Binay’s my guy

Vice president Jejomar Binay never ceases to amaze me.



His “mediation” in the case of the Bar examinations blast last September has led his fraternity “brods” in Alpha Phi Omega (APO) to give up the alleged perpetrator who happens to be a member of the group. This saved time and resources for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other law enforcement agencies who were running after Anthony Leal Nepomuceno.



Nepomuceno, a call center worker, was accused of lobbing the grenade that maimed some 40 people during the traditional “salubong” rites for Bar examinees. Witnesses claimed he wore a facemask which eventually fell off when he was mobbed by Alpha Kappa Rho fratmen.



No less than Justice Sec. Leila De Lima disclosed that upon identifying Nepomuceno as an APO member, he immediately reached the vice president to arrange the suspect’s “surrender.” In no time, Binay was able to convince the fraternity’s council of coddlers, I mean elders, to bring out Nepomuceno who maintained innocence in the crime. Who wouldn’t.



Facing charges of frustrated murder and serious physical injuries, no man in his right mind would admit to a crime he committed. But no man in his right mind would do such a dastardly act like blasting away limbs- and future- of innocent students and merrymakers. If Nepomuceno would be proven guilty, he should suffer the consequences of his actions.



The good vice president, pending the filing of formal charges against his “brod,” naturally supported claims of innocence by the suspect and his coddlers, err, elders. But I doubt strongly if Binay would intervene in the case and influence it to favor the accused on the basis of mere affiliation.



The best Binay could do for Nepomuceno is to ensure that all his rights under the Constitution are strictly observed. No torture, no ‘good cop, bad cop’ performances, no intimidation and no parading yet in front of the media. I said not yet. But I really hope that once charges are filed against the perpetrators, whoever they maybe, their faces should be shown all over so that we may be able to take a good look at the ugly face of “frat wars.”



I believe Nepomuceno is innocent, for now. The two others who aided him in escaping the brunt of the victims should be held equally liable and I encourage the NBI to go after them at all costs. Brod or no brod.



Remember, I am a barbarian and I despised the mere thought of putting my safety in college- and my future- in the hands of people I hardly knew. My loyalty rests on the much larger brethren that is the Filipino people.



Surrendering, no matter how much the amount of semantics one puts into the word, was good for Nepomuceno. Like a real APO fratman, he should be man enough to face the law. As Sec. De Lima said, there are enough evidence- written and otherwise- to pin him down. Now, no man is above the law.



Not even fratmen.