Whose Dark Conspiracy?
Barely two weeks before the court hands down the verdict to former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada’s plunder case, Federico Manrique publishes a book entitled “Dark Conspiracy.” Manrique is a former action officer of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and former employee of the Office of the Ombudsman.
Manrique, together with his lawyer Cirilo Avila, filed a Manifestation of Intervention at the Sandiganbayan. According to Manrique, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, along with her cohorts manipulated evidence to force a trial and the eventual conviction of Estrada.
Among those mentioned in the Manifestation are Rigoberto Tiglao, and Michael Defensor. Allegedly, they ensured that Manrique will not testify for Estrada. Manrique was given diplomatic status in Canada in 2000. He was supposed testify in the pluder hearing in 2003. Allegedly, Manrique was also corerced into filing a perjury case against Estrada, even before the plunder case was filed. Many other names and incidents are listed by Manrique in his book and in his Manifestation.
Of course these accusations are a cause for concern. Were we duped by Arroyo and her cohorts? By now, there is no doubt in my mind that Arroyo is capable of dirty tricks just to attain power. First, she broke her promise not to run for the Preisdency. Then, came the “Hello Garci” tape. Then again, she has hinted that she is thinking of running for Congress come 2010. And of course, Arroyo and her cohorts are still resisting the Senate’s re-opening of the “Hello Garci” issue.
Arroyo’s less than stellar performance in the credibility and transparency department gives credence to Manrique’s accusations. Surely, if the current administration is serious is having a credible conviction of Estrada, they will conduct a FAIR and TRANSPARENT INDEPENDENT investigation of Manrique and Avila’s accusations.
On the other hand, it is very much dubious that Manrique and Avila are only just revealing these now, barely two weeks before the conviction. Is it just a ploy by these two to get media attention? Or is it a sincere effort to rectify a past mistake? Or are Manrique and Avila puppets of Estrada or his people? Whatever the case maybe, I can only hope that it will lead to truth and nothing but.
Right now, I must admit, I am confused about the issue. Ultimately, I would like all these accusations to be false. This may just be a ploy by Estrada’s camp to cast doubt on his pending conviction. Then again, it is not unlikely that Arroyo indeed fabricated evidence and coerced people to get what she wants. Until facts surrounding Marinque and Avila’s personalities surface, I am suspending judgment. Both sides of the fence, after all, are capable of a dark conspiracy.
6 Responses to “Whose Dark Conspiracy?”
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28 years old from Davao City, blogging since 2004. :)
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You know what, I got tired of this so called witnesses, either sides, and then later recant their testimonies. Anybody now who said he/she ‘is a witness to whatever, again both sides, I don’t believe anymore. It seems all politicians and govt’ officials are always taking as for a ride that I have very low regards of them now, well except for a few which I can count on my fingers in my left hand. Sorry but that’s just how I see it. I think we’re doomed…
[...] & Work With Ria {September 07, 2007} The Week That Was: September 1 – 7, 1007 On Alleba Politics: Whose Dark Conspiracy? – Federico Manrique accuses the administration ofcoercion and fabrication to force an Estrada conviction A Dubious Deal – on the NBN hoopla National Government Still to Distribute IRAs worth P27-B – LGUs haven’t received their IRAs yet [...]
the best way to settle this is issues is by presenting this said evidences to the proper court. let the court decides and make this public
why dont someone make a writ of amparo for the appearance in supreme court of mr manrique,atty riley avila and the rest of the personalities named in the “Dark Conspiracy”
hello ms Rye,
yes, I am the Federico Manrique that you are talking about..everything i said in that book, THE DARK CONSPIRACY is with documentary evidences..i agree with you that there should be a FAIR & TRANSPARENT INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION, i will be very much interested & cooperative to this move..i will surface & tell everything…
For a start, I would suggest that You, yourself or your lawyer file a “writ of Amparo” for my appearance in supreme court but right now i am here in Toronto, Canada.
I would be very much willing to meet anybody you will send here to see & talk to me..and will even show or give a certified true copies of the said documentary evidences..the book,Dark conspiracy that was published did not include these evidences, it was not me who published it.
If you still want to verify my whereabout here in Toronto, its easy bcoz my wife is assined in our consulate office here in Toronto as mentioned in that “book”.
Mike Defensor & Lito Atienza was on me since 2007, when i tried to surface last 2007 in the Philippines…i can even show you the hand wriiten counter proposal of mike defensor after the said publications on Aug 31st, 2007…
How they have distroyed & denied JUN LOZADA, they would not be able to do it to me for i have documentary evidences…my family is techgnically a hostage here in Canada….. you may reach me through my email add, carlos_devilla@yahoo.com
ms rye,
more info for you( 2010-A): sometime on April 2007 before erap’s birthday while he was still in TAYTAY, I had a meeting in BIKE’S makati (where atty Rene & late wife, Dulce had regular ballroom dancing session) with atty Rene Saguisag, atty avila & Lingoy Alcuaz at about 1 am in that morning…it was a friday night.
Atty Saguisag knows the truth about me & about the documents I possessed, it was also in that meeting that Atty Nicasio Conti, PCGG Comm tried calling me & tried to stop me from surfacing the truth…..remember, this was about 4 months before the news about me came out in the open..I was in the Philippines by that time,prepared & ready to surface .. than I got that call.