Active cover-up on Regina O. Reyes, Marinduque non-candidate in Elections 2013

A cover-up is an attempt, whether successful or not, to conceal evidence of wrongdoing, error, incompetence or other embarrassing information. In a passive cover-up, information is simply not provided; in an active cover-up, deception is used.

The expression is usually applied to people in positions of authority who abuse their power to avoid or silence criticism or to deflect guilt of wrongdoing. Those who initiate a cover-up (or their allies) may be responsible for a misdeed, a breach of trust or duty or a crime. - Wikipedia

"... to avoid or silence criticism or to deflect guilt of wrongdoing". Those who initiate a cover-up (or their allies) may be responsible for a misdeed, a breach of trust or duty or a crime."

Remember how Marinduque students were fetched from various points in Marinduque on June 3, 2013, for their application for "tunay na scholarship"? Only to realize too late in the day that the gathering was really designed and directed to force another issue that exploits their presence in a "rally" against Lord Allan Velasco?

At the said point in time the Supreme Court has not received any petition from Regina O. Reyes. Yet placards in the said rally were already critical of Velasco and his father who serves as SC magistrate, and the placards, likewise, pushed for HRET jurisdiction. But days later she would file her petition before the SC. Failing to get a favorable ruling she would then accuse the magistrate who has inhibited from, and took no part in the case, of "wielding his influence".

Regina Reyes (LP), her lawyer Harry Roque and Rep. Reynaldo Umali (LP, Or. Mindoro), are at it again, in a bid to oust three SC justices sitting on the HRET. The other members are six lawmakers that reportedly includes a former Ateneo Law School classmate of Reyes, who, even as Reyes does not belong to the Visayan block in the House has sponsored her adoption as a member of the said group - Rep. Jerry Trenas (LP, Iloilo City).

***

What happened in Marinduque on June 3, 2013?

'Deception' is synonymous with “beguilement, deceit, bluff, mystification and subterfuge that are acts to propagate beliefs that are not true, or not the whole truth (as in half-truths or omission).”

Deception may be easily applied to an impressionable, even gullible crowd, particularly young people gathered for an announced purpose (Scholarship hinahandog ni Gina Reyes), supposedly for their benefit. This happened in Boac, Marinduque on June 3, 2013. Coming in full force, it was too late for the hopeful students to realize that the gathering was really designed and directed to force another issue and exploit their presence in a "rally".

Tarp declares "Ang Pagbabalik ng Tunay na Scholarship para sa Marinduqueno... taos pusong handog sa inyo ni Congresswoman-Elect Ate Gina Reyes"

Fresh high school graduates and college students from all over Marinduque were picked up (with free transportation and lunch), to gather at 7:00 am on June 3, 2013, at the would-be District Office of Regina O. Reyes, “Congresswoman-Elect”. The said address is just across the Boac Covered Court.

Suddenly there were Reyes placards in the venue that read: "HRET hindi COMELEC!", "Wag mong hadlangan ang aming kinabukasan"

June 3, 2013: More placards read: "Ate Gina kasama mo kami", "Justice Velasco wag kang makialam". Reyes has yet to file her SC petition at that time.

Then from a Velasco supporter was received the following text message on that same day that apparently tells it all:

“Akala ng mga tao me scholarship na apamigay si Gina sa munisipyo ng Sta. Cruz at yun ang pamalita, pinasama pa mga magulang, un pla, inakalap lang sila at papunta sa Boac at gapa  rally, nauto na naman ang mga tao. Kelan kaya sila matututo? At para saan ang rally? Mababago ba ng rally ang desisyon ng enbanc? Ang pagiging American citizen nya? Maski baliktarin nya ang buong lalawigan di pa rin magbabago ang katotohanang dinaya ang pagpo proklama sa kanya dahil hindi sya karapatdapat na kandidato dito sa Pilipinas… Patuloy pa rin nila tayong iniinsulto at tinatarantado sa ating bayan. Tinatanga nila tayo sa pang gagago nila sa atin! Kelan ba tayo magigising Marinduque?!! Tigilan na natin ang pagpapagamit sa kanila!” 

*** 
Eventually, the High Court upheld with finality the Comelec decision cancelling Reyes' COC. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was prompted to write a Separate Concurring Opinion that states: 

"The proclamation of a non-candidate cannot take away the power vested in the COMELEC to enforce and execute its decisions. It is a power that enjoys precedence over that emanating from any other authority..."

***

I've said it before and I say it again:

... there must really be something about schemes to deliberately delay resolution of one's citizenship, to grab a patently illegal and hasty proclamation, be instantly 'recognized', feed the media with half truths and half lies, and prolong the protest. Something intrinsically evil.

Active cover-up that uses deception without letup.

God Bless Marinduque !!!