Celso delos Angeles Jr.

Why is Celso de los Angeles still not in jail? His lawyer, Atty. Noel Malaya says that Celso de los Angeles suffers from cancer. Whatta? Celso got cancer after people got wind of his syndicated or Ponzi scheme? Like Joc-Joc Bolante before him, Celso went to St. Luke’s Medical Center to avoid incarceration. St. Luke’s Medical Center is really having the reputation of being the “safe haven” of big-time schemers and scammers in this country.

Unlike Joc-Joc though, Celso will have to face the music though. Joc-Joc escaped prosecution because he knows many things and his crime was simply gift-giving—giving many syndicate members at the DA and in this administration billions of pesos worth of liquid fertilizers. Celso’s case is different. Aside from having links only as far as the Vice President’s office, Celso scammed even his closest friends. If Joc-Joc got only 700 million pesos, Celso’s scheme netted him 14 billion pesos. Wow.

What’s surprising, Celso and his lawyers just discovered that he has cancer shortly after learning a judge ruled in his behest a few days ago? Remember that previous to this, Celso even went to Sto. Domingo town in Albay to “resume his duties as mayor”.  Residents of Sto Domingo did not seem to know that he has cancer.Now, after a few days, he suddenly went sick. Wow. Talk about transformations.

Is Celso and his lawyers plan to “wait it out” for Celso to reach the age of 70 years old to avoid jail time? Under the law, the courts would be constrained not to incarcerate De los Angeles due to “humanitarian reasons”. Is that the reason for the hospital arrest?

I would just believe Atty. Noel Malaya’s words that this is not the case, if he’ll allow his client to spend his time in jail while waiting for his next chemotheraphy session.

With her over at Feshan was one Jimmy Paule, allegedly an official at the Provincial government of Antipolo and reportedly an uncle of DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno. Paule was the designated “snitch” of Malacanang to reportedly monitor the movements of Aytona and Bolante. While fertilizer scam whistleblower Jose Barredo Jr. worked as Bolante’s courier. It was Barredo’s testimony before the Senate (which was confirmed by Rebecca Aquino, a board member of the Provincial government of Sorsogon) that blew open Bolante’s illicit trade.

Where is Aytona? Why is the Senate not ordering her immediate arrest? Aytona should be made to appear before the Senate and asked to reveal the truth. Otherwise, the DA syndicate might just get hold of her and murder her, like what happened to Esperat and another DA employee whose entire family was massacred by this syndicate.

Some insights about Aytona. Maritess “Tess” Aytona hails from Marikina. She formerly dabbled in the medicine business and met Bolante through some acquiantances. Aytona is said to have very strong connections with Bulacan-based mayors.

We all know that the minority has been gunning for Villar’s ouster since a year ago. The Opposition would have been the new majority had some “oppositionists”, in the likes of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano not went over the fence and sided with the Villar camp, who, obviously is linked in some ways with the palace. It seems that the compromise involves senators treating Bolante like a kid and allow him to go home (and possibly scot-free?) in exchange for 3 additional votes from the administration block.

That explains why during the Joc-Joc Bolante probe, there were some administration senators who abstained from the hearings. Are Senators, especially from the minority, agreeable to just go thru the motions and eventually drop the prospect of a deeper Bolante probe in exchange for Villar’s ouster? Last hearing, there were suggestions that personalities connected with Bolante, like former DA Secretary Cito Lorenzo be asked to appear at the Senate. Will the minority senators still pursue this matter as vigorously as what they promised before? How about those suggestions that former Senate President Franklin Drilon be made to appear at the Senate as a witness? Will this be sacrificed as well?

What the minority had not realized is that this new configuration at the Senate imperils the chances of the People opposed to charter change. With Enrile at the helm of the Upper Chamber, and the possibility of the Cayetano siblings staying with the administration block, the chances of Malacanang railroading the proceedings at the Senate remains high. Enrile is an obviously administration lackey and with the votes with him, what would prevent Malacanang from forcefully pressing cha-cha down our throats this time?

The DA Syndicate operates like a mafia inside the Department of Agriculture. Sources say those close to DA Secretary Arthur Yap are allegedly the ones maintaining the syndicate. The syndicate controls not just the DA but also the National Food Authority (NFA).

Calling the Sparrows, the Patriots and the YOUng. Make some samples out of these men. Kawawa naman mga magsasaka natin if they’ll continue to control the DA.

1. Who ordered him to think of this fertilizer program when his previous experience is in insurance?

2. Where’s the bulk of the money?

3. Why did he decide to hide all these years if he really, did’nt commit any irregularity?

4. Who is he protecting?

These and more, I hope, Joc-Joc Bolante answers very truthfully. Otherwise, this would probably explode in his face.

Joc-Joc must realize that he’s now protecting his family, not just himself. If he continues to clam up, he may yet escape prosecution, but not his family. If he dies, his wife better change her surname fast.

Is JOc-Joc now ashamed that he brought infamy to the Bolante surname? Prior to his stint in government, he was a high executive of Prudential INsurance. Now, look at him. The very invocation of the word “Bolante” elicits two different reactions from people.

Those who are aware and want some justice done, Bolante means “high crime”, “thief” and “liar”. Those who are aware and are just nonchalant about it, Bolante for them means ” a joke”.

Joc-Joc needs to clear his name. He needs to let it all out. Tamaan na ang dapat tamaan.

Joc-Joc should speak out against the mastermind of this fertilizer scam. He might be the architect, yes. But there’s someone out there who really prodded him to deprive the poor farmers of their fertilizers and their tractors.

By the way, if you want to know the latest news on the impeachment of Gloria, check out this very entertaining site http://ousttheimp.wordpress.com and http://suyakana.blogspot.com. Very entertaining and informative. I have’nt met this Immanuelle Peach. She’s very creative.

Question–did the Filipino People made these controversies all up? Were we the ones who…

1. Stole 3 billion pesos to fund a very controversial Hello Garci election scandal?
2. Got 6.5 million for a trip of eight PNP generals?
3. Caused the failure of a peace pact with Bangsamoro rebels?
4. Nearly stole 8 billion pesos from a deficient ZTE telecommunications deals?
5. Selling Philippine patrimony to foreigners?
6. Denuding our forests to satisfy the resource requirements of emerging economies such as giant China?
7. Promoted nepotism and destroyed professionalism in the career services?
8. Allowed the pardon of convicted rapists, murderers and sadists?

Let me re-publish one letter to the editor sent by an Inquirer reader here:

‘Godmother’ rules Philippine ‘gangland’ 

 

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:15:00 11/01/2008

 

Most Read

It’s really dismaying to watch the news and read the papers. An agriculture official diverted fertilizer funds for election purposes, a top election official sealed a deal to modernize elections with a bogus company, and a presidential candidate called an election commissioner during the canvassing of votes.

Let’s not forget a US Marine/rapist was smuggled out of Philippine jurisdiction, a convicted plunderer was pardoned, and an arrogant murderer was recently granted clemency. Now a former police comptroller is under fire for carrying more cash than allowed in Russia or anywhere but here. Slowly but surely our country is beginning to look like a very bad movie—except that it’s real.

I suggest we drop all pretenses and just declare once and for all that we no longer deserve the name “Republika ng Pilipinas.”

Our beautiful Philippines is looking more and more like a gangland. It’s now home to the most successful Mafia-like syndicate there is in any part of the world. Just like in the movies, the syndicate’s bosses appear respectable, they go to church on Sundays, and have nice real mansions, clothes and cars. But here, unlike anywhere else, they also run our country.

Here they can have you abducted or killed in broad daylight, especially if you (a) are an activist and (b) a journalist critical of government anomalies, or for no particular reason at all. Here they drive around in those big SUVs with armed escorts who will not hesitate to bully anyone who gets in their way.

Yes, they belong to The Family that rules the country. This Family is headed by a godmother, who is also the patron of convicted rapists, plunderers, murderers and election cheats. Human rights? They can’t be found around these parts of the planet.

JOSHUA REY P. CENTRO (via email)

Strategy? Avoid staying at the Senate holding area and ask for hospital arrest. The Senate is not his comfort zone. He’s vulnerable there. He can’t receive instructions from his “friends”. Besides, the proper forum that he intends to show up is where he’s comfortable at—the Office of the Ombusman. 

The Office of the Ombusman would speed up their investigation, allow Bolante hospital arrest and possibly coming up with a decision that would find reasonable doubt to prosecute Bolante. Bolante will be given a jail term, a short one, and all’s settle and done with. Before Arroyo goes on indefinite sabbatical in 2010, he’ll be given a quiet reprieve and he’s scot-free. What’s a year or two of staying in the Bilibid or at QC jail or even his jail term spent in a hospital? He already suffered two and a half years of incarceration in the States. What’s a year of hospital arrest?

Is this possible? Yes. The only thing that separates Joc-Joc and his handlers from getting what they want is public indignation. Going by their experience with Neri,  a good measure of “pamasko” spread among those who cover and report about this helps a lot in neutralizing any public indignation. Besides, survey says, Filipinos just get angry for three and a half days and afterwards, they just forget about it. Joc-Joc is not a showbiz personality. If he was, then, expect this issue to last even a year, with people talking about this for a looong time. 

But this is politics. And in politics, a week is just too long for anything to happen.

Pang Famas award

Controversial Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante arrived just past 10:30 pm at the NAIA. Looking older and slimmer, Bolante was on a wheelchair and being secured by what ABS-CBN correspondent Don Tagala said as “uniformed personnel” (which turned out to be Senate security personnel).

Henry Omaga-Diaz of ABS-CBN channel 2 caught Joc-Joc before he went out of the plane and he looks fine. However, when he went out of the tube, he’s already wheel-chair bound. Talk about scripted theatrics. Joc-Joc and his handlers would just want to be “consistent” with the pre-arrival statement they wrote, obviously a ploy to justify Bolante’s stay in an hospital.

It appears that Joc-Joc lost weight in jail. His hair all turned grey. He’s older but probably still not wiser.

He seems stressed and appears harangue. Maybe due to the long flight, but not because of a serious illness.What’s obvious about this is the apparent subtle “protection” he seems to be enjoying right from disembarkation.

It appears that he’ll ask to be transported to a hospital, feigning illness. Nonetheless, lest we be deceived again, Joc-Joc actually can stand on his own and appears in good health. His weight loss could be the result of anxieties after losing his appeal for asylum in America and what fate really awaits him upon his return.

What’s certain is this–Bolante has to account for the following sins against the People:

• Account for 728 million released to him via the fertilizer project under the GMA (Ginintuang Masaganang Ani) program
  
• Account for the 1.1 billion pesos released to him through the GMA livestock, etc, program
  
• Account for 1.54 billion pesos released to him via the agri tractors program

Right now, he’s being taken cared of at St. Luke’s Medical Center after he complained of chest pains. Bolante was taken by uniformed security personnel and rode an ambulance. It appears that there was a prior arrangement with the hospital, since reports show that there’s a room waiting for Bolante. There, in the suite where Bolante is expected to be brought, waits his wife and kids. At the airport, Bolante was met by one of his children.

The Senate lawyer, part of the Chamber’s sergeant at arms office, says they have sent their security personnel to secure Bolante. However, it’s uncertain whether they will actually succeed in arresting Bolante.

It appears that Bolante still enjoys the protection of the Powers-That-Be. It’s very clear that Bolante would not do a Lozada, not in the immediate future. Why do I say that?

Who ordered that elaborate security arrangement for Bolante? Bolante’s not a government official anymore, yet he enjoyed strict and tight security befitting a president.

Who secured those arrangements after his disembarkation? Who masterminded that he be brought to St. Luke’s Medical Center, away from the prying eyes of the media? 

My friends, expect another coverup. We may never know where our money went. Bolante, obviously, chose to do a Neri. And the mafia gang which he protected all these years is there to help him.

just help me figure this thing out…

justice secretary raul gonzales says, Joc-joc bolante can’t be arrested because there’s no pending warrant for his arrest. the senate, for its part, says the same thing. bolante is not anymore a government official. he’s considered as a ‘fugitive” from the law, if former senator magsaysay jr. is to be believed, basing on their investigation. the ombusman also said, they are still trying to figure out what case to file against bolante.

question–why is bolante to be turned over to the bureau of immigration and deportation and subsequently to the national bureau of investigation? likewise, i thought bolante is now “on his own”. why is there an official letter coming from the government’s corporate legal counsel reportedly standing as his representative to the supreme court?

bolante enjoys no immunity. he’s not a government official to have escorts. he did’nt violate any immigration law and as gonzales is to be believed, he’s not even a criminal. so, what’s the nbi arresting team for?

again, the palace is playing another word play.