IBP-Iloilo hosts presscon with DOJ De Lima


ILOILO CITY, Philippines (22 July 2011) -- I fear that the P-Noy administration would strike a deal with the Ampatuans accused in the muder of 57 people in the infamous "Maguindanao Massacre" in November 2009. Thirty-two of them were journalists.

Zaldy Ampatuan, a principal suspect, offered himself to be a state witness, with the implication that he woudl be acquitted. He was the governor of Maguindanao when the tragedy happened.



At the press conference here hosted by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Iloilo Chapter, somebody raised that doubt to Secretary Leila De Lima of the Department of Justice (DoJ).

"Masyadong malabo 'yan; hindi mangyayari 'yan," justice Secretary Leila De Lima told reporters here this  morning. ("That's remote; that will never happen")

"President (Noynoy) Aquino has a standing order: oppose any move to delay the proceeding or get any of the accused off the hook."

Under the rules of court of the Philippines, an accused may turn witness upon approval of the court that in turn requires that there is no other witness, that the accused is the least guilty, that he/she has been arraigned and has admitted his/participation in the crime.

De Lima told reporters that Zaldy Ampatuan is one of the most guilty, he had not been arraigned nor had admitted his guilt, and that his testimony was unnecessary as there are other direct witnesses.

"Zaldy Ampatuan's defense is alibi, that he denied his presence in the scene of incident," noted De Lima. "So how can he testify on something he has not directly witnessed?"

De Lima will address members of the Integrated Bar of Philippines (IBP) Iloilo Chapter this evening at the induction of officers of IBP-Iloilo led by president Boy Salmon.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Boy Scout Roy B. Babas, in memoriam

Image
By Pet Melliza/The Beekeeper Iloilo Gov.  Arthur D. Defensor (center in light shirt) and Estancia Mayor Rene Cordero (beside the governor) unveil the monument of Scout Roy.  By now, he could have been 53 and, if he married at 20, he would have grandchildren. However, Roy B. Babas, gave up his life at a tender age because of a freak accident 41 years ago, January 24, 1971. He was 12 years old and a grade five pupil. Babas, orphaned of both parents and cared for by his paternal  lolo   eked out a living on weekends and holidays as cargador , carrying luggage of passengers of vessels docking on the wharf of Estancia, Iloilo. Bionat: When I broached the idea to the governor of erecting a monument in honor of Scout Roy, he nodded at once. Scout Roy was his buddy in the Boy Scout. He promised silently beside the latter's bier that he will work it out to have a monument built for him. Defensor: Bravery and helpfullness are among the virtues of Boy Scout
Read more

Kalampay getting scarce and costly

Image
Today a kilo of kalampay fetches P80 to P140, at par with other fishes. This freshwater crab was almost free before. Photo above shows a freshly broiled crab. Kalampay" for sale was almost unheard of 40 years ago. The freshwater crab teemed in Iloilo rivers and people caught it for free. Today, it fetches the minimum P80 per kilo. Surprisingly, Iloilo River, dubbed the country's biggest septic tank after Pasig River, is still home to crabs and shrimps that Ilonggos consume. Mention the word today to the young generation and they would stare at you bewildered. "Kalampay? Ano ra man? (Kalampay? What's that.)" They more they would stare at you blankly if you asked them what "katang" and "baringay" are. The usage of term is getting scarcer like the fate of kalampay. "Katang" is a juvenile kalampay, the size a half thumb while "baringay" are botton size ones that migrate inland from the sea where they are spawned. 
Read more

Broad daylight robbery by Treñas and caboodle

    Mayor Jerry Treñas and his caboodle in the mass disinformation industry are yelping accolades and jumping in glee at nothing but how good, bright and promising the fates of the Iloilo Terminal Market and Iloilo Central Market would be under his watch. Better still, miswatch.      "Public-Private Partnership" kuno; "renovation" kuno, "progress" pa gid, lapdogs in the  mainstream mass disinformation industry oogle.      What they're deliberately hiding is the obvious, that the deal is nothing but a "lease contract", a heavily lopsided one, that hands over for a song two prime real estate properties of Iloilo City taxpayers to SM Holdings, owner of the most number and biggest of malls in the Philippines.      It's neither PPP nor renovation but a broad daylight robbery where Treñas surrenders to SM the ownership of the "Central" and "Super" to SM for 50 years, renewable thereafter at SM's caprice.      By merely c
Read more