THAT’S what former Senate president Jovito Salonga fears.
Here’s an excerpt from the Philippine Daily Inquirer story:
MANILA, Philippines–President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s decision to call out the military to help police disband private armies, man 24-hour checkpoints and stop political killings has prompted ex-Senate President Jovito Salonga to warn that the May 14 elections could turn out to be as “violent and fraudulent” as the Marcos-era polls.
In an open letter sent Tuesday to the President through Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Salonga called on Ms Arroyo to ensure the peace and the credibility of the midterm elections so as not to worsen current problems, including the continuing killings.
Salonga said Ms Arroyo’s order for more checkpoints nationwide was “what [the dictator Ferdinand] Marcos also ordered in the 1969 elections, described by Newsweek (Nov. 24, 1969) and Time (Feb. 16, 1970) as the dirtiest, most violent and most corrupt in modern Filipino history.”
February 10th, 2008 at 3:23 am
Gloria Arroyo, Is the most corrupt FAKE PRESIDENT. She should be in jail where she belong.
February 9th, 2008 at 3:38 am
Calls for Arroyo to quit (again); Palace says wait for 2010
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They have the nerve to say that. When they didn’t even give President Joseph Estrada, A chance to finish his term in the office. After all he is the duly elected President of the Philippines.
They should kick Gloria Arroyo, From her stolen power! After all she don’t have a mandate from the filipino people because she only stole her title from the duly elected President Joseph Estrada, And she stole it again from Fernando Poe, Jr. In May 10, 2004. Presidential election. Kick her ass out. Its over due!
August 25th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
yan ang tunay na pinoy. magaling maghanap ng mga mali sa pagpapalakad ng gobyerno. sa pagkakaalam ko, umpisang nagkaisip ako sa panahon ni Garcia, laging mali ang mga namumuno. walang makitang mabuti at tama ang mga pamamalakad ni Carlos, ni Diosdado, lalo na ni Ferdie at Imelda. Dumating si Cory, ganoon din ang reklamo, walang tama puro mali. Si Fidel ganoon din, mali pa rin at maraming din kurakot. si Joseph makamasa daw, lalong katakot-takot na kurakot at anak ng huweteng presedenteng iyan. at ngayon si Gloria na eh, lalong lumala kanyo ang mga mali at kapalpakan sa gobyerno. ang tanong, sinong ipapalit ninyo sa mag taong tulad nilang lahat? kayo? na tulad ni Panfilo at ng lahat ng politiko ay puro daldal at maghanap ng mga pagkakamali ng iba, subalit ang kanilang mga kapalpakan di makita? si jack kennedy nga na nagsabi ng “ask rather what you can do for your country!” (hindi “say for your country”) eh eh meron din mga kapalpakan tulad ni erap. ay naku, magsitanda nga tayo at di tulad ni Panfilo na utak bata pa rin! haay buhay pinoy!!!
July 6th, 2007 at 9:34 am
I am just wondering with the recent developments on the Estrada case. There was an article citing nothing but telling people to accept whatever is the Sandigan bayan’s decision on the case. But why in all heaven’s did Erap accuse Gloria in behind all of it when they have no evidence and they even have been launching presscon’s against it. I am just wondering who is now conditioning the people’s mind? And why is Erap’s camp reacting in such a scripted manner, only a stupid person cannot tell what they are doing.
July 4th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
ely:
kaya nga ba ayoko ma associate sa mga taong galit kay gloria…….
tignan mo binibira ka ni salina, birahin mo rin…….
do what your idols are doing……
sila sila nag aaway sa pagka senate president, juicy committee chairmanship, etc……
he…he…he…. ulit……
July 4th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Ely
Salina naman, pareho tayong galit kay Gloria e pati ako inaaway mo. Kaya ko sinabing accomplishment e dahil yun ang kabaligtaran (I’m being sarcastic). What I’m trying to say is that the only thing Arroyo has done to this country is put it more in debt. Kung di mo magets e bahala ka.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
he…he….he…..
pareho din kayo ng mga opposition senators, sila sila nag aaway sa senado, nakakahiya…….
he…he….he……
July 4th, 2007 at 2:56 am
Salina naman, pareho tayong galit kay Gloria e pati ako inaaway mo. Kaya ko sinabing accomplishment e dahil yun ang kabaligtaran (I’m being sarcastic). What I’m trying to say is that the only thing Arroyo has done to this country is put it more in debt. Kung di mo magets e bahala ka.
Ely
Gov’t debt rises to P3.93 trillion
By Michelle Remo
Inquirer
Last updated 03:02am (Mla time) 06/13/2007
MANILA, Philippines � The national government’s debt reached P3.93 trillion as of end-March, up 0.9 percent from P3.897 trillion at end-February, The Bureau of the Treasury reported Tuesday.
Another proof of the major accomplishment this administration has done.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Fr: Salina
The government debt. Went up! Do you call that accomplishment. Whattttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt. You must be really out of your mind. Don’t tell me you’re an economist too.
July 2nd, 2007 at 5:47 pm
nawawala ang galit ko kay gloria kapag nababasa ko ang postings ni salina…….
ayoko ma associate sa mga taong tulad niyang galit kay gloria……
maging serious ka pa minsan minsan sa postings mo, lagi kang nagpapatawa……
June 25th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Gloria warned vs ending up like jailed Isabelita Peron
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She should be in jail a long time ago. For kicken the duly elected President Joseph
Estrada. And how can they solve the killing when Gloria Arroyo, The one given the order. To kill to those who is against her bugos regime. I’ll say, Kick her ass out. its overdue! Salinas
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06/26/2007
An apparently estranged ally of Malacañang has pushed the envelope against President Arroyo, warning the Chief Executive that her administration’s inaction on political killings will see her suffer the ignominious fate of a former South American woman president.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan, who was reelected in last month’s mid-term polls largely through his “independent� stance on the eve of the May 14 balloting, yesterday said the President holds the key to solving the summary executions of her political critics.
“As Commander-in-Chief, Mrs. Arroyo must step in and instruct these generals to come out in the open and speak out about the truth behind the alleged involvement of the military brass in extra-judicial killings. The buck stops with (the President as the head of the country’s security forces),� Pangilinan added.
The generals, three of them, have implicated the government in the summary executions.
Failure on Mrs. Arroyo’s part to get to the bottom of the political murders, the senator said, may find her and her government “accountable in the end.�
Pangilinan suggested that the President “learn from the painful lessons of history,� citing the case of former Argentina President Isabelita Peron, who is now under house arrest in Spain for her alleged
involvement in the formation of death squads in Argentina during her presidency that began in 1976.
Mrs. Arroyo, the senator said, “cannot simply be a bystander as (these) generals under her command are beginning to talk,� referring to the three generals who have linked the government to the political killings.
One of the generals over the weekend revealed that official response to containing alleged communist threat in key areas in the country’s Luzon main group of islands was “openly� discussed during a top-level military conference about two years ago.
Members of alleged communist front organizations, such as the party-list group Bayan Muna, have borne the brunt of the murders.
If the President wants her “legacy� to be remembered by Filipinos and to avoid Peron’s fate, Pangilinan said, “her only recourse is for her government to bring the perpetrators of the killings to justice and for it to punish the guilty regardless of who they may be.�
Only by so doing, he added, can Mrs. Arroyo “succeed in avoiding the cruel judgment of history.�
Malacañang also yesterday brushed off the general’s exposé.
“We do not comment on speculations and anonymous and thus unverifiable information. The administration has a clear policy condemning cold-blooded murders and other crimes. In line with this policy, we support the Chief Justice’s initiative for a multi-sectoral summit on the role of the judiciary against these killings. We also assure the people that our drive to get to the bottom of these killings is purposive and relentless,� presidential spokesman and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye told a press briefing.
Bunye said the President “supports� Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno’s recent call for a summit to stem the executions.
The Philippine National Police has expressed support for the meeting, describing it as a “positive development.�
Bunye said the killings are “not welcome, these should not be part of a vibrant democracy such as ours.�
National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales echoed the Arroyo spokesman.
“Our policy is (to address the killings issue) through the legal effort, so we file cases against those whom we suspect are doing something against the law,� Gonzales said during a telephone interview.
He added the general should come out, “otherwise, all that he said would be allegations.�
Gonzales admitted that each incident damages the country domestically but internationally.
Mrs. Arroyo’s congressman-allies also yesterday dared the three generals to identify themselves, the same challenge posed by two senators.
Rodolfo Biazon and Panfilo Lacson, during separate interviews, called on the general to do a “Gudani-Balutan.�
The two senators, both former military officers, were referring to retired Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani and Lt. Col. Alexander Balutan who testified before the Senate defense committee on alleged cheating operations in Mindanao during the 2004 presidential polls.
Biazon said the expose tends to further validate findings by local and international groups that inquired into the assassinations. Sherwin C. Olaes, Angie M. Rosales, Gina Peralta-Elorde and Charlie Manalo
June 25th, 2007 at 8:34 am
Gloria Arroyo, Must be really STUPID for blaming President Joseph Estrada. With all her failure!!! She’s the one has been squatting in malacanyang palace for seven years. The nerve of this bitch.
June 23rd, 2007 at 2:39 am
RP DIPLOMAT HULI SA SHOPLIFTING
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Ayan, Ang amo nila si Gloria Arroyo, KAWATAN. So, Is the rest of her officials. KAWATAN DIN. Walanghiya, Sa military base pa! Hindi na sila nahiya. Ang laki pa naman ang perang binibigay ng U.S. GOVERNMENT TO THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT. Talagang garapalan. Throw their ass in jail where they belong alone with Gloria Arroyo. Salinas
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Ni Bernard Taguinod
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Nalagay na naman sa malaking kahihiyan ang Pilipinas makaraang isang Filipino diplomat sa Korea ang mahuling nang-uumit ng pabango at karaoke machine sa isang shopping center sa loob mismo ng base militar ng Amerika sa nasabing bansa.
Ito ang napag-alaman sa ilang impormante ng TONITE mula sa Korea ukol sa kahihiyang inabot ng RP diplomat na hindi pa binanggit ang pangalan.
Ang kahiya-hiyang insidente ay nailathala na umano sa The Korea Herald noong Hunyo 19.
Ayon sa report, nangyari ang pang-uumit ng RP diplomat sa loob ng Yongsan Military Base PX (post exchange) noon pang Nobyembre ng nakaraang taon subalit noong nakaraang linggo lamang nabalita sa Korea matapos ipakita ng military police officers ng United State Forces in Korean (USFK) sa Philippine Embassy officials ang kanilang ebidensya laban sa diplomat.
Nabatid na huling-huli umano sa camera ng shopping center ang pang-uumit ng RP diplomat at ito ang siyang ipinakita ng USFK sa mga embassy officials ng Pilipinas sa Korea.
Base sa report, naging lihim sa ilang buwan ang nasabing insidente dahil tinatangka umanong ayusin ng RP diplomat ang kanyang atraso kay Gen. Burwell B. Bell na siya commander ng United Nation Command ng USFK.
Subalit dahil malalang kaso ang shoplifting sa base militar ng mga Amerikano sa Korea, nais umano ni Gen. Bell na magkaroon ng aksyon ang Philippine Embassy sa naturang kaso.
Dahil sa insidente, nadadamay na umano ang iba pang opisyales ng Philippine Embassy sa Korea dahil hindi na sila binibigyan ng access sa US military facilities sa nasabing bansa.
Isang halimbawa umano rito nang itabla ng Hartell House ang aplikasyon ng isa pang RP Embassy official para sa renewal ng kanyang membership at post pass sa nasabing pasilidad.
“Last month, when a member of the Philippine Embassy applied to renew his membership/post pass at Hartell House, his request was denied, and he was reportedly told that Philippine Embassy officers and dependents with Hartell House memberships were prohibited from renewal because of a shoplifting incident,” ayon pa sa ulat.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Propaganda play
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Gloria Arroyo, Very good on Propaganda. She deserve an award to the jail house where she belong. Alone with the rest of her corrupt cronies. KICK HER ASS OUT BECAUSE SHE’S THE PROBLEM. Salinas
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FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
06/22/2007
Fudging figures and window-dressing to make the financial figures look good are truly hallmarks of Gloria Arroyo and her economic team. And when all these come tumbling down, there is always a scapegoat � and in this recent case of low tax collections in the first quarter of the year, it is resigned, or sacked, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) chief Jose Mario Buñag.
So why doesn’t Gloria sack her Finance Secretary, Margarito Teves, since it is he who is in charge of the Finance department and more important, it was he, so Buñag alleges, who had pressed the big corporations to pay their taxes in advance last year, to make the tax collection figures look good before the international creditors and ratings firms, and create the impression that the deficit target would be easily met?
The BIR chief can only take directions from his boss, who is Teves. So why is Teves getting off the hook, when it was he who insisted on the window-dressing of the tax collections?
More to the point, Teves certainly knew that, as payments were made in advance by the big companies to inflate the collection figures last year, the next year’s quarter collection figures would necessarily be down, since tax payments were made in advance.
But even as Buñag was sacked, he was offered an ambassadorial post in Europe by Gloria, perhaps in a bid to salve the ignominy of his having been sacked, or to ensure that he keeps quiet. But from Buñag’s recent statements, it appears that he is ready to spill some beans, as he declined the ambassadorial offer and pointed the finger of blame on Teves and other “high officials� whose “incompetence� will come to play sooner than later.
As he put it in his statement to the media, “Higher authorities in the government’s financial institutions…like to wash their hands of responsibility for the dire consequences of their unrealistic, failed and bungled policies.â€Â?
On imposed targets, the Buñag statement said these are “humanly impossible� to meet “because of the economy’s performance that was lower than target last year.�
If one follows the logic of Buñag, it is almost certain that whoever sits as BIR chief will still be encountering the same problems, as he pointed out that the tax collection cannot outperform the economy. Still one wonders: Why should a first quarter performance be the gauge for sacking the BIR chief? But Teves apparently wanted Buñag out, and at the same time, pass on the blame solely on the sacked BIR chief, while making himself look good.
All this merely goes to show just how much of Gloria and her finance managers’ claimed economic “progress� is propaganda and window-dressing. Even that claim of a 6.9-percent gross domestic product quarter growth is definitely fudged, as the production and consumption data don’t match. Moreover, if the agriculture sector continuously experiences growth, it stands to reason that the weather is no longer a factor. One wonders then: If there is such continued growth in the agricultural sector quarter after quarter, come rain or come shine, why then is the government importing millions in tonnage of rice for the country?
Yet this is the economic propaganda of Gloria that she wants the media to highlight, as she said in her luncheon meeting with media, her focus will be on the economy, not politicking � and this is to be her legacy.
She called on the media to write accurate reports, based on verified facts and for media to be a partner of government for “freedom to be achieved� in this country.
Hello? What does the achievement of freedom have to do with writing up her propaganda, which consists of, to quote her, “unverified facts� the Palace always dishes out?
It is precisely when media become a partner of government that press freedom is compromised greatly as the media allow themselves to be transformed into a propaganda sheet for the government.
And whenever this happens, as it has happened too many times in the past when media get into the business of protecting the government that they helped install to power, such as the two Edsa governments, a lot of executive abuses, a lot of corruption and a lot of checks and balances no longer exist.
Why was the massive cheating in the 2004 polls not unearthed then when it was ongoing if not for the fact that media deliberately refused to touch on the cheating operations that went on, because they were mainly in support of a Gloria Arroyo presidency, even when they knew all the vote-rigging was going on. So they kept silent because they wanted Gloria to win, even if she had to cheat to win.
Why were the election cheating operations being on display today for all to see, if not because the media �especially the broadcast media � made it a point to truly do a good job of monitoring the polls and reporting that which they found irregular and fraudulent?
But just what legacy is it that Gloria talks about to the media, if not more cheating, more lying and more stealing, and of course, more fudging of economic data.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Padded votes, padded data
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I didn’t lie, When I said that Gloria Arroyo, So call booming economy is pad just like she pad her votes in May 10, 2004. Presidential election. And I didn’t lie, When I said that the Philippines economy will collapse, And you won’t even know whats hit you. If Gloria Arroyo, Keep staying in malacanyang palace. Because she’s going to keep on lying to the filipino people. To make her look good. I’ll say, Kick her ass out. Its overdue! DITCH HER OUT. PRONTO!!!
Salinas
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EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
06/22/2007
Padding indeed is a household word in Malacañang.
Even as Gloria is kept busy fending off allegations that she again padded the votes for her allies in the just-concluded mid-term elections, comes now the revelation that even economic data are getting the same treatment.
Obviously hurting, Jose Mario Buñag, who was sacked from his post as Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) chief, blamed Finance Secretary Margarito Teves for fudging the fiscal numbers last year by asking big taxpayers to forward their dues. Buñag explained that since the bulk of the tax dues has been paid already, collections for the first quarter would naturally shrink, thus resulting in missed current revenue targets.
The sacking of Buñag, which apparently received an imprimatur from Teves, happened a day after the government reported a disappointing P1.7-billion deficit in the budget in May which raised a strong sentiment that the whole-year budget goal of a P63-billion deficit may be missed. The deficit in the first five months was already P41.8 billion.
It is not in Buñag’s rationalizing of low revenue collections that caught the attention of many but the fact that Teves was engaged in the padding of finances that came as a jolt.
In business parlance, this is called window-dressing, which is not exactly illegal since no numbers have been manufactured, yet this is considered a violation of good corporate ethics in the private sector.
Most companies engage in window-dressing at the end of a year, or a fiscal year for some, to spruce up their books that would be presented to stockholders. This is an accepted fact in the business world.
For government to do this, however, would risk serious international backlash particularly among investors who get panicky whenever there are even suggestions that data they were being fed are padded.
Under the regime of Gloria Arroyo, many suspect the padding of economic figures may be a practice to dolly up Gloria whose slide in popularity in various surveys seems to be without end.
In fact, there was a time when Socio-economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri had to laboriously explain how the country missed landing in a technical recession, which consists of two straight quarters of economic contraction, by managing a 0.1-percent growth.
When the government reported a 6.9-percent GDP growth in the first quarter, most of the country’s economists merely twiddled their thumbs.
Buñag’s squealing on Teves only confirms what was lingering in the minds of many that the government indeed is into the practice of fudging numbers.
According to Buñag, the advance payments were made by various taxpayers upon the personal calls and requests made, and this is well known in the BIR, by no less than Finance Secretary Teves himself.
The revelation was believable since last year was a crucial turning point for the country’s fiscal showcase.
The sales tax was expanded and increased and the expectation was that the fiscal picture would start to brighten. Representatives of credit rating agencies were around town to check the numbers.
With the Finance secretary initiating such practice, the padding of numbers is expected to go all the way down the line. What or who would stop a lower-ranked government official to tweak a number or two to ramp up economic data?
Buñag, in his fit of pain, in being used as a scapegoat for the Arroyo administration’s fiscal mismanagement, opened a can of worms that would, from now on, place more doubts on data that the government periodically puts out.
As a rule, figures don’t lie, but not in the desperate world of Gloria where figures become a tool for deception.
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Friday, June 22, 2007
Arroyo rues politics, bad reports about RP (9:54 a.m.)
MANILA � President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the lesser the political
noise in the country, the more accomplishments could be made and achieved. ############################
You will never achieve anything. Because you’re the biggest LEMON. Takot ka rin pala sa mga media, Newspaper, The one you’ve close down because you know, you can. You have the power to close everything down because you have these corrupt AFP/PNP to do all the dirty work for you. You will neveer succeed on whatever you want to succeed. Because KARMA ON YOU! for what you have done to President Joseph Estrada. And the filipino people’s. That I’ll guarantee you!
Salinas
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Arroyo, during a luncheon meeting with network executives and editors of the major media groups, said her administration is determined to turn revenue gains into permanent investments in the country, particularly in the aspects of human and physical capitals.
She said she hopes to accomplish this in the last three years of her term but she needs the help of everyone, including the media, as what appears in the news influences what some politicians would do, including lawmakers who may work on passing important bills or just react or ride on issues that come out in the media.
“I think we can do more if the political noise is less. But the media has a lot to do with encouraging or discouraging political noise. What we want to do now
in the next three years is to transform our gains in revenue to permanent investments in human and physical capital,� she said.
“I think with your support, depending on what headlines you are going to bring about, or what will be your main news because really politicians have their ears on the ground through the media, it really depends on what they think you’re going to write about. That’s where you’re very important,� she added.
The President clarified that she is not asking the media to simply ignore the “noise� from her critics.
“I’ll give an example. Extrajudicial killings. Somebody just got killed, front page. The guy that is arrested, page eight. We’re not asking you to ignore that somebody just got killed but could you not give the same prominence when the case is solved?� she said.
Another example she cited was when a headline read: Philippines, Most Corrupt Country in Asia but a clarification from the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) which was supposedly the source of the report “never found its way, not even to the front page.� (JMR)
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:11 am
Friday, June 22, 2007
Arroyo rues politics, bad reports about RP (9:54 a.m.)
MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the lesser the political
noise in the country, the more accomplishments could be made and achieved.
############################
You will never achieve anything. Because you’re the biggest LEMON.
Arroyo, during a luncheon meeting with network executives and editors of the major media groups, said her administration is determined to turn revenue gains into permanent investments in the country, particularly in the aspects of human and physical capitals.
She said she hopes to accomplish this in the last three years of her term but she needs the help of everyone, including the media, as what appears in the news influences what some politicians would do, including lawmakers who may work on passing important bills or just react or ride on issues that come out in the media.
“I think we can do more if the political noise is less. But the media has a lot to do with encouraging or discouraging political noise. What we want to do now
in the next three years is to transform our gains in revenue to permanent investments in human and physical capital,� she said.
“I think with your support, depending on what headlines you are going to bring about, or what will be your main news because really politicians have their ears on the ground through the media, it really depends on what they think you’re going to write about. That’s where you’re very important,â€Â? she added.
The President clarified that she is not asking the media to simply ignore the “noise� from her critics.
“I’ll give an example. Extrajudicial killings. Somebody just got killed, front page. The guy that is arrested, page eight. We’re not asking you to ignore that somebody just got killed but could you not give the same prominence when the case is solved?â€Â? she said.
Another example she cited was when a headline read: Philippines, Most Corrupt Country in Asia but a clarification from the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) which was supposedly the source of the report “never found its way, not even to the front page.� (JMR)
June 22nd, 2007 at 1:09 am
EDITORIAL
Alam niya hindi siya magwawagi iyan she’s asking for cooperation. Walanghiya din pala. Ang akala niya mabilog pa niya ang ulo ng tao. Sige, Don’t stop criticizing Gloria Arroyo, Tell it to the filipino people everything you know because that is the only way. Wala siya dapat sisihin sa lahat ng ito ng dahil siya rin ang may kasalanan. When she knows that she can just throw anybody in jail or have them kill she keep doing it. Now, That the filipino people is not going to take it sitting down. She’s asking for support. HA! BULLSHIT. ITULOY ANG LABAN AGAINST THIS BUGOS REGIME OF GLORIA ARROYO. Salinas
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Sa pagitan ng tama at mali
Nakikiusap si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa media. Sa natitirang tatlong taon niya ay hinihingi nito ang tulong ng media. Gusto raw niyang mag-iwan ng ‘legacy’ o magandang pamana.
Dapat sigurong simulan natin sa paglalatag ng kahulugan. Ang media ay isang haligi ng lipunan na nagsasalamin ng mga tunay na pangyayari sa araw-araw. Nakasandal ito sa katotohanan na ang tanging interes ay isulong ang kapakanan ng sambayanan, partikular ng nakakaraming mamamayan.
Kung nagiging bantay man ito ng mga katiwalian, ilegal at imoral na gawain sa gobyerno, ito ang kanilang pangunahing tungkulin. Ang maging kritiko. Ang magbantay. Ang mag-ulat. Ang maglatag ng mga katotohanan. Ang maghatid ng tumpak na mga pangyayari at impormasyon.
Himayin natin ang mga pangyayari sa ilalim ng gobyernong Arroyo at kung kailan nagsimula ang sa ‘tingin’ ng Pangulo ay ‘panggigiyera’ sa kanya ng media.
Disyembre 30, 2002. Sa isang talumpati ni Pangulong Arroyo sa Baguio City kaugnay ng pagdiriwang ng Rizal Day ay sinabi niyang hindi na siya tatakbo. Marami ang nasorpresa.
Tahimik na nagmamatyag ang media. At nangyari nga ang hindi inaasahan (o inaasahan ng mga kalaban sa pulitika). Binawi ng Pangulo ang kanyang pahayag at sinabing tatakbo na siya.
Naging larawan ng kasinungalingan noon ang trono ng kapangyarihan. Isang bagay na klarong naipinta sa mga pahayagan, sa telebisyon at sa radyo. Hindi ito panggigiyera sa nakaupo kundi pagsasalamin lamang ng isang ‘urung-sulong’ na pagpapasya ng dapat ay pinakamatatag (firm) na opisina sa pamahalaan.
Halatang hindi ito nagustuhan ng palasyo. Sa tingin nila ay naging kalaban simula noon ang media. Ginawa ang lahat ng uri ng panggigipit at paninikil, hindi lamang sa media kundi maging sa tinatamasang kalayaan. Nilikha ang Calibrated Preemptive Response (CPR) laban sa mga rallies. Ang Executive Order (EO) 464 na literal na lumumpo sa congressional inquiries na naglalayong maghanap ng katotohanan. Isinilang ang Proclamation No. 1017 noong Pebrero 2006 kasunod ng ‘coup plot’ daw ng nagsanib
EDITORIAL….
na puwersa ng maka-kanan at maka-kaliwang rebelde. Gamit ito ay ni-raid ang isang pahayagan, ang Daily Tribune.
Nauna rito ay ilang media practitioners din ang sinilaw ng ‘meaty posts’ sa pamahalaan. Isa lamang ang pamilya ng Malaya, Abante at Abante Tonite sa mga tumanggi dahil naniniwala kaming ang tungkulin namin ay sa bayan at hindi kaninuman. Bilang tenga’t mata ng publiko.
Nariyan din ang mga pamamaslang at patuloy na pagbabanta sa ilang media personalities, lalo na ang mga kritiko ng pamahalaang Arroyo. Hindi rin nag-aksaya ng panahon si First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo sa pagsasampa ng kaliwa’t kanang ‘multi-million’ libel suits na binawi na lamang matapos itong makarekober sa ‘life-threatening’ na operasyon.
Lahat ng ito ay anyo ng paninikil sa media, ang pangunahing simbolo ng demokrasya. Kung nagtagumpay ito, maaaring wala na rin ang demokrasyang binuwisan ng maraming buhay ng ating mga bayani.
Ngunit sa kabila nito, habang lumalaban sa mga paninikil ay nanatiling nakapagitna ang media sa pagitan ng tama at mali…ng mabuti at masama. Handang sumuporta sa tama. Handang pumuri sa mabuting trabaho at layunin. Handang tumulong sa pagtataguyod ng isang matatag, maunlad at malayang lipunan. Sa kabilang banda ay hindi rin ito titigil sa pagbubunyag ng katiwalian, iregularidad at mga ilegal at imoral na mga asal at gawain.
Kung gagawin ng gobyernong Arroyo o ng kahit sinuman ang tama at mabuti para sa taumbayan, hindi nito kailangang hingin ang tulong ng media. Kusa itong ibibigay.
Kaya nga kung ang puntirya ni Pangulong Arroyo ay mag-iwan ng ‘legacy’, gawin lang niya ang tama at mabuti para sa tao at lahat ng suporta ay makukuha niya, hindi lang ng media kundi ng bawat sektor ng lipunan.
Pero dapat siguro ay magsimula sa pagtutuwid sa mga maling ginawa at kasinungalingan at pagbabayad sa mga kasalanan sa bayan. Ito muna bago ang rekonsilasyon at tiyak na makakamit ang kapayapaan, katatagan at kaunlaran ng bansa. Ito lamang ang puwedeng maging susi sa minimithing ‘legacy’ ni Pangulong Arroyo.
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:55 am
OWWA opens search for 2007 model OFW family
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LAHAT NG OFW DAPAT KILALANIN. WITH THEIR SACRIFIC. STUPID. Salinas
06/21/2007 | 10:55 AM
Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has launched the search for the 2007 Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA) in honor of the sacrifices and contributions to the economy of Filipino migrants abroad.
The annual award aims to give proper recognition to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families. “It is important for us to show our gratitude to our OFWs because they work very hard to provide a better quality of life for their families,” said OWWA Administrator Marianito Roque.
It is also government’s “small way of showing everyone how proud we are of our Filipino workers and their loved ones,” he added.
This year’s MOFYA search is focused on successful family relations – a different approach from the previous years which looked into the entrepreneurial development of an OFW family.
“The award is a testament to their achievements,” Roque said. “We know how much they had to sacrifice and how hard they had to work. It’s but right to acknowledge them.”
Nominees for the MOFYA are families with either a land-based or sea-based OFW as its head, and meet the following criteria: head of family or main provider for the family; supports the education of a child/ family member/s; known as a solid and stable family in the community; and financial stability.
Specific selection criteria for the 2007 awards are:
• Functional OFW family
• Constancy of communication
• Sharing of responsibilities among OFW family members
• Emotional accessibility
• Psycho-social maturity of the children
• Involvement of children in civic activities
• Civic/community involvement of OFW
• Advocacies
• Membership to civic Filipino organizations
• Successful community projects
• Special commendations
• Success in child/children’s or family member/s’ education
• Children or family member/s’ completed or continuing education
• Children or family member/s employed
• Special commendation of children/family member/s
• Success in managing family finances
• Successful business enterprise/s
• Savings and investments
The nomination and selection for the awards will start in October at the regional level with the panel of judges composed of the regional directors of the Labor department and OWWA and one representative each from the land-based industry sector, sea-based, religious group and major sponsors.
Three of the finalists will be chosen as national champions representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in November 2007.
The three big winners will receive cash prizes of P200,000, vacation trip packages, laptop units plus other exciting prizes from Globe Telecoms and P25,000 from Western Union for the 17 regional winners and P20,000 G-cash and cell phones from Globe.
The MOFYA is hosted by OWWA with the assistance of its sponsors: Globe, PhilamLife and Western Union, among others. - GMANews
June 21st, 2007 at 3:10 am
365-M KONTRATA NG RP AT CHINA NINAKAW
Ni ELLEN TORDESILLAS
(Abante columnist)
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Huh? ninakaw? My god!!! what can you expect from the biggest thieves sitting in malacanyang palace. Kondi nakawan nalang. Nalakwan ang lahat, Because thats where the money is….This is one of the reason why the Philippines economy deteriorated because they’re very good on stealing everything they can get a hold of their hand. Salinas
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Hindi lang mga certificate of canvass ang nawawala sa bansang ito.
Ibinunyag kahapon ng isang ranking official ng Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) na nawala sa Hainan kinagabihan matapos lagdaan noong April 20 na sinaksihan ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang orihinal na kontrata para sa pagtatayo ng national broadband infrastructure sa pagitan ng pamahalaang Pilipinas at Chinese government corporation, ZTE na nagkakahalaga ng $365 milyon.
“The DTI commercial attaché reported the next day that the two sovereign contracts (Philippine and Chinese copies) were stolen,” ayon kay DOTC Assistant Secretary Lorenzo Formoso ng Telephone Office, na isa sa dalawang Filipino signatories sa naturang kontrata (ang isa pa ay si DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza).
Ibinunyag ni Formoso ang pagkawala ng kontrata habang ipinapaliwanag nito ang kawalan ng transparency sa multibillion-peso broadband contract sa isang forum na inisponsor ng Action for Economic Reform sa Ateneo Professional School sa Rockwell.
“It’s a national shame,” ayon kay Formoso kung saan kailangan aniyang paimbestigahan ang insidente sa National Bureau of Investigation.
Si Emmanuel Ang, ang Philippine commercial attaché sa Ghuangzou at Hainan.
Ikinagalit naman ng mga dumalo sa forum ang ibinunyag ni Formoso.
“It’s incredible knowing how the public sector handles contracts documents signed by government officials and witnessed by the President,” ayon kay dating Finance Secretary Ernest Leung.
Tinawag naman ni dating DOTC Secretary Josie Lichauco na bayani si Formoso dahil sa pagbubunyag sa pagkakanakaw ng kontrata ng gobyerno sa ZTE na isang “national shame”. “In my 19 years in government, I have never heard of the contract papers being stolen. I agree with Asec. Formoso that it is a national shame.”
Binigyan-diin ni Lichauco ang kahalagahan ng naturang kontrata dahil kinailangan pa aniyang iwanan ng Pangulo ang may sakit nitong esposo para sa 18-hour visit sa Hainan upang magsalita sa Boao Forum at saksihan ang paglalagda sa kontrata.
Ayon kay Formoso, matapos pirmahan ay ibinigay ang kontrata sa commercial attaché para sa protocol at documentation. Nangyari umano ang pagnanakaw sa hotel kung saan tumuloy ang DTI official.
Naging isyu ang kawalan ng transparency sa $365-milyong ZTE contract para sa proyekto na magbibigay-daan sa connection ng local government units hanggang sa barangay level. Tinatayang makatitipid ang pamahalaan ng P3.4 bilyon kada taon sa telephone bills sakaling maipatupad ang proyekto.
June 17th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Lotilla leads resignations in gov’t financial team
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TAKE GLORIA ARROYO, WITH YOU IN YOUR WAY OUT. BECAUSE SHE’S THE PROBLEM. Salinas
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Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said he and other members of the President’s financial team will submit their courtesy resignations Monday although this was nothing more than standard operating procedure.
“We should always give an opportunity to the president to appoint better people,” Lotilla said in an interview over ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel).
He added that this is “nothing more” than the pro forma resignation required by the top executive.
Lotilla refused to comment on whether these resignations will be accepted or not. “Let’s just wait for the president to make any assessment as she deems fit,” he said.
Last Friday, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye clarified Friday that there is no order from Malacañang for the economic team to submit their courtesy resignations.
“Just to set the record straight, the President has indeed asked for the courtesy resignations of top officials of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), including government financial institutions (GFIs). However, any news purporting to expand the coverage of the order to include members of the Cabinet is totally inaccurate,” Bunye said in a statement.
But in an interview over DZMM, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said that he will submit his letter of resignation next week. He said that he discussed with Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. the issue of submitting their resignation letters. He said that although a written directive has not yet been made, they will have to submit a letter of resignation.
“Within the next few days. Siguro sa Monday or Tuesday, magbibigay kami ng letters of resignation. Hindi ko nakausap yung ating ibang kasamang members of the economic team. Siguro magtatawagan kami pero ako mismo magsa-submit na ng letter of resignation. (Maybe on Monday or Tuesday, we will give our resignation letters. I haven’t talked with the other members of the economic team yet. Maybe we will have to call each other but I will submit my letter of resignation)”, Teves said.
Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri meanwhile said he will not follow the bandwagon of cabinet members who will submit resignation letters. Trade Secretary Peter Favila added that there was no need to resign because there was no directive.
“There is no directive for cabinet members to hand over their resignations. The financial market might react to this badly. I sought the assistance of Executive Secretary Ermita to immediately issue clarification. Not that the Cabinet is against it. But there is no such directive. All this, the order to GOCC and GFI heads to resign, is to give the President a fresh mandate. She will have a continuing evaluation of performances of key officials,” Favila said.
Lotilla issued a memorandum to all the presidents and board of directors of the energy group’s corporations and attached agencies to join him in submitting their resignations. Lotilla explained that the heads of the corporations of the energy family are expected to resign effective June 18 to give way to President Arroyo’s move to change the composition of her cabinet.
The GOCCs and government agencies in the energy sector include Philippine National Oil Co. and its subsidiaries; the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.; the National Power Corporation; the National Transmission Corp.; Philippine Electricity Market Corp.; and National Electrification Administration.
June 17th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Newly elected officials urged to focus on business, livelihood programs
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The new elected officials can fucus on livelihood programs. But, Is not going to do any good if the person sitting in malacanyang palace keep robbing the country coffer. I’ll say, Get rid of her, Its overdue! She’s the problem!!! Salinas
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By MA. ELISA P. OSORIO
The Philippine Star
Local businessmen urged newly elected public officials to put a stop to politics and instead focus on helping poor people feel the benefits of the country’s good economic performance.
“Let us take politics out of the mindset for now,� Jose A. Concepcion III, president and CEO of RFM Corp. and the prime mover of the Go Negosyo Caravan, said in a press conference.
Go Negosyo is a movement that aims to inspire Filipinos to be entrepreneurs even on limited capital. Concepcion underscored that there are a lot of opportunities where Go Negosyo can help bring businesses to the masses by giving the poor access to capital.
On the issue of impeachment, Concepcion said Congress must realize that any attempt to unseat President Arroyo would be in vain because majority of the congressmen elected are allies of the President.
“We are pass that. Everybody is so passionate to see the country move forward but we will never get out of our cycle of misery if we keep on reviving that,� Concepcion said.
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Its a mazi how this idiots where saying that the philippines can’t move forward if they’re going to push for 3rd impeachment against Gloria Arroyo. I’ll say, Kick her ass out. Because she’s the problem. Salinas
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For his part, Bro. Rolando Dizon, head of the Go Negosyo Bacolod chapter, appealed to politicians to junk any impeachment plans because “it will not succeed and will only distract investors.
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Just because the impeachment fail twice. Thats don’t meant its going to fail this time around. You’re thinking that the only reason the impeachment trial is not going to succeed because Gloria Arroyo, Control the entire corrupt government office’s. Well I have news for you. We the people have the power to kick all of them out from any government office’s. Because we are the one paying their salary. Yes, We are going to push for 3rd impeachment, And if these official’s is not going to sign it. We are going to try something else. They have choice. Either way, They’re dead meat. We have enough with their bullshit. Enough already!!! Salinas
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He said the government must instead focus on aiming for a seven percent to eight percent growth rate in the next three to five years in order for the poor to feel the effects of the strong economy.
The government is helping Go Negosyo develop more entrepreneurs through their One Town, One Product (OTOP) project.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has tied up with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in financing a P7.074 million project that will boost micro-enterprise in the country.
The project involves development and design mentoring, prototype financing for gifts, toys and houseware products, common service facility for packaging of processed food, regional branding and product development consultancy.
NEDA will shoulder majority of the project or 78 percent through its Industrial Guarantee and Loan Fund (IGLF) program, while the remaining 22 percent will be assumed by the DTI.
Under the product development and design mentoring, 18 product development officers from DTI’s Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines (PDDCP) will go to different regions in the country to provide an in-depth clinic on craft and food packaging.
As part of the project, a financing facility will be made available to micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) who will execute the prototypes given by these product development officers. This will be complemented by a common service facility to be provided in each of the regions.
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If you want the philippines economy to move forward. Get rid of Gloria Arroyo, Because she’s the problem. And we all knew it. I’LL SAY, DITCH HER OUT. PRONTO!!!
June 17th, 2007 at 12:18 am
Sweet justice
############################Yeah, Sweet justice indeed. That if these corrupt judges of Gloria Arroyo, Going to do their job they suppose too. And set Erap, Free! After all there is no solid evidence against him for being corrupted. In fact as the record show, He is not guilty of any wrong doing. Gloria Arroyo, Et al. Is the guilty one. Throw their ass in jail where they belong! Its overdue!!!
Salinas
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EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
06/17/2007
The acquittal of deposed President Joseph Estrada, which seems imminent, raises more questions on the justice that should be accorded a popularly elected President whose term was unceremoniously cut short by an obvious military-backed unconstitutional takeover by his treacherous Vice President Gloria Arroyo.
That she, her military, her high court justices and her civil society knew that which they did was unconstitutional and in defiance of the rule of law, was evident, as Gloria offered at least three times, for Estrada to leave the country voluntarily in exchange for his resignation letter, to make her coup d’etat legal and constitutional, and her illegal act legitimized.
As Estrada rejected the offer, Gloria and her officials threatened him with a case of plunder anchored on the supposed misappropriation of proceeds from a levy on tobacco, profiting from alleged stock manipulation and the use of money coming from the illegal numbers game jueteng.
The judiciary, then headed by Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., today the unconfirmed Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations, took a pivotal role in the ruse by sanctioning an illegal and a deliberate unconstitutional swearing in of Mrs. Arroyo in a bid to legitimize the clearly illegitimate. He, too, went against the Rule of Law, and worse, was even part of Gloria’s clicque of coup plotters.
The declaration of a coup by Armed Forces generals headed by the equally treacherous Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes and installing Mrs. Arroyo would have removed the complication of resorting to pretensions on mandate where there is none.
For the past six years, that was what the Filipino nation has been a witness to, an administration desperately trying to prove its legitimacy in what is now becoming a crystal-clear case of a naked power-grab.
Now the questions: What would be the proper reparation for Mr. Estrada even if not all the points against him are thrown out by the court and even if the case presented by the prosecution against him is patently weak to convict him on even one of the charges?
Take as a given the pressure from Gloria that would be made to bear on the Sandiganbayan. It would be too obvious a bias for the court to convict him on all counts.
If worse comes to worst, the Sandiganbayan would be affording a face-saving compromise ruling for Gloria that would convict Estrada of an offense he already had paid for in his six years of detention, if the justices close their eyes to their duty of doing right by the law, Lady Justice and Estrada, who is clearly innocent of such vile charges lodged against him simply because he refused to be pressured into resigning from the presidency and grant her the legitimacy she so desperately seeks to this day.
Estrada was never impeached and was removed based on the Davide court’s declaration that he was emotionally incapacitated and therefore, had resigned “constructively� which is a clear invention of the high court to defend the indefensible.
To justify Mrs. Arroyo’s takeover, her lawyers should have convincingly proved Estrada’s guilt in court, which they did not.
The insider trading allegations were non-issue since even the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not found Dante Tan, the owner of Best World Gaming Resources, to have perpetrated a stock manipulation scam. To be precise about it, the SEC had not convicted anybody of insider trading charges.
The allegations on the diversion of the tobacco tax was largely based on the testimonies of Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson who has a lot of axes to grind against Estrada after the then president initiated efforts to legitimize jueteng, which was Singson’s bread and butter, and also rejected the prevention of an official audit of Chavit’s plunder of the tobacco excise tax.
Proving Estrada used jueteng money would be a joke since it would need the testimonies of operators themselves to the effect that they do regularly contribute to a slush fund for the President, whoever it is, and that such contributions have been jacked up ever since Gloria took power.
A partial conviction would bolster Estrada’s claim that his removal from power was unjustified while a total conviction is unthinkable since that would be a trumped-up decision.
Returning Estrada to power is an impossibility and Gloria would stake her life to thwart that.
Yet what would be fitting to right a constitutional aberration and a running scourge on the nation’s psyche?
Gloria would have lost her reason for being at the instance of Estrada’s acquittal yet truth and public opinion would bear heavy on the justices if they deny Estrada his due.
Legitimizing the illegitimate always has its consequences.
June 17th, 2007 at 12:06 am
CBCP slams Gloria’s pardoning of Jalosjos
A commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday criticized President Gloria Arroyo for commuting the sentence of convicted rapist former Rep. Romeo Jalosjos.
Executive secretary of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care (ECPPC) Rodolfo Diamante expressed belief that there are other prisoners who deserve the commutation more than Jalosjos, in which the government has not acted upon.
He said there are prisoners more sick and much older than Ja.. Full Story »»»
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The justice system just went to the dog!
while the innocent getting rotten in jail. The guilty one getting away!!! what is the point on having a court house when we have a corrupt justice system. Its a waste of taxespayer’s money. Lets get rid of them. Now!
June 16th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Arroyo allies on war path over missing P650-M funds
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There is no ending corruption under the bugos regime of Gloria Arroyo. Its time to get rid of her. Its overdue! DITCH HER OUT. PRONTO!!! Salinas.
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06/17/2007
Administration congressman Luis Vilafuerte (Camarines Sur) yesterday vowed to look deeper into allegations that Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and presidential adviser on political affairs Gabriel Claudio pocketed some P650 million in campaign funds supposedly intended for local candidates of Malacañang in last month’s mid-term elections.
Villafuerte and Puno are at odds over the leadership of the presidential party, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) and have been openly warring with each other over the Speakership issue.
Villafuerte, during a telephone interview, admitted it was the first time he had
heard of the campaign funds meant for them.
“It is true that we, Kampi (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino) members who ran in the last elections, never received any campaign funds from anyone,� he said.
According to him, he was unaware that Puno and Claudio were supposed to hand over the funds to the local bets but that the money “did not reach us.�
Villafuerte said the allegations are a “serious matter which we cannot simply ignore.�
The national president of Kampi, he said they “would definitely be investigating this matter.�
Kampi, founded by Mrs. Arroyo in 1998 when she was still Vice President, is a member of the ruling coalition Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas) to which Speaker Jose de Venecia belongs.
Villafuerte has long declared his support for another Arroyo ally, Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia, who is challenging De Venecia for the Speakership in the 14 th Congress.
His promise to probe the supposed funds misuse is seen to pit him against Puno and Claudio, who have thrown their support behind De Venecia’s bid for an unprecendented fifth run at the Speakership.
Puno is the national chairman of Kampi and Claudio, a Lakas stalwart.
The Interior secretary last week said De Venecia is “an overwhelming choice for Speaker.
The Tribune yesterday reported that the two Cabinet secretaries are in danger of losing their posts for supposedly failing to account for the entire campaign funds amounting to P1 billion, resulting in a disastrous result particularly for President Arroyo’s Team Unity (TU) senatorial candidates.
The Genuine Opposition senatorial bets clobbered their TU rivals 8-2, with the remaining two places in the race to the Senate going to independent candidates.
A Tribune source had revealed that the P650 million was lost during the campaign period and that a check showed the money was neither distributed to the candidates nor used to defray expenses. The source is allied with the Kampi camp.
The information was somehow validated by Kampi deputy secretary general Reginaldo “Regie� Velasco, brother of former Presidential Management Staff chief Rene Velasco, both allies of Puno, who said all Kampi candidates had to rely on their own funds to finance their campaigns.
A congressman affiliated with De Venecia’s Lakas also yesterday claimed that almost all Cebuano-speaking congressmen will vote for Garcia when the 14th Congress opens on July 23.
Antonio Cuenco, also from Cebu, said a considerable number of congressmen from the Visayas and Mindanao, most of whom speak Cebuano, are pushing Garcia as Speaker in order to “correct the imbalance in the distribution of governmental power among the three branches of government.�
Charlie V. Manalo
June 16th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Politics or justice?
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Fr: Salina
Erap, Is not guilty of any wrong doing. Set him free! And throw Gloria Arroyo, In jail where she belong.
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FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
06/16/2007
It was evident, during the oral summation � a first in the Sandiganbayan � by the prosecution in the plunder case against Joseph Estrada, that it did not have much to go with, by way of evidence, even as the chief Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio claimed to have submitted damning evidence to prove Estrada’s guilt.
Yet hearing the prosecution, it was evident that it couldn’t have proved the charges, saying, in the jueteng issue, that established beyond doubt was that the money plundered from which Estrada allegedly benefited, came from jueteng, because, as argued by Villa-Ignacio, there was an admission by Chavit Singson of having collected the jueteng money for Estrada, and the prosecution also stated there was no denying that Bong Pineda and other jueteng lords did meet with then Pagcor chairman Alice Reyes. He also mentioned that Pineda was close to the Estradas. Ergo, the money came from jueteng.
The logic is as usual shot, but following Villa-Ignacio’s illogic, isn’t he also saying, as Singson is undoubtedly a close ally of Gloria, and as the Pinedas are certainly Gloria’s close friends and political allies, and as jueteng does exist even today, this is also proof that Gloria is getting her payoffs from jueteng, since the same conditions exist? Not once did Villa-Ignacio prove that the money came from jueteng proceeds, except to rely on Singson’s testimony, which incidentally, has already been proved by the defense as being clearly perjured testimony.
But Villa-Ignacio insists that Chavit’s word is strong evidence. Just how much the Filipino people take the word of Chavit, or even express any trust in him can be shown by his humiliating loss in the Senate race. Landing at the bottom already says a lot about how lowly Filipinos think of him.He is not trusted by the Filipino people, who certainly know he was lying through his teeth and committed the crime of plunder and then passing this on to Estrada.
Heck, even the Sandiganbayan justices know he lied about a lot of things, especially about his claim pf having delivered some P130 million in tobacco excise tax to Estrada, giving then First Lady Loi Estrada some P25 million, and son Jinggoy, P15 million. The cash, contained in four boxes, whose dimensions were given by Chavit and his bodyguards, who lied along with him, couldn’t fit in those four boxes � and the justices saw this for themselves.
As OJ Simpson’s lawyer pointed out in Simpson’s trial, where the glove obviously didn’t belong to OJ, “If it don’t fit, acquit.�
Not even in the Jose Velarde issue could Villa-Ignacio prove his case, via his oral summation. He claimed in court there is no denying that some P100 million in commission from the GSIS and SSS sale of Belle Resources share went into the Velarde account, and this is proof that Estrada gained from this sale.
Again, Villa-Ignacio’s logic is shot. He failed to prove that Erap is Jose Velarde and it was Erap’s lawyers who proved that Velarde is not Erap but Jaime Dichaves. The documentary evidence from the bank, and the testimony of the bank’s branch manager established that the Velarde account belongs to Dichaves. This being the case, how can Villa-Ignacio still claim that Estrada gained from the sale of the shares of Belle Resources? But Villa-Ignacio certainly knew that he could not prove Erap to be Velarde, as he also knew of the existence of the bank documents showing Dichaves to be the owner of the bank account, as these were contained in the “second envelope� which the Gloria allies in the House prosecution held up as the “evidence� of plunder. This was incidentally never presented before the court by the prosecution. It was the defense that produced this as evidence.
It was, of course, claimed by the prosecution that evidence against Estrada was strong, quoting from a Sandiganbayan resolution in a bail bid of Estrada. But what was not admitted by the prosecution was the fact that from the day Estrada was incarcerated by Gloria, it was Gloria who was influencing, if not directly interfering with the court, telling the justices not to grant Estrada temporary freedom, mainly because Gloria always used this as her weapon to get Erap to stop criticizing her and her government.
There is really no way for the court to convict Estrada, his son Jinggoy, and lawyer Ed Serapio, if the justices rule on the basis of pure merit of the case against Estrada.
But everyone and his uncle also know that Estrada’s case is not just a legal one but a highly political one and if the justices of the Sandiganbayan do what justice calls on them to do, they will have to acquit Estrada. But if the same justices fall prey to tempting offers from Malacañang, then he gets convicted.
The question is: Can they sleep soundly if they go against the grain of justice, and convict an innocent man for political reasons?
June 16th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
OFW remittances surge 26% to $4.7B
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Fr: Salina
I was right all alone when I said that the only reason the Philippines economy is booming because of the money remittance that the OFW sending to their love one. Not because of Goria Arroyo, Good governance. Lets face it. Gloria Arroyo, Is the biggest failure. And her supporter’s can’t accept the truth.
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Inquirer
Last updated 04:03am (Mla time) 06/16/2007
MANILA, Philippines — An increasing number of remittance agents catering to expatriate Filipino communities helped to sustain at over $1 billion the monthly amount of dollar remittances for the 12th month in a row in April, the central bank said Friday.
The central bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), noted a decrease in Filipinos that left to work abroad in the January-April from the same period last year, which could mean a more muted remittance growth in the coming months.
January-April remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) reached $4.7 billion, up 26.1 percent from the same months last year.
In April, the amount was $1.2 billion.
“Remittance flows were facilitated by easier access of overseas Filipinos to formal remittance channels,� BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a statement.
“In particular, the high level of remittances was supported by the increased presence of remittance agents abroad through the establishment of overseas centers as well as tie-ups with other remittance companies and financial institutions abroad,� he added.
He said the increase in the formal remittance channels — as distinguished from “non-formalâ€Â? channels that include relatives and friends of OFWs — was complemented by enhanced services offered by banks.
Preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) showed that the number of workers deployed in April dropped 7.8 percent year-on-year to 343,397. Land- and sea-based workers numbered 263,324 and 80,073, respectively, down 6.3 percent and 12.3 percent.
“The drop in deployment may be partly attributed to the new hiring policy of Saudi Arabia requiring Saudi-bound workers to secure ‘no objection certificates’ from their previous employers as part of entry requirements,� Tetangco said.
The new requirement was imposed to ensure that workers complied with their previous employment contracts.
“Looking ahead, remittances are expected to remain strong due to the increasing demand for highly skilled and professional Filipinos, particularly in the fields of information technology, healthcare, hotel and restaurant, construction and shipbuilding industries,� Tetangco said.
The bulk of the remittances continued to come from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Japan and Hong Kong. With INQUIRER.net
June 15th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Philippines’ April remittances up 32.61%
Official annual remittances from Filipinos working overseas rose 32.61 percent to $1.19 billion in April, the central bank said on Friday.
Inflows in the first four months of the year were $4.68 billion, up 26.08 percent on the same period last year. Total remittances are expected to hit $14.7 billion in 2007, driving the domestic economy and propelling the peso.
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Fr: Salina
This is one of the reason why the Philippines economy is booming. Not because of Gloria Arroyo, Good governance. Its because of the money remittance of OFW. Sending back home to their love one.
Without the money remittance from OFW. And none of OFW. The Philippines economy will collapse! That I know because the economy has been DETERIORATED but Gloria Arroyo, Keep telling the entire world that the philippines economy is rosy! Yeah, Right. Only her bank account is rosy. Check it out for yourselves if you don’t believe me. While the majority of filipino people are starving her net worth went up to the roof top. Where did she get that kind of money for her net worth to be up that much. If is not from corruption.
June 15th, 2007 at 11:31 am
The real test
Inquirer
Last updated 02:14am (Mla time) 06/15/2007
MANILA, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is enough of a political pragmatist to know that, in the aftermath of the opposition’s victory in the Senate race, she will have to find her own Donald Rumsfeld, and then fire him. The problem is she will find more than one deadweight in her administration.
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Fr: Salina
I’ll say, Gloria Arroyo, Should go with the rest of her cronies. They’re not worth a shit. They’re the problem get rid of them. Especially The bugos President of cebu.
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Rumsfeld, of course, was the controversial defense secretary who presided over or, more precisely, mismanaged the American occupation of Iraq. The clear anti-war message US voters sent the White House in last year’s mid-term elections led US President George W. Bush to finally relieve Rumsfeld; not a few Republicans thought the decision came too late, since Rumsfeld’s continuing presence at the Pentagon was a constant reminder during the campaign of the deterioration of the situation in Iraq.
Politically, Bush had no choice but to let go of his cantankerous defense secretary. Same thing with President Arroyo: Whether she admits it or not, the results of the Senate elections, the only nationwide contest and therefore the only referendum of national scope in the May 14 elections, force her to respond to the debacle. She has no choice.
The lessons of our own short history are clear: If an incumbent cares about the results of the next election, she has to respond to the results of the present one.
It does not come as a surprise, therefore, that the President has asked for the resignation of all Cabinet members and the heads of all government-owned and -controlled corporations. These are courtesy resignations; that is, the officials concerned pay the President the courtesy of tendering their resignation immediately, instead of individually making their case before her.
But Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, perhaps to emphasize the point that the President actually means business, decided not to use the term. “It’s not courtesy resignation. The President asked them to submit their resignation so that she will have a free hand … to reorganize.â€Â? But of course. That is what courtesy resignations are for. (Besides, the President has to provide for loyal allies who are now out of a job, like outgoing Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.)
Already, two Palace insiders have leaked their own versions of the President’s short list.
On both their lists — self-serving as these leaks sometimes are — the names of the heads of the government’s top revenue-generating agencies appear: Jose Buñag, commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and Napoleon Morales, commissioner of the Bureau of Customs.
It is no surprise to find that the positions of BIR chief and Customs commissioner figure in the rumors; in major revamps, they almost always do, precisely because the posts are among the most coveted in the entire bureaucracy. But it is unusual to find the name of Ermita, the second most powerful man in Malacañang, included — even as a trial balloon.
But Buñag and Morales have nothing to do with the outcome of the elections. The same cannot be said about Ermita. While he himself did not run, his son did, as the running mate of Batangas province’s governor-elect Vilma Santos. Today, Ermita’s son is embroiled in a bitter electoral dispute; whatever the outcome of that contest, it is already clear that Ermita came out of the elections diminished.
Ephraim Genuino, the influential chair of the cash-rich Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., is another high official laid low by the elections. Both his sons lost, and Genuino himself figured in wire reports as an arrogant official entering voting centers in Makati City with armed bodyguards.
If the President accepts the resignation of close allies Ermita and Genuino, then it will seem she is really serious about her vow to consider, forthwith, all her political debts paid.
Her real test, however, involves controversial or unpopular officials who did relatively well in the elections, such as the irascible Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez. In the last two years, Gonzalez has served a special function, acting as the President’s lightning rod. In doing so, however, Gonzalez debased the administration of justice and deepened the divisiveness that marks Philippine politics. It is time for him and others like him to exit the stage.
June 15th, 2007 at 6:08 am
Arroyo net worth now P88.5 M
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Fr: Salina
While the rest of filipino people are starving. Gloria Arroyo, And the rest of her cronies are getting richer. She’s only making P693,000. Annually, Thats only P57,750.000 a month. How on earth her net worth increase that much. If is not for corruption. Just add 2+2= Yeah, You got it. Corruption no matter how you look at it.
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By SANDY ARANETA
The Philippine Star
President Arroyo’s net worth grew by P9.3 million from P79.28 million in 2005 to P88.58 million last year, based on her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).
The President filed her SALN on April 30 with the Office of the Ombudsman, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR.
Vice-President Noli de Castro, meanwhile, has a net worth of more than P52 million, as shown in his SALN filed last March 30.
The President’s current net worth was listed at P88,588,172.93. In 2005, it was declared at P79,284,608.64.
The President’s net worth has increased by 30 percent or about P20 million since she assumed office in 2001 when her reported net worth was P66,747,103.36. Her annual salary is P693,000.
Accounting for the bulk of the President’s net worth as of Dec. 31 are “personal and other properties� acquired in various years valued at P85,868,138.58.
She declared her real properties at P6,367,837.
On the other hand, Mrs. Arroyo declared liabilities in the form of “notes payable� of P3,647,802.65.
The net worth is calculated by adding the amount of real properties, personal and other properties, and subtracting the amount of liabilities.
Of the personal and other properties she declared in her SALN, stocks amounting to P55,705,510.06 had the highest value.
Her “cash on hand� and “cash in bank� amounted to P11,228,872.52. Jewelry worth P3,400,000 were listed, as were appliances and furniture in the amount of P2,050,000; “law books and other books� (P1,700,000); motor vehicles (P6,875,476); office equipment (P995,800); “inherited properties in process of transfer� (P1,412,480); and “notes receivable� (P2,500,000).
Mrs. Arroyo declared as one of her real properties a house and lot in Baguio, which was acquired in 1977 for P350,000. The house and lot had a cost improvement of P645,287, her SALN showed, and this property now has a current fair market value of P67,913,200.
Other properties listed in her SALN were: a residential lot in Antipolo acquired in 1986 for P94,000 with a current fair market value of P1,750,000; a commercial lot in Tayabas, Quezon acquired in 1995 for P1.5 million now valued at P2,400,000; an agricultural lot in San Rafael, Bulacan acquired in 1995 (P1,178,550) now worth P4.7 million; another agricultural lot in Nasugbu, Batangas acquired in 1997 for P550,000 with a current fair market value of P1.5 million.
The latest acquired property in her SALN was a parcel of “raw land� in Coron, Palawan purchased in 2005 at P2,050,000. No current fair market value was indicated.
The President declared she has “no business interest nor other financial connections, including those of her spouse and unmarried children below 18 years old living within her household.�
She also declared that five of her family members or relatives are working for the government. They are: son Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo; brother-in-law Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr.; sister-in-law Ma. Lourdes Arroyo, listed as personal secretary III in the House of Representatives; cousin Erlinda M. B. de Leon, a confidential secretary in the Office of the President (OP); and cousin-in-law Carlos de Leon, a special assistant in the OP.
In 2002, the President posted a net worth of P72,048,559.88, which increased to P75,697,687.45 the following year.
Noli’s worth
For his part, de Castro, whose real name is Manuel de Castro Jr., has a net worth of P52,305,801.25.
De Castro, former vice-president for current affairs at ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., is married to Arlene de Castro. He has a monthly salary of P46,200.
De Castro’s real properties are worth P35,945,801.25, while “personal and other properties� amounted to P20,860,000.
He declared liabilities of P4,500,000.
Among the properties listed in his SALN are houses and lots in Lagro, Novaliches (P40,000) which underwent improvements worth P200,000, and in Tierra Pura Homes, Tandang Sora (P3.5 million) with improvements costing P6 million.
Lots in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan (P2,731,440), Mindoro (P300,000), and Forest Hills, Antipolo (P3,832,500) were listed, plus a house in San Jose del Monte built in 2003 with improvements of P3,000,000.
He also declared a house and lot in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City (P1,400,000), and in San Antonio Heights, Batangas (P695,000).
In 2004, de Castro purchased a house and lot in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City for P7,743,371.25. The following year, he acquired another house and lot there for P6,503,490.
For his personal and other properties, the Vice-President declared the following: Jewelry (P1,220,000), appliances and furniture (P2,060,000), “paintings and artworks acquired in 2006� (P180,000), motor vehicles namely a Suburvan (P2.9 million) and a Ford Expedition (P2.5 million), both acquired in 2004.
Shares of stocks in ABS-CBN acquired in 1986 were worth P1 million.
His “cash in bank� acquired in various years amounted to P11 million.
De Castro’s liabilities come from “outstanding loans from non-financial institutions� worth P4.5 million.
De Castro also declared two business interests and financial connections: ABS-CBN, where he bought shares of stocks (preferred) in 1986; and Bayan Productions Company, Inc., where he has been on the board of directors since 1988.
De Castro declared five relatives working for the government. They are: brother-in-law Zacarias Catapang, a Sangguniang Bayan member in Socorro, Oriental Mindoro; nephew Dr. Grimaldo Catapang, provincial veterinarian based in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; niece Veronidia Catapang, who works for the Department of the Interior and Local Government–NCR in Quezon City; niece Dr. Florecita Catapang, revenue collection officer based in Socorro, Oriental Mindoro; and, niece Janice Anne Pasco, who works in the Office of the Vice-President.
All government employees and officials are required to file their SALN annually. These statements are intended to track the accumulation of wealth by public officials, and have recently been used in the lifestyle checks on customs, public works and highways, and internal revenue employees.
June 15th, 2007 at 3:08 am
‘Let’s stop talking about reconciliation and stability, and start talking about bringing back genuine democracy.’
Hypocritical
calls by GMA
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AFTER her political debacle in the just-concluded Election 2007, Gloria Arroyo somehow managed to put up a brave front and pretended that all’s well in the country today. It is not.
“We close the chapter of electoral battles and open the chapter of national reconciliation and solidarity,” she declared in a keynote speech marking the centennial anniversary of the House of Representatives. “… We call upon the nation to close the contest of the ballot and step up the contest of excellence in all fields, all for one and one for all.”
What rubbish! What offal! Nobody believed a word of what she said, except perhaps the sycophants, the gang of hypocrites, political satraps who usually burst into applause whatever high-flown rhetoric comes out of her mouth. She had mouthed those same words many times in State of the Nation addresses before Congress, but she failed to fulfill them. Instead, she divided the nation as she let loose her “attack dogs” against critics and dissenters of her regime.
Like before, her latest remarks again were met with the constant questioning of her motives whenever she makes such calls, a kind of automatic disbelief that she is really doing something to make things better for the country.
That’s why the great majority of the electorate voted against her Team Unity senatorial candidates, in spite of the administration’s touted “command votes” and elected overwhelmingly those in the Genuine Opposition. It was a referendum on Gloria’s tainted presidency. Yes, unquestionably a rejection by the Filipino people, and only fools would deny it.
Why indeed should the people believe her at all? They see her as an infinite liar, an hourly promise-breaker. Not only that, they also look at her lawless rule as characterized by greed and corruption so far beyond the levels of the past.
The people still remember when, during her “first” term – actually the remaining four years of legitimately-elected Joseph Estrada after she had conspired to oust him – she had steadfastly turned down moves to change the Constitution. And she had promised not to run, but she reneged on her word and then cheated her way to a six-year term in the 2004 presidential elections. And then, during the campaign, she had agreed to amend the Charter, apparently seeing it as the only way to remain in power and insure her political survival after 2010. It was repudiated by the people and the Supreme Court.
And now, mindless of what the people think of her as clearly manifested in this year’s elections, she and Speaker Joe de Venecia have resuscitated their plan for Charter Change. Obviously, she hopes this would pave the way to extend her rule beyond 2010, while De Venecia sees in it the opportunity to become the first prime minister with the envisioned change from the presidential system to a parliamentary form of government.
If Gloria and Joe de V are allowed to carry out their insidious scheme, it would surely divide the country again, instead of resulting in what she called “national reconciliation and solidarity.” And her call to “close the contest of the ballot” would be met with dismay by the people who would not easily forget what her administration’s cheating operators did in stealing and padding the votes in favor of her senatorial bets. Fortunately her chosen ones lost just the same.
She also alluded to a “contest of excellence in all fields,” but the only thing the people saw during the last six years of her misrule was how “excellently” her regime’s “attack dogs” hounded and tried to silence dissenters, journalists and the human rights activists who exposed the official corruption, the scandals, the unexplained killings, the blatant violations of the rule of law and the Constitutional rights and liberties of the people.
And yet, unblushingly and brazenly, Gloria Arroyo has told the world that we Filipinos “live in a lively democracy.”
What in heaven’s name is she talking about? What we have today is not a democracy, a government by the people, of the people and for the people, but rather a kleptocracy, the Greek name for a government by thieves, of thieves and for thieves.
Gloria, stop talking about reconciliation, national stability and democracy, and start talking about sending the cheating operatives and their bosses to jail, ending the corruption mess , kicking out the thieves in government, rejecting the unconscionably motivated Charter Change, and restoring genuine democracy in our country, once again.
June 15th, 2007 at 12:07 am
Giving too much to Gloria
EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
06/15/2007
Much of Gloria’s fiscal credibility rests on the ability of her administration to even out the budget this year, a commitment she made right at the start of her questionable accession to the presidency in 2001.
Gloria’s raison d’etre was a clean and a professional government, which was supposedly in contrast to what was then the Estrada administration.
Seven years past, Filipinos who were duped into backing the Edsa coup d’etat are now all repudiating the same person they had installed.
The government has been named the most corrupt in Asia and among the least professional in the world based on various yearly surveys.
Fiscal management was also far from what was promised to the people at the Edsa ruse. Just into the second year of Gloria’s mismanagement, the budget blew out into a P214-billion deficit, the biggest ever for any Philippine administration.
Thus, instead of being on the road to balancing the budget, Gloria had led the government dangerously to the path of financial bankruptcy.
A little later, she admitted that her administration was in a fiscal crisis that needed drastic revenue-raising measures to address the financial problem.
Thus was born the effort to expand and increase the value added tax (VAT), a quick fix but regressive solution to Gloria’s fiscal nightmare. Instead of going after big-time tax evaders, the Arroyo administration chose the more convenient path of extracting more taxes from the poor. Thus, the VAT or the sales tax was made to include products that were earlier exempt from the tax such as oil products and electricity since these were deemed essential goods in much the same way as food and water, which by their nature should not be taxed.
Prior to the expanded VAT, taxes on so-called sin products such as cigarettes and liquor were increased but it was the e-VAT that extricated Gloria from the fiscal abyss that she herself dug.
With much theatrics, Gloria asked the Filipinos to bear the brunt of the extreme sacrifice in having to reduce the food on their table and to forgo the dream of higher education for their children to solve the crisis caused by her fiscal mismanagement.
The only consolation that Gloria was trying to peddle as compensation for such sacrifice was a credit upgrade from international ratings agencies which she said would convince more investors to enter the country.
Yet, no such upgrades have happened with the more prominent Moody’s Investors Service and Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services both predicating any changes in the country’s credit grade to Gloria’s fulfillment of the balanced budget pledge.
Now, we have Gloria saying lately, after the mid-term elections featured massive administration campaign money, that she is “anxious� over the flagging revenue collections in relation to balancing the budget.
It seems that all those sacrifices Gloria asked from the Filipino nation had amounted to absolutely nothing.
Expect Gloria to ask for more sacrifices just to cover up for the gross mismanagement of her government finances.
Expect also the budget to miss the balanced target by the end of the year.
Expect, too, that her government would ask for ever-increasing taxes that would in turn jack up the prices of goods and services.
With Gloria at the helm, sacrifices and more of these from those who should instead be benefiting from government are a certainty.
June 14th, 2007 at 5:40 am
Palace on Trillanes survey: ‘It’s for a good purpose’
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Fr: SAlina
The reason they done the survey. kasi takot sila. Gosto lang nila malaman the people sentiment. What make them think that the soldiers going to give them what they want. Its already been proven in election time. When their superior has been given them order to tell the people to vote straigth TUTA ni Gloria,. What happen they vote opposition. HO HO HO…..
06/13/2007 | 11:51 PM
Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us Malacañang defended on Wednesday the survey conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on the soldiers’ sentiments regarding the foreseen senatorial victory of detained Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, former AFP chief, told reporters that the survey is “for a good purpose” because it intends to evaluate the conditions within the military. He also said the survey is not made to check the loyalty of the military to the Arroyo administration.
“It’s just to assure that things are all right within his command, it has no bearing whatsoever as to whether they are conducting a loyalty check for anybody. It’s just the inherent responsibility of a commander to see to it that it everything is ok within his command,” he said.
Ermita said the feelings or sentiments of the soldiers are important especially in the performance of their duties and accomplishments of missions.
He said a commanding general is responsible for the performance of his unit and to be able to accomplish a mission, his soldiers should be “well-motivated and properly informed about the situation.”
Ermita added that such “surveys” are not new. He said the military, particularly the AFP Civil Service Relations Division did those before.
The AFP survey on Trillanes contains 20 items that can be answered either by SA (strongly agree), A (agree), U (unsure), D (disagree) or SD (strongly disagree).
The survey asks how soldiers feel on the following:
1. In the May 2007 elections, is it possible that many personnel, active or retired, have also supported the candidacy of ex-Lt. Trillanes?
2. Voters have cast their votes for Trillanes to openly express their disappointment with the present national leadership.
3. The votes cast in favor of ex-Lt. Trillanes reflect the people’s trust in his competence for good governance.
4. Within the military organization, a Trillanes’ vote indicates a compelling
desire for change in the military/defense establishment.
5. Within the AFP, a Trillanes’ vote implies defiance on the present AFP top brass.
6. I perceive ex-Lt Trillanes, who is a military man, to have a limited knowledge in governance.
7. Trillanes is successful in his senatorial bid because of the public’s dissatisfaction with the military/defense leadership.
8. Ex-Lt. Trillanes definitely provides a strong leadership.
9. Many have supported Trillanes’ candidacy because he represents reform in the Armed Forces.
10. The concerns of the soldiers will be better represented when Trillanes becomes senator.
11. Ex Lt Trillanes should be released on bail by the time he sits as senator
12. Ex Lt Trillanes should have waited for the conclusion of the charges against him before running for public office.
13. Coming from the military organization, ex-LT Trillanes can bring forth significant changes for the AFP, should he get elected.
14. Ex-Lt Trillanes wants to be in power so he cannot be made accountable for his fault in the Oakwood event.
15. I believe that ex-Lt Trillanes is supported by politicians who want a divided AFP.
16. The votes that ex-LT Trillanes got are expressions of the public’s diminished confidence in the military organization.
17. The support that Trillanes got in the last election represents a silent approval that agrees
with extra-constitutional resort to achieve organizational change.
18. If this country requires radical alternatives such as launching coup d’etat to achieve reforms, then so be it.
19. Voluntarily, ex-LT Trillanes could have forged an alliance with the left for his senatorial andidacy.
20. Left-leaning groups have supported Trillanes because they saw in him a rallying point to promote their cause.
June 14th, 2007 at 5:33 am
Gloria gives revenue
chief another chance
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BY REGINA BENGCO
PRESIDENT Arroyo has given Internal Revenue Commissioner Jose Mario Buñag another chance, and has rescinded Executive Order 625 which reorganized the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
The move came after a meeting Tuesday among the President, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and Buñag shortly after the Independence Day vin d’honneur with the diplomatic corps in Malacañang.
Under EO 625-A, which was signed also Tuesday, the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) Program, which is directly under the Office of the BIR Commissioner, was placed under the Office of Deputy Commissioner for Legal and Inspection Group headed by lawyer Gregorio Cabantac. The rest of EO 625 was repealed.
The repealed EO 625 created an Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Audit, Fraud, and Investigation and placed the Large Taxpayers Service under it. The office was supposed to be headed by Makati South District Revenue Officer Charlie Lim.
Arroyo was reportedly displeased over the BIR’s shortfall of about P10.26 billion in the first two months, and about P12.1 billion in the first quarter.
The BIR’s reported collection of only P20 billion from large taxpayers during the first quarter of the year led to the shortfall.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Department of Finance and the BIR are “awaiting more information” about revenue collections that “in the near future will be the basis for final action that the President will take on agencies and officials engaged in revenue collection.”
Ermita also said Search Committee chairman Bernardino Abes is going over the list of presidential appointees in 117 government corporations and financial institutions, as part of the first stage in a government revamp.
He said the President gave a verbal order to Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and Trade Secretary Peter Favila last June 9 to require managers and directors of the government corporations and financial institutions to submit courtesy resignations.
He said there may be officials who have overstayed and who may need to be changed.
Asked whether it is the start of a wide-ranging revamp, Ermita said: “You might say that we are getting the signal from the President to start by giving the instructions for the resignation of all the members in the GOCCs and GFIs.”
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Fr: Salina
How can Gloria Arroyo, Claim that her so call economy is rosy when the taxes collection is short. Where the hell did she get her figure. Not atlease she’s lying to her teeth again.
The reason the taxes collection is shortfall because there is lots of filipino people is not paying their income taxes. I can’t blame them. If everybody stop paying taxes the Philippines economy surely going down the gutter.
Aside from that if all OFW NONE OFW stop sending money back home. Gloria Arroyo, So call booming economy be down the drain.
June 14th, 2007 at 4:55 am
TO ELY
The good news is what I reported earlier is not padded, for the Inquirer wouldn’t have been able to post that bad news. Another good news is the economic growth of 6.9% (the highest in about 20 years!) far surpasses the debt growth.
June 13th, 2007 at 11:07 am
Sana nga ay may pagka Marcos si Gloria ngayon….
Noon may desiplina ang karamihan sa atin…
Noon hindi talamak ang pusher/addict..
Noon kaunti ang magnanakaw, mamatay, masasamang loob…..
Noon may feeling of security ka……
Noon Kaunti lang ang nangungurakot….
Masarap mag muni muni….. sana maibalik ulit ang magagandang ala ala……
June 13th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Ely
Gov’t debt rises to P3.93 trillion
By Michelle Remo
Inquirer
Last updated 03:02am (Mla time) 06/13/2007
MANILA, Philippines � The national government’s debt reached P3.93 trillion as of end-March, up 0.9 percent from P3.897 trillion at end-February, The Bureau of the Treasury reported Tuesday.
Another proof of the major accomplishment this administration has done.
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Fr: Salina
The government debt. Went up! Do you call that accomplishment. Whattttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt. You must be really out of your mind. Don’t tell me you’re an economist too.
June 13th, 2007 at 8:47 am
Pian
TO SALINA
You’re using your emotions again.
What you posted earlier that she’s doing something to end the political killings is certainly not a lie, for indeed she is. Alangan namang sabihin niya na hindi gumagana yung pagpipigil nato, edi bakit pa siya nag-State-visit?
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Fr: Salina
Hoy, Galongong! I’m not just talking about the killing, I’m talking about everything in general whats going on under her stolen adminstration. I’m talking about all the corruption. Among other things! Not atleast you’re only trying to play stupid. Won’t work with me.
June 13th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Davide named UN facilitator for indigenous peoples
06/12/2007 | 07:28 PM
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Fr: Salina
Its maze me how on earth Hilario Davided. Jr. Become to be the person who’s going to be a leader to take care the poor people. My god! I wonder what he did to get this job. Oh, My god!
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Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us Three months into his job as Philippine representative to the United Nations, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. was appointed UN facilitator for forging a declaration to help improve the lives of over 370 million indigenous people worldwide.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (www.dfa.gov.ph) said Tuesday night that UN General Assembly president Haya Rashed Al Khalifa appointed Davide to undertake consultations on the proposed UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“I am honored by President Al Khalifa’s decision to bestow upon me such an important responsibility,” Davide said, adding that the Declaration will also impact on the more than 12 million indigenous peoples of the Philippines.
Davide said he is looking forward to conducting open and inclusive consultations on the issue soon so he could submit his report to President Al Khalifa before the July 15 deadline given to him.
The UN General Assembly was supposed to approve the Declaration in December following its adoption by the UN Human Rights Council on June 29 last year.
But the approval process in the General Assembly was stalled after African member states requested more time for consultations on their concerns.
However, the UN said the Declaration has to be considered before the end of the 61st Session of the General Assembly in September 2007 and member states will have to come back together to act again on the Declaration.
“The Philippines is sympathetic to the sentiment that the indigenous peoples of the world cannot anymore afford a protracted process leading to the adopting of the Declaration,” Davide said.
He stressed the need for an instrument that recognizes the need to address the special situation of indigenous peoples.
Al Khalifa, in her letter to all permanent representatives to the UN, sought flexible consultations, and urged them to provide Davide with all the necessary support to ensure the General Assembly will finally approve the Declaration. - GMANew
June 13th, 2007 at 4:36 am
Gov’t debt rises to P3.93 trillion
By Michelle Remo
Inquirer
Last updated 03:02am (Mla time) 06/13/2007
MANILA, Philippines — The national government’s debt reached P3.93 trillion as of end-March, up 0.9 percent from P3.897 trillion at end-February, The Bureau of the Treasury reported Tuesday.
Another proof of the major accomplishment this administration has done.
June 12th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
In her June 8 address before the House of Representatives, on the occasion of its centennial celebration, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo urged Congress and the people to “look forward and leave behind the contentious past.� She was referring to the various issues that have, in the last three years, become cause for dissension – among them the Jose Pidal accounts, the fertilizer scam, the “Hello Garci� recordings, political killings and forced disappearances; and of late, the widespread fraud in the recently-concluded senatorial and local election. These, however, are big issues that will not die down and will continue to hound her unless they are all settled – however far she might wish to march forward. She takes them with her wherever she may go.
BY FLON FAURILLO
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Fr: Salina
Gloria Arroyo, Must be really out of her mind. For saying forget and forgive. The only reason she’s saying that because her ass is in trouble. If she want the filipino people to forgive her she should undo the wrong she has done. Otherwise we the people going to get rid of you! Either you like it or not. Its overdue! DITCH HER OUT.