The Manila Times


A 2


news SATURDAY S eptember 18, 2010


heads will roll inside the bureau over the smuggling of oil into the country, saying that they have started filing criminal charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against officials Oillink International Corp. and the Customs officials allegedly involved.


But Oillink’s legal counsel said in a statement that they have not yet seen the complaint filed against them before the Justice department. “We have not yet seen the com- plaint filed by the Bureau of Cus- toms with the Department of Jus- tice against the officers of Oillink. We are certain that the complaint will have no factual or legal ba- sis,” lawyer Rodolf Britanico said. During an interview with The Ma-


■ SUED FROM A1 Erap, Ping sued for $50M


Dante Tan, former Col. Michael Ray Aquino, former Col. Glenn Dumlao and Insp. Vicente Arnado before a California district court.


The Dacer sisters are asking for


$10 million in principal compen- satory damages and $40 million in punitive damages from the re- spondents. According to Errol Zshornack, the


lawyer for the Dacer sisters, they have “all the evidence” to include former President Estrada in the suit. Also during the interview, Sabrina said that there is a difference be- tween a criminal case that they filed against the same personalities in the Philippines and the civil case that they filed in California.


■ ABORTIONISTS FROM A1 Cardinal Rosales threatens abortionists with excommunication


the person concerned is separated from the spiritual benefits en- joyed by all members of the church. Furthermore, the same person could not take [Holy] Communion,” retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz earlier said in defin- ing excommunication. “Abortion is a grave sin against a defenseless life; and for this the se- vere canonical penalty to perpetu- ator/s is excommunication,” Ro- sales said.


He added that unwanted preg-


nancies could be avoided if only people are “less selfish, and more disciplined and capable of self con- trol, exercising a strong will, and capable of making sacrifices.” “These are virtues that are much needed in a country of disciplined people,” the Manila archbishop said. In churches where public exposi- tion of fetuses is held, special prayers and acts of reparation will be made, for the sins of the perpe- trators, at the Church’s Prayer and Adoration Chapels.


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES


COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS PASAY CITY


ANNOUNCEMENT


President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (C.A.) for confirmation the ad interim appointments of the following officers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines:


Romulo C. Supapo, William S. Campos, Renato Lorenzo A. Sanchez, Victor A. Felix, Jesus A. Fajardo, Pedro S. Soria II, Jose Tony E. Villarete, Rommel A. Gomez – Major General; Joel P. Ibañez, Honorato S. Delos Reyes, Roy O. Deveraturda, Gilberto Jose C. Roa, Alejandro H. Estomo, Bernardo C. Ferrer, Mario F. Montejo, Esteban A. Castro, Antonio A. Oliquino, Remegio M. De Vera, Emiliano R. Gupana, Jr., Alan R. Luga, Alexander D. Dicang, Jose C. Mabanta, Jr., Nonato Alfredo T. Peralta, Jr., Ariel B. Bernardo, Virgilio O. Domingo, Arnaldo F. Fernandez, Cesar B. Yano, Marlou B. Salazar, Roger C. Diaz – Brigadier General; Philip L. Cacayan, Raul D. Leyritana, Armando L. Guzman, Edgardo T. Tamayo – Commodore; -Ruel S. Saonoy (PN), Francisco O. Gabudao, Jr. (PN), Rommel Jude G. Ong (PN), Socimo F. De Guzman, Jr. (PN), Rigoberto O. Banta (PN), Nichols A. Driz (PN), Erick A. Kagaoan (PN), Alberto A. Cruz (PN), Adelius S. Bordado (PN), Restituto Q. Bilbao, Jr. (PN), Reginald B. Rapanan (PN), Rosauro M. Sarmiento, Jr. (PN), Opiniano M. Jayme, Jr. (PN), Elpidio F. Francisco (PN), Carlito L. Barizo (PN), Loumer P. Bernabe (PN), Noel M. De Vera (PN), Joseph Melvin A. Guevarra (PN), Renato B. Yongque (PN), Cesar M. Martinez (PN), Rey T. Dela Cruz (PN) – Captain; Fancisco V. Delfin (PA), Mario N. Maggay (PA), Anastacio C. Cabading, Jr. (PA), Bienvenido R. Datuin, Jr. (PA), Romeo A. Mappala (PA), Regie E. Gragasin (PA), Cirilo Thomas P. Donato, Jr. (PA), Vincent C. Bahia (PA), Raul C. Vinoya (PA), Dinoh V. Dolina (PA), Danilo T. Cortez (PA), Fidel Igmedio T. Cruz, Jr. (PAF), Simeon Z. Felix, Jr. (PAF), Elmer A. Estopin (PN-M), Jose Armingol V. De Guzman (PA), Benigno R. Antonio II (PA), Pascual A. Somoray II (PA), Numeriano V. Ramirez (PA), Rolando S. Acop (PAF), Erickson R. Gloria (PAF), Reuel N. Sorilla (PA), Ronald C. Villanueva (PA), John A. Jurado (PA), Amador T. Tabuga, Jr. (PA), Ramon Evan T. Ruiz (PA), Jerry T. Gannaban (PA), Dickson P. Hermoso (PA), Felipe G. Anotado, Jr. (PA), Edwin E. Rustria (PAF), Andres S. Aguinaldo, Jr. (PA), Abraham Claro C. Casis (PA), Francisco F. Mendoza, Jr. (PA), Dante G. Cubangay (PA), Rene Glen O. Paje (PA), Ramiro Manuel A. Rey (PA), Oscar L. Brito (PA), Aurelio T. Badajos (PA), Pelagio R. Valenzuela (PAF), Gerald S. Da-Anton (PAF), Nick Q. Alarcio (PA), Nilo R. Perfecto (PA), Ramon C. Yogyog (PA), Ronnie S. Evangelista (PA), Ferdinand M. Fraginal (PN-M), Isidro L. Purisima (PA), Joselito R. Serrano (PA), Arthur L. Macogay (PA), Leodegario D. Dela Paz (PA), Bismarck D. Soliba (PA), Antonio B. Sugarol (PA), Larry S. Signey (PA), Nestor D. Baltazar (PA), Rodolfo V. De Juan, Jr. (PA), Leonardo P. Songcaya (PA), Carlos G. Cariaga (PA), Faustino M. Bejarin, Jr. (PA), Eduardo O. Torrizo (PA), Prudencio R. Asto (PA), Alfredo A. Soriano (PA), Benjamin M. Castro (PA), Raymundo S. Baòares, Jr. (PA), Reynaldo M. Aquino (PA), Earl D. Baliao (PA), Cresente Q. Maligmat (PA), David B. Diciano, Sr. (PA), Matias M. Bernardo (PA), Jessie Mario B. Dosado (PA), Danilo P. Gomez (PA), Andrew M. Breganio (PA), Gener P. Del Rosario (PA), Rainier L. Tamisin (PA), Noel A. Detoito (PA), Alvin Francis A. Javier (PA), Tyne T. Baòas (PA), Arnel M. Duco (PAF), Dionisio L. Robles (PAF), Raul Jesus L. Caldez (PN-M), Nicolas V. Pasion, Jr. (PA), Aniceto D. Vicente (PA), Ariel R. Caculitan (PN-M), Romulo B. Lacatan (PA), Edgardo E. Mata (PA), Byron H. Calimag (PA), Milfredo M. Melegrito (PA), Diosdado C. Carreon (PA), Jose D. Caparas, Jr. (PA), Francisco C. Datalio Jr. (PA), Nestor S. Porlucas (PA), Eduardo L. Leonida (PA), Martin G. Villasan (PN-M), John Rex C. Palma (PA), Jess G. Estoesta (PAF), Lenard T. Agustin (PA), Felipe B. Bejar, Jr. (PA), Pedrito T. Daquipil (PA), Edgar L. Labitoria (PA), Felicisimo C. Budiongan (PA), Dionisio C. Baudin, Jr. (PA), Pascual Luis D. Bedia (PA), Pablo O. Manzano (PA), Arthur G. Baybayan (PAF), Raul V. Bautista (PA), Luis Vincent A. Tacderas (PA), Elias H. Escarcha (PA), Nathaniel Y. Casem (PN-M), Rodel Mauro R. Alarcon (PA), Rizaldo B. Limoso (PA), Roseller G. Murillo (PA), Felimon T. Santos, Jr. (PA), Sagat M. Bongolan (PA), Peale Jon L. Bondoc (PA), Ernesto M. Pascual (PA), Ricardo S. Santiago (PA), Alden C. Masagca (PA), Antonio G. Parlade, Jr. (PA), Gabriel M. Albuera (PA), Joselito B. Ramos (PAF), Jerry L. Primero (PA), Leoncio A. Cirunay, Jr. (PA), Ruben M. Laylo (PA), Samuel G. Gotico (PAF), Amor T. Agpalo (PA), Manuel C. Delgado, Jr. (PA), Adrian D. Sanchez, Jr. (PA), Emmanuel Anthon V. Ramos (PA), Nixon M. Fortes (PA), Edwin P. De Claro (PA), Wenceslao I. Tapawan (PA), Allen T. Paredes (PAF), Jeson P. Cabatbat (PN-M), Arthur B. Biyo (PN-M), Gilbert I. Gapay (PA), Diosdado G. Respecio (PA), Miguel T. Puyao, Jr. (PA), Raul M. Cestona (PA), Cirilito E. Sobejana (PA), Arnulfo R. Pajarillo (PA), Jorge B. Lomboy III (PA), Glorivine R. Dida (PA), Arwel R. Oropesa (PA), Errol Valentin G. Girolella (PA), Fernando T. Trinidad (PA), Alexander L. Macario (PA) - Colonel


The public may submit any information, written report or sworn complaints or oppositions in forty (40) copies on the above appointments to the CA Secretariat, 6th


Floor, PNB Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila.


For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 551-7532, 831- 0893, 831-1824, 834-2706, 831-1566 and 834-2713.


18 September 2010.


ARTURO L. TIU Secretary


MT – Sept. 18, 2010


Rosales said that with the “pos- sible malicious intent” from un- dertaking an abortion, the ugly part of life, he added, is again gaining the limelight since the fre- quency of aborted fetuses is pub- licly exposed. “The placing and exhibiting of aborted human fetuses in public places are not favored in other cul- tures, and decent people refuse to do the same,” he said. “If the expositions of discarded human fetuses are not done with


evil intent, then the practice alone of rampant abortion is sympto- matic of a grave moral decadence and irresponsible behavior that now seriously threaten the coun- try,” Rosales added. On Tuesday, a 5- to 7-month- old fetus wrapped in a green plas- tic bag was found inside the Ma- nila Cathedral in Intramuros, Ma- nila, at about 5 p.m. After one hour, devotees were shocked when another fetus was found at the doorstep of the Church


■ FIASCO FROM A1


HOSTAGE FIASCO


of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo. Authorities described the fetus as about 7 to 9 months old and was in a red shoe box when it was found by a churchgoer. The following day, a 7-month-old


fetus, wrapped in plastic and stuffed into a sack, was found in Catmon, Malabon City. The discovery of the three fetuses came after a newborn baby was found abandoned inside the toilet of a Gulf Air passenger jet that ar- rived from Bahrain on Sunday.


nium Challenge Corp. compact grant to the country.


During an economic business leaders’ conference, he announced that he had been given a copy of the hostage-taking report. “I’m halfway through the report,” Mr.


not want to preempt President Benigno Aquino 3rd. The IIRC, the official prober of the hos- tage-taking, submitted on Friday afternoon its 83-page report that includes its findings and recommendations on the incident to President Aquino.


The President received in Malacañang


the IIRC report at 4:15 p.m., Secretary Ricky Carandang of the Presidential Communications Strategic and Devel- opment Office said.


According to Secretary Carandang, the


Aquino government would have to provide the IIRC report to Beijing first, even infor- mally, before it can be made public. Carandang said one of the options be- ing considered is to furnish the Chinese Embassy a copy of the report but that has to be discussed first with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo.


He said the high level delegation will still formally present the report to Chinese and Hong Kong leaders but this will have to be done after President Aquino’s visit to US. President Aquino will leave for the US from September 20 to 26 to attend the United Nations General Assembly and the signing of the $434 million Millen-


Aquino said. “I’m actually at the point where [a] letter from the Ombudsman has been delivered.” He was referring to the letter from the Office of the Ombudsman that was rejected by the hostage-taker, dismissed police of- ficer Rolando Mendoza.


During the stand-off, Mendoza de- manded that the Ombudsman clear him of extortion charges and reinstate him to his old job.


The President said that he would be able to finish reading the investigation report after the business leaders‘ meeting. A visiting Canadian government official also on Friday said that he would like to look at the IIRC report. Jason Kenney, minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism, said that he had expressed to Mr. Aquino his wish to review the report.


On August 23, Mendoza hijacked a tour- ist bus with 22 Hong Kong tourists and three Filipinos aboard.


A bloody ending to the impasse that


played to the world on live television saw nine people killed—eight visitors and the hostage-taker.


Three of the fatalities were found to be holding Canadian passports while a young boy—also a Canadian citizen—was seri-


September 18, 1968 Ramos to ask Marcos to sign Sabah bill FOREIGN Secretary Narciso Ramos will urge President Ferdinand Marcos to sign the Sabah bill into law at the meeting of the Foreign Policy Council, in time for his attendance in a United Nations meeting. Ramos said he wants to hand-carry copies of the bill signed by the President.


»In The Manila Times


September 18, 1946 Legislation to recognize salary rights SEN. Enrique Magalona yesterday filed a bill seeking to recognize the right of all officers and employees of the Commonwealth government


“We are exhausting all means to get justice. That is why we filed the civil case, we have been waiting for too long, and it’s been 10 years. Sen. Lacson, for example, has gone into hiding, how much longer do we have to wait?” she asked.


Sabrina and Carina clarified that filing the civil case in the United States does not mean that they are losing hope in the Philippine judi- cial system. “We are still hoping. We have not lost hope. [President Benigno Aquino 3rd said in his] inaugura- tion speech [State of the Nation Address in July this year] that he will work to make the local justice sys- tem better,” Carina said.


Not let-up in fight vs. oil smugglers B


BY JOMAR CANLAS REPORTER


UREAU of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Angelito Alvarez on Friday assured the public that


Alvarez said that he has re-


nila Times, Alvarez said that he had a conference with the four largest oil firms in the Philippines where he got information that the government is losing about P20 billion in unpaid taxes because of oil smuggling. The four largest oil firms in the Philippines are Pilipinas Shell Pe- troleum Corp., Petron Corp., Chevron (formerly Caltex) Phil- ippines Inc. and Total (Philip- pines) Corp.


ceived reports that some officials in the Customs bureau are in ca- hoots with the oil smugglers in the country, which allows the lat- ter to get away with the non-pay- ment of taxes to the government. “Of course it takes two to tango. The oil smugglers cannot get out of it easily without the Customs officials who are in ca- hoots with them,” he added. Alvarez said that there will be no let-up against smugglers under his watch. But he admitted that pinning down an alleged smug- gler needs thorough investigation and documentation. “We have our strategies right


now to fight oil smuggling but it is not that easy, we have to get pa- per trails before we can pros- ecute,” he added.


Charged before the Justice de- partment on Friday were officials of Oillink namely Paul Chi Ting Co, chairman and owner; Esther Magleo, president; and Janice Co-


She and her sister Sabrina advised Estrada and the other accused to get a lawyer in the US so that they can answer the charges against them. Zshornack said that he expects the court to rule within a year on the civil suit.


During a separate interview with The Manila Times, Estrada also on Friday described as “desperate” the civil case slapped against him. He said that he only heard about the suit from the media.


Estrada insisted that he does not


have any involvement in the mur- der of Dacer or of the publicist’s driver Emmanuel Corbito in No- vember 2000. “Wala akong kinalaman diyan. Alam nila iyan. Alam niyo iyan [I don’t have anything to do with those killings. They know that. You know that],” he said. By “they,” the former president apparently was referring to the gov-


Reyes, importation and finance manager. Also charged were some Custom officials.


Oillink allegedly defrauded


the government of about P700 million in taxes and duties through an elaborate scheme of under-declaration and docu- ment falsification.


Based on the documents pro- vided by shipping company Malteses Motorship Highland, Oillink imported from South Ko- rea a total of 221,244.82 barrels equivalent to 29,454.375 metric tons of diesel fuel. The shipment arrived on July 21, 2004 at their terminal in Mariveles, Bataan. But Oillink acknowledged and paid duties for only 177,244.82 barrels, or nearly 44,000 barrels fewer than the volume indicated in the ship’s surveyor report. “BOC maintains that we have built an airtight case against Oillink International Corp. based on the authentic, credible and fac- tual pieces of evidence that had


ernment and by “you,” to the media. At the time of the murders, Lacson was concurrent head of the Philippine National Police and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force, the unit implicated in the killings.


Lacson, the principal suspect in the murders, fled the country on January 5, 2010, two days before the Department of Justice—then headed by Agnes Devanadera—filed two counts of murder against him before Branch 18 of the Regional Trial Court of Manila. A month later, the court issued an


arrest warrant against him. Rep. Jose Victor Ejercito of San Juan City (Metro Manila) again be- lied the accusation of the Dacer sis- ters that his father and former Presi- dent Estrada, was behind the Dacer- Corbito double murder. “That [allegation] is really absurd because it is not in the character of


■ VACANCIES FROM A1


been submitted to the DOJ. We are confident of winning this case,” Alvarez said.


Oillink denies charges Oillink said that the smuggling al-


legations made by Alvarez against them are “unfair.” “There is a statement made by the Customs commissioner that Oillink’s modus operandi was to break their shipment (down) into five parcels covered by different bills of lading but pay for only four parcels. This statement is unfair be- cause it is incorrect,” Britanico said. Oillink also questioned why the BOC is filing smuggling charges against them when the shipment of oil being investigated happened more than six years ago. “Obviously, this case is purely harassment. The Bureau of Customs should be more prudent in filing cases. If there was an investigation made, how come the officers of Oillink were not notified of the in- vestigation?” Britanico asked.


my father to be involved in such gruesome act,” Ejercito said in a text message to The Manila Times. In defending his father, Ejercito pointed out that even Roman Catholic Bishop Teodoro Bacani could attest that the former Presi- dent is not capable of committing such crime. “It is so unlikely for President Erap to be involved [in the kill- ings],” he said. The former mayor of San Juan City added that he believes his fa- ther will resort to legal action in dealing with the California dis- trict court. “Maybe we won’t [resort to le- gal action]. It [the former presi- dent being linked to the Dacer- Corbito case] will just die down because I don’t think people will believe it,” he said.


WITH REPORT FROM LLANESCA T. PANTI


MBC worries about govt vacancies


raised by Makati Business Club (MBC) Chairman Ramon del Rosario as he presented to President Aquino a report from business lead- ers and economic managers during a conference in Malacañang. “Leaving these key posts un- filled over a long period may also convey the impression of a lack of a sense of urgency, when in fact so many issues and problems are cry- ing for immediate attention,” del Rosario warned. “We almost made a mistake [in] appointing somebody to a key law- enforcement position and, to be honest with you, I’m fortunate to had a rethink of this particular in- dividual because daily I keep on getting reports [that] this indi- vidual does not have such stellar record and in fact is the complete opposite of what we want to achieve,” the President said. Mr. Aquino assured the business leaders that his administration is doing its best to full up those va- cant positions in the government. “We are having successes but get- ting the right people for all of these jobs is obviously not that easy given that there are very, very few perks and benefits that we can give to them,” he said. Del Rosario pointed to the need to increase investments to spur eco- nomic growth, review the labor code, formulate clear policies in power and mining, address tax eva- sion and smuggling, promote tour- ism and mitigate disasters. Mr. Aquino said that concerned agencies have promised to file cases against suspected smugglers and tax evaders.


According to him, he would ask Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to review the Labor Code.


The President said that a disaster- mitigation program is in place. “Our people are now better pre- pared to meet disasters and all it took was to replace one individual who believed he was God’s gift to the Filipino people,” he added. The President was referring to Dr. Prisco Nilo, whom he replaced as administrator of Philippine Atmos- pheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration because of Nilo’s “differences” with his imme- diate superior in the Department of Science and Technology. During the conference, he an- nounced that would convene the Judicial Executive Legislative Advi- sory and Consultative Council a week after his first official visit to the United States. Mr. Aquino will leave for the US on September 20 to attend the United Nations General Assembly and the signing of a $434-million Millennium Challenge Corp. com- pact grant to the country.


ously injured and is recuperating in a Hong Kong hospital.


The hostage-taking drama strained ties


between Manila and Beijing, which exer- cises jurisdiction over the Hong Kong Spe- cial Administrative Region. Kenney said that “Canadians were dis-


tressed” over the incident, adding that “measures should be taken to ensure that it [hostage-taking] will not happen again.” According to the Canadian minister,


there was “a breakdown in the system that needs to be rectified.” Various groups and individuals have criticized the Philippine government for its alleged mishandling of negotiations with Mendoza. Kenney, however, commended Mr.


Aquino for taking a lead role in initiating the official inquiry into the incident and “for his leadership.” The Department of Foreign Affairs also commended Philippine and Hong Kong police authorities for their “close cooperation” in connection with the official investigation. The Foreign Affairs, in particular, cited the police authorities for their efforts to secure testimonies from the survivors of the incident. “This [close cooperation] speaks well of the continuing strong and warm rela- tions between the peoples of the Philip- pines and Hong Kong,” it said in a state- ment also on Friday.


ROMMEL C. LONTAYAO, CRIS G. ODRONIA AND


BERNICE CAMILLE V. BAUZON


to the payment of their salaries and wages corresponding to the period of the Japanese occupation, from January 1, 1942 to February 26, 1945. The proposal is to fulfill a commitment made by the Osmeña administration to grant all loyal employees bonuses equivalent to three-years’ salary.


September 18, 1904


No more saloons in Intramuros A PROTEST against the granting of more licenses and the opening of more saloons in the Walled City has been presented to the Department of Licenses to be forwarded to the Manila board. The opening of a new saloon on Calle Real, in the old Campans building, called forth the protest that was signed by a number of residents.


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