Here and There
Erap’s era finally ending?
By Gerry Garcia
FOLLOWING is a tale of sexual harassment from one Grace Ibañez, alleged member of the PPRCI (presumably Pangasinan Press and Radio Club). We do not know Grace personally. We picked her story from a press copy lying on our desk last week.
Grace had a harrowing experience with one American whom we’ll identify through his initials C. T. who reportedly hired Grace’s services as special tutor to his autistic son named Christian.
After three occasions which took place separately on June 6, 7 and 8, Grace found out that her employer had other motives in his mind than merely wishing to put his son under special tutorship. CT wanted sexual relations with his young employee, or to be more succinct, “carnal knowledge”, as alleged in Grace’s affidavit.
Grace’s “sexual molestations” on those three days led to her psychiatric counseling at the Regional Medical Center in Dagupan City after she had developed a trauma.
In her 3-page complaint filed with the City Prosecution Office, Grace told of how her employer, through his Filipino wife, Sarita Sison, had lured 3 other young women to serve as housemaids under a handsome offering of P4,000 a month only to end up as victims of the American amo’s bestiality.
Grace, who had sought the help of Gabriela, a cause-oriented group for the protection of women, further suspected that the Americano had connections in high places of government so that he remained untouchable. Case remains unsettled.
*****
The mighty Erap, former RP president, has been “detained” for the last 6 years at his personal resthouse in Tanay, Rizal, facing charges of multi-million-peso plunder. He was finally found guilty beyond reasonable doubt by the Sandiganbayan. Now PGMA, who is out of the country, personally, is reportedly offering her former rival either amnesty or complete pardon.
Sane and least political reactions are better gleaned from sectors outside Metro Manila, especially on the issue of complete pardon. Are you in favor or not?
Off-the-cuff comments some of which were culled from Phil Star’s INBOX world follow.
From Ilocos Norte, reader R Taylan writes: Yes, so we can raise a notch higher PGMA’s sliding approval rating caused by the ZTE controversy.
G Bello from Dagupan City: No! Only crook will pardon another crook.
M Abejero from Pangasinan: Six years litigation, millions of tax-payers’ money and precious man-hours wasted and after conviction we will pardon him? An unrepentant convict does not deserve mercy.
From New York City, L Aldana says “Absolutely NOT. PGMA should tell him, “Holy Joseph, sigue ipapardon kita pero lahat ng ill-gotten billions mo, isoli mo’ “.
B Cunanan from Angeles City: Are they joking? After spending six years and millions of people’s money on Erap’s trial, he does not deserve any pardon. He should rot in Muntilupa.
Here in Dagupan City again, J Pantaleon says: No, if Erap who is still a millionaire owning the whole San Juan and part of Boracay, does not return his billions of plundered money.
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/here-and-there/)
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