Drug Dealer in the Philippines

AN ALLEGED big-time drug dealer has sought the immediate dismissal of the charges against him, insisting that the buy-bust operation, which led to his arrest in Bacolod City, was a set-up.

Angelo Bongco, 40, a contractor who resides along Sharina Heights in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City, claimed in his counter affidavit dated June 30 that authorities illegally arrested him.

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He was arrested on June 18 in joint operations of the National Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force, Regional Special Operations Group and City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group personnel.

He faces two separate charges for violation of Section 5 and Section 11 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which were filed against him before the City Prosecutor’s Office last June 22.

Bongco said that the buy-bust operation led by Police Senior Inspector Jomarie Occeño was a big lie, claiming that Occeno was not the one who arrested him but the three Tagalog-speaking men who grabbed him from behind when he and his companion, Roshi Garces, alighted from his car.

He said he was immediately handcuffed and brought inside the backseat of his car while Garces was being beaten up by the three men who arrested them.

Bongco also claimed that the three men who arrested them didn’t inform them why they were arrested and they were also not informed of their constitutional rights.

He added he was interrogated but he refused to answer them and the man who sat beside him allegedly hit his chest, asking him where he got the alleged ecstasy pills.

He said when the media arrived in the area, the men stopped their interrogation and beating on him.

He said he was then brought outside his car and he saw his personal belongings on top of the compartment of his car.

He added that after the arrival of the media and the Barangay Singcang-Airport officials, his companion Garces was nowhere to be found.

Bongco claimed that he later realized that the Tagalog-speaking persons were only play-acting when they beat Garces, stressing that he was a victim of a set-up by the police authorities with the cooperation of Garces.

Bongco was arrested after he handed to a police poseur-buyer 617 pieces of ecstasy tablets.

After searching his car, police recovered from him a total of 717 pieces of ecstasy tablets with total market value of approximately P1,075,500.

However, in the affidavit of Bongco, he claimed that, if it is true that he received or touched the marked money, then his fingerprints could be found all over the said marked money or in the light green paper bag.

In a press conference Wednesday at the Negros Press Club, Eduardo Bongco Jr., the older brother of Angelo, stated that Angelo is the fifth child in a middle-income working class family of eight brothers and one sister. He has a 17-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.

The younger Bongco is an architecture graduate of La Consolacion College and worked for other construction firms for almost 10 years and started his own contracting firm two years ago.

Eduardo said Angelo lives in a rented house, paying P5,000 per month.

While he has two used vehicles, both have existing loans. Eduardo added that Angelo has approximately less than P100,000 in the bank and has no criminal records.

Based on the lifestyle records of Angelo, it is not the lifestyle of an alleged nationwide, big time drug lord, Eduardo pointed out.

Eduardo claimed that the arrest of Angelo is like a death on their family. He said that they were in shocked that their brother was arrested as an alleged drug dealer.

He noted that Garces is a friend of his brother and, last June 18, he just wanted to treat Garces to a drink of beer because he has not seen him since their school days in La Consolacion College.

The father of Angelo, Eduardo Bongco Sr, also felt sad on the arrest of his son, claiming that it’s very painful that his son was accused as an alleged drug dealer.

Occeño, in the meantime, stated that it is a usual alibi of the suspect to claim that the operation against him was just a set up.

He said Angelo informed them the name of the courier, sender and consignee that were allegedly addressed in his office.

Occeño asserted that Angelo was arrested alone in the area.

Meanwhile, BCPO Director Ricardo De la Paz said the claim of Bongco is expected.

“It’s the suspect’s right to explain his side but, on the side of police, it was a legitimate police operation and we didn’t plant evidence, since it is a serious violation,” he stressed.

He said that Angelo is in the drugs watch list of the Philippine National Police, insisting that the police had a very strong case against Bongco who is considered as a big time dr

On the heels of the Prison Scandals.

MASBATE, Philippines – A jail break in Palanas District Jail in Masbate Tuesday afternoon resulted in the deaths of a jail guard and an inmate.

The fatalities were identified as Senior Jail Officer 1 Rene Danao and inmate Romulo Pason.

Authorities said Jail Officer 2 Julius Cervantes was accompanying inmate Rommel Padailap in delivering food for prisoners when Cervantes was hit on the head by a solid object.

Cervantes remains in critical condition.

Padailap, together with inmates Jessie Cabier and Romeo Olasla, Jr., escaped from their detention cells and attacked Danao, killing him in the process.

Authorities are still looking for rape suspect Padailap, murder suspect Cabier, and frustrated murder suspect Olasla.

Officials of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Region 5 are investigating the incident.

The wardens of Palanas District Jail will also be questioned by authorities. -- Reports from Erick Baldo and Thea Omelan, ABS-CBN Bicol

Justice?

THE prosecution camp in the Maguindanao massacre trial suffered a setback yesterday when its witness Kenny Dalandag was not allowed to testify after the defense camp on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO).

Quezon City RTC Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes deferred Dalandag’s testimony despite the absence of a TRO "out of judicial courtesy."

The defense camp, in their petition, said Dalandag should have been charged first before being admitted as a witness in the massacre of 57 civilians last November 2009.

A total of 197 individuals have been charged for the crime, led by former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his sons Andal "Datu Unsay" Ampatuan Jr., Rizaldy Ampatuan and Sajid Islam Ampatuan. Only 93 of the respondents are currently in custody.

Private prosecutor Harry Roque slammed the TRO petition.

"They were trying to stop him from testifying because he is not only an eyewitness to the crime but he was also present when the meeting was held where the plan to block and attack the convoy was hatched," Roque said.

The prosecution instead presented Akmad Esmael Abubakar, a corn farmer in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town where the killings took place.

Abubakar told the court he witnessed how some of the victims pleaded for their lives before they were murdered in a hilly portion of Sitio Masalay.

Abubakar identified in court one of the accused, Moktar Daud, as among those who herded the victims and who pointed a gun at him when one of the women pleaded for his help.

It was the second time that Abubakar testified in court.

In his testimony October last year, Abubakar narrated he saw Datu Unsay (Ampatuan Jr.) ordering his men to fire at the victims after they were led out of their vehicles.

He said the victims were crying and pleading for their lives but Datu Unsay ignored their pleas and fired his high-powered weapon.

Redempto Villanueva, the lawyer of Rizaldy Ampatuan, asked the court’s permission for his client to seek treatment for his diabetes in a private hospital.

"We want him to undergo an examination due to his fluctuating blood pressure and sugar level. He has been complaining about that for the past two weeks," the lawyer said.

Two associate justices of the Court of Appeals have inhibited from handling the petition of Zaldy Ampatuan who assailed his indictment by the Department of Justice for his involvement in the massacre.

Associate Justices Danton Bueser and Marlene Gonzales-Sison of the CA’s Eleventh Division have recused themselves as they did in a similar case involving Zaldy’s father, Andal Ampatuan Sr.

Families of some victims represented by Roque last February filed a motion for the inhibition of the two associate judges in the light of reports they had been bribed to favor Rizaldy Ampatuan’s motion to be excluded from the complaint.

The two associate justices were replaced by Senior Associate Justices Josefina Salonga and Romeo Barza who were picked yesterday 

What a joke, the Philippine Government!

The Department of the Interior and Local Government is expected to investigate Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s claim that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, sold three used helicopters as brand-new to the Philippine National Police, President Benigno Aquino III’s spokesperson said on Wednesday.

In a Senate resolution, Lacson and Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, chair of the blue ribbon committee, said the two R44 Raven I choppers were discovered to be “preowned,” with flight logs recorded as far back as March 2004. They called for an inquiry into the matter.

The PNP spokesperson, Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr., said the investigation could reach the level of the then PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa, under whose leadership the supply contract was signed.

But while Mike Arroyo admitted that his family had owned a chopper, he said it was sold to private buyers.

“Neither I nor the former President sold a helicopter to the PNP,” he said in a text message. “LTA Inc., which we own, had a Bolkow helicopter [that] was sold not to the PNP but to another private company.”

“The public should be wary of statements coming from a former fugitive from justice,” he added, referring to Lacson’s yearlong stint on the lam in connection with his indictment for the Dacer-Corbito murders.

Mike Arroyo said this fresh attack on his family was “nothing but another sordid exercise to further malign our name and part of the continuing persecution to mask the lackadaisical performance of this administration to the detriment of the Filipino people.”

Edwin Lacierda said Lacson was likewise expected to disclose his evidence on the purportedly questionable helicopter purchases and on the “Jose Pidal” account that the senator exposed during his first term.

Speaking at a news briefing, Lacierda also said he had yet to discuss the matter with Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.

“But knowing Secretary Robredo, I’m confident that he had issued orders to look into these allegations of Senator Lacson,” Lacierda said.

Lacson has asked the Senate blue ribbon committee to look into the helicopter purchases worth about P105 million.

Lacierda said that being “a crusader for good governance,” Lacson would “require no prodding” to present his evidence.

The senator had claimed that he had new evidence showing that Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, younger brother of Mike Arroyo, was not the actual owner of the Jose Pidal bank accounts.

The accounts were said to have been opened by Arroyo’s husband for money laundering.

Appearing to bear out Mike Arroyo’s disclaimer, the PNP has demanded that aviation supplier Manila Aerospace Products Trading (Maptra) replace two of three helicopters it sold to the elite Special Action Force in 2009.

Chief Supt. Felipe L. Roxas Jr., head of the PNP Directorate for Logistics, said the letter was sent to Maptra “for them to immediately replace the delivered helicopters with new ones, as called for.”

In May 2009, the PNP negotiated with Maptra for the purchase of three equipped light police operational helicopters (LPOHs), later modified to one equipped and two standard LPOHs. The contract was approved two months later.

Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos asked Gloria Arroyo for a car as b’day gift

Even a  Catholic bishop is corrupt, can you believe this.  I have never heard of a bishop asking for a car for his birthday, and using the poor as a reason to get a new 4 x 4 SUV.  I bet he has never taken it off road, for anyone, let alone the poor. 


Is everyone corrupt here in the Philippines?  I am finding the answer to that question as a YES! See the store below.

Bishop’s letter

Pueblos’ letter to Arroyo reads:

“I will be celebrating my 66th birthday on March 8, 2009. I know this will be a precious day and timely occasion to thank the Lord for giving me another year … After a prayerful discernment and due considerations to the existing crisis phenomenon today, I have decided not to hold a birthday party. Instead, I prefer to make use of my birthday as a day with and for myself, and with God.

“Having (been) declared, awarded and honored from your good office as ‘Peace Champion of Caraga,’ I am grateful to God that He has made me an instrument of His peace, especially here in Mindanao. I know I can do more to promote and work for peace.

“It is in this view that I am asking a favor from your Excellency. At present, I really need a brand-new car, possibly a 4 x 4, which I can use to reach the far-flung areas of Caraga. I hope you will never fail to give a brand new car which would serve as your birthday gift to me. For your information, I have with me a 7-year-old car which is not anymore in good running condition. Therefore, this needs to be replaced very soon.

Pueblos’ call for Aquino to quit

“I am anticipating your favorable response on this regard. Thank you very much. Be assured of my constant support and sincerest prayers to your Excellency.”

Last month, Pueblos called on President Aquino to resign over alleged irregularities committed by his party mates, classmates and shooting buddies.

Pueblos’ diocese was one of the six Catholic dioceses and one organization that received sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and cash donations amounting to P8.3 million from the PCSO during the Arroyo administration.

Besides the Diocese of Butuan, the recipients of the illegal donations for the purchase of 4 x 4 vehicles were the Zamboanga Archdiocesan Social Action Apostolate, Archdiocese of Cotabato, Diocese of Bangued (Abra), Prelature of Isabela (Basilan) and Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc and Caritas Nueva Segovia, which covers Ilocos Sur, received financial assistance.

Using name of poor

Tolentino wondered whether the vehicle Pueblos had requested was for the poor. “This (letter) is a camouflage of using the name of the poor for self-interest,” she said.

The Senate blue ribbon committee is scheduled to start today (Wednesday) its inquiry into reports that the PCSO during the Arroyo administration gave several bishops SUVs and lavished certain lawmakers with endowments for their constituents’ hospital and medical expenses.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Sunday said the Constitution barred the donation of public money for the benefit of any religious group.

Tolentino said the exposés by the new PCSO management was not meant to attack the Church.

“We are not against the Church. We are just denouncing what happened in the past—corruption of government funds, which is prohibited by the Constitution itself,” she said.

“Would the bishops rather that we keep mum or we lie about it? Would they want us to just keep quiet about this?” Tolentino asked.

She earlier confirmed that the former PCSO management, in a series of board resolutions in 2009, approved the grant of SUVs to various dioceses.

Grieving New Mexico safety hauled off plane, booked for baggy pants

What is this world coming to.  It seems now days that when a black man is wearing his pants to the  point it shows his underwear, and he is asked to pull up his pants, he is being "targeted by authorities "because of the way he looks - young black man with dreads and baggy pants".

Give me a break, if your underwear are showing, and we are people don't want to see it,  simple, pull your pants up. If you choose not to after someone in authority ask you too, then you have what is coming to you.

Case in point:                         On Wednesday, San Francisco police got a call about 9 a.m. that someone was exposing himself outside a US Airways gate, Sgt. Michael Rodriguez said.

An airline employee spotted Marman before he boarded Flight 488, bound for Albuquerque, and complained that Marman's pants "were below his buttocks but above the knees, and that much of his boxer shorts were exposed," Rodriguez said.
The employee asked Marman to pull up his pants before he boarded the plane, but he refused, Rodriguez said. Marman allegedly repeated his refusal after taking his seat on the plane.
"At that point he was asked to leave the plane," Rodriguez said. "It took 15 to 20 minutes of talking to get him to leave the plane, and he was arrested for trespassing." Marman allegedly resisted officers as he was being led away.

Not only did he refused to pull up his pants on a flight, he resisted a police officer.  I do not care how badly you think you are being treated, you do not have the right to resist an officer whom gives you a lawful order. If you resist, then you are saying your above the law, and you don't have to follow the rules.

Remember an airline can refuse service to anyone, for any reason. The are a private or public business  who does not have to do business with anyone.   This boy could have handled himself in a better way, he could have just pulled his pants up, and took his seat, if he did not want to do that, he could have just left the aircraft without a problem, and took another flight.

Come on people, take responsibility for your own actions.  If your underwear are showing, just pull your pants up, I don't want to see what your wearing.

Corruptions in the Philippines.

Philippine Daily INQUIRER,  Head lines.   "VIP prisoner face probe.  The DOJ to unravel "open secret" pf special treatment.  

Can you  believe that here in the Philippines, a former  Batangas Govern Antonio Leviste a convicted murder has been allowed to leave the New Bilibid Prison where he is supposed to be locked up. He has been allowed to leave without being handcuffed, without guards escorting him, and was able to visit a dentist.   As the report goes on to say, his driver would pick him up, along with other inmate friends, for a day out of the prison.  This appears to be a policy that the prison warden and assistant warden has allowed for years.

Leviste was convicted with killing his longtime aid in 2007, he was found guilty in 2009 of homicide,not murder which was the initial charge, but the judge said the prosecution failed to prove there was treachery, premeditation and cruelty, and sentenced to 6 to 12 years in prison.  Now get this he was order to pay P150,000.00 peso, or  ($3484.32) USD,  to the family of the man killed.

Also allowed to leave the drive was convicted "road rage killer" Rolito Go,

What is sad here the man in charge of running the prison, does not take ownership,  he places the blame on the guards, which I would agree with part of that,  yes the guards are at fault,  but I am so sure the leadership within that prison authorized the trip, and knew about them.  How can you not.

There are cell phones within the prison for inmate to rent from the guards, one inmate end used a guards cell phone to order a killing. Then you have the normal drug usage in the prison.  It is also report Leviste was able to build himself a place to live within the prison, I am sure he has all the comforts of home.  The papers reports this is just the tip of the iceberg.  Here in the Philippines, if your rich, a former government official, and you are convicted of a crime, you are going to get the best VIP treatment as if you were living in your own house.

Corruptions in the Philippines seems to be a way of live here, from the former presidents to the local building inspectors, to even your own family and friends, if you want to do business or get favors you will pay in the form of bribes, either in money, or products. I have seem it first hand already.

Now we all know all countries have corruptions, so this is not just in the Philippines.