Pinoy artist sells five paintings in one hour in Holland
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
In the art of painting, subjects such as traditional landscapes sell better than others, but Pinoy painter Al Perez proved that there is still a high degree of interest in religious themes when he sold five paintings in just one hour in Holland.
Perez's works, mainly paintings of saints and churches, were showcased as part of the cultural evening organized by the Philippine Embassy on June 6, in commemoration of the 110th anniversary of the Philippine Independence Day.
Exhibited in De Duif Church at the famous Prinsengracht or Prince's Canal were different images of the Madonna and Child, different saints like Our Lady of Guadalupe and Sta. Elena, famous churches in the Philippines like the Barasoain Church and the Paoay Church and some portraits and flowers.
Perez' painting of Barasoain ChurchCredit: Loui Galicia/ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Among the paintings sold were two Madonna and Child, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Barasoain Church and a carabao-drawn carriage.
Most of the paintings cost 350 euros (24,000 pesos) each but with the exception of a few more expensive ones like the painting which looked like a canvas of black glossy paint on close-up view but which reveals the face of Jesus Christ when viewed from afar.
Perez has a touch that is definitely his own, noted from his meticulous and realistic rendition of old churches. He has painted every important church in the Philippines and is an acknowledged aquarelle master of baroque churches.
"Ang talagang forte ko eh simbahan. Lahat ng simbahan sa lahat ng Pilipinas nagawa ko na. Kasi ang lola ko, araw-araw nasa simbahan so maliit palang ako favorite ko na ang simbahan lalong lalo na yung Malolos Barasoain Church at Santa Elena Church," Perez told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
(My forte is churches and I have painted almost all the churches in the Philippines. That’s because my grandmother went to mass everyday so even when I was a child, churches were among my favorites, especially the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan and the Sta. Elena Church.)
From his exhibited works, Perez said that his favorite is the painting of Santa Elena.
"Kasi nung maliit ako, nagkasakit ako ng parang convulsion. Nung parang mamatay ako, itong lola ko dinala ako sa altar nitong Santa Elena. Pinangako niya na mabuhay lang ako, maglilingkod ako every fiesta niya. Pupunta ako at dadalin ko ang kanyang statue, dadamitan ko siya. Kaya every May 4, kahit nasaan ako, uuwi ako pag-magfi-fiesta na yan," Perez said.
(When I was small, I got sick with convulsions and everyone though I was dying. Then my grandmother brought me to Sta. Elena and promised that if I survived, I would serve her during her every feast day. So I would go there and bring her image and dress it up every May 4. No matter where I was, I would go home to serve her during her feast day.)
Pinay Hermie Carino was the first to snap a painting because it featured her favorite saint, which is Our Lady of Guadalupe.
"Interesado ako dito. Binili ko siya kasi I was born on the 12th of December and that's the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe," Carino said.
(I am interested in Our Lady of Guadalupe and I was born on December 12 which is her feast day, so I bought it the painting.)
Carino said that the price she paid is out of question because she intends to keep the painting for a very long time.
However, there are some who buy paintings for the short-term pleasure of owning a masterpiece, in exchange for the long-term satisfaction of selling for a profit.
One unidentified foreign art collector bought a Madonna and Child painting via a Pinoy friend as part of his collection with the intention of auctioning it later.
"Binili ito ng mga ka-opisina ko kasi nagustuhan niya at saka nag-cocollect din siya ng mga tribal arts tapos binibenta niya sa Christie's. Noon pa niya sinasabi sa akin na gusto niyang magkaroon ng collection ng mga paintings from Filipino artists so sinasama ko siya sa mga ganito," Arthur Canivel said.
(My officemate bought the painting because he collects tribal arts which are being sold at Christie’s. He has been saying to me he wants to own paintings by Filipino artists so I always bring him along to shows like this.)
Perez is happy with the tremendous appreciation of his craft and has only Ambassador Arguelles to thank for inviting him to showcase his paintings for the first time in The Netherlands.
Perez has already exhibited his works in Germany, France and The Vatican and is particulary inspired by the St. Peter's Cathedral in The Vatican and the Louvre Gallery in Paris.
He feels that having been in Europe has greatly improved his skills.
"Nakita mo kasi yung original ng idol mo. Nadadagdagan yung ganda ng trabaho mo at moral mo lumalakas. Lalo kang ginagahang magpainting. Lalo na yung St. Peter's Cathedral at Louvre Gallery. Punong puno ako, parang gustong-gusto kong magpainting pag nakikita ko mga idol ko," Perez said.
(I have seen the original paintings of my idols and this encourages me to paint even more. I am visually full and I want to paint even more when I see the works of my idols.)
Perez said that in the Philippines, other painters mock him about painting only churches and saints but he said that he's already proven them wrong when he made nude portraits of well-known stars, his favorite of which is Ara Mina.
Seeing the interest of art afficionados in religious subjects specifically the Madonna and Child, Perez said that he is definitely going to push through with his plan to paint celebrity moms and kids in time for Mother's Day next year.
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=121460
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Holland's Pinoy community's artistic celebration of Independence Day
Holland's Pinoy community's artistic celebration of Independence Day
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
For the commemoration of the Philippines's 110th Independence Day, RP Ambassador to the Netherlands Romeo Arguelles and Honorary Consul Eppo Horlings thought of something different but deep.
This year, Arguelles chose to deliver his message in remembrance of Philippine independence in a universal language that touches everyone's soul.
"Consul Horlings and I thought that the best way to celebrate the birth of a nation is through art and music. Because in art and music, there is harmony, there is unity and there is no need of different languages because everybody will understand music and understand art. So this is our way of showing to the people of the Netherlands especially the city of Amsterdam, the art and music from the Philippines," Arguelles said.
Thus on June 6, Filipinos, Dutch and other nationalities gathered at the De Duif Church in Amsterdam for an evening of art and music.
More than 350 guests attended the special offering from the Philippine Embassy which was held in one of the famous canals in Amsterdam, known as the Prinsengracht or Prince's Canal.
Since the Prinsengracht is the fourth largest of the main canals in Amsterdam and is famous for its interesting sights which include the Anne Frank House, the location became very ideal for a cultural evening that gathered people of different creed and culture to celebrate the anniversary of Philippine Independence.
Notably present were Chair of the House Labor Committee, Valenzuela 2nd district Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo II and also Bulacan 4th district Rep. Reylina Nicolas.
The two solons arrived from a summit at the International Labor Organization in Geneva and the cultural affair became a relaxing stop-over for them.
"I think this is one of the best way of showing the artist of our country, that we are not far behind. [To show] to our brothers and sisters in this part of the world that truly, Filipinos are artists by heart," Nicolas told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
The artistic part of the evening featured an Al Perez gallery, which showcased his famous works, notably the paintings of old churches and saints.
The work of Perez, who is one of the realist painters of the Philippines, impressed both art enthusiasts and art amateurs, that he sold five paintings during the first hour of exhibition.
The second part of the cultural event was a two-hour musical special featuring a concert from renowned and multi-awarded Pinoy pianist Raul Sunico.Sunico was once described by his eminent mentor at the Julliard School in New York, the late Sascha Gorodnitzki, as possessing "unusual gifts of lyricism and poetry in his playing as well as great brilliance.
"His repertoire included good old classics by Chopin, Grieg, Respighi, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, Kreisler and Rachmaninoff and he received a thundering round of applause from the audience each time he finished a piece.
But the audience was most touched by his well-chosen Filipino selections namely Ang Larawan by Buencamino, Bato sa Buhangin by Cuenco and Bayan Ko by de Guzman which gave him a standing ovation.
"Although this is my second time to celebrate Philippine independence, it has always been a special occasion and it gives us a chance to show to the Dutch community, other than the Filipino community, our Filipino artists not only myself but others like Al Perez and those other people that have come," Sunico said.
"It's also one way of promoting our country. And as the ambassador had said, promoting our country through art and music is one of the most effective ways of achieving unity of nations," Sunico added.
The embassy has certainly succeeded in promoting not only the artists and their work and music but also the Philippines as well.
"It is a very great event because as what the ambassador said in his speech, music and art is international that knows no nationality race or religion. People enjoy and understand music and art. So this is just a perfect celebration of Independence Day," Pinay dance diva Becky Garcia said.
Dutchman Johan de Bree could not help but be fascinated by the talent of Pinoys."They [Pinoys] are very artistic, I think more than the people here in Europe," de Bree said.
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=121461
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
For the commemoration of the Philippines's 110th Independence Day, RP Ambassador to the Netherlands Romeo Arguelles and Honorary Consul Eppo Horlings thought of something different but deep.
This year, Arguelles chose to deliver his message in remembrance of Philippine independence in a universal language that touches everyone's soul.
"Consul Horlings and I thought that the best way to celebrate the birth of a nation is through art and music. Because in art and music, there is harmony, there is unity and there is no need of different languages because everybody will understand music and understand art. So this is our way of showing to the people of the Netherlands especially the city of Amsterdam, the art and music from the Philippines," Arguelles said.
Thus on June 6, Filipinos, Dutch and other nationalities gathered at the De Duif Church in Amsterdam for an evening of art and music.
More than 350 guests attended the special offering from the Philippine Embassy which was held in one of the famous canals in Amsterdam, known as the Prinsengracht or Prince's Canal.
Since the Prinsengracht is the fourth largest of the main canals in Amsterdam and is famous for its interesting sights which include the Anne Frank House, the location became very ideal for a cultural evening that gathered people of different creed and culture to celebrate the anniversary of Philippine Independence.
Notably present were Chair of the House Labor Committee, Valenzuela 2nd district Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo II and also Bulacan 4th district Rep. Reylina Nicolas.
The two solons arrived from a summit at the International Labor Organization in Geneva and the cultural affair became a relaxing stop-over for them.
"I think this is one of the best way of showing the artist of our country, that we are not far behind. [To show] to our brothers and sisters in this part of the world that truly, Filipinos are artists by heart," Nicolas told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
The artistic part of the evening featured an Al Perez gallery, which showcased his famous works, notably the paintings of old churches and saints.
The work of Perez, who is one of the realist painters of the Philippines, impressed both art enthusiasts and art amateurs, that he sold five paintings during the first hour of exhibition.
The second part of the cultural event was a two-hour musical special featuring a concert from renowned and multi-awarded Pinoy pianist Raul Sunico.Sunico was once described by his eminent mentor at the Julliard School in New York, the late Sascha Gorodnitzki, as possessing "unusual gifts of lyricism and poetry in his playing as well as great brilliance.
"His repertoire included good old classics by Chopin, Grieg, Respighi, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, Kreisler and Rachmaninoff and he received a thundering round of applause from the audience each time he finished a piece.
But the audience was most touched by his well-chosen Filipino selections namely Ang Larawan by Buencamino, Bato sa Buhangin by Cuenco and Bayan Ko by de Guzman which gave him a standing ovation.
"Although this is my second time to celebrate Philippine independence, it has always been a special occasion and it gives us a chance to show to the Dutch community, other than the Filipino community, our Filipino artists not only myself but others like Al Perez and those other people that have come," Sunico said.
"It's also one way of promoting our country. And as the ambassador had said, promoting our country through art and music is one of the most effective ways of achieving unity of nations," Sunico added.
The embassy has certainly succeeded in promoting not only the artists and their work and music but also the Philippines as well.
"It is a very great event because as what the ambassador said in his speech, music and art is international that knows no nationality race or religion. People enjoy and understand music and art. So this is just a perfect celebration of Independence Day," Pinay dance diva Becky Garcia said.
Dutchman Johan de Bree could not help but be fascinated by the talent of Pinoys."They [Pinoys] are very artistic, I think more than the people here in Europe," de Bree said.
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=121461
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Sison mulls next move after losing appeal in Dutch court
Sison mulls next move after losing appeal in Dutch court
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
After the District Court in The Hague rejected Jose Maria Sison's appeal to prevent the request of the Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office to continue its investigation until December, the founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines next move is expected to be to ask for the end of the investigation, reported ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
Sison filed an appeal on May 20 against the continued investigation on charges related to the murders of erstwhile allies Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara but the Dutch court ruled June 5 in favor of the Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office.
However, the Dutch court found that the Dutch prosecutors still have not presented sufficient evidence.
Public Prosecutor's Office spokesman Wim de Bruin couldn't be reached for comments.
Sison: No prima facie evidence
"Yung sinabi ng mga huwes na walang prima facie evidence. Minentain nila yung decision dati ng Court of Appeals noong Oct. 3 pero without any date stated. Binibigyan pa din ng daan ang prosecution na mag-investigate, " Sison explained.
Sison was not disappointed as he said he is already immune to the persistence of the Dutch prosecutors.
He was arrested on August 28 but was released on Sept. 13 because a Dutch court said it did not find sufficient evidence to keep him in custody.
Dutch prosecutors however continued its investigation of Sison and continued to file motions in court to detain him. Court decisions favored Sison on Sept. 23, Oct 3 and Nov. 29 when the investigative judge closed the criminal pre-investigation case.
All this time, the Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office vowed to continue its investigation and said that Sison remains a suspect.
"Ok lang. Ang maganda sa decision eh ‘yong ina-affirm na walang prima facie evidence. Ang sabi ng huwes daw sa judgment eh there's no prima facie evidence but the prosecutor has still the discretion to continue the investigation. But we'll make another demand for the end of the investigation," Sison told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
Seek definite timetable for end of probe
Sison said that when his lawyer Michiel Pestman comes back from Cambodia, they will file another case, demanding a specific date for the end of the investigation.
Sison also said that up until this time, the Prosecution has presented nothing new but a mountain of paper being dumped to the court.
He maintains that there is no incriminating evidence that will prove that he ordered the killings of Kintanar and Tabara from The Netherlands.
Blasts Agence France-Presse report
Sison meanwhile said, in a statement, that an earlier report by international wires agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) was "inaccurate and misleading."
The AFP reports said: A Dutch court gave prosecutors the go-ahead Thursday to pursue murder charges against Philippines communist leader Jose Maria Sison, despite an earlier dismissal of the case."
Sison explained that the Dutch court’s decision was "to allow the [Dutch] public prosecutor's office to have time to continue and complete the investigation it is undertaking and subsequently decide whether or not to file a formal criminal charge."
The decision of the District Court of The Hague, Sison said, "acknowledges that so far there is no prima facie or incriminating evidence against me."
The CPP founding chair said in particular that the Dutch court "has affirmed my position that since the examining judge (rechter-commissaris) decided to close the preliminary investigation on 21 November 2007 the prosecution has not turned up any evidence to overturn the decision of the Court of Appeal on October 3, 2007 declaring that there is no prima facie evidence against me."
Sison said that the AFP report made it appear that formal charges of murder are about to be filed by the Dutch prosecutors.
"It must first be able to find prima facie evidence and go to court to ask for the appointment of a new examining judge. Then the prosecution gathers further witnesses and evidence and allows me and my counsel to cross examine the witnesses and get my witnesses. After the round, we can all go to court for trial of the formal charge," said Sison who is also chief political consultant of the NDF in peace talks with the Philippine government.
Sison said that instead presenting evidence against him, "the Dutch prosecution office and Dutch police have turned up witnesses and documentary evidence to prove that two assassination teams were dispatched from the Philippines to The Netherlands to kill me within the period of 1999-2001."
Sison said that he and his lawyers "are studying the failure of the Dutch authorities to act promptly on the findings about the assassination projects of the Philippine authorities."
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=120905
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
After the District Court in The Hague rejected Jose Maria Sison's appeal to prevent the request of the Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office to continue its investigation until December, the founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines next move is expected to be to ask for the end of the investigation, reported ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
Sison filed an appeal on May 20 against the continued investigation on charges related to the murders of erstwhile allies Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara but the Dutch court ruled June 5 in favor of the Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office.
However, the Dutch court found that the Dutch prosecutors still have not presented sufficient evidence.
Public Prosecutor's Office spokesman Wim de Bruin couldn't be reached for comments.
Sison: No prima facie evidence
"Yung sinabi ng mga huwes na walang prima facie evidence. Minentain nila yung decision dati ng Court of Appeals noong Oct. 3 pero without any date stated. Binibigyan pa din ng daan ang prosecution na mag-investigate, " Sison explained.
Sison was not disappointed as he said he is already immune to the persistence of the Dutch prosecutors.
He was arrested on August 28 but was released on Sept. 13 because a Dutch court said it did not find sufficient evidence to keep him in custody.
Dutch prosecutors however continued its investigation of Sison and continued to file motions in court to detain him. Court decisions favored Sison on Sept. 23, Oct 3 and Nov. 29 when the investigative judge closed the criminal pre-investigation case.
All this time, the Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office vowed to continue its investigation and said that Sison remains a suspect.
"Ok lang. Ang maganda sa decision eh ‘yong ina-affirm na walang prima facie evidence. Ang sabi ng huwes daw sa judgment eh there's no prima facie evidence but the prosecutor has still the discretion to continue the investigation. But we'll make another demand for the end of the investigation," Sison told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
Seek definite timetable for end of probe
Sison said that when his lawyer Michiel Pestman comes back from Cambodia, they will file another case, demanding a specific date for the end of the investigation.
Sison also said that up until this time, the Prosecution has presented nothing new but a mountain of paper being dumped to the court.
He maintains that there is no incriminating evidence that will prove that he ordered the killings of Kintanar and Tabara from The Netherlands.
Blasts Agence France-Presse report
Sison meanwhile said, in a statement, that an earlier report by international wires agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) was "inaccurate and misleading."
The AFP reports said: A Dutch court gave prosecutors the go-ahead Thursday to pursue murder charges against Philippines communist leader Jose Maria Sison, despite an earlier dismissal of the case."
Sison explained that the Dutch court’s decision was "to allow the [Dutch] public prosecutor's office to have time to continue and complete the investigation it is undertaking and subsequently decide whether or not to file a formal criminal charge."
The decision of the District Court of The Hague, Sison said, "acknowledges that so far there is no prima facie or incriminating evidence against me."
The CPP founding chair said in particular that the Dutch court "has affirmed my position that since the examining judge (rechter-commissaris) decided to close the preliminary investigation on 21 November 2007 the prosecution has not turned up any evidence to overturn the decision of the Court of Appeal on October 3, 2007 declaring that there is no prima facie evidence against me."
Sison said that the AFP report made it appear that formal charges of murder are about to be filed by the Dutch prosecutors.
"It must first be able to find prima facie evidence and go to court to ask for the appointment of a new examining judge. Then the prosecution gathers further witnesses and evidence and allows me and my counsel to cross examine the witnesses and get my witnesses. After the round, we can all go to court for trial of the formal charge," said Sison who is also chief political consultant of the NDF in peace talks with the Philippine government.
Sison said that instead presenting evidence against him, "the Dutch prosecution office and Dutch police have turned up witnesses and documentary evidence to prove that two assassination teams were dispatched from the Philippines to The Netherlands to kill me within the period of 1999-2001."
Sison said that he and his lawyers "are studying the failure of the Dutch authorities to act promptly on the findings about the assassination projects of the Philippine authorities."
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=120905
Friday, June 6, 2008
Dutch court orders frozen bank accounts of NDF unblocked
Dutch court orders frozen bank accounts of NDF unblocked
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
The District Court in The Hague has ordered the Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office to unblock the bank accounts of National Democratic Front (NDF) officers and others that were frozen in September in connection with the arrest of Jose Maria Sison last year.
In a hearing held at the Palace of Justice June 5, complainants including Luis Jalandoni, Connie Ledesma, Fidel Agcaoili, Dan Borjal and Jose Maria Sison and wife Juliet filed a motion asking the court to order the Prosecutor to unblock the bank accounts and to return the data and digital files that are still in the Dutch office’s possession.
"The prosecutor decided today that all the accounts are being unblocked from tomorrow, all the accounts of the complainers who are related to Mr. Sison," Marcel van Wezel who is one of the five lawyers of the NDF and other complainants told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau in an exclusive interview.
Simultaneous with the arrest of Sison, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair, last August 28, raids were conducted in his apartment, the NDF office in Utrecht and five houses of Filipinos.
PCs, laptops, CDs and documents were taken by the police from the raided establishments and in September, the NDF's bank account and the personal accounts of Agcaoili, Juliet and other NDF members were blocked.
Months later, the PCs, laptops and some CDs were returned but not all NDF files and until this hearing the bank accounts remained frozen.
Van Wezel said that the blocked accounts were suspected of being connected to Sison.
"They thought that all the amounts of money in the accounts are belonging to Mr. Sison," van Wezel said in the exclusive interview.
Agcaoili was very angry because, he said, that he and the other complainants do not have anything to do with the murder charges against Sison.
"Ang reklamo namin, hindi naman kami akusado o sinasabing akusado pero bakit yung aming mga account eh kasama sa blocked. Aming mga papeles at documento eh kasama sa pinagkukuha, eh ano ang batayan?" blurted Agcaoili to ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
"Ngayon nag-file ng kasagutan ang prosecutor. Ang sabi nila ang punto eh kasi tinitignan nila lahat ng mga possibilities in relation ke Joma sa ganito, mga ganyan dahil sa kanyang pagkakalagay sa terrorist listing kaya lumalawak ang kanilang pag-iimbistiga," added Agcaoili.
Agcaoili also complains that it took nine months for the hearing to be held because of several postponements.
Sison agrees that the Prosecutor has no right to freeze the accounts, not even his wife's account.
"They have nothing to do with the charge of inciting murder on Kintanar or even insinuation.
Wala namang evidence ‘yong money landering, etc. Wala namang grounds," Sison said.
Sison complains that the only real bank account blocked that belonged to him is his joint account with his wife and even this has no connection to the murders of Kintanar and Tabara.
"Sa lahat ng bank accounts na dinakma, ang bank account lang na tunay na akin eh ‘yong joint account namin ni Julie na doon na nakapasok ang aming Japanese yen na kinita namin bilang honoraria nung nasa Japan kami nung 1986 and then ‘yong bayad ng German publication house and American publication house. Binigyan ako ng several thousands of dollars for manuscript preps and royalties. Eh 1988 ‘yon so anong kinalaman sa 2001 and 2003," said Sison who is also chief political consultant of NDF in stalled peace talks between the NDF and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).
"Asan ‘yong ‘limpak limpak na pera kay Sison dahil sa mga revolutionary tax’? Eh wala. ‘Yong mga bank accounts na kinuha eh pag-aari ng mga foundation at individuals na walang kinalaman sa akin, independent of me and I have no control" Sison said.
No decision yet on return of confiscated materials
Although the court's immediate partial decision was a victory for the NDF, no decision has been issued yet with regards to its other complaint which is the return of the confiscated materials.
Pendong Jalandoni, son of the NDF chair Luis Jalandoni and also one of the five lawyers of the NDF and other complainants, said he is disappointed that there was no outright decision on the confiscated materials and thinks that the Prosecution is fishing for some other information.
"First of all, the people they raided. There's no indication of any links or association with the criminal acts suspected si Prof. Sison of. Secondly, it's a big fishing expedition and they took more things than necessary," the younger Jalandoni said.
He said that documents such as the Permanent People's Tribunal's files from last year have no connection to the murder charges against Sison which took place four years ago.
"Those were documents related to events that took place four years after the murders so if there was a murder, it is very very unlikely na related pa ‘yan or there will still be communications four years after," Pendong said.
He also thinks that the Dutch Prosecution office was gathering information about the Philippine Left because even the documents relating to the peace talks were seized and not returned.
Agcaoili confirms that there is a big bulk of files from the Joint Monitoring Committee between the NDF and GRP containing about 20 to 25 folders of materials against the Philippine government that remained in the Prosecutor's hands.
"They confiscated all documents regarding peace talks. So very obvious that the reason for them to confiscate was not to find evidence on a murder case but to get information about the left opposition in the Philippines and to collaborate with different intelligent agencies," Pendong said.
Pendong thinks that there is a very big political game at play.
"The outcome is clear that the Dutch government does not want to return or destroy those documents that clearly have nothing in relation to the murder case and it's clear to me the political meaning of this persecution," he added.
"They have shown some willingness to return some hard copies but the data, the digital information they're not willing or destroy or even say they will not even give to Philippine authorities or other security agencies in the world," said Pendong.
Pendong's father, who looked very tired after the more than three hours of hearing of the Dutch court can only say one thing.
"This blocking and seizing of material and blocking of account are unfair and unjust and should be undone right away," Jalandoni said.
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=120859
By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
The District Court in The Hague has ordered the Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office to unblock the bank accounts of National Democratic Front (NDF) officers and others that were frozen in September in connection with the arrest of Jose Maria Sison last year.
In a hearing held at the Palace of Justice June 5, complainants including Luis Jalandoni, Connie Ledesma, Fidel Agcaoili, Dan Borjal and Jose Maria Sison and wife Juliet filed a motion asking the court to order the Prosecutor to unblock the bank accounts and to return the data and digital files that are still in the Dutch office’s possession.
"The prosecutor decided today that all the accounts are being unblocked from tomorrow, all the accounts of the complainers who are related to Mr. Sison," Marcel van Wezel who is one of the five lawyers of the NDF and other complainants told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau in an exclusive interview.
Simultaneous with the arrest of Sison, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair, last August 28, raids were conducted in his apartment, the NDF office in Utrecht and five houses of Filipinos.
PCs, laptops, CDs and documents were taken by the police from the raided establishments and in September, the NDF's bank account and the personal accounts of Agcaoili, Juliet and other NDF members were blocked.
Months later, the PCs, laptops and some CDs were returned but not all NDF files and until this hearing the bank accounts remained frozen.
Van Wezel said that the blocked accounts were suspected of being connected to Sison.
"They thought that all the amounts of money in the accounts are belonging to Mr. Sison," van Wezel said in the exclusive interview.
Agcaoili was very angry because, he said, that he and the other complainants do not have anything to do with the murder charges against Sison.
"Ang reklamo namin, hindi naman kami akusado o sinasabing akusado pero bakit yung aming mga account eh kasama sa blocked. Aming mga papeles at documento eh kasama sa pinagkukuha, eh ano ang batayan?" blurted Agcaoili to ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.
"Ngayon nag-file ng kasagutan ang prosecutor. Ang sabi nila ang punto eh kasi tinitignan nila lahat ng mga possibilities in relation ke Joma sa ganito, mga ganyan dahil sa kanyang pagkakalagay sa terrorist listing kaya lumalawak ang kanilang pag-iimbistiga," added Agcaoili.
Agcaoili also complains that it took nine months for the hearing to be held because of several postponements.
Sison agrees that the Prosecutor has no right to freeze the accounts, not even his wife's account.
"They have nothing to do with the charge of inciting murder on Kintanar or even insinuation.
Wala namang evidence ‘yong money landering, etc. Wala namang grounds," Sison said.
Sison complains that the only real bank account blocked that belonged to him is his joint account with his wife and even this has no connection to the murders of Kintanar and Tabara.
"Sa lahat ng bank accounts na dinakma, ang bank account lang na tunay na akin eh ‘yong joint account namin ni Julie na doon na nakapasok ang aming Japanese yen na kinita namin bilang honoraria nung nasa Japan kami nung 1986 and then ‘yong bayad ng German publication house and American publication house. Binigyan ako ng several thousands of dollars for manuscript preps and royalties. Eh 1988 ‘yon so anong kinalaman sa 2001 and 2003," said Sison who is also chief political consultant of NDF in stalled peace talks between the NDF and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).
"Asan ‘yong ‘limpak limpak na pera kay Sison dahil sa mga revolutionary tax’? Eh wala. ‘Yong mga bank accounts na kinuha eh pag-aari ng mga foundation at individuals na walang kinalaman sa akin, independent of me and I have no control" Sison said.
No decision yet on return of confiscated materials
Although the court's immediate partial decision was a victory for the NDF, no decision has been issued yet with regards to its other complaint which is the return of the confiscated materials.
Pendong Jalandoni, son of the NDF chair Luis Jalandoni and also one of the five lawyers of the NDF and other complainants, said he is disappointed that there was no outright decision on the confiscated materials and thinks that the Prosecution is fishing for some other information.
"First of all, the people they raided. There's no indication of any links or association with the criminal acts suspected si Prof. Sison of. Secondly, it's a big fishing expedition and they took more things than necessary," the younger Jalandoni said.
He said that documents such as the Permanent People's Tribunal's files from last year have no connection to the murder charges against Sison which took place four years ago.
"Those were documents related to events that took place four years after the murders so if there was a murder, it is very very unlikely na related pa ‘yan or there will still be communications four years after," Pendong said.
He also thinks that the Dutch Prosecution office was gathering information about the Philippine Left because even the documents relating to the peace talks were seized and not returned.
Agcaoili confirms that there is a big bulk of files from the Joint Monitoring Committee between the NDF and GRP containing about 20 to 25 folders of materials against the Philippine government that remained in the Prosecutor's hands.
"They confiscated all documents regarding peace talks. So very obvious that the reason for them to confiscate was not to find evidence on a murder case but to get information about the left opposition in the Philippines and to collaborate with different intelligent agencies," Pendong said.
Pendong thinks that there is a very big political game at play.
"The outcome is clear that the Dutch government does not want to return or destroy those documents that clearly have nothing in relation to the murder case and it's clear to me the political meaning of this persecution," he added.
"They have shown some willingness to return some hard copies but the data, the digital information they're not willing or destroy or even say they will not even give to Philippine authorities or other security agencies in the world," said Pendong.
Pendong's father, who looked very tired after the more than three hours of hearing of the Dutch court can only say one thing.
"This blocking and seizing of material and blocking of account are unfair and unjust and should be undone right away," Jalandoni said.
SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=120859
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