So where the heck is Ivler?

Wait a minute. Where the heck is Jason Ivler? Do Filipinos even still remember this fugitive American? More importantly, are Philippine law enforcement agents even still looking for him?

It is understandable that with so many earth-shaking developments hounding the country and its political and social institutions, much of the public attention should be focused on these developments.

But Ivler is not someone we should gloss over despite the many pressing issues that have preoccupied the nation’s attention these past couple of weeks. If you have seen Ivler gloating on tv in connection with a previous incident, you may want to find him too.

Ivler is a 28-year-old American from Hawaii who to this day has managed to elude police after having been charged in connection with the road-rage killing of a son of no less than a Cabinet undersecretary.

Ivler is considered a dangerous man, having been involved in a previous homicide case that also proceeded from a traffic altercation. Apparently this Ivler thinks he is the king of the road, an assumption no doubt stirred by the fact that his car sports diplomatic plates.

Ivler is the son of the sister of famous folk singer Freddie Aguilar, whose world-famous “Anak” ironically could have been all about his troublesome nephew. His stepfather is an official of the Asian Development Bank, hence the blue plates.

According to police records, based on witnesses’ accounts, Ivler got involved in a traffic accident with a car driven by Renato Ebarle Jr., the son of Renato Ebarle, the assistant chief of staff at Malacañang.

The accident reportedly led to a heated argument, and a subsequent chase, in which Ivler caught up with Ebarle Jr. and shot him to death. A complaint for murder has been filed against Ivler as a result.

The diplomatic plates assiged to the car of Ivler’s stepfather Stephen Pollard does not extend any diplomatic immunity to him and he is subject to arrest when seen, that is if the law still manages to catch up with him.

Described as armed and dangerous in the various bulletins issued following his escape, Ivler is also wanted on a separate charge of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide in connection with a 2004 car crash that also killed a senior official of the Palace.

    Ivler was actually arrested that year while trying to flee to Malaysia but later jumped bail. It was during that arrest in which Ivler was seen on tv smiling and singing, as if happy with what he had done.

That picture of Ivler suggests a very disturbed man who should not be allowed to roam freely in the streets. He is clearly a menace to society and should be better off smiling and singing behind bars.

Unfortunately, nothing has been heard of him since. It appears that his case has been overtaken by events far more pressing to the authorities. But while there is no doubt about that, Ivler still cannot be allowed to just vanish as if nothing has happened.

The authorities cannot allow themselves to become so engrossed with the Ampatuans and martial law that they forget about other matters that still require their dedicated attention. For instance, Ivler could be out of the country by now, smiling and singing.