The Hystirics of de Lima during the 28 September morning Presscon

THE HYSTIRICS OF DE LIMA

DURING THE 28 SEPTEMBER MORNING PRESSCON

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

The hysterical antics of de Lima during a presscon at the Senate in the morning of 28 September could have been another attempt to show her innocence of the drug crimes thrown at her. Obviously she was trying to pinch the heart of those who took time in listening to her emotional presentations.

 

She did not take the presscon opportunity to explain what happened to the millions and various jewelries turned over to her after a raid of NBP, in which only 1.6M pesos was reported. Those involved in the turnover are asking where the more than 300M pesos went. She even presented a text message which for her implied that Sebastian was being forced to testify against her, when the message was a simple plea from the wife of the subject detainee to tell everything he knows to end his ordeal as practically, fingers of the detainee/resource persons were all pointing at him. That being alleged, Sebastian is being viewed as the direct connect to de Lima who could further pin her down. In that case, who would “desire” to eliminate him?

 

In her dire effort to defend herself, de Lima put the life of Sebastian in jeopardy when she said that he is a government “asset”. But then, this allegation has raised many eyebrows, as how can an “asset” whose activities are supposed to be covert, meet with a government official in full view of other inmates? One witness even testified that Sebastian bragged about his close connection with de Lima, emphasizing such arrogance with an assurance that de Lima would come at a certain time to visit him which indeed happen during which she had a grand couple or more hours with him in his luxurious “kubol. If he is a witness as de Lima is alleging, all she could have done was summon him secretly for a meeting at one of the offices of NBP. The publicly exposed allegations are what de Lima should refute instead of being hysterical during the presscon in the morning of September 28. The hystirics of de Lima according to Duterte are signs of her ominous breakdown.

 

Overall, though, I surmised that de Lima could be a very very fine coach for elocutions and declamations. She did a very good performance which deserves a gold medal, had it been done during an inter-collegiate literary competition.

Change of Guards Finally, at the New Bilibid Prison (Philippines)

CHANGE OF GUARDS FINALLY, AT THE

NEW BILIBID PRISON

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

The incoming Secretary of the Department of Justice, in one interview, revealed that one important plan that he shall implement immediately is the total, complete, sweeping change of NBP guards with the Special Action Force to take their place. The military shall also be tapped to enforce a new system in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

 

In my past blogs about NBP, I have been mentioning such necessity of changing ALL the prison guards, literally, the NBP personnel who directly guard the prisoners, if the DOJ wants to cleanse the facility’s system to enforce the prevention of bribery. I mentioned that if possible, military personnel should be assigned on the basis of rotating Task Force Duty or TDY. Unfortunately, ever since the explosion of scandals, only the top officials, especially, the Directors were relieved. As expected, no change has been evident, despite the effort of the Acting DOJ Secretary who took the place of de Lima who ran for senator. Latest raids as usual yielded bladed weapons and a few sachets of suspected drug, nothing else.

 

Common sense would suggest that the lowest level prison guards who are the ones directly and closely in touch with the detainees are prone to the tempting thousands of pesos bribe in exchange for just safekeeping their (detainees’) cellphones. A story was even circulated that an outdated model of a cellphone is worth thousands of pesos when sold to a detainee…and who could do it, the NBP Director?…or any of the lesser officials?  Are these NBP officials willing to be ordered around by high-end detainees as if they are servants?

 

One big question that had been bugging the authority is HOW IN THE WORLD CAN BIG TIME DRUG LORDS TRANSACT THEIR BUSINESS FROM THE SUPPOSEDLY STRICTLY-GUARDED NBP FACILITIES? The problem with most of our “authorities” is that they concentrate on the “resulting effects of the problems” and not on the “possible causes”…as they are in a hurry to earn medals or commendations for solving a case. What happens is they “trim the twigs and leaves but leave the roots that continually get fertilized and further boost the growth of the tree”. It has never occurred in the mind of bright investigators, the possibility that the lowly and seemingly innocent guards might be involved.

 

Filipinos thought that de Lima was sincere in her effort in spearheading the raids after a series of scandals rocked the NBP. Raids were conducted with a good number of reporters and crew from TV stations in tow…. fully- covered efforts, in other words, that she fairly deserved. In one interview, she expressed the difficulty of inspections on account of the vastness of the facility, when she became exasperated with persistent questions on the results of raids. But, anyway, there were good coverage resulting to miles of media exposure. It made her heroine for such a monumental job.

 

The raids were conducted months before de Lima declared her plan to run for senator, hence, Filipinos thought, they were done as just part of her job as DOJ Secretary, period. She even promised to do something about the third batch of lawmakers and government officials involved in the pork barrel scandal, plus an encouraging result on the the Maguindanao massacre.

 

Then, the NBP raids suddenly stopped. The promised case on the third batch of the pork barrel scandal and the Maguindanao massacre were never again mentioned. De Lima, with all resolve declared her plan to run for senator, and she indeed, made it, albeit at the tail end of the list. Now, as senator, together with two other senators, she vows to give Duterte a hard time in all his effort to give justice to the victims of the drug lords!