Merci and Math

Tikboy's lawyer finally admitted why he (the lawyer) took up Law: He hates Math and there is lesser numbers crunching activity in Law. Could this also be the reason why Ombudsman Merciditas Gutierrez had some problems in counting?

In an interview, Gutierrez proudly presented figures comparing the conviction rates between her administration, Simeon Marcelo's, and Aniano Desierto's. Based on her claim, she was able to achieve 53.75% conviction rate while Marcelo has 25.26%, and Desierto has 26.49%.

Well, kung dalawa lang ang nai-file na kaso at ang isa ay may judgement na conviction, ibig sabihin, ang conviction rate ay 50%. Pero kung 10 ang kaso na nai-file at 1 lang ang may conviction, that's a clear 10% conviction rate. Ibig sabihin, hindi dapat porsyento o rates ang pagbasehan kundi absolute count. Ilan nga ba talaga ang nai-file at naipanalo niyang kaso?

Eto ang sagot sagot ng Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism:

Gutierrez’s number is an illusory picture of good results, however. A closer review of the 223 cases she steered to conviction shows that almost all – 221 cases to be exact – were filed against just one official, the mayor of Nakar, Quezon province. The two other cases involved a municipal mayor of Iloilo, and a city mayor of Nueva Ecija.
This is where her score turns most sour: by number of actual persons convicted of corruption, the Sandiganbayan database shows that Gutierrez, in four years, has managed to secure the conviction of less than one senior official per year. 
In contrast, her three predecessors scored much better in terms of the number of cases they filed during their terms, and the actual number of persons meted out convictions under their watch – 16, 36, and 62 officials per year on average, respectively, for Marcelo, Desierto, and Vasquez.

The similarities or Ronald Singson and Merci

What are the similarities between Ilocos Sur Cong. Ronald Singson and Ombudsman Merciditas Gutierrez?

1. Pareho silang public official.
2. Public office is a public trust pero sila, parehong hindi na pinagkakatiwalaan ng mga tao. May public mistrust ba.
3. Kahit may mistrust sa kanila, Pareho silang ayaw umalis sa puwesto. At this point in time, ayaw nila parehong mag-resign.
4. Pareho silang gusto ng "due process" bago patalsikin. 
5. Hindi sila tulad ni Gen. Angelo Reyes. Si Angie, manipis ang mukha kaya nagpakamatay agad. Sila, they value life kaya ok lang na tawaging makapal ang mukha.
6. Pareho silang haharap sa Kongreso bago patalsikin.
7. Si Ronald, addict sa bawal na gamot; si Merci, addict din sa pag-aaral ng kaso kaya tumatagal ang mga ito sa upisina niya
8. Pareho rin silang may admission of guilt. Si Ronald, admitted na drug user; si Merci, admitted din na konti lang ang naresolbang kaso.
9. Pero pareho silang binabayaran ng taong bayan.
10. Pareho silang may "friend". Si Ronald, girl friend si Lovi Poe; si Merci, boy friend si former FG Mike Arroyo (boy friend as in lalaking friend, ano ka ba?)

Euro Generals suspended

Finally, after two long years and the death of 8 persons in a well-televised hostage-taking incident, the Ombudsman suspended six Euro-generals. The Inquirer reports:

MANILA, Philippines—The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered six Philippine National Police officials involved in a controversial trip to Russia in 2008 to be placed on preventive suspension for six months without pay pending its investigation of the case tagged in media as the “euro generals” scandal.

Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez, head of the anti-graft body, identified the PNP officials as Director Silverio Alarcio Jr. of the Directorate for Operations; Director German Doria of the Directorate for Human Resources and Doctrine Development; Chief Supt. Orlando Pestaño, finance service director; Chief Supt. Tomas Rentoy III, budget division director; Supt. Samuel Rodriguez, special disbursing officer and Supt. Elmer Pelobello.

But three of them—Alarcio, Pestaño and Doria—have reportedly retired from the service. (More here)

 Interesting.  So kailangan lang palang me mga mangyari muna bago ang aksiyon. Di ba may kasabihan: Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo?

Kung sabagay, it is better late than never. Ang Ombudsman kaya, kelan din mapapalitan? Mukhang ito rin ang dahilan bakit namatay ang mga Intsik sa Manila Hostage Crisis noong Agosto 23, di ba? Tanungin natin si Capt. Mendoza.

Inch by inch

Finally, the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is moving. Just today, the complaints filed by former Akbayan Representative Riza Hontiveros et. al., and the other one from the Bayan Muna camp have been declared sufficient in form and in substance.

Merci is unfazed, though. We should not be surprised. It's taking her long to internalize things or feel everything through her bones. Kaya nga usad-pagong ang mga kaso dahil sa sobrang bagal niya mag-internalize, di ba? At kaya nga nagwal rin si Capt. Rolando Mendoza.

But we should not blame Merci for her usad-pagong na galaw. Malay natin, nature na talaga yun. Pinag-iisipan niya lang na maigi. So kung mamatay na ang mga may kasalanan na hindi pa nasi-sintensiyahan, ayos lang. Whether or not sintensiyahan sila, mamatay din lang naman sila. Ganun din ang logic sa government service. Whether or not gawin nila ang trabaho nila sa Sandigan, sasahod din naman sila. O di ba?

The Mendoza hostage handling: Problems, lessons and things to watch

So, the Philippines is again making world news. Former Manila Police Rolando Mendoza held hostage a total of 25 individuals in a tourist bus today, August 23, 2010. But something went wrong courtesy of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that handled the operations. As of this time, it is expected that at least 10 are killed and a number of others are wounded.

Pero saan nga ba nagkamali?

1. The arrest of Mendoza's brother, SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza, which was aired live on TV. The hostage-taker was shouting asking the release of his brother. Five minutes after the arrest, and with the continuous video footage, the hostage-taker panicked and sprayed bullets. Dati, everything was cool. May pa-cute pa ngang pagkaway-kaway ang mga negotiators at ang hostage taker at may goodwil "gifts" pa tulad ng pagre-release ng walo o siyam na hostages. At katunayan, pinapasok pa nga ang isang negotiator sa may paanan ng bus.
   
2. The snipers' shooting of the tire of the bus. This also created panic. Siyempre, di na "cool".
3. The lack of patience of the ground commanders. Nagmamadali eh. Haste makes waste, di ba? Ang problema, not just simple waste ang resulta kundi waste of life.
4. Failure of the ground commander to take control of the situation by giving into the demands of Rolando Mendoza yet maximizing the gains. Mapagbigay naman si Mendoza. If he asked for the media, puwede naman sigurong ibigay na lang ang camera at microphones sa loob dahil ito naman talaga ang kailangan niya samantalang nasa ibaba ang mga media persons.
5. Failure to maximize SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza. Puwede namang gamitin siyang negotiator and definitely, baka maging cool pa ang sitwasyon. They could have remove first Gregorio's gun, kung iyon ang ikinakatakot nila. There was a video footage with Gregorio saying to the hostage-taker over the phone "Wag mo munang gawin ang pinaplano mo. Ako na ang magsasabi sa media." But the police shut him off.
   
6. Of course, the lack of sufficient training and gears of the responding policemen.
   
7. We can add: The lack of efficient crowd control. What the heck was that? Filming of a movie?
   

Pero may mga dapat tayong abangan. Ito ang mga sumusunod:

1. The letter carried by the driver that fled the bus. Mukhang natabunan na ito ng istorya. As soon as makalabas ang driver, itinago agad ito ng PNP. Nang lumabas ang driver at nagkaroon ng presscon, ang balita ay patay na ang mga hostages. Kung patay, bakit may mga humihinga pa? In simple terms, gumagalaw ang PNP na hindi sigurado ang sitwasyon. I-subject ba naman sa trial and error ang buhay ng mga hostages?
   
2. Who killed the hostages? Consider: Gumalaw ang PNP na hindi sigurado, hindi ba? They are not sure if the hostages are really dead yet they made salakay sa bus, throw flash bombs and fired bullets. Baka ang ibang hostages, PNP rin ang nakapatay.
3. What is the content of the Ombudsman's letter?
   
4. What will happen to the brother? Sigaw ng mga pulis aakusahan si SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza as accessory to the crime.
   

Lessons:

• Baka aside from the additional training and gears, turuan din ang mga kapulisan paano magkaroon ng patience. Hindi lang dito sa hostage-taking na ito kundi kasama na rin sa ibang bagay. Just a few days ago, me tino-torture ang pulis na na-video. Nagmamadali ba ang nag-torture na makakuha ng impormasyon? O baka maliban sa pasensiya, turuan din ang mga kapulisan paano kontrolin ang kanilang mga sarili?
  
• Bigyan din ng training on crowd control ang mga pulis. Paano kung may granada pa dun na sumabog?
• Ituro din ang cost-benefit analysis sa mga sitwasyon. If they gave in to Rodolfo's demands na i-reinstate siya (pending review siyempre ng kanyang mga kaso), definitely walang patay. Di rin apektado ang tourism at economy ng bansa. Pero siyempre, di naman talaga totally makakaligtas si Rolando dahil kahit i-reinstate siya sa kanyang mga naunang ginawa, puwede pa rin siyang kasuhan ng kidnapping at serious illegal detention, grave threats, illegal possession of firearms (dahil di na siya pulis so bakit pa siya may armalite?), damage to property, and possibly a case on trying to influence the outcome of decisions. O di ba, napagbigyan mo si Rodolfo, napagulong pa rin ang batas?
  
• Leksiyon din sana sa Ombudsman at iba pang sangay ng gobyerno na bilisan nila ang pagresolba sa kaso. And this should be highlighted dahil hindi lang pala pulis ang natutulog sa pansitan. Very clear na ang Ombudsman, ganun din.
  
• Pero teka, ang pulis nga nagrereklamo sa mabagal na gulong ng hustisya, papaano pa kaya ang mga ordinaryong Pilipino?
  

Where's the big catch?

From the news:

The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday ordered the preventive suspension of a Bureau of Customs (BOC) official who is being investigated for allegedly acquiring wealth beyond her lawful income.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez suspended Emelia Amansec Cervantes, Customs operations officer V assigned at the BOC's Manila International Container Port (MICP).

The alleged wealth of Cervantes? "Irrigated rice lands; a residential lot in Pangasinan; and a Mitsubishi Galant worth P377,580."

Earlier, a tax examiner, Andres Jusayan Gabagat Jr., was also ordered to be investigated for his P1 million house in Quezon City, jewelries worth P150 thousand; cash and bank deposits worth P645,304; a race horse worth P150 thousand, and a car worth P200 thousand.

Medyo nagsisipag ngayon si Aling Merced. Pero bakit mga dilis lang ang hinuhuli nila? Bakit di pinapaimbestigahan ang pinaka-mayamang sikyu at ang nanay nito super humble? Nahihiya ba siya?
Hm

Neri comes, Neri goes... and the Carlo Caparas Blunder

It's been a while (again) since my last post. Even then, visitors continually access this site looking for something new. And tadaaannn!!!! Here's the list.

1. Romulo Neri will be suspended for his participation in the ZTE Scandal especially for being shy to talk about his President's participation and for being so shy to tell Ben Abalos to "back off".
   
2. Abalos is also indicted "just for being nice to the ZTE people." Talaga? Is that also the reason why he is so nice to Neri for offering the 200...? Kaso mukhang kulang ang 200. Dapat siguro 300 para wala ng mag-squeal.
   
3. Joey de Venecia, the squealer, is planning to run for Senator. Ayos yan para walang sikreto sa Senado... if the price is not right. (?)
4. Pero ang kakapal naman. Kay Bayani Fernando nga okay na ang P1.6 million. Diba BF? Musta ang mga kakalsadahan natin? Mukhang maraming nagkalat na picture mo at praise releases. Kasama ba yan sa P1.6 M?
   
5. Pero if Joey De Venecia is running for Senator and BF for President, Komiks writer-turned director is running for Senator para patunayan na karapat-dapat siya to receive the National Artist Award. Quoting Caparas: They are forcing me to run for a political post, mapipilitan siguro ako because of what they are doing, na parang walang karapatan ang isang galing sa masa na katulad ko na maging National Artist.

Akhhhh!!!

Nabulunan ako dun ah. Since when na ba ang eleksiyon naging venue for the selection of the National Artists?

Merceditas and the ethics of lawyers

Q: Do you know the reason why lawyers cannot enter directly either the heaven or the hell?
A: Because they keep on questioning the guidelines of St. Peter.


But kidding aside, lawyers have this Canon of Professional Ethics which they need to follow "that the public shall have absolute confidence in the integrity and impartiality of administration of justice." And Merceditas Gutierrez is a lawyer before becoming an Ombudsman. But it seems that her breeding is not of a lawyer as she personally lashed back at her critics who followed the rules and filed an impeachment complaint against her ... o lawyers lang ang dapat sumunod sa Canon of Professional Ethics?

Kung sabagay, why should we expect kay Merceditas to be following the Canon eh simpleng argumentum ad hominem hindi niya nga alam na fallacy pala. But even then, her speech makes a very good comic show. Here's the take from Inquirer.Net:

Paz for peace or Paz for trouble?

"Paz" or "pax" means "peace". But with the Russian imbroglio, it appears that pass will be re-translated in the Philippines as "trouble" as Eliseo dela Paz, former PNP official, will be facing probes in the Senate and the Ombudsman.

Pero teka, why naman? Eh nagdala lang naman siya ng pera sa Russia worth P6.9 million as contingency fund cum cash advance? Ang mga banko nga billions pa ang mga pinag-uusapan at inililipat sa iba-ibang bansa, di ba? Eh may banko naman ata na pag-aari si dela Paz... meron ba?

Pero kung may banko si De la Paz, siguradong Land Bank yun o kaya PNB. Yun kasi ang banko ng gobyerno. Kay dela Paz na ba yun?

Pero wait, may banko o wala, bakit P6.9 million? Magtatayo ba ng mga day care centers sa Moscow? Kung P6.9 million at ang bawat day care center ay P300,000, marami-rami yun. Sa bayan nga ni Onyo, P24,000 me day care center na. Gawa sa pawid nga lang. Kung sabagay, ok lang yun. Teka, saang rehiyon ba sa Pilipinas ang Moscow? At bakit andun si De la Paz? Siya ba ang bago nating Cabinet Secretary? Kung hindi man, siya ba ang governor o mayor ng isa sa mga bayan dun?

Crazy!

Kung sabagay, De la Paz claims he has nothing to hide. Tama naman kaya nga na-expose ang P6.9 million di ba? So let us wait for the Ombudsman and the Senate muna. Sana di ma-PAZwash, i mean ma-hog-wash ang mga imbestigasyon. At sana ang mga taong bayan tulad din ng motto ni Mike Enriquez ang iniisip: Hindi namin kayo tatantanan!

Salus presidente est suprema lex.

From declaring herself as "the State" in Presidential Proclamation 1017, here comes Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with a smile that could connect one ear to the other. The Supreme Court, through Neri vs. Senate Committee, ruled on the extent of the Executive Privilege the Philippine President and her cabinet secretaries could invoke. The resolution penned by Justice Teresita De Castro states that:

The context in which executive privilege is being invoked is that the information sought to be disclosed might impair our diplomatic as well as economic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Given the confidential nature in which these information were conveyed to the President, he cannot provide the Committee any further details of these conversations, without disclosing the very thing the privilege is designed to protect.

And what are these questions? These are as follows:

a) Whether the President followed up the (NBN) project?

b) Were you dictated to prioritize the ZTE?

c) Whether the President said to go ahead and approve the project after being told about the alleged bribe?

The Senate, according to the high tribunal, failed to show a compelling need for the answers to said questions. Thus, the court continued, the Senate cannot compel Neri to divulge information which are covered by the executive privilege.

Arroyo's smile further broadened when the Ombudsman also junked the motion to subpoena the president over the scandalous national broadband deal. This means she remains a privileged person far and above the law. This also means that the interests of the people -- their right to information, their right to a transparent, responsive and accountable government, and their right to have their welfare placed above anything else, is set aside.

Kung sabagay, bakit pa kailangang magtaka ang mga Pilipino? It is already made clear by the Freedom House that the Philippines is not a democratic country. Sa isang demokrasyang bansa kasi,the welfare of the people is the supreme law. In the case of the Philippines, it is the welfare of the President -- something similar to case of monarchs who rule under the benefit of the Divine Law, and the dictators.

Otherwise, puwede rin imbestigahan si Gloria Arroyo or i-subpoena tulad ni Bill Clinton when he had a sex scandal at tulad ni Richard Nixon during the Watergate Scandal. O di ba?