Did money change hands?

CORRUPTION in the prosecution service and the judiciary has become garapal (shamelessly obvious), but the citizenry seems uncaring.

The apathy has emboldened more corrupt judges and prosecutors to commit graft.

The dropping of charges against former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes for the murder of broadcaster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega in Puerto Princesa City is the latest of the shameless graft practices by officials who preside over justice in this country.

There is a strong possibility that money could have changed hands when a panel of prosecutors formed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima dropped the airtight murder case against Reyes and his fellow accused.

How much money was given to you-know-who is anybody’s guess but it could be substantial.

Rumors had circulated in Puerto Princesa that Rodolfo “Bumar” Edrad Jr., former bodyguard of Reyes, was offered P25 million so he would retract the statements he gave to investigators; but he turned it down.

The amount offered to Edrad could have ended in other people’s hands.

Edrad, a state witness, admitted asking Armando Noel, one of the accused, to recruit a gunman in Quezon province allegedly upon instructions from Reyes.

Exonerated with ex-Governor Reyes were Coron Mayor Marjo Reyes, former Marinduque Gov. Jose Antonio Carreon, former Palawan administrator Romeo Serratubias, former bodyguards Arturo Regalado and Percival Lecias.

Serratubias owned the murder weapon, a .45 caliber pistol, which was recovered from the gunman.

Regalado allegedly handed the gun over to the gunman, Marlon Recamata, and his lookout, Dennis Aranas.

I can understand why Mayor Marjo Reyes, the ex-governor’s brother, was exonerated.

After Ortega was killed, Edrad allegedly called Reyes, who was in the US, and asked for P500,000 for the accomplished hit job.

Reyes allegedly told Edrad to get the money from Marjo Reyes.

The Coron mayor allegedly asked Edrad what the money was for, indicating that he didn’t know about the hit job.

The panel of prosecutors’ claim that the murder case against Joel Reyes et al lacked evidence doesn’t stick in face of the narration of facts cited earlier.

Either the prosecutors are bobo (blockheads), because they don’t know how to appreciate evidence, or they were paid off.

The latter is more likely.

* * *

Guns made by the United Defense Manufacturing Corp. (UDMC), a wholly-owned Filipino firm, are being used by US and British private security forces, but are not appreciated by our own government.

UDMC has manufactured a more sophisticated and better M-16 rifle which is being recommended by the Philippine Navy special warfare group or Seals, but is not used by the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police.

I tried a prototype of UDMC’s M-16 and AR and M-4 rifles at the police firing range in Bicutan, along with retired Army Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali and retired Maj. Philip Manlapaz, last Tuesday.

Detabali and Manlapaz, both experts in M-16 and similar weapons, agreed that UDMC’s guns are much sturdier and are easier to handle—they hardly “kick” during automatic fire—and much cheaper than the US-made M-16.

So why is the UDMC M-16, which is far superior over its US counterpart, not being used by the AFP?

The reason is obvious: People in charge of procuring guns for our police and military get commissions from the purchase of foreign-made guns.

President Noy, himself an expert in guns, should give all local manufacturers a chance to supply our military with guns made in the Philippines.