Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Pintong Bato Lodge NR 9 is Now Open

ON RECENT EVENTS IN PHILIPPINE MASONRY
( Series Nr 3 )
by Jaime Bartolo


The first Volume of Recent Events in Philippine Masonry was documented by VW Ben Apacible and duly published in various web –sites or blog-spots. Series Nr 2 was posted last April 1, 2007 documenting the various assault or illegal raids by GLP GM YU supported phantom lodges to occupy the temples of IGLPI Lodges. This is the 3rd series on the same headline to further report on what is happening to Freemasonry in Cavite.

The Bacoor Masonic Temple Association Inc organized under existing Philippine Laws and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 08, 1951, is the registered OWNER of the 390 square meter lot and all properties therein under a TCT Nr R-040 of the Registry of Deeds , Cavite. The property was used by Pintong Bato Lodge Nr 51 for its meetings. It was also used for sometime by Molino Lodge Nr 352, Dasmarinas Lodge Nr 346, and the local Order of the Eastern Star.

Last December 09, 2006, Pintong Bato Lodge Nr 51 held its mandated annual election of officers during the December Stated Meeting of all Lodges. Elected officers were: WM Lamberto Binuncal, Sr Warden Jerry Murillo, Jr Warden Eleuterio Ulatan.. Unfortunately, DDGM Mario Marasigan FALSELY ACCUSED the elected officers to be attending the functions and activities of the IGLPI and reported them to the GLP GM YU who, WITHOUT DUE PROCESS immediately issued on December 21, 2006 EDICT 232C declaring them and many others as “clandestine masons” and deprived them of their lawfully elected positions. If you recall, the outgoing WM Erwin Punzalan, having been rebuffed in the election, declared earlier that those officers WILL NEVER BE INSTALLED. True enough, his boast proved true. Hence, on December 22, 2006 many members of the Lodge voted in a Meeting to sign and approved a Lodge Resolution to SEVERE their loyalty to the GLP and on January 05, 2007, JOINED the IGLPI because of the INJUSTICE.

The day before on January 04, 2007, elements of GLP masons broke the lock of the temple, search negatively for the lodge charter, took the lodge bible and tylers book and padlocked the temple with the assistance of PNP SWAT and local police. The following day, on January 05, 2007, Pintong Bato Lodge who now joined the IGLPI, broke the padlock and opened the Lodge for the purpose of holding the IGLPI SPECIAL ASSEMBLY in order to affiliate the Lodge to IGLPI. A confidential report was texted that a company of SWAT PNP in the province was ALERTED to be DEPLOYED to Bacoor because of the happenings at the temple. The following day January 06, 2007, elements of the remnants of Pintong Bato lodge who DID NOT join the IGLPI, broke the padlocks, met to elect new lodge officers IN THE ABSENCE of the CHARTER, and posted PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS as TYLERS to prevent the entry of Pintong Bato Lodge Nr 9 members.

Peacefully and patiently, majority of the members of the Bacoor Masonic Temple Association Inc, who are now affiliated with Pintong Bato Lodge Nr 9 went to Court and filed a Civil Case for Injunction and Damages against the other group. Hearings were done in March, April, and May. 2007. There were delays caused by the process of finding amicable settlement, by filing of restraining orders and for inhibition of the judge. After resolving them and finding NO amicable settlement available, the trial moved on and eventually, the judge ruled and ordered on June 06, 2007 a Writ of Preliminary Injunction be issued:
1. Enjoining the defendants (the GLP phantom lodge) and/or other persons under their command or behalf from performing acts of exclusive ownership, possession and use of the properties of Bacoor Masonic Temple Association Inc… and,
2. Enjoining defendants to immediately restore plaintiffs to their right to use and manage the aforesaid properties


On June 07 and 08, 2007, the Sheriff of the Court served the Court Orders to the plaintiffs and the defendants. With the assistance of the local PNP police and the local Barangay officers, the Court Order was also served by the Sheriff to the Private Security Guards guarding and preventing MM of the IGLPI from entering the premises. The armed Security Guard was refusing the Court Order. The presence of the Local PNP police and Barangay officials prevented any untoward incidents. To manifest ownership, members of the Association destroyed the old padlocks, allowed the Security Guard to leave unmolested, and then secured the place.

By Sunday, June 10, 2007, the WM Bert Binuncal and SW Jerry Murillo announced that Pintong Bato Lodge Nr 9 is NOW OPEN.

I appreciate the concern of the PNP on peace and order conditions in Cavite particularly on the illegal assault or raid upon the temples of IGLPI WITHOUT the PRESENTATION of any COURT ORDER by the phantom lodge members. Since they REMAINED UNINVESTIGATED or UNPUNISHED by the GLP for their UNMASONIC ACTs, we have no recourse but to GO TO COURT.

M A B U H A Y A N G K A L A Y A A N

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