Month: March 2009

Four out of ten Filipinos oppose Cha-Cha

Published by Ellen on March 26, 2009

As presidential son and Pampanga representative Mikey Arroyo continues to push for charter change, Pulse Asia came out with its latest survey results showing that four out of ten Filipinos are not in favor of amending the Constitution now.

The survey conducted February 2-15, 2009 with 1,200 respondents showed a big plurality of Filipinos (42%) is against charter change now while a sizeable majority (64%) does not think it is appropriate to amend the 1987 Constitution at this time.

The survey showed that 33 percent favor amendments the constituion now, a decrease from the 39 percent in November 2006 and 40 percent in July 2006.

Tiwala lang talaga

Published by Ellen on March 25, 2009

linda-dragon

Kahapon, nasa US Embassy ako dahil schedule ng interview ko para sa renewal ng aking US visa. May na-discover akong isang kalakaran doon na nagpapatibay sa aking tiwala sa Pilipino.

Matagal-tagal na rin akong nakapunta sa visa section ng US Embassy kaya hindi ko alam na bawal na pala ngayon magdala ng cellphone at kung ano-ano pang electronics. Sa mga okasyon kasi na pumupunta kami doon katulad ng July 4 reception o mga press conference, pinapaiwan sa amin sa reception area ang aming mga cellphone.

Nang nandoon na ako (7:30 a.m ang schedule ng aking interview) saka ko pa lang nakita ang karatula na bawal ang cellphone at lahat na electronics equipment mula pa noong March 1, 2007. Malaking problema ko kasi saan ko naman i-iwanan ang aking cellphone? Wala naman akong kasama. Galing pa ako ng Las Piñas.

Arroyo’s ‘consuelo de bobo’ to Gonzalez

Published by Ellen on March 24, 2009

Update: PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago disapproves Marcelino’s leave request due to operational commitments. But Santiago gave him clearance to help in Sulu operation to get back the ICRC hostages from the Abu Sayaff.

See PDEA statement in Comments.

Maj Marcelino, PDEA

When Marine Major Ferdinand Marcelino saw his mother last Saturday upon his arrival from Vienna where he attended an international conference on combatting illegal drugs, she expressed concern over reports that Gloria Arroyo has ordered that he be investigated.

In Mrs. Marcelino’s pure understanding of the way things should be in this world, her son did his job despite odds and pressure, why should he be the one to be investigated?

The order for the investigation of Marcelino, who is detailed with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, was one among the several orders issued by Arroyo based on the recommendation of the three-man fact-finding commission headed by former Supreme Court Justice Carolina Griño-Aquino.

Marcelino dares officials under probe to go on leave

Published by Ellen on March 23, 2009

Marcelino himself goes on leave

Click here for VERA Files story

Marines Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino, head of the Special Enforcement Service of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, yesterday challenged all government officials under investigation to go on leave as a matter of “delicadeza.”

“Kung sa Hapon ito, may mag-harakiri na,” he said.

Marcelino, who exposed the alleged bribery in the Alabang Boys case, said he himself is taking a leave of absence from PDEA after President Arroyo ordered him investigated for “taking into himself the job of prosecutor” by releasing Patrick El Khoury, driver of the vehicle where a drug deal was reportedly consummated.

Arroyo issued the order last week based on the recommendations of a fact-finding board she created to look into the bribery allegations and determine the legality of the conduct of the PDEA operations in September last year that netted the three so-called Alabang Boys.

Gloria Arroyo forever

Published by Ellen on March 23, 2009

Ang balita, nai-insecure na raw si House Speaker Prospero Nograles dahil mukhang hindi bilib and kanyang mga padrino sa Malacañang sa kanyang liderato sa Kongreso. Hindi raw niya naitutulak ng husto ang charter change.

Kaya kinaka-ilangan pumunta si Mikey Arroyo, anak na kongresista ni Gloria at Mike Arroyo, kay dating House Speaker Jose de Venecia para hingi-in ang kanyang tulong dahil kulang pa raw sila ng mga 20 na boto.

Ang usap-usapan nga si Mike Arroyo mismo ang kuma-usap kay JDV at ang ipinangako raw ay ibalik siya sa pagka-speaker.

Tour of Hope 2009

Published by Ellen on March 22, 2009

There’s a way to enjoy the summer sun and still do something for the less fortunate: get involved with Tour of Hope 2009.

On its second year, Tour of Hope is actually an information campaign about cervical cancer through cycling. The five-day cycling event will start in Alabang, Muntinlupa City on May 24 and end in Camarines Sur on May 28.

Taking the Southern Luzon route, the tour will cover 500 kilometers of the country’s scenic countryside including Tagaytay,Lipa,Lucena, Daet. In every stop, there will forums on cervical cancer to be participated in by personnel of the Philippine General Hospital Cancer Institute and Bravehearts, a non-government organization Bravehearts dedicated to raise awareness on
cervical cancer prevention.

Ang motibo

Published by Ellen on March 21, 2009

Wala namang duda na inipit si dating police officer Cezar Mancao para gumawa ng bagong affidavit na siyang nilabas ng administrasyong Arroyo noong isang araw.

Ito namang si Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez. Paimbistigahan pa niya ang pag-leak daw ng dokumento. Sino ba naman ang magli-leak niyan. Sinasabi dalawa lang daw ang kopya ng Pebrero 2009 na affidavit ni Mancao (meron din kasing Marso 2007 na affidavit) . Ang isa ay hawak ng abogado ni Mancao sa Amerika na si Arnedo Valera at ang isa ay kay Gonzalez.

Di ba sinabi ni Gonzalez na nakatago sa vault? Sino ba ang may susi sa vault?

Arroyo orders filing of bribery charge vs Resado but also wants Marcelino investigated

Published by Ellen on March 20, 2009

Update: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency expressed appreciation and gratitude for the partial victory it got on the Alabang Boys case.

PDEA Director General/Senior Undersecretary Dionisio R. Santiago said that the Executive Decision was well-balanced and in the lawful exercise of her authority as the country’s anti-drug czar. “We are happy with the decision and we will abide by the directives issued by the President.’ he said..

Click here for Malacañang press release on Arroyo’s order.

Click here for VERA Files story: Resado faces bribery raps for Alabang Boys resolution

Click here for Inquirer story and here for history of the Alabang Boys case

Gloria Arroyo ordered the filing of bribery charges against State Prosecutor John Resado in connection with the “Alabang Boys” case but also directed that Marine Major Ferdinand Marcelino, head of the Special Enforcement Service of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), be investigated.

In a reversal of the controversial resolution penned by Resado on Dec. 2, 2008 dismissing the complaints against Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson and ordering their immediate release, Arroyo ordered the filing of criminal charges against the three media has dubbed “Alabang Boys” who were caught in possession of illegal drugs Ecstasy, cocaine, and marijuana in a buy-bust operation conducted by PDEA agents on Sept. 20, 2008.

Mancao’s Feb 2009 affidavit

Published by Ellen on March 20, 2009

Downloaded from Inquirer online

*****************************************************

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA )
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA )

AFFIDAVIT

I, CEZAR OCHOCO MANCAO II, of legal age, married, Filipino and presently under the custody of US Federal Marshals at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States of America, after being duly sworn to in accordance with the law, hereby depose and state, to wit:

1. I am the same CEZAR OCHOCO MANCAO II who is one of the several accused in Criminal Case No. 01-191969 pending before Branch 18 of the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines, entitled “PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES versus MICHAEL RAY AQUINO, et al.”, or more popularly known as the DACER-CORBITO DOUBLE MURDER CASE.

2. I am executing this Affidavit to narrate, out of my own personal knowledge, among others, the relevant incidents that transpired in connection with the abduction and death of SALVADOR “BUBBY” DACER and his driver EMMANUEL CORBITO on November 24, 2000, and name the persons responsible therefor,

Signature gathering for Cha-Cha still on

Published by Ellen on March 19, 2009

When a friend told me that the release of convicted child rapist Romeo Jalosjos, former Zamboanga del Norte representative, was connected to the Charter change being pushed by Malacañang, I was skeptical about it because Gloria Arroyo’s political adviser has said that Cha-Cha is dead in the water and they are now focused on the 2010 elections.

Until I talked with former JDV (former House Speaker Jose de Venecia) yesterday to verify rumors that he had met with Mike Arroyo, husband of Gloria Arroyo, and that he would be restored to the speakership in exchange for his help to push for charter change.

JDV vehemently denied that he met with Mike Arroyo and that he had made any compromise deal with him.