Jonas Joseph “Jay Jay” Burgos son of late Freedom Fighter Jose Burgos, Jr. Missing

UPDATE 5/1 4:06 pm on Burgos disappearance

According to ABS-CBN News a witness went to the station to report on what he saw regarding the abduction of Jonas Joseph “Jay Jay”

Burgos.

The witness identifying himself only as “Randy” for his own safety and security that he saw what happened and requested further that his face not be shown on TV.

According to reports he immediately recognizes Burgos from the picture shown by Dr. Edith Burgos in her appeal to locate her missing son.

The witness narrated seeing Burgos eating alone at “Hapag-Kainan” restaurant at Ever Gotesco Mall at Commonwealth Avenue last Saturday around 1:00 p.m.

Burgos was abruptly approached by 4 “bodyguard” (burly) looking men stroking the shoulder of the victim to put him at ease. At this instance he was dragged out despite the victims shouting for help saying: “Tulungan ninyo ako, dinudukot ako, Aktibista ako” (Help me, I am being abducted, I am an activist).

It was learned that out of fear and intimidation no one dared to help the victim and things just got back to normal as if no disturbing incident just happened.

A visit at Ellen Tordesillas blog showed more disturbing development asking to pray for Burgos, which I quote:

A former colleague in Malaya last night texted me they have information that it was elements of ISAFP (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines) that abducted Jayjay. “Please pray,” she said.

Let’s hope and pray that this is not the case. How sad that even Recto recognizes the contribution of the elder Burgos and truly this is a reflection of an ingrate instead of honoring our debt of gratitude has his son abducted under her watch is truly disturbing.

________________________________________________________

I have to break the One Day Blog Silence, to not bring this out to public attention will be a dishonor to one of our unsung heroes of the dark days of Marcos Dictatorship. Joe Burgos is the Publisher of the We Forum and Malaya during the height of Marcos repressive dictatorial regime courageously publishing independent unbiased news at a time when most of the big publications were cowering in fear or virtually shut down.

Jonas Joseph “Jay Jay” Burgos, 36, married with one child of San Miguel, Bulacan went missing since the evening of April 28. According to distraught relatives who feared he was abducted by military agents when he did not show up to attend their family reunion in Quezon City.

Jay Jay, an agriculture graduate of the Benguet State University (BSU), is a trainor of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan (AMB), an affiliate of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

A good natured man who is so giving who will give what he has if he felt others need it most even down to his shirt and slippers, according to mother of Jonas Dr. Edith Burgos. The relatives feared his disappearance may have been tied to his membership to an organization tagged by the military as an “enemy of the state”. Dr. Edith Burgos is appealing to the military and police for help in finding her son, to quote:

“I am appealing to anyone who knows where my son is to please, help us find my son. I am also appealing to those who took him, please, don’t hurt him. If he has done something wrong, please, give us the chance to do something about it,” she said.

Burgos said her son has no known enemies and said he was an active member of AMB since 1988.

The young

Burgos was reportedly with a certain Melissa Reyes, a mother of four, and a still unidentified male companion when they disappeared. Reyes’ relatives, according to Burgos, said Melissa failed to go home on Saturday night.

The chilling events prior to his disappearance came more than a week after masked men on board a van barged into the house of Joseph Canlas, chairman of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL), and tried to abduct him.

Fortunately, Canlas was not home when the attackers came and manhandled his relatives and stole their cellular phones.

Meanwhile, the Families of Desaparacedos for Justice (Desaparacidos) condemned the disappearance of Burgos and Reyes.

“This is a brazen act which only state security forces will have the motive and gall to carry out. It’s ironic that it happened to a member of the Burgos family that had opposed and survived Martial Law and sill continues to defend civil rights and press freedom,” spokesperson Ghay Portajada said.

Portajada noted that the disappearance happened not in a remote village in the countryside, but in

Quezon City.

The group claimed that a total of 198 people have become victims of enforced disappearances since President Arroyo took power in January 2001.

Dr. Editha Chavez Tronqued Burgos describing the younger

Burgos as:

“Kamukha ng asawa ko, parang mapayat at batang Joe Burgos ‘yon, na walang salamin, Editha Chavez Tronqued Burgos told radio dzBB on Monday when she appealed for help on the whereabouts of his son.

While no one has determined what he may be wearing Dr. Burgos told DZBB that her son usually wears denim pants and T-shirt. It was reported that it was very unusual for the younger Burgos not to inform people if he is not able to come on scheduled appointments or family meetings or gatherings. His disappearance is very uncharacteristic of his diligence in informing people if he can make it or not in his appointments especially family gatherings.

This is very sad indeed, if this is how we repay our debt of gratitude to a man who risked life and limbs inspiring and enlightening people of the evils of the dictatorship by abducting his son instead of honoring him is the lowest of the low. It does not come as a surprise though because this Lady was nowhere or heard of during the dark days of martial rule. If she can create a wedge and make enemies of those who propped her up to power it really does not come as a surprise that she is bound to follow the footstep of the Marcosian dictatorship.

Bring this case to the attention of the US Congress and other influential people in the west and show the world what has become of this once proud bastion of democracy in the Far East as nothing more but a nation on the verge of another Marcosian rule.

One of Edith’s sons has already reported the incident to the police, anyone who could help her find Jay Jay can contact her through her cellular phone no. 0928-7551449.

On Banners and what can be done with it.

The potential of the internet is indeed limitless; this is just like a cyber playground where one can indulge in bringing out that creativity that you never realized you had in you. The best part is that most of the resources out there are free for the taking.

Some sites like High Power Graphics offers free banners that you can customize on site. It is such an amazing site where one does not need to be an IT person to figure out and best of all is, it is wysiwyg.

Here is one for this BOGUS PARTY LIST that I linked with BARE THE LIST site of Akbayan.

Here is one that hopefully will make people think twice before they indulge in mindless partisan administratong errr administration and opportunist yikes I meant opposition hollow choice of candidates which I linked to the Migrant Manifesto for Issue-based Electoral Contest.

This is hilarious and maybe it’s about time we use the Department of Justice facility to complain and report Gonzales as an embarrassment to his profession and his office.

Medium 468 x 60

Small 240 x 31 (good side widget)

To give these people a hard time I wanted to share the codes, unfortunately I have not figured out how to hang the code in blogs..... not yet anyway, lol...... or maybe never. So as not to disapoint those who want the banners for their blogs just email the Urot errr this wanna be author and I will gladly send them to you.

On Extra-Judicial Killings and disapearance the need to get this out in the public is a must, after all if the Philippines is indeed a civilized nation it should learn to respect human life as the most sacred and no one has the right to play god.

Filipinos in the US Support Fr. Ed’s Electoral Crusade

San Francisco (April 27, 2007) - As the May 14 election in the Philippines closes in overseas Filipinos are also registering their support and preferences in their hometowns’ politics. The Kapampangans in California launched a fund-raising campaign to bankroll the candidacy of priest-turned-politician Fr. Ed Panlilio and his crusade for “moral leadership and good governance.”

On April 29, a holy mass for peaceful and honest elections in the Philippines is scheduled 3 p.m. at the St. Anne of the Sunset Catholic Church (at 850 Judah Street) in San Francisco, California.

After the mass, a community reception and a meeting on how Filipinos can support Panlilio and his cause will follow.

"Our kabalens in the Bay Area continue to clamor for a concrete action to show our participation and concern for moral leadership and good governance through the coming national elections in our beloved Philippines next month. Please come and invite families, friends and others to this significant event and exercise of our faith in God's promise and love for our country, the Philippines," according to the flyers distributed in the internet.

A similar event is also organized in the Southern Group of Kapampangans, headed by the Southern Minalenians, in support of Panlilio, on April 29 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4950 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood. The 4 p.m. mass is to be officiated by Fr. Rodel Balagtas, a Kapampangan parish priest.

“Fr. Ed Panlilio always has the ear to the plight of the poor, listens to the cry (for help of Pampanga). He takes off his robe. He takes the sacrificial plunge to help. He runs for governor of Pampanga," according to the Minalenian Club where the priest also come from.

However, the group believed that the undertaking involves lots of money especially against rivals who possess well-oiled political machineries – the incumbent Mark Lapid and Board member Lilia Pineda. The Lapids are identified with the alleged illegal quarry operations and the Pinedas with jueteng operations in the province.

For more information on the ‘Campaign to Support Fr. Ed’, you can contact MC Canlas at 415-513-5442 and Fr. Ray at 415-412-1358.
____________________________________________________
You don't have to be a Kapampangan to support this noble worthy cause, take a stand and support Fr. Ed Panlilio to dislodge illegal Jueteng and Quarry funded political leaders lording Pampanga, join the mass and donate, help a good man lead the province out of moral bankcruptcy.

CI

related articles:

The Man Who Could Save PAMPANGA

Fr. ED Against all ODDS

Where is Ma. Luisa Posa-Dominado & Nilo Arado?

An appeal posted at TALSIK YAHOO GROUP to help find 2 missing Political Activist, reportedly abducted at gunpoint, any tip or info related to the case please send email to beyondgma@yahoo.com. The only leads so far: The victims' vehicle was found burned in Januiay, Iloilo, Philippines for more information on the case visit Arkibong Bayan.

FACTSHEET

Case: Abduction Frustrated Murder

Victims: Ma. Luisa Posa- Dominado

Nilo Arado

Jose Ely T. Garachico

Date of Incident: April 12, 2007

9:30 pm

Place of Incident: Brgy. Cabanbanan, Oton, Iloilo

Perpetrators: Unidentfied armed men

Date of Documentation: April 13, 2007

A black Mitsubishi L200 pick-up with plate number FEA 789 carrying Ma. Luisa Dominado, Nilo Arado, and Jose Ely Garachico was blocked by a Mitsubishi van with unidentified armed men at Brgy. Cabanbanan (around 7 km. from Iloilo City), Oton, Iloilo, April 12, 9:30 pm.

Garachico, 51, public information officer of the human rights groups Karapatan in Panay, was shot in the neck by an unknown caliber firearm and was ordered to get off the driver's seat. He was left behind.

Garachico may undergo surgery to remove the slug still embedded in his chest. He is currently in the intensive care unit of the Iloilo Doctors Hospital in Iloilo City.

Dominado, 52, is the spokesperson of the Samahan nga mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Para sa Amnestiya (Selda-Panay). Arado, 39, is chairperson of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), regional coordinator of Anakpawis in Panay and national council member of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas. Both were forcibly taken into a green Mitsubishi van with plate number FVF 463, according to the police blotter report of Oton Municipal Police Station

Witnesses, however, claim that Dominado was forced on-board a white/gray van with plate number FVF 463. Arado was taken forced separately into a maroon Starex vehicle (GEW/GEM 874/847).

Garachico told investigators that they were on their way home from the capital town of San Jose in Antique when they noticed a green colored Mitsubishi van tailing them from Guimbal town, 24 km south of Iloilo City. SPO3 RA Acuesta, SPO2 LH Haro, PO3 MH Corpin, PO3 Jo Gatuslao, PO2 JRS Pabalan, and`PO2 JVG Minerva Sr. of the Oton Municipal Police station conducted the investigation.


The three had just attended an assembly of the partylist group Anakpawis in the province of Antique. Garachico tried to outrun the van but it managed to overtake their vehicle at Brgy. Parara, Tigbauan, Iloilo and cut the path of the vehicle of the activists in Barangay Cabanbanan, Oton.

The pickup truck of the activists were found at dawn of April 13 badly burned at a sugarcane field in Janiuay town 33 north west of Iloilo City or 30 km from where the victims were waylaid.

Insp. Efren Nimbra, Janiuay police chief, said residents of Barangay Guadalupe reported to the police after they saw the van in flames shortly after they heard a loud explosion between 2:00am -3:00 am, April 13.

As of this writing, the whereabouts of Nilo Arado and Ma. Luisa Dominado could not be ascertained.

Capt. Lowen Gil Marquez, Chief of 32nd Civil Relations Unit (32nd CRU) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Iloilo dispelled accusations that the AFP is behind the incident. Marquez asserted that investigators should also look at other possible angles like business conflicts involving the victims, `ambush me" theory, and the rift within the Communist Party of the Philippines where disgruntled elements may have a direct hand in the incident. #

Prepared by:

KARAPATAN-Panay

c/o Room 203 La Salette Bldg.

Valeria St., Iloilo City

Tel./Fax No. (033) 300-0408

Below is the account of the most recent cased of political repression in the country. Attached is the statement of May Wan and Tamara Dominado, the daughters of Ma. Luisa Posa-Dominado on the forcible disappearance of their mother.

I have known, Ma. Luisa or Luing during the Marcos dictatorship period when we were both imprisoned in Iloilo in July 1973 and then transferred to Cebu and finally to Ipil Detention Center. She was I think only 18 years old at that time but was already committed to the struggle to end the dictatorship and to fight for a better life for the majority of our people.

She was imprisoned several times after being released in 1974, the last time I think during the Aquino administration. I remember seeing a poster of her and her daughter May Wan, who was only a young girl at that time asking for her release. May Wan is now a law graduate and was supposed to start her bar review classes at the UP Law Center this summer when her mother was abducted. She won't be able to review this summer as she and her daughter join other relatives of victims of human rights violation in the country in seeking justice for their loved ones.

Luing has been in the forefront of organizing former political detainees in Iloilo and Panay through SELDA and has been one of those who successfully lobbied the city government to have a memorial containing the names of those who were killed or have disappeared during the martial law years erected in one of Iloilo City's plazas.

It is with heavy heart that I learned of her abduction together with Nilo Arado of Anak Pawis Panay and the attempted murder of Liboy Garachico of KARAPATAN last April 12. Luing , Nilo and Liboy who survived the long dark years of the Marcos dictatorship are the latest victims of the present administration Oplan Bantay Laya policy.

The Macapagal-Arroyo regime continues to trample on people's rights in spite of widespread local and international condemnation of the extrajudicial killings and forceable disappearance of activists in the country. Her public commendation in her 2006 State of the Nation Address of Former General Jovito Palparan who has been implicated in many cases of political killings and disappearances in Mindoro, Samar, Leyte, Bulacan and Pampanga gave official blessings to the
military to continue with the extermination of activists, personalities and citizens considered "enemies of the state".

I join May Wan and Tamara Dominado and the relatives of Nilo Arado in their appeal to surface Ma. Luisa Posa-Dominado and Nilo Arado. Please write letters to the following calling on the release of Luing and Nilo.

H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic
Malacanang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph, opnet@ops.gov.ph

Sec. Jesus D. Dureza
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
*Office of the Peace Process
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice: +63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Mobile:
Fax: +63 (2) 635 9579
Email: osec@opapp.gov.ph

Gen. Hermogenes Ebdane, (Ret.)
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue
Quezon City
Voice: +63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax: +63(2) 911 6213
Email: osnd@philonline.com

Sec. Raul M. Gonzalez
Secretary of Justice
Padre Faura Street, Manila
Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.214
Telefax 521-1614
Email: sad@doj.gov.ph
or log on to Web site.

Hon. Purificacion V. Quisumbing
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Dilim Quezon City
Philippines
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: drpvq@chr.gov.ph

Thank you.

Prof. Judy M. Taguiwalo
Former Political Prisoner
Associate Professor
College of Social Work and Community Development
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
Philippines

==================

At around 9:30 PM, April 12, 2007, Ma. Luisa Posa-Dominado of SELDA-Panay, Jose Ely "Liboy" Garachico of KARAPATAN, and Nilo Arado of BAYAN-Panay and ANAKPAWIS were on their way to Iloilo City from Antique when they were ambushed at Brgy. Cabanbanan, Oton, Iloilo, Phlippines. Their vehicle, a Mitsubishi L200 pick-up, was overtaken by two vans. Two armed men got off from one of the vans, shot the driver, Liboy Garachico, who was then grabbed and thrown to the street. Witnesses saw that an unconscious Nilo Arado was carried off to an L300 van while a resisting Ma. Luisa Posa-Dominado was dragged to a Starex van. One of the suspects then took the victims' vehicle and sped off to an unknown destination along with the two other vans.

The witnesses immediately rushed to the wounded Liboy Garachico and brought him to Iloilo Doctor's Hospital. At around 4 AM of the next day, the victims' burned vehicle was found at Brgy. Guadalupe, Janiuay, Iloilo.

At the moment, both Ma. Luisa Posa-Dominado and Nilo Arado are still missing and Garachico is still in the ICU.

The Posa Family condemns this brutal act. We hope that our relatives, friends and the sympathetic public will persistently support our call for the release of Ma.Luisa Posa-Dominado and Nilo Arado and pressure their abductors to bring them back alive and unharmed. We pray for the complete recovery of Liboy Garachico. We demand that the perpetrators be brought into the open to face the full force of the law.

Let us fight to stop all political repression and extrajudicial killings!

Join the SAVE MA. LUISA POSA-DOMINADO AND NILO ARADO MOVEMENT!

Sign the Petition STOP THE EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES NOW!!!.


Subscribe in a reader Click on the images to receive your free email updates
POGB will not sell, exchange, use or allow any 3rd party access to your email for
any other purposes without exception, email exclusively for article updates only.

Human Rights Social Issues Philippine Politics

Candle Light Prayer for Clean, Honest & Credible 07 Election

Yesterday April 25, 2007 is the start of the Candle Light Prayer for Clean, Honest and Credible elections with Kontra Daya (the group that came up with a list of 22 Bogus Party List) and ecumenical groups converging at the Comelec headquarters’ in Plaza Roma. They held ecumenical service and lighting of candles asking the people to be vigilant as moves to undermine the election persist. The Garci scandal that to this point has been unresolved makes them skeptical of the covenant entered into by the AFP and PPCRV, who wouldn’t be? Everywhere you look it seems that all indications points to some Macao cooking and this people are not even from Macao. Just look at what I saw at my cyber Buddy Schumey’s blog The Philippine Experience post, which was gathered from ANC on Tonypet Albano and Adel Tamano giving the figures during separate interviews:

Election Expenditure Update: Team Unity who boasts of 12-0 sweep has already spent close to P3 Billion in their campaign. The Genuine Opposition for their part has spent P380.

Now who wouldn’t be skeptical, this is outrageous and at a time when huge sectors of society are reduced to poverty this squandering Fooliticians spends money as if it was going out of style. Nothing is sacred in this land of madaya, I hope they are not bragging when they divulge such irrational figures.

And then we have the Justice Secretary of all people and the office he represents truly makes a mockery of our electoral contest a process that is supposed to be the hallmark of the sanctity of peoples voices drowned in vulgar “ignorance” of the law or was it senility. Imagine a Justice Secretary feigning ignorance rationalizing his bribe offer as “common election practice” truly makes Goebbel scream, shake rattle and roll in laughter in his grave for his disciples’ believing in their own concoction. Let me just quote this Inquirer Breaking News and see how pathetic it is:

"I will now keep my mouth shut."

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez on Thursday told reporters he will not longer talk about the P10,000 he offered to barangay (village) captains in Iloilo City for a 12-0 sweep for TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) Unity.

After the justice chief came under fire for the offer, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it would investigate Gonzalez.

Asked about the Comelec's response, Gonzalez said: "Bahala sila [It’s up to them]."

But he said he never thought his offer would be such a big deal because it is a common election practice.

Now how pathetic or revolting is that and to top it all he was even blaming and accusing Radio Bombo for “leaking” the bribe offer when it was he who broadcast the offer in his radio program at DWIZ. Is that a sign of dementia or pure arrogance? He could not even remember what he did and did not even see anything illegal with what he did makes you wonder what kind of justice we have since he is the man in charge of that department.

After all this can we blame Kontra Daya being skeptical with the AFP? Aside from the above development, Fr. Joe Dizon spelled out the reason for their skepticism which I quote:

The AFP-initiated covenant is just a PR gimmick to try to make people forget that the military played a major role in facilitating massive electoral fraud in 2004. The military wants the people to think they are incapable of doing massive cheating for the elections. Of all the signatories in the covenant, it is the AFP which sticks out like a sore thumb.

While we don’t doubt the good intentions of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and the other signatories to the covenant for honest and peaceful elections, we certainly feel a great unease over the pronouncements of the AFP. The AFP hasn’t even acknowledged and atoned for its involvement in the

Garci fraud in 2004.

What the AFP says in its covenant is different from what it is doing in reality. The harassment of voters continues. The intimidation of activists remain. How can there be honest and peaceful elections if the AFP is a party to the violence and harassment against voters. We have received reports that the AFP is also conducting election operations in other cities in the provinces.

The covenant may be used to justify the militarization of the Metro. This is a dangerous and worrisome scenario we are looking at. The covenant may backfire on the other signatories and on the voters themselves.

The Plan of AFP to hold community forums next week they feared may just be an excuse of using it as a platform to intensify militarization in the guise of campaigning for clean elections. Really, what business does a Military have in “educating” the voting public when they have not cleared their outfit of their role in the last Garcified election?

Photo courtesy: Arkibong Bayan

For totally free subscription by email on the latest articles click this ---> Pedestrian Observer

I wonder who are behind these?

There is a site on the net that mocks Wikipedia named UncyclopediA and it can be edited by people that registers to their site. So far, they have this on:

Gloring Macapal-Arroyo (also known as P-GMHey, Mrs. Jose Pidal, GMA, Tuta ng Kano, Ewok and Dwarf, ) (born April 5, 1947) is the current Furher and 14th president of the Philippines. She is the country's second female president after Kurakot Akilobut she is still the shortest President (Rumor has it, that the only reason people stand up during her speeches is because she is too short to be seen).She is the son of former President Dios-daddy Macapal before she had Sex Change Surgery, according to medical reports, her surgeon was drunk with vodka and took also most of height think it was the thing....

She is being identifed as "the mole" because of her mole in her left cheek and the shortest president in the world. She is currently tutoring George W. Bush on how to stay in office despite the politcally and complextion damaging social/political issues. She is currently teaching him under the presidential table to avoid the media.

On the side under the heading Gloring Macapal-Ayoko complete with a manipulated likeness animation of GMA:

Order 14th President of the Philippines
(4th President of the 5th Republic)
(1st Fuhrer of the 6^th
Republic aka Banana Republic)

Term of office January 20, 2001 –xxxxxx xx, xxxx

Vice President Tio-fist Gingula (2001–2004)

Boli de Broadcastro (2004–present)

Predecessor Josef "Sherap" Espada

Successor Gloria Macapagal v2

Hmmmmn, what do you think? Go to their site and check it out...... if that's any indication of how she is perceived and a measure of her unpopularity in what people post on that site then she is beyond political redemption.

Arrest Gonzales, Abalos & the rest of the 07 Election Jokers!

In an Inquirer breaking news Comelec Regional Director Renato Magbutay was quoted as saying:

The giving of money is prohibited in the campaign period especially by candidates to officials or supporters. That is considered vote-buying," Comelec Regional Director Renato Magbutay said in a telephone interview.

Magbutay said, however, that the poll body cannot act to determine if Gonzalez violated any election law if there is no formal complaint and no witness comes forward to execute an affidavit.

Magbutay pointed out that while Gonzalez is not a candidate, his son and namesake Raul Gonzalez Jr. is running for re-election as congressman of the city.

What a joke a cruel one at that and here I am so elated at the news that Comelec is now seriously doing their job with such “bold” statement only to take it back like a yoyo. Boy was I wrong. What is this guy thinking or what’s the point of yakity yak in the press when he can’t even back up his stand on the illegality of the injustice secretary’s OFFER?

Is he joking or is he a joker is an apt question on this untouchable constitutional body making a mockery of the people’s right to choose as if all this exercise is just a game. A game of fools I might say where the people are played by players of the inutile and incompetent ones.

Por dios por santo que barbaridad the provision is very clear and any which way you look at it points to the culpability of Gonzales, to quote:

Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code states that a person is guilty of vote-buying or vote-selling if the person "gives, offers or promises money or anything of value, gives or promises any office or employment, franchise or grant, public or private, or makes or offers to make an expenditure, directly or indirectly, or cause an expenditure to be made to any person, association, corporation, entity, or community in order to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate or withhold his vote in the election, or to vote for or against any aspirant for the nomination or choice of a candidate in a convention or similar selection process of a political party."

P10K per burangay captain to be exact is the OFFER so in the depreciated peso of this (appreciated peso daw according to the lady who cheats errr seats by the murky Pasig River) Cheating Republic it’s probably worthless, the “OFFER OF VALUE” therefore does not count? Any right thinking individual will see this clearly and why are we not doing something about this brazen arrogance abusing their cheat errr seat of office, idiotizing (to borrow Mr. take no prisoner Abaya’s term) the people in the process?

How about Abalos proudly announcing in printed madaya errr media his big brother’s accomplishment and seeing “nothing” wrong in his "nomination" as the tricycle drivers “advocate” is just pathetic. How about Borra did you not say you will prosecute those announcing the names of the nominees? Shame on these people the “violation” is right under their very noses and they seem to get blinded by their arrogance. Arrest Abalos Borra, or is this just another hollow stance of grandstanding like a clown act in a Comelect that's more like a circus? How about the fixers are you also waiting for some "witness" to come out before you conduct an investigation? Heck who in the name of kurdapya will volunteer to be a witness? After seeing what happened to Acsa Ramirez a witness turned suspect by no less than the cheat errr chief of state, do they think people will be that motivated to come out? Oh, yeah besides they are so busy in this election so what's the rush, they are soooo "overworked", we may be be expecting too much.

Just in case Borra is true to his word that is if they even have a clue what they are bragging about he should order the arrest of Dante Ang too the godfather of the Confederation of Mothers with his dear baby boy Klink as the nominee.

Going back to the callous injustice secretary herewith is his incriminating interview over the phone:

Justice Secretary Gonzalez has offered P10,000 to each of the 180 village captains of Iloilo City or a total of P1.8 million if all TEAM Unity candidates win in their villages.

Gonzalez, a staunch ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, confirmed that he made the offer during a meeting with the village captains in a restaurant here last Sunday.

"It's a prize if they will work for the sweep," Gonzalez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a telephone interview.

So is he telling us that Section 261does not apply in his case and in the absence of the act of giving, he can announce to the whole world his offer and suffer no consequence for it? The law specifically stated OFFER so what’s the deal, what are the math geniuses waiting for? Now I know when this guy goes into private practice not to use or recommend the man he seems to have some comprehension problem in interpreting the meaning of OFFER which he says is a “PRIZE” hesumalosep no matter how you twist it, that is still a violation. So what are the people paying them for if they can’t even arrest blatant transgression of this magnitude? Or is it because as some some numb nut would say, someone needs to execute an affidavit. Well guess what, diligent authorities will not wait like Juan Tanga errrr Tamad for the fruit to fall but order police agencies to investigate and seek out witnesses to build a case. Duh, getting dumber and dumber, let's get rid of these people …… vote them out of office. Hit them where it hurts the most don’t let any of the administratong backed local candidates win. Let’s look for local leaders of integrity support the likes of Fr. Ed Panlilio, Martin Bautista, Zosimo Paredes, Adrian Sison and seek out those who will bring back sanity in our political office.
_____________________________________________________________

UPDATE: 2:44 PM 4/25/07

Looks like Abalos is getting it and finally orders law enforcement agencies to conduct an investigation regarding Gonzales' offer of P10K to Barangay captains as reported in the latest breaking news of Inquirer. Let’s hope it’s not just in the papers but actual investigation is conducted and appropriate charges filed. Abalos was quoted as saying:

MANILA, Philippines -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) directed its law department on Wednesday to investigate if Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez violated election laws when he said he would award P10,000 to each village captain in Iloilo City who would deliver a TEAM Unity sweep in the May midterm elections.

The Comelec might even invite the controversial Cabinet secretary for "questioning."

"We want to get his exact statement so we might invite him for questioning," Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos, Sr. said in a press conference in Manila.

Abalos explained that "anything equivalent to vote buying is illegal."

"In vote buying, even a promise by itself is already illegal," Abalos said.

Finally they seem to interpret the law accordingly that an offer is in itself illegal, but then again he seems to exonerate himself with this statement:

He said that people with "political positions" were not barred from expressing support for candidates as long as they would not make promises to the electorate or use even their "personal money," in exchange for votes.

Maybe if we see some seriousness in the overseeing of the electoral process and they themselves abide by it they may fish out their credibility out of the toilet. Welcome to the real world of Philippine politics where hypocrisy rules. How convenient, he knows that he himself endorsed his big brother thus there's nothing "wrong" for people of "political position" to act like him. His is worse because he is the head of "neutral" body overseeing the electoral contest itself.

In a subsequent interview, Abalos told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that after seeing Wednesday's newspaper reports on Gonzalez's statements, he directed the law department to conduct an investigation.

"Apparently he made an offer and he was quoted in the newspapers. We no longer need a complaint to be filed before us. Kung ganun nga ang ginawa niya [If that’s what he really did] as reported in the newspapers, if it were true, he might be liable," Abalos said in a phone interview.

But then again I should not complain at least they are headed in the right direction as far as Gonzales is concerned but it could be better……. arrest yourself too Mr. Abalos.

To get timely updates on the latest articles click this to---> Subscribe to Pedestrian Observer by Email

Catch "The Hurricane" the rising sensation

The Hurricane has struck the Filipino American Community; unlike the tropical storm that wrecks havoc in the pacific this one is widely anticipated by the Filipino American community. Her name is Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton described by one of the greatest boxing trainer Freddie Roach where she used to train with in their reunion as having a fast jab, a great right….. very strong quick right and excellent very powerful left hook…… and solid fundamentals.

She is the newest Filipina boxing sensation to arrive at the scene and at the Dela Hoya vs. Mayweather press conference in SF city hall, Oscar De La Hoya one of the greatest boxing idol had some solid advice for her. Oscar “the Golden Boy” Dela Hoya in his signature smile had this to say: “Ana they told me a long time ago to always protect my face….. I’d like for you to do the same!”

Less than three years of experience in the ring, the Alameda-based 25-year-old, who weighs 125 pounds, has won several boxing titles, including the San Francisco and California State Golden Gloves and the Diamond Belt—the first and probably the only Filipino female boxer to do so.

Don’t let Julaton’s slight frame fool you, her quick powerful moves have produced a 20-10 amateur record and helped her earn the No. 4 ranking among all female boxers in the United States. She has also represented the United States in the 2006 Pan-American Championships.

All this was through her hard work and early introduction to martial arts in which she has had training for 15 years holding a black belt in Taekwondo. She attributes her martial arts training background in her focus and technique in her punching power through skillful pivoting of her feet.

Julaton’s trainer Angelo Reyes believes that she is already capable of going pro. “She could easily have gone pro last year,” he says. “But she doesn’t want to be a sideshow.” She is an advocate of woman’s boxing and constantly speaks out against unfairness and lack of respect towards female boxers. That differentiates her from the rest and a rising idol unlike others who has a clear grasp of what and where she wants to go.

If you have Oscar dela Hoya and Freddie Roach rooting for you, top that with Manny Pacquiao her boxing idol that serves as her inspiration tells you she is one boxer to reckon with. She went to Southern California to gain some inspiration from the touted best pound for pound boxer our very own Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and enthusiastically get critiqued by one of the best trainer in the field Freddie Roach. Said encounter had her so enthused and excited that she can’t wait for the fight night. Well so are we, a Filipina in the middle of the ring facing an opponent in her “hurricane” jabs and hooks smashing the stereotype of the “delicate” Filipina along the way is a welcome sight for women’s equality.

Watch the fight, Julaton is scheduled to fight the world’s top-ranked amateur Ronica Jeffreys on May 5th, 2007 it will be an exciting day at the West-Wind Event Center as Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton fights for No. 1 Status!!

Directly after watching Dela hoya vs. Mayweather on PPV Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton (Hoo-La-Ten) California State Boxing Champ, SF Golden Gloves Champ, National Diamond Belt Champ, SF Championship Gold Medalist, Rank #4 in the U.S. will fight U.S.A.'s No. 1 Ranked Featherweight Ronica Jeffrey (N.Y. State Champ, N.Y. Golden Gloves Champ, U.S. World and Pan Am representative) in a 5 round bout to find out who is the BEST in the U.S.!! This fight is similar to the Pacquiao vs. Barrerra fight in terms of importance for Ana.

This is the Highest Ranking Female Fight ever in the Bay Area! This anticipated fight is Ana's biggest test. Ronica is a 3 time NY Golden Gloves Champion, 2006 Everlast National Champion, 2006 U.S. representative for the PanAm and the World games. Ronica Jeffrey is the current ranked #1 Featherweight in the U.S. she is considered to be one of the best female fighters the U.S. has produced. The fight will be at West Wind Event Center, 1551 University Ave. Berkeley, California. 94703 Call 510 841 1427/510 523 2001 for tickets or inquiry.

Photo courtesy: Daisy Rosas/Primer Round Magazine