Impeachment Court resumes

The Senate Impeachment Court yesterday resumed the trial of the case against Chief Justice Renato Corona. And the most significant point was that Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile shrugged off the position of former Justice Serafin Cuevas that no preliminary hearing had been taken against Corona.

The Enrile ruling, in short, was initially interpreted by most as Cuevas having lost the first round of the defense position.

But the thing cannot be taken at face value in a trial where the legal luminaries of both the prosecution and the defense are expected to throw their legal lore against one another.

And that can be boring and tedious, albeit enlightening.

So, we just will have to forego commenting on the trial and concentrate on other mundane matters that mean more to us.

For example, the arrest of the alleged triggerman in the holdup of a trusted employee of a sugar trader in Kabankalan City Saturday afternoon.

Suspect Bonifacio Galgate, Jr. was arrested Friday and police recovered from him a .45 caliber pistol with bullets and two sachets of suspected shabu.

Galgate and his companion, Richard Gonzales, were charged for robbery with homicide. They allegedly were the ones who robbed an employee of the sugar trader and later shot dead for escort, Celso Cari-an.

Cheryl Bigota was the secretary of Herminia Ledesma, a sugar trader, had just withdrawn money from a bank when Farian Galgate and Gonzales reportedly grabbed the bagful of money at the gate of the Ledesma residence. Carian was the one holding the bag when Galagate reportedly shot and killed him.

Although initially believed to have fled into the hinterlands of Kabankalan City, a new twist developed in the case when police learned that Galagate sought refuge in the house of Sergeant Fernandez, a retired military man. This is just a few meters from where the hold-up had occurred. Police are also mulling filing of charges of harboring criminal against Fernandez, reports said.

Still at large is Gonzales, driver of the motorcycle used in as get away vehicle by Galagate.

But there is another development. Supt. Calixto Mabugat, Kabankalan police chief, said he had received reports that members of Galagate’s group may be out to do away with Gonzales to prevent him from turning state witness in the hold-up robbery.

Also nabbed Friday, reports said, was retired Philippine Army member Violante Fernandez, for possession of and sale of illegal drugs. Fernandez, former member of the military intelligence Battalion was arrested by NOPPO-Special Operations Group and the Kabankalan City Police.

Fernandez from whom were confiscated a .45 caliber pistol with seven bullets, a pair of pearl earrings, a peace bracelet, a pearl necklace, as well as a small transparent sachet containing residue of suspected shabu, among others, was arrested by order of Branch 52 RTC Judge Frances Guanzon, the reports added.

Another possibility being eyed by the police is if the Carian group had a hand in the P3.6 million heist of Ceneco last week.

The latter, though, seems farfetched since the Bacolod police appears to have the identities of the 12 involved in the Ceneco heist.

***

We salute Ann Balcells and the Kalipay Negrense Foundation, Inc. for having raised the money and constructed a home for 40 children of Bacolod City.

Also give thanks to those who donated to the KNPI a Kalipay Home at the Fuentebella Subdivision. Especially the philanthropist who had given a hefty donation to the project but preferred to remain anonymous.

Special mention must be made of Philip Seckler and his Negrense wife, Cecilia Garcia, who had been caring for the children of the former Home Heaven House.

The problem as reported in the STAR, is that their funds were running out. Yes, with 30 children to care of. But KNFI succored the philanthropic couple on time.

Surely, Negrenses cannot afford to just stand by and cede what they can do to others.

***

Which reminds me. Last Sunday, the Fabricanians, an organization of former residents of Fabrica, Paraiso, Habug-habug, and nearby barangays under the generic term Fabrica of Sagay City, for the second time in less than a month went to Paraiso and Fabrica to provide help and goods to flood victims, especially to those who lost their homes. The main beneficiary was the day care center of Purok Cabungahan.

Relief assistance poured in from former Fabrican residents abroad. This time the missioners presented household utensils and other goods to give the flood-stricken victims what they need to start life anew.

The day center received furniture for the rehabilitation of their ruined schoolhouse and cabinet which the schoolchildren greeted with delight. So with their parents.

While I coordinated the relief operations as acting president of the Fabricanians, those who went to the site for relief distribution included Mrs. Athena Barin, cub secretary, former treasurer Mrs. Lungay, and Ethy Tarroza.*

back to top