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“CALCULATED risks.”
This is the gist of the de-
cision of the Office of the
Ombudsman in its apparent
bid to hide the plot behind
why it indicted former Com-
mission on Elections
(Comelec) Chairman Ben-
jamin Abalos Sr. and Social
Security Systems (SSS)
Chairman Romulo Neri—
and punished the latter for a
six-month suspension from
office.
The Couple in the Palace This is so because they
know that Abalos and Neri
They stray nearer the falls and stay behind the
have a very god chance to be
flowing water.
acquitted after trial by the
Sandiganbayan on the
ground of insufficient evi-
dence.
Such that Abalos and Neri
are not actually fall guys.
They are plain and simple
decoys.
Although not said pub-
licly, Dyaryo Magdalo sees
the decision more as a gam-
bit to save face for Ombuds-
man Merceditas Gutierrez. 30 seconds later: The wa-
She now faces the impeach- ter quickly gets so high;
ment proceedings. Members one of them is still seen.
Abalos and Neri: They are not “fall guys” but the “decoys.” of the House of Representa-
tives who are as clean as
Abalos and Neri are slated to
WEDNESDAY
MURDERS IN
BATANGAS
IN two months, three ranking
By MARIO RONO Fourth murder
barangay officials and a
former town councilor in ALCALA A week later, a former
The Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City and its chief Merceditas Gutierrez Batangas were mercilessly chairman in barangay
(inset). killed, and—to top it all—all councilor of Balayan when Santiago in Malvar,
the murders occurred on he ran under Lakas-CMD Batangas, Renato Dorosano
yer Harry Roque and com- The first error Dyaryo Mr. Arroyo
pany. Magdalo saw in the resolu-
Others charged were tion of the Office of the Om- The second error of the
former Speaker Jose de budsman is its resolution to Office of the Ombudsman is
Venecia and his son Joey De exclude Mrs. Arroyo as one it absolved or acquitted Mr.
Vencia Jr., in a separate com- of the accused. Its reason is Arroyo.
plaint filed by lawyer Roel flawed when it says she en- In dismissing the case
Pulido. joyed immunity being the sit- against him, the Ombudsman
Also charged were Trans- ting President. offered a one paragraph rea-
portation and Communica- The Ombudsman tried to soning, which reads:
tions Secretary Leandro distinguish acts done by a sit- “Concerning the criminal
Mendoza, Lorenzo Formoso, ting president as a class done complaint against respon-
Elmer Soneja, Yu Yong, with clear authority, another dent Jose Miguel T. Arroyo,
George Zhu Ying, Fan Yan done on a judgment call that the same should be dis-
and Hou Wengli. These were it was within the authority missed. The panel has not
charged in a separate com- and the other that was clearly been presented with convinc-
plaint filed by Congressman done without authority. ing and solid evidence di-
Padilla and the National Bu- It then made a postulate rectly or indirectly linking The scale model of the controversial Maliksing Pabahay of Gov. Ayong Maliksi inside
reau of Investigation (NBI). that only when there is no respondent Jose Miguel T. the Capitol Building in Trece Martires City.The land where Maliksing Pabahay will
Let it be cleared, however, contest or it is clear or unmis- Arroyo in the project. Suffice be constructed is now the bone of contention to whom does the territorial rights belong.
that Dyaryo Magdalo and takable that the act was done it to state that only surmises City Mayor Jun Sagun insists that it belongs to the city government.
this author do not have the without authority that the sit- and conjectures have been
purpose of influencing any ting president can be stripped presented to this panel for
official body that handle the of immunity. assessment. To be certain, by the Office of the Om- Obviously, the Office of in huge amount of P200 mil-
next phase that may come— On this, the Ombudsman these presumptions cannot be budsman is when it acquit- the Ombudsman parochially lion without the blessing of
through a motion for recon- said: “…If he (the President) given any weight.” ted Abalos and Neri from the looked only at the amount of the principals.
sideration or a petition for decides wrongly, he is still More than half of the Fili- charge of “entering” into a the contract to acquit Abalos As to Joey de Venecia and
certiorari before the Supreme protected provided the ques- pino people watched the saga contract grossly and mani- and Neri such that when there his father, it is reasonable that
Court as these concerns tion of his authority was one as the NBN-ZTE investiga- festly disadvantageous to the is no contract there is no there was insufficient evi-
criminal charges. over which two men, reason- tion was unfolding in the government and the charge of amount of money lost. dence to warrant they were
To begin with, these bod- ably qualified for that posi- Senate. “causing” undue injury to a guilty of the crimes charged
ies are occupied by persons tion, might honestly differ; The testimonies of Jun party or “giving” unwar- Ombudsman against them.
who know the science and but he is not protected if the Lozada cannot be discarded. ranted benefit to a party. Betrayed by On Mendoza and all oth-
principles of laws and their lack of authority to act is so He had everything to lose yet In so acquitting, the Of- own ruling ers accused, particularly the
applications to facts. plain that two such men he risked his personal and fice of the Ombudsman rea- officials of ZTE, they should
The most important issue could not honestly differ over family security and safety. If soned out that these crimes All these errors of the Of- have been included.
in the case is whether Gloria this determination.” he were lying, he will never did not occur because there fice of the Ombudsman be- To begin with, the P200-
Arroyo can be included as a The Ombudsman decided ever tell these damning mat- was no contract to begin came evident when it ruled to million bribe cannot happen
respondent, or an accused. to drop Mrs. Arroyo from the ters against the most power- with. indict or hail to court Abalos without the cooperation of
Nevertheless, there were list of the accused without ful to put his life on the line. It reasoned out that there and Neri on the charge of ZTE officials.
four other main issues, which explaining why the acts of The testimonies of Jose was no contract because the “becoming interested” in a Additionally, it will be
are whether the persons be- entering into a contract was “Joey” de Venecia Jr., son of President officially withdrew contract, transaction or busi- Secretary Mendoza who ac-
ing “accused” are probably not without authority. the former Speaker, cannot from the contract and that ness. tually signed the contract be-
guilty: (a) of “entering into a This is a clear error. also be set aside. withdrawal was officially If there was no contract ing the secretary of the de-
contract” that is grossly and First, let it be cleared that In so doing, Joey knew conveyed to China President according to the Ombuds- partment in charge of the
manifestly disadvantageous the Ombudsman itself be- that his father will be kicked Hu Jintao. man, then why the office broadband network project.
to the government; (b) of lieved there is probable cause out if he would speak about This is incorrect because found probable cause to Although the paper was
“giving” unwarranted benefit that Abalos indeed tried to matters that will surely impli- the two laws—Section 3(e) bring Abalos and Neri to trial established to have been lost.
or “causing” undue injury to bribe or corrupt Neri with cate the Couple in the Palace. and Section 3(g) of Rep. Act by ruling that the two became And before Mendoza
a party including the govern- P200 million. It even used Since he and his family 3019—do not require that a interested in a contract or should sign, all his trusted of-
ment; (c) of “becoming inter- this fact in indicting Abalos had everything to lose if he contract must have been ex- transaction or business? ficials must examine first the
ested” in any contract or for the crimes of “corruption” would speak, it is then legally ecuted or signed. Moreover, the Ombuds- contract and sign the same to
transaction or business where of an officer and “becoming presumed Joey was telling The Office of the Om- man took as a gospel truth recommend to him the ap-
they intervened in official interested” in the proposed the truth when he testified budsman conveniently over- that Mrs. Arroyo officially proval of the contract.
capacity or in which they are contract to install a gigantic without getting anything. looked the fact that the Sec- withdrew the contract. Until there, the conspiracy
prohibited by the Constitu- broadband network across And when he spoke, Joey tion 3(g) merely says “enter- If there was no contract to was clear.
tion or law from having any the country. spoke loud and with convic- ing” and it does not say “en- begin with, then there should
interest therein; and (d) of As such, the P200-million tion. tered.” be nothing to withdraw. Conspiracy
corrupting a public official. bribe being alleged is believ- It must be stressed that So that it should have So that if these errors were became
The first three charges are able considering the amount despite the most grueling been enough that there was to be corrected, the Couple in bigger
based on Republic Act 3019, of the proposed project: $329 cross-examinations done by an attempt to enter or an act the Palace should be charged
or the so-called Anti-Graft million in US currency. This senators allied to the Couple of entering and not necessar- along with Abalos and Neri, Now, the conspiracy be-
and Corrupt Practices Act, is equivalent to 16.5 billion in the Palace, Lozada and ily completing the act of en- in conspiracy, for violations came bigger.
particularly its Section 3, sub- in Philippine pesos! Joey stood their ground. The tering. of Section 3(e), (g) and (h) of The Office of the Om-
paragraphs g, e and h, respec- So that if the Ombudsman public knows this. The office also erred in RA 3019. budsman participated after
tively. believed in the P200-million It was also established and concluding that since there With respect to corruption the fact of these crimes, mak-
The fourth refers to vio- bribe try infecting the con- admitted that the Couple in was no contract to speak of, of officer charge under Ar- ing its officials as accesso-
lation of Article 212 of the tract, how can then it be said the Palace had several meet- there could be no undue in- ticle 212 of the Revised Pe- ries.
Revised Penal Code. that Mrs. Arroyo could have ings with ZTE officials in jury to any party or give of nal Code, it is incorrect that As such, they can also be
The panel that conducted authority to proceed with the China, traveling there even unwarranted benefit to any the office did not indict the prosecuted for obstruction of
the preliminary investigation said contract? not as state visits. private party. Couple in the Palace along justice other than being ac-
for the Office of the Ombuds- Even a Grade 1 pupil can So that how could the Of- What about the injury with Abalos because the lat- cessories.
J
man were composed of Di- clearly distinguish this to be fice of the Ombudsman ex- caused on Joey de Venecia in ter cannot just make an offer Shame on all of you!
rector Caesar D. Asuncion, revolting to conscience--that plain that it was just “conjec- the form of lost opportunity
Deputy Special Prosecutor it was a clear bribery such a tures and surmises” or “lies” to bid and win?
Jesus A. Micael, Deputy Spe- President has no authority to when Joey revealed that Mr. Were it not for their un-
cial Investigator Robert E.
Kallos, Assistant Ombuds-
man Rodolfo A. Elman and
Deputy Ombudsman for the
proceed with.
She allowed the contract
procedures to be completed
before withdrawing it when
Arroyo shouted at him:
“BACK OFF!”
Joey revealed this “Back
Off” encounter occurred in
fair acts, Joey could have
won the bidding.
Of course, Joey had al-
ready spent a lot in the form
M Junk Shop
“We buy
Military and Other Law En- public outrage erupted. one of the meetings about the of buying bid forms that costs
forcement Office Emilio A. So why she was dropped project. hundreds of thousands of pe-
Gonzalez III as the chairman. as a respondent or an accused Joey was there because he sos.
The decision was ap- when it was clearly unautho- was competing to bag the He had already paid his
proved by Overall Deputy
Ombudsman Orlando C.
Casimiro for Gutierrez inhib-
rized to proceed with the con-
tract?
project under the Amsterdam
Holdings Inc.
So that how could the Of-
technical staffers in preparing
their project proposal.
He also suffered undue
all kinds
ited herself.
The Errors
Explain, Office
of the
fice of the Ombudsman now
“BACK OFF” from its erro-
neous decision or resolution?
injury in the form of sleep-
less nights, anxieties, fears
and besmirched reputation?
He could have not been
of scrap”
Ombudsman! Execution shouted at by Mr. Arroyo
CP: 0912.770.8324
Unexplained of contract with “back off” if only the
exclusion of Unexplained not required contract bidding and vetting
Mrs. Arroyo acquittal of The third error committed was done above board.
4 August 31-September 6, 2009
TRAILBLAZER
a truism for many Filipinos. Good Book. A literary style the rich and famous. politico who could always
It is an acceptable proposi- used by no less than Jesus Why this apathy? People find ways to perpetuate
tion that does not need any himself, when he told a story don’t give a damn. “Pareho- himself in power?
probing at all. It is an ac- about a Good Samaritan. In By RONALDO E. RENTA pareho lang yan…Mga cor- They said this 2010
ceptable fact that does need the olden times, Hebrews re- rupt.” Do we stop here? Are Election would be an op-
proof or evidence. Try to garded Samaritan with much we going to wait for God to portunity for all of us to
ask anybody on the street if disdain and contempt. Jews storm Malacañang and the make a difference. It would
they know any politician considered Samaritans worse righteous men in Sodom and It did not bother me at all Congress with fire and brim- be the first computerized
who is unsullied and incor- than dogs. Nothing good, Gomorrah. Abraham had if this is the prevalent feel- stone? election in the country. Ev-
ruptible. You will not be noble and kind could be com- hard times negotiating with ings of Filipino toward poli- The traditional answer is eryone waits with great an-
surprised to hear they don’t ing from this group of people. the Angel. At the bargaining ticians. What really bothers with the Power of Ballot. ticipation on the Supreme
expect our leaders passing So, people who heard Jesus’ table, Abraham failed to me is the apparent lack of This is the time of revenge Court ruling on the case of
morality and ethical stan- story about Good Samaritan present a few righteous men resolution or courses of ac- common people would wait computerization of elec-
dards. They all say: were appalled and stunned. to the Special Envoy. In the tions on this valuation and in order to let their politician tions.
“Pareho-pareho lang GOOD SAMARITAN was end, Sodom and Gomorrah, perception. Why people did feel and experience their Time is ticking. Hoping
yang mga politiko na an oxymoron in the New Tes- whose acts of debauchery not get out to the streets when wrath. But, the voice of the this new system would give
yan…Magnanakaw at tament times. and bacchanalia reached the our politicians had lavishly people could be easily ma- us fresh era of a good poli-
magnanakaw din yan.” Looking for a good poli- heavens, were grazed to the dined and wined in the US nipulated and frustrated by tician, one who is not an
Good politician is an tician is like looking for a few ground. using taxpayer’s money? voice of “Hello Garci.” Is oxymoron.
By
OMAY E.
RENTA
Lovi Poe
says
Jolo
is but
L
Revilla.
OVI Poe, daughter of the
late King of Philippine
Movies Fernando Poe Jr.,
is gearing up following a
breakup with rumored
boyfriend Jolo Revilla, son of Senator Bong
beautiful house
THE house of Mikey at 1655 Magdalo from the internet room in 360-degree scenes.
Beach Park Boulevard, Near shows that it was last sold on A look at Zillow’s site
Neighborhood, Foster City, August 23, 2006 for says that the property’s mar-
San Mateo County, Califor- P1,320,000. This transaction ket value plunged to slightly
nia is so beautiful that you must be the one being re- more than $1 million last
would salivate upon looking ferred to by Vera Files as “in- February due to the financial
at it. terfamily transfer,” which crisis but it climbed back to
It is certainly a dream caused him to pay taxes of $1.26 million recently.
house for any middle-class $14,239. It has a legal description
Filipinos. It has spacious Vera Files reported that as “Lot 710 Foster City
rooms, beautifully-designed when he acquired the same Neighborhood No 3 Unit
and finely-built. Its garage property, he only paid $1,452 No2 RSM 62/43 50” and
has automatic roll-up-roll- in taxes. Vera Files said it was bought
down door. As a standard in Vera Files said that Mikey, from one George Skyllas in
the US, it has no fence but it 40, married Angela, his sec- a transaction recorded on
faces directly the San Fran- ond cousin, on June 24, 2002. Aug. 23, 2006 in the San Pampanga he reported ac-
cisco Bay which is just an She is a daughter of Rosario Mateo County Assessor’s quiring for P4 million and a
eight-lane concrete road Arroyo, first cousin of his Office under Document ID property at La Vista Subdivi-
away from his front yard. father. 2006-126984. sion in Quezon City with an
It is fully furnished with The couple have two Vera Files also said that P8 million acquisition cost.
amenities one needs. It has a daughters, Mikaela Gloria the assessor’s office showed
master bedroom and a mas- and Marie Angelique. that Angela had twice mort- Dato’s condo
ter bathroom, which is too It also reported that gaged the property since they
good for an office. It sits on Angela’s father, Herman acquired it in 2006 and the Vera Files also reported
a 600-square-meter lot. Montenegro, was president last redemption was in April that Dato’s SALN does not
Dyaryo Magdalo ob- of the Philippine Chamber of last year. contain details of his San
tained pictures of the house, Commerce and Industry, and Vera Files said that Mikey Francisco, California condo-
its surroundings and its inte- now the chairman and presi- bought the beachfront house minium but it found it to be
riors. dent of the H.M. Group of apparently after he and his a 70-square-meter one-bed-
Although not listed at Companies. wife sold in September 2005 room, one-bathroom unit
Mikey’s SSALNs for 2005 Vera Files said that shortly their 160-square meter three- (Unit No. 533) at the luxury Family room
and 2006 shows a listing of a after Mikey and Angela got bedroom, three-bathroom high-rise, full-service
US property he stated as married, Montenegro became condominium unit at 805 Gramercy Towers located at
P49.5 million but he did not treasurer and chairman of the Mendocino Way or the Man- 1177 California St. in upscale
disclose the location. ways and means committee ors Condominiums in Red- downtown San Francisco.
Although not declared in of President Arroyo’s party, wood City, also in San Mateo It said that the database of
his 2008 SSALN, Mikey wrote Kabalikat ng Malayang County, getting $900,000 for the San Francisco Assessor’s
on the same disclosure docu- Pilipino or KAMPI. the property. Office lists Dato and his wife,
ment that he is a “shareholder” Vera Files said that the Vera Files said that an in- Maria Victoria Celina
of Beach Way Park, which he Foster City house of Mikey formation from the assessor’s Manotok, as co-owners of the
identified as located on “Beach has a floor area of 250 square office showed that Mikey condominium unit. The
Park Blvd California.” meters and more information also placed the deed to the couple were married on May
Vera Files said that the about can be publicly ob- Redwood City property in his 17, 2003 and have two chil-
data it obtained from the San tained from www.zillow.com wife’s name before selling it. dren, Eva Victoria ad Miguel
Mateo County assessor’s of- and www.ewalk.com. There The condo unit is registered Luis.
fice show that Mikey trans- is, however, no listing as to with a legal description “Unit Vera Files also said that
ferred and registered the who owns the property. 805 The Manors Condomini- Dato’s wife bought the condo
house under the name of his When visited, the ewalk ums RSM 118/3-20.” unit for $570,000 on Sept. 8
wife, Angela Arroyo site has pictures of the house, It also said that Mikey’s last year. In December, she de- Dining room
Montenegro, in August 2006 including the front view, SALN for 2004 does not clared her husband as co-
in what is called an “inter- backyard, living room, mas- show him owning any prop- owner through a deed recorded
family transfer.” ter bedroom, family room, erty in the U.S. It lists only a as Document No. I69529200
But an inquiry by Dyaryo office and kitchen and dining house and lot in Lubao, at the assessor’s office.
The Backyard
VILORIA’S SPEED
KEEPS IBF TITLE
THE “Hawaiian Punch”
lived up to his moniker as he
world boxing title for “The
Filipino Flash” to hold at the
head of Iribe, sending the
challenger to the ropes and By RONALD HERICO
punched with distinct speed same time. groping for balance.
to succeed in the “Island It is interesting to note that Viloria’s right hook and them to enjoy a good boxing
Asault” at Blaisdell Center in Viloria once defeated combination sent the tough match against (Iribe) who is
Honolulu, Hawaii, beating Donaire during the old days Mexican stepping back to the one tough guy.”
challenger Jesus “Azul” Iribe when they battled for the ropes halfway through the Though failing to floor
of Mexico on Saturday (Sun- right to represent United fight. Iribe, Viloria chalked up
day in Manila) before his States of America to the But Viloria kept firing his enough points to complete
hometown crowd. Olympics. artilleries until Iribe started the win against tough Mexi-
That is, although he failed Both are Filipino-Ameri- loosening defenses in the can foe.
to have the fight go the way cans. third round, marked by a Viloria, who grew up
he wanted from the start: “a The victory of Viloria couple shots to the head. about a half-hour drive away
storybook ending.” capped the one-way assault With his seventh straight in Waipahu, made a grand
The victory kept the of all the Filipino boxers win, Viloria said he wants to entrance to the “Hawaii Five-
crown Viloria won last April slated to fight that night. unify the light-flyweight O3 theme, with both the Ha-
19 at the Araneta Center by Dyaryo Magdalo scored crown, planning to challenge waiian and Philippine flags
knocking out Ulises Solis in the fight 117 to 111 in favor World Boxing Organization being waived by conch-shell
the 11th round. of Viloria, losing only in the champion Ivan Calderon, blowers.
A dual American-Filipino, seventh, 11th and 12th round. who will face Filipino Rodel It was the first world title
Viloria kept the pride of the Three judges scored Mayol on September 12 at in Hawaii and he was not yet
Filipinos flying proud fol- unanimously in favor of the Coliseo Jose Miguel even born when Honolulu
lowing the victory of compa- Viloria, as follows: 118-110; Agrelot, in Hato Rey, Puerto hosted its first world title
triot Nonito Donaire Jr. 117-112; and 117-111. Rico. He and Calderon have bout when Ben Villaflor of
against Panamanian cham- The entirety, however, a long ring history. Viloria the Philippines fought Puerto
pion Rafael “El Torito” mattered most that he had al- has beaten Calderon three Rican Samuel Serrano for the
Concenpcion to give the third ready accumulated insur- times when both were still World Boxing Association.
mountable lead on points amateurs. That fight ended in a draw on
when Viloria tried to go for a After taking a left to the April 13, 1976. Brian Viloria raises his arms after defeating Jesus Iribe
big kill in the last two rounds body, Viloria answered with Viloria’s win highlighted of Mexico via unanimous decision to keep his IBF light
against the much bigger op- a hard hook that bloodied a sweep by the Philippines
flyweight belt.
ponent. Iribe’s nose late in the 10th over foreign foes. He now
Like that of “The Filipino round. holds to 26-2-0 (15 KOs).
Flash”, Viloria piled up
points to win the battle
against “Azul” Iribe.
Viloria controlled the fast-
The fighters traded blows
in the middle of the ring in
an action-packed final round.
Iribe landed a jarring left
AJ Banal and Dennis
Laurente out-pointed their
respective foes.
Philippines
has newest
In the co-main event fea-
paced bout in front of his hook to the body and Viloria ture, world-ranked bantam-
hometown crowd, starting came right back with a left- weight AJ Banal scored a
and ending with a flurry of right combination. unanimous ten-round over
punches.
As the bell sounded off
the start of the first round, the
“I just gave the fans old-
fashioned boxing. I hope they
all enjoyed it,” said Viloria
Jose Angel Beranza (32-15-
2, 25 KOs) on the scores: 99-
92; 98-91; and 98-92.
grandmaster
champion quickly went for a after the match. I just gave Banal was even deducted
left-right combination to the the fans a good show, wanted To page 7 Final Standings:
7 points — P. Negi (In-
dia), R. Dableo (RP); 6.5 —
BISON MANAGEMENT CORP. extends its heartfelt “best wishes to the Libyan People” in E. Ghaemmaghami (Iran), E.
celebration of the GREAT SEPTEMBER FIRST REVOLUTION OF THE GREAT Senador (RP), N.N. Truong
SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA, on the 35th anniversary of Son (Vietnam), D. Laylo
(RP), S. Gerhard (Germany),
revolution in Libya on September 1, 2009. Just like us, the Libyan people are talented hardworking Y. Yangyi (China), S.
individuals especially in defending the national dignity and sovereignty of their country to build up Iuldachev (Uzbekistan), D.
free and prosperous new society. Xiu (China), L. Chao
(China); 6 — S. Megaranto
(Indonesia), N. Dung (Viet-