Day: January 12, 2009

Philip Kimpo, son of State Prosecutor Philip I. Kimpo, sent me his letter to Philippine Star.

It’s important that we listen to both sides so, please check this out:

http://thecorsarius.multiply.com/journal/item/42/My_Letter_to_The_Philippine_Star

http://thecorsarius.multiply.com/journal/item/43/If_PDEA_Has_Its_Incorruptible_Major_How_About_DOJs_Honest_Prosecutor

I’ll write about this later. I’m just rushing to an interview.

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Several names have come up as the connections that the parents of Richard Brodett, one of the suspects in the September 2008 Ayala Alabang drug buy bust, tapped to free him and his two friends, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson.

Officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said the lobbying came loaded with multi-million peso offers.

It did not matter if one was in or out of the government as long as he was willing to say the word like former Navotas Rep. Ricky Sandoval.

Golf, supposedly a game of honorable men, provided an important link in this despicable affair that that further ravaged the people’s faith in the justice system. PDEA director general Dionisio Santiago said Sandoval, aside from being a townmate, is a golfing buddy. Sandoval, on the other hand, said that it was through golf that he met Butch Brodett, the father of Richard.

Santiago said a few months back, Sandoval called him up and asked, “Pare, ano’ng balita? May magagawa pa ba?”

Santiago said he told Sandoval the case is with DOJ and therefore out of his hands. That’s why it was at DOJ that the Brodetts next focused their lobbying.

Another Brodett brother, Phillip, also activated connections to free Richard and his friends. Phillip, a former government representative in the anomaly-riddled Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation, called up Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor to ask for his help in lobbying with PDEA for the release of his nephew before Christmas.

At that time, the Brodetts’ connection had apparently worked with the DOJ because a resolution had been issued dismissing the case against the three. The resolution, which also states that Brodett, Joseph and Tecson should be released, was prepared by State Prosecutor John Resado, State Senior Prosecutor Philip Kimpo, and Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño.

The three prosecutors said in the past, the decision whether to release the accused or not before charges are filed are made only at the level of the chief state prosecutor despite Memorandum Circular 46 which requires approval of the secretary of justice in cases involving illegal drugs and other crimes punishable by imprisonment of more than five years.

PDEA lawyer Alvaro Lazaro recalled the following conversation with Resado on Dec. 19 when he was informed about the resolution ordering the release of the three suspects:

Lazaro: Bakit nagkabaligtaran? Sabi mo i-file na ang complaint.

Resado: Delikado. Huwag tayo sa telepono mag-usap.

Lazaro: Bakit?

Resado: Kasi si Chief Prosecutor Zuño ang pumirma.

Blancaflor, who is known as Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita’s man at DOJ (he used to be defense undersecretary) takes charge of anti-terrorism, and human rights matters. His job does not cover illegal drugs. Yet when Phillip called him up about the release of his nephew involved in illegal drugs, he didn’t hesitate to talk with Major Ferdinand Marcelino, head of agency’s Special Enforcement Service.

Blancaflor said the Marine officer on detail with PDEA told him that they are not releasing the three until the Justice Secretary affirmed the resolution as provided for in DOJ Memo 46. He said he relayed Marcelino’s answer to Phillip.

Despite that conversation with Marcelino, Blancaflor did messengerial service again for the lawyer of suspects, Felisberto Verano Jr., who is his fraternity brother at the Ateneo. Verano was also a law professor of State Prosecutor John Resado.

Blancaflor allowed his secretary to bring to the office of Gonzalez the release order prepared by Verano on DOJ letterhead.

The sordid drama of injustice to the Filipino people is still unfolding and we can be sure that we will be hearing new names in the coming days.

If Phillip Brodett tried to tap someone who he barely knows like Blancaflor, I would be surprised if he did not try to seek help from his former fellow Philcomsat directors like Benito Araneta, cousin and frequent travelling companion of Mike Arroyo.

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