Details sorely lacking

Batas Mauricio .

THERE is one thing that sorely stood out and which bothered me no end about the news reports on the life sentence imposed as a penalty on former Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan in connection with the kidnapping of two lady students of the University of the Philippines: the reports inexplicably did not contain the details of the judgment, particularly on the whys and the wherefores why he was found guilty.

When I was then a court reporter of the newspaper Daily Express, it had always been drilled on us, reporters, by our editor then, Mr. Enrique Pocholo Romualdez, to make sure we included in the news reports that we were writing at least the gist of the reasons relied upon by the courts in their judgments–whether the verdict was guilty or not guilty.

Indeed, it is of paramount importance that people who read the news must immediately be informed of the evidence that were given weight, or which were brushed aside by the courts, like that of the court of Judge Alexander Tamayo of the Bulacan Regional Trial Court in its judgment against Palparan. The truth is that, reporters and news organizations owe it to the public to dish out only stories which clear narration of facts.

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If there was anyone who “profited” (if ever there is such a thing, really) from the damage and destruction that super Typhoon Ompong brought to Northern Luzon this past week, it would be no other than Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque. I mean, in the middle of Ompong’s wrath, Harry got a very prominent exposure from radio and TV stations nationwide as he anchored and directed, not only the gathering of the latest news about, but also the entire government’s response to, the calamity.

From where I was, it looked like Harry was the one who was discharging the duties and responsibilities of the President of the Philippines during those perilous moments — looking after, and inquiring on, our countrymen’s condition, and directing and guiding the efforts of different agencies and officials of government, to make sure that relief goods have been pre-positioned and ready for delivery any time, clogged roads could become passable right away, and travel remained unhampered.

Because Harry is a declared senatorial candidate for the mid-term elections in 2019, it was an awesome opportunity that was accorded to him by his having been placed in the center of the nation’s attention while strong winds, rains, and floods swirled around the affected areas. Our people indubitably saw a Harry Roque that was amply possessed with the capability to move the government to help those in need. Congratulations, Harry Roque. If you continue displaying this style of leadership, your senatorial bid is now a foregone conclusion!

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Here is a question from Mary Grace Anduyan (marygraceanduyan@gmail.com) which was sent to batasmauricio@yahoo.com: “I seek advice, if I have a right to file a complaint with the barangay against the people who have been throwing trash and other garbage along the sides of my house, near the door of that house.

“Our houses are just adjacent to each other. They say that they are placing their trash near their own house. I am not comfortable with this because there are times that their trash emits a foul smell, which reaches our house. I already informed them about this but they have been doing it repeatedly, causing damage to us already. What must I do? Can I file a case on this, Atty. Batas? Thank you… ”

Here’s the answer from the Lawyers Instructed on Godliness, Humility, and Truth: Yes, you may bring a case on this issue of trash and garbage with the barangay, and this pursuant to Republic Act 7610, or the Local Government Code of 1991.

Under this law, all complaints by and between neighbors must have to be brought first with the barangay, for conciliation. If no conciliation is reached, the case can then be brought with the courts.

E-mail: batasmauricio@yahoo.com