Disturbing figures coming from drug enforcement agencies: 9 million drug addicts, ninety percent between the ages of 16 years old and 30. Another report this time from an intelligence unit of the government revealed that the usual profile of Filipino drug users are those belonging to the 14-25 age group. Imagine, very young men and women engaging in a vicious habit that threatens their very futures.
An ABS-CBN report by Korina Sanchez tonight showed that drug peddling in schools and universities is as frenetic an activity as enrolment. Drug agents have identified Centro Escolar University (CEU) and San Beda College (SBC) as two of at least a dozen other universities and colleges whose students are buying and selling illegal drugs. Teenagers buy and sell illegal drugs just like they swap or load their cellphones. Known teen hangout bars like Embassy and Warehouse in Makati were also identified. These shows you a totally drug-crazed landscape. We seem to have reverted back to the heady days of hippie counter-culture where drug use is one habit that's sure hard to break.
What has happened to our youth? Is this worsening drug situation just an aberration or its a really, and truly serious problem that needs drastic measures? Some groups are calling for a re-institution of the death penalty. But, is this really the solution we need?
What's wrong with the Filipino youth of today? Why is the Youth seemingly misdirected? Are we seeing the obvious social effects of neglect by many parents who are too busy earning money abroad? What's the core of this social malaise?
Who's to blame for this societal mess? Is it the church? Is it the parents? Is it government? Who in our society should we blame for this? Or this is the way the Youth is expressing their anger against the dysfunctionalism they're experiencing?
Lives, families and futures are being destroyed. The Filipino Family is being destroyed. The Youth is being victimized. Directionless, the Youth is indulging in dangerous passions that threatens their future. We, all of us, are victims here. These young ones will be our leaders, entrepreneurs and workers in a few years time.
Showing posts with label alabang boys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alabang boys. Show all posts
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Alabang Boys case---high-class sona?
Embassy, that very controversial bar for the rich and famous at the Fort, was again in the limelight. PDEA Head General Santiago mentioned Embassy during the House Committee on Drugs as the alleged place where drug dealing reportedly happened among socialites. Santiago said that ecstacy tablets exchanged hands inside the dark and shadowy corners of the bar.
Question---if this is true, then, why is it that Embassy continues to operate? If Embassy is really a drug haven, as what PDEA is saying, why is it that it continues to operate up to this day? If PDEA insinuates that "Ecstacy" is quite synonymous with "Embassy", then why is it that PDEA and even the Taguig City government fail to even arrest just one confirmed drug peddler there? General Santiago, if you have proof sir, then, make these arrest happen and not give those sweeping statements about an establishment.
Having said that, let me pose a question to PDEA---ARE YOU DOING THIS NOW BECAUSE YOU ARE CONDUCTING A HIGH-CLASS SONA? For those who don't know what "sona" is, it is a police operation where they cased a particular place, arrest everybody and herd them to the police station for verification.
It seems that the PDEA and the entire government is doing this to:
1. Send a chilling effect to all scions of politicians, media personalities, showbiz personalities and businessmen that they are now fair game. That everybody involved in drug use should stop now or face the ignominy of arrest.
2. Test how the public will react if widespread arrest of "certain personalities" occur in exclusive villages and subdivisions. It seems that government plan to mold the PDEA as a version of Macoy's dreaded MIG-7. Remember that during Macoy's time, there's this agency headed by former Col. Abadilla. It's an intelligence unit tasked by the strongman to arrest dissidents and known criminal characters of that age.
Question--is this the real intention behind PDEA's "coming out in the open". Ask yourself--why is PDEA even willing to dissolve itself? Maybe in preparation for its assumption of a bigger enforcement role? Something like what Abadilla did for Marcos?
Another question--if this is true, then, could it be that the Arroyo regime is now preparing for a longer administration, since it has now created a unit that would use the issue of illegal drugs to arrest, prosecute and detain even known enemies of the state? What's their first target? Korina's report last night already told us the State's next targets: scions of politicians, media personalities, showbiz and high society/socialites.
Last question---is it possible that this Arroyo regime would use the PDEA to prosecute known high society enemies all in the name of illegal drugs? That PDEA is just using this Alabang boys case as a psywar operation to hide its new role under this regime--Arroyo's own dreaded MIG.
Question---if this is true, then, why is it that Embassy continues to operate? If Embassy is really a drug haven, as what PDEA is saying, why is it that it continues to operate up to this day? If PDEA insinuates that "Ecstacy" is quite synonymous with "Embassy", then why is it that PDEA and even the Taguig City government fail to even arrest just one confirmed drug peddler there? General Santiago, if you have proof sir, then, make these arrest happen and not give those sweeping statements about an establishment.
Having said that, let me pose a question to PDEA---ARE YOU DOING THIS NOW BECAUSE YOU ARE CONDUCTING A HIGH-CLASS SONA? For those who don't know what "sona" is, it is a police operation where they cased a particular place, arrest everybody and herd them to the police station for verification.
It seems that the PDEA and the entire government is doing this to:
1. Send a chilling effect to all scions of politicians, media personalities, showbiz personalities and businessmen that they are now fair game. That everybody involved in drug use should stop now or face the ignominy of arrest.
2. Test how the public will react if widespread arrest of "certain personalities" occur in exclusive villages and subdivisions. It seems that government plan to mold the PDEA as a version of Macoy's dreaded MIG-7. Remember that during Macoy's time, there's this agency headed by former Col. Abadilla. It's an intelligence unit tasked by the strongman to arrest dissidents and known criminal characters of that age.
Question--is this the real intention behind PDEA's "coming out in the open". Ask yourself--why is PDEA even willing to dissolve itself? Maybe in preparation for its assumption of a bigger enforcement role? Something like what Abadilla did for Marcos?
Another question--if this is true, then, could it be that the Arroyo regime is now preparing for a longer administration, since it has now created a unit that would use the issue of illegal drugs to arrest, prosecute and detain even known enemies of the state? What's their first target? Korina's report last night already told us the State's next targets: scions of politicians, media personalities, showbiz and high society/socialites.
Last question---is it possible that this Arroyo regime would use the PDEA to prosecute known high society enemies all in the name of illegal drugs? That PDEA is just using this Alabang boys case as a psywar operation to hide its new role under this regime--Arroyo's own dreaded MIG.
Dave Brodett spilled the beans against Alabang Boy
Celebrated basketballer Dave Brodett, who's now in the golf business, was in tears when he faced the House Committee on Drugs yesterday. Along with his wife Marissa and two adult kids, he blamed his sister in law, Myra Brodett, the mother of drug suspect Richard Brodett, for tolerating the alleged illegal acts of her kid. In an emotionally charged appeal, Dave asked for the public's understanding. He said that he came before the Committee on his own volition. He was not coerced nor pressured by PDEA.
He came out because he loved his father---the elder Brodett, who built the family name and brought honor to it. Now, Dave said, the same surname which he has carried proudly, is now being tarnished by the acts of his nephew. Dave went there to regain his family's honor.
As a parent myself, I felt the pain of Dave Brodett. It's hard really to go anywhere carrying that baggage of being tagged as a relative of an alleged "high-society drug pusher". Yet, some things had to be done. Maybe Dave thought that this is the right time to go out in the open and expose the nefarious activities of his nephew. Come clean, maybe he thought. At least that would put his family out of this heat for the meantime.
And I don't believe that obvious PR slant that Dave Brodett was just motivated by anger against his own brother Butch Brodett and his anger against his nephew, Richard Brodett. Atty. Verano, counsel of the accused, said that the family of Dave had a spat, a "family feud", against the family of his brother.
Probably, there was really a feud between the two families. Why? Dave provided the answer. Because allegedly his sister-in-law, Myra Brodett, tolerated the drug use and illegal peddling of his son simply because she, herself, is a drug addict. Worst, Anton Brodett, his son, was once lured into drug addiction by his cousin, Richard Brodett.
Is that a legitimate cause to feud with your sister-in-law? Obviously yes. When you see your kid being dragged into drugs by his cousin and you see your sister-in-law even tolerating it, would you not seethe in anger as well?
He came out because he loved his father---the elder Brodett, who built the family name and brought honor to it. Now, Dave said, the same surname which he has carried proudly, is now being tarnished by the acts of his nephew. Dave went there to regain his family's honor.
As a parent myself, I felt the pain of Dave Brodett. It's hard really to go anywhere carrying that baggage of being tagged as a relative of an alleged "high-society drug pusher". Yet, some things had to be done. Maybe Dave thought that this is the right time to go out in the open and expose the nefarious activities of his nephew. Come clean, maybe he thought. At least that would put his family out of this heat for the meantime.
And I don't believe that obvious PR slant that Dave Brodett was just motivated by anger against his own brother Butch Brodett and his anger against his nephew, Richard Brodett. Atty. Verano, counsel of the accused, said that the family of Dave had a spat, a "family feud", against the family of his brother.
Probably, there was really a feud between the two families. Why? Dave provided the answer. Because allegedly his sister-in-law, Myra Brodett, tolerated the drug use and illegal peddling of his son simply because she, herself, is a drug addict. Worst, Anton Brodett, his son, was once lured into drug addiction by his cousin, Richard Brodett.
Is that a legitimate cause to feud with your sister-in-law? Obviously yes. When you see your kid being dragged into drugs by his cousin and you see your sister-in-law even tolerating it, would you not seethe in anger as well?
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Double standards in the blogosphere re: Alabang Druggie Men?
ARE WE INSTITUTING DOUBLE STANDARDS IN THE BLOGOSPHERE? I'm addressing this question to the politically-aware and sensitive bloggers of my age. I noticed that we talked a lot about the golf melee, which to me, is just an away bata. But, we dein talk about this more serious issue of the Alabang Druggie Boys. Why? Because we know some or most of them? Why? Because, at this one, Gloria Arroyo and her men did an obviously honorable thing?
DJB, a colleague of mine over at FilipinoVoices.com says that I must reserve my salute to Gloria. Why would I, when I saw how she acted in this case. She did'nt use her powers to give a favor to a friend, Philip Brodett. There are reports that the Brodetts and the Tecsons reportedly called up so many friends in Malacanang, including very very close advisers of Arroyo. In the end, Gloria did the right thing--let them rot in jail! If the courts prove these boys guilty, then, let them hang. They are not teenagers. They are adults. They know what they are doing. And definitely, they know the punishment of such evil and horrendous acts. If the law says they should hang, let Gloria hang them! But if the Courts prove that they're innocent, then, let them be given their freedom. I'll even be the first one who will heap praises to them and will damn to hell government for putting them thru all of these ordeal.
The point is--let us in the blogosphere see things objectively. Let's praise where praise is worthy to be given and let us damn those whose acts are really worthy of damnation.
Again, I commend Gloria for supporting the PDEA in their decision not to release these so-called Alabang Boys, err, Alabang ADULTS. Bulbulin na itong mga ito, yet they are being called "boys"?
Also, I NOTICE THE OBVIOUS PUBLIC RELATIONS STUNT BEING DONE OVER THE BLOGOSPHERE AND EVEN IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA RIGHT NOW, PORTRAYING THESE DRUG PUSHERS OF ALABANG AS ACADEMICALLY BRILLIANT KIDS! HAHAHA! THIS IS THE MOST STUPID AND THE MOST LAUGHABLE THING I HAVE EVER READ IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! WORST, A UP STUDENT ALLEGEDLY WROTE THIS LIE OVER AT FILIPINOVOICES!
WHO WOULD BELIEVE SUCH A LIE? SOME OF MY FRIENDS KNOW THESE ALABANG DRUGLORDS AND THEY ARE FAR FROM BEING ACADEMICALLY EXCELLENT! IN FACT, HOW MANY SANCTIONS DID THEY RECEIVE FROM THEIR SCHOOLS? A LOT!
AND TO MAJOR MARCELINO, I ALREADY FORMED A MAJOR MARCELINO BRIGADE! For those who want to join this brigade, just send me an email confirming your membership thru mangubat.patricio@gmail.com
DJB, a colleague of mine over at FilipinoVoices.com says that I must reserve my salute to Gloria. Why would I, when I saw how she acted in this case. She did'nt use her powers to give a favor to a friend, Philip Brodett. There are reports that the Brodetts and the Tecsons reportedly called up so many friends in Malacanang, including very very close advisers of Arroyo. In the end, Gloria did the right thing--let them rot in jail! If the courts prove these boys guilty, then, let them hang. They are not teenagers. They are adults. They know what they are doing. And definitely, they know the punishment of such evil and horrendous acts. If the law says they should hang, let Gloria hang them! But if the Courts prove that they're innocent, then, let them be given their freedom. I'll even be the first one who will heap praises to them and will damn to hell government for putting them thru all of these ordeal.
The point is--let us in the blogosphere see things objectively. Let's praise where praise is worthy to be given and let us damn those whose acts are really worthy of damnation.
Again, I commend Gloria for supporting the PDEA in their decision not to release these so-called Alabang Boys, err, Alabang ADULTS. Bulbulin na itong mga ito, yet they are being called "boys"?
Also, I NOTICE THE OBVIOUS PUBLIC RELATIONS STUNT BEING DONE OVER THE BLOGOSPHERE AND EVEN IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA RIGHT NOW, PORTRAYING THESE DRUG PUSHERS OF ALABANG AS ACADEMICALLY BRILLIANT KIDS! HAHAHA! THIS IS THE MOST STUPID AND THE MOST LAUGHABLE THING I HAVE EVER READ IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! WORST, A UP STUDENT ALLEGEDLY WROTE THIS LIE OVER AT FILIPINOVOICES!
WHO WOULD BELIEVE SUCH A LIE? SOME OF MY FRIENDS KNOW THESE ALABANG DRUGLORDS AND THEY ARE FAR FROM BEING ACADEMICALLY EXCELLENT! IN FACT, HOW MANY SANCTIONS DID THEY RECEIVE FROM THEIR SCHOOLS? A LOT!
AND TO MAJOR MARCELINO, I ALREADY FORMED A MAJOR MARCELINO BRIGADE! For those who want to join this brigade, just send me an email confirming your membership thru mangubat.patricio@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Alabang Drug Lords--too hot to handle?
(I first wrote this over at http://www.filipinovoices.com/
In the widely televised House Committee on Drugs hearing today, three things were established. First, the PDEA led by the courageous Marine Mayor Ferdinand Marcelino conducted the Ayala Alabang buy-bust operation according to plan. They conducted a pre-arrest investigation. They cased the suspects. Eventually, they were able to entrap them thru a buy-bust operation.
Based on the report, Richard Brodett, son of popular golf icon, "Butch" Brodett was the head of the group composed of Joseph Ramirez Tecson and Jorge Jordana, son of Johnny "Midnight" Joseph Jordana. When these drug pushers were interrogated, PDEA found how Brodett got his illegal drugs from abroad. They followed procedures.
Surprisingly though, the prosecutors who handled the case, Senior State Prosecutor Philip Kimpo and the one who penned the resolution, ProsecutorJoseph Resado did not see it that way, and it was affirmed by Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno who even defended the DOJ position before the media. (Previous to this celebrated case, there were reportedly some cases involving Zuno. One of the reasons reportedly given why Zuno was not chosen for the Associate Justice post is allegations of reported bribery. However, Zuno, I think, is not that gullible.)
By the way, the ponente , Prosecutor Resado, admitted having been a student of the Alabang boy's lead counsel, Atty. Felisberto Verano Jr. who is now under water for allegedly trying to wiesel his way out of a rejection to release his clients by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales.
Atty. Verano, incidentally, is a fraternity brother of DOJ Undersecretary Ric Blancaflor, whose name was dragged into this case after allegedly calling up Major Marcelino of PDEA for a followup.Their fraternity is the Order of Utopia, a law frat based at the Ateneo de Manila School of Law.
The House committee decided to call Atty. Verano after they found out that Atty. Verano reportedly tried to do a fast one when he allegedly gave an envelope containing a draft release order to the secretary of his frat brother, Undersecretary Ric Blancaflor who, in turn, immediately went to the office of the DOJ secretary Gonzales for him to sign the draft release order.
Second, the bribery attempts did take place, according to Major Marcelino. He was reportedly pressured by JoTec, a relative of one of the suspects and even his own PMA Class 1994 mistah. Marcelino made us all proud when he resisted all attempts at releasing these high-society drug peddlers.
Lastly, it seemed that, based on the hearing, there are certain procedural aspects that both the DOJ and the PDEA should resolve. That's why the Dangerous Drug Board, headed by former Senator Tito Sotto recommended that a prosecutory unit be created within PDEA that will try all these drug cases.
IN all these, let the wheels of justice grind against these scums of the earth. PR operators are moving right now in the media to mitigate the effects of these revelations, but, their attempts will be put to naught. The truth will come out. These devils who sell these illegal drugs should be put to death, whoever they may be.
And, for the first time, I would like to commend Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for standing her ground on this one. It is highly commendable, even heart-warming, to hear Mrs. Arroyo even calling Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales and ordering him not to release the Brodett-Tecson-Jordana drug trio, pending review of the resolution. For all our differences in opinion before, this one, I salute President Gloria Arroyo.
To Major Marcelino and General Santiago--sirs, the Filipino People salute you. May your tribe increase. May you continue your fine work. For our idealistic brothers in PDEA, sirs, continue to do the good work for and on behalf of the Filipino People. We salute you sirs.
If all the mistahs will work for the betterment of the system and work against those who create evil in this country, we will have a better country and we will not need a Patricio Mangubat anymore.
In the widely televised House Committee on Drugs hearing today, three things were established. First, the PDEA led by the courageous Marine Mayor Ferdinand Marcelino conducted the Ayala Alabang buy-bust operation according to plan. They conducted a pre-arrest investigation. They cased the suspects. Eventually, they were able to entrap them thru a buy-bust operation.
Based on the report, Richard Brodett, son of popular golf icon, "Butch" Brodett was the head of the group composed of Joseph Ramirez Tecson and Jorge Jordana, son of Johnny "Midnight" Joseph Jordana. When these drug pushers were interrogated, PDEA found how Brodett got his illegal drugs from abroad. They followed procedures.
Surprisingly though, the prosecutors who handled the case, Senior State Prosecutor Philip Kimpo and the one who penned the resolution, ProsecutorJoseph Resado did not see it that way, and it was affirmed by Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno who even defended the DOJ position before the media. (Previous to this celebrated case, there were reportedly some cases involving Zuno. One of the reasons reportedly given why Zuno was not chosen for the Associate Justice post is allegations of reported bribery. However, Zuno, I think, is not that gullible.)
By the way, the ponente , Prosecutor Resado, admitted having been a student of the Alabang boy's lead counsel, Atty. Felisberto Verano Jr. who is now under water for allegedly trying to wiesel his way out of a rejection to release his clients by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales.
Atty. Verano, incidentally, is a fraternity brother of DOJ Undersecretary Ric Blancaflor, whose name was dragged into this case after allegedly calling up Major Marcelino of PDEA for a followup.Their fraternity is the Order of Utopia, a law frat based at the Ateneo de Manila School of Law.
The House committee decided to call Atty. Verano after they found out that Atty. Verano reportedly tried to do a fast one when he allegedly gave an envelope containing a draft release order to the secretary of his frat brother, Undersecretary Ric Blancaflor who, in turn, immediately went to the office of the DOJ secretary Gonzales for him to sign the draft release order.
Second, the bribery attempts did take place, according to Major Marcelino. He was reportedly pressured by JoTec, a relative of one of the suspects and even his own PMA Class 1994 mistah. Marcelino made us all proud when he resisted all attempts at releasing these high-society drug peddlers.
Lastly, it seemed that, based on the hearing, there are certain procedural aspects that both the DOJ and the PDEA should resolve. That's why the Dangerous Drug Board, headed by former Senator Tito Sotto recommended that a prosecutory unit be created within PDEA that will try all these drug cases.
IN all these, let the wheels of justice grind against these scums of the earth. PR operators are moving right now in the media to mitigate the effects of these revelations, but, their attempts will be put to naught. The truth will come out. These devils who sell these illegal drugs should be put to death, whoever they may be.
And, for the first time, I would like to commend Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for standing her ground on this one. It is highly commendable, even heart-warming, to hear Mrs. Arroyo even calling Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales and ordering him not to release the Brodett-Tecson-Jordana drug trio, pending review of the resolution. For all our differences in opinion before, this one, I salute President Gloria Arroyo.
To Major Marcelino and General Santiago--sirs, the Filipino People salute you. May your tribe increase. May you continue your fine work. For our idealistic brothers in PDEA, sirs, continue to do the good work for and on behalf of the Filipino People. We salute you sirs.
If all the mistahs will work for the betterment of the system and work against those who create evil in this country, we will have a better country and we will not need a Patricio Mangubat anymore.
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