The Four-eyed Journal » Justice

The Vizconde Case: another casualty of a broken system - Justice and truth remains elusive

jhay — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 07:12:10 +0000

When the brutal murders of the Vizconde women and rape of one of them happened in 1991, I was just six years old back then.

I’ve seen the movie once back when I was in high school and up until the promulgation of the Supreme Court’s decision yesterday, I believed that Hubert Webb, et al. deserved to be behind bars.

But after reading up on the case, the decision of the Court including the separate and dissenting opinions, I’ve had a change of heart. Mainly because my interest and growing passion for the law has led me to believe that every one who’s charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guitly beyond reasonable doubt.

That was what the Supreme Court said yesterday, it is still doubtful that Hubert Webb et. al. were indeed guilty. So they, under our laws, deserve to be free. There’s no question that there was a grave injustice done to the Vizconde’s, but it would be another injustice to jail Webb et al since starting yesterday they were still presumed to be innocent.

I say ‘presumed innocent’ because up to now, the truth remains elusive. I cannot pass judgement on Webb and his co-accused because I’m not sure of it. And if would be unfair to pass judgement knowing that I am not in the best position to do so. Heck, even the Supreme Court is unsure whether Webb, et al. were guilty or not.

What affects all of us is that besides the truth behind the Vizconde massacre remains a mystery, we have been shown another truth; that our justice system remains to be dysfunctional, perverted and corrupted.

It’s not the Supreme Court alone or the justices themselves but the entire system. From the police, to the prosecutors, to the NBI to the lower courts.

It’s not just because of power, money, connections and influence, it is with the values of the people who call themselves public servants and officials. Worse, the ordinary citizens who blindly accept them and even conspire with them for their own selfish interests.

I refuse to believe that most people are not aware of this truth. But what’s more tragic and saddening than the continuing injustice to the Vizconde’s is that we are still to turning a blind eye to this reality; that the system is rotten, broken and allowing ourselves to be screwed by it over and over again.

Nicole has left the country

jhay — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:34:17 +0000

WTF?! Nicole has left this country and will stay in the US “for good“. Not poetic justice but some sick twist of irony. So much for the symbol of US military oppression and abuse, so much for the revival of the patriotic movement to junk the Visiting Forces Agreement and exact justice not just for the Filipina but also for the motherland.

One cannot help but get suspicions that the governments both our own and the United States’ have had a hand in this. Not so long ago, at the height of her legal battle against her rapist US Marine Daniel Smith, she and her family stood up against the portion of the public that opined that she would either succumb to lure of a bountiful settlement or give up on the country’s legendary justice system – or both.

She won, the US Marine was convicted but justice fell short when he remained in the custody of the United States through his stay at the US Embassy. Still, the struggle continued, gained momentum and even support from some senators (be it for their own election-related interests or not) and is about to blossom until this. She and her family has become:

tired of the case and do not want anymore to be bothered by it because ‘there is no justice in the Philippines.’”

It’s not only her lawyer that has been left hanging in the air, but also the national movement that has picked up her cause and is now ready to mount a struggle to the end.

Should this setback, a slap on the face, be enough to give up all together?

I believe it should not. There’s a grain of bitter truth on The Warrior Lawyer’s conclusion;

Every Filipina has a price. And that price is, sadly, a one-way ticket to the U.S.

However, Nicole’s lawyer, Evelyn Ursua has perfectly said the otherwise;

“While I have ceased to be Nicole’s lawyer, I, as a citizen who loves this country, remain committed to the cause of obtaining justice in Nicole’s case and putting an end to the iniquitous Visiting Forces Agreement,”

“The ‘Nicole’ that and the other lawyers represented was beyond the woman that Nicole and her family thought she was. ‘Nicole’ is every Filipino woman who was and will be raped by American soldiers. ‘Nicole’ can happen again. And so the fight against the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the presence of US troops in the country must continue,”

When Jose Rizal refused to give his blessings to the Revolution and chose to stay in exile in Dapitan, Bonifacio and the Katipunan pushed on with it regardless. Though there were many setbacks, long battles and even the betrayal of their comrades, the Revolution succeeded in gaining our independence from Spain.

This in turn was cut short by the arrival of the Americans and we have never fully recovered from then on, a hundred years later we’re still recovering from chains and strings of Uncle Sam. Perhaps this time around, despite the spoiling departure of Nicole (some would construe as betrayal, but I wouldn’t go there), we’d finish what our forefathers have started.

Masui Mayor beats up 56-yr-old man and 14-yr-old boy – another reason to oppose term extensions, no elections and Cha-Cha

jhay — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 03:43:56 +0000

Well, it’s all over the blogosphere and the mainstream media. Blogger Bambee dela Paz recounts the infuriating tragedy that has befallen on her family:

At around 1:30 PM today, at Valley Golf and Country Club, Antipolo City, Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, Jr., Mayor of Masiu City, Lanao del Sur, his father, Secretary Nasser Pangandaman of the Department of Agrarian Reform, and company, beat my defenseless 56-year-old dad and my 14-year-old brother to a pulp because of some stupid misunderstanding on the golf course.

Things get heated up. Voices were raised. But never, in my wildest dreams, did I ever imagine that someone would pull out a punch. Apparently not. He attacks my father. His flightmates, maybe 2 or 3 of them, rush to his aid and beat up my father.

My 56-year-old father. My younger brother and I could not just watch. We rushed to break the fight. My younger brother pleads to the mayor to please stop it. To not hurt my dad. To just stop. His words still ring through my head…”Sorry na po, sorry na po…tama na…tama na po…” With his hands in front of his chest in a praying position. PLEADING. The mayor socks him in the face.

My brother defended himself. My dad is still on the ground getting clobbered. My brother is the same way. I try to stop the fight, but all I can do is stop one person. There were 4 or 5 of them attacking now.

Arrogance. Nothing but arrogance is what I could say about the dishonorable Mayor of Masui Nasser Pangandaman, his body guards and his father DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman’s shameful acts and non-actions, respectively.

It is but a classic display of how local officials think and act as if they are kings and do whatever pleases them. They like to flaunt power at every possible opportunity, which to the sad reality, at the expense of the common citizen.

As for the Secretary of Department of Agrarian Reform’s not lifting a finger to stop his son from beating up the old man and his young son, well that pretty much explains why the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program in this country has failed. The officials in charge of carrying out agrarian reform is good at only one thing, doing NOTHING!

GMA’s cabinet members are certainly living up to the phrase “cabinet members are alter-egos of the President…” and since GMA is evil, the DAR Secretary is no different. Obviously, his son’s unpardonable acts towards the dela Paz’ is proof that the trait does run in his family.

It’s sad and infuriating that this had to happen during the holiday season. Come January when things go back to usual business, the Arroyo administration will once more move heaven and earth to get the Cha-Cha train moving, extending the terms of office of those currently in power and suspending elections in order to ensure a “smooth transition” once the changes they want are inserted into the Constitution.

Well, let this sad incident be a reminder that enough is enough of this rotten, corrupt and evil administration. We must not let these kind of politicians remain in power. If we truly want justice not only for the dela Paz family, but also for the thousands of Filipinos still suffering from neglect, oppression and injustice caused by the current administration and set of politicians, we must not only pray, but we must fight back.

Here are the other posts about this issue:

The World has Gone Crazy by Bambee de la Paz
Updates and Thank Yous by Bambee de la Paz
Repost of Bambee’s post at Filipino Voices
The World has Always Been Crazy, We Just Don’t Notice It: Mayor Beats Up 56 Year Old Man and 14 Year Old Boy by Noisy, noisy Ade
Impunity and Golf By Caffeine Sparks
DAR chief Pangandaman’s son, Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. in Mauling Golfers in Antipolo by Noemi Dado
Golf, Guns, & Goons : Philippine Golf Horror Story by Joel Chua
Politicians Beat Up Defenseless Dad, 56, and Son, 14, Over Golf by Shari
Mayor of Lanao Del Sur Mauls Father and Son by Village Idiot Savant
DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman and Son maul 56-year-old Golfer and 14-year old Kid by Neil Es2pido
Irony to a Tee by Marck
Mayor Beats Up 56 Year Old Man and 14 Year Old Boy by BA Racoma
DAR Chief and Mayor of Masiu City Maul Helpless Dad and 14 yr old Son by Jepoy Bengero
Politicians are the WORST. Stay away from them by Jen
Entitlement by Ia Lucero
A Dampener on the Season by Jonas Diego
These Bastards Have To Pay by Gerry Alanguilan
Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. (son of DAR Chief) in Mauling Golfers in Antipolo by Dine Racoma
Crazy Politicians! by Lalaine
When A Family Golf Game Turns Ugly by Dementia
He Who Had Too Much Sense of Entitlement by Tess Termulo
Mayor, You’ve Been A Bad Boy! by Mark Bravo
Nasser Pangandaman Jr., mayor of Masiu, Lanao Del Sur: Golf Attack by Reyna Elena
You’re Not Getting Away With This. byMarcelle
Of Thuggery and Courtesy Resignations by Ding G. Gagelonia
Politicians Maul Father & Son Over Golf by Regnard Raquedan
Philippine Mayor Beats Up Helpless Old Man Over Golf by Flisha
Asshole Politicians Beat Up Father and Son Over Golf by Mad Cow Blues
Potpourri II: The widening gyre by Ephemere
Mayor Pangandaman Beats Up 56 year old man and his 14 year old son by Karla Redor
Philippine Mayor Beats Up Helpless Old Man Over Golf by Flisha
We haven’t really gone anywhere by Alex Maximo

Coverage by Mainstream Media

DAR chief, son face complaints for allegedly mauling golfers from ABS CBN
Gov’t peace negotiator, son face mauling raps from ABS CBN
Kalihim ni Arroyo inakusahang nanggulpi sa golf course sa Antipolo from Gmanews.tv
MAG-AMA BINUGBOG NG ANAK NG DAR CHIEF from Abante Tonite
DAR chief’s son tagged in golf attack from Inquirer
DAR chief, mayor son tagged in beating from PhilStar

I’ll end with a line from the movie V for Vendetta;

People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.

New Book: The Appeal by John Grisham

jhay — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:26:43 +0000

Last night before my girlfriend and I watched the latest James Bond 007 movie, The Quantum of Solace, of which a review of sorts is coming shortly, I picked up a new book from National Bookstore.

It is John Grisham’s latest best-seller The Appeal. Since this is not a review and I haven’t even removed the plastic shrink-wrap from the book, I’d share the teaser printed on the back hoping that I won’t get sued for it.

In a crowded courtroom in Missippi, a jury returns a shocking verdict against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste into a small town’s water supply, causing the worst “cancer cluster” in history. The company appeals to the Missippi Supreme Court, whose nine justices will one day either approve the verdict or reverse it.

Who are the nine? How will they vote? Can one be replaced before the case is ultimately decided?

The chemical company is owned by a Wall Street predator named Carl Trudeau, and Mr. Trudeau is convinced the Court is not friendly enough. With judicial elections looming, he decides to try to purchase himself a seat on the Court. The cost is a few million dollars, a drop in the bucket for a billionaire like Mr. Trudeau. Through an intricate web of conspiracy and deceit, his political operatives recruit a young, unsuspecting candidate. They finance him, manipulate him, market him, and mold him into a potential Supreme Court justice. Their Supreme Court justice.

The book is timely since Barack Obama’s historic election as US President is still making waves throughout the world and here at home, election season is just around the corner. More so, just as in the book, our own Philippine Supreme Court is about to face a similar situation wherein seven, yes that’s seven Supreme Court Justices will retire next year. Once more, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will have the greatest chance of consolidating her hold in the Supreme Court by having the power to appoint another set of Justices to fill the vacancies.

Though the manner of selecting justices in the state of Missippi is different, theirs is by election while ours, since we only have one Supreme Court, is by Presidential appointment, the process is still the same, it is political in nature.

Now that Arroyo’s stolen term as President is coming to an end, the process of selecting Supreme Court justices would have a profound effect in our country in the coming years especially with all the issues of Charter Change, corruption and election fraud are still lingering. Thankfully, the great constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ discusses this process in his Inquirer column to which many would gain many eye-opening goodies.

Now, as I will begin to read the book this week, I cannot help but ask questions parallel to points in the book like, would Mr. Trudeau’s scheme and machinations give a glimpse of how GMA would select the new Supreme Court justices? Who would be the seven new justices? Would they, in the future decide in favor to GMA in the event she is prosecuted after her Presidency? The messages in the Inquirer’s Editorial for today are a good starting points for answers.

Over all, this would be good read in the following weeks.

First ever TEAM ATENEO-LA SALLE T-shirt now available

jhay — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:54:01 +0000

I may be sued for copyright infringement but what the heck, for those who are shocked and curious about the title of this post, here’s the verbatim copy of the email I received this afternoon from SLB or Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan:

First ever TEAM ATENEO-LA SALLE T-shirt now available at SLB!

Ateneo de Manila University and De la Salle University have teamed up to support the Sumilao Farmers. The first ever Ateneo-La Salle shirt is now available at the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB) office for P200/pc. Generated funds will be utilized to support the Sumilao Farmers. Visit SLB at Loyola House of Studies, ADMU during office hours.

Front Design
============
TEAM
Ateneo-La Salle
CHAMPIONS

Back Design
==========
The Sum1Lao Farmers
Walk 4 Land
Walk 4 Justice

For details, please call telephone numbers 426-6101 locals 3440 / 3441, telefax 426-5968, hotline SUN-8600-SLB (0922-8600752).

Ateneans and La Sallites who will attend the Watch and Pray Gathering at Manila Cathedral this Ash Wednesday 1:00 p.m. are highly encouraged to wear the shirt.

This is our strong statement that even the most passionate rivals are united in the Sumilao case because the irrefutable facts are crystal clear and that Justice and Equity are evidently on the side of the Sumilao Farmers.

Manalangin. Manindigan. Makialam.
SIMBAHANG LINGKOD NG BAYAN

——————————-

Who would’ve thought that the two rival universities would unite and come up with such an awesome product/stuff? I’m seriously bent on getting one, but I have to travel all the way from Cavite to Loyola Heights?! Oh well, at least I’ll get to see the good-old Loyola Schools.

I hope someone who has already bought a shirt will post a photo of it in the net. LOL

Still, it’s a good and noble cause where two big names in Philippine education, sports and culture have united for. This will be long remembered. If my schedule will permit me, I’d join in the gathering at the Manila Cathedral this Wednesday. It’s time to put our faith into action.

To the good folks at Ateneo, it’s Lasallians, not La Sallites. I’ll explain further in a follow-up post.