It's only January and so many killings already

Allow me to share one of those proudest moments of one's life, when my son Jesus Valeriano (JV) called me up yesterday morning to tell me that he is now a Captain Avila for he finally made his first solo flight, with his flight instructor Capt. Nikki Layola getting off the plane at the Maasin runway and taking the video shots of JV's taking off with the Cessna 152 RPC-1009 from the Cheyn Air Flying school of Capt. Jeram Sarmiento. Thanks Capt. Jeram for all your support and making me a proud father!

Yes, JV has done what my father prevented me from becoming… a pilot, which is why I allowed him to take flying lessons, so he could fulfill the dream that remains a dream in me. As my readers know, Capt. JV started flying with Aviatours until the unexpected crash of its President and CEO Capt. Jessup Bahinting forced the closure of this aviation school. It is sad that January is almost over and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has not given its nod to allow the Aviatours Flying School to resume its operations.

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Speaking of being a proud father, early morning Tuesday during the 888 Forum, we already learned about that shooting incident that happened at the Palace of Justice. But it was only later in the afternoon that I learned that our uncle Atty. Eddy Rosello (unfortunately, The Freeman reporter misspelled his name as Rosillo due to a former report with the similar name) was right in the midst of this shooting incident. Radioman Choy Torralba told me about Tio Eddy's bravery especially in the line of fire when everyone ran out of the courtroom to look for cover.

Well, now it can be told that this incident happened right inside the courtroom when a deranged Canadian Mr. John Pope (whom we now know was an undesirable alien who should have been deported already) shot and killed Dr. Rene Rafols and his lawyer Atty. Juvian Achas. I talked with Tio Eddy yesterday and he told me that he had a chit-chat with the two just moments before the killer entered the courtroom. As he left the two to talk to another lawyer, Mr. Pope came inside the courtroom and started firing his guns. Atty. Juvian staggered and grabbed Atty. Rosello's arms and died in the arms of Tio Eddy.

Now whether Mr. Pope was frisked at the security area as he entered the Palace of Justice, we do not know. That he was able to bring two firearms in his person only proves that security in the court is very lax. Thanks to quick responding policemen, notably PO1 Uriel Hagupit, who came in just in time when Pope just shot at Assistant Prosecutor Ma. Theresa Casiño, he drew his gun and fired at the Canadian… who fell down and shot himself dead.

Now the radio airlanes are filled with stories about this incident. The Philippine Star even headlined it yesterday. First question we'd like to know is… can foreigners own and carry a gun in this country where even ordinary Filipinos have so many restrictions? Secondly… it is now known that Mr. Pope was a character and was already given deportation orders by the Immigration Officials…but why wasn't this deportation effected right away?

Incidentally, I chanced upon a report by Interaksyon.com (the online news of TV-5) that came out with a timeline of the numerous shootouts happening in this country which began with the still highly controversial Atimonan massacre on Jan. 6. Yes, I call it the Atimonan massacre because as Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila de Lima pointed out, “It was not a shootout…maybe an ambush or an execution.”

Alas, in order not to embarrass the Aquino administration, she did not want to use the word “massacre”. But all indications point to it being a massacre in the lines of the Ampatuan massacre. The only difference is it was perpetrated not by a deranged political warlord, but elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and a few soldiers.

Interaksyon.com pointed out, “Since January 1, no less than eight “shootouts”--- as reported by the police---have happened, with the final tally of 24 fatalities. Three more suspected criminals---the 22nd, 23rd and 24th---were added Tuesday to the list of casualties of what uniformed operatives claimed as an exchange of fire.”  But what I found really interesting was when they said, "All the slain suspects, except one, yielded cheap “paltik” .38 caliber revolvers, manufactured and sold by local gunsmiths based in Danao.”

Most criminals use different types of weapons… but this report only shows that except for one, those involved in the shootouts used a Danao-made Paltik. This leads me to suspect that perhaps, these guns were planted by the police to make it look like a shootout…but the truth could really be… that all these shootings were a rubout. 

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