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Did someone from Sandiganbayan remove Vice-President Binay’s cases from its website?

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By Raïssa Robles

Who disappeared Vice-President Jejomar Binay’s cases from the Sandiganbayan website?

It’s very strange.

Ordinarily, case resolutions of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan are easy to load and download from the website.

It is one of the things I like about the website.

However, no matter how I try – and I’ve tried it dozens of times on different devices – whenever I try to load Vice-President Jejomar Binay’s two case resolutions, this is the message I get on my screen:

Please see for yourself, whether you get the same message.

First, go to the Sandiganbayan website – http://sb.judiciary.gov.ph/

And click on Decisions/Resolutions – http://sb.judiciary.gov.ph/decision.php

On the left window “Please Select type” – select “Resolutions”

On the right window “Please select year” – highlight 2011

Then click on “Show”.

You will come to this page with the following URL – http://sb.judiciary.gov.ph/decision.php?docutype=RESOLUTIONS&year=2011&show=Show

Now this is what is very strange.

Click on all the other case resolutions and the PDFs will all easily upload and you can read the resolutions.

Crim Case/s SB-09-CRM-0078 – People vs. Belicena, et al

http://sb.judiciary.gov.ph/RESOLUTIONS/2011/C_Crim_SB-09-CRM-0078_Belicena,%20et%20al_03_09_2011.pdf

Crim Case/s SB-10-CRM-0100 – People vs. Vergara

http://sb.judiciary.gov.ph/RESOLUTIONS/2011/C_Crim_SB-10-CRM-0100_Vergara_03_09_2011.pdf

Crim Case/s 20187 – People vs. Garcia, et al

http://sb.judiciary.gov.ph/RESOLUTIONS/2011/E_Crim_20187_Garcia,%20et%20al_05_06_2011.pdf

Crim Case/s 28107 & SB-09-CRM-0194 – People vs. Garcia, et, al

http://sb.judiciary.gov.ph/RESOLUTIONS/2011/E_Crim_28107%20&%20SB-09-CRM-0194_Garcia,%20et,%20al_05_09_2011.pdf

Civil Case/s 0187 – People vs. Cojuangco,et al

http://sb.judiciary.gov.ph/RESOLUTIONS/2011/F_Civil_0187_Cojuangco,et%20al_06_15_2011.pdf

Crim Case/s 26151,26153,26154 – People vs. Dupiano,et al

http://sb.judiciary.gov.ph/RESOLUTIONS/2011/J_Crim_26151,26153,26154_Dupiano,et%20al_10_04_2011.pdf

 

Now click on the two case resolutions referring to Binay’s cases –

Crim Case/s SB-06-CRM-0471 – People vs. Binay, et al

http://sb.judiciary.gov.ph/RESOLUTIONS/2011/D_Crim_SB-06-CRM-0471_Binay,%20et%20al_04_07_2011.pdf

SB-06-CRM-0471 Case/s Binay, et al – People vs. 04

http://sb.judiciary.gov.ph/RESOLUTIONS/2011/D_SB-06-CRM-0471_Binay,%20et%20al_04_07_2011.pdf

And you will get the same messge:

Did someone do this intentionally? So the public cannot read Sandiganbayan’s resolutions on VP Binay?

Or is this an honest glitch in the system?

Actually, I wasn’t the one who noticed this first.

A reader, who asked not to be named, e-mailed me about it and asked me if I could download the case resolutions for him.

I couldn’t. No matter how many times I tried.

Can readers please try?

Then post here whether you succeeded or not.

Comments

    • . . . if there will be NO impeachment, conviction and removal from office as VP against him before May 2016, Binay becomes president.

  2. Raissa,

    I made some calls to these numbers and talked to this guy in the SB’s MIS dept about this issue.

    Mr, Royce Larche 951-4519

    (or look for Lito Bucas)

    The SC maintains the website of the SB but it is SB’s responsibility to upload the files they have made.

    Mr Larche’s explanation was “the file may probably have been corrupted due to weak connection of their computer with the SC’s computer” . Now that is very rich in irony and I expect the puns about the “corrupted” files. ha ha ha

    Anyway, he has promised to re-upload the two 2011 files of Binay this afternoon and we should just check if it is successful tonight or tomorrow.

    • kung tayong ordinaryong mamayan ay may back up sa ating personal files ( emails from friend & family). iyong isang pillar of our government pa kaya? and why only binay’s files have been corrupted. binay in person is already corrupt pati files sa sb ay naging corrupt na din. wonderful! pati computer alam pag nag lo-load ang files pag mayroong word na BINAY sinusuka.

      is there a possibility to counter check if the re-uploaded files are really authentic? one missing major word twists the the entire meaning of the case resolution. at dito sila magaling.

    • @andrew lim: Raissa’s Blog must be known to any MIS unit worth its salt in the Philippines, much more the MIS unit in either the SC or the Sandiganbayan.

      The commentaries here have been going on for days. Why not a pip from them. I cannot believe the staff of these MIS units or their relatives or friends have not informed them.

      “Something is rotten in the” Judiciary, to misquote Hamlet.

      In any case thanks for the information.

      • I was also able to download it.

        Does anybody know the case involving the purchase of hospital equipment like beds, etc. for Ospital ng Makati? Is it also a Sandiganbayan case? Still ongoing?

        • It’s an SB case but involves only Mrs. Binay and other officials relative to COA’s findings on exorbitant prices of equipment for the Ospital ng Makati worth P45.2 million. Mrs. Binay just posted bail on 11/10/14 at the SB for new cases of graft and malversation cases at the 3rd division of the graft court.

          “Elenita Binay has not been as lucky as her husband, Jejomar, in fending off graft and malversation charges. Way past her term as Makati mayor (1998-2001), she continuous to face 7 cases before the Sandiganbayan.”

          “Compare this to zero for Jejomar who rules the premiere city for a much longer period, close to 20 years. All 5 cases against Jejomar were either withdrawn by the Office of the Ombudsman or dismissed by the anti-graft court.”

          “In an earlier report, we reviewed these cases and found feeble prosecution coupled with bribes to the lead prosecutor kept Jejomar unscathed from the 1980s till 2010.”

          “Under the watch of Conchita Carpio Morales, cases of the overpriced Ospital ng Makati equipment were revived, this time including Elenita among the accused. These were filed with the Sandiganbayan in August 2013 and January 2014.”

          “Elenita got a reprieve during the short period that Orlando Casimiro (former overall deputy ombudsman) was acting Ombudsman after Merceditas Gutierrez resigned. One of his first acts after Gutierrez left on May 6, 2011 was to approve the filing of charges against the other Makati officials, except Elenita, for lack of evidence.” (Rappler 11/10/14)

          Could this be the last of Jejomar’s lucky streak? Hope so.

    • @ Andrew L.
      Hayan maaaring nagkasabwatan na naman diyan para maitago ang katutuhanan/file…ang mabuti diyan ay mapuntahan nang expert sa computer para malaman kon tama ang sagot ni mr. Larche dahil kong mali malamang NALAGYAN nang Malaking Pera…je je je ..diba? impossibly kasi sinasabi nito…

  4. My source at the Sandiganbayan has a spot on explanation why the Binay files cannot be downloaded from its website:

    The Binay files were corrupted.

    :-)

    On a more serious note from my source, please read my post #81.

    :-(

  5. An excerpt from abscbn news:

    Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, Binay’s spokesman for political concerns, said Trillanes’ latest pronouncement proves that the ongoing Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee probe was meant to discredit the Vice President and ruin his chances for the presidency.

    “It obviously shows that his (Trillanes) motives from the start were impure. It was never about the truth but about politics,” Remulla said in a text message to The STAR.

    Remulla said despite the senators’ “demolition job” against Binay, the Vice President continues to enjoy the trust and support of the public.

    “It’s really hard to put a good man down,” Remulla added.

    -magandang reason at consistent na sana sila sa 1st two paragraphs eh, kaso pumalya sa pangatlo. . LOL

    • @ Maverick,

      Saludo ako dati dito kay jonvic kaso ngayon nagpagamit at nagpakaTUTA pa. Ang issues dito dapat sagutin ni Binay nang maayos at huwag ang layunin ni Trillanes…kong wala kang kasalanan ay lalabas ang katutuhanan… ang kaso mahirap talaga itago ang Baho/anomalya…

  6. I suppose an email or a phone call to the Sandiganbayan should do the trick. “Hey guys we’re trying to download Binay’s cases from your files but couldn’t. Was it removed, intentionally or otherwise?” How they respond/or not respond could be a topic for another post.

    • W e can send them individual emails about this obvious willful disappearance of files that are legally viewed by the public from the site. It’ would be surprising what the rationale may be. Perhaps they need funds to upgrade and purchase new effective machines again to save files. But why the computer virus only attacks the Binay files? Must be infected airborne or close contact by hand, hahah. Please list down the link to the proper dept. so we can bombard them with emails , letters, notes,,, why no other newspaper, reporter or even tabloid pick on this this story ? Ah ,siguro common na ito sa kanila, no big deal.

      I think Yvonne already wrote to them some weeks ago, but to date I think have not received a reply. if we let this pass , they think they can get away with this kind of malicious cover up. This now you see, now you don’t should be talked about in the next SBRC hearing , as they say in aid of legislation….!!

  7. VP Binay is DANCING the JIGG on this –

    ‘State auditors have found “ghost employees” in Taguig City.

    The Commission on Audit (COA) has asked Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano to account for more than P317.4 million that the city government spent on salaries of its contractual employees, who seemed nowhere to be found.

    The COA also noted the “doubtful existence” of medicines and medical, dental, laboratory and office supplies in City Hall’s inventory amounting to nearly P102.3 million.’

    • A tit-for-tat if it comes from Binay; but this one comes from COA. Yes, there must be big smiles from Binay and cohorts.

      May be a preparation to a report of COA on Binay? Para sabihin patas — so COA will not be accused of being selective? I hope it is a biggie if my scenario comes about.

      • Makati has its share of employees reporting only on the 15th and 30th of every month to collect their salaries.

      • @parengtony, @kalakala : To balance my obvious over-reaction to my first para in #99.1 above , although of a different nature, this seems to be another “corruption” of the wordings or intent of a report (ref Sandigan files, the subject of the present Blog), this time a report by COA.

        It is a no-brainer to guess the hand behind this if such is the case.

        We must be vigilant indeed!

    • The headline is out of context insofar as the specific COA report referred to by the news article. The obvious intention is to mislead the reader.

      The byline is in alignment with a track record for such journalistic practice.

      But what is most disheartening about all this is the reality that COA, as an institution, has been reduced to an government agency composed of greedy bantay salakay auditors (read: What percentage of COA auditors will pass an honest to goodness lifestyle check?).

    • from one of PDI commentors:

      Avatar
      JuanTamadachi MakatiBoy • an hour ago

      Do peruse the below quoted comment:

      Quote

      Hates_Corrupt • in a day

      The Annual Audit Report for the City of Taguig is available at the Commission of Audit (http://wwwdotcoadotgovdotph/)
      together with the other Annual Audit Reports for government agencies.

      The Audit Report was signed by Carmelita O. Antasuda, Director lV, National
      Capital Region, COA; dated June 30, 2014 and received by the Office of the
      Mayor, City of Taguig on September 3, 2014 (9/3/2014). As a matter of
      procedure/protocol, the OP, OVP, Senate, House of Representatives, DBM, DILG, Taguig City-Sanguniang Panglunsod, UP, and National Library are provided copies.

      The Audit Report for the City of Taguig has 11 related documents including the “Executive Summary” and the Detailed Observations and Recommendations” among others.

      As I read the report, the COA DID NOT FIND GHOST EMPLOYEES. What the COA found:

      The “complete wording” of the COA FINDING:

      City’s plantilla positions have not been created hence, contract of service for contractual and job order (JO) personnel under the different development projects/programs was charged to OMOE (other maintenance and operating expenses) INSTEAD OF PERSONAL SERVICES EXPENDITURES (PS)- 486.690
      MILLION (Ob. No. 2.2a, p.29) Note: Words in CAPITAL are omitted in the above
      article.

      Unquote
      _______________________________________________________________________________________

      sen. alan cayetano already explained this issue in one of the makati parking building hearings. there’s nothing new about this issue

      • and another one from Joey Baldemor • 2 hours ago of PDI DISQUZ

        A am not for the Cayetanos…. but the basis of the one who wrote this article is the copy of COA report obtained by the Inquirer which included the annual audit reports of 79 provinces, 144 cities, 1,446 municipalities and 29,947 village councils nationwide. So what is the objective of this writer to single out Lani Cayetano? And for purposes of balance reporting, did he obtained the side of Lani Cayetano or verified if Mayor Cayetano has already replied on the concerns of this report? And, because this is an audit report, this must contain the transcript of the audit/exit review of the COA with Lani Cayetano or her representative. Did he read the audit review? And, again for purposes of balance reporting, why he did not mentioned here the transcript of the audit review?

        The motives of this writer is in question, because this is the same Case filed in the Ombudsman by the classmate of Atty. Abigail Binay against Mayor Cayetano. A coincidence or a political vendetta of the Binays? Let us just be vigilant…

    • ‘damaged and could not be repaired’ we should not believe in that bull. sandiganbayan always back up their data and has master copies or hard copies of files. sandiganbayan just dont want to share info with us and has put embargo on the files for nominal fee.

  11. Happy Thanksgiving!

    To all who celebrate Thanksgiving, cheers!

    Go easy on the Turkey and Pumpkin Pies!

    • VP Binay ducked the ‘trial by publicity’ !

      The Senate ‘tried’ him instead ‘in absentia’ ! If in court, he has to be arraigned first and after that he can run away and campaign in presencia !

      In the Senate ‘trial in absentia includes already GUILTY IN ABSENTIA’!

      So VP Binay counters. . .to maintain his ‘innocence in presencia’ at his CAMPAIG-iNONCIA!

      In ALL barbershops and PARLORS, palengke, public buses, taxis, PUJs, formal and informal squatters,

      devastated areas by typhoons, OFWs abroad, funeral parlors, commercial airplanes, hotels, cafes,

      restaurants, cinemas, TURO-TUROs, at GARBAGE DUMPS, clinics, canteens, private and gov’t offices,

      at private homes, hotel rooms, motel rooms, at drinking tables on the streets, LRTs and MRTs, PNR trains,

      at cemeteries, military and police CAMPS, private Club places, SHIPS and BOATS, on bancas on fishing,

      groceries, SHOPPING MALLS . . .

      VP Binay will be there, going there explaining to ALL to BELIEVE HIM he is the innocencio

      and not GUILTY IN ABSENTIA.

      • binay himself did his own version of trial by publicity without trappings of the court. he took his case straight to the people at duon nagpaliwanag. he went all over the country visiting lgus, markets, schools, barangays, and ultimately cbcp. and still, binay is not yet finished, still doing his own trial by publicity, still doing his rounds, talking and baiting the president, still hoping to be fired. not impeach though, not impeach, danger yan.

        I think binay wants to be fired by PNoy and when that did not eventuate, binay has to try another tactic. since the executive is not lifting a finger and free binay to do whatever it is he really wants to do, senate ngayon and pinupuntariya ni binay. next it will be judiciary.

        I think again, binay really wants to be fired, but the president most likely knows that firing binay will not stop binay from grandstanding and traveling all over the country. even if fired, binay will still do what it is binay do best only this time, the president will lose acess to binay. he cannot be called to heel, made to report to work and attend meetings.

        but, if work is getting tougher and harder to bear, binay can resign irrevocably. he has my humble blessing.

    • @Raissa: Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed reading that piece you referenced. It is like a movie thriller; like a “thrilla in Manila.” I can sense the drama in the narration. I did not witness that on live TV. (Not even sure if it was broadcast on live TV.)

      And that may explain why Binay does not want to appear in the Senate Investigation. Observing how laughable the statements coming out of his mouth, he may just make a mistake more fatal than what Angelo Reyes made. Of course, even if that happens, no “hara-kiri” for our thick-faced Binay.

      Again, a gem of a piece Raissa. It is good you referenced it, or I would have missed it entirely. Thanks a lot.

    • (with reference to the attached link) the response of Sen. Estrada to Sec. Reyes is very appropriate –

      Reyes: Can I ask Colonel Rabusa, if during the time I was chief of staff, did I become greedy? Did I ask him for anything? Did I demand money from him, officially or unofficially?

      Estrada: THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF GREED. THE ISSUE IS IF YOU COLLECTED MONEY, IF YOU WERE CORRUPT AS CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES. WHO CARES IF YOU WERE GENEROUS?

      • Back then mam Raissa, your post was only able to solicit 4 comments…. if that happened today, that could have been one of the “best sellers”.. times a changing

    • I watched that senate hearing after dinner on Tuesday February 8, 2011 until late at night. The scene vividly stuck in my mind. After saying his infamous essay on greed, he followed it up by asking “Was I” Huh, Huh.” He could not handle himself. What more of the whole military institution?

      I was told by one of his subordinates that Angelo was cock sure to become CS, AFP while still the SOUTHCOM chief. This was by virtue of the fact that he was the youngest in his PMA class 1966. The current CS, AFP then was Joselyn Nazareno of class 1966 also. Angelo’s claim of succession hinged on age, not performance.

      Angelo stayed in school and administrative positions almost all of his military career. But he was bright, really bright and one among the few who entered PMA at age 17 and a mere high school graduate.

      That encounter between Senator Trillanes, PMA class 1995, and General Reyes was really unfortunate but poetic. Trillanes waited for more than seven years for the day of reckoning. And Angelo had it so good for a decade. Revenge is really most delicious when served cold.

      “If Trillanes does not destroy himself within the next three years, he will become a strong contender for the presidency in 2016.”

      To me, Trillanes’ most daring and significant acts, in addition to the above incident, include his unforgettable stand against senate president Enrile on the China squabble and his dogged pursuit of Binay in the recent senate investigation.

      Did Trillanes destroy himself at anytime since that fateful day of February in 2011? I don’t think so. In fact he performed his job as senator with flying colors and audacity.

      • Sen. Trillanes said this to Angelo:

        ‘If you are so concerned about your name, you should have fixed yourself while you were in office! This is the time of reckoning. You better find very good lawyers….You have no reputation to protect!’

        Maybe Sen. Trillanes can send similar message to VP BInay like this:

        ” You have no more name. Your failure to attend at the Senate hearing fixes your guilt. This is the time you end sitting on your rocking chair in boy scout uniform. Go, your worst days to find the baddest lawyers you can find is soon to come. Your bad reputation cannot be protected!”

        . . . maybe to make Binay into a sama–aray…and go for the final end. . . mana kiri of Angelo!

        A message from a shoo-gun in the senate

        hahaha

  13. WILL THE SAINTS GO MARCHING AGAIN?

    Abad: 2015 budget free of pork

    Mirriam: 2015 budget laden with P37.3 billion pork

    Escudero: 2015 budget did not herald the return of the pork barrel, but an exercise of the lawmakers’ power of the purse.

    “In a privilege speech on Monday, Santiago questioned why members of the House of Representatives had been asked earlier this year “to submit lists of projects they endorsed for their districts.” She described the practice as “pork barrelism.”

    “Escudero, finance committee chair, defended the inclusion of lawmakers’ proposed projects in the draft of the 2015 budget, saying this was not a violation of the Supreme Court ruling declaring the unconstitutionality of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF)”(PDI today)

    The pork is getting bigger every year and may be more in 2016, being an election year, since it is not a violation of the SC ruling on PDAF, according to chiz.

    • Mr. Neal H. Cruz writes…

      I said the Philippines is the only country in the world where a budget containing 269 pages of errors and a new definition of “savings” has been passed by the lower chamber. The errata and the new definition of savings in effect retain the lump sum, or pork barrel, allocations outlawed by the Supreme Court. Instead of being removed from the budget, the pork has been increased to P37 billion.

      http://opinion.inquirer.net/80456/pork-barrel-hiked-in-2015-budget

      I write…

      “D Savings” and Errata” were authored by horrorable lawmakers (legislators from the HOR)…

      “D Savi” + “Errata” = D’saveratta. Hmmm…

      The GAA 2015 may become the new “Desiderata” of our time…

      Happiness needed…happiness wanted…

      Pork barrel is the key to happiness.

      Mr. Cruz ends…

      Yes, the 2015 budget is an election budget.

      D’saveratta means porcine legislation in aid of election…

      • @kalahari, @baycas:

        We are cited worldwide as creative people. This budget thingy is a confirmation or testimony of that observation.

        HURRAY! OR CRYING SHAME?

      • “Pork barrel is the key to happiness.”
        yes na yes.
        so the popular” gusto ko happy ka!”.

    • That is obviously always a PROBLEM…lawmakers EXERCISE the power of the purse…

      how and what is EXERCISED …means ‘how much?’ and ‘what is it?’ …so, they still say no more PDAF or DAP? Or any PORK BARREL ?

      But it could still be THERE…exercise by lawmakers of the purse…what is inside the purse? MONEY !

      Different DOG but same COLLAR.

    • The issue as I understand it is the definition of pork. If it means discretionary funds, there is no pork for legislators. If it means local expenses for projects identified by lawmakers, there is pork. The Supreme Court was talking about discretionary funds being unconstitutional. But, yes, there are expenses for lawmaker projects locally, which is in their legal power to award, being the keepers of the budget.

      For me, I like discretionary budgets, for there are needs that arise. But I don’t like crooks.

      • hahaha

        If the heavens of God had a congress, and the members are the ranks of Angels,

        God would be saying every second of it…”Tis like the Philippine congress huh!’

  14. On Philippine v China . . . our ‘islands,’ J. Carpio of the SC says

    ‘”he US has, time and again, said that they do not take sides in territorial disputes. In 2012, China seized Scarborough Shoal; the US said ‘that’s not covered by the MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty). It really depends on America whether they want to come in or not, so what is the value of this EDCA if there is no guarantee of assistance?

    “In other words, EDCA will help us improve our facilities but it does not give us any guarantee that when there is an armed attack, the US will come to our aid,” Carpio said.

    To these observations, Hilbay said the Philippines, amid its resource limitations, has to explore avenues to improve its military capability and “do what it can, and hope for the best.”

    In other words, Philippines and Filipinos will have to fight on our own incapability against China.

    USA is training etc., us how to fight etc. Not that America will fight for us. That is EDCA.

    Ensure Desist China Attacks = edca.

      • @leona:

        That is realpolitik in action.

        About spending a substantial amount to enhance our military capability, I am rather wary of making strong opinions, considering the sectoral budgetary needs everyone and his uncle fights about; and the simple critical item — a conjecture — that a Presidential candidate will just be willing to sell the country in order to ensure winning, militarily capable or not as we should be.

        • Wary…not even is USA free of this.

          China has millions of ‘susunodantes’ to engage in any land war. It has no ‘bobotantes’ like ours.

          Korean War 1950s 250,000 Chinese PLA push back the UN forces beyond the 38th Parrallel…it was too much overwhelming for UN actions.

          Wary it is for anybody to challenge China these days. To use nuclear would be suicide for our planet earth.

        • @leona:

          I completely understand.

          Allow me to say a word about my statement above. I have not been known to be good at expressing myself in writing. My statement above,

          “I am rather wary of making strong opinions …”

          refers to my own side, MY wariness, for the reason I expressed above, not meant at all as a criticism of your view, which I understand.

          Thanks for your note.

  15. Other things aside on Ebola, should our own gov’t also have what the US has [CDC] . . . SDdC

    . . . meaning? ‘spreading disease de-control’

    not a laughing matter

    • ‘ONLY days after they were criticized for breaking their own quarantine protocol, the military and the Department of Health were back in the limelight on Tuesday after four just-returned United Nations peacekeepers from Liberia were sent to a hospital that was not designated an Ebola facility.

      “The decision to let them undergo the quarantine at the AFP Medical Center is based on the guidance from DOH,” said Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc.

      Cabunoc explained that the four Filipino soldiers, who were among the country’s 112 UN peacekeepers in Liberia, were cleared after Ebola screening in Monrovia.’

      The news on that –