July 2007 Archives

I CONGRATULATEÂ Judge Pimentel on his ruling denying Mr. Trillanes free rein to attend Senate hearings. If Mr. Trillanes thinks he can escape the consequences of his actions by hiding behind the skirts of an election victory, the law still has proven him wrong. He tried to gain power by stepping over our laws and now he uses the same syste m to try to bail himself out. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas. -- Jerry Lalic, Ontario, Canada (via e-mail)

THIS is in regard to the recently concluded Senate presidency voting that was w on by Senator [Manuel] Villar. I am not against Mr. Villar or the opposition senators that voted for him, [but ] these opposition senators should have thought about it over and over again be fore they voted for him. Since Mr. Villar spoke to the administration senators, does this mean that most of the important committees will be given to them and not to the opposition? The opposition senators that voted for him keep saying that they still oppose President [Gloria Macapagal-]Arroyo, but how can you do check and balance in the Senate if you do not have the power or position to do so? I think these opposition senators threw away what the Filipino people has given them. They have to realize that people got hurt and even died to give them thi s mandate because they want some changes and they want to stop GMA from doing w hatever she pleases. I think the end result of this will show in the next elect ion. The people will now think twice before voting for the opposition because i t really does not matter anyway who sits in power. They (politicians) do not th ink about the welfare of the people, or what the people want, but only what the politicians want to do. I take off my hat to the remaining opposition senators who remain with the true opposition. It does not matter what their true reason is for doing so, at leas t we can be sure that they will oppose any wrongdoing of this present administration. -- Ed Tuason, Santa Maria, California (via e-mail)

WHEN I learned that Juan Miguel Zubiri got the twelfth spo t in the senatorial elections, I was shocked. Although I am here in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, I manage to sporadically watch the news from GMA Pinoy TV and read it on INQUIRER.net. I knew that a few weeks ago just after the elections, Comelec [Commission on Elections] Chairman Benjamin Abalos said that they will declare a failure of elections in Maguindanao because of wi tnesses coming out and [talking about] instances of massive cheating in the are a. I don't know why the Comelec did continue counting the vote s there which helped Zubiri win the last spot. Anyway it's all done, nothing fo r us to do in the meantime about the results of the elections.  I managed to watch a re-airing of Philippine Agenda, GMA 7' s pre-election special series about the eight major problems in the Philippine s that needs to be addressed by the candidates. The one I was able to watch was the one about health care. And for those who have seen it, you would understan d my feeling of tremendous sadness and despair. A five-year-old kid who has the body of a nine-month-old in fant. An old man suffering from daily fever because of anemia, a kid with scabi es and a woman who died of tuberculosis in front of the camera. Miguel Zubiri did say that he was very excited to go to wor k. Well, we Filipinos would like to know what he is planning to do about health care in Mindanao. Never mind that he's from there, but more importantly, it's the region where the Comelec said that he won. Maybe he'll start doing something after the long vacation h e and his wife are planning. I really hope that Miguel Zubiri knows what he nee ds to do. I know that a person named Musa Dimasidsing did know what to do. < strong>-- Roy Cruz, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (via e-mail)

I HAVE been following the last midterm elections and was elated that the people finally let their voices be heard by voting for change. Historically, during elections, whoever has the most money and influence gets t he seat; thankfully that trend has changed -- at least for the last election. Now, what I cannot believe is how does a bunch of senators voted into office n ot because people want them to be senators but because they represent the oppos ition, have turned their back to their ideologies and to what they promised to the people that voted for them that there will be change if they win the electi on. How can they do the changes they promised if all of the important committees will still be controlled by the administration? Deep in my heart, I would like to commend Senator [Antonio] Trillanes [IV] and hopefully he will stay as a true servant to the people and serve his mandate wi th dignity! To the following Senators (Escudero, Estrada, Cayetano), there is no way you can save your manda te to the people now that you've joined the administration! -- Ed Tuason, Santa Maria, California (via e-mail)

By Maila Ager INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines--Heeding the call of the opposition, incoming Cebu Represen tative Pablo Garcia has vowed to surrender his Speakership bid should he lose i n secret balloting that he has proposed ahead of the July 23 opening of Congres s. Garcia and his supporters, led by Kampi (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, Partne r of the Free Filipino) president and Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafu erte, are pushing for an all-party caucus, to include members of the opposition group, to decide who should be the next Speaker. While the opposition has been invited in the caucus, the choice of candidate fo r the Speakership would only be between Garcia and incumbent Jose de Venecia. Garcia explained that the caucus was aimed only at coming up with one candidate from the administration coalition to run against an opposition candidate durin g the actual voting on the floor. They had invited the minority bloc in the caucus because both he and De Venecia have supporters from the group, Garcia further explained. âMy proposal is to have an all-party caucus. All members of Congress, including the opposition, will be there but the candidates will only be two -- I and the Speaker. Whoever loses will no longer participate in the actual voting on the floor,â Garcia said in a phone interview. And the losing candidate in the caucus should agree to abstain during the actua l voting on the floor, he added. This way, the opposition can be assured that the Minority Leader will still com e from its ranks since Garcia and De Venecia are both allied with the administr ation coalition. Under House rules, the candidate to get the second highest vote in the Speakers hip race automatically becomes the Minority Leader. âIâm making this proposal because this will also address the concerns of the op position that the Minority Leader should come from their ranks. So if I lose in this secret balloting, I will no longer run for the Speaker,â Garcia pointed o ut. âThis only proves that I really listen to everybody, to every group. I also wan t that on the opening day, everything will be smooth already,â he said. As of posting time, however, De Venecia has not commented on Garciaâs proposal. If the Speaker would reject his offer, Garcia said he would pursue his candidac y and insist that the voting in the plenary be done through secret balloting. After all, Garcia said, the House would have to either adopt its existing rules or approve new ones at the opening of the session where they could propose tha t voting be done through secret balloting. âWe must give each congressman and congresswoman the fullest freedom or opportu nity to express their choice and that can be done only through secret balloting ,â Garcia said.

A VERY courageous man. A man of principle. The Ca tholic Church must not turn its back on him. He needs their support now more than ever. This is the best time for the Churc h to establish and expand its social responsibilities and provide both spiritua l and moral support to Governor Panlilio which I know wanted to serve. Bless his heart. The Philippines need more people like him. People are tired of words. Politicians that thirst for power and money but are lackin g in integrity, service and sacrifice for its people. We are far away from our neighbors in terms of loyalty and love of our country. It's time to set aside o ur differences, and start working together for the common good of the people we want to serve. Words are cheap. The Church cannot reverse the de cision of Father Panlilio to run and I'm sure this is for the love of his count ry and God. More power to people like Governor Panlilio and Mayor Lim. May the Lord grant them fullfillment of their plans and protect them from dangers (bad elements of society. -- Al Hinahon, Texas (via e-mail)

FILIPINOS are entitled to one vote each. It represents the heart and soul of a person who is longing that his voice will be heard, though faint in the million s of votes. Shave a vote and you kill entirely that faint voice and literally, the essence of that person's right to suffrage. The Philippines, Mindanao in particular, ha s become a graveyard of honest election watchers, teachers and volunteers. It h as also become a stinking place of dishonest government appointees like Lintang Bedol. Justice, strike where you need to strike and I will be there to believe in your name. Justice, hear the last breath of heroes that died looking for you. -- Rynor Jamandre, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (via e-mail)

WEARING a medical patch over his right eye, Maguindanao provincial elections su pervisor Lintang Bedol is mobbed by media as he arrived from Davao City Monday night after being arrested. Video taken by INQUIRER.net reporter Thea Alberto on July 2, 2007 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 in Parañaque City. For more videos, visit i VDO.