Roxas to GMA: Use power to waive filing fees for Legacy victims

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today urged President Arroyo to use her influence over the justice department and order the waiving of filing fees for pre-need plan holders victimized by the fraudulent operations of Legacy owner Celso de los Angeles and his cohorts.

At the same time, Roxas filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking the exemption of victims of failed pre-need companies and investment scams from the payment of filing fees, which he stressed have become "stumbling blocks" in the victims’ quest for justice.

Roxas, chairman of the Senate trade and commerce committee, lamented the inability of Legacy victims from paying the required filing fees with the DOJ and the corresponding legal fees with the courts have delayed, if not blocked, the recovery of their claims and the prosecution of De los Angeles and his cohorts for fraudulent transactions.

The fees include filing fees, which are paid to the DOJ if complainants want to institute criminal actions, and court fees, which are paid if planholders lodge criminal complaints against fraudulent investment entities and pre-need companies.

"Itong mga fees na ito ang isa sa mga pinakamalaking hadlang sa pag-pa-file ng kaso laban dito sa Legacy at kay Celso de los Angeles," he said in his opening statement during Friday’s committee hearing on the collapse of Legacy companies and the plight of the pre-need industry.

"Nananawagan po ako sa Pangulo, nananawagan po ako sa administrasyon: Imbes na pag-aksayahan po ninyo ng panahon iyang mga political parties, ‘yang pagsasama-sama ng mga partido po ninyo, imbes na pag-aksayahan po ninyo itong mga birthday at iba pang mga okasyon, siguro dapat pag-aksayahan ninyo ng panahon, bigyan ninyo ng oras, itong mga naging biktima ng Legacy. Kayo mismo, Pangulong Arroyo, DOJ, at administrasyon, kayo mismo dumulog sa Supreme Court at tumulong sa ating panawagan na i-waive na itong filing fees na ito," he appealed to President Arroyo.

"Pangulong Arroyo, kung sinsero ka sa pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan, alam mo ang kabigatan ng iyong impluwensiya sa DOJ, alam mong makikinig sa iyo ang secretary nito kung iuutos mo ang pagtigil ng paniningil ng mga filing fees para sa mga biktima ng Legacy," he added.

In his petition with the Supreme Court, the Visayan senator said the high bench, like Congress, has the duty to "reduce social and economic inequalities in order to further improve and uplift the lives of Filipino people."

"One such way of lessening social and economic inequalities is an outright exemption from filing fees for victims of failed pre-need companies and investment scams, which filing fees can just constitute as a lien on whatever monetary award that said victims may receive in the event of a favorable decision," he said.

Friday, May 29, 2009 | posted in celso de los angeles, doj, legacy group of companies, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, pre-need code of 2008, president, supreme court | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas in Cebu

Senator Mar Roxas was in Cebu yesterday and was able to be with his staff for the whole day. It was a privilege to be with Senator Roxas in Cebu as this was my first time to see him here.

First stop in the morning was the Pre-Need Forum hosted by the Parents Enabling Parents (PEP) Coalition, headed by Philip Piccio, together with Senator Roxas in the Kalambuan Hall of the Cebu Normal University. The forum was jampacked with people who were lured by Celso de los Angeles' scam. Senator Roxas was committed in making this liable of this scam, be imprisoned, not only Celso de los Angeles but also those judges from the Regional Trial Courts and Court of Appeals to tried to protect Celso de los Angeles by issuing a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO). He noted that only the Supreme Court can issue a TRO and not the lower courts.

Roxas understands the situation of the Legacy victims and he wants to resolve this issue. He said that unlike other Senate investigations, that after a few months are already forgotten, he would continue to support the Legacy victims until they get back the money the Celso de los Angeles illegally used. The money that these people invested for the future of their sons and daughters, for the future of their business and for the future of their jobs.

Concerns were raised about the filing fee that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is asking for every case that is filed. Roxas told the audience that he had already waived for the filing fee in order to encourage more victims to file a case against Celso de los Angeles and his company, but it seems that the DOJ is acting on it slowly. He said that DOJ formed a Task Force on Bank Fraud last 2005 but until now, the Task Force wasn't able to file a case to anyone. It was disappointing to know this. What the hell is the DOJ doing?

Someone also wanted to clarify the services offered by Roxas on the Legacy victims. Roxas clarified that he would provide only free legal support from lawyers. He said he was not a "bolero". He admitted that he can't support the filing fees and other fees of all the Legacy victims. He suggested that the victims would file a "class suit" so that they can save from the cost instead of having everyone filing the case separately.

The last person who asked a question in the Pre-Need Forum was an interesting one. It was her who made Roxas exclaimed "This Legacy was a scam since day one!" I forgot to list her name, but Roxas will be inviting her to the Senate hearing on the Legacy scam.

After the forum, I was off the meet Ma'am Ines Delfin, one of Roxas' media staff whom I contacted for this. When Senator Roxas left the forum, the team went straight to Café Laguna in Ayala Terraces. But I and Ma'am Ines opted to be left behind from the convoy. So, we thought that it was going to be at the Cebu City Hall, but we were informed that it was in Café Laguna. OMG!

A few minutes later, we arrived in Café Laguna for lunch. In there were the Cebu City councilors and Roxas. We waited for Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to arrive. Around 12:35 PM, Osmeña arrived. Only a few media were allowed to enter. I was privileged to shot some pictures. Together with the Mayor was his wife, Margot and son Miguel.

It was supposed to be a private lunch but a few media sneaked in. Another surprise visitor who came in was no other than Dra. Vicky Belo! In the other room was the Belo Launching in Cebu Press Conference. I'll talk about this later. Belo had a little chat with Osmeña and Roxas.

After the lunch, we immediately proceeded to Cebu State College of Science and Technology. Roxas was about to give an inspirational speech on the graduates. He challenged them not to believe in destiny. He urged them to write their own destiny and to be prepared with the real world. He also told them that the problem was not on the people, but on the leaders.

There were a lot of people around the gym where the graduation was held but Roxas has to go back home before ending the graduation rites. He told the graduates that he has still another appointments to attend.

It was my first time to ride a convoy of a public official. I joined the convoy from the school to the Mactan Cebu International Airport. At around 3:30 PM, Roxas bid goodbye to the Cebuanos as he returns to Manila. He promised that he would still be coming back.

This experience is so memorable. I loved it. How I wish it could happen again! Senator Roxas in Cebu.

Click to see more photos on Senator Roxas in Cebu at my Friendster Album.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 | posted in celso de los angeles, doj, legacy group of companies, mar roxas, philippines, pre-need code of 2008, tomas osmeña, vicky belo | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas prods Department of Justice to act swiftly on Legacy complaints

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas yesterday prodded the Department of Justice (DoJ) to act swiftly on the complaints filed against officials of the Legacy Group led by owner Celso de los Angeles, to bring justice and relief to the victims of the company's schemes.

"Pupukpukin natin ang Department of Justice, kakalampagin natin hanggang sa mag-file na sila ng kaso laban sa Legacy, lalo na kay Celso (We will continue to pound on the DoJ for them to immediately file cases against Legacy officials, especially de los Angeles)," the chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce said.

"Ang lahat ng ito ay nasa kamay ngayon ng Department of Justice dahil ito ang mag-fa-file ng kaso laban kay Celso de los Angeles. Babantayan natin ito. Hindi natin papayagan na na idri-dribble lang ito hanggang sa magkalimutan na lang (All these are now in the hands of the DoJ because it will be the one which would file cases against Celso de los Angeles. We will watch them closely. We will not allow them to sit on the cases until the public forgets about them)," he also said.

Complaints have been filed before the DoJ against the Legacy owner and his cohorts by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and various investors, all of which have been referred for preliminary investigation to the "Task Force Legacy."

Members of the task force have told senators that the preliminary investigation into the complaints would begin on March 21 after all pleadings and counter-pleadings have been filed by concerned parties.

The Ilonggo senator said it was imperative for the Justice department to employ fast action on the cases so aggrieved pre-need planholders and bank depositors and investors could recover the investments they made to the various Legacy companies, such as the Legacy Consolidated Plans Inc., Legacy One Card and its 13 rural banks.

He exhorted prosecutors not to follow the path of the 2005 Task Force against Bank Frauds, which until now has yet to file a single case in relation to the complaints referred to it when it was created.

"Ang tanong ngayon, paano si Nanay Beth? Si Nanay Mila? At iba pang biktima? Paano ang pera nila? Paano mananagot ang dapat na managot dito? Kailangang agarang kumilos ang DoJ para makakuha ng hustisya ang mga kawawang biktima ng Legacy (The question now is, how about Nanay Beth, Nanay Mila and the other victims? How about their savings? Will the persons responsible for this scam be held responsible? DOJ should act swiftly so justice will be served for sake of Legacy's victims)," he said.

Thursday, March 12, 2009 | posted in bangko sentral ng pilipinas, celso de los angeles, doj, legacy group of companies, mar roxas, pre-need code of 2008, sec | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas: No justice in Teehankee release

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas on Tuesday criticized the early release from prison last week of Claudio Teehankee, Jr. after the celebrity convict served 14 years for three heinous crimes committed in 1991, as he lamented the patently unequal application of justice in the country.

"Itong si Teehankee, after 14 years pinalaya na. Ilang mga mahirap na preso ang nakakulong ng mas higit pa sa 14 taon dahil mahirap sila at walang abogadong umaayos ng kanilang paglaya?" he said.

"Mali ito. Hindi pantay ang hustisya sa mahirap at mayaman, kaya wala nang tiwala ang mga tao sa hustisya sa bansa natin. Dapat pantay-pantay ang aplikasyon ng hustisya dito sa ating bansa," he said.

Roxas’ reaction was prompted by the admission of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez that Teehankee’s release was facilitated by a visit of his brother, Philippine Representative to the World Trade Organization Manuel Teehankee, a former Justice undersecretary, to intercede and seek early release of his jailed older brother.

Following the former DOJ undersecretary’s visit, Gonzalez said he ordered the Bureau of Corrections and the Board of Pardons and Parole to recompute Claudio Jr.'s credits. President (Gloria) Arroyo thereafter granted Claudio Jr. executive clemency in late September.

"Nakalulungkot lang na mas mabilis aksyunan ng ating mga opisyal ang mga aplikasyon para sa clemency at pardon ng mga mayayaman at maimpluwensiyang preso. Nakakaawa naman ang maraming preso na tumanda na sa kulungan pero hanggang ngayon ay naghihintay pa rin ng awa ng gobyerno," he said.

"Dapat ipaliwanag ng gobyerno sa publiko ang dahilan kung bakit pinalaya nang maaga si Teehankee. Ipakita nila kung bakit nararapat ang maagang pagpapalaya na ito. Dahil kung hindi, at magpatuloy ang ganitong larangan ng palakasan, talagang durug-durog na ang rule of law sa ating bansa," Roxas said.

He urged the Justice Department to also review the cases and applications for clemency and pardon of other convicts, particularly the elderly who have no financial resources for the quick facilitation of their applications.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 | posted in claudio teehankee jr., doj, manuel teehankee, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president, raul gonzalez | 0 comments [ More ]