Gross,clear, grave injustice
More photos of April 10 hearing in Tanay. Click on photos to enlarge:
The case of 2nd Lts. Caesar Daen and Percival Alcanar, who were unjustly accused of participating in the Oakwood mutiny and imprisoned for four years, only for the military to admit last Wednesday that their evidence is weak, shows the stupidity and inhumanity of this administration.
Last Wednesday, the military court presided by Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Legazpi which is trying the case of the Magdalo soldiers in connection with what is called the Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003, said it was “with a deep sense of justice” that they were dismissing charges against Daen and Alcanar because the “evidence is manifestly weak.”
“Manifestly weak”, my foot! Daen and Alcanar were nowhere near Oakwood when some 300 soldiers led by a group of young officers, among them Navy Lt. (s.g.) Antonio Trillanes, now a senatorial candidate for the Genuine Opposition, declared withdrawal of support from Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
They robbed the young officers four precious years of their lives and they had the gall to say it is their “deep sense of justice” that the men are now allowed to go back to their respective assignments before they were imprisoned. Where is justice there?
That’s the same injustice that Frank Chavez, lawyer of Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and Maj. Jason Aquino, protested before he walked out of the court martial hearing in Camp Capinpin, Tanay last Tuesday.
Chavez said that the special general court martial (SGCM) trying the 28 officers in connection with the alleged foiled coup against Arroyo in February 2006, is illegal because under the Articles of War and in the Manual for Courts Martial, there are only three kinds of courts martial : general, special and summary. The chief of staff can only create a general court martial but not a special court martial. But AFP chief Hermogenes Esperon created a special general court martial. Chavez said,LV Wallets, “He (Esperon) cannot create a special court. It can only be a general court martial. It cannot be a chop suey.”
Chavez also quoted from the Articles of War that says “,Hermes Purses;when any such commander is the accuser or the prosecutor of the person or persons to be tried, the court shall be appointed by superior competent authority.”
Esperon clearly is the accuser. He has jurisdiction over the trial judge advocate which is prosecuting the case. Not only that, Esperon has said he would be a witness and as chief of staff, he will review the decision of the panel.
Chavez, always brutally and endearingly frank, added, in this case, Esperon’s superior authority is, “Gloria Arroyo whom I do not recognize as president.”
Chavez pointed out that a special court martial cannot try lieutenants and six of the accused have the rank of lieutenants.
Also, Chavez said, officers facing charges under a special court martial cannot be confined for more than six months. The accused have been in detention for more than year.
Chavez said it is easy for the panel to set decision in future hearings because they continue live their life day by day. “But not these officers when the rhythm of their lives has been broken.”
Chavez called the attention of the panel to the recommendations of the pre-trial investigation report which was for the dismissal of the charge of mutiny “for lack of factual and legal bases.”
Chavez said Presidential Decree 77 amended by PD 911 lays down the procedure of preliminary investigation that is followed in military pre-trial investigation. “If there is no probable cause, the charges are dismissed.”
Yet Esperon overruled the PTI recommendation and ordered the filing of mutiny charges against the respondents. “There is no provision in the Manual for Court Martial that gives Esperon the power to overturn the recommendation of the pre-trial investigators,” Chavez said.
“It is gross, clear, glaring and grave abuse of discretion,Replica Mulberry,” Chavez said.
Chavez and the other lawyers asked the panel headed by Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court on the petition filed by at least five officers for a temporary restraining order on the SGCM and their release from detention.
Not surprisingly for an Esperon-convened body, the Yano panel rejected the respondents’ lawyers motion. That’s when Chavez walked out.
Chavez said he now doubts if they can get justice from the Yano court. “This is a kangaroo court,” he said. “They are just waiting for a place and time for conviction.”
Chavez, who is also the lawyer of Maj. Jason Aquino, is hoping that they can get a fairer deal from the Supreme Court.
I’ll have to ask some of the officers’ family members to help me complete the caption:
1. In Ranger’s uniform: Cpt. James Sababan and Cpt. Isagani Criste
2. From right, Cpt. Joey Fontiveros, Cpt. Frederick Sales, Cpt. Allan Aurino. Behind are 1Lt.Homer Estolas and 1Lt. Sandro Sereno.
3. Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon with glasses. Behind him are Cpt. Ruben Guinolbay, Cpt. James Sababan and Cpt William Upano.
4. Lt.Homer Estolas with wife Ghae and daughter, Heart.
5. Lt. Col. Edmundo Malabanjot and wife Mayette.
6. Col. Ariel Querubin with relatives. Behind him, right,is his mother-in-law, next I think is his sister-in-law, the young man in blue is his eldest son Martin. and the lady in pink next to Martin is his sister, Yolly.
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Ennio Marchetto the Living-Cartoon in Athens
If you love Greece beyond swimming and you are in Athens next month, you can enjoy Ennio Marchetto the Living Cartoon at the Megaron of Music (Hall of Dimitris Mitropoulos), for 5 performances (November 15 – 2 performances,hermes handbags, 16 –,Replica Burberry; 2 performances, and 18). This is the second time Ennio performs in Greece; the first one was back in 2003.
Ennio Marchetto created his own theatrical language mixing mime, dance, music and quick change costumes made out of card-board and paper. In 18 years he has performed in over 70 countries for more than a million people. His show has received numerous awards and international critical acclaim.
As a child, Disney cartoons were his first sources of inspiration when making cut-out dolls for his little sister or decoration for the Christmas tree. Growing up,Replica watches, the Carnival of Venice and theatre shows and workshops by Lindsay Kemp and also dance shows by Pina Bausch inspired him to create a show himself.
In 1998 Ennio was asked to perform with the Spice Girls, Brian Adams and other artists for HRH Prince Charles during the annual Royal Variety Show, broadcast on the BBC. That same year he did a private show for the Dutch royal family on the birthday of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. For his off-Broadway run in 1999, Ennio was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. Shows in San Francisco and Los Angeles followed. In L. A. the show won the Garland award.
Marilyn Monroe, Mina,Replica Mulberry, Mae west, Liza Minnelli, Eartha Kitt, Ella Fitzgerrald, Grace Jones, Nina Hagen, Pina Bausch, Lindsey Kemp are some of those who Ennio impersonates in his shows (over 300 in total).