"Francis has been described as a criminal and a carjacker by those who took his life. Francis, FX to us, was many things, but he was not a criminal, he was not a carjacker," says Jennifer Manzano, elder sister of Francis.
"Francis was not accorded the rule of law. He was not a criminal yet he was treated like the worst kind of criminal. He was never charged, tried, convicted or sentenced, yet he has already been executed."
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Exactly A Year Ago
Exactly a year ago, Francis Xavier Manzano had no idea it would be his last day alive.
Exactly a year ago, Francis Manzano had no idea it would be his last day of school.
Exactly a year ago, FX had no idea it would be the last day he could ever see or be in touch with his siblings, daughter, relatives, girlfriend (and ex-girlfriends), barkada and old friends, teachers and mentors, classmates and former batchmates, acquaintances and peers.
Exactly a year ago, "F" had no idea he would be shot to death by overzealous, corrupt Philippine TMG police, looking to parade themselves as heroic cops by telling lies on why and how this all happened.
Exactly a year ago, I was never personally affected by the corruption in our country. I saw corruption on the news, read it in the papers, heard it on the radio, and even discussed it at gatherings. Filipinos shared stories of Philippine corruption to friends and colleagues with a comedic tone of silliness. (From the silliness of how many shoes Imelda Marcos had... to the "I Love You" virus to show how talented Filipinos can be... to why Filipinos suffer from a "crab mentality" society.)
After a year since FX's death....
- I learned that there is a tremendous amount of Filipinos (in the country and abroad) who have the intelligence to decipher the truth from the lies fed to us by the police and politicians involved in FX's death. There is an unbelievable amount of people who cry out for justice for Francis Xavier Manzano.
- We learned about the courage of UNTV; keeping their videos intact, despite continuous security and political threats. Their videos revealed the truth and remained untainted in the wake of the powerful propaganda spewed by the police and their superiors to the press.
- The Philippine Human Rights activists learned through their investigations that the case was an obvious rubout, not a shootout (again, despite the intimidation and threats by the police and politicians).
- You are now learning that the siblings and family of FX have couragely pushed forward to seek justice for Francis in the courts.
There are many things we have learned and yet to be learned. FX's death has shed light to this corruption in our society. In behalf of his family, it is our responsibility to turn this tragedy into a catalyst for making a better world for generations to come. Please continue your support for justice. Don't let corruption immobilize your thoughts, courage and actions.
F, we miss you.
Exactly a year ago, Francis Manzano had no idea it would be his last day of school.
Exactly a year ago, FX had no idea it would be the last day he could ever see or be in touch with his siblings, daughter, relatives, girlfriend (and ex-girlfriends), barkada and old friends, teachers and mentors, classmates and former batchmates, acquaintances and peers.
Exactly a year ago, "F" had no idea he would be shot to death by overzealous, corrupt Philippine TMG police, looking to parade themselves as heroic cops by telling lies on why and how this all happened.
Exactly a year ago, I was never personally affected by the corruption in our country. I saw corruption on the news, read it in the papers, heard it on the radio, and even discussed it at gatherings. Filipinos shared stories of Philippine corruption to friends and colleagues with a comedic tone of silliness. (From the silliness of how many shoes Imelda Marcos had... to the "I Love You" virus to show how talented Filipinos can be... to why Filipinos suffer from a "crab mentality" society.)
After a year since FX's death....
- I learned that there is a tremendous amount of Filipinos (in the country and abroad) who have the intelligence to decipher the truth from the lies fed to us by the police and politicians involved in FX's death. There is an unbelievable amount of people who cry out for justice for Francis Xavier Manzano.
- We learned about the courage of UNTV; keeping their videos intact, despite continuous security and political threats. Their videos revealed the truth and remained untainted in the wake of the powerful propaganda spewed by the police and their superiors to the press.
- The Philippine Human Rights activists learned through their investigations that the case was an obvious rubout, not a shootout (again, despite the intimidation and threats by the police and politicians).
- You are now learning that the siblings and family of FX have couragely pushed forward to seek justice for Francis in the courts.
There are many things we have learned and yet to be learned. FX's death has shed light to this corruption in our society. In behalf of his family, it is our responsibility to turn this tragedy into a catalyst for making a better world for generations to come. Please continue your support for justice. Don't let corruption immobilize your thoughts, courage and actions.
F, we miss you.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Ombudsman sitting on Ortigas rubout?
From the Manila Standard Today....
THE family of one of the three victims in last year’s rubout in Ortigas Center in Pasig City has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to act and prosecute the 10 members of the Traffic Management Group of the National Police involved in the shooting.
“A public office is a public trust. We believe that the policemen... who killed our brother in cold blood abused that public trust,” said Jennifer Manzano, elder sister of the slain Francis Xavier Manzano.
Accompanied by counsel Theodore Te, Manzano also urged Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to order the Deputy Ombudsman for the Uniformed Services to conduct a speedy and impartial investigation.
On the evening of Nov.7, Manzano, Bryan Anthony Dulay and Philip Cu-Unjieng were killed in what TMG agents claimed to be a shootout with members of the Valle Verde Carnap Gang, which the victims’ families belied.
After conducting its own probe, the Commission on Human Rights concluded that there was a rubout.
The CHR said the TMG operatives executed the three men inside a rented Nissan Exalta along Garnet Street.
Footage of the incident from the UHF television station UNTV showed the police shooting at what appeared to be the lifeless suspects inside their bullet-riddled car.
The commission then recommended the filing of multiple murder charges against Senior Insp. Hansel Marantan, Senior Insp. Samson Belmonte, PO3 Lloyd Soria, PO3 Rizalito Ramos Jr., PO2 Dexter Pascua, Senior Insp. Henry Cerdon, PO2 Jesus Fermin, PO2 Sonny Robrigado, PO1 Fernando Rey Gapuz and PO1 Josel Rey Lucena, all members of Task Force Limbas. Florante S. Solmerin
THE family of one of the three victims in last year’s rubout in Ortigas Center in Pasig City has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to act and prosecute the 10 members of the Traffic Management Group of the National Police involved in the shooting.
“A public office is a public trust. We believe that the policemen... who killed our brother in cold blood abused that public trust,” said Jennifer Manzano, elder sister of the slain Francis Xavier Manzano.
Accompanied by counsel Theodore Te, Manzano also urged Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to order the Deputy Ombudsman for the Uniformed Services to conduct a speedy and impartial investigation.
On the evening of Nov.7, Manzano, Bryan Anthony Dulay and Philip Cu-Unjieng were killed in what TMG agents claimed to be a shootout with members of the Valle Verde Carnap Gang, which the victims’ families belied.
After conducting its own probe, the Commission on Human Rights concluded that there was a rubout.
The CHR said the TMG operatives executed the three men inside a rented Nissan Exalta along Garnet Street.
Footage of the incident from the UHF television station UNTV showed the police shooting at what appeared to be the lifeless suspects inside their bullet-riddled car.
The commission then recommended the filing of multiple murder charges against Senior Insp. Hansel Marantan, Senior Insp. Samson Belmonte, PO3 Lloyd Soria, PO3 Rizalito Ramos Jr., PO2 Dexter Pascua, Senior Insp. Henry Cerdon, PO2 Jesus Fermin, PO2 Sonny Robrigado, PO1 Fernando Rey Gapuz and PO1 Josel Rey Lucena, all members of Task Force Limbas. Florante S. Solmerin
Ombudsman sitting on Ortigas rubout?
From the Manila Standard Today....
THE family of one of the three victims in last year’s rubout in Ortigas Center in Pasig City has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to act and prosecute the 10 members of the Traffic Management Group of the National Police involved in the shooting.
“A public office is a public trust. We believe that the policemen... who killed our brother in cold blood abused that public trust,” said Jennifer Manzano, elder sister of the slain Francis Xavier Manzano.
Accompanied by counsel Theodore Te, Manzano also urged Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to order the Deputy Ombudsman for the Uniformed Services to conduct a speedy and impartial investigation.
On the evening of Nov.7, Manzano, Bryan Anthony Dulay and Philip Cu-Unjieng were killed in what TMG agents claimed to be a shootout with members of the Valle Verde Carnap Gang, which the victims’ families belied.
After conducting its own probe, the Commission on Human Rights concluded that there was a rubout.
The CHR said the TMG operatives executed the three men inside a rented Nissan Exalta along Garnet Street.
Footage of the incident from the UHF television station UNTV showed the police shooting at what appeared to be the lifeless suspects inside their bullet-riddled car.
The commission then recommended the filing of multiple murder charges against Senior Insp. Hansel Marantan, Senior Insp. Samson Belmonte, PO3 Lloyd Soria, PO3 Rizalito Ramos Jr., PO2 Dexter Pascua, Senior Insp. Henry Cerdon, PO2 Jesus Fermin, PO2 Sonny Robrigado, PO1 Fernando Rey Gapuz and PO1 Josel Rey Lucena, all members of Task Force Limbas. Florante S. Solmerin
THE family of one of the three victims in last year’s rubout in Ortigas Center in Pasig City has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to act and prosecute the 10 members of the Traffic Management Group of the National Police involved in the shooting.
“A public office is a public trust. We believe that the policemen... who killed our brother in cold blood abused that public trust,” said Jennifer Manzano, elder sister of the slain Francis Xavier Manzano.
Accompanied by counsel Theodore Te, Manzano also urged Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to order the Deputy Ombudsman for the Uniformed Services to conduct a speedy and impartial investigation.
On the evening of Nov.7, Manzano, Bryan Anthony Dulay and Philip Cu-Unjieng were killed in what TMG agents claimed to be a shootout with members of the Valle Verde Carnap Gang, which the victims’ families belied.
After conducting its own probe, the Commission on Human Rights concluded that there was a rubout.
The CHR said the TMG operatives executed the three men inside a rented Nissan Exalta along Garnet Street.
Footage of the incident from the UHF television station UNTV showed the police shooting at what appeared to be the lifeless suspects inside their bullet-riddled car.
The commission then recommended the filing of multiple murder charges against Senior Insp. Hansel Marantan, Senior Insp. Samson Belmonte, PO3 Lloyd Soria, PO3 Rizalito Ramos Jr., PO2 Dexter Pascua, Senior Insp. Henry Cerdon, PO2 Jesus Fermin, PO2 Sonny Robrigado, PO1 Fernando Rey Gapuz and PO1 Josel Rey Lucena, all members of Task Force Limbas. Florante S. Solmerin
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
The horrible truth, according to the CHR
From The Manila Times -- Editorial Opinion
"The horrible truth, according to the CHR"
AS many had feared, the death of the three men suspected of being carjackers at the Ortigas Center, Pasig City, in the hands of Traffic Management Group agents on November 7, 2005, was not legitimate but an act of murder.
In a disturbing but courageous report released Monday, the Commission on Human Rights said the 10 TMG officers summarily executed the victims inside a rented car near Garner Street and the AIC Gold Tower Bldg.
The CHR investigated the shooting immediately after the story broke in the papers. In a 35-page report, the commission said it found probable cause to charge the officers with multiple murder since the police operation was “feigned, premeditated and treacherous.”
The TMG said its men—members of Task Force Limbas—were waiting at the site, acting on a tip that a group of carjackers was going to pass through. The victims’ car matched that of the suspect vehicle. When the car appeared on the scene, it allegedly refused to stop on signal. A gunbattle followed.
It did not happen that way, according to the CHR.
“It is evident that when the victims were flagged down…the victims merely stopped the car, but were suddenly met with gunfire from the state agents herein who acted with criminal intent,” the report said.
A government forensic expert advising the commission said her findings showed that the victims did not fire at the officers. Hence, there could not have been any shootout. “There is no evidence to show that any of the three occupants had fired his gun,” the forensic expert Raquel Fortun said.
TV footage taken at the scene by an independent cameraman showed the officers approaching the car and firing at the victims simultaneously. There appeared to be no aggressive action or motion on the part of the occupants.
After the shooting, the officers made no attempt to take the mortally wounded suspects to the nearest hospital, the report noted.
Commission Chairman Purificacion Quisumbing, apparently reminded by the involvement of the police in inexcusable killings, said that they should not use excessive force in carrying out their duties. In its annual reports, the CHR has consistently cited the police as the leading violator of human rights.
The media reported the Ortigas killing as another “botched” police operation, the tendency of the law to commit mistakes, to ignore operational procedures or abbreviate the rules of engagement. The case further blackens the image of the Philippine National Police and the standards of our law enforcement here and abroad. It certainly stains the national image.
The TMG officers will have a chance to defend themselves before the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Police Commission or a court of law. At the CHR hearings, they were given all the opportunity to explain their side. But they refused to appear before the commission and relied on their lawyer to attend in their behalf. That kind of defense does not bring out the truth.
"The horrible truth, according to the CHR"
AS many had feared, the death of the three men suspected of being carjackers at the Ortigas Center, Pasig City, in the hands of Traffic Management Group agents on November 7, 2005, was not legitimate but an act of murder.
In a disturbing but courageous report released Monday, the Commission on Human Rights said the 10 TMG officers summarily executed the victims inside a rented car near Garner Street and the AIC Gold Tower Bldg.
The CHR investigated the shooting immediately after the story broke in the papers. In a 35-page report, the commission said it found probable cause to charge the officers with multiple murder since the police operation was “feigned, premeditated and treacherous.”
The TMG said its men—members of Task Force Limbas—were waiting at the site, acting on a tip that a group of carjackers was going to pass through. The victims’ car matched that of the suspect vehicle. When the car appeared on the scene, it allegedly refused to stop on signal. A gunbattle followed.
It did not happen that way, according to the CHR.
“It is evident that when the victims were flagged down…the victims merely stopped the car, but were suddenly met with gunfire from the state agents herein who acted with criminal intent,” the report said.
A government forensic expert advising the commission said her findings showed that the victims did not fire at the officers. Hence, there could not have been any shootout. “There is no evidence to show that any of the three occupants had fired his gun,” the forensic expert Raquel Fortun said.
TV footage taken at the scene by an independent cameraman showed the officers approaching the car and firing at the victims simultaneously. There appeared to be no aggressive action or motion on the part of the occupants.
After the shooting, the officers made no attempt to take the mortally wounded suspects to the nearest hospital, the report noted.
Commission Chairman Purificacion Quisumbing, apparently reminded by the involvement of the police in inexcusable killings, said that they should not use excessive force in carrying out their duties. In its annual reports, the CHR has consistently cited the police as the leading violator of human rights.
The media reported the Ortigas killing as another “botched” police operation, the tendency of the law to commit mistakes, to ignore operational procedures or abbreviate the rules of engagement. The case further blackens the image of the Philippine National Police and the standards of our law enforcement here and abroad. It certainly stains the national image.
The TMG officers will have a chance to defend themselves before the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Police Commission or a court of law. At the CHR hearings, they were given all the opportunity to explain their side. But they refused to appear before the commission and relied on their lawyer to attend in their behalf. That kind of defense does not bring out the truth.
Monday, May 29, 2006
AMEN!!!!!
From ABS-CBN News Desk:
CHR RECOMMENDS MURDER RAPS VS 10 TMG MEN"
The Commission on Human (CHR) rights Monday recommended the filing of murder charges against 10 members of the Traffic Management Group who were involved in the alleged "overkill" of three carjacking suspects on Nov. 7, 2005 in Ortigas Center, Pasig.
CHR said its findings against Senior Inspectors Henry Cerdon, Hansel Marantan, Samson Belmonte; Police Officers 3 Lloyd Soria and Rizalito Ramos; Police Officers 2 Jesus Fermin, Sonny Robrigado and Dexter Bernadas; and Police Officers 1 Fernando Gapuz and Josel Rey Lucena will be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman this week.
The 10 officers, who are members of Task Force Limbas, have been placed under administrative relief since last year owing to a video footage showing a member of the team firing a gun at the bodies of the slain suspects.
From Philstar:
Murder raps recommended vs cops in Ortigas ‘overkill’
By Katherine Adraneda
The Philippine Star 05/30/2006
Six months after the Ortigas Center shooting incident that left three people dead, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) recommended yesterday the filing of multiple murder charges against 10 members of task force under the Traffic Management Group (TMG).
In a 36-page en banc resolution, the CHR said it found probable cause that there was "arbitrary deprivation of life" committed against suspected carjackers Anton Cu-Unjieng, Francis Xavier Manzano, and Bryan Anthony Dulay by the 10 TMG officers.
Named in the resolution as respondents were Senior Inspectors Hansel Marantan, Henry Cerdon, and Samson Belmonte; Police Officers 3 Lloyd Soria, and Rizalito Ramos Jr., POs2 Dexter Pascua, Jesus Fermin, Sonny Robrigado; and POs1 Fernando Rey Gapuz, and Josil Rey Lucena.
The CHR will submit its resolution and other pertinent documents related to the case to the Office of the Ombudsman for the filing of criminal and administrative cases, in accordance with Republic Act 6770.
The CHR resolution and documents will likewise be endorsed to the National Police Commission (Napolcom), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
According to the CHR, forensic analysis and findings revealed that when the three men were flagged down by the Task Force Limbas operatives, they stopped the car, but were met with gunfire from the state agents, "who acted with criminal intent."
"Hence, the anti-carnapping operations implemented by the police operatives on the evening of Nov. 7, 2005 was feigned, premeditated, and treacherous, thus the killing of the victims by the said state agents qualifies the criminal act as a case of multiple murder," the CHR resolution stated.
The CHR said that actions of the TMG operatives contravened the very rules of engagement of the PNP, noting that the policemen "deliberately did not make any attempt to bring the mortally wounded victims to the nearest hospital."
"Instead, they wilfully and feloniously ensured the death of the victims with the use of excessive and/or lethal force as borne by the second round of gunfire even when the victims were already at the point of death," the CHR resolution stated.
On the gunshot wound sustained by Inspector Belmonte that was supposedly a result of the shooting incident, the CHR deemed it as "self-inflicted and probably accidental."
At around 10 p.m. of Nov. 7, 2005, three alleged members of the Valle Verde Gang were killed during an anti-carjacking operation at the Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
Police intercepted Cu-Unjieng, Manzano, and Dulay, who were on board a Nissan Exalta sedan at the corner of Garnet and Ortigas, following a tip from an informant.
The victims, however, allegedly refused to yield and fired at the pursuing lawmen, who retaliated in "self defense."
However, relatives and human rights group decried the "overkill" based on video footage taken by a television news crew, prompting the CHR investigation.
Meanwhile, TMG director Chief Superintendent Errol Pan insisted that the incident was a result of a legitimate operation despite the findings of the CHR that no shootout took place between officers and the three suspected car thieves.
"We believe that TMG operation was legitimate. They (TMG operatives) are ready to prove that," Pan said in reaction to the CHR findings.
He said that what CHR found was merely probable cause and that TMG personnel can still defend themselves in court when the charges of murder are filed against them.
Pan was not yet chief of the TMG at the time of the shootout. He was appointed months later after another group of TMG operatives nearly killed a businessman whom they mistook for a car thief. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe
From The Manila Times:
Six months after the Ortigas affair, the Commission on Human Rights has at last recommended the filing of multiple-murder charges against the 10 members of Task Force Limbas who allegedly gunned down three men they suspected of being carjackers.
The commission urged the Ombudsman and the National Police Commission to initiate the filing of charges against Police Senior Insp. Hansel Marantan, Senior Insp. Samson Belmonte, Police Officer 3 Lloyd Soria, PO3 Rizalito Ramos Jr., PO2 Dexter Pascua, Senior Insp. Henry Cerdon, PO2 Jesus Fermin, PO2 Sonny Robrigado, PO1 Fernando Rey Gapuz and PO1 Josel Rey Lucena.
The 10 police agents, the commission found, summarily executed inside a rented Nissan Exalta Anton Cu-Unjieng, Francis Xavier Manzano and Bryan Anthony Dulay, reportedly members of the Valle Verde Carnap Gang, on November 7, 2005, at the premises of Garner Street and AIC Gold Tower Building.
‘Feigned, premeditated and treacherous’
In a 35-page decision the commission said it found probable cause to charge the 10 policemen with multiple murder as the police operation was “feigned, premeditated and treacherous.”
“It is evident that when the victims were flagged down by the Task Force Limbas operatives, the victims merely stopped the car, but were suddenly met with gunfire from the state agents herein who acted with criminal intent,” the decision read.
Commission chairman Purificacion Quisumbing said government and state agents should not use excessive force in performing their duties.
“Any excessive and/or arbitrary exercise of authority, as in this case, violates the basic guarantee of a person’s right to life and to due process,” she said.
No shootout
Quisumbing said the forensic expert Raquel Fortun showed that the victims did not fire at the policemen. Therefore, there was no shootout.
“There is no evidence to show that any of the three occupants had fired his gun,” she said.
Quisumbing stressed that the commission did not in any way fail to provide due process to the policemen, who were given opportune time to rebut the charges against them.
She said the 10 policemen refused to appear at the entire proceedings and instead commissioned their lawyer, Jose Tomas Syquia, to attend in their behalf.
“Respondents herein were afforded the opportunity to air their side, but they chose to invoke their constitutional right to remain silent, albeit prematurely,” she said.
From The Daily Tribune
CHR files murder raps vs TMG men on 3 slain carjack ‘suspects’
The Commission on Human Rights appears determined to bring to genuine justice the violators of human rights in the Philippine National Police, specifically those involved in the alleged shootout between the PNP Traffic Management Group (TMG) members and the alleged members of a carjack gang who were slain by the TMG in what it called a shootout last Nov. 7, 2005 in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
The CHR yesterday, submitting its full report on the shootout, recom-mended the filing of multiple murder charges before the Ombudsman against 10 TMG members, namely Senior Inspectors Henry Cerdon, Hansel Marantan, Samson Belmonte; Police Officers 3 Lloyd Soria and Rizalito Ramos; Police Officers 2 Jesus Fermin, Sonny Robrigado and Dexter Bernadas; and Police Officers 1 Fernando Gapuz and Josel Rey Lucena.
The CHR said the charges against the 10 policemen accused of an “overkill” are slated
to be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman this week. The Ombudsman is, however, expected to drag its feet in filing charges against the police.
The 10 police officers, members of Task Force Limbas, were supposed to have been placed under administrative relief since last year, following a video footage showing a member of the team firing a gun at the bodies of the slain suspect, Anton Cu-Unjing, Francis Xavier Manzano and Anthony Brian Dulay, whom the TMG claimed were members of the Valle Verde gang.
Even paid witnesses were said to be brought in by the PNP, to back up the TMG’s version of the three being known carjackers.
The CHR, briefing the media, found that the three suspects were defenseless and could not have engaged in a shoot-out with the police traffic team.
The agency also intimated that the police team members charged with multiple murder, also planted evidence, and made it appear that the “suspects” were armed, with even a gun placed in the right hand of one slain suspect, after the murder. The slain “suspect” was later discovered to be left-handed and couldn’t have held the gun with his right hand.
It was also found, from ballistics tests, that all the shots came from the police, with one definitely coming from the TMG police.
From the 16 spent bullets taken from the vehicle, a Nissan Sentra of the three suspects, only three bullets came from the car.
It will be recalled that the TMG members and their police superiors immediately claimed a shootout with suspected carjackers, unaware that a cameraman took a video footage of the incident.
Still, the police maintained that the video could not be deemed reliable, as the angle of the shots came from a poor vantage point and that the cameraman failed to shoot the entire episode, which the police claimed told a different story.
But even other TV stations had footage after the alleged shootout, showing certain positions of the victims, which cast doubt on the version of the police.
Shortly after a public outcry, the police chiefs said they had placed the TMG members under suspension, following an internal investigation, but less than a week later, the same policemen said to have been under investigation, were back at their posts, with the superiors claiming that theirs was a legitimate operation and that their men should not be punished for doing their duty.
But the CHR also noted that the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (adopted by the Eight UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders, Sept. 7, 1990) provides under the General Provisions, Principles 5 and 7 that: “Whenever the lawful use of force and firearms is unavoidable, law enforcement officials shall:
(a) Exercise restraint in such use and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offense and the legitimate objective to be achieved;
(b) Minimize damage and injury, and respect and preserve human life;
(c) Ensure that assistance and medical aid are rendered to any injured or affected person at the earliest possible moment;
(d) Ensure that relatives or close friends of the injured or affected person are notified at the earliest possible moment. And that governments shall ensure that arbitrary and abusive use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials is punished as a criminal offense under law.”
The CHR report said that these provisions emphasize that the use of force by law enforcement officials should be an exception. While it implies that law enforcement officials may be authorized to use force as reasonably necessary under the circumstances for the prevention of crime or in effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders, no force going beyond that may be used. The use of firearms is considered an extreme measure, hence, the principle of proportionality is to be respected.
“With the foregoing findings, the Commission is strongly convinced that the TMG Task Force Limbas operatives committed human rights violations in breach of Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which the Philippines is a State party, which guarantees that: “Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.”
CHR RECOMMENDS MURDER RAPS VS 10 TMG MEN"
The Commission on Human (CHR) rights Monday recommended the filing of murder charges against 10 members of the Traffic Management Group who were involved in the alleged "overkill" of three carjacking suspects on Nov. 7, 2005 in Ortigas Center, Pasig.
CHR said its findings against Senior Inspectors Henry Cerdon, Hansel Marantan, Samson Belmonte; Police Officers 3 Lloyd Soria and Rizalito Ramos; Police Officers 2 Jesus Fermin, Sonny Robrigado and Dexter Bernadas; and Police Officers 1 Fernando Gapuz and Josel Rey Lucena will be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman this week.
The 10 officers, who are members of Task Force Limbas, have been placed under administrative relief since last year owing to a video footage showing a member of the team firing a gun at the bodies of the slain suspects.
From Philstar:
Murder raps recommended vs cops in Ortigas ‘overkill’
By Katherine Adraneda
The Philippine Star 05/30/2006
Six months after the Ortigas Center shooting incident that left three people dead, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) recommended yesterday the filing of multiple murder charges against 10 members of task force under the Traffic Management Group (TMG).
In a 36-page en banc resolution, the CHR said it found probable cause that there was "arbitrary deprivation of life" committed against suspected carjackers Anton Cu-Unjieng, Francis Xavier Manzano, and Bryan Anthony Dulay by the 10 TMG officers.
Named in the resolution as respondents were Senior Inspectors Hansel Marantan, Henry Cerdon, and Samson Belmonte; Police Officers 3 Lloyd Soria, and Rizalito Ramos Jr., POs2 Dexter Pascua, Jesus Fermin, Sonny Robrigado; and POs1 Fernando Rey Gapuz, and Josil Rey Lucena.
The CHR will submit its resolution and other pertinent documents related to the case to the Office of the Ombudsman for the filing of criminal and administrative cases, in accordance with Republic Act 6770.
The CHR resolution and documents will likewise be endorsed to the National Police Commission (Napolcom), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
According to the CHR, forensic analysis and findings revealed that when the three men were flagged down by the Task Force Limbas operatives, they stopped the car, but were met with gunfire from the state agents, "who acted with criminal intent."
"Hence, the anti-carnapping operations implemented by the police operatives on the evening of Nov. 7, 2005 was feigned, premeditated, and treacherous, thus the killing of the victims by the said state agents qualifies the criminal act as a case of multiple murder," the CHR resolution stated.
The CHR said that actions of the TMG operatives contravened the very rules of engagement of the PNP, noting that the policemen "deliberately did not make any attempt to bring the mortally wounded victims to the nearest hospital."
"Instead, they wilfully and feloniously ensured the death of the victims with the use of excessive and/or lethal force as borne by the second round of gunfire even when the victims were already at the point of death," the CHR resolution stated.
On the gunshot wound sustained by Inspector Belmonte that was supposedly a result of the shooting incident, the CHR deemed it as "self-inflicted and probably accidental."
At around 10 p.m. of Nov. 7, 2005, three alleged members of the Valle Verde Gang were killed during an anti-carjacking operation at the Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
Police intercepted Cu-Unjieng, Manzano, and Dulay, who were on board a Nissan Exalta sedan at the corner of Garnet and Ortigas, following a tip from an informant.
The victims, however, allegedly refused to yield and fired at the pursuing lawmen, who retaliated in "self defense."
However, relatives and human rights group decried the "overkill" based on video footage taken by a television news crew, prompting the CHR investigation.
Meanwhile, TMG director Chief Superintendent Errol Pan insisted that the incident was a result of a legitimate operation despite the findings of the CHR that no shootout took place between officers and the three suspected car thieves.
"We believe that TMG operation was legitimate. They (TMG operatives) are ready to prove that," Pan said in reaction to the CHR findings.
He said that what CHR found was merely probable cause and that TMG personnel can still defend themselves in court when the charges of murder are filed against them.
Pan was not yet chief of the TMG at the time of the shootout. He was appointed months later after another group of TMG operatives nearly killed a businessman whom they mistook for a car thief. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe
From The Manila Times:
Six months after the Ortigas affair, the Commission on Human Rights has at last recommended the filing of multiple-murder charges against the 10 members of Task Force Limbas who allegedly gunned down three men they suspected of being carjackers.
The commission urged the Ombudsman and the National Police Commission to initiate the filing of charges against Police Senior Insp. Hansel Marantan, Senior Insp. Samson Belmonte, Police Officer 3 Lloyd Soria, PO3 Rizalito Ramos Jr., PO2 Dexter Pascua, Senior Insp. Henry Cerdon, PO2 Jesus Fermin, PO2 Sonny Robrigado, PO1 Fernando Rey Gapuz and PO1 Josel Rey Lucena.
The 10 police agents, the commission found, summarily executed inside a rented Nissan Exalta Anton Cu-Unjieng, Francis Xavier Manzano and Bryan Anthony Dulay, reportedly members of the Valle Verde Carnap Gang, on November 7, 2005, at the premises of Garner Street and AIC Gold Tower Building.
‘Feigned, premeditated and treacherous’
In a 35-page decision the commission said it found probable cause to charge the 10 policemen with multiple murder as the police operation was “feigned, premeditated and treacherous.”
“It is evident that when the victims were flagged down by the Task Force Limbas operatives, the victims merely stopped the car, but were suddenly met with gunfire from the state agents herein who acted with criminal intent,” the decision read.
Commission chairman Purificacion Quisumbing said government and state agents should not use excessive force in performing their duties.
“Any excessive and/or arbitrary exercise of authority, as in this case, violates the basic guarantee of a person’s right to life and to due process,” she said.
No shootout
Quisumbing said the forensic expert Raquel Fortun showed that the victims did not fire at the policemen. Therefore, there was no shootout.
“There is no evidence to show that any of the three occupants had fired his gun,” she said.
Quisumbing stressed that the commission did not in any way fail to provide due process to the policemen, who were given opportune time to rebut the charges against them.
She said the 10 policemen refused to appear at the entire proceedings and instead commissioned their lawyer, Jose Tomas Syquia, to attend in their behalf.
“Respondents herein were afforded the opportunity to air their side, but they chose to invoke their constitutional right to remain silent, albeit prematurely,” she said.
From The Daily Tribune
CHR files murder raps vs TMG men on 3 slain carjack ‘suspects’
The Commission on Human Rights appears determined to bring to genuine justice the violators of human rights in the Philippine National Police, specifically those involved in the alleged shootout between the PNP Traffic Management Group (TMG) members and the alleged members of a carjack gang who were slain by the TMG in what it called a shootout last Nov. 7, 2005 in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
The CHR yesterday, submitting its full report on the shootout, recom-mended the filing of multiple murder charges before the Ombudsman against 10 TMG members, namely Senior Inspectors Henry Cerdon, Hansel Marantan, Samson Belmonte; Police Officers 3 Lloyd Soria and Rizalito Ramos; Police Officers 2 Jesus Fermin, Sonny Robrigado and Dexter Bernadas; and Police Officers 1 Fernando Gapuz and Josel Rey Lucena.
The CHR said the charges against the 10 policemen accused of an “overkill” are slated
to be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman this week. The Ombudsman is, however, expected to drag its feet in filing charges against the police.
The 10 police officers, members of Task Force Limbas, were supposed to have been placed under administrative relief since last year, following a video footage showing a member of the team firing a gun at the bodies of the slain suspect, Anton Cu-Unjing, Francis Xavier Manzano and Anthony Brian Dulay, whom the TMG claimed were members of the Valle Verde gang.
Even paid witnesses were said to be brought in by the PNP, to back up the TMG’s version of the three being known carjackers.
The CHR, briefing the media, found that the three suspects were defenseless and could not have engaged in a shoot-out with the police traffic team.
The agency also intimated that the police team members charged with multiple murder, also planted evidence, and made it appear that the “suspects” were armed, with even a gun placed in the right hand of one slain suspect, after the murder. The slain “suspect” was later discovered to be left-handed and couldn’t have held the gun with his right hand.
It was also found, from ballistics tests, that all the shots came from the police, with one definitely coming from the TMG police.
From the 16 spent bullets taken from the vehicle, a Nissan Sentra of the three suspects, only three bullets came from the car.
It will be recalled that the TMG members and their police superiors immediately claimed a shootout with suspected carjackers, unaware that a cameraman took a video footage of the incident.
Still, the police maintained that the video could not be deemed reliable, as the angle of the shots came from a poor vantage point and that the cameraman failed to shoot the entire episode, which the police claimed told a different story.
But even other TV stations had footage after the alleged shootout, showing certain positions of the victims, which cast doubt on the version of the police.
Shortly after a public outcry, the police chiefs said they had placed the TMG members under suspension, following an internal investigation, but less than a week later, the same policemen said to have been under investigation, were back at their posts, with the superiors claiming that theirs was a legitimate operation and that their men should not be punished for doing their duty.
But the CHR also noted that the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (adopted by the Eight UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders, Sept. 7, 1990) provides under the General Provisions, Principles 5 and 7 that: “Whenever the lawful use of force and firearms is unavoidable, law enforcement officials shall:
(a) Exercise restraint in such use and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offense and the legitimate objective to be achieved;
(b) Minimize damage and injury, and respect and preserve human life;
(c) Ensure that assistance and medical aid are rendered to any injured or affected person at the earliest possible moment;
(d) Ensure that relatives or close friends of the injured or affected person are notified at the earliest possible moment. And that governments shall ensure that arbitrary and abusive use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials is punished as a criminal offense under law.”
The CHR report said that these provisions emphasize that the use of force by law enforcement officials should be an exception. While it implies that law enforcement officials may be authorized to use force as reasonably necessary under the circumstances for the prevention of crime or in effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders, no force going beyond that may be used. The use of firearms is considered an extreme measure, hence, the principle of proportionality is to be respected.
“With the foregoing findings, the Commission is strongly convinced that the TMG Task Force Limbas operatives committed human rights violations in breach of Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which the Philippines is a State party, which guarantees that: “Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.”
Friday, May 05, 2006
6 Months
It took a second to kill FX Manzano.
It took seconds for the TMG police to plant damning evidence and warp the scene of the crime.
It took minutes for the TMG police to lie to the media.
It took hours for Angelo Reyes and his team to come up with a medal to give to the TMG police for their fake heroic act.
It took a day to learn about FX's death.
It took two days for the revealing video from UNTV to be broadcast -- turning my shock of losing FX into an undescribable feeling.
It took weeks for the police to carelessly destroy evidence that reveal the real truth of what happened that night.
It took months to investigate the case -- from both the TMG and Human Rights sides.
It's been six months. Investigators know the truth. Why hasn't the truth been revealed? It takes a second to announce the truth and clear FX Manzano's name from the lies accused of him. How long must Filipinos wait to live in a country where justice means justice for life and peace, rather than justice for greed and power?
May 7 -- wear green in your peaceful support to gain justice for FX Manzano.
It took seconds for the TMG police to plant damning evidence and warp the scene of the crime.
It took minutes for the TMG police to lie to the media.
It took hours for Angelo Reyes and his team to come up with a medal to give to the TMG police for their fake heroic act.
It took a day to learn about FX's death.
It took two days for the revealing video from UNTV to be broadcast -- turning my shock of losing FX into an undescribable feeling.
It took weeks for the police to carelessly destroy evidence that reveal the real truth of what happened that night.
It took months to investigate the case -- from both the TMG and Human Rights sides.
It's been six months. Investigators know the truth. Why hasn't the truth been revealed? It takes a second to announce the truth and clear FX Manzano's name from the lies accused of him. How long must Filipinos wait to live in a country where justice means justice for life and peace, rather than justice for greed and power?
May 7 -- wear green in your peaceful support to gain justice for FX Manzano.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Taking Care of Business..... the PNP-way
Guess what happened to Renato Marasigan, the PNP Internal Affairs Service person who indicated that TMG Operate Belmonte was either shot by "friendly fire" or by himself? He was killed last night. Interestingtly enough, he was killed similar to the way FX was killed -- ambushed by assailants "who approached the car on foot. The assailants shot at Marasigan and one even opened the car door to make sure that the police officer was dead, investigators said."
Who are these assailants? According to the police, the assailants were NPA (communist) because it's their anniversary. Um... um... NPA huh? How can they be certain the NPA killed Marasigan so quickly? Is that what their state-of-the-art, super-secret, double-password CSI technology reveals? Must be the same technology they used to determine so quickly the reason why they killed FX.
C'mon, now.... you really believed that?! Leave the gullibility in the toilet and get back to reality. If Marasigan's death was shot on video, the police will say he was a drug dealer. In this case, there's no video, so the police says he was shot by the NPA.
If the "people in power" kill you in the Philippines - they justify this by branding you in the media as an NPA-Communist (remember those Leyte farmers?) or killed by the NPA, a carjacker, a kidnapper, a terrorist, a drug dealer, killed "while trying to escape" or killed because you shot the police first even if you had no guns and even if the bullets that may have hit the police came from the police own gun.
Evidence? Easily planted.
Witnesses? Easily coerced.
Due process of the law? What law? Whose law?
I wonder...
- Of all the PNP in the whole Philippines, why would the NPA target Marasigan, an Internal Affairs personnel who's brave enough to say that Belmonte was not a victim?
- Just because it is their anniversary? Hello?!
Who are these assailants? According to the police, the assailants were NPA (communist) because it's their anniversary. Um... um... NPA huh? How can they be certain the NPA killed Marasigan so quickly? Is that what their state-of-the-art, super-secret, double-password CSI technology reveals? Must be the same technology they used to determine so quickly the reason why they killed FX.
C'mon, now.... you really believed that?! Leave the gullibility in the toilet and get back to reality. If Marasigan's death was shot on video, the police will say he was a drug dealer. In this case, there's no video, so the police says he was shot by the NPA.
If the "people in power" kill you in the Philippines - they justify this by branding you in the media as an NPA-Communist (remember those Leyte farmers?) or killed by the NPA, a carjacker, a kidnapper, a terrorist, a drug dealer, killed "while trying to escape" or killed because you shot the police first even if you had no guns and even if the bullets that may have hit the police came from the police own gun.
Evidence? Easily planted.
Witnesses? Easily coerced.
Due process of the law? What law? Whose law?
I wonder...
- Of all the PNP in the whole Philippines, why would the NPA target Marasigan, an Internal Affairs personnel who's brave enough to say that Belmonte was not a victim?
- Just because it is their anniversary? Hello?!
A POLICE officer assigned to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame was shot dead in an ambush at 10:05 a.m. in Pasig City.
Chief Inspector Renato Marasigan, 53, of the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) was on his way to work when ambushed on E. Jacinto corner J. Jobson Streets in Barangay (village) Malinao, said Pasig police chief Senior Superintendent Romeo Abaring.
Abaring said Marasigan was driving his Pajero when ambushed by four assailants who approached the car on foot. The assailants shot at Marasigan and one even opened the car door to make sure that the police officer was dead, investigators said.
The motive behind the killing has yet to be ascertained, but Eastern Police District Director Charlemagne Alejandrino said they were considering the possible involvement of communist hit men as the New People’s Army was celebrating its founding anniversary the same day Marasigan was killed.
Marasigan was the spokesperson of the IAS team that conducted an investigation into the Nov. 7, 2005 killing of three carjacking suspects in the Ortigas Center by operatives of the Traffic Management Group.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
March, 2006 Update
4 months later, and here's what has happened in the Philippines regarding this case:
Investigation by the Philippine Commission of Human Rights took place. Leaks from their investigation reports that my classmate, FX, was 100% innocent. Their investigation proved that FX was killed in a fetal womb position on the backseat, faced down (which is to be expected of him because he is known to hate/fear guns). His body was positiioned away from where the planted guns were, which clearly challenges the police's false accusations of why they fired yet another bullet to his head at arm's length.
Exactly 4 months after this inhumane incident, the police did it again -- but this time, the victim lives to tell and prove that innocent people are being shot by heavily armed police in the same business area of Manila. His name is Randolf Clarito, a businessman, VP of a pharmaceutical company, driving down the same area where FX was killed. Without any warning from the police, he was shot at multiple times, just the same way the car FX was in experienced. However, this time, he was able to fled the scene and drive straight to the hospital where he beat the police from calling the media.
The media filmed his car immediately and then again after the police investigation. Just like what the police did 4 months ago, they planted stolen license plates on the backseats and other damaging evidence to his case so they can justify that they fired at a carjacker. But unbeknownst to the police, the media had already filmed the car prior to their arrival and showed no evidence of what the police were claiming. Unbeknownst to the police, that "alleged carjacker" was not their typical guy they can package to fit a carjacker.
There is a bit of justice for Mr. Clarito, but only for this case. In the Philippines, if you survive this type of injustice and prove the police and/or government wrong, you and your family risk a life of insecurity. We hope for the safety of the Clarito family.
As far as FX case, we're still waiting for justice.
Investigation by the Philippine Commission of Human Rights took place. Leaks from their investigation reports that my classmate, FX, was 100% innocent. Their investigation proved that FX was killed in a fetal womb position on the backseat, faced down (which is to be expected of him because he is known to hate/fear guns). His body was positiioned away from where the planted guns were, which clearly challenges the police's false accusations of why they fired yet another bullet to his head at arm's length.
Exactly 4 months after this inhumane incident, the police did it again -- but this time, the victim lives to tell and prove that innocent people are being shot by heavily armed police in the same business area of Manila. His name is Randolf Clarito, a businessman, VP of a pharmaceutical company, driving down the same area where FX was killed. Without any warning from the police, he was shot at multiple times, just the same way the car FX was in experienced. However, this time, he was able to fled the scene and drive straight to the hospital where he beat the police from calling the media.
The media filmed his car immediately and then again after the police investigation. Just like what the police did 4 months ago, they planted stolen license plates on the backseats and other damaging evidence to his case so they can justify that they fired at a carjacker. But unbeknownst to the police, the media had already filmed the car prior to their arrival and showed no evidence of what the police were claiming. Unbeknownst to the police, that "alleged carjacker" was not their typical guy they can package to fit a carjacker.
There is a bit of justice for Mr. Clarito, but only for this case. In the Philippines, if you survive this type of injustice and prove the police and/or government wrong, you and your family risk a life of insecurity. We hope for the safety of the Clarito family.
As far as FX case, we're still waiting for justice.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Corrupt Solution for Corrupt Group
Who in the world make decisions for our police?! It looks like their solution to remove corrupt, ignorant cops is to add more juvenile, ignorant, video gamer boys. And to make it easy for them to carry firearms and kill more innocent people, they're qualifications are decreased.
Lower standards, younger police examinees
EFFECTIVE May 28, the National Police Commission will lower the educational and age requirements for applicants to the police force.
Napolcom vice chairman Imelda Roces said the commission will revert back to 72 units the educational requirement for applicants and 18 the age requirement to lure many examinees.
She said civilians with the required college units may take the exams but should finish a four-year college course before he can be deemed qualified for appointment.
At present, the age limit for a police examinee is 28 years old, and he can only be appointed once he reaches 30.
Are you the next TMG victim?
What a week! On the evening of Mar 7, I met up with fellow classmates for dinner. We were all wearing green tops and our green bands. We talked about how it's been 4 months and those corrupt cops are still roaming the streets, possibly harassing more citizens and possibly feeling untouchable since they never had to be accountable for killing FX. We wondered how many other innocent lives have been covered up by leaders like Angcanan, Lomibao and Angelo Reyes. Who would have thought that a similar shooting would take place the following day?!
Randolf Clarito is a very lucky man. Although he was shot at by TMG operatives who mistook him as a carnapper or driving a get-away car, he was able to drive himself to the hospital and release his story before TMG could concoct their cover-up. The TMG saw a cameraman as they were planting something in the businessman's car and retrieved this.
Last November 7, 2005 - these TMG operatives murdered 3 young men on what they claimed was a shoot-out but what videos and witnesses said was a rub-out. They said the 3 were driving a car taken from a woman in Bulacan and they proudly showed the license plate stolen and changed. The truth was that the car was legally rented by Brian Dulay as his car was in the shop. The UNTV video showed the police planting the license plates and other alleged evidence. Angelo Reyes' excuse? They really planned to carnap as they were renting a car.
So why did he say first they carjacked the car from a woman in Bulacan? Then TMG said they had to kill the 3 young men as they shot first at the the police wounding Murderer Belmonte on his leg. The Commission of Human Rights report indicated the 3 young men did not have guns and did not shoot. All the bullets came from the policemen's guns and none from the victims. The photos showed all the car windows were closed. The UNTV video showed the guns were planted. The hospital report showed that Belmonte shot himself or was shot at by his cohorts.
They could have done the same to Randolf Clarito had he died. They may even bring up FALSE WITNESSES to say Clarito was part of the carjacking operations and was driving the get-away car. The police had to quickly justify and say the 3 young men were carnappers and were under surveillance for some time.
The truth as you readers can look up the newspapers is that they did not even know Anton Cu-unjing's name or Francis Manzano's real address. If they were carnappers under surveillance, wouldn't you know their names and real address?! After all, they were not in hiding and went around Metro Manila freely.
PNP, TMG, DILG said they would train their men on following the rules of engagement after the Ortigas incident as people were outraged.
Look what they did to Randolf Clarito - did they follow the rules of engagement? Watch for the Commission of Human Rights report!
Lastly, as I have always said - you may not care for the 3 young men murdered last November 7 but if you allow these same TMG policemen to remain free and not be accountable for their murderous acts, it CAN HAPPEN TO YOU & YOUR LOVED ONES.
Ask Randolf Clarito. I am sure he NEVER thought this could happen to him. But it did -- and, luckily, he lived with his body and his name intact.
Please continue to Pray for Justice for Francis Xavier Manzano! Your prayers have started to be answered. The wheels of justice may grind exceedingly slow for Reyes, Lomibao, Angcanan (who was just sacked), and the 10 TMG operatives but God will ensure it will happen.
If you or someone you know has been shot by the TMG for "alleged carnapping," write me a comment.
Randolf Clarito is a very lucky man. Although he was shot at by TMG operatives who mistook him as a carnapper or driving a get-away car, he was able to drive himself to the hospital and release his story before TMG could concoct their cover-up. The TMG saw a cameraman as they were planting something in the businessman's car and retrieved this.
Last November 7, 2005 - these TMG operatives murdered 3 young men on what they claimed was a shoot-out but what videos and witnesses said was a rub-out. They said the 3 were driving a car taken from a woman in Bulacan and they proudly showed the license plate stolen and changed. The truth was that the car was legally rented by Brian Dulay as his car was in the shop. The UNTV video showed the police planting the license plates and other alleged evidence. Angelo Reyes' excuse? They really planned to carnap as they were renting a car.
So why did he say first they carjacked the car from a woman in Bulacan? Then TMG said they had to kill the 3 young men as they shot first at the the police wounding Murderer Belmonte on his leg. The Commission of Human Rights report indicated the 3 young men did not have guns and did not shoot. All the bullets came from the policemen's guns and none from the victims. The photos showed all the car windows were closed. The UNTV video showed the guns were planted. The hospital report showed that Belmonte shot himself or was shot at by his cohorts.
They could have done the same to Randolf Clarito had he died. They may even bring up FALSE WITNESSES to say Clarito was part of the carjacking operations and was driving the get-away car. The police had to quickly justify and say the 3 young men were carnappers and were under surveillance for some time.
The truth as you readers can look up the newspapers is that they did not even know Anton Cu-unjing's name or Francis Manzano's real address. If they were carnappers under surveillance, wouldn't you know their names and real address?! After all, they were not in hiding and went around Metro Manila freely.
PNP, TMG, DILG said they would train their men on following the rules of engagement after the Ortigas incident as people were outraged.
Look what they did to Randolf Clarito - did they follow the rules of engagement? Watch for the Commission of Human Rights report!
Lastly, as I have always said - you may not care for the 3 young men murdered last November 7 but if you allow these same TMG policemen to remain free and not be accountable for their murderous acts, it CAN HAPPEN TO YOU & YOUR LOVED ONES.
Ask Randolf Clarito. I am sure he NEVER thought this could happen to him. But it did -- and, luckily, he lived with his body and his name intact.
Please continue to Pray for Justice for Francis Xavier Manzano! Your prayers have started to be answered. The wheels of justice may grind exceedingly slow for Reyes, Lomibao, Angcanan (who was just sacked), and the 10 TMG operatives but God will ensure it will happen.
If you or someone you know has been shot by the TMG for "alleged carnapping," write me a comment.
Friday, March 10, 2006
The TMG Striked Again
Thursday, March 9, 2006
Police shoot businessman mistaken as a carjacker RAISSA ROBLES in Manila
Police admitted they shot at and wounded a business executive in Manila yesterday, after mistaking him for a carjacker.
Randolph Clarito, 46, was driving home from the stock exchange when he was fired on with automatic weapons. He found out later his assailants were the police.
"There was this real sniper hitting the back of my car going straight to the driver [seat]. They were really pro," the shaken senior vice-president of pharmaceutical firm NutriPlus told a radio station.
He said his windshield and windows shattered, three tyres were blown out and blood poured from a head wound.
The hospital, however, said he sustained shrapnel wounds in one shoulder and knee.
Police spokesman Samuel Pagdilao said it was "very unfortunate" Mr Clarito was mistaken for carjackers the police were chasing early yesterday. He promised an investigation and admitted police had committed a "mistake of fact" when they mistook the businessman's silver Toyota for a similar model in which the wanted carjackers had fled.
Mr Clarito said he would not settle for an apology, although none was offered. "It's not just sorry. They could be repeating this over and over again."
Anti-crime group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption said it would help the businessman pursue his case against the police. "This thing has been happening again and again. It's high time they pay," chairman Martin Dino said.
Last November, the police claimed they killed three carjackers in a stolen car during a shootout near the stock exchange.
But the slain suspects' families claimed it was an assassination after a video surfaced showing the police doing all the shooting. Each of the three dead men tested negative for powder burns, a sign that they had not fired back at police.
Police shoot businessman mistaken as a carjacker RAISSA ROBLES in Manila
Police admitted they shot at and wounded a business executive in Manila yesterday, after mistaking him for a carjacker.
Randolph Clarito, 46, was driving home from the stock exchange when he was fired on with automatic weapons. He found out later his assailants were the police.
"There was this real sniper hitting the back of my car going straight to the driver [seat]. They were really pro," the shaken senior vice-president of pharmaceutical firm NutriPlus told a radio station.
He said his windshield and windows shattered, three tyres were blown out and blood poured from a head wound.
The hospital, however, said he sustained shrapnel wounds in one shoulder and knee.
Police spokesman Samuel Pagdilao said it was "very unfortunate" Mr Clarito was mistaken for carjackers the police were chasing early yesterday. He promised an investigation and admitted police had committed a "mistake of fact" when they mistook the businessman's silver Toyota for a similar model in which the wanted carjackers had fled.
Mr Clarito said he would not settle for an apology, although none was offered. "It's not just sorry. They could be repeating this over and over again."
Anti-crime group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption said it would help the businessman pursue his case against the police. "This thing has been happening again and again. It's high time they pay," chairman Martin Dino said.
Last November, the police claimed they killed three carjackers in a stolen car during a shootout near the stock exchange.
But the slain suspects' families claimed it was an assassination after a video surfaced showing the police doing all the shooting. Each of the three dead men tested negative for powder burns, a sign that they had not fired back at police.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Thursday, February 16, 2006
"Ortigas shootout results out soon" by The Manila Times
THE Commission on Human Rights on Wednesday set a new schedule “within this week or next week” for the release of its findings on the controversial Ortigas shootout last November.
In a telephone interview, Edgar Diansuy, the commission’s media relations bureau chief, said the agency is still finalizing the resolution on its investigation. “The commission will either release its findings within this week or next week once the resolution is finished. It will contain findings on whether the incident was a shootout or a rubout, as some quarters claim,” he said.
Three suspected carjackers, reportedly members of the notorious Valle Verde gang, were killed in an encounter with members of the Traffic Management Group’s Task Force Limbas on November 7, 2005, at the Ortigas Center.
Once the report on the shootout is out, Diansuy said, the commission will then release its findings on two other cases: The Hacienda Luiista massacre in November 2004 and the takeover of the detention center in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig by imprisoned members of the Abu Sayyaf group in March 2005.
Commission chairman Purificacion Quisumbing in December announced that her agency would disclose the results of its investigation into three high-profile cases: The Hacienda Luisita massacre, the Bicutan siege and the Ortigas shootout.
But the commission failed to do so, even as it was unable to finish its probe on the Ortigas shootout before Christmas.
The commission held its last hearing on January 10.
In a telephone interview, Edgar Diansuy, the commission’s media relations bureau chief, said the agency is still finalizing the resolution on its investigation. “The commission will either release its findings within this week or next week once the resolution is finished. It will contain findings on whether the incident was a shootout or a rubout, as some quarters claim,” he said.
Three suspected carjackers, reportedly members of the notorious Valle Verde gang, were killed in an encounter with members of the Traffic Management Group’s Task Force Limbas on November 7, 2005, at the Ortigas Center.
Once the report on the shootout is out, Diansuy said, the commission will then release its findings on two other cases: The Hacienda Luiista massacre in November 2004 and the takeover of the detention center in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig by imprisoned members of the Abu Sayyaf group in March 2005.
Commission chairman Purificacion Quisumbing in December announced that her agency would disclose the results of its investigation into three high-profile cases: The Hacienda Luisita massacre, the Bicutan siege and the Ortigas shootout.
But the commission failed to do so, even as it was unable to finish its probe on the Ortigas shootout before Christmas.
The commission held its last hearing on January 10.
Monday, February 13, 2006
14 Weeks & Counting
It's been exactly 14 weeks (98 days) since FX was shot by those savage Philippine policemen. It's been quiet in the news and after meeting up with some of my classmates this past weekend, no one has any news of whether justice will be served in this case. Word is justice will be served in 2 weeks, but that same saying has been said every 2 weeks for the past few weeks.
Nevertheless, I and the many classmates, friends, family, Filipinos and non-Filipinos continue to pray and hope. 14 weeks... and I still continue to receive numerous e-mails of support from amazing strangers who follow this blog. 14 weeks... and I've come to learn that Angelo Reyes, Augusto Angcanan, Joseph Orsos and those 10 TMG must never be trusted. 14 weeks... and justice for FX has not been served. 14 weeks... and we continue with our lives, but continue to miss FX.
By the way, in case you need to be reminded, here are the name of those 10 TMG corrupt officers:
- Henry Cerdon ("suspected" murderer)
- Hansel Marantan ("suspected" murderer)
- Samson Belmonte ("suspected" murderer - Here's your medal for murdering innocent civilians.")
- Lloyd Soria ("suspected" murderer)
- Rizalito Ramos ("suspected" murderer)
- Dexter Bernadas ("suspected" murderer)
- Jesus Fermin ("suspected" murderer)
- Sonny Robrigado ("suspected" murderer)
- Fernando Gapuz ("suspected" murderer)
- Josel Rey Lucena ("suspected" murderer)
Nevertheless, I and the many classmates, friends, family, Filipinos and non-Filipinos continue to pray and hope. 14 weeks... and I still continue to receive numerous e-mails of support from amazing strangers who follow this blog. 14 weeks... and I've come to learn that Angelo Reyes, Augusto Angcanan, Joseph Orsos and those 10 TMG must never be trusted. 14 weeks... and justice for FX has not been served. 14 weeks... and we continue with our lives, but continue to miss FX.
By the way, in case you need to be reminded, here are the name of those 10 TMG corrupt officers:
- Henry Cerdon ("suspected" murderer)
- Hansel Marantan ("suspected" murderer)
- Samson Belmonte ("suspected" murderer - Here's your medal for murdering innocent civilians.")
- Lloyd Soria ("suspected" murderer)
- Rizalito Ramos ("suspected" murderer)
- Dexter Bernadas ("suspected" murderer)
- Jesus Fermin ("suspected" murderer)
- Sonny Robrigado ("suspected" murderer)
- Fernando Gapuz ("suspected" murderer)
- Josel Rey Lucena ("suspected" murderer)
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Cops in shootout will be invited
Just in from Manila Times...
"Cops in shootout will be invited"
By Jeannette I. Andrade, Reporter
THE Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service on Friday denied a motion of the Traffic Management Group to prevent its members involved in a controversial Pasig City shootout last year from appearing before a committee reviewing the case.
Internal Affairs Inspector General Alexis Canonizado denied the plea of Senior Insps. Henry Cerdon, Hansel Marantan, Samson Belmonte, Police Offers
3 Lloyd Soria and Rizalito Ramos; Police Officer 2 Jesus Fermin, Sonny Robrigado and Dexter Bernadas; and Police Officer 1 Fernando Gapuz and Josel Rey Lucena.
The members of the traffic group’s Task Force Limbas had asked for the internal affairs ad hoc committee, headed by Senior Supt. Joselito Casugbo, to stop its investigation into the Pasig City shootout on November 7, where three suspected carjackers were killed.
Senior Insp. Renator Marasigan and the lawyer Neopolito Perilla are the other committee members.
Some quarters have claimed that the encounter between the task force and the suspects—Anthony Brian Dulay, Anton Cu-Unjing and Francis Xavier Manzano—on Ortigas Avenue and Garnet Street was a “rubout.”
The traffic police reportedly spotted the suspects’ Nissan Exalta, and chased them when they refused to stop.
The suspects reportedly fired at the police, injuring Senior Insp. Belmonte below the right kneecap, prompting the police to fire back.
But a private television company—UN-TV—aired video footage of the encounter the next day that apparently showed the government men violating the rules of engagement.
Canonizado disclosed that records of the case were sent to the Ombudsman, which requested them.
He added that the committee has yet to submit the results of the investigation.
“The resolution is still being prepared by the panel in the light of recent developments,” said Canonizado, who declined to elaborate what the “recent developments” were.
Rep. Rufino Biazon of Muntinlupa has also requested for a copy of the panel’
s findings, he said.
"Cops in shootout will be invited"
By Jeannette I. Andrade, Reporter
THE Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service on Friday denied a motion of the Traffic Management Group to prevent its members involved in a controversial Pasig City shootout last year from appearing before a committee reviewing the case.
Internal Affairs Inspector General Alexis Canonizado denied the plea of Senior Insps. Henry Cerdon, Hansel Marantan, Samson Belmonte, Police Offers
3 Lloyd Soria and Rizalito Ramos; Police Officer 2 Jesus Fermin, Sonny Robrigado and Dexter Bernadas; and Police Officer 1 Fernando Gapuz and Josel Rey Lucena.
The members of the traffic group’s Task Force Limbas had asked for the internal affairs ad hoc committee, headed by Senior Supt. Joselito Casugbo, to stop its investigation into the Pasig City shootout on November 7, where three suspected carjackers were killed.
Senior Insp. Renator Marasigan and the lawyer Neopolito Perilla are the other committee members.
Some quarters have claimed that the encounter between the task force and the suspects—Anthony Brian Dulay, Anton Cu-Unjing and Francis Xavier Manzano—on Ortigas Avenue and Garnet Street was a “rubout.”
The traffic police reportedly spotted the suspects’ Nissan Exalta, and chased them when they refused to stop.
The suspects reportedly fired at the police, injuring Senior Insp. Belmonte below the right kneecap, prompting the police to fire back.
But a private television company—UN-TV—aired video footage of the encounter the next day that apparently showed the government men violating the rules of engagement.
Canonizado disclosed that records of the case were sent to the Ombudsman, which requested them.
He added that the committee has yet to submit the results of the investigation.
“The resolution is still being prepared by the panel in the light of recent developments,” said Canonizado, who declined to elaborate what the “recent developments” were.
Rep. Rufino Biazon of Muntinlupa has also requested for a copy of the panel’
s findings, he said.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Karma & Hypocrites
If you're watching, reading or listening to Filipino news, you will, by now, know that news reports are beginning to surface that the investigation done by both the Philippine Internal Affairs Service and the Commission of Human Rights reveal the police have been lying to every one of us about this case. (It's not news to those of us who know FX and to others with enough intelligence to realize the truth.)
I just finished reading the 2 articles online from Inq7.net and Manila Standard about the reports. I found a couple of interesting issues I want to point out:
a) Will the media "quit" referring to FX as a carnapper or a carjacker?! If you're going to report or reveal the truth about the police (that they're liars), then be truthful about how you refer to Francis Manzano (that he's not a carnapper).
b) I found this comment by Chief Inspector Joseph Orsos, PNP Traffic Management Group spokesman, to be soooo hypocritical of the police: "I think it’s proper that they (CHR) should inform first the affected parties and not immediately announce that to the media." HELLOOOOOOOO!!! Guess who informed the media about FX's death first? The police. In fact, the family didn't even know about FX's death until almost 12 hours later... maybe more.
c) Let's continue to hope and pray for justice. Hopefully, the truthful facts revealed on this case, our desire for justice to exist in this country (despite extravagant efforts by the corrupt and ignorant individuals abusing their power), and the brave efforts that the readers of this blog give in sharing this site with others can continue to give us the courage to stand up for our rights and speak. This is one case. We will all find ourselves in another case where truth and justice will be our only hope. Know that whatever we do in this case can help future cases we, our family, our friends, our neighbors, or classmates may (unfortunately) go through.
I just finished reading the 2 articles online from Inq7.net and Manila Standard about the reports. I found a couple of interesting issues I want to point out:
a) Will the media "quit" referring to FX as a carnapper or a carjacker?! If you're going to report or reveal the truth about the police (that they're liars), then be truthful about how you refer to Francis Manzano (that he's not a carnapper).
b) I found this comment by Chief Inspector Joseph Orsos, PNP Traffic Management Group spokesman, to be soooo hypocritical of the police: "I think it’s proper that they (CHR) should inform first the affected parties and not immediately announce that to the media." HELLOOOOOOOO!!! Guess who informed the media about FX's death first? The police. In fact, the family didn't even know about FX's death until almost 12 hours later... maybe more.
c) Let's continue to hope and pray for justice. Hopefully, the truthful facts revealed on this case, our desire for justice to exist in this country (despite extravagant efforts by the corrupt and ignorant individuals abusing their power), and the brave efforts that the readers of this blog give in sharing this site with others can continue to give us the courage to stand up for our rights and speak. This is one case. We will all find ourselves in another case where truth and justice will be our only hope. Know that whatever we do in this case can help future cases we, our family, our friends, our neighbors, or classmates may (unfortunately) go through.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
LATEST ABS-CBN NEWS REPORT CONFIRMS MURDER not SHOOT OUT
The January 11, 2006 ABS-CBN News report just confirms what we have always said from the beginning that the TMG Operatives murdered my friend and his companions last November 7. Their superiors covered it up by saying the victims fired first hitting Murderer Belmonte and that the victims were all carnappers with guns and license plates. (A video came out showing the police murdering the young men and planting the guns and the license plates.) ABS CBN said this was not a shoot-out but a rub-out. The victims never fired at the policemen but the policemen entered the car and shot them at the back of their heads close range. Murderer Belmonte was not shot by any of the victims but by his own gun or by one of his companion's gun. The bullet shells all came from the policemen's guns. It also brought to my mind what one of the bloggers said about his uncle in Camp Crame saying this same thing last November 8. That comment was right on!
The Commission of Human Rights will release their findings in a few weeks.
The Commission of Human Rights will release their findings in a few weeks.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Reminder: Wear green this Saturday
We're almost on our 2-months mark. I'm not sure of the status of FX's investigation. My apologies to my readers for the lack of update through the holiday period. My classmates and I talk about this case, but no one's quite sure where it is... so there's not much to report. We just all continue to pray for justice.
This weekend marks the second month of FX's death. I just want to remind you to wear green (or a green armband) to support our quest for justice on Jan 7. When you see someone on the street wearing green, you'll know that they, too, are in support for justice.
In the last 2 months, the untruthful police accusations about FX are slowly being proven wrong by facts. For one, under the police's own investigation, they've concluded that the shot that officer Belmonte received on his leg came as a friendly fire from either his own gun or someone from inside the police vehicle. Therefore, Belmonte and his coward colleagues lied; Angcanan and Reyes lied; and the media group who proclaimed that Belmonte was shot by FX, Anton or Brian lied. To those who say that FX, Anton or Brian shot the cop, please re-read paragraph and realize this truth!
Here's wishing for a positive and fair 2006!
This weekend marks the second month of FX's death. I just want to remind you to wear green (or a green armband) to support our quest for justice on Jan 7. When you see someone on the street wearing green, you'll know that they, too, are in support for justice.
In the last 2 months, the untruthful police accusations about FX are slowly being proven wrong by facts. For one, under the police's own investigation, they've concluded that the shot that officer Belmonte received on his leg came as a friendly fire from either his own gun or someone from inside the police vehicle. Therefore, Belmonte and his coward colleagues lied; Angcanan and Reyes lied; and the media group who proclaimed that Belmonte was shot by FX, Anton or Brian lied. To those who say that FX, Anton or Brian shot the cop, please re-read paragraph and realize this truth!
Here's wishing for a positive and fair 2006!
Monday, January 02, 2006
No News Is NOT Good News
There is no news from the Commission of Human Rights on their findings regarding the murder of my friend, Francis Xavier Manzano, although initially they indicated they will have their verdict by mid-December. The non-appearance of the 10 TMG operatives apparently delayed their findings.
Meanwhile, the news everyday during this holiday season continuously confirms that it is common in the Philippines:
a) for the police to kill anyone BLATANTLY, BRUTALLY, WITHOUT CONSCIENCE who have exposed their corruption or who they fear will expose their corruption
b) for police to plant evidence to charge people who go against them
c) for most top police and top government officials to pretend to undertake an investigation to and cover-up
d)eventually for the public who is used and numbed by these to forget the atrocities as they are focused on new killings
See this latest news of the judge who ruled against the govt on the PIATCO case and was killed:
"A police officer will be summoned by investigators for questioning in connection with the murder of Pasay City Judge Henrick Gingoyon in Cavite last Saturday, Southern Tagalog police director Chief Superintendent Jesus Versoza said yesterday. Versoza told Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao that investigators were focusing on reports that the police officer might have been involved in the fatal ambush of Gingoyon in Bacoor, Cavite.
Versoza withheld from reporters the name of the police officer. Lomibao created a task force led by Versoza to coordinate efforts in tracking down the killers. Gingoyon was gunned down by two men riding on a motorcycle in Soldiers Hill in Barangay Molino, Bacoor last Saturday afternoon.
Gingoyon was the judge who ordered the government to pay P3 billion to Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The government wants to take over NAIA-3, which has not been used since its completion about two years ago.
Earlier this year, Gingoyon had dismissed a drug case filed by the police officer after concluding that the evidence had been "planted."
Earlier this year, his house had been shot at and he had sought help, suspecting that a chief of police in one of the towns of Cavite was behind the shootings. The shooting occurred about a week after Gingoyon had objected to the promotion of the police chief. Gingoyon had also objected to an award given to the police officer, saying that he routinely engaged in "planting" evidence to justify his arrests.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil said Versoza has been tasked by the PNP chief to make a progress report of the investigation.
Bataoil, however, refused to elaborate on the progress of the case but pointed out Verzosa and his investigators are focusing on the controversial drug cases handled by Gingoyon in Pasay and Paranaque cities and in Bacoor, Cavite.
According to Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., the killing of Gingoyon will be a setback for the operation of the NAIA-3.
"The net effect of the murder would cause a setback in the opening of the NAIA-3 facility. The new judge will have to restudy the issue of the case and obviously it will take (longer) for the facility to be opened to the people," Pimentel said.
Pimentel, on the other hand, called on his colleagues in the Senate to help out determine the real motive in the murder.
Lawyers’ groups also condemned the killing of Gingoyon. The Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (Codal) said the killing of Gingoyon indicates the continued harassment of the legal profession. Codal also pointed out Gingoyon was a former counsel of the militant groups Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).
"Judge Gingoyon’s controversial decisions as a judge or his previous involvement as counsel of Bayan and KMU does not justify his killing," Codal said.
Members of the legal profession... must not be attacked for the practice of their profession or political beliefs. The attacks against lawyers and judges are attacks against the legal profession and civil liberties," the group said in a statement.
Codal called on the government to "move swiftly and decisively to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of these acts."
Another group called Equal Justice for All (E-Just) led by lawyer Leonard de Vera compared the killing of Gingoyon to those of journalists slain in the line of duty.
"Democracy has no meaning when journalists who expose the truth, lawyers who present the evidence and judges who pronounce the judgments are killed like dogs," the group said. E-Just also decried what they claimed was an apparent inaction of the law enforcement agencies to solve high profile murders in the past years.
"Our leaders condemn with words the assassinations but the killings go on and on. Soon our democracy itself will become endangered specie. One wonders if our government exists to protect our lives," De Vera said. -With Paolo Romero, Christina Mendez, Michael Punongbayan
Meanwhile, the news everyday during this holiday season continuously confirms that it is common in the Philippines:
a) for the police to kill anyone BLATANTLY, BRUTALLY, WITHOUT CONSCIENCE who have exposed their corruption or who they fear will expose their corruption
b) for police to plant evidence to charge people who go against them
c) for most top police and top government officials to pretend to undertake an investigation to and cover-up
d)eventually for the public who is used and numbed by these to forget the atrocities as they are focused on new killings
See this latest news of the judge who ruled against the govt on the PIATCO case and was killed:
"A police officer will be summoned by investigators for questioning in connection with the murder of Pasay City Judge Henrick Gingoyon in Cavite last Saturday, Southern Tagalog police director Chief Superintendent Jesus Versoza said yesterday. Versoza told Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao that investigators were focusing on reports that the police officer might have been involved in the fatal ambush of Gingoyon in Bacoor, Cavite.
Versoza withheld from reporters the name of the police officer. Lomibao created a task force led by Versoza to coordinate efforts in tracking down the killers. Gingoyon was gunned down by two men riding on a motorcycle in Soldiers Hill in Barangay Molino, Bacoor last Saturday afternoon.
Gingoyon was the judge who ordered the government to pay P3 billion to Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The government wants to take over NAIA-3, which has not been used since its completion about two years ago.
Earlier this year, Gingoyon had dismissed a drug case filed by the police officer after concluding that the evidence had been "planted."
Earlier this year, his house had been shot at and he had sought help, suspecting that a chief of police in one of the towns of Cavite was behind the shootings. The shooting occurred about a week after Gingoyon had objected to the promotion of the police chief. Gingoyon had also objected to an award given to the police officer, saying that he routinely engaged in "planting" evidence to justify his arrests.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil said Versoza has been tasked by the PNP chief to make a progress report of the investigation.
Bataoil, however, refused to elaborate on the progress of the case but pointed out Verzosa and his investigators are focusing on the controversial drug cases handled by Gingoyon in Pasay and Paranaque cities and in Bacoor, Cavite.
According to Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., the killing of Gingoyon will be a setback for the operation of the NAIA-3.
"The net effect of the murder would cause a setback in the opening of the NAIA-3 facility. The new judge will have to restudy the issue of the case and obviously it will take (longer) for the facility to be opened to the people," Pimentel said.
Pimentel, on the other hand, called on his colleagues in the Senate to help out determine the real motive in the murder.
Lawyers’ groups also condemned the killing of Gingoyon. The Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (Codal) said the killing of Gingoyon indicates the continued harassment of the legal profession. Codal also pointed out Gingoyon was a former counsel of the militant groups Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).
"Judge Gingoyon’s controversial decisions as a judge or his previous involvement as counsel of Bayan and KMU does not justify his killing," Codal said.
Members of the legal profession... must not be attacked for the practice of their profession or political beliefs. The attacks against lawyers and judges are attacks against the legal profession and civil liberties," the group said in a statement.
Codal called on the government to "move swiftly and decisively to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of these acts."
Another group called Equal Justice for All (E-Just) led by lawyer Leonard de Vera compared the killing of Gingoyon to those of journalists slain in the line of duty.
"Democracy has no meaning when journalists who expose the truth, lawyers who present the evidence and judges who pronounce the judgments are killed like dogs," the group said. E-Just also decried what they claimed was an apparent inaction of the law enforcement agencies to solve high profile murders in the past years.
"Our leaders condemn with words the assassinations but the killings go on and on. Soon our democracy itself will become endangered specie. One wonders if our government exists to protect our lives," De Vera said. -With Paolo Romero, Christina Mendez, Michael Punongbayan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)