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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