Bzzzzz: Why retired police official won't have the treatment Erap and GMA got

SCROLLING down: Why the case of a retired police chief inspector's case cannot be compared to the cases of the two former presidents. Estrada and Arroyo were not yet convicted when given "lenient" detention while the retire cop's case is long concluded. He should spend his term in jail, said the Sandiganbayan... Cebu power rates are as expensive as the Manila rates, higher than Davao's and Cotabato's. And they're up for resetting next year... Victims in Sunday execution near Talisay City shopping mall were both retired cops. Which raises the question whether "cleansing" covers even those already out of the service.

But first, what people are talking about...

* SERGE'S DISQ CASE. Former Cebu senator Serge Osmeña's motion for "absolution" of his alleged failure to file his statement of campaign contributions and election expenses in 2010 and 2016: The core issue is whether there was failure to file when it was just delayed. He was delayed in filing the 2010 report but was allowed to file just the same. He still has to file the 2016 papers. The rule of thumb seems to be: two failures and you're out.

* LOPSIDED PROPAGANDA? In the competition for leadership in University of the Philippines-Cebu, the propaganda war appears to be lopsided. Most of the published material in a number of media platforms go for Dr. Roland Tolentino, a professor at UP Diliman. Although incumbent chancellor Liza Corro's side was also circulated, Tolentino got most of the published support. Tolentino challenges lawyer Liza Corro, incumbent chancellor, who was designated dean in 2012 and elevated to chancellor in 2016. Corro's term will expire on December 3.

A search committee will present its recommendation to the UP president who in turn will submit it to the UP board of regents. The board will pick the next chancellor.

Estrada, Gloria not yet convicted

Why were Joseph "Erap" Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, both former presidents who were charged with plunder, not imprisoned and instead were detained only in Camp Crame, in the case of Erap, and in a hospital, in GMA's case?

Sandiganbayan fifth division explained that in rejecting the plea of one Salvador Duran Sr., 71, a retired police chief inspector to reduce his sentence to six to 10 years over a P10-million graft complaint about ghost purchases and allow him to be confined in his house or a hospital because of his age and poor health. (Two other police officials were convicted with Duran as well as the private contractor.)

In a November 19 ruling, the anti-graft court said Erap and GMA were not yet convicts because their cases were still pending trial at the time. Duran's case is long over, it said. Erap was later convicted but pardoned by Arroyo six weeks later.

GMA was acquitted by the SC in July 2016.

There is no law allowing hospital or home detention, the Sandiganbayan said. What the Revised Penal Code (Art. 88) allows is house confinement for crimes punishable by arresto menor or jail term of one day to 30 days.

What the Sandiganbayan didn't say is that Duran is not a former president and didn't have the influence or wealth of Erap or GMA.

Explanation covers Imelda, Enrile

The public may assume that the Sandiganbayan ruling also explains why former senator Juan Ponce Enrile and Representative Imelda Romualdez-Marcos got "lenient" treatment: the SC granted bail to JPE for health reasons and the anti-graft court did not order Mrs. Marcos's immediate arrest (only a verbal order was issued, which police did not enforce).

There's no specific law mentioned to support the court action but people can suppose it's part of judicial discretion.

Cebu, Manila power rates

Are Cebu consumers paying for power rates that are as high as those in Manila? That seems to be the case. The approved rate for Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) -- which serves Cebu City, Talisay City and Naga City and the four towns of Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla and San Fernando -- is P10 per kwh plus a fluctuating cost, ranging, presumably with the fluctuating cost, from P10.4 or P10.5 to P10.52.

Compared to South Cotabato, P5.46 per kwh, or Davao, P6.87 per kwh, Cebu rates may be as high as Manila rates, P10 per kwh.

Next year, Veco rates may go up. The approved rate is reportedly due for resetting (done every four years) in 2019. The Energy Regulatory Commission sets the rates after public hearings.

Even ex-cops covered

The two men who were shot dead while they were on board a motorcycle that was passing by a shopping mall Sunday in Talisay City were both former cops, one an SPO1 and the other an SPO4, both retired.

People who suspect that police or hitmen did the execution must wonder if it was also drug-related and the victims were into drug trafficking although they were no longer cops. The public may never know. Chances are their killers would not be caught and identified -- and, of course, the real circumstances would not be known.

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