Country asks - what gives?

The start of the New Year has stirred a lot of events that could seem to be a denouncement headed toward a possible a major historical event. Possibly even the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. That may seem like the dream of an oppositionist. But I am not anti-GMA, just an interested observer of what's happening around.

Take the case of the increasing boldness of the Oakwood mutiny members. First, you have Capt. Nicanor Faeldon who, not only called for GMA's ouster, but has been reportedly invading AFP camps in various parts of the country

Then, you have the mystifying escape of the four other officers. This was followed by the cancellation of the President's visit to Bicol purportedly because of the reported escape of the four but claimed by some quarters as due to coup jitters.

Then, you have the Senate hearings where witnesses claimed that two audio recordings presented during the Senate hearing supposedly revealed that a lot of other personalities had also been tapped, indicating the possibility that personnel of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Force of the Philippines, had been employed in monitoring telephone conversations of prominent political personalities.

That, pointed out Senator Rodolfo Biazon, chair of the Senate's defense and security committee, showed that ISAFP was really used for political purposes. The fact that former NICA chief, Maj. Gen. Rodolfo Canieso, testified that his son's phone also had been tapped is a very serious turn of events.

The relevations, including that of former Senator Gregorio Honasan, whose phone was also tapped, "tend to force the Armed Forces and its agencies to take a political stand."

Senate President Franklin Drilon called the wiretapping of Honasan as a sign of the military's disregard for the Senate as an institution.

The most pointed remark came from Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

"The worst part of this whole thing is that the military has lost its political character," Enrile stressed.

All these and more seem aimed at stoking flames of disloyalty to the President among the military.

If these succeed, there's going to be hell to pay.

****

The two resolutions of the qualified theft charges against Dionela Villacastel, secretary of Ernesto Divinagracia, earned her a stiff 80 years jail sentence and an order to repay her former employer P2 million.

That's one for the books. And it must sent chills along the spines of trusted employees who may still be filching from the accounts of their employees.

A hard lesson, but necessary. Although, as pointed out by the decision by Judge Gorgonio Ybañez, Dionela pulled the job by taking varying amounts of money weekly by depositing in the current account of Divinagracia's store less than what she had withdrawn from the savings account.

In short, Divinagracia must have taken a long time to discover that he had been had.

That's the period from January 1977 to July 15, 2000. A long time for her theft to have been discovered.

Still, as they say, the truth will come out. And it did. Now, other than her appeal, Dionela can expect spending a lot of time ruing her acts.

***

The case of Rosalinda Zayco and Uncle Michael Zayco having brought home to Bacolod the five children of Francisco (Bobby) Tan and Cynthia Zayco-Tan may actually not be explained easily as just the concern of distraught relations to take care of the orphaned children.

It now seems that Conchita Tan, the mother of Bobby, and another relative had also denounced the action not only as arbitrary but actually kidnapping.

The five children are Raffy, 17; sisters, Karen, 15; Kirstine, 13, and Kathleen, 1; plus another sibling.

Two sons of Bobby - Archie, 23 and Jan Michael, 18 - had been charged before the Iloilo Prosecutor's Office by the CIDG of double murder and parricide.

Both, however, attended the Thursday requiem mass for Tan and his family members and also joined in the funeral. The remains of the Tan family were interred at the Forest Lake Memorial Park in Iloilo.

Well, that heralds a possible prolonged court case if the Tan family decides to push through with their accusation against the Zaycos.*

back to top