FROM THE BARREL OF MY PEN
By Gonzalo “Jun” Policarpio


COURTS OF INJUSTICE MUST NOT STAY

If the Philippine Office of the Ombudsman( “Tanod Bayan”) designed to investigate and prosecute graft cases can act so quickly against minor government officials, what is dragging the lazy feet of Maria Merceditas Gutierrez, its current “Tanodbayan” (head), to initiate the prosecution of Joc Joc Bolante, the notorious kleptocrat, who tries to evade Philippine justice by seeking asylum in the United States? The Filipino people whose money was stolen by Bolante should not tolerate such a failure of a government agency to perform its functions.

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The American lawyers of Joc Joc Bolante have resorted to wild and reckless legal actions such as suing Sec. of State Condoleeza Rice, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in a desperate move to get their infamous client out of jail. They must be aware that filing frivolous lawsuits is against the law.

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In a recent letter to the Editor of Times Ledger of Queens, New York, Vincent J. Tabone, vice chairman of the Queens Republican Party, said that the reason for not endorsing my candidacy in the 2004 Congressional elections was my Equality and Justice Republicanism which they perceived to be not in tune with their ultra-conservatism. Their ultra-conservatism is nothing more but xenophobia that advocates closing the borders to stop the entry of immigrants to the United States.

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It was reported that Mike Arroyo, husband of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, de facto president of the Philippines, has filed 42 cases of libel against 42 Filipino journalists. A libel suit can only prevail against a journalist if the printed material was not based on facts and was circulated with malicious intent. If the accused journalists have the facts against Arroyo, then they must work together and submit the evidences to the courts for Arroyo’s criminal prosecution. In other words, they must persist to fight for their rights and not allow themselves to be intimidated. If the Philippine courts of justice are truly unjust, then such must be demolished.

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