THE COURTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING IN MAGUINDANAO

My present picture at the age of 58

My pictures when I was with the JAGS (Judge Advocate General's Service)
in 1979 to middle part of 1982

The alleged purpose of Proclamation 1959, declaring the Province of Maguindanao under Martial Law, is the arrest of the Ampatuan family members who are implicated in the November 23 Ampatuan, Maguindanao massacre. The regime justifies the declaration in saying, among others, that civilian institutions, especially the courts, are no longer functioning because judges and court personnel were overcome with fear; and that the dispensation of justice would not be possible.

Likewise, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera in an interview after the proclamation of Martial Law in Maguindanao Province said, among others, government services ceased due to the presence of heavily armed men. "This complexion is no longer what motivated the Ampatuans commit the massacre and now it's of a different political complexion ... It was a looming and in fact it was already practically an overthrow of government. Even the courts were not functioning in Maguindanao."

In this connection, may I volunteer and apply to the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the position as a Judge of the Regional Trial Court for Maguindanao to be the one to hear and decide all cases that were filed and to be filed against the Ampatuans in connection with the Maguindanao massacre on November 23, 2009. I am Abeto A. Salcedo, Jr., and I am the acting Regional Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (RARAD) of the DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB) in CARAGA Region. I have been an Adjudicator of the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (DARAB) since 1991, or for almost twenty (20) years now. Hereunder is my biodata:

BIODATA

NAME : ABETO AGCOPRA SALCEDO, JR

AGE : 58 years old

BIRTHDAY : September 30, 1951

BIRTH PLACE : Salay, Misamis Oriental

ADDRESS : #230, Purok 3, River Side, Tablon, Cag. De Oro City

EDUCATION

GRADE SCHOOL : Graduated 1964, Xavier University

HIGH SCHOOL : Graduated 1968, Xavier University

AB-PRE LAW : Graduated 1972, Xavier University

LLB : Graduated 1976, Xavier University

PASSED THE BAR : 1977 in the first taking

EXPERIENCES

PRIVATE PRACTICE – 1977 to 1979, 1982 to 1987, 1988 to 1990

AFP, JAGO (JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL’S OFFICE) – October 29, 1979 to April 1982

4^th ASST CITY FISCAL (CAG. DE ORO) – 1987

Provincial Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (PARAD) – 1991 to 2005

OIC Regional Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (RARAD)- 2005 to the present

PERSONAL

CIVIL STATUS - Married to Corazon B. delos Reyes

CHILDREN - Vanesa 14; Mars, 12; Star, 9; and Prudence, 2

SIBLINGS - Leo, Emilie, Oscar

TRACK RECORD

B-10, Manila Bulletin, Monday October 6, 2008

With my training and experiences as a JAGO officer Philippine Constabulary (now PNP), as an Asst. City Fiscal in Cagayan de Oro, and as a judge/adjudicator in the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (DARAB), and with a track record as the consistent number 1 Provincial Adjudicator, and Regional Adjudicator since 2003 to the present, I sincerely believe that I can render impartial justice to the parties with a blind eye and with dispatch if I will be appointed even in a temporary capacity for the duration of the Ampatuans' cases until they are all decided and terminated.