Biliran Event

NO MORE TEARS FOR ERAP ESTRADA

by: Rodel E. Rodis,
September 17, 2007

On the day the Estrada verdict was announced last week, a retired manwho needed my help in his claim for social security benefits in thePhilippines professed sympathy for the former president, expressinghis hope that he would be shown mercy because he had "sufferedenough".Like most people, he had not read the 212 page decision of thePhilippine Anti Graft Court (Sandigan Bayan), finding former presidentJoseph aka Erap Estrada Guilty of Plunder. If he had read the completedecision, he would have discovered the ironic connection between hisproblems with the SSS and the basis for the plunder verdict. (For thetranscripts, log on to http://www.manilamail.com).

It took six years for the Sandigan court to try the Estrada case, mostof the delays caused by Estrada himself. At one point, he fired allhis attorneys so that a mistrial could occur. But after the courtprovided him with new attorneys, which he promptly rejected, Estradaretained new counsel and proceeded with a strategy to run out theclock until his close personal friend, Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ), couldwin the presidency in the May 2004 elections and dismiss all thecharges against him.But when FPJ lost, Estrada had no choice but to finally deal with the prosecution's case by seeking to undermine the credibility of the court and by claiming that the trial is "politically motivated" to justify his removal from office. Very little was done by his lawyers to debunk the voluminous evidence presented in court.In the course of the trial despite innumerable delays, dozens ofwitnesses described how Estrada collected billions of Philippine pesos in "jueteng" protection money which they regularly delivered in cashto his Polk Street mansion in San Juan in Metro Manila. It was like amob scene from "The Sopranos".
But the most damning witnesses againstEstrada were those he appointed to public office.Carlos (aka Chucky) Arellano testified that he was a childhood friendof Estrada who appointed him chairman and president of the Social Security System (SSS) in 1998. On October 6, 1999, he received a call from Pres. Estrada instructing him to buy Belle Corporation stock. He hesitated to do so, he said, because that decision belonged to the SSS investment committee which selected the stocks to invest in for the millions of Filipinos who had contributed to it.
However, after further prodding from Estrada, Arellano unilaterally authorized the purchase by SSS of P900-M (pesos) ($20-M) in Belle stocks on October21, 1999, just 15 days after he was directed to do so.Federico Pascual testified that he was the president of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in 1999, appointed by Estrada, when he was instructed to purchase Belle shares. He hesitated to do the president's bidding, he said, because the Belle Corporation was involved in jai-alai and gambling and had a speculative flavor. But after receiving another call from Estrada on October 9, 1999, he went ahead and authorized the purchase by GSIS of P1.1-B (pesos) ($25-M) in Belle stock.A close crony of Estrada, Jaime Dichaves, facilitated the transaction.Belle Corporation executives testified that they issued a cashier'scheck to Dichaves in the amount of P189-M($4-M) (InternationalExchange Bank Check No. 6000159271 dated November 5, 1999) as his 10%commission for securing the purchase by SSS and GSIS of close to P2-B(pesos) ($45-M) in Belle stocks.Bank executives then testified that Dichaves deposited the 10%commission of P189-Mil. ($4-Mil) into the bank account of JoseVelarde, in Equitble Bank. Dichaves deposited an additional amount ofP74-M (pesos) into the same account.

Clarissa Ocampo, an Equitable Bank manager, testified that she personally witnessed Estrada sign his name as Jose Velarde inwithdrawing funds from the Equitable Bank, an allegation that was openly admitted by Estrada himself. Bank executives testified that there were Joint accounts in the bank of Jose Velarde & Loi Ejercito(Estradas legal wife).Bank executives also testified that it was from this same Jose Velardeaccount that Estrada purchased the "Boracay Mansion" near Wack-WackGolf Club for the use of his favored mistress, Laarni Enriquez. Theman who facilitated the purchase of this mansion was Jose Luis Yulowho, because of this "housing" experience, was then appointed byEstrada to be his Secretary of Housing, replacing the very competentKarina Constantino-David.The prosecution's evidence was just too overwhelming, the SandiganBayan justices had no other choice but to find Estrada guilty ofplunder, beyond a reasonable doubt. Sifting through the testimonies ofeyewitnesses, one concludes that Estrada never believed that he wouldever have to account for his actions so he didn't care who witnessedwhat he was doing. Transparency turned out not to be a virtue andstupidity not a viable defense.But the joke was on the people. When GSIS and SSS bought Belle stocks,As instructed by then PRES. ESTRADA, in 1999, they were priced atP3.14 a share.

One year later, on December 29, 2000, their value hadsunk dramatically to 60 centavos a share. Two years later, Belle stockcrashed to a staggering 40 centavos a share, from purchase price ofP3.14 per share. Now they are virtually worthless! Two BILLION PESOSof the people's investments down the drain!While I congratulate the Sandigan Bayan judges for finding Estradaguilty of plunder, my regret is that he was never charged for hispossible role in the abduction and murders of Salvador "Bubby" Dacer,Emmanuel Corbito and Edgar Bentain.According to members of his family, Bubby Dacer was bawled out by Estrada in Malacanang in November of 1999 shortly before he and hisdriver, Corbito, were abducted by members of the PresidentialAnti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) headed by Gen. Panfilo Lacsonand tortured and executed. The PAOCTF soldiers who admitted killingDacer and Corbito pointed to Col. Glenn Dumlao as their commandingofficer. Before he fled to the US, Col. Dumlao pointed to Col. CezarMancao and Col. Michael Ray Aquino as the officers who gave him theorders. Before they could point their fingers as to who directed them,Mancao and Aquino fled to the US upon instructions of Lacson. IfLacson had been fingered by Mancao and Aquino, would he have pointedthe finger to Estrada?Edgar Bentain was a casino worker at the Casino Filipino located atthe Heritage Hotel in Manila when he secretly released to the pressthe videotape of Estrada playing high-stakes poker with his crony,Atong Ang. The videotape was then shown on TV to the embarrassment ofEstrada who ordered an investigation into who leaked the videotape.According to Ador Mawanay's sworn testimony on August 17, 2001, PAOCTFmen abducted Bentain outside the casino and immersed him with cementinside a drum and dumped his corpse in Pampanga. The leader of thePAOCTF team, he said, was Col. Michael Ray Aquino. Mawanay identifiedEstrada's son, Jude, as the man he saw give a black bag containing money to Aquino as payment for the killing of Bentain. Estrada "suffered enough"??

Thursday, October 4, 2007

BANANA POWER

The Scoop About a BANANA...

After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again!Bananas contain three natural sugars --- sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained, and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS! :Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.Anemia:High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure:This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power:200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.Constipation:High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.Heartburn:Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.Mosquito Bites:Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.Overweight and at work?Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers:The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also ! neutrali zes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature Control:Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):Bananas can help SAD sufferers be! cause t hey contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking:Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6 and B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the he! artbeat , sends oxygen to the brain, and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be re-balanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.