Raul Gonzales Blanco, super-fotbalistul echipei Real Madrid, s-a nascut pe data de 27 iunie 1977 la Madrid, Capitala Spaniei. Desi toata lumea il cunoaste drept un fotbalist ce a activat o viata pentru o singura echipa, Real Madrid, putini stiu ca Raul si-a petrecut o perioada din juniorat la rivala locala a Realului, Atletico Madrid. Dupa doi ani petrecuti in curtea lui Atletico, Raul a fost adus in 1992 la juniorii Realului. Doi ani mai tarziu a debutat pentru Real Madrid C, a treia echipa a clubului. Aici a inscris 16 goluri in 9 partide disputate, fapt ce l-a propulas rapid spre prima echipa a madrilenilor, acolo unde joaca de 15 ani si nimeni nu-l poate scoate din lot.

La ora actuala, Raul Gonzales reprezinta pentru mine cel mai mare fotbalist al tuturor timpurilor. Din punctul meu de vedere ar trebui sa fie un model atat in teren, cat si in afara acestuia, pentru orice tanar fotbalist - la fel ca Paolo Maldini. Un jucator serios, un talent viu, o adevarata legenda a fotbalului modern – asta este Raul Gonzales.

Palmares:

• 6 campionate ale Spaniei
• 6 Supercupe ale Spaniei
• 3 Ligi ale Campionilor
• 1 Supercupa a Europei
• 1 Cupa Intercontinentala
• golgetterul all-time al Primerei Division
• golgetterul all-time al Ligii Campionilor
• golgetterul all-time al clublui Real Madrid

Real Madrid kembali menipiskan jarak dengan Barcelona usai Real Valladolid dengan skor 4-2. Dilain pihak Barca ditahan imbang pasukan klelawar Mestala 0-0.

Gol-gol Madris pada pertandingan tersebut diantaranya diborong oleh Raul Gonzalez (menit 14 dan 18). Sedangkan dua gol lainnya disumbangkan oleh Marcelo (45) dan Gonzalo Higuain (79). Valladolid sediri hanya mampu membalas 2 gol melalui Nauzet Aleman di menit 29 dan Marquitos pada menit 53.

Dengan hasil ini Madrid menempel ketat Barcelona di posisi dua dengan hanya terpaut satu angka.

Pertandingan tersebut sangat special buat Pangeran Bernabeu Rau Gonzales. Selain menyumbangkan dua gol pertandingan tersebut juga mencatatkan penampilannya yang ke 711 bersama Los Blancos di seluruh kompetisi. Kini Raul menjadi pemegang rekor penampilan terbanyak menumbangkan rekor lama atas nama Manuel Sanchis.

Selamat buat Raul dan Madrid…!

David Beckham dan Cristiano Ronaldo, dua mantan pemain nomor 7 di MU yang mesti berganti nomor di Madrid.

Selama hampir dua dekade terakhir, Raul Gonzales telah menjadi legenda hidup Real Madrid dan sangat identik dengan kostum nomor 7. Tiada seorang pemain Madrid lain yang mungkin mengenakan nomor itu selama Raul masih bermain, sehebat apa pun dia. Hal itu telah terbukti ketika sekian tahun silam Madrid –di bawah presiden Florentino Perez- mendatangkan Luis Figo dan David Beckham. Kedua pemain bintang yang di klub sebelumnya dan timnas masing-masing tak lepas dari nomor 7 mesti mengalah berganti nomor. Figo akhirnya memilih nomor 10 dan Beckham bernomor 23 selama bermain di Madrid.

Ketika Florentino Perez kembali berkuasa di tahun 2009, sejumlah pemain hebat pun diincar akan direkrut Madrid. Uniknya, di antara mereka ada tiga pemain yang identik dengan nomor 7 lagi, yaitu : Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/Portugal), David Villa (Valencia/Spanyol), dan Franck Ribery (Bayern Muenchen). Pada pertengahan Juni 2009 baru Ronaldo yang positif akan bergabung dengan Madrid musim depan. Pemain terbaik dunia 2008 itu bahkan terkenal dengan nama CR7 pula, saking melekatnya nomor 7 dengan namanya. Di Madrid dapat dipastikan dia mesti menanggalkan nomor saktinya itu. Bisa saja Ronaldo tetap mengenakan nomor 7 sekiranya Raul hijrah ke klub lain, tapi kemungkinannya tentu sangat kecil. Entah kelak Villa dan Ribery jadi bergabung dengan Madrid atau tidak, tapi klub terbaik abad ke-20 itu ternyata memang hobi mengoleksi pemain bintang bernomor 7.

* Tulisan ini dimuat di rubrik Interaktif majalah BolaVaganza No.93/Juli 2009.

Crisitiano Ronaldo kini menjadi CR9 di Real Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo sudah identik sekali dengan kostum nomor 7, baik di Manchester United maupun di timnas Portugal (pasca pensiunnya Luis Figo). Layaklah sekiranya Pemain Terbaik Dunia 2008 itu dikenal pula dengan nama CR7. Tapi di Real Madrid, CR7 mesti menanggalkan nomor kebanggaannya. Mustahil dia bernomor 7 selama Raul Gonzales, legenda hidup Los Blancos masih bermain. Ronaldo pun mengenakan nomor 9 di klub anyarnya. Jadi kini CR7 telah berganti identitas menjadi CR9, setidaknya di tingkat klub. Ronaldo mungkin masih akan tetap bernomor 7 ketika memperkuat Portugal.

Lazimnya pemain nomor 9 selalu berposisi sebagai penyerang murni. Demikian pula yang selama ini membela Madrid, seperti : Alfredo di Stefano, Hugo Sanchez, Davor Suker, Fernando Morientes, dan Ronaldo (Brasil) dikenal sebagai penyerang hebat di masanya. CR9 sendiri merupakan penyerang sayap, kendati dalam soal mencetak gol ia tak kalah produktif dengan striker top dunia mana pun. Buktinya, top scorer Liga Primer Inggris dan Liga Champion Eropa pernah diraihnya ketika memperkuat Manchester United.

Meski banyak pemain hebat bernomor 9 di Madrid, namun setelah Ronaldo (Brasil), nomor 9 dipakai oleh Roberto Soldado dan Javier Saviola yang sama sekali tidak bersinar bersama Los Blancos. Menjadi tugas CR9 untuk mengembalikan nomor 9 kepada takdir sejatinya, yaitu menjadi milik pemain-pemain terbaik yang membawa kejayaan bagi Real Madrid.

Perubahan lain dalam diri Ronaldo -sejak pindah ke Madrid- adalah kostum yang dipakainya. Sebagai salah satu ikon Nike, ia selalu mengenakan kostum bermerek Nike ketika memperkuat MU maupun timnas Portugal. Namun bersama Madrid, CR9 mau tidak mau mesti menggunakan kostum bermerek Adidas. Tentu bakal untung besarlah Adidas jika kostum CR9 laku di pasaran dan giliran Nike yang gigit jari kehilangan pendapatan.

Yang masih kita tunggu bersama adalah bagaimana skema permainan Los Galacticos di bawah pelatih Manuel Pellegrini dan akan bermain di posisi mana CR9 nanti.

Sumber foto : www.zimbio.com

]]> http://jariusbondoc.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/gma-candidacy-can-hasten-her-downfall/ Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:22:27 +0000 Vikky http://jariusbondoc.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/gma-candidacy-can-hasten-her-downfall/

GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc The Philippine Star,  June 22, 2009

Drugs. That, insiders aver, is the reason Raul Gonzalez was removed as Secretary of Justice. President Arroyo was livid with his actions on three big drug cases. First, he agreed to dismiss charges against the Alabang Boys in the wake of exposure of likely bribery to do so. Then, he sat on the case of the Balasan Boys in the midst of findings that they’re close to his protégé, the Iloilo head prosecutor. Lastly, he dropped from the complaint sheet the financier of the Naguilian, La Union, shabu lab operated by the Dagupan police chief. Apparently Gonzalez had misread how serious Arroyo was with her anti-narcotics drive.

Had she known, Arroyo might have gone wild over a fourth case. It resurfaced from Gonzalez’s odder actions just before relinquishing office.

Gonzalez’s transfer as presidential chief legal counsel should have taken effect June 4. But, sources say, he asked successor Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera for a week’s delay, purportedly to clean out his stuff. Late Wednesday, June 10th, Department of Justice personnel frantically text-messaged their counterparts at the Office of the Solicitor General. “Di lang pala sa Pasig may (shabu) tiangge; dito sa DOJ may tiangge ng resolusyon (ng kaso),” it went, “Not only in Pasig is there a (shabu) flea market after all, at the DOJ there’s now a flea market of (case) resolutions.” Early the next day the OSG staff went to the DOJ to inspect. Shocked, they found dozens of midnight decisions, signed the week just past and ready for registered-mailing. The OSG crew stopped the dispatching of the resolutions. On review they found that some had no requisite bar code, since the coder was busted. One case had two contrary conclusions, both signed for delivery to opposing parties. Several decisions already had been sent out before the OSG detected the mess. One of the intercepted rulings was for the PCGG to return Imelda Marcos’s confiscated jewelry.

Devanadera finally assumed office on Monday the 15th. Because the S-O-S text mentioned the Pasig shabu tiangge, she reportedly called in the three plucky female prosecutors on case. Murmurs at the DOJ are that Gonzalez had wanted them to go light on indicted shabu den owner Amin Boratong, but that they refused. He had even ordered them to drop out of the prosecuting team, but they found a loophole in his memo to justify their stay. Now backed by a new chief, the trio was glad the pressuring is over. Colleagues similarly situated were happy too that the new woman at the top seems determined to bring back to the DOJ its lost glory. Devanadera had halted the PCGG from returning the Marcos jewels because of pending court cases, and ordered a review of the Naguilian drug rap.

Devanadera had a pending application to fill up one of two Supreme Court vacancies when tapped to replace Gonzalez. She’ll have to postpone that dream till the next vacancies come in succession in four months or so. Meantime, she has that short a time to re-up the DOJ’s battered morale.

* * *

Executive Sec. Ed Ermita is twisting in the wind defending wrong. It’s a supreme act of humility on the part of President Arroyo, he babbles about her running for representative after reaching the pinnacle of power. Purportedly that way Arroyo would be able to help more indigents. Her congressman-son Mikey is twisting harder. One moment he’s feigning ignorance of his mom’s congressional bid, then the next gladly offering her his Pampanga district. All this, after ex-President Ramos crossly advised Arroyo to stop titillating the public about her secret political plans via Con-Ass. Commonsensical, Arroyo can help more people not by representing a little district but by stepping down in 2010 to do global charity work. But she needs to stay in power to avoid indictment for graft and death squads.

Two legal issues are being bandied about. Arroyo allies exult that no law bars a President from running for lower office, or requires her to resign to do so. Critics counter that she can still be charged with plunder and mass murder since congressional immunity covers only offenses with less than six years’ sentence.

Law Dean Amado Valdez presents a third legal item. Upon filing candidacy, he reminds, Arroyo will place herself under the Election Code. Stripped of presidential immunity, she can be charged for any violation of poll rules. Immunity is indivisible. She cannot lose immunity from election suits but remain immune from other cases. In short, once she becomes open to poll raps, she’s open also to others, say, about appointing subs or signing treaties. So in the seven months from candidacy filing to last day of tenure, a much-indicted Arroyo would be unable to govern. Such inability, like Erap Estrada’s “constructive resignation,” could hasten her power demise.

What’s Arroyo’s option? She should at the very least go on leave till her term ends, Valdez says, than risk removal on grounds of voluntary renunciation and disability.”

* * *

E-mail: jariusbondoc@workmail.com

SAPOL Ni Jarius Bondoc Pili[ino Star Ngayon,  June 22, 2009

DROGA. ‘Yan, ayon sa sources, ang isyu kaya tinanggal si Raul Gonzalez bilang Secretary of Justice. Nagalit si President Arroyo dahil sa iginawi ni Gonzalez sa tatlong kasong droga. Una, kinatigan niya ang paglaglag ng kaso laban sa Alabang Boys, gayong lantad nang malamang nagkasuhulan para dito. Ikalawa, inupuan niya ang kaso ng Balasan Boys sa kabila ng ebidensiyang malapit sila sa Iloilo provincial prosecutor na bata-bata ni Gonzalez. Ikatlo, inalis ni Gonzalez sa charge sheet ang financier ng shabu sa Naguilian, La Union, na pinatatakbo ng hepe ng pulis-Dagupan. Hindi umano natantiya ni Gonzalez na seryoso si Arroyo sa proyektong sugpuin ang salot na droga.

Muntik pang naging apat ang kasong drogang ikina-galit ni Arroyo. Kasi, Hunyo 4 pa dapat naging epektibo ang paglipat ni Gonzalez bilang presidential chief legal counsel at pag-angat ni Solicitor General Agnes Deva­dadera bilang justice secretary — kaya lang humingi si Gonzalez kay Devanadera ng isang linggong palugit para magligpit umano ng gamit. Nu’ng Miyerkoles, Hunyo 10, nag-text ang mga taga-DOJ na babala sa staff ni Devanadera sa OSG: “Di lang pala sa Pasig may (shabu) tiangge; dito sa DOJ ngayon may tiangge ng desisyon.” Kinabukasan agad inalam ng OSA staff kung ano ang nangyayari. Laking gulat nilang nalaman na dose-dosena palang desisyon ang pinirmahan ni Gonzalez sa loob ng isang linggong hininging palugit. Pinahinto ng staff ang pagpapadala ng mga desisyon via registered mail. Nang repasuhin nila, anong laking anomalya ang natuklasan: May mga kaso na dala-dalawa ang desisyon — magka­salungat at pabor sa magkatunggaling panig. Parang pinagkitaan, kumbaga. Ang masaklap, ilan sa mga desisyon ay naipalabas na bago pa man maawat ng OSG staff. Ilan sa naawat na resolusyon ay ang pag­soli ng PCGG kay Imelda Marcos ng mga nakaw na alahas.

Dahil nabanggit sa S-O-S text ang Pasig shabu tiangge, pinulong ni Deva­nadera ang tatlong matata­pang na babaeng prosecutors ng case.

Ipinaabot sa kanya ang tuwa ng prosecutors sa pagrereporma niya sa DOJ.

Cristiano Ronaldo sangat mungkin tidak bernomor 7 di Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo sangat identik dengan kostum nomor 7, baik di Manchester United maupun di timnas Portugal (pasca pensiunnya Luis Figo). Tak salah jika pemain terbaik dunia 2008 itu dikenal pula dengan nama CR7. Musim 2009/10 Ronaldo akan tampil bersama Real Madrid, klub terbarunya. Tapi sangat mungkin dia tidak akan menggunakan kostum nomor 7 lagi, selama masih ada Raul Gonzales di Madrid. Kita tahu bahwa Raul, sang legenda hidup Madrid juga identik sekali dengan nomor 7 dan mustahil melepaskan nomor itu sebelum dia pensiun. Kabarnya Ronaldo sudah ditawari untuk menggunakan nomor 9, yang dulu pernah pula dipakai oleh Ronaldo (dari Brasil). Jadi tidak akan ada CR7 di Madrid, karena mungkin akan menjadi CR9, CR10, CR17, atau yang lain.

So the government has spoken — through acting Justic Secretary Agnes Devenadera — that the Madame will not be getting her divine jewel collection.  Not yet.

Not this…

10-carat canary yellow diamond and huge southsea pearl pendant/brooch

this…

20-carat ruby cabochon and diamonds in white gold

…nor this.

Diamond choker with 15 5-carat each Colombian emeralds (75-carats total) and 50 carats worth of diamonds in platinum.

Photos by Diana J. Limjoco

These jewels, part of the prized Roumeliotes collection, were confiscated by the Bureau of Customs from Greek Demetriou Roumeliotes who tried smuggling them out of the country on March 9, 1986.  Two other collections — the Malacanang and Honolulu jewels — were being kept at the vaults of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.  Auction houses Christie’s of New York and Sotheby’s of London estimated the three collections to be worth P15 billion.

My gawd! P15-billion!

Madame’s lawyer, however, said that his client is after the Malacanang and Honolulu collections.

Gloria Arroyo’s men are leaving her, her Cabinet men that is.

But it’s not a confidence crisis but simply the reality that they are individuals whose calling it is “to be a man for others,”

Among those leaving the GMA Cabinet, those nurturing dreans of high office are her Defense Secretary, Gilbert Teodoro who says “it’s the presidency or bust” and Interior and Local Government secretary Ronaldo Puno

Up to three-fourths of the members of GMA’s official family are resigning to beat the November 30 deadline for political wannabees to file certificates of candidacy in next year’s polls.

Yes they are leaving her side in the hope of being reborn as Senators, or at worse, Congressmen.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20090601-208159/DOJ-chief-quits-runs-for-Iloilo-mayor

First out of the door is Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales who’s gunning to be the next mayor of his native Iloilo City.

These guys should be applauded really, no matter how one views how GMA herself has run our lives these past 9 years.

They must be able to chart their professional futures anew whatever may be the backlash, or benefit, of their close affiliation with Ate Glo.

To be fair, no serious questions against the integrity of  the GMA 8 have been  raised against any of them and even if there were any such are simply accusations absent the presentation of credible proof.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur is considered among GMA’s favorites, having been her student in business school while President is not only a well-respected journalist but also hails from the presidential bailiwick of Cebu.

Health Secretary Francisco Dugue has been earning plaudits for his handling of the swine flu scare and is a Kapampangan like his boss.

Secretary Puno is really his own man being a grizzled political tactician while rabidly loyal Gonzales is concededly the nemesis of all of Arroyo’s critics (which is probably while he’s not seeking national office but just wants to be city mayor).

Emducation boss Jesli Lapus has just been forced to cancell the allgedly anomalous PhP 400-M plus noodle purchases of the his department while Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman is not exactly the best friend of farmers ill-served by the agrarian reform program, not to mention is widely criticized bystander role in the golf course mauling incident involvimng his son, a Lanao town mayor.

Good luck gents.

As for any charges she herself may face after she leaves office, that’s for Mrs. Arroyo and her accomplices to wiggle out of.

(WARNING: THIS ARTICLE IS ONLY FOR ADULTS)

My goodness! Today’s showbiz headlines is about these two people who find for supremacy and battle to win the justice. And that’s how actress Katrina Halili and Dr. Hayden Kho are described today.

One silent day in 2007, they were in a house, both practicing for their Celebrity Duets (GMA-7 show) performance for the song “Careless Whisper” when Dr. Kho secretly recorded their practice, little did Halili knew it was a scandal. And both are wearing sexy clothes, too hot to say right? And yeah, nobody knew this video until just September this year, rumors spwarled around this scandal which both denied. Until one of Dr. Kho’s friends made the scandal into a DVD, which is copied by many people around Manila.

And the rest is history, just recently, the scandal was later revealed and some people began to appear regarding this, Sen. Bong Revilla once read a law which states the Medical Act and suggested to remove the license of Dr. Kho. After Revilla feeling upset about the scandal, Halili also began to appear and felt very sad about, leading her to talk with DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzales and Gabriela, who also gave her support.

But Dr. Kho, in the other hand, remained silent until a statement yesterday at Showbiz News Ngayon, a showbiz-news program aired on ABS-CBN Channel 2. He admitted that he will still remain at his profession as a doctor and still need some support by means of pray.

Meanwhile the issue is still ongoing, let’s catch up all the things happening about the scandal. Cheers!

As you all very well know, the Katrina Halili Hayden Kho Scandal has sparked a lot of attention, from the internet to our beloved senators and other politicians. Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. has called for the revocation of Kho’s medical license and promised to help the actress. The Malacañang palace has also criticized Kho and also promised to help. And lastly, our dear, dear Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, who was of no help to the Nicole Rape case, has offered his help to Halili.

Wow, the power of the legislative, executive, and judiciary has offered their help to Ms. Halili. My question is, where was the power of these 3 when Criselda Volks Scandal went out? Where were you guys when ordinary people’s scandal went out? Did you know that scandal is not only about consensual sex being video taped? They have involved rape, drugs, and alcohol on video and have you done anything? No, of course not. It won’t help you in the upcoming elections. It won’t give you television air-time for helping an unknown girl get justice.

If a victimized celebrity can have our government to join forces and take action, then shouldn’t our celebrities have the social obligation to be victimized?

Update: Two Lawmakers from the Gabriela group has now called for the investigation of other scandals like the La Salle Scandal, Cebu Bang Bang Scandal, and the Dumaguete Scandal. This is all good except for one tiny detail. Our dear lawmakers seems to not have watched any of the videos. They said the women in all these videos were unaware that they were videoed when they were in their intimate moments with their partners. Uhm, I don’t know about the Cebu Scandal, but if by La Salle scandal, they meant the one where the infamous “it works!” line was from, then the girl definitely knows she was being videotaped, this is also true about the Dumaguete Scandal as far as I know. While this doesn’t lessen the grievousness of the incident, it still makes our congressmen/women look dumb.

The Philippine Department of Justice, a high office tasked to uphold order and the rule of law in the country, has a new man added to its roster. He would serve as a “Special Assistant on Intelligence Matters.” And he happens to be a champion! In boxing, that is. He’s no other than Manny Pacquiao.

One should be worried about our, “Pambansang Kamao” and his interest in dipping into the dangerous waters of public office. He was tore in half and went into depression at the time when the nation’s two major networks were arguing over him. From there, we can only guess what kind of emotional whirlpool and distress would sweep Manny if ever he gets into a realm driven by manipulative and educated people we call politics.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. is most likely right when he said that Sec. Raul Gonzales is only sucking up to Pacquiao for endorsement and association. And it probably goes beyond Gonzales. The likes of Environment Secretary Atienza and President Arroyo come to mind.

You’re better of  clean without the dirt of political affiliation written all over you. And like the Bible says, “Bad company corrupts good character.” Any person wouldn’t want to be linked to those who are “corrupt” and be identified as one of them himself. Pacman, you’re doing a bang-up job as ambassador of peace and understanding. Let’s keep it at that.

Note: This blog has been nominated as Filipino Blog of the Week. Your votes would be deeply appreciated. You may do so by going here and tick “foolishsociety” in the poll found at the sidebar. You can vote once daily. Thank you so much, dear deader!

GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc, The Philippine Star, May 04, 2009

Expectedly Arroyo officials are muddling the issue of ZTE scam whistleblower Jun Lozada’s jailing. There’s Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez, disowning any admin role in the perjury rap filed against Lozada by ex-presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor. And there’s Palace spokesman Anthony Golez, yakking that the police only served an arrest warrant issued by an independent court.

Being both as nebulous as Defensor, the two need straightening out. Lozada’s detention can only be seen as harassment by the admin, because Defensor is very much its member. Gloria Arroyo appointed him recently as railways chief and special presidential adviser. He also remains the First Family’s favorite neighbor in Quezon City. In suing Lozada, he may intend self-vindication, but he’s also getting back at a detractor on behalf of the admin. Moreover, the claim of merely obeying court orders doesn’t wash, considering that the admin defies the judiciary in bigger cases. In the same week as Lozada’s arrest, Executive Sec. Ed Ermita refused to enforce the Sandiganbayan’s suspension of the mayor of Rodriguez, Rizal.

The Lozada issue is simple. Ever since he validated in Feb. 2008 the ZTE overpricing, authorities have slapped him with 16 court charges. By contrast, not one of those whom he linked to the $329-million anomaly — Gloria and Mike Arroyo, Romy Neri, Leandro Mendoza, Peter Favila, Ben Abalos — have been indicted. Neither have those who bribed or ordered him to avoid or fib in Congress — Defensor, Lito Atienza, Manuel Gaite — been investigated. Yet Lozada’s wife too has been sued for perjury — by the police colonel-stranger who had picked him up at the airport supposedly to be taken home 15 minutes away via a circuitous route of five hours.

The better to point up the injustice, Lozada opts to not post bail. This riles Gonzalez and Golez, who rant that he’s challenging the rule of law. Lozada must post the P6,000 for his liberty as part of the legal process, they insist. Again they try to distract attention from the fact that the ZTE scam perpetrators remain free. Not to forget, the easiest way for Lozada to regain freedom is for Defensor to withdraw the lawsuit.

Defensor claims to be suing Lozada to clear his name for the sake of his four growing children. That’s debatable. As the 70-strong Former Senior Government Officials says: “What moral value does he hope to impart to his young children with his vain and obstinate defense of injured pride, while participating in the cover-up of gross abuses against our people and our laws? [He should] stop posturing as if he is the aggrieved person, even as he was clearly a participant in the cover-up of what became an aborted abduction of Lozada.”

For accusing Lozada of lying, Defensor’s checkered past is being raked up. Rep. Teddy Casiño recounts two times when Defensor told fantastic tales. One was the then-presidential chief of staff’s supposed rescue in 2003 of a Senate witness against Mike Arroyo’s hidden wealth, whom they then hid from further congressional grilling. The other was Defensor’s presentation in 2005 of a fake audio expert peddling the sham that it isn’t Gloria Arroyo’s voice in the Hello Garci tapes.

Actually there’s more. Defensor has yet to explain his participation in another scam. As Arroyo’s chief aide he had signed as witness in the July 2006 Malacañang contract that unconstitutionally gave ZTE International mining rights in Diwalwal and North Davao, Compostela. Copies of the deal are with the Senate. Justice department and Ombudsman prosecutors easily could have obtained the evidence to pin down Defensor, main signatory Favila, and authorizer Arroyo. Yet they’ve all been quicker going after crime exposer Lozada.

In sidebar, the Lozada episode inadvertently reveals quirks in the justice system. For one, the police cannot transfer detainee Lozada from its holding area to the city jail, nor can the Senate regain custody of its witness — all because the judge who ordered the arrest suddenly went on leave. So Lozada has to suffer asthma in a hot cell. Again by contrast, two healthy Swedes, nabbed in a raid of their cyber-sex den in Cagayan de Oro, have been granted special detention in air-conditioned hospital suites. Will Gonzalez and Golez blame that ironic twist on Lozada too?

* * *

Three weeks after the tragedy, the NBI finally is finding that Ted Failon’s wife’s death by gunshot was a suicide. Had they listened to the accounts of Trina’s sister and daughter, the cops would have reached the same conclusion. Sadly they heeded instead the intrigues of Raul Gonzalez and envious crabs in the media who were vilifying the popular Ted.

They’re no different from the talangka who wanted Manny Pacquiao to lose yesterday on the presumptuous notion that one more win would make him richer and hence haughty.

* * *

E-mail: jariusbondoc@workmail.com

The redoubtable secretary of justice, Raul Gonzales, is locking horns with the chief of his department’s own Public Attorneys Office for involving itself in the Failon gunslaying case but now he himself is turning the screws.

Gonzales claims having gotten a tio that a friend of Ted Failon, a certain Delfin Lee, “had helped move fatally stricken Trina Etong from the bathroom where the shooting took place.”

Such remark adds fuel to the various speculations about what really took place on the morning of April 14 in the Etong’s Tierra Pura residence.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=458731&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Other pieces of evidence police have in their hands now are the findings of police forensics examiners from the Etong bathroom, the calibre 38 Walther PPK pistol of Failon, Trina Etong’s handwritten letter to her husband, and the results of the paraffin tests on the Etong couple.

These are being appreciated in the context of four scenarios: suicide, parricide, murder, and homicide.

The element that is also in play is the claim of at least two “close friends” of Mrs. Etong who say she told them how she wanted to take her own life after the grsduation of one of two daughters because she “could not live with the thought that Ted would lose his trust if he fouynds out about her financial troubles.”

Failon himself has been summoned to appear before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office for the preliminary investigator of the police allegation that he “obstructed justice” when he failed to report the incident and allegedly told his household staff to keep mum about what happened on April 15.

The authorities are in what is called the case build up phase.

All this is happening as the Etong family is gathered at the wake for Trinidad Arteche Etong to pay her their final respects.

To many it all continues to seem like a bad, very bad, dream.

First up, lemme express my condolences to the Etong family — especially to Ted Failon — for the loss of his wife Trina.

But in the midst of the all-of-a-sudden media circus surrounding this suicide incident which has started since yesterday (I was in Dagupan City following the kick-off of the Dagupan Bangus Fiesta 2009 when news broke out), it should be noted that what stood out up to now is how the national police — specifically the Quezon City Police District — has been handling the case from the first instance.

And they’re handling it poorly, just like how they handled high-profiles cases with the result of an epic failure.  What else can we expect from what should’ve been considered as the protector of the common tao?

A replay of the scenes that led to the arrest of Ted Failon’s kin clearly shows that t here has been overkill by the police.  I would even singlehandedly think that what happened to them effectively turned the tide in this situation, leading to Trina’s death (look at the minute differential between the arrests and her death; it’s not even an hour).  Para bang ano bang gustong ipalabas ng pulis dito — nagsalita na ang pamilya ni TF lalo na ang anak nito na si Kaye — na suicide attempt ito, and yet these policemen are doing their very best to show that the broadcaster is the prime suspect behind all this and are furthering the “foul play” theory as if gusto nilang ipilit iyon sa taumbayan.

To make the already-bad matter worse, etong si Injustice Secretary Raul “Siraulo” Gonzales sumasakay pa.  Especially when he strongly echoed the police theory that the entire Etong household are suspects in the matter (epekto siguro ito ng gamot sa dialysis?  Why of all people he would dare conclude that when the police are still investigating the matter?  And who is he to judge — anyway he judges those who oppose his master as “enemies of the State”).  Can’t he just shut up, quit concluding and just let his underlings do their jobs?

Isama na dyan ang mga le*heng network war fanatics na sumasawsaw sa isyu sa Pinoyexchange.com … wala na nga kayong amor mga pakyu kayo!

Kung pwede ba, sana ay bigyan natin ng konting katahimikan ang pamilya Etong — let us leave them for a while so they grieve for this loss…then we all can talk sh*t and all these conspiracy theories after they bury Trina, but let’s still continue nitpicking though on the epic fail of the QCPD in handling the case…they just slapped their faces once again in front of the public, and us watching this mess go out of hand.

Since the update erupted last night, there have been varied reactions in the blogosphere.  Blogger Tonyo Cruz hit the nail right on its head with his blog:

“…This is only the latest in a long string of acts of police brutality, cruelty and abuse that are embedded in our minds. (This is perhaps one of the reasons why many Filipinos love the CSI programs on free TV and cable. We pine for a competent, thinking police force capable of solving crime. We are sick and tired of the bumbling cops faithfully portrayed in the movies — corrupt, pot-bellied or arrives at the crime scene only after the assailants have fled. We can only dream now as we watch those CSI programs and crime and suspense channels on cable.)”

Are you a reporter who cover Raul Gonzales or his office? Or do you know any reporter who covers him or his office?

If you are any of the two, please help us clarify with him the accusations of one of my blog readers, Joji Rojas, that Justice Raul Gonzales is sleeping on the murder case of Ramon Rojas, Vice Mayor of Ajuy, Iloilo, who was shot dead on May 22, 2008.

Vice Mayor Ramon Rojas was shot dead by a team of two assassins (allegedly Dennis “Totong” Cartagena and Edgar Cordero) who were riding a motor cycle. His murder would have reached its dead end had it not been for what happened on August 29, 2008 at around 7:30 PM in Butuan City.

On August 29, 2008, Cartagena and Cordero were ambushed where Cordero died while Cartagena survived and reported to the police. Cartagena introduced himself as DJ Herrera while Cordero as Dave Panisales. The Butuan City police discovered their real identity and a pending warrant of arrest against them for the murder of the Vice Mayor of Ajuy, Iloilo, Ramon Rojas.

Cartagena was arrested and brought back to Iloilo City where he revealed all he know about the murder of Ramon Rojas.

In his 6-page affidavit written in Hiligaynon, Cartagena said they shot Rojas to death “because we were paid by Vicente ‘Etik’ Espinosa alias ‘Bulldog’ of Brgy. Lanjagan, Ajuy, Iloilo.” Cartagena said he was a former bodyguard of Espinosa from April to May 2007 elections along with Rey Peña and Lindsey Buenavista. Right after the May 2007 elections, Cartagena said Espinosa has been plotting to kill Rojas. Aside from the vice mayor, the assassination plot also included provincial board member Jett Rojas, Ajuy Mayor Juancho Alvarez, Councilors Pepe Dumayao and Pepe Baterna and Punong Barangay Ronnie “Calis” Bañas. The plot was finalized April 2008 when Buenavista presented Cartagena to Espinosa at the latter’s house in Brgy. Lanjagan. “We met Vicente ‘Etik’ Espinosa and he told me and Buenavista that we will kill vice mayor Ramon Rojas and he gave us P8,000 for our allowance and surveillance expenses,” Cartagena said. For several days, Cartagena and Cordero monitored Rojas’s movements.

The hit happened around 5:30am of May 22 while Rojas was jogging on the highway at Brgy. Central. “When we reached Sitio Casamata which is sparsely populated, we drove near vice mayor Rojas and Edgar Cordero quickly shot him twice. Cordero then alighted from the motorcycle then chased and shot Rojas who was running towards the mahogany plantation. Then I saw Rojas fall to the ground but Cordero went near and repeatedly shot him,” Cartagena said. The duo then fled and proceeded to Barotac Viejo. They later learned from the radio that Rojas was dead.

Panlilio for President?
Pampanga governor Ed Panlilio’s supporters want him to run for president in 2010. Rumors say Panlilio is willing to accept the challenge if and only if every city and municipality in the country would open a quarry site.

Panlilio for President? II
Pampanga governor Ed Panlilio says he won’t leave the priesthood even if he runs for president. But that’s okay. After all, a number of our senators and congressmen didn’t leave the circus when they ran for Congress.

“Alabang Boys” Case
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has ordered the filing of charges against high-profile suspected drug dealers Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson otherwise known as the “Alabang Boys.” State prosecutor John Resado felt so guilty he decided to just return the 1.6 million pesos to the boys’ relatives.

“Alabang Boys” Case II
After more than six months, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has finally ordered the filing of charges against the Alabang Boys. When the news came out, Embassy Super Club co-owner Tim Yap received several text messages that read, “We’re sorry for your loss.”

Jalosjos Goes Malling
A couple of days after his release from prison, convicted rapist and former Zamboanga Del Norte congressman Romeo Jalosjos went to the mall. He spent an hour shopping, an hour eating, two hours at the movies, and half a day “strolling” at Toy Kingdom’s Barbie and Bratz dolls section.

Pacquiao Backtracks
A day after insisting that his May 2 fight will be shown on ABS-CBN, Manny Pacquiao backtracked and decided to honor his legally binding contract with Solar Sports. In a period of only four days, Pacquiao became Kapuso, Kapamilya, and Katawa-tawa.

ABS-CBN’s celebration was cut short when Manny Pacquiao decided to honor his contract with Solar Sports. Because of this development, ABS-CBN will no longer give a bonus to Dyan Castillejo.

Inquirer columnist Beth Celis said a lady brokered the aborted deal between Manny Pacquiao and ABS-CBN. Did I say ABS-CBN is no longer giving Dyan Castillejo a bonus?

In a press conference yesterday, Manny Pacquiao revealed that the statement he read during an ABS-CBN newscast insisting that his fight would be shown on the Kapamilya channel was actually prepared by representatives of the network. Sources say the prepared statement was actually drafted by the writers of “Maalaala Mo Kaya.”

Did you see Dyan Castillejo’s futile attempt to get a statement from Manny Pacquiao outside his training camp in Los Angeles? Geez, the rumor must be true after all! Dyan will replace Nicolette Sheridan in “Desperate Housewives.”

This Just In! Sketchy reports say Manny Pacquiao will not be wearing shoes when he fights Ricky Hatton on May 2! You know what he’s going to wear? Flip-flops.

_________
“Lack of loyalty is one of the major causes of failure in every walk of life.”
~Napoleon Hill

The 31-year-old came to L4 to watch pal Fernando Morientes a few years ago – and he can’t wait to return on Tuesday for the Champions League second round second leg.

“I’m stuck for words. It’s so different: the singing in the ground and the approach to the stadium,” said Raul.

“You walk through the area with all the houses and suddenly there it is, the stadium, you can’t see it until it’s on top of you – crowded with all the fans, the noise, the passion.

“The atmosphere was incredible. It was a league game. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like for a Champions League match – crazy.”

Raul also spoke of his admiration for opposition skipper Steven Gerrard.

“I’ve seen Gerrard win difficult games for his team so many times by scoring or making the all-important goal,” said the striker, who holds the record for most Champions League goals with 64. “He is so good at helping the side when they need him most.”

Liverpool vs Real Madrid (tonight!)

YNWA ~~

Oo, tagalog post ako ngayon. Medyo mas maganda kasi ang dating kung tagalog.

Hanggat kaya ayoko mag-post ng tungkol sa politika, gobyerno, o kahit anong mga pang-nasyonal na isyu pero nakakainis na talaga.

Araw araw akong nagbabasa ng http://www.abs-cbnnews.com para naman alam ko nangyayari sa bansa natin. Medyo napipikon na ako sa mga nababasa ko.

Kung kayo ay nagbabasa din ng mga balita, alam nyo naman siguro na may linabas na report ang World Bank na may nagmamanipula sa mga bidding sa mga projects sa pinas. Nagkaroon ng imbestigasyon sa senado tungkol dito pero nauwi sa wala. Dahil daw kulang ang ebidensya na binigay ng WB (World Bank) sa kanila.

PUTANGINA!

Ano ba namang rason yan! Kung ikaw ay may negosyo at may nagsabi sayo na may nagnanakaw sa petty cash mo pero yun lang ang impormasyon na hawak mo, sasabihin mo ba na kulang ebidensya, hayaan na lang natin. Anak ng, syempre hinde, syempre mag iimbestiga ka. Lalo na kung isang malaking institusyon nagsabi sayo. Ang masakit pa dito e Ombudsman pa mismo nagsabi nito.

At the hearing, Gutierrez told senators that the WB’s “referral report”, a 9-page confidential report on the summary of the bank investigation that led to the blacklisting of a number of contractors, gave the Ombudsman barely any evidence or witnesses’ names to pursue the probe. She also stressed that the WB referral report that her office received was “full of restrictions” and only had a one-paragraph conclusion.

Ewan ko ba sa ombudsman na yan, parang walang pakialam sa lahat ng corruption na nangyayari sa bansa. Tinuringan kang tanod ng bayan, Hindi Tanod ng Bayad. Tingnan mo nagawa nung nauna sayo.

This was precisely what Gutierrez’ predecessor, Simeon Marcelo, did when he received information from the US Customs that the sons of former Armed Forces comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos F. Garcia were apprehended by border officials for carrying with them thousands of dollars of undeclared currency in December 2003, the other source said.

At the time, the only documents the US Customs sent were uncertified copies of documents concerning the apprehension of Garcia’s sons and the statements made by his wife.

Marcelo, however, used the information to probe deeper into Garcia’s finances. The probe later resulted in the filing of forfeiture cases against Garcia’s properties and the filing of plunder charges against Garcia himself. (sources: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/13/09/advice-ombudsman-dont-wait-wb-spoon-feed-you)

Kaya naman mag-imbestiga kung gugustuhin e. Ano ba gusto ng Ombudswoman natin? Ibigay sa kanya kung sino mga salarin kasama lahat ng ebidensya at testigo? Gawin mo trabaho mo!

Tapos sunod mo pang mababasa e itong DOJ secretary natin na ewan ko ba. Parang walang Filipino Pride. Nagkaroon ang Korte Suprema ng desisyon na dapat e nasa kustodiya ng pinoy si convicted rapist US Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith at hindi sa US embassy nakapalagi. Tapos si Hon. Secretary Raul Gonzales, habang wala pang negosasyon sa U.S., e nagpanukala na kagad na pwede namang sa Philippine Embassy sa Amerika ilagay si Smith. Anak ng, ano ba naman yan. Proteksyonan mo naman ang interest ng ating bansa. Wala pa ngang negosasyon bumibigay ka na.

The SC ruled that Smith–convicted in 2006 for raping a Filipina in Subic bay–should be detained “under Philippine authorities.”

Gonzalez said this could mean that embassies and mission-offices, including the Philippine embassy in the United States, may qualify as possible places for the detention of Smith.

“The Philippine embassy in Washington is Philippine territory, the Philippine Mission in UN [United Nations] in New York. Anybody inside that is under our authority, that’s why embassies can be used for asylum,” said Gonzalez.

Sa totoo lang, ginagawa tayong tanga ng mga taong to. Isa pa dyan ay ng ating Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. Nagkaroon ng report noong nakaraang linggo na dumadami na yata ang mga retired generals sa kabinete ng Pangulo. Sabi ni Enrile, hindi tayo dapat mabahala kasi retired na ang mga yan at wala nang impluwensya sa mga sundalo.

Ginagago mo yata kami e.

Kung matatandaan nyo and Edsa Dos. May kataga si Ramos na sinabi. “Never underestimate the retired Generals” sabay kinahapunan e nalaman na lang natin na bumaligtad na ang mga heneral. Ang balita e dahil sa impluwensya ng mga retired generals.

Kasalanan to ng mga oposisyon sa senado e. Majority na nga kayo tapos nag away away pa kayo. E di natuwa naman si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa inyo. Nagkawatak watak ang oposisyon. May kanya kanya ng agenda. At ang administrasyon? Solid pa rin.

Ewan ko ba, parang ngayon matanda na ako at nakakaintindi na sa mga bagay bagay sa mundo, parang gusto ko uli maging bata na walang pakialam sa mga pangyayari sa bansa.