Magdalo

‘Fight not over’ says Trillanes

2009-08-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

Office of Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV
PRESS RELEASE
26 July 2009

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV says six years after the ‘Oakwood incident’ their fight for reforms in the government continues.

“Nothing in our country has changed for the better. In fact, there has been more evidence of abuse and misuse of power by the Arroyo administration. Our fight then is the people’s fight now and it’s, definitely, not over,” he said.

Trillanes was among the group of soldiers that occupied the Oakwood Hotel in Makati as an act of protest against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration on July 27, 2003. Among their allegations was corruption in the military and in government.

“Six years in detention has strengthened our resolve to finish what we have started and, more importantly, has prepared us for whatever lies ahead,” said Trillanes.

END

Trillanes to GMA officials: ‘Use money for people, not politics’

2009-07-05T06:37:00.000-07:00

Office of Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV

PRESS RELEASE
4 July 2009 Saturday

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV slammed the continued broadcast of tri-media advertisements featuring high-ranking government officials. “As public servants, we should be using these meager funds to uplift the lives of the people instead of trying to uplift their standings in surveys,” he added.

Trillanes expressed support for Magdalo lawyer Ernesto Francisco’s suit against the government officials accused of using public funds in their political campaign. Francisco earlier filed a complaint for injunction and mandamus (with prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order) at the Regional Trial Court of Manila, noting that “the paid advertisements, while purporting to promote the functions and activities of certain government offices or agencies or to espouse certain public interest causes or concerns are, on their face and in reality, clear political propaganda designed to promote the personalities and candidacies of the defendants and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.”

Among those named in the suit were: Vice President Noli de Castro, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita (for President Arroyo), Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Chairman Ephraim Genuino, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) head Augusto Syjuco.

The complaint would require full disclosure of the sources used by the defendants, and deter any further allocation to paid advertisements, as well the return of the funds.
“They cannot fool the voters with expensive tri-media ads promoting promises they don’t even intend to keep,” said Trillanes.

END

Trillanes backs David

2009-07-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

‘RP’s Goliaths can lose’

Office of Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV
PRESS RELEASE
27 June 2009 Saturday

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV says he will extend “all-out support” to Randy David should the University of the Philippines professor and newspaper columnist run for Congress against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Our collective mission, as a people, should be to completely remove all vestiges of the Arroyo administration in the coming elections so that our country can finally start its rebuilding process,” Trillanes said.

David announced yesterday that he would seriously consider running against GMA, in response to reports that the President may seek a seat in the House representing the second district of Pampanga as a necessary step in her plan to eventually install herself as Prime Minister.
In the 2007 Senatorial elections, Trillanes beat candidates supported by the Arroyo administration and traditional political machinery even while in detention for rebellion charges.
Trillanes also criticized Malacañang for underestimating David in questioning the latter’s motivation after suggesting that the ‘right intention’ is to serve.

“Professor Randy David has done more for the country as an educator, sociologist and journalist than this Administration in its nine years in power. Besides, to foil any attempt by GMA to prolong her stay in power is the noblest of intentions at this point in our nation’s history,” he said.

END

Congressmen / women Voters of Con-Ass (HR 1109)

2009-06-22T08:31:00.003-07:00

THE TYRANNY OF THE MAJORITY

The following are the names and photographs of the Congressmen who signed House Resolution Nr. 1109. We call on you our countrymen, let us kick out these tyrants in our midst and resist with all our strength the rise of evil that lurks before us. These CONmen ASSholes should not be voted back into office.

Muli pa ba nating ipagkakatiwala ang bansa sa mga BUWITRENG miyembro ng kongreso. Markahan ang mga Salot ng Bayan! Singilin sila sa 2010 na halalan! Voters of Con-Ass

It is time to stand up, unite and assert our sovereign will...

Voters of Con-Ass from Luzon

( NCR, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA)

ABANTE, BIENVENIDO M. "BENNY"
6TH District Pandacan

LOPEZ, JAIME C.
Manila, 2nd District

SUSANO, MARY ANN L.
Quezon City, 2nd District

DEFENSOR, MATIAS V. JR.
Quezon City, 3rd District

DAZA, NANETTE C.
Quezon City, 4th District

SANDOVAL, ALVIN S.
Malabon-Navotas, Lone District

BAGATSING, AMADO S.
Manila 5th district

BONOAN-DAVID, MA. THERESA B.
Manila, 4th District

DE GUZMAN, DEL R.
Marikina City, 2nd District

ZIALCITA, EDUARDO C.
Parañaque, 1st District

DUENAS, HENRY M. JR.
Taguig, 2nd District (2nd Councilor District)

ANGPING, MARIA ZENAIDA B.
Manila, 3rd District

ROXAS, JOSE ANTONIO F.
Pasay City

GUNIGUNDO, MAGTANGGOL T.
Valenzuela City 2nd District

TEODORO, MARCELINO R.
Marikina City, 1st District

CAJAYON, MARY MITZI L.
Caloocan, 2nd District

MALAPITAN, OSCAR G.
Caloocan, 1st District

GATCHALIAN, REXLON T.
Valenzuela City, 1st District

ROMULO, ROMAN T.
Pasig City, Lone District

CRISOLOGO, VINCENT P.
Quezon City, 1st District

BULUT, ELIAS C. JR.
Apayao Lone District

AGYAO, MANUEL, S
Kalinga Province

DOMOGAN, MAURICIO G.
Baguio, Lone District

DANGWA, SAMUEL M.
Benguet, Lone District

CHUNG-LAO, SOLOMON R.
Ifugao, Lone District

CELESTE, ARTHUR F.
Pangasinan, 1st District

SEARES-LUNA, CECILIA M.
Abra, Lone District

ESTRELLA, CONRADO M. (III)
Pangasinan, 6th District

SINGSON, ERIC D.
Ilocos Sur, 2nd District

ARENAS, MA. RACHEL J.
Pangasinan, 3rd District

COJUANCO, MARK O.
Pangasinan, 5th District

SINGSON, RONALD V.
Ilocos Sur, 1st District

ABLAN, ROQUE R. JR,
Ilocos Norte, 1st District

DUMPIT, THOMAS L. JR.
La Union, 2nd District

AGBAYANI, VICTOR AGUEDO E.
Pangasinan, 2nd District

ORTEGA, VICTOR FRANCISCO C.
La Union, 1st District

DIASNES, CARLO OLIVER D. (MD)
Batanes, Lone District

UY, EDWIN C.
Isabela, 2nd District

VARGAS, FLORENCIO L.
Cagayan, 2nd District

MAMBA, MANUEL N.
Cagayan, 3rd District

ALBANO (III), RODOLFO T.
Isabela, 1st District

GARCIA, ALBERT S.
Bataan, 2nd District.

BONDOC, ANNA YORK P.
Pampanga 4th District

Antonio M. Diaz
Zambales

ROBES, ARTURO G.
San Jose Del Monte City, Lone District

GONZALES, AURELIO D. JR.
Pampanga 3rd District

LAZATIN, CARMELO F.
Pampanga, 1st District

ROMAN, HERMINIA B.
Bataan, 1st District

LAPUS, JECI A.
Tarlac, 3rd District

YAP, JOSE V.
Tarlac, 2nd District

VIOLAGO, JOSEPH GILBERT F.
Nueva Ecija, 2nd District

ARROYO, JUAN MIGUEL M.
2nd District of Pampanga

SILVERIO, LORNA C.
Bulacan, 3rd District

MAGSAYSAY, MARIA MILAGROS H.
Zambales, 1st District

SY-ALVARADO, MA. VICTORIA R.
Bulacan, 1st District

TEODORO, MONICA LOUISSE PRIETO
Tarlac, 1st District

PANCHO, PEDRO M.
Bulacan, 2nd District

NICOLAS, REYLINA G.
Bulacan, 4th District

Rodriguez-Zaldarriaga, Adelina
Rizal, 2nd District

GATLABAYAN, ANGELITO C.
Antipolo City, 2nd District

SUAREZ, DANILO E.
Quezon, 3rd District

SAN LUIS, EDGAR S.
Laguna, 4th District

BUHAIN, EILEEN ERMITA
Batangas, 1st District

BARZAGA, ELPIDIO F. JR.
Cavite, 2nd District

REMULLA, JESUS CRISPIN C.
Cavite, 3rd District

ARAGO, MARIA EVITA R.
3rd district, Laguna

MENDOZA, MARK LEANDRO L.
Batangas, 4th District

DUAVIT, MICHAEL JOHN R.
Rizal, 1st District

PUNO, ROBERTO V.
Antipolo City, 1st District

REYES, VICTORIA H.
Batangas, 3rd District

ENVERGA, WILFRIDO MARK M.
Quezon, 1st District

ALVAREZ, ANTONIO C.
Palawan 1st District

REYES, CARMELITA O.
Marinduque, Lone District

MADRONA, ELEANORA JESUS F.
Romblon, Lone District

VILLAROSA, MA. AMELITA C.
Occidental Mindoro, Lone District

VALENCIA, RODOLFO G.
Oriental Mindoro, 1st District

BICHARA, AL FRANCIS C.
Albay, 2nd District

KHO, ANTONIO T.
Masbate, 2nd District

ARROYO, DIOSDADO M.
Camarines Sur, 1st District

ALFELOR, FELIX R. JR.
4th District, Camarines Sur

SOLIS, JOSE G.
Sorsogon, 2nd District

SANTIAGO, JOSEPH A.
Catanduanes, Lone District

VILLAFUERTE, LUIS R.
Camarines Sur, 2nd District

BRAVO, NARCISO R. JR.
Masbate, 1st District

LIM, RENO G.
Albay, 3rd District

SEACHON-LANETE, RIZALINA L.
3rd district of Masbate

ANTONINO, RODOLFO W.
Nueva Ecija, 4th District

Voters of Con-Ass from VisMin, ARMM and Party-List

MARANON, ALFREDO D. III Negros Occidental, 2nd District	DEFENSOR, ARTHUR D. SR. Iloilo, 3rd District	BIRON, FERJENEL G. Iloilo, 4th District	MIRAFLORES, FLORENCIO T. Aklan, Lone District	CASTRO, FREDENIL H. Capiz, 2nd District
ALVAREZ, GENARO RAFAEL M. JR. Negros Occidental, 6th District	ARROYO, IGNACIO T. 5th district Negros Occidental	GARIN, JANETTE L. Iloilo, 1st District	FERRER, JEFFREY P. Negros Occidental, 4th District	NAVA, JOAQUIN CARLOS RAHMAN A. (MD) Guimaras, Lone District
LACSON, JOSE CARLOS V. Negros Occidental, 3rd District	SYJUCO, JUDY J. 2nd Dsitrict, Iloilo	TUPAS, NEIL C. JR. Iloilo, 5th District	GONZALES, RAUL T. JR. Ilo ilo City	SALVACION JR., ANDRES D. Leyte, 3rd District
CUENCO, ANTONIO V. Cebu City, 2nd District	SALIMBANGON, BENHUR L. Cebu, 4th District	CARI, CARMEN L. Leyte, 5th District	CHATTO, EDGARDO M. Bohol, 1st District	GULLAS, EDUARDO R. Cebu, 1st District
MARANON, ALFREDO D. III Negros Occidental, 2nd District	DEFENSOR, ARTHUR D. SR. Iloilo, 3rd District	BIRON, FERJENEL G. Iloilo, 4th District	MIRAFLORES, FLORENCIO T. Aklan, Lone District	CASTRO, FREDENIL H. Capiz, 2nd District
ALVAREZ, GENARO RAFAEL M. JR. Negros Occidental, 6th District	ARROYO, IGNACIO T. 5th district Negros Occidental	GARIN, JANETTE L. Iloilo, 1st District	FERRER, JEFFREY P. Negros Occidental, 4th District	NAVA, JOAQUIN CARLOS RAHMAN A. (MD) Guimaras, Lone District
LACSON, JOSE CARLOS V. Negros Occidental, 3rd District	SYJUCO, JUDY J. 2nd Dsitrict, Iloilo	TUPAS, NEIL C. JR. Iloilo, 5th District	GONZALES, RAUL T. JR. Ilo ilo City	SALVACION JR., ANDRES D. Leyte, 3rd District
CUENCO, ANTONIO V. Cebu City, 2nd District	SALIMBANGON, BENHUR L. Cebu, 4th District	CARI, CARMEN L. Leyte, 5th District	CHATTO, EDGARDO M. Bohol, 1st District	GULLAS, EDUARDO R. Cebu, 1st District
ONG, EMIL L. Northern Samar, 2nd District	CODILLA, EUFROCINO M. SR. Leyte, 4th District	ROMUALDEZ, FERDINAND MARTIN G. Leyte, 1st District	CHONG, GLENN A. Biliran, Lone District	SOON-RUIZ, NERISSA CORAZON Cebu, 6th District
GARCIA, PABLO JOHN F. Cebu, 3rd District	GARCIA, PABLO P. Cebu, 2nd District	DAZA, PAUL R. Northern Samar, 1st District	TEVES, PRYDE HENRY A. Negros Oriental, 3rd District	DURANO (IV), RAMON H. 5th District, Cebu
DEL MAR, RAUL V. Cebu City, 1st District	UY, REYNALDO S. Samar, 1st District	CAJES, ROBERTO C. Bohol, 2nd District	MERCADO, ROGER G. Southern Leyte, Lone District	TAN, SHAREE ANN T. Samar, 2nd District
COQUILA, TEODULO M. Eastern Samar, Lone District	APOSTOL, TRINIDAD G. Leyte, 2nd District	GO, ARNULFO F. Sultan Kudarat, 2nd District	JALA, ADAM RELSON L. Bohol, 3rd District	LAGDAMEO, ANTONIO F. JR. Davao del Norte, 2nd District
CERILLES, ANTONIO H. Zamboanga Del Sur, 2nd District	JIKIRI, YUSOP H. Sulu, 1st District	OLAñO, ARREL R. Davao Del Norte, 1st District	PIñOL, BERNARDO F. JR. North Cotabato, 2nd District	PANCRUDO, CANDIDO P. JR. Bukidnon, 1st District
JALOSJOS-CARREON, CECILIA G. Zamboanga del Norte, 1st District	JALOSJOS, CESAR G. Zamboanga del Norte, 3rd District	MANGUDADATU, DATU PAKUNG S. Sultan Kudarat,	HOFER, DULCE ANN K. Zamboanga Sibugay, 2nd District	] AMANTE, EDELMIRO A. Agusan Del Norte, 2nd District
VALDEZ, EDGAR L. APEC Party List	TALINO-MENDOZA, EMMYLOU J. North Cotabato, 1st District	PABLO, ERNESTO C. APEC Party List	DUMARPA, FAYSAH MRP. Lanao del Sur, 1st District	GARAY, FLORENCIO C. Surigao Del Sur, 2nd District
MATUGAS, FRANCISCO T. Surigao del Norte, 1st District	BAUTISTA, FRANKLIN P. Davao Del Sur, 2nd District	ECLEO, GLENDA B. Dinagat Islands, Lone District	ROMARATE, GUILLERMO A. JR. Surigao del Norte, 2nd District	RAMIRO, HERMINIA M. Misamis Occidental, 2nd District
UNGAB, ISIDRO T. Davao City, 3rd District	AQUINO, JOSE S. (II) 1st District Agusan del Norte	ZAMORA, MANUEL E. 1st District, Compostela Valley	CAGAS (IV), MARC DOUGLAS C. Davao Del Sur, 1st District	CLARETE, MARINA C. Misamis Occidental, 1st District
ARBISON, A MUNIR M. Sulu 2nd District	SANTIAGO, NARCISO D. (III) ARC Party List	Dayanghirang, Nelson L. Davao Oriental, 1st District	BRIONES, NICANOR M. AGAP Party list	JAAFAR, NUR G. Tawi-Tawi, Lone District
BALINDONG, PANGALIAN M. Lanao del Sur, 2nd District	ROMUALDO, PEDRO Camiguin, Lone District	PICHAY, PHILIP A. Surigao Del Sur, 1st District	NOGRALES, PROSPERO C. Davao City, 1st District	ESTRELLA, ROBERT RAYMUND M. ABONO Party List
UY, ROLANDO A. Cagayan De Oro City, Lone District	AMATONG, ROMMEL C. Compostela Valley, 2nd District	LABADLABAD, ROSENDO S. Zamboanga del Norte, 2nd District	DATUMANONG, SIMEON A. Maguindanao, Lone District	ALMARIO, THELMA Z. Davao Oriental, 2nd District
YU, VICTOR J. Zamboanga Del Sur, 1st District	BELMONTE, VICENTE F. JR. Lanao del Norte, 1st District	GARCIA, VINCENT J. Davao City, 2nd District	EMANO, YEVGENY VICENTE B. Misamis Oriental, 2nd District

BGen Lim: For what is right, for what is true, for what is just

2009-06-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

Message of Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim delivered by Mrs. Aloi Lim at the Stop Con-Ass rally in Makati, June 10, 2009
Aloy Lim

Mrs. Aloy Lim

Ang Hukbong Sandatahan ay instrumento ng taong bayan.
Protektor ito ng mamamayan at ng estado.
Hindi nito obligasyon ang sang-ayunan ang katiwalian ng administrasyon.

Hindi trabaho ng AFP ang mandaya sa eleksyon.
Hindi dapat binibigyan ng premyo ang mga heneral na mahilig magbenta ng serbisyo sa mga politico.

At lalong hindi gawain ng sundalo ang pumatay sa mga aktibista, mga mamamahayag at mga taong walang kasalanan at walang kalaban laban.

Nuong isang linggo, nag issue ako ng statement at sinabi ko duon, “I, therefore, call on every officer and enlisted man to follow your conscience and do what is right – PROTECT THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE!”

Nakikita natin ngayon na habang tumatagal, mas lumalakas ang loob ng administrasyong ito.
Hindi na sila nahihiya.
Hindi na sila nagaalala na lumalabag sila ng batas.
Hindi na rin sila nahuhuli. Hinuhuli na lang ang mga may prinsipyo.

Nang nag-issue ako ng statement nuong isang linggo, nagalit sila. Humahamon ba daw ako ng coup d’etat? Nananawagan ba ako ng barilan?

Mga kababayan, isa lang ang hamon ko sa mga kapatid ko sa Hukbong Sandatahan:
Sundan ang Saligang Batas.
Igalang natin ang Constitution.
Lakasan nila ang loob nila.

Kasama sa paggalang sa Saligang Batas ang paggalang sa mga provisions nito ukol sa term extensions.

You know that at this time,
by this President,
for her reasons…
Constitutional amendments are wrong.

You know what is Right.
You know what is Just.
I trust that you can see the Truth should the times call for protecting the people.

Kaliwa? Kanan? May mas tama ba?

2009-06-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

By Vinga Dingle Marciano
June 16, 2009

Naalala ko nung 4th year high school ako, nung dumating ang mga resulta ng mga entrance exam ko, pinapili ako ng nanay ko, sa Ateneo, UP, o Mapua. Sabi nya, wag na yang Ateneo, wala tayong pantustos dyan. Mamili ka, UP o Mapua. Gusto ko talagang maging engineer kaya gusto ko din sana sa Mapua, kaso ayaw ko namang gumastos ng husto ang ermat ko kaya sabi ko, syempre sa UP ma. "O sige, pero, wag kayo mag-aaway ng kuya mo ha? Wag nyo kong pahirapan at papiliin pagdating ng panahon." Hindi ko yun masyadong inintindi kasi high school pa ko nun. Napagtatanto ko na lang ang "dilemma" ni ermat nung tumanda na ko.

Si utol kasi sa PMA nag aaral nung panahon na papasok pa lang ako ng kolehiyo. Dalawa lang kaming magkapatid. Oo, pareho kaming iskolar ng bayan :) At kung iisipin mo nga naman, isang maka-kaliwa (ayon sa karamihan) at isang maka-kanan (na ayon sa karamihan din). Alam naman nating lahat, na ang mga pumapasok sa PMA ay hinuhubog na maging mga lider ng hukbong sandatahan. Noon, ang konsepto ko ng military training sa PMA ay ang pagsasanay para maging mga mandirigma na ang kapakanan ng taumbayan ang pangunahing binibigyan ng pagpapahalaga. Pero habang tumatagal, napansin ko na parang lumilihis at iba na ang prayoridad nila. Ang protektahan ang kung sino man ang nagpapayaman at nagbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa kanila o sa mga bosing nila. Hindi ko nilalahat. Marami pa ring matitino at dalisay ang puso't damdamin. Sa katunayan, marami akong mga kaibigang ganun. Sa kasamaang palad, dahil sa sinapit nila habang nasa serbisyo, minabuti na lang nilang umalis. Sayang no? Pero marami pa rin naman din ang nasa institusyon, kaso karamihan sa kilala ko, nakakulong. Kakalungkot no?

Nung nagkaron ako ng kasintahan, tuwang tuwa ako dahil yung nobyo ko nuon (na naging asawa ko at ama ng anak ko) ay mulat, pati ang buong angkan nila. Sa katunayan, political detainees ang mga magulang nya nung panahon ni Marcos. Kaya alam ko na kahit papano, hindi sila masyadong kampante o kumportable na nasa PMA ang kapatid ko nuon at tuluyang naging sundalo o "militar" sa tawag ng karamihan nuon. Dahil nuong martial law, ang mga sundalo, parang mga Death Eaters o mga kampon ni Dark Lord Sauron. So medyo hindi namin napag uusapan si utol. Kung kasama man namin sya, kuwentong buhay buhay lang. Inuman, kasiyahan. Walang tungkol sa pagiging sundalo. Pero sa araw araw, pag wala si utol, sobrang sarap kausap ng pamilya ng asawa ko, sobrang dami kong natutunan. At sobrang nakakatuwa na may kasama kang nagpapahalaga sa katarungan, katotohan, karangalan o dignidad, at kadakilaan. Tuwing nagkuwe-kwentuhan kami, kahit nung mag-asawa na kami, kasama ng mga byenan ko at mga bayaw ko, laging parang buhay yung "alab ng puso" kung tawagin. Naalala ko, nagpunta pa kami nung minsang may malaking malaking pagtitipon sa edsa. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam. Kasama mo ang mga tao at pare-pareho ang sinisigaw ninyo. Pagbabago.

Ipinagtataka ko lang, kapag nilalabanan mo ang mali o pag nilalabanan mo ang gobyerno, babansagan ka nang komunista o kaliwa. Wala namang problema dun. Kahit ano pa ang itawag nila, hindi maipagkakaila na merong dapat baguhin dahil merong mali. Marami akong kilalang maka-kaliwa, at marami din akong kaibigang mga sundalo. At lahat sila, matindi ang pagmamahal sa bayan. Mabalik tayo ngayon sa kwento naming magkapatid. Nuong pumutok ang tinawag na sa kasaysayan natin na "Oakwood Mutiny", hindi ko maipaliwanag ang mararamdaman ko. Pangamba. Tuwa. Takot. Pagbubunyi. Si utol, kasama! Mulat pala sya! Kaso wanted.. Ano kaya ang gagawin sa kanya? Takot na takot kami ng ermat ko. Pero higit sa lahat, proud na proud ako. Ang tapang ng kuya ko! Kasama ko pala sya! Pareho pala ang tibok ng puso namin. Naalala ko, tumawag pa sya sa amin, at nagpapaalam na. Bahala na daw. Iyak ako ng iyak. Bahala na...

Alam ko, sa pagkakataong ito, tuluyang nabuwag ang pangamba ng pamilya ng asawa ko na "militar" ang utol ko na kasama sa lahi ng mga demonyong nakakahanap ng kaligayahan sa pagtotorture, kasabwat sa pangungulimbat, pumuprotekta sa mga makapangyarihang halang ang sikmura. May pag asa pa pala.. Kasama pala natin sila...

Hanggang sa... natapos na.. sumuko na sila.. nakulong.. turuan.. naglabasan ang mga traydor.. nagkatakutan.. nanghina ang mga mandirigma.. kanya kanya nang dahilan.. pumanglaw ang dating marikit na baga.. iwanan.. sisihan.. tawaran.. Nilamukos ng rehas at bakod ang tapang at ang layuning ipagtanggol ang katotohanan at isipin ang kapakanan ng taong bayan. Galit na galit ako. Sa kapatid ko. At sa mga kasama nyang isinuko na ang pinaglalaban. Sa huli, ang sibilyan pa rin pala ang matitira. Lalaban hanggang sa huli. Ang tagal kong hindi kinausap ang kapatid ko. Galit na galit ako. Ako, tuloy pa rin. Sumisigaw sa kalye. Sa makati. Sa edsa. Kahit saan. Pero kasama na sa galit ko ang pagbasag nila sa utol ko. Hanggang sa tanungin ako ng mga kabaro nya ng Kaliwa ka ba? Sabi ko, may diperensya ba? Maalala ko pa, minsang kinumbida ako ng kabaro nya, at tumanggi akong magtrabaho para sa kanila, ang sabi nya sa ken, na may halong pananakot, wag kang mamangka sa dalawang ilog, delikado. Ang sabi ko sa kanya, alam ko. kaya kahit kailan, hindi ako mamamangka sa ilog nyo.

Maraming kuwento at karanasang isasama ko hanggang sa hukay. May mapait, may masaya. Ang pinakamahalaga, ay ang mga aral na napulot sa bawat yugto ng pakikibaka sa buhay. Kung pano tuluyang binibigyang lakas at pag asa ng mga masasayang alaala at karanasan ang sya ring pusong pinagtibay ng bawat pait ng pagkabigo. Sa kaliwa man o sa kanan, ang mahalaga ay buo ang loob mong tahakin ang direksyon na pinili ng puso mo.

Sa mga taong nagsilbing inspirasyon sa akin at sa maraming tao, na patuloy na lumalaban, nasa likod man ng mga rehas on nasa labas, Mabuhay kayo! Keep strong. Keep faith.

"When a warrior fights not for himself, but for his brothers, when his most passionately sought goal is neither glory nor his own life's preservation, but to spend his substance for them, his comrades, not to abandon them, not to prove unworthy of them, then his heart truly has achieved contempt for death, and with that he transcends himself and his actions touch the sublime. That is why the true warrior cannot speak of battle save to his brothers who have been there with him. The truth is too holy, too sacred, for words."-- Suicide, 'Gates of Fire'

PS. I would like to personally thank those people I tagged in this note. Maraming maraming salamat po. sa pagmulat ng maraming kaisipan, pagbigay ng inspirasyon, sa patuloy na pagbibigay ng pag asa at pagpapahalaga sa tunay na kahulugan ng karangalan at kadakilaan. Mabuhay po kayo.

Plan to postpone 2010 polls inserted in resolution - lawyer

2009-06-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines - A provision to postpone the 2010 presidential elections and extend the terms of office for all elective officials has been inserted into a House Resolution currently pending before the House committee on constitutional amendments.

This was revealed Tuesday by human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares, secretary general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, as he belied earlier allegations by the pro-administration congressmen when they defended their proposals to amend the Charter.

The chairman of the House panel on constitutional amendments, La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, himself initially denied that any of the bills and resolutions referred to his panel contained a proposal for term-extension.

"The term extension is merely talk, rumors or ‘chismis’. The committee has not received any resolution … for any extension of term. I can assure you that not one member of this committee wants to extend our terms," Ortega said.

But when Colmenares produced a copy of House Resolution No. 550 filed by Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, he suddenly changed his tone.

“As far as the committee is concerned, hindi pa talaga napapag-usapan yan. Naka-refer lang pero di pa talaga nade-deliberate," Ortega said, as he quickly backtracked.

“The committee is not going to act on it (HR 550) until we are finished with all the public hearings. It’s not really a priority,... we will treat all the proposed measures equally," he told reporters in an interview.

But Colmenares said HR 550 has already undergone ‘initial deliberations’ on August 12, 2008, adding that this was based on a report he secured from the committee secretariat.

“It is already in the agenda. That means they can already vote on it, even today or perhaps tomorrow. This proves that all previous assurances that there are no proposals for term extension being considered were misleading," the lawyer added.

In HR 550, the sponsor had recommended an additional year to the terms of office of members of the House of Representatives and all local government executives although it retained the limitation of three consecutive terms.

The Mandanas resolution also proposed that the presidential elections scheduled for May 10, 2010 be reset instead to May 9, 2011.

This, he said, was ‘to better synchronize local and national elections and to afford time for the necessary transitory preparations and the required adjustments.’

This means that ‘all elected officials whose term will end at noon on June 30, 2010’ - including President Gloria Arroyo - will be serving on hold-over capacity ‘until noon of June 30, 2011’.

Meanwhile a group composed of University of the Philippines Social Sciences Professor Roland Simbulan, Black and White Movement convenor Corazon ‘Dinky’ Soliman, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes and Lyceum College of Law dean Pacifico Agabin warned congressmen against pushing through with the plan to amend the constitutioin.

They said that all initiatives to change the 1987 Constitution emanating from Congress is being regarded by the public with suspicion.

“An anomalous mode of charter change will only serve anomalous interests," Reyes, the Bayan leader said.

For his part, political scientist Jose B. Abueva said that amendments of outdated provisions of the 1987 charter ‘is long overdue.’

He cited the need to amend the ‘built-in’ conflict among the executive and legislative branches, shift to a federal form of government to promote regional development, and removing restrictions to foreign investments in mining and utilities.

Even as he acknowledged the people’s mistrust of the moves in Congress to revise or amend the Charter, Abueva stressed that an overhaul of the Constitution was needed.

This, he said, was to enable reforms that will improve governance and accountability.

“President John F. Kennedy once said that those who refuse to make a peaceful revolution possible make a violent revolution inevitable," he warned. - GMANews.TV

BGen Danilo Lim Statement on the Con-Ass Resolution

2009-06-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

To the Officers and Men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines:

Last Tuesday’s brazen railroading of the Con-Ass Resolution has erased whatever doubts we have about GMA’s true intention of holding on to power beyond 2010. This is not the first time she has trampled upon the Constitution we have all sworn to follow and respect. The EDSA Dos in 2001 was a coup d’etat that we, as an organization, took part in to oust a duly elected president. The 2004 election cheating, as exposed by the ‘Hello Garci’ tapes, was partly an AFP operation masterminded by the former Chief-of-Staff, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon. Countless other offenses have followed since.

GMA is determined and she will keep on ramming through every perceived obstacle there is, until she attains her much-coveted goal.

Now, only the collective will of the people with the support of the AFP can stop her.

I, therefore, call on every officer and enlisted man to follow your conscience and do what is right – PROTECT THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE!

God bless us all.

P20 milyon bawat isang boto sa ConAss

2009-06-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

By Ellen Tordesillas

May 31, 2009

Manloloko talaga itong si Gloria Arroyo.

May nagsabi sa amin na ayun sa isang kongresista na nandun sa Manila Hotel noong Huwebes sa pormal na pagsanib ng Lakas at Kampi, tinawag raw sila ni Arroyo sa isang kwarto at sinabihan na kailangan mapasa na ang House Resolution 1109 para sa Constituent Assembly na hindi kailangan ang Senado para mapalitan ang Constitution.

Ipinangako raw ni Arroyo na bibigyan siya ng tig-P20 milyon sa bawat kongresista na boboto para maipasa ang HR 1109.

Kailangan ni Arroyo ang boto ng three-fourths ng House of Representatives. Mga 200 na kongresista yun. Kung bibigay siya ng tig-P20 milyon para sa 200 na boto, aabot yun sa P4 na bilyon.

Kayang-kaya, maraming pera sa kaban ng bayan. Perang buwis ng taumbayan. Pera galing sa pawis at dugo ng mga OFW.

Dito makikita natin na sagad sa buto talaga ang pagka-manloloko ni Arroyo. Sa kanyang talumpati, pinaglandakan niya na may eleksyon sa 2010.

Ito ang sinabi niya: “Cynics and detractors love to paint grim scenarios about a cancellation of the 2010 elections. Let this merger of LAKAS and KAMPI be tangible proof of the Administration’s readiness, nay determination, to help ensure that the elections do push through.”

Ito ang translation: “Sa mga mahilig manira, palagi nilang nilalarawan na ang pagkansela ng 2010 na eleksyon. Hayaan niyong itong pagkaka-isa ng Lakas at Kampi ay magiging malakas na ebidensya ng kahandaan nitong administrasyon na matuloy ang eleksyon.”

Paano naman maging ebidensya ang pagkakaisa ng mga manloloko na hindi na matuloy ang kanilang panloloko? Kung may pinatunayan ang okasyun noong Huwebes, iyun ay garapal talaga sila.

Hindi sinabi ni Arroyo na ang eleksyon na gaganapin sa 2010 ay sa ilalim ng bagong Constitution na ang sistema ng pamahalaan ay parliamentary system at siya ay tatakbo bilang kinatawan ng Pampanga. Kapag miyembro na siya ng Parliament, hihirangin na siya na Prime Minister.

Garapal talaga kasi karamihan sa mga kongresista na pumalakpak kay Arroyo sa kanyang talumpati ay siya rin ang pumirma para mapunta na sa plenary ang HR 1109.

Pinipilit talaga nilang itinutulak kasi gahol na sila sa oras. Alam nilang may kukwestyon niyan sa Supreme Court kaya kailangan makapagdesisyon na ang mataas na hukuman sa loob ng buwan ng Hunyo. Karamihan na ng miyembro ng Supreme Court ay hawak ni Arroyo kaya kampante silang makukuha nila ang boto kahit labag sa batas ang kanilang ginagawa.

Hindi problema ang paggawa ng bagong Constitution na gusto ni Arroyo. Gawa na yan. Sa Septiembre magkaroon na ng referendum. Walang problema sa local governments. Nabusog na niya ang karamihan sa mga mayor at gubernador.

Kapag na-aprubahan na ang bagong Constitution, magkakaroon na nga ng eleksyon sa 2010 para sa miyembro ng parliament. Yan ang sinasabi ni Arroyo na eleksyon.

Manloloko talaga, ano.

The exiling of Yano and Luna

2009-05-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

Public Lives

By Randy David
May 22, 2009

THE KINDEST thing one can say of the simultaneous retirement yesterday of Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Alexander Yano and of Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna—months ahead of their due retirement dates—is that they are being exiled by a corrupt government that feels encumbered by their sturdy professionalism. The unkindest thing one can say is that they have been bought—their professionalism having promptly collapsed in the face of an enticing offer of an ambassadorial appointment. However one looks at this event, it is a sad day for both the armed forces and the foreign service.
General Yano and Lieutenant General Luna have inspired respect among their own men for quietly insulating themselves and the institution they lead from the exigencies of politics. Politicians accustomed to buying everyone standing in their way were said to be wary of them. Their professionalism stood like a solid rock to the liquid pragmatism of unscrupulous power brokers. They could not be cajoled, they could not be coerced, and they could not be corrupted. Every observer of the military watched how the Arroyo administration would try to neutralize them in order to pave the way for the quick succession of a favored officer, Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, who is two years their junior.
Three senior generals—Yano, Luna and Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado—all members of the 1976 class of the Philippine Military Academy, formed an unshakeable triumvirate that Malacañang could not penetrate. For as long as they were united, the line of succession could be protected. It is the prerogative of the president, of course, to ignore seniority, and risk demoralization in the service. And President Macapagal-Arroyo has done so with impunity in countless branches of the government service. But demoralization in the ranks of the military is something that an unpopular president can ill afford.
And so, fair-haired Malacañang boy Lieutenant General Bangit of PMA class 1978 has to wait—by tradition, until after PMA classes 1976 and 1977 shall have assumed leadership. After Yano, Luna was next in line, and then Ibrado. But, with the early retirement of Yano and Luna, Ibrado now gets to step into the position earlier than scheduled, and to serve a decent term without having to be extended beyond his retirement date in March next year. Theoretically, someone from class 1977 should succeed Ibrado, but Bangit is already pre-positioned to succeed. The important consideration in all this is that a Malacañang general must once more be put at the helm of the AFP before the 2010 national elections. To make all this possible, Lieutenant General Luna had to forego his turn as AFP chief of staff and retire early. Is his nomination as ambassador to the Netherlands a form of recompense?
My fellow Inquirer columnist, former Ambassador Ramon Farolan, who writes insightful essays on the military establishment, has commented on what he calls “the lameducking” of General Yano as a result of the announcement of his successor well ahead of his retirement. I now wonder if Yano’s nomination as ambassador to Brunei is a way of compensating him for that injury.
We who have admired Yano and Luna from a distance are hard-pressed not to interpret their actions as opportunism, so costly in a society that is struggling desperately to get its values right. Their decision to retire early and accept ambassadorial appointments is painfully reminiscent of another instance of ethical depreciation in recent memory. I refer to former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide’s appointment as permanent representative to the United Nations by the same President whose succession to the presidency he helped maneuver as chief justice.
These are breaches of ethical norms. But they are not as bad as the spiteful abuse of governance principles that mark President Arroyo’s exercise of her prerogatives. There’s one rule in government that politicians must know: you cannot solve the self-inflicted problems of an institution by transferring them to another. The problems will create even more corrosive consequences in other settings.
This is precisely what is happening at the foreign office. Long a dumping ground for politically influential misfits in quest of overseas posting, this branch of the civil service has borne the greatest abuse under Ms Arroyo’s presidency. She has shown no respect for the long and arduous training that is required to produce professional diplomats. Just because the law allows a president to appoint as ambassadors to some sensitive posts individuals from outside the ranks of career ministers does not mean that the prerogative can be exercised on a whim. These non-career appointments have to be justified exclusively in terms of the country’s foreign policy requirements.
In this light, Lieutenant General Luna’s defense of his and General Yano’s ambassadorial postings as rewards for their commendable military service betrays an appalling misconception of the whole purpose of government. Luna was quoted as saying: “I think it’s the prerogative of the President…. I think from her point of view, probably, we have done a good job in the armed forces and she wants us to carry on [with] a good job in another field.” Unless we think we are in a time of war, when foreign policy becomes an extension of a country’s security strategy, rewarding retired generals with ambassadorial positions is difficult to justify. If Generals Yano and Luna wish to continue serving government beyond the age of 56, might I suggest teaching at the Philippine Military Academy or at the National Defense College?
* * *

Ang bagong direksyon ng Magdalo

2009-05-22T08:59:00.000-07:00

By Ellen Tordesillas
May 22, 2009

Sa aking pag-uusap sa marami sa mga batang opisyal ng military na nakasama sa grupong Magdalo, nakikita ko and sinsero nilang pagmamahal sa bayan.
Napansin ko rin na malawak silang mag-isip at matatalino sila. Maari sigurong sabihin natin na nagkulang sila sa aspeto ng operasyon sa kanilang ginawang panindigan laban sa administrasyong Arroyo, ngunit handa silang magsakripisyo para sa ina-akala nilang tama.
Hindi naman lahat. Dahil mayroon din naman mga bumaligtad at mukhang namang ina-alagaan sila ng husto ng pamahalaang Arroyo.

Anim na taon na sila nakakulung at nakakahanga dahil buong-buo pa rin ang kanilang ideyalismo at interes para sa bayan. Hindi lang sa kanilang sarili.
Marami silang natutunan sa anim na taon na ito at iyon aygumagabay sa kanila a kanilang mga plano at Gawain. Isa na doon ang pagpalawak ng Samahang Magdalo para makasaliang hindi miyembro ng military.
Ang suporta na pinakita ng sambayanan kay Senador Trillanes noong nakaraang eleksyon ay nag-inspire sa ilan pang Magdalo officers na maninilbihan sa bayan sa paraan ng elected positions. Ang isa nilang panngunahin na programa ay labanan ang corruption sa pamahalaan. Kaya itong nakaraang eleksyon, nagparehistro ang ilan sa kanila sa kani-kanilang bayan bilang preparasyon sa kanilang kandidatura sa may 2010 na eleksyon.
Si Marine Capt. Gary Alejano ay tatakbong mayor sa Sipalay, Negros Occidental. Si Capt. James Layug ay tatakbo sa Taguig. Hindi ako sigurado kung mayor o congressman. Si Ashley Acedillo ay plano ring tumakbo sa Cebu.
Kaya nakakatawa ang balita noong isang araw na may nahuli raw na anim na Magdalo na tini-traning dawn g isang New Zealander at isang Australiano para itakas raw si Sen. Trillanes, Brig. Gen. Danny Lim at iba pang Magdalo officers sa kanilang kulungan sa Camp Crame.
Lumabas na pakulo lang pala yun ni Mariano “Bong” Villafuerte, executive director ng Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission. Anak siya ni Rep. Luis Villafuerte na nagsusulong ngayon ng charter change para mapalawig si Gloria Arroyo sa kapangyarihan.
Isa lang ang Magdalo doon sa anim na nagti-training para sa trabaho sa Afghanistan na mag-bigay ng security sa mga pribadong kumpanya na nagsi-serbisyo sa mga US military at kaalyado.
Interesado pala si Villafuerte sa lokasyon ng firing range kung saan nagti-training ang anim dahil meron din siyang kaparehong negosyo.
Sabi nga ni Tongue Twisted sa aking blog: “Kailangan pa ba ng anim na Magdalo para ilabas sila Trillanes at Lim sa kulungan? Magchacha via con-ass lang, siguradong yung bantay mismo ang magpapakawala sa lahat ng nakakulong.
“Gusto nilang subukan?”

Trillanes denies alleged ‘rescue’ plot

2009-04-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

Office of Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV
April 28, 2009

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV vehemently denied reports of an alleged plot to ‘rescue’ him and other detained officers following the arrest of former soldiers at a shooting range in Clark Field in Pampanga.
He called the claims by Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) executive director Mariano Villafuerte as “absurd” and “misleading.”
Villafuerte had announced that the group was nabbed while training to conduct destabilization activities and also ‘extricate’ Trillanes, Brigadier General Danilo Lim and other soldiers detained at the Camp Crame Custodial Center on rebellion charges.
“It has become a consistent tactic of this administration to use disinformation to distract people from its heinous plots against our people, such as the on-going Cha-Cha railroading and the early relief of General (Alexander) Yano as AFP Chief of Staff,” Trillanes said.
The PAOCC executive director is the son of administration solon Rep. Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, known as a staunch ally of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the major proponent of Charter Change in the House of Representatives.
Trillanes clarified that only one of the arrested retired soldiers is a member of the Magdalo and had been merely undergoing security training to secure job opportunities abroad. “To immediately conclude that I am planning to commit terrorist acts because a Magdalo member is undergoing training for overseas employment is totally absurd and can only be concocted by a very imaginative mind. That Villafuerte fellow must either be crazy or high on something,” he added.
Among those taken into custody by the PAOCC was New Zealander Anthony Newman, who purportedly recruited Steven Curtis Rossiter, a former member of the Australian special forces, according to Villafuerte.
Charged with alleged violations of the Human Security Act, the six former soldiers, four ex-Navy and two ex-Army officers, were all released over the weekend as prosecutors sought further evidence to establish probable cause.
END.

PAOCC ARREST TRIGGERED BY ROW OVER USE OF FIRING RANGE
Trillanes seeks probe of Magdalo raid yarn

By Angie M. Rosales
04/30/2009

Detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes III asked the Senate yesterday to look into the real story behind the supposed raid the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on a supposed training ground in Clark Field, Pampanga involving supposed members of the rebel soldiers group Magdalo and two foreign mercenaries.
Trillanes filed Resolution 1038 seeking a probe of the incident amid charges that the raid was the result of an argument over the use of the firing range where the supposed training was being conducted.
The “son of a high-ranking administration official” wanted to take over the firing range resulting in the altercation and the subsequent raid.
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the committee on national defense and security, is poised to do the same, noting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) statement on the incident that in effect denied the allegations made by the PAOCC, headed by Mariano Jose Villafuerte III, son of Mrs. Arroyo’s chief House ally Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte.
Last April 23, six retired enlisted military personnel
and one New Zealander, Anthony Joseph Newman, who reportedly owns the Clark Eagle Firing Range at the Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga were apprehended by the PAOCC for alleged violation of the Human Security Act or Anti-Terror Act.
Newman, an instructor and retired security officer, despite not being charged has been reported to have been turned over to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for deportation and is currently detained and held incommunicado at the maximum security detention center at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan.
They were released the following day upon the orders of Judge Maria Angelica Quiambao, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court of Angeles City, branch 59 “for insufficiency of evidence.”
The PAOCC alleged that the six former soldiers were being trained in relation to a destabilization plot against the administration and purportedly to spring former military officers currently detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center at Camp Crame, Quezon City who included Trillanes and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.
While the AFP steered clear from the PAOCC operation, Trillanes issued a statement denying the alleged plot to rescue him and other detained officers, calling Villafuerte’s claims as absurd and misleading.
AFP Spokesman Lt. Col Ernesto Torres Jr. was quoted in an interview saying the arrest was not in any way connected to any destabilization plot against the government, even adding that there was no indication that there is one in the offing.
He even expressed doubt that the former soldiers belonged to the Magdalo group, which is associated to Trillanes.
Before their arrest, the six former soldiers were being trained by Newman and Steven Curtis Rossiter, a former member of the Australian Special Forces, who are being employed by a very important person (VIP) private security contractor for deployment abroad, especially in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The Progressive Force Concepts Inc., a private security firm that operates the Clark Eagle Firing Range, holds its training in the firing range.
In his resolution, Trillanes said the former enlisted personnel were in fact honorably discharged from the AFP and from all appearances, are simple retired former soldiers merely looking for gainful employment to be able to support the needs of their families.
A source quoted Trillanes as saying “the nefarious ploy was actually being staged solely and exclusively for the purpose of harassing and compelling Newman or the Progressive Force Concepts Inc. to give up and or surrender the premises of the firing range in favor of the son of a high-ranking administration official.”
“This apparent illicit resort to strong-arm tactics and the misuse and abuse of state resources as well as the resort to deception of the media and the public to advance private and or personal business interests must be exposed and condemned under the strongest terms possible and must not go unpunished,” he said.
“Likewise, the act of the erring officials implicating innocent former soldiers merely trying to obtain gainful employment abroad and charge them under the Anti-Terror Act must also be strongly condemned and deplored and the appropriate remedial legislative measures must be enacted so that the same will not be repeated in the future,” Trillanes said in his resolution.
He is asking the committee on justice and human rights and other appropriate panels to look into this matter the soonest time possible.
Biazon joined Trillanes in criticizing the PAOCC as he openly sided with the AFP on this issue.
“I would tend to believe the AFP because they have facilities under their command, the facility of intelligence, the facility of long term exposure to issues like these etc. We need the Executive Department to explain why there is a difference between the statements of the PAOCTF and the AFP?,” he said.
“To me, if there is no basis to this report of such a plan then this is the height of irresponsibility of anyone who had issued that statement that there is such a plan to rescue Trillanes and Lim and possibly even the assassination of the President,” Biazon said.
“The AFP said there is no such thing… and here comes PAOCC saying there is such a thing. If there is no basis for that statement this is the height of irresponsibility on the part of that official. I think no less than all the security agencies of this country must explain this – the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, the National Security Adviser… then we will see if we need to file a resolution,” Biazon said.
The senator pointed the need to scrutinize the conflicting statements given by the PAOCC and the AFP given the seriousness of the charges, whether it is true or not.
“No less than the assassination of the Chief Executive of the land had been mentioned. This is a serious matter and we need an explanation from the Executive Department.
“I am monitoring the actions of the Executive Department on this issue considering that there are different statements being issued by the Chairman of the PAOCTF and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“The Executive Department must sort things out and tell the public what this is, and if I am not satisfied with the explanation of people here, then I might file a resolution in the Senate to conduct an inquiry on this matter because this is a national security issue and I am the Chairman of the Committee of National Defense and Security in the Senate,” he said.

Of Jun Lozada and Gen. Alexander Yano

2009-04-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

Reveille

By Ramon J. Farolan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
04/27/2009

More than a year ago, Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada became a household name in Philippine society with his revelations about a $329-million deal for the establishment of a telecommunications network system, intended to link all units of government. Originally a build-operate-transfer (BOT) project, the entrance of then-Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos into the picture changed things to one funded by a concessional loan from the People’s Republic of China, with a Chinese firm, ZTE Corp., as the supplier.
Just to refresh our short memories:
Jun Lozada in his press conference at La Salle Green Hills revealed that the initial project cost was only $262 million but there was an overprice of almost 100 percent because of a $130 million commission allegedly being demanded by Abalos. In an attempt to stop him from testifying before the Senate, Lozada was met upon arrival from Hong Kong VIP-style, no immigration, no customs formalities. Then he was taken on a Grand Tour of the South Superhighway and adjacent areas, complete with heavy police escort before being brought back to La Salle Green Hills. Whatever was the real reason for the unusual treatment, the message was clear—don’t mess around with this administration.
As I mentioned in my column of Feb. 11, 2008, Lozada, who describes himself as just a “probinsyanong Intsik,” must represent a serious danger to the Arroyo government. Less than 24 hours after his press conference, the big guns of the administration had all the ammunition to fire against Lozada—proof not so much of the sins he may have committed as Philippine Forest Corp. president, but of the ruthless power that can be generated to demolish those who dare displease the gods.
A collateral action resulting from Lozada’s alleged inconsistent testimonies at the Senate and the Court of Appeals was a perjury charge filed by the former presidential chief of staff, Mike Defensor. Last November, the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court dismissed Defensor’s complaint. But the Manila Regional Trial Court reversed this decision last month. Now an arrest warrant is expected to be issued.
Jun Lozada saved the Filipino taxpayer $329 million, or some P16 billion, half of which would have gone to the pockets of “commissioners” connected with the Arroyo administration. Since the amount involved was going to be a loan from the Chinese government, we, our children and grandchildren would have had to pay off the loan through the years, just as we had to pay off the loan that was used to put up the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant that went nowhere.
How come we are going to arrest Jun Lozada while nothing is being done about the “commissioners” and other government officials who attempted to hoodwink us into shouldering such a heavy burden just to enrich themselves?
How come nothing is being done about Joc-joc Bolante, who is the alleged mastermind of the P728-million fertilizer fund scam? It has been some time now since he returned from the United States and all is quiet in the Office of the Ombudsman and the Arroyo government that, in the first place, appointed him agriculture undersecretary, when the scam was carried out?
How come no one has been charged in the P1.3-billion election computerization deal which was denounced by the Supreme Court?
We have a distorted justice system in this country—one for the Arroyo boys, another for guys like Jun Lozada and the Magdalo junior officers who were double-crossed by the government.
In this connection, beware of Charter change. Whatever is being bruited about concerning the need for economic revisions in our Constitution, the real aim of the proponents of Charter change is to keep in power the same people who have been in office for the last nine years.
* * *
The rumors are flying all over Camp Aguinaldo.
Gen. Alexander Yano, AFP chief of staff, will not even last until June 13, his official retirement date. J-3 (Operations at GHQ) has been tasked to prepare for change of command ceremonies that should take place any time now. First, it was May 25, then May 15; the latest is this Friday, May 1st. However, since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is scheduled to leave for Cairo on May 1st, the ceremonies could take place even earlier. Or if the May 1st date pushes through, Vice President Noli de Castro or Secretary Gilbert Teodoro could preside over the turnover affair. This would be a first for any administration.
Remember Gen. Eric Shinseki, the US Army chief of staff who displeased the Bush administration with his remarks on the Iraq invasion? His retirement ceremonies were boycotted by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his deputy Paul Wolfowitz, the officials usually in attendance on these occasions in the US armed forces.
No problem for J-3! With so many change of command ceremonies under their belt—this will be the 11th chief of staff—the boys can do their thing with eyes closed.
Gen. Alex Yano is scheduled to arrive Monday afternoon from a trip to Australia where he met with Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, the chief of the Australian Defense Forces, and from a visit with Adm. Timothy Keating, commander, Pacific Command, in Honolulu. He was accompanied by the Secretary General Staff (SGS), Col. Angelito de Leon. There is no truth to the rumor that he had been making farewell calls on his ASEAN counterparts.
* * *
Last Saturday, I delivered the commencement address at the graduation exercises of the Master in Management (M.M.) class of the Asian Institute of Management. It was a homecoming of sorts as in 1975, I finished the same course, along with students from several countries in the region. We were the guinea pigs for the new program, an 11-month, intensive business leadership course for mid-career managers.
My message to the graduates:
In a few hours you go back to the working world. There will be no can groups, no case studies. You will be faced with judgements to make, not just about jobs but about the future of our country. We are moving into a crucial stage in the political life of the nation. Lately we have made it to a number of embarrassing situations; the greediest, the most corrupt, the many unsolved killings. Certainly these are issues that call for our attention, our voices, our outrage.
As one of my favorite military heroes, Gen. Colin Powell, the first African-American Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and also the first African-American Secretary of State, put it: “Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off. Leadership is not a popularity contest. Trying to please everyone or trying not to offend anyone puts you on the road to mediocrity. Making people mad is part of being a leader.”
If you see greed, if you see corruption, if you see injustice, you don’t have to be a Colin Powell to get mad, to sound off and to make a difference. Stand up and be counted.

Charter change in August possible

2009-04-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

By Carmela Fonbuena, abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak
04/13/2009

Contrary to its claim that it is now focusing on the 2010 elections, the Arroyo administration can still convene a constituent assembly in four months, or starting August this year, to revise the Constitution.

This is the analysis of charter change critics who noted recent indications that Congress and the Supreme Court—the two institutions crucial to the process—can promptly act on time-bound issues.

“Despite Palace pronouncements that it favors the holding of elections in 2010, the scenarios for either postponing elections or having Arroyo stay in power are very much alive,” said Renato Reyes Jr., secretary-general of the militant group Bayan. His group launched protest rallies at the gates of the Lower House on Monday.

Some Malacañang allies are saying that with the approaching presidential polls, time is not enough time to push charter change. At the House of Representatives, Speaker Prospero Nograles is also sending mixed signals. (Read story: Nograles’ fate hangs on ‘Cha-cha’)

But Leah Navarro, convener of the reform-seeking Black and White Movement, is not convinced. “These statements are meant to lull us into disinterest. It is cheaper and surer to perpetuate this administration by pushing for constituent assembly than running in election,” she said

Administration lawmakers are pushing to amend the Constitution through a constituent assembly, or the convening of the House and the Senate to propose amendments to the fundamental law.

A three-fourth vote of Congress, or 197 votes, is needed to convene the constituent assembly.

Should the required votes be met, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak conservatively estimates that the new Palace strategy will need only four months to succeed.

This time frame includes one session week for the lower House to approve the Villafuerte Resolution, and four months for the Supreme Court to declare—with finality—that joint voting is constitutional.

Joint voting

In a yet-to-be-filed resolution, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, who heads the other party chaired by President Arroyo, Kampi, is seeking to convene a constituent assembly without the concurrence of the Senate, which is generally opposed to charter change.

The Villafuerte Resolution has been floated as early as last year, but it has apparently taken some time for its proponents to complete the required number of signatures. As of last count, the resolution supposedly has 185 signatures.

House Speaker Nograles earlier said he will file the Villafuerte Resolution himself.

The Villafuerte Resolution is proposing that the two chambers of Congress vote jointly to meet the three-fourth-vote requirement. Joint voting will allow the 238-member House of Representatives to complete the necessary 197 votes without the help of any senator.

Separate voting, meanwhile, will require at least 179 votes from the lower House and at least 18 votes from the Senate.

Only the Supreme Court can interpret how Congress should vote, however. As of April 2009, 13 of the 15 Supreme Court justices are appointees of President Arroyo. The current composition of the tribunal has made it prone to favoring the administration in its decisions.

Two days in Congress

Normally, a resolution takes weeks to move from one stage to another, but the passage in December 2008 of a resolution extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) was instructive: It showed that it is possible to draft and vote on a measure in just one day.

Like charter change, CARP had been deliberated on for a number of Congresses. Instead of allowing CARP to expire at the end of 2008, the Senate and the House—on the last day of session last year—deliberated and voted to extend it for another six months to allow them more time to deliberate on the future of CARP.

In the case of the Villafuerte Resolution, it may take only two session days to pass it.

Once it is filed and referred to the committee on constitutional amendments, it may be taken up and approved by the committee the following day. The plenary may also vote on it during the session on the same day.

Should anybody question the congressional vote before the Supreme Court, it is likely that it will take up the issue at once. Last year, the high court decided—only after four months of deliberation—that the proposed Moro homeland accord was unconstitutional. One of the tribunal’s quickest decisions in recent history, it was handed down a few hours before the proposed agreement was to be signed in Kuala Lumpur.

Four months in Court

In the case of the Villafuerte Resolution, it may even take the Supreme Court less than four months to decide on the issue of joint voting, says constitutional law professor Edwin Lacierda, who is involved in anti-charter change efforts.

“I think it will be even lesser because it’s only a matter of interpretation. Your source materials are few. You have the records of the Constitutional Commission. There was really nothing there because it was silent on the issue precisely,” he said.

Lacierda said the justices may also choose to invite amicus curiae, or sources that can help enlighten the justices on the pending issue. Easy picks are the former members of the Constitutional Commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution.

In a similar situation in 1973, the Supreme Court—also perceived then as a court controlled by President Ferdinand Marcos—took only two months to declare as valid the ratification of the 1973 Constitution. That Constitution was questioned on the ground that it was not properly ratified according to law.

With the blessing of the Supreme Court, the 1973 Constitution paved the way for the extension of the term of President Marcos, who was only ousted by a People Power revolt in 1986.

Pre-election year

More similarities with past experiences—especially recent ones—abound.

In late 2006, about a year before President Arroyo’s fallout with Lakas founder and co-chair Jose de Venecia Jr., the latter used his influence as Speaker to force the convening of a constituent assembly despite protests from senators.

Political observers said the 2006 efforts could have succeeded if not for the massive protests led by the Catholic church and the business and militant groups.

Back then, it was perceived that the administration was confident that its efforts to amend the charter would succeed because it put together a weak senatorial line for the following year’s elections. Observers interpreted it as a sign that the administration didn’t mind losing in a national election that might not take place anyway.

Critics now fear the familiar: The administration is yet to choose a presidential candidate for the 2010 elections since it is confident—again— that it can make charter change happen before the next polls.

President Arroyo’s critics believe that opening the Constitution to changes now will give her allies the opportunity to prolong her stay in power by making her head of state or prime minister in a changed form of government.

Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, her adoptive party that she now chairs, also tried but failed to amend the Constitution in 1997 to lift the term limit on President Fidel Ramos, the party’s chair emeritus. —with research assistance from Jesus Llanto

Guardians faction taps Lim, Trillanes

2009-04-06T09:10:00.000-07:00

Malaya
APRIL 06, 2009

A MILITARY-BASED group formerly associated with Sen. Gregorio Honasan has tapped two detained officers as national advisers but it said this has nothing to do with any plan to overthrow the government.
The Guardians Nationalist of the Philippines said Sen. Antonio Trillanes and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim posses "impeccable character to lead with moral authority."
Trillanes, a former Navy lieutenant, was one of the leaders of the Oakwood mutiny of July 2003. Lim, former commander of the Army Scout Rangers, is undergoing court martial with other officers for an alleged plot to overthrow the Arroyo government in February 2006.
The two also figured in the November 2007 standoff at the Manila Peninsula in Makati City.
The Guardians Nationalist of the Philippines (GANAP) is headed by retired banker Ernesto Macahiya, who used to be with Honasan’s Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Association (PGBI).
Both were linked to the Oakwood mutiny and later cleared.
Macahiya and other leaders bolted from the PGBI last year because of differences with Honasan. They formed GANAP which now has about 12,000 members.
Macahiya said Trillanes and Lim have the "essential leadership qualities to steer us towards our vision" and have "consistently displayed uncommon valor and patriotism in the face of extremely difficult situations."
"Let it be understood that the (appointments)...is not in any manner connected with any attempt to overthrow the present government," he said.
He said the tapping of Trillanes and Lim could unite all Guardians units "into one solid and cohesive Guardians organization."
There are now about 24 Guardians factions.
Macahiya rejected the suggestion that tapping Trillanes and Lim would give rise to controversy, as he said this group gives premium to two things – "commitment to principled, meaningful change in both government and society, and providing members of the brotherhood direct, real benefits, to make the brotherhood more meaningful and real."
He said the PGBI, since it was founded in 2000, has failed to achieve these two objectives. –Victor Reyes

Gloria’s “Kiss of Death”

2009-04-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

PerryScope
By Perry Diaz

“The President will support those who will continue her vision and those who have a proven track record in being the leader regardless of who he or she maybe as this point in time," announced Press Secretary Cerge Remonde. He also said that “Malacañang may look at the possibility of adopting Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio as its standard bearer in the 2010 presidential elections.” The question that comes to mind is: If “vision” and “leadership” is what President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo were looking for in a presidential candidate, what is her vision and what kind of a leader is she?

Let’s look at her “vision.” She declared a couple of years ago that she wanted the Philippines to be a “first world” country in 20 years -- an “Enchanted Kingdom.” She promised to eradicate poverty, stamp out corruption, and put an end to the communist insurgency and Islamic rebellion.

Since then, the Philippines has become the most corrupt country in Asia and Gloria the most corrupt president in the country’s history. Instead of progressing and moving forward, the country is retrogressing and moving backward. All the gains she proclaimed a few years ago are vanishing. The rich are becoming richer and the poor are becoming poorer. The country is going upside down… fast.

If there is one element that can be attributed to Gloria’s failure, it’s her lack of leadership. She had the opportunity to make a difference when she was catapulted by “people power” to the presidency in 2001. But instead of uplifting the people from the ravages of poverty and leading them to the promised “Enchanted Kingdom” in the First World, she led them on the road to eternal perdition in the World of the Damned.

And now that the end of her presidency is near, she is looking for a way to stay in power any which way she can. Indeed, there are several ways that she could hold on to power. However, they’re risky to undertake. She has to line up all the ducks in perfect formation. If one duck goes out of formation, the rest will be quacking their way out in all directions.

Recently, former Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. revealed that he was approached by Gloria’s son, Congressman Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, and Congressman Martin Romualdez with an “indecent proposal.” De Venecia said that the two tried to solicit his support for Charter change (Cha-cha) in exchange for the Speakership. He told the media, “I turned down the request for me to help because they are not telling the Filipino people the truth.” He believes that the real reason for Cha-cha is to extend Gloria’s term.

At this time, the proponents of Cha-cha in the House of Representatives have about 180 supporters, about 17 shy of the 197 votes needed to convene a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass). However, even if they would get the votes in the House, a strong resistance from the Senate was expected. In that event, the Supreme Court would have to step in to resolve the issue which many people believe would be favorable to Gloria.

But time is running out for Gloria to pursue Cha-cha. She might tinker with the idea of declaring martial law and then nudge Congress to amend the constitution to change the form of government to parliamentary system. Wasn’t that what Marcos did when he declared martial law in 1972?

Should Gloria decide to go ahead with martial law, she needs the support of the military. However, Gen. Alexander Yano, the current Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is perceived as a “straight shooter” and the epitome of professional soldier. Many political insiders believe that he would not support martial law. And without the support of the military top brass, Gloria has to look at other ways to stay in power.

If Gloria fails to extend her term of office, then she might take the role of “kingmaker” by using all her political resources and personal wealth to underwrite the campaign of her handpicked candidate or “manok.” With the new president indebted to her, she could wield enormous political -- and economic -- power working behind the scenes. It would be business as usual.

Lately, the person who is emerging as Gloria’s possible choice for president is Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, a young and bright politician with the right credentials: a bar topnotch, a former Congressman, a member of a rich and powerful clan, and the heir apparent to his uncle Danding Cojuangco’s Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). But it is for his credentials that would make Gloria wary of Teodoro. While Cojuangco is currently in the best of terms with Gloria and her husband Mike, that could easily change. Didn’t someone once say, “There are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies, only permanent self-interest”?

The question is: Can Gloria control Teodoro should he become president? My take is that Teodoro would not allow himself to be the “manok” of Gloria. More than likely, he would run as the standard bearer of NPC, not under Gloria’s KAMPI-Lakas coalition. The reason is: Gloria’s endorsement is tantamount to a “kiss of death.” With Gloria’s unpopularity with the people, the candidate she handpicks would most likely lose unless she would use the “tools” at her disposal like what she allegedly used during the 2004 presidential election. With the brand-new Comelec automated election system to be implemented in the 2010 elections, who knows what “glitches” the system would have that could change the election results.

It is not then surprising when Gloria’s spin doctors put out the “welcome” mat for Panlilio’s possible entry into the presidential derby. Why not? After all, Panlilio is Gloria’s province mate or “kabalen.” However, Panlilio immediately nipped it in the bud. The last thing he wanted to happen is to create the impression that he shares Gloria’s “vision” and “leadership style.”

In a recent media statement, Panlilio said that if and when elected president of the Philippines in 2010, he “will not declare the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos a hero and will see to it that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is prosecuted for corruption.” With that, Panlilio had distanced himself from getting smacked with Gloria’s “kiss of death.”

Gloria Arroyo Forever

2009-03-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

Charter change only 20 votes shy
Villar: Arroyo’s sons behind Con-ass mode

(Cha Cha is alive and well in the House. If Mikey Arroyo has his way, we will have elections in 2010 indeed. For members of parliament. Announcing the winning candidate from Pampanga! Gloria Macapagal Arroyo!)

By Michael Lim Ubac, Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
03/25/2009

MANILA, Philippines—A move in the House of Representatives to amend the Constitution and bypass the Senate in the process is only 20 votes shy of the required number, indicating a plan to set aside next year’s balloting remains alive, Sen. Manuel Villar said Tuesday.

Villar was referring to the resolution drafted by Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, president of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s party the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), seeking to convene Congress into a constituent assembly (Con-ass) to amend the 1987 Constitution.

“They will continuously try and get all the numbers,” Villar said in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer a day after President Arroyo signed into law a bill providing P11.3 billion for the full automation of the 2010 elections.

Villar said the drive in Congress to abolish the presidential system and give way to a parliamentary or federal system was being pushed by Ms Arroyo’s two sons in Congress—Mikey and Dato.

Asked if the President was involved, Villar said: “I don’t think she will object to it if it’s there already. Right now, she’s leaving the matter to her children. She’s still undecided.”

Mikey told the Inquirer he had not withdrawn his signature from the resolution and that the Charter change (Cha-cha) issue would come to a head “very soon.”

Very soon

Villafuerte is gathering 197 signatures for the resolution before filing it. The number represents three-fourths of the combined Senate and House membership, which he said the Constitution prescribes for any Charter amendment under the Con-ass mode.

“It’s just 20 votes shy,” Villar said of the magic number.

But he pointed out that the House could not go it alone, reminding congressmen that the Constitution contemplated two-thirds of the Senate and the House, voting separately, to amend any provision of the Charter.

The Senate has objected to Con-ass, with majority of senators preferring a constitutional convention after the 2010 elections.

Villar said Ms Arroyo knew that her time in Malacañang was running out.

‘Hawks’ pulling strings

But “hawks” in the Cabinet were pulling the strings so that the administration-controlled House would finally endorse the move which will give Ms Arroyo a fresh new term—either as interim president or prime minister.

Asked if Ms Arroyo’s sons could muster enough votes in the House to force Cha-cha, Villar said it would depend on whether Ms Arroyo would “go all-out.”

Ms Arroyo has not taken a public position on the Con-ass move. Malacañang has said it was staying away from a purely legislative function.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez of Kampi said that the House should be able to tackle the Con-ass resolution upon the resumption of its session on April 13 following the month-long Lenten break.

“We will not be able to come to a decision on the Con-ass if we do not debate it during the plenary. Until then, the issue will continue to hang over our heads,” Suarez said in a press conference.

Senate to SC

Mikey said that there was no reason to declare the Con-ass “dead” until he and the rest of the 180 congressmen who had signed the Con-ass resolution had taken their names off the list of endorsers.

The House interpretation of the majority vote creating a Con-ass is expected to provoke the Senate into seeking a ruling from the Supreme Court.

Should the high court uphold its position, the House will proceed with its move to change the Charter that critics fear could include lifting of term limits.

On Oct. 25, 2006, the Supreme Court dismissed by an 8-7 vote a petition for a “people’s initiative” to amend the Constitution and adopt the parliamentary system, saying it would not allow itself to be a party to a “grand deception.”

The high tribunal then said that it would not allow the Constitution to be “set adrift ... in uncharted waters, to be tossed and turned by every dominant political group of the day.”

With vacancies coming up in the Supreme Court that Ms Arroyo would fill, there are fears that an administration-dominated tribunal could rule in her favor if the Con-ass voting question comes up.

Nograles on way out?

Efforts to revive the Con-ass resolution have spurred rumors that Speaker Prospero Nograles, who has been criticized for his ineffective steering of Charter change, was on his way out.

Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, one of the major sponsors of the resolution, is reported to be meeting with Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. and offering him back his old post as Speaker.

Although De Venecia had a falling out with the President after his son exposed the scuttled NBN-ZTE deal, the administration apparently still considers him the best man to rally support in Congress for Charter change.

Mikey has denied leading efforts to oust Nograles or approaching De Venecia. But he said Nograles should take rumors of his ouster as par for the course.

“The Speaker of the House is the most vulnerable position in Congress because he can be changed anytime by the members once they lose confidence in him, he should know that,” Mikey said.

Best legacy

Villar called on Ms Arroyo to once and for all stop Charter change and spend her remaining months in office working for her legacy—“pull us out of the financial crisis and peaceful transition of power in 2010.”

“That’s the best legacy she can leave. That’s a one-two punch,” he said.

Villar said Ms Arroyo has two other options, besides Charter change: “Declare martial law—I don’t think it’s likely, but there’s still a chance it will be resorted to—and fund a winnable presidential candidate, or she will not support anyone at all.”

He said Ms Arroyo’s support for a friendly successor in Malacañang could be “hidden or declared out in the open.”

Another route

Besides the Con-ass mode, another route was proposed by Nograles under House Resolution No. 737.

In the resolution, he proposes to amend the Constitution’s economic provisions to relax foreign ownership of domestic businesses, including those that the Charter limits to Filipino citizens such as media entities.

Nograles said his resolution would take the legislative process route, which means that after the House approved it, the proposed measure would be sent to the Senate for its own action or concurrence.

The Nograles resolution is up for plenary debate when Congress resumes session next month.

Final baselines bill a “sell out” – Trillanes

2009-03-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Office of Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV

Press Release

09 March 2009

Bicam approves Scarborough Shoals as ‘regime of islands’

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV called the approval of the final version of Senate Bill 2699 or the baselines bill a “sell out.” The Senate approved the bicameral conference committee report classifying both the Scarborough Shoal and Kalayaan Islands as a “regime of islands.”

“The tragic part is, we have no choice but to accept it because of the approaching deadline,” said Trillanes, the bill’s principal author. “Otherwise, we would be forever disqualified from claiming our extended continental shelf (ECS).”

The baselines bill defines the scope of the national territory in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The UN had earlier set May 13, 2009 as the deadline for the submission of the technical details on the Philippines’ claims for the ECS but these should only be based on the official baselines as enacted into law.

His original draft, which included Scarborough Shoal in the archipelagic baselines, was filed as early as August 2007. “And yet the Foreign Relations Committee sat on it for 18 months.”

He lamented the classification of Scarborough Shoal as a ‘regime of islands’ since according to the UNCLOS, a rock like Scarborough Shoal is not entitled to an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and ECS. But Trillanes clarified that the same designation on the Kalayaan Islands does not weaken the Philippines’ claim or sovereignty since islands referred to as ‘regime of islands’ are treated the exact same way as other land territory and thus entitled to an EEZ and ECS.

“The exclusion of Scarborough from the baselines is grossly disadvantageous to our country. We would be depriving ourselves of a sea territory with its continental shelf that is equivalent to roughly 14,500 square kilometers,” Trillanes said. He also noted that the Scarborough Shoal is the traditional fishing ground for past and present Filipino fisher folk.

China is the other claimant to the resource-rich territory.

‘Pressure’ from China

Trillanes alleged that the exclusion of Scarborough Shoal can be attributed to “pressure” from China, which has several investment and development deals with the Arroyo administration. Last year, Trillanes filed a resolution initiating appropriate legislative action against Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita for presiding over a Senate technical working group meeting tackling the bills on the Philippines’ archipelagic baselines, and eventually pushing for Malacanang’s position. He claimed that Ermita violated the constitutionally enshrined principle of separation of powers of the three branches of government.

“Should this be signed into law, we will definitely amend it once GMA is out of power,” Trillanes added.

END

AFP opposition presents alternative leader, program

2009-02-28T04:06:00.000-08:00

ANALYSIS
By Alejandro Lichauco

02/26/2009

In its issue of Feb. 23, the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) carried a full page statement of 10 military organizations and 30 individual signatories declaring that they have “formally united under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Danilo ‘Danny’ Lim.” They enumerated their reasons for their decision to unite. One is that they “aspire for the collective vision of a country of peace, progress and prosperity;” second, that they are fully aware that the country is “slowly being engulfed by the fires of poverty, war and corruption;” third, that they “concede the need to strengthen our ranks in the face of a ruthless enemy;” and fourth, “that they recognize our people’s longing for change and their desire for a new breed of leader.”

Then the statement proceeds to enumerate the reasons they chose General Lim. One is that “he has the essential leadership qualities to steer us toward our vision; second, that “he has the impeccable character to lead with moral authority; and third, that “he has consistently displayed uncommon valor and patriotism in the face of extremely difficult situation.”

The organizations behind the statement are the Bagong Katipunan the Nationalist Army of the Philippines; Soldiers of the Filipino People; Magdalo; Yes, Arms: YOU; Samahang Magdalo; Reblusionaryong Alyansang Makabayan and Guardians.

The statement carried a photo-sketch of Lim.

Needless to say, the statement was an open declaration presenting an alternative political leadership to the Filipino people. In and by itself it was open challenge to the regime and an answer to those who seek an alternative to this government.

The organizations behind the declaration are familiar enough names long associated with a movement within the military — which actually started way back in 1986 — for fundamental changes in political governance. And the individual signatories, too many to enumerate here for reasons of space constraint, are as prominent as they are familiar in the military.

Without question, the statement is fraught with explosive political significance. Never, to the knowledge of this writer, has a group of well known military figures and military protest organization banded together behind one military figure and proclaimed him as the alternative political leader of their choice. In this they have certainly outdone the political opposition which to this day hasn’t proclaimed their leader of choice.

To say that the statement was an open challenge to the incumbent regime is an understatement. It is actually a statement withdrawing their support to the chain of command and although the individual signatories are retired, the signatory organizations are known to harbor within their ranks elements still on active duty.

In openly rallying behind General Lim, who technically remains in active status, the sponsors of the statement have simultaneously rallied behind the ideology which Lim represents and which he articulated only some months ago in a statement read for him by, if memory serves, Bishop Tobias at a formal press conference. The statement, dated Nov. 16, 2008, was in Lim’s handwriting and titled “Not only to listen but to march.”

The statement was literally a call to arms against the regime. But more than a call to arms, it was a declaration of nationalist aspiration and a call for nationalist political leadership.

In that, the declaration differed radically from other statements issued by protesting military organizations against the government. It was, to be specific, more than the common place denunciation against corruption. It went far beyond the issue of corruption and called for a government that would actively promote the nation’s genuine independence from “colonial economic masters.” More particularly, it called for the abandonment of “obscene foreign debt payment policies.” It also called for a program of industrialization as well as a program of food independence. Above all, Lim called for a policy declaration and economic strategy anchored on what he said the principle that “this country’s patrimony and all of our abundant resources are solely for the Filipinos to develop and benefit from.”

The Lim statement was nothing less than a call for revolutionary nationalism. That is what makes the choice of Lim immeasurably significant. In rallying behind Lim, the statement sponsors were automatically endorsing Lim’s call for revolutionary nationalism. And that, you must admit, is without precedent in the history of the AFP, long reputed to be nothing more but the slavish annex of the Pentagon.

At the very least, the PDI-published declaration of the military opposition puts to shame, and renders irrelevant and even absurd, the political opposition, or whatever passes for a political opposition.

Are we seeing a military-led nationalist revolution?

Detained general egged to run for office

2009-02-28T03:56:00.000-08:00

Written by Zaff Solmerin / Correspondent
MONDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2009 22:26

UNDERGROUND movements composed of retired and active military officers and soldiers relived the vision and aspirations of their leader, detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, by appealing to their fellow military officers and soldiers to join the Filipino people to take the path of change.

Composed of 10 organizations, they claimed they are “officially united under the leadership of Danilo ‘Danny’ Lim” and they strongly believed that he has the qualities of being a leader to “face a ruthless enemy” and steer the country to a “collective vision of a country for peace, progress and prosperity.”

“[Lim] has the essential leadership qualities to steer us toward our vision, has the impeccable character to lead with moral authority, and has consistently displayed uncommon valor and patriotism in the face of extremely difficult situations,” the groups said.

Lim is a 1978 West Point graduate. Both he and President Arroyo are considered honorary members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1978.

Lim was a captain when Mrs. Arroyo assumed the presidency in 2001. She promoted Lim four times in four years and in 2005, Lim was already a star-rank officer way ahead of his contemporaries from the PMA.

Lim was not promoted during the administrations of former Presidents Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada owing to his alleged involvement in plots to topple the government.

The so-called U-10 includes Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa, Bagong Katipunan, Nationalist Army of the Philippines, Para sa Bayan, Soldiers of the Filipino People, Magdalo, Young Enlisted Soldiers with Active and Retired Military-Police for Solidarity, Young Officers Union, Samahang Magdalo and Guardians.

Apparently, the statement is pushing Lim to run for public office in the 2010 elections.

Although some news reports said Lim is being pushed to run for either mayor in his hometown Solano or governor of Nueva Vizcaya.

Erenesto Macahiya, national president of 1Ganap (Guardians), said they were pushing Lim to run for a Senate seat.

“We support him for a senatorial bid...he is more persistent sa prinsipyo ng reforms more than [former Army colonel-turned-Senator Gregorio] Honasan,” he said.

“We are telling the people that they should consider Danny Lim as an emerging new leader. We intend to nominate him for senator either with the opposition or to run as an independent,” he added.

In a hand-written statement sent to Camp Aguinaldo reporters, Lim said he recognized the collective support and brevity of the U-10.

“I am humbled by this expression of support. Not one to shirk away from challenges and responsibilities. I accept the mantle of leadership bestowed upon me by the collective wisdom of the leaders and followers of the various reformist groups,” he said.

“I will do justice to the trust, and I commit myself to the attainment of our aspiration for a country of peace, progress and prosperity,” he added.

Lim is among 28 military officers facing a court martial for their alleged link to the February 2006 military uprising that allegedly seek to overthrow Mrs. Arroyo from the presidency.

Among military personalities implicated with the alleged coup try were the former Marines commandant, Maj. Gen. Renato Lim, and Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, who are detained at the jail facility inside the Intelligence Service, Armed Forces compound in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

A day before the supposed “march,” where Lim and his supposed supporters were to appear at the Edsa Shrine to declare their withdrawal of support from the Arroyo presidency, they were ordered arrested inside the main building of the Armed Forces General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

Before the arrest, talks have it that if not for Lim’s refusal to permit a sizable team to storm the main building where the Armed Forces chief of staff holds office the night before February 24 in 2006, Mrs. Arroyo’s presidency could have ended that time.

Another target was the “white house” where the then-Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen. Generoso Senga, resides and where some key military officials had a “lively discussion” whether Mrs. Arroyo should step down. The group was later joined in by Lim and Querubin.

Lim is currently detained together with Magdalo leader former Navy lieutenant senior grade-turned-politician Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV at the Custodial Center of the National Police in Camp Crame.

Both were facing rebellion charges filed before the Regional Trial Court in Makati for their alleged participation in the November 2007 standoff at the Peninsula Manila Hotel in Makati City.

Lim’s charisma among retired military officers and soldiers, including active ones who were members of the U-10, was very strong, as several banners containing Lim’s portrait were very conspicuous along the national highway from Tarlac going to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City, where the cavaliers’ alumni homecoming was held on February 22.

Despite the U-10’s statement of support for Lim, the leadership of the Armed Forces remained unfazed and did not see the group’s united stand as a threat to national security.

“These things that come out will not threaten our national security. It would not endanger national security,” Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres Jr., Armed Forces chief information officer, said.

“I do not see any problem with their move, which I think is an expression of their general aspirations,” he added.

Torres also believed the U-10’s “ruthless enemy” that they were referring to was “economic poverty” that the Filipino people were currently suffering.

“I would like to assume that they are referring to the poverty the country is experiencing,” he said, adding the paid ad was meant to gain media exposure to entice the people to support Lim. He admitted, though, that the statement released by the U-10 would have to be reassessed by the military leadership.

Meanwhile, retired Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez clarified his participation in the published statement of the U-10 as his name and his signature appeared in the advertisement.

“I’m just supporting [the vision and aspirations] of Lim….I feel that if he wants to explore the realm of politics, I think he deserves it,” said Dominguez, adding he would not support any move to overthrow a government.

This only shows, explained Dominguez, that his signature that appears in the statement doesn’t mean he was advocating destabilization move.

“I am not a destabilizer, I was never involved in a plot before. That’s why in the statement, I have no affiliation to which of the groups,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez resigned as Nolcomchief and opted for an early retirement after being “by passed” or “delisted” from the lineup of candidates for Armed Forces chief of staff.

Macahiya also joined the sentiment of Dominguez.

“We are not for the overthrow [of Mrs. Arroyo]. We are united on our call for reform. We feel that the embodiment of a leader guided by the principles of reform like in the person of Lim despite the fact that he is a military man, by the fact that he is incarcerated, he is a man for peace and have a sense of identification,” he said.

Acceptance Statement of BGen Danny Lim

2009-02-25T08:27:00.000-08:00

STATEMENT

23 February 09

I am humbled by this expression of support.

Not one to shirk away from challenges and responsibilities, I accept the mantle of leadership bestowed upon me by the collective wisdom of the leaders and followers of the various reformist groups.

I will do justice to the trust and I commit myself to the attainment of our aspirations for a country of peace, progress and prosperity.

(Sgd) BGen Danilo D. Lim AFP

Declaration of Unity and Solidarity

2009-02-19T21:08:00.000-08:00

PNP requirements to be amended

2009-02-18T06:50:00.000-08:00

Office of Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV
PRESS RELEASE
18 February 2009

A bill that would adjust requirements on education and promotion in the PNP was jointly sponsored by the Committees on Public Order and Illegal Drugs, and Civil Service and Government Reorganization chaired by Senators Gregorio Honasan and Antonio F. Trillanes IV,

respectively.

According to the bill, Philippine National Police (PNP) members facing frivolous lawsuits should still be eligible for promotion.

Trillanes said that if the case against a police officer remains unresolved one year after the determination of probable cause, he or she will be considered for promotion.

“Our police officers are entitled to the rights enjoyed by every other citizen and this includes the

presumption of innocence. Moreover, this bill intends to shield our police officers from legal harassment.” said Trillanes.

Currently, the finding of probable cause in any criminal case filed against a police officer makes him ineligible for promotion. This provision gravely affected the morale of police officers who were filed with frivolous complaints often by the same suspects they have apprehended.

Another amendment to RA 8551 or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 would allow PNP members at least five more years to obtain the minimum educational qualification in the agency.

The new provisions are aimed at improving the effectiveness, efficiency, morale and welfare of the PNP personnel, said Trillanes.

END

Stand by what is right

2009-02-15T09:47:00.000-08:00

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Daily Daily Tribune
03/02/2008

Dear Editor:
There is no way that Gloria Arroyo will relinquish power and everything that goes with it. With the top brass in the AFP and PNP as well as the majority of the House of Representathieves behind her, this illegitimate and immoral President believes she is untouchable. She even intends to remain in power by changing the form of government to parliamentary in a Constitutional Convention where the election for delegates will be rigged to favor her stooges. She will then win as a member of the parliament (MP) in her home province of Pampanga and eventually chosen as the prime minister.
We, the Filipino people, to include those in the AFP and PNP must show our solidarity by joining people power which is embodied in our Constitution to send the strong message to Arroyo that she has already lost her moral authority to govern. We must also realize that “it is the duty of every citizen according to his best capacity to give validity to his convictions in political affairs and that one of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
To those in the higher echelons of government, be guided by the admonition of the great American President Abraham Lincoln: “Stand with anybody that stands RIGHT; stand with him while he is RIGHT and part with him when he goes WRONG.” There is still a chance to redeem yourselves, keep whatever remaining self-respect you have and not lose your soul.

Narciso Limsiaco Ner

Ties that bind a string of scandals

2009-02-15T09:41:00.000-08:00

By Cyril Bonabente
Philippine Daily Inquirer
02/12/2009

MANILA, Philippines—First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo has been implicated in corruption scandals since his wife became President in January 2001.

Just six months after Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the presidency, her former correspondence secretary, Veronica Rodrigo, accused Mike Arroyo and his friends of receiving a P40-million bribe to help recall a presidential veto on two congressional bills.

One bill sought to give Philippine Communication Clearing-house a franchise to operate a clearinghouse through which telecommunication firms could interconnect for a fee. The other bill sought to grant APC Wireless Interface Network a franchise to build a nationwide wireless telecommunication system.

Rodrigo later admitted to the Senate blue ribbon committee that she had no direct knowledge of the alleged bribery.

Alleged misuse of PCSO funds

In October 2001, Sen. Panfilo Lacson accused Mike Arroyo of urging the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to release P250 million in advertising funds, and of using the money to finance the campaign of four administration candidates in the May 2001 senatorial election.

Lacson identified his informant as Robert Rivero, former media consultant of the PCSO.

The Office of the Ombudsman conducted an investigation but suspended its probe after Rivero reportedly failed to substantiate his charges.

Jose Pidal accounts

Lacson struck again in August 2003, this time saying that Mike Arroyo had amassed more than P200 million from contributions to his wife’s vice presidential campaign in 1998 and had deposited the money in secret bank accounts, one of which was under the name Jose Pidal.

In the Senate inquiry that followed, Mike Arroyo’s brother, Ignacio Arroyo Jr., claimed ownership of the Jose Pidal account and repeatedly invoked his right to privacy. He had not yet been elected congressman.

‘Jueteng’

Two confessed “jueteng” bagmen testified in the Senate in June 2005 that the President’s husband was involved in the lucrative illegal numbers game.

But in August that year, Demosthenes Abraham Riva, who testified that Mike Arroyo had given Mario Espinosa, former presidential assistant for Bicol affairs, blessings to operate jueteng in the region, apologized to the President and said: “The First Family had nothing to do with jueteng.”

The other bagman, Richard Garcia, also apologized to Ms Arroyo in a televised news conference but said he was not retracting his earlier statement.

Hello Garci

Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani, one of four generals mentioned in the wiretapped “Hello Garci” conversations, told the Senate in September 2005 that Mike Arroyo had flown twice to Mindanao in a private helicopter a couple of days before the 2004 presidential election to deliver boxes containing about P500 million.

It was in Mindanao where massive electoral fraud was allegedly committed to ensure the victory of Ms Arroyo.

Mike Arroyo cried foul after then House Deputy Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano hinted in August 2006 that a member of the First Family had a multimillion-dollar bank account at the HypoVereins Bank in Germany.

HypoVereins later issued a certification that no member of the Arroyo family had accounts in, or made transactions with, the bank in the past 10 years.

NBN-ZTE deal

In September 2007, Jose de Venecia III testified in the Senate that in March that year, Mike Arroyo thrust a finger inches away from his face and barked at him to “back off” from the National Broadband Network (NBN) project. A company co-founded by De Venecia, Amsterdam Holdings Inc., was then seeking to undertake the project.

In April 2007, the Philippine government signed a $329-million NBN contract with Chinese firm ZTE Corp. De Venecia claimed the contract was overpriced by about $130 million to cover kickbacks, and that $70 million of this would go to the President’s husband.

Mike Arroyo denied the allegation, saying he had only reminded De Venecia that it was inappropriate for the son of the then House Speaker to get involved in government contracts.

Early this month, Lacson released excerpts of a World Bank report indicating that Mike Arroyo, some politicians and public works officials had taken bribes from contractors to ensure that they would bag projects funded by the World Bank under the National Roads Improvement and Management Program.