Gusto ko talaga na magiging automated o computerized na ang eleksyon sa 2010 para mabawasan ang dayaan.

Sa bilangan kasi ang malakihang dayaan. Kaya kapag hindi manual (yung tao ang magbibilang), naniniwala ako na mababawasan ang dayaan.

Dapat masaya tayo na naayos kontrata ng Smartmatic-TIM at Comelec at tuloy-tuloy na ang computerized election. Kaya lang, mukhang maraming nakatagong mga hindi kanais-nais itong kontrata na ngayon lang lumalabas.Kapag kwestyunable ang kumpanya, medyo nakakatakot sa laki at napaka-importante ng kontratang ito.

Sabi ni Atty. Harry Roque ng Concerned Citizens Movement na ang pumirma sa kontrata sa Comelec at ang Smartmatic International Corporation na nakarehistro sa Pilipinas. Ang kumpanya na magpapatupd ng kontrata, katulad ng pagsupply ng mga computer at mga software ay ang Smartmatic na nakabase sa Netherlands. Meron din nakalagay Barbados.

Kapag meron aberya, sino ang ating hahabulin at saan tayo hahabol?

May inilabas ang VERA Files na report kahapon na ayun sa kontrata ng Smartmatic-TIM at Comelec, bago pa makapag-deliber ang kumpanya ng isang computer na gagamitin sa 2010 na eleksyun, bayad na sila ng 40 porsyento (P3 bilyon) ng P7.2 bilyon na kontrata.

Bago matapos itong buwan ng Hulyo, magbubukas na ng irrevocable letter of credit sa Land Bank ang Comelec para sa buong P7.2 bilyon at doon na magw-withdraw ang Smartmatic-TIM.

Ayun sa kontrata, sabi ng Vera Files, babayaran na ng Comelec and Smartmatic TIM Corp. ng P2.5 bilyon para sa counting machines na tinatawag nilang Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) na idi-deliber pa lang sa Nobiembre 2009 ng 12,000 na units; sa Disyembre 2009, 30,000; sa Enero 2010 panibagong 30,000 at sa Pebrero 2010, ang pinkahuling delivery ng 12,200 units.

Kahapon nag-file sa Supreme Court ng motion sina Roque na ihinto muna ang pagbayad sa Smartmatic-TIM habang nire-resolba pa ang legalidad ng kanilang kontrata. Sabi ni Roque baka maparehas na naman yan sa nabulilyaso na P1.3 bilyon kontrata sa Mega Pacific.

Walang nangyari doon sa mga makinang nakuha ng Comelec sa Mega Pacific at nabubulok na lang sa mga bodega. Nalugi ng P1.3 bilyon ang taumbayan at walang nakakulong. Kampante pa rin si dating Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos at ang kanyang mga galamay.

Dahil sa gahol sa oras, marami ang sadyang hindi na nag-usisa ng detalya ng kontrata ng Smartmatic-TIM at Comelec. Medyo nakakabahala ito kasi kung may mga na-shortcut na batas, kapag may problema balang araw, hindi malalaman kung sino ang mananagot.

Dapat matuto na tayo na ang pag-shortcut sa batas ay hindi solusyon. Ang pinak-klarong ehemplo ay itong pekeng pagka-presidente ni Gloria Arroyo.

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by Yvonne T. Chua
VERA Files

The winner of the government’s P7.2 billion automated elections project will get close to P3 billion, or 40 percent of the contract amount, even before it delivers all the 82,200 counting machines to be used in the May 2010 elections.

Under the contract signed on July 10, the Commission on Elections will be paying Smartmatic TIM Corp. about P3 billion for a range of goods and services that include starting up the project, delivering the “development set,” customizing voter education materials and putting up a Website in the contract’s first four months. (Download automation project contract and other documents)

Smartmatic TIM Corp. will get P2.5 billion for the counting machines, called Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) units, which will be delivered in four batches: 12,000 in November, 30,000 in December, another 30,000 in January and 12,200 in February.

Please click here (VERA Files) for the complete article.

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Ishikawa and Aoyagi

When the lights were on, Risa Kataoka performed John Newton’s inspiring song in koto, a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument.

Kataoka was a member of the J-Classics quartet who were flown in by the Japanese government as part of the celebration of Philippine-Japan friendship this month. The three others were violinist Ayako Ishikawa, flutist Takako Hagiwara and pianist Susumu Aoyagi.

The repertoire was predominantly classics but included folk favorites like “Amazing Grace” and Lucio San Pedro’s “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan”. Performed by the four visiting musicians with the special participation of Sixto “Butch” Roxas in the guitar, it was understandably the evening’s favorite. Even if we felt Roxas downplayed his part, probably to give the spotlight to the guests artists.

A faculty member of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, Roxas studied classical guitar at the Schola Cantorum under Madam Dumalaque.He received a generous grant from the Agencia Espanola to study under maestro Josep Henriquez in Barcelona, Spain.

Aoyagi was amazing. Physically slight, he was a dynamo on the piano. While playing Frederick Chopin’s numbers, we were reminded of Adrien Brody in the movie “The Pianist”.

His “Hungarian Rhapsody” by Franz Liszt sent the audience in rhapsody.

The Nicaragua-born Aoyagi made his orchestral debut at age nine with the FortWorth Symphony conducted by John Giordano. He has won numerous awards among them the 1992 Marguerite-Long-Jacques-Thibauld International Competition in Paris and the 28th Chopin Society Awards of Japan in 2002. Since 2001, he has been associate professor of piano at the Tokyo University of Arts.

Ishikawa, the violinist, is charming and gorgeous. She earned her Bachelor of Music Degree with First Class honors from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She received the Australian Musician’s Academy Award in 2001 and was judged “the best performer of 2003” at Australia’s Overall Instrumental Winners’ Contest.

Dressed in a bright pink gown, her whole body played the music with her violin as when she performed Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango.” She told the audience to imagine that they were in a park dancing the tango.

When she performed Michio Miyagi’s “Haru no Umi” with Kataoka, she explained that the piece was originally composed for a traditional Japanese woodwind instrument. But a French musician, she said, arranged it for a violin. The result is a delightful fusion of Asian melody in a Western instrument.

Hagiwara and Kataoka

Hagiwara, who said she has been stuffing herself with adobo since she arrived in Manila, explained that to play the flute, she needs to be able to breathe well, which is quite difficult wearing the kimono. Her music evoked the Latin fire and lust of “Carmen” and it would have been wonderful to see her also look the part.

Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura said he was happy to know that there’s was a good crowd in the previous evening’s performance, which was open to the public.

Just proves that some of the nice things in life are free.

By the way, other activities in the Philippine-Japan Friendship celebration include Japanese silent film festival at the Shangrila Plaza starting July 30 and J-Pop Anime Singing competition on July 25, 2 pm at the Market!market! In Taguig City.

For information call Japan Foundation 811-61-55 to 58 or email:email@jfmo.org.ph

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Ang daming haka-haka kung bakit inimbita si Gloria Arroyo sa White House sa Hulyo 30.

Sa akin, kung ano man yun, dapat palagi natin isipin na ang ating kapakanan ay ating responsibilidad. Hindi natin dapat i-asa kay Pangulong Barack Obama ng Amerika.

Kahit na mas desente naman tao si Obama kaysa kay George W. Bush, ang obligasyon pa rin niya ay sa mga Amerikano. Kung magkasalungat ang interest ng Pilipino at Amerikano, obligasyon ni Obama na ipaglaban ang interest ng Amerikano.

Huwag tayo mag-ilusyon na mahal tayo ni Obama.

May mga nagsasabi na kaya raw inimbita si Arroyo para bigyan daw ng lecture ni Obama si Arroyo na huwag magkamaling mag-deklara ng martial law.

Kungsabagay, kung magdeklara si Arroyo ng martial law o emergency rule, talagang magkakagulo ang Pilipinas at ang mga interes ng Amerikano dito ay malalagay sa alanganin.

Kung hindi malalagay sa alanganin ang interest ng Amerikano, wala silang paki-alam kung martial law, emergency rule, Con-Ass at kung labag sa Constitution.

Nangyari na ito noong 2001 nang linabag ni Arroyo ang Constitution at inagaw ang pagka-presidente kay Joseph Estrada. Nang una, nagwarning pa ang kanilang acting ambassador dito na kailangan ayon sa Constitution. Nang inagaw na ni Arroyo ang pagka-presidente na wala namang bakante, pumalakpak na rin ang Amerika. Lalo pa ng inanyayahan ni Arroyo ang mga Amerikanong sundalo mag-operasyon dito sa Pilipinas dahil may mga terorista daw dito.

Kasabwat pa nga ni Arroyo ang mga Amerikano na ihiwalay ang ilang bahagi ng Mindanao sa Pilipinas sa naunsyaming MOA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain), di ba? Mabuti lang umalma ang marami.

Sabi ng isang foreign affairs official, pinagbigyan na rin daw si Arroyo sa White House sa sobrang panikluhod ng ating embassy sa White House at sa State Department.

Pupunta kasi si Obama sa Singapore sa Nobiembre para sa miting ng mga lider ng Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. Malamang dadaan siya sa China o Japan at isa pang Southeast Asian country. Dahil sa natanggap na niya si Arroyo sa White House, malamang hindi na siya pupunta sa Pilipinas.

Ang isipin natin, ano ba ang kailangan ng Amerika sa Pilipinas na siyang dahilan na pinagbibigyan ni Obama si Arroyo? Ang pangunahin na kailangan ng Amerika ang lugar sa Southeast Asia na kung saan libre sila mag-operate, magman-man laban sa international na terorista. Siyempre, ibigay ni Arroyo yan.

Kailangan din nila ang Pilipinas kung saan sila magman-man sa China. Siyempre bigay din ni Gloria yan.

Basta lang ba maka-pag palitrato, kasama ang kanyang pamilya at sobra isang daan ng mga tutang kongresista, ibibigay ni Arroyo ang buong Pilipinas.

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70% oppose Cha-Cha to extend PGMA’s term;55% believe she is behind current Cha-Cha efforts

Social Weather Station asked respondents, “Kayo po ba ay sang-ayon o hindi sang-ayon sa Charter Change na papayagan si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na manatili bilang Pinunong opisyal ng Pilipinas nang lampas sa Hunyo 30, 2010?” (Are you for or against a Charter Change that will allow President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to still be the chief official of the Philippines after June 30, 2010?).

The answer of 70 per cent was a resounding “No.”

SWS again asked if they believed “that Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is behind the current efforts to amend the Constitution in order to extend her term beyond 2010″ (”na si Pang. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang nasa likod ng kasalukuyang tangkang pagbabago ng Konstitusyon upang palawigin ang kanyang termino lagpas sa 2010″) and majority (55 percent) said “Yes”.

SWS said opposition to a charter change that would extend Arroyo’s stay in power has increased from 66% in February 2009 and 64% in October 2008.

The most intense opposition is in Metro Manila ( 83 per cent). Opposition stayed high in all classes: it went from 69% to 73% in class ABC, from 67% to 73% in class D or the masa; and from to 64% to 62% in class E.

Majority in most areas believe PGMA is behind the current cha-cha effort

The Second Quarter of 2009 Social Weather Survey was conducted over June 19-22, 2009 using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults divided into random samples of 300 each in Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao, and 600 in the Balance of Luzon (sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, ±6% for Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao, and ±4% for Balance Luzon).

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The pictures show Comelec Chair Jose Melo (in barong) behind then Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos during the Senate hearing of the NBN/ZTE deal.

Seeing those photos, what comes to your mind?

Mayuga with Lim and Querubin

Former Flag-officer-in-command Mateo Mayuga was the only witness presented by the prosecution yesterday in the mutiny case against 28 officers implicated in the alleged plan to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006.

Mayuga’s testimony however favored the defendants.

Mayuga, who is more known for the “Mayuga report”- an investigation of the participation of the military in the cheating in the 2004 elections, the results of which have been kept secret by the Arroyo administration, testified about the meeting on Feb. 23, 2006 called by the AFP Chief Generoso Senga.

He said aside from himself, who was there as commander of the Navy, the other service commanders were Gen. Hermogenes Esperon (Army) and Gen. Jose Reyes (Air Force). He said Police Deputy Director General Marcelino Franco, commander of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force.

They discussed the report that some officers were planning to join the protest rally the next day over the rigging of the 2004 elections with the help of the military as exposed in the “Hello Garci” tapes.

He also said of their decision that that would not be allowed.

He said after the meeting with Senga, he went to the Philippine Marines and talked with Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, then the Marine Commander, Col. Ariel Querubin, and others. When he was on his way home, Miranda called him up and told him of the decision that they would stay in the barracks.

Upon cross examination by Miranda’s lawyer, Atty. Rolando Cipriano, Mayuga said, “I would be lying if I would not say that I felt happy. He told Miranda, “Just take care of the Marines.”

Upon cross examination of military counsel Col. Basilio Pooten, who stood as counsel for Maj. Francisco Fernandez, Mayuga said he doesn’t remember having seen Fernandez in the meeting in the Marines headquarters. He also said except for the service commanders, he doesn’t remember who were the other officers in the meeting.

Captions:

1. Rangers at lunch. Lt. Homer Estolas, Lt. Richiemel Caballes, Capt. Erick Sales, Capt. Ervin Divinagracia, Maze Cordero, Lt. Jacon Cordero

2. First row- Maj. Francisco Domingo Fernandez, Brig. Gen. Danny Lim,Col. Nestor Flordeliza, Col. Ariel Querubin, Capt. Ruben Guinolbay, Lt. Homer Estolas.

Second row- Lt. Jacon Cordero, Capt. Ervin Divinagracia, Lt. Sandro Sereño, Capt. Isagani Criste, and Lt. Richiemel Caballes.

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Retired Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus has come out with new book “America’s Dim Mak Points”, Unrestricted Warfare in the 21 st century.

The book is only 160 pages but it delivers a wallop.

Corpus uses a lot of Chinese philosophy in discussing geo-politics. He defines Dim Mak as a form of martial art which literally means “meridian press.”

Meridians are energy channgels in the human body through which “chi or vital life forces flow. A weaker combatant skilled in Dim Mak will know which particular point along the meridians to strike in a given time of day in a certain way to defeat a more powerful opponent with a minimum of movement.

Here’s exceprts from the book:

“If ever a major war erupts between superpower America and the weaker nations like China, Russia, or Iran, we can expect the weaker ones to resort to unrestricted warfare.

“ It will not be confined to a mere shooting war. It will involve combat on land, lsea, air, in outer space, cyberspace and even into the microbial realm.It will encompass attacks on a nation’s electric grids, computer networks, strategic resources, oil supply routes, logistic, sea lanes, national currency, trade, banking and finance, stock exchange, basic services, and the nation’s social fabric. It will also include combat in the realms of media, the environment, diplomacy, culture and the struggle for alliances.

“Unrestricted warfare was conceptualized by two senior colonels of the People’s Libeation Army of China, Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui, in their famous book, “Unrestricted Warfare” published in 1999. Qiao’s famous quotes on the subject is that “the first rule of unrestricted warfare is that there are no rules, with nothing forbidden.” Usually, rules are laid down by the strong to dominate the weak. To level the playing field, the weak has to break the rules, avoid the enemy’s strength, and hit the strong side at its most vulnerable points.

“Another Chinese theorist on modern warfare, Chang Mengxiong, compared China’s form of fighting to “a Chinese boxer with a keen knowledge of vital body points who can bring an opponent to his knees with a minimum of movements.” It is like key acupunture points in ancient Chinese medicine. Puncture one vital point and the whole anatomy is affected. Acupuncture is normally used for healing. But some acupuncture points called Dim Mak, when hit in a specific way at certain times of the day can cause paralysis or instant death.

“If America ever wages war against China, say over Taiwan, then it should be prepared for the following Dim Mak points in its (national) anatomy to be the forces of attacks. Each one of these vital points can bring America to its knees with a minimum of effort:

*Vulnerability to Electro-Information Attack

*Dependency on Foreign Oil

*US Dollar Vulnerability

*Diplomatic Isolation

*Geographical Military Handicap

*Asymmetric Vulnerability

*Satellite-based Military Command and Control

*Aircraft Carrier Battle Groups”

Corpus gives some suggestions how US can effectively save itself:

“Reverse the policy of unilateralism in US foreign policy. Unilateralism has alienated the US from its major allies. It causes resentment, even hate, of the U.S in many parts of the world. Unilateralism fosters unbridled arrogance of power that turns off friends and foes alike.

“Stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. Respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries. This will involve refraining from subversion of other countries in the guise of promoting democracy and human rights, such as instigation of “color” revolutions and giving clandestine support to separatists movements in other countries.

“Lead the world in the search for cures of drug resistant diseases and cancer, and take the lead in the global struggle against poverty. Influence the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to lead in writing off foreign debts of poor and developing nations.

American’s Dim Mak Points is published by Anvil Publishing Inc and Powerbooks. It will be launched on July 30, 2009 at 6 p.m.Powerbooks Greenbelt 4, Makati City.

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Ang ugat ng kontrobersya sa executive order na magpapatupad ng Maximum Retail Price (MRP) na nakasaad sa 2008 Cheaper Medicines Act ay inggit. Inggit ni Gloria Arroyo na makalamang si Senador Mar Roxas sa isyung ito.

Sabi ng isang source namin sa Malacañang inis raw si Arroyo na ang pipirmahan niyang executive order ay magagamit ni Roxas sa kanyang kampanya para presidente sa 2010. Kaya pinulong niya ang mga hepe ng pharmaceuticals nuong Hulyo 8 at sinabing ibaba nila ang presyon ng 50 na gamot para siya ang sikat at masasabi niya na mas magaling siya kasi 22 lang ang gamot na nasa listahan ng MRP.

Ang kapalit siyempre ng kooperasyon ng mga pharmaceutical firms ay hindi pipirmahan ang MRP.

Lumabas ang pagka-insecure ni Arroyo.

Natunugan siguro ito ni Roxas kaya siya nag-ingay at binulgar niya ang miting ni Arroyo sa mga pharmaceutical companies. Nagkaroon ng imbestigasyon sa Senado at lumabas nga na itong Pfizer ay nag-alok na magbibigay daw ng limang milyong Sulit o discount cards.

Sinabi nina Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile at Roxas na suhol o bribe itong alok ng Pfizer. Lalong napasama si Arroyo at ang kayang mga kakuntsaba sa media at sa madla. Ngayon, sinasabi pipirmahan na raw ni Arroyo ang MRP na executive order sa susunod na linggo.

(Update: GMA backtracks from signing EO next week)

Tingnan natin.

Sa miting noong Hulyo 8, sinabi ng mga pharmaceutical companies na ayaw nila ang MRP dahil iyun ay nag-uutos sa kanila na magbaba ng presyo halos 50 porsiyento ng kanilang mga gamot. Gusto raw nila boluntaryo nilang gawin yun.

Sabi pa nila, ayaw daw nila ang batas na nagdidikta sa kanila kung paano nila patakbuhin ang kanilang negosyo. Nagbabala sila na kung ganoon ang mangyari, baka daw mag-aalisan ang mga drug companies dito sa Pilipinas at lalo daw dadami ang walang trabaho.

Ang tanong ko, kung totoo hindi gahaman itong mga drug companies at kaya pala nila pagbiyan si Arroyo sa 50 na gamot, ano ang kinatatakot nila sa MRP. Mas kukunti nga lang nga ang nasa listahan e.

Siyempre, alam natin na propaganda lang ang gagawin ni Arroyo at ng drug companies. Ang gusto lang naman ni Arroyo ay maisahan si Mar. Baka pagkatapos ng ilang buwan tataasan ulit ang presyo ng gamot.

Dahil nabuking na ang kanilang collusion ng Malacañang at drug companies, sinabi sa akin ng aking source na unti-unti na lang daw ang pagbaba ng presyo ng 50 na gamot na yun dahil kapag sabay-sabay daw, buking ang kanilang kartel.
Inaakusahan ng mga alagad ni Arroyo mula kay Health Secretary Francisco Duque hanggang kay Gary Olivar, presidential spokesman on economic matters, na pinupulitika daw ni Roxas ang isyu ng murang gamot.Nagsalita ang hindi nagpupulitika ng isyu!

Kung gamitin man ni Roxas ang murang gamot sa kanyang kampanya, walang masama doon dahil totoo naman na yan talaga ang kanyang pinaglalaban mula pa ng siya at trade and industry secretary. Siya ang may-akda ng cheaper 2008 Cheaper Medicines Law. At sinisigurado niya na mapatupad ito sa pamamagitan ng MRP.

Finally, Maj. General Juancho Sabban has been named commandant of the Philippine Marines.

A long delayed appointment.

We can imagine that Malacañang weighed the pros and cons of approving the recommendation of the Board of Generals of Sabban against the demoralization that it would cause among the Marines if Gloria Arroyo had given in to the lobbying of her favored Marine, Maj. Gen. Jonathan Martir, whose second star remains unconfirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

Martir has a pending case of AWOL (absence without leave for more than a year) which is the basis of the malversation of funds charge before the Ombudsman.

Although PMA Class ’78 has adopted Gloria Arroyo and a number of them are now in strategic positions, Sabban is more associated with officials who are now in detention and charged with mutiny in connection with the alleged plan to withdraw support from Arroyo in February 2006.

Sabban participated in the 1989 coup, the bloodiest military rebellion against President Aquino. He escaped from detention and resumed his career when the Ramos government granted amnesty to all military rebels.

(AFP Spokesman Romeo Brawner said, “There might have been instances in his career where he went against the rules and regulations…but everybody is given the chance to prove himself.”)

It’s probably this aspect of his military record that made Arroyo delay his appointment as Marines chief despite the fact that he was the most senior in rank for that position next to Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, who replaced the retiring Lt. Gen Nelson Allaga as commander of the Western Mindanao command.

The 8,000-strong Marines has a history of militancy and Malacañang initially had wanted them under Martir, whose dogged loyalty to Arroyo was shown in the November 2007 Manila Peninsula incident when he stomped on the rebel Magdalo officers who were down on the floor handcuffed.

In the 1987 and 1989 coups, Martir has submitted affidavits against the alleged “coup plotters” especially Col. Ariel Querubin. He also stood as a prosecution witness in the ongoing trail against officers implicated in the 2006 non-event.

Martir losing out to Sabban simply proves that servility can only get one so far. It does not guarantee the highest prize.

But the other Manila Pen bully who will be rewarded the highest position is Deputy Director Geary Barias of the Philippine National Police.

It has been talked about that PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa, who will be retiring in December 2010, will be prematurely retired in October this year to give way to another Class ’78 member, Deputy Director Roberto “Boysie” Rosales.

But the latest info we got was that Verzosa, who is identified with Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, will be going out next month in favor of Barias, whose patrons are the all powerful Arroyo brothers, Mike and Iggy.

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