EDITORIAL The price of Felonia’s freedom

Almost ten years since his detention and trial as the primary suspect in the celebrated murder case of businessman Richard King in 2014, Col. Leonardo Felonia finally walked into freedom on Tuesday.

With a decision handed down by the Regional Trial Court Branch 14 of Davao City through Presiding Judge Gerardo C. Braganza dated February 7, 2023, the Court ruled that the Prosecution failed to prove with moral certainty that Felonia was the Principal by Inducement in the murder.

The case may still drag on to appeal depending on what happens in the reglementary period to file an appeal by the prosecution.

Felonia’s acquittal was a result of a solid defense anchored on the weight of forensic evidence. In criminal cases, forensic evidence play a critical role in proving the innocence or guilt of a party. To Felonia’s advantage, object evidence presented by his team of counsel led by lawyer Caesar Europa Jr outweighed the testimonial evidence relied upon by the prosecution.

Objects don’t lie, as Europa would point out.

Nevertheless, we can expect the prosecution to take the case to the appellate court in the hope of reversing the decision. By the looks of it, this case is not going to end here.

Felonia has spent his last nine years behind bars where he should have completed his tour of duty as police officer. He has lost salary and benefits during those years he languished in jail. He was also denied off his chance to move up in the ranks of the PNP service.

Even as a free man, Felonia is unlikely to be reinstated as he is already of retirement age. That part of his saga will have to be left to his legal team handling the administrative side of his case.

This story has told us the sad fate of cops when faced with legal imbroglio. Yes there are bad cops and good cops as any basket of eggs will be. But it’s a reality and risk that men in uniform will have to face.

(Speech of Senator Risa Hontiveros at the international conference on “Transitional Justice in Bangsamoro: What’s Next?” organized by the ZFD Philippines and GIZ-CPS Philippines on February 8, 2023, Day 2 of the threeday conference in Davao City)

Greetings of peace and empowerment!

I would like to send my best wishes and express my solidarity with our friends from the government, the academe, civil society organizations, international partner organizations, along with everyone from the peace movement, who are taking part in the “Transitional Justice in Bangsamoro: What’s Next” conference led by ZFD Philippines and GIZ-CPS Philippines.

I am confident that today’s discussion on establishing transitional justice mechanisms in the Philippines will not only help us create or refine policies and strategies for achieving transitional justice, but also energize our efforts to institution-

Senator Risa Hontiveros Peacetalk

alize these policies and strategies as part of government initiatives to secure peace in the Bangsamoro.

Indeed, there is a great need for an effective and resilient transitional justice legal framework—one that will empower the state to address legitimate grievances and correct historic oppression, injustices and marginalization suffered by our brothers and sisters.

While setting up legal mechanisms for transitional justice were mandated by the explicit provisions of the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as well as the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the simple but undeniable fact is there can be no hope of achieving lasting peace without the justice being long sought by our kababayans in the Bangsamoro.

That was why in the 18th Congress, we filed the proposed “Transitional Justice and Reconciliation for the Bangsamoro and Indigenous Peoples in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Act.”

The said bill seeks to establish the National Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission for the Bangsamoro and Indigenous Peoples in the BARMM. The said commission will be tasked with addressing grievances such as historic injustices, human rights violations and marginalization through unjust dispossession of people’s territorial rights, propriety rights, and customary land tenure, among other means.

Under this proposed law, the government particularly commits to:

1) Taking appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures to prevent violations;

2) Investigating violations effectively and impartially, and to taking action against those allegedly responsible in accordance with domestic and international law;

3) Providing victims of a human rights or humanitarian law violation with equal and effective access to justice;

4) Providing effective remedies to victims; and

5) Providing guarantees of non-repetition.

Another salient feature of this bill is that it recognizes and protects the rights of non-Moro Indigenous Peoples within the BARMM, guarantees their inclusion in transitional justice mechanisms, and ensures equal protection of their rights in accordance with the 1987 Constitution and other laws like the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act.

The version of the “Transitional Justice and Reconciliation for the Bangsamoro and Indigenous Peoples in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Bill” which we filed in the Senate in the 18th Congress took into account the reports and findings of our friends from the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission.

For the 19th Congress, we are currently in the process of refiling and upgrading this bill, with new inputs from various stakeholders and in consideration of present and future developments in the BARMM and in the entire country.

Today’s discussion will surely help us further improve the “Transitional Justice and Reconciliation” Bill into the best version we can present to the nation, one that will best serve the interests of our kababayans, as well as genuine justice and lasting peace.

Friends, I know that the work ahead of us is filled with challenges and uncertainties. But we have already achieved so much for the cause of lasting peace and justice in the Philippines. Let’s continue to struggle, and to dare for peace and justice. The momentum of history is with us.

Once again, best wishes to everyone taking part in the “Transitional Justice in Bangsamoro: What’s Next” conference. Mabuhay ang kapayapaan, mabuhay ang BARMM, at mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

HELPLESSNESS AND POVERTY & VICE VERSA

“Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.”DALAI LAMA.

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Desperation and the instinct to survive are what force man to resort to whatever means his hands can lay on, sadly, regardless of the consequences.

In our case, since overseas work was introduced in the seventies to the Filipino worker in search of income and employment, the attraction of working abroad and the sizable income and compensation received in dollars have been incalculable and magnetic.

Sorry tales of families selling their small farm lots and animals to produce the money to pay for the services of a recruitment agency have been written, televised and filmed which have not deterred OFWs and their families from going abroad to work despite perilous circumstance and conditions.

The legislation and organization of the Department of Migrant Workers that took away the responsibility of looking after the welfare of oFWs from DOLE is much appreciated because theirs is specialized service geared to protect and enhance the working situation of millions of Pinoy workers abroad.

Much that the gory slaying of Juliebee Ranara, an OFW in Kuwait, touched anew a very sensitive chord in our moral discipline and consciousness.

Ranara’s death is the thirdif my memory serves me right - such slaying in Kuwait that prompted the DOLE in the previous administration to craft and forge a new agreement with Kuwaiti authorities for a better and much improved treatment of Pinoy workers, especially domestic helpers.

The senate hearing on Ranara’s murder ran emotionally high as Sens. Villanueva and

Tulfo took turns in berating the recruiting agency for the latter’s utter lack of concern and monitoring omission in promptly responding to assist Ranara and prevent what has now been a regretful result.

The call by the senators to impose a temporary ban on the deployment of OFWs in Kuwait was met with resistance from DMW Sec. Susan “Toots” Ople who, instead, sent a fact-finding team to Kuwait to assess and validate.

However, Ople ordered that the ban will apply on first time applicants for work assignment in Kuwait until everything settles down.

According to reports, the suspect has been in the custody of Kuwaiti authorities. As is practiced in most Muslim countries, if the aggrieved party agrees to receive monetary compensation for the grief and sorrow rendered upon the former, the criminal offense is voided and declared null, and the suspect is released from jail.

With the helplessness by which we learn and read of the situation the Ranara family is in, I wonder if my hunch could be correct.

I think the family and parents of the suspect will use all available remedies so that their son will not find himself behind bars and the family can thus avoid suffering indignities in their social circle.

As I see it, the DMW, who has OWWA and POEA as its attached agencies, has the tough task of reviewing the accreditation list of recruitment agencies engaged in the deployment of OFWs overseas so that there is no recurrence of the Ranara tragedy.

Sens. Villanueva and Tulfo were exasperated with the lame rationalization Ranara’s recruitment agency gave the senate committee.

You would have been, too if you witnessed and watched the proceedings on live TV or FB coverage.

It appears to me that OFWs are like a material commodity to be purchased, emailed and get paid via GCash.

This is how cheap Pinioy labor recruiters treat human lives.

For as long as they get paid handsomely with their commissions from their clients overseas, this is all they are more concerned about.

It is good that the license of Ranara’s recruitment agency has been promptly canceled and revoked.

This action will put all labor recruiters on their toes and hopefully OFWs will get more attention when they need assistance.

For this matter, we heard that nearly 300 OFWs in Turkey have been affected by the super 7.8 strong earthquake that claimed more than 6,000 lives - including children in both Turkey and Syria.

Helplessness and poverty (or vice versa) drive Pinoy families against the wall.

Kapit sa patalim, ika nga. (Email feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

SABONG... FROM 2

tina Gallera in March.

The New Davao Matina Gallera was tagged as the “ground zero” of the Covid-19 outbreak not only in Davao City but in Mindanao as well.

Meanwhile, Paguican reported that the Business Bureau surpassed last year’s output by generating 42,856 renewal applications, which is an increase of 4,017 compared to last year’s 38,839.

CITY... FROM 3 SERVICE... FROM 3

dance Competition at the Davao City Recreational Center on March 11; Araw ng Dabaw Sayaw Pinoy Folkdance Competition at

SM City Davao on March 12; Reyna Dabawenya coronation night at the RMC Petro Gazz Arena on March 15; Mutya ng Dabaw cor- also be affected by this service disruption. Also affected are customers along JP Laurel Avenue, from Davao Light Bajada Office to Flyover, and neighboring areas; as well as those along Buhangin-Lapanday Road from Flyover to Davao Basic Steel Inc, and neighboring areas.

Meanwhile, the normalization or return of loads back to their normal set-up will be for another 45 minutes, anytime between 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. on February 12, Sunday.

Specifically affected are customers along Mandug Road from Buhangin Central Elementary School to DMMA and neighboring areas; as well as those along Daang Maharlika Highway from Crossing Mamay Road to Orange Grove Hotel, and neighboring areas.

Also affected are customers along JP Laurel Avenue, from Davao Light Office to Flyover, and neighboring areas; as well as those along Buhangin-Lapanday Road from Flyover to Davao Basic Steel Inc, and neighboring areas.

Separately, an eighthour power interruption will be conducted from 10:00 p.m. on February 11, Saturday until 6:00 a.m. on February 12, Sunday.

Specifically affected are customers in some parts of Buhangin along Buhangin-Lapanday Road from Davao Basic Steel Inc to Buhangin Central Elementary School including Spring Valley, Sandawa Village, and Pag-asa Homes.

Davao Light apologizes for the inconvenience brought about by these scheduled power inter- onation night at the USEP Gymnasium on march 17; and Parada Dabawenyo from Roxas Avenue to Rizal Park on March 18. ruptions. But it will exert all efforts to restore electric service as scheduled or earlier. However, there may be instances where restoration may extend beyond the schedule due to unavoidable circumstances.

Safety is of paramount importance to the company and Davao Light reminds the public to always take extra precautions when passing by activity area/s where line repairs and maintenance are being done. Please heed and follow warning signs, especially in areas where personnel operate heavy equipment.

Please contact our 24/7 Customer Contact Service at 229-3572, 6553572 (Panabo), 0917864-2793 (Globe), or 0920-970-1357 (Smart) for any power interruption that will fall outside the given schedule.

CHITO MALABANAN JABONG!

Hail To The King

It happened in the third quarter of the regular season game between OKC Thunders and the Los Angeles Lakers. With barely 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter, Lebron executed a step back jumper that catapulted him to the top of the scoring record of the NBA. After months of anticipation and debate cum drama, its finally settled. Lebron James is the new King of Scoring.

I would stop my statement at this point. No my dear, I won’t dwell on the controversial GOAT for basketball. It’s highly debatable. Making scoring record history is no mean feat in this era of physical and highly technical basketball. Lebron deserves the accolade for breaking the record and his name is already cemented in basketball’s hall of fame for that feat.

The debate for basketball’s GOAT or Greatest

Of all Time is so intense and emotion filled since basketball is dominated by players with varying strong personalities and a very solid fan base. Unlike in Football where Tom Brady’s claim attracts less attention nor Lionel Messi who’s almost in equal footing with the great Pele, the GOAT for basketball as of press time is far from being settled. It will remain at that I guess for a long time.

In golf much has been said about the GOAT. Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus at the peak of their career have the inside track for the

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Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

But more than 20 years ago, the government and the MILF already have agreements that resulted in the creation of the GPHMILF Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), bodies that facilitate coordination to avoid misencounter between government troops and MILF forces.

Anayron said the delayed release of the soldiers was due to the late arrival of the government and MILF CCCH teams in Barangay Dilimbayan.

He said the government CCCH team led by Brig. Gen. Eduardo Gubat arrived at the MILF camp before lunch Wednesday while the title but none among them has been crowned the official title as the greatest of all time for this gentleman’s sport.

Tiger Woods has been hailed at the early part of his career as probably the greatest of all time when he started winning, dominating the sports and breaking records but nonetheless greatness in golf does not dwell only about records nor longevity but more weight has been factored for the character of the person. As we all knew, Tiger fell from grace when his extra curricular activities were exposed and when he started to get injured as father time caught up with him.

I am no Laker fan but I love Kobe Bryant and I adored Magic Johnson, my top choice as top point guard of all time. Lebron for me is only on transit in his jersey as a Laker but he won’t stay long and won’t be remembered as a Laker.

I am a fan of one great player, a charismatic person who floats in the air with those gravity defying, jaw dropping shots day in and day out. His acts were known on that era as Hangtime which reminds me of a favorite sports column I followed and idolized during those years. The same column that gave so much influence in my writing.

But enough of GOAT for basketball for the mean time. Let’s give our snappy salute to the new NBA scoring leader.

Hail to the King.

MILF team led by its chair, Butch Malang, arrived around 2 p.m.

“After a short talk, the soldiers were released and allowed to leave the MILF camp,” Anayron said.

Malang earlier coordinated with Gubat on what to do with the detained soldiers in barangay Dilimbayan.

“In this regard, we would like to seek your recommendation with regard to the proper handling of the said 39 soldiers in reference to existing ceasefire protocols,” Malang said in his note to Gubat.

Malang also said it was improper to say that MILF troops disarmed the government soldiers, but it was just a request to lay down the firearms as negotiations were being held.