By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
PASIG CITY – Senatorial aspirant Sixto “Kit Kilatis” Baflor Lagare on Wednesday (Nov. 20) said that he would like the “jury system” to be implemented in the entire Philippines to address corruption, injustice and poverty.
During the Kapihan sa Metro East Media Forum organized by the PaMaMariSan-Rizal Press Corps and supported by the Pinoy Ako advocacy group, Lagare said that he has not been included in the list of 66 senatorial candidates which was earlier released by the Comelec.
Lagare is most probably included in the 117 reportedly declared as “nuisance candidate” by the Comelec, which for him can still be appealed with the Supreme Court (SC).
In the case of Marquez vs. Comelec, the SC said that the unknown person, without party and without money cannot be declared as a “nuisance candidate” based in the Republican form of government.
“Ang karapatan ni Marquez na tumakbong senador ay karapatan nating lahat,” sabi ni Lagare.
“35 years old, natural-born citizen, able to read and write, registered voter, and resident of the Philippines within two years before the elections,” the Supreme Court said in its ruling.
In 2022, Marquez ran again and was declared as “nuisance”, the Comelec said he is “Bonafide to run” but not “Bonafide intention to run”, the SC said that the arguments were the same with the earlier arguments raised by the Comelec such as without capacity to run and to campaign nationwide.
The SC said that anything that cannot be used indirectly cannot also be used circumferentially.
Lagare allegedly used profound offensive words such as “kaungasan” “Grab sweet driver”, which for the Comelec said he was just making a mockery of the elections.
“The burden of proof lies on the accusers or plaintiff,” according to the Supreme Court. Lagare said the Comelec cannot prove otherwise.
Lagare is planning to file a “cyberlibel” case against the Comelec, including “grave abuse of discretion”, which the SC said the penalty of which is “dismissal from the service”, noting that many policemen have been dismissed from the service because of grave abuse of discretion.
In 2016, 2019, and 2022 Lagare ran as Senators, all of which, Lagare was declared as a “nuisance” candidate. Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza was the ponente of the decision.
The certified copy of the resolution of the Comelec was not attached to the petition of Lagare, the SC ruled.
Lagare said that the social media platform is now very popular and can be used in the campaign nationwide. He is pushing for the “Juror revolution” which will benefit all Filipinos.
“Ang pag-asa ko ay mamulat ang kapwa ko at itsapwera at sila na mismo ang bumulong para mamulat sa katotohanan. Pangalawa, ang kayamanan ng bayan ay ibinubulsa ng kurakot sa pamahalaan. Nakita ko ang problema kaya nakita ko ang solusyon. Pinag-aralan ko ang Saligang Batas. We the sovereign people at humihingi tayo ng tulong sa Diyos,” sabi ni Lagare.
Binanggit ni Lagare ang Article 11 Public office is a public trust. All government office and officials, the power of whom emanates from the people. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty and poverty without due process of law.
Section 14, paragraph 1 no person shall be deprived of life, liberty and property without due process of law. “Hindi binigyan ng kahulugan kung saan lilitisin,” sabi ni Lagare.
“Ang grand jury ay binubuo ng tatlo katao na siyang nagdedetermina kung may sala o wala. Ang prospective jurors ay dadaan sa pagsusuri ng prosecutors. Mali ang pagkakopya ng framers ng 1987 Constitution. Kinopya lang ang 1935 Constitution,” dagdag nya.
“Si De Lima ay nakulong nang halos pitong taon dahil sa maling ‘due process of law’ noong panahon ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” sabi ni Lagare.
“Ito ay pambansang adbokasiya. It’s a feather in my cup sa aking pananaw. Lalong naboboost ang aking laban at maging noon pang 2016 ito na ang aking adbokasiya,” dagdag nya.
“Negative ang tugon ni Pinoy sa kanyang adbokasiya. Alam ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte kung paano babuyin ang piskalya,” sabi ni Lagare.
Nagcourtesy sila sa Malacanang para doon sa kanilang adbokasiya sa tulong ni Secretary Sonny Coloma.
Kapag may “Jury Justice System” maging noong 1935, wala sanang naging diktador gaya ni Marcos, Sr. Sila ang nagdidikta sa piskalya.
Religious reason na hindi pwede kasi no law shall be passed respecting any religion. May separation ang Church and the State.
Public hearing, public consultation should be conducted para mailatag ang matarungan. Even the minority religion has a “say” because that’s democracy.
Lagare wrote then Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Justice Lucas Bersamin, who is now the Executive Secretary, replied that they have no mandate in the Constitution to have a “Jury System” in the Judicial Branch of government.
“Way Kurat” means “Walang kinatatakutan. Then Compostela Valley Rep. Way Kurat Zamora, who was a cockfighter himself, became a popular legislator because he served the people very well.
“Hindi ako sang-ayon sa ganoon (magsimula sa mababang posisyon),” Lagare said.
“Hindi trabaho ng Comelec na magdeklara ng nuisance candidate na grave abuse of discretion, ayon sa Korte Suprema. Ang trabaho ng Comelec ay magbilang ng boto,” dagdag nya.
“Ang pulitika ko ay pairalin ang jury system sa buong bansa. Mayroon pa ring social media at kung susuportahan ako ng 99.9 ang Pinoy na itsapwera, baka magtagumpay ako,” sabi ni Lagare.
“Matagal na dapat idinecriminalize ang libel,” dagdag ni Lagare.
