The judge said the CNMI doesn’t need people like this convict — i.e., criminals — so we should tell the judge, what? He’s too harsh?
Harsher than assaulting and stalking a woman?
And then there’s the Philippine consul general who was quoted in a news article as saying that he was disappointed with the judge’s language.
How about feeling sorry for the common law wife, consul general? And how about commending the CNMI justice system for convicting this loser husband of crimes that, back home, would not even merit an information filed in court?
As someone who is not a fan of domestic violence and its perps, let me just say, thank you Judge Govendo. Mabuhay ka! The only disappointment I have is that because he’s a judge and was speaking from the bench, Ken couldn’t use the type of language fit to describe this criminal.
Here’s the background of this ridiculous brouhaha over nothing.
Almost three years ago, loser husband was wanted by CNMI authorities for a deportation case. Loser was earlier charged with disturbing the peace, assault, two counts of assault and battery, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and child abuse. He copped a plea and agreed to admit that he committed assault and battery. Then-Judge Lizama sentenced loser to one year in jail, all suspended except for the time he had already served in prison from Oct. 29, 2004, to Dec. 28, 2005. After the government filed a deportation case against loser, he went into hiding. Judge Wiseman issued an arrest warrant and the AG’s Office advised the public that loser “poses a danger to the community, especially to his former wife.” He had repeatedly threatened to kill her. She had to be placed under government protection in a safehouse.
Before his conviction, loser appeared in Govendo’s courtroom on Oct. 27, 2004 for a temporary restraining order hearing requested by the wife. Here’s the news account of what happened in that hearing: “After the wife testified, Govendo instructed her to step down from the witness stand. The judge then called [loser] to the witness stand. While the woman was walking toward the table and [loser] was walking toward the witness stand, the defendant allegedly elbowed her on the arm. The defendant also allegedly uttered profanities in Filipino at the victim.” The only inaccuracy in this report is the use of “allegedly” to describe what did happen.
Judge Wiseman, in any case, later turned down loser’s “request that his bail be modified from $5,000 cash to $500…. Wiseman also denied [loser’s] request to release him to a third party custodian. The judge cited the seriousness of the charges as well as the accusation that the defendant used to be a member of the Abu Sayyaf.” Yes. The same bandit group that made a name for itself for its kidnapping, beheading and other terroristic activities in southern Philippines.
Last week, Judge Manglona denied loser’s motion to vacate his conviction as the first individual in the CNMI found guilty of stalking his wife.
That’s right. After his assault and battery conviction, loser was charged with two counts of stalking in the first degree, one count of theft, and three counts of violating an order for protection for incidents that occurred on June 15-16, 2007. Loser was found guilty of both counts of stalking, both counts of disturbing the peace and all three counts of violating an order for protection.
Apparently, in filing his motion, loser’s main argument was that Judge Govendo was “unfair.” Why? Because Ken told loser: “It is time to say goodbye to Mr. [loser]. It is time that he went back to the Philippines, OK. He’s a problem, he doesn’t follow court orders, he’s a bully and it’s time that he went ‘bye, bye, adios.’ ” The judge added, “The CNMI doesn’t need people like [loser]. And since we’re still in charge of immigration it’s time to say ‘problem! Adios problem!’ Back to the P.I. where you can be a problem there, OK. We have enough problem children here from the P.I. and it’s time we get rid of them…. I am going to personally take this on myself, Mr. [loser]. I want to see you leave the Northern Mariana Islands. And when you leave, I will be at the airport to go adios muchacho! Don’t come back! …. I want you out of here…. It is now time to start cleaning house in the CNMI. We don’t need perpetrators of domestic violence here. I wish I could get rid of the locals but I can’t. They’re American citizens. But the ones who are not, there’s no reason why we should have to put up with them.”
Raise your hands if you also agree that the community would want to see criminals shipped out of the island.
Judge Manglona, in any case, said Govendo’s “tirade does appear to defy the mandates of Judicial Canon 3B(9), which states in part, that ‘A judge shall not, while a proceeding is pending or impending in any court, make any public comment that might reasonably be expected to affect its outcome or impair its fairness [or] that might substantially interfere with a fair trial or hearing.’ ” But, she added, loser “failed to provide any evidence that the criminal proceedings were in fact tainted by Govendo’s statements or actions.”
Now some are claiming that “Filipinos generally find the word ‘muchacho’ degrading as it means slaves or houseboys.”
First of all, who cares if a criminal felt “degraded” by a Spanish word?
And anyway, according to my Vox Compact Spanish and English Dictionary — “acclaimed the finest…in the Spanish speaking world” — the primary definition of “muchacho” is boy or lad. Moreover, when statesiders say “adios muchacho” they’re merely saying “goodbye buddy.” Don’t believe me. Google it.
And Mr. Consul General, sir, what is truly insulting in this “controversy” is the criminal’s claim that he and other Filipinos were “insulted” by Judge Govendo’s statements. Loser assaulted his wife! He threatened to kill her! He was bullying her right in front of a judge! In a courtroom! And we should be insulted because the judge told this criminal “goodbye”?
‘Nak ng tokwa oo.
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