Good news

Watch Dallas vs Miami live online

2011-05-31T18:28:00.001-07:00

Are you looking for Dallas Mavericks vs Miami Heat live game online? Or searching for the web links that will bring you NY Yankees at Baltimorelive online in actual time? We do not promise you this, but we will try to find one for your satisfaction. Stay tune as we locate links for NY Yankees at Baltimorestream. Explore and enjoy!

UFC 128 Shogun vs Jones live online on internet

2011-03-07T01:40:00.001-08:00

UFC 128 Shogun vs Jones live online on internet. The UFC 128 fight card will feature a light heavyweight title bout between champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and challenger Jon Jones.

Watch UFC 128, which takes place from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., will also feature former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber taking on former WEC bantamweight titleholder Eddie Wineland.

The battle is on! UFC 128 is expected to be one of the toughest fights ever. UFC 128 Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Jon “Bones” Jones dubbed as UFC 128: Shogun vs Jones - predictions

UFC 128 - live stream is scheduled to take place March 19th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The main event features a UFC light heavyweight title bout between the champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Jon “Bones” Jones.

UFC 128 live on PC stream

2011-03-04T00:15:00.001-08:00

The battle is on! UFC 128 is expected to be one of the toughest fights ever. UFC 128 Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Jon “Bones” Jones dubbed as UFC 128: Shogun vs Jones

UFC 128 is scheduled to take place March 19th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The main event features a UFC light heavyweight title bout between the champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Jon “Bones” Jones.

The preliminary cards of UFC 128 comprise sum of seven bouts like a light-heavyweight bout, two lightweight bouts, a welterweight bout, bantamweight bout, featherweight bout and middleweight bout. Watch UFC 128: live streaming. It is an upcoming mixed martial arts event to be held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 19, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. See weigh in results here! . Are you also interested to see by yourself the main fight cards?

Rua, meanwhile, has not fought since capturing the light heavyweight crown in May 2010. Rua handed Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida the first loss of his career when he knocked him out at UFC 113.

MALINIS NA PAMAMAHALA SA SIYUDAD NG SAN FERNANDO , ISINUSULONG NG IBAT IBANG SEKTOR

2010-02-04T14:47:00.000-08:00

1. MALINIS NA PAMAMAHALA SA SIYUDAD NG SAN FERNANDO , ISINUSULONG NG IBAT IBANG SEKTOR

NANGAKO NG SUPORTA ANG IBAT IBANG GRUPO MULA SA SIYUDAD NG SAN FERNANDO NA TUTULONG SILA SA KAMPANYA NG LOKAL NA PAMAHALAAN TUNGO SA PAGKAKAROON NG MAAYOS AT MALINIS NA PAMAMALAKAD SA NATURANG SIYUDAD.

HANDA UMANONG MAKIPAGTULUNGAN ANG MGA SEKTOR UPANG MAISUGURO ANG TAGUMPAY NG MGA PROYEKTO SA KANILANG SIYUDAD.

SINABI NAMAN NI OSCAR RODRIGUEZ, ALKALDE NG SIYUDAD SAN FERNANDO NA NAGSISILBING INSPIRASYON NG LOKAL NA PAMAHALAAN ANG BAWAT GRUPO NA NAGNANAIS NG PAGBABAGO UPANG MAABOT ANG HINAHANGAND NA TAGUMPAY.

IDINAGDAG PA NI RODRIGUEZ NA HINDI NAGING MADALI ANG SIMULA NG TAGUMPAY NG SIYUDAD SAN FERNANDO .

2. PUBLIC EMPLYMENT SERVICE OFFICE NG SIYUDAD NG ANGELES, PINARANGALAN!

PINAPURIHAN NI ANGELES CITY MAYOR FRANCIS BLUEBOY NEPOMUCENO ANG PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OFFICE NG KANILANG SIYUDAD MATAPOS PARANGALAN NG DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANG EMPLOYMENT.

SINABI NI NEPOMUCENO NA ITO NA ANG PANGATLONG PAGKAKATAON KUNG SAAN NAHIRANG SILA BILANG BEST PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE SA KATEGORYA NG HIGHLY UNRBANIZED CITY.

NAGING BATAYAN SA PAGBIBIGAY NG NATURANG KARANGALAN, ANG MGA PROYEKTONG IPINATUPAD KUNG SAAN MARAMI SA MGA APLIKANTENG MAMAMAYAN NITO ANG NAGKAROON NG TRABAHO.

TINATAYANG UMABOT SA LABING ISANG LIBO APAT NA DAAN AT WALO ANG BILANG NG MGA NATULUNGAN NG SIYUDAD ANGELES SA IBAT IBANG KUMPANYA DITO AT MAGING SA IBAYONG DAGAT.

3. CARNAP NA PUTING STAREX VAN, NAREKOBER SA MGA KARNAPER!

MUNTIK NG MAKIPAGBARILAN ANG MGA OPERATIBA NG ANGELES CITY POLICE OFFICE SA MGA KARNAPER KAUGNAY NG ANTI-CARNAPPING OPERATION SA BARANGAY CALIBUTBUT SA BAYAN NG BACOLOR.

AYON KAY CHIEF INSPECTOR RENE ASPE, LUMARGA ANG KANIYANG MGA TAUHAN UPANG TUGISIN ANG MGA RESPONSABLE SA PAGKAWALA NG PUTING STAREX VAN NA NAKAPARADA UMANO SA HARAP NG ISANG CANTEEN SA BARANGAY STO. ROSARIO SA SIYUDAD NG ANGELES.

NAMATAAN UMANO ANG NATURANG VAN SAKAY ANG APAT NA HINDI NAKILALANG MGA SUSPEK NA ARMADO NG MATAAS NA KALIBRE NG BARIL SA BARANGAY CALIBUTBUT SA BAYAN NG BACOLOR KUNG SAAN TINUGIS SILA NG MGA OPERATIBA.

INIWAN UMANO ANG MGA NATURANG VAN NG MAPANSIN NILA NA BINUBUNTUTAN SILA NG MGA OTORIDAD AT SUMAKAY SA ISANG SASAKYAN NA GINAMIT NILA SA KANILANG PAGTAKAS.

4. BALITANG IBAYONG DAGAT
ITALIAN PM, NAG-SORRY MATAPOS 'DI MAPANSIN ANG BARRIER SA ISRAEL AT PALESTINE

HUMINGI NG PAUMANHIN SI ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI SA MGA PALESTININANS MATAPOS NA HINDI MAPANSIN ANG BARRIER SA PAGITAN NG ISRAEL AT PALESTINE .

AYON KAY BERLUSCONI, LUMILIPAD ANG KANYANG ISIP DAHIL ABALA ITO SA PAG-IISIP KUNG ANO ANG SASABIHIN KAY PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS SA NAKATAKDA NILANG PRESS CONFERENCE.

LAYUNIN NG NATURANG BARRIER NA MAPROTEKSYUNANAN ANG ISRAEL SA MGA ARMADONG MILITANTE NG PALESTINE GAYUNDIN SA MGA SUICIDE BOMBERS NA MAKATAWID AT UMATAKE SA KANILANG BANSA MULA SA WEST BANK.

SAMANTALA, MATATANDAANG NA-OSPITAL SI BERLUSCONI MATAPOS NA ATAKEHIN NG ISANG MAY PROBLEMA SA PAG-IISIP KUNG SAAN NABASAG ANG KANYANG ILONG AT PUMUTOK ANG LABI NITO NANG BATUHIN NG ISANG MATIGAS NABAGAY.

5. BALITANG SHOWBIZ
ARRAIGNMENT NG DOKTOR NI MICHAEL JACKSON, NAKATAKDA SA IKA-LIMA NG PEBRERO

NAKATAKDA SA ARAW NG BUKAS ANG ARRAIGNMENT
SA PAGITAN NG REPRESENTANTE NG KING OF POP AT DOKTOR NITONG SI DR. CONRAD MURRAY.

GAGANAPIN ANG ARRAIGNMENT SA COURTHOUSE NA MALAPIT SA LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

TUMANGGI NAMAN ANG MGA PROSEKYUTOR NA SABIHIN KUNG PORMAL NANG SASAMPAHAN NG KASO SI MURRAY.

UNA NG NAIULAT NA KASONG INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER ANG HAHARAPIN NI MURRAY MATAPOS NA MAKOMPLETO ANG PAG-IIMBESTIGA SA PAGKAMATAY NI MICHAEL JACKSON.

6. BALITANG PALAKASAN
GOLFER TOM WATSON, KINOMPARA ANG SARILI KAY TIGER WOODS

KINOMPARA NG PRO GOLFER NA SI TOM WATSON ANG SARILI NITO KAY GOLF LEGEND TIGER WOODS.

AYON KAY WATSON, KUNG SIYA ANG NAKARARANAS NG SITWASYON NGAYON NI WOODS AY MAGPAPATAWAG ITO MISMO NG INTERVIEW UPANG AMININ ANG PAGKAKAMALI AT GAYUNDIN ANG PAGHAYAG NA ILALAGAY SA AYOS ANG LAHAT.

PARA KAY WATSON, DAPAT UMANONG AYUSIN NI WOODS ANG SARILI SA LALONG MADALING PANAHON UPANG MABIGYAN NG RESPETO ANG KANYANG KINAGIGILIWANG SPORT GAYUNDIN ANG PAG-IDOLO SA KANYA NG MGA TAO.

PINAKAHULING BALITA SA GOLF LEGEND AY ANG PAGSAILALIM NITO SA SEX REHAB SA HATTIESBURG , MISSISSIPPI KUNG SAAN BINIBISITA SIYA NG KANYANG MISIS NA SI ELIN NORDEGREN.

PANGULONG ARROYO, HUHUSGAHAN NG PANAHON!

2010-02-04T14:44:00.000-08:00

1. PANGULONG ARROYO, HUHUSGAHAN NG PANAHON!

WALANG BALAK SI BAGONG PRESS SECRETARY CRISPULO ICBAN NA PAYUHAN SI PANGULONG GLORIA ARROYO KAUGNAY SA PAKIKISALAMUHA SA PUBLIKO LALONG-LALO NA SA MEDIA.

SINABI NI ICBAN NA WALA SIYA SA POSISYON PARA TURUAN ANG PANGULO DAHIL SIYA MISMO AY HANGA SA DISKARTE NG PANGULO.

AYON KAY ICBAN, SA LAHAT NG MGA PANGULO NA NA-COVER NIYA MULA NOONG DEKADA SINGKWENRTA, SI PANGULONG ARROYO UMANO ANG PINAKAMATATAG MANINDIGAN.

NANINIWALA SI ICBAN NA TULAD NOON KAY MARCOS AY HUHUSGAHAN DIN ANG PANGULO NG PANAHON AT NORMAL LAMANG NA INUULAN SIYA NGAYON NG MGA BATIKOS HABANG NAKAUPO PA SA PUWESTO.

2. MALAKANYANG INUTUSAN ANG BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE AT BUREAU OF CUSTOMS NA LAGPASAN ANG REVENUE TARGETS SA 2010

IKINATUWA NG MALACAÑANG ANG NAPABALITANG LUMAGPAS ANG BUREAU OF CUSTOMS AT BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE SA KANILANG TAX COLLECTION TARGETS SA BUWAN ENERO.

SINABI NI PRESIDENTIAL DEPUTY SPOKESMAN RICARDO SALUDO, HINIHIKAYAT NILA ANG MGA REVENUE COLLECTING AGENCIES NA IPAGPATULOY ANG KANILANG PAGPUPURSIGE PARA MAPONDOHAN ANG MGA KINAKAILANGANG PROYEKTO.

AYON KAY SALUDO, MAPAPATAAS DIN NITO ANG KUMPIYANSA NG MGA INVESTORS PARA MAGLAGAK NG NEGOSYO SA BANSA PARA MAKALIKHA PA NG MGA DAGDAG NA TRABAHO.

INIHAYAG NI SALUDO NA DAHIL SA MGA REPORMANG IPINATUPAD NI PANGULONG GLORIA ARROYO, NAPALAKAS ANG PISO, NAPABABA ANG INTEREST RATES AT NAILATAG ANG MGA PUNDASYON PARA SA PAG UNLAD NG EKONOMIYA.

3. TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES DUDANG MAGUGULO ANG AUTOMATED ELECTIONS SA PAMAMAGITAN NG CELLPHONE KAMMERS

TINIYAK NG MGA TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES SA HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE NA HINDI MAAAPEKTUHAN ANG KANILANG MGA SIGNAL NA GAGAMITIN SA PAPALAPIT NA AUTOMATED ELECTIONS SA KABILA NG MGA ULAT NA PAGPASOK SA BANSA NG BULTO-BULTONG CELLPHONE JAMMERS.

INIHAYAG NI ATTY. FROILAN CASTELO NG GLOBE TELECOM NA MAGLALAAN UMANO ANG KANILANG KOMPANYA NG ISANG EXCLUSIVE AT PRIVATE NETWORK PARA LAMANG SA HALALAN UPANG HINDI MADISKAREL ANG DALOY NG IMPORMASYON.

AYON NAMAN KAY SMARTMATIC ASIA-PACIFIC REGION PRESIDENT CESAR FLORES, MADALI DIN UMANONG MATUKOY KUNG MAYROONG HUMAHARANG SA MGA CELLHPONE SIGNALS DAHIL SA MGA MAKABAGONG TEKNOLOHIYA NA KANILANG GINAGAMIT.

4. HOUSE SPEAKER PROSPERO NOGRALES NANINIWALANG MAY PAG ASA PANG MAIPASA ANG FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

NILINAW NG LIDERATO NG KAMARA NA MAY PAG-ASA PANG MAIPASA NG KONGRESO ANG FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT SA KABILA NG PAHIRAPAN SA KORUM NG MGA MAMBABATAS AT ADJOURNMENT NA NG SESYON.

AYON KAY HOUSE SPEAKER PROSPERO NOGRALES HINDI PA NAMAN TULUYANG NAIBASURA ANG LANDMARK MEASURE DAHIL MULI PA NAMAN BABALIK ANG MGA MAMBABATAS SA MAYO TRENTAY UNO HANGGANG HUNYO KWATRO PARA RATIPIKASYON.

SINABI PA NI NOGRALES NA MAARI NILANG SAMANTALAHIN ANG NABANGGIT NA PANAHON PARA ISALANG SA PLENARYO ANG KONTROBERSYAL NA PANUKALANG BATAS AT AGAD MAISUMITE NA SA PANGULONG GLORIA ARROYO.

SA ILALIM NG FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, MAS MALAWAK NA ANG KARAPATANG IBINIBIGAY SA PUBLIKO NA MABUSISI ANG ILANG DOKUMENTO NG MAANOMALYANG PROYEKTO SA PAMAHALAAN.

5. KANDIDATURA NI DOJ SEC. DEVANADERA SA PAGKA-KONGRESISTA, NANGANGANIB NA MAPAWALANG BISA

NANGANGANIB NA IBASURA NG COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS ANG KANDIDATURA NI DOJ SECRETARY AGNES DEVANADERA SA PAGKA KONGRESISTA NG UNANG DISTRITO NG LALAWIGAN NG QUEZON MATAPOS MADISKUBRENG WALANG PIRMA ANG ISANG DOKUMENTONG ISINUMITE NITO SA COMELEC.

SA PETISYONG INIHAIN SA COMELEC NI ZALDY GARIGUEZ, COORDINATOR NG NACIONALISTA PARTY SA QUEZON, IGINIIT NITO NA HINDI MAAARING MAGING SUBSTITUTE CANDIDATE SI DEVANADERA NG KANYANG KAPATID NA SI ELIZABETH ANN TORRES-SUAREZ NA SIYANG NAGHAIN NG CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY.

ITO’Y DAHIL SA HINDI UMANO PINIRMAHAN NI SUAREZ ANG CERTIFICATE OF NOMINATION AT ACCEPTANCE NA NAGPAPATUNAY NA SIYA ANG KANDIDATO NG PARTIDONG LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD KUNG KAYA'T LUMILITAW NA SIYA AY INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE.

6. SENADOR NOYNOY AQUINO BINATIKOS SA ‘SCTEX MASSACRE

INAKUSAHAN NI CAVITE CONGRESSMAN CRISPIN ‘BOYING’ REMULLA SI SEN. BENIGNO ‘NOYNOY’ AQUINO III NG PAGHUHUGAS-KAMAY KA¬UGNAY NG TINAGURIANG “SCTEX MASSACRE” GAYUNDIN SA MAHIGIT LIMANG DEKADA NANG PANG-AABUSO SA MGA MAGSASAKA SA HACIENDA LUI¬SITA SA TARLAC NA PAG-AARI NG MGA COJUANGCO.

BINIGYANG DIIN NI REMULLA NA ANG SCTEX MASSACRE AY KASING-SAHOL NG MENDIOLA, LUISITA AT MAGUINDANAO MASSACRES DAHIL UNTI-UNTING PINAPATAY NG MGA COJUANGCO ANG KABUHAYAN NG MGA MAGSASAKA.

AYON KAY REMULLA MASAKER DIN UMANO NA MATATAWAG ANG SCTEX SCANDAL PARTIKULAR NA SA KABAN NG BAYAN, KUNG SAAN NAGMULA ANG WALUMPUT TATLONG MILYONG PISO NA IBINAYAD SA PAMILYA NI NOYNOY PARA SA SCTEX RIGHT-OF-WAY AT ANG ISANG DAAN AT PITUMPONG LIBONG MILYONG PISONG GINASTOS SA INTERCHANGE NA NAGKABIT SA LUISITA SA SCTEX.

7. SENADOR PANFILO PING LACSON PINAUUWI NA NI SENADOR JUAN PONCE ENRILE

NANAWAGAN SI SENATE PRESIDENT JUAN PONCE ENRILE KAY SEN. PANFILO LACSON NA UMUWI NA NG BANSA AT HARAPIN ANG WARRANT OF ARREST SA KANYA KAUGNAY NG DACER-CORBITO DOUBLE MURDER CASE.

IPINAALALA NG SENADOR NA NALAGAY DIN SIYA SA KATULAD NA SITWASYON NOONG ADMINISTRASYONG AQUINO KUNG SAAN KINASUHAN SIYA NG REBELYON PARA LAMANG SIYA IPITIN, PERO SA HALIP NA TUMAKAS SIYA PALABAS NG BANSA AY MATAPANG NIYA ITONG HINARAP.

SI LACSON AY LUMIPAD PATUNGONG HONG KONG NOONG ENERO SINGKO, DALAWANG ARAW BAGO SIYA IDINAWIT NG DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SA KASONG PAGPATAY KINA PUBLICIST SALVADOR “BUBBY” DACER AT SA DRIVER NITONG SI EMMANUEL CORBITO.

8. DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY IPINAPAGAMIT MUNA ANG BROWN SUGAR

PINAYUHAN NG DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY O DTI ANG PUBLIKO NA GUMAMIT NA LAMANG NG “BROWN SUGAR” NA MAS MURA DAHIL NARIN SA HINDI MAAWAT NA PAGTATAAS NG HALAGA NITO.

SINABI NI DTI UNDERSECRETARY ZENAIDA MAGLAYA NA NASA SINGKWENTAY KWATRO KADA KILO ANG BENTAHAN NG PUTING ASUKAL NGUNIT SA IBANG PALENGKE AY IBINIBENTA NG HIGIT SA NATURANG HALAGA.

SAMANTALA, SINABI NAMAN NI PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION OF SUPERMARKETS INC. SECRETARY GENERAL FEDERICO PLES NA WALA PA SA KANILANG MIYEMBRO ANG NAGTATAAS SA HALAGA NG MGA “SUGAR BASED PRODUCT”.

9. OSPITAL PINAGBABAYAD NG LABING LIMANG MILYONG PISO DAHIL SA GASANG NAIWAN SA KATAWAN NG PASYENTE

INATASAN NG KORTE SUPREMA ANG MGA MAY-ARI NG MEDICAL CITY HOSPITAL NA MAGBAYAD NG LABING LIMANG MILYONG PISO DAHIL SA ISANG DOCTOR NA NAKAIWAN NG GASA SA LOOB NG KATAWAN NG PASYENTENG KANYANG INOPERAHAN.

NAPATUNAYAN KASI NG KORTE NA WALANG GINAWANG HAKBANG ANG PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INC NA SIYANG MAY-ARI NG OSPITAL SA REKLAMO NG PASYENTENG SI NATIVIDAD AGANA MAKARAAN SIYANG OPERAHAN NI DR. MIGUEL AMPIL DAHIL SA COLON CANCER.

NADISKUBRENG NAIWANAN NI AMPIL ANG DALAWANG PIRASO NG GASA SA KATAWAN NI AGANA MATAPOS ANG OPERASYON.

10. VOTERS’ EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SA BAYAN NG SAMAL BATAN, NAGSIMULA NA!

PUSPUSAN ANG GINAGAWANG VOTERS’ EDUCATION CAMPAIGN NA PINANGUNAHAN NG EMPLEYADO NG COMELEC SA BAYAN NG SAMAL BATAAN UPANG MATURUAN ANG MGA MAMAMAYAN SA TAMANG PROSESO NG PAGBOTO SA KAUNA UNAHANG AUTOMATED ELECTIONS.

TARGET NG MGA LOCAL COMELEC OFFICALS ANG MGA BARANGAY KUNG SAAN SA KANILANG BAYAN KUNG SAAN GAMIT ANG ISANG SOUND SYSTEM AT COMPUTER IPANAPALIWANAG SA MGA MAMAMAYAN ANG MGA DAPAT GAWIN SA PANAHON NG PAGBOTO.

AYON SA MUNICIPAL SUPERVISOR NG COMELEC, PWEDI UMANONG KULANG ANG MGA BIBILUGANG PANGALAN NG MGA KANDIDATO SA PARTIUCLAR NA MGA POSISYON HUWAG LAMANG UMANONG SUMOBRA DAHIL HINDI NA ITO BABASAHIN NG MAKINA.

NAGSIMULA UMANO SILANG MAG IKOT SA MGA BARANGAY SA NATURANG BAYAN MULA NOONG ENERO A DISI-OTSO KUNG SAAN HALOS MATATAPOS NA NILA ANG LAHAT NG MGA BARANGAY.

PAGLALAGAY SA BUONG LALAWIGAN NG NUEVA ECIJA SA ELECTION WATHCLIST, INIREKOMENDA NG PAMUNUAN NG KAPULISAN SA CENTRAL LUZON

2010-02-04T14:41:00.000-08:00

1. PAGLALAGAY SA BUONG LALAWIGAN NG NUEVA ECIJA SA ELECTION WATHCLIST, INIREKOMENDA NG PAMUNUAN NG KAPULISAN SA CENTRAL LUZON

INIREKOMENDA NI CENTRAL LUZON POLICE DIRECTOR CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT LEON NILO DELA CRUZ SA COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS NA ISAMA ANG BUONG LALAWIGAN NG NUEVA ECIJA SA ELECTIONS WATCHLIST DAHIL NA RIN SA TALA NG MGA KAGULIHAN NA MAY KINALAMAN SA HALALAN.

NAUNA NG IKINONSIDERA ANG MAY SIYAM NA BAYAN SA UNANG DISRITO NG NATURANG LALAWIGAN PARA ISAMA SA ELECTION WATCHLIST PERO PAGKATAPOS NG MASUSING PAG AARAL MINARAPAT NG KAPULISAN NA ILAGAY ANG BUONG LALAWIGAN PARA NARIN SA KALIGTASAN NG MGA NOVO ECIJANOS SA GAGANAPING ELEKSIYON.

AYON KAY DELA CRUZ, KUMONTI NA ANG BILANG NG MGA ARMADONG GRUPO SA NATURANG LALAWIGAN NA KARANIWANG GINAGAMIT NG MGA PULITIKO TUWING PANAHON NG KAMPANYA.

SAMANTALA, ILAN SA MGA MALALAKING PAMILYA SA NUEVA ECIJA NA MAY MATINDING TUNGALIAN SA PULITIKA NA NASANGKOT NA RIN SA ILANG KAGULUHAN SA HALALAN AY ANG PAMILYA ESQIEVELS, UMALI, JOSON AT PEREZ.

2. PAG-DISQUALIFY SA NAMFREL IKINALUNGKOT NG PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE VOTING

HINDI UMANO NATUTUWA SI PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE VOTING O PPCRV CHAIRPERSON HENRIETTA DE VILLA SA PAGKADISKWALIPIKA NG COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS SA NATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR FREE ELECTION O NAMFREL BILANG CITIZENS ARM SA NALALAPIT NA ELEKSYON.

MAHALAGA UMANO ANG NASABING GRUPO NA MINSAN DIN NIYANG PINAMUNUAN NOONG MGA NAKARAANG HALALAN.

NAUNA NG KINUWESTIYON SA ANG KREDIBILIDAD NI JOSE CUISIA JR. BILANG CHAIRMAN NG NAMFREL. SI CUISIA AYON SA COMELEC AY KRITIKO NG PAMAHALAAN.

HABANG SI JOSE CONCEPCION, NA FOUNDING CHAIRMAN NG NAMFREL AY KILALANG KRITIKO NG DATING PANGULONG ESTRADA NA NGAYON AY ISA RING KANDIDATO.

SAMANTALA, NAGSAGAWA NAMAN NG VOTERS EDUCATION PROGRAM ANG PPCRV KASAMA ANG COMELEC AT SMARTMATIC SA POPE PIUS CENTER SA MAYNILA KUNG SAAN IPRINISENTA ANG PRECINCT COUNT OPTICAL SCAN MACHINE, BALLOT BOXES NA GAGAMITIN, AT MISMONG MGA BALOTA.

3. KASO NG DENGUE SA REHIYON, UMABOT NA SA ISANG DAAN AT DALAWAMPUT WALO SA BUWANG LAMANG NG ENERO

INIHAYAG NG KAGAWARAN NG KALUSUGAN NA UMABOT NASA ISANG DAAN AT DALAWAMPUT WALO ANG MGA NAITALANG KASO NG DENGUE SA BUONG CENTRAL LUZON .

AYON KAY DR. RIO MAGPANTAY, POSIBLI UMANONG BUMABA ANG MGA KASO NG DENGUE NGAYON KUMPARA SA NAGDAANG TAON, DAHIL NARIN SA NARARANASANG EL NINO PHENOMENON NG BANSA NA NAGPATUYO SA ILANG BASANG LUGAR NA KARANIWANG PINAMAMAHAYAN NG MGA LAMOK.

BATAY SA TALA NG DOH EPIDIOLOGY DIVISION, NANGUNA ANG NUEVA ECIJA SA MAY PINAKA MARAMING KASO NG DENGUE NA UMABOT SA ANIMNAPUT DALAWA NA SINUNDAN NG PAMPANGA NA MAY TATLUNGPUT WALONG KASO. MAYROON NAMANG LABINDALAWA SA ZAMBALES, WALO SA TARLAC AT ANIM SA BULACAN
SA BUWAN LAMANG NG ENERO.

SAMANTALA, WALA NAMANG NAIULAT NA NAMATAY SA MGA PASYENTENG NAGKAROON NG DENGUE.

4. SENATE RECOMMENDATION SA FERTILIZER SCAM, PINURI NG MGA LOKAL NA OPISYAL SA LUGAR NI JOCJOC

PINAPURIHAN NG SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN NG CAPIZ ANG SENADO SA GINAWANG PAG-APRUBA NG SENATE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SA IPINALABAS NA REPORT NA NAGREREKOMENDA NA DAPAT KASUHAN NG PLUNDER SI DATING AGRICULTURE UNDERSECRETARY JOCELYN “JOCJOC” BOLANTE.

KINILALA NG MGA MIYEMBRO NG NATURANG SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN ANG SENATE BLUE RIBBON REPORT NI SEN. DICK GORDON, SA PAMAMAGITAN NG ISANG RESOLUTION NA INIHAIN NI BOARD MEMBER RICKY MARTIN NG UNANG DISTRITO NG CAPIZ, NA SINUPORTAHAN NAMAN NG WALO PANG MGA KASAMAHA NITO.

AYON KAY MARTIN MAGANDANG UMANONG ACCOMPLISHMENT ITO NG SENADO BAGO ANG KANILANG ADJOURNMENT DAHIL SA PAMAMAGITAN NITO AY MALILIWANAGAN ANG USAPIN SA 728 MILYONG PISONG FERTILIZER FUND SCAM NA KINASASANGKUTAN NI BOLANTE.

5. MARJORIE MORALES-SAMBO, TINAWAG NA SINUNGALING NG TAGAPAG SALITA NI MAYOR MARINO BOKING MORALES

TINAWAG NA SINUNGALING NG TAGAPAGSALITA NI MABALACAT MAYOR MARINO BOKING MORALES NA SI DENG PANGILINAN SI MARJORIE MORALES-SAMBO MATAPOS SABIHIN NITONG PATULOY ANG GINAGAWANG PANGGIGIPIT SA KANIYA NG MUNICIPAL TRAFFIC ENFORCERS GROUP.

AYON PA KAY PANGILINAN GUMIGIMIK LAMANG UNAMO SI MARJORIE SAMBO DAHIL NA RIN SA PATULOY NA PAGBAGSAK NG POPOLARIDAD NITO SA MGA MAMAMAYAN NG MABALACAT.

SINABI PA NI PANGLINAN NA ANG MGA NAGLABASAN SA MGA BALITA AY PAWANG KATHANG ISIP LAMANG UMANO NI MARJORIE SAMBO AT SADYANG GINAWA PARA MAKAKUHA NG ATENSIYON AT SIMPATYA MULA SA MGA MAMAMAYAN.

MAGUGUNITANG, UMALMA SI MARJORIE SAMBO DAHIL UMANO PAGBAKLAS NG KANIYANG MGA POSTERS AT IBA PANG ANUNSIYO SA MGA PANGUNAHING LANSANGAN NG NATURANG BAYAN.

6. DATING HUKOM NA NAKIKIPAG-USAP SA MGA DUWENDE, GUSTONG MAGING PUNONG MAHISTRADO NG KORTE SUPREMA

HUMABOL SA HULING ARAW NG PAGSUSUMITE NG APLIKASYON PARA SA PAGIGING PUNONG MAHISTRADO NG KORTE SUPREMA ANG ISANG HUKOM NA UNA NG SINIBAK SA PUWESTO DAHIL SA PAGKUNSULTA SA MGA DWENDE SA PAGDEDESISYON SA KANYANG MGA KASO.

MATATANDAANG SI FLORO NA ISA UMANONG PSYCHIC AY NAGING KONTROBERSIYAL MATAPOS ITONG SIBAKIN SA PUWESTO NG KORTE SUPREMA DAHIL SA KANYANG PAKIKIPAG-USAP SA MGA KAIBIGANG DUWENDE.

UNA RITO SINUSPINDE NA SI FLORO NOONGTAONG DALAWANG LIBO AT ANIM DAHIL SA KANYANG PROBLEMA SA PAG IISIP.

SA KABUUAN AY SIYAM NA ANG OPISYAL NA NOMINADO NG JUDICIAL BAR COUNCIL PARA MAGING PUNONG MAHISTRADO NG KORTE SUPREMA.

7. PAGDIRIWANG NG IBON EBON FESTIVAL SA BAYAN NG CANDABA, KASALUKUYANG ISINASAGAWA!

PORMAL NG PINASIMULAN NGAYON UMAGA ANG DALAWANG ARAW NA PAGDIRIWANG NG IBON EBON FESTIVAL SA BAYAN NG CANDABA PAMPANGA.

ITO ANG PANGATLONG TAON NG PAGDIRIWANG NG IBON EBON FESTIVAL MULA NG PASIMULAN NOONG TAONG DALAWANG LIBO AT WALO.

TAMPOK SA NATURANG PAGDIRIWANG ANG ENGRANDENG PARADA AT SAYAWAN SA KALSADA SUOT ANG MAKUKULAY NA CUSTOM NA HINANGO SA PORMA NG MGA IBON NA KARANIWANG NAKIKITA SA CANDABA.

KAUGNAY NITO, MAHIGIT LIMANG DAANG ESTUDYANTE MULA SA IBAT IBANG PAARALAN SA CANDABA ANG SABAY SABAY NA IINDAK SA MGA PANGUNAHING KALSADA NA SIYANG MAGPAPATINGKAD SA NASABING PAGDIRIWANG.

SAMANTALA, INAASAHAN NAMAN PAGDAGSA NG MGA MATATAAS NA PINUNO NG ATING BANSA AT MGA PULITIKO MULA SA IBAT IBANG PARTIDO UPANG MAKISAYA SA PAGDIRIWANG MGA CANDABENYOS.

8. PAGBABA NG PRESYO NG DALAWAMPUNG URI NG GAMOT, KINUMPIRMA NG DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

KINUMPIRMA NI HEALTH SECRETARY ESPERANZA CABRAL NA BABABA ANG UMIIRAL NA PRESYO NG ILANG MAHAHALAGANG GAMOT NA IBINIBENTA SA MGA BOTIKA SA ATING BANSA.

AYON KAY CABRAL, DALAWAMPUNG KLASE NG GAMOT ANG KASAMA SA MAGKAKAROON NG PRICE ROLLBACK, TULAD NA LAMANG NG ANTI-CANCER, ANTIBIOTICS AT ANTI-PROSTATE.

MISMONG ANG MGA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ANG NAGKUSANG MAG-COMMIT NG NABANGGIT NA BAWAS PRESYO, KASUNOD NA RIN NG PAKI-USAP NG PAMAHALAAN NA SINIMULAN NG DATING DOH SECRETARY NA SI FRANCISCO DUQUE III.

IDINAGDAG PA NG KALIHIM, MAHIGIT LIMAMPUNG PORSYENTO ANG MAGIGING BAWAS SA PRESYO KAYA MALAKING PAKINABANG ITO PARA SA MGA MAHIHIRAP NA MAY KARAMDAMAN.

9. PAGHATOL SA MGA NAGAWANG BATAS NG MGA MAMBABATAS, IPINA-UBAYA SA TAONG BAYAN

SINABI NG MALAKANYANG NA IPA-UBAYA NA LAMANG SA TAONG BAYAN ANG PAGPAPASYA KUNG NAGAMPANAN NG MABUTI NG MGA MAMBABATAS ANG KANILANG TUNGKULIN NA MAGPASA NG KAPAKI PAKINABANG NA BATAS PARA SA MGA MAMAMAYAN.

MAGUGUNITANG MARAMING MAHAHALAGANG BATAS ANG HINDI NA NAIHABOL DAHIL SA WALANG QUORUM SA KAMARA AT SENADO MATAPOS LUMIBAN ANG MAYORYA SA MGA MAMBABATAS.

SINISISI NG MAJORITY BLOCK SA SENADO ANG GRUPO NI SEN. MANNY VILLAR HABANG BUMUWELTA NAMAN ANG MINORYA SA PAGSASABING ANG NANGYARI KAHAPON AY "FAILURE OF LEADEARSHIP."

SINABI NAMAN NI PRESIDENTIAL DEPUTY SPOKESMAN RICARDO SALUDO NA WALA NA UMANO SILANG MAGAGAWA KUNGDI PAGTIYAGAAN NA LAMANG KUNG ANO ANG MGA NAIHABOL NA PANUKALA.

10. VOTERS EDUCATION NG COMELEC, KULANG PA RIN AYON SA PPCRV

MISMONG ANG ACCREDITED ELECTION WATCHDOG AT CITIZENS ARM NG COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS NA PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE VOTING 0 PPCRV ANG NAGSABI NA HINDI PA SAPAT ANG HAKBANG NG KOMISYON SA KANILANG VOTERS EDUCATION PROGRAM.

AYON KAY PPCRV CHAIRPERSON HENRIETTA DE VILLA, DAHIL BAGO ANG URI NG BOTOHAN AY KAILANGANG MAS ADVANCE ANG GINAGAWANG INFORMATION DISSEMINATION NG COMELEC.

GAYUN PA MAN, HINDI UMANO SINISISI NG PPCRV ANG COMELEC DAHIL ALAM NILANG MARAMI RING PINAGKAKA ABALAHAN ANG KOMISYON BILANG PAGHAHANDA SA KAUNA-UNAHANG NATIONWIDE AUTOMATED ELECTIONS.

KAUGNAY NITO, TINIYAK NG ELECTION CITIZENS ARM NA KANILANG GAGAMITIN ANG PWERSA UPANG MAPUNAN ANG ILANG KAKULANGAN NG COMELEC DAHIL ITO NAMAN TALAGA ANG KANILANG PAPEL BILANG KATUWANG NG KOMISYON SA PANAHON NG HALALAN.

16. MAYNILA GINALUGAD SA JAMMING DEVICE

2010-02-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

1. MAYNILA GINALUGAD SA JAMMING DEVICE

SINALAKAY NG PINAGSANIB NA PUWERSA NG MANILA POLICE DISTRICT AT MANILA CITY BUSINESS PERMIT ANG ISANG TINDAHAN NA NAGBEBENTA NG “SIGNAL JAMMING DEVICE” SA STA. CRUZ, MAYNILA.

AYON KAY POLICE SUPERINTENDENT NELSON YABUT, STATION COMMANDER MANILA POLICE DISTRICT, NAKATANGGAP SIYA NG IMPORMASYON HINGGIL SA GINAGAWANG PAGBEBENTA NG XING SHENG ENTERPRISE NG SIGNAL JAMMING DEVICE.

KAUGNAY NITO, KAAGAD NAKIPAG-UGNAYAN ANG PULISYA SA BUREAU OF PERMITS PARA SALAKAYIN ANG NABANGGIT NA ESTABLISIMIYENTO GAYUNDIN ANG IBA PANG TINDAHAN SA RAON AT BINONDO.

SAMANTALA, WALA NA UMANONG NA-ABUTANG MGA “SIGNAL JAMMING DEVICE” SA MGA SINALAKAY NA ESTABLISIMIYENTO.

2. LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE INULAN NG PROTESTA, RFID REFUND IGINIIT

INULAN NG PROTESTA MULA SA HANAY NG TRANSPORT GROUPS AT IBA’T IBANG GRUPO MULA SA PRIBADONG SEKTOR AT NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION ANG LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE SA TANGGAPAN NITO SA EAST AVENUE, QUEZON CITY.

PINA¬NGUNAHAN ANG NATURANG PORTESTA NG PINAG-ISANG SAMAHAN NG MGA TSUPER AT OPERATORS NATIONWIDE, PROTON, BANGON TRANSPORT, NON-GOVERNMENT GROUP NA ANAK¬PAWIS AT BAYAN MUNA.

HINILING NG MGA NAGPO-PROTESTA NA I-REFUND ANG KANILANG NAIBAYAD SA RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION DEVICE FEE SA LTO.

ANG PROTESTA AY UNANG SINIMULAN NG NATURANG MGA GRUPO SA ISANG MARTSA MULA SA EDSA-KAMIAS PAPUNTANG LTO EAST AVENUE.

3. AMPATUAN JR. NAGHAIN NG NOT GULTY PLEA SA LABING LIMA PANG KASO NG PAGPATAY

NAGHAIN NG NOT-GUILTY PLEA SA KARAGDAGANG KASO NA KINAKAHARAP ANG PANGUNAHING SUSPEK SA NANGYARING MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE NA SI DATU UNSAY MAYOR ANDAL AMPATUAN JR.

SA PAGDINIG SA CAMP CRAME, BINASAHAN NG SAKDAL NI JUDGE JOCELYN SOLIS-REYES SI AMPATUAN JR. NA MAY KAUGNAYAN SA KARAGDAGANG LABING LIMA PANG KASO NG PAGPATAY NA ISINAMPA LABAN DITO.

SA KABUUAN AY UMAABOT NA SA LIMAMPUT ANIM NA KASO ANG ISINAMPA KAY AMPATUAN KUNG SAAN PAWANG NOT GUILTY ANG INIHAING PLEA NG AKUSADO.

SAMANTALA, BAGAMA'T HINDI PA NATATAPOS ANG PAGDINIG, KAAGAD NAMANG IBINALIK SI ANDAL JR. SA SELDA NITO SA NBI HEADQUARTERS.

4. PRIVATE ARMY SA TAGUIG KINATATAKUTAN!

PINANGANGAMBAHAN NG ILANG RESIDENTE NG TAGUIG CITY NA MULING KUMILOS ANG IPINALALAGAY NILANG PRIVATE ARMY NG ISANG MATAAS NA OPISYAL NG PAMAHALAAN PARA SA NALALAPIT NA HALALAN.

KABILANG UMANO ANG NATURANG OPISYAL SA SINASABING NAGMAMANTINI NG PRIVATE ARMY.

GINUNITA NILA NA NOONG MGA NAKARAANG HALALAN, GINAMIT NG NATURANG OPISYAL ANG PRIVATE ARMY PARA MAGSILBING SECURITY NG ANAK NIYANG KUMANDIDATONG KONGRESISTA SA KANILANG LUNSOD.

AYON PA SA MGA RESIDENTE, PARA UMANONG NASA WAR ZONE SILA SA DAMI NG PRIVATE ARMY NG ANAK NG NATURANG OPISYAL.

5. PAMUNUAN NG METRO CLARK ADVISORY COUNCIL, HINIMOK ANG DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NA MAMAGITAN SA ISYU NG PAG ALIS NG DFA AT NBI SA LOOB NG CLARK
HINIMOK NG METRO CLARK ADVISORY COUNCIL AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NA MAMAGITAN UPANG MAPIGILAN ANG TULUYANG PAGLILIPAT NG OPISINA NG NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AT DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MULA SA LOOB NG CLARK FREEPORT PAPUNTA SA SIYUDAD NG SAN FERNANDO.
SINABI NINA METRO CLARK ADVISORY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN BENIGNO RICAFORT AT MABALACAT MAYOR MARINO BOKING MORALES NA NAKATAKDA SILANG UMAPELA SA NATURANG DEPARTAMENTO NG PAMAHALAAN UPANG MAIBALIK ANG DALAWANG AHENSIYA SA LOOB NG CLARK .
AYON PA KAY MORALES, LALUNG LUMALAKAS ANG PANAWAGANG NG IBAT IBANG SEKTOR NA SUMUSUPORTA SA KANIYANG IPINAGLALABAN UKOL SA PAGPAPANATILI NG OPERASYON NG MGA NATURANG AHENSIYA NG PAMALAAN SA CLARK FREEPORT.

MALACANANG HUMILING NG PATAS NA ATENSIYON NG MEDIA PARA SA MGA KANDIDATO SA PAGKA PANGULO NG BANSA

2010-02-03T14:45:00.000-08:00

1. MALACANANG HUMILING NG PATAS NA ATENSIYON NG MEDIA PARA SA MGA KANDIDATO SA PAGKA PANGULO NG BANSA

NAGPARAMDAM ANG MALACAÑANG SA UMANO’Y MALIIT NA MEDIA ATTENTION NA IBINIBIGAY SA KANILANG MANOK NA SI GILBERT TEODORO.

SINABI NI EXECUTIVE SECRETARY EDUARDO ERMITA NA NAGIGING PRANGKA LAMANG ITO SA PAGSASABI NG KANYANG SENTIMYENTO BILANG OPISYAL NG LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD.

AYON KAY ERMITA, HINDI MAN LANG NABIBIGYAN NG KAHALAGAHAN O MAGANDANG ISTORYA ANG MGA MAGAGANDANG NAGAWA NI TEODORO SA MGA DEBATE.

KUNG SINA SENADOR NOYNOY AQUINO AT SENADOR MANUEL VILLAR ANG SUMALI UMANO SA DEBATE, LAGI SILANG NASA FRONT PAGE HABANG INSIDE STORY LAMANG ANG KAY GIBO.

2. FIRST GENTLEMAN AT PANGULONG GMA: MAG-INVEST SA HEALTH CARE, RESEARCH KONTRA AUTISM

NANAWAGAN ANG MAG-ASAWANG PANGULONG GLORIA ARROYO AT FIRST GENTLEMAN MIKE ARROYO NG HIGIT NA SUPORTA AT PANG-UNAWA SA AUTISM DISORDER.

GINAWA NG MAG-ASAWANG ARROYO ANG APELA KASABAY NG PAGBUBUKAS NG INTERNATIONAL AUTISM CONFERENCE SA PASAY CITY.

SINABI NI ATTY. ARROYO NA UMAASA ITONG SA PAMAMAGITAN NG PAGTITIPON AY MAS MAUUNAWAAN ANG NASABING KAPANSANAN UPANG MAGING MAS MAGAAN ANG EPEKTO NITO.

SAMANTALA, HINIKAYAT NI PANGULONG ARROYO ANG MGA MAMUMUHUNAN NA MAGLAGAK DIN NG KAPITAL SA HEALTH CARE LALO NA SA RESEARCH NG GAMOT AT PAGLABAN SA AUTISM.

3. MATAAS NA NPA LEADER NA MAY DALAWA PUNTO ANIM NA MILYONG PISONG PATONG SA ULO, NAHULI SA ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE

ARESTADO ANG ISANG MATAAS NA OPISYAL NG NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY NA MAY PATONG SA ULO NA DALAWA PUNTO ANIM NA MILYONG PISO SA ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE.

KINILALA NI WESTERN MINDANAO COMMAND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER LT. STEPHANIE CACHO ANG SUSPEK NA SI MARIA LUISA PURKRAY ALYAS BIOL, SECRETARY NG NORTH CENTRAL MINDANAO REGIONAL PARTY COMMITTEE.

NAARESTO SI PURKRAY SA BARANGAY DIKAYO, KATIPUNAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE KUNG SAAN NAKUHA SA KANYA ANG ISANG HAND GRENADE AT MAHAHALAGANG DOKUMENTO.

MALIBAN PA KAY PURKRAY, NAARESTO DIN ANG MEDICAL STAFF OFFICER NG WESTERN MINDANAO REGIONAL PARTY COMMITTEE NA SI ALLEN SOLIS.

4. IMPORTASYON NG ASUKAL, PINAHINTULUTAN NG MALACANANG

INILABAS NG MALACAÑANG ANG ISANG KAUTUSAN NA NAGBIBIGAY PAHINTULOT SA IMPORTASYON NG ASUKAL.

ITO AY SA PATULOY NA PAGTAAS SA PRESYO NG ASUKAL DAHIL SA MATAAS NA DEMAND AT KINUKULANG UMANONG SUPPLY.

SA ILALIM NG NATURANG KAUTUSAN, BINIBIGYAN NI PANGULONG ARROYO NG KAPANGYARIHAN ANG NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY NA MAG-ANGKAT SA LAYUNING MAPATATAG ANG SUPPLY AT PRESYO NG ASUKAL SA BANSA.

OTORISADO RIN ANG NFA NA MAGPATAW NG SERVICE FEE SA GAGAWING IMPORTASYON NG PRIVATE SECTOR HABANG ANG DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AT DTI ANG BAHALANG MAGDIKTA KUNG GAANO KARAMI ANG AANGKATING ASUKAL HANGGANG KATAPUSAN NG TAON.

5. PASAPORTE NI PING , IPINAKAKANSELA!

TINIYAK NG DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NA GAGAWIN NILA ANG LAHAT NG PARAAN PARA MAHABOL SI SENADOR PANFILO ‘PING’ LACSON AT MAPANAGOT SA DACER-CORBITO DOUBLE MURDER CASE KAHIT UMABOT PA SA PUNTONG KAILANGANING KANSELAHIN ANG PASAPORTE NITO.

HINAMON NI JUSTICE SECRETARY AGNES DEVANADERA ANG SENADOR NA MATAPANG NA HARAPIN ANG AKUSASYON LABAN SA KANYA, KUNG TUNAY ITONG HINDI NAGKASALA.

AYON KAY DEVANADERA SA KASALUKUYAN AY WALA PANG GINAGAWANG HAKBANG ANG DOJ MATAPOS MAKUMPIRMA NA NASA AUSTRALIA NA ANG SENADOR MATAPOS ITONG LUMIPAD NOONG ENERO 5 PATUNGONG HONG KONG.

SAKALING HINDI UMANO UMUWI NG BANSA ANG SENADOR AT MAS PILIIN NA TALIKURAN ANG KASO AT MANATILI SA IBANG BANSA AY NAKAHANDA NAMAN ANG AHENSYA NA GUMAWA NG KINAKAILANGANG HAKBANG UPANG MAPABALIK ITO SA BANSA.

PANGASINAN CONGRESSMAN COJUANGCO, NA-HIGH BLOOD SA SESYON NG KAMARA

2010-02-03T14:43:00.000-08:00

1. PANGASINAN CONGRESSMAN COJUANGCO, NA-HIGH BLOOD SA SESYON NG KAMARA

TUMAAS ANG PRESYON NG DUGO NI PANGASINAN CONGRESSMAN MARK COJUANGCO, ANAK NI BUSINESS TYCOON DANDING COJUANGCO HABANG MAY SESYON SA KAMARA.

SA KASAGSAGAN NG TENSYON, NAHILO AT NAPAUPO SI COJUANGCO KAYA PANSAMANTALA ITONG NAGPAHINGA AT PINAYPAYAN NG MGA KAPWA MAMBABATAS.

NAUNA RITO, KINUWESTYON NG NATURANG MAMBABATAS ANG PAG-ADJOURN NG SESYON GAYUNG SAPAT NAMAN UMANO ANG BILANG NG MGA KONGRESISTA.

HINAHABOL KASI NI COJUANGCO NA MATALAKAY ANG KANYANG PANUKALANG BATAS TUNGKOL SA REHABILITASYON NG BATAAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.

2. DALAWANG MOST WANTED SA CENTRAL LUZON, BUMAGSAK SA KAMAY NG MGA OTORIDAD

NALAMBAT NG MGA OTORIDAD ANG DALAWANG ITINUTURING NA MOST WANTED SA CENTRAL LUZON MATAPOS MAARESTO ANG MGA ITO SA BARANGAY PANGINAY SA BAYAN NG BALAGTAS LALAWIGAN NG BULACAN.

KINILALA NI CENTRAL LUZON POLICE DIRECTOR CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT LEONILO DELA CRUZ ANG MGA NAARESTO NA SINA JOAQUIN SANTOS AT BLANCAFLOR PARADERO VILLAREAL NA PAREHONG NASA LISTAHAN NG MGA PUSAKAL NA KRIMINAL.

KAPWA MAY PATONG SA ULO ANG DALAWA NG HALAGANG PITONGPUT LIMANG LIBONG PISO.

AYON SA MGA OTORIDAD ISINAGAWA ANG NATURANG PAG ARESTO SA MGA SUSPEK SA BISA NG ISANG WARRANT OF ARREST NA INILABAS NI JUDGE RAMOS CAGUIOA NG OLONGAPO REGIONAL TRIAL COURT DAHIL NA RIN SA PATONG PATONG KASONG KINAKAHARAP.

3. PAGDAMI NG MAYROONG HIV-AIDS SA MGA CALL CENTER AGENTS, BANTA SA PAGLAGO NG NATURANG INDUSTRIYA

INAMIN NG MALACAÑANG NA NAKABABAHALA ANG RESULTA NG ISANG PAG-AARAL NA NAGSABING KARAMIHAN NG MGA MAYROONG HIV-AIDS AY MGA NAGTATRABAHO SA MGA CALL CENTERS.

AYON SA PAG AARAL NG KAGAWARAN NG KAULUSUGAN, MADALI UMANONG TABLAN NG NATURANG SAKIT ANG MGA CALL CENTER AGENST DAHIL NA RIN SA URI AT ORAS NG KANILANG TRABAHO.

SINABI NI EXECUTIVE SECRETARY EDUARDO ERMITA NA DAPAT NA MASUSING MAIMBESTIGAHAN ANG ULAT UKOL DITO DAHIL TIYAK ITONG MAKAKAAPEKTO SA PAPALAKAS NA INDUSTRIYA NG BANSA.

MAGUGUNITANG PATULOY SA PAGLAGO ANG BUSINESS PROCESSING OUTSOURCING SECTOR SA BANSA KUNG SAAN KALAHATING MILYON NA ANG NALILIKHA NITONG TRABAHO.

4. ASSOCIATE JUSTICE RENATO GUSTONG MAGING PUNONG MAHISTRADO NG KORTE SUPREMA

TINANINGAN NA HANGGANG HUWEBES ANG PAGTANGGAP NG MGA APLIKANTE O NOMINASYON SA MGA GUSTONG MAGING PUNONG MAHISTADO NG KORTE SUPREMA NA PAPALIT SA MAGRERETIRONG SI CHIEF JUSTICE REYNATO PUNO.

SI PUNO AY NAKATAKDANG MAGRETIRO SA DARATING NA MAYO A-DISI SIYETE, KUNG SAAN UMABOT NA ITO HUSTONG GULANG NA PAGRERETIRO.

KAUGNAY NITO, TINANGGAP NA RIN NI SUPREME COURT SENIOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE RENATO CORONA ANG NOMINASYON NG JUDICIAL AND BAR COUNCIL PARA SUMUNOD NA BAGONG PUNONG MAHISTRADO NG KATAAS-TAASAHANG HUKUMAN.

INIHAYAG NI CORONA ANG KANYANG KAGUSTUHAN SA PAMAMAGITAN NG ISANG LIHAM SA JBC.

MATATANDAANG NITONG MGA NAGDAANG MGA ARAW AY NAGING MAINIT ANG USAPIN SA PAGTATALAGA NG PANGULO SA SUSUNOD NA PUNONG MAHISTRADO DAHIL SA USAPING LEGAL.

5. BOTOHAN SA KONTROBERSIYA NG C-5 ROAD PROJECT, 'DI NATULOY DAHIL SA QUORUM

SAMPUNG KASAMAHAN NI SENADOR MANUEL VILLAR ANG NAGSALBA LABAN SA COMMITTEE REPORT NA NAG-DIIN SA KANIYA SA KONTROBERSYAL NA C-5 ROAD PROJECT.

BINATIKOS NAMAN NI SENATE PRESIDENT JUAN PONCE ENRILE SI VILLAR NA UMANO'Y NASA LIKOD NG HINDI PAGSIPOT NG SAMPUNG MGA TINUTURING NA KAKAMPI NITO SA HULING ARAW NG SESYON SA PLENARYO NG SENADO.

NAKATAKDA SANANG TALAKAYIN AT PAGBOTOHAN SA PLENARYO ANG REPORT NG SENATE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HINDI NATULOY DAHIL SA KAKULANGAN NG SAPAT NA BILANG NG MGA SENADOR.

HINDI NAMAN NAITAGO NG MGA DUMALONG SENADOR ANG KANILANG PAGKADISMAYA SA HINDI PAGSIPOT NG MGA KASAMAHAN.

MARJORIE SAMBO MORALES, NAGREKLAMO SA MALA-MARTIAL LAW NA PAGTRATO SA KANIYA

2010-02-03T14:39:00.000-08:00

1. MARJORIE SAMBO MORALES, NAGREKLAMO SA MALA-MARTIAL LAW NA PAGTRATO SA KANIYA

UMALMA SI MARJORIE SAMBO MORALES KANDIDATO SA PAGKA ALKALDE SA BAYAN NG MABALACAT, AT KALABAN NG KANIYANG SARILING AMA NA SI MABALACAT MAYOR MARINO BOKING MORALES SA MALA-MARTIAL LAW NA PAGTRATO UMANO SA KANIYA NG MGA OTORIDAD SA NATURANG BAYAN.

NAG UGAT ANG USAPIN NG TANGGALIN NG MUNICIPAL TRAFFIC GROUP ANG KANIYANG MGA ANUNSIYO SA MGA PANGUNAHING LANSANGAN. HINDI RIN UMANO PINALIGTAS MAGING ANG MGA NAKALAGAY SA MGA PRIBADONG BAHAY NG KANIYANG MGA TAGA SUPORTA.

AYON KAY MARJORIE SIGURADO SIYANG MAYROON PROMOTOR SA PANGGIGIPIT NA NARARANASAN NIYA AT MAGING NG KANIYANG MGA TAGA SUPORTA NGAYON.

NAGTATAKA LANG SI MARJORIE KUNG BAKIT, ANG KANIYANG MGA POSTERS LAMANG ANG PINAG-IINITAN SAMANTALANG NAGKALAT PARIN ANG MGA KARATULA NG MGA KATUNGGALI NIYA SA POSISYON SUBALIT HINDI NAMAN TINATANGGAL.

2. MILYONG MILYONG HALAGA NG PALAY AT GULAY, NASIRA NG EL NIÑO SA ISABELA

UMAABOT NA SA MAHIGIT NA KWARENTAY TRES MILYONG PISO ANG HALAGA NG MGA NAPINSALANG TANIM NA PALAY AT GULAY SA IBA'T IBANG BAYAN SA ISABELA DAHIL SA EPEKTO NG TAGTUYOT BUNGA NG EL NIÑO PHENOMENON.

MULA SA 132,674 EKTARYA NG PALAYAN AY 2,574 NA RITO ANG APEKTADO.

ANG BILANG NG MGA APEKTADONG MAGSASAKA AY UMABOT NASA 1,716 MULA SA MGA BAYAN NG SAN PABLO , NAGUILIAN AT ILAGAN, ISABELA.

MAS MATINDI RIN ANG PINSALANG DULOT NG TAGTUYOT SA MGA TANIM NA MAIS DAHIL UMABOT NA SA MAHIGIT P400 MILLION ANG HALAGA NG MGA NAPINSALA.

MALINAW NA EPEKTO ITO NG PAG-IIBA NG KLIMA NA DAPAT SAMA-SAMANG PAGTUUNAN NG PANSIN NG PUBLIKO.

SAMANTALA, SINABI NI PROVINCIAL AGRICULTURIST DANILO TUMAMAO NG KAGAWARAN NG PAGSASAKA NA HINDI PA GAANONG APEKTADO ANG MALAWAK NA PALAYAN SA ISABELA DAHIL MAYROON PANG DUMADALOY NA TUBIG MULA SA MAGAT DAM IRRIGATION SYSTEM.

3. GOBERNOR EDDIE PANLILIO, HANDANG IBIGAY ANG SAMPUNG LIBONG BONUS, KUNG HINDI SIYA IDI-DEMANDA NG SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN

HUMINGI NG GARANTIYA SI PAMPANGA GOVERNOR EDDIE PANLILIO NA HINDI SIYA IHAHABLA SAKALING IBIGAY NA NIYA ANG SAMPUNG LIBONG PISONG BONUS NG MGA EMPLEYADO NG KAPITOLYO NA DAPAT SANA’Y NOONG DISYEMBRE PA IBINIGAY.

NAIS NI PANLILIO NA PUMIRMA SA ISANG KASUNDUAN ANG MGA MIYEMBRO NG UNYON UPANG MATIYAK NA HINDI SIYA MALALAGAY SA BALAG NG ALANGANIN SAKALING IPAGPALOOB NIYA ANG NATURANG BONUS.

NAGPAHAYAG NAMAN NG KAHANDAAN ANG MGA MANGGAGAWA NA MAKIPAGTULUNGAN SA GOBERNADOR SA GINANAP NG PAGPUPULONG NG MAGKABILANG PANIG UKOL SA USAPIN NG BONUS.

SAMANTALA, NAPAG ALAMANG HINDI NAMAN UMANO SANG AYON ANG PRESIDENTE NG UNYON NA SI REMIGIO CAPUCHINO NA SAMPUNG PISO LAMANG ANG MATATANGGAP NA BONUS NG MGA EMPLEYADO.

4. PAGKALAT NG PEKENG PERA NGAYONG CAMPAIGN PERIOD, IBINABALA NG BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS

NAGBABALA SA PUBLIKO ANG BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS O BSP SA PAGKALAT NG MGA PEKENG PERA NGAYONG NALALAPIT NA ANG HALALAN.

AYON KAY MARLENE PAJE NG BSP, BATAY NA RIN SA KANILANG KARANASAN NITONG NAKALIPAS NA MGA HALALAN, KAMPANYA PA LAMANG AY KALAT NA ANG MGA PEKENG PERA NA NAKIKIPAGSABAYAN UMANO SA IBINIBIGAY NA PERA NG MGA KANDIDATO.

BINIGYANG DIIN NI PAJE NA SA MGA GANITONG SITWASYON NA MARAMING PERA ANG INILALABAS, KAILANGANG MAGING ALERTO ANG PUBLIKO UPANG HINDI MAGING BIKTIMA.

5. SAPAT NG SUPPLY NG SEMENTO SA PAMPANGA, TINIYAK NG DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY!

TINIYAK NG DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY SA PUBLIKO NA SAPAT ANG SUPPLY NG SEMENTO SA LALAWIGAN NG PAMPANGA AT HINDI NA MAUULIT ANG NANGYARING KAKULANGAN NITO NOONG NAGDAANG BUWAN NG DISYEMBRE.

AYON KAY DTI OFFICER IN CHARGE LEONILA BALUYUT NAKA-APEKTO SA SUPPLY NG SEMENTO SA LALAWIGAN ANG GINAWANG PAGKUMPUNI SA MGA PANGUNAHING FACTORY SA NORTH AT CENTRAL LUZON .

SINABI PA NI BALUYUT NA PWEDI NILANG KONTROLIN SA NGAYON ANG PRESYO NG SEMENTO DAHIL SAPAT ANG SUPPLY NITO.

IDINAGDAG PA NI BALUYOT NA HINDI DAPAT LUMAMPAS SA DALAWANG DAAN AT LIMANG PISO ANG HALAGA NG SEMENTO KADA BAG NITO SA MGA PAMILIHAN.

Kooperatiba sa floridablanca tumanggap ng tulong pinasiyal

2010-01-07T14:50:00.000-08:00

Tuwang tuwa ang may labing limang miyembro ng aku ing bayung entreprenyur – kapampangan ng pagkalooban ng tulong pinansiyal ng provincial government sa pamamagitan ng provincial cooperative and entreprenuerial development office o pcedo

Uumabot sa mahigit na isa punto tatlo milyong piso ang ibinigay na pautang ng lalawigan sa mga miyembro na gagamitin para makapagsimula ng negosyo.

Ipinaliwanag pcedo chief mamerto gatus, na ang nasabing hakbang ay naglalayong masuportahan at mapaunlad ang malilit na negosyante sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng panibagong puhunan sa mga ito.

Kaugnay nito, sinabi ni floridablanca mayor eduardo guerero na malaking tulong ang ginawang ito ng lalawigan hindi lamang sa mga miyembro ng kooperatiba kungdi maging sa ekonomiya ng kaniyang bayan.

Labanang noynoy at villar sa 2010 tumitindi!

2010-01-07T14:49:00.000-08:00

Lalung tumitindi ang labanan nina senador benigno “noynoy” aquino iii ng liberal¬ party at senador manny villar ng nacionalista party sa halalang pam¬panguluhan sa mayo.

Ayon sa survey na isinagawa mula disyembre 12 hanggang 19, sa
may 7,000 respondents na tinanong, 45.7 percent ang pumili kay aquino at 24.6 percent naman kay villar.

Nasa pangatlong puwesto naman si dating pangulong joseph “erap” estrada na nakakuha ng 17.7 percent, at sinundan siya nina gilbert “gibo” teodoro na may 5.7 percent , bro. eddie villanueva
na may 1.5 percent, at sen. richard “dick” gordon na nakakuha lang ng 1.3 percent.

Ipinapakita ng survey ang patuloy na pagdikit ni villar kay aquino mula nang palitan ng huli si senador mar roxas na maging standard bearer ng lp noong setyembre.

OFW na biktima ng mistaken identity na troma!

2010-01-07T14:47:00.000-08:00

Isasailalim sa stress debriefing ang welder na si jayson aguilar, ang ofw na pina-deport mula sa qatar makaraang mapagkamalan na siya si jayson ivler na sangkot sa isang krimen.

Ayon kay mario antonio ng repatriation division ng overseas workers welfare administration layunin nitong maka-recover si aguilar mula sa masaklap na karanasan.

Matatandaang una ng inihayag ng pinoy worker na pitong araw siyang ikinulong sa isang detention facility sa qatar at pitong araw ding hindi nakapaligo o nakapag-toothbrush man lang dahil sa higpit ng mga bantay.

Sa panayam kay aguilar, ayaw na umano nitong umalis ng bansa dahil sa nasabing pangyayari na nagbigay sa kaniya ng trauma.

Humingi na rin ng paumanhin ang pamilya ng napaslang na si renato ebarle jr., dahil sa pagkaka-deport ni aguilar gayung hindi naman ito ang hinahanap ng batas.

Pinaghihinalaang carnaper arestado sa mabalacat!

2010-01-07T14:46:00.000-08:00

Bumagsak sa kamay ng mga otoridad ang limang pinaghihinalaang carnaper matapos maaresto ang mga ito sa barangay dau sa bayan mabalacat.

Kinilala ang mga suspek na sina, jayson cajala, marlon majia, jimmy moneva, at dalawang minor de edad hindi pinangalannan ng kapulisan.

Ayon sa mga pulis, sangkot umano ang mga naturang suspek sa pagnanakaw ng isang tricycle na pagmamay-ari ni adorable dela pena ng barangay dau.

Nahaharap naman ang mga suspek sa kasong carnapping habang ibinigay sa pangangalaga ng departmen of social welfare and development ang dalawang minor de edad.

Lacson sinampahan ng double murder case sa korte!

2010-01-07T14:43:00.000-08:00

Sinampahan ng double murder case sa korte ng department of justice o DOJ si senador panfilo lacson kaugnay sa pagdukot at pagpaslang sa pr man na si salvador 'bubby" dacer at driver nitong si emmanuel corbito.

Ayon kay justice secretary agnes devanadera, batay sa resulta sa isinagawang imbestigasyon ng doj panel of prosecutors, may probable cause para isampa ang kaso laban kay lacson.

Inaasahan na umano ni lacson ang pagpupumilit ng doj na maisampa ang kasong pagpatay laban sa kanya sa kabila ng kawalan ng basehan at ebidensya.

Tiniyak naman ni lacson na gagawin lahat ng kanyang ng mga abogado ang paraan upang masagot at maharang ang anumang pag-aresto sa kanya.

GMA pinagre-resign muli ng mga kritiko!

2010-01-07T14:42:00.000-08:00

Binuhay muli ang panawagan kay pangulong gloria macapagal arroyo na mag resign sa pagka pangulo ng bansa dahil nagagamit umano ng pangulo ang kaniyang puwesto sa pansarili niyang pulitikal na ambisyon.

Ginawa ang panawagan ni architect adonis simpao katunggali ng pangulo sa pagka-kongresista sa ikalawang distrito ng lalawigan matapos mapabalita na umabot na sa 459milyong piso ang ibinuhos ng pangulo sa pang-imprastrakturang proyekto at malaking bahagi nito ay napunta sa naturang distrito.

Ayon pa kay simpao na alam na umano ng mga botonte mula sa ikalawang distrito ang tunay na layunin ng pangulo sa pagtakbo nito kongreso.

Bahagi lamang daw ito ng plano ng pangulo na makapanatili sa kapangayarihan sa pamamagitan ng pagiging speaker ng kongreso at prime minister sakaling matuloy ang pagpapalit ng porma ng gobyerno.

Election hot spots sa bansa dumarami pa!

2010-01-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

Habang papalapit ang may 2010 presidential election ay dumadami na rin ang mga lugar na inilalagay ng commission on elections o comelec sa watch list nito o tinaguriang hot spots dahil sa mga election-related violence.

Sinabi ngayon ni philippine national police director general jesus versoza, na umaabot na sa 558 lungsod at bayan ang kanilang ikinokonsiderang areas of concern.

Nasa 440 mga lugar ang sa labas ng autonomous region in muslim mindanao o armm na nasa kanilang nasa watchlist habang 118 naman sa labas ng armm.

Kaugnay nito, mula sa dating siyam na lugar na nasa kontrol ng comelec, nadagdagan pa ito ng lima .

Kabilang sa mga ito ay ang lanao del sur, zamboanga sibugay, antique, eastern samar at saranggi.

Panlilio handa na sa paglabas ng desisyon sa protesta laban sa kaniya

2010-01-07T14:39:00.000-08:00

Ipinahayag ni pampanga governor eddie panlilio na nakahanda na siya sa paglabas ng desisyon ng comelec second division na humahawak sa isinampang protesta laban sa kaniya ni dating board member lilia pineda.

Maging si panlilio ay naniniwalang hindi magiging pabor sa kaniya ang desisyong nakatakdang ilabas anumang araw sa linggong ito.

Nauna ng napabalita ang paglalabas ng desisyon kahapon, subalit ayon kay sixto brillantes wala umanong pasabi ang comelec ukol dito, kung kayat maging siya ay hindi umaasang matutuloy ang promulgasyon ng naturang desisyon.

Ayon naman kay panlilio, nakahanda naman umano niyang bakantehin ang opisina ng gobernador kung nasunod ang tamang proseso sa pagdinig ng kaso.

Idinagdag pa niya na sakaling hindi pabor sa kaniya ang desisyon, ay magsasampa sila ng umano ng motion for reconsideration sa comelec en banc upang hikayatin ang mga komisyuner na baligtarin ang desisyon ng second division nito.

Arroyo to assure Hillary of clean 2010 polls during RP visit

2009-11-08T16:40:00.000-08:00

Malacañang welcomed Saturday a prospective lightning visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the country, saying it is further proof of robust relations between the Philippines and the United States.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is ready to reassure Clinton of clean elections in 2010, should the topic be brought up during Clinton’s visit.

“Definitely, that’s exactly the objective that’s what our president is working for, kaya pinu-push niya ang automation of election ... and yan din ang peaceful orderly transition of power, yan ang hangarin ng presidente (Definitely, Mrs. Arroyo’s objective is working for clean and honest elections, that is why she is pushing for automated elections along with peaceful, orderly transition of power)," Remonde said on government-run dzRB radio.

“Those issues are the issues where the president and Sec. Clinton will see each other eye to eye and of course with the rest of the world," he added.

Remonde also noted Mrs. Arroyo has a “close relationship" with the Clintons, being a classmate of former US President William “Bill" Clinton at Georgetown University.

He added the last time Mrs. Clinton visited the Philippines was as First Lady. Mrs. Clinton is now Secretary of State under the Obama administration.

“Modesty aside, former President Clinton speaks very highly of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Welcome na welcome natin ang visit ni Hillary as Secretary of State (We welcome Hillary Clinton’s visit as Secretary of State)," he said.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who is in Baguio City, said he also welcomes Clinton’s visit.

Government-run dzRB radio said the Philippines values the US’ help, especially when it helped in rescue and relief efforts for victims of recent cyclones.

Clinton is to make a lightning visit to the Philippines next week on her way to Singapore for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Summit.

She is expected to arrive Thursday and stay for about 24 hours before flying out again to visit other Asian countries and proceed to Singapore for the Apec conference on Nov. 19.

She is scheduled to hold closed-door meetings with Mrs. Arroyo and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo. - GMANews.TV

Next president to be replaced by Arroyo via Cha-cha - JDV III

2009-11-08T16:38:00.000-08:00

The country’s next president won’t be able to warm his seat in Malacañang as he is sure to be replaced by his predecessor, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

This was the claim of Jose “Joey" de Venecia III, who earlier linked Mrs. Arroyo, and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, to the allegedly corruption-ridden $329-million National Broadband Network project with China’s Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment (ZTE) Company Limited.

He said continuing moves at the House of Representatives to tinker with the 1987 Constitution and reports that Mrs. Arroyo could be eyeing a House seat as Pampanga representative were “all part of a series of contingency plans (for her) to stay in power."

"Come May 2010, the President-elect will immediately be overwhelmed by a pro-(Arroyo) Congress which will not waste a second to railroad Charter change (Cha-cha)," De Venecia III, said in a statement issued to media on Saturday.

He urged voters to elect as many opposition candidates to the Congress in the coming polls to prevent Mrs. Arroyo from riding the “Cha-cha train."

"Contrary to what everyone has been led to believe, the Cha-cha train isn’t dead on its tracks. It's actually warming-up and just waiting for its last passenger - the elected lame duck president of 2010," said De Venecia III. - ANDREO C. CALONZO, GMANews.TV

Durano rejects team-up with Teodoro in 2010

2009-11-08T16:36:00.000-08:00

He may be one of those being eyed to team up with administration party standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in the 2010 elections. But Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano is not interested.

Durano said he would not run against senators Manuel "Mar" Roxas of the Liberal Party and Lorna Regina "Loren" Legarda of the Nationalist People's Coalition because two vice presidential aspirants are his allies.

"Si Senator Mar, mentor ko na 'yan since my first term as congressman. Si Senator Loren naman, kapartido ko sa Nationalist People's Coalition," said Durano in a text message to GMANews.TV on Saturday.

(Senator Mar has been my mentor since my first term as congressman, while Sen. Loren is my partymate.)

Durano, who has been serving the Arroyo Cabinet for several years now, was the spokesperson of the ruling party in the 2007 elections. He was appointed as acting general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority in May 2008. He served as representative of Cebu’s fifth district, the bailiwick of his family, from 1998 to 2004.

The Tourism chief is one of the four being eyed by Lakas-Kampi-CMD party as vice presidential running mate of Teodoro, according to party leader and executive secretary Eduardo Ermita. The others are Legarda, Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., and former Optical Media Board chair Edu Manzano.

But Durano might run for senator. “No plans to run for VP, but I am thinking about running for the Senate."

He said he would give voice to the interest of of the "underrepresented" sectors in the Visayas and Mindanao if he would be elected to the Senate. - ANDREO C. CALONZO, GMANews.TV

Comelec helpless vs political ad placements in Pacquiao fight

2009-11-08T16:32:00.000-08:00

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be helpless against politicians who will place ads in the upcoming bout of Filipino boxing icon Emmanuel “Manny" Pacquiao next week.

Comelec spokesman James Arthur Jimenez admitted Sunday that politicians placing ads in Paquaio’s fight with Miguel Cotto on November 15 are not considered candidates since they have not filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs).

“Ang gastusin sa commercial sa event na yan ay di saklaw ng awtoridad ng Comelec. Di yan mare-regulate bilang kampanya dahil wala pang kandidato (Expenses involved in those ads cannot be under Comelec jurisdiction. We cannot regulate that because those politicians are not officially considered candidates)," Jimenez said in an interview on dzBB radio.

“Sa ngayon wala pang nag-file ng COC. Ang laban ay mangyayari bago pa ang filing (As of now, no one has filed a certificate of candidacy. The bout will come before the first day of filing on Nov. 20)," he added.

Jimenez’s admission came amid fears of a barrage of political ads in Pacquiao’s bout with Cotto.

In Pacquiao’s bout with Ricky Hatton last May, several ads featuring prospective presidential bets – Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.and Sen. Manuel Roxas II – were aired.

But Jimenez said one way to thwart the ads will be if the public can detect the ads as political, and respond accordingly against these politicians.

“Legally di pa pero ethically that’s a different story. Dapat ang botante maging mapanuri rin (Legally, politicians cannot be stopped from airing those ads. But ethically that’s a different story, especially if voters get wise)," he said.

But for now, he said the politicians can use their funds to buy ad slots for Pacquiao’s bout.

“Pwede nila gamitin ang pera nila sa anumang paraan, kasama ang paglabas ng ad sa napakamahal na slots (They can use their money however they want to use it, including placing ads in expensive slots)," he said.

Meanwhile, Jimenez said the Comelec is still drawing up guidelines for politicians who will run in the 2010 elections but whose films will be part of the Metro Manila Film Festival.

He hinted the Comelec will adopt a “maximum tolerance" approach.

“Ang idea ay huwag maging paraan ito para humingi ng boto sa taumbayan. Definitely, maglalabas tayo ng guidelines (The bottom line is that the candidates must not use the ads to solicit votes from the public. Definitely we will come out with guidelines)," he said. - GMANews.TV

'Sensing' defeat in 2010 polls, allies leave Arroyo's party

2009-11-08T16:29:00.000-08:00

SOPHIA M. DEDACE, GMANews.TV

Probably sensing that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and imminent administration presidential bet Defense Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. would not be potent forces in the 2010 elections, members of ruling party Lakas-Kampi (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino)-CMD started shifting allegiances to rival parties.

According to a political analyst, the move is expected to firm up the presidential bid of Senator Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III and Senator Manuel Villar Jr. of the Liberal Party and the Nacionalista Party (NP), where Lakas members transferred.

Ramon Casiple, head of the Institute of Political and Electoral Reform, said that administration members did not want to be associated with an associated with an unpopular president and an administration bet that is lagging behind in ratings of most preferred presidential aspirants.

“Si Gibo (Gilberto Teodoro) di tumataas ang ratings. Kaya ang mga taga-Lakas-Kampi, hahanap ng oposisyon. Si Gloria mismo, ayaw ma-identify sa kaniya. Kaya walang gustong tumkabo (sa ilalim ng Lakas) kahit sa ground level. Walang value (na) added kay Gibo," Casiple said in a phone interview with GMANews.TV.

Last Saturday, the Liberal Party said it has sworn in about 125 local officials and other key administration allies that have left Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

These include Alaminos, Pangasinan Mayor Hernani Braganza, Pangasinan Rep. Victor Agbayani, North Cotabato Rep. Bernardo Pi ñol Jr., Cavite Gov. Erineo “Ayong" Maliksi, the Osmena clan of Cebu, and Cesar Montano – the actor who ran for senator in the 2007 elections under the administration party, but lost.

Villar’s Nacionalista Party, for its part, included in its roster the following former Lakas members: Governors Luis Raymund Villafuerte (Camarines Sur), Rogelio Espina (Biliran), Douglas Cagas (Davao del Sur), and Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte).

It was also reported on Sunday that some 240 local officials from various provinces across the country has also ditched the administration coalition in favor of NP.

Aquino vs. Villar

In Sunday’s phone interview, Casiple said the mass exodus of Lakas-Kampi-CMD members is expected to change the political landscape in favor of Aquino and Villar, who had been frontrunners in surveys of most preferred presidential aspirants.

“I think it will be a head-to-head between Noynoy and Villar. Sa ngayon, lumilitaw na sila ang nagha-harvest nitong mga umaalis sa Lakas," Casiple said.

He added that the weak political party system in the Philippines also made it easier for officials to shift loyalties from one party to another. “Walang genuine political party system. Ang daling mag-balimbing," Casiple said.

Kiss of death?

Last Saturday, the Philippine Star quoted Pampanga first district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin as saying that the the President hinted at resigning as Lakas-Kampi-CMD president to dissociate Teodoro from the negative attitude toward Mrs. Arroyo.

“She said she felt she was not contributing positively to the candidacy of Teodoro so it would be better for her to resign and give way to younger leaders," Lazatin said.

Casiple said it Lakas-Kampi-CMD members who left the administration coalition know that being associated with the President and Teodoro could spell their political careers’ end. “Wala namang maitutulong si Gibo (Teodoro would make no contribution at all,’ Casiple said.

Teodoro is set to relinquish his post as Defense Secretary on November 16, four days before the start of the filing of certificates of candidacies from November 20 to December 1.

Malacanang on Sunday said it has already replaced Cabinet members who resigned from their posts so they can run in the 2010 elections.

Among those who had resigned and were replaced were Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. (Public Works, replaced with Victor Domingo); Avelino Razon Jr.

(presidential peace process adviser, replaced with Annabelle Abaya); Ralph Recto (National Economic and Development Authority, replaced with Augusto Santos); and Eduardo Manzano (Optical Media Board Chairman, replaced with Ronnie Ricketts).

Ebdane earlier declared his intent to run for president while Razon is running for Manila mayor. Recto and Manzano are running for senatorial posts. On the other hand, Secretary Angelo Reyes (Energy) is reportedly running for Taguig City mayor. - GMANews.TV

Cebu City opposition still studying presidentiables for 2010 elections

2009-11-08T16:27:00.000-08:00

November 09, 2009

CEBU City opposition leaders are still weighing options as to whom they will endorse as president in the 2010 elections.

As of now, they are torn between the candidacy of former president Joseph Estrada and Senators Manny Villar and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III who are all asking for their support.

Opposition leader and businessman Jonathan Guardo said that although Bando Osmeña- Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) has endorsed the Aquino for president, Noynoy’s sister Kris Aquino, celebrity endorser of one of Guardo's health supplement products, asked for his support.

He belied allegations that their group is waiting who among the presidentiables can offer them a higher “bid”.

“(Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña's) statement that its about the highest bidder is absurd. It’s not about the money. I can run my campaign even without a presidential backer. I'm a businessman and I can very well afford my campaign. I ran in 2007 on my own,” Guardo said.

He said the funds used for his campaign came from his own money and not from other people.

Estrada, also an endorser of Guardo’s health supplement, also asked his support.

“Erap asked if we could support his bid and run under Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP). He explained that he is confident that the Supreme Court will allow him to run. He also told us that he has already covered most parts of the country in his sorties and he doesn't think Noynoy can do the same. He said that his vice president, (Makati Mayor Jejomar) Binay, has the best track record among all contenders. But we told him that we’ll inform him of our decision whether to support him or not in the coming days,” Guardo said.

The group will meet and discuss who among the candidates have platforms that align with their programs for the city.

“We will choose a candidate who can lead this country out of the doldrums,” Guardo said.

But Guardo admitted that he could closely identify himself with Senator Manny Villar among the presidential contenders because “we are both self made.”

“We both came from poor families and worked our way to success. In the end, it will be a group decision whom to endorse,” Guardo said. /Reporter Marian Z. Codilla

NPC execs prefer Villar as presidential bet

2009-11-08T16:04:00.000-08:00

Manila Bulletin - Friday, November 6

Most senior officials of the Nationalist People's Coalition want Senator Manuel Villar to be the party's presidential candidate in the 2010 elections based on a straw balloting among members of the party's national executive committee, party insiders revealed Friday.

The results of the straw vote reinforced earlier reports that Sen. Loren Legarda, the NPC's vice presidential bet, is set to team up with Villar as a result of the departure of Sen. Francis Escudero, previously the NPC's presumptive standard bearer, from the party.

It also put an end to negotiations for a coalition between the NPC and the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD that could have produced a Teodoro-Legarda tandem in 2010.

In a straw balloting among members of the NPC national executive committee, Villar won majority of the ballots, followed by Escudero.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, the administration party presidential bet and former NPC secretary general, landed a close third, reportedly as a result of the strong support given him by senior leaders of the party.

"The result of the straw vote gave us the signal that Villar can become Sen. Legarda's president," a highly reliable party source said.

The source, a congressman, said Escudero's landing in second place indicates he still has sympathizers in the NPC although their loyalty remains with the party.

"Senator Escudero and Secretary Teodoro have sympathizers because they were among the young and bright political stars of the party. But they left us," the source added.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD Deputy Secretary General Ray Roquero said Teodoro will likely have Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. for his running mate. The tandem would be confirmed in the LKC convention to be held on November 19 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Roquero said among those pushing for Revilla as Teodoro's running mate were Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. national president of the 1,500-strong League of Municipalities of the Philippines; Misamis Occidental Leo Ocampos who heads the League of Provinces; and Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo.

"Senator Revilla is nearest to the hearts of local officials because of his experience as a former provincial governor; that gives him the edge more than his celebrity appeal," Roquero said, quoting Guico.

The LKC official said Ocampos finds Revilla a party man of "strong loyalty and belief in what the party is capable of achieving."

On the other hand, Pelayo has reportedly aired strong belief that the Teodoro-Revilla team up would be a powerhouse team in the 2010 campaign.

"All these three endorsers are deeply bred in the ideology and discipline of the old Lakas-CMD, which they find in common with Senator Revilla," Roquero said.

Meanwhile, San Jose del Monte Rep. Arturo Robes said Kampi men in the LKC remain supportive of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno as Teodoro's running mate.

Robes also said they expect President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to turn down offers by certain party leaders to run for vice president.

"While we believe that President Arroyo is a strong bet for the vice presidential post, we believe she is more decided at concentrating in serving her constituents in Pampanga as their representative to the Lower House," said Robes.

Strict Election or Penal Code?

2009-11-08T16:02:00.000-08:00

Manila Bulletin - Friday, November 6

SO far RP is about the only democratic state in the world that regulates popular election with the gravity and strictness of the Penal Code. Election rules provide disqualification, prison term, fine and all kinds of administrative sanctions.

More deserving of sanctions

But to this day millions of voters can't recall if sanctions were ever imposed on dozens of winning/losing candidates for brazenly violating election laws. The more deserving of prison terms are candidates who habitually engaged in vote-buying since May 1987, first election of the members of Congress under the Cory Constitution.

Evil scheme

And the more dangerous Comelec officials/supervisors were the alleged promoters of an evil scheme called dagdag-bawas. One of them left the country, on an immigrant visa, and was seen lately shopping near the Rockefeller Center, Fifth Ave., Manhattan.

But the most popular of the lot is still here writing his memoir about himself and the election he supervised (and could have happily polluted) to "near perfection" as ordered. It's hard to make a list of his "sins, violations, favors and rewards" resulting from election law violations.

More election experts

Before the start of campaign on February 9, candidates for president, vice president and senators badly need assistance from lawyers knowledgeable in all election laws.

But at least five café analysts also swear that the "experts" can aid candidates in coolly violating or avoiding all the unneeded and unnecessary rules.

The great difference?

For example, what's the difference between active campaigning and promoting a candidacy started in 2008 at huge expense of more than P100 million on TV, radio and print ads? The same would-be candidate must have spent an initial P100 million for purposes like: 1) travels nationwide with a staff of five to be met at destinations by more people supported by him 2) and making of banners and tarpaulin signs with pictures and messages sent to any point in RP that shows signs of fiestas, graduation, cockpit derbies, etc.

New tax

Lately, BIR imposed a five-percent tax on all election expenses. Tax experts have no plans on how to collect taxes from donors known only as "friends of so-and-so," with no specific hint to identify the "donors." If they cannot be identified can beneficiaries - would-be candidates - be forced to pay the new tax imposed only in 2009?

Again this is one policy question candidates' lawyers may refer to the Supreme Court for a more intelligent guidance.

One or two election officials' view on the subject may not satisfy both BIR and the candidates.

He is not shameless

This week, a top BIR official said "he could not collect the tax quota for the national budget and he's ashamed he failed." He was referring to old taxes, not the recent five-percent imposed on all election expenses.

Café analysts estimate a total election cost of P10 billion to P15 billion up to May 10 for 17,888 elective positions - president down to town councilors - excluding the seats for party-list.

The above can easily net P500 million to P750 million before election day. Can BIR fully collect this amount within 2010 to 2012? If it fails can it feel shame?

Who's shameful

Let's ask ourselves why the resigned BIR official felt the shame of his failure to collect taxes from the same old taxpayers. The probable cause: Failure to collect or taxpayers tend to delay/avoid payment and lack the willingness to pay.

This is too early to hazard a guess for the failure or success of the new election tax imposed this week to generate income to support a P1.5 trillion plus budget.

Last say

When a new Congress is convened after June 30 any tax measure that made campaign more difficult for the new Senate/House members may be subject to review and outright rejection. It takes less than 10 words to scratch out any new tax on campaign expenses.

In many ways politicians have the first and last say on this and other subjects. (Comments are welcome at roming@pefianco.com)

‘Arroyo can run in 2010 polls without resigning’

2009-11-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

GMANews.TV - Friday, November 6

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo can run for vice president or congresswoman in the May 2010 polls without stepping down from the presidency, election lawyers said on Friday amid speculations that she will seek political office next year.

In an interview over radio dzXL, President Arroyo's lawyer Romulo Macalintal said there is no law prompting Mrs. Arroyo to resign or take a leave from the presidency while campaigning for an electoral post.

"Walang leave of absence, di siya dapat mag-resign. Walang batas na nagsasabing dapat siya mag-resign (There will be no need for her to take a leave of absence or resign. There is no law saying she should quit her job to campaign)," Macalintal said.

With her Congress allies pushing for Charter change, speculation is rife that Mrs. Arroyo will run for Pampanga congresswoman in 2010. Under a parliamentary form of government, she can run for prime minister and remain in power.

Her frequent visits to Pampanga - she has visited the province 47 times this year alone -further fuel the rumors.

On Thursday, her political ally, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez - who also happens to be administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD's senior deputy secretary general - admitted that the possibility of Mrs. Arroyo seeking a congressional seat next year has been discussed within the party. [See: VP or Speaker? Allies start charting Arroyo's future]

Suarez also said Mrs. Arroyo would be an "asset" to the next administration if she runs and wins as vice president.

Even poll lawyer Sixto Brillantes, who is not aligned with the Arroyo administration, conceded that Mrs. Arroyo is not required by law to quit her post should she decide to run next year.

"Under RA 9006 anybody who runs for another office is not considered resigned," he said in a phone interview with GMANews.TV.

"She can run for any other post without resigning the presidency," Brillantes added.

Fair Election Act

Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Election Act also effectively repealed Section 67 of the Omnibus Election Code which says that any elective official except for president and vice president who is running for any office other than the current one is considered ipso facto resigned upon filing the certificate of candidacy, Brillantes added.

Both lawyers also said there is no law barring Mrs. Arroyo from running for another post other than the presidency once her term ends.

"Wala pang sinasabing plano ang Pangulong Arroyo kung siya [ay] tatakbo o hindi. Kung tatakbo man siya, walang legal na balakid sa kanyang nasabing pagtakbo. Walang batas na nagbabawal sa kanyang tumakbo kung sakaling gusto niyang tumakbong muli, huwag lang sa pagkapangulo pero sa ibang position," Macalintal said. [See: Arroyo can run for congresswoman - DOJ chief]

(Mrs. Arroyo has not made public her political plans. If she decides to run, there is no legal obstacle to it, so long as she is not running for another term as president.)

Section 4 of Article VII of the 1987 Constitution says "The President shall not be eligible for any re-election." The provision has been the subject of many debates, with some legal experts arguing that it effectively bars the President from seeking any other elective post after his or her presidential term. - with a report from Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV

Nene fears automation may not be achieved

2009-11-08T15:59:00.000-08:00

Manila Bulletin - Friday, November 6

Senate Majority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. has expressed fears the Commission on Elections (Comelec) may not be able to complete full electoral automation as the equipment for the May 2010 elections have not arrived.

Pimentel told journalists at the weekly Balitaan sa Rembrandt in Quezon City that Smartmatic and its suppliers may not be able to use the equipment on time since the manufacturer in Taiwan had been damaged heavily by recent typhoons.

The manufacturer has actually shifted the production to factories in China, he added, and we have to know exactly if they could deliver the goods in time.

"This should lead to delays. We should also expect problems with the quality of machines and we have to know exactly if the machines can perform as expected and that their quality is not compromised," he added.

Pimentel said he support automation since it represents an advance in the electoral process that could "end the career of new Garcillanos but we have to have the machines so officials could learn how to use them as well as the voters who need to be educated about the process."

Actually, he added, the machines have been customized to provide the "paper trail needed so everything could be checked and counterchecked to ensure the integrity of the process."

Lawyer Rafael Vicente R. Calinisan, former President Estrada's spokesman, also revealed that there is no stopping the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) from pushing with the candidacy of the former chief executive.

"It's all systems go. There's no turning back," Calinisan told the Manila Bulletin.
Recommend
No users recommend

* Send
* IM Story
* Print

Comelec to accept party-list manifestations

2009-11-08T15:57:00.000-08:00

Manila Bulletin - Saturday, November 7

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Saturday that starting November 20 to November 30, 2009, the Office of the Clerk of the Commission will be open daily, including Saturdays, holidays and Sundays to receive manifestations of intent to participate in the party-list elections which will be held simultaneously in the May 10, 2010 elections.

Comelec Chairman Jose A.R. Melo said that on Dec. 1, the Office of the Clerk of the Commission will be open up to 12 midnight to receive the manifestation in 12 legible copies, signed by the president or chairman or secretary-general of the party or group.

The Comelec en banc approved Resolution No. 8691 stressing that any organized group duly registered under the party-list system of representation may file with the Commission a manifestation of intent to participate in the party-list polls.

The resolution, signed by Melo and Comissioners Rene V. Sarmiento, Nicodemo T. Ferrer, Lucenito N. Tagle, Armando C. Velasco, Elias R. Yusoph and Gregorio Y. Larrazabal, stressed that no manifestation of intent to participate in part-list polls shall be received after midnight of December 1.

A copy of each manifestation shall be forwarded to the Comelec Law Department for the preparation of the certified list of parties participating in party-list elections, it was pointed out.

After filing the manifestation of intent, a registered party is required to submit to the Comelec Law Department in Manila not later than March 26, 2010 a list of not less than five nominees from which the representatives shall be chosen in case it obtains the required number of votes.

The Comelec said only persons who have given their consent in writing and under oath may be named in the list.

Meanwhile, the Comelec kept tightly closed the door to possible extension of the registration of new voters despite mounting public pressures, including Malacañang's attempt to influence it by invoking public need a day after announcing that it will let the poll body decide on the issue.

May elections much easier for the common person

2009-11-08T15:56:00.000-08:00

Manila Bulletin - Saturday, November 7

Voting in the May 2010 automated elections will be much easier especially for persons with poor reading abilities, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Saturday.

Comelec Chairman Jose A. R. Melo said voting will not only be made faster but much easier even for those who can't read and write because of their planned design for the ballot.

"Hindi na kapareho noong araw na isusulat ang pangalan. Kung hindi marunong magbasa ang voter meron pa tagasulat. Dito wala na," he told reporters in an interview.

"We are going to put numbers opposite the names of the candidates. So an illiterate voter may not be able to read a name but he'll be able to read the number. So hindi na kailangan assisted voting," added Melo.

The only thing that the candidate needs to do, he said, is tell the people of their corresponding number in the official ballot when they are campaigning.

"Marami na kaming nakausap na kandidato and they are in favor of that. Lalo na sa maraming category kagaya ng party-list," Melo said.

Although the May 2010 elections is automated, he said, the use of technology is also very minimal as far as voting is concerned.

"Very minimal ang technology in the real sense as far as voting is concerned. Unlike before, a voter has to write names. Here you are just shading.

So mas madali iyan," the Comelec chief said. (Leslie Ann Aquino)

Chiz statement gets bishops fired up

2009-11-08T15:38:00.000-08:00

Philstar.com - Monday, November 9

MANILA, Philippines - Opposition Sen. Francis Escudero has earned the ire of Church officials over his recent statement that "there are no angels and saints in politics."

"Does he admit the corruptibility of all politicians like him? The Church stands for politics of common good and social transformation, to leave behind patronage politics and elite politics. Hopefully we cand find politicians who will embody and pursue these ideals this coming election," Catarman bishop Emmanuel Trance told Church-run Radyo Veritas.

For his part, Sorsogon bishop Arturo Bastes said in these days, people should breed "saintly politicians."

"Thomas Moore was a politician and a saint. We must have saintly politicians nowadays. We need holy people to lead our nation," Bastes said.

Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez meanwhile said to have so-called "politician saints" people must pray for the conversion of corrupt politicans.

"So like King David, they would accept their guilt and penance," the bishop said. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Ebdane finds party in LM for 2010 presidential run

2009-11-08T15:35:00.000-08:00

ABS-CBN - Sunday, November 8

MANILA - Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. on Sunday has found a party in Lapiang Manggagawa (LM) to back his presidential bid.

LM, reportedly one of the country's oldest political parties in its national convention held in Manila Hotel, named Ebdane as its party chairman and standard bearer for the 2010 presidential elections.

At the LM national convention marking its 46th year, the party gave Ebdane full authority to reorganize the party for the upcoming polls.

The 46th founding anniversary ceremonies of LM reportedly started at Liwasang Bonifacio with wreath-laying led by Atty Jose Malvar Villegas, LM president, and attended by around 2,000 members and supporters from all over the Philippines.

At the national convention, Ebdane reportedly outlined key measures of his action agenda and called on the LM members to work for victory and work with unity.

“Fight to win”

Ebdane also said he was confident he would win in the 2010 elections.

“Tiyak iyan na mananalo ako. I'll fight to win,” said Ebdane in an interview at the Manila Hotel before the national convention started.

In a statement. LM said that among the reforms to be implemented under Ebdane's leadership are the change in party name to Philippine Labor and Peasant Party; review and revision of the party's Constitution and By-Laws; and the creation of a selection committee to identify and nominate candidates for various national and local elective positions.

“I will run under the workers and peasant party. Sa amin may ideology kami hindi katulad sa iba iniisip kung paano, kung ano ang pinakamataas na partido. Its not just popularity, its credibility and acceptability,” said Ebdane.

Ebdane stepped down as public works and highways secretary last month to run for the presidency.

In his resignation letter to President Arroyo, Ebdane lamented the selection process of the administration’s Lakas-Kampi CMD for its presidential candidate saying there are barriers put in place that negated his participation.

"Not a politician"

Ebdane said he took price in not being a politician.

“Kung titignan mo, ako lang iyong hindi politician eh and I don’t intend to be a politician all my life. Kung susuwertihin ako ng 2010 eh di hanggang 2016 na lang ako. Let the next generation take over… At iyong membership nito hindi lang politicians, gagawin kahit sino pwedeng maging member. Bibigyan natin ng card para malaman kung sino ang miyembro. hindi katulad sa iba na kapag nagmiyembro ka sa isa tapos tatalon ka sa kabila na parang ‘jumping jack.’ Dito kapag miyembro ka you have a card at magkakaroon din kami ng ideology para walang deviation doon sa members na mananalo,” said Ebdane.

He has however yet to select a runningmate in the 2010 national elections.

Ebdane, a former chief of the Philippine National Police, also served in Arroyo’s Cabinet as National Security Adviser and Secretary of National Defense.

Arroyo may face-off with sis in Pampanga

2009-11-08T15:31:00.000-08:00

By Tonette Orejas
Central Luzon Desk

LUBAO, Pampanga, Philippines -- Macapagal versus Arroyo?

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 62, will likely face her older half-sister, former Vice Gov. Cielo Macapagal-Salgado, if they both heed a clamor to contest a congressional seat in Pampanga in the May elections.

Salgado confirmed on Sunday that Gov. Eddie Panlilio had told her that civil society leaders were asking her to lead the Liberal Party slate in the second district.

"Yes, Among Ed communicated to me such a proposal more than a week ago," she said.

Panlilio said that he and his supporters in the good governance crusade see Salgado as a "true Macapagal," referring to the good attributes of her late father, President Diosdado Macapagal.

The looming showdown is being dubbed as "Macapagal versus Arroyo," he said. Other Kapampangans, he added, were also courting University of the Philippines sociology professor, Randy David, to give Ms Arroyo a good fight.

The 69-year-old Salgado said being a Liberal Party member herself, she was not opposed to leading the LP district slate. But she said this would have to be "thought out seriously."

"I need to consider my health, my family, the work I do in the church, the sense of what my father's relatives and friends think about this. And of course, there's Dad's legacy," she told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Salgado, a cancer survivor, said that it might be Arturo, her younger brother, who should serve the district or the province.

"My Dad said it should be Art who should be in politics to continue his good name. But Art agreed to give way to Mikey," she said, referring to Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, the President's eldest son who is serving a second term in Congress.

The clamor for Ms Arroyo to run in Congress came from one of her former police advisers, retired Chief Supt. Orlando Macaspac.

As the President was handing out relief goods in Lubao last September, Macaspac distributed leaflets urging Ms Arroyo to seek a seat in Congress. There has been no public reaction from her on Macaspac’s initiative or the other similar floaters.

Ms Arroyo has visited her home district 44 times since February. Six mayors there have expressed support for her possible congressional run. But the President continues to be mum about her political plans after her term ends next June.

There are no legal impediments for Ms Arroyo to serve in Congress, according to her lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, who urged the media to wait for the Dec. 1 deadline of the filing of candidacies.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago told dzBB on Sunday that she was convinced Ms Arroyo had decided to run for Congress.

``What possible reason will you have for going so many times to a certain locality where you are already supported by the greater majority of the people as a native daughter?'' Santiago said. ``I am afraid all roads lead to Lubao, Pampanga, as far as President Arroyo is concerned.''

Asked why Ms Arroyo was doing this, Santiago said that the President probably did not want to retire from public service.

The senator dismissed claims that Ms Arroyo was running for Congress so she could evade potential lawsuits after escaping several impeachment attempts for corruption. She said that members of Congress did not have immunity from suits.

``But it’s possible that by her stature as congresswoman or speaker, she might influence majority of the House against any suit that might rise against her," she said.

Sen. Joker Arroyo said in the same program that it would be "demeaning" for the President to seek a congressional seat.

(With a report from Christine O. Avendano)

Quick Guide to the Automated Elections, 2010 Presidential Elections Philippines

2009-11-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

Disqualification case vs Erap junked by Comelec

2009-10-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

GMANews.TV - Wednesday, October 28

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Wednesday it has dismissed the disqualification case filed against former President Joseph “Erap" Estrada, saying such was still "premature." “Hindi pa nga siya nagfa-file ng (Estrada hasn’t even submitted his) certificate of candidacy (COC), it’s premature," Comelec chairman Jose Melo told reporters. On Monday, lawyer Oliver Lozano filed a disqualification case against Estrada, saying the deposed leader’s election bid was against the provisions of the 1987 Constitution. Lozano, a lawyer who has been known to file a lot of publicized legal suits, cited Section 4, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution as "proof" that the President shall not be eligible for any reelection. Estrada in 1998 was elected with over P10 million votes, the highest vote a presidential candidate ever had in Philippine history.

He was forced to step down in January 2001 after the military leadership withdrew its support from him, supporting instead the popular uprising that later catapulted then Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the presidency.

In April that same year, Estrada was arrested on plunder charges. He was initially held inside a detention facility in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, transferred to the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Quezon City before being put on house arrest in Tanay, Rizal.

The Sandiganbayan then convicted Estrada of plunder in September 2007. He was meted reclusion perpetua and was disqualified from seeking any public office.

But a month later, President Arroyo granted Estrada executive clemency, restoring his political and civil rights. Estrada's camp has since reiterated the former president's eligibility to run, saying Estrada is not covered by the election ban under the Constitution.

Lawyer Ferdinand Rafanan of the Comelec Law Department had earlier told GMANews.TV that the acceptance of Lozano’s request was purely “ministerial" and that only the Comelec en banc would have the power to decide on it. But Melo said there was “no need" to come out with a resolution because the candidacy that Lozano is supposed to be contesting hasn’t even been filed yet.

The period for the filing of the of COCs will be from November 20 to 30, 2009. “Walang kaso so bakit ka maglalabas ng reso (There is no case, so why would we come out with a resolution)," he said.

The poll body chief also chided potential petitioners who might want to file their appeals even before the filing of the COCs. “Kung pwede magsabay-sabay na lang sila, para iisa na lang (If they want to file disqualification cases now, they can just do it in one batch)," he said. - GMANews.TV

Chiz resigns from NPC, keeps mum on 2010 plans

2009-10-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

By Janie Christine Octia, Yahoo!
Southeast Asia Wednesday October 28, 2009

Senator Francis Escudero declared on Wednesday (October 28) he was leaving the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), a party he's been faithful to since he started his political career 11 years ago.

Addressing supporters and media at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills in San Juan City, the 40-year-old senator gave several reasons why he was bolting the party of his friend and business tycoon Danding Cojuangco, Jr.

"Sino man pong nagplaplanong tumakbo bilang pangulo ng bansa, wala dapat partidong kinabibilangan [Whoever is running for President, he or she should not be under any political party]," Escudero said.

He said a presidential candidate should not belong to a political party other than that of the country, with Filipinos as his partymates.

He stressed no single political party could resolve the problems and issues of the nation.

"Pangalawa, sinumang tatakbo o magiging Pangulo ng bansa, hindi pwedeng magawa ang mga dapat niyang gawin ng naka-kadena ang mga kamay at paa, naka-piring ang mata at may busal ang bibig [Second, the next president should be free from any shackles, blindfold and gags]," Escudero added.

He argued that a presidential candidate could not push for reforms if members of his party have their own agendas to protect.

Escudero enumerated critical issues, including the abolition of the pork barrel, the oil deregulation law and the prosecution of corrupt officials.

"Kahit sinong may-ari ng langis, kaya niyang itaas ang presyo ng langis kung kailan nya gusto, ang mahirap na tsuper ng jeep kailangang magpaalam muna sa isang ahensya ng gobyerno bago siya magtaas ng kita. Kung pwede ang mayaman, dapat mas pwede ang mahirap, [Whoever owns the oil can dictate the price. Our poor jeepney drivers have to seek the permission from government to raise their rates. If the rich can do this, why can't the poor]" he said.

Escudero also believed that freedom from his party means a better vision for the future.

"Mas matatanaw ko po ang dapat kong gawin at papel na dapat kong gampanan kaugnay sa darating na halalan, hindi bilang miyembro ng kahit anong partido, ako lamang po, bilang ako [I will have a clearer view of my duties and responsibilities related to the elections when I am not affiliated with any political party," Escudero said.

Escudero was expected to announce his presidential plans last October 10 when he turned 40 years old, which was the required age for any presidential candidate. But he chose to postpone it due to the recent calamities that hit the country.

When asked about his 2010 plans, the young senator sought for more time to think about his decision on whether or not to run for a higher post and for what position.

Escudero admitted that he has talked to NPC Chairman Faustino Dy about his decision but not Cojuangco, the party's founder.

Presidential aspirants Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. are both nephews of Cojuangco.

During the press conference, Escudero denied rumors that he opposed a possible NPC 2010 tandem that included him and fellow Senator Loren Legarda as running mate.

Legarda previously declared her vice presidential bid in a program held in Luneta, adding that she was even open to the idea of running with a presidential candidate from another party.

Escudero also dismissed speculations that he was considering Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and Grace Poe Llamanzares, daughter of the late Fernando Poe, Jr. as possible running mates.

On the issue of launching a national campaign without a political party to back him up, Escudero declared:"Ang pera po may tao, pero ang tao walang pera." With these comments, supporters gave out a loud cheer.

Present during the senator's announcement were former PNP Chief Avelino Razon, film director Carlos Siguion-Reyna, Bibeth Orteza and representatives from FPJ for President Movement and Samahang Magdalo, a group of "reformed" soldiers.

Permalink

Bayani Fernando not backing out from 2010 presidential race

2009-10-26T23:20:00.000-07:00

GMANews.TV - Tuesday, October 27

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando will push through with his plan to run for president next year even without the endorsement of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

“I am dead serious about running for the presidency. I will run even without party’s endorsement," he said Monday, breaking his month-long silence that followed the party’s decision to pick Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. over him.

“Wala nang atrasan ito (There's no backing out from this)," he told reporters during the send off parade of MMDA personnel in Marikina.

Teodoro was chosen by the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD's national executive committee as its standard-bearer for 2010, a decision that is expected to be ratified by the party's national convention on November 12.

Fernando, a former Marikina mayor, said he no longer needs the endorsement of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo since she had already chosen her candidate for the May 2010 polls.

The MMDA chief also said he is not interested in becoming Teodoro’s running mate.

Asked about the possibility of a tandem with Senator Loren Legarda, Fernando said, “We will see." - GMANews.TV

Magdalo group endorses Escudero

2009-10-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

ABS-CBN - Sunday, October 25

MANILA - The Magdalo group led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has endorsed the planned bid for the presidency of Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero in the 2010 national elections, the group announced Sunday.

The group which is currently seeking accreditation as a new political party, endorsed Escudero, as well as the senatorial bids of detained Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Marines Col. Ariel Querubin, during a national convention at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

Aside from the political bids of the Escudero, Lim, and Querubin, they are also endorsing the candidacies of 4 detained Magdalo leaders who are planning to run for local positions in the coming elections.

They are detained Navy Lt. Sr. Grade James Layug (bid to represent the 2nd district of Taguig City in the House of Representatives), former Air Force 1Lt. Francisco Ashely Acedillo (2nd district, Cebu City), detained Army Capt. Dante Langkit (lone district, Kalinga), and detained Marines Capt. Gary Alejano (mayor, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental).

During the convention, Acedillo, who has been released from detention and is the group's spokesman, reportedly asked 375 chapter presidents and coordinators to cast their votes who will be the group will endorse for president based character, vision and leadership ability.

Escudero reportedly garnered 53.7 percent of the votes over the other presidential aspirants considered by the group to be endorsed - Sen. Manny Villar, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, and former President Estrada.

Acedillo said administration presidential bet, National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., was excluded from the list because he has vowed to continue with the policies of the Arroyo administration if he wins.

“He made a statement that he will continue the policies of this administration. We have no business considering him because precisely, it is merely a continuation of the current dispensation which we want changed,” said Acedillo.

“Our selection of Sen. Escudero is based on a wide consultation with our 40,000 members…They were the ones who made the decision who are we going to support as president. This is not an individual decision but a decision of the entire Magdalo Group and Magdalo party,” he said.

“That is how they voted,” said Acedillo, referring to the endorsement of Escudero, a vocal critic of the President.

“The fact that we supported him means that we will do everything that we can to help make sure that he is victorious next year…We will do everything we can, we will do our best given the resources that we have and the kind of network that we are building right now,” added Acedillo.

Acedillo said their group does not include active military personnel who are, under military regulations, are prohibited from joining alliances or any political groups while still in the service.

“But that is not to say that we do not have their support and their sympathy,” said Acedillo.

The Magdalo group was formed by over 300 junior officers and soldiers who occupied the posh Oakwood apartments (now Ascott hotel) in Makati City in July 2003 allegedly to dramatize their protest against corruption in the government, including in the military. Some, including Trillanes, Alejano and Layug are still detained and are facing coup d'etat cherges in a regional trial court.

Lim and Querubin are facing a charge of mutiny before a military court for allegedly plotting to oust President Arroyo in February 2006.

Lim, along with Trillanes and other participants of the alleged Oakwood mutiny, are also charged with rebellion in connection with the November 2007 occupation of the Manila Peninsula Hotel.

Led by Trillanes, a former Navy lieutenant senior grade, the Magdalo group has reportedly 40,000 members nationwide, 100 of them reportedly are former military men.

Lim has earlier accepted to run under the banner of Estrada while Querubin is expected to run under Villar.

The group has asked the Commission on Elections to be accredited as a political party. The group said it expects the poll body to come up with a decision in the coming weeks.

Gibo-Gwen tandem emerging for Lakas

2009-10-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

Philstar.com - Monday, October 26

MANILA, Philippines - The tandem of Lakas-Kampi standard-bearer Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia for the 2010 elections is emerging as negotiations for what the administration sees as a powerhouse team-up are nearing the homestretch, officials said yesterday.

A highly placed source privy to the talks said the negotiations to have Garcia as the Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s vice presidential candidate have reached “the crucial stage and an announcement would be made anytime soon.”

The ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD is expected to hold its national convention on Nov. 12 in Cebu where the party is set to formalize the selection of Teodoro and his running mate for the 2010 elections.

“It was Gibo (Teodoro’s nickname) who really wanted Gwen, and she was the real target,” the source said amid reports that the ruling party was wooing either Sen. Loren Legarda of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) or Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos to be the defense chief’s running mate.

“This is a powerhouse team. They are both young and well-experienced executives with good credentials and track record. Together, that counts a lot for the reconstruction and reform in the country,” the official said.

The official said Garcia, who won by a historic margin of half a million votes in the 2007 elections, would bring “geographic balance” to the campaign of Teodoro, who appears to be gaining ground in some parts of Luzon and Mindanao.

The source said talks gained ground after Teodoro met with Garcia some two weeks ago during the latter’s birthday bash in Cebu where she turned over some P20 million as her province’s donation for the ongoing rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts of the National Disaster Coordinating Council following two typhoons that cut a wide swath of destruction through much of Luzon.

The turnover was witnessed by 45 mayors and more than 1,500 local political leaders and barangay captains. The donation is the biggest from a local government unit and Teodoro said “Cebu demonstrated its solidarity with the Filipino nation by extending its charity to our people in distress.”

“In truth, he (Teodoro) never considered Sen. Legarda,” the official said, adding the governors, who were pushing for her, did not ask her to leave NPC but suggested a coalition with Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio earlier admitted that Teodoro’s choice of running mate would be given much weight in the selection of the administration’s vice presidential candidate.

Cebu is vote-rich and during the hotly contested 2004 presidential elections, gave President Arroyo nearly a million votes that were later affirmed by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

The official said the League of Municipalities of the Philippines is also considering formally endorsing Teodoro.

The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) earlier expressed support for Teodoro’s bid to be president.

Garcia also belongs to the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Claudio said yesterday the endorsement of the tandem of Teodoro and Legarda and a coalition of Lakas-Kampi-CMD and NPC “was a multi-partisan initiative of governors comprising the executive committee of the LPP and it was not necessarily the position of the administration party.”

“We have not even formally discussed it. Asked for reaction (from the media), we said we recognize and continue to recognize the fine qualities of Sen. Legarda as a leader and advocate of many worthy causes,” Claudio said.

“But the fact is we already have a standard-bearer and Loren belongs to NPC. It’s up to her to assess her political prospects given these conditions. It’s no problem to us if she stays with the opposition,” he said.

He said “the more earnest talks the administration party is having in relation to Gibo’s running mate is with prominent members of the party itself, which is not wanting in excellent materials for vice president.”

He said “an overwhelming number of governors, other local executives and congressmen have pledged support for Gibo not because they are party mates but because they believe in him as a leader with firmness, integrity and substance.”

“Those local leaders are the same nationwide machinery that could support Sen. Legarda but only on the condition that she is in tandem with our standard-bearer. The dilemma is probably hers, not ours. Just the same, we wish her the best,” Claudio said. - By Paolo Romero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Ebdane tenders resignation from Arroyo Cabinet

2009-10-21T23:17:00.000-07:00

MANILA - Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has submitted his resignation to President Arroyo, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo confirmed Wednesday.

This comes after Ebdane made known his intention to run for the presidency in 2010 last September 25.

Ebdane, a former chief of the Philippine National Police, said he may seek the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party's endorsement despite the ruling party's national executive committee's choice of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. as its standard-bearer.

Ebdane, in his resignation letter a copy of which was sent to ABS-CBN News, confirmed to the president his run for the country's top position in the 2010 elections.

He lamented however the selection process of the administration party for its presidential candidate.

"However there are barriers in place in the administration party's selection process which negate any participation on my part," said Ebdane in his letter to the president.

He said he is asking for President Arroyo to accept his resignation saying "to avoid any conflict of interest in my present position and to ensure that the work of building the roads and bridges continues in our fast-forward mode."

Ebdane also thanked Mrs. Arroyo for giving him the opportunity to serve under her administration for the last nine years. He also served in Arroyo’s Cabinet as National Security Adviser and Secretary of National Defense.

Ebdane's letter was reportedly submitted only Wednesday.

Erap declares presidential bid for 2010

2009-10-21T23:11:00.000-07:00

Philstar.com - Thursday, October 22

Former President Joseph Estrada tonight officially declared his presidential bid amid thousands of his supporters in Tondo, Manila.

"Ako si Joseph Ejercito Estrada at bilang presidente sa 2010 na halalan," he said before a crowd of about 10,000 at Plaza Hernandez, Moriones, Tondo.

Prior his announcement of his candidacy, Estrada introduced the United Opposition coalition's senatorial slate which include Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, lawyer Aquilino "KoKo" Pimentel III, and businessman Joey de Venecia III.

Earlier, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay accepted the party's nomination as its vice presidential candidate. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Erap embarks on last performance of his life

2009-10-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

Philstar.com - Thursday, October 22

MANILA, Philippines - Seeking vindication after his ouster from the presidency and conviction for plunder, Joseph Estrada asked Filipinos yesterday to give him a second chance.

“This is the last performance of my life and I will not fail you,” the former president told a cheering crowd in Tondo, Manila, where he announced his plan to run in the 2010 elections, with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as his running mate.

Expecting legal challenges to his bid, Estrada said the voice of the people is the voice of God, and voters should be the final judge.

He also announced his tentative senatorial slate: his son Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr., ZTE scandal whistle-blower Joey de Venecia, detained rebel leader Danny Lim, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Ompong Plaza. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago is a guest candidate.

At his presidential inaugural in 1998, Estrada, a former movie star, had promised to deliver “the greatest performance of my life.” He was ousted less than halfway into his term and replaced by his vice president and constitutional successor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

With Binay, Estrada said, he could rest assured that his vice president would not be plotting behind his back to bring him down.

Estrada said Binay could help turn the country into another Makati, a city where the masses receive heavy social protection protection including free education, health care and even free admission in moviehouses for senior citizens.

In his speech, Estrada decried that he had been unjustly detained for six years and isolated from his family and supporters.

“I have followed the law and I have already forgotten all the lies and charges leveled against me. But you did not leave me,” he said referring to his supporters.

He said it’s his mission to deliver the country from poverty and culture of corruption under the Arroyo administration.

“This administration forgot about education. The budget for education did not even reach half of the country’s debt. We have P2 trillion debts at present and this will rise to P4 trillion by 2010,” he said.

“I took care of Mindanao to make it a food basket, but this administration, through the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain almost gave it up,” Estrada said.

He also vowed to be tougher in dealing with secessionists and terrorists in Mindanao.

“Mindanao will not progress if we will not finish all these kinds of terrorism. Corruption in government is rampant,” he said.

He said that under his administration, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF lost its camps in Mindanao.

He also took a swipe at the “elitists” whom he accused of having conspired to have him removed.

“Vox populi, vox dei. The voice of the people is the voice of God. But the elitists are not listening to voice of the people that is why we are here now,” he said. “Are we better off today than in 2001?”

Rivals are expected to challenge his candidacy before the Supreme Court and invoke a constitutional ban on a second term for any president.

Estrada’s camp has insisted he is not covered by the ban because he was “illegally” removed from power.

“I was demonized then unconstitutionally removed,” Estrada said.

Albert Lim of the Makati Business Club said Estrada’s poor record as president and his criminal conviction should be enough reasons for him not to run again.

“Going by his track record, why should anyone think that he’ll be a good president?” Lim asked. “He won’t be good for business.”

Despite his ouster, conviction and detention, Estrada steadfastly denied the charges of plundering government coffers through kickbacks and illegal gambling payoffs. He never parted with a visible symbol of his power – his trademark wristband.

“During the lowest point in my life, the poor did not abandon me,” he said.

Estrada rose to movie stardom in his early 20s, playing tough guys with a soft spot for the needy – roles that earned him the hearts of the masses that make up almost half of the population.

In the 1970s, he won five best actor awards in the Philippines’ version of the Oscars.

Estrada entered politics in 1969 with his election as mayor of Manila’s San Juan suburb, a post he kept for 17 years.

He was elected senator in 1987, then vice president in 1992 despite a life of boozing, gambling and womanizing – foibles that humanized and endeared him to ordinary Filipinos but disturbed the influential Roman Catholic Church and the business community.

He has acknowledged fathering children with several women other than his wife.

He banked on his macho, Filipino everyman charisma to win the presidency in 1998 with one of the largest margins in recent memory.

Legal basis

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and University of the East dean of the College of Law Amado Valdez said there is no legal impediment to Estrada’s joining the presidential race in 2010.

“Many legal luminaries, former Supreme Court justices, well-known lawyers have conducted a study on whether President Estrada can run or not. Is President Estrada running for reelection? No, he is not running for reelection. He is running for another election because he was not allowed to finish his term and he was unduly removed from the presidency,” Rodriguez said.

“The rich businessmen conspired with the disgruntled members of the military and hungry for power politicians to remove him. He relinquished his post to prevent bloodshed,” he said.

Rodriguez said that constitutional provision banning reelection of the president only applies to an incumbent president or one who has finished his six-year term.

“President Estrada is not the incumbent. The ban on reelection is intended to prevent an incumbent president to use the government machinery during his reelection bid,” he said.

“Even Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, in one of the rulings of the Supreme Court, said that the better policy approach is to let the people decide. He said the Supreme Court may err, but the sovereign people will not,” he said.

“The prohibition on reelection for president applies only to incumbent presidents and those who have finished six years term,” Valdez, for his part, said.

“That intention of the law is to prevent the incumbent from using the machinery of the government for his reelection bid,” he said. With Marvin Sy, Edu Punay, Ramil Bajo, Katherine Adraneda, AP - By Jose Rodel Clapano (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Pichay says Bayani ok to run for VP; not true, says Bayani

2009-09-25T00:15:00.000-07:00

GMANews.TV - Friday, September 25

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando said he is willing to slide down and run for vice president instead of seeking the country's top post, an administration stalwart said Thursday. But Fernando, whose bid to become administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD's standard bearer was turned down in favor of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., quickly denied issuing any statement on his political plans for 2010.

Local Water Utilities Administration chairman Prospero Pichay, the party’s vice president for membership and recruitment, said one of Fernando's aides informed him earlier in the day of the MMDA chairman's purported decision. "He [Bayani] said he is also interested to participate in the selection process for vice president," Pichay said at the weekly Serye forum in Quezon City.

Fernando, along with Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, would be considered for the VP post, Pichay said. The party will also court award-winning actress and Batangas Vice Governor Vilma Santos into being its vice presidential bet, Pichay said, adding that Teodoro's take might also be weighed in the party's choice. But Fernando, in a phone interview with GMANews.TV, denied Pichay's claim. "Wala akong sinasabing ganun (I said no such thing)," he said. Fernando said his aides also could not have made the statement. When asked whether he has made up his mind about his next political step, Fernando said, "Nagpapahinga pa ako ng buhay ko (I am still taking a break)."

Fernando had earlier said running for president as an independent candidate was one of his options if Lakas-Kampi-CMD does not choose him as its standard bearer.

On September 16, members of the party's national executive committee voted to pick Teodoro as its preferred presidential bet. The decision is still subject to ratification by a convention. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.Tv

Kampi to adopt Lakas bets if merger flops

2009-09-24T05:50:00.000-07:00

Philstar.com
Philstar.com - Thursday, September 24

MANILA, Philippines – Candidates of Lakas-CMD in the 2010 elections will be adopted by administration party Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) if the Commission on Elections fails to resolve the pending case of the Lakas-Kampi merger before Nov. 20, the start of filing of candidacies.

This was the consensus among Kampi stalwarts during its national executive council meeting in Quezon City yesterday (Sept. 23).

“We are studying different scenarios in the event the case is not resolved in favor of Lakas or the issue is not resolved by Nov. 20, which is the first day for the filing of the certificates of candidacy for next year’s polls,” said Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

Puno has also been chosen recently by the Lakas-Kampi national executive committee as its "preferred" vice presidential candidate, teaming up with standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro.

Both Puno and Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., chairman of Kampi in the Calabarzon region, said Kampi is open to adopting Lakas candidates in case the merger is not resolved in time.

Kampi officials have expressed concern over the possibility that the Comelec may not resolve the issue by Nov. 20, or that the issue would be resolved but would still be raised before the Supreme Court for a final definitive ruling.

Puno noted that in the case of Teodoro, Kampi's constitution and by-laws does not prevent membership in two parties. Teodoro, originally a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, can be adopted by Kampi in case the merger issue isn’t resolved.

“We will work to ensure that all our candidates succeed in the coming elections. And we want to assure Lakas that Kampi will stand by the merger,” he said. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

'No need to talk to Noynoy on RH bill'

2009-09-24T05:49:00.000-07:00

Philstar.com
Philstar.com - Thursday, September 24

MANILA, Philippines – An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said there is no need to convince presidential hopeful Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to withdraw his support for the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

In an interview with the Church-run Radio Veritas this morning (Sept. 24), Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Family and Life vice chairman, said Aquino himself should realize that he erred in backing the proposed measure.

"Kaya dapat talaga patunayan niya na kaya niyang sundan ang yapak ng kanyang ina. Itong RH bill ay hindi pro-people. Hindi pro-God. Hindi ito pro-nation. Ang masaklap pa nito, itong ating mga mambabatas, they are creating laws against our people," Arguelles said.

(He should prove that he can follow in his mother’s footsteps. This RH bill is not pro-people, not pro-God and not pro-nation. What’s worse is that our lawmakers are creating laws against our people.)

Aquino, the only son of the late President Corazon Aquino, admitted that he was one of the co-authors of the RH bill when he was still congressman of Tarlac.

The CBCP earlier said it is planning to send an emissary to the young senator to convince him to drop his support for the bill. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Comelec purges 5 million from voters' list

2009-09-24T05:44:00.000-07:00

ABS-CBN - Thursday, September 24

MANILA - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has purged the voters' list of some 5 million names, in what could be a major step in solving multiple voting on election day. Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento told a workshop on “Philippine democracy and the 2010 Elections” that the massive clean-up has resulted in 5,584,449 names being stricken off from the voters' list.

He said the deactivated names include those who have failed to vote in two major elections, those who have adopted foreign citizenship, those who have been convicted by the courts, and those who are dead.

In contrast, there were 2,653,594 newly registered voters as of June 30, with the total number of registered voters nationwide already breaching the 44 million mark.

He expected the number of registered voters to reach 47 million, noting the active efforts to encourage eligible voters to register with the help of the media and the election watchdogs.

ABS-CBN News, for instance, has its Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo project, to encourage the youth to register and vote.

Under the continuing registration program, voters have until October 31 this year to register to be able to vote in the May 10, 2010 polls.

Sarmiento said the election watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) will be provided a copy of the voters' list.

Exclusion or inclusion proceedings will commence after the voters' list has been closed.

Weakness and embarrassment

The voters' list has been one of the Comelec’s weaknesses and sources of embarrassment. It has long been under suspicion of being padded or bloated, intentionally or unintentionally, providing wider elbowroom for cheats to pull off their dirty tricks.

Critics have said that a clean and honest electoral exercise should begin with a clean voters' list.

Previous efforts to cleanse the voters' list, with billions of pesos spent for it, have gone to waste.

The Comelec, chaired by former Justice Jose Melo, is now implementing the biometric system to further eliminate dubious names in the voters' list.

In the biometric system, the photograph, signature and thumbmark of voters are taken and compared using the cross-matching machines. This should eliminate double or multiple registrations.

The project, however, could not go full blast “for lack of equipment,” Sarmiento said. -- by Aries Rufo, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak

Bayani Fernando for President / 2010 Presidential Elections

2009-09-23T05:36:00.000-07:00

By Conrado de Quiros
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:03:00 08/05/2008

There were a couple of stories here last Saturday that drove home the point that those who can’t do preach. The first was Bayani Fernando warning the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) against touching his posters. “Unlike other billboards, they don’t pose danger to lives and property. They’re part of an intensified information and educational campaign of the MMDA to instill discipline among residents and restore order in the metropolis.” The DPWH, he said, should tear down instead the commercial billboards that flout the law.

What idiocy. The DPWH shouldn’t just touch his posters, they should touch him, preferable by mixing him in cement, and even more preferably not just metaphorically. More than the commercial ads, his posters are a threat to life and property, inviting as they do drivers to ram their vehicles into the offending posters. They are also a threat to health, his picture, like that of his boss, being enough to crowd hospitals with patients suddenly afflicted by hypertension and other diseases related to feelings of unbearable oppression.

At the very least, those posters subvert their professed intention. Discipline is the last thing they will encourage among the public—rioting is first. How can you instill discipline among the public when you yourself display cheekiness and irresponsibility beyond belief? Those posters were already an eyesore last year when Metro Manila residents could count whatever blessings in life they still had. They are an absolute abomination today when those same residents are reeling from the prices of rice and gas, the two most basic needs of an urban resident, that are rising faster than their leaders are falling. The fortune that went to making those posters could have been put to better use.

While at that, the fortune was harnessed only to fuel Fernando’s political ambitions. They are campaign posters, nothing more, nothing less. You know it, I know it, he knows it. The only comfort, a truly cold one, anyone may take from those posters is that they show the future voters exactly what would happen if they ever felt suicidal enough to put him in higher office. That is what he will do to their taxes.

I do know something that will assuredly instill discipline among the public. That is to throw Fernando in jail for a few years for illegal use of funds and campaigning well before the stipulated period. At the very least it would instill discipline in him. At the very most it would instill discipline in the rest of us by showing that lack of discipline, or plain abuse, won’t be tolerated in this country. It will be poetic justice as well: Finally Fernando will get a taste of what he has been giving undisciplined pedestrians to force them to keep to sidewalks. That is to fence him in.

Partido Magdalo backs Villar

2009-09-23T05:26:00.000-07:00

Posted on Sep 15, 2009

http://www.mannyvillar.com.ph

The official coalition between the Nacionalista Party (NP) headed by Sen. Manny Villar and the formidable Partido Magdalo of Cavite today, participated in by over 300 leaders, including 13 incumbent mayors, clad in orange shirts, appeared like NP’s convention.

Led by Cavite Cong. Boying Remulla, former Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino spokesman, and gubernatorial candidate Jonvic Remulla, the three-decade-old Partido Magdalo expressed overwhelming support to Villar for the 2010 presidential elections.

“We deem Senator Villar as the sole unifying factor whose leadership can reach out to various sectors in a bid to propel the country to higher ground,” Congressman Remulla said during the event program.

Villar responded, “As two of the country’s oldest political parties coalesce, our fight against poverty, reminiscent of our forefathers’ struggle for independence, has intensified. The support from Partido Magdalo empowers our drive against hunger in the country.”

Partido Magdalo has the reputation of delivering considerable number of votes for presidential candidates they supported in the past.

Villar administered the NP oath to the more than 300 Caviteño leaders including 13 out of the 23 incumbent mayors in the well-attended rites held at the historic Laurel House in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

“ANG BAYAN HIGIT SA LAHAT”

Noynoy-Mar tandem gets more support

2009-09-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

Noynoy-Mar tandem gets more support
By ARIS R. ILAGAN
September 22, 2009, 6:41pm

Officials of the Liberal Party-Drilon wing on Tuesday claimed that several members of the LP-Atienza faction have re-joined their ranks to support the Noynoy Aquino-Mar Roxas tandem.

Former congressman Florencio “Butch” Abad said that he also received information that the LP faction headed by Environment Secretary Lito Atienza is also starting to break up as a result of the defection of several its members to other political parties.

According to Abad, several members of the LP Atienza wing have rejoined their group when they learned that they have firmed up the Aquino-Roxas team up for the May 2010 presidential and vice presidential race.

“Yes. Many of them have started returning to our camp. We welcome them for they are supporting the Noynoy-Mar tandem,” the former education secretary said.

But Abad refused to identify the “prodigal sons” from the LP Atienza group, claiming that they just show up in time for the planned party national convention in the coming weeks.

Earlier, Abad said that there were backdoor negotiations for the possible re-joining of some members of the LP-Atienza wing back to their ranks on condition that they will support their candidates and espouse party principles.

Noynoy, 49, has repeatedly said that their political group is open to a possible coalition with other opposition parties which are reform-oriented and known anti-graft advocates.

With Akbayan party list Rep. Liza Hontiveros-Baraquel now included in the LP senatorial slate, the LP-Drilon Wing has forged an alliance with the multi-sectoral party to support the Noynoy-Mar tandem.

I'm eligible to run in 2010, Erap insists

2009-09-23T05:19:00.000-07:00

By Dennis Carcamo

Philstar.com
Philstar.com - Wednesday, September 23

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Joseph Estrada insisted that he is eligible to run in the 2010 presidential derby.

During a debate on whether he is still be eligible to run or not, Estrada, clad in a blue barong tagalog, maintained that there is no provision in the Constitution that would bar him from again seeking the presidency next year.

"For me, the prohibition (in running again) only applies to the incumbent President because of the undue advantage. (For example) She could use the fertilizer fund, the road user's tax and other government funds (in the campaign)," Estrada said in his usual slurred speech.

The former chief executive also argued that he could use the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of his late friend Fernando Poe Jr. — who previously ran for president — regarding his citizenship. As it turned out, the High Court ruled that the people should be allowed to decide on whether to vote for Poe or not.

"Ang taongbayan ang dapat mag-desisyon (It’s the people who should decide)," Estrada said, alluding to the SC's ruling on Poe's case.

He also insisted that he did not resign his post as President but was merely "on leave" when he left Malacañang in January 2001 at the height the Edsa People Power II revolution.

"I never resigned. I'm only on leave. I was never convicted in the impeachment trial," Estrada reiterated.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, however, said the SC's ruling on Poe's case cannot be applied to Estrada’s case. He said Poe’s case was about citizenship while Estrada’s concerned re-election.

"He (Estrada) has taken an oath of office to abide by the provisions of the Constitution, which included that he is not eligible for re-election," Macalintal said.

He added that President Arroyo, who was then Estrada's vice president, was only continuing the unfinished term of Estrada when he was ousted in 2001, exempting her from the four-year clause provided in the Constitution.

For his part, Atty. Pacifico Agabin, Estrada legal counsel, argued that his client could still run since he served only less than four years of his six-year term.

"The term 'President' (in the Constitution) refers only to the sitting president and not the former president," Agabin said. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Decide soon, Noli asked

2009-09-05T19:06:00.000-07:00

Manila Bulletin - Saturday, September 5

Vice President Noli "Kabayan" de Castro shoul decide soon on whether or not to run for president in next year's election as Lakas-Kampi-CMD, the administration party, will push through with its timetable of announcing its standard bearer within the month.

Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio, who is also the party's secretary general, said on Saturday in an interview over DZRB that the party respects De Castro's time of discernment if he would run for president in 2010, but he was firm in saying that the party must follow its timetable.

"The absolute deadline for presidential hopefuls considered by the party (is on) September 15, so determined tayo na panindigan ang timetable, during which we'll have to take action and corresponding decision," he said.

"We'll continue to rely on (De Castro) for support, guidance and cooperation... but the party has a timetable and it has its objectives," he said.

De Castro is not yet a member of Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Claudio said the first step for De Castro to take is to be a member of the party if he is to be chosen as the standard bearer.

Claudio said the administration party will have a standard bearer not later than this month but the party is still having deliberations on who would be the administration's standard bearer in next year's elections.

"God willing, we'll be able to come up with the decision and announcement this month," he said.

He clarified that there is no such thing as political "anointment" under the processes of the political party. Earlier reports had said that the vice president was "anointed" by President Arroyo as the administration's standard bearer.

"Virtual endorsement is a matter of interpretation," Claudio said, as he explained that President Arroyo, who is also the party chair, had cited the vice president's qualifications "in the same way" as she recognizes the qualifications and track record of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando and Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who are also vying to become the standard bearer of the administration party.

"It will have to be the result of a selection process based on democratic consultations (among) members of Lakas-Kampi," Claudio said.

On the party's vice-presidential candidate, Claudio said it will be up to the chosen standard bearer.

The League of Governors, in a general assembly held Friday, expressed its support for Defense Secretary Teodoro in a resolution. Teodoro is a member of the administration party. Claudio admitted that the resolution will be a big factor in the party's decision process.

Teodoro to hit 2 birds with 1 stone with upcoming US visit

2009-09-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

GMANews.TV - Sunday, September 6

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. may be trying to hit two birds with one stone when he visits the United States, militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said Saturday.

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said Teodoro will cement the presence of US troops in Mindanao, while showing the US he will be a staunch ally - if he becomes president.

“The fact that Teodoro is a presidential aspirant puts a different spin to the US visit. He may be out to impress the US government by presenting himself as the most reliable US supporter in the country.

He may be making his presidential pitch to the US government, that he’s going to continue the foreign policy of the Arroyo administration. He may offer his personal commitment to uphold the VFA," Reyes said in an article on the Bayan website (www.bayan.ph).

Teodoro will call on his US counterpart Robert Gates at the Pentagon on Sept. 9.

He will also meet Dennis Cutler Blair, Director of National Intelligence; and Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Edward Panetta.

Gates had announced last August 21 in the New York Times that the US will be keeping its forces under the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines in Mindanao for an undetermined period.

The announcement drew criticism from various groups and Senators. Calls are mounting for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US.

“It is not likely that Teodoro will be representing the best interests of the Philippines in that visit. Our sovereignty has been violated continuously by the presence of foreign troops and we haven’t heard the slightest protest from Teodoro and the Arroyo administration," Reyes said.

“Despite mounting calls from the Senate to abrogate the VFA, Teodoro continues to defend this one-sided pact," he added.

Veterans

An earlier statement by the Defense Department, however, said Teodoro also intends to meet with officials of the US Department of Veterans Affairs to follow up pending claims by Filipino World War II veterans for lump sum benefits under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Out of the 31,876 claimants, 8,990 applications have been processed through the first four-and-a-half months since processing began, according to statistics released by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs(USDVA).

Of the processed claims, 3,138 were approved for veterans with US citizenship, 3,414 were approved for non-US citizens, and 2,438 applications were disapproved. There are 22,886 pending claims.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Filipino WWII veterans who are now US citizens are entitled to a benefit of US$15,000. Non-US citizens are entitled to $9,000. - GMANews.TV

The other 2010 concern

2009-09-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

Philstar.com - Sunday, September 6

While national attention is focused on the individuals who are likely to slug it out for the presidency in 2010, equal attention should also be given to efforts to ensure that the general elections will push through as smoothly as possible. It will be the first time that Philippine elections will be fully automated, and every effort must be made to ensure the success of this undertaking.

There are still too many hurdles along the road to credible elections. The Commission on Elections and the Smartmatic-TIM consortium, which bagged the automation contract, are set to conduct a physical survey to determine telecommunications coverage nationwide. A reliable telecommunications system is needed for transmitting votes electronically. The voting machines, which have not yet been delivered, must pass several tests before they get the Comelec’s green light for use in the polls. The machines must be protected from any form of tampering until election day.

Last Wednesday President Arroyo appointed Gregorio Larrazabal as the seventh Comelec commissioner, but there is no guarantee that the regional election director for Eastern Visayas will still have his new post by May 2010. Larrazabal is taking over from Leonardo Leonida, who quit after failing twice to get the nod of the Commission on Appointments. By November, the Comelec will be busy weeding out nuisance candidates and ruling on petitions for disqualification.

The Comelec said the country has more than two million new voters. The poll body is also busy trying to clean up voters’ lists and preparing for voting by millions of Filipinos working overseas. Comelec officials have admitted that they lack the personnel and resources to fully enforce laws and regulations on campaigning, including rules — limited as they are — governing campaign finance. Election-related violence has already started in certain hot spots. The military and police, which are tasked to deal with security problems, will have their hands full.

Whoever wins in the 2010 elections, the important thing is to ensure that the vote is credible. The nation can no longer afford to have a president and even senators with a questionable mandate. Certain quarters had opposed poll automation, but proponents argued that at the very least, the new system would ensure that votes would be counted quickly, leaving a smaller room for manipulating results. Now that the new system is being put in place, everything must be done to make it work, and make the 2010 elections reflect the true will of the people. - (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Bishops hail Panlilio's withdrawal from 2010 race

2009-09-04T06:40:00.000-07:00

Philstar.com - Friday, September 4

MANILA, Philippines – Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio’s decision to abandon his 2010 presidential ambition elicited positive reaction from several bishops.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo was among those who expressed delight over Panlilio’s decision.

“I am happy that Gov. Ed Panlilio has decided to withdraw from the presidential race. He can now concentrate on services of the good of his province. God bless him,” Lagdameo said in an interview with the Church-run Radio Veritas.

Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani, for his part, said now is the time for Panlilio, a priest on leave, to return to priesthood.

“It’s a very welcome development, he should return to priesthood,” he said.

Pampanga auxiliary bishop Ambo David echoed Bacani’s statement, hoping that Panlilio would likewise abandon plans of running for any other elective posts and just resume his priestly duties.

“Masaya kami, sana umatras na rin siya sa pagkandidato para sa anumang puwesto sa 2010. Bumalik na lang siya sa paglilingkod bilang pari,” David said.

In a press conference this morning at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, Panlilio declared he is backing out from the 2010 presidential race to support Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as their camp's bet. - By Dino Maragay (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Palace claims Noynoy retreat could be a 'gimmick'

2009-09-04T06:36:00.000-07:00

GMANews.TV - Friday, September 4

The decision of Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III to go on a spiritual retreat could be a political gimmick, a Malacañang official claimed on Thursday.

Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez made the statement at a press briefing in Malacañang after the senator asked for at least a week before deciding on whether he would run for president in next year’s elections.

“We respect whatever gimmickry, whatever ways on how he can arrive at a decision," Golez said.

Aquino on Wednesday said he would embark on a "spiritual retreat" to seek guidance on his political plans.

His announcement came a day after Sen. Manuel “Mar" Roxas II, the Liberal Party's anointed standard bearer, stepped back from his presidential bid.

Aquino’s announcement was reminiscent of the decision of his mother, late President Corazon Aquino, who went on a retreat in 1985 before giving in to the public clamor for her to run for the presidency during the snap elections in 1986.

“Kung iyan ang talagang character niya (If that is really his character)...that’s the way he is, we have to respect that also," Golez said.

It's official: Panlilio opts out of 2010 race

2009-09-04T06:33:00.000-07:00

Philstar.com, September 4

MANILA, Philippines – Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio has formally declared his withdrawal from the 2010 presidential race.

Panlilio made the announcement this morning (Sept. 4) at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, saying he has abandoned his presidential ambition to give way to Liberal Party’s Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

“Nagpasya kaming hindi tumuloy sa aming planong tumakbo sa pagka-pangulo sa nalalapit na halalalan. Ibinibigay namin ang aming buong suporta at pagtitiwala kay Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III bilang kandidato sa pagka-pangulo ng ating bansa (We have decided not to push through with our plan to run as president in the coming elections. We are offering our full support and trust to Sen. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III as our presidential candidate),” he said in a prepared speech.

With the declaration, Panlilio, a priest on leave, became the second presidential aspirant to give up his bid.

Liberal Party president Sen. Mar Roxas made the same announcement last Tuesday. - By Dino Maragay (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

216,176 enlist for overseas voting

2009-09-02T18:40:00.000-07:00

By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net / September 2, 2009

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 216,176 new overseas absentee voters (OAV) registered in various posts abroad for the May 2010 presidential election in the six-month registration period that ended August 31, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

The new registrants represented about 22 percent of the DFA’s target of one million new absentee voters for next year’s election.

The DFA, however, said it was still awaiting the final tally from the various registration posts abroad.

According to the DFA, the following foreign service posts recorded the highest number of registrants: Hong Kong (21,905), Los Angeles (13,205), Dubai (12,477), Singapore (11,296), New York (6,496), Riyadh (6,120), London (5,821), Tokyo (5,257), Taipei (5,243), and Toronto (4,873).

Another 19,644 new voters registered at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), 14,990 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), 6,869 at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa), and 6,319 at the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO).

‘Noynoy’ asks for guidance

2009-09-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

Thea Alberto
Yahoo! Philippines / September 2, 2009

A day after Senator Manuel Roxas II announced he would be supporting Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III for the 2010 elections, the latter has yet to decide whether to accept the challenge.

Aquino said he has decided to go on a retreat over the weekend.

“I urge you to pray with me so you too can assess your own readiness to take part in the difficult struggle ahead. We are hopefully in this together,” said Aquino in his speech at Club Filipino, the same building where his late mother, former president Corazon Aquino took her oath as the first woman president.

Aquino said it was better to think things over instead of hastily joining the campaign for the 2010 Presidential elections.

“Sa nalalabing araw ng aming pagluluksa at pagdadalamhati sa pagpanaw ng aming mahal naming ina, sisikapin ko pong taos-pusong sagutin ang katanungang ito. Sana maunawaan po ninyo ang bagay na ito,” the Senator said.

Meanwhile, Aquino lauded Roxas’ “sacrifice.”

“Senator Roxas’ sacrifice is the finest example of selflessness that our nation sorely needs in these morally troubled times,” said Aquino.

Roxas gives way to Noynoy Aquino

2009-09-02T18:28:00.000-07:00

ABS CBN / September 1, 2009

Presidential aspirant Senator Manuel Roxas II gives way to Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Saying he believed in “country above self,” Roxas stressed he would be supporting Aquino in the 2010 elections although it was not immediately clear whether Aquino would seek the presidency.

“Today, I’m announcing my support for the candidacy of Noynoy Aquino for president for 2010,” Roxas said in a televised press conference at the Club Filipino in San Juan, Metro Manila.

“Sa madaling salita, Noynoy has made it clear to me he wants to carry the torch of leadership,” he added.

However, Aquino, who was also at the press conference, did not deliver a speech.

Roxas said that after several talks with Aquino, they came up with a decision that would help them pursue their “common dream” for change.

220abscbn_mar

“Ito na ang pinakamabigat na desisyon sa buhay ko [This is the biggest decision I've made in my life],” said Roxas who already released several political advertisements ahead of the 2010 polls. He is also set to marry broadcaster Korina Sanchez in October.

“I do this for unity in support for change…if that means somebody has to make a sacrifice, ako na,” he said.

The senator’s late father, former Senator Gerry Roxas, was a close friend and political ally of Aquino’s assassinated father, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. The older Roxas and Aquino almost went against each other for the 1972 presidential elections, which did not push through when then president Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law.

Villar again tops new SWS survey

2009-08-31T04:54:00.000-07:00

Inquirer.net / August 24, 2009

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Senator Manny Villar has again emerged as the top choice for president next year in a survey by the Social Weather Station which he himself commissioned.

The nationwide survey of 1,500 respondents was made June 19 to 22, a few weeks before the death of the late president Corazon Aquino which is believed to have changed the political landscape for the 2010 elections.

In the survey, Villar posted a 22-percent approval, followed by former president Joseph Estrada with 19 percent and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero with 18 percent.

Vice President Noli De Castro ranked fourth in the survey with 14 percent, fifth was Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas with 10 percent, Senator Loren Legarda came at sixth place with 6 percent, while Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay shared the seventh place with 3 percent.

At the bottom were Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando with 1 percent and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro with only 0.3 percent.

The question asked respondents was, “Sa mga sumusunod na pangalan sa listahang ito, sino ang malamang nyong iboboto bilang presidente ng Pilipinas (Of the following names on this list, who are you likely to vote for president of the Philippines)?”

The survey had a marginal error of 2.5 percent.

The result was almost identical to that of the second quarter SWS survey during the same period which had the question, “Under the present Constitution, the term of President Arroyo is up to 2010 only, and there will be an election for a new President in May 2010. Who do you think are good leaders who should succeed Pres. Arroyo as President? You may give up to three names.”

Thirty-three percent gave the name of Villar in response to the question, 25 percent were for Estrada, 20 percent for Escudero and Roxas, 19 percent for De Castro, and 15 percent for Legarda.

Seven percent were for Lacson, 4 percent for Binay, and 1 percent each for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Metro Manila Development Authority chief Bayani Fernando, Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, Brother Eddie Villanueva, and Senators Francis Pangilinan, Richard Gordon, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

No list of names was provided to prompt the respondents.

Estrada had also commissioned an SWS survey, showing him leading among the possible presidential contenders in next year’s elections.

Erap 99.9% sure he'll run again

2009-08-31T00:17:00.000-07:00

ABS CBN / August 30,2009

MANILA - Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada is 99.9% sure of making another bid for the presidency after realizing that opposition unity is no longer possible, his spokesman said on Saturday.

Margaux Salcedo, Estrada's spokesman, said at a forum that after Estrada talked to Senators Manuel Villar and Mar Roxas, it appears the two other opposition candidates are already bent on running for the presidency, which makes opposition unity in 2010 virtually impossible.

Salcedo said Estrada has been frustrated by efforts to unite and field a single candidate against the administration, which is why he [Estrada] is "99.9% sure to run."

However, she added there are still many possibilities, with over three months still to go before the deadline for the filing of certificate of candidacy for the 2010 elections closes on November 30.

Salcedo said the opposition's experience in the 2004 elections showed that the administration has a better chance of winning if the opposition is divided.

In 2004, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo narrowly defeated opposition bet, the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., in a five-way race. Many believe Poe would have won if third placer Senator Panfilo Lacson withdrew from the race.

Estrada eligible to run

Meanwhile, a former dean of the UP College of Law believes Estrada is qualified to run again despite a provision in the 1987 Constitution that says a president is only eligible for a six-year term.

Dean Froilan Bacungan said the provision in the 1987 Constitution which says, "The President shall not be eligible for any re-election," does not apply to Estrada.

He said the Constitution provides that "election may no longer be allowed if an incumbent president has served for four years." Estrada is not an incumbent president and served for only two and a half years, from June 1998-January 2001. His term was cut short by military-backed people power revolt.

Aside from this, Salcedo also said that the Constitution states that whoever the next President will be is dependent upon who the people want to lead them. This is the principle behind a democracy.

She said it is for the people to decide whether Estrada should be reelected.

Last Wednesday, former Senate President Jovito Salonga predicted that the 2010 presidential elections will be a two-way fight between Senators Manuel Villar and Mar Roxas since he believes the Supreme Court will disqualify Estrada.

“In the ultimate analysis, ang maglalaban siguro, subject to qualifications, sina Manny Villar at Mar Roxas,” Salonga told reporters

Salonga said the Supreme Court will still have to decide on the presidential bid of Estrada. He said he doubts if Estrada is qualified to seek re-election. “Sa paniwala nya, lagi siyang qualified. May duda ako,” he told reporters.

Estrada was convicted of plunder in 2007 although President Arroyo immediately granted him pardon and restored his civil and political rights.

Bishop: Velarde won't run in 2010

2009-08-31T00:11:00.000-07:00

Philstar.com / August 31,2009

MANILA, Philippines – El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde will not pursue his presidential bid, according to his spiritual adviser.

Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani said he believes Velarde will abandon any political ambition for the sake of his millions of followers.

"I don't think Bro. Mike will run. Kami na kasama niya sa El Shaddai ay ayaw naming siya na tumakbo. Kinausap namin siya na huwag nang tumakbo pa na malugod naman niyang tinanggap," Bacani told the Church-run Radio Veritas.

Unlike Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio, who is a priest on leave, Bacani said Velarde is still part of the laity and could run any time he wants to.

"Si Bro. Mike ay maituturing na layman, karapatan niya na sumama sa pulitika kung nais niya kaya lang may iba pa siyang panawagan o misyon. Si Gov. Panlilio naman ay special case yung pagtakbo niya sa Pampanga," Bacani said.

The bishop also pointed out that under the Canon law, the Church prohibits men of the cloth to run for an elective post in government.

"I do not think he (Panlilio) will continue to run for president while remaining a priest...I don't think it is advisable for him to do so it is good for him to withdraw," Bacani said. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Meet with Mar went well - Noynoy

2009-08-31T00:07:00.000-07:00

Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III disclosed on Sunday that his initial talks with Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Liberal Party (LP) leaders are going well.

Roxas had earlier confirmed that he and Aquino will meet this weekend to discuss the possibility of running as partners in 2010. He said there have been ideas of a Mar-Noynoy tandem even before Aquino's mother the late President Corazon "Cory" Aquino died.

“Nag-share ako sa kanila ng mga feedback, ito ang mga natatanggap ko… Maganda ang aming meeting,” said Aquino in a short interview at his family’s house in Quezon City Sunday afternoon.

He said however that talks would continue especially during this long ‘weekend’ at the same time apparently avoiding to present exact details on the contents of his meeting Saturday night.

“May continuing dialogues pa,” said Aquino.

He said that he and Roxas were a bit tired Saturday night citing that LP ‘s declared presidential aspirant had just come from General Santos City.

He admitted that he himself, has been attending to the many letters in connection to the death of his mother the late former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino. He cited that there still four boxes of letters that he needs to respond to – and some still have ‘get well’ messages for his late mother.

Aquino also said that the LP was fortunate that the party has “great leaders.” He said the party leaders has expressed their support during the meeting.

When asked if there has been any decision to change Roxas as the LP standard bearer, Aquino said: “As of this time there is no need for any change, there is only one declared aspirant for the [presidential] position therefore and we have been campaigning for our standard bearer.”

No decision yet

He also disclosed that he has yet to make up his mind if he will run for a higher elective position in the 2010 elections.

“Gusto ko pang mangayari kapag tinanggap ko ang hamon niyo dapat mayroon tayong magawa. Kung nababagalan kayo sa desisyon tandaan na lang po natin na napakabigat po ng repsonsiblisdad na ating pong aakuihin. Kapag pinasukan po natin iyan, ginawa nating madalian, ay parang ginawang biro ho ang nangyari at di po karapat-dapat na response iyon sa inyong mga mungkahi,” Aquino responded when asked on his message to groups who have been asking him to run for president.

Aquino also said that he has been discussing his possible plans with his sisters.

“I've had very good dialogues with my sisters contrary to my initial expectations. Siyempre nandoon pa rin ang 'eto na naman!'. At the same time it is not as difficult as I had imagined. There's seems to be a meeting of the minds tapos varying degrees of 'ganadong-ganado' at di ko rin naman siguro masabing ganado,” said Aquino.

He confirmed however that her sister Viel, who was not able to attend Sunday’s family gathering was still hesitant on his running. Aquino said that Viel was attending her father-in-law who just suffered an accident.

Aquino’s sister, Kris, had also confirmed his brother’s meeting with Roxas but said she had no knowledge on what transpired.

Aquino also said that he would be going to consult his mother’s spiritual colleagues and advisers saying that he will visit the different religious orders and even “convent to convent” to help him in making his decision.

He did say however that an announcement would be forthcoming.

“Until when? Siguro napapalapit na tayo doon,” said Aquino adding that it may be done after the 40th day of her mother’s death.

May be adopted

Another party meanwhile has signified that it will support Aquino should the LP decide not to support his possible presidential bid.

Sonia Roco, Aksyon Demokratiko leader and wife of the late senator Raul Roco, said that her group wants Aquino to run for the presidency in 2010.

“Dapat siguro presidente lang ang tatakbuhin niya. Dahil babasahin natin kung ano ang mga events o ang signs of the times na nagsasabi na ngayon ang panahon niya na tama siyang tumakbo dahil kung 2016 wala na, parang wala na ang momentum, wala na ang crest ng wave na gusto mong sakyan,” said Roco. With a report from Jenny Reyes, ABS-CBN News

Noynoy gets Imee's support

2009-08-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

ABS CBN - August 27,2009

MANILA - If ever Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III runs for higher office in 2010, he would find an ally in the most unlikely person: former Ilocos Norte representative Imee Marcos.

Marcos, the eldest child of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, said she would support a possible bid by Aquino, the only son of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino, for higher office.

Marcos said she knows how Aquino works, since they were both allied with the opposition back when they were both members of the House of Representatives.

"Nakakatuwa nga naman talaga ang destiny 'ika nga, dahil bumagsak kami pareho sa oposisyon... matagal na rin ang pagsasama namin, at inaasahan ko na mapunta siya sa mas matindi pang posisyon," Marcos said.

From 1998 to 2007, Aquino was representative of the 2nd district of Tarlac, while Marcos was representative of the 2nd district of Ilocos Norte.

Kris: Decision after Cory's 40th day

Meantime, his youngest sister Kris said that they will leave it to the senator to decide on his political future after the 40-day mourning period for their mom, the late former President Corazon Aquino.

"My sisters and I feel it is best for 'Noy to make a decision after Mom's 40th day. And he has always assured us that we will decide as a family," a text message from Kris read.

They will mark the 40th day of Mrs. Aquino's death on September 9.

The senator earlier said that he and his siblings - Ballsy, Pinky, Viel, and Kris - will decide together regarding his political plans.

During the funeral mass for their mother, Kris, in her message, promised Cory that she will support Noynoy in his political endeavors.

Panlilio support, 'Cory magic'

Aquino also got support from a backer of Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, another aspirant for the presidency.

Kaya Natin! lead convenor Harvey Keh said Monday that Panlilio would withdraw his bid for the presidency in 2010 if Aquino plans to run.

Keh said their group sees Aquino as the only person who would be able to unite different opposition groups, and said the "Cory magic" associated with the late former president Cory Aquino would be passed on to the senator.

"Wala kaming nakikitang ibang tao o ibang grupo na doon papasok lahat... para magsama-sama para sa isang common coalition.. para itaguyod ang reporma sa ating bansa, kundi si Senador Noynoy Aquino lamang ngayon," Keh said.

The Black and White Movement, meanwhile, said the so-called "Cory magic" has rubbed off on the senator. Leah Navarro, a convenor of the B&W Movement, said she would still wait for the decision of Aquino and of the Liberal Party.

"Dahil 'yan sa mga parents nila. So therefore, kung 'Cory magic' ang pinag-uusapan, dapat meron na rin 'yan sila. It should be natural sa kanila," Navarro said.

Hacienda Luisita revisited

However, despite the surge of support, the group Solidarity Philippines is not keen on the idea of Noynoy runnig for higher office.

"Meron kaming isinusulong.. yung genuine agrarian reform. Isa 'yun sa problema namin sa Aquino family. Remember the Hacienda Luisita case, at the same time, maging dito sa CARPER, which we do not support kasi we believe it is in-lacking to our criteria with genuine agrarian reform. Sa Senate, hindi 'yan sinuportahan ni Noynoy," Fr. Joe Dizon, Solidarity Philippines lead convenor, said.

Meanwhile, the Makati Business Club (MBC), one of former President Cory Aquino's staunchest supporters, won't publicly endorse any presidential aspirant because of their connection with the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL).

MBC executive director Bertie Lim, however, said that individuals within the group, particularly 'veterans' of the 1986 EDSA revolt, would most likely support an Aquino candidacy. With reports from Mario Dumaual and Ces Oreña-Drilon, ABS-CBN News, and ANC

CBCP head backs probe on political 'infomercials'

2009-08-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

Philstar.com
August 27,2009

MANILA, Philippines -- The head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) expressed support to the Senate investigation on the alleged use of government funds by public officials -- specifically those who plan to run in next year's elections -- to finance their so-called "infomercials."

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, outgoing CBCP president, said that as public officials, those involved in such infomercials should be held accountable for the money spent by their departments.

"Sapagkat ang mga public servant ay dapat mayroong transparency sa panunungkulan at mayroong transparency sa kanilang paggastos ng pera kahit kanino man 'yun," Lagdameo said in an interview today (Aug. 26) with the Church-run Radio Veritas.

He, however, said he is giving the officials the benefit of the doubt when they argued that the infomercials are solely for the purpose of notifying the public on the advocacies and programs of their respective departments.

Lagdameo said the money spent in producing the infomercials should have been used for other meaningful projects instead. - By Dennis Carcamo

Salonga: Liberal Party convention to decide 2010 tandem

2009-08-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

Philstar.com
August 27,2009

MANILA, Philippines - Former Senate president Jovito Salonga wants the Liberal Party (LP) to hold a convention to choose the party’s standard-bearer in next year’s presidential race.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, the 89-year-old LP chairman emeritus said the choice between Senators Manuel Roxas II and Benigno Aquino III should go through the process to unify the LP.

“I feel there will be true unity in the LP if we discuss this thoroughly within the party,” he said.

Salonga said the declaration of Roxas of “no turning back” on his presidential candidacy is a “politician’s statement.”

“There’s no way for a politician to say otherwise,” he said. “All of their statements are subject to qualification.”

Salonga also described Sen. Francis Pangilinan’s plan to run for vice-president under the LP banner as “no obstacle whatsoever.”

“That is his desire to run as vice president,” he said.

Previously, Salonga said he “prefers” a Roxas-Aquino tandem rather than the other way around.

Aquino is “not yet ripe” for the presidency, he added.

On the other hand, LP stalwarts at the House of Representatives are rallying behind Aquino.

They took up the cudgels for Aquino whom Malacañang challenged to be “his own man,” rather than bask in the glory of his famous parents.

Oriental Mindoro Rep. Alfonso Umali reminded deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar that Aquino’s reluctance to “seek higher office” is enough proof that he is not attracted to the perks attached to the presidency.

“They have nothing to worry about, Noynoy is very different from them, especially in integrity and credibility.”

Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III, LP spokesman and head of the House LP bloc, said it is expected of Malacañang to react that way because Aquino is trusted by the people.

“Admittedly, Noynoy is a force to reckon with in politics because he symbolizes what his parents stood and fought for,” he said.

“It is expected that Noynoy will continue what his parents began and not let the name of his parents be tarnished.”

Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya Jr., LP secretary-general, said Olivar was missing the whole point when he dared Aquino to be his own man if he is indeed serious in seeking higher office.

“Noynoy has no other choice but to live up to what his parents fought and stood for,” he said.

“And generally, I think Filipinos would want that. Cory and Ninoy are not bad people. It is Noynoy’s moral responsibility to continue their fight.”

Abaya said Olivar is probably getting back at Aquino after he rejected Malacañang’s plan to construct a monument for his mother, President Corazon Aquino at Rizal Park in Manila.

Meantime, Tañada denied reports that the LP is “torn” between Roxas and Aquino, and that they could not decide on who will be the standard-bearer and his running mate.

“Right now everything is still speculative because Noynoy has not declared his intention to run for any of the top two positions,” he said in a text message.

“If Noynoy decides to run for vice president as proposed by former Senate president Salonga, a Mar-Noynoy ticket would be a strong ticket.

“If Noynoy decides to run also for president like Mar, then the choice of president and vice president will be made in accordance with the provisions outlined in the LP constitution.

“It will be decided by the membership of the LP in a convention.”

Atienza wing goes to court

The LP wing of Environment Secretary Lito Atienza asked the Supreme Court yesterday to void a resolution of the Commission on Elections upholding the election of Sen. Manuel Roxas II as president of the 53-year-old political party.

Roxas was elected during the LP national executive council meeting at the Manila Hotel on Nov. 26, 2007.

Atienza and his supporters also asked the SC to stop Roxas and his officials from discharging their powers and function, and Roxas from designating more LP officials.

The petitioners accused the Comelec of “grave abuse of discretion” in upholding the election of Roxas despite the “patent irregularities which attended the assembly.”

“The validity or invalidity of respondent Roxas’ ascension to the LP leadership therefore necessarily rests on the legality of the proceedings conducted by the LP’s special body called the NECO, on Nov. 26, 2007 and the legality or illegality of the proceedings by that ‘special body,’ in turn, depends on the legitimacy of the composition of the members of that NECO,” read the petition.

“And there can be no determination of who the legitimate NECO members are without directly addressing the questions of the validity of the expulsion of key party members belonging to the Atienza faction.”

The petitioners said the Comelec should have ruled on whether the expulsion of Atienza and his allies from the party was valid.

“The Comelec arbitrarily refused to consider that the validity of the expulsion of Atienza and four others from the LP involves violation of the constitutionally-enshrined right to due process and is not a simple issue of party discipline,” read the petition.

Represented by counsels Harlin Abayon and Luis Aseoche, the Atienza wing said the composition of the executive council when

Roxas was elected as president was “void and of no effect” due to questions.

“They themselves had eschewed basic democratic principles such as due process and fair play in booting out these five members led by Atienza from the party without giving them a forum to explain their side,” read the petition.

Members of the Atienza wing that sought the relief were Representatives Matias Defensor Jr. of Quezon City, Rodolfo Valencia of Oriental Mindoro, Danilo Suarez of Quezon province and Solomon Chungalao of Ifugao; Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez, former Northern Samar lawmaker Harlin Abayon, Liberal Local Legislators’ League national chairman Melvin Macusi, and former LP director general Eleazar Quinto.

Drilon assails Atienza petition

Former Senate president Franklin Drilon assailed yesterday the Atienza wing’s petition before the Supreme Court as “pathetic and legally feeble.”

“Secretary Atienza is a lackey of Malacañang,” he said.

“He cannot speak in behalf of the LP as both the Supreme Court and the Commission on Elections have sustained his expulsion (from the LP).

“In fact, there are reports that he is now negotiating with former President Joseph Estrada for him to run for Manila mayor in the 2010 polls under the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino.”

Drilon said in July 2007, the SC threw out a similar petition of Atienza and upheld the legitimacy of his election as LP president.

“In doing so, the High Court upheld the decision of the LP National Political Council to expel Atienza and four other LP officials for ‘acts inimical to the party’ on March 17, 2006,” he said.

“During the 2007 midterm elections, the Comelec authorized me, as LP president, to sign certificates of candidacy of LP candidates as the party was recognized as the dominant minority party. Atienza and his cohorts filed their candidacies under the pro-administration Lakas and Kampi parties.”

In June 2009, the Comelec dismissed another petition of Atienza questioning the legitimacy of the election of Roxas II as LP president for lack of merit, Drilon said.

Meanwhile, Comelec chairman Jose Melo refused to comment yesterday on the petition of the Atienza wing before the Supreme Court.

“It’s up to the Supreme Court to decide,” he said. — With Edu Punay, Aurea Calica, Sheila Crisostomo - By Delon Porcalla

Erap still the man to beat - Maceda

2009-08-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

Philstar.com
August 26,2009

MANILA, Philippines -- Among the present lot of presidential candidates, deposed President Joseph Estrada is still the man to beat in the upcoming 2010 national elections, according to an opposition stalwart.

Former senator Ernesto Maceda said Estrada still has the charisma to win over any of the presidential aspirants today.

"He is strong as before because the sympathy is there. The support (of the people) for Erap is love- and sympathy-based," Maceda said in a media forum in Greenhills, San Juan City today (Aug. 26).

He also claimed that Sen. Manny Villar, one of the presidential wannabes, is allegedly being supported by politicians only because of financial reasons.

"The people supporting Manny are expecting money from him," Maceda said of Villar, who has topped the latest survey on presidentiables.

Compared with Estrada's charms when speaking before an audience, Villar is a "poor (public) speaker," Maceda added.

"He (Estrada) has the crowd at the palm of his hand," said Maceda, also a former ambassador.

Meanwhile, Maceda said if Estrada pushes through with his presidential bid, the opposition is inclined to get among Senators Mar Roxas, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda or Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as his vice presidential candidate.

"Noynoy (Aquino III) is no still in radar's scope... He needs a little more seasoning. Sana huwag muna ngayon," Maceda said of the son of the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.

Maceda said the former chief executive is convincing opposition candidates to come up with a standard bearer in the 2010 polls. - By Dennis Carcamo

Villar tops expanded poll

2009-08-26T16:21:00.000-07:00

Philstar.com
August 26, 2009

MANILA, Philippines - Pulse Asia released yesterday the results of its latest non-commissioned survey that showed Sen. Manny Villar on top of the list of presidential aspirants for the 2010 elections.

The Pulse Asia’s August 2009 “Ulat ng Bayan” national survey found that one in four adult Filipinos or 25 percent would pick Villar if the elections were held now.

Villar also topped the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey for the second quarter of 2009 on presidential candidates, receiving 33 percent of votes of 1,500 respondents.

Pulse Asia’s latest survey, conducted from July 28 to Aug. 10, used face-to-face interviews with 1,800 adults, higher than the usual 1,200 respondents used by the survey firm. Pulse Asia’s survey with more respondents has a lower margin of error.

The respondents were asked, “Of the people on the list, whom would you vote for as President of the Philippines if the elections of 2010 were held today and they were presidential candidates?” The respondents were provided with 15 names of probable presidential candidates.

Pulse Asia’s new survey showed former President Joseph Estrada and Vice President Noli de Castro in second place with 19 percent and 16 percent, respectively.

Senators Francis Escudero and Manuel Roxas II also scored double-digit presidential voter preferences of 12 percent and 11 percent, respectively.

Pulse Asia said the other individuals included in the presidential probe obtained voter preferences of six percent or less.

They were Sen. Loren Legarda (six percent), Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay (four percent), Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando (one percent), Sen. Richard Gordon (one percent) and Jesus is Lord founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva (one percent).

The other presidential aspirants who received less than one percent of the respondents’ votes were: Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio (0.4 percent), Chief Justice Reynato Puno (0.3 percent), Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro (0.2 percent), Olongapo City Councilor John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes of the Ang Kapatiran Party (0.1 percent) and environmentalist Nicanor Perlas (zero).

Pulse Asia said one percent of the respondents provided other names not included in the survey. Three percent were undecided.

Pulse Asia said the August 2009 survey had 15 names while the May 2009 presidential probe included 16 individuals.

Pulse Asia said Villar made the only significant change (+11 percentage points) in the overall presidential voter preferences between May and August 2009.

Estrada posted a marginal improvement in his overall voter preference (+4 percentage points) while Escudero experienced a slight decline in the level of public support for his presidential bid (-5 percentage points), Pulse Asia said.

At present, two or more individuals share the lead across geographic areas and socio-demographic groupings, the survey firm said.

In Metro Manila, Villar is the most favored presidential bet (25 percent), with Escudero (22 percent) and Estrada (19 percent) close behind.

About the same percentages of those living in the rest of Luzon are supportive of Villar (22 percent), Estrada (19 percent), De Castro (16 percent), and Escudero (15 percent).

Among Visayans, Villar recorded the highest voter preference (30 percent), with De Castro (22 percent) in second place.

In Mindanao, Estrada and Villar received the highest voter preference at 26 percent.

In the best-off Class ABC, Escudero (30 percent) and Villar (28 percent) led the list of presidential candidates.

Those in the most numerous Class D are most supportive of Villar (25 percent) and Estrada (19 percent), while those in the poorest Class E are most inclined to vote for Villar (23 percent), Estrada (23 percent), and De Castro (22 percent).

Most Filipinos have preferred bet

Meanwhile, the survey also found that virtually every Filipino already has a preferred presidential candidate.

About one in four Filipinos (25 percent) is voting for his/her preferred presidential bet because of the candidate’s many accomplishments.

On the other hand, one in five (20 percent) Filipinos rationalized the choice of candidate based on the preferred bet’s pro-poor orientation.

More than one in 10 (12 percent) cited the candidate’s being helpful to others, especially overseas Filipino workers (eight percent), as the reason for supporting a candidate’s presidential bid.

Other reasons cited in supporting a candidate’s bid is his/her not being corrupt (six percent), proven capability in governance (four percent), goodness (four percent), being principled (three percent), and intelligence (three percent).

The survey has sampling error margins of plus or minus two percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes said the firm usually uses a higher number of respondents in their pre-electoral surveys because “it has lower margin of error.”

Holmes said the 1,800 samples will be used only in Pulse Asia’s pre-electoral surveys and they will return to their normal sample size of 1,200 respondents after the election period.

Holmes said the margin for sampling error for national-level proportions is plus or minus three percent, but now it is reduced to plus or minus two percent.

The margin of error is a statistic expressing the amount of random sampling error in a survey’s results. The larger the margin of error, the less faith one should have that the poll’s reported results are close to the true figures, that is, the figures for the whole population.

Pulse Asia said among the major developments immediately prior to and during the conduct of the interviews for this survey were the prolonged hospitalization due to terminal illness and subsequent death of former President Corazon Aquino, the last State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Arroyo, and Mrs. Arroyo’s latest visit to the United States.

Other factors included the unexplained growth in the President’s wealth since assuming the presidency in 2001, the increasing number of probable presidential candidates for the May 2010 elections, the controversies surrounding the selection of two new members of the Supreme Court and this year’s National Artist awardees, and the loss of lives and destruction of infrastructure caused by two powerful typhoons.

On the economic front, inflation in July fell to a 22-year low.

Meanwhile, Villar said he is grateful for the people’s continuing support for him.

Smarting from the attacks against him at the Senate over the C5 Road controversy, Villar said the Pulse Asia survey is proof of confidence in his ability to lead the country.

“I am thankful for the people’s vote of confidence as shown in the latest Pulse Asia survey,” Villar said.

Villar sees that this advantage over his rivals would propel their attacks against him.

“With this survey result, I expect our political rivals to continue with their attacks. But I am certain the people are discerning and are not easily swayed by obvious demolition jobs against me,” said Villar.

He said the attacks would not discourage him from doing what he started, especially for the improvement of the condition of the majority of Filipinos who are poor.

Escudero also welcomed the latest survey results. He said the people would judge all candidates during election day, and that those who got high ratings shouldn’t get swell-headed, while those with low ratings shouldn’t be devastated. With Christina Mendez - By Helen Flores