Mindanaoan | Living In Mindanao | Blogging the REAL Mindanao!

Mindanaoan | Living in Mindanao | Blog Sa Usa Ka Taga Mindanao

Blogging the REAL Mindanao!

Mindanao is my native land. This is where I belong, feel secure and am at peace. To be in Mindanao is to feel the embrace of a warm, soft blanket.

Mindanaoan - Blogging the REAL Mindanao!

Thank goodness! May the dela Paz family finally get justice!

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January 5, 2009

Controversial, Lanao del Sur, Mindanaoan Update, News, Opinion

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Finally, the long wait is over! Today, fifty six year old businessman Delfin dela Paz and his 14 year-old son, Bino, have finally lodged before the Antipolo courts separate charges of physical injuries against the Pangandamans. Named as respondents to the case are the two sons of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Nasser Pangandaman Sr. – Hussein and Nasser Pangandaman Jr., the mayor of Masiu, Lanao del Sur, Mindanao.

The family’s legal counsel is Raymond Fortun, who’s known to represent high profile clients such as former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada.

According to the Inquirer, Fortun said they were set to go to the Ombudsman on Wednesday to seek the preventive suspension of Pangandaman Sr. “so as not to derail the investigation.” Atty. Fortun also said the secretary was not merely “sitting there” as the Pangandamans’ bodyguards mauled the Dela Pazes. He said that the elder Pangandaman shouted invectives and his actions were not “befitting a person of his rank.”

I fervently hope that the dela Paz family obtains the justice they deserve.

While I know that Nasser Pangandaman, Jr. is a mayor of a town in Lanao del Sur, Mindanao (and this may pose a “negative” image against Masiu or Lanao or Mindanao as a whole), it’s still very important to note Mindanaoans do not tolerate arrogance in public office. Mindanaoans need and DESERVE real hardworking public servants…not public tyrants!

So I pose my question again – what’s the government doing against the Pangandaman family? Does DAR Sec. Pangandaman still deserve to be a part of the GRP peace negotiations panel? Because personally, I wouldn’t want someone like him representing my country before a forum that supposedly advocates peace and order.

UPDATE: Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo just said that it will be “early as of now to grant that preventive suspension (against DAR Sec. Pangandaman). Let’s wait for the initial result of the investigation before we can act on it.”

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What’s the government doing against the Pangandamans?

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January 3, 2009

Controversial, Government, Lanao del Sur, Mindanaoan Update, News, Opinion

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I’m sure that many of you have heard of the Dela Paz – Pangandaman alleged brawling incident last December 26, 2008 (yes, a mere 1 day after Christmas!) Just in case you haven’t, you may want to read this. You may also want to read Bambee Dela Paz’s blog entry here – Bambee is the sister of the 14-year old boy who allegedly got mauled, along with his 56-year old father, by Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman Sr. and his son Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. of Masiu, Lanao del Sur, Mindanao.

Apart from the facts that the incident involved a 14-year old boy, government officials and their gun-toting bodyguards and that the younger Pangandaman is a leader of a town in Mindanao of all places (it’s controversial and embarrassing, really, especially since we Mindanaoans want to promote our island as a place with peace-loving people…how ironical, eh?), we have yet to see a solid result of the reported investigation on this matter.

While it’s true that the older Pangandaman has apologized and that the Dela Paz family has rejected the apology (I personally thought that the Pangandaman’s apology was super lame especially since 14-year old Bino’s ear bled after the alleged brawl and that Bino has been traumatized), I’m also very interested to know if the DAR secretary still deserves to be a part of the GRP peace negotiations panel.

Should a secretary who has gun-toting bodyguards, who got involved in a brawling incident over an argument about golfing etiquette and who has a temperamental son be included in a panel that’s supposed to discuss peace and order?

Has the national government reprimanded the secretary and his son? Shouldn’t there be administrative charges filed against the two? What they did was definitely conduct unbecoming of public servants!

Next week, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be in Mindanao. She will travel to several areas in Mindanao for four days and incidentally, she will be in the Lanao del Sur area on January 6. I wonder if she will take that chance to talk to the younger Pangandaman – that if, if she hasn’t yet. Because let’s face it, whether the national government’s PR specialists admit it or not, this incident is really another blow against her administration.

On a personal note, I really hope that the Dela Paz family obtains justice. If only for Bino’s welfare.

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