RedBlueThoughts

I fully agree with what Tulfo wrote in his column today: AFP Chief of Staff Esperon should resign his post. Or, opt for early retirement.

You know why some sectors close to the President is demanding for Esperon’s head? They want to delimit the powers and influence of former president FVR. Yes, that’s the plan of these people.

Paging the CIA………..Oust GMA now!

ON TARGET
A derelict of society at the NBI
By Ramon Tulfo
Inquirer
Last updated 04:10am (Mla time) 08/07/2007
Air Force Capt. Ferdinand Liwag, a helicopter pilot of the Tactical Operations Group based in Sulu, said in a sworn statement that he was in contact with ground troops during the ambush of Marines in Basilan.

Liwag’s affidavit belies claims by military higher-ups that there was faulty communication between the beleaguered Marines and the planes and helicopters sent to reinforce them.

Now, the question is why didn’t Liwag’s chopper fire at the attackers below?

If Liwag is recalled to Manila to testify, a can of worms will be opened about the military’s greatest humiliation in recent years.

* * *

I fully agree with fellow columnist Ramon J. Farolan who said in yesterday’s issue of the Inquirer that the higher-ups in the Armed Forces should take responsibility for the Basilan fiasco.

Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, AFP chief of staff; Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, Western Mindanao Command chief; and Maj. Gen. Nelson Allaga, Marine commandant should resign.

But the problem is some people have no sense of shame.

* * *

The incompetence of people at the top in the military totem pole seeps down to the soldiers in the field, as the Basilan fiasco has shown.

Likewise, corruption in the higher echelons at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) makes for some corrupt agents at the bottom rung of the premier law enforcement agency.

NBI top and middle-level executives don’t like to be ordered around by Reynaldo Esmeralda, deputy director for regional services.

These NBI top honchos say Esmeralda doesn’t have the moral authority to lead them since he was once a derelict of society.

Records show that on Sept. 9, 1993, NBI Director Epimaco Velasco dismissed then Special Agent Esmeralda from the service for grave misconduct.

Esmeralda was allegedly supplying guns to a kidnap-for-ransom and car-theft syndicate led by Arturo Atayde.

After an exhaustive investigation by his peers, Esmeralda was also found to have been involved in the killing of two members of Atayde’s gang for stealing some of the guns he allegedly lent the group.

Esmeralda, however, was acquitted by the courts. He used his acquittal as basis for his reinstatement.

“Mr. Tulfo, he’s at it again, believe me. You’re our only hope in exposing Esmeralda,” said an NBI official.

Esmeralda allegedly got his position because of his closeness to a prominent public figure.

More on Esmeralda in subsequent columns.

* * *

The appointment of Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Ruben Reyes to the Supreme Court recently was not a loss to minor functionaries at the appellate court.

“It’s good riddance for us, Mon,” said an appeal court employee.
Reyes, he said, didn’t think of the welfare of the small employees at the court, but of his own and his daughter’s.

Last Christmas, Reyes allegedly used up all the money intended for bonuses of court employees to buy new service cars for his fellow justices, according to the CA employee.

Why did Presiding Justice Reyes do that? Because he was allegedly courting subordinate justices so they would agree to the appointment of his daughter as division clerk of court in the appeals court.
She got the position last January.

* * *

Here’s a tidbit on the happenings at the Court of Appeals: If a litigant wants to get a favorable decision in 30 minutes flat, all he or she has to do is give money to a corrupt justice.

This particular justice has been described by insiders as one with a “heart of stone” in rendering decisions.

He doesn’t care about the merits of a case, only how much a litigant can give him.

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