Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Para sa mga biktima ng Maguindanao massacre at mga naulila ng mga ito
Kasama ninyo ako at ang buong bayan sa pagluluksa at paggunita ng napakadilim na yugto na ito sa ating kasaysayan. Isang taon ang nakalipas at tila tumigil ang pag-ikot ng mundo, gaya ng pagtigil nito nang maganap ang 'di mapapatawad na krimeng nagbuwis ng 58 inosenteng buhay. Gagawin namin ang aming buong makakaya upang hindi makalimutan kailanman na, minsan, kayang maging halimaw ang taong hayok sa kapangyarihan at isipin na kaya nitong kumitil ng buhay na walang takot.
Bubuhayin natin ang ala-alang ito upang magsilbing babala na hindi na natin muling hahayaang magkaroon ng ganitong klaseng halimaw sa ating bayan. Gagawin rin natin ang buong makakaya upang ating makamit ang tunay na hustisya at muling buhayin ang pag-asa na sa ating bayan, bawat Pilipino ay pantay at patas sa mata ng batas.
Bubuhayin natin ang ala-alang ito upang magsilbing babala na hindi na natin muling hahayaang magkaroon ng ganitong klaseng halimaw sa ating bayan. Gagawin rin natin ang buong makakaya upang ating makamit ang tunay na hustisya at muling buhayin ang pag-asa na sa ating bayan, bawat Pilipino ay pantay at patas sa mata ng batas.
Monday, November 22, 2010
MAGPAPARAMDAM KAMI SA INYO: ISANG TAON MATAPOS ANG MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE
Limampu't walong (58) kaluluwa ang binulabog noong Nobyembre 23, 2009 nang isang iglap, ngunit 365 na araw na ang nakaraan ay hindi pa natatahimik ang mga ito. Kaya ang mga ito, lahat ng kamag-anak nito, at lahat kami na nag-aalala at nagmamatyag sa kahihinatnan ng kasong ito ay patuloy na magpaparamdam sa mga kinauukulan.
Hindi namin pagpapahingahin ang mga miyembro ng korte hangga't hindi lubusang maparusahan ang mga maysala. Inuulit namin ang panawagang ipalabas ng live ang Maguindanao massacre trial upang magkaroon ng transparency, at mas magiging mabilis ang pag-usod ng kaso kapag ito ay nabantayan ng media. Nandiyan na rin ang panukalang gawing dalawang beses sa isang linggo ang pagdinig sa kaso. Sa dami ng mga testigo, kung 'di tayo gagawa ng paraan, ay tila luluwa na ang ating mga mata e wala pa ring makakamit na tunay na hustisya ang mga biktima.
Bukod sa lahat, nananawagan tayo sa administrasyon na tuparin ang pangako nitong buwagin ang sistema ng private armies na siyang ugat ng problema ng karahasan sa kanayunan. Kung hindi natin gagawin ito ay 'di malayong maulit muli ang ganitong karimarimarim na insidente.
Hindi namin pagpapahingahin ang mga miyembro ng korte hangga't hindi lubusang maparusahan ang mga maysala. Inuulit namin ang panawagang ipalabas ng live ang Maguindanao massacre trial upang magkaroon ng transparency, at mas magiging mabilis ang pag-usod ng kaso kapag ito ay nabantayan ng media. Nandiyan na rin ang panukalang gawing dalawang beses sa isang linggo ang pagdinig sa kaso. Sa dami ng mga testigo, kung 'di tayo gagawa ng paraan, ay tila luluwa na ang ating mga mata e wala pa ring makakamit na tunay na hustisya ang mga biktima.
Bukod sa lahat, nananawagan tayo sa administrasyon na tuparin ang pangako nitong buwagin ang sistema ng private armies na siyang ugat ng problema ng karahasan sa kanayunan. Kung hindi natin gagawin ito ay 'di malayong maulit muli ang ganitong karimarimarim na insidente.
Sa dami ng mga testigo, kung 'di tayo gagawa ng paraan, ay tila luluwa na ang ating mga mata e wala pa ring makakamit na tunay na hustisya ang mga biktima.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The Maguindanao Massacre trial should be broadcast LIVE in the interest of the public
On November 23, we will be commemorating the first year of the most gruesome massacre in recent Philippine history. The Maguindanao massacre, as we now call it, claimed 57 lives--over half (34) of which were of journalists who were there to cover an election-related story.
Just yesterday, DOJ Secretary Laila de Lima was quoted by news reports as saying that the Maguindanao Massacre trial would speed up soon, with twice-a-week trials instead of just weekly trials.
I believe that having the trial twice a week is the right step to take. Furthermore, I believe that it would be in the best interest of our judiciary to have transparency in the judicial process, especially in such an unprecedented case of brutality that captured the attention of the international media. The Constitution recognizes the right of the people to public information on matter of public concern.
If we have it twice a week, and if we make that transparent by broadcasting the trial live, then that would facilitate the speedy dispensation of justice because the court knows that the whole world will be watching.
I have thus filed Senate Resolution No. 186, "expressing the sense of the Senate that the Maguindanao Massacre trial should be made public through radio and television coverage of the court proceedings."
We also would like to caution the courts to not play into the delaying tactics of the defense.
The prosecution has 227 witnesses while the defense has 373. May mga nababalita pang mga delaying tactics. Hindi yata maganda ang tinatakbo ng kaso. Isang taon na ang nakalipas. Namatayan na nga tayo ng isang prosecutor (Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera died of a heart attack Nov 4, 2010). Kung gagapang ang kaso ng matagal, e tila 'di natin makakamtan ang tunay na hustisya.
My fear is that this dark moment in our history will be trivialized as years pass. The government is duty-bound to uphold the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. While the accused is entitled to due process, the victims, their families and more importantly, the public also have the right to be informed of the actual, transparent and impartial court proceedings.
Just yesterday, DOJ Secretary Laila de Lima was quoted by news reports as saying that the Maguindanao Massacre trial would speed up soon, with twice-a-week trials instead of just weekly trials.
I believe that having the trial twice a week is the right step to take. Furthermore, I believe that it would be in the best interest of our judiciary to have transparency in the judicial process, especially in such an unprecedented case of brutality that captured the attention of the international media. The Constitution recognizes the right of the people to public information on matter of public concern.
If we have it twice a week, and if we make that transparent by broadcasting the trial live, then that would facilitate the speedy dispensation of justice because the court knows that the whole world will be watching.
I have thus filed Senate Resolution No. 186, "expressing the sense of the Senate that the Maguindanao Massacre trial should be made public through radio and television coverage of the court proceedings."
We also would like to caution the courts to not play into the delaying tactics of the defense.
The prosecution has 227 witnesses while the defense has 373. May mga nababalita pang mga delaying tactics. Hindi yata maganda ang tinatakbo ng kaso. Isang taon na ang nakalipas. Namatayan na nga tayo ng isang prosecutor (Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera died of a heart attack Nov 4, 2010). Kung gagapang ang kaso ng matagal, e tila 'di natin makakamtan ang tunay na hustisya.
My fear is that this dark moment in our history will be trivialized as years pass. The government is duty-bound to uphold the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. While the accused is entitled to due process, the victims, their families and more importantly, the public also have the right to be informed of the actual, transparent and impartial court proceedings.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Congratulations, Manny Pacquiao
In the world of boxing, it is indeed awe-inspiring that our very own Manny Pacquiao today stands 10 feet tall and represents the greatest in boxing throughout the world. He is in the same league as Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Mike Tyson and, yes, even Muhammad Ali. We are proud of his victory.
Friday, November 12, 2010
How do we pursue our hopes and dreams
How do we pursue our hopes and dreams for those we love, for our nation and our people? With unwavering relentlessness, sheer perseverance, enduring patience, dogged determination, ferocious consistency, passionate resolve, laser-like focus, immovable faith and undying love. All that for those which we hold dear and that which we believe in.
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