Knock, knock

Ben Contreras

An individual I knew who’d been through many legal battles, either as defendant or plaintiff have acquired a bit of knowledge of the law and could talk like a lawyer as a result of the many appearances in our courts and through extensive discussions and consultations with his lawyers.

Give the same credit to William Guialani who fought his own battle against big and known politicians in the city like former Mayor Dongkoy Emano and now, Mayor Oscar Moreno.

Like all legal battles, one wins some and loses some. For whatever reason, Guialani has shown no sign of relent in pursuing what he called justice over the injustices he saw and experienced.

His latest victory, though cut short by a controversial TRO (Temporary Restraining Order), was against Mayor Oscar Moreno and the City Treasurer, a case arising from an alleged compromise agreement with a food seasoning company. Approximately five months after filing, the Ombudsman rendered its decision to dismiss from office and perpetually ban the guilty one from ever holding any government position thereafter.

The suspicions surrounding the issuance of the TRO seems to have been bolstered by recent finding of the COA (Commission on Audit) about several check issuances amounting to more than 70 million pesos, the dates of which almost coincide with the date when the TRO was granted. Coincident or not, some quarters will surely take advantage of the latest COA finding.

Guialani has sought redress from the Supreme Court for alleged lack of action from the Ombudsman on his motions to resolve Moreno MR (Motion for Reconsideration). Guilani allegedly found out that Moreno MR has not been acted upon and has been sleeping in the Ombudsman-Mindanao office. Guialani cited the great discrepancy in the quick resolution of the original case, five months more or less and the resolution of Moreno’s MR which remains unresolved after almost eight months.

Would the Supreme Court act favorably to Guialani’s request?

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Lack of experience can cause waste of money. Though not quite big, we lost a few thousand to fruit trees planted while the El Niño was still being felt.

This time, we hope it would be different. With rains around, albeit intermittently, to plant fruit trees again is timely. Water would no longer be a problem the way it was months ago. The rains have filled up our 1,500-liter tank and several plastic drums.

We’re so happy to know that the female goat is now pregnant. I am sure Rudy Uy would be very happy about it, too. The Bantam eggs never hatched, too many for a small fowl. The rest of the animals seem to be doing well.

I miss the place. My car just can’t go in due to the muddy road. Perhaps, when the rain does not come in a week and the earth becomes dry.