NBI Captures Freddie Aguilar Nephew Jason Ivler

After two months in hiding, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a Malacañang official's son was arrested in the Quezon City home of his mother early Monday after a shootout with agents of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Fugitive Jason Ivler, who was captured inside a basement hideout in Blue Ridge subdivision, was in critical condition at a Quezon City hospital.

But in a later report, Quirino Memorial Medical Center head surgeon Dr. Fernando Lopez said that the 27-year-old Ivler was already in stable condition and had been transferred to the intensive care unit.

Two NBI agents also suffered minor injuries, including a female agent involved in the raid.

Ivler, who traded shots with NBI agents using an M-16 firearm, had two bullet wounds and was rushed to the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, according to NBI sources.

The NBI had also arrested Ivler’s mother, Marlene Aguilar, for trying to delay the agents..

The report said the NBI had combed at least five rooms. Before Ivler was found hiding in an underground room, his mother had gone into hysterics in an alleged attempt to delay the agents' operation.

When agents knocked on Ivler's door, he reportedly started firing his gun.

Ms. Aguilar, the sister of folk legend Freddie Aguilar, earlier denied knowing where her son was, and even publicly appealed to him to surrender. The NBI now believes Ivler had been hiding in his mother's house nearly the entire time that he was wanted and had not left the country, as previously suspected.

Ivler had evaded capture during two previous raids on the house, the last one in December.

Before the agents forced open the door of Ivler's basement room, Marlene started screaming at the agents to "get out of my house!"

After a five-minute exchange of gunfire, NBI agents were seen in a news video pinning down the wounded Ivler in his room and handcuffing him. The fugitive was wearing shorts and had tattoos running down his arms.

Ivler was charged with the shooting of Renato Victor Ebarle Jr. last November 18. Ebarle's father is an undersecretary at the Office of the President.

The government tapped the International Police Organization's help after Ivler's mother claimed he had fled to Hawaii.

Last December, Qatar authorities arrested a namesake of Ivler, Jason Aguilar, and deported him to the Philippines earlier this month.

In 2004, Ivler also figured in a car accident along the C-5 Ortigas flyover that killed a Malacañang official, presidential assistant for resettlement Undersecretary Nestor Ponce.

Ivler did not show up for hearings on the 2004 accident, forcing government authorities to declare him a fugitive.

Even after being hit and wounded, Ivler was reportedly still lunging at a team of government agents serving the warrant for his arrest.

"Kahit may tama siya gusto niya pumutok nang pumutok (Even if he was hit, he kept trying to fire his weapon at us)," NBI lawyer-agent Rosauro Bautista said.

Bautista said two NBI agents (not one as initially reported) were wounded in the predawn operation. One was identified as agent Anna Labao.

"Ang gamit niya mahaba, (kahit na natamaan) tuluy-tuloy ang kanyang lusob (He used a high-powered firearm. Even when he was hit he continued to lunge at us)," Bautista said.

Even after being taken to the Quirino Memorial Medical Center for treatment, Ivler continued to thrash, trying to remove the tubes attached to his body, according to one Dr. Villamucho.

"He was pulling at the tubes inside the operating room. We suspect he was hit in the intestine, which is a serious injury," he told dzBB radio in Filipino.

He said Ivler, whose blood pressure had shot up when he was brought to the hospital, was hit on the left shoulder and left flank. The wounds were "through and through," he added.

But agent Labao, who was grazed in the chest area during the encounter, appeared in fine condition.

"Pina-routine chest x-ray pero mukhang okay, ayaw nya magpa-x-ray (We had her undergo a routine X-ray in the chest but she appeared okay.
She did not want her X-ray taken)," he said.

NBI agents had tracked Ivler at his mother's house.

There were clues that Ivler had been hiding in the house as a wet towel was spotted, though no visible member of the household appeared to have bathed.

The NBI had hoped for a peaceful surrender, but Ivler allegedly fired his gun from the basement, where he was hiding, even before the door was opened.

Ivler will likely be transferred to St. Luke's Medical Center from QMMC, where he was brought for initial treatment.

Freddie Aguilar is the Epitome of Kindness

After Freddie Aguilar opened his big mouth expressed his opinions about Pinoy artists trying their luck overseas, stor(y)ies about our fount of nationalistic pride have been coming out of the woodwork.

Via Cristy Fermin’s column in Bulgar, a fellow artist revealed that a plan to form a group or foundation to help singers who are sick and broke was outrightly rejected by Freddie Aguilar. He reasoned that such initiative will only give their colleagues more reason to remain lazy.

That’s cold, like freezing cold. If a singer can’t booked a gig because they’re sick, it’s not being lazy. It’s not being able to get up from the bed, literally. I’m just sayin’.

Help should come naturally. If Freddie is not feeling too kind and charitable, then let him be. As we are all fond of saying, “huwag magbigay ng pagkain kung hindi bukal sa kalooban, baka sumakit pa ang tiyan ng pagbibigyan mo.”

Does this group of singers really need Freddie’s participation to get their plan off the ground? Freddie, as we all know, has his own quest – that of spreading Filipino music internationally (who knows maybe inter-galactically?) and changing the last line of the Bayang Magiliw.

If this story is true, people who are relying on the kindness of others now know not to hit Freddie up for anything. You’ve been warned, you lazy freeloaders!

Freddie Aguilar Agrees That Filipinos Are Monkeys

Last week, Freddie Aguilar made a last ditch effort to stay relevant. He commented that Pinoy talents who are making waves in the US like Charice Pempengco and Arnel Pineda proved what Mariah Carey said about Filipinos being monkeys. He was referring to Pinoy talents not having their own identities and imitating foreign singers.

Freddie Aguilar was criticized for calling Filipinos monkeys, but he was quick to clarify that it wasn’t him who called Charice monkey, but foreign singers like Mariah Carey.

Semantics, Freddie. I can’t fault Freddie Aguilar for his comments because as I am found of saying, “opinions are like assholes; everybody has one.” Own up to what you said because it amounted to same thing. I also can’t find anything wrong with saying those bitchy comments on the occasion of the opening of your music bar. Free publicity! I think Freddie succeeded because I can’t remember the last time Freddie Aguilar stayed this long in the media spotlight Score one for team Freddie!

Of course, Gary Valenciano and Arnel Pineda have weighed in on Freddie’s high opinions of his talents. Basically, what they said was boring and not worth repeating. “Grow some balls and hurt Freddie’s feelings as well,” is what I would tell them if I see them. But since I’m always in front of the PC, I’ll just type those words here.

But I like the comments made by Gary Valenciano’s son, Gab Valenciano. He said, “may be he’s {Freddie} just jealous.” LOL Typical of his generation. “You’re just jelly cause I’m better than you are..blah, blah.”

Freddie made specific comments about Charice having had the opportunity to sing on Oprah and in a concert with Celine Dion but she still chose to sing Whitney and Celine songs. I’m simple minded but even I know if an artist like Charice is just starting out, she can’t demand what types of songs she sings.

Never mind, Freddie. I’m sure Charice and her stagemother are busy counting their millions and living in style in their dream house in Cavite.

I read that Freddie’s song, “Anak,” which I think is his only claim to fame (I might be wrong, though), has been translated in many languages. Isn’t that done to give a song global appeal? Freddie might say it’s not the same thing. Fine!

By the way, Freddie also proposed changing the last line of our national anthem Bayang Magiliw “Lupang Hinirang.” He wants the ending to be just “…buhay ay langit sa piling mo” and the line “ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo” be removed and changed to “buhay ay langit sa piling mo.” His reason and I quote “eh di kayo na lang ang mamatay, ako ayaw ko.”

So Freddie, if it involves death, let others do it. Ninoy Aquino is rolling in his grave right now; rolling his eyes and giving you a killing side-eye. Is Freddie sure he’s not after royalties if his lyrics replace the old line of the national anthem?

Let’s bid Freddie good luck on his quest. When pig’s fly. When hell freezes over. Those are likely to happen first before the stalwart sentinels at the National Historic Institute let him mess with our precious Bayang Magiliw. He should have a talk with Martin Nieverra.