Video shows PHC president denying knowledge of fund transfers
posted by brodkaster43 at Miyerkules, Enero 31, 2007
0 comments
Miyerkules, Enero 31, 2007
Martes, Enero 30, 2007
Comelec defends P115M ballot paper ‘overprice’
‘Winning bidder met security specs’
posted by brodkaster43 at Martes, Enero 30, 2007
0 comments
Huwebes, Enero 11, 2007
Palace: Poll game plan is to block impeachment - Malaya 01.11.2006
BY REGINA BENGCO
THE Arroyo administration is taking extra efforts in choosing its candidates for Congress to ensure that any impeachment case against President Arroyo will not prosper.
"We have to choose the correct candidates so in the event that there is another impeachment we are assured it will not progress because we have more allies in the Lower House and Upper House,"
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in his weekly press conference.
"Sa political exercise tinitingnan natin lagi kung ano ba ang nasa isip ng opposition, ano’ng tangka nila. That is known to us in the administration," Ermita said.
He said the administration will come up with a list of candidates for the senatorial and local elections next week.
Gabriel Claudio, presidential adviser on political affairs, said the process of putting together an administration senatorial slate is "proceeding well within the right timeline."
Claudio belied claims by the opposition that the administration is hard-pressed in coming up with a slate.
He said it is the opposition which is encountering difficulties, as shown by their conflicting pronouncements about their line-up and the "lackluster" assembly of the United Opposition last Friday.
He said the reluctance of incumbent senators to declare themselves to be with the opposition and talks of a Third Force are "telltale signs of the sinking ability of the opposition to form a united slate."
He said the opposition is also lacking in decisiveness and substance. The opposition’s declaration of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. as head of its senatorial line-up, he said, has been followed by complete silence.
He said the opposition’s "platform of hatred and impeachment" will not succeed because it will make the voters realize the stark contrast between the administration and opposition.
"What the electorate will see in May is a contrast between the administration’s program of performance and progress, especially in bringing about a turnaround in the country’s economy, and the opposition’s hollow platform of hate," he said.
Ermita said it is up to the voters to give their verdict on politicians who will field their spouses, children and other relatives.
He said he does not want to judge because his daughter Eileen Ermita-Buhain took over his post as congressman of Batangas, although he was quick to add that "she is the only one (in the family in politics)."
Ermita also said he is not aware of the basis of the Black and White Movement for coming out with a list of blacklisted politicians and how it would affect the administration candidates.
Senate President Manuel Villar reminded re-electionist senators to concentrate first on passing priority bills before hitting the campaign trail.
"There is a time for everything. Even the electoral process follows a timetable for the filing of candidacy and campaign period," Villar said.
Congress has around three session weeks left.
Villar said re-electionist senators should channel their energies in approving priority measures before investing their resources to an expensive election campaign.
"Masakit sa bulsa yan," he said.
Aside from Villar, senators up for re-election are majority leader Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Joker Arroyo, Panfilo Lacson, Edgardo Angara and Loi Ejercito-Estrada. Estrada said she would not seek another term.
Villar said before the Senate adjourns in February for the election break, it should be able to pass the proposed 2007 national budget, the anti-terrorism bill, the proposed mandatory basic immunization against hepatitis-B for infants, the tourism re-engineering bill, amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, the proposed anti-rabies law, the bill promoting breastfeeding and the proposed P125-wage increase. – With Dennis Gadil
THE Arroyo administration is taking extra efforts in choosing its candidates for Congress to ensure that any impeachment case against President Arroyo will not prosper.
"We have to choose the correct candidates so in the event that there is another impeachment we are assured it will not progress because we have more allies in the Lower House and Upper House,"
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in his weekly press conference.
"Sa political exercise tinitingnan natin lagi kung ano ba ang nasa isip ng opposition, ano’ng tangka nila. That is known to us in the administration," Ermita said.
He said the administration will come up with a list of candidates for the senatorial and local elections next week.
Gabriel Claudio, presidential adviser on political affairs, said the process of putting together an administration senatorial slate is "proceeding well within the right timeline."
Claudio belied claims by the opposition that the administration is hard-pressed in coming up with a slate.
He said it is the opposition which is encountering difficulties, as shown by their conflicting pronouncements about their line-up and the "lackluster" assembly of the United Opposition last Friday.
He said the reluctance of incumbent senators to declare themselves to be with the opposition and talks of a Third Force are "telltale signs of the sinking ability of the opposition to form a united slate."
He said the opposition is also lacking in decisiveness and substance. The opposition’s declaration of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. as head of its senatorial line-up, he said, has been followed by complete silence.
He said the opposition’s "platform of hatred and impeachment" will not succeed because it will make the voters realize the stark contrast between the administration and opposition.
"What the electorate will see in May is a contrast between the administration’s program of performance and progress, especially in bringing about a turnaround in the country’s economy, and the opposition’s hollow platform of hate," he said.
Ermita said it is up to the voters to give their verdict on politicians who will field their spouses, children and other relatives.
He said he does not want to judge because his daughter Eileen Ermita-Buhain took over his post as congressman of Batangas, although he was quick to add that "she is the only one (in the family in politics)."
Ermita also said he is not aware of the basis of the Black and White Movement for coming out with a list of blacklisted politicians and how it would affect the administration candidates.
Senate President Manuel Villar reminded re-electionist senators to concentrate first on passing priority bills before hitting the campaign trail.
"There is a time for everything. Even the electoral process follows a timetable for the filing of candidacy and campaign period," Villar said.
Congress has around three session weeks left.
Villar said re-electionist senators should channel their energies in approving priority measures before investing their resources to an expensive election campaign.
"Masakit sa bulsa yan," he said.
Aside from Villar, senators up for re-election are majority leader Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Joker Arroyo, Panfilo Lacson, Edgardo Angara and Loi Ejercito-Estrada. Estrada said she would not seek another term.
Villar said before the Senate adjourns in February for the election break, it should be able to pass the proposed 2007 national budget, the anti-terrorism bill, the proposed mandatory basic immunization against hepatitis-B for infants, the tourism re-engineering bill, amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, the proposed anti-rabies law, the bill promoting breastfeeding and the proposed P125-wage increase. – With Dennis Gadil
posted by brodkaster43 at Huwebes, Enero 11, 2007
0 comments
Martes, Enero 02, 2007
Scrap P25B PLDT deal, gov’t urged – Malaya 12.30.2006
Nene: Bidding lacked transparency
BY JP LOPEZ
SENATE minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday asked the Presidential Commission on Good Government to recall the alleged "irregular" bidding for a holding company’s indirectly owned shares in Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) for P25 billion.
Pimentel made the call after only two firms, Parallax and Pan Asia Presidio Capital, both reportedly affiliates of the Salim Group of Indonesia which is the biggest shareholder in PLDT, participated in the bidding.
If the sale would be consummated, Pimentel said the sale would be unconstitutional.
The minority leader said that under the Constitution, foreign entities are allowed holdings in telecommunications facilities of not more than 40 percent.
"In our analysis, if we would add the block shares that is being sold by the PCGG to Parallax or Pan Asia to other foreign entities that have stakes at the PLDT, foreign ownership would reach 46 percent, which is above the constitutional limit of 40 percent," Pimentel said.
Pimentel earlier asked the Senate committees on finance and on ways and means to investigate deal.
The Sandiganbayan earlier ruled that the 46 percent stake of Prime Holdings Inc. in Philippine Telecommunications Investment Corp. was ill-gotten.
PTIC holds 14 percent of PLDT’s common shares or 3 percent outstanding shares.
Pimentel said bidding for the PTIC shares should be recalled because this was "not duly announced and lacked transparency."
He said the winning bid pegged the price for the PLDT shares at P2,025 each when the market price was P2,455.
"It is very surprising that the PCGG would sell the shares at a price less than the prevailing market price… considering that the PLDT is a ‘blue chip’ company," Pimentel said.
"At ang pagbenta pa, ginawa sa isang bidding na hindi maliwanag, not clearly announced, walang transparency, parang minamadali," he said.
Sen. Richard Gordon proposed that government, through the PCGG, undertake an "omnibus" instead of piecemeal sale of its shares in sequestered companies to curb "wholesale" looting.
"The DOF (Department of Finance) and the privatization management office should devise appropriate exit strategies that will allow government to get the best price for these shares," Gordon, chair of the committee on government corporations and public enterprises, said.
Gordon said the sale should include the 35 percent stake of the government in Philcomsat Holdings Corp. (PHC), which is under Senate investigation for the alleged dissipation of its assets and resources while under the care of PCGG officials and government nominees.
Parent firm Philippine Overseas Telecommunications Corp. (POTC) and another subsidiary, Philippine Communications Satellite Corp. (Philcomsat), are also under investigation by the Senate committee chaired by Gordon.
In its hearings, the Gordon panel discovered that Palace nominees and PCGG officials conspired in the "looting" by awarding themselves with generous salaries and perks, cheap housing loans, luxury cars, travels abroad and bonuses.
Gordon said the government should let go of these private companies, which have only been used for political accommodation and for "white-collar" looting.
"Changes among the personalities sitting as government representatives in these corporations due to the ebb and flow of the political tides do not allow for the long-term vision and corresponding planning needed for the proper management of these corporations," Gordon said.
Gordon said company officials and government representatives implicated in fraudulent transactions should be prosecuted. – With Dennis Gadil
BY JP LOPEZ
SENATE minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday asked the Presidential Commission on Good Government to recall the alleged "irregular" bidding for a holding company’s indirectly owned shares in Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) for P25 billion.
Pimentel made the call after only two firms, Parallax and Pan Asia Presidio Capital, both reportedly affiliates of the Salim Group of Indonesia which is the biggest shareholder in PLDT, participated in the bidding.
If the sale would be consummated, Pimentel said the sale would be unconstitutional.
The minority leader said that under the Constitution, foreign entities are allowed holdings in telecommunications facilities of not more than 40 percent.
"In our analysis, if we would add the block shares that is being sold by the PCGG to Parallax or Pan Asia to other foreign entities that have stakes at the PLDT, foreign ownership would reach 46 percent, which is above the constitutional limit of 40 percent," Pimentel said.
Pimentel earlier asked the Senate committees on finance and on ways and means to investigate deal.
The Sandiganbayan earlier ruled that the 46 percent stake of Prime Holdings Inc. in Philippine Telecommunications Investment Corp. was ill-gotten.
PTIC holds 14 percent of PLDT’s common shares or 3 percent outstanding shares.
Pimentel said bidding for the PTIC shares should be recalled because this was "not duly announced and lacked transparency."
He said the winning bid pegged the price for the PLDT shares at P2,025 each when the market price was P2,455.
"It is very surprising that the PCGG would sell the shares at a price less than the prevailing market price… considering that the PLDT is a ‘blue chip’ company," Pimentel said.
"At ang pagbenta pa, ginawa sa isang bidding na hindi maliwanag, not clearly announced, walang transparency, parang minamadali," he said.
Sen. Richard Gordon proposed that government, through the PCGG, undertake an "omnibus" instead of piecemeal sale of its shares in sequestered companies to curb "wholesale" looting.
"The DOF (Department of Finance) and the privatization management office should devise appropriate exit strategies that will allow government to get the best price for these shares," Gordon, chair of the committee on government corporations and public enterprises, said.
Gordon said the sale should include the 35 percent stake of the government in Philcomsat Holdings Corp. (PHC), which is under Senate investigation for the alleged dissipation of its assets and resources while under the care of PCGG officials and government nominees.
Parent firm Philippine Overseas Telecommunications Corp. (POTC) and another subsidiary, Philippine Communications Satellite Corp. (Philcomsat), are also under investigation by the Senate committee chaired by Gordon.
In its hearings, the Gordon panel discovered that Palace nominees and PCGG officials conspired in the "looting" by awarding themselves with generous salaries and perks, cheap housing loans, luxury cars, travels abroad and bonuses.
Gordon said the government should let go of these private companies, which have only been used for political accommodation and for "white-collar" looting.
"Changes among the personalities sitting as government representatives in these corporations due to the ebb and flow of the political tides do not allow for the long-term vision and corresponding planning needed for the proper management of these corporations," Gordon said.
Gordon said company officials and government representatives implicated in fraudulent transactions should be prosecuted. – With Dennis Gadil
posted by brodkaster43 at Martes, Enero 02, 2007
0 comments
Ping: Let Garci run so he can’t do mischief – Malaya 12.29.2006
BY DENNIS GADIL
"A BLESSING in disguise for the opposition."
This was how Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday described the reported plan of former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to run for a House seat in May.
Lacson said Garcillano’s plan to run for congressman of Bukidnon would keep him busy campaigning and give him "less chances of conducting his special operations this time."
Garcillano is tagged as the mastermind of the alleged cheating by the Arroyo camp in the May 2004 elections.
"It’s a blessing in disguise for the opposition. He’ll have to concentrate on Bukidnon, where he will be under tight scrutiny not only by his rivals but also by the media," Lacson said.
"So we can even encourage him to run. He can use `Hello Garci’ as his campaign jingle, and he can set a winning margin of one million votes for himself," he added.
He said with Garcillano forced to "contain" his operations in one area, the "administration will have less opportunities to cheat in other areas in the May 2007 polls."
Garcillano is said to be eyeing the congressional seat occupied by last-termer Rep. Nereus Acosta who will be fielding his wife.
Acosta belongs to the Liberal Party (LP) wing of Sen. Franklin Drilon which has withdrawn support from President Arroyo.
Malacañang said it does not see anything wrong in Garcillano’s running and even hinted at taking him in as official administration candidate.
Senate minority leader Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel said he was not at all surprised about Malacañang’s support.
"It looks like they have no choice but to support Garci because he knows too much. But I think the support will not be given wholeheartedly. They will only be forced to do it due to circumstances. If they do not support him, they fear that he may say things that will be damaging to the administration," Pimentel said.
Lacson said the legal battle over the "Hello Garci" controversy is far from over, especially if Malacañang and its allies continue to deny the people a legitimate closure to the issue.
He said he and fellow complainants against Garcillano will exhaust all legal means to overturn a Department of Justice ruling clearing him of perjury and falsification of passport charges.
The decision was made Nov. 14 but made public only over the weekend.
Lacson said they could go up to the Court of Appeals to question the DOJ finding.
Pimentel said the DOJ ruling was absurd and showed once more the agency’s subservience to the Palace.
He said no less than the Singaporean authorities attested that Garcillano, contrary to his claims, arrived in Singapore on July 14, 2005 and left for London the following day.
"A BLESSING in disguise for the opposition."
This was how Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday described the reported plan of former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to run for a House seat in May.
Lacson said Garcillano’s plan to run for congressman of Bukidnon would keep him busy campaigning and give him "less chances of conducting his special operations this time."
Garcillano is tagged as the mastermind of the alleged cheating by the Arroyo camp in the May 2004 elections.
"It’s a blessing in disguise for the opposition. He’ll have to concentrate on Bukidnon, where he will be under tight scrutiny not only by his rivals but also by the media," Lacson said.
"So we can even encourage him to run. He can use `Hello Garci’ as his campaign jingle, and he can set a winning margin of one million votes for himself," he added.
He said with Garcillano forced to "contain" his operations in one area, the "administration will have less opportunities to cheat in other areas in the May 2007 polls."
Garcillano is said to be eyeing the congressional seat occupied by last-termer Rep. Nereus Acosta who will be fielding his wife.
Acosta belongs to the Liberal Party (LP) wing of Sen. Franklin Drilon which has withdrawn support from President Arroyo.
Malacañang said it does not see anything wrong in Garcillano’s running and even hinted at taking him in as official administration candidate.
Senate minority leader Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel said he was not at all surprised about Malacañang’s support.
"It looks like they have no choice but to support Garci because he knows too much. But I think the support will not be given wholeheartedly. They will only be forced to do it due to circumstances. If they do not support him, they fear that he may say things that will be damaging to the administration," Pimentel said.
Lacson said the legal battle over the "Hello Garci" controversy is far from over, especially if Malacañang and its allies continue to deny the people a legitimate closure to the issue.
He said he and fellow complainants against Garcillano will exhaust all legal means to overturn a Department of Justice ruling clearing him of perjury and falsification of passport charges.
The decision was made Nov. 14 but made public only over the weekend.
Lacson said they could go up to the Court of Appeals to question the DOJ finding.
Pimentel said the DOJ ruling was absurd and showed once more the agency’s subservience to the Palace.
He said no less than the Singaporean authorities attested that Garcillano, contrary to his claims, arrived in Singapore on July 14, 2005 and left for London the following day.
posted by brodkaster43 at Martes, Enero 02, 2007
0 comments
Palace poll hit men targeting 4 Senate hopefuls? – Malaya 12.27.2007
BY DENNIS GADIL
MALACAÑANG’S "hit men" have targeted at least four opposition senatorial candidates for "assassination by the ballot" by denying them victory in the May 2007 elections, a source close to President Arroyo said yesterday.
"The marching order is to prevent them from winning," the source said, referring to House minority leader Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Reps. Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros) and Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III (Tarlac), and San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito.
The source said Malacañang’s election operators will launch a two-pronged attack against the four % a barrage of negative propaganda and the ever-reliable "dagdag-bawas" operation.
"They were chosen based on their sins against the First Family. And their names come in order or in ranking," the source said.
The plot, the source said, was meant to prevent the entry of more opposition figures into the Senate.
The source said returning opposition figures like former senators Tito Sotto, Gringo Honasan, John Osmeña, Ernesto Maceda, Tessie Aquino-Oreta and Loren Legarda were not considered in the "hit list" for being "pliant like a bamboo."
"Being mature politicians, these guys are easy to deal with than a Cayetano or an Aquino," the source.
The source said Cayetano topped the list for accusing the First Family led by Mike Arroyo of stashing millions in ill-gotten wealth in a German bank while Aquino, son of president Corazon Aquino, will have to pay for his mother’s "betrayal" of the President in calling for her ouster at the height of the "Hello Garci" scandal last year.
Escudero, a godson of President Arroyo, earned his spot in the hit list by virtue of being the House opposition leader and for leading the impeachment charge against the President.
Ejercito is a natural target for representing another branch of the Estrada dynasty in the Senate.
The four have been topping recent surveys on possible winners in the Senate election in 2007.
MALACAÑANG’S "hit men" have targeted at least four opposition senatorial candidates for "assassination by the ballot" by denying them victory in the May 2007 elections, a source close to President Arroyo said yesterday.
"The marching order is to prevent them from winning," the source said, referring to House minority leader Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Reps. Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros) and Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III (Tarlac), and San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito.
The source said Malacañang’s election operators will launch a two-pronged attack against the four % a barrage of negative propaganda and the ever-reliable "dagdag-bawas" operation.
"They were chosen based on their sins against the First Family. And their names come in order or in ranking," the source said.
The plot, the source said, was meant to prevent the entry of more opposition figures into the Senate.
The source said returning opposition figures like former senators Tito Sotto, Gringo Honasan, John Osmeña, Ernesto Maceda, Tessie Aquino-Oreta and Loren Legarda were not considered in the "hit list" for being "pliant like a bamboo."
"Being mature politicians, these guys are easy to deal with than a Cayetano or an Aquino," the source.
The source said Cayetano topped the list for accusing the First Family led by Mike Arroyo of stashing millions in ill-gotten wealth in a German bank while Aquino, son of president Corazon Aquino, will have to pay for his mother’s "betrayal" of the President in calling for her ouster at the height of the "Hello Garci" scandal last year.
Escudero, a godson of President Arroyo, earned his spot in the hit list by virtue of being the House opposition leader and for leading the impeachment charge against the President.
Ejercito is a natural target for representing another branch of the Estrada dynasty in the Senate.
The four have been topping recent surveys on possible winners in the Senate election in 2007.
posted by brodkaster43 at Martes, Enero 02, 2007
0 comments
Senate proud of its defense of Constitution – Malaya 12.23.2006
THE Senate, which adjourned Thursday for its month-long Christmas break, looks forward to another year of "existence" after having successfully thwarted a barrage of attempts by the Arroyo administration to banish it into oblivion and trample on the Constitution.
"Naging mainit po itong taon na 2006 at marami po ang nangyari. Sa Senado po naman, maipagmamalaki naming na talaga pong ginawa naming ang magagawa para maipagtanggol ang ating saligang batas at (nagawa) ang tungkulin na ibinigay ninyo po sa amin," said Senate President Manuel Villar.
Villar said the Senate, which will re-convene on Jan. 22, is confident that it would weather new storms in 2007 particularly with the mid-term elections underway.
He said the Senate stands proud for successfully defending the Constitution against the Palace-backed Charter change (Cha-cha) move with the House of Representatives as chief instigator.
"Railroading a resolution to convene a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) to change the Constitution without the participation of this Upper Chamber was unconscionable. Even our people saw it for what it was, and they have spoken against it," Villar said in his year-end address to fellow senators.
Villar said those who spearheaded the Cha-cha train should have realized by now that the people have not actually receded into being mere spectators.
"The people are watching us. Contrary to popular perception that they have become cynical over matters that concern government, they are not," he said.
He added: "The people stood by this Senate to also denounce the questionable and suspicious manner by which the administration and its allies in Congress attempted to change the Constitution."
He said Malacañang, the House and even the judiciary "should take heed and learn from this lesson."
Villar also said senators will not tolerate heads of agencies who belittle the power of the Senate as an institution.
He said the action taken by the Senate on recalcitrant officials of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) was justified.
Villar was referring to the warrants issued against PCGG officials for defying summonses to appear in an inquiry and the subsequent detention at the Senate of PCGG chair Camilo Sabio while the other commissioners went into hiding.
"If government officials repeatedly ignore or defy our invitations to appear as resource persons in our Senate hearings, we are left with no choice but to do what has to be done," he said.
Villar called on President Arroyo to sign into law proposed legislations that have already hurdled Congress and are ripe for implementation next year.
The measures awaiting approval of the President are on: prescribing a fixed term for the Armed Forces chief of staff; mandating the use of biofuels in the transport sector; automating the elections; defining handline fishing and providing for regulation on the use of fishing boats; creating the rank of First Chief Master Sgt. and First Master Chief Petty Officer ranks in the AFP; and, amending Republic Act (RA) 6948 or the Veterans Act.
The proposed P1.126-trillion budget for 2007, however, failed to meet the deadline as it remains trapped in the bicameral conference committee. – Dennis Gadil
"Naging mainit po itong taon na 2006 at marami po ang nangyari. Sa Senado po naman, maipagmamalaki naming na talaga pong ginawa naming ang magagawa para maipagtanggol ang ating saligang batas at (nagawa) ang tungkulin na ibinigay ninyo po sa amin," said Senate President Manuel Villar.
Villar said the Senate, which will re-convene on Jan. 22, is confident that it would weather new storms in 2007 particularly with the mid-term elections underway.
He said the Senate stands proud for successfully defending the Constitution against the Palace-backed Charter change (Cha-cha) move with the House of Representatives as chief instigator.
"Railroading a resolution to convene a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) to change the Constitution without the participation of this Upper Chamber was unconscionable. Even our people saw it for what it was, and they have spoken against it," Villar said in his year-end address to fellow senators.
Villar said those who spearheaded the Cha-cha train should have realized by now that the people have not actually receded into being mere spectators.
"The people are watching us. Contrary to popular perception that they have become cynical over matters that concern government, they are not," he said.
He added: "The people stood by this Senate to also denounce the questionable and suspicious manner by which the administration and its allies in Congress attempted to change the Constitution."
He said Malacañang, the House and even the judiciary "should take heed and learn from this lesson."
Villar also said senators will not tolerate heads of agencies who belittle the power of the Senate as an institution.
He said the action taken by the Senate on recalcitrant officials of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) was justified.
Villar was referring to the warrants issued against PCGG officials for defying summonses to appear in an inquiry and the subsequent detention at the Senate of PCGG chair Camilo Sabio while the other commissioners went into hiding.
"If government officials repeatedly ignore or defy our invitations to appear as resource persons in our Senate hearings, we are left with no choice but to do what has to be done," he said.
Villar called on President Arroyo to sign into law proposed legislations that have already hurdled Congress and are ripe for implementation next year.
The measures awaiting approval of the President are on: prescribing a fixed term for the Armed Forces chief of staff; mandating the use of biofuels in the transport sector; automating the elections; defining handline fishing and providing for regulation on the use of fishing boats; creating the rank of First Chief Master Sgt. and First Master Chief Petty Officer ranks in the AFP; and, amending Republic Act (RA) 6948 or the Veterans Act.
The proposed P1.126-trillion budget for 2007, however, failed to meet the deadline as it remains trapped in the bicameral conference committee. – Dennis Gadil
posted by brodkaster43 at Martes, Enero 02, 2007
0 comments
Villar working on Joker’s inclusion in Erap ticket – Malaya 12.22.2006
THE Wednesday Club, which includes Senate president Manuel Villar and Vice President Noli de Castro as members, is pulling out all stops to have fellow member Sen. Joker Arroyo included in the senatorial slate being drawn up by former president Joseph Estrada.
At least two members of the club separately confirmed that they have finally convinced Sen. Arroyo to seek reelection in May 2007 polls through the Estrada-backed ticket.
"We will personally lobby (before president Erap) that he be included," Villar said. "He’s too valuable to be allowed to go to an early retirement."
Villar, who is already in Estrada’s short list of senatorial bets with fellow Wednesday Club members Senators Ralph Recto and Francisco Pangilinan, said they will also request Estrada to endorse Sen. Arroyo whose political handicap is having a similar surname as the President’s. "A rigorous campaign and a blessing from someone like Erap will definitely reverse the trend," Villar said.
Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada said he sees no problem in having Arroyo endorsed by his father.
He said he will even help the senator. "Walang masamang tinapay sa akin, lahat sila kaibigan ko (sa Senado). Gusto niya samahan ko pa siya sa Tanay," Estrada said.
Arroyo, a PDP-Laban member, has been performing poorly in popularity surveys, which political analysts blamed on his being a namesake of the President who is also faring negatively in latest polls. The poor ratings have apparently discouraged the maverick senator from considering a second term. Talk is also going around that he might just opt for a cabinet appointment.
Sen. Arroyo and Estrada used to be close when the former was a congressman and the latter the president until Arroyo’s peers in the House filed an impeachment complaint against Estrada in 2000 for allegedly taking kickbacks from jueteng and for dipping into tobacco taxes. Arroyo served as lead House prosecutor in Estrada’s Senate trial.
Sen. Arroyo also represented the Senate in arguing before the Supreme Court against President Arroyo’s Proclamation 1017, Executive Order 464 and People’s Initiative petition. – Dennis Gadil
At least two members of the club separately confirmed that they have finally convinced Sen. Arroyo to seek reelection in May 2007 polls through the Estrada-backed ticket.
"We will personally lobby (before president Erap) that he be included," Villar said. "He’s too valuable to be allowed to go to an early retirement."
Villar, who is already in Estrada’s short list of senatorial bets with fellow Wednesday Club members Senators Ralph Recto and Francisco Pangilinan, said they will also request Estrada to endorse Sen. Arroyo whose political handicap is having a similar surname as the President’s. "A rigorous campaign and a blessing from someone like Erap will definitely reverse the trend," Villar said.
Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada said he sees no problem in having Arroyo endorsed by his father.
He said he will even help the senator. "Walang masamang tinapay sa akin, lahat sila kaibigan ko (sa Senado). Gusto niya samahan ko pa siya sa Tanay," Estrada said.
Arroyo, a PDP-Laban member, has been performing poorly in popularity surveys, which political analysts blamed on his being a namesake of the President who is also faring negatively in latest polls. The poor ratings have apparently discouraged the maverick senator from considering a second term. Talk is also going around that he might just opt for a cabinet appointment.
Sen. Arroyo and Estrada used to be close when the former was a congressman and the latter the president until Arroyo’s peers in the House filed an impeachment complaint against Estrada in 2000 for allegedly taking kickbacks from jueteng and for dipping into tobacco taxes. Arroyo served as lead House prosecutor in Estrada’s Senate trial.
Sen. Arroyo also represented the Senate in arguing before the Supreme Court against President Arroyo’s Proclamation 1017, Executive Order 464 and People’s Initiative petition. – Dennis Gadil
posted by brodkaster43 at Martes, Enero 02, 2007
0 comments
Opposition parties push unity ticket – Malaya 12.20.2006
BY DENNIS GADIL
MAJOR opposition parties are dusting off plans for a unity senatorial ticket which were earlier shelved in the face of a no-election scenario under the charter change proposed by the administration.
"After the defeat of Con-Ass, there’s a re-drawing of political lines. It’s now clear that there will be elections next year," Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan said yesterday.
Pangilinan, who is expected to seek a second term in 2007, said the Liberal Party wing under Sen. Franklin Drilon is reviving talks with other opposition parties to forge an alliance for the midterm elections.
"The chances of a unity ticket have become brighter," said Pangilinan, who is also LP chairman.
He said informal talks are underway with parties belonging to the United Opposition (UNO), the Nacionalista Party (NP) of Senate President Manuel Villar and the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) of Sen. Edgardo Angara.
UNO groups the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph Estrada and PDP-Laban of Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay.
Pangilinan said negotiations between the LP and the NP are in the "advanced stage."
"There are already designated negotiators," he said.
The LP wing of Drilon froze its coalition talks with the NP after the former was besieged by legal challenges from the LP faction of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.
Villar, NP president, earlier said the party is open to any alliance with the opposition or with the administration but stressed his party does not need to forge alliances to win in the 2007 elections.
If the LP-NP coalition talks bear fruit, the two parties are likely to field Villar, Pangilinan, Sen. Ralph Recto, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Tarlac Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.
Pimentel said his PDP-Laban party is backing a unified ticket composed of opposition senatorial candidates.
He said this was the more logical direction to ensure defeat of administration candidates.
Pimentel also said his lawyer son Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III is likely to be fielded by the PDP-Laban.
MAJOR opposition parties are dusting off plans for a unity senatorial ticket which were earlier shelved in the face of a no-election scenario under the charter change proposed by the administration.
"After the defeat of Con-Ass, there’s a re-drawing of political lines. It’s now clear that there will be elections next year," Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan said yesterday.
Pangilinan, who is expected to seek a second term in 2007, said the Liberal Party wing under Sen. Franklin Drilon is reviving talks with other opposition parties to forge an alliance for the midterm elections.
"The chances of a unity ticket have become brighter," said Pangilinan, who is also LP chairman.
He said informal talks are underway with parties belonging to the United Opposition (UNO), the Nacionalista Party (NP) of Senate President Manuel Villar and the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) of Sen. Edgardo Angara.
UNO groups the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph Estrada and PDP-Laban of Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay.
Pangilinan said negotiations between the LP and the NP are in the "advanced stage."
"There are already designated negotiators," he said.
The LP wing of Drilon froze its coalition talks with the NP after the former was besieged by legal challenges from the LP faction of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.
Villar, NP president, earlier said the party is open to any alliance with the opposition or with the administration but stressed his party does not need to forge alliances to win in the 2007 elections.
If the LP-NP coalition talks bear fruit, the two parties are likely to field Villar, Pangilinan, Sen. Ralph Recto, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Tarlac Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.
Pimentel said his PDP-Laban party is backing a unified ticket composed of opposition senatorial candidates.
He said this was the more logical direction to ensure defeat of administration candidates.
Pimentel also said his lawyer son Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III is likely to be fielded by the PDP-Laban.
posted by brodkaster43 at Martes, Enero 02, 2007
0 comments
Prosecution of Philcomsat ‘looters’ pressed – Malaya 12.19.2006
BY DENNIS GADIL
SENATORS yesterday pressed for the prosecution of individuals involved in "ransacking" the coffers of Philippine Communication Satellite Corp. (Philcomsat), a government sequestered firm, its sister company Philcomsat Holdings Corp. (PHC), and parent firm Philippine Overseas Telecommunications Corp. (POTC).
Sen. Richard Gordon said individuals named in a Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) study conducted in 2005 to address the alleged looting should be charged in court.
Gordon’s committee on government corporations and public enterprises, along with the committee on public accountability chaired by Sen. Joker Arroyo, is probing the alleged plunder of Philcomsat’s assets and resources.
He said the PCGG should also have long surrendered the government stake at the PHC to the Asset Privatization Trust (APT). "They should be privatizing it," Gordon said.
Sen. Sergio Osmeña, a member of the Gordon committee, chided the PCGG for its failure to punish individuals involved in the alleged looting.
He likewise expressed disappointment when PCGG officials resorted to blame-tossing over which department should spearhead the filing of charges.
"Wala ba kayong intercom? Hindi ba kayo nag-uusap?" Osmeña said.
The senators were referring to the results of the 2005 study which probed how the assets and resources of Philcomsat, PHC and POTC were allegedly looted after it was sequestered by government.
The 2005 study, which was spearheaded by PCGG commissioner Nicasio Conti, recommended the filing of charges against officials involved in plundering the finances of the company.
Conti did not disclose the names of individuals named in the report. He nevertheless told the joint committee that the recommendations remained unheeded to this day.
Conti said the results of the study were submitted to the asset management group of the PCGG headed by Commissioner Ricardo Abcede.
Abcede, in turn, said the study was transmitted to the legal department headed by Commissioner Narciso Nario.
The joint Senate panel found out in its hearing last week that even government nominees, who were supposedly tasked to safeguard the interest of the government, were a party in the alleged looting of Philcomsat and its sister firms by showering themselves with generous salaries and allowances.
"Millions of pesos are coming out of a company that is not in the pink of health. And the PCGG appears not to be in control of these (government) nominees," Gordon said during a recent hearing.
At least six government nominees who served in the PHC board, Philcomsat and POTC told senators that they received salaries as high as P150,000 a month and P500,000 worth of "public relations and representation" allowance.
SENATORS yesterday pressed for the prosecution of individuals involved in "ransacking" the coffers of Philippine Communication Satellite Corp. (Philcomsat), a government sequestered firm, its sister company Philcomsat Holdings Corp. (PHC), and parent firm Philippine Overseas Telecommunications Corp. (POTC).
Sen. Richard Gordon said individuals named in a Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) study conducted in 2005 to address the alleged looting should be charged in court.
Gordon’s committee on government corporations and public enterprises, along with the committee on public accountability chaired by Sen. Joker Arroyo, is probing the alleged plunder of Philcomsat’s assets and resources.
He said the PCGG should also have long surrendered the government stake at the PHC to the Asset Privatization Trust (APT). "They should be privatizing it," Gordon said.
Sen. Sergio Osmeña, a member of the Gordon committee, chided the PCGG for its failure to punish individuals involved in the alleged looting.
He likewise expressed disappointment when PCGG officials resorted to blame-tossing over which department should spearhead the filing of charges.
"Wala ba kayong intercom? Hindi ba kayo nag-uusap?" Osmeña said.
The senators were referring to the results of the 2005 study which probed how the assets and resources of Philcomsat, PHC and POTC were allegedly looted after it was sequestered by government.
The 2005 study, which was spearheaded by PCGG commissioner Nicasio Conti, recommended the filing of charges against officials involved in plundering the finances of the company.
Conti did not disclose the names of individuals named in the report. He nevertheless told the joint committee that the recommendations remained unheeded to this day.
Conti said the results of the study were submitted to the asset management group of the PCGG headed by Commissioner Ricardo Abcede.
Abcede, in turn, said the study was transmitted to the legal department headed by Commissioner Narciso Nario.
The joint Senate panel found out in its hearing last week that even government nominees, who were supposedly tasked to safeguard the interest of the government, were a party in the alleged looting of Philcomsat and its sister firms by showering themselves with generous salaries and allowances.
"Millions of pesos are coming out of a company that is not in the pink of health. And the PCGG appears not to be in control of these (government) nominees," Gordon said during a recent hearing.
At least six government nominees who served in the PHC board, Philcomsat and POTC told senators that they received salaries as high as P150,000 a month and P500,000 worth of "public relations and representation" allowance.
posted by brodkaster43 at Martes, Enero 02, 2007
0 comments
‘Arroyo welcome to join rally’ – Malaya 12.16.2006
BY GERARD NAVAL AND ASHZEL HACHERO
ORGANIZERS of Sunday’s prayer rally at the Quirino Grandstand yesterday said President Arroyo and her administration allies can come to the gathering but they will not be answerable for the public’s reaction to their presence.
As a prelude to the Sunday rally, workers from Makati’s financial district joined militant labor groups yesterday in condemning administration-led efforts to railroad amendments to the Constitution.
At least 500 members of the militant group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and about 200 from the National Union of Bank Employees gathered at the foot of the Ninoy Aquino Monument on Ayala avenue.
A human chain was formed in front of the Aquino monument.
Except for former senators Ernesto Maceda and Ernesto Herrera, no other prominent opposition figures attended the rally.
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, president of the United Opposition, was not at the rally which was initiated by the National Union of Bank Employees.
The rally participants dispersed around 7 p.m., about an hour after the program started.
At the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines office in Intramuros, rally coordinator Henrietta de Villa said they welcome the presence of Arroyo, Speaker Jose de Venecia and the others who were pushing for amendments to the Constitution.
"As we said before, yung panawagan ay para sa lahat. Whether you are a pro- or anti-Cha-cha. It does not matter. The gathering is a prayer rally and not a political one. We urge those who will attend to shed their identities for the sole purpose of praying for the country," De Villa, former ambassador to the Vatican, said.
De Villa said the prayer rally is "for everyone" who wants to attend and join the CBCP’s call to "watch and pray" for the country.
The CBCP organized the rally in protest against moves to railroad amendments to the Constitution. Early this week, allies of the the House, led by De Venecia, dropped constituent assembly as mode of amending the charter, and shifted to a constitutional convention.
The CBCP is of the position that if there is a need to amend the charter, it should be through a Constitutional Convention, the mode preferred by senators.
Even after De Venecia’s turnaround, the CBCP said it was pushing through with the rally to pray for the enlightenment of the country’s leaders.
On Thursday, President Arroyo conceded that the time is not ripe for charter change. She said it is up to the people to decide on when and in what manner political reforms should be undertaken.
THANKSGIVING
Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP president, said the Sunday gathering is "not just a rally against Con-Ass and Cha-cha" but a rally for the country.
He said moves to "hastily" change the Constitution is only among a number of crises that have to be solved, "together with the need for genuine electoral reform."
"The Con-Con can, therefore, be placed in the list of priorities, arranged according to importance and urgency. Haste must be avoided; because haste makes waste," he said in a statement.
Lagdameo said God has answered His flock’s prayers "even before we directly addressed it to him."
"And so the Prayer Rallies of Petition is now converted into Prayer Rallies of Thanksgiving. God has heard our un-articulated prayer. He loves the Philippines. He has converted our crisis-laden situation into Kairos, a moment of grace. Let us give thanks to God and exalt him above the heavens," he said.
Lagdameo said simultaneous rallies were held yesterday in dioceses that had not been able to adjust their schedules to the new rally date. The rallies were held in the dioceses of Novaliches, Quezon City; Infanta, Quezon; Negros; Capiz; Iloilo; Cebu; Kidapawan; Marbel, South Cotabato; Ozamis City; Digos; Malolos, Bulacan; Balanga, Bataan; and Cavite.
SCORCHING EVENT
Senate President Manuel Villar said Arroyo’s decision to shelve the Cha-cha "for the moment" doused cold water on an otherwise expected heated religious activity, which political analysts claimed could end up in her ouster from Malacañang.
"The President’s announcement (on Thursday) helped prevent what might be a scorching event, literally and figuratively," he told an interview with dzBB radio.
Villar said the rally goes beyond charter change or constituent assembly.
"Whether or not Con-Ass will push through is not an issue here. It’s a prayer rally, right? Hindi naman porke ibinasura na ang Con-Ass, hindi na tayo magdarasal," Villar said.
Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan said while he supports the rally, he would rather not show up.
"Iiwas na lang ako para walang masabi ang mga alyado ng Pangulo na hinahaluan ng pulitika o sinasakyan ng mga pulitiko ang prayer rally," he said.
But he encouraged the public to join the rally to express their opposition to Cha-cha.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Malacañang and its allies should not expect the rally to fizzle out just because President Arroyo got off the "Cha-cha" train.
"The real agenda of Mrs. Arroyo and her allies in ‘shelving’ Cha-cha is to discourage people from joining the rally. But they are mistaken. The bigger picture is that this rally is a message to the government that the people will not tolerate abuses, which started from scandals like ‘Hello Garci,’ the P728-million fertilizer scam, and other instances of abusing the people’s intelligence," he said.
BRAZEN DISREGARD
Lacson also said Arroyo’s latest insult to the people’s intelligence came not too long ago when administration congressmen held three nightly caucuses with her to trigger the railroading of a resolution for a Con-Ass at the Lower House.
He said Arroyo again insulted the intelligence of the people when she issued a statement that now is not the right time for charter change, followed by statements from her spokesman and allies that there is no more reason to attend Sunday’s rally.
Lacson said the move of pro-administration congressmen to "fiercely and wildly" change the Constitution "threw all pretenses out the window" and showed a "brazen disregard for the rule of law," all just to comply with their master and mastermind’s instructions, he said.
Sen. Ralph Recto urged rally organizers to put up "collection points for aid donations to Bicol typhoon victims" in its Luneta venue.
He said this will blunt administration charges that the assembly is a gathering that will serve no purpose as Malacañang and the House have both called off their charter change charge.
MAN-MADE DISASTER
Injecting a "sub-theme of compassion" into the rally will also "silence policemen who have been throwing all kinds of threats…in a bid perhaps to dissuade people from attending it."
Recto said the rally "can both be an opportunity to say a prayer of thanks for stopping a man-made disaster that was Con-Ass and for seeking help for victims of a natural calamity."
"Let it be an occasion to heave a sigh of relief that Cha-cha was stopped and at the same time call for more relief to typhoon-hit areas," he said.
Recto said he was offering this unsolicited advice to rally organizers "so more people will go to Luneta once they see that there’s an expanded agenda, a theme that is more attuned to the season. Hindi naman maganda na Pasko na Cha-cha pa rin."
NEGROS RALLIES
More than 20,000 Negrenses participated in simultaneous Church-led prayer rallies in key five key cities of Negros Occidental and in Guihulngan, Oriental Negros, opposing what they call the "deceitful" manner in pushing for changes to the Constitution.
At least 10,000 gathered at the plaza of Bacolod, while 10,000 others also held similar activities in the cities of San Carlos, Kabankalan, Cadiz and Escalante, as well as in Guihulngan, according to Fr. Edwin Laude, director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of San Carlos.
The rallies were spearheaded by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Gregorio and Kabankalan Bishop Patricio Buzon.
"We need to send a strong message to the powers that be – both the majority block in the House of Representatives and Malacañang – that the people have had enough of these brazen machinations," Navarra said.
"We need to say that we, the people, hold Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ultimately accountable for these insidious plots to alter the political order to benefit politicians and not the people," Navarra added.
CAUSE OF TROUBLE
In the Bacolod prayer rally, almost 60 to percent of the participants were students and those from middle-income families.
Navarra said: "I think Mrs. Gloria Arroyo is the cause of all these things and she should be sensible enough to step down, to give the Filipino people a chance to breath and to be free."
Fr. Anecito Buenafe, head of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Bacolod, said the administration’s backtracking on Cha-cha showed that real power comes from the people.*
Rep. Ignacio Arroyo (Neg. Occ., 5th district) said while he still believes that constitutional reforms are needed to move the country forward, this may be can be done after the 2007 elections.
BIGGEST RALLY
In Cagayan de Oro, a multi-sectoral group said it was prepared to launch one of the biggest rallies in the city this year against moves to change the Constitution.
Cagayan de Oro Bishop Antonio Ledesma said the rally will be staged simultaneously with the rally in Manila.
Beverly Musni, a human rights lawyer-activist, said the groups Gabriela and Karapatan and other militant organizations in Northern Mindanao would join the Cagayan de Oro rally.
The opposition PDP-Laban will come in full force, said ex-mayor Pablo Magtajas, the party’s chairman for Cagayan de Oro. – ‘Arroyo welcome to join rally’ – Malaya 12.16.2006
BY GERARD NAVAL AND ASHZEL HACHERO
ORGANIZERS of Sunday’s prayer rally at the Quirino Grandstand yesterday said President Arroyo and her administration allies can come to the gathering but they will not be answerable for the public’s reaction to their presence.
As a prelude to the Sunday rally, workers from Makati’s financial district joined militant labor groups yesterday in condemning administration-led efforts to railroad amendments to the Constitution.
At least 500 members of the militant group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and about 200 from the National Union of Bank Employees gathered at the foot of the Ninoy Aquino Monument on Ayala avenue.
A human chain was formed in front of the Aquino monument.
Except for former senators Ernesto Maceda and Ernesto Herrera, no other prominent opposition figures attended the rally.
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, president of the United Opposition, was not at the rally which was initiated by the National Union of Bank Employees.
The rally participants dispersed around 7 p.m., about an hour after the program started.
At the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines office in Intramuros, rally coordinator Henrietta de Villa said they welcome the presence of Arroyo, Speaker Jose de Venecia and the others who were pushing for amendments to the Constitution.
"As we said before, yung panawagan ay para sa lahat. Whether you are a pro- or anti-Cha-cha. It does not matter. The gathering is a prayer rally and not a political one. We urge those who will attend to shed their identities for the sole purpose of praying for the country," De Villa, former ambassador to the Vatican, said.
De Villa said the prayer rally is "for everyone" who wants to attend and join the CBCP’s call to "watch and pray" for the country.
The CBCP organized the rally in protest against moves to railroad amendments to the Constitution. Early this week, allies of the the House, led by De Venecia, dropped constituent assembly as mode of amending the charter, and shifted to a constitutional convention.
The CBCP is of the position that if there is a need to amend the charter, it should be through a Constitutional Convention, the mode preferred by senators.
Even after De Venecia’s turnaround, the CBCP said it was pushing through with the rally to pray for the enlightenment of the country’s leaders.
On Thursday, President Arroyo conceded that the time is not ripe for charter change. She said it is up to the people to decide on when and in what manner political reforms should be undertaken.
THANKSGIVING
Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP president, said the Sunday gathering is "not just a rally against Con-Ass and Cha-cha" but a rally for the country.
He said moves to "hastily" change the Constitution is only among a number of crises that have to be solved, "together with the need for genuine electoral reform."
"The Con-Con can, therefore, be placed in the list of priorities, arranged according to importance and urgency. Haste must be avoided; because haste makes waste," he said in a statement.
Lagdameo said God has answered His flock’s prayers "even before we directly addressed it to him."
"And so the Prayer Rallies of Petition is now converted into Prayer Rallies of Thanksgiving. God has heard our un-articulated prayer. He loves the Philippines. He has converted our crisis-laden situation into Kairos, a moment of grace. Let us give thanks to God and exalt him above the heavens," he said.
Lagdameo said simultaneous rallies were held yesterday in dioceses that had not been able to adjust their schedules to the new rally date. The rallies were held in the dioceses of Novaliches, Quezon City; Infanta, Quezon; Negros; Capiz; Iloilo; Cebu; Kidapawan; Marbel, South Cotabato; Ozamis City; Digos; Malolos, Bulacan; Balanga, Bataan; and Cavite.
SCORCHING EVENT
Senate President Manuel Villar said Arroyo’s decision to shelve the Cha-cha "for the moment" doused cold water on an otherwise expected heated religious activity, which political analysts claimed could end up in her ouster from Malacañang.
"The President’s announcement (on Thursday) helped prevent what might be a scorching event, literally and figuratively," he told an interview with dzBB radio.
Villar said the rally goes beyond charter change or constituent assembly.
"Whether or not Con-Ass will push through is not an issue here. It’s a prayer rally, right? Hindi naman porke ibinasura na ang Con-Ass, hindi na tayo magdarasal," Villar said.
Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan said while he supports the rally, he would rather not show up.
"Iiwas na lang ako para walang masabi ang mga alyado ng Pangulo na hinahaluan ng pulitika o sinasakyan ng mga pulitiko ang prayer rally," he said.
But he encouraged the public to join the rally to express their opposition to Cha-cha.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Malacañang and its allies should not expect the rally to fizzle out just because President Arroyo got off the "Cha-cha" train.
"The real agenda of Mrs. Arroyo and her allies in ‘shelving’ Cha-cha is to discourage people from joining the rally. But they are mistaken. The bigger picture is that this rally is a message to the government that the people will not tolerate abuses, which started from scandals like ‘Hello Garci,’ the P728-million fertilizer scam, and other instances of abusing the people’s intelligence," he said.
BRAZEN DISREGARD
Lacson also said Arroyo’s latest insult to the people’s intelligence came not too long ago when administration congressmen held three nightly caucuses with her to trigger the railroading of a resolution for a Con-Ass at the Lower House.
He said Arroyo again insulted the intelligence of the people when she issued a statement that now is not the right time for charter change, followed by statements from her spokesman and allies that there is no more reason to attend Sunday’s rally.
Lacson said the move of pro-administration congressmen to "fiercely and wildly" change the Constitution "threw all pretenses out the window" and showed a "brazen disregard for the rule of law," all just to comply with their master and mastermind’s instructions, he said.
Sen. Ralph Recto urged rally organizers to put up "collection points for aid donations to Bicol typhoon victims" in its Luneta venue.
He said this will blunt administration charges that the assembly is a gathering that will serve no purpose as Malacañang and the House have both called off their charter change charge.
MAN-MADE DISASTER
Injecting a "sub-theme of compassion" into the rally will also "silence policemen who have been throwing all kinds of threats…in a bid perhaps to dissuade people from attending it."
Recto said the rally "can both be an opportunity to say a prayer of thanks for stopping a man-made disaster that was Con-Ass and for seeking help for victims of a natural calamity."
"Let it be an occasion to heave a sigh of relief that Cha-cha was stopped and at the same time call for more relief to typhoon-hit areas," he said.
Recto said he was offering this unsolicited advice to rally organizers "so more people will go to Luneta once they see that there’s an expanded agenda, a theme that is more attuned to the season. Hindi naman maganda na Pasko na Cha-cha pa rin."
NEGROS RALLIES
More than 20,000 Negrenses participated in simultaneous Church-led prayer rallies in key five key cities of Negros Occidental and in Guihulngan, Oriental Negros, opposing what they call the "deceitful" manner in pushing for changes to the Constitution.
At least 10,000 gathered at the plaza of Bacolod, while 10,000 others also held similar activities in the cities of San Carlos, Kabankalan, Cadiz and Escalante, as well as in Guihulngan, according to Fr. Edwin Laude, director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of San Carlos.
The rallies were spearheaded by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Gregorio and Kabankalan Bishop Patricio Buzon.
"We need to send a strong message to the powers that be – both the majority block in the House of Representatives and Malacañang – that the people have had enough of these brazen machinations," Navarra said.
"We need to say that we, the people, hold Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ultimately accountable for these insidious plots to alter the political order to benefit politicians and not the people," Navarra added.
CAUSE OF TROUBLE
In the Bacolod prayer rally, almost 60 to percent of the participants were students and those from middle-income families.
Navarra said: "I think Mrs. Gloria Arroyo is the cause of all these things and she should be sensible enough to step down, to give the Filipino people a chance to breath and to be free."
Fr. Anecito Buenafe, head of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Bacolod, said the administration’s backtracking on Cha-cha showed that real power comes from the people.*
Rep. Ignacio Arroyo (Neg. Occ., 5th district) said while he still believes that constitutional reforms are needed to move the country forward, this may be can be done after the 2007 elections.
BIGGEST RALLY
In Cagayan de Oro, a multi-sectoral group said it was prepared to launch one of the biggest rallies in the city this year against moves to change the Constitution.
Cagayan de Oro Bishop Antonio Ledesma said the rally will be staged simultaneously with the rally in Manila.
Beverly Musni, a human rights lawyer-activist, said the groups Gabriela and Karapatan and other militant organizations in Northern Mindanao would join the Cagayan de Oro rally.
The opposition PDP-Laban will come in full force, said ex-mayor Pablo Magtajas, the party’s chairman for Cagayan de Oro. – With JP Lopez, Dennis Gadil, Gilbert Bayoran and Benjamin Balce
ORGANIZERS of Sunday’s prayer rally at the Quirino Grandstand yesterday said President Arroyo and her administration allies can come to the gathering but they will not be answerable for the public’s reaction to their presence.
As a prelude to the Sunday rally, workers from Makati’s financial district joined militant labor groups yesterday in condemning administration-led efforts to railroad amendments to the Constitution.
At least 500 members of the militant group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and about 200 from the National Union of Bank Employees gathered at the foot of the Ninoy Aquino Monument on Ayala avenue.
A human chain was formed in front of the Aquino monument.
Except for former senators Ernesto Maceda and Ernesto Herrera, no other prominent opposition figures attended the rally.
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, president of the United Opposition, was not at the rally which was initiated by the National Union of Bank Employees.
The rally participants dispersed around 7 p.m., about an hour after the program started.
At the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines office in Intramuros, rally coordinator Henrietta de Villa said they welcome the presence of Arroyo, Speaker Jose de Venecia and the others who were pushing for amendments to the Constitution.
"As we said before, yung panawagan ay para sa lahat. Whether you are a pro- or anti-Cha-cha. It does not matter. The gathering is a prayer rally and not a political one. We urge those who will attend to shed their identities for the sole purpose of praying for the country," De Villa, former ambassador to the Vatican, said.
De Villa said the prayer rally is "for everyone" who wants to attend and join the CBCP’s call to "watch and pray" for the country.
The CBCP organized the rally in protest against moves to railroad amendments to the Constitution. Early this week, allies of the the House, led by De Venecia, dropped constituent assembly as mode of amending the charter, and shifted to a constitutional convention.
The CBCP is of the position that if there is a need to amend the charter, it should be through a Constitutional Convention, the mode preferred by senators.
Even after De Venecia’s turnaround, the CBCP said it was pushing through with the rally to pray for the enlightenment of the country’s leaders.
On Thursday, President Arroyo conceded that the time is not ripe for charter change. She said it is up to the people to decide on when and in what manner political reforms should be undertaken.
THANKSGIVING
Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP president, said the Sunday gathering is "not just a rally against Con-Ass and Cha-cha" but a rally for the country.
He said moves to "hastily" change the Constitution is only among a number of crises that have to be solved, "together with the need for genuine electoral reform."
"The Con-Con can, therefore, be placed in the list of priorities, arranged according to importance and urgency. Haste must be avoided; because haste makes waste," he said in a statement.
Lagdameo said God has answered His flock’s prayers "even before we directly addressed it to him."
"And so the Prayer Rallies of Petition is now converted into Prayer Rallies of Thanksgiving. God has heard our un-articulated prayer. He loves the Philippines. He has converted our crisis-laden situation into Kairos, a moment of grace. Let us give thanks to God and exalt him above the heavens," he said.
Lagdameo said simultaneous rallies were held yesterday in dioceses that had not been able to adjust their schedules to the new rally date. The rallies were held in the dioceses of Novaliches, Quezon City; Infanta, Quezon; Negros; Capiz; Iloilo; Cebu; Kidapawan; Marbel, South Cotabato; Ozamis City; Digos; Malolos, Bulacan; Balanga, Bataan; and Cavite.
SCORCHING EVENT
Senate President Manuel Villar said Arroyo’s decision to shelve the Cha-cha "for the moment" doused cold water on an otherwise expected heated religious activity, which political analysts claimed could end up in her ouster from Malacañang.
"The President’s announcement (on Thursday) helped prevent what might be a scorching event, literally and figuratively," he told an interview with dzBB radio.
Villar said the rally goes beyond charter change or constituent assembly.
"Whether or not Con-Ass will push through is not an issue here. It’s a prayer rally, right? Hindi naman porke ibinasura na ang Con-Ass, hindi na tayo magdarasal," Villar said.
Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan said while he supports the rally, he would rather not show up.
"Iiwas na lang ako para walang masabi ang mga alyado ng Pangulo na hinahaluan ng pulitika o sinasakyan ng mga pulitiko ang prayer rally," he said.
But he encouraged the public to join the rally to express their opposition to Cha-cha.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Malacañang and its allies should not expect the rally to fizzle out just because President Arroyo got off the "Cha-cha" train.
"The real agenda of Mrs. Arroyo and her allies in ‘shelving’ Cha-cha is to discourage people from joining the rally. But they are mistaken. The bigger picture is that this rally is a message to the government that the people will not tolerate abuses, which started from scandals like ‘Hello Garci,’ the P728-million fertilizer scam, and other instances of abusing the people’s intelligence," he said.
BRAZEN DISREGARD
Lacson also said Arroyo’s latest insult to the people’s intelligence came not too long ago when administration congressmen held three nightly caucuses with her to trigger the railroading of a resolution for a Con-Ass at the Lower House.
He said Arroyo again insulted the intelligence of the people when she issued a statement that now is not the right time for charter change, followed by statements from her spokesman and allies that there is no more reason to attend Sunday’s rally.
Lacson said the move of pro-administration congressmen to "fiercely and wildly" change the Constitution "threw all pretenses out the window" and showed a "brazen disregard for the rule of law," all just to comply with their master and mastermind’s instructions, he said.
Sen. Ralph Recto urged rally organizers to put up "collection points for aid donations to Bicol typhoon victims" in its Luneta venue.
He said this will blunt administration charges that the assembly is a gathering that will serve no purpose as Malacañang and the House have both called off their charter change charge.
MAN-MADE DISASTER
Injecting a "sub-theme of compassion" into the rally will also "silence policemen who have been throwing all kinds of threats…in a bid perhaps to dissuade people from attending it."
Recto said the rally "can both be an opportunity to say a prayer of thanks for stopping a man-made disaster that was Con-Ass and for seeking help for victims of a natural calamity."
"Let it be an occasion to heave a sigh of relief that Cha-cha was stopped and at the same time call for more relief to typhoon-hit areas," he said.
Recto said he was offering this unsolicited advice to rally organizers "so more people will go to Luneta once they see that there’s an expanded agenda, a theme that is more attuned to the season. Hindi naman maganda na Pasko na Cha-cha pa rin."
NEGROS RALLIES
More than 20,000 Negrenses participated in simultaneous Church-led prayer rallies in key five key cities of Negros Occidental and in Guihulngan, Oriental Negros, opposing what they call the "deceitful" manner in pushing for changes to the Constitution.
At least 10,000 gathered at the plaza of Bacolod, while 10,000 others also held similar activities in the cities of San Carlos, Kabankalan, Cadiz and Escalante, as well as in Guihulngan, according to Fr. Edwin Laude, director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of San Carlos.
The rallies were spearheaded by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Gregorio and Kabankalan Bishop Patricio Buzon.
"We need to send a strong message to the powers that be – both the majority block in the House of Representatives and Malacañang – that the people have had enough of these brazen machinations," Navarra said.
"We need to say that we, the people, hold Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ultimately accountable for these insidious plots to alter the political order to benefit politicians and not the people," Navarra added.
CAUSE OF TROUBLE
In the Bacolod prayer rally, almost 60 to percent of the participants were students and those from middle-income families.
Navarra said: "I think Mrs. Gloria Arroyo is the cause of all these things and she should be sensible enough to step down, to give the Filipino people a chance to breath and to be free."
Fr. Anecito Buenafe, head of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Bacolod, said the administration’s backtracking on Cha-cha showed that real power comes from the people.*
Rep. Ignacio Arroyo (Neg. Occ., 5th district) said while he still believes that constitutional reforms are needed to move the country forward, this may be can be done after the 2007 elections.
BIGGEST RALLY
In Cagayan de Oro, a multi-sectoral group said it was prepared to launch one of the biggest rallies in the city this year against moves to change the Constitution.
Cagayan de Oro Bishop Antonio Ledesma said the rally will be staged simultaneously with the rally in Manila.
Beverly Musni, a human rights lawyer-activist, said the groups Gabriela and Karapatan and other militant organizations in Northern Mindanao would join the Cagayan de Oro rally.
The opposition PDP-Laban will come in full force, said ex-mayor Pablo Magtajas, the party’s chairman for Cagayan de Oro. – ‘Arroyo welcome to join rally’ – Malaya 12.16.2006
BY GERARD NAVAL AND ASHZEL HACHERO
ORGANIZERS of Sunday’s prayer rally at the Quirino Grandstand yesterday said President Arroyo and her administration allies can come to the gathering but they will not be answerable for the public’s reaction to their presence.
As a prelude to the Sunday rally, workers from Makati’s financial district joined militant labor groups yesterday in condemning administration-led efforts to railroad amendments to the Constitution.
At least 500 members of the militant group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and about 200 from the National Union of Bank Employees gathered at the foot of the Ninoy Aquino Monument on Ayala avenue.
A human chain was formed in front of the Aquino monument.
Except for former senators Ernesto Maceda and Ernesto Herrera, no other prominent opposition figures attended the rally.
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, president of the United Opposition, was not at the rally which was initiated by the National Union of Bank Employees.
The rally participants dispersed around 7 p.m., about an hour after the program started.
At the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines office in Intramuros, rally coordinator Henrietta de Villa said they welcome the presence of Arroyo, Speaker Jose de Venecia and the others who were pushing for amendments to the Constitution.
"As we said before, yung panawagan ay para sa lahat. Whether you are a pro- or anti-Cha-cha. It does not matter. The gathering is a prayer rally and not a political one. We urge those who will attend to shed their identities for the sole purpose of praying for the country," De Villa, former ambassador to the Vatican, said.
De Villa said the prayer rally is "for everyone" who wants to attend and join the CBCP’s call to "watch and pray" for the country.
The CBCP organized the rally in protest against moves to railroad amendments to the Constitution. Early this week, allies of the the House, led by De Venecia, dropped constituent assembly as mode of amending the charter, and shifted to a constitutional convention.
The CBCP is of the position that if there is a need to amend the charter, it should be through a Constitutional Convention, the mode preferred by senators.
Even after De Venecia’s turnaround, the CBCP said it was pushing through with the rally to pray for the enlightenment of the country’s leaders.
On Thursday, President Arroyo conceded that the time is not ripe for charter change. She said it is up to the people to decide on when and in what manner political reforms should be undertaken.
THANKSGIVING
Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP president, said the Sunday gathering is "not just a rally against Con-Ass and Cha-cha" but a rally for the country.
He said moves to "hastily" change the Constitution is only among a number of crises that have to be solved, "together with the need for genuine electoral reform."
"The Con-Con can, therefore, be placed in the list of priorities, arranged according to importance and urgency. Haste must be avoided; because haste makes waste," he said in a statement.
Lagdameo said God has answered His flock’s prayers "even before we directly addressed it to him."
"And so the Prayer Rallies of Petition is now converted into Prayer Rallies of Thanksgiving. God has heard our un-articulated prayer. He loves the Philippines. He has converted our crisis-laden situation into Kairos, a moment of grace. Let us give thanks to God and exalt him above the heavens," he said.
Lagdameo said simultaneous rallies were held yesterday in dioceses that had not been able to adjust their schedules to the new rally date. The rallies were held in the dioceses of Novaliches, Quezon City; Infanta, Quezon; Negros; Capiz; Iloilo; Cebu; Kidapawan; Marbel, South Cotabato; Ozamis City; Digos; Malolos, Bulacan; Balanga, Bataan; and Cavite.
SCORCHING EVENT
Senate President Manuel Villar said Arroyo’s decision to shelve the Cha-cha "for the moment" doused cold water on an otherwise expected heated religious activity, which political analysts claimed could end up in her ouster from Malacañang.
"The President’s announcement (on Thursday) helped prevent what might be a scorching event, literally and figuratively," he told an interview with dzBB radio.
Villar said the rally goes beyond charter change or constituent assembly.
"Whether or not Con-Ass will push through is not an issue here. It’s a prayer rally, right? Hindi naman porke ibinasura na ang Con-Ass, hindi na tayo magdarasal," Villar said.
Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan said while he supports the rally, he would rather not show up.
"Iiwas na lang ako para walang masabi ang mga alyado ng Pangulo na hinahaluan ng pulitika o sinasakyan ng mga pulitiko ang prayer rally," he said.
But he encouraged the public to join the rally to express their opposition to Cha-cha.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Malacañang and its allies should not expect the rally to fizzle out just because President Arroyo got off the "Cha-cha" train.
"The real agenda of Mrs. Arroyo and her allies in ‘shelving’ Cha-cha is to discourage people from joining the rally. But they are mistaken. The bigger picture is that this rally is a message to the government that the people will not tolerate abuses, which started from scandals like ‘Hello Garci,’ the P728-million fertilizer scam, and other instances of abusing the people’s intelligence," he said.
BRAZEN DISREGARD
Lacson also said Arroyo’s latest insult to the people’s intelligence came not too long ago when administration congressmen held three nightly caucuses with her to trigger the railroading of a resolution for a Con-Ass at the Lower House.
He said Arroyo again insulted the intelligence of the people when she issued a statement that now is not the right time for charter change, followed by statements from her spokesman and allies that there is no more reason to attend Sunday’s rally.
Lacson said the move of pro-administration congressmen to "fiercely and wildly" change the Constitution "threw all pretenses out the window" and showed a "brazen disregard for the rule of law," all just to comply with their master and mastermind’s instructions, he said.
Sen. Ralph Recto urged rally organizers to put up "collection points for aid donations to Bicol typhoon victims" in its Luneta venue.
He said this will blunt administration charges that the assembly is a gathering that will serve no purpose as Malacañang and the House have both called off their charter change charge.
MAN-MADE DISASTER
Injecting a "sub-theme of compassion" into the rally will also "silence policemen who have been throwing all kinds of threats…in a bid perhaps to dissuade people from attending it."
Recto said the rally "can both be an opportunity to say a prayer of thanks for stopping a man-made disaster that was Con-Ass and for seeking help for victims of a natural calamity."
"Let it be an occasion to heave a sigh of relief that Cha-cha was stopped and at the same time call for more relief to typhoon-hit areas," he said.
Recto said he was offering this unsolicited advice to rally organizers "so more people will go to Luneta once they see that there’s an expanded agenda, a theme that is more attuned to the season. Hindi naman maganda na Pasko na Cha-cha pa rin."
NEGROS RALLIES
More than 20,000 Negrenses participated in simultaneous Church-led prayer rallies in key five key cities of Negros Occidental and in Guihulngan, Oriental Negros, opposing what they call the "deceitful" manner in pushing for changes to the Constitution.
At least 10,000 gathered at the plaza of Bacolod, while 10,000 others also held similar activities in the cities of San Carlos, Kabankalan, Cadiz and Escalante, as well as in Guihulngan, according to Fr. Edwin Laude, director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of San Carlos.
The rallies were spearheaded by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Gregorio and Kabankalan Bishop Patricio Buzon.
"We need to send a strong message to the powers that be – both the majority block in the House of Representatives and Malacañang – that the people have had enough of these brazen machinations," Navarra said.
"We need to say that we, the people, hold Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ultimately accountable for these insidious plots to alter the political order to benefit politicians and not the people," Navarra added.
CAUSE OF TROUBLE
In the Bacolod prayer rally, almost 60 to percent of the participants were students and those from middle-income families.
Navarra said: "I think Mrs. Gloria Arroyo is the cause of all these things and she should be sensible enough to step down, to give the Filipino people a chance to breath and to be free."
Fr. Anecito Buenafe, head of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Bacolod, said the administration’s backtracking on Cha-cha showed that real power comes from the people.*
Rep. Ignacio Arroyo (Neg. Occ., 5th district) said while he still believes that constitutional reforms are needed to move the country forward, this may be can be done after the 2007 elections.
BIGGEST RALLY
In Cagayan de Oro, a multi-sectoral group said it was prepared to launch one of the biggest rallies in the city this year against moves to change the Constitution.
Cagayan de Oro Bishop Antonio Ledesma said the rally will be staged simultaneously with the rally in Manila.
Beverly Musni, a human rights lawyer-activist, said the groups Gabriela and Karapatan and other militant organizations in Northern Mindanao would join the Cagayan de Oro rally.
The opposition PDP-Laban will come in full force, said ex-mayor Pablo Magtajas, the party’s chairman for Cagayan de Oro. – With JP Lopez, Dennis Gadil, Gilbert Bayoran and Benjamin Balce
posted by brodkaster43 at Martes, Enero 02, 2007
0 comments
try these:
Previous Posts
- AGUSAN DEL NORTE REP. DALE CORVERA, NAHIRANG BILAN...
- GAMOT SA LEPTOSPIROSIS NA DOXYCYCLINE, DAPAT AVAIL...
- PAGDIRIWANG NG HREP MONTH 2022, MATAGUMPAY NA WINA...
- MUNGKAHI NG NDRRMC NA ISAILALIM SA STATE OF CALAM...
- PAGPAPALAKAS NG DIVING AT TRAVEL INDUSTRIES SA BAN...
- PAHAYAG NG PAGSUPORTA SA PANUKALANG DPWH DISTRICT ...
- FINANCIAL PLEDGES PARA SA 'PAENG' RELIEF OPS UMABO...
- AGARANG AKSIYON SA MGA PRIORITY BILLS NA NAKALATAG...
- TULONG NG MGA AIRLINE SA MGA PASAHERO NA NAKANSELA...
- UMABOT NA SA MAHIGIT ₱35 MILYONG HALAGA NG DONASYO...
Articles Written
- Hunyo 2006
- Hulyo 2006
- Agosto 2006
- Setyembre 2006
- Oktubre 2006
- Nobyembre 2006
- Disyembre 2006
- Enero 2007
- Pebrero 2007
- Marso 2007
- Enero 2008
- Pebrero 2008
- Marso 2008
- Abril 2008
- Mayo 2008
- Hunyo 2008
- Hulyo 2008
- Agosto 2008
- Setyembre 2008
- Oktubre 2008
- Nobyembre 2008
- Disyembre 2008
- Enero 2009
- Pebrero 2009
- Marso 2009
- Abril 2009
- Mayo 2009
- Hunyo 2009
- Hulyo 2009
- Agosto 2009
- Setyembre 2009
- Oktubre 2009
- Nobyembre 2009
- Disyembre 2009
- Enero 2010
- Pebrero 2010
- Marso 2010
- Abril 2010
- Mayo 2010
- Hunyo 2010
- Hulyo 2010
- Agosto 2010
- Oktubre 2010
- Nobyembre 2010
- Disyembre 2010
- Oktubre 2011
- Marso 2016
- Marso 2017
- Abril 2017
- Mayo 2017
- Hunyo 2017
- Hulyo 2017
- Oktubre 2017
- Nobyembre 2017
- Disyembre 2017
- Enero 2018
- Pebrero 2018
- Marso 2018
- Hunyo 2018
- Marso 2019
- Agosto 2019
- Setyembre 2019
- Oktubre 2019
- Setyembre 2021
- Oktubre 2021
- Abril 2022
- Setyembre 2022
- Oktubre 2022
- Nobyembre 2022
Free Web Counter