Month: August 2011

Will Lee defend PH sovereignty over Recto Bank in Beijing?

Published by Ellen on August 16, 2011

Update: Domingo Lee was not confirmed by the Commission on Appointments last Aug. 24 which prevents him from assuming his post as ambassador to China before the state visit of President Aquino starting Aug. 30.

To justify his inclusion in the official delegation, the President named Lee presidential adviser for the China visit.

Domingo Lee, President Aquino’s choice as ambassador to China, has been given briefing by the Department of Foreign Affairs in preparation for his taking up the post in Beijing last week of August in time for the President’s state visit to China starting Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.

There cannot be a discussion about Philippine-China relations without touching on the complex issue of conflicting claims in the Spratlys.

When the issue of sovereignty over West Philippine Sea came up, a source said, Lee said that would not be his priority because he will concentrate more on “business, business.”

Aquino has asked Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr to facilitate the confirmation of Lee next week and it is expected that would be done on Aug. 24.

Lim’s resignation puts Mark Lapid issue in Aquino’s court

Published by Ellen on August 14, 2011

Mark Lapid 2 — Mark Lapid: a test of Aquino's 'tuwid na daan' crusade

Now that Bertie Lim will soon be out of the Department of Tourism, the issue about Mark Lapid rests squarely with President Aquino.

People in the DOT are keenly watching the case of Lapid because it would prove to them that the President’s pledge l to lead the people through the “matuwid na daan” is more than just sloganeering.

I would like to make it clear here that the case of Lapid is a separate issue from Lim’s lackluster performance as tourism chief.

I think that quitting the DOT was a good decision for Lim. His one year stint with the DOT showed that he is not cut for that job which requires more than sincerity, honesty and dedication.

Anyway, sometime in May, Lim reported to Aquino about his problem with Lapid, chief operating officer of Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), formerly Philippine Tourism Authority. The report allegedly involved deals with suppliers.

Ang mas masakit na dagok kay Gloria Arroyo

Published by Ellen on August 13, 2011

gloria arroyo neck — An unenviable situation

Habang binabasa ko ang mga report tungkol sa sakit ni Gloria Arroyo, parang naninigas na rin ang aking leeg at likod.

Hindi biro ang sakit sa spine at naintindihan ko ang hirap ng isang maysakit.

Unang dinala si Arroyo sa hospital noong Hulyo 25 nang may naramdaman siyang may naiipit na ugat sa kanyang leeg. Inoperahan siya ngunit pagkatapos ng ilang linggo, nakaramdan siya sakit sa braso. Lumabas sa X-ray natanggal daw sa kinalalagyan ang titatium implant.Mahina na raw kasi ang mga boto ni Arroyo.

Inaayos nila ang implant ngunit pagkatapos ng ilang araw, balik na naman sa ospital si Arroyo dahil may infection daw.

Dahil wala raw ang implant na siyang sumuspurta ng kanyang spine, kinabitan daw si Arroyo ng “halo vest”, mga bilog daw na metal na nakadikit sa kanyang bungo na may mga “bars” na sumuporta ng kanyang leeg.

Lim resignation leaves Lapid ‘safe’?

Published by Ellen on August 13, 2011

VERA Files The resignation of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim has left unresolved the problem with a politically well-connected tourism official he has brought to the…

Astang siga pa rin si Mike Arroyo

Published by Ellen on August 9, 2011

Ganun pala si Mike Arroyo kapag nabubulgar ang mga katarantaduhan- nakakalimutan na may sakit.

Nang dumating mula Hongkong noong Lunes, astang siga siya. Malakas ang hakbang at hindi kinakailangan ang saklay na bitbit ng alalay na sumusunod sa kanya.

Kadalasan, mailap siya sa media. Ngunit sa sobrang inis niya siguro sa mga nagtuturo sa kanya bilang utak ng maraming hindi kanais-nais na transakyun nang nasa kapangyarihan pa sila, nagpa press con siya sa airport.

Sabi niya:“To my detractors, I’m back. You should be ashamed for peddling lies to the public while I was away,” he said at a press conference at the airport. (Sa mga naninira sa akin, bumalik na ako. Mahiya-hiya naman kayo sa mga kasinungalinngan na kinakalat nyo sa publiko habang wala ako.)

Mike Arroyo back, in fighting mood

Published by Ellen on August 8, 2011

Ex-FG Mike Arroyo arrives, hits foes for ‘peddling lies’
abs-cbnNEWS.com

Arrival Aug. 8, 2011 — Thanks to ABS-CBN online for this photo by Raoul Esperas

Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo arrived in Manila on Monday after a medical check-up in Hong Kong last week, saying he is now ready to defend himself from accusations leveled against him by his detractors.

“To my detractors, I’m back. You should be ashamed for peddling lies to the public while I was away,” he said at a press conference at the airport.

He said he is ready to face all accusations hurled against him by what he called a “dictatorial” administration.

Arroyo said he would take legal action against the Aquino government for placing him on the immigration watch list, saying it violates his constitutional right to travel.

The untouchable Jesus Verzosa

Published by Ellen on August 7, 2011

Is it believable that then Philippine National Police Chief, Jesus Versoza, signed the documents for the purchase of three new helicopters in the amount of P104.9 million without knowing that two of those aircraft were second-hand and previously owned by Mike Arroyo, husband of Gloria Arroyo?

Is it also believable that Mike Arroyo would decide to involve PNP in this anomalous deal without making sure that the PNP chief is into his scheme?

The seemingly velvet glove treatment of Verzosa in this anomalous deal that cost the reportedly cash-trapped PNP, and in a larger picture, the Filipino people millions of pesos, is intriguing and disturbing.

Nawala ang pag-asa ni Zubiri nang nawala si Angara sa SET

Published by Ellen on August 6, 2011

Sa totoo lang, kaya naman nag-resign si Migs Zubiri sa Senado dahil alam niyang sa bagong composisyun ng Senate Electoral Tribunal, wala na siyang pag-asa. Wala na kasi ang kanyang mentor at tagapagtanggol, si Sen. Edgardo Angara.

Ang malas pa niya, ang pumalit kay Angara ay si Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, na kung maala-ala natin mula-mula pa noong 2007, naniwala na hindi naman talaga nanalo si Zubiri. Kaya minus one na si Zubiri sa bilang niya sa SET at plus one si Pimentel.

Ang SET, na siyang dumidinig ng protesta sa Senado, ay kinabibilangan ng tatlong Supreme Court justices (Antonio Carpio, Arturo Brion, at Teresita de Castro) at anim na senador na ngayon ay maliban kay Trillanes, sina Pia Cayetano, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Lito Lapid, Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., Gregorio Honasan.

Cash-challenged Philippine Dragon Boat team strikes two golds

Published by Ellen on August 5, 2011

Final score: 5 golds and 2 silver. Mabuhay ang magigiting na Dragon Boat team ng Pilipinas!

I had the pleasure of watching this team, composed of Army men, win the International Dragon Boat race in Boracay last summer. Their dedication to the sport and determination to win honors for the country is so admirable considering that they do not get adequate support from the government.

Congratulations!

In Boracay, while participants from other countries were billeted in resort hotels, the Army team (who was the champion) as well as the Navy team (if I’m correct, it came second) were billeted in public school buildings and were content with economy meals.

Thanks to Philippine Daily Inquirer for the photo by John Bedaure.

PH Dragon Boat team wins 2nd gold medal
abs-cbnNEWS.com

The Philippine Dragon Boat team bagged another gold medal in the ongoing International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) 10th World Championships in Tampa Bay, Florida.

This time, the Filipino paddlers won first place in the Premier 200-meter mixed event with a time of 57.07 seconds.

Ebdane denies ordering Batasan break-in; turns emotional in presscon

Published by Ellen on August 5, 2011

ebdane Aug 5, 2011 — Thanks to GMA News online for photo

Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. turned emotional during a press conference Friday as he denied masterminding the switching of the genuine 2004 elections returns with manufactured ERs by a team composed of members of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police.

Speaking at a news conference held in Iba, Zambales which started with his tribute to former Zambales Rep. Antonio Diaz who passed away Wednesday, Ebdane said his main concern now is his province. “I never thought of my family. Nag-retire ako, pumunta ako rito sa probinsiya with nothing less but the interest of my province.” He choked and quickly left the press con.

Ebdane tried to turn the table against his accuser, Senior Supt. Rafael Santiago by mentioning the electronic bikes and explosives that are allegedly in the position of the former Zambales provincial police director.