“I didn’t do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can’t prove a thing.” So goes the line Bart Simpson, that cute little, yellow boy from the cartoon The Simpson’s is known for. It’s cute when Bart says it but not when its politicians and contractors who claim to be friends and acquaintances of a certain politicians’ spouse. Please. Spare us. Filipinos have already seen and heard too much of this “plea for innocence via the technical rules of evidence and criminal law” (and now for a lie detector test?) from the clowns that hold public office and those who drop their names. Just because something is not technically a crime, (e.g. name dropping), that does not make it ethical. And just because allegations of possible criminal acts by public officials involving transactions impressed with public interest have not been proven before a criminal court yet, it does not mean that it cannot and should not be a cause for concern for the public or lending institutions. We have all heard this before. We have seen it before. We have even heard a public apology for an act, which in no way meant that the one apologizing admitted to the wrongdoing. Excuse me but what the heck? She even moved her minions in Congress to prevent those recorded conversations from being played (even if millions of Filipinos already had their own CDs downloaded from the PCIJ website). We even had ring tones of it. Admittedly, the rules of criminal procedure are not ideal (a lot has changed). But one of the principles behind procedural due process and the standards of evidence in criminal law is the protection of the accused before an often all too powerful state which can deprive citizens of life, liberty and what most concerns FG’s pals, property. That is true when you are charged in a court of law. Innocent until proven guilty is the standard for criminal justice. But just because they have not been charged or sentenced for committing a crime YET, it does not necessarily mean that they cannot be excluded from public works projects. The rules of ethical behavior in public office and in public transactions do not require full-scale criminal cases and final sentences before they can apply. They have got to be kidding if they are suggesting that. Even if they painted their faces yellow like Bart while saying that, it can’t be and won’t be funny. Ethical rules of behavior apply to all of us but there is a reason for holding the behavior of public officials and those who deal with public transactions and projects to such high standards and that is because their actions have a huge impact on the common good. All of this of course is lost on members of Congress, who like many others in Philippine politics, would not know what ethical behavior looked like even if it sat on their faces. What is the world coming to? Children are being subjected to heightened state surveillance via random drug testing and sly politicians and their friends get off on every conceivable technical argument they can muster against reported unethical behavior. We treat children like criminals and politicos play innocent.
Carolina Ruiz, Senior Lecturer, UP College of Law, via e-mail
‘You can’t prove a thing’
02/06/09
Posted under Corruption, Feedback
Welcome to
Vox Populi, where your voice will be heard. Click here to find out how you can post entries on this blog.
Disclaimer: The polls conducted here are not scientific and only reflect the sentiments of those that have chosen to participate.
Search
Archives
- May 2009 (3)
- April 2009 (1)
- March 2009 (6)
- February 2009 (5)
- January 2009 (14)
- December 2008 (14)
- November 2008 (24)
- October 2008 (12)
- September 2008 (7)
- August 2008 (9)
- July 2008 (10)
- May 2008 (2)
- April 2008 (5)
- March 2008 (7)
- February 2008 (10)
- January 2008 (7)
- December 2007 (2)
- November 2007 (6)
- October 2007 (18)
- September 2007 (13)
- August 2007 (10)
- July 2007 (7)
- June 2007 (14)
- May 2007 (17)
- April 2007 (12)
Categories
- 2010 Elections (2)
- Announcements (9)
- Contributions (5)
- Corruption (1)
- Cris Mendez (1)
- Dacer-Corbito case (1)
- Feedback (163)
- Public Concerns (1)
- Raul Gonzalez (2)
- Reader Contributions (4)
- Reader's Comment Pick (9)
- Readers' Blog Posts (36)
- Reynato Puno (1)
- Uncategorized (12)
- Video Populi (2)

31 Feedbacks on "‘You can’t prove a thing’"
Harry King
Forget about GMA and her family, personal or political. Try asking Lacson, Estrada,
Legarda, Escudero or even Pimentel Jr., what ethical behavior looks like and see if we can get a sensible answer from those lawmakers with supposedly immaculate conscience.
Ric
Do not blame Mike Arroyo. We all know that, not for other reasons, but for any investigative questions, his health is very poor and critical questions could cause a heart attack.
A Senate hearing is much more stressing than flying to Las Vegas for a Pacman fight or going to China and other countries. Because Mike is not a politician and cannot hide behind EO privileges which protects even criminal executives. The Senate and the people really should understand that to commit a wrongdoing is not as stressing than being questioned about. His honorable doctors will surely attest it.
kayana2
0013
07feb09
lasvegasnv
ms. ruiz,,
now your comment seems to be an understatement or validation to the facts that ethics in all recognizable forms are not in the vocabulary of most elected “trapos” whom lacks the moral fortitude because of their inherent inept mind set.
ethics, especially moral, was banished long, long time ago from the ethos of juan dela cruz’ civil servant.
i guess this is what they meant of quid pro quo.
we reaped what we sowed, no pun intended.
kayana2 sends
lasvegas nv.
rick
UP students might fall asleep with such a long lecture about corruption.
TOMMY PRAXEDES
Another fiasco,another corruption scandal…FG Mike Arroyo’s name is at the very thick of things..AGAIN !!…but this time,his demolishing team cannot do much, but evade,deny ,delay and deviate..AGAIN…Though we all know that nothing is bound to happen..the question is WHY and HOW how this person, can just totally ignores every rule,circumvents our laws,everyone and anyone..Mike Arroyo is just slapping it to every Filipino citizens face ,he came short of implying that”THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO,TO STOP HIM,THERE IS NO LAW IN OUR CIVILIZED SOCIETY THAT APPLIES TO HIM…NOTHING !!! , Our lawmakers does not have the teeth, to enforce anything, though they will make every attempt to “INVITE” this monster to one of their Photo sessions ,and they may put wordings attach to that hearings like “the so and so commision” and /or “Scandal” ..were everyone is gonna take their turn ,expressing their thoughts of the day,(in English,of course..),using every word that one would need a thesaurus, just to understand what his saying…and/or come out with “favorite quotes from a book that nobody knows..or a verse in the bible..but once again it will come to “NOTHING “….This must be the saddest chapter in our land, Were mayhem,is the name of the game, and gotcha ,is how they play the game…..After the never ending scandals and corruptions..there is not a single time that this FG has ever submitted himself for question,or responded to any inquiry..but instead, he will use his people, to discredit (Demolish) everything and everyone and not answer a darn question HIMSELF……IF YOU QUACK ,LIKE A DUCK AND WALKS LIKE A DUCK…(though you may look and act like a pig) YOU ARE A DUCK…
Mr.Arroyo, must understand, that all this matter, that are/was being left un-answered , will someday comeout and haunt him and/or his grandchildren….What a selfish fool ????, to be leaving this matter, unanswered,for his granchildren to,defend and or deflect on their own…HAVE A LITTLE DIGNITY , AND FACE YOUR ACCUSER YOURSELF !!!(Mr lawyer???)
Never forget, that someday,somehow…life always do, find a way to balance itself out…
De los Reyes
“You can’t prove a thing.” The innocent would have the courage to say that if indeed he is innocent. The aspersion may even be ignored if the accused is known to have credibility and established probity. But when one’s probity is questionable and is consistently accused of wrong doing and makes no effort to clear his name, the perception of being corrupt grows and lingers on and on and on until the lie becomes the truth in the minds of the public. That is the danger of not clearing one’s name.
This is how politics is played in this country. This is how politicians destroy each other right in the halls of Congress and Senate where their legislative immunity can save them for making false accusations. It does not matter any more if the charge can be proven. It is enough that accusations, false or otherwise, are made. What is important is that the damage is done.
kayana2
07feb2009
lasvegasnv
2035
this-endemic institutionalized corruption- generally practice by most of all living individuals in our republic is a die-cast in our social mores’, and the continous patronage of juan dela cruz to this practice created this ugly vicious cyle of immorality subscribed by most and also by every “trapos” who lacks the moral fortitude to do the right things because of their complete disregard of their own moral ethics.
for many generations relevant to the history of our republic- the most highly educated, the well-heeled oligarchs, the political dynasties and the civil-services personnel has been the the practioners of this abominable tragic occurrences. and this hienous patronage of all evil, corruption, became embedded in juan dela cruz’ DNA. we can all cry like “chicken litttle” that the sky is falling, but it will only ends up in obscurity because of our own fallibility.
so the question of if we believe in the allegations of persistent corruption practice in our republic is a no branier- that is. we have to look in our own closet- we may find the answers.
kayana2 sends,,,
lasvegasnv….
elmot blogger
we are certainly living under a dark shade of silent suppression of liberty and basic freedom.
we need to step up our offensives now against these trapos! so tired to these people making papogi on tv while their hands are stained with blood.
Ric
Poor Mike A., he really must be extremely sick, his doctors should ban hi from traveling to Las Vegas and generally from leaving his bedroom. And of course from golfing etc. etc.
As his lawyer now said, even just answering questions by writing could stress him so much that he could suffer a heart attack.
And this could be true. It is not so easy to find answers which shouldsatisfy the investigators and at the same time should protect him against further investigation and all that without to lie. Because one thing is clear: All the accusations during the past years and up to now are untrue, fabricated, orchestrated, manufactured by sinister dark forces while FG is the only one around with a clean, bleached and whitewashed jacket.
Do not believe that? No worry, even those who protect him do not believe it.
Ric
Rod j
When the law has become too dependent on what people utters then we see a society that is paralyzed.
I think people should go back to simple basics. Rely on facts, facts speak better than words.
Taga Sampaloc
Consider this to be an open letter to all GOOD PEOPLE in the Philippines.
I will be blunt.Our country is in worse shape today than at any time since 1972. The mood of the people is downright angry and their focus of anger is on the shoulders of the politicians, cronies, and SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP. They are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.
Thanks to wasteful government spending being lost to CORRUPTION, our “standard of living”
and “quality of life” have deteriorated to their lowest level.
As a result, OUR TAXES HAVE GOTTEN SO HIGH, regulations so stifling, and opportunity so few that our quality of life gets so poor.
Our country is in deep trouble.Yet Gloria Arroyo, after SEVEN YEARS as president, refuses to stand up and take RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
All our presidents since 1986 have made a lot of promises in their campaigns.They have not delivered anything to the people but to their cronies, and SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP who already have a lot of power.
Over 800 media people alone have been killed since G. Arroyo took office and NO ONE WAS HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
Over 12 million filipinos work overseas and more leaving everyday because UNEMPLOYMENT IN OUR COUNTRY IS STAGGERING.
Our schools are now among the worst and in crisis.Our teachers are suffering thanks to RAMPANT CORRUPTION THAT CUTS OUR FUNDING IN EDUCATION. OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER.
By common sense standard, all our presidents since 1986 have failed.They have had 22 YEARS and during those hard times, they failed to take RESPONSIBILITY FOR LACK OF LEADERSHIP.
Of course, G. Arroyo, like her predecessors, did not cause our problems. However, like all the other presidents, she refuses to take RESPONSIBILITY.
We cannot continue anymore to take these path of CORRUPTION, JOB LOSSES, DECEIT, KILLINGS OF DISSENT, AND INTEREST GROUP CALLING THE SHOT.
TWENTY TWO YEARS OF FAILURE IS TOO LONG. We cannot wait anymore.
WE MUST CHANGE NOW.
GO AND ADOPT THE MOB MENTALITY WE SHOWED AT EDSA1.
Harry King
Beating a Dead Horse and Wishful Thinking.
Dragging the dead into the halls of the Senate reveals the inanity and ruthlessness of Lacson. If Barbers is innocent, who is there to defend him? Can Barbers rise from his grave to present his defense before the Senate?
Lacson had better stop playing cops-and-robbers in the Congress. The people did not elect Lacson to be a policeman and if he insists in being one, he should given the salary of a SPO1. That should save the taxpayers a lot of money.
Lacson knows that his political ratings are sinking very fast and for him there will be no next senatorial term. That is why he is trying desperately to hook a Big Fish, hoping that it will give him the boost he needs to run as a president.
Harry King
“….As senators argued on the floor, Escudero, who just came from Washington and talked to World Bank officials, said the chamber could get a copy from the three blacklisted contractors.
Escudero said World Bank officials in Washington told him that the report given to the contractors was more detailed than what was released to the Department of Finance.
He said he would ask the Senate committee on economic affairs to subpoena the report from E.C. De Luna Construction Corp., Cavite Ideal International Construction and Development Corp. and the CM Pancho Construction Inc.….” (PDI 02/10/2009 Christine Avendaño)
This goes to show the immaturity of Senator Escudero. To ask for the report from the black-listed companies is just like asking the criminal offenders to produce the “smoking gun”. The blacklisted companies can always claim that they lost their reports. The senator simply went to Washington on wild goose chase. This is another waste of taxpayers’ money.
This Senator lacks maturity to be our next President.
wonderwoman
Republic 8749 - Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
This law, though sounding like benevolent is a useless and ineffective and for vehicle emission regulation, it is a source of corruption.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Firewood. I rode onetime in a small fishermans boat and we were about 3 kilometers from the shore. It was noontime and I noticed that in spite of a good weather, the islands were vailed with haze or smoke. I nonchalantly ask my fisherman companion why this was so. And he said, “the reason for the haze is because there are thousands of housewife cooking their meal with firewoods.” And I believe him.
We are the only country in the world wherein we have our own natural gas from the Palawan source, yet, we pay very high price for our supply of LPG
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Coal fired power-generation; I onetime went to Sual Coal fired Electric Generation in Sual, Pangasinan. According to the local people, the establishment mix white lime mixed with coal to produce white smoke on their huge chimney during daytime, and at night, these chimney emits very black smoke. Coal generally produce toxic concentration of Mercury, an element that produce abnormalities in Fauna and Flora, and in the end it is highly toxic. It is also a carcenogen. The effect on the sea life is so distructive. Within a 50 kilometer radius from the furnace, you can only see dead corals, devoid of big fish, and the only once living are the jellyfish.
I have seen these coal fired electric generation in Laguna, Sual Pangasinan, another is in Lemmery, Batangas, and last is in the Island of Cebu. Each of these coal fired Furnace can pollute its surrounding with tons of solid waste without noticing it. These black fine powder can cover your car within 1 and a half hour with thin layer of coal dust. Think how much mercury you are inhaling if you live within that range.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
And another source of pollution albeit corruption is the DILG, one of the vested with monitoring function. Its function are as follows;
1) Inspect and monitor the emissions of motor vehicles;
2) Prohibit or enjoin the use of motor vehicles or a class of motor vehicles
in any area or street at specified times; and
3) Authorize private emission testing centers duly accredited by the DTI.
There is a syndicated criminals inside their sphere of influnce.
It starts from the authorize private emission testing centers. These centers are not so strict, and sometimes receive bribe to release unworthy pollution producing vehicles; those that should have failed the test.
Then, there is the LTO personnel who knowingly permit none appearance of vehicles for registration. It is here where money changes. In short, only Emmission Test Release paper are produce without actually checking the vehicles happens during yearly car registration. (These is the reason why thousands of passenger jeepney, passenger buses, and passenger vans, gets away with their smoke beltching vehicles.
Another group of LTO members would extort protection money from association of Public Utility Vehicles to avoid apprehension and grounding of their smoke beltching vehicles.
Yesterday, I rode infront of a passenger jeepney and the driver told me that if your vehicle emits smokes, if apprehended, but with the sticker that signifies paying the protection money, one of the apprehending officer would waive him off so that he could go scotch-free.
Another one, these drivers are forewarned the location and time when the check-point is located on the following day. To play safe, the drivers would ground their passenger jeeps to avoid being caught.
And the last extortion is when a passenger jeepney or bus is actually apprehended. Bribe money sometimes change hands at the right at the check-point.
I therefore conclude that “Republic 8749 - Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999″ is another law that almost everone takes forgranted and corrupt government particularly the DILG, and LTOs are involve.
victor manalac
“example is the best teacher”. and when therefore the leader atop of everyone practices corruption the rest below in all branches observe, listen, and follow. either they have to do so to “blend” and “belong”, or they are simply of the same fiber, chips from a rotten shoulder, parts of the same machinery, a team of dirty rotten scoundrels.
corruption is never taught from below. it grows in an environment created by the leader.
but honesty and good governance can grow if only our leaders would give it a try. not by speeches or by slogans, but by good acts of governance. our country needs less of bright minds in economics. we need patriotic hearts to inspire honest work guided by a sufficiently educated and equipped good mind.
currently, smart and clever thieves with fiery tongues , clothed in barongs or suits or signature gowns abound. and unless we learn to replace them in the coming election their breed will continue to grow.
but of course, we can only opine as to what the current leaders are like - because “you can’t prove a thing”. and so, let us vote well this time. if they can’t create an honest working environment then we should be the ones to do that — by placing new faces, non-tradpols, specially at the topmost posts.
it may be hopeless to make them change. but it is never hopeless to change them.
Gerry
It is really mind-devastating to read the reports about FG Mike Arroyo. And the more as now even its main accusers like Lacson start to treat him like an innocent baby.
He has been operated at St. Jude which permnent announces its superior treatments. But if FG still is in such a poor condition that he cannot even write answers to the questions regarding his involvement in rigging biddings and taking bribes, then the treatment at St. Jude is not very laudable. Heart patients of other, much more common hospitals around the world have their operated patients usually living a normal life after so many years since their operation And patients that are not privately living in such a protected, luxury surrounding like Mike Arroyo.
But the very visible reason of big Mike’s “stress danger” is anyway his using the operation as a shield against investigating his crimes since he is not immune like his spouse Gloria.
He can tour around the world, he can play golf, he can do anything but not answer questions, it must be a very special health condition.
Just to wonder if Congress and Senate will accept such medical blancets from other accused too. How sick is Imelda Marcos at her age? How sick is the now accused Legacy owner? How sick are the Alabang boys?
Very sure, all of them and many others too, could easy get a doctors attest that being investigated or put to court could harm their health. If this is accepted, then the government can save billions which now are spent for police, prosecutors, judges, jails, because only some dumb accused would be healthy enough to undergo investigation, trial and prison.
Poor FG, suffering such a complicated health condition….
Eterio
You cant prove a thing is true to nature in philippine politics, just one example of the case of former first lady Imelda Marcos, where there were 900 cases thrown at her, but not one ever succeeded in prosecuting her. How much more would that apply to President GMA, where most of the case thrown at her,were disregarded by the Senate, A Senate whom originally the one who installed her to the Presidency, which all these allegations considered hypocritical.
Frank Gonzaga
“This Senator lacks maturity to be our next President.” - Harry King referring to Senator Escudero’s intent to ask for the WB Report from blacklisted companies.
I find this opinion of Harry King a little childish, at best naive.
Why brand Escudero as “immature” and therefore not fit to be our next president? How does Harry King measure a person’s level of maturity?
Time and again we have been faced with the question, “Who should be the next president?” And for those times that we were asked who we are going to vote for, the follow-up question has always been, “Why?”
When Ramos ran for president, my Dad’s answer was, “We need a tough president to handle the job.” And indeed, Ramos was well suited to handle the job.
When Erap ran for president, my answer was, “Maybe Erap really intends to do good.” And though his intentions were good, the people he appointed intended otherwise.
When GMA ran for president, my best friend answered, “In these trying times, we need an economist to steer our economy around.”
These answers were given as answers to relevant questions.
Now, if indeed Chiz run for president and I am asked why I will vote for him, my answer will be, “We need change - for the better. We need someone who understands our language.”
Chiz’s strength is his youth. His ability to think outside the box should be commended. In this age of global connectivity, we are tasked to see to it that we remain competitive with the rest of the world.
Someone who understands our language will definitely fit the job. Someone who is willing to learn, someone who is willing to “grow” with the rest of us, will be best suited for the job.
Harry King
Frank Gonzaga (#18)
I have no personal dislike for Escudero, but he has a lot to learn. His performance for two terms in the Lower House was absolutely dismal. He is not yet ready and even if he becomes our President he might cause the nation more harm than good – as in the case of Erap.
Ramos was tough but he was soft on Gringo. Many have also accused The Tabako of alleged dishonesty and some even commented on why he was sitting in the Board of the Carlyle Group. His honesty, some regarded, is not entirely beyond reproach.
It is a mistake to blame appointees of Erap for his wrongdoings. The Sandigan has sentenced Erap, and Erap did not contest the decision. Also, none of his appointed Cabinet members were involved in the plunder; although it was not but, outwardly, it appeared to be a family enterprise.
In these critical hours who needs a learning President that has no time to plan and cope with the day-to-day operations of the government? Yes, we all want a change but it must be for the better; not another bungling President.
In selecting a President, we are not looking for somebody to be our barkada, not somebody that can sing, dance or joke. We need someone with foresight to lead the country and its people out of this mess; and, not someone that can just talk non-stop, using his prowess in Tagalog to impress the audience with his articulations.
How do I measure maturity?
“[The] Bank secrecy law covers deposits. I recall it does not cover loans….” Said
Escudero when he was insisting for the disclosure of all borrowers of Quedancor.
Any credit or lending agency, private or public, may not release a borrower’s information without the consent of the borrower and his co-signers. In many countries it is unlawful, even for state-owned corporations, to disclose borrowers’ information without valid reasons.
The Senate Bill 2098 regulating Internet access that Escudero proposed is one type of web censorship. His lack of knowledge of internet is dangerous in proposing proper legislature to protect minors and I have written him regarding this matter.
His latest proposal in the Senate chamber after his return from World Bank was to subpoena the WB reports from the blacklisted companies; this is like asking those companies to provide the ropes for their own hangings. Shall we call this stupidity, or is it childishness.
These are just some examples of how I measure immaturity(?).
Anyway, call me childish or naïve; but for me, immaturity and ignorance in the highest office of the land can be very dangerous. Senator Escudero is not the man for me.
mang godo
You can’t prove a thing…
You are right Carolina.
With so many congress investigations, senate investigations, they cannot prove a thing.
From Pidal, Garci, NBNZTE, fertilzer, Bolante, Northrail,Alabang, World Bank, etc,etc, these probes cannot prove even a thing.
Do we have useless congress? Or do we the right people in the senate except of course for a few like Enrile, Santiago, Gordon.
With so many legislative investigations, these two lawmaking bodies are diverting what they should suppose to do, that is legislation.
How can congress conduct hearings left and right when their house is in shambles, clean your act first honorables.
We should investigate these senators before they worry about others.
In this time of economic crisis, Congress and Senate should focus on stemming job losses, in short we need stimulant, we need stimulus to jump up the economy.
As Obama said, stimulus is spending, people need spending money.
As said, these investigations are mere palabas, a show, a sarsuela in this age of HDTV, you know why, our senators are sing song in their broken accented english.
Yet they cannot prove a thing…
mang godo
You cannot prove a thing.
In short, these congress and senate are the worst investigating bodies.
They have the worst record, zero record of proving the probe.
In short, clean slate, no conviction.
And why is that?
Congress and Senate are legislative bodies.
They are the planners, they are the think tank,they are the visionaries, they are the inventors, the discoverer and not the machine that will do the the work.
Well, the NBI, Ombudsman, Sandigan are having a furlough not because of lack of work but because senate and congress took their work.
That’s why they cannot prove a thing.
pompeyo pedroche
Whoever said that “government is too serious an undertaking to be left to the youth” must be thinking of Chiz. Not Rizal, for sure.
Rizal: “Youth is the hope of the fatherland” But the problem is a lot of the youth grow up only to be corrupt as they age.
Who should have more say in the future of our nation?: The young because they will spend more time suffering the mistakes of their elders?, or the old who have only a few years left to enjoy the fruits of their labor?
gregory castro
corruption is everywhere in the philippines with malacanang as its general headquarters. let us unite and remove those clowns in the public service. one bir official once said, “if a woman govt official is corrupt, she is really corrupt.” AMEN.
victor manalac
despite the pardon, ninoy quino remains the hero - practically the only one on the same pedestal that we have placed jose rizal on. we need not fume over the clemency. good or bad, a president has that prerogative who to release from prison.
what would be very bad however is if our leaders discard what ninoy represented in history.
ambition and greed has gotten so deep into some people’s souls that being kind on the criminal has somehow taken more important priority and urgency. perhaps such acts of clemency assures them a positive karma - that forgiving others today may forgive you of your own sins of yesterday.
Betty De Vera
We read Mon Tulfo’s latest On Target today about Judge Angeles but remain puzzled why he is targetting this judge which may result in another corrupt and unethical judge (Borreta) being promoted instead.
We think that to be fair Mon Tulfo also needs to target Borreta, unless Tulfo’s targetting of Angeles is designed to get Borreta the promotion spot.
Yes, Angeles has been reprimanded, admonished etc, but Borreta has been fined on two occasions for violating the Judicial Code during the past 5 years.
See http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2004/jul2004/am_rtj_04_1836.htm
See http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/resolutions/2006/july/am_rtj_05_1925.htm
Our SC insiders tell us that in the latter admin case he was warned that he must not repeat the offense yet he had already done so as public documents evidence.
Borreta is involved in an unapproved subdivision project that involves civil court litigation in Baguio City. He got a woman who uses a false alias name Lovely Ladignon Mandapat (real name Lovely Ladignon De Vera) to collect money from city hall employees and other buyers for a project that did not have a license to sell and which has been issued with a cease and desist order and two notices of violation. Effectively that is calssified as estafa! He even blocked HLURB testimony from being presented against him by having a quiet word with the principal of the the law office representing those city hall employees, and because the testimony would have affected his application for promotion to the CA.
See also http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2006/mar2006/gr_142669_2006.html
Read that decision - he was rebuked for overturning the final decision of the Court of Appeals!
The SC concluded “We, therefore, hold that the trial court (Borreta) gravely abused its discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in issuing the challenged Orders modifying the final and executory Decision of the Court of Appeals”
You will not find a judge more ignorant of the law than that. It is also indicative that Borreta’s decision resulted from graft - why else would a judge brazenly reverse a CA final judgement?
Can a judge who acts in that manner be seriously considered by the JBC for promotion to the Court of Appeals?
We think not.
Action please Mon Tulfo - your credibility is at stake.
orly28
I almost fell off my chair laughing while reading the article of Carolina Ruiz, Senior Lecturer, UP College of Law, particularly the part: “who like many others in Philippine politics, would not know what ethical behavior looked like even if it sat on their faces.”
On a sober note, random drug testing of students, and mandatory drug testing of motor vehicle applicants are examples where the target individuals are presumed guilty, not innocent, without the benefit of due process.
I don’t give a hoot about the nuances, twists and turns of legal terms. I do care about the truth, the awesome, awful, painful truth, especially in cases like the Nicole recant. Like the good professor, my cynicism about our justice system is close to being absolute. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m sued for saying so.
ann
It was, indeed, a big mistake for Mr. Gonzalo Co to trust his siblings which is actually a common practice in Chinese-owned businesses to put shares in the name of his siblings. To date, his siblings doesn’t want to part even a portion of company’s earnings to Mr. Gonzalo given that it is his actual share.
It is very sad to see that there are people who are so greedy to even “eat-the giver’s” hand.
Ma-kakarma din mga yun.
mang leo
yes, one hostage’s life is as good as of the three; eventually they will kill all of them. Why move back. Get them now and burn these vermin alive.
victor manalac
“you can’t prove a thing” . another politician says a similar thing : if you can produce even an iota of evidence i will resign as …..
so, everyone is left to be silent about what he believes as truth or what he knows. many agree with their leader’s ways. others do not favor the methods but they are nevertheless content with the results or effects, like no one can offer an alternative. a few simply don’t care so long as they believe they do not have offenses that qualify them to get snuffed.
the CHR is an inch away from just pointing an accussing finger at the man and scream “you’re the one…”. but they can’t and won’t - because they have not an iota of evidence. but most people , and the CHR , know. and perhaps the one denying that such an organized group exists is the one who knows the most about it more than everyone in that city. many say that he leads it.
as for me, i like seeing movies where criminals get knocked off . and so i enjoy clint eastwood’s “dirty harry” or bruce willis’s “hard to die” type of stories.
dr. boy castillo, jr.
I am confident that I can stroll in any part of the city without being mugged nor molested by any criminals and that I can sleep at night were petty crimes are minimally committed or most of the time none. That the prominent people and the law-abiding citizens in Davao City approve the killings of the lowlifes in the city, it is the extra-judicial executions. To our present judicial system, the prosecution service and the court and prove to be inutile in promoting the long and tedious justice system. To us davaweños and to me, the present Mayor is our hero, to the present judicial system and to his political enemies the mayor is a menace., and mark my word, if Duterte is gone, happy days are here again for the criminals thrive in Davao City.
cecille
panawagan lang po sana ay huwag ng makialam si Erap at cory sa usaping lozada dahil nakakagulo lang sila, wala nga silang nagawa noong panahon nila same story din ito scripted tatakbo sa mga religious groups tapos tatawag ng peoples power si cory d ba kayo nag sasawa, pag mabango na ang name ng tinulungan tatakbo sa pulitika at mananalo dahil nakuha na ang simpatya ng mga tao kaya dapat siyasating mabuti ang naging papel ni lozada dito baka naman d sila nag ka pare pareho ng……… kaya may pumipiyok kung panonoorin nyo sa tv ang kidnapping issue parang iba kase ang itsura ng tutuong kinidnap well kung nag iingay din si Defensor iisa lang ang mga utak nyan lahat sila tatakbo sa eleksyon
Please Leave a Comment!