Month: March 2012

Mistake in Corona SALN without malice?

Published by Ellen on March 18, 2012

Corona's SALN and bank deposits from Interaksyon — Thanks to Interaksyon.com for the graph.

It seems that the strategy of the defense in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona ’s strategy is leading towards admission that yes, he made “inadvertent mistake” in the filing of his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth but that is not an impeachable offense.

This line of reasoning first surfaced in the March 14 hearing when Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano followed up on the point raised by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV that the issue is not whether the income of the chief justice was huge, or his wealth was earned legitimately or not, but whether what was stated in the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth are true and accurate.

Cuevas replied, “Even assuming there is discrepancy or quite a difference in the making of the return which may be considered inaccurate, Your Honor, that is not a ground, in our thinking, for impeachment.”

Ang sinasabi ng hairstyle

Published by Ellen on March 17, 2012

Itong mga nakaraang linggo, dalawang hairstyle ang nasa front page ng mga diyaryo at umiikot sa Facebook.

Ang isa ay ang hairstyle ni Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco nang siya at tumestigo para sa defense sa impeachment trial ni Chief Justice Renato Corona at ang isa ay yung kay Charice Pempengco, na ngayon ay talaga namang sikat na sikat na sa mundo sa larangan ng pop music.

Si Tiangco, na tumestigo na ang kanyang pork barrel o Priority Development Assistance Fund ay inipit nang hindi siya pumirma sa resolution para i-impeach si Corona ay dumating sa Senado na ang buhok ay parang kulay ng Dalmatian. Hinaluan ng kulay abo at puti ang buhok at nakatayo na parang nagulat.

Sabi nga ng isang kolumnista, sino ito, lalaking Cruella de Ville? Si Cruella de Ville ang kontrabidang karakter na ginampanan ni Glenn Close sa pelikulang 101 Dalmatians.

Still unexplained: The gap between Corona’s wealth and SALN

Published by Ellen on March 15, 2012

Demetrio Vicente inside an SC car — Corona cousin in an SC car

It’s perfectly understandable for Chief Justice to take care of his cousin, Demetrio Vicente, who testified in his favor Tuesday at his impeachment trial.

The 70-year old Vicente is not in the best of health having suffered two strokes and Marikina is quite a distance from the Senate in Pasay City.

But he should have used his personal car, not the vehicle belonging to the Supreme Court,

Solar News reporter Albert Alicer and his crew caught on video Vicente riding in a beige Toyota Camry 1996 model with a red plate SEJ.953 after the impeachment hearings Tuesday evening. The vehicle turned out to be registered with the Supreme Court.

Corona brought cousin Demetrio Vicente home in SC car after trial court testimony

Published by Ellen on March 14, 2012

Solar News caught on video defense witness Demetrio Vicente being ferried home by a Supreme Court vehicle after his testimony at the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona Tuesday evening.

Inquirer apologizes to Vicente for the series of photos of him that they used in their Wednesday issue.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/161513/inquirer-apologizes-to-vicente-readers

Solar News video clips showed Vicente inside the beige Toyota Camry 1996 model with a red plate numbered SEJ.953. A red plate means it’s a government vehicle.

Solar News reporter Albert Alicer and his crew took the video of the vehicle as it was leaving the Senate premises.

Dazed

Published by Ellen on March 13, 2012

Demetrio Vicente — Thanks to Manila Times for photo

If the purpose of the defense in the Corona impeachment trial in presenting its second witness, Demetrio Coronado Vicente, was to render the prosecution, the senator-judges and the public dazed, they succeeded.

I, myself, got dizzy trying to understand the somewhat disorganized business transaction between him and Maria Cristina Corona, wife of Chief Justice Renato Corona. I gave up when Presiding Judge Juan Ponce-Enrile asked him about tax declarations and Vicente replied, “I don’t know.”

To be fair, Vicente seemed sincere. Even guileless. And trusting.

It would be unfair to accuse him of knowingly acting as the Corona’s dummy. Maybe,taken advantaged of.

Vicente, second cousin of Corona, was testifying on his purchase of seven-parcels of land from Corona’s wife, Maria Cristina and her sister Miriam.

Dapat amyendahan ang batas sa menor-de-edad na sangkot sa krimen

Published by Ellen on March 13, 2012

Nakakapanghilakbot, nakakagalit, at nakakasuka ang nangyari sa pitong taong gulang na batang babae na hinalay at pinatay nang dalawang menor-de-edad.

Ang isa sa dalawang nanggahasa ay 17-taong gulang at ang isa naman, ayun sa report, ay Grade 5. Kung pitong taon ang batang lalake nang siya ay Grade 1, mga 11-taong gulang ang batang sinasabing Grade 5.

Dahil menor-de-edad ang mga gumawa ng krimen, hindi sila makukulong dahil meron tayong batas na hindi maaring makulong ang mas mababa sa 18 taon gulang.

Ayun sa report noong Pebrero 20 huling nakita ang biktima na si Clariza Pizara mga ika-lima ng hapon sa harap ng isang sari-sari store sa Barangay San Dionisio, Paranaque City.

Corona’s latest offer: I’ll resign but I keep everything I have

Published by Ellen on March 11, 2012

Benigno Aquino III, Renato Corona, Juan Ponce Enrile — Unfriendly meeting

I find the revelations of Chief Justice Renato Corona of the meetings that he had with President Aquino and other administration stalwarts very interesting. I just wish that he tells the complete story and not just be selective in his sharing with the public.

I also expect the same from Malacañang.

Corona disclosed the proposal of administration ally Sen. Teofisto Guingona for a term sharing with Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, which Guingona denies.

He should also disclose his counter-offers especially the latest ,made through a retired associate justice , that he was willing to resign on condition that he would keep everything that he owns now.
What Corona has only disclosed were his meetings with President Aquino and the Guingonas, father and son.

The Aquino-Corona meeting has been confirmed by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. It took place in July 2010, a few weeks after the latter was sworn into office by Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, in the house of the President’s sister, Pinky Abellada.

Dinidiin ni Corona ang sarili

Published by Ellen on March 10, 2012

May kasabihan tayo na ang isda ay nahuhuli sa sariling bunganga.

Ganyan ang nangyari kay Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Itong nakaraang linggo, nag-media blitz siya. Pa-interview siya kaliwa’t kanan,mula umaga hanggang hapon. Palipat-lipat ng TV at radio stations.

Siguro ay preparasyon ito sa pagpresenta ng kanyang kampo ng mga ebidensya sa impeachment court mula Lunes. O baka naman dahil sa matindi ang dating ng pahayag ng mga kamag-anak na sina Ana Basa at ang 90-taong gulang na madre na si Sister Flory Basa tungkol sa gulo nila sa kanilang mga minanang ari-arian, naisip niya na kailangan din siya magsalita sa media.

Even legends get the jitters

Published by Ellen on March 9, 2012

Another musical event to look forward to.

By Elizabeth Lolarga,VERA Files

It may come as a surprise to some that seasoned pianist Cecile Licad, ballerina Lisa Macuja and singer Lea Salonga, who continue to light up stages here and abroad, confess to pre-concert jitters.

A blunt Licad says, “I’m always agitated and nervous before every show since I was seven. But as I get older, I’m less afraid of screwing up things. Everything in life is not perfect so why not make an art of screwing up? I’d ask the presentor if I can have a siling labuyo (hot chili pepper), I eat it. The taste keeps me awake.”

Salonga shares that she paces a lot before a show starts, apart from warming up her throat, to free herself of nervousness. She adds, “I can’t sit still. I go through the blocking and lyrics in my head. I stay hydrated and don’t talk too much. Praying keeps my calm.”

Romela Bengzon, ambassador for international trade?

Published by Ellen on March 8, 2012

The March 7, 2012 issue of Sydney Morning Herald carried a news item, “Defence firm faces bribe probe “by Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker.

The firm involved is Tenix Defence, Australia’s biggest military contractor, which is under investigation by federal police investigation for allegedly bribing officials and politicians across Asia including the Philippines to win massive contracts.

The article said “A director of Tenix’s Philippines subsidiary, lawyer Romela Bengzon, this week confirmed a police investigation into company contracts. She declined to comment further, citing her ongoing role with Tenix.”

The article further said, “Ms Bengzon is well known to the Australian embassy in Manila and is corporate secretary of the Australian New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines. In 2005, she was made a commissioner to advise on changes to the Philippine constitution. She is now the Philippines ambassador for international trade.”

The last sentence was a shock to me because Bengzon was an ardent supporter of Gloria Arroyo. How did she get the position of “ambassador for international trade” under the Aquino administration?