[Rappler Investigates] Refuge of the privileged accused - Rappler

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You’ve probably noticed, just as we have, that there’s a common playbook being passed around by government officials facing imminent arrest or a string of legal cases. It’s finding refuge in a hospital after raising a variety of illnesses that require medical attention.

Top officials, including past presidents charged with plunder and/or graft and corruption, suddenly fell ill or developed illnesses that merited confinement. It’s not totally surprising for officials used to being accorded special attention and treatment to suddenly develop heart ailments, if not hypertension.

Researcher Lourence Marcellana reviewed the past two decades and found at least eight top officials — top, mind you, not even lower-ranking — who either sought prolonged hospital stay or temporary relief in hospitals before or during detention. 

No one admitted, but many suspected, that the hospital admissions especially for the likes of former speaker Martin Romualdez — who went straight to a hospital before an arrest warrant could be served — might have been a means to delay the inevitable: imprisonment.

But assuming good faith and authentic health needs, Southern Illinois University criminology associate professor Raymund Narag pointed out in his piece: “Medical considerations… have appeared selectively available to the rich and powerful.” Whatever criteria were applied to Romualdez should likewise “apply to thousands of poor Filipinos now languishing in overcrowded jails nationwide.”

These Filipinos have been no match, too, for the likes of former presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (who had neck issues) and Joseph Estrada (knees), or even senators Jinggoy Estrada, Rodante Marcoleta, and Juan Ponce Enrile, former first lady Imelda Marcos (recently acquitted by the Supreme Court on seven counts of graft), and former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan, who all raised a garden variety of health issues. 

To their credit, Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Marcoleta, and Bonoan went to authorities first before eventually finding their way to hospitals. 

These latest developments threatened to eclipse major investigations by our tech writer Gelo Gonzales, with the assistance of Lance Bustos, about this appalling, perhaps unknown-to-many forum that exploits women. I will alert you early on that this is gated content (reading the full story will require payment or membership in Rappler+) to support the journalism that we do.

This online community boasts of having 430,000 registered members who share intimate photos and videos of women, many without their consent, involving manipulation and deceit. Content is shared as if they were conquests of victimized women — mirroring repulsive behavior of the male species. Read the first part.

Part 2 discusses how abuse is rewarded financially at the expense of the victims. The forum has thrived because of challenges that face regulation and jurisdiction. 

Since we published the stories, we have received emails that provide tips and more information about this exploitative forum. Gelo is in the process of compiling these reports for possible follow-up stories. If you have information to share, email us at investigative@rappler.com.

Another project we’ve been working on involves political dynasties. If you’ve been keen observers of Philippine politics, you will agree that the pattern of corruption in government is also partly enabled by the continuing domination of the same political families that just shift terms and positions among themselves.

Power remains locked within the family with little check-and-balance and ultimate accountability. It’s incredible how the same surnames surface every campaign period, leaving voters with little choice but to narrow their options of who to vote into office.

This is a running series all the way to October when we commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Local Government Code. Here’s what we have published so far, with more in the pipeline:

We continue to keep track of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte that has run for 23 days now. The latest issue on the table is the voting threshold, with Senator Erwin Tulfo seeking clarification on how many votes will be required for either a conviction or acquittal of the Vice President.

Will it be two-thirds of the 24 senators? Or will it be two-thirds of the senators who are present — just 20 at the present time because of the continuing absence of four senators: Marcoleta and Estrada, who are detained on plunder charges; Loren Legarda, who remains on extended medical leave; and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, still a fugitive.

The impeachment court is seeking the opinion of amici curiae, friends of the court, who will likely include retired Supreme Court justices, to help them settle the question. A decision is expected by September 23. Check out the adjusted schedule of the impeachment court here.

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