P-Noy approves house arrest for Enrile

The Third Division of the Sandiganbayan has not reached a decision on the motion of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, for determination of probable cause. Senator Enrile will still remain a free man a bit longer.

This is a good sign that this Division, unlike the other two, is not rushing a decision without going through the 9,000 pieces of evidence.

The First Division, which is handling the consolidated cases against Senator Bong Revilla, issued a decision in finding a probable cause only in five days. It is not believable that they went through all the documents in such a short period.

The same is true for the Fifth Division, which is handling the consolidated plunder and graft cases against Senator Jinggoy Estrada, ordered a decision in only seven days.

Associate Justice Samuel Martires of the Third Division assured Enrile’s lawyer Estelito Mendoza that they will read all the documents. “I will read the 9,000 sheets of paper. I don’t care what the lawyers, the media think. This court will base its decision on the evidence,” Martires said.

Meanwhile, President Aquino, in a press conference in Tokyo, said that Senator Enrile should be given humanitarian consideration because of his age. The Constitution itself, under the Bill of Rights, states that “cruel, degrading or inhumane punishment” should not be inflicted on a person,” the President said.  He is open to give Enrile hospital or house arrest.

Vitangcol charged

The Office of the Ombudsman announced that Al Vitangcol III, former Metro Rail Transit (MRT) general manager, and businessman Wilson de Vera are under preliminary investigation, for alleged involvement in a $30-million (P3.76-billion) extortion attempt on the Czech firm Inekon Group.

The two are facing criminal charges for violation of the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Aside from these charges, Vitangcol is also facing administrative complaint for dishonesty and grave misconduct.

The Ombudsman’s field investigation office (FIO), a special panel of investigators created to gather evidence on the alleged extortion attempt, had recommended that Vitangcol and De Vera undergo a preliminary investigation.

Vitangcol and De Vera will also be investigated for a P517-million MRT3 interim maintenance contract for 2012 to 2013, which was awarded to PH Trams Corp. wherein Vitangcol’s alleged uncle-in-law, Arturo Soriano, and De Vera are among the incorporators.

Czech Ambassador Josef Rychtar had executed an affidavit, confirming that Vitangcol had demanded a $30-million kickback. Inekon chief executive officer Josef Husek also testified that Vitangcol and De Vera had made the $30-million bribe demand.

Estoesta to 5th Division

Newly-appointed Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta will sit in the Fifth Division of the Sandiganbayan.

Estoesta, a former Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) presiding judge since 2006, will join the Fifth Division’s hearing on Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s application for bail.

The Fifth Division is chaired by Associate Justice Rolando Jurado, with Associate Justice Alexander Gesmundo, as member.

Crime update

Lawyer Solomon Condonuevo, 65, was shot dead by a security guard, Charlimaine Aton, in his office in San Juan.

Danny Mar Danganan, 48, former municipal councilor and adviser of Bacolor Mayor Jose Maria Hizon, was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men, in front of his house in Bacolor.

Police Colonel Leonardo Felonia, director of the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU), was tagged as the mastermind behind the killing of Crown Regency Hotel owner Richard Lim King in Davao. Felonia submitted himself to Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for investigation, claiming non-involvement in the killing of King. He was then turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) office of Southern Mindanao. But his self-confessed accomplice, Rommel dela Cerna who voluntarily surrendered to the police, said that Felonia instructed Paul Dave Labang to kill King. Apart from Labang, police also arrested Rommel’s brother Rodel, the driver of the getaway motorcycle. 

New NFA administrator

Arthur Juan, 68, a former president of subsidiaries of San Miguel Corp. and a Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ’68 graduate, was appointed National Food Authority (NFA) administrator. He also served as president of San Miguel Foods and Monterey Foods Corp. He is a good choice for the position, having been selected by Secretary Francis Pangilinan, presidential assistant for food security and agricultural modernization. Juan has worked in the private sector both here and abroad, with focus on the agro-industrial side for almost 20 years, according to the former senator’s office.        

Romulo Arancon Jr., former acting director of the Philippine Coconut Authority Region in Davao and director of the agency’s Extension Training Center, was appointed administrator and chief executive officer of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PhilCoA). Arancon served about eight years as executive director of the Asian and Pacific  Coconut Community, a Jakarta-based inter-governmental body that is linked with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

Secretary Pangilinan also replaced Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala, as chairman of the NFA council.

Many observers are wondering why Alcala has not resigned as agriculture secretary, considering that Secretary Pangilinan was assigned to investigate the corruption in four major agencies of the DA.

Tidbits

San Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang has bought an initial 30-percent stake of GMA Network Inc. (GMA 7) for about P15.3 billion. Ang said that he bought the minority stake in his personal capacity, and San Miguel Corp. has no participation in the transaction.

The government is looking for 3,000 hectares to be planted to garlic to double the present 8,000, plus metric tons annual production. There is enough area at the Iwahig Penal Colony in Palawan that can be planted to garlic and rice.