Solons confident US will reject ‘Joc Joc’ bid - Malaya 07.27.2006

SENATORS yesterday said the United States will not be hoodwinked into granting asylum to former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc Joc" Bolante on the strength of his lawyers’ claim that the New People’s Army is out to kill him.

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon, who signed the arrest warrant for Bolante, said the latter will not qualify for asylum because he is not under persecution for his political beliefs.
Bolante was arrested in Los Angeles last July 7 over "visa-related" matters.

"Asylum is given to a person whose political beliefs are the reason for the persecution by a government," Drilon pointed out.

He said if this is the case, Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, spokesman of the CPP-NPA-NDF, could also seek asylum in the US because he is being hunted by Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, commander of the 7th Infantry Division.

"Clearly, this is a strategy of his lawyers to prolong his stay in the US," he said.

He said the Senate does not see the need to make representations with the US government with regards to the application for asylum of Bolante.

Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., whose Senate committee probed the P728-million fertilizer fund scam and tagged Bolante as the "architect," said the United States will not buy the "NPA-alibi" of Bolante.

Magsaysay said if Bolante would be granted asylum, the US government would be flooded by applications for asylum from people who had received threats from communist rebels.

He said this could mean that an ordinary farmer or even a soldier is eligible for asylum because they are under constant threat from the NPA.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he does not believe that the NPA is after Bolante’s neck.

"Ang galit sa kanya ang mga farmers, di ang NPA," he said. Lacson was referring to the diverted fertilizer funds meant for the purchase of farm inputs implements.

The funds were allegedly diverted to the 2004 campaign kitty of President Arroyo to buy the support of local officials.

Lacson said Bolante cannot seek political asylum because he is a "Malacañang boy."

"Dapat you are being persecuted by the government kaya ka iga-grant ng asylum. In his case, nasa administrasyon siya. And he seems to be protected by this administration so how can he justify asylum?" he said.

Lacson said it is unlikely that the executive branch will lift a finger for Bolante’s extradition.

"The last person (the executive branch) would want to see here is Bolante kasi sasabog sa kanila whatever revelation na gagawin ni Bolante…Second, wala namang case na naka-file sa kanya a court … It’s really odd, walang effort man lang sa executive na si Bolante pumunta rito to face the investigation," Lacson said.

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon said the government should grab the chance of proving that it could protect Bolante by asking for his extradition.

"The government should invoke the existing extradition treaty between the United States and the government of the Philippines," he said.

Biazon, chair of the Senate committee on national defense, said Bolante’s extradition could be a test case for the government’s much-heralded campaign against corruption.

"The government of the United States recently gave a grant to the equivalent of P1 billion to our government to help in our fight against graft and corruption. The government has allocated a counterpart of another P1 billion. Bolante’s case is about graft and corruption in this country," he said.

Rosal denied Bolante’s claim that the NPA is targeting him for assassination.

He said these were just ploys so Bolante can be eligible for political asylum in the US and thereby avoid repatriation and evade trial "for his and his President’s large-scale corruption, malversation and plunder of billions of government funds."

He said that like the rest of Filipinos, the communists want Bolante to be extradited.

He said Bolante has to "spill the beans about how he connived with Malacañang to use the fertilizer fund as well as the recovered Marcos wealth to bankroll Gloria Arroyo’s 2004 electoral campaign and bribe various government and election officials to secure her victory."

"He must come clean about the details of the cases of large-scale plunder of government funds that have so far been uncovered. At the same time, he and his principal must be made to face the judgment of the Filipino people and their demand for the criminals and plunderers to be punished," Rosal said.

"If the US government were to grant political asylum to Mr. Bolante on the basis of his fabricated claims, it would only show itself to be covering up for the large-scale corruption and plunder committed by Mr. Bolante and his principals and accomplices in the puppet regime," he added.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez said she has formed a task force under Arturo Melchor Carandang to speed up the investigation on the fertilizer fund scam.

She said, however, there is no specific deadline for the resolution of the investigation.

"We are trying our best to be able to finish the investigation but we have to be thorough in our investigation. And after the fact-finding investigation, kung may recommendation for filing of charges, magko-conduct pa ng preliminary investigation. Iyun ang proseso sa aming opisina," she added.

She said they have assured the Senate that the probe is moving.

Gutierrez said that while Bolante is no longer with the government, the case is still under her jurisdiction as there are some incumbent officials involved.

Malacañang said the government is prepared to provide security for Bolante once he is repatriated regardless whether his claims that he is in the NPA hit list is true or not.

"Of course we’ll provide (security), that’s true to any citizen, especially with such a threat," said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. - Dennis Gadil, JP Lopez and Jocelyn Montemayor

Villar hints he’s sorry for role in impeachment of Estrada - Malaya 07.27.2006

SENATE President Manuel Villar yesterday hinted at remorse for "railroading" the impeachment process against President Joseph Estrada in 2000 when he was Speaker.

Villar, in a television interview, said he has been talking with Estrada and has visited the latter’s rest house in Tanay, Rizal, a couple of times to correct "certain things that should have not happened." He did not elaborate.

"Wala namang makukuha noon kung ano mangyayari after five years. History lamang ang makapagsasabi. History will be judge," he said.

He lamented that Estrada has been in jail for too long.

"Five years nang nakakulong ang Pangulo, hindi na rin tama yun," Villar said. "Hindi pa rin naman siya nako-convict."

Villar said he was grateful to the deposed leader, and Senators Loi Ejercito-Estrada and Jinggoy Estrada for supporting his bid for the Senate presidency without demanding something in return.

Villar sent the articles of impeachment to the Senate against Estrada despite calls from Estrada supporters in the House for plenary discussion.

The impeachment trial at the Senate was overtaken by Edsa 2 in January 2001 which catapulted then Vice President Gloria Arroyo to power.

Rene Saguisag, counsel for Estrada, yesterday called on prosecutors to withdraw the perjury charge to save face as he said the case has no basis.

The prosecution accused Estrada of lying when he said in his 1998 statement of assets and liabilities that his net worth was only P38 million.

It said Estrada failed to declare his investments in First LPL Land Syndication Inc., Asis Garments Inc., 24K Foods Inc., Prime Entertainment Productions Inc., Alpha Funds Inc., Electronics Sentry Inc., FELT Food Services Inc., All Hot Soup Inc., and AD and E Food Inc.
Saguisag said that Estrada was able show that the companies which were not included in his 1998 SAL had been closed down years before. The others were included in the "investments" entry.

Estrada also admitted the existence of bank accounts in his name in Asia United Bank containing P548,000; Keppel Bank with P44.2 million; and Security Bank with P12.3 million but he clarified that the last two bank deposits contained campaign contributions to his former political party, Pwersa ng Masa, hence these could not be included in his SAL.

At yesterday’s hearing, Saguisag again presented defense witness Lorna Dumlao, Social Security System membership section head, who corroborated Estrada’s statement that First LPL Land Syndication Inc. and Alpha Funds were recorded to have suspended their employer contributions in 1992 and 1997 respectively. – Dennis Gadil and Peter J.G. Tabingo

Board recommends dismissal of ‘plotters’ - Malaya 07.21.2006

FORTY officers and over 100 enlisted personnel who have been recommended for pre-trial investigation preparatory to court martial also face dismissal proceedings, a military board that investigated the supposed plot to overthrow the Arroyo government in February said yesterday.

The dismissal proceedings were part of the recommendations that the board, headed by Rear Adm. Rufino Lopez, AFP inspector general, submitted to outgoing AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga who approved the board’s findings and recommendations Wednesday, or two days before he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 today.

He will be replaced by Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon.

Lopez told a press conference yesterday that the dismissal proceedings will be pursued parallel to the pretrial investigation against the officers for violation of several provisions of the Articles of War.

Lopez named former Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, sacked commander of the Army’s First Scout Ranger Regiment, and Marines Col. Ariel Querubin, former chief of the 2nd Marine Brigade, as among the officers recommended for pre-trial and dismissal proceedings.

On Wednesday, AFP information chief Col. Tristan Kison said 40 officers (25 from the Army and 15 from the Marines) and 135 enlisted personnel will face pretrial.
But Lopez said his recommendation covered only 125 soldiers.

"The officers (should) be charged and tried before their Major Services’ Efficiency and Separation Boards (ESB) to determine their fitness to remain in the military service," Lopez said.

Lopez was quoting from the board’s recommendation to Senga dated July 7.
In the case of the 125 enlisted personnel. Lopez said, they "shall undergo further investigation and summary dismissal proceedings."

The 125 are mostly from the Army’s First Scout Ranger Regiment.

"The ESB is going to determine their fitness in remaining with the service," said Lopez, without naming the 37 other officers recommended to face the ESB and pretrial investigation.

Lopez said the dismissal proceedings against the officers and men should have started upon Senga’s approval of the board’s recommendation.

STRIPPED OF POSTS

Lopez also said some of the 40 officers who were not relieved from their post when the supposed overthrow plan was discovered would be removed from their current assignments. He could not say how many they are.

A draft of the report that was leaked to the media about two weeks ago mentioned a number of Marine officers who are still occupying sensitive posts as among those recommended for court martial.

The officers included Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian, head of the 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team which was deployed to Tawi-tawi last month, Marines chief of staff Lt. Col. Armando Banez who resigned in July, and Maj. Melquiades Ordiales, commander of the 9th Marine Battalion Landing Team stationed in Sulu.
Asked if the officers would be immediately relieved of their posts, Lopez said: "That’s going to be the process…They will be given to the custody of their immediate commanding officers in preparation for their trial and investigation by the PTI (pretrial investigation board)."

Kison said the relief of the officers took effect yesterday as recommended by the fact-finding board but it was not clear if they were already under the custody of their immediate superiors.

Lopez said the charge sheet against the officers have been already prepared for the pretrial investigation panel.

"So after the PTI panel the next step is the creation of the court martial by the chief of staff," he said.

The 40 officers face charges for violation of the Articles of War 67 (mutiny or sedition), 68 (failure to suppress or report mutiny or sedition), 63, disrespect to the President, 64 (disrespect towards a superior officer), 96 (conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman), and 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline).

The other recommendations of the board and approved by Senga were the referral of the case to the justice department, and withholding of pay of the officers and men as approved by the President of those found with probable cause.

The board also recommended that officers involved in past coup or destabilization attempts be barred from commanding special units such as the Special Operations Command, First Scout Ranger Regiment, Philippine Marine Corps, Navy Special Operations Group (formerly the Special Warfare Group), Special Operations Wing of the Air Force, Presidential Security Group, Light Armor Brigade, training commands and major tactical units.

"They shall likewise be barred from occupying sensitive staff positions in the AFP such as intelligence, operations, IG (Inspector General), PMG (Provost Marshal General) and DND (Department of National Defense) military positions," said Lopez.

Miranda, Lim and Querubin, who were among the officers involved in the failed coups in the late 80s, supposedly planned to lead their men to anti-government rallies at the Edsa Shrine on Feb. 24 and subsequently withdraw their support from President Arroyo.

The board also asked the AFP to draft policies similar to the US whistleblowers law and its implementing rules "to protect whistleblowers from unwarranted retaliatory measures or reprisals from those being complained of."

"This will encourage persons who have knowledge on irregularities or anomalies in the AFP units to come out openly without fear," it added.

Lopez said Esperon and Navy chief Vice Adm. Mateo Mayuga were among the 39 officers invited by the board as resource persons in the course of its investigations.

Asked if Senga was invited by the board to shed light because of his crucial role in quelling the plot, Lopez said: "He created our panel, he was the one who created it so why should we investigate him?"

Asked if the planned withdrawal of support was tantamount to mutiny, Lopez said: "There were troop movements. There were planning sessions and there were also several meetings of some of the officers who were involved. Under our military justice system, by our Articles of War, that is tantamount to those things."

‘OPLAN GEMSTONE’

When asked if the groups of Lim and Miranda plotted to attack Malacañang, Lopez said: "There was an `Operations Gemstone’ which is part of the overall plan and this entails attacks on vital facilities, secure or take on the leadership and Malacañang."

On what they were supposed to do with the President, Lopez said: "The witness account says they will secure the President, chief of staff, and chief PNP. It did not (specifically) say what they will do."

Another officer investigated for the alleged overthrow plot, Maj. Jason Aquino, appeared before the NBI yesterday and submitted an affidavit denying involvement in the supposed plot.

"As an officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, I have sworn to support the chain of command and the duly-constituted authorities and continue to do so. I have never withdrawn my support for the chain of command. I have never taken up arms against the government or the AFP," Army Maj. Jason Aquino, Lim’s former operations officer, said in a three-page affidavit.

He said he was detained "for no apparent reason" at the Intelligence Service Security Group in Fort Bonifacio on Feb. 27. – Victor Reyes, JP Lopez and Dennis Gadil

Palace passes buck on P728M scam probe - Malaya 07.20.2006

BY DENNIS GADIL

THE Presidential Anti-Graft Commission’s (PAGC) yesterday said the failure of three other government agencies to present pertinent documents on the P728 million fertilizer fund scam delayed its investigation into the anomaly.

"Delayed submission of subpoenaed documents prevented PAGC from meeting the 90-day timeframe, hence, to date our investigative processes are still ongoing," PAGC chair Constancia de Guzman said in a letter to Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. dated July 17, 2006.

The three agencies are the Commission on Audit, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Budget.

De Guzman said the PAGC gave itself a three-month deadline "based on the premise that all pertinent documents needed are readily available."
The deadline lapsed on May 31.

Magsaysay demanded an update on PAGC’s investigation when news on Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante’s arrest in the United States broke out.

Bolante was arrested on July 7 in Los Angeles reportedly on visa-related matters.

A final report released by the Senate committee on agriculture and food headed by Magsaysay tagged Bolante as the "architect" in the illegal diversion of the funds to the 2004 campaign kitty of President Arroyo to buy support of local officials.

De Guzman said some of the crucial documents are in the hands of COA, which conducted an audit of disbursements to local government units.

"Considering that the Local Government Audit Reports are not yet in PAGC’s possession, no conclusion can be given at the moment," she said.

De Guzman said COA submitted documents on LGU disbursements but they were "incomplete."

Based on the PAGC "matrix" on its "success rate" in summoning pertinent documents, COA was only able to submit the LGU reports for Regions 5, 6, 11, 13 and Cordillera Administrative Region.

The PAGC matrix showed "partial compliance" for Regions 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 while there was "no compliance" for Regions 1, 2, and Region 3.

The matrix also showed that PAGC started to receive the pertinent COA documents only on July 5.

PAGC said it received documents on May 5 from the DA, which outlined the supposed guidelines for the release of the fertilizer funds under the GMA Rice and Corn program but discarded it as "not applicable for the year (being) investigated (2004)."

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. was the most senior of the 33 officials summoned or interviewed by the anti-graft commission.

The agency did not interview DA Secretary Domingo Panganiban and COA chief Guillermo Carague.

Recto: Palace should ask Congress to resume 2005 budget talks - Malaya 07.20.2006

SEN. Ralph Recto yesterday said Malacañang should woo the Senate and House of Representatives a week before the President asks Congress for a 2007 national budget to resume stalled budget talks for the 2006 outlay.

"I think Malacañang should work on forging common ground with the House and the Senate so that the 2006 budget can be rescued from the archives, instead of going through another grueling campaign of having a supplemental budget passed," Recto said. "The 2006 budget is in its finishing stage. Ito ay malapit nang matapos. Ang supplemental budget ay nasa square one pa."

The senator said the P1.053 - trillion 2006 budget is vastly superior to a "reinforced, reenacted" 2005 budget. He said a supplemental budget is "tantamount to a budget cut" and the public will be shortchanged by P100 billion.

Recto said that savings incurred as a result of a reenacted 2005 budget will just be channeled to debt payments "given the propensity of the economic managers not to pass any opportunity to pre-terminate our debt." He reminded the government that "it entered into a contract with the people when it courted their support for new taxes that in exchange for their sacrifice there will be new investments in social services and infrastructure."

The 2006 national budget got stalled last June after senators and congressmen sitting in the bicameral conference committee failed to reach a compromise. The House has demanded full restoration of the P300-billion cut that the Senate imposed ion the budget, which senators said was "non-negotiable." Malacañang, for its part, threatened to veto the budget document if pruned by Congress. – Dennis Gadil

‘It’s the impeach process, not the outcome’ - Malaya 07.18.2006

SEN. Serge Osmeña yesterday dismissed the vow of pro-administration House members to junk the new impeachment complaints against President Arroyo, saying what is important is that the citizenry be informed of her offenses against the people and the Constitution.

"The truth has to come out no matter how hard it is to bring out," he said.

He said as far as he is concerned, the outcome of the impeachment process is immaterial.

"Kailangan lamang matuloy ang proseso na ‘yan," Osmeña said.

Osmeña said the people should be reminded of Arroyo’s involvement in the "Hello Garci" election cheating scandal, the fertilizer fund scam and the Northrail project.

He said he expects Malacañang to unleash all its pork barrel funds to derail the new impeachment process.

Last year, opposition congressmen alleged that Malacañang showered their administration counterparts with pork barrel in exchange for voting against the first impeachment complaint.

Rep. Luis Villafuerte (Kampi, Camarines Sur) on Sunday said that 10 of the 51 lawmakers who voted to impeach Arroyo last year have decided not to endorse the latest impeachment complaints.

One of them is Rep. Jacinto Paras (LDP, Negros Occidental), who has bolted the minority due to differences with minority leader Francis Escudero.

Paras has blamed Escudero for the failure of the impeachment case last year, saying most of those who did not show up were his "men."

Villafuerte said the House majority will dismiss the complaints in 10 session days after Congress reopens on July 24.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday warned that disenchanted citizens may take the violent route in removing Arroyo if the impeachment process is not pursued.

Pimentel said the impeachment case is still worth pursuing despite the decision of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) last July 10 against supporting the process.

"Impeachment is a recognized constitutional way of addressing the problem with a president. At least the minority congressmen and women in the House of Representatives think it should be done," said Pimentel.

Pimentel expressed disenchantment with the CBCP’s explanation that the impeachment process may turn out to be an "unproductive" exercise like what happened last year.

"I am not too sure that it was prudent for the bishops to say outright that it is not going to be a productive undertaking," he said.

Pimentel said he has been skeptical about the moves to impeach the President because he fears that "it would simply mean another round of vote-buying" on the part of Arroyo in her bid for political survival.

But it should at least be tried, he said.

At least a thousand members of the partylist Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) yesterday signed the fifth impeachment complaint against the President, along with about 30 members of Migrante.

Cibac party-list Rep. Joel Villanueva said 3,000 more Cibac members will sign the same complaint in the next three days followed by a group of retired generals led by former Defense Secretary Fortunato Abat.

Former Transportation Secretary Josefina Lichauco, one of the lead complainants, said: "It is not our intention to gather the required numbers of signatures but to make sure that the message is delivered to the members of Congress."

"We are hoping that they would allow the evidence to be presented and to let the truth come out. Numbers are against us primarily, but we are hopeful that they would give us a chance at the committee level," she said.

Escudero said they would move in the plenary to amend the rules of impeachment to allow them to present evidence in the committee on justice before it votes on the form and substance of the complaint.

"Pangit naman na mangyari ulit yung nangyari last year na nagbotohan ang mga kongresista na ni hindi man lamang pinagbigyan yung mga nagre-reklamo na ipirisinta ang panig nila. Ayaw na nga nilang ipirisinta ang panig ng akusado … payagan naman nilang mapresenta ng ebidensya ang mga nagrereklamo bago man lang sila bumoto," he said. – Dennis Gadil, JP Lopez and Wendell Vigilia

What did Joc-Joc do to need $100T bail? - Malaya 07.14.2006

Magsaysay: Likely a criminal offense, not visa violation

SEN. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. yesterday said "gut feel" tells him that the arrest of former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante in Los Angeles on July 7 was not visa-related because of the $100,000 bail set.

"It could be something criminal. It could be something that has to deal with some US transactions, maybe an American partner, etc., or any other case that would require such a big amount of $100,000 as bail," Magsaysay said.

Matthew Lussenhop, spokesman for the US embassy in Manila, declined to talk on Bolante’s arrest. "It’s a law enforcement matter. It’s not appropriate for the Embassy to comment."

Sources said Bolante’s son, Anthony, arrived in Los Angeles this week and asked First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to help bail out his father.

Bolante was arrested by immigration authorities over problems with his visa. He is detained at the San Pedro Detention Center in California.

DFA spokesman Gilberto Asuque said the consulate general in Los Angeles was informed by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service that Bolante’s family has requested privacy in the hearing of his visa-related case held Wednesday.

"They don’t want anyone poking in the case. So we will abide by the request but the consular office in Los Angeles is still willing to extend any consular assistance to Mr. Bolante," Asuque said.

Asuque said all questions regarding Bolante’s arrest should be referred to his lawyer, Antonio Zulueta.Zulueta was not available.

Magsaysay is chair of the committee on agriculture and food, which recommended the filing of plunder charges against Bolante and former Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo for the anomalous disbursement of P728 million in fertilizer funds.

The funds were reportedly diverted to the 2004 campaign kitty of President Arroyo to buy the support of congressmen and local officials.

In a letter to US Ambassador Kristie Kenny, Magsaysay requested for "immediate verification and relevant information" on the arrest of Bolante.

"Information must be crystallized and must be disseminated to all those concerned and interested. It is consistent with my committee’s constituencies’ pursuit – the farmers’ quest for the supremacy of reason and obedience to justice," he said.

Magsaysay asked the Ombudsman and the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) to finish its investigation so that charges could be filed against Bolante.

"With the arrest of Bolante in Los Angeles, it is imperative that the necessary charges are immediately filed by the Office of the Ombudsman to facilitate his extradition to the country and to strengthen the Philippine government’s grip on Bolante," he wrote Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Magsaysay reminded Gutierrez that the Senate committee on agriculture and food turned the necessary documents and evidence to her office as early as Feb. 20, 2006, including the committee report.

He said the Ombudsman also created a task force to look into the fertilizer scam. The task force has yet to come up with a report.

Magsaysay said if the Ombudsman fails to act "in a couple of weeks," his Senate committee will be forced to re-open the probe.

Magsaysay also demanded "results" from PAGC chair Constancia de Guzman on the parallel investigation.

"To this end, allow me to follow up the actions taken, the conclusions made, the names of witnesses called, the dossiers evaluated, the procedures followed and all relevant information gathered and collated by the Commission," he said in a letter dated July 13.

He recalled that the PAGC special team conducted hearings after the Holy Week and was expected to submit its report last May.

Magsaysay said the PAGC report becomes more "significant vis-à-vis the recent apprehension and detention of former Usec Jocelyn Bolante in the US who may be requested to shed light and details on the fertilizer fund."

HAVE TO WAIT

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the extradition of Bolante might have to wait until he is indicted in the fertilizer fund scam.

"Maybe we should first wait until the Ombudsman has done something about it or the Ombudsman is now ready to pursue the case… I don’t think the Senate warrant of arrest can still be used as a basis to extradite him, but the case at the Ombudsman can be used as a basis, which also indirectly comes from the Senate. That, I think, is the proper way," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said it would be futile to request for extradition at this time, noting that in the cases of Charlie "Atong" Ang and Nida Blanca murder crime suspect Rod Strunk, the US junked the requests for their extradition due to absence of charges against them.

"Kung merong request for extradition we will process that. Normally ang extradition sa DOJ ang daan noon. If the request is from the Senate, there will be an application from them for extradition purposes and that will be processed between us and the US authorities," he added.

Gonzalez said he received reports that Bolante has applied for asylum, which he said could further dim the chances of bringing him back home.

But he doubted Bolante would be entitled to US asylum as he was hardly persecuted for a political offense.

"The case with the Ombudsman is not a political offense. Asylum can be granted if you are being persecuted … He is an instrument of political infighting in the Philippines but I don’t think that is political persecution," he said.

Gonzalez said it is the duty of the government extend legal assistance to Bolante "just like an OFW (overseas Filipino worker) in trouble."

"We went to great lengths in saving these OFWs who are in trouble. In some instances, the government helped in putting up blood money. So we owe also Joc-Joc Bolante the same kind of treatment without giving political color to that," he said.

House minority leader Francis Escudero said Bolante could spill the beans on the fertilizer scam if Malacañang would not help him in is case.

"Puwede siyang bumaliktad," he said in a radio interview.

Escudero, secretary general of the United Opposition, said it is possible that Bolante could turn "state witness" against the President.

"Qualified po siya … kung siya ay tetestigo laban sa mas marami at mas mataas na opisyal sa kanya. Pero kung siya ang pinaka-guilty sa lahat ay hindi po siya puwedeng maging witness," he said.

The fertilizer scam is one of the main charges in the new impeachment complaint against the President, which falls under graft and corruption.

Rep. Roilo Golez (Ind., Parañaque) said Bolante has no right to apply for a political asylum in the US because what he is facing is more of a deportation than an extradition case.

"How can someone considered to be one of the closest political allies of the powers-that-be in the Philippines apply for political asylum? That’s only if he faces persecution for political reasons. In my opinion, he is not a victim of political persecution but a beneficiary of political protection here," he said.
Golez said it is impossible for the government to initiate an extradition.

"Extradition is government to government, assuming our government is initiating extradition. I doubt if the government would," he said.

"On the other hand, deportation is a unilateral action of the US government if they decide Bolante is an illegal entrant or undesirable alien. If deported, he can be met at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by the Senate arresting team," he said.

The Laban ng Masa coalition dared government to facilitate Bolante’s early extradition.

"The point is not mainly about Bolante’s return. What we are really after, as with the rest of the Filipino people, is to know the truth about the fertilizer scam…it is in our interest that Bolante must come back to shed light on the issue," Laban ng Masa chairman Francisco Nemenzo said in a press conference.
"The return of Bolante is dependent on the political will of this government … Whatever action that the government would take would reflect its position, its sincerity to (end) all these controversies and find the truth," he said.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said government would ensure that Bolante would have access to a lawyer and that his rights would be upheld.

He clarified that Bolante never asked any favors from government.

Reports said Bolante after being held at a Los Angeles airport due to problems in his visa had solicited assistance in paying the $100,000 bond imposed by the US court.

"Mr. Bolante was detained in the US apparently for some glitch in his visa. Like any other Filipino citizen, he will be given the proper consular assistance. In fairness, he never asked the Palace to help him out of his predicament. We are confident that he will be accorded due process by the US authorities and that this matter will be cleared up in due time," he said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said it would be in the interest of Malacañang if Bolante would return to help clear up the fertilizer fund anomaly.

Ermita, however, said the government would not initiate the extradition as the Ombudsman has not come up with any charges against him. – Dennis Gadil, Evangeline de Vera, Wendell Vigilia, Reinir Padua and Jocelyn Montemayor

Typhoon "Florita"

‘Joc Joc’ arrested in US, seeks Mike's assistance - Malaya 07.13.2006

Palace rules out payment of $100,000 bail

FORMER Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante, who has been tagged as the architect of the P728-million fertilizer fund diversion, was arrested in Los Angeles, California, on July 7 over problems with his business visa.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Gilbert Asuque, citing a notification by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service to Consul General Willy Gaa, said Bolante was nabbed as he arrived from Seoul via Asiana Airlines.

"The immigration officer cancelled the business visa of Mr. Bolante, which is the reason for his arrest. The INS did not elaborate. They said it’s visa-related," Asuque said.

Bolante reportedly failed to put up the $100,000 set for his bail and sought the assistance of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, who is in San Francisco.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the government would extend assistance to Bolante but paying the $100,000 bail was out of the question.
"We will see under what arrangement we can help him. He’s a private citizen. Alam mo pag tinulungan ng government yan, ang sasabihin sa media, ay tinulungan ng Malacañang si Bolante, Malacañang pala ang may kinalaman sa pagtatago kay Bolante. Hindi naman totoo iyan," he said.

Asuque said DFA has not cancelled Bolante’s passport, the reason he was able to travel despite an arrest order issued by the Senate.

Asked if Bolante’s problem with his visa was in connection with the Senate order, Asuque said the consulate has limited details on the arrest.

"We will only know the reason why he was arrested after the hearing. We assure that our consular assistance will be given to him to ensure that his rights, especially the right to due process, are recognized and respected under US laws. The consulate will keep track of developments of Bolante’s case and will still provide him assistance," he said.

Bolante’s immigration hearing is set today.

Asuque said Gaa has dispatched legal officer Noemi Diaz to the San Pedro Detention Center to ensure that Bolante’s rights are respected.

The Senate committee on agriculture and food chaired by Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and the blue ribbon panel investigating the P728-million fertilizer fund scam recommended in December last year the filing of plunder charges against Bolante and former Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo for the alleged illegal transactions and dissipation of the funds earmarked for the purchase of fertilizers and other farm inputs.

The two committees in their 15-page final report said President Arroyo should be held accountable for the squander of the million-peso funds intended for farmer beneficiaries.

Plunder carries the penalty of life imprisonment.

The report said the President must "take it upon herself to institute measures to correct the flaws in her administration."

In an interim report on December 2005, the committee on agriculture and food tagged Bolante as the "architect" of the scam and excluded Arroyo from the "charge sheet."

The Senate probe was prompted by widespread allegations that Malacañang distributed the funds to congressmen and local chief executives in exchange for supporting the candidacy of Arroyo in the May 2004 elections.

The Senate panels said plunder case and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act should also be filed against Undersecretary Ibarra Poliquit, Undersecretary Belinda Gonzales, Assistant Secretary Jose Felix Montes and all the regional directors of the Department of Agriculture.
The joint panel found "probable criminal culpability" against the said government officials.

The Senate report asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate members of the House of Representatives and local officials who benefited from the illegal use of the funds and charge them with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Act.

In October last year, Bolante was slapped with contempt after ignoring Senate hearings.

He flew to the US on Dec. 12, the day the Senate conducted its fifth hearing on the fertilizer scam.

Magsaysay said Bolante should be immediately extradited.

"This is a good opening for the country to have him extradited. Former DA Undersecretary Bolante has a lot to answer for," he said.

Magsaysay said Bolante should be turned over to the Senate or to the Ombudsman.

"I ask the US to give his basic rights and see to it that his life is safe and protected. Some groups do not want him to testify and they won’t stop at anything," Magsaysay said.

Minority leader Aquilino Pimentel said the arrest of Bolante should answer all the questions surrounding the plunder of fertilizer funds that were supposed to benefit farmers.

"Good development. Gives Bolante a chance to clarify where the over P1-billion fertilizer money for the farmers went and who benefited from it," Pimentel said. – Evangeline de Vera, Jocelyn Montemayor and Dennis Gadil

Mar downplays NP-LP coalition plan - Malaya 07.12.2006

SEN. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II yesterday downplayed talks of a coalition between the Liberal and Nacionalista parties, saying these are a "trial balloon."

"I think these (coalition talks) will rise and fall according to the winds, like all balloons," Roxas said.

Roxas, a grandson of LP founder President Manuel Roxas, is seen as wielding a considerable influence among party members. He is LP executive vice president.

"I only read what was in the newspapers," he said.

Roxas said the talk of forging a coalition seemed to be coming from "those seeking re-election next year." He did not name names.

Roxas declined to comment on what he considered speculations.

"I generally do not answer questions that start with ‘in case, what if…suppose’," he said.
He said he has not even read the program of government of the NP, whose president is incoming Senate President Manuel Villar.

"And they have not presented us one, in any event," Roxas said.

He nonetheless said he is open to "advocating and pushing forward a program of government" that the LP believes in.

Drilon, LP president, and NP stalwart Sen. Ralph Recto have said the two parties are indeed exploring a possible coalition for the 2007 mid-term elections.

Drilon said the coalition was being pushed by younger members of the party.

Recto said the coalition could firm up between now and December as party leaders formally commence negotiation talks.

Villar commands a strong following at the House of Representatives, counting his wife Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar and Cavite Representatives Gilbert Remulla and Boying Remulla, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, Laguna Rep. Timmy Chipeco and Rep. Joel Villanueva of party-list CIBAC.

The senator also belongs to the influential Wednesday group which includes majority leader Francis Pangilinan, Recto, Joker Arroyo and Pia Cayetano.

Roxas heads the Monday group which includes Ramon Revilla Jr., Lito Lapid and Richard Gordon as members.

Under an LP-NP coalition, the LP is likely to field Pangilinan, Tarlac Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and former Education Secretary Florencio Abad as senatorial candidates.

The NP is expected to field Recto, Gilbert Remulla, and Rep. Cayetano, and Sen. Arroyo as adopted candidate. – Dennis Gadil

Maliksi defection due to Palace pressure: Roxas - Malaya 07.11.2006

SEN. Mar Roxas yesterday blamed pressure from Malacañang for the surprise defection of Cavite Gov. Ireneo "Ayong" Maliksi from the Liberal Party (LP) faction of Senate President Franklin Drilon to that of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza’s.

"We understand the pressures on Gov. Maliksi. I do not begrudge him for his decision," Roxas, an LP stalwart, said.

Roxas declined to say what kind of pressure was exerted on Maliksi, but did not deny that it had to do with Maliksi’s graft case pending before the Ombudsman. "I’m sure that your intrepid and conscientious legwork as journalists would have uncovered that fact. I need not repeat that," he said.

Maliksi is facing corruption charges for allegedly overpricing the cost of rice purchased by the Cavite government for its constituents. The governor has been ordered suspended but has fought off the order.

Maliksi’s defection was marked by his playing host to the mass oath-taking of some 5,000 new members of the LP faction headed by Atienza at the General Trias convention center over the weekend.

Among those sworn in Atienza were Maliksi’s own supporters.

Maliksi also hosted the convention of the Drilon faction at the same site months ago. During that convention, he professed support for Drilon’s LP.

Roxas said he recognizes only the LP headed by Drilon. He called the LP faction of Atienza as a party of pretenders. "There is only one LP that I recognize, which is the LP headed by its president, Senate President Franklin Drilon. In my mind that is the LP. All others are pretenders," he said.

LP stalwart Sen. Rodolfo Biazon said it was up to the people of Cavite people to judge Maliksi for what he did. "The legitimate LP is still the faction led by Sen. Drilon. This is what is recognized within and without the country," he said. – Dennis Gadil

Angara asks lobbyists vs. biofuels to drop it - Malaya 07.10.2006

SEN. Edgardo Angara yesterday called on oil companies to stop lobbying against the use of biofuels in motor vehicles as prescribed by a proposed measure nearing approval in the Senate.

Angara, one of the principal authors of the measure, said the campaign against the bill is "narrow-minded" and "shortsighted."

"It would really be shortsighted on the part of the oil companies to oppose the bill because rejecting such is primarily against the national interest," he said. He did not name the oil companies lobbying against the bill although officials of Caltex, Shell and Petron were vocal about their opposition to the government’s plan to bring in ethanol fuel as a viable alternative to petroleum products.

Angara said biofuels are not only alternatives but are "imperatives to the country’s energy requirements as well as environmental and economic concerns." He said the use of alternative energy to cut fuel costs is already widespread and demonstrated in countries like Brazil, India, China and Canada where ethanol and coco bio-diesel are extensively used.

"The prospects are really exciting and promising (so) that there is no reason why we cannot or will not approve the bill at year’s end," Angara said.

The country imports 94 percent of its annual oil requirements. The proposal to use 10 percent of biofuel (coconut methyl or coco-diesel blend) in gasoline and diesel sold by oil companies is expected to save the country over $200 million a year in oil bills.

The proposed measure was presented for plenary approval by Senate energy chair Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago before Congress adjourned sine die.

Fernando Martinez, chair of the Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association, earlier said their group backs the development of biofuels but expressed doubts if the government has political will to fully enforce it. "Government should muster political will to make it mandatory, with 30 percent blend, in three to five years," Martinez said during one of the many hearings on the measure.

He said funding for local development of biofuels is proving difficult for lack of friendly banks.

Officials of Caltex, Shell and Petron earlier maintained that vehicle engines will have to be modified if the total blend of ethanol fuel exceeds 10 percent. They also said transport and packaging of ethanol fuel would be a challenge since it is "sensitive to humidity." – Dennis Gadil

So much ado over Jamby, says Drilon - Malaya 07.10.2006

JUSTICE Secretary Raul Gonzalez yesterday said the Senate leadership must impose sanctions on Sen. Jamby Madrigal for meeting with top officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Utrecht, the Netherlands, a move which he said is tantamount to treason.

In a two-page letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon, Gonzalez said Madrigal violated at least two statutes, Republic Act 6713, or the Ethical Standards Law for Public Officials and Employees, and Article 137 of the Revised Penal Code, when she visited CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison and Luis Jalandoni, chair of the National Democratic Front, CPP’s political arm.
Drilon yesterday said no sanctions would be meted on Madrigal.

"Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez is over-reacting when he invoked the crime of treason," Drilon told Senate reporters.

"Legally speaking, Sen. Madrigal cannot commit the crime of treason because the Philippines is presently not at war with another country, which is an essential element for treason under Article 137 of the Revised Penal Code," he said.

Drilon said Madrigal also did not commit unethical conduct for talking to Sison and other top-ranking communist leaders.

He said if mere talking to a communist leader is already a high crime, Speaker Jose de Venecia and other government officials who have met and talked to Sison and company in the past could also be prosecuted.

Gonzalez said the meeting further bolstered the government’s position that an "unholy alliance" existed between the opposition and the communist party.

"Considering that a state of rebellion exists between the Sison-led NPA and the Philippine government, Sen. Madrigal had, in fact, committed acts tantamount to treason punishable under Article 137 of the Revised Penal Code by adhering to the enemies of the Republic and/or giving them aid or comfort," he said.

He further said the fact that Madrigal issued a joint communiqué with Sison is "derogatory against the Republic."

Gonzalez said it appeared that Madrigal’s trip was purposely to create propaganda against the government.

"The trip of Jamby was supposed to be jointly with Satur Ocampo. He told me that Jamby was the one who paid for all his expenses in this trip and he was supposed to be in Utretch with her except that he was not able to go because I stopped it. From the very beginning there was really that plan. There was a confabulation between Ocampo and Jamby," he said.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said they are hoping that the Senate would make a stand on the issue as Madrigal could not go around masquerading as a peace advocate.

National security adviser Norberto Gonzales said Madrigal should just be ignored as she is not that influential in government or even in the opposition and her actions do not bind the country or anyone else than herself in any possible agreement that they may enter into.

"Walang masyadong epekto sa bayan natin iyan. Ang tingin ko diyan baka kainitan pa iyan…makakasama pa sa kanya iyan dahil marami naman sa mga kababayan natin na talagang gustong tapusin na itong armed rebellion," he added.

Drilon said the travel order issued to Madrigal was made upon her request with the objective of facilitating her travel documents.

Madrigal’s Utrecht trip did not have the approval of the Senate.

A travel order released by the Office of the Senate Secretary yesterday showed that Madrigal was permitted to travel only to Geneva, Switzerland; London, United Kingdom; and Paris, France. It was dated June 9 and signed by Drilon.

Madrigal said she traveled to the Netherlands as "senator and peace advocate."

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon defended Madrigal.

"As legislators, we should be allowed to talk to any of the segments of our society because remember our job is all about legislation and definitely addressing the root causes of an insurgency is a legitimate function of all in government including the legislators," Biazon said.

Biazon likewise chided Gonzalez for automatically equating open dissent as acts of terrorism.

"He (Gonzalez) should be careful because remember it looks like just about anybody who disagrees, who is critical of the administration is enemy of the state," the senator said. – Evangeline de Vera, Jocelyn Montemayor and Dennis Gadil

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Follow DepEd orders on canteen menu: Pia - Malaya 07.08.2006

SEN. Pia Cayetano yesterday said the non-compliance by schools with the Department of Education (DepEd) directive regulating the sale of junk food and carbonated drinks in schools could be the reason for the declining health of young Filipinos.

Cayetano said former DepEd Secretaries Ricardo Gloria and Florencio Abad issued orders in 1996 and 2005, respectively, directing school administrators to regulate the sale of food and beverages within the school and discouraging the inclusion of carbonated, artificially-colored, sugar-based drinks and air-filled food like curls and chips from the menu.

The order went one step further by directing school canteens to sell fresh fruits or vegetables in juice form, root crops and cereals.

Cayetano said the Abad and Gloria orders should be strictly followed by private and public schools to promote healthy diet among its students and also, teachers. "The selling of street food near school campuses should also be strictly regulated," she said. – Dennis Gadil

Biazon: Tape leakage - Malaya 07.06.2006

Palace treads softly on reaction

BY DENNIS GADIL

A VIDEO showing Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim announcing his and his men’s withdrawal of support from President Arroyo was leaked to the media to determine the extent of grumbling in the military rank and file, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon said yesterday.

Biazon, a former Marines commandant and AFP chief of staff, did not categorically say Malacañang or the military leadership was behind the leak. But whoever it was, he said, it was exercising caution because of the possible reaction of soldiers and officers if charges against Lim and others accused of plotting to overthrow government are filed.

"I have the theory that the leakage was intentionally done to test the waters, especially the possible reaction of the rank and file in the military," Biazon said.

He said military leaders are determining the effects of "legal actions that are possibly to be taken against those who are suspected to be participating in the event of February 24 and 26."

Lim, relieved as commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment, an elite unit of the Army, reportedly planned to lead his officers and men in a march to the Edsa Shrine on Feb. 24 during anti-Arroyo rallies coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Edsa 1, where they would announce withdrawal of support from Arroyo. Hours before the march was to take place, Lim was ordered restricted to quarters by AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga. He has since been confined to quarters.

The Feb. 26 event Biazon was referring to involved Marines officers and men, led by Col. Ariel Querubin, who protested the relief of their commandant, Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda. The protest sparked a 10-hour standoff at the Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. Querubin, who would reportedly lead his men in joining Lim’s group in the march to the Edsa Shrine, was sacked on Feb. 28 as commander of the 1st Marine Brigade based in Marawi City.

Lim and dozens others of officers are under investigation by a fact-finding board for possible court martial. The investigating body has not completed the probe which started in March.

Biazon said the AFP leadership is in a "dilemma" as to whether to press charges against Lim and his men or not.

‘Itutuloy ba natin ito o hindi? Pag itinuloy natin, ano ang magiging reaksiyon sa baba?’ They have to consider this. Anybody who will soberly examine the situation will always be cautious because they are not sure of the extent of the disgruntlement down there," he said.

Biazon said if the military leaders saw no violent reaction on the leaked video, they would press on with charges against Lim and his group, and might charge more members of the Armed Forces.

"So that they will be guided accordingly as to whether to push through with the filing of charges or whether all will be charged in court martial, or only selectively or drop the charges altogether," he said.

Biazon called on the AFP leadership "to be careful about the handling (of) the issue."

He said he is not holding a Senate probe soon.

"I will allow the AFP to exhaust all institutional processes to provide for a credible resolution of this incident. Wag na muna natin silang guluhin. Maybe later, much later we may have to consider," he said.

FULL SHOWING

The military on Tuesday said it intends to use the video recording as proof of the overthrow plot.

Former President Fidel Ramos said he favors the showing of the full video.

"It should be shown in full if it’s for the good of everybody," he said in an ambush interview at the PNP turn over ceremony in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Lim, in the video shown by ABS-CBN’s news program "Bandila" Monday night, branded Arroyo a "bogus president" and called for the establishment of a new government which he said would be headed by civilians.

"We cannot stand idly by while the rule of law, the moral order and the integrity of our institutions, the very future of our country and people and our own professional careers are destroyed by this bogus President," Lim said in the video which was supposed to be aired after Arroyo, who is accused of cheating in the 2004 elections, was ousted.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, one of the four generals implicated in the alleged cheating in the May 2004 polls, said it was expected of Lim to call Arroyo a "bogus president" because he plotted to overthrow the Arroyo government.

"For one who wants to take over power, he can always say that. He can allege that but who is he to judge the President to be a bogus President when we went through all these electoral process and she (Arroyo) is the duly constituted authority?" he said.

During the polls, Esperon was AFP deputy chief of staff for operations and concurrent deputy commander of the military’s Task Force Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections. He was named Army chief a month following the elections.

It is widely perceived that Esperon will be the next AFP chief. Senga retires on July 21.

Esperon and the three other generals have been cleared by a military fact-finding board of any wrongdoing because, the board said, not a single witness testified against the officers as involved in the electoral fraud. The findings were released during the Holy Week in April.

Esperon said the video proved right the military and government’s moves last February, when Arroyo issued Proclamation 1017 declaring the country under a state of national emergency because of a supposed Leftist-Rightist conspiracy to overthrow government.

"I have always claimed that there was a report as early as Feb. 22 that a tape recording has been prepared to express withdrawal of support from the President. It has come out so I believe the basis for our actions on the 22nd, 23rd, and the 24th and so on onwards were indeed justified," he said.

The Supreme Court has said that while the declaration of the state of emergency was valid, the police actions during the weeklong state of emergency, like warrantless arrests and raids and ban of rallies, were unconstitutional.

MILITARY JUSTICE

Esperon, asked if the military is eyeing more charges against Lim in view of the video footage, said: "On the matter of charges what we must do is we must allow, we must let the military justice system take its due course."

Esperon said the officers and men involved in the failed coup could be subjected to court martial proceedings for violation of the Article of War 65 or disrespect to the president and Article of War 67 or mutiny.

He also said they could also be charged for violation of the Article of War 68 or failure to report or quell mutiny, Article of War 96 or conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman and Article of War 97 or conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.

"They could (also) be charged with Republic Act 134-A which is the coup d’état, committing coup d’état," he said.

Asked if Lim and other Army officers would be transferred to a recently completed detention facility inside Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, once the court trial pushes through, Esperon said: "Let us see how thing goes about. That (Tanay jail facility) was meant to house some violators or people who violate the Articles of War."

"Under the Articles of War, I can confine him (Lim) as I wish. I could put him in the full security detention center of the Army (inside the Custodial Management Unit in Fort Bonifacio) or bring him to Tanay," he added.

Senga stressed the investigation against Lim and other suspected plotters has yet to be completed.

But he said the board’s chairman, Rear Adm. Rufino Lopez, has shown him a manuscript or draft report, which he said could have been leaked to the media.

On Tuesday, media outfits said the Lopez board has submitted a report to Senga, recommending court martial proceedings against the accused officers.

"I was shown what they have. Very clearly it’s a draft or it’s a type-written manuscript of something, there is no heading, there is no appropriate marking that will indicate that it’s an official report," Senga said.

Senga said he has ordered his men to find out if the manuscript or draft shown to him was what was leaked to the media, and who were responsible for the leakage.

On the video, Senga said: "I have told Admiral Lopez to get hold of it and consult our lawyers so that they can determine what is the proper utilization of that tape in the investigation that they are doing."

On what was the guidance Arroyo issued to the AFP on the case, Senga said: "What she merely said was just let justice be done and really apply to the fullest extent the law and in this particular case, it would be the Articles of War."

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita belied talks the video was made public as part of efforts to downplay the series of impeachment complaints being filed against Arroyo.

"Hindi naman talaga. It just came out the way it came out last Monday evening…Tsaka we are not bothered about the impeachment cases. Remember I told you hindi naman surprise iyan e. So what do we have to be worried about na kinakailangan mong tabunan? How can you `tabon’ something that’s already out?" he said.

He said the government had nothing to do with the airing of the video. He said the intelligence community has been looking for it and might have gotten a copy but was beaten by the media in making it public.

He said the Palace has been asking about the video when it was first mentioned in February, wondering if it really existed,, especially after Lim told the NBI he had nothing to do with the withdrawal of support.

"The least I can say, talagang madidiin siya (Lim). That is the incontrovertible evidence about their plot for February 24," Ermita said.

He said the video also showed Arroyo’s decision to declare a state of emergency was correct. – With Victor Reyes and Jocelyn Montemayor

With safeguards, we’ll okay anti-terror bill - Malaya 07.06.2006

THE Senate will approve the anti-terrorism bill if safeguards against human rights abuses are in place, minority leader Aquilino Pimentel said yesterday.

"Even as some of us recognize the need to adopt a new law to combat terrorism, we also believe that the rights of our people must never be sacrificed in the name of the fight against terrorism," Pimentel said.

He said senators, especially from the opposition, will scrutinize the bill and introduce amendments that will protect the rights of the people against possible abuse of power that may arise from the approval of the measure.

The bill aims to criminalize terrorism acts and hunt down suspected terrorist fronts or groups. It is up for plenary approval when Senate resumes session July 24, 2006.

Pimentel said the government cannot eliminate the scourge of terrorism by using terror methods.

"Democracy has an adequate arsenal to combat terrorism according to the rule of law and the Constitution. That is what we, in the opposition, wish to do," he said.

Pimentel has said that his colleagues in the opposition are having second thoughts in supporting the bill.

He said among the chief reservations is that rampant human rights abuses are committed against militants and even journalists by the military and the police.

The minority leader said this concern was graphically illustrated by the warrantless arrest and torture of five supporters of President Joseph Estrada last May 22.

He said the senators will not be inclined to pass the measure unless the authorities would show determination and sincerity in preventing extrajudicial killings, illegal abduction of political dissenters and other repressive acts.

The Amnesty International-Philippines, human rights groups and indigent sector lawmakers yesterday asked for a crack down on loose firearms in the country.

Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel said the rise in the number of loose firearms is related to the increase of criminality and incidents of violations of civil and human rights.

"Even if the State is not directly responsible for these crimes, the government should be held accountable for failing to protect its citizens," she stressed.

There are 800,000 registered firearms and 450,000 unlicensed guns according to figures by the Philippine Action Network on Small Arms (PhilANSA).

An estimated 150,000 or a third of the unlicensed guns are said to be in the hands of criminal elements, insurgents and separatist groups while the rest are in the possession of ordinary households, collectors, private armed groups and even military and policemen.

PhilANSA appealed to media to help in the campaign for a government crackdown on unlicensed firearms noting that every single one of the 17 broadcasters killed since 1995 were ‘small arm victims’.

The group said the three sources of loose firearms are clandestine manufacturers, arms smugglers and looting of military armories and police officers and soldiers who sell their government-issue weapons to raise funds for various reasons.

"We were told that some soldiers in the provinces are selling their firearms for tuition money for their children," PhilANSA added.

Akbayan Rep. Mario Aguja said he and Baraquel will co-author a bill that will propose stricter policies for the manufacture, importation and registration or licensing of firearms. – Dennis Gadil and Peter J. G. Tabingo

Palace ‘mechanics’ freed Abalos: Pimentel Says Borra was taught a lesson to keep lips sealed - Malaya 07.05.2006

BY DENNIS GADIL

‘MECHANICS" in Malacañang could be behind the watered-down version of the report extricating Benjamin Abalos Sr., chairman of Commission on Elections (Comelec), from involvement in the Mega Pacific scandal, Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel said yesterday.

Pimentel said Palace strategists seized the opportunity to clear Abalos when the Ombudsman presented a panel report implicating all Comelec officials involved in the scandal, including Abalos.

Pimentel said Malacañang narrowed down the culprits to only Commissioner Resurreccion Borra and shielded Abalos.

"He (Borra) is expendable in the mind of her tacticians because he has no big political padrino," Pimentel said.

He did not give names of the "mechanics."

"Also, it is meant as a warning to those in government to be careful in their statements to media especially on poll cheating. Borra had loose lips in that regard. That’s why it’s convenient to punish him now," Pimentel added.

Borra had told media and senators during his confirmation hearing at the Senate that cheating indeed occurred during the 2004 elections. He also said cheating was done by both sides. He retracted his statements the following day.

Pimentel said Borra was used by Malacañang as "sacrificial lamb" and some sort of a "peace offering" to groups moving to impeach President Arroyo for a second try.

"It’s unfair to single out Borra," he said.

The Ombudsman submitted a resolution to the Supreme Court late Friday singling out Borra for possible impeachment by the House and saying the investigations on Abalos and the other commissioners are still unfinished.

However, a resolution submitted a year earlier to Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Victor Fernandez showed a panel of investigators had already found probable cause to indict all Comelec officials for graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust.

The Ombudsman gave no explanation why it set aside the findings of its own investigating panel and submitted a much watered-down report to the high court.

Party-list Rep. Joel Villanueva (Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption) said the Ombudsman was acting under the orders of Malacañang when the anti-graft body quashed the recommendations of its own panel of investigators.

He said Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez "only acted as expected of a close friend of the President and especially, the First Gentleman" when her office singled out Borra for impeachment and held off graft indictments against Abalos and the other active and retired Comelec commissioners.

He called President Arroyo the "mastermind of election fraud" and said she was protecting the commission for helping her in the last elections.

Villanueva called on Abalos and the rest of the Comelec officials implicated in the voided deal to resign out of delicadeza.

"The people are convinced the Comelec is riddled with corruption although there are still many people there, particularly those in the rank and file, who remain honest and faithful to serving the mandate of the commission. I hope Chairman Abalos and the commissioners would do the right thing and step down to save the institution," he said.

The case against the Comelec is based on three separate complaints alleging that the commission illegally awarded the automation deal to Mega Pacific eSolutions Inc (MPEI) although the firm was not a qualified bidder and had in fact flunked test runs on its electronic counting machines.

Comelec officials insist the bidding and the awarding of the contract to MPEI was done in strict observance of the rules and existing Abalos maintained there was no anomaly involved in the P1.3-billion deal.

The Comelec said it will file a motion for reconsideration within 10 days after it has received a copy of the compliance report from the Ombudsman.

Malacañang washed its hands off allegations that Borra is being made a scapegoat.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the issue is "totally within the discretion of the Ombudsman."

Borra has lamented that although he is the commissioner in charge of the Comelec’s modernization program, he feels that he is being singled out since he is the only one who was charged and is being impeached. – With Peter Tabingo and Regina Bengco