Mayor wants to run town during jail time for slay

DIGOS CITY—The Davao del Sur town mayor who is one of the accused in the 2010 murder of journalist Nestor Bedolido is reclaiming his post, saying he is capable of discharging his duties even in detention.
Matanao town Mayor Vicente Fernandez on Thursday went straight to his town from the hospital here, where he had been admitted since Oct. 20, after sending a “declaration of resumption of office” to the town council.
“In compliance with Section 46 paragraph (b) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, I am submitting herewith my written declaration for the resumption of office in the Office of the Municipal Mayor effective Nov. 27,” he wrote.
Fernandez said his hospitalization due to hypertension and other illnesses was over and he was no longer incapable of discharging his duties as mayor. He said he was taking over from Vice Mayor Elmer Javelona, who was installed as acting mayor two weeks ago.
“I am cutting short my temporary leave of absence,” said Fernandez.
He said his detention at the Matanao police station would not hinder him from discharging his duties “since the PNP (Philippine National Police) station is just a stone’s throw away from the government center— the municipal hall building.”
Fernandez is on trial for a murder charge for Bedolido’s death, along with former Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas and Cagas’ alleged henchmen, Bado Sanchez and Ali Ordaneza.
Cagas is detained at the Digos City district jail while Sanchez and Ordaneza remain at large.
Cagas, the alleged mastermind behind Bedolido’s murder, on Tuesday was returned to jail from a hospital.
Cagas spent eight days in a hospital in Davao City for psychosis due to depression.
Chief Insp. Peter Bongngat, jail warden, said Cagas’ condition was not life-threatening.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had approved Javelona’s assumption as acting mayor following the arrest of Fernandez.
Javelona, by virtue of succession, would act as mayor because Fernandez was now considered incapable of performing his duties and responsibilities, according to Aurora Corpuz, DILG cluster head.

Rights compensation board vows to expedite processes for martial law victims

MANILA, Philippines–Forty-two years after the declaration of martial law, a government agency leading the reparation efforts vowed “to tilt back the scales of justice” in favor of thousands who fell victim to martial law.
The Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board swore to uphold Republic Act 10368, or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, a law recognizing and providing reparation to victims of human rights violations during Martial Law.
“The HRVCB commits to tilt back the scales of justice in favor of the victims by acknowledging the wrongs of the past towards healing the wounds of martial law,” the board said in a statement on Sunday, the 42nd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.
Under the law, around P10 billion has been set aside for the monetary remuneration of human rights victims during the Martial Law regime of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.
They have received 17,659 claims for reparation, from victims or their heirs, at the HRVCB office at the University of the Philippines and even at their five regional desks and across-the-country caravans.
These regional desks are at the Commission on Human Rights regional offices in Davao City, Cotabato City, Iloilo City, Legazpi City and Tacloban City.
HRVCB chairperson Lina Sarmiento said they would set up nine more regional desks to accommodate more claimants.
The filing of claims began on May 12 and is set to end on November 10. The board expects around 20,000 to 30,000 human rights victims to come forward to file their claims and tell their stories.
Sarmiento said the board’s implementing rules and regulations have emphasized a “liberal interpretation of the law in favor of facilitating the reparation and recognition of bonafide human rights violations victims or their legal heirs.”
“The HRVCB maintains its commitment to truth and justice,” Sarmiento said in the statement.
Using a standard point system, the board will determine the award of monetary reparation based on the type of human rights abuse committed, the frequency and duration of the violation, severity of harm and consequences.
This means that victims who suffered more would receive more points and if a victim is classified in more than one category of abuse, the victim will be awarded points from the higher category.
The HRVCB will be accepting claims until November 10, and is simultaneously evaluating, investigating and deciding on claims.
A preliminary list of legitimate claims will be published, after which appeals will be entertained and resolved by the board before it releases a final list of human rights victims who will be given monetary reparation.
The names of martial law victims will be included in the Roll of Victims of Human Rights Violations, their stories accessible to government agencies and other institutions.
This roll of victims will be enshrined in a memorial for the promotion of human rights “in order to prevent recurrence of similar abuses, encourage continuing reforms and contribute to ending impunity.”
“We want these lessons to serve as reminders to present and future generations that the freedoms and human rights we currently enjoy were borne from and nurtured by the sweat, tears and blood of those who fought against human rights abuses during the Marcos regime,” Sarmiento said.

Makabayan lawmakers laud Palparan’s arrest
MANILA, Philippines—Makabayan solons on Tuesday lauded the arrest of fugitive Jovito Palparan who was accused by militants as the “Butcher” allegedly behind human-rights violations against activists.
Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate said Palparan’s arrest is a “long-delayed action” to seek justice on the two missing UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan who were purportedly abducted upon the orders of Palparan.
“We laud the relatives of the victims, particularly the parents of Karen and Sherlyn, for their relentless efforts to make the favorite general of Gloria Arroyo accountable for his crimes,” Zarate said in a statement.
He said the government should not give Palparan special treatment. The retired general has claimed receiving threats to his life from the New People’s Army.
“For a person who used to brag about his power and influence while committing his crimes with impunity, it is shameless for Palparan to demand some special considerations because of the phantom threats that he supposedly faces,” Zarate said.
Meanwhile, Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon said the search for justice should not end at the arrest of Palparan.
“Palparan may have been arrested, but the primordial question is – are we anywhere near finding Karen and She? It has been more than eight years and they are still missing,” Ridon said in a statement.
Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus, however, questioned the long-delayed arrest of one of the government’s so-called “Big Five” fugitives.
“Labis na nakapagtataka na sa loob ng apat na taon siyang nagtatago ay hindi siya nahuli. Pinaghahanap ba talaga siya? Ano ba kaya ang tunay na dahilan bakit ngayon lang siya inilitaw?” De Jesus said.
(It is questionable why Palparan was not caught in all his years of hiding. Was he really being chased after? What is the real reason he only surfaced now?)
Palparan was arrested early Tuesday morning in Manila as he faces an arrest warrant issued by the Malolos regional trial court on charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention of University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan. He went into hiding after the arrest warrant was issued in December 2011.
Former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo specifically lauded Palparan in her 2006 State of the Nation Address.

Zamboanga folk rally: ‘We’ve had enough’
ZAMBOANGA CITY—At least 700 protesters, mostly evacuees, students, Moro professionals and members of nongovernment and civil society groups, staged a rally here Wednesday saying they’ve had enough of subhuman conditions in shelters for residents displaced by the fighting between followers of Nur Misuari and government soldiers in September last year.
The protesters directed their anger at Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, accusing her of corruption, incompetence and human rights violations.
The mayor, the protest leaders said, is prolonging the agony of Muslim evacuees in shelters here.
Mucha Sim Arquiza, speaking on behalf of Moro women group Al-Mu’Minat, said Muslim evacuees have long wanted to leave the shelters but the city government is not doing anything to relocate the people.
“We have had enough,” Arquiza said. “205 days homeless is long enough. 120,000 displaced is too much and 108 people dead in congested evacuation centers is far too many,” she added.
“We decided to stop counting our dead because one death is too many. We are starting to count the failure and ineptitude of this government,” Arquiza said.
Warina Sushil Jukuy, coordinator of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (Pahra) in Western Mindanao, said the city government uprooted families without knowing where to put them or checking if the shelters are livable.
Even people who have not been affected by the terror attack on the city by Misuari’s men and the government siege to flush them out have been uprooted, said Jukuy.
Jukuy said families from the villages of Mariki and Rio Hondo “were coerced to evacuate and abandon their homes.”
“Yet, these zones are areas where the armed conflict or actual combat never took place,” Jukuy said.
Prof. Alih Aiyub, secretary general of the National Ulama Conference of the Philippines, said his group has been meeting with city officials to find a solution but city officials offered only promises.
“We regularly communicate with the mayor,” said Aiyub.
“She’s meeting us and keeps on promising that rebuilding, relocation, rehabilitation will be done within six months,” added the professor.
“She promised that by March, the IDPs (internally displaced persons) will start to move and see better changes. It’s April now and people are dying in the evacuation centers,” Aiyub said.

NBI files rap vs ex-SPD cop who allegedly raped Pasay club worker

MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday filed a rape complaint against former Southern Police District-Special Operations head Superintendent Erwin Emelo.
In a complaint filed with the Taguig’s Prosecutor’s Office, Emelo is slapped with a complaint for violation of Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code for Qualified Rape.
“Emelo forcibly had carnal knowledge with [the victim] employing his superior strength to consummate the act,” the complaint stated.
It further stated, citing a Supreme Court decision, that “when the offended girl stated that she defended herself against the accused as long as she could, but he overpowered her and held her till her strength gave out, and then accomplished his vicious purpose there is evidence of sufficient force.”
The complaint added that Emelo also committed grave abuse of authority when he managed to remove the name of the victim from those subjected to an inquest proceeding by those arrested in the club they have raided.
The case stemmed from the complaint of a 29-year old club worker against Emelo.
In her complaint, the victim said the police officer allegedly locked her inside his office and sexually abused her.
The victim worked as a model at the Miss Universe Club in Pasay which was raided by the police including Emelo last Oct. 23 for lack of the required documents to operate.

CHR says cops are on top of rights violators’ list in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY—The regional office of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) tagged police as the top human rights violator in Bicol although the number of cases of rights violations in the region dropped.
According to a report by the CHR, policemen committed the most human rights offenses in Bicol although the number of cases dropped by 9 percent last year.
Murder is on top of the list of human rights offenses in the region, accounting for 24 of 74 cases of human rights violations, the CHR said.
The CHR said policemen had been linked to six cases of torture, six cases of unlawful arrests, four cases of grave threats, three cases of maltreatment, two cases of robbery, a case of arbitrary detention, a case of harassment and a case of malicious mischief.
At least 14 cases of murder had been linked to the insurgency. Militiamen and soldiers had been tagged in two cases each of killings. Public officials had been tagged in two cases and private armed groups had been tagged in three cases.

Suspect in Servando fatal hazing seeks dismissal of case

MANILA, Philippines—One of the suspects in the death of student Guillo Cesar Servando has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss the criminal case filed against him.
In his counter-affidavit, Steven Jorge Penano said there was nothing in the affidavit of the witnesses pointing to his participation in the initiation rites.

Coincidence

While he admits he is a Tau Gamma member and he was at the food chain restaurant where the neophytes met before the initiation rites, he said he was only there to meet his girlfriend.
He also enumerated his activities last June 28 as well as the names of his companions to prove his claim.
“He was not there. My client was not even mentioned in the affidavits of the witnesses,” Morgado told reporters.
“All the material witnesses[in] the Complaint are consistent in their affidavits that I was not [one of] the individuals who went to, or who was present at, or who arrived at the place in Barangay (village) Palanan, Makati City where and when the charged crime happened,” Penano said.
He said after meeting his girlfriend, they proceeded for a tea with their group then went to Greenbelt to watch Transformers. After watching the movie, they had late dinner. Penano said he dropped his girlfriend at her house at 12:20 a.m. and he arrived home 2 a.m.
Penano submitted photos and photocopy of the movie tickets to prove his claim.
Also present are three witnesses John Paul Raval, Lorenze Anthony Agustin and a minor who subscribed to their affidavits in the presence of their lawyers before the three-man panel of prosecutors led by Assistant State Prosecutor Stewart Allan Mariano.

Hearing

The three attended the hearing as prosecution witnesses though the prosecution said they would decide on August 7 if they also act as complainants in the case since “they were also victims.”
On the other hand, respondents, Kurt Michael Almazan, Steve George Penano, Luis Solomon Arevalo and Jomar Pajarito, caretaker of the house in Makati where the initiation rites took place, also appeared before the DOJ.
Both Almazan and Solomon wore hood to hide their faces from the media.
The rest of the respondents who were charged with violation of Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law namely Cody Errol Morales, Daniel Paul Martin Bautista alias “Pope,” Carl Francis Loresca, Esmerson Nathaniel Calupas alias “Eming,” Hans Killlian Tatlonghari alias “Hans Tamaring,” Eleazar Pablico III alias “Trex,” John Kevin Navoa, Vic Angelo Dy, Mark Ramos, Mike Castaneda, Justin Francis Reyes alias “Rey Jay,” Ma. Teresa Dayanghirang, Alyssa Federique Valbuena, alias “Kiko,” alias “Bea,” and one Jane Doe did not attend the proceedings.

Veto vagrancy bill vs women, Aquino urged

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—President Benigno Aquino III should veto and return to Congress a bill that seeks to repeal the vagrancy provision in the Revised Penal Code because it continues to penalize women in prostitution rather than the people who exploit them, a group of women activists said.
If passed, the proposed measure, which consolidated Senate Bill 2726 and House Bill 4936, could “be used by some policemen to perpetuate widespread human rights violations including the imprisonment of women in prostitution, extortion, theft and rape,” lawyer Clara Rita Padilla, executive director of EnGendeRights, said in a statement.
In a phone interview on Sunday, Padilla said that although abuses against women in prostitution were not widely reported, a study by the group in Metro Manila and other provinces documented the women’s experiences of abuse at the hands of law enforcers. The bill continues to focus on the women instead of on the people who exploit them, she said.
Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code lumps vagrants and prostitutes together, with penalties ranging from 30 days in prison and a P200 fine to several months in prison and a P2,000 fine, or both.
“Detaining women in prostitution is not the answer,” Padilla said, noting that many women forced into prostitution had been raped or abused.
She said that removing imprisonment as a penalty for women in prostitution was in compliance with the recommendations of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw), which the Philippines signed in August 1981.

Binay to sue those who called him thief

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Vice President Jejomar Binay will not take name-calling against him lightly as he vows to file charges against those who branded him a “thief (magnanakaw).”
He, however, didn’t name names during a news conference on Tuesday night here that capped the first of a three-day sortie in Cebu City.
“Hindi ko po matatanggap yan (I cannot accept that),” he said in response to the question of a radio commentator on how he was taking some people calling him a “magnanakaw.”
Binay said this was the reason why he decided against attending the Senate hearing that looked into charges of corruption against him.
The Vice President stressed that a person invited to a Senate hearing should be seen as a resource person and not a respondent to a case.
“Yung inquiry is tungkol sa dalawang Makati building. Napunta na sa property ko. Nagnanakaw na raw ako. Dummy ako. Anong in aid of legislation? (The inquiry was about the two buildings in Makati. It later led to my property. I allegedly stole money from government. I allegedly had dummies. What is the aid of legislation in that)?” he asked.
Binay also denied allegations that he owned several condominium units that were under the name of dummies.
He said he did not know the alleged dummy owner, Ariel Olivar, who was named by Binay’s erstwhile ally, Ernesto Mercado, the former vice mayor of Makati City.
Binay warned Mercado on the charges he raised against him in the Senate.
“May pasasabugin po kami tungkol sa kanya. Magugulat kayo kung anong isisiwalat namin tungkol kay Mercado (We have an exposé on him. You will be surprised with what we are going to reveal about Mercado),” he said.
Binay was in Cebu for a three-day sortie. He went around the public markets and met with local officials on Tuesday.
He told reporters that he was not thinking of withdrawing from the presidential race despite the issues thrown at him.
He expressed his continuing support of the Aquino administration and said he has not thought of quitting the Cabinet.
“Dapat magsama ang vice president at president. Ito po ay tinatawag na bagong politika (The vice president and the President should work together. This is what is called new politics),” he said.
While he has been supportive of the programs of the government, he vowed that he would continue to criticize any wrongdoing by the Aquino administration.
Cops hunt cabbie who robbed, shot woman passenger

MANILA, ‎Philippines–Police are hunting down the taxi driver who robbed and shot a 31-year-old woman near the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City last Monday.
In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net on Wednesday, Superintendent Wilson delos Santos, Cubao Police Station commander, ‎said they are now eyeing a particular taxi unit and gathering videos of security cameras of establishments near the area where the robbery took place.
Around 4:40 a.m. Monday, ‎the victim, whom the police declined to identify, flagged down a taxi at the corner of Boni Serrano Avenue and Edsa-Cubao.
As the taxi reached Camp Crame Gate 1, the driver declared the hold-up and grabbed the woman’s bag, which contained her wallet, mobile phone and laptop.
The victim who was in the backseat resisted, but when the cab reached the Ortigas portion of Edsa in Pasig City the driver shot her several times in the right arm.
The driver dumped her near the Metro Rail Transit Ortigas Station on the southbound lane of EDSA.
“The injured victim can’t recall which direction the taxi driver went,” the police official said.
A concerned citizen then brought the woman to a hospital in Mandaluyong City for treatment.
“We are currently investigating a taxi unit. We are in the process of confirming if the unit we’re looking into is the one driven by the robber,”delos Santos said.