Monday, October 19, 2009

Heinous Crime in Tagaytay

Robbers kill American doctor in Tagaytay
By ANTHONY GIRON
August 13, 2009, 5:55pm

Tagaytay City — A retired American doctor was killed last Monday by two robbers who broke into his house in this city, it was learned from a belated police report.

The doctor's wife, a Filipina, was seriously wounded in the attack.

Supt. Joseph Salom Javier, Tagaytay City police chief, identified the dead victim as Dr. Frank Joseph Michalski, 70, retired virologist, of 10 Walnut St., Southridge subdivision, Barangay Sungay West, this city.

Wounded was Michalski’s wife, Dr. Amy Pineda-Michalski, 70, retired biochemist. Joseph, who suffered multiple knife wounds, died on the spot.

Amy, who suffered wounds in the hands and body, was brought to the Tagaytay City Medical Center.

Initial investigation conducted by Police Officer 3 Roel G. Paiton, officer-on-case, showed that the Michalskis were attacked at about 8:45 p.m. last Monday.

The Michalski family lives in a plush subdivision in Tagaytay City, the No. 1 tourist destination in Cavite.Javier said that the Michalski killing is the first heinous crime here in years. Major crime cases seldom happen in the city, he said.

The police chief said his men are looking for the two men who broke into the Michalski residence.

-------------------------------END OF THE STORY-------------------------------------

Was there a news blackout here? This is a heinous crime! The news that you read came from Manila Bulletin. Mayor Tolentino has a bad reputation of allegedly paying the media for any negative publicity that will affect Tagaytay's image as tourism and retiree hub. I should know because I studied in Tagaytay and some of my batchmates/classmates in the seminary who are now priests and I also did my barrio apostolate there.

FYI, I met Dr. Amy Pineda - Michalski in the plane Manila-Nagoya-Detroit last Friday, Oct. 16 on my way to US. She was still wearing a sling for her severely injured arm. It was good she was able to block her head using her arm when the assailant attempted kill her. Kawawa naman ang si Dr. Amy. She's in the brink of losing her sanity! They've been married for 36 years. Dr. Frank Joseph Michalski doesn't have insurance, but NBI and Cavite/Tagaytay Police have not done anything. Worst, as per Dr. Amy's account, humihingi pa daw ng padulas.

I love Tagaytay, especially during the time when there were no subdivisions yet, and when the housing development was still "regulated". I studied there and met a lot of friends in the process.

Tagaytay was my second home --- the cool breeze, the majestic Taal Volcano and the refreshing these are GOD's gifts bestowed to Tagaytay. But all of these are gone!

All of a sudden, Tagaytay has lost its glory when greed has engulfed the leaders of Tagaytay. Nope. Tagaytay cannot pretend to have a peaceful environment as how the disHonorable ABRAHAM "BAMBOL" N. TOLENTINO, the CITY MAYOR said in the prologue of Tagaytay City Government website. Let me quote that, "If Mayor Bambol of Tagaytay City had his choice, he would like God and tourists to continue to be on his side. God----because he has given the city its cool air and peaceful environment. Tourists and visitors----because annual revenues from tourism make up 80 percent of the city's coffers."

GOD on his side? That's bullshit! It's just a hyperbole and irony of ironies. This high profile case was never covered by the media? Why only Manila Bulettin? How about the Philippine Star, Inquirer, Malaya and other broadsheets as well as tabloids? How about the TV and Radio Networks? What have they done? Obviously because there was a news blackout. Apparently, the Bumble Beast, wanted to protect the image of Tagaytay from other would be investors or tourists. Tang na talaga ang mga ganid na politiko, puro pera ang isinasaisip. Tang ina nyo mamamatay din kayo. Maybe not the way Dr. Frank Joseph Michalski died, because you're so fucking lucky to have bodyguards. Alisin nyo kaya yan kaya nyo bang makipagsuntukan ka sa akin? Not in your territory because politicians never fight fair and square.

I also heard from some businessmen who requested on the condition of anonymity that the Tagaytay's political kingpin has a tendency to grab every possible business it can get just to satisfy his fucking greed. Travel along the highway, ask the people manning the newsstands if who owns those stores and other establishments along the highway and they will say, "Hawak ni Bumble Beast yan." Bambohin ko kaya itong gagong ito!

Mayor, this is just the beginning. We will continue to bring the issue to the media in national level. Pero in fairness, magaling PIO mo siguro sa pagbibigay ng payola sa mga hao-siao na media. Imagine a very sensitive case like this was just published in Manila Bulletin. Another thing is, it was reported to the media only after three (3) days! Dr. Frank Joseph Michalski died last August 10, 2009 and Manila Bulletin reported it in the paper last August 13! Why? Now that we will bring this to the "Quad-Media" ---- the internet, radio, print, tabloid and even TV. Tignan natin kung mapagtakpan mo pa yan.

I also wonder why did the Bumble Beast tried to cover up this? Why did the media, my dear colleagues in arms didn't bother to cover this. This is a news worthy item. Mukhang ang envelopmental journalism becomes prevalent in Tagaytay ha. Just asking...

Kasi simple, isang magbubuko nasaksak habang naglalakad sa daan binabalita samantalang ito, involved ang mag-asawang doctor na retiree ng America, hindi binigyan ng pansin? This is a HEINOUS CRIME, nakakapagtaka talaga!

Justice to Dr. Frank Joseph Michalski... Justice to Dr. Amy Pineda-Michalski.
Until now, Dr. Amy Pineda-Michalski, still suffering from physical and emotional pain she got from those people who attacked them.

Paging NBI, nasan na ang artist sketch? Bakit hindi nyo nilalabas? Ang lagay ba, kailangang ganyan? Wala bang langis? Bakit hindi nyo ginamit ang media to inform about this? Ang lagay ba, ganyan talaga ang systema? Why do you treat heinous crime as something light... I will be compelled to talk to Atty. Rey Esmeralda about this. NBI Tagaytay, PNP Cavite, swerte nyo wala na dyan si Col. Zafra. Pero di bale malawak man ang dagat, makakakita din tayo ng hahanap sa problema na ito para masulusyunan.

If no action will be taken, ikakalat ko dito sa Amerika ang mga kabulastugan dyan sa Tagaytay. Sana naman ayusin nila at wag nilang takutin ang biktima na si Dr. Amy. Putang ina sya na nga ang namatayan, at gusto pa yatang kikilan? The media will start to dig deeper on this. Too bad the Tagaytay presscorp was either bribed or bunch of incompetent people.

Abangan....

For comments, reaction and feedback, visit my blog: http://pinoy-politics.blogspot.com

18 comments:

Terry Go - Garcia said...

did it really happen in tagaytay? that's scary. why these politicians cover up the story. in cebu where i come from, we never hide anything there even bad news although sad to say there are media people who practice "AC-DC" attack and collect-defend and collect. i will tell my friends who plan to invest tagaytay to rethink their position on buying a property there for their retirement. with what happened to the american couple, a lot of people will really have a second thought of moving to tagaytay. this is what i can say: tagaytay is not haven for retirees, but for those who want to retire perpetually.

thanks for the email blast mr. pinoy politics, mabuhay ka!

Doc Ric said...

Hindi na ako mabibigla kung may karumaldumal na krimen na naganap sa tagaytay. Nasangkot na nga sa rape case ang isa sa mga tolentino pinalabas pa yan sa Magandang Gabi Bayan at TV Patrol ang kaso mukhang inareglo lang nila. Balita naman na mga landgrabbers din ang mga yan. Mahirap pang kumuha ng business permit dyan puro lagay. SOP ni mayor at pati barangay chairman. Ultimo ang pulis dyan pulis patola. Mahilig manghingi ng tong lalo na sa may checkpoint sa rutonda. Tama ang observation na ang mga politiko matapang lang kapag may mga bodyguards. Isang mayor lang yata ang hinahangaan ko si Benhur Abalos ng Mandaluyong. Nakasabay namin ng pamilya namin wala akong nakitang body guard or advance party. Nakita namin ng asawa ko nagpapakapkap sa mga guardya sa mall. Samantalang yung ibang mga politiko ayaw magpakapkap kakausapin pa ng mga advance party bodyguards nya yung mga security guards ng mall at sasabihin wag kapkapan kasi mayor o kaya congressman ang damuho. Palitan na nga yang mayor nyo dyan sa Tagaytay. Walang silbi at mukhang di nya kayang protektahan ang kanyang mga constituent. Tapos pinagtatakpan pa ang kaso. Sobra naman di kaya sangkot sila? Doktor pa yung pinatay.

BERDUGO said...

Sa tutuo lang iisa naman ang mga likaw ng bituka ng mga pulitiko. Basta nasa pwesto tapos na ang mga sinumpa nila na maglilingkod ng tapat at bibigyang kaukulang bpansin ang mahihirap. Yang nangyari sa Tagaytay sa mga retirado walang saysay yan. Sino ba sa kanila yan. Tama nga ang sabi mo sir, iniisip lang ng mga politiko yung mga makakabuti sa kanila. Ano nang dev't sa Tagaytay wala naman. Ang pinagmamalaki nila yung malamig nilang klima at pinya nila. Pero kung wala ang mga yan, may nagbago ba sa Tagaytay maliban sa mga bagong subd at bldg na naitayo ng mga negosyante. Wala ng pag-asa ang bansa natin dapat yan supilin na natin ang mga kurap at walang pakialam tulad ng mayor ng tagaytay.

Etivac said...

nakakalungkot nga na may mga media na binalewala yung balitang ito. tapos yung mga walang kwentang balita nabibigyan ng puwang sa mga dyaryo at airtime ng tv at radio. tapos palaging sinasabi malayang pamamahayag. isipin na lang natin kung mo isiniwalat ito, nasan na ang kaso ng mga matatandang pinaslang at tinangkang paslangin? wala na. dapat ang mga media may mga galamay din sa labas ng ibang lugar para may scoop. pero sabagay kung news blackout nga at nakapayola anong balita ang lalabas syempre wala. sana maresolba ang kasong ito at mabigyan ng katarungan ang pinaslang at nasira nyang asawa. nakakahiya ang tagaytay may suspek na pero wala pa ding development bakit kaya? si mayor ba o ang mga media ang may kasalanan?

Anonymous said...

totoo naman ang sinabi mo minsan may mga media na bayaran o huwad. at syempre habang may media na hayok at may politikong walang puso at makasarili, magpapatuloy ang kaganapan na krimen saan mang lugar. sa atin lang naman ganyan. ang media na nga na lang ang tanging maasahan ng tao pero minsan nalalagyan pa. marami akong kakilalang ganyan. ngayon naisiwalat na ito, sana naman ang mga tagamedia ay kumilos na at pukpukin ang mga humahawak ng kaso. kasi pag ganyan ng ganyan walang mangyayari sa mga nabibiktima ng mga krimen. magbubulag-bulagan ba o mananatiling pipi ang mga media pag sila ay binayaran na? sana di mangyari yan sa inyo.

Anak ng Pulis said...

Palagay ko hindi lang naman sa tagaytay nangyayari yan ganyan pinapatay na tao at mga "news blackout" na sinasabi mo. Kahit saang gubat may ahas! Pero may katwiran ka din nman na bkit di nalabas ang balita at tatlong araw na ang nakalipas bago nalabas. Siguro lasing yung mga media na umiikot sa tagaytay o kaya tulog dahil gininaw. Sabi ng tatay kong pulis sa bawat presinto may umiikot na mga media at press para magkalap ng balita. Pero bakit paglipas ng tatlong araw dun lang na balita. May punto ka na may posibleng news blackout na naganap. Kasi ng mabasa ng tatay kong pulis ang email nagulat sya, bakit daw walang nakapagbalita sa tabloid kasi may access daw ang mga press at media sa blotter logbook ng bawat presinto. May naamoy na medyo di maganda tatay ko sa kasong ito. Sana hindi daw totoo.

Anonymous said...

wag kang makialam kung ayaw mong magulo ang buhay mo. matagal ka na naming minamanmanan sa pambabatikos mo. kayang-kaya ka nmin tiktikan. mag-ingat ka sa mga banat mo bka ikaw ang isunod nmin gusto mo?

Anonymous said...

WARNING ITOSA MGA GUSTONG MAG RETIRE SA TAGAYTAY ALAM NAMAN NINYO ANG JUSTICE AND POLICE SYSTEM SUCK SA PINAS. KUNG MINSAN YUNG MGA PULIS ANG MGA MASTERMIND NG MGA KRIMEN. HINALIS NI KASI NI GMA ANG CAPITAL PUNISHMENT KAYA ANG MGA KRIMINAL HINDI NA NATATAKOT GUMAWA NG KALOKOHAN. ATSA KA PA MARAMING TAONG NAGUGUTOM.

Anonymous said...

IKALAT ITO SA BUONG MUNDO PARA TIMINO YUNG TRAPO SA TAGATAY CITY. BOYCOTT NG MGA TURISTA AT MGA GUSTONG MAG RETIRE DIYAN. HIT THE POCKET BOOK PARA MASAKTAN SILA

Unknown said...

Virgie Claud Carlson

Thanks for this post, thank you for the information because that is also one of my plan coming home to Cavite this coming Nov 6. My husband is American and thought going to live in the Philippines specially Tagaytay, is the best option.

Well, is not worthied, na mawala ang mahal mo sa buhay. Di bale' na lang magtitiis na lang kami dito sa US kahit mahirap.

I will forward this to all my family and friends in Philippines and US to let them know.

Anonymous said...

Bkit naman may nananakot? Guilty ba yung anonymous na nananakot? Wag kayong ganyan. Nagmamalasakit lang ang tao. Mr. Pinoy Politics a.k.s. Monsi Serrano ipagpatuloy mo ang ginagawa mo. Mabuhay ka!

Amboy Pinoy said...

How come this media blackout happens in the Phils? Philippines is known for democracy & why do gov't official like the mayor of Tagaytay meddled in this case.

Here in the US, when one gov't official got involved in a scam or controversy, the immediate action taken by that person is to quit. It seems that our politicians in the Philippines don't have any decency at all. Bribery, corruption and wealth accumulation are just ordinary activities for politicians.

Thanks to the email that was blast to us here in the US. Without that how would we know what's happening in our country. We maybe far away from home but we always wish the best for our country. Now that this news came out, I dread for our security in Tagaytay since we plan to buy a property there & retire 2 years from now.

Maybe, we will just find another place to retire. Sure there's no place like home. But if it will jeopardize our life, like what happened to the Michalski couple, we prefer to sacrifice that hardship we have here in the US than take that kind of big risk. Once a life is lost, it will never be taken back anymore.

Ray San Francisco said...

Monsi,

We have a daily supply of newspapers but I haven't seen this news; it must be blocked for some reasons. I have heard it before that our tagaytay city mayor is always active in protecting his own investment in the city of tagaytay. Rarely now a days to find an honest politician who will work for the people. They are all bunch of crooks, including those who work for them, who will take advantage of innocent filipinos.

It always reminds me of Rep. Mickey Arroyo, who started with 50,000 pesos when he joined the politics. Six years later, it was reported in the newspaper, he now have some 200M pesos? How could this be?

Now you are back in New Jersey. Was there another invitation from your US Congressman friend? How long will you be there? When you get back, lets re-schedule our previous meeting in tagaytay.

See you back soon,
Ray

Pizzaro Makalintal said...

Straight from the horse's mouth & from a resident of tagaytay confirming the alleged abuses of the mayor. I'm following this topic in blog to validate some accusations of the blogger. Now that i read one comment from a resident of tagaytay, i don't need any further proof to be substantiated by the blogger. We can truly conclude that the mayor could have blocked the news about the death of the doctor & sanitize negative publicity that could affect his turf.

Jim Boyd said...

Thanks!

I'm an American considering a retirement in Tagaytay. Thanks to all the Pinoy who posted in English. (My tagalog is not so good, but I'm learning.) If this mayor is covering up crime, we'll need to take a sharper look at this area of the Philippines before we settle down. Does anyone have any info on the crime rate in Baguio?

Jim Boyd said...

Thanks to all who posted in English. I'm an American who is considering retirement in Tagaytay. If the local mayor is covering up crime and the local police need a bribe to investigate crime... then maybe we'll look elsewhere to retire. Does anyone have any info on crime in Baguio?

karma said...

"HONORABLES OF TAGAYTAY" buhay n buhay nasa Tagaytay ang AMPATUAN, alam ng mga matatagal ng PULIS ng tagaytay at MEDIA alam nla yan at mga malalapit sa TOLENTINO lalo n s p nga ngam kam ng lupa ng Tagaytay, Halos si BAMBOL at kanya ang CONTRATA ng PROYEKTO TAGAYTAY, s kanilang bulsa lahat ang pasok,ang income ng BAYAN,CONSTRUCTION ng mga pampubklico dito s tagaytay,mga POLICE STNS. SCHOOLS, BRGY HALLS ng ng mga kaalyado nya, ROADS putungo s nga ndugas nya n lupa, madami pa, bukod p mga negosyante, alam yan ni Engr.TONY, at Engr. ROCILLO, mga nakapag aral pero nag papagamit, dala n rin cguro s kahirapan, mga Over p, pati mga mahihirap pinag kakakitaan, lalo n pagdating s mga lupa, alam yan ng mga malalapit s kanya, lalo n ng mga konsehales, at mga kapitan ng barangay n pinag bbigyan nya ng baril n colt, b4 mag election national, nag puntahan sila ng bicol, kaya ng mg election n my mga pinamatyagan n s kapitan s mga kkabila ng boto, at my nkita nga si kapitan n matanda n babae,hindi team ni TOLENTINO ang nk lagay s balota,pasemple nyang pinabago lahat ng gusto iboto nung bendor n matandang babae, pgtapos ng election, pinuntahan ang pobre at pinagmmura ang pobreng bendor,at susuntukin nya pati yong asawa n lalake, n lumapit dahil s awa s asawa, s kalye ginawa iyan ni Kapitan Marcelo Marasigan,nn Crossing Mendez West Tagaytay n aso ng mga Tolentino, n madalas mg pputok ng baril nya n 45Cal. n pinapulot agad ang mga empty shell,hlos lahat sila mukhang kwarta, kaya mabilis nag sisipagyaman, bida n my kita p, pag may nmatay n pobre, aalukin nya n sasagutin nya ang kabaong, tus gagamitin nya para, pumunta s mga target nya, pg mag bigay ng 15,000. hhngi nnman s iba 15,000 ulit, at s iba ulit pg mk 45,000 bbgay nya s pobre n nmatayan 15,000 bida n siya s namatayan, bida p s hinihingin nya, kc matulungin s nasasakupan, at pg n ubos n niya hingiaan ng abuloy,s CTHALL ng tagaytay ang punta nya, hhingi sya s BUAYA nming MAYOR, kc ssbihin hawak nla s ilong iyong familya ng namatayan, bigay si BUAYAng SUGAPA s kwarta ng 10,000 record s cthall, donation kc mabait ang ating butihing mayor, bibgyan naman ni Honorable,brgy.Kapt MARCELO MARASIGAN, iyong pobre n nmatayan ng 3,000. my kita agd si Honorable ng 7,000.pula n nman ang hasang, ttext ang kanyang mga kabit. haaayyy! nkuuuu! kelan kaya KKARMAHIN ang mga HONORABLE ito. TO BE CONT

Anonymous said...

ay ambot