🚧ⓔⓒⓢforⓡⓕⓙ🚧

Accdg to Ramon Tulf: If I were journalist Philip Lustre’s lawyer, I would file a petition for a change of venue in the cyberlibel case against him in Davao City. Di na makakauwi ng buhay ng Manila si Lustre kapag dininig ang kaso niya sa Davao City. The case should be heard in Manila not only for his safety but also for a fair trial since the judges in Davao City are all bootlickers of the Dutertes. I read his book Kill Kill Kill that details the extrajudicial killings of drug suspects, as well as the massive corruption, during the Duterte administration. Nakakapanindig-balahibo ang sinulat ni Lustre sa kanyang libro. Lustre, a veteran reporter and one-time journalism professor, made an extensive research citing affidavits of Digong’s former hitmen and trusted financial henchmen. Lustre dared to name names in his book. As I was reading Kill Kill Kill, I felt like banging my head against the concrete wall in my home. I kept telling myself while reading the book: “Why didn’t I learn about all these? I could have exposed the irregularities without fear or favor.” But I would catch myself saying that I was blinded by my close friendship with Digong. (I hate to repeat this, but I was the one who convinced the then Davao City mayor to take a crack at the presidency because of his successful anti-crime campaign in the city). No wonder he never lifted a finger when some of his top officials filed libel and cyber libel cases against me for exposing their shenanigans in my newspaper column. I even got fired from the Philippine Daily Inquirer due me due to my closeness with Rodrigo Duterte who harassed its owners by taking back the Mile Long business stretch in Makati that the government leased to them. To me Digong could do no wrong; he was infallible like the Pope. I once told Digong about rumors of the involvement of his son-in-law Mans Carpio’s involvement of smuggling. His curt reply: “Is it wrong to lawyer for suspected smugglers, Mon?” To say that I’m disappointed by what was happening during Digong’s time is a huge understatement. To the DDS who know how to read, please read Lustre’s book for your enlightenment. But I wonder if they even understand “enlightenment.”