Tri-media may have wittingly or unwittingly over-fixated itself with the case of so-called Alabang boys where sons of apparently wealthy families from Alabang have been arrested by agents of PDEA in an alleged buy-bust operation. The viewing universe is given sufficient enough regular dosage of news as the case develops and there is no controlling more strange versions from coming out – one at least entirely theatrical – when another Brodette family came into the picture. While not invited to the House inquiry, they volunteered to appear to say their piece on the controversy apparently to bolster the version of the PDEA except that it later on made motive clear they have an ax to grind against their own Brodette relatives, subject of alleged big time drug ring with international network.
It is not far removed that in the next few days, the case might really construct or reconstruct itself into a whole – with or without – any need for a public hearing in full media coverage. And it seems that no further court proceeding might be necessary to put the case to a final close. We have heard DOJ threatened to reprimand, suspend or even disbar Atty. Verano, counsel of the drug suspects. And the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption headed by Mr. Jimenez also joined the fray by filing a case against the drug suspects’ lawyer with the Ombudsman. No less than Rep. Golez aired the same call that it becomes a waiting game for the Ombudsman (euphemism for its uncharacteristic over anxiety) as soon as the time pendulum swings to its end. It seems every kind of artist wants to paint his piece in the canvas were the whole drug case a huge tabularasa.
What we now have is classic case of “karambola”, call it that. From a turf war between PDEA and DOJ with its prosecutors to a family feud between Brodette brothers and their families, it becomes an image war between Atty. Resado and Major Marcelino to one which could mutate to be an escalating word war between DOJ secretary and PDEA chief. And as all these things happen, the focal issue that ought to have explained the true circumstances of the alleged warrantless arrest in a reported buy-bust operation and alleged bribery in regard to a release order – as two separate and distinct areas of concern – have been but hidden from public view. House Members did in fact threaten to cite Atty. Resado of DOJ in contempt and would even go as far as will try to investigate how the matter of a DOJ official letterhead came into the hands of Atty. Verano, counsel of the Alabang boys. Fact is, Rep. Biazon no less than wants Atty. Resado to resign out of delicadeza. In short, the supposedly dismissed case for lack of sufficient evidence – because of the new bribery angle tagged to it – then turned into a personality cult.
There is more than meets the eyes on this overexposed case of the Alabang boys. To begin with, only one of the three suspects is living in posh Ayala Alabang. The DOJ secretary did not have to belie what Atty. Verano claimed was a meeting with Secretary Gonzales and him with the parents of the suspects except that perhaps Atty. Verano failed to rightly understand what Gonzales told him. In like manner, Major Marcelino could have also misunderstood Secretary Gonzales when he thought what was insinuated was that he was a war freak. It becomes apparent that given the same constitutional context, Gonzales and Marcelino have differing frames of mind and there are two languages spoken in the hearing – one from a lawyer and another from a purely military professional – worldviews that don’t blend.
There is already a clear perception that PDEA falls short of the legal requirements set by law in the conduct of a supposed-to-be legally permissible and legitimate buy-bust operation. It has become clear that there was no reasonable effort nor attempt from Major Marcelino to track down on the alleged briber of so-called “3M pizza” by yet another work in entrapment. From Santiago’s own admission, he was actually saying that all the information they are having are simply volunteered or fed to them without them as much as having to do an intricate case build up as Major Marcelino earlier claimed. NBI already challenged the major to substantiate his claim of bribery which now appears more fiction than fact.
Meantime, the mistahs of Major Marcelino have all been interviewed on TV manifesting their support for the good major of the Marines. If this is not an image build up, we don’t know what is. And it has become so precisely because, the Fourth Estate is registering its own bias for Marcelino than for the Alabang boys or Atty. Resado. Mainstream media appear to also cast PDEA chief in positive light and Gonzales gets the short end of the bargain. Not few quarters believe – in the bar of public opinion – that PDEA through its chief and operatives like Major Marcelino are doing a good job, it appearing they are incorruptible men who do not accept bribes. But then again, such claim has no two legs to stand on
On the other hand, some quarters perceive that at the DOJ, most drug cases are simply being dismissed to the extent that there is an evolving thinking that DOJ coddles drug pushers. The manner people think or form value judgments on the issue of the Alabang boys really challenges reflection. If DOJ has to disbar the counsel for the accused, would that not leave a bad taste to the mouth? On the other hand, if the House presses to disbar Atty. Resado for possibly mistaken perception that he does, in effect, coddle the accused-suspects, then again, what would that truly imply? Surprisingly enough, PDEA Chief Santiago already made categorical statement that DOJ Secretary Gonzales is clean – only him. Are we to expect DOJ Secretary to say that of the PDEA Chief likewise? Yet, we always talk of command responsibility except that we always save the chief first and everyone else reduced to a pack of sacrificial lambs.
In the end, some individuals might do a paradigm shift. Perhaps, as election nears, they want to shift in high gear to propel their great big chances to political stardom. Marcelino may do another trick done by Trillanes and Honasan and poor Atty. Resado – rather unfairly – gets the whole brunt on this case that has reached this level of consciousness, however maybe anachronistic, through dreadful media hypnosis. Sotto might do a comeback along this route as chair of the Dangerous Drugs Board. Golez might do an easy nice ascent to the Senate come 2010 – as the social fever against the Alabang boys keeps rising – pray not. At its worst, the proposal of a death penalty has been foolishly proposed as if it were any deterrent.
Perhaps, enough of this consuming media hype on this drug case that eclipses the real order of business which is that, we should leave DOJ does its mandate. From where I stand, where the work of enforcement ends, the work of the prosecution begins. Let not one PDEA chief casts suspicion to DOJ as an institution to the point he undermines the integrity of court prosecutors in high profile drug cases. Truly, PDEA itself must follow all the legal technicalities intended to prevent abuse of authority on the part of most enforcement agencies.
Contributing Writer: PRIMER C. PAGUNURAN
UP Diliman, Quezon City Email: nielsky-2003@yahoo.com
Popularity: 1% [?]
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From where I stand, where the work of enforcement ends, the work of the prosecution begins. Let not one PDEA chief casts suspicion to DOJ as an institution to the point he undermines the integrity of court prosecutors in high profile drug cases. Truly, PDEA itself must follow all the legal technicalities intended to prevent abuse of authority on the part of most enforcement agencies. Primer.
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From where I perched, the integrity of the DOJ, PDEA, and the Courts have long been undermined with or without the Alabang Boys case. :)
lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno wala ng mga credibilidad at integridad…at lahat ng namumuno ng bawat sangay ng gobyerno ay lalong wala ng credibilidad at integridad…
starbuck na daw…
ok, which starbucks and would it be Dutch treat?
You know Mr. Primer, even before, the DOJ has no credibility. What will the PDEA Chief get in return after he comes out of the open revealing those bribery situation? lets just say for political ambition…still its dangerous because its like your going up against a big wall…
As for the other political personalities want to join the limelight of this situation, now is their time…They should set an example…file a case to the people involve, convict the alabang boys, pursue the death penalty.
I believe that every person has a price, but for the PDEA Chief that money is not enough to be his price, it will be given by our creator.
As for you Mr. PRIMER C. PAGUNURAN you have a price for doing a bias article…How much you want to be my SLAVE.
Allan
Dubai & UK
Perhaps, we have lesser problem to confront a reality such as that DOJ has no credibility than to say the same of PDEA.
At least in the landscape of DOJ, one can have a way of knowing whether a decision or opinion rendered on a case would have been biased.
The same cannot be said of the PDEA landscape because they hide under the cloak of confidentiality
and where everything is secret, nothing is a fact.
I hope you follow that drift.
PDEA chief has just began to bombard tri media with all sorts of press release for now saying that he hired 18 Magdalo officers whom PGMA already dismissed from the service.
In that alone, there ought to be an overarching moral question that ought to be addressed. Why coddle them when PGMA herself already found them unfit. For that matter, the DND and the AFP already recommended their dismissal, so why is that?
Well, Allan, don’t think for a second, you can be my master. You cannot afford me.
Mr. PAGUNURAN, this is your second article about those ALABANG BOYS, and its clearly you got paid for making this.
Your motive is to confused the public and get the sympathy of the people. your just trying to imitate what bambee do to her blog about the Brawl in Golf.
THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN.
Also Another PDEA Chief in Mindanao come out in the open that DOJ release a Chinese Drug Pusher despite of tons of evidence. so…its clearly they are used to it doing this kind of maneuver to favor the one who pay them. for the Alabang boys this is only one of many groups that pay the DOJ to favor their release.
How much you want to write an article about how dumb and idiot you are?
Allan
Dubai & UK
I guess the problem in understanding the drug case is our inability if inadequacy to look at two approaches, namely:
1. Purely legal approach
2. Purely military approach
In other words, there are to be two mindsets in operation here – the legal mind and the military mind.
No less than PDEA chief Santiago when interviewed said that in so far as his field of expertise is concerned – “marami pang bigas na kakainin si Atty. Resado”.
On the other hand, he quite of admits, albeit condescendingly, that the reverse is true – “bobo ako in terms of the legal aspect of the case” – but that he consults his lawyer because of this limited legal knowledge.
I don’t why in this FV, one can be allowed to make rather obscene, profane language that confronts the person than the issues raised. For a change, maybe Allan – try to write one article in FV and we will place it in the “microscope” to see whether a germ of an idea even exists.
karkpopper
I think you are barking on the wrong tree here. How transparent do the PDEA should get? Almost all aspect of the operation has already been made public. For all we know, agents have been burned/compromise thus undermining their capability to conduct clandestine work.
You do understand that in their kind of work (PDEA)some aspect of the operation are classified as “Secret” “Top Secret”? Hell, its how some of the well known foreign agency operate, not just PDEA. Its a dirty work, but then its how they get the job done. Agents life are at stake in fullfiling their duties.
PDEA did the job. From where I stand, it is the DOJ who have something to hide…I just dont understand why you try to single out the PDEA chief and its agents.
In any major operation, an agency not just PDEA invest on Intel gathering before laying down any operational order whether its a buy bust, entrapment, raid or what not. It is the most difficult and dangerous aspect of the operational planning. Oftentimes they use civilian assets just to be able to infiltrate criminal organizations. These maybe the reason why Dir Santiago used some of the Magdalo people (based on your posts above). Its to use some of their expertised and act as civilian assets. All agency law enforcement agency and the Military use it. We don’t even know…maybe some of the FV people are police assets..
BTW, I know “Magdalo” has more integrity than PGMA. no?
kape tayo sa starbucks :)
As good as it may seem, PDEA’s operation is far off from how foreign agencies operate. Its purely for show, and its sad that most people admire them for their public presentation. Why would the head of this agency would tip of in national tv their next operation or people in their watch list? Why would their assets go to local channels for an interview on people they have been dealing with? In foreign countries, they follow rules and keep intel secure which makes them successful in arresting drug dealers. Another thing most cases here either about drugs or any kind of crime, bribes are being offered from the ground up, it would be tempting but only few refuse it whch gives honor to their uniform, but if it refused it why all the controversy? recognition? they can operate a buy bust but not entrap a briber? Im sorry folks for the negative tune but the way I see this is pure publicity and may be a deal gone bad. If they (PDEA) were true to their word then I admire their intentions but not their work.
It is as if media cannot be bribed, because they can. That scenario is within the realm of the possibilities. No one is perfect, and it is always safe to say.. that media is also corrupted.
Major Marcelino hails from a poor family… Aw shucks. So was his chief while he was a youth in Navotas. Whats being poor got to do with being a Marine Major, or Being appointed as CG PA? Huh? What?
Spare us all from the sensationalism.
Silly news all. I always take it all with a grain of salt each time they come out with suites that fail to impress me as credible. News to an I.O. is raw info. or poison. Even the sports page is not entertaining anymore. News papers are used to.. yeah when out their in some rural area, staking out, then feeling the effects of that Burritos from Taco Bell.
Regarding Magdalo, their presence there as agents is welcome however, they must go through the PDEA academy and re-tool their minds to the technical aspect of law enforcement. The former magdalo dancers should not be dragged into this mess, its not about PMA or Law schools, or coups its about how the DOJ and PDEA don’t see eye to eye in combating illegal drugs.
It started, when someone went to congress and released green house gas. It was not salmonellia tainted tomato sauce from Taco Bell at Cubao, it was more overpowering than that. It was politics.
As far as how PDEA operates, its boot on the addicts neck or buy the farm upon room entry. An addict high on drugs armed with a loaded shotgun is not going to be polite. Its about attitude after all, PDEA agents have guns too.
They can place the eyebrow raising green cover sheets in all their Oplans for all I care, sure the agents life is at risk, all the time even after the convicted criminals are sentenced. But they are adults, they can handle it. The problem is…what is the chief up to with all this?
I believe the Alabang boys are guilty. I also believe the court will dismiss their case for insufficient evidence. I prefer the PDEA revise their operational doctrine when it comes to evidence gathering and case build ups. You can confiscate many, but if it is not admissible as evidence, you might as well recruit the SOB’s as informants and tax them for your retirement, isn’t that tempting? Keep our soldiers away from such an environment. They can support our law enforcement agencies in terms of firepower and as force multipliers, not like what we are seeing now. The military will always work hand in hand with their counterparts in the law enforcement community, they might even approve a request for an air strike on a clandestine laboratory… even in Binondo if you like.
DOJ should educate PDEA on the rules and procedures, because the agency is crawling with you know what, DOJ should be PDEA’s legal partners and be patient with their youth. Get rid of its chief, get rid of active military or police at PDEA (Thats why Magdalo dancers are welcome) and infuse it with fresh graduates from PDEA academy, let them run the agency.
PDEA is experiencing growing pains, but it looks like the ADD that most members of the “lower” house keeps angrily denying they have. Warriors never betray their emotions, someone was so emphatic and emotional.
General Miranda, the commandant of the PMC is a good marine, he only wishes well for all his marines, and his advise to all this is the best.
The brave, the few, .. oh no here comes politicians.
Anyway, to 5th MBLT and the folks at MSEC, Hurrah! Happy New Year!