Skip to content

Month: September 2007

AFP tightens security on detainees as Esperon continues spinning coup tale

Published by Ellen on September 27, 2007

Note: Court martial hearing for the 28 officers involved in the alleged failed February 2006 coup resumes tomorrow at 9 a.m. in Camp Capinpin, Tanay.

Old faces, new recruiters involved in new destab plot

by Victor Reyes

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Wednesday said the same people involved in last year’s failed power grab are among those recruiting officers and enlisted personnel for the latest plan to destabilize the Arroyo government.

Esperon said four active officers were also implicated by four fellow officers whom they tried to recruit. “We have the names of the four officers who made the approach. The four are under surveillance,” he said.

Continue readingAFP tightens security on detainees as Esperon continues spinning coup tale

Neri refuses to tell all in executive session

Published by Ellen on September 26, 2007

neri.jpgA senator said former NEDA chief Romulo Neri said nothing in the executive session convened by the senators after a 12-hour session where Neri invoked executive privilege when asked why NEDA changed its position from BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) to a supply contract which the Chinese firm ZTE was offering.

Neri’s invoking of the executive privilege was on questions which he said could be embarassing to Gloria Arroyo.

The senator said Neri was running a fever.

Continue readingNeri refuses to tell all in executive session

Walang anomalya raw

Published by Ellen on September 26, 2007

(This column was written before the Senate hearing today where Romulo Neri revealed in open session that Abalos offered offered him P200 million and he told Gloria about it. Arroyo didn’t do anything about it.)

Hindi na talaga siguro alam ni Gloria Arroyo ang kanyang gagawin para lang matigil ang balita tungkol sa ma-anomalyang proyekto na ZTE National Broadband Network.

Ipinalabas noong Martes ng Malacañang ang resulta raw ng kanilang imvbestigasyon sa ZTE NBN at ang resulta, tararantaran……. Walang anomalya, walang suhulan.

Continue readingWalang anomalya raw

Neri confirms Abalos bribe offer

Published by Ellen on September 26, 2007

Former NEDA Chief Romulo Neri, testifying before the Senate, said while playing golf with Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, the latter told him, “Sec, may 200 ka dito.”

Abalos, who was also in the Senate, feigned ignorance, “ano ba yan, hindi ko maintindihan. Siya mismo hindi niya masabi kung ano ang 200. 200,000 or 200 million.”

Neri also said that he informed Gloria Arroyo over the phone about Abalos bribe offer. “Chairman Abalos offered me P200 million,” he said the told Arroyo.

Continue readingNeri confirms Abalos bribe offer

Test case for Ombudsman

Published by Ellen on September 25, 2007

Like many citizens of this distressed republic, law-yer Ernesto B. Francisco Jr. who follows the ongoing Senate investigation on multi-billion national broadband network and its seemingly anomalous awarding to the Chinese government-owned firm, ZTE Corporation, is very concerned that certain big personalities and high government officials who have been prominently mentioned as having played a major role in the deal might be spared from investigation especially with the recent announcement of Gloria Arroyo that the project would suspended.

Since he knows the law better than most of us, Francisco last Monday filed a request with the Ombudsman to investigate Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos and Gloria Arroyo’s husband, Mike Arroyo.

Continue readingTest case for Ombudsman

Brewing bribery scandal at the high tribunal

Published by Ellen on September 24, 2007

Update: SC threatens Jake Macasaet with contempt over bribery report

Last week, Malaya publisher Jake Macasaet ran a series of items in his column “Business Circuit” about Cecilia Muñoz Delis, a member of the staff of Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, who got a surprise of her life when she opened a box intended for her boss and found P10 million. Click here (Sept. 18), here (Sept. 19), here (Sept. 20), and “>here (Sept. 21)

Macasaet never mentioned the name of the Supreme Court justice. Newsbreak and TV Patrol, in their stories today, identified the lady justice as Consuelo Ynares-Santiago.

Continue readingBrewing bribery scandal at the high tribunal

Sisipot kaya si Neri sa Senado bukas?

Published by Ellen on September 24, 2007

Marami na ang nangyari mula nang isinumite ko itong kolumn hanggang ngayon. Unang-una, nagpasiya na si Neri na hindi na siya sasama kay Gloria Arroyo sa New York. Ang abangan natin ay, ikuwento ba niya ang buong katotohanan sa Miyerkoles?

Kinumpira ni Romy Neri, dating director ng National Economic Development Authority o NEDA na ngayon ay chair ng Commission on Higher Education, na sinasama siya ni Gloria Arroyo sa kanyang biyahe sa Amerika ngayong araw.

Sabi ni Neri, pinag-iisipan pa raw niya.

Continue readingSisipot kaya si Neri sa Senado bukas?

Protect Romy Neri; Arroyo wants to bring him to New York

Published by Ellen on September 24, 2007

romy-neri.jpgAs I write this, this message is going around:

Please join citizens and civil society groups in holding a vigil at his residence at No. 28 Palale St., Banawe, Quezon City to show our support and prevent the Palace from preventing Romy Neri from testifying on Wednesday.

God bless our nation.
Inquirer report: Neri inclined to go with President

Continue readingProtect Romy Neri; Arroyo wants to bring him to New York