Valera bid for court change in murder trial denied
BY ANGELA LOPEZ DE LEON
THE Quezon City regional trial court branch 84 has denied former Abra governor Vicente Valera’s petition to have his murder and frustrated murder cases transferred to a family court, and scheduled his arraignment on Feb. 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Judge Luisito Cortez affirmed his jurisdiction over the cases against Valera after the latter’s counsel Rolando Quimbo argued that the cases should be tried by a family court because one of the victims was 15-year-old Rolly Boy Labaja who was wounded by a stray bullet.
Cortez noted that the law gives the RTC power to hear and decide cases involving murder and frustrated murder, and the crime occurred within its territorial jurisdiction.
He said that while R.A. (Family Court Law) provides exclusive jurisdiction to family courts over "criminal cases where one or more of the victims is a minor at the time of the commission of the offense," the cases against Valera were re-raffled to family courts in 2008 but were eventually sent back to his courtroom. He said this was because there were no allegations on the charge sheet against Valera that one of the victims was a minor.
Valera is accused of being the mastermind in the killing of his political rival Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin and the latter’s aide SPO1 Adelfo Ortega outside the Mt. Carmel Church in New Manila, Quezon City on Dec. 16, 2006.
His co-accused are former La Paz, Abra vice mayor Freddie Dupo, Leo Bello, Rufino Panday and Sunny Taculao.
Valera was initially scheduled for arraignment in August last year but he did not show up. He was arrested on September 1, 2009 and re-scheduled for arraignment on September 11. This did not push through either after Valera questioned the court’s jurisdiction.
Judge Cortez also threw out Valera’s motion for reconsideration on his order denying the former governor’s plea to recall the warrant of arrest issued against him. He said courts must respect the finding of the prosecutor that there is probable cause against Valera.
The people of Abra have spoken. Election is over. Now let us see what the newly-elected leaders will deliver for the benefit of Abra and their constituents.
When will the violence in Abra end? Will the elected leaders be able to restore peace and order n Abra?
Edited by Sierraleon on 31-01-2010 12:40
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RE: Abra-Related News That Might Rouse Abrenios' Interest
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Posted by Bulatlat.com
The presidential order for the disbandment of hundreds of private armies in the country could be a cheap publicity gimmick. At the very least, it was meant to exonerate the Arroyo administration from accountability for their proliferation as well as for the Maguindanao mass murder of Nov. 23, 2009.
The plan of disbanding – not just disarming – about 200 private armies surfaced weeks following the Maguindanao massacre that killed 57 civilians, including 30 journalists, and in the approach to the May 10, 2010 automated elections. A presidential commission was created to spearhead its implementation.
Such presidential directive is not new. Similar orders had been repeatedly issued by various presidents since Marcos 40 years ago. But it remains a thorn in the country’s political life with many election-related incidents of violence blamed on them. Police authorities know who and where these private armed groups are but the laws that had been enacted to dismantle them and prosecute their operators remain on paper.
As armed bands, private armies are not assymetrical to or far removed from the country’s political psyche. Rather, they constitute a sub-system of a bigger political society where the helm of power is in the hands of jurassic and emergent political clans. They serve as the coercive instruments of political dynasties. They typify warlordism that is virtually insulated from accountability while promoting a culture of impunity that makes violence a law by itself.
Feudal Structure
The country’s feudal structure is the material condition that gives rise to private armies and warlordism but it is presidential patronage that husbands this sub-system. Private armies spring forth from powerful political clans or local kingpins who make local communities their own domain that in many respects is untouched by the national authority and the criminal justice system. The material base of some of these powerful private armies is the ownership of vast landholdings, logging concessions, and other properties as well as illegal operations. Their political power stems from the control of local governments with a vast civilian population subjugated through indebtedness, a patron-client relationship, and rule by the gun.
In recent decades, warlordism and private armies figured in peasant unrests and election-related violence. Landless tenants’ wrath against landlord exploitation and landgrabbing was silenced by the gun; rivalry with other political clans resulted in bloodbath, pillage, arson, and mass displacements. Such scenes of warlord impunity were a normal occurrence in the Ilocos and Abra provinces, Cordillera, Isabela and Cagayan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and other Central Luzon provinces, Cavite, Masbate, Samar, Cebu, Negros, and many Mindanao areas. In these areas, backward agrarian economy marked by severe income disparities reigns. Warlordism rules in the poorest provinces, such as Maguindanao.
Election Killings
The number of election-related killings involving private armies rose from 24 in 1959, 128 in 1967, and 225 in 1971. The Marcos military claimed to have disbanded in the 1970s some 145 private armies with more than 100,000 high-powered firearms – enough to equip 35 army divisions. But the number of private armies rose once more in 1988 under Corazon C. Aquino with about 1,000 armed with 512,678 guns and maintained not only by political clans but also crime syndicates including kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) gangs. The quantum increase of private armies during the Aquino presidency can be attributed to the U.S.-inspired total war policy (low-intensity conflict) that promoted anti-communist vigilantes, cults, and paramilitary groups in the fight against the leftist armed revolutionary movement. Today, with 1.2 million loose firearms reported by the police, the figure of 180 private armies claimed by government appears to be small.
The fiefdoms run by local kingpins are fostered by patronage politics that was first introduced by American colonial masters at the turn of the 20th century and mastered thereafter by post-colonial presidents. To win in the elections and maintain their power, presidents kept ties with various political dynasties through which state resources in the form of budget allocations, pork barrel disguised as “development projects,” presidential favors and other perks are distributed. In the main, however, these favors never uplifted the lives of the people but went to the pockets of politicians and their subalterns or helped bankroll private armies. In many instances, units of the armed forces and police came under the private use of local kingpins – the reason why many cases of violence committed in the past and till today had involved state security forces.
In this situation, not only was national authority weakened but such authority was used to strengthen the local domains of political clans most especially where warlordism and private armies exist. In many conflict-ridden rural areas warlordism is conjoined with counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism leaving large populations under a state of siege and reign of terror thus further undermining civilian authority.
In many respects, political dynasties and the warlordism that these breed are the sources of political instabilities and make a mockery of the same laws they create. One may ask, how can civilian authority assert itself when poverty and injustice remain largely unaddressed and social services largely undelivered by both national and local authorities? How can presidential authority gain mass support when this is used in favor of tightening the power grip of the local elite?
Ampatuans
In the case of the Ampatuans of Maguindanao, it is an open secret that President Gloria M. Arroyo coddled a local dynasty into a monster. The Ampatuans’ private armies were augmented not only to make sure that votes went to preferred candidates and political parties but also to pit lawless elements against rebels who threatened the clan’s local hegemony. Military soldiers, policemen and paramilitary units became part of the Ampatuans’ private armies, reports show. Civilian volunteer organizations (CVOs), said to be illegally formed, were armed as “force multipliers” under Arroyo’s Executive Order 546 (2006) thus providing the pretext for their use not only by the Ampatuans but also by other local kingpins. The same forces were also used to make sure the Moro rebels’ hold on the Liguasan Marsh – claimed to host one of Asia’s largest natural gas reserves worth about $600 billion – is neutralized. In the country’s oligarchic political structure, presidential authority is used to clothe warlordism and private armies with legitimacy.
Under these circumstances, the presidential order to disband private armies is nothing but hot air. Lawlessness cannot be ended by a regime known not only for keeping an unholy alliance with rogue political clans but also for its poor record in upholding the law and respect for human rights.
Congress may need to revisit laws that were enacted to render private armies out of action. With majority of its members coming from ruling political clans and anti-dynasty bills all but buried, however, it is illusory to expect any meaningful legislative response to the issue.
In the current elections, presidential aspirants should be probed about their possible connections to private armies. They should be willing to stake their presidency to the disbandment of private armies. They should go beyond their narrow political interests by acting for the bigger cause of serving justice to the victims of private armies and putting back public trust in government.
The superstructure of political mafias and modern caciques and the material conditions that breed them are so powerful that piecemeal approaches to addressing this issue are self-defeating. One begins to think that in order to dismantle the private armies the first step is to put the political superstructure that promotes them out of circulation. (Posted by Bulatlat.com)
The people of Abra have spoken. Election is over. Now let us see what the newly-elected leaders will deliver for the benefit of Abra and their constituents.
When will the violence in Abra end? Will the elected leaders be able to restore peace and order n Abra?
Author
RE: Abra-Related News That Might Rouse Abrenios' Interest
I think the case is moving in the sense that the ex-gov's attempt to delay the process is working.
Many cannot understand though how the ex-gov can tolerate the QC jail conditions. From all indications, according to the amnesty international studies, the living conditions at the QC jail or detention center violate human rights.
Many are wondering why ex-gov is not invoking his right to a speedy trial and be over with his ordeal so that he either serves his time if convicted or be released if acquitted.
In all likelihood, the ex-gov does not trust the Philippine judicial system and that he doubts ever getting a fair trial, thus he prefers staying in a detention center.
He is probably hoping too that Villar wins as President and Ms. Ching wins as Congresswoman for Abra and then he will be released.
The people of Abra have spoken. Election is over. Now let us see what the newly-elected leaders will deliver for the benefit of Abra and their constituents.
When will the violence in Abra end? Will the elected leaders be able to restore peace and order n Abra?
Author
RE: Abra-Related News That Might Rouse Abrenios' Interest
In Cordillera, Election Money Provides Temporary Relief
Published on January 30, 2010
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By LYN V. RAMO
Bulatlat.com
BAGUIO CITY (246 kms north of Manila) – While the Regional Development Council (RDC) head denies having seen a lot of money in circulation now that it is election year, the private-sector representative in the think-tank says otherwise.
Economic planners in both the government and private sector in the region welcome the temporary influx of money as it provides temporary relief, especially to the poor.
“Yes, there is so much money in circulation, but not money going to (government) projects,” said Dr. Virgilio Bautista, private sector representative to the RDC, in a recent press conference.
Bautista’s statements negate the earlier pronouncement by National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Regional Director Juan Ngalob, RDC chair, that he has yet to see the money circulating.
Bautista cited election-related spending like political advertisements, billboards and other campaign paraphernalia as factors that have reactivated not only the publication and printing industry, but also other related businesses.
“It will surely trickle down to the poor,” said Bautista, who was once accused of being anti-poor because of a pronouncement that he hates being poor. Grabbing a chance to clarify, Bautista said he wanted to share opportunities for growth to the other provinces and cities in the Cordillera so that not only one city or province would enjoy development.
A one-minute political ad aired over TV costs some P400,000, according to Bautista. A one-page ad in local tabloids costs at least P20,000.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Myrna Pablo agreed with Bautista, saying the elections would surely provide opportunities for employment, even temporary.
The money in circulation comes from political parties and groups engaged in politics, the two agreed.
“It will surely benefit business,” Pablo said, adding that for instance almost all printing presses in the city are no longer accepting jobs because they have their hands full until after the elections on May 10.
Election-related craft businesses are also expected to boom. “T-shirts are selling like hotcakes, together with other products usually taken as give-away in political sorties,” Pablo said, adding however the election’s impact on the regional economy would be but temporary.
In clarification, Ngalob said the government projects now being funded are either on-going or pending projects covered by previously approved program of work and budget allocation.
Meanwhile, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Regional Director Liza Fangsilat also clarified that because of the reenacted budget, the government could not implement new programs and projects. She also said that national government agencies, which fail to implement their program of work and thus unable to spend the budgeted funds, automatically “lose” the unexpended funds in favor of the national treasury.
“A new request based on a new program must be submitted for these to be availed of when the agencies are ready to implement the said project,” Fangsilat told this journalist in an interview shortly after the RDC press conference.
Three Cordillera towns are among the poorest municipalities of the Philippines. These are Kibungan and Kapangan in Benguet, and Natonin in Mountain Province.
Earlier, in 2006, the provinces of Abra and Apayao were among the country’s poorest provinces. Mountain Province was considered food-poor in 2003, but its local government officials refuse to accept it saying no one in the Cordillera is going hungry. (Bulatlat.com)
The people of Abra have spoken. Election is over. Now let us see what the newly-elected leaders will deliver for the benefit of Abra and their constituents.
When will the violence in Abra end? Will the elected leaders be able to restore peace and order n Abra?
Author
RE: Abra-Related News That Might Rouse Abrenios' Interest
5 soldiers killed in Abra rebel siege By Artemio Dumlao (The Philippine Star) Updated February 02, 2010 12:00 AM
Lagangilang, Abra , Philippines – Communist rebels killed at least five soldiers in remote villages in Abra province on Sunday morning, bringing the government security forces’ death toll to at least 10 since last week in the Cordillera.
Rebels ambushed members of the Philippine Army’s 41st Infantry Batallion on foot patrol in a forested area in barangay Mataragan, in rebel-infested Malibcong town at around 4 p.m. Sunday immediately killing Privates First Class Robert Lobhoy, Saldivar Anno, Honey Mateo, Angelo Calderon and Santiago Decena.
Eight more were wounded: Privates First Class Ronel Villanueva; Manny Marcos; Neceson Gemino; Alfredo Ganongan; Abraham Bobis; Billy Ray Noblado; Conrado Torres; and Private Brainard Dumondon.
The government casualties were airlifted to the Abra Provincial Hospital before noon Monday.
Army Lt. Col Ignacio Mad-riaga, commander of the 41st IB said his men were doing “community relations activities” in the different barangays of Malibcong such as building barangay projects, bringing social services and helping in education of the people regarding livelihood projects and literacy advancement when fired upon by the rebels.
Recently, according to Madriaga, villagers in Malibcong were the main beneficiary of an “Inter-agency Outreach Program” that brought massive social and relief services by the local government and government troops.
The attack, according to Army Colonel Essel Soriano, commander of the 503rd Infantry Brigade, “is just a show of (rebels) resistance to development which the government offers to the less developed areas in the province and their neglect and disrespect of the peace initiatives being undertaken by the different security forces and the local government of Abra to improve the image of the province.”
Just a few hours before the bloody attack, two Philippine Army soldiers: Privates First Class Jason Pantaleon and Jayson Grutas were wounded when rebels also attacked soldiers in barangay Kili, Tubo town, also a rebel-infested area in Abra at around 7 a.m. also on Sunday.
Soriano said the soldiers on patrol to confirmed the presence of rebels allegedly “foraging and extorting food and cash” as tipped by villagers.
Immediately after the twin attacks, Air Force helicopters which earlier also backed up ground troops pursuing rebels in Mountain Province last week, spent no time but pursuing the fleeing insurgents.
Five soldiers were also killed rebels in remote Mainit village in Bontoc, Mountain Province’s capital town last week, in yet the first fiercest battle between government troops and rebels in the Cordillera this year. – With Alexis Romero, Charlie Lagasca
The people of Abra have spoken. Election is over. Now let us see what the newly-elected leaders will deliver for the benefit of Abra and their constituents.
When will the violence in Abra end? Will the elected leaders be able to restore peace and order n Abra?
Author
RE: Abra-Related News That Might Rouse Abrenios' Interest
By Artemio Dumlao (The Philippine Star) Updated April 04, 2010 12:00 AM
La Trinidad, Benguet , Philippines – Tineg town mayoralty bet Cromwell Luna, son of incumbent Abra Rep. Cecille Luna, is in deep trouble after villagers are suing him and his alleged goons after they "terrorized" them during the aborted town fiesta on March 23.
The younger Luna, his local teammates at the Lakas-Kampi and 50 of his alleged armed goons "stormed" Barangay Agsimao, Tineg's town center about to celebrate its town fiesta on March 23 and created a mayhem when they fired their automatic rifles in the air.
As a result, the fiesta celebrations were cancelled, also irking the younger Luna who could no longer campaign because no one was around as his audience.
Irate Tineg residents are venting their ire on the courts as Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin and Bangued Diocese Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian upon knowing the incident from the villagers who met them on Monday, encouraged them to formally lodge appropriate complaints against Luna and his group.
A sudden twist also on Monday, the younger Luna complained before Abra police director Senior Superintendent Ernesto Gaab that his party was allegedly ambushed by the group of his rival Lenin Benwaren on that day residents claimed they "stormed" Tineg.
PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa told reporters at Camp Dangwa in La Trinidad
Benguet Wednesday noon, after witnessing the turnover rites of incoming Cordillera police director Chief Superintendent Villamor Bumanglag from Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestaño who is retiring early next month, they are validating the incident. "The problem sometimes is that people don't like to put into writing what happened to assist police in the investigation." But we will look into it, Verzosa said.
This, as Verzosa ordered Bumanglag to maintain the peace in Abra and nearby Kalinga province during the elections.
Also on Monday, two Army escorts of Luna and one old woman have executed affidavits before the police claiming the ambush by the Benwaren's group disputing the alleged "hamletting."
The people of Abra have spoken. Election is over. Now let us see what the newly-elected leaders will deliver for the benefit of Abra and their constituents.
When will the violence in Abra end? Will the elected leaders be able to restore peace and order n Abra?
Author
RE: Abra-Related News That Might Rouse Abrenios' Interest
ABRA : NATIVE CHICKENS DISTRIBUTED TO TYPHOON PEPENG VICTIMS IN ABRA
Posted by larry on 2010/5/23 4:16:05 )
by Maritess BenasBANGUED, Abra – Some 409 farmers from five municipalities in the province are recipients of native chicken breeders for propagation.
The chicken dispersal is a component of the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Livestock Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to augment the productivity of the farmers who have been badly hit by last year’s Typhoon Pepeng. This is also to provide alternative agricultural activity of the farmers affected by the El Nino phenomenon.
The native chickens were distributed to the farmers by the officials of the DA-Cordillera Administrative Region Field Unit (DA-CARFU) and Governor Eustaquio P. Bersamin.
Native chickens were particularly chosen because these are pest – resistant and they are not very choosy in terms of feeding requirements.
Dr. Diosdado Taverner, head of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVET), reported that his office provides the necessary technical assistance to the farmers to ensure that these breeder-chickens are propagated as programmed and serve their purpose of hunger-mitigation.
Novelou L. Baginon, of the OPVET explained that the farmer-beneficiaries were identified based on the damage reports submitted by the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Councils of the five municipalities covered by the said program funded by the Calamity Fund of the DA.
The 409 farmer-beneficiaries are distributed as follows: Danglas – 45; Lagangilang – 116; San Juan – 76; Pidigan – 109; and Penarrubia – 63.
The distribution of the chickens was made on a staggered basis because of the problem of suppliers on availability of the supply of chickens for dispersal. **PIA-Abra
The people of Abra have spoken. Election is over. Now let us see what the newly-elected leaders will deliver for the benefit of Abra and their constituents.
When will the violence in Abra end? Will the elected leaders be able to restore peace and order n Abra?
Rhoda 29/08/2010 11:11 Congratulations!! Insan Sonia Dumaguing for passing the board exam.
PULOT 27/08/2010 08:39 Congratulations to Kai Fred Bose, the daughter of mr. & mrs. Nelia Fred Bose of Maguyepyep, for passing the recent Nursing Licensure Exami. We are so proud of you Kai! Congratulations!!!
Rhoda 22/08/2010 09:49 Have a Blessed Sunday everyone.
teddy 17/08/2010 07:04 congrats VANGUARDIANS.just got n read VI COURIER maiden issue.may sariling diaryo na ang taga Manabo.Nong PAT n vincent keep up d gud work.mabuhay kayo...!
teddy 17/08/2010 06:55 ms.irene bringas tnx or d visit here in macauhope umadut agmember pay t ADTEMPCO .mabuhay ka!
Queenslander 17/08/2010 02:48 Hi Rhoda ay apo ta winterya payang sina nakalamlammin. masapa ak pay met umey min opisina ket ay apo ta nalam min. musta kau my dear. Ay immudong si Papa men? take care
pintaz 15/08/2010 05:07 ramadan kareem si dana kakabsat ay muslim! Allah Hafiz...
Rhoda 13/08/2010 09:13 Apo Sysad mabalin ay maekkat na bukod ay comentaryo as pix?..mahalo-ikit
