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Month: December 2006

The other survey

Published by Ellen on December 26, 2006

Proberz Research and Consultancy, a survey outfit used extensively by former President Fidel V. Ramos, has come out with its survey on senatorial aspirants who have the best chance of winning in the 2004 elections.

Proberz has not yet attained the stature of Social Weather Stations or Pulse Asia but I remember it to be the only survey outfit that had Fernando Poe Jr. leading Arroyo by 4 percent in its exit poll in the May 2004 election,. SWS had Arroyo leading by 8.5 percent.

Election results in Metro Manila proved SWS wrong. Much, much later, after the “Hello Garci” tapes came out, Proberz was proven correct.

Continue readingThe other survey

Garci cleared:another stab on the people’s back

Published by Ellen on December 25, 2006

While the nation was busy observing Christmas, the Department of Justice released its Nov. 14, 2006 decision clearing former Comelec Virgilio Garcillano of charges of perjury and falsification of passport.

Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla, who spearheaded the investigation of Garcillano at the House of Representatives, said the the media release of the decision was timed for “minimal impact on the public.It must be the administration’s Christmas gift for Garci,”

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who filed the case along with a number of opposition congressmes, is not at all suprised. “Malacañang and the DOJ have no choice but to drop the case. If the case were filed in court, Garci will go all over town pointing his fingers at them. They can’t afford Garci telling on them.”

Shades of the Ombudsman’s clearing of Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos in the anomalous Mega-Pacific deal.

Continue readingGarci cleared:another stab on the people’s back

My favorite Christmas story

Published by Ellen on December 24, 2006

My favorite Christmas story is “The Other Wise Man” by Henry Van Dyke, an American clergyman and educator.

Written in 1896, “The Other Wise Man” is also known as the Fourth Wise Man, the one who failed to join The Three Wise Men- Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar – to witness the birth of Jesus Christ.

In Van Dyke’s story, the Fourth Wise Man was Artaban who lived in the city of Ecbatana, in the mountains of Persia (now Iran).

Continue readingMy favorite Christmas story

Makabuluhang Pasko para sa lahat!

Published by Ellen on December 23, 2006

Gusto kong ibahagi sa inyo itong kuwento ng aking kaibigan na si Ching Suva, dating press undersecretary at ngayon ay vice president for public affairs ng Manila Hotel at Manila Bulletin.

Noong isang biyahe ni Pangulong Ramos sa Amerika, nawala ang isang maleta ni Ching na puno ng mga damit at pinamili niyang pasalubong sa mga kamag-anak at kaibigan.

Pumunta si Ching sa simbahan para humingi ng tulong sa Panginoon na makita ang kanyang maleta. Nang nandoon siya sa simbahan, nakatabi niya ang isang ale na halos mangiyak-ngiyak na sa kanyang pagdadasal. Sabi ni Ching, siguro ang laki ng problema ng aleng ito.

Continue readingMakabuluhang Pasko para sa lahat!

Subic rape case fallout

Published by Ellen on December 22, 2006

US cancels military exercises with RP over rape case

By Veronica Uy
Agence France-Presse, INQUIRER.net

THE United States has cancelled its annual joint military exercises with the Philippines due to the continued detention of a US Marine convicted of rape, an embassy spokesman said Friday.

“The custody issue is at the heart of this,” embassy spokesman Matt Lussenhop told INQUIRER.net. “Due to the current custody issue (over the US Marine), the usual protection provided to US servicemembers is in doubt.”

Continue readingSubic rape case fallout

Gloria Arroyo’s chief spook throws lavish party

Published by Ellen on December 22, 2006

Following is Fe Zamora’s story ” Isafp holds lavish Christmas bash with ‘Emperor’ “in today’s issue of Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Decadent!

Update: AFP warned soldiers against solicitation for their Christmas party but played deaf and blind to reports of solicited appliances given away by ISAFP Chief Delfin Bangit in their party last Wednesday.

AMID shouts of “Long Live the Emperor,” Armed Forces intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Delfin Bangit threw P500 bills, like they were candy, at the Isafp (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines) Christmas party held on Wednesday night.

Continue readingGloria Arroyo’s chief spook throws lavish party

Spoken with forked tongue

Published by Ellen on December 21, 2006

We all know that Gloria Arroyo speaks with a forked tongue.

At the 71st anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines she extolled the military under the leadership of AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon: “You have pushed back vested interests, you have upheld military justice, you have maintained command discipline and rallied around the flag.”

Arroyo also said “Transparency is crucial.”

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