Crimes and Criminalities in the Philippine Present Times

The Philippines today is bombarded with a soaring number of heinous and unimaginable crimes. Perpetrators are almost everywhere and fearless. Day by day, the news is filled with police matters and reports of lawlessness. In some instances, the very members of the police forces are the ones involved or reported to be committing the crimes. Is it that the Philippines today is a no safe place to stay? Is it true, that Filipinos are now less protected and helpless? This is a sad truth and if it continues to grow and remain unattended, it is likely that we will see our country go down in the future.

Matters like kidnapping, carnapping, hostage taking, robbery, rape, drugs, massacres, murders and police brutality, abuses and involvements in crimes are the very and most prominent forms of lawlessness that greet us these days. The recent and most alarming one is the kidnapping, robbery, shooting and burning of the 2 Manila car dealers  Venson Evangelista, Emerson Lozano and Lozano’s employee Ernani Sencil, along with a few other similar instances of the same nature of a crime committed. Young and productive lives are being cut off and destroyed. With their deaths, young children, fathers, wives and siblings are left in sorrow and grief. They were stripped off of a son, a  brother, a father and a husband. Undeniably, the Philippines ratio of crimes has gone from bad to worst. These criminals imply to make a statement about the Philippines. Is this the new image we want our country to be portrayed worldwide? If our government and people will continue to be less aggressive, then we allow our country’s good name to be eaten up by these criminals and their crimes.

Let us go back to the Philippine National Police, at this point in time we turn to the few good ones left, to depend on them on these very difficult situation. I am glad that new and fast developments are coming up with regard to the Lozano-Evangelista-Sencil killings. We need and we give support to our brave PNP men to find out who are the real perpeprators here. We see the Dominguez Group, Bonifacio Group, Madrigal Carnapping Group, Herrera Carnap Group and Bundol Gang, all based in Luzon, to be the culprits. However, basing on the gravity of the crime, the question whether what had happened was a carnap case or a murder case arises. But whatever it is, there is one thing real, there is lawlessness hapenning.

Now the question whether to reimpose death penalty or not comes out. Our very top leaders themselves have an opposing views. As if no one have put his mind to seriously think about it. Whether it is seasonal or not, I only know one thing, it is the government’s primary duty to defend its people from all forms of danger. Sometimes, I would like to think, that one of President Cory’s mistakes was abolishing the capital punishment. Whether Noy’s opinion is in consonance with his late mother’s stand or not, I hope he will make the decision based on the present time’s needs and demands. Mr. President, we did not imagine in our wildest dreams, that the promise towards the straight path (Tuwid na Landas), that you assured us, is this hard and burdensome. We thank you for your fight against corruption, but how about our fight against crimes? Mr. President, what good can an honest and straight forward government do, if the road towards it, has a stop over in hell? We continue to give you our trust and faith and with it, we also ask you to be more firm and strong in your decisions.

Good luck to the Philippines, good luck to the Filipinos.

The luring temptation of Jueteng Payola

Jueteng in the Philippines dates back to as far as the Spanish era. Originated from China, it means Jue (flower) and teng (bet), is a very popular and widely played numbers game among Filipinos. Todate, Jueteng is said to generate receipts of 30 Billion Pesos per year. One operator can earn as much as 38 Million Pesos per day. Although illegal, Jueteng is everywhere especially in poverty striken areas. Its popularity crosses all boundaries of social and economic standings. Rich or poor can play Jueteng, but the poor sector where the lure of gaining quick riches is strong, mostly hit by this illegal numbers game.

Time and again, the issue of Jueteng comes and goes. It reached its height of notoriety in 2000 when deposed President Joseph Ejercito Estrada was accused of receiving as much as 500 million Pesos in Jueteng payolas. He was later found guilty of the charge of plunder.

No matter if congress calls for an investigation every now and then, about why Jueteng persists, it just continues and grows bigger and stronger each time. Same old names are popping up like Bong Pineda, Atong Ang, Governor Chavit Singson, Tony Santos, Boy Jalandoni and Danny Ang. Most of these names have  merged with either politics, juduciary or just mere close friends of high ranking Philippine politicians, like Estrada and Macapagal-Arroyo.

In 1995, Rep. Bonifacio Gillego exposed Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee as a “notorious jueteng operator and maintainer”.  Even a family as landed and as wealthy as the Cojuangcos of Tarlac have not been spared of  jueteng allegations: Former Tarlac Rep. Jose Cojuangco Jr., the uncle of President Noynoy Aquino and  brother of former President Corazon C. Aquino, had been implicated in a 1995 House hearing as intervening on behalf of jueteng operators.

 In 2000, Chavit Singson accused then President Estrada of what none of his predecessors has done: systematize and centralize jueteng collections in the Office of the President – with the use of his powers and prerogatives – doing the biggest racket in the country-playing the role of a Godfather.

Cong. Gloria M. Arroyo and Alleged Jueteng Operator Gov. Lilia Pineda of Pampanga

In 2005, Macapagal-Arroyo’s keens were implicated for receiving Jueteng payolas. She was also accused to have received campaign contributions from Pineda from as early as during her Vice Presidential sprees.

Now 2010, we are again in another Jueteng scandal. In the Senate Hearing, retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, handed over to Senator Guingona, the list of alleged Jueteng operators and recipients of payolas. It exposed the names of Retired General Jesus Verzosa and DILG Undersecretary Rico E. Puno to be receiving as much as 8 Million Pesos every month in Jueteng payolas. Both denied having received payoffs. Undersecretary Puno later announced he will file a courtesy resignation when the President arrives from a week long trip to the US. Congressman Teddy Casino says, dont wait for the President to arrive, resign now. The rest of the supposed operators named by Cruz likewise denied the allegations against them.

Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz and DILG Undersecretary Rico E. Puno

Senator Miriam Santiago, for the first time since she filed a leave of absence for hyperthyroidism, attended the senate yesterday to deliver a privilege speech regarding the issue of Jueteng. In her own words, suggesting that the Jueteng lords have found the perfect combination in an equation DILG+PNP=Jueteng, said, 

“In a corrupt situation, all that is necessary is for the interior secretary and the PNP chief to gaze into each other’s eyes, and they fall in love instantly. If you look more closely, you will see that there are peso signs in their eyes, as they gaze lovingly at each other in an orgy of mutual admiration and mutual corruption”. Weird as it is, the Senator made her point clear in explaining why Jueteng continues to exist and prosper. 

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago

We have to face the fact that Jueteng has become a major concern for our country, if we are really serious about our goal for a better Philippines. We are left with 2 choices that we need to take seriously whichever we chose.

1. Enforce the law and eradicate the operation of Jueteng everywhere.  Go after the operators and protectors and impose harsh penalties on them.

2. Legalize the operation of Jueteng and earn taxes from it that would help build more classrooms and food in every Filipino table.

Either of the two will surely sacrifice something good. If we chose to enforce the law, the question is until when will we be able to do that? Or its just good if we have faithful officials but what happens if we get to have the likes of Gloria Arroyo after 6 years? What happens if we get to have officials who has less resistance to bribery and the luring sum of payolas? Then we are back again.

If we chose to legalize it, Im afraid, we will just worsen the poverty situation of the country since Jueteng penetrates in the grassroots level and it will be like drowning our own people and teaching them to make gambling part of their daily lives.

President Benigno C. Aquino, III

The government of Noynoy Aquino should take this issue critically. This is something that requires thorough study and correct judgement and responsibility. But I trust we have the best person in the Presidency to handle this pressing issue. For as long as P-Noy continues to enjoy the people’s trust, nothing is impossible. Kaya ng Pinoy, Kaya ni P-Noy.

One incident, many results

Police and SWAT members assault a tourist bus to rescue hostages at Manila's Rizal Park Monday Aug.23, 2010 in Manila

The neverending debates go on and on over the tragic incident of the Manila Bus Hostage Crisis that happend last August 23. After dismissed Chief Inspector Captain Rolando Mendoza started it all, 8 foreign nationals were dead. The entire Filipino nation is put in an unprecedented situation of shame, disgracefulness, grief, blames, and fear of losing economic promise. There is suddenly a great threat for tourism, export and service industry and investment oppurtunities with China and Hong Kong. In only one day, many things have changed.

Let’s start with our sentiments toward the 26 victims who, while touring our beautiful country, suddenly found themselves as hostages. When one dismissed policeman wanted his position back, held them, using his M16 rifle and a pistol. 8 innocent people causelessly lost their lives, while most of the rest were seriuosly injured. Captain Mendoza himself died of a sniper’s bullet. This is very unfortunate and horrific incident for our country and people. The stains left will forever stay in the minds of many.

A horrified victim being dragged by Hostage Taker Capt. Rolando Mendoza inside the bus

My heartfelt condolences to the victims.

The outrage of Hong Kong People is understandable. And we honor and respect their feelings. While we are humbling ourselves before our chinese brethren, we ask them to find in their hearts to understand us, for we too are in pain and saddend by this unfortunate event.

But what went wrong? There are so many questions that need to be answered but there is no single absolute rightful answer to all the questions. There are so many dimensions that need to be considered. The President of the Philippines is facing what is said to be the government’s failure on its first major crisis, from having been unsuccessfully reached by phone,  to the conflicting stories of his communications group, to smiling, to allegedly having weak control over police and security matters, to not intervening during the operation, to his Tourism Secretary’s non immediate action to help the victims, to his DILG Secretary’s lack of leadership to the PNP and the Manila City Government. Also, the camp of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is grabbing the oppurtunity to slash back at the Aquino Administration, not recognizing the fact that the new administration had only been in office for 55 days and 9 years before that, they were the ones responsible for preparing the police force for this kind of crisis.

President Benigno S.C. Aquino, III

For the part of the PNP, there was an admission of failed leadership of the crisis committee under Supt. Magtibay, who with 4 others were relieved a day after, and whose successor had been relieved after a day’s appointment. The negotiators also aired out admission of failure. Evidently, the PNP was not prepared to counteract such serious threats to citizen security. From lack of confident judgement, to lack of necessary equipment, to lack of sufficient combat operation tactics, to lack of full control over media, by standers, the hostage taker and the situation as a whole. All of these, unfolded before the international sight.

I still strongly believe, that indeed, the presence of the brother of Mendoza, Gregorio, did not help and infact just worsened the situation. Gregorio, who is also a policeman himself, added insult to injury to the already struggling image of the Philippine Police force. His childish actuations during his arrest did not help at all. Not knowing his real intentions for coming up armed and telling his brother not to give in until he gets back his pistol, was a very unnecessary call. It was just right that he was removed from the scene. Unfortunately, the incident was seen by his brother which resulted to his aggravation. This is were the blame for the media comes in. But so far no media have admitted fault for their free blow by blow footage of the whole saga.

Captain Rolando Mendoza

The draping of the Philippine flag on Mendoza’s coffin was a “major major insult”, not only to the victims but to the dignity of the country as well. Fortunately, they took away the flag after the Chinese embassy reacted. It said, only those who died with heroism, decency and integrity deserve the flag but not those who took advantage of innocent souls and used them to pursue their own personal grievances, like Mendoza. Allegedly, the Mayor of that town in Batangas, sent the flag to be displayed at the casket.

Today, the Chinese government will not accept our RP delegation to China, until we are able to submit a full investigation report of the whole incident. 

Police Force

Instead of blaming and pin pointing at each other, this whole situation suggests that a whole lot of study and improvements need to be done. Crisis awareness should not be taken for granted, along with others. The Philippne National Police needs to be resystematized and fully equipped and prepared for all threats of disastrous crisis.

Lastly, we need a genuine brave leadership in our government.

Statement of the President on the hostage-taking incident at the Quirino Grandstand

President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino, III

 With the rest of the Filipino people, I wish to offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims whose lives were lost in the hostage situation at the Quirino Grandstand. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs has conveyed our deep feelings of sorrow to the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China and the people of Hong Kong through Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang. I have tasked Secretaries Soliman and Lim to provide everything necessary for the recovery and return home of the survivors. I have directed the fullest cooperation with the Hong Kong authorities on the part of our officials.

From the onset of this incident, the hostage-taker seemed to not be belligerent, as shown by the release of hostages. These were encouraging signs.

We were going to wait him out. The idea was to let the ground commanders who are the experts in this field handle the operation with minimal interference from people who are less expert.

But the situation deteriorated rapidly when, during the course of the negotiations, he was given the letter of the Ombudsman in which she promised to personally review his case. As he was reading the contents of the letter, while talking to an unknown individual on the phone, he became increasingly agitated.

The presence of his brother also added to the tension.

At this point, he threatened to kill a hostage. The police decided to remove the brother from the scene. As the negotiators were departing, the negotiators were shot at.

Media coverage of his brother being taken into custody further agitated the hostage-taker.

Shots were fired. They seemed to be warning shots, as there was no audible indication of tumult or chaos to show that the hostages were in immediate danger.

Nonetheless, the negotiators tried to reestablish contact with the hostage-taker but they were unsuccessful as the cellphone of the hostage-taker was continuously busy. He also refused to answer the throw-phone provided for him by the authorities.

The escape of the driver, combined with his reports that the hostages were being harmed, forced the assault to happen. When the vehicle began to move, and with reports that he had hand grenades, a decision was made to immobilize the vehicle as it would have made the situation even more dangerous.

As we know, the incident tragically ended in the deaths of eight innocent civilians.

We expect more of the facts to come to light and I have ordered Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to thoroughly lead this review.

Copied from:www.president.gov.ph.com

Bus Hostage Crisis:Why Rolando Mendoza had to resort to this?

It is always easy to say that former Chief Inspector Mendoza had lost his sanity when he resorted into a Bus Hostage Saga yesterday. Losing his own life and 8 others in a bloody shootout is indeed horrible. Surely, this incident will create a new picture of the Philippines in the international view.  It is very unfortunate that this had to happen when our country is in the verge of reaching out for the best that is said to yet to come. When a new hope is brightly shinning in every Filipino faces. When the government is in the course of transforming itself into what P-noy says, “Tayo na sa tuwid na daan tungo sa kaunlaran”. Yet, this incident poses a great challenge not just for the government of the Philippines, but for every Filipino.

August 23, 2010, the crisis began when former Police Senior Inspector, a 55 year old Rolando Mendoza, seized a tourist bus on its stop at Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila, hijacking 26 of its passengers mostly Chinese nationals from Hong Kong. In the course of the drama at the famous Quirino grandstand, Mendoza released nine hostages, leaving behind at least 16 others. He later succumbed to a sniper’s bullet in his temporal lobe. His demands? Give him back the job.

Former Police Inspector Rolando Mendoza inside his hijacked bus

I feel terribly sorry, for the innocent victims. I cannot imagine myself being inside of that bus, in this very horrifying situation with an uncertain result where death is very vividly possible any moment. My heart goes to those who perished from this insensible death. This is indeed a very sad moment for the Philippines. This is very consequential in as much as international relations, investments, security and tourism factors are concerned.

According to Mendoza’s brother, another policeman Gregorio, his brother Rolando is very disappointed about his fate in his career after he was unjustly removed from service last January. Putting to waste all his 31 years of service and losing all his retirment benefits. Mendoza, a well decorated recipient of 17 awards and commendations whose house, according to son Police Officer Bismark, is full of laminated plaques, claimed he was not accorded due process.

One of the victims being transported by the Medics

In 2008, an administrative case was brought against Mendoza after he and 4 other policemen allegedly extorted PHP 20,000.00 from Christian Kalaw, a chef at Mandarin Hotel, who was also said to have been forced to swallow a sachet of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride).

The police officers involved, reportedly cited Kalaw for illegal parking, driving without a license and use of illegal drugs on April 9, 2008, in Manila.

The brother said, Mendoza even contemplated on filing an impeachment proceedings against Ombudsman Merciditas Guttierez for failing to serve him justice. Mendoza, in a phone interview with ABS CBN’s Jorge Carino hours before he was gunned down, said he wrote an appeal to Guttierez three times but never got a response, not even a copy of the Ombudsman’s final decision of his case. In desperation, Mendoza said his life is senseless.

The dead body of Rolando Mendoza half hanging on the doors of the bus

Again, everything goes back to the system where we are all in right now. Whoever or whatever inflicted it on us, be it the government, judiciary, legislative, poverty or corruption, I hope this lesson is well learned and never forgotten.

Police Brutality:A Monster in Uniform

A naked man lying on the floor grimacing in pain each time his torturer pulls the string attached to his genitals. This was the scenery shown on TV last Tuesday. The incident happend at the Police Station in Asuncion St, Tondo District and the Torturer was no less than the PNP’s multi awarded Precinct Commander Senior Inspector Joselito Binayug. The victim, an alleged hold upper is said to have died. Although it was not confirmed whether he died of the torture or some other cause. 

The incident gained universal condemnation among Filipinos and various sectors. The cruelty shown was very inhumane and barbaric. Some even called it devilish. But what’s most frustrating is the fact that the very perpetrator is the police itself, from the ones tasked to protect the citizenry. This puts at stake worsening public image of the police force, but for as long as there are incidents like these, for as long as police brutality is not suppressed, there will always be public condemnation.

It is just right that the law shall extend to the fullest, to penalize Inspector Binayug, along with his men who just watched while he committed the crime of torture at the police station. The other policemen, should suffer equal punishment, for just watching and never had done anything to stop their superior. It is a violation of their mandate, to tolerate a crime happening before their very eyes and not doing anything to prevent or stop it.

Senior Inspector Joselito Binayug

According to DOJ Secretary Leila Delima, this incident is the best case, to test the recently passed Anti Torture Act of 2009, and see if it can be an effective tool for greater accountability and diminished impunity among our Law Enforcement Agents.

Before they fully developed this culture of torturing their victims in order to get a plea, it is urgent that the government should impose zero tolerance against this growing practice. This in itself, is a high form of heinous crime and therefore, Binayug and his men should not be excused. They so deserve reclusion perpetua and subsequent discharge from office. A strong message has to be sent to our militia men, to stop torture as a tool in what they claim to be their easy way to solve crimes.

Torture is not exclusive to any agency or group, and there is a swift and tough punishment for anyone engaged in it. That, everyone should understand.

PNP Seeks to remove LGU’s power to appoint chiefs

Section 51 of Republic Act 6975, otherwise known as the “PNP Law” among other things provide, that the Governor in the case of the Provincial Government, in his capacity as a deputized representative of the National Police Commission, shall have the power to appoint, from among three candidates recommended by the PNP Regional Director, his PNP Provincial Director. And in the case of City/Municipal Mayors, from among 5 recommendees of the PNP Provincial Director, their respective PNP Chiefs of Police.

National Police Commission

PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa is calling for a dialogue with the National Police Commission, to discuss the possibility of calling for an amendment of certain provisions of RA 6975 (PNP Law) and RA 8551 (Amended PNP Law), which grant local executives the power to appoint police officials. He said, such powers given to Governors and Mayors, often result to the formation of the private armed groups in many localities in the country. Versoza further said in an interview,  that  he will be citing reports from the Zenarosa commission on private armed groups to strengthen his argument against this law.

I believe Versoza, in his desire to undertake this change, will have to face a difficult fight. LGU’s will surely be dismayed and therefore, oppose this move. Its going to be a battle against all odds. But this is truly a very laudable call. A valid argument. For it is important that our government should be able to protect our people from all possible threats of abuse, by some politicians, whose only way to maintain their power is by the use of the 3G’s. Goons, Guns and Gold. Sad to say, that’s very common in the Philippine scenario today. Who knows, we could have avoided the recent ill fated Maguindanao Massacre, to ever happen, if this issue have been addressed earlier. 

While these politicians continue to enjoy their power and authority over our police force, the more politics is being introduced. The more we expose our policemen in such a situation where they have to consider their “good relationships” with their Chief Executives at all times. Otherwise they are doomed to be displaced, if not transfered to other assignments.  This in itself is corruption. Although both agencies belong under one jurisdiction of the DILG, there should be an autonomy between them, in as far as ” PNP appointments” are concerned. This is the only way to give our police officers, more independence  and sovereignty against the mostly manipulative Governors and Mayors.

PNP Director General Jesus Versoza

The main problem is, how can Versoza possibly push through for an amendment of the law, when it would require the votes of the very lawmakers, whom, if not the fathers or the sons or the uncles of these Chief Executives, are closely tied up with them, for alliances and support? Too, in tandem with them for a common goal of  protecting their political interest, which is to stay in power for as long as they can. Politics as it may sound, but sadly, this is the most common scenario, Versoza may have to deal with.