Pedestrian Observer GB: 6/1/09

"In societies where Robbing Hoods are treated like a celebrity it is but natural to expect political parties to act like a Mafia syndicate" Political Jaywalker "In a nation where corruption is endemic people tend to confuse due process with aiding and abetting criminals" Political Jaywalker "War doesn't determine who is right, war determines who is left" Bertrand Russell "You have just one flash flood of money, you keep your people poor. It's like a time bomb and it's scary" Philippine Lawmaker

Charlie “Atong” Ang, The Gambling Republic’s Gun Toting Convict

In the Philippines one gets away with plunder when you cooperate with the powers that be against their political enemies. Never mind that the very crime one is convicted of is exactly what he does nowadays with a vengeance as if trying to recoup his losses due to a short stint in the exclusive vacation destination known as the penitentiary. Charlie “Atong” Ang a convicted felon deported by US Immigration is back to his old familiar territory according to this report by Ramon Tulfo:

ATONG ANG, adviser to former President Erap on gambling—legal and otherwise—who caused his downfall, rides high again.

Ang is reportedly behind the small-town lottery (lotto) and jai-alai operations in the Cagayan Economic Zone without the approval of Congress and Pagcor.

The operations are illegal, according to Camarines Sur Representative Liwayway Vinzons-Chato who’s calling for a congressional probe.

My sources in the illegal gambling community say Atong Ang has spread his tentacles even outside the Cagayan Economic Zone.

According to my sources, Ang is engaged in “jueteng” in Nueva Vizcaya, Camarines Norte, Isabela, and Albay.

Who’s protecting Atong Ang?

Ramon Tulfo asks further why Charlie “Atong” Ang is so brazen after being convicted by Sandiganbayan as the accomplice of Joseph Estrada in a plunder case. His protectors are definitely not your neighborhood Burangay considering that his allege operations cover a wide area, your guess is as good as mine of who that may be. This is a guy who used to be a high profile gambling buddy of Estrada known in illegal gambling circles prior to his conviction as a masiao operator in Mindanao. Ramon Tulfo has more to say that ticked off the gun toting convict:

Among his former friends, Atong is considered a snake that bites the hand that feeds him.

While Erap was in prison, Atong reportedly impregnated one of his erstwhile benefactor’s girlfriends, a flight stewardess, whom Erap entrusted to him.

At the height of his power when Erap was still president, Atong ran away with his friend’s wife.

The guy he made a cuckold was so trusting he didn’t mind if his wife entertained Atong and company at his house.

Whoever is protecting Atong should be wary of him.

Atong might run away with the protector’s wife or girlfriend.

Old habits die hard.

For writing such “damaging” report in a follow-up column Ramon Tulfo narrates the incident that follows:

In writing this column, I get sued in court and receive death threats.

In a few instances, some people whom I criticized took a potshot at me.

One of such instances took place in a house at a posh subdivision Thursday night when I attended a send-off party for a friend who was going on a two-month vacation in the United States.

Among the other guests was Charlie “Atong” Ang who confronted me on an item I wrote recently about him.

Words became heated between us when he started cursing me.

Atong thought I would just receive all the curses he threw my way, and when I talked back—albeit in a soft tone—he tried to take a punch at me.

Proverbial cooler heads intervened as I stood my ground. He was restrained.

Failing to land a punch, Ang drew a .38 snub-nose revolver from his hip.

That would have been a chance for me to stop him, but I was unarmed because I don’t normally bring a gun to a party.

Luckily, another guest wrested the gun away.

The guy was grandstanding because there were many people around. He knew he and I would be restrained.

Heck only in the land of cheats where ex-convicts are allowed to own gun and not only own but brazenly carry it as if he is in the old frontier days of the wild west. Is there no law in the land of cheats prohibiting convicts to own a gun much less carry a concealed weapon? I wonder why our steamed errr esteemed tongress errr congress people are not doing their sound byte probe in aid of legislation, oh yeah they are busy trying to figure out how to con us in their Con Ass to pave the way for Gloria to become our Prime Sinister errr Minister. They should listen to Camarines Sur Representative Liwayway Vinzons-Chato in calling for a congressional probe to put this ex-convict in his right place if ever he has a clue where it is so as not to slide back to his old ways according to Tulfo’s column below:

Atong Ang is the same guy who, at the height of his power acquired through gambling buddy former President Erap, would slap men who crossed him.

He slapped a congressman inside a cockfighting arena.

He slapped a high official of the Philippine Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) when he was losing in the casino.

He would berate top police officials in front of their subordinates.

All those people never fought back and just licked their wounds.

I hope he doesn’t draw a gun on me for the second time when we meet in public again.

Wow, I did not know that Charlie “Atong” Ang is a toughie acting like a Mafiosi overlord but then again that is just how it is in the land of cheats. Now we know why there is a culture of impunity because of their might is right mindset with the end result of seeing gruesome murder like that of Ruby Rose because powerful people literally get away with murder.

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Philippine Politics

Funeral set for Commodore Alcaraz, former POW and pillar of veterans’ cause

Ramon A. Alcaraz was 20 years old when the newly inaugurated Philippine Commonwealth government established the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to train the regular officer corps of the Philippine Army (PA). He was among the first 120 cadets who entered PMA at Teachers Camp, Baguio City, on June 15, 1936. Only 79 of them graduated on March 15, 1940. At that time the war in Europe had been going on for six months.

Nineteen months later and the Class of ’40 was integrated with the US Army Forces Far East (USAFFE) under Gen. Douglas MacArthur. World War II had engulfed the Philippines and Alcaraz, together with classmates Alano and Picar, were assigned as members of First Q-Boat Squadron in Corregidor. They were subsequently awarded decorations for their performance in battle.

According to Ernesto O. Rodriguez in "Anthology of Letters and Speeches of Commodore Alcaraz, Exponent of Seapower," Ramon Alcaraz is an authentic war hero who was promoted on the spot and decorated personally by General MacArthur in Corregidor for heroism and gallantry in action in January 1942. A torpedo boat Alcaraz commanded had shot down three Japanese dive bombers during that war. Later, Alcaraz was captured and became a prisoner of war. Five months in prison and he was out. He joined the guerillas in Bulacan with the rank of regimental commander.

Soon the war was over and Franz Tinio-Lopez, who researches on things military, had this account:

When Ramon Magsaysay was appointed Secretary of Defense of the Philippines. He had Ramon Alcaraz travel to the USA to study the organization of the United States Marine Corps… Based on his research and material on the USMC, he allocated billets and personnel for the Marine Company of the Philippine Navy. Alcaraz assigned his former Q-boat Executive Officer, Lt. Manuel Gomez as the Commanding Officer of the 1st Marine Company that grew into the Philippine Marine Corps of today.

In the postwar Philippine military Alcaraz held various key positions culminating with his promotion in 1965 to Commodore, the highest navy rank at that time. However, in 1966 when Marcos became president, he was relieved summarily as Fleet Commander, a controversial act which resulted in a Congressional investigation. Alcaraz was cleared of any wrongdoing but just the same he applied for retirement.

He and pharmacist wife Conching tried their hands in business, putting up a chain of drug stores in the Philippines called Commodore Drug. When Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, Monching went into self-exile with his family and joined Manglapus’ Movement for Free Philippines.

Ramon Alcaraz, originally from Quingua, Bulacan, remained active into his 90s as a real estate investor in Orange County, California. He became a pillar of the Filipino veterans' cause for equity and wrote a war diary that reportedly was used for the 2002 documentary “Bataan: The Last Defense.”

Col. Butch Moreto (Ret.) passed on the message of Capt “Rocky” Marciano Alcaraz (Ret.) about the death of his older brother, Ramon, on June 25, 2009 PST. Moreto and his group Cyber Prayer Warriors then asked pious Christians to join them in prayer for the deceased.

Last night Franz Tinio-Lopez, who is close to the family, communicated the information that services and burial for the late Commodore Alcaraz are tentatively planned for July 6 and 7.

Meanwhile, daughter Ramona "Monet" Alcaraz Marshall requests anyone who had served with her father to come and speak at his funeral. You may contact Franz at pmcmssr@yahoo.com and possibly with a copy to this writer at dcgrava@aol.com so I can make follow-ups.

In addition to Rocky and Monet, Ramon is survived by wife Conception Dualan Alcaraz, who is from Cavite; children Cecilia Schlesinger, Vicky McCrary, Alfred "Boybee" Alcaraz, and Ramon, Jr.; and grandchildren Taurie, Haliey, and Landon.

Ramon Alcarez, left, shown with his namesake the former Defense Secretary, later President, Ramon Magsaysay. Photo courtesy of Franz Tinio-Lopez.

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Dionesio C. Grava - Part-time community journalist based in Los Angeles and editorial writer at Forum Asia.

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Filipinos

Filipino-Americans

Philippine Politics

David vs. Goliath, an epic political battle brewing in the land of Jueteng

Mikey Arroyo says Randy David is running against Gloria Arroyo should she run for the 2nd district of Pampanga for congress is based on hate as in hate for her mother dearest. Although University professor Randy David denies it I don’t think there is no love loss there. Come on now, does Mikey really think there is so much love for his mother dearest the Jueteng Republic thief errr chief executive nowadays?

Ok, I take it back there are people who love and kiss not just her behind but the ground that she walks on especially on foreign soil where they are included in the entourage of the junket brigade costing hundreds of billion pesos (numbering from 30 to 192 per trip in the past 8 years that she has been the cheating errr seating president), as enumerated by the Inq7 editorial:

United States, 10 trips; China, 7; Japan, 7; Malaysia, 6; Brunei, 4; United Kingdom, 3; South Korea, 3; Thailand, 3; Hong Kong, 3; Mexico, 2, Italy 2; Bahrain, 2; Dubai, 2; and 1 each: Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Kuwait, France, Chile, Vatican City, Saudi Arabia, Macau, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Dubai, Peru, Qatar, Egypt, Syria, Russia and Brazil.

Of course there are other people who love her too like the Cobramen and women (Jueteng illegal numbers game bet collectors) who were victorious in their “people power” demonstration protesting her sound byte clampdown on their illegal activities making anak ng Jueteng (son of Jueteng) and Jueteng lord in the province really pleased and richer.

What are the chances of Randy David winning? A long shot I should say but who knows perhaps it’s the kind of long shot that we saw in Among Ed Panlilio’s unexpected win against formidable opponents of the tinsel town personality and jueteng kind. The people of Pampanga are not dumb and they have seen the difference between a trapo run government and a government run by an honest man based on responsible, transparent, and accountable governance making the province the richest in revenue collection in the process. If only the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) will run after the Jueteng Lord allege to be based in Pampanga being the Jueteng capital of the Philippines that alone will dwarf the lahar revenue collection of Among Ed, but of course that is not going to happen because most of the bureaucrats and their political patrons are in their pockets.

The biggest lover oooops that did not sound right let us just say friend as in BFF of Gloria is convicted pedophile former tongress representative Romeo Jalosjos just biding his time to get a pissedential errr absolute presidential pardon that will allow him to ruin errr run again in elective office. Proof of his kiss ass love for Gloria is naming his latest pedophilia paradise errr Gloria's Fantasyland amusement park that they say is like Disneyland. No there is no truth to the rumor that they have a section where they bath and dress little girls.

This is a battle of epic proportion, epic in terms of campaign funds courtesy of taxes squeezed out of Juan de la Cruzes to be given away by the incumbents as if money is going out of style against a penniless candidate running on integrity and reform. While it may appear lopsided the mere candidacy of David will garner free publicity considering that he is running against a former thief errr chief executive of the country whose motives are so obvious….. to be proclaimed prime sinister errr minister in the anticipated con job of her Palaka dominated tongress railroading the constitution towards parliamentary form of governance.

Indeed, Randy David is right that no one is invincible and La Gloria who is no Marcos while trying to be a little Marcosa just like any powerful people has vulnerabilities. If Gloria Arroyo agrees to debate Randy David then he definitely has the edge but if he does an irap errr Erap as in no show then Arroyo definitely has the advantage. We have seen how they squandered government coffers in the past elections and in a society mired in poverty whoever gives the most dole out is definitely a mob errr electorate choice.

What makes this a very interesting political showdown is the likelihood of Mikey Arroyo, Jr. running for governor against incumbent Governor Among Ed Panlilio if her mommy dearest runs for the 2nd district where he has been the elected representative running for a 3rd term will have to give in to her mother. Should that happen incumbent Governor Among Ed Panlilio would gladly run against Mikey Arroyo. While it is an uphill and quixotic battle according to Randy David it will be a political battle to watch pitting candidates of proven integrity on a platform of reform vs. candidates known for their notoriety representing the ultimate trapo of the patronage politics kind. An intellectual who if he win will be forced to not just interpret the world but change it pitted against one who screws the world, now that is a battle where there is a clear demarcation line that separates them.

PJ is not inclined to support any candidate because of the very nature of our fraudulent prone electoral contest based on personality and patronage. When you support a candidate the odds are stacked against your favor that they will be eaten alive by the system, as their refutation goes down the toilet, so is yours. But should Randy David run against Gloria Arroyo I will definitely support him because he is on a mission and who knows maybe with a lot of hard work and preparation the trapos can be beat in their own game without necessarily playing by their distorted rules. It is not exactly impossible to defeat Gloria Arroyo especially having a sociologist for a candidate who understands the grassroots and as Patricio Mangubat at New Philippine Revolution proposed an army of Davids should be organized to defeat the Goliath of our times. This early a FaceBook page was created named, I Support RANDY DAVID Candidacy Against GMA and Randy David for Congressman cause. So if you are on FaceBook be a fan or join the cause and be counted in this epic battle of a David against a dwarf errr giant that Maverick of The Equalizer calls GloLIAR-in-Thief errr Chief. Are we up to it? This is an opportunity we cannot just let pass or we will forever stay in the muck of Gloria's rule.....

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U.S. Citizen Melissa Roxas Abducted and Tortured by Suspected Philippine Military Agents to Speak Publicly in Los Angeles

U.N. Day in Support of Torture Victims Marked with Press Conference by Torture Survivor Melissa Roxas

What: Press Conference of Melissa Roxas, recent victim of abduction and torture

When: Saturday, June 27, 2009

Time: 4-5:30 PM

Where: Echo Park United Methodist Church
1226 N. Alvarado St.
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Live Web Stream: www.bayan.ph

LOS ANGELES, CA – In her first public appearance since being released from captivity, Melissa Roxas, a U.S. citizen abducted and tortured in the Philippines from May 19-25, will hold a press conference to describe the human rights abuses she endured while held for six days in an alleged military camp. Ms. Roxas, an American human rights advocate of Filipino descent, is the first known American citizen to have become a victim of abduction and torture in the Philippines, a country which has drawn international condemnation for state-sponsored human rights atrocities.

In a sworn affidavit submitted to the Philippine Supreme Court, Ms. Roxas described being abducted at gunpoint by several heavily armed men, brought to what she believed is a military camp, held against her will, questioned without the presence of an attorney, beaten repeatedly, and asphyxiated using plastic bags before being released. During the press conference, Ms. Roxas is expected to demand accountability from the Philippine government and military, who she holds responsible for her ordeal, as well as the U.S. government for providing funding and training to the Philippine military. Reports by the United Nations, Amnesty International, Philippine-based human rights organization Karapatan, and Human Rights Watch have overwhelmingly concluded that the Philippine military is responsible for systematically carrying out human rights violations such as abduction, torture and extra-judicial killings against innocent civilians. Nearly $1 billion worth of U.S. military aid and materiel has been granted to the Philippines since 1999, the year the U.S.- Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement was enacted.

The experience of Ms. Roxas is considered typical for the 200 cases of abduction and 1,010 cases of torture recorded since Gloria Macapagal Arroyo became president of the Philippines in 2001. The Philippine government’s quick denial of responsibility for Ms. Roxas’ abduction and torture is also considered a typical response; in his 2007 report on the Philippines, U.N. Special Rapporteur Philip Alston cited such systematic denial by the government as one of the primary obstacles to stopping the rampant human rights violations plaguing the country. In his 2009 follow-up report, Alston indicated a general failure of the Arroyo government to stop the persistent human rights violations. In April 2009, the UN Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) also released a report detailing the use of torture by the Philippine military.

At the press conference, Ms. Roxas’ legal counsel, Attorney Arnedo Valera, will explain the potential legal remedies that are being explored, including the filing of a tort action in U.S. Federal Court for punitive and compensatory damages against her identified assailants or the Arroyo government in the absence of named assailants; the lodging of a private complaint before the U.S. Department of State, Human Rights Desk against the Philippine government for the violation of the fundamental rights of a U.S. citizen; and the filing of a complaints before the appropriate U.N. agencies for violations of the International Covenant Against Torture, the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights.

The press conference will be held in Los Angeles, CA and broadcast live on the Bayan Philippine website. Media in the Philippines will be hosted simultaneously by Bayan Philippines and will be able to ask questions in real time. The U.S.-based press conference is sponsored by the Justice for Melissa Roxas Campaign, whose membership includes Ms. Roxas’ legal counsel, BAYAN-USA, GABRIELA USA, and the Katarungan Center for Peace, Justice and Human Rights, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns.

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A call to prayer!

Cavaliers, Cyber Prayer Warriors, Friends and Families who pray with us - a call to prayer!

Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez – prayer for R.I.P.

We lit up to You, O most loving and compassionate Father in Heaven, the soul of Your daughter, Ruby Rose, who met a dreadful death about two years ago at Navotas, Metro Manila.

Release her soul from restlessness, as we pray for Your virtuous understanding of her untimely demise.

Hear us from the depths of our hearts that You may ultimately send Your hosts of angels, accompany her towards the celestial path of Your Kingdom, and welcome her blissfully as she approaches Your holy throne.

We also implore that her family and relatives will receive Your warm, comforting embrace and assurance that everything will be taken cared by Your wisdom and justice for our common good and for the good of Your church here on earth.

All these we ask in the mighty and precious name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. May the soul of Ruby Rose and the souls of all the faithful departed, through Your divine mercy, rest in peace. Amen”

Cav CPW Alex Q'72

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Dionesio C. Grava - Part-time community journalist based in Los Angeles and editorial writer at Forum Asia.

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How to know the recession is over

Bottom Line
By Marvin Bionat

Everyone I bump into has become an "economist" these days. Our neighborhood mailman laments the "worse than expected decline" of the equity market. The UPS guy, too, has ideas about resolving the housing crisis. A friend "knows" when the inflation will hit. Another has an alternative stimulus plan that he believes is far superior than President Obama's economic recovery program. And everyone seems to have his or her prognostication about when the green shoots of recovery will start to sprout.

We all have a stake in a quick recovery, of course, so people are into it—following the news and Sunday talking heads much more closely. Oftentimes, we believe what we want to believe: Many in the political right and their consuming aversion to Obama see a half-empty glass, faulting the new president for every failing. Pockets of successes, on the other hand, are readily welcomed by those of moderate to liberal sympathies as signs that hope and accountability are now unmaking the damage caused by many years of greed and irresponsibility. If the net effect is greater consumer confidence, people will spend more and thus help stimulate the economy. However, unless the foundation of America's colossal economic superstructure is replaced with a solid slab, instead of the quicksand created by the unbridled market frenzy and fiscal irresponsibility in the last decade or two, no amount of consumer hopefulness could turn things around.

What specific metrics should we look at to tell the economy is really on the mend? Economists look at three critical measures: level of housing supply, use of temps, and business sentiment.

Homes for sale

The bursting of the real estate bubble is what triggered the current recession, so economic recovery requires that the U.S. get out of the housing rut. The key measure to watch is data on the supply of unsold homes, which should be at about 6 months. Unfortunately for America, the National Association of Realtors recently reported a looming inventory that will require 10.2 months to sell, the worst glut since November. This means prices will continue to fall to work off the excess inventory. With unemployment still climbing, it is counter intuitive to expect home prices to stabilize any time soon.

Temps needed

To accommodate any uptick in business activity, companies tend to hire temps first, waiting to make sure the recovery is for real before committing to permanent workers. The American Staffing Association index shows hiring levels remaining mostly flat this year. The current index of 72 is 28 points lower than the same period last year. According to financial journalist Janice Revell, a full recovery requires a continuous rise in the index for at least 3 consecutive months.

To expand or not to expand

Business sentiment is measured by the Institute for Supply Management's non-manufacturing index (www.ism.ws), which indicates whether companies are ready to expand and thus boost economic growth. It is a great sign if the index hits 50 and stays there, according to economist Nariman Behravesh. Currently, the picture is not good but improving: it was 44 in May, up from 40.8 in March.

With the economic indicators still pointing to a struggling economy, it's no wonder why the stock market rally is not exactly in full throttle. But the important thing is that the trajectory is upward, however slightly, and that the recovery is propped by strong fundamentals, not buoyed by just another economic bubble.

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Marvin Bionat is the creator of PhilippineUpdate.com, a news and views site that has served as a virtual platform that promotes various advocacies, including the political empowerment of overseas Filipinos and accountability in government. He wrote the National Bookstore bestseller How to Win (or Lose) in Philippine Elections (Anvil Publishing, 1998) and is now based in the

U.S.

working as an editor.
Read more articles by Marvin Bionat
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Filipinos

Filipino-Americans

Justice for Ruby Rose & All the Victims of Domestic Violence FaceBook Hall of Fame

Women and children are at risk of being victims of domestic abuse and violence in part because of the false mindset attributed to the "macho" culture. A culture exacerbated by the culture of corruption brought about by the nations pathetic patronage politics in a fraudulent prone electoral system where might is right.

The culture of impunity has ensconce deeply into our culture gone awry in the abduction and heinous gruesome murder of Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez that makes the Sopranos’ of the idiot box pale in comparison.

All is not lost though because there are people who values the sanctity of life who not only are aware of these societal problem but are actively participating as change agents for a better Philippines. PJ salutes Justice for Ruby Rose & All the Victims of Domestic Violence members at FaceBook Cause Hall of Fame list as of 6/23/09 making a difference in actively raising awareness in their respective network.

	Allan Du Yaphockun
	Malu Mendoza
	Jay Manalo
	Jarah Bianca De Leon
	Joel P Garduce
	Marie Laporre-Quintos
	Reham Snow Tago
	Leanna Louiza Lopez
	Chamee Lopez
	Crystal Frost
	Arlene
	Margarita Gomez
	Catherine Caringal
	Jaimee Randrup Samonte
	Donna Mae Tiongson
	Jay Jongco
	Dave Machica
	Angelica Carballo
	Gilanne Malicse
	Lheck Chang
	Ayin Matta
	Bernadette Punzalan Field
	Aura King
	Jan Collantes
	Japee Gracee Amoranto
	Chock Aquino Guico
	Jay Cuesta
	Perry John Mendoza
	Chris Asis
	Susie Barbieri
	Tricia Galvez
	Karl Buena
	Joy Lagunay
	Carlos N Imee Nepomuceno
	Jay Anne Leonida
	Jeff
	Eman Salazar
	Khryzz Diaz
	Jeanette Rosal
	Kitchie Benedicto-Paulino
	Nalen Aguilar
	Ronald Arrienda
	Lesley Sugar
	Karthiga Santhiran
	Mytch Calayag
	Khai Urlanda
	Mike Cervantes
	Raul Magmanlac
	Krzya Puno