Fewer yet bigger crimes - Robredo

Can litigants put a price tag on justice Philippine style? Murmurs buzzed when a Baguio city judge revealed that her husband was on the receiving end of cash contributions from a Camp John Hay lessee steeped in a hot dispute with state-run Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA).

The jaw-dropping admission came totally unexpected, and could open a can of worms with dirty money changing hands over business deals. Last week Judge Mona Lisa Tabora recused from a case of Camp John Hay Development Corp. versus BCDA since her husband Antonio, an ex-councilor, is a golf mate of the Sobrepeñas, owners of CJHDevco. Not only that, she divulged in open court, Antonio had received campaign donations from CJHDevco and director Jay Sobrepeña.

Judge Tabora made the disclosures three months after she issued a temporary restraining order against BCDA’s eviction of CJHDevco from the former US military base for non-payment of P3 billion in leases. When she fired off the TRO in January, reports swirled that Antonio, who owns a cockpit, and Sobrepeña were cockfight buddies. The TRO was then extended indefinitely.

By coming clean about her spouse’s ties to a litigant, Judge Tabora can squelch any more nasty talk about the case. Still, the BCDA needs to collect from the CJHDevco, which allegedly welched on its obligations two years after signing up in 1996 to develop Camp John Hay as a tourist resort and commercial-industrial estate.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is seeking to break the impasse via a House inquiry. He questions the indefinite length of a court TRO, and why CJHDevco has been untouchable.

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Those who know businessman Francis Chua can’t believe he was unruly in a Cathay Pacific airplane. That’s why his offloading Monday from a flight to Hong Kong drew sympathy and cries of discrimination against Chinese-Filipinos.

Chua flies CP at least once a month, using his airline privilege card for first or business class. After buckling up the compulsory lap seatbelt, he is usually exempted from using the extra chest harness at takeoff, like in a flight two weeks back. Poorly designed, he winces, it tends to slide to the neck and choke the passenger.

Donald Dee, Zest Air chairman and former PCCI head, says when a passenger divulges a health condition, say claustrophobia that in this case makes Chua suffocate from a chest yoke, the cabin crew must offer a seat transfer, at least during takeoff. Lester Lino, of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, adds that a frequent flier and privilege cardholder should be afforded better treatment. Exporters Confederation head Sergio Ortiz Luis wonders why one flight attendant had let Chua not use the chest bind but another was adamant that he wear it or be thrown out. Industrialists Tomas Tan and Alfonso Sy aver that Chua, an honorary envoy to Peru and China, wouldn’t hurt a fly.

A philanthropist, Chua had negotiated the transfer of the old Girls’ Town in Bacood, Manila, to the Tzu Chi foundation’s medical-dental charity clinics.

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First, the good news from Interior Sec. Jesse Robredo: there were lesser crimes in the first quarter of 2012 than in last year’s. Now the bad news: the fewer crimes were more sensational. And we add: big cases of the past remain unclosed. Like, tomorrow is the fifth anniversary of the abduction and forced disappearance in broad daylight in Quezon City of farmer-leader Jonas Burgos. Likewise, it’s been six years since the illegal detention and consequent disappearance of UP student activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño. Only the perseverance of their parents in seeking justice is preventing these cases from gathering cobwebs.

Robredo says crime reports dropped nearly 17 percent to 55,680 in the first three months of 2012 from the same period last year. Index crimes — homicide, rape, robbery, burglary, grave assault, car theft, arson — fell almost 20 percent to 34,043. Improved police crime solving perhaps deterred willful offenses against persons and property.

The interior secretary admits that, from the roster of fewer crimes, there were more “high-profile cases.” One was the murder of action star Ramgen Revilla, half-brother of a senator, allegedly by his own siblings. Another, the break-in at the house of banker Bobby Aguirre and killing of his bodyguards. Also, the robbery and killing of tourists and motorists.

Not to forget, there were also kidnappings for ransom of foreigners — by lawmen. Too, illegal arrests of Filipinos for extortion — again by cops. A saving grace is that upright detectives swiftly solved the crimes, on prodding by investigative journalists, like Ramon Tulfo.

“R-I-T” murders persist. Motorcyclist-assassins, riding-in-tandem as investigators note, move in close to targets, fire at point-blank range, then make easy getaways through traffic. Incidents used to peak during elections, when politicos strive to eliminate rivals by foul play. Then guns-for-hire took to targeting businessmen hated by competitors, and broadcasters who expose corruption in their locales. Of late Murder Inc. has become a cottage industry. Just about anyone can pull a contract for as low as P20,000 against a courtship rival, a petty office thief, or a noisy neighbor.

The murders happen everywhere. Being national in scope, the PNP has the duty to devise a plan against “R-I-T.” Such plan must begin with profiling the killers, allegedly toughies from Abra, Cavite, or anywhere. Ace detectives have gangland tipsters on bosses, hideouts and hangouts. The PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group have devolved to field units the responsibility to curb R-I-T gangs. That’s one reason the murders go on. Only some aspects can be left for local cops to implement, like recurrent checkpoints of motorcyclists with back-riders. Central data gathering still needs to be done: compiling and comparing fingerprints and ballistics records, case analyzing, and swift arrests.

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The General Garcia case, ZTE scam, NAIA-3 construction anomalies, Diwalwal gold rush lawlessness, and Philippine Sea intrusions continue to bug our nation. Learn why, from Exposés: Investigative Reporting for Clean Government. The compilation of selected Gotcha columns details the corruption (and treason?) behind these and more issues. Available at most National Bookstore and Powerbooks branches.

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