acknowledgment is registered under
Prizes for first 10 placers are yet to be announced. The deadline for submis- Mauricio added that even Chapter Elections and our indi- the same notarial book as Document No. 295, Page No.
sion is January 29, 2011, provided that with respect to entries submitted by mails he and his allies, who are chair- vidual rights. 155, Book No. 2, all dated December 31, 2010. (This is
should be postmarked with the date not later than the deadline date. men, were initially barred from Mauricio noticed that the
the publication for this issue of January 3, 2011, Monday,
For more details, contact Berteni “Toto” Cataluña Causing at his email address, the venue by the security guards microphone was strategically
claiming it was a standing order located in front of the members the first day of issue of this weekly newsmagazine.)
totoacusing@yahoo.com; cellphone, 09178834254; landline,: 0632-3109144.
 8               Vol. II No. 30 Jan. 3-9, 2011

NO MAYWEATHER
ON MAY SEVEN By RONALDO B.
HERICO

B
OB Arum, Top Rank’s
big boss has already
named Sugar Shane Mos-
ley as the next opponent
of the 8-division titlist
and pound-for-pound king Manny
Pacquiao to be held at the MGM
Grand in Las Vegas on May 7,
2011.
Although contracts have yet to
be finalized, many fight fans and
boxing critics alike state that Mos-
ley does not deserve this fight of
this magnitude, considering his
lackluster and unimpressive perfor-
mance in his two previous matches.
In Mosley’s fight against and opted not to slug it out
Floyd Mayweather Jr., he with the Pacman but only
started like a raging bull to survive the match. Pac-
ready to gore his ‘matador’. man retained his belt via a
A combination caught unanimous decision.
Floyd in the second round Then Pacman brutal-
sending his knees to buckle ized the much taller and
and almost ready to melt. heftier Margarito the full
Mosley tried to connect distance and beat him to
with the ‘coup de grace’ a pulp on his way to win-
but it never found the tar- ning the World Boxing
get. Unluckily for Mosley, Council (WBC) Junior
Floyd reorganized, got his Middleweight crown for camps agreeing to dis- ponents was considered. man a good competitive down because of his most trouble in his entire
acts together and went on his eighth world title belt. agree. Besides Floyd Jr., whom fight but sad to say, boxing punching strength and his career.
to win that fight lopsidedly So impressive with the For so many reasons, the world had been wait- is business. bullying style, sputtered Mosley is still danger-
on points. win that even Margarito from drug-testing, purse ing and aching to see a Arum does only what against the speed, agil- ous at 39. He may be lethal
After his loss to Floyd, openly declared that Pac- sharing and either camps match with the Pacman to he thinks would be favor- ity and the left hook of and could give Pacman
Mosley fought to a disap- man is “the best boxer in tirades and accusations the happen, there were names able for his company and Pacquiao sending him to trouble for the first couple
pointing draw with Sergio the world” today. fight almost took place. included but in a long shot. his fighters and the only dreamland in the second of rounds but if Pacquiao
Mora that many fight fans Both fights were held Adding insult to injury, Although Floyd Jr. was way to rake in revenues round. takes his training camp
thought was a match that at the newly-renovated Floyd Jr. is facing differ- given top priority, Top is by pitting boxers in his Deprived of two stop- seriously, he will prevail
should have turned in Mo- multi-million dollar Dal- ent court cases and legal Rank executives thought stable and Mosley was the pages against Clottey and even at 80 percent fit.
ra’s favor. las Stadium, home of the disputes thereby depriving that the flamboyant boxer most logical pick. Margarito, Pacquiao is ex- Even if Manny over-
In contrast to Mosley, NFL’s Dallas Cowboys in the boxing world of this has no plans of squaring pected to regain his knock- whelms Mosley by a one-
Manny Pacquiao had been Arlington, Texas. It sold megafight. it off with Pacquiao in the Demolition job out moves that would sided decision, then many
so impressive with his pre- to more than 50,000 fight All is not lost though first quarter of the year make his 12-round welter- would say that he took
vious fights against bigger fans in attendance each, as the boxing world is still since he is facing court Manny Pacquiao’s last weight match with Mosley Mosley at a time when his
and heftier opponents like the most number in recent hoping that the showdown cases and the possibility of fight in the lighter division a slambang affair. career has already been on
Joshua Clottey and Anto- years. between these two finest being jailed for 34 years. took place over two years “I am pretty sure Man- the downswing and that
nio Margarito. and elite combatants of It all boiled down to ago when he battered Da- ny will try to knock me out victory would be an empty
The Pinoy boxing The fight that never was this era to happen, if and three boxing stars that vid Diaz and ultimately and I will try to do the same one.
icon fought Clottey for only if Floyd Jr. surfaces were given options offered stopping him in the ninth thing,” said the 39-year- But the bigger ques-
the WBO Welterweight Pacquiao and May- and stop hiding his balls to Pacquiao to choose round. old Mosley. “(And) this tion, however, is will Pac-
crown but was completely weather, two of the world’s and stop making excuses from. There were Mosley, Then Oscar Dela Hoya is why (our fight will) be quiao be able to do what
dominated and outclassed. best pound-for-pound and alibis, to determine Juan Manuel Marquez and tried his once blinding a great fight…two fighters no other fighter has ever
Although Clottey threw champions depending on who the greatest pound- Andre Berto. handspeed but was badly who are willing to fight.” done before – to stop or
punches, it never stood whose side you’re on, al- for-pound fighter is once Other names were also outpunched by Pacquiao Mosley has never been knock the lights out of
a chance of getting the most came to happen. and for all. mentioned such as Sergio and failed to answer the stopped and the closest Mosley?
champ in trouble. It would have been the Martinez and Saul Alva- bell in the ninth round. someone came to succeed- That is the only way
Disappointed, Clot- megafight the world is The selection rez. These boys could give Briton Ricky Hatton, ing was the much taller, that those who do not be-
tey held up his hands in waiting and aching to see some interesting match- fancied by many sports longer and heftier Vernon lieve in the wisdom of the
front of his face instead had it not been for both The list of potential op- ups and could give Pac- scribes to take Pacman Forrest who had him in the match-up can be justified.

‘MY SON, WHY DID PCSO FORSAKE YOU?’

blame on this administra- away from responsibilities biggest and oldest organiza- raised the other Php 1 mil- Sixth, the PCSO’s pres- pointed board have had no ent board.
From page 2

tion who is just reaping all

because it passes the blame tion of newsmen. That is, lion and she has no basis to ent board does not have the relation to the issue of finan- This is because the
the effect not only of theon the set of PCSO officers although the facts recited doubt whether the money power to withdraw what cial and medical assistance NPC statement did not
ineptness but the corrup- replaced by the group of Di- therein are supported by was sufficient for she is not was approved by the past to Baby Jesus. state any word to the ef-
tion of the past adminis- rector Tolentino, including documents. a doctor who knows best board because the pledge That New York lunch fect that it was passing the
tration!!!! Perfect alibi!!!!
Chairperson Margie Juico Third, the fact that the how much would be the given then became a vested of Gloria Arroyo is another blame.
“You can tell my pane-and General Manager Jose mother of Baby Jesus came cost. right of Baby Jesus. Under separate issue subject of a The Club has nothing
ro, Atty. Causing, to check
Ferdinand M. Rojas II. to the PCSO on December Fifth, it was no longer an the Constitution, that vested separate corruption case. to do with their politicking
the facts of a case first be- For one, the said state- 10 and he died only 16 days issue if the old PCSO board right being a kind of prop- Additionally, there has been and not interested in who
fore judging!!!” ment was never published in later or on December 16, it did not release the Php 1 erty cannot be deprived of no report that the money should be appointed to the
any newspaper but only on means there was still suffi- million during their time the child without due pro- paid for that lunch came PCSO.
Rejoinder to the reply Facebook and email groups. cient time to save the baby. because it was already past cess of law. from the PCSO. The fact remains that
of PCSO Director Second, the PCSO direc- Fourth, she cannot ques- and what was the urgent call Seventh, the billions of Eighth, it is incorrect for the PCSO has forsaken
tor may have missed that the tion whether the Php 1-mil- of the moment during the pesos Director Tolentino Director Tolentino to say Baby Jesus.
The response looks statement of the NPC is a lion fund was sufficient be- present PCSO board’s time is saying about that were that there was an attempt to It was one of reckless
more of an act of ducking statement of opinion of the cause the NPC had already was to release the promise. released by the Gloria-ap- pass the blame on the pres- abandon.