Declaration of War Against Drugs an excuse for more sonas

Hay naku...again! Is this so-called "declaration of war against drugs", part of the administration's strategy to justify the sonas (special raiding operations) that the police and the PDEA would undertake in depressed areas in relation to the SONA?

It seems so since Malacanang had found a convenient excuse to rationalize so-called anti-drugs raids in depressed areas in Metro Manila. My sources in the urban poor groups say additional military and police personnel are frequenting their place more often than before. Why? It seems very suspicious since its only a few days before the State of the Nation Address (SONA). Are police and military elements targetting anti-Arroyo urban poor groups preparing for the biggest rally against Arroyo come July 27?

This validates my earlier entry on the planned sona activities of the police in depressed areas. Also, these areas are being militarized, in the name of anti-drugs campaigns. I just hope that Magdalo elements in PDEA will not allow themselves to be used as Mrs. Arroyo's version of Macoy's once dreaded police force.

RP drug problem---a national security threat

PDEA Chief General Santiago said that narcopolitics have infected the body politic and have now been deemed a national security threat.Reports say that syndicates are already talking with politicians and political parties.

What are you saying, Mr. General? That it will now be justified for your men to arrest, detail or kill politicians allegedly in bed with druglords? Or, are you saying that PDEA should be given broader and more lethal powers to defeat narcopoliticians and their financiers?

If narcopolitics is the problem, then, why is the PDEA and the DECS pushing for the implementation of random drug testing? If druglords and their local political partners are the problem, then, what's the use of subjecting students and teenagers to drug testing? Is'nt it just a waste of time?

BY THE WAY, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales has ordered the immediate re-investigation of State Prosecutor John Resado. An anonymous tipster gave Gonzales and the Anti-Money Laundering Council some bank documents alleging that someone deposited 800,000 pesos to the bank account of John Resado last December 2---the same date Resado reportedly released the DOJ resolution ordering the release of the Alabang Boys. Another deposit, again amounting to 800,000 pesos was made a few days after. Reportedly, these illegal deposits amounted to 1.6 million pesos. Resado has since dismissed these malicious allegations, saying that he and his wife have a lending business. The monies, which were deposited somewhere in Bulacan, came from what Resado called " a legitimate source."

Wagging tongues say it could be the delicious fruit coming from the poisonous reso, err, tree?

Arroyo's sinister plan

Philippine pseudo president Arroyo just announced that she'll be leading the charge against drug syndicates. Fine. Laudable. My observations.

This is uncanny, given that this is the first time that Mrs. Arroyo will be dabbling her puny hands on crime prevention. Since she started her checkered political career, she took part either in economic policy making (as DTI usec) or in social welfare. Even in the time of the deceased Senator Robert Barbers making overtures to be the state's foremost drug czar, never did Mrs. Arroyo agree on making herself the anti-drug czar.

So, the question everybody is asking--why just now?

One answer is, this validates a previous observation that Mrs. Arroyo and her evil minions are toying with the possibility of having an armed force that they can personally command in the event that they declare emergency rule. Bear in mind that Mrs. Arroyo has her own private anti-coup army, recruits from Pampanga that they formed as counter-force against the forces of Senator Antonio Trillianes. Maintaining such a force is financially draining, even if Mrs. Arroyo controls billions of pesos worth of intelligence funds.

It's obvious that Mrs. Arroyo has now shifted strategy by forming her own legal counter-force in the person of the PDEA. By strengthening the PDEA, Mrs. Arroyo is actually preparing for the formation of an organisation similar to the dreaded MISG of Col. Abadilla.

The grand plan? This government will be using the PDEA not just in defeating those drug syndicates. PDEA's role will be expanded and will include close surveillance and intelligence against enemies of the state. Will this include active Magdalo soldiers now incarcerated and remains defiant against Mrs. Arroyo? Probably. Will this include powers to pry open the financial records and personal circumstances of known critics of this regime? Quite strongly, yes.

Now, if that is the case, do we see Malacanang's hand in efforts at perpetuating itself beyond 2010?

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

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.