Jarring revival of interest in UFOs

Recently, I found myself stupefied by a series of television footages of sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs). But I thought it was just a revival of a fad and dismissed them as an obsession by a group of dedicated believers in extra-terrestrials.

But it seems that is not the case. I was jarred recently by a letter received from a long-lost godson, Edwin Gatia, an amateur astronomer who is now living in Philadelphia City in the United States.

The letter struck me because Gatia, whom I have not seen for decades, suddenly recalled to me the story that I had written in the Iwag, the provincial newsletter during martial law in Negros Occidental.

That was 30 years ago. But Gatia was insistent on asking for more details on that alleged “landing” in the Talisay City area by a UFO which was witnessed by several people in a small village beside the First Farmers Milling Co.

And he also mentioned about having interviewed my late father, Sir Knight Fulgencio R. Espina, on another UFO spotting which the latter had erringly described to me.

I would have dismissed that request for additional information had not Gatia told me that he was gathering additional data on a possible book project “Unidentified and Unknown: The Philippine UFO Experience” he is preparing to publish before the International UFO Congress in Nevada in February next year.

“The book covers other sightings reported in the country that date back to the late 40s and the early 50s as well as the recent ones reported in the 1980s,” Gatia said.

Well, for one, although I had forgotten about that incident, I remember that the US Enquirer Magazine sent down to Bacolod a writer who stayed for sometime in the area taking photos and interviewing alleged witnesses.

I also know that (ret.) Col. Patricio Lomongo was the then PC provincial commander. He had ordered the incident investigated, although I did not hear about the findings by the investigators nor did I get a copy of that report.

Incidentally, Gatia told me that he had interviewed my father whose sighting report was provided as Case No. “MRS”: 9790s418; N 1055N12320E Fabrica, Negros del Norte.”

In short, there are a lot of serious people in the world whose focus remain targeted on the UFOs. And that international conference in Nevada, USA, is expected to renew keen interest in this unexplained sightings which, just today, remain unsolved or cloaked in controversies.

At least, Gatia is one person who is convinced that there must be something to it. Unfortunately, I have always believed that he is a serious astronomy student and must have reasons for his dedicated focus on UFO.

Tricare legal row

Remember Dr. Diogenes Dionisio, the noted Manila medical doctor who was allegedly arbitrarily detained by US Marshals in Guam and hustled off to jail without having been previously informed of charges of fraud against him?

On Oct. 6, the United Western Wisconsin District Court reportedly recommended to grant Dionisio’s motion to dismiss the indictment against him due to pre-trial delay.

This was recently given to me by lawyer Renecio Espiritu, the Filipino legal counsel of Dionisio.

Charles Giesen, Dionisio’s American lawyer, pointed out, however, that “this is not a final decision, as it still has to be approved by the District Judge.”

But he pointed out that the magistrate’s report and recommendation is thorough and very well detailed and I am hopeful that Judge Crabb will concur.

Well, that’s the latest development in the celebrated case where the Filipino physician claimed he had been given a raw deal by agents of the Postal Service and US Marshals.

Anyway, as soon as the district judge’s decision is made, I’ll report the same to readers.

ADDENDUM. Pavia (Iloilo) Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta has asked District 4 engineer George Suy regarding the status of the initial P10.5 million released for the concreting of the Pagantusga-an, Tigum, Cabugao Norte barangay road. Gorriceta recently blew his top when informed that an assistant engineer said the money was only enough to cement 40 meters of the roadway. The mayor printed out that the cost has become very expensive since the base of the 3.5-kilometer road had already been prepared for cementing. The row, aired on Iloilo TV stations, threatens to become another celebrated incident.