Hole of Justice: The Kuratong Baleleng Gang - Last Part: Hole of Justice By Peter G. Jimenea The Kuratong Baleleng Gang (Last Part - The Expendables) In previous issue of TDG, a gun...
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Monday, June 22, 2015
Hole of Justice: The Kuratong Baleleng Gang - Last Part
Hole of Justice: The Kuratong Baleleng Gang - Last Part: Hole of Justice By Peter G. Jimenea The Kuratong Baleleng Gang (Last Part - The Expendables) In previous issue of TDG, a gun...
Hole of Justice: The Kuratong Baleleng Gang - First of Two Parts
Hole of Justice: The Kuratong Baleleng Gang - First of Two Parts: Hole of Justice By Peter G. Jimenea The Kuratong Baleleng Gang (The Untouchables – first of two parts) On December 1995 ...
Hole of Justice: The Kuratong Baleleng Gang - First of Two Parts
Hole of Justice: The Kuratong Baleleng Gang - First of Two Parts: Hole of Justice By Peter G. Jimenea The Kuratong Baleleng Gang (The Untouchables – first of two parts) On December 1995 ...
Hole of Justice: The Kuratong Baleleng Gang - First of Two Parts
Hole of Justice: The Kuratong Baleleng Gang - First of Two Parts: Hole of Justice By Peter G. Jimenea The Kuratong Baleleng Gang (The Untouchables – first of two parts) On December 1995 ...
The Kuratong Baleleng Gang - Last Part
Hole of Justice
By Peter G. Jimenea
The Kuratong Baleleng Gang
(Last Part - The Expendables)
In previous issue of TDG, a gun-battle between the
carnap-gang and the HPG, ANCAR, SOU/TF Limbas took place on July 2, 1996. Five
(5) Kuratong members were arrested. During the tactical interrogation, one of
the five suspects, Allen Pellazar was identified as “Dominador Amparo,” an army
enlisted personnel.
Amparo, a member of the Kuratong Baleleng Gang jumped
bail in a Robbery with Murder case in 1991 in Cebu City. During arrest he
attempted to grab the service firearm of one SPO3 Armando Ballon but the latter
parry his hand and shoot him twice on the chest. Still, he was able to escape
from the police.
At the investigation room SPO3 Ballon arrived and
after the suspect was made to undress, the investigators discovered that he
bore two gunshot wounds on the chest confirming his identity not as Allen
Pellazar but Dominador Amparo. After a few minutes, he cooperated to reveal the
following;
He’s a member of the “Kuratong Baleleng-SOLIDO Gang
from Ozamis City. They are waiting only for the contact of their leader Joel
Arnan a.k.a. “Jojo” before they assemble at their rendezvous at Sucat Road near
NAIA. They are provided by the formerly arrested Army Captain and a certain “Nonoy,”
of G3, PA, Fort Bonifacio, with M-16, M-14, 45 Cal. Pistols and M203 Grenade
launchers.
After the heist they again converge in a designated
area where the weapons are collected and brought back to the PA headquarters.
He claimed that four (4) to six (6) carjacked vehicles were often used during
their operations and the loots are distributed only after the “BIG BOSSES” determine
their shares.
Fortunately, an aunt of Jojo’s wife, volunteered to
provide The SOU/TF Limbas “extensive knowledge” about the group, that Joel
Arnan a.k.a. “Jojo” was an enlisted ex-Army Scout Ranger personnel who is also
an escapee. As “Agent Joy” further narrate, a powerful politician and a number
of retired and active Military and Police Generals are “brains” behind the
group.
The ultimate motive of the KB-SOLIDO Gang was to raise
“campaign fund” for the 1998 elections. They are well organized for having
members in other government agencies such as the PNP, AFP, LTO and DILG. Agent
Joy told the SOU/TF Limbas that December 15 is the birthday of “Jojo,” the
KB-SOLIDO Gang leader and she will be attending the party.
From that occasion Joy was able to concretize the
information of the SOU/TF Limbas. At about 4:00 pm of October 31, 1996, a
30-minute bloody gun-battle ensued between the police and the gang at the
façade of Lexus Disco Club. Four TMG personnel were wounded, two police patrol
cars were totally wrecked by the M203 grenade launchers but two gang members
were also killed.
A dragnet was then set for the arrest of “Jojo,” leader
of the KB-SOLIDO gang. On February 1, 1997 at about 2:30 pm, SOU/TF Limbas
raided the gang’s hideout at the Greatland Subdivision, San Pedro, Laguna. Two
gang members were caught by surprised. Recovered were cache of ammos,
high-powered firearms, carjacked vehicles, MV plates and a motorcycle. “Jojo”
was not in the house.
On February 2, 1997, all possible exits from “Jojo’s
hideout were blocked after it was learned that he was inside limping due to
motorcycle accident. Later, a man on a motorcycle was seen leaving the house,
when arrested he turned out to be the advance party of the gang leader. But
“Jojo” is still inside the house.
At about 1:00 pm, a man was seen speeding away from
the house. A brief chase ensued and Joel Arnan aka “Jojo” was arrested. A
search warrant was then issued that led to the recovery of the following; M-14
rifles, Baby Armalite rifles with AFP markings, automatic Carbines, 45 and 380
pistols, Beretta Sub-machinegun, Micro UZI, boxes of ammos, car plates,
diplomat plate no. 19518 and assorted jewelries taken from the famous MILADY
heist.
Surprisingly, “Jojo” did not stay long in San Pedro,
Laguna Municipal Jail. A noise barrage was created by the inmates to facilitate
his escape. But by the time, he and his Army Captain cohort were already
considered expendable. “Jojo” was reported killed by police intelligence operatives
along NAIA Road in Pasay, Metro Manila. Expendable indeed!
The trump up case against PCI Rernato G. Laurinaria,
Commander of the SOU/TF Limbas was eventually dismissed by the Court. Agent
Joy, unable to be included in the witness protection of the government dropped
out of sight for fear of her life. The “Army Captain,” met his untimely death
by poisoning so as not to divulge the BIG BOSSES of the syndicate. Expendable
too!
The Kuratong Baleleng Gang - First of Two Parts
Hole of Justice
By Peter G. JimeneaThe Kuratong Baleleng Gang
(The Untouchables – first of two parts)
On December 1995 a highly syndicated violent
carnap-kidnap-bank robbery-group, the Kuratong Baleleng Gang - Solido Group, emerged
to sow terror in Metro Manila. Its heavily armed members forcibly take the vehicles
from their lawful owners for use to other crimes.
The gang figured prominently in series of bank robbery,
armoured van robberies, pawn shop and jewelry shop robberies, famous of which
was the Milady jewelry shop robbery. Noted was the gang’s ferocity to gun down
security guards and bank personnel without hesitation.
Then Police Chief Inspector Renato G. Laurinaria,
Commander of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) SOU/TF Limbas, formed a team of ANCAR
Operatives to track down this gang. An “Order of Battle” (OB) was likewise
undertaken to assist local police where carjacking and armed robberies are
frequent.
On February 2, 1996, a brief running gun-battle ensued
at Banawe St., Quezon City between TF Limbas operatives and members of the
carjack-group. But traffic congestion hampered the pursuing police enabling the
suspects to escape leaving behind their getaway carjacked-vehicle.
The recovery of the wanted motor vehicle gave the HPG/TF
Limbas operatives a glimpse of the personal belongings left behind by the
notorious group like pay-parking tickets, gas receipts, expressway entrance and
exit tickets and receipts for unnecessary expenses.
But the ambush-slaying of two anti-carjacking TMG-NCR
operatives at Rodriguez St., Quezon City on February 5, 1996, caused an
animosity between PCI Laurinaria and then TMG Director P/Supt. Romeo Maganto. Laurinaria
was relieved. But on June 8, 1996, the new TMG Director reinstalled him.
It paved the way for the discovery of unusual operation of the Kuratong Baleleng-Solido Gang. Three (3) gasoline receipts stood out most as they pointed that the notorious group had been frequenting a gasoline station located right inside Fort Bonifacio.
This enabled PCI Laurinaria to conclude that members
of this group could either be active and dismissed military and/or police
personnel. The TF Limbas ANCAR operatives were soon directed to focus their
monitoring efforts inside the Fort Bonifacio.
At an unholy hour of the morning of June 24, 1996, a
Mitsubishi Lancer GXLi with plate number TKA-706 reported as carjacked was
spotted inside the parking area of the General Headquarters of Philippine Army
in Fort Bonifacio, Makati City.
On the very same day at about 6:00 pm, an Army Captain
was about to drive off the wanted vehicle when arrested. His arrest bolstered
the suspicion that the AFP and the PNP have connection with this Kuratong
Baleleng Gang and thus known as the “Solido Group.”
Before the SOU/TF Limbas investigators could extract
vital information from the arrested army captain, his “mistah’s” at the TMG
(now HPG) intervened and took custody of him. This denied ANCAR operatives their
much needed information as to the existence of this notorious group.
On July 2, 1996, along Bangkal St., Makati City, at
around 11:30 am, another brief gun-battle ensued between TF Limbas and the
Kuratong Gang members. It ended with the capture of five gang members and recovery
of two carjacked vehicles. A sketch map of the ASIAN bank in Buendia Ave. was
also found.
At 4:00 pm of October 31, 1996, a bloody shoot-out
between the group and the police took place at Timog Ave., Quezon City
resulting to the total damage of two police vehicles by M203 grenade launchers
fired by the gang. Four (4) TMGs have been wounded but two Kuratong members
were killed and one captured.
Pressed as to who the ”BIG BOSSES” were, the five arrested Kuratong Baleleng Gang
members pointed to a Joel Arnan alyas ‘Jojo’ and the previously arrested Army
Captain as the persons who could best identify the “BIG BOSSES” of the
syndicate.
But the taking up of captured members alive, proved
too costly for Laurinaria. As they were about to jump-off for the arrest of
gang leader “Joel Arnan,” a “trump-up” case that has long been fabricated
against him was immediately laid down for his arrest. Worse, the arresting team
was led by P/General Romeo Maganto now assigned at the DILG.
Surprisingly, when PCI Laurinaria was relieved, the
captured Kuratong member was remitted to
another jail and was reported later to have escaped. The records of the
arrested Army Captain also disappeared from the file and can no longer be
found.
Hole of Justice: The SC on Delay
Hole of Justice: The SC on Delay: Hole of Justice By Peter G. Jimenea The Supreme Court on Delay “Injustice lies fairly in delayed decision than an erroneo...
Hole of Justice: The SC on Delay
Hole of Justice: The SC on Delay: Hole of Justice By Peter G. Jimenea The Supreme Court on Delay “Injustice lies fairly in delayed decision than an erroneo...
Hole of Justice: The SC on Delay
Hole of Justice: The SC on Delay: Hole of Justice By Peter G. Jimenea The Supreme Court on Delay “Injustice lies fairly in delayed decision than an erroneo...
Hole of Justice: The SC on Delay
Hole of Justice: The SC on Delay: Hole of Justice By Peter G. Jimenea The Supreme Court on Delay “Injustice lies fairly in delayed decision than an erroneo...
Hole of Justice: The SC on Delay
Hole of Justice: The SC on Delay: Hole of Justice By Peter G. Jimenea The Supreme Court on Delay “Injustice lies fairly in delayed decision than an erroneo...
The SC on Delay
Hole of Justice
By
Peter G. Jimenea
The Supreme Court on Delay
“Injustice lies fairly in delayed decision than an erroneous one which can be appealed immediately. Delay causes prolonged anxiety to party litigants and could tie their assets and other properties in litigation.”
This explains why the Bill of Rights contains as it is in Art. III of the
Constitution occupies a position of primacy to the fundamental law way above
the articles on government powers. This includes the right of the accused for a
speedy trial of his case. Jurisprudence dictates, lex reprobate moram – the law disapproves of delay.
The Court values liberty and will insist on the observance of basic
Constitutional rights as a condition sine qua non against the extremely abusive
investigative and prosecutor powers of the government. Summum jus, summum injuria – extreme enforcement of law may lead to
injustice. (Berico vs CA, 225 SCRA 562).
Let’s take the case of Rafael Coscolluela, governor of Negros Occidental
for three full terms from July 1992 to June 30, 2001. During his tenure of
office, Edwin Nacionales served as his Special Projects Head, Jose Ma. Amugod as assistant
and Ernesto Malvas as Provincial Health Officer.
On November 9, 2001, the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas received a
letter-complaint dated November 7, 2001 from the People’s Graftwatch,
requesting to investigate the anomalous purchase of medical and agricultural
equipment for P20,000,000.00 which allegedly happened a month before
Coscolluela stepped down from office.
Acting on the letter-complaint, the Case Building Team of the Ombudsman
conducted its investigation. A Final Evaluation Report dated April 16, 2002,
upgrading the complaint into a criminal case was filed. The respondents also filed
their respective counter-affidavits.
On March 27, 2003, Graft- Investigation Officer Butch E. Cañares prepared
a Resolution (March 27, 2003 Resolution), finding probable cause against the respondents
for violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019 “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”
and recommended the filing of corresponding information.
He submits the same to Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Primo C. Miro for
recommendation. Miro recommended approval of the Information on June 5, 2003. Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro approved it on
May 21, 2009 and filed it at the Sandiganbayan on June 19, 2009. (Take note of
the time lapsed)
On July 9, 2009, a Motion To Quash was filed with the Sandiganbayan
Second Division by Coscolluela arguing, among others, that his constitutional
right to a speedy trial was violated. He learned of the Resolution and
Information only on March 27, 2003, when they get a copy after its filing with
the Sandiganbayan.
He cited that the criminal charges against him were resolved only after
eight (8) years since the complaint was instituted,when the speedy disposition
of his case is guaranteed under the Philippine Constitution. His co-respondents Nacionales, Malvas, and Amugod later adopted his
motion.
An opposition to Motion to Quash filed by the Ombudsman on August 7, 2009,
cited the Information originally dated March 27, 2003, has still to go through
careful reviews and revisions before its final approval. And respondents never
raised any objections regarding the purported delay in the proceedings during
the interim.
The SANDIGANBAYAN SECOND DIVISION, however, recognizes the prejudice
caused to petitioners by the lengthy delay in the proceedings against them. It
said that it was the Ombudsman’s responsibility to expedite the same within the
bounds of reasonable timeliness in view of its mandate to promptly act on all
complaints lodged before it.
In the case of Barker vs. Wingo, the Court said that a defendant has no
duty to bring himself to trial; the State has that duty as well as the duty of
insuring that the trial is consistent with due process. So, it ordered the
Sandiganbayan First Division to DISMISS the case against all the respondents.
(G.R. No. 191411).
One Final Note: The SC finds the inordinate delay of more than six (6)
years by the Ombudsman in resolving the criminal complaints against Petitioner to
be violative of his Constitutionally guaranteed right to due process and a speedy
disposition of the case against him. (Anchangco v. Ombudsman, 268 SCRA 301)
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Hole of Justice: The Unwanted Child
Hole of Justice: The Unwanted Child: Hole of Justice by Peter G. Jimenea Unwanted Child and Abortion It is imperative for us to know on how life develops in the w...
The Unwanted Child
Hole
of Justice
by
Peter G. Jimenea
Unwanted
Child and Abortion
It is imperative for us to know on
how life develops in the woman’s womb though a wanted or unwanted child. The
issue on Reproductive Health Bill (RHB) has an unfinished debate between the proponents
and Church devotees, thus, this article.
A book on “Mongolism” in 1959 sparked
a non-stop debate between scientists and Church devotees in France. But in
August 1969, its author Dr. Jerome Lejeune, was awarded by the American Society
of Human Genetics the highest distinction ever granted to a geneticist.
Mongolism is also called “Down-Syndrome.”
It affects one in every 650 new born babies around the world. Dr. Lejeune told
thousands of families with affected child that their kids are created from the
image of God and badly need love and affection.
But the American medical society during
that time has already resorted to abort affected babies from being born. They
say it is inhuman to allow the poor child to come into this world. Britain
followed legalizing the screening for down-syndrome and its “treatment by
abortion.”
Thus, the media battle shifted to abortion
of “unwanted babies” in the two countries which share the same theory, that “a baby cannot legally become a person until
it is born and the woman has the right to do what she wants with her body.” This
is based on the pretext of scientific rigor, a point of view in which God has
no place.
The good they say, it obviates the future
child problem of the family as it also stops the birth of unwanted babies. The
bad is, it interferes with material progress that a mongoloid is not created
from the image of God, a child who could love Him to eternity.
Church leaders disagreed on the
premise that life is sacred and shared by devotees who believe that sperm has
already life in it. In essence, it is half-true because a television remains an
idle TV set unless driven by a power or energy to show the pictures on the
screen.They argue that veterinarians can send dozen of cattle from Palawan to Mindanao using an envelope as carrier. True, but in that envelope are the bull’s sperm prepared for “artificial insemination,” to give birth to a dozen calves. This disproved the theory that the bull’s sperm alone has life in it.
That sperm will remain a sperm until
it is injected into a cow’s womb for the development of an “embryo.” The embryo is a living thing in
early stage formed by the inter-action of the male’s sperm inside the womb of
the opposite sex by harmonious relationship or by-forced sexual intercourse.
Contraceptives and condom prevent an
embryo’s development. This is not abortion as what the oppositions’ earlier
claim hinted at. It only disallows the man’s egg to penetrate into the woman’s
womb and form into an embryo. There is no killing or murder here!The increasing population is not the main problem of the government. The very clear factor is the widening economic disparity between the rich and the poor caused by unequal distribution of wealth controlled by the few rich clans in this country.
Every time the poor ask from the
government the basic services they rightfully deserved, they always end up
badly-disillusioned. The sick and dying infants of poor mothers in government
hospitals are counting. Why? There is lack of medicine and affordable health
care for the poor people!.
If the sickly children of poor
families survived, what promise of tomorrow awaits them? Unemployment is
getting worse. Corruption is another. The K to 12 designed of DepEd (added 2 years) for
elementary to high school education is an added burden to poor families.With the perceived number of out-of-school youth, I fear we are only producing more criminals than responsible citizens with this DepEd design. Look, the proliferation of illegal drugs is unstoppable. Why? A hungry stomach knows no law. This is now a national crisis and we are getting closer to Mexico!
Let us open our citizens’ awareness in having too many kids they cannot provide good health and proper education. It’s not yet too late. I stood pat defending the RH Bill because I know the prize of this effort is what we have been searching for – the TRUTH that will set us free!
Monday, June 1, 2015
Hole of Justice: Business Behind Bars
Hole of Justice: Business Behind Bars: Hole of Justice By Peter G. Jimenea Business Behind Bars “In underworld business, there are betrayals, swindling, double cro...
Hole of Justice: Business Behind Bars
Hole of Justice: Business Behind Bars: Hole of Justice By Peter G. Jimenea Business Behind Bars “In underworld business, there are betrayals, swindling, double cro...
Business Behind Bars
Hole
of Justice
By
Peter G. Jimenea
Business
Behind Bars
On
April 29, 2015, an inmate (name withheld to protect the family) at the Bureau
of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Ungka District Jail at Jaro, Iloilo
City, was reported to have committed suicide inside his cell.
Three
days later, May 3, 2015, another inmate in the same compound was also reported
to have committed suicide. But the autopsy report of the medico legal revealed
otherwise, the two prisoners are victims of foul play. Other than traces of
torture, one has a punctured wound on the head.
The
two victims are facing drug charges and one is on schedule for hearing the next
day. There were signs of torture in their bodies and worse, they were found
positive of drugs during autopsy. Parents of the victims are asking justice but
to date no inmate cooperates.
We
cannot discount the possibility that the two victims have unpaid debts while
still outside to the supplier of their vices. People hooked-on-drugs will
always find ways to provide their addicted bodies with drugs and other
substance to satisfy the need.
This
reminds me of the arrest of Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman of the dreaded
Sinaloa Cartel on February 2015, in Northern Mexico. The powerful Mexican drug
lord faces multiple indictments in the US Court. But until now Pres. Barack Obama
has not yet requested his extradition.
The
Sinaloa Cartel displaced the Carrillo Fuentes criminal organization in Ciudad
Juárez. The court papers identify Gabino Salas Valenciano as El Chapo’s man who
ran the cartel’s business in Ciudad Juárez. His job was to hire arms dealers,
drug traffickers and assassins in the U.S. to eliminate clients who will not
pay their debts.
On
August 5, 2009, at Sierra Blanca, Texas inspection station, agents stopped two persons
with trailer containing 303.9 kilos of marijuana. It was learned that a 30
year-old Sergio Saucedo owned them and was trying to smuggle from Mexico.
A month later, on September 3, a
group of masked gunmen from the U.S.–broke into a house in Horizon City, in the
suburbs of El Paso, and kidnapped Saucedo in a maroon-colored Ford Expedition.
It is widely believed that El Chapo ordered the kidnapping.
Five days later after his kidnapping,
on September 8, 2009, Saucedo’s body was found on the banks of the Rio Grande
river semi-nude, with signs of torture and with cut-off hands placed over his
chest, a sign of not-paying-debts.
A suspect in the kidnapping case when
arrested eventually revealed that Saucedo had stolen more than 600 pounds of
marijuana from the drug lord. It was Salas Valenciano, El Chapo’s man in Ciudad
Juárez, who paid them $250,000 to deliver Saucedo.
El Chapo like other kingpins in the
underworld business has a nice way to deliver his message. Through his man
Salas Valenciano who ran the cartel business in Ciudad Juárez, they made their
rule known to the underworld – “TILL DEBT DO US PART.”
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