Marcelino: Principled, incorruptible

Here's what his superiors and classmate say about Major Ferdinand Marcelino of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as published in a news report of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

SUPERIORS, CLASSMATE SAY
Marcelino ‘principled,’ ‘incorruptible’
By Julie Alipala
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 17:36:00 01/07/2009

Filed Under: PDEA-DOJ bribery issue

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- The Marine officer who blew the whistle on the alleged bribery attempt in the “Alabang Boys” case is a silent and committed worker, a principled man, and one of the few incorruptible officers in the military, superiors and a classmate from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) said.

Major Ferdinand Marcelino is one of 21 Marine officers of Class 1994 who had been assigned to Mindanao.

One of Marcelino's classmates said his being a silent worker helped in military effort to free hostages seized by the Abu Sayyaf from the Dos Palmas resort.

"Marcelino's unit was the first to confirm the whereabouts of the Dos Palmas hostages and hostage-takers. They were able to recover the speedboat of [then Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abbu] Sabaya's group and pursued the fishing boat that was later recovered in Tuburan town, Basilan, from Mapun Island," the classmate, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

He also said Marcelino "is very prudent in gathering information and ensures he gets the real data needed for the operation."

The classmate said that because of this, he could not entertain any doubts about the claims of Marcelino, who is detailed to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), about being offered a bribe to release three allegedly high-profile drug dealers.

"I have a high regard for Major Marcelino. He is very idealistic and would fight for what he believes in. I don't think anybody could bribe him nor corrupt him," former Marine commandant Brigadier General Renato Miranda said.

Miranda is one of several senior and junior Marine and Army officers facing court martial for an alleged coup attempt in 2006.

One of Miranda’s co-accused, Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin, described Marcelino as "an officer with dedication to duty beyond reproach."

Querubin said Marcelino is among the men "who brought back integrity and respect” to the PDEA.

PDEA vs DOJ

An officer, a gentleman, a DAWNer

THE revelation of Major Ferdinand Marcelino about the P50 million bribery case involving state prosecutors for the release of three big-time drug pushers known as the "Alabang Boys" has open a pandoras box.

Major Marcelino, a friend and a fellow DAWNer, is one of the most trust-worthy persons I know. Even during our college days at the University of the East - he has shown the kind of leadership of a true officer and a gentleman.

Ahhh. Yes. The DAWN, by the way is our training ground in college. It is where only a few good men and women hone their various crafts in the field of journalism.

Even during our college days, Major Marcelino has excelled in class. He works as a student-assistant in UE to earn extra money - and later joined the DAWN, the official student
newspaper of the University of the East but still maintains high grades. He also had a short stint as a reporter of the defunct Headline Manila before joining the PMA. Young as he was, after graduating at the PMA in 1994, he chose to join the Philippine Marines over the more juicy offer of joining the PNP and become a future PNP chief. In the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the competition among PMA graduates is definitely stiff,

Saying he wants to serve his country as a soldier, he even wished to be at the frontines in Mindanao. Apparenty, he got his wish. He was sent to Mindanao where he said life is shorter than any other place for a soldier.

As a PDEA agent, here's Major Marcelino fighting a different war at a different jungle. Where law enforcers first had to deal with state prosecutors to put behind bars the real enemies of the state and the people.

It is another "Only in the Philippines" - lawyers of suspects prepare resolution in favor of their clients - for the state prosecutors to sign - to set free big time drug pushers. And they even use official letterhead of the Department of Justice (DOJ)!

Only in the Philippines - state prosecutors rings PDEA official and ask why the suspects remain in their custody despite the dismissal of the case and the release order - without the DOJ secretary's final approval.

Under the law, drug cases are subject to automatic review by the DOJ Secretary.

Parents of the suspects have belied the allegation of PDEA that their sons are involved in the illegal drug trade - insisting that the PDEA agents made it all up... The selling of cocaine and ecstasy to their equally-rich clients in Alabang, the month-long surveillance operation of the agents, the buy-bust, and the seized drugs, including the allegations they tried to bribe Major Marcelino thrice using various channels. Tell it to the marines!

But don't tell it to Major Marcelino...

Baka magkaron bigla ng gera!

Major Marcelino is a veteran and has fought insurgents in Mindanao as an officer and a gentleman. And proudly, he is a DAWNer like me.

His Mistahs (term used by PMAyers) said Major Marcelino is the man - one of the best products of the institutions.

This I can also say: He's one of the best products of the DAWN.