Social media erupts in outrage over communist assassin turned quadcomm inquisitor

HOWLS of outrage, so palpable in social media, rose up over the quad committee member, party-list representative Joseph Paduano’s arrogant, extremely disrespectful bullying of former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Wilkins Villanueva. Paduano ordered Villanueva jailed “for contempt” when he could not get the latter to agree to his accusations that Villanueva had ordered a warrantless arrest against the wife of a drug personality.

But this is what Paduano and his colleagues in the kangaroo court, glorified as the quadcomm, have done several times: throw a “resource person” in jail when he or she would not agree to a committee member’s accusations.

What angered people though was the fact that Paduano represented a party-list (Abang Lingkod) that grew out of the self-styled Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, which was the Communist Party’s urban assassination squad. That “army” had broken away from the Communist Party in 2000, under the leadership of Filemon “Popoy” Lagman.

It couldn’t be determined though if Paduano, whose alias was “Carapali Lualhalti,” was an actual assassin or merely surveilled the group’s targets and provided its finances and resources. The leftist human rights advocacy group Karapatan has claimed that Paduano was involved with numerous cases of human rights violations, specifically in Negros Occidental and Oriental, and had asked the Comelec not to allow him to run as a party-list.

Following are just a few samples in social media of the fury against Paduano for his bullying treatment of a much-respected police general.

From retired police general Dionardo Carlos:

In the past, we witnessed how an abusive former enemy of the state party-list representative accused, without presenting any evidence, a decorated antidrug operator and public servant for over 38 years. He cited him for contempt and wanted him detained. We cannot allow this to pass and let them continue to dishonor the men and women who selflessly and patriotically served this country and the Filipino people. I support former PDEA director general Wilkins Villanueva, his honor, his life.

From Yogi Filemon Ruiz, former PDEA Region 7 (Central Visayas) director and former Customs chief:

I have had the honor to serve our country with Director General Wilkins Villanueva as a drug buster, and I have personally witnessed how he sacrificed for our country. And to put him in such humiliation just because a congressman, who spends all his time in an air-conditioned office being served by paid office staff, cannot accept the answers because it does not fit into his agenda is such a gut-wrenching experience. My question to you dear honorable distinguished gentleman from Negros is, have you put your life on the line for our country? Have you placed your life and limb in front of blazing red-hot bullets aimed at you just so you can accomplish your mandate of eradicating criminals from our society? We placed our lives and took criminal lives for our country. Director General Wilkins Villanueva deserves better than to be cited in contempt just because his answers do not fit the game plan.

From Jun Abines, a prolific influencer on Facebook, with 56,000 followers (slightly edited for brevity):

Former rebel party-list Rep. Joseph Paduano just awakened a whole pride of lions. He insulted, disrespected and imprisoned former PDEA director general Villanueva who belongs to Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Maringal Class of 1988.

Paduano not only stepped [on] and trampled the rights of the accomplished and decorated general, he also mocked him and humiliated him like a lowly criminal not worthy of respect. He did it right in front of the video cameras for all the world to see.

Paduano proudly castigated the general in the most unfair and disgusting way. As if showing fellow congressmen how it should be done, he used the power of contempt of the House of Representatives to bully the good general. It was like watching a fight between two men where Paduano had a baseball bat in his hands versus General Wilkins kneeling down with two hands tied in his back.

What makes this ironic is that Paduano was a former member of the Alex Boncayao Brigade, known for killing and murdering soldiers and policemen in the most treacherous manner. They don’t fight fair. They sneak behind your back or shoot you while sleeping.

In the past few months, Paduano made a scene too many as a tough and arrogant quadcomm member persecuting the Dutertes and their allies. Paduano was the one who bullied Rep. Rodante Marcoleta on camera as if he was about to punch the brilliant lawyer for putting up a good legal argument against quadcomm’s insane “witch-hunting.”

If indeed Paduano was a former member of [the] Alex Boncayao Brigade known to have gunned down and murdered too many soldiers and policemen in the past, a big question must be asked: Did he surrender to the government and was duly pardoned? If not, then we have a fugitive criminal acting as representative who must be arrested and made to answer for his crimes in the past.

The PMA Maringal Class issued a manifesto supporting General Wilkins and condemning the acts of Paduano and the House of Representatives. The manifest was a mere warning. The words were mild and respectful. But the fact that they bothered to issue the manifesto is enough. But do not make the mistake of thinking they won’t use their swords when provoked to the limit.

The criminal guy who murdered policemen and military men in the past has infiltrated the House of Representatives. He is hiding from the shield of the law and the very same government he once fought and aimed to dismantle. Now he is using the very same government to dishonor and punish the law enforcers who served it with honor and loyalty. Paduano has drawn the first blood.

I am hoping that the PMAyers will hold their horses and let the course of the law or karma deal with former rebel Paduano. But my heart is aching and screaming that they let Paduano eat some piece of [humble] pie that he deserves. Just let him feel and realize that there are consequences for disrespecting men in uniform.

If a former rebel who killed policemen and soldiers can mock and piss in the grave of our fallen policemen and soldiers, including retired generals without consequences, we are doomed. We need an Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police worthy of people’s trust and respect.

From the manifesto of Philippine Military Academy (‘Maringal’) Class of 1988, signed by 42 retired officers:

Any move to detain DG Villanueva would represent not only a misapplication of authority but a serious affront to fairness, due process and the respect due to an individual who has honorably served our nation.

Director General Villanueva has exemplified integrity, courage and selfless service throughout his distinguished career as a law enforcer and head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. His life’s work reflects an unwavering commitment to the core values instilled in him since his days at the academy. To accuse him of dishonesty — without substantive evidence — unjustly undermines his decades of service and dedication to the Filipino people.

DG Villanueva appeared before the committee in good faith, providing transparent and truthful testimony based on his personal knowledge and recollection. The accusations made against him, unsupported by credible evidence, cast doubt on the integrity of the process. Any move to detain DG Villanueva would risk eroding public trust in the institutions tasked with upholding justice and fairness.

This issue goes beyond DG Villanueva’s personal plight. It is a pivotal moment for our democratic institutions, presenting a clear choice: Will they stand as bastions of truth, justice and integrity, or will they allow actions that could set a dangerous precedent, where power overshadows fairness and reason?

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Social media erupts in outrage over communist assassin turned quadcomm inquisitor
Source: Breaking News PH