Pedestrian Observer GB: southern injustice

"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

Showing posts with label southern injustice. Show all posts

NUJP Statement on the Dropping of Charges vs Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan

National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
April 18, 2010

PLEASE SHARE!!!

Forget justice. Forget law. Forget democracy.

Acting justice secretary Alberto Agra’s order to drop multiple murder charges against Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan is proof that these principles do not, nay, have never existed under the Arroyo government, that this is governance not through the rule of law but through political expediency.

It is proof of what we have suspected almost as soon as it became apparent that a clan known to be one of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s closest allies might be linked to the worst election-related violence in our country’s recent history AND the worst single attack on the media ever – that this administration would do everything within its power to assure they would not be held accountable.

It is not for us to proclaim the innocence or guilt of either Ampatuan for the November 23 massacre of 58 persons, 32 of them media workers.

But neither is it for Agra to do so.

Not after the charges have been formally filed in court. Not after the judge has issued a commitment order against them, for which the two, along with other members of their clan and several of the 197 accused have been transferred to the Camp Bagong Diwa detention center.

It should now be for the court to judge the innocence or guilt of the 197 persons accused of planning or carrying out the massacre.

By issuing the order, which incidentally Agra had already announced earlier he was inclined to do, the man supposedly sworn to uphold justice in this country has preempted that prerogative of the court. Agra has hijacked the judicial process and subverted the very justice he should be upholding.

It does not take legal expertise to know the alibi is the flimsiest defense in a criminal case. And yet Agra has practically pounced on this straw and used it to buttress his assertion that neither Zaldy nor Akmad Ampatuan should be charged because they were not there when the massacre took place.

But surely, this travesty is not Agra’s doing alone, for he could not have done this without the full knowledge and approval of his principal, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

We hold Agra and Arroyo, personally, and this administration accountable for this massacre of the principles that define us as a country and as a people – justice, the rule of law, our basic rights, democracy.

We call on the Filipino people to protest this outrage. More important, we call on the people to demand an accounting. We cannot let this pass. Or we might as well totally forget that we are one country, one people.

Inday Espina-Varona's note: I WANT TO HEAR ALL CANDIDATES CONDEMN THIS OUTRAGE. This is one instance when silence really means collusion in evil.

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Politics

corruption

The Maguindanao Massacre & the Mafiosi Conspiracy that Gloria Arroyo Calls Friendship

If you are a parent you will naturally discourage and forbid outright your children from associating with gang bangers, more so if it is your daughter, a nightmare no parent will even think or wish that to happen in any family. What is worse is if the tang inang bayan (Mother) or the matriarch is not just friends but allies not just with small time gang bangers but a monster of a warlord? Leave it to a dense Lorelei “Gloria-LIE” Fajardo the spaced out spokeswoman of Gloria Arroyo to show to the world the kind of enduring friendship one gets with an illegitimate president as shown in her statement below:

I don’t think the President’s friendship with the Ampatuans will be severed

As if the statement is not disgusting enough, she follows it up some more with the most revolting concept on friendship’s enduring loyalty:

Just because they’re in this situation doesn’t mean we will already turn our backs on them.

It does not matter that 57 defenseless women, lawyers, supporters, journalist and innocent civilians who happens to be at the wrong place and time are massacred in the most gruesome cold blooded manner, to Fajardo it is just a situation where they will not turn their backs on mass murderer friend in “need.”

The situation Fajardo dismisses lightly as if it was a harmless children schoolyard fight when it was a crime against humanity that brought shock, disbelief, disgust and anger in the civilized world. How can someone described the atrocities lightly just escapes me especially a crime of this nature that Liza Maza of Gabriela decries on the woman victims as massacred twice over who were shot in their genitals. What kind of animal can inflict such horrible gruesome murderous rage are capable of this but monsters and a president no less through her dense spokesperson that values friendship and political alliance defies logical explanation.

They may deny or ignore it but as they desperately lie through omission the more the Maguindanao electoral anomaly brought about by the Garci tape scandal are getting exposed. It is about friendship and political alliance or the can of worms or the skeletons in their electoral closet that will force it open since it was the Amaptuans who took Garcillano under their protective wings that no puny government law agency dares to touch lest they have a suicidal wish.

Randy David correctly observes the Maguinadanao massacre as a natural retrogression of warlordism in a weak state brought about by an illegitimate administration that we have allowed, and the drama of the Ampatuans getting expelled is just that a drama that has no significant impact as shown below:

Like the jueteng lords operating from behind the façade of the legal Small Town Lottery (STL), warlords like the Ampatuans accumulate and deploy their awesome power from behind their legal positions as government officials. Their links to national politics are not mediated by political parties, but are forged, like all patronage ties, directly with the principal bosses in government. The Ampatuans do not care if they are expelled from the administration’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD party; what would hurt them is if Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, their principal patron, turns her back on them.

Of course Gloria Arroyo will not dare turn her back on them lest all hell broke loose knowing how criminal minds works that if they fall everyone goes down with them.

Never have we seen 12 journalist murdered in one gruesome incident that makes the Philippines the most dangerous place in the world for journalist. The Philippines has earned the notoriety topping even war torn Iraq as the most dangerous place in the world for journalist and yet we see some journalist trying to put a partisan spin on the dastardly massacre. Are they not seeing the implication of the massacre that this may serve as a signal for an open season where more of their colleagues are in harms way or is this attributable to ATM journalistic malpractice? Shame, shame, shame……… politicians, journalist and paid hacks who exploits this tragedy are worse than the vultures preying on the carcass of the hapless victims.....If you are sick and tired of this partisan spin game and focus what we can do now rather than blame the past sign the petition "STRIKE AGAINST IMPUNITY, STRIKE FOR PEACE AND DEMOCRACY."

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Justice of the Peace of Tangipahoa Parish in Louisiana Denies Marriage License to Inter-Racial Couple

Are we in a bad recurring nightmare? This is the new millennium and not the ‘50s or so we believe it is but obviously one justice of the peace may still be living in the past.

Keith Bardwell a duly elected justice of the peace of Tangipahoa Parish in Louisiana denies marriage license to Beth Humphrey, 30, and her boyfriend, Terence McKay, 32. A shocking incident reminiscent of the ‘50s happening in the new millennium is unthinkable and bizarre to say the least. His refusal to issue a marriage license is as bizarre as it gets according to CNN’s report quoting Hammond's Daily Star newspaper below:

However, Bardwell told Hammond's Daily Star newspaper that he was concerned for the children who might be born of the relationship and that, in his experience, most interracial marriages don't last.

"I'm not a racist," Bardwell told the newspaper. "I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house. My main concern is for the children."

I wonder where justice Bardwell got his statistics on broken marriages, it happens even on same race or even same sex marriages. Does that mean that one has to sign a contract that their marriage will last in order to get a marriage license? It is a clear case of racial discrimination and NAACP Patricia Morris, president of the NAACP branch of Tangipahoa Parish, located near the Mississippi line, is asking for Bardwell’s resignation for failing to perform his duties as an elected official.

Beth Humphrey says Bardwell is a racist although he thinks he is not which is really odd as his refusal is clearly discriminatory at whatever level you look at it.

CNN reports that Bardwell come forward and made a statement that he has piles of black friend, he invites them to his home, and even let's them use the restroom. He says all of this proves that he is not a racist. Now that is really odd, so his “friends” enjoy the fringe benefit of using his restroom?

Terence McKay and Beth Humphrey went to get their marriage license from another justice of the peace in the same parish and consulted a lawyer to determine their next move. NAACP has also forwarded this case to the state and national level of the civil rights group, it will be interesting to watch how this will turn out.

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Runaway OFW Rape Victim Denied POLO Assistance?

In a nation run by fraudulent cheats robbing the Philippine citizenry out of opportunity to pursue legitimate decent livelihood, Filipinos especially women are forced to seek employment in foreign lands. Armed with courageous sheer determination to escape poverty quite a number of people are left with few options or luxury of choosing where they end up.

In December of 2008, B&E Manpower Services located in Pedro Gil, Manila in deployed “Anna” (not her real name) 28 years old from Calumpang, Marikina to work as domestic helper in Al Khobar, in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia. Just three weeks upon her arrival she was sexually abused by her employer repeatedly for the past three months, until she escaped her harrowing experience through the help of her hew found friends on February of 2009. Anna’s sad experience not an isolated case as reported by John Monterona in his Facebook account below:

Migrante Rights and Welfare committee records showed there are an average of 2 -3 reported OFW-domestic helper cases of rape every month aside from labor-related cases. Wondering why the RP government under the Arroyo administration is doing nothing about it!

Instead of assisting rape victims there are serious allegations that POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) official and a staff the agency tasked to assist distressed OFW’s (Overseas Filipino Worker) are refusing and abandoning the victims to fend for their own is just inhumane and cold. Rape victims can’t afford to be choosy on who should help them especially in a country where victims can be at the receiving end of trumped up charges because women in that part of the globe have no legal standing against men. Below is the disturbing newspaper account:

“OFW Anna told us that a Philippine Overseas Labor Official and a staff scolded her for asking help from Migrante, and for not trusting them saying to her ‘it’s all up to her now’. But it should not be like that, the POLO or RP consular office in the Eastern Region should give her all the support and assistance,” he said.

This is a very serious and disturbing allegation; a probe should be conducted to determine if the allegations were true. If found that the official and the staff did refuse and abandoned the distressed OFW they should be recalled, dismissed with all their privileges and benefits forfeited and charges should be filed in court for their criminal behavior of dereliction of duty.

How can the government send such incompetent cold hearted individuals to foreign post at that surely tell a lot on the kind of governance the Philippines has to offer our OFWs. This is the treatment they get in return in exchange for the sacrifice of leaving their family behind in their desire to better their lot while facing the risk and danger of abuse in many forms. This is what they get for their sacrifice in keeping afloat the sinking economy of a nation so wracked by incompetence and corrupt officials enriching themselves at the expense of the people mired in poverty and misery.

Rape victims does not have a choice but to escape their employer, unfortunately when they do that they are considered “runaways” and lose their work status in the process. As such there is fear that once they are found by their employer they can be sent to jail and that is not an unfounded fear based on the numerous past experiences of distressed OFWs in similar situations. Anna is currently staying with a friend and the POLO officials and staff should act expediently in assisting Anna and not let their political or ideological inclinations determine their action or inaction because the NGOs ideology has no bearing on their mandate to assist distressed OFWs. One’s ideology or political leanings does not erase one’s citizenship and the government and their agencies tasked to assist distressed OFWs have a moral and legal obligation to assist all their citizens in dire situations. In case these morons are forgetting or are too clueless like their vindictive wine and food binger president they can’t be choosy or selective on whom they should assist.

Patronage politics has exacted a toll on every aspect of Philippine governance with the appointment of officials and staff in foreign post not for their qualification but a form of patronage reward thus we have incompetent fools manning sensitive post. It is high time to call the attention of our public servants who gets paid with people’s blood, sweat and tears to do their job. Send them a clear message that we are watching how they resolve Anna’s case, below is their contact information:

Philippine Consulate General Jeddah 24/7 Hotline: 0515016318

POLO Jeddah 24/7 Hotline: 0515124797, (02) 665-8462 ext. 101

E-mail Address: owwajeddah@diplomats.com

Philippine Embassy Riyadh 24/7 Hotline: (01) 4823559

E-mail Address: filembry@sbm.net.sa

POLO Riyadh Contact Number: (01) 483-2201 to 03, 0535208306
E-mail Address: owwa_ruh@yahoo.com

POLO ALKHOBAR POLO Communication Center, Al Khobar Email:
polo_alkhobar@dole.gov.ph
polo_ero@yahoo.com
Labor Attache II 897-9515, 894-1846 (9663) 899-5714 DAVID DES T. DICANG Labor Attache I 894-1846, 897-6105

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Gun Culture in Sulu, Mindanao

Al Jazeera coverage of clan wars that disrupts peoples' lives in one remote area of Sulu, Mindanao, Philippines where differences are settled through the barrel of the gun.

People and Power - Gun culture - 29 July 08 Part 1

People and Power - Gun culture - 29 July 08 Part 2

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Ameril Umbra Kato MILF’s Lost Comatose errr Command

If you think Eddie Gil the nuisance candidate in the Philippine presidential election is babbling or winging it, this nut case is worst sounding more like losing it incorrigibly babbling nonsense.

A four part video was uploaded by BangsaMoro of Ameril Umbra Kato which I think is a bad idea. Ask if it was true that he is a losing it errr a lost command his response was that he was hen pecked errr fake explaining further the definition of lost as if people have no clue what it meant instead of stating where he stands in the MILF’s command hierarchy. He rambles about people to be very careful in passing judgment if they don't know the “origin,” or "beginning," ayayayay talk about incorrigible babble. He probably meant unless people knew the facts they should refrain from passing judgement but how he babbles about "origins" and "beginnings" only makes it comical and he is not even a stand up comic.

In this youtube segment of the “interview” when asked if MILF are recruiting or are using child soldiers he denies it and yet rationalize that they cannot prevent a child from joining the movement on the basis of revenge if a child’s father was killed by the military. In his incorrigible babble he stated that in Islam minors are those below 10 years old and at 10 years old they are now obligated to follow the commandments of Allah and all the tenets of their faith.

Ameril Umbra Kato should stick to losing it errr being lost; I don’t think he is helping his cause on having Sharia law instituted in the failed MOA-AD that only validated people’s resistance to it when a 10 year old is “old enough” to be considered an adult. Whoever put a price tag of P10M to his empty head ought to reconsider this “tactic” to borrow Kato’s terminology, he is just not worth that much. On the other hand those under his command or other financial savvy people there like the KFR (kidnap for ransom gangs) may take advantage of the financial gain in giving up an incorrigible losing it commander.

Kato definitely has verbal communication problem and I suspect that the tiny mass ihat looks like his pea sized brain inside his thick coconut head which he thought was missing actually fell in the tip of his forefinger. No wonder he has over 100 criminal cases against him as he thinks with his forefinger and his lack of verbal communication he compensates with his trigger happy disposition.

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Filipinos

Politics

Philippine Politics

Ces Drillon Abduction

A new twist seems to be developing in the Ces Drillon abduction with conflicting reports so confusing that no one seems to know exactly what is going on. As this lingers on the fate of ABS-CBN journalist Ces Drillon and prominent peace advocate Mindanao State University Prof. Octavio Dinampo together with television crew member cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion are uncertain . If the story of the driver is taken into account and proved to be reliable then it appears that this is not the handiwork of the dumb and dumber group Abu Sayyaf.

It surely does not make sense that the rebel group Abu Sayyaf will abduct Prof. Octavio Dinampo. He is closer to the rebel groups than the military and a very credible peace advocate with established relations with NGOs particularly the donor community. Why will the rebels if they are indeed rebels and not just some criminal terrorist kidnap for ransom syndicate abduct a person that serves as their link to the outside world?

This really does not make sense but in the Philippines nothing makes sense so when new development crops up nothing comes as a surprise anymore. Here is the account of Julie Alipala of the Mindanao Bureau of Inquirer, Driver claims military agent, not Abus seized Drilon team:

Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim, Sulu police director, said driver Maramma Hasim, the man hired by Drilon and her team to chauffer for them in Maimbung on the day of their disappearance, claimed that one Juamil "Maming" Biyaw was the "missing link" to knowing who was behind the abduction.

Biyaw, a resident of the village of Sandah in Patikul town, is known in Sulu as a military agent, Kasim said.

Kasim said Hashim, who is now in police custody, claimed Biyaw was with the group Sunday when Drilon, cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, and their guide, Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampong went to Maimbung.

They went missing after an armed group reportedly intercepted them along Kulasi, town of Maimbung while on their way to meet Abu Sayyaf leaders “to cover a special event.”

Quoting Hashim, Kasim said Biyaw ordered the driver to stop somewhere in the village of Labbah at around noon Sunday.

"The passengers, including Madame Ces, thought there was problem with the car,” Kasim quoted Hashim's account.

"All the passengers casually went down from the vehicle and this Biyaw guy invited the four to join him in a walk towards Mount Mabusing (interior of Labbah). So there was no scuffle. Madame Ces and the rest walked casually," Kasim added.

Hashim was reportedly surprised when the five left him on the highway.

"But he waited until 4 p.m. and this Biyaw returned alone instructing the driver to leave the place. The driver, apparently disturbed, followed the orders," Kasim added.

"Because of fear, the driver didn’t even show up readily and he is now in our custody. Right now, we are looking for this Biyaw and we are checking further his background and how close he is with the military as he being reported as an agent," Kasim said.

In the meantime one of Ces Drillon’s crew, cameraman Angelo Valderama was released to Sulu Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidula, but someone paid (allegedly coming from the campaign funds of 2 negotiators) a P2-million "board and lodging fee" in exchange for his freedom. That is just great and at least Angelo Valderama is out of harms way and the government together with ABS-CBN can still claim that they never wavered on their stance of no ransom. Yeah right, so typical of shallow ridiculous posturing of hypocrites, well for one the accommodations are not your typical 5 star hotel and with guns pointing to your head one click away from blowing your brains off is not exactly board and lodging fee but basically a ransom.

The sad news is there are unconfirmed reports that Prof. Octavio Dinampo may have suffered a mild stroke and whoever is holding him should release him now for medical and humanitarian reasons or at the least get a physician attend to him.

Lying indeed has become an art form in the Philippines and the play of words to cover up nefarious activities surely makes this place a haven for hypocrites, board and lodging fee in place of ransom surely is one for the books. Then upon the release of Angelo Valderama which according to Indanan town mayor Isnaji Alvarez, the chief negotiator, in Sulu the kidnappers told him that Valderama was being set free as a "gift." A gift, Alvarez claims he was told, really? Well, a gift will surely not cost you anything so what’s up with the P2million board and lodging fee?

Speculations and rumors are going the rounds and with a government with credibility problem it can only get worse, the sad thing is the victims are the ones that suffer and not these grandstanding officials and all those involved in this racket. A former MNLF sub-commander now working with the Maimbung Mayor Najib Maldisa dispatched several people to the ASG camps of Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad and Gafur Jumdail both of whom denied having a hand in the kidnapping and was even “shocked” at the news. Maldisa’s group are doing their investigation and it appears that MNLF and ASG are not "aware" of the abduction of Ces Drillon and company but this report is being dismissed as “pure speculation” by Lieutenant General Nelson Allaga, chief of the military's Western Mindanao Command.

Then there are some reports that Ces Drillon and company was being held by Zulkifli bin Hir a Malaysian Jemaah Islamiyah bomb maker wanted by the United States with a $5million tag on his head to which the Philippine military refused to comment. So while the confusion is going on the ransom demand of P10 million just went up to P20 million ($454,000) but no one knows exactly who are the group behind all these. Really?

So who is really holding Ces Drillon and company?

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