March 14, 2006 · Posted in: In the News, Media

Twilight zone

SOMETHING strange appears to be happening at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, at least in connection with a search warrant that police officials have been seeking against the PCIJ.

Although the QC police have twice asked the courts for a warrant to search the PCIJ office, court officials are denying such applications were made. Neither is there a paper trail to show that the first application made last Friday had been denied.

PCIJ lawyer Sandra Marie Coronel told a Senate inquiry today that Branch 76 of the QC-RTC has denied there were such proceedings. Atty. Coronel was at the QC-RTC following up another case yesterday when she saw elements of the QC police with sound engineer and police asset Jonathan Tiongco applying for the search warrant against PCIJ. She returned to the court today to get copies of the warrant, only to be told there was no such thing.

“Despite the fact that I personally saw the policemen and Mr. Tiongco undergo proceedings on their application for a search warrant, I confirmed today that the statement of the court is that there was never any application. They now claim that there was no application whatsoever for any search warrant against Sheila Coronel and the PCIJ,” Atty. Coronel said at a Senate hearing this afternoon.

What is as bizarre, said Atty. Coronel, was that there was also no record of a warrant having been applied for and denied last Friday, when an application was first made by the QC police.  “I likewise checked insofar as the application for a search warrant that was confirmed by a police informant to have been made and denied last Friday and there is likewise no record of any such application,” Coronel said.

“Is there something strange out there happening?” asked Senator Rodolfo Biazon who raised questions about the warrant.

Biazon kept repeating, “This is strange.” That it would happen in the courts, where “redress of wrongs can be provided resolution,” means that the country is in deep trouble, added Biazon who said that the police could be forum-shopping or searching for a court that would grant them their request.

Yet the court seemed to be saying something else to other people. GMA-7 quoted the clerk of court of Branch 76 saying an application for a search warrant had not been granted because it was past office hours.

The mystery over the supposed search warrant has left PCIJ in the dark, its staff harassed, and stressed and the Center’s time taken away from investigative reporting, said PCIJ executive director Sheila Coronel. “PCIJ does not know when and if a search warrant will be issued. What we do know is that there is no basis for such a warrant.” 

Meantime, Biazon also commented on Jonathan Tiongco, who had previously filed a libel suit against an article in the PCIJ blog and one of those bent on having the PCIJ office searched. “Tiongco seems to be everywhere,” Biazon noted. “Recently this guy sent me letter offering me his services to participate in the technical determination of the authenticity of the tapes and examination of voices in the tapes.”

Sheila Coronel informed the court that Tiongco was a police agent, and showed the Senate committee a copy of Tiongco’s identification card indicating he was a member of the Monitoring Group of the Intelligence Division of the PNP’s Special Operations Group Jericho.  The copy of Tiongco’s I.D. card was submitted by his wife Rona, who in November asked the court to stop PCIJ from publishing an article in the PCIJ blog that she claimed made unsubstantiated statements against her husband and intruded into her private life.

28 Responses to Twilight zone

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Chabeli

March 14th, 2006 at 11:39 pm

“Biazon kept repeating, “This is strange.” That it would happen in the courts, where “redress of wrongs can be provided resolution,” means that the country is in deep trouble, added Biazon who said that the police could be forum-shopping or searching for a court that would grant them their request.”

This stinks baaaaad–it smells really weird AND spooky! What the h*ll is going on?

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lbrto

March 15th, 2006 at 5:08 am

Ano ito…

Is the court now an extended arm of the administration?

Kung totoo na may application, bakit itinatago? It is public document. And the subject document is not COVERED by NATIONAL SECURITY concerns!!!

Attention government authorities monitoring this site… READ the BOLD-LETTERED WORDS…

Hindi TANGA ang lahat ng Filipino…

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thepublicthing

March 15th, 2006 at 6:35 am

the praning on the hills said it was too premature to scream…

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MitaMS

March 15th, 2006 at 7:05 am

why all the speculation about a warrant?? are you asking for it? do you want it? i’m just curious…kasi wala pa naman eh…

and if it’s tiongco…i mean, who’s this guy to intimidate you? you are the untouchable PCIJ after all….sino naman sya in comparison?

this is all going out of proportion here…commenters here are writing and asking for heads to roll – over what? a search warrant that never was…

SERIOUSLY now….is this warranted and jusitifiable?

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Chihiro

March 15th, 2006 at 7:56 am

Tiongco is under Mike Defensor’s skirt. He is just a lackey. He is a pawn. He acts under the orders and blessing and full backing of higher ups. He does not, cannot act without Mike’s aprub, which aprub necessarily emanates from the Chief of Staff’s master.

Gets mo na ba?

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MitaMS

March 15th, 2006 at 8:07 am

Chihiro..hindi naman proven yon eh…puro sabi-sabi lang. kaya malakas loob nitong tiongco kasi kala ng iba bigatin na sya. KURO KURO is not the truth…

ganyan din ang smugglers sa customs o kaya fixers sa LTO o kahit saan government office. Puro kuro kuro na BATA ni Ganun o ni Ganito…kaya ang daming mga nakakalusot pero hindi naman kilala o konektado talaga.

Ganun din sabi ng Inquirer na kakasuhan sila for the military coup plot story they ran…chismis lang nasa dyaryo na…wala naman nangyari. pero madami nang nagalit, natakot….

Tell me this is not true….

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scud_1975

March 15th, 2006 at 9:52 am

hanep..twilight zone, parang horror movie. Hindi pa man lumalabas ang multo, nanginginig na sa takot. Your giving too much credit on this guy. Gumawa lang ang tyonggong tiongco ng ingay..nagtatalunan na ang mga nasa oposisiyon na parang mga hipon. PCIJ is PCIJ..di yan kayang gulatin ng kahit sinong pipitsuging tao. Wala naman kasing lumalabas na warrant madami na tumaas ang blood pressure.
“Ano ang nasa dako paroon? bunga ng malikot na pagiisip
Likha ng balintataw, o halaw sa isang uri ng kababalaghan
Di kayang ipaliwanag, ngunit alam mong nagaganap”

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ryebosco

March 15th, 2006 at 10:01 am

I like the title, “TWILIGHT ZONE…”

If you think about it, the Philippines since Marcos became president has been nothing but a twilight zone. I can’t wait for the following episode:

*French Guillotine in Luneta–The people of the Philippines finally say, Sobra Na, Tama Na, Pugutan Na and behead the corrupt.

(I don’t think the above is seditious or inciting violence. It’s just creative thinking. Besides, those who are offended most likely are the corrupt. So I guess I’m safe.)

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MitaMS

March 15th, 2006 at 10:17 am

Rye,

it’s not about corrupt or offending eh – it’s about credibility…

maapektuhan ang credibility ng isang organization kung hindi confirmed FACTs lamang and papatulan nyang news. kung opinion, well CLEARLY call it opinion…ibang usapan na yon. or kung inuulit mo ang sinabi ng source mo..fine.

may cause and effect kasi ang news pag umabot na sa tao – may reaction yan. kung mali ang binigay mong news or unsubstantiated, or hindi pa nangyayari (HULA lang in other words) that’s not very responsible.

we, as readers and consumers of news reports have to remember also that the stories are written by individuals. individuals have their own personalities and this will reflect in their writing, their choice of words etc….pero pagdating sa atin puedeng IBA na ang kulay. puede din naman yun ang intent talaga nung sumulat….to give the report a different color, to sensationalize or whatever motives they might have.

I’m not saying that’s the intent here…reminder lang to. I’m of the opinion that we are all in this together…PCIJ feeds and we consume.

In short, I guess what I’m trying to say is we have a responsibility to be DISCERNING as consumers too.

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lokalokang matino

March 15th, 2006 at 10:20 am

Imagine our country in the next 5 years in the hands of Jonathan Tiongco, Mike Defensor,Raul Gonzales, Toting Bunye, Gen. Habacon, Gen. Esperon, Lomibao, Querol, Puno (DILG), and of course Mr. and Mrs. Jose Pidal.

Alfredo Benipayo RESIGNS !!! Who’s next?
Sooner or later, Benipayo will be included in the list of DISTABILIZERS.

CUT-N-PASTE
Sheila Coronel informed the court that Tiongco was a police agent, and showed the Senate committee a copy of Tiongco’s identification card indicating he was a member of the Monitoring Group of the Intelligence Division of the PNP’s Special Operations Group Jericho. The copy of Tiongco’s I.D. card was submitted by his wife Rona, who in November asked the court to stop PCIJ from publishing an article in the PCIJ blog that she claimed made unsubstantiated statements against her husband and intruded into her private life.

End of CUT-N-PASTE

Tiongco a police agent? Diyos ko po!!!!!!!!!!! HESUS PATAWARIN!!!

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penpenpen88

March 15th, 2006 at 1:06 pm

country of liars, cheaters, fence sitters, opportunists, law breakers and thieves.. thats the phillipines now and forever..

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scud_1975

March 15th, 2006 at 1:09 pm

saan tayong dalawa kasama dun penpen?

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penpenpen88

March 15th, 2006 at 1:22 pm

by scud

hanep..twilight zone, parang horror movie. Hindi pa man lumalabas ang multo, nanginginig na sa takot. Your giving too much credit on this guy.
— akin lang mas mabuti na ung proactive kesa reactive di b? wouldnt wanna be like the majority of the side liners out there who’s afrid to take a stand.. aantyin nalng pag nangyri na at dun plang magrereact.. gya ni gma.. antay lang ng antay ng evidence against her bago mag rereact… if matalino sya like y’all think she is.. wouldnt it be more logical to face the situation now rather than let it drag on and on and on? yan ng twilight zone.. like were in some unending nightmre and ate glue is the bogeyman…. problem with the majority of us is were wiling to keep our eyes closed sa mga gingawa niya and her cohorts… all for what?? lil semblance of order daw sabi ng mga fence sitters??.. get real.. sinu b nagpapagulo ng presidency nd other institutions in the first place?? and why should we settle for lil crumbs of development that she promises.. while the majority of our taxpyers money is being used by her to perpetuate herself in office?.. we deserve more than that.. we deserve more than her…

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penpenpen88

March 15th, 2006 at 1:27 pm

just commenting on the statement made by lokalokangmatino scud.. but if u must sk.. try fence sitters..=) seems like nice fit dont u think?

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scud_1975

March 15th, 2006 at 1:46 pm

of course maghihintay muna sya ng evidence bago mag react..and its the oppostion’s job na tapatan sya ng matibay na ebidensya. It’s not the apathetic filipino’s fault kung bakit di mapatanggal si GMA thru constitutional means..kahit pa siguro buong pilipinas pa ang pumunta sa EDSA kung talagang ayaw mag resign, di talaga magreresign. So ang natitirang solusyon.. Impeachment!

basta ang alam ko matalino sya..aba, sino ba naman gusto magaya kay erap na kinukuhanan ng “mug shot” at “nagppiano” matapos boluntaryong umalis sa pwesto.

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obet

March 15th, 2006 at 2:00 pm

Masyado lang tayong mga Pilipinong “pusong mamon”. Over-acting sa lahat ng situation. Iniisip pa lang ng iba, ngumangawa na kaagad!.
Tuloy, nagpa-panic na ang lahat, at sabay sasakyan pa ng mga takaw-publicity na mga pulitiko.

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scud_1975

March 15th, 2006 at 2:09 pm

well if you can tell me how not to be a fence sitter baka payag pa ko :)

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penpenpen88

March 15th, 2006 at 2:11 pm

well tama nga reactive sya =).. parang yung fox na nag aantay na mahulog yung grapes sa esop’s fables.. walang progress… at the mercy of the opposition na kahit watak watak.. is playing her pa din nonetheless…insecure kasi me tinatago .. kaya kahit konting haka haka lamang ..the reactive palace machinery is in full gear nanaman… and her spinsters weaving this sordid tale a large all encompassing plans by the left right up down side to side to overthrow her..
by scud
basta ang alam ko matalino sya..aba, sino ba naman gusto magaya kay erap na kinukuhanan ng “mug shot” at “nagppiano” matapos boluntaryong umalis sa pwesto.

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penpenpen88

March 15th, 2006 at 2:30 pm

by scud
basta ang alam ko matalino sya..aba, sino ba naman gusto magaya kay erap na kinukuhanan ng “mug shot” at “nagppiano” matapos boluntaryong umalis sa pwesto.

–matalino nga sya.. ksi she’s robbing us blind na nga we still think of her as the only person for the job… mas magling pa ata sya ke jesus christ dito sa pinas coz of the blind faith she commands…. so in the end.. i think well end up a country populated by mostly blind people.. alot of us will see the futility of being rightheous and honorable.. and decide as anakin did in star wars to join the dark side.. he side that is more rewarding in terms of money influence and power.. be one in spirit with this thief president who thinks she was sent by god to save us…. i mean why be honest and starve di ba.. tapos you see all those people in goverment living the life.. the life you paid for them…. come and join the bandwagon nalng.. too each his own and damn all those who are born unfortunate.. sieze the moment.. grab at the chance to be rich..say no to your concience.. greed is the best.. and if u cant bet em join em… utimate power is the key.. by all means.. by hook or by crook… matlino ka pag niisahan mo kapwa mo.. e if buong bayan naisahan mo.. by god then ur genius zillion times over..

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penpenpen88

March 15th, 2006 at 2:39 pm

by scud..
well if you can tell me how not to be a fence sitter baka payag pa ko
— and be like glori.. telling you what to think.. what to feel and fear? anh never mind.. di naman ako si mike defensor eh… defender of the wrong (note di wronged ah).. protector of the thief….. change comes from inside pre.. if u dont feel it then its just superficial… case in point.. that sorry sa hello garci tape we all know that di sincere yung sorry na yun di ba.. it shows in her face (nakakasukang look n parang there’s something stuck up in her ass).. i mean why bother to do it if its not what u feel di ba? ngmumukha ka lang lalong sinungaling.. kya do some soul searching pre .. gather all the facts and look at the big picture.. me basis naman lahat ng complaints if just look at it clearly..

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scud_1975

March 15th, 2006 at 2:45 pm

wow..another preacher in sermon. anyway, i submit. i rest my case

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tikboyblue

March 15th, 2006 at 4:22 pm

walang records?

HALAAA!!!!! MAY MOMOOOOOO!!!!!

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tikboyblue

March 15th, 2006 at 4:26 pm

teka, teka!

baka wala ring record ang PP 1017 ni Gloria in the Palace? Labas niyan moot and academic ulit ang kaso n nai-file sa kanya.

sabagay, di ba wala ring record yung sinasabing CPR?

at wala ring record of cheating? At wala na rin yung ERs sa Batasan?

baka me naglalaro na sa ating espiritu. baka di naman talaga nag-eexist si Gloria. si Mike Arroyo lang.

guys, baliktarin niyo kaya mga shirts niyo. baka pinaglalaruan na tayo ng mga espiritu.

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jr_lad

March 15th, 2006 at 4:29 pm

responsible? credibile? i think PCIJ has proven it so many times already not just during this present administration. the boracay mansion, the smuggling reports, the venable contract, etc., etc. they will not become the “untouchable” for nothing. speculations? do they have proof for the above report or this is only an allegation and hearsay? well, miss coronel has the nerve to report the alleged warrant request to the senate panel and recognized by the senators including the maverick joker arroyo. and this is supported by their earlier report that they have received confirmation from well-placed sources inside the QC-RTC about the warrant application.
adelantado ba ang PCIJ? may multo nga ba? over-acting? there’s a saying, “An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure”. what with the present situation, would PCIJ people just wait and react after? be raided, hand-over “seditious” materials then charged with sedition (not libel) w/o bail and brought straight to camp kapinpin? you already read the handwriting on the wall and you still would wait and react after? paano ka pa makaka-react pag nasa kulungan ka na? bubulukin ka muna. si ka bel hinuli ng walang warrant, ipinag-utos ng korte na pakawalan, nasunod ba? sino ang law breaker? is there a separation of power existing now? follow the rule of law? eto ay pabor lamang sa makaadministrasyon. pag civilan ka at may reklamo sa yo kulong ka.pag nasa gobyerno ka at may reklamo sayo, may summon ka sa house or senate, eo 464 lang katapat niyan. kahit nga dating opisyal na civilian na ngayon applicable pa rin daw ang eo 464. ayan, si jocjocjoc bolante ang mgandang halimbawa. so, may laban ka ba kay glue-ria at mga galamay niya? PCIJ is not apathetic like the silent majority is claiming they are. they have to protect themselves from any threat.

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freewheel

March 15th, 2006 at 6:51 pm

PCIJ have 2 immediate options:

play it PASSIVE, ala mr. austero, wait until tiongco, et al successfully find a judge willing to be a tool – a not a remote possibility as per rav saguisag assessment of the bench. and experience how police will turn pcij offices upside-down in search for that “seditious material”.

you and i could cry foul, write scathing comments in this or other blogs, denounce, petition,etc. etc. but in the process they would have by then already trampled pcij properties and consequently violated our rights to be heard. meanwhile, sponsors of this cabal act would have a field day laughing at us- of course commendation and promotion shall be showered on the lackeys.

or, ACTIVELY oppose moves to secure that darn warrant. one cannot just pray for a search warrant w/o establishing a prima facie evidence. if there is an element of being overly zealot, motivations in procedure shall be suspect. so what do we have now? we can try grave abuse of authority and discretion coupled with harassment. of this late, this is all too glaring to be ignored. should pcij try to turn the table on its harasser(s) and go via the courts, this will be a thing to watch. if this option would be a drain to your coffer (scant?), maybe bloggers here be willing to shell out and put their money where their mouth is (credit to toungue in,). personally, i would be more than willing to share if only to see how these beasts defend themselves in court.

anut-anoman, mabuhay ang PCIJ!

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freewheel

March 15th, 2006 at 6:56 pm

above should have read:

… a not remote possibility…

my apologies.

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johnmarzan

March 15th, 2006 at 7:26 pm

“Despite the fact that I personally saw the policemen and Mr. Tiongco undergo proceedings on their application for a search warrant, I confirmed today that the statement of the court is that there was never any application. They now claim that there was no application whatsoever for any search warrant against Sheila Coronel and the PCIJ,” Atty. Coronel said at a Senate hearing this afternoon.

What is as bizarre, said Atty. Coronel, was that there was also no record of a warrant having been applied for and denied last Friday, when an application was first made by the QC police. “I likewise checked insofar as the application for a search warrant that was confirmed by a police informant to have been made and denied last Friday and there is likewise no record of any such application,” Coronel said.

“Is there something strange out there happening?” asked Senator Rodolfo Biazon who raised questions about the warrant.

i guess the QC-RTC is a willing tool of the “damage control” operations of malacanang eh?

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lbrto

March 16th, 2006 at 8:34 pm

Sa mga nag-aalinlangan sa necessesity ng violent reaction:

THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL… Do we need to wait until it is too late???

Tama na ang nadeclare ang PD 1017 at nagkaron ng Calibrated Pre-emptive Response…

Tama na rin na na-railroad ang pag deliberation para sa impeachment ni gloria…

Hindi naman tayo TANGA…

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