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Outbursts from coup suspects mar mutiny hearing

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By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net

Camp Capinpin,Tanay, Rizal — Several outbursts marred Friday’s mutiny hearing for 28 military officers linked to the foiled coup in February 2006, with the accused angered over the handling of the proceedings.

The accused were angered by the military court’s decision to deny First Lieutenant Homer Estolas’ petition to exercise his right to peremptory challenge.

The lead perosecutor, Lieutenant Colonel Jose Feliciano Loy, claimed that Estolas said in the last hearing that he had used his right to peremptory challenge.

Estolas denied this, saying, it was First Lieutenant Sandro Sereno who made that statement.

Addressing Loy, Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin said: “Come here, you liar.”

Then Querubin motioned to Sereno, saying: “Show them your face.”

After he calmed down and took his seat, Querubin said: “Ginagago na nga tayo tatakutin pa tayo [They are already making fools of us, and now they will even scare us].”

A peremptory challenge is the right of the accused before arraignment to eject any member of the military court without laying the grounds.

Marine Lieutenant Colonel Achilles Segumalian told Loy: “You’re brave only when you talk, but you have no balls.”

One of the accused was overheard as saying, “This is just like the elections, they don’t know how to count.”

After a brief recess, the court president, Major General Jogy Leo Fojas told the accused: “You are ordered to observe proper decorum when inside the court.”

He also warned them of “appropriate sanctions” should the officers violate his order.

******************************************************
Esperon liable for ‘breach of discipline’–coup suspects

By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net

CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal — The 28 officers facing court martial for mutiny over the foiled coup in February 2006 turned the tables on
Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr., saying he was the one who could be held liable for “breach of discipline.”

The officers cited Esperon’s alleged involvement in cheating operations that propelled President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to a fresh six-year term in 2004. Esperon has denied the allegations.

Earlier this week, Esperon said the accused officers could be cited for “breach of discipline” when they walked out on their mutiny hearing here last week.

“Mister Esperon, your so-called breach of discipline started in 2004. Only an undisciplined officer would allow himself to be used for cheating,” the 19 Scout Ranger and nine Marine officers said in a statement on Friday.

The walkout was sparked by the decision of the court and military prosecutors to continue with the trial despite the absence of Esperon’s signature on the pre-trial advice (PTA), a document that recommended charging the group with mutiny, overturning findings by pre-trial investigators, who had proposed only lesser charges.

“And now you accuse us of breach of discipline? Is refusal to follow an illegal order a breach of discipline, Mister Esperon?” the officers asked, adding, “You don’t even have the guts to sign your own PTA, and now you say we breached the limits of discipline?”

Tension gripped the resumption of the trial here on Friday as several defense lawyers made good of their threat to boycott the proceedings until Esperon signed the PTA.

The accused refused to stand up when ordered by the court, as Major
General Jogy Leo Fojas, the panel president, swore in one of the panel members, who was absent during the last hearing.

The lead prosecutor, Lieutenant Colonel Jose Feliciano Loy, asked the court to put on record the accused officers’ refusal to stand up.

Defense counsel Robert Gallos asked the court to allow First
Lieutenant Homer Estolas from the Scout Rangers to enter his peremptory challenge, a privilege of the accused wherein he could eject any member of the military court, without laying the grounds, at any time before his arraignment.

Estolas then stood up and addressed the court, saying, “I was not asked. My name was not mentioned. I have not challenged anyone from the court.”

But Loy opposed, saying that based on the transcript of last week’s hearing, Estolas said he has exercised his right to peremptory challenge.

An irked Estolas raised his hand, seeking to answer Loy, but the court did not recognize him. When he stood up, a military policeman motioned him to sit down.

After Estolas took to his seat, Marine Lieutenant Colonel Achilles
Segumalian stood up and confronted the said guard, “Why did you stop him?”

Fojas then ordered a recess to decide whether Estolas should be allowed to enter a peremptory challenge.

As the accused made their way out of the courtroom, Segumalian said out loud: “Colonel Loy, sinungaling [liar].”

Loy asked the court to put Segumalian’s outburst on record, but defense counsel Trixie Cruz-Angeles opposed, saying it could not be done since the court was on recess.

Photo captions:

1.Col. Orlando de Leon (in his damit pantakas, he joked), Col Januario Caringal, Col. Armando Bañez, Col. Ariel Querubin, Col. Nestor Flordeliza (in glasses) being escorted from their detention quarters to the court house.

2. Lt. Homer Estolas, the man of the hour.

3. Lt. Sandro Sereño, Capt. Ervin Divinagracia, Capt. Dante Langkit, Capt. Joey Fontiveros, Col Orlando de Leon, Maj. Jason Aquino.

4. Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and Brig. Gen. Danny Lim

5. Col. Ariel Querubin

6. Atty. Vicente Verdadero.Behind him is Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian

7. Capt. Langkit and Lt. Sereño

8. Lt. Belinda Ferrer

Published inFeb '06Military

340 Comments

  1. Ellen,

    “He also warned them of “appropriate sanctions” should the officers violate his order.”

    Did MGen Fojas mean that the accused would be lined up and shot?

    Stupid idiot — he should be ashamed to wear military uniform and the 2 stars on his shoulders. Only those with principle, honour and courage are allowed to wear the insignias he wears.

  2. Ellen,

    “After he calmed down and took his seat, Querubin said: “Ginagago na nga tayo tatakutin pa tayo [They are already making fools of us, and now they will even scare us].”

    In any legal (not bogus) court martial, such outburst would immediately have been sanctioned. Absolutely no turning around. But why can’t Fojas do anything except to bark? Because he knows damn well, Esperon’s bogus court is in the wrong and Fojas has no balls to enforce even Esperon’s diktat in a legal military forum.

  3. “Marine Lieutenant Colonel Achilles Segumalian told Loy: “You’re brave only when you talk, but you have no balls.””

    Decorum is gone, discipline gone, chain of command gone, etc — time to dismantle Esperon’s military cabal.

  4. Col.Loy refused to admit that they made a mistake; that they missed Lt. Estolas in the roll call for peremptory challenge, which all the accused had to avail of or waive before the members of the court can be constituted.

    Worse, Loy pinned the blame on Lt. Estolas. He said that Lt. Estolas was “misleading” the court when he said he has not exercised his right to peremptory challenge. Which is tantamount to saying Estolas lied.

    Estolas was so angry. He wanted to hit Loy but was prevailed upon by cooler heads.

    He (Estolas) said, “Kaya nga ako nakakulong kasi ayaw ko magsinungaling, tapos sasabihin mo I lied?”

  5. “Never was so much owed by so many to so few…”

  6. When a member of the court took his oath, the accused were told to stand up. Everybody remained on his seat. Not one stood up. Si Gen. Miranda, naka-dikwatro pa!

  7. Anna, yung sabi ni Col. Querubin na “Come here, you liar,” may kasamang hand gesture yan. Itinuro si Loy.

  8. Hard for a military tribunal to withstand the pressure of the powers that be…obvious ,they also follow the chain of command.

  9. “All throughout his trial that lasted for three years, Aquino protested, saying the military court was a creation of Marcos and that he had no chance of a fair trial.”

    “The more things change,the more they remain the same”

  10. “He (Estolas) said, “Kaya nga ako nakakulong kasi ayaw ko magsinungaling, tapos sasabihin mo I lied?””

    Ellen — if you weren’t reporting about this, would be hard to believe that a lieutenant could say anything like that to one who is superior in rank. Gobsmacking! But I don’t blame Estolas (he mustn’t however physically hit his superior whatever the provocation Ellen because that would be unacceptable).

    What did I tell you? The military is being singlehandedly destroyed by the Gloria-Esperon tandem. Can’t believe it!

  11. ellen:your stories on the military trial of these few brave men are so moving.To be honest,they bring back a lot of very painful,personal memories of Military Commission No.2 that tried Ninoy.

  12. “When a member of the court took his oath, the accused were told to stand up. Everybody remained on his seat. Not one stood up. Si Gen. Miranda, naka-dikwatro pa!”

    Sonovabitch!

    Excuse me for the strong language Ellen but I’m just gobsmacked… Ano ang reaction nitong gungong na si Esperon?

    Esperon has got to go — kicked out hard on his backside before the military disintegrates. This sort of thing cannot go on and on, bogus trial, injustice, fake charges, human rights violations of the detainees — no more discipline.

    Pretty soon, you’ll have a gunfire in that court! And boooom! Coup d’état for real…

  13. “Anna, yung sabi ni Col. Querubin na “Come here, you liar,” may kasamang hand gesture yan. Itinuro si Loy.”

    Ellen, ano ang reaction ni Loy? He just swallowed the insult? (Shit, in any military forum worth its salt, that would have been unacceptable but heck, these are different times and the accused are men of honour…)

  14. Ellen napailing na lang ang hubby ko when I read to him your post …

  15. Ito ang matindi:

    During one of the many recesses, when tension was high, Atty. Vic Verdadero told Loy to his face: “Ang utak mo Loy kasing liit ng (male organ) mo.” He even made a hand gesture indicating an inch long.

    Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian, goaded Loy, who was already looking pale. “Ayan, Loy, civilian yan. colonel ka. Hinahamon ka.”

    Loy was looking uneasy.

    Segumalian continued, “Ang tapang-tapang mo magsalita. Wala ka namang bayag. Ang dami mo nang kasalanan. Sinungaling ka.”

    Verdadero was so angry. He told Loy, “Puñeta ka.”

    Loy finally found his voice and shot back, “Puñeta ka rin.”

    Then Loy asked the court to cite Verdadero and Segumalian for contempt of court.

    Atty. Trixie Angeles said: “We object. We are on recess.”

  16. Ellen, in short, 28 combat proven, morally courageous men of honour taking on the entire military top dog establishment… way to go gentlemen! (But they must not get into physically hitting the members of the bogus court whatever the provocation — baka iyan lang hinihintay mangyari ng mga alipores ni Esperon, by any military standard they will be in the wrong if that happens!)

  17. During the five-hour hearing, it was clear that the prosecution made a mistake with Estolas but they refused to admit it.A d they tried to cover it up by more trampling of he rights of the acsued. All the court’s decision was “denied, denied, denied.”

    The court didn’t care that they were trampling on the right of one officer.It was a blatant travestry of justice.

  18. Only five lawyers showed up. Frank Chavez and the rest of the lawyers boycotted the hearing.

  19. ELLEN:I just hope the few brave men will NOT resort to the last resort of desperate,aggrieved men..hunger strike.I’m sure Mr.Esperon is eagerly waiting for that moment.

  20. Ang punyetang si Esperon at ang mga galamay niya ay ginawang palengke ang military! Unbelievable.

    Sabi ng husband ko Ellen, the accused officers like Estolas must hold his anger daw (physically that is) and allow instead an officer of higher rank equal to Loy to fight the verbal fight.

  21. parasabayan parasabayan

    These incarcerated officers are absolutely right when they said that asspweron breached discipline in the military when he participated in the election rigging in 2004. This crime in itself is worth putting him in jail the rest of his life! How can he impose discipline to the military when he himself is rotten to the core! He too have to be responsible for the unsolved judicial killings. Asspweron can not deodorize himself, he stinks very badly!

    I was so ammused with the “de-cuatro” of General Miranda! I can just imagine the anger of these men of honour. If I were in their shoes, I would have reacted the same way, even worse. Nakakakulo talaga ng dugo!

    So Ellen, how did the court end yesterday? Other than the commotions and all.

  22. PSB, “So Ellen, how did the court end yesterday? Other than the commotions and all.”

    All denied, denied, denied. It was so emotionally draining.

  23. Anna, re your question

    “When a member of the court took his oath, the accused were told to stand up. Everybody remained on his seat. Not one stood up. Si Gen. Miranda, naka-dikwatro pa!”

    Sonovabitch!

    Excuse me for the strong language Ellen but I’m just gobsmacked… Ano ang reaction nitong gungong na si Esperon?

    No reaction yet from Esperon. But the court merely said, “it should be put on record that that the accused were told to stand up and they did not stand up.”

  24. All the accused should just boycott the bogus trial — Chavez is right. Nothing good coming out of this stupid court.

  25. Anna, I have to make it clear here. Lt. Estolas did not manifest his anger towards Loy openly the way Col. Querubin did. In fairness to him, although it was obvious he was furious, he tried to control his emotions. He was actually talking with his fellow young officers. We heard it because we were seated near him.

  26. ” “it should be put on record that that the accused were told to stand up and they did not stand up.”” — HAHAHAHAHAH!

    Sa UK yan, accused who refused to stand up would be cited in contempt and then hauled away by military police to military prison. Shows you that the panel CANNOT DO ANYTHING OF THE SORT, i.e., cite the accused in contempt because they are so short on the moral string. Hehehehe!

    28 officers taking on Esperon’s entire top dog military establishment. Uneven fight but as ever, the accused 28 posses the high moral ground and in any battle (like in Dien Bien Phu, Austerlitz, Iena), high ground is key!

  27. “Lt. Estolas did not manifest his anger towards Loy openly the way Col. Querubin did. In fairness to him, although it was obvious he was furious, he tried to control his emotions.”

    Ellen, that’s good! Excellent, Lt Estolas!

  28. parasabayan parasabayan

    Ellen, you said there were only five lawyers present. What kind of representation did the officers who did not have any lawyer representing them had? Could an officer without his lawyer answer the court?

  29. Chabeli Chabeli

    Whoa ! Now this outburst in the hearing is the real bomb that exploded right in the face of Gloria & Esperon ! So what are they going to do ? Tickle Col. Querubin et al ?????

    How THICK faced Gloria & Esperon are to still insist on their way.

    Ans, I agree with you: “Pretty soon, you’ll have a gunfire in that court! And boooom! Coup d’état for real…”

  30. Chabeli Chabeli

    Clap, clap, clap to THE few good men ! Now that is balls ! Esperon? What does he have ? Heeeeehhhhhhee.

  31. PSB,Re:”Ellen, you said there were only five lawyers present. What kind of representation did the officers who did not have any lawyer representing them had?”

    Nothing. They just sat there alternately bored and furious.

    After the hearing, we asked Gen. Miranda for his comment. He said, “What a waste of time.”

    Gen. Lim replied with a question: “What did we achieve today?”

  32. parasabayan parasabayan

    I hope our men of honor will not stoop down to the level of asspweron by their behaviour in court. Watch out, this may be what asspweron wants, TO FURTHER ANGER these men of honor so he can sanction them more! I do not know what else asspweron can do to these already jailed officers though. But asspweron’s wicked so he will think of a way o inflict more pain on these men. Watch out men of honor. This may be what asspweron recently blurted “You better watch out!”. He meant he was going to shove the court martial through your throats and when you fight it, he will inflict more pain on you! He has to protect himself and the tiyanak at all cost! This is like war for asspweron and this may very well be his forte! For the incarcerated men of honor who are combat tested, their skills in “desk” warfare may not be extensive but asspweron’s experience is more of simply plotting behind his desk and never fighting in out in the real battleground. BEWARE OF ASSPWERON’s scheming wicked ways! Although you may have the premise to fight his bogus court, you have a very corrupt AFP, headed by a very corrupt cheat of staff and an illegal president and their motto is “IT HAS TO BE MY WAY”! I hope you will be able to craft a better way to fight asspweron. You only have three months to do this. Take the cue!

  33. Ellen,

    Just viewed the pics! Saw Querubin’s chest… impressive medals!

    Esperon must be damned hiya — to think that the best medal he got was after he helped Gloria cheat in the elections!

    “? What does he have ? ” — Chabs

    Hehehe! Ulo ng karayom according to Magno! Hah! (The medals on his chest made of coke bottle caps.)

  34. Esperon ought to resign now! He’s not only lost the battle, he’s already lost the war against these few men of honour…

  35. parasabayan parasabayan

    Anna, don’t forget that asspweron got his two added stars by cheating for the tiyanak in the 2004 elections!

  36. army ranger army ranger

    Court martial hearing yesterday was a suspense, thrilling. funny, tiring and had the longest 5 minutes breaks.

    They started late and yet after less than one hour the president of the panel said let us have a 5 minute recess that was around 11 am then went on till lunch break and they were back past one pm. After a short exchange of words from defense and prosecution recess again…

    Gen Jogy Leo Fojas, the president of the panel kept on calling someone on the cellphone not only once not only twice but more than five times… (signal inside the court room is off and on). Maybe waiting for instructions from Esperon on what they will do. Bacarro the spokesperson of Esperon was also seen running with his cellphone going to the members of the court…

    Gen Fojas would call thru his cellphone every time he would announce that there would be a 5 minute break.
    If you were to guess… who do you think was on the other line?

  37. army ranger army ranger

    The guards locked the main entrance door, just in case there will be another walkout the officers cant go out.

    When the officers got angry, Col Marcos, LCol Ampig and LCol Galvez were there trying to pacify the officers…

    Even the guards were saying: why dont they just allow Lt Estolas… what are they afraid of…

    Col Loy was very arrogant when he said that Lt Estolas was lying and misleading the court.

    Lt Estolas was irked by the uncalled for remarks of Col Loy. If the officers were not stopped by the lawyers and Col Marcos and LCol Ampig… they would have all approached Col Loy.. what they will do.. we dont know.

  38. army ranger army ranger

    After the shouting incident between Col Loy and Atty Verdadero, and after what he said about LT Estolas which made the officers angry, Col Loy stopped talking and it was Major Ayuyao who did the talking for the prosecution.

  39. army ranger army ranger

    Some were shouting bakla si Col Loy…

  40. army ranger army ranger

    With what happened , Atty Caoile was so depressed and disappointed because he said he can not believe it is happening. He cant believe that the law member and prosecution lawyers have no respect for justice or rule of law. They would always say that if you dont agree then bring it to the proper forum.

  41. parasabayan parasabayan

    Wow, even the court martial is guided by a remote control! Ang tindi talaga ng control ni asspweron. Army Ranger, you mean this panel can not even deliberate without the guidance of “someone” on the cell phone? Why didn’t they just bring asspweron in court para tapos na ang labo labo! If I were these officers, I would bring a life size asspweron dummy in court next time and each time an officer gets mad, he would punch the dummy. This way they have a stress reliever. It would be fun!

  42. army ranger army ranger

    If you have friends or relatives in the supreme court, please talk to them. Please ask their help to please rule on the petitions of the tanay officers with the supreme court. Col Querubin’s petition is en banc while the other cases are with Justice Nachura.

  43. army ranger army ranger

    The officers are just asking for a fair trial.

    With Esperon as the accuser, judge, jury and executioner – the accused do not have any chance of a fair trial or decision.

    Please talk to your friends and relatives in the Supreme Court… to all the justices in the Supreme Court. We need their help very badly. The Supreme Court and Court of Appeals are the only ones who can save these officers from illegal detention and injustices.

    to the Justices of the higher courts… Please we pray please bring back the respect of the AFP to the justice system….

  44. parasabayan parasabayan

    Army Ranger, Atty Caoile should not be depressed or disaapoited otherwise asspweron will be very happy. These men of honor and their lawyers should not be intimidated by this court. Every illegal action that is happening in the court should be brought to either the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court where there are pending cases. Although we all know that the Judiciary are now also corrupted, there will also be a few “men of honor” in the judiciary as well. Maybe our “men of honor” will find their justice with the few principled justices. There is always hope. But the incarcerated officers should document all the actions of this sham court. When evidences are later presented in the “right forum”, the incarcerated officers may be vindicated. Let us continue praying for their strength and courage and patience!

  45. parasabayan parasabayan

    Naku Army Ranger, Justice Nachura is the tiyanak’s latest appointee to the supreme court. He is the same justice who favored and fought for the charter change. Ang malas naman ni Col Querubin yun pa ang natapatan! But maybe he will redeem himself now that he got a higher position in the judiciary. Who knows. Look at Justice Panganiban, he was more objective later. The same is true with Justice Puno. We just hope that Nachura will not be another Davide who secured his pocket book through and through. He is now enjoying his “kinglike” lifestyle in New York by bastardizing the constitution! Will any of the current justices follow his footsteps? I hope not.

  46. Poor Atty Caoile! He must have had the shock of his life — hahahah!

    Whatever one says, there’s been a breakdown in military discipline here. And I imagine Caoile open mouthed! He probably never thought that he would witness such things; must have been so disappointed to witness his fellow jurists in the military, advocates of the law in military uniform and a bunch of military officers behaving in the most atrocious indisciplined manner, so un-military like.

    Onli in da Pililins!

  47. My first impressions of Col. Archie segumalian, borne by his hard remarks (“Gusto lang naman namin, malinis na eleksiyon!”) during the standoff at Marine HQ, remain to this day. He is very capable of striking where it hurt the most: “Ayan, Loy, civilian yan. colonel ka. Hinahamon ka.”

    “Ang tapang-tapang mo magsalita. Wala ka namang bayag. Ang dami mo nang kasalanan. Sinungaling ka”

    Hahaha. May kutob ako, laki dito iyan sa amin. May pagka-hoodlum ang dating. Alaskador pa.

  48. Just so Esperon and his dogs get reminded of who Colonel Ariel Querubin is:

    In 2002, Querubin was awarded Medal of Honor, the military’s highest honor for the most exemplary heroism and sacrifice displayed in combat (It’s like UK’s Victoria Cross).

    For acts of conspicuous courage, gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer, Marine Battalion Landing Team-1, Philippine Marine Corps, Philippine Navy during a 24-hour firefight against an estimated 300 fully armed men belonging to the separatists Moro Islamic Liberation Front at Bgy Inudaran, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte from 18 to 19 March 2000. Tasked to capture the formidable MILF Camp John Mack (ABDULLATEF). Headquarters of the 303rd Brigade, 3rd Field Division of the MILF commanded by the notorious Abdul Rahman G Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo, LIEUTENANT COLONEL QUERUBIN spearheaded the 1st MBLT composed of 117 officers and men in this hazardous mission against the enemy, superior in numbers and mastery of the terrain, and believed responsible for the spate of bombings in Central Mindanao and the siege of and hostage-taking at Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. On or about 181815H March 2000, while enroute to their objective, he and his men were subjected to heavy volume of fire by rebels from their well-entrenched dug outs, bunkers and trenches. Unable to maneuver due to darkness and intense devastating fires from both heavy and light machineguns, B-40 rockets, mortar and snipers, he nevertheless ordered his men to hold the line and directed the Special Operation Squad to close in on the enemy camp and pinpoint its location to the Marines battalion artillery supporting fires, and the V-300 and V-150 armored vehicles to dislodge the enemy from their heavily fortified bunkers. Unmindful of his own safety, LIEUTENANT COLONEL QUERUBIN continuously moved from one forward position to another, thus drawing enemy fires to his own location, purposely to pinpoint enemy targets for their artillery support fires. The battle which had raged continuously until the following day, did not deter him from rallying his men in repulsing wave after wave of enemy reinforcements and continued assaults in their attempt to encircle his unit. Despite dwindling ammunition and increasing casualties on their side, subject officer never lost his aggressive spirit as he continued to move around while urging and inspiring his men, including the wounded to continue crumble. Under his inspiring leadership, his men fought ferociously forcing the enemy’s last line of defense to collapse and sending them scampering to different directions along with their dead and wounded and leaving behind their vaunted rocket launchers and high powered firearms as well as documents of high intelligence value. The capture of Camp John Mack resulted in the neutralization of the MILF’s most strategic staging area for operations and, more importantly, liberated the residents along the coastal municipalities of Lanao del Norte from the oppressive MILF revolutionary collection estimated at P 38M annually. By this gallant deed, LIEUTENANT COLONEL QUERUBIN distinguished himself in combat in the finest tradition of Filipino Soldiery.

  49. Many of our troops have died, are wounded and are still on the battlefront in Mindanao but it seems that while we are losing Phil Marines in Basilan and elsewhere down south, Gloria is carving Mindanao.

    Is she indeed carving Mindanao for Muslim separatists?

    I believe this issue requires the full attention of the Filipino people: the news that RP is set to carve a homeland in Mindano for Muslim separatists. (Why then should we continue to allow our soldiers to die there if Gloria is set on surrendering to the separatists with the help of the Malaysians?)

    What is actually disquieting is that nobody, save for former Philippine Army LtGen Rudy Garcia who is currently negotiating on behalf of the Philippines with parallel rebel army, the MILF alog with a host of Filipino Muslim secessionist armies in Kuala Lumpur, has any idea of the agreement, treaty or whatever contract has been signed between the negotiators …

    I sent an e-mail to Senator Nene Pimentel yesterday to try to find out but even the veteran senator has no idea… I said,

    “Dear Senator,

    Would you know what this whole new “treaty/agreement/contract” covering the “the extent of a territory that would fall under Muslim control in the impoverished Mindanao” is all about?

    Also, what does “fall under Muslim control” mean?

    The good Senator lost no time replying and told me:

    Sorry, anna.

    Am in the dark as to the contents of the supposed agreement.

    Unless clarified, am afraid that the agreement will spawn more problems than it seeks to solve.

    Fraternally,

    nene

    Office of Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr.
    Senate of the Philippines
    Pasay City
    website: http://www.nenepimentel.org
    email: nenepimentel@pldtdsl.net

  50. parasabayan parasabayan

    Anna, ironically, the MILF may get all the camps and land back that Col Querubin and his men had fought for just because the illegal president is giving the MILF everything they want. It looks like the fight in these territories are not over for our brother muslims. Malaysia may just one day annex Mindanao to their country. Isn’t Sabbah theirs now?

    The tiyanak is known to just enter into contracts benefitting her and her dogs. Before the Senate and the citizenry find out about the provisions and yell “FOUL”! For some contracts, it may be too late. Three more years of this “surot” and her dogs selling us to all countries will be extememly detrimental to our country!

  51. Parasabayan,

    Malaysia has annexed Sabah but we have a standing litigation, however I don’t know where we are at today. Difficult to do anything at this stage and Malaysia is militarily prepared while our government it seems is surrendering every bit of territory that you rightly said Querubin and our soldiers fought hard for.

    Yes, you are right, one day, there is a strong chance that Malaysia might just annex Mindanao too.

  52. parasabayan parasabayan

    I wonder how many hectares of very rich fertile Mindanao land will be given to her dogs (this Garcia who is negotiating with Malaysia, Gonzales who had questionable role in the recent death of dozens of our Marines and asspweron and his generals who are enriching themselves big time in the Mindanao operations! Our brother muslims should scrutinize every square inch of the land the tiyanak is generously giving to the MILF. Is she preparing for the two(not one now because she got away with the crime) million votes for whoever she wants to win in the 2010 elections? Everything that this “surot” does has to be scrutinized as she is extremely dishonest and corrupt!

  53. I thought I’d just read your narrative, Ellen, just to update myself on this fraudulent court hearing, but I just can’t help commenting on this.

    It seems that those crooks running the trial do not even know what they are doing, and are simply making themselves look dumb, stupid and spineless.

    I bet they are still trying to study how the Americans do it but cannot find a precedent because I doubt if they have anything like this trial and case in the US.

    Hopeless case, it is indeed! Chavez, et al should demand the suspects (since they apparently cannot even be called “accused” since their supposed crime have not been proven enough for them to be indicted) be released and declare the trial as a sham.

    Time for everybody to get ready for a showdown, I guess. Patalsikin na, now na! Huwag nang hintayin ang 2010 kasi hindi na bababa si Kulimbat!

  54. parasabayan parasabayan

    Yuko, knowing how the tiyanak and asspweron operate, they will twist the facts, make their own laws and make a mockery of the constitution. It will be the civilian courts which will eventually vindicate these soldiers but knowing how corrupted the judicial system is too, it will be a miracle to get justice for these men under the tiyanak’s rule! We just have to pray for a miracle!

  55. Golberg Golberg

    Nyahahahahahahahahahahaha!

    “Loy told the court to put on record Segumalian’s outburst.”

    Paano ilalagay sa tala e on recess nga sila? Hahahahaha!

    Loy, paano ka umabot sa pagiging Lt. Colonel e laki mo palang tanga? Nyahahahahahaha!

  56. On the carving of Midanao/homeland for the Muslim separatists:

    I believe in the principle of self-dtermination by a people, in this case, a distinctly separate ethnic culture, i.e., Muslims, if they want self-determination.

    However, in order to do so without war or further violence, the only way to know whether the majority of the people in the said ethnic group that wants to secede is by way of a credible and fair referendum. A referendum must be held, honest, above board without an iota of cheating involving the Muslim people to ask them whether in fact they want to secede.

    It is infinitely not proper that a parallel army, armed to the teeth should dictate to the Muslim nation (group of people) a process of secession from the Republic through the barrel of a gun, i.e., that they should at all pressure their own kind into accepting their diktat is unacceptable.

    I strongly believe that short of a massive yes vote to secede by referendum by ALL MUSLIMS from Mindanao concerned, the MILF-MNLF-Muslim warlords, Abu Sayyaff bandits should not be allowed to continue to violate the Philippine Constitution.

    I believe that this government has NO right to allow an MILF-MNLF-Abu Sayyaff inspired secessionist move to fluorish, let alone encourage a secessionist movement through utter surrender.

    But if a Muslim nation should arise because the Muslims want it, then so be it. However, there must not be any confusion — the Muslims must express their genuine will through the ballot and not through the barrel of a gun.

  57. cocoy cocoy

    These soldiers are in a tightrope and on the losing ends. The civilian court has no jurisdiction on these military court martial trial.Military court martial is under the executive power.There is no Justice Delayed, Justice Denied in here. The right to trial within a reasonable time is fiction.Under the law “kuno”, persons who are detained pending trial on criminal charges must be tried within a reasonable time or released pending trial. There is no provision guaranteeing the right to trial within a reasonable time in military court martial. If they want speedy trial procedures, such as they are violated, only the military judge has the power to dismiss the charges against them.But, these military judges are all under Esperon.So,talo na naman sila.

    If these soldiers are found guilty, they have the right to have the conviction and sentence reviewed by a higher tribunal according to law. But, who will review their case? It is the Court of Military Commission Review. They will only act with respect to matters of law, that is, not of fact. The Court may only grant relief if an error of law prejudiced a substantial trial right of the accused, and the scope of its review is limited to consideration of whether the final decision was consistent with the standards and procedures. Kaya talo na naman sila,mga tuta na naman ni Esperon ang magre-review ng kaso.

    The lesson to learn in the military uprising, if it’s successful is a coup d’etat.–Angelo Reyes is the author—If it’s a failure, it’s a mutiny.–

    Article of war was promulgated to enforce discipline and obedience in the military. It is not actually a military law. It is designed to punished soldiers who commit crimes and disobedience.

  58. GPS GPS

    “But if a Muslim nation should arise because the Muslims want it, then so be it. However, there must not be any confusion — the Muslims must express their genuine will through the ballot and not through the barrel of a gun”-AdeBrux.

    Maybe like the case of British India becoming Pakistan,India and Bangladesh.

  59. blackdiamond blackdiamond

    Ellen,

    Just a proposal, why not create a Petition on line for the immediate removal of Esperon and or immediate abolition of this court martial proceedings. I am sure a lot of us will support it.

  60. Frankly, what the soldiers say during recess cannot be considered contempt of court although they may be cautioned to stop talking if it is indeed a competent court. (Note the if!)

    Over here in fact, prisoners are not allowed to talk to one another even out of court or when waiting for their turn to appear in court in some court’s waiting room. It is called “protocol,” but then when you have idiots marring any criminal proceedings and making a mockery of any trial, then, they may just as well call it quit!

    But as we have pointed out time and time again, since this court trying the brave soldiers is nothing but a sham, I guess it is alright to ridicule the idiots, dumb and stupid even within listening distance.

    They may just as well go on strike, and boycott the trial.

    Kawawang bansa!

  61. Maybe like the case of British India becoming Pakistan,India and Bangladesh.

    Maybe, but size-wise, there is no comparison. Bangladesh was in fact known as East Pakistan until the Rahman and his friends demanded independence from the government in Islamabad, and the country was named “Bangladesh” after the Bengals, who dominated the people there and spoke a different language from the people in West Pakistan.

    No to the slicing of Mindanao that should remain in Filipino hands regardless of whether or not they are Christians or Moslems!

    Any contracts entered into by the criminal squatting at the palace by the murky river should actually be considered null and void. She has no right at all!

    Patalsikin na, now na!

  62. it will be a miracle to get justice for these men under the tiyanak’s rule! We just have to pray for a miracle!

    Miracles happen, PSB, only when the people have real faith in the Lord above. It does not actually have to be some prayers done by all the people as a matter of fact especially when the majority has in fact dwindled in their faith.

    Remember the story of Lot, and how God told Abraham that He would spare Sodom and Gomorrah if only there would be 10 men having faith to pray to Him? (Genesis 18:17-33) Kaso wala! Thus, the total destruction of those sinful cities.

    I actually find inspiration in that story when I feel despondent and depressed. It helps strengthen my faith that God answers prayers said with a contrite and humble heart. I have no doubt about that. It’s just that answers to prayers in fact are given by the Lord above in His own due time, because He knows best.

    Right now, siguro kailangan pa ng mga pilipino na matotong talaga kaya binigyan sila ng halimaw to rule them. On the other hand, they should be careful not to allow her to lead them to total perdition.

    Meanwhile, I continue to say and pray, Patalsikin na, now na!

  63. GPS GPS

    “Remember the story of Lot, and how God told Abraham that He would spare Sodom and Gomorrah if only there would be 10 men having faith to pray to Him? (Genesis 18:17-33) Kaso wala!” – yuko

    Divine intervention and judgment comes always as a surprise. Huwag masyadong manaya si GMA, “Remember Lot’s Wife”.

  64. cocoy cocoy

    Blackdiamond;
    You can not remove Esperon,unless you remove Gloria’s power first. Any person entering the military, life will be under the military discipline and military law.I used to be under that rule in uniform. The business of soldiers is to fight and prepare to fight wars, not to try civilians for their alleged crimes. Traditionally, military justice has been a rough form of justice emphasizing summary procedures, speedy convictions and stern penalties with a view to maintaining obedience and fighting fitness in the ranks. Because of its very nature and purpose the military must place great emphasis on discipline and efficiency.
    .
    Courts-martial are typically ad hoc bodies appointed by a military officer from among his subordinates. They have always been subject to varying degrees of “command influence.”The officer who convenes the court-martial also has final authority to determine whether charges will be brought in the first place and to pick the board of inquiry, the prosecutor, the defense counsel, and the law officer who serves as legal adviser to the court-martial. In essence, these tribunals are simply executive tribunals whose personnel are in the executive chain of command. Frequently, the members of the court-martial must look to the appointing officer for promotions, advantageous assignments and efficiency ratings in short, for their future progress in the service. Conceding to military personnel that high degree of honesty and sense of justice which nearly all of them undoubtedly have, the members of a court-martial, in the nature of things, do not and cannot have the independence of jurors drawn from the general public or of civilian judges .Military is not a democracy. We as a country have become so “rights” oriented, we have forgotten about the responsibility that comes with rights. As you mature you should learn all mistakes have consequences, some big some not so big. Do you think a major corporation would hire a person that doesn’t work on there interest and profit? as office or management? Of course not!

  65. Sinabi mo pa, GPS. Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt.

    I have a picture of it near some lake that was said to be the site of Sodom and Gomorrah in Israel. It is on top of a hill at the banks of the said lake.

    In the case of the unano, something more grotesque I guess will be her fate. Baka masunog din siya gaya ni Akbar kundi sa Pilipinas, sa impiyerno!

    Sabi nga, “A tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye!” Pinabomba nila si Akbar, iyon din ang aabutin nila, hopefully!

    Kawawa iyong mga pini-frame up nila, at saka iyong mga biktimang hindi na nakatikim ng hustisya!

    Kawawang Pilipinas!

  66. tankdestroyer tankdestroyer

    just wanna ask if a civilian can attend that hearing? thanks

    ang laki pa naman ng respeto ko dati sa mga sundalo… buti na lang meron pa ring iba na pilit ibinabangon ang sandatahan….

  67. Just wondering kung naputol ang ulo at genitals ni Akbar in the blast.

    If so, then iyan ang tunay na higanti ala-Hamurabi kasi iyong mga sundalong pinapatay (not napatay) sa Basilan hindi lang daw mga ulo ang pinutol kundi pati na iyong mga genitals nila. Ganoon katindi!

  68. azcarraga_times azcarraga_times

    cocoy, your views about the military was acceptable several decades ago, but is frowned upon now given the existence of our new constitution. in Oposa vs Factoran, the Supreme Court ruled that the constitution and the ‘civilian’ supreme court shall have legal authority over ALL bodies, transactions and branches of government, including those agencies falling under the executive branch. no particular institution in this country is exempt from the constitution, otherwise, it would be a mockery of justice.

    i agree that the military must have a strict adherence to the law, let me emphasize, ‘the law’. and following illegal orders from a pyscho chief of staff is not ‘the law’. thus, that fidelity to the law must be established well and dichotomized. blind obedience to wrong doing is different from upholding what is right according to our laws.

    esperon is not, cannot and will never be ‘the law’. cos if so, ‘the law’ would be BIG, FAT, and UGLY just like Esperon.

  69. azcarraga_times azcarraga_times

    the military law is ABSOLUTE. no doubt about it. but it is also NEVER ARBITRARY!

  70. Ang sa akin lang, hanggang kailan maghintay ang taongbayan sa kanilang muling pagkilos upang lubusan ng lumaya ang Lupang Hinirang.

    Mahaba na ang kanilang mga buhok. Magpakalbo na naman ba sila?

    Hanggang kalbuhan na lang ba tayo?

  71. cocoy cocoy

    azcarraga_times;

    What does the case of Oposa vs Factoran Supreme court ruling has to do with military court martial? These is an inviromental protection case. Plaintiffs in these case, claim on their right to the full benefit and enjoyment of the countries natural resources, particularly of the virgin forests. They move for the cancellation of the issued existing Timber License Agreements (TLA) as well as the desistance of the Defendant and the officers so authorized from any further issuance or renewal of the same.These is not a precedence case of mutiny and rebellion. These is an inviromental laws not military law.

  72. dandaw dandaw

    11/18/07

    Ellen:

    Whatever happened to the OFW impeachment signatures that was posted in your blog or the whole impeachment process that majority of the Filipinos signed?

  73. azcarraga_times azcarraga_times

    the oposa v factoran case, as ruled by the supreme court, emphasizes the authrority of the supreme court and the philippine constitution over ALL government agencies, branches and transactions including the MILITARY. although the case was about the environment, it implicitly points out that no agency of govt is exempt from the provisions of our constitution. a principle derived from a particular case is not exclusively applicable to the specific case resolved, instead, may also be used as basis for other cases.

    in this case, the issue of whether or not the constitution applies to the military court is brought to the fore. and because of the oposa v factoran ruling, we say that the constitution and the supreme court has authority over it contrary to what you say. thus, ur contention that a military tribunal does not find basis from the constitution since it is an executive arm is false and bereft of intelligent thought or analysis. an average reasonable person would understand this point clearly.

  74. azcarraga_times azcarraga_times

    even the executive arm, and all agencies connected thereto has to abide by the rules of the constitution and the rulings of the supreme court. not even the military is excused.

    when you say: “We as a country have become so “rights” oriented”, what do you mean? should we forgo of our rights to give way to the discipline and all the military crap you wanna have? you should know that when we crafted the 1987 constitution, we did so mindful of what we, as a society, wanted to achieve. we therefore established the bill of rights. in international law, these provisions are comparable to JUS COGENS norms. they are above all else. why? probably because we envision a society with people bearing those rights freely. all our economic agenda, military actions, government legislation, etc etc are geared towards achieving the fullness of the bill of rights.

    how can you trivialize our rights as being rights oriented?thats a silly fascist argument, any free thinking person would outrightly reject. rights are constructed for the benefit of society in general, not cos it benefits a few. as long as these rights do not violate other rights, they must be upheld. he who trivializes these rights should find another society to be part of.

    cocoy, to you, the so called ‘rights’ may mean nothing. to your fellow filipinos, these rights means their lives, liberties and properties. careful with how you brand our rights, in the first place, it wasnt you who fought for them so that our society could have them. so if you do not agree with how things are in these coutnry, find another country. try kosovo, iran, rwanda, afghanistan, haiti. in these countries, there are no such things as rights. Go! you are free to leave.

  75. cocoy cocoy

    azcarraga;
    So,is that the way how you handle your argument? Chase me out in my country if you don’t agree with my opinion. Don’t you worry, and you don’t have to chase me out, because I’ve been long gone since the corrupt politicians prostituted the constitution in our country with so many version of 1935,1971,1987 or who knows which is real .Politically correct people can’t stand reality or see that things have evolved to be as they are for good reasons. Politically correct people remind me of ostriches – they bury their heads in the sand and then proceed to talk out of the only orifice still remains above ground.

    So don’t let anyone fool you that political correctness is just about being nice to people, tolerant and treating them with proper respect. That’s called good manners. Political correctness has been deliberately designed to subvert free speech, debate and common sense, replacing these with a ruthlessly enforced set of left wing ideas. Politically correct people are the most intolerant of all people and have the worst manners. They refuse to debate subjects ,as their views don’t stand up to the most elementary scrutiny, preferring just to scream abuse at you. To read more about how political correctness has replaced idiotic politics and how it affects specific subjects, just select them on the sidebar. In case you get too depressed doing so.

  76. cocoy cocoy

    azcarraga;

    The Philippine Supreme Court have unanimously agreed that the commander-in-chief clause vests on the President, as commander-in-chief, absolute authority over the persons and actions of the members of the armed forces. The armed forces maintain an autonomous military justice system. Military courts are under the authority of the judge advocate general of the armed forces, who is also responsible for the prosecutorial function in the military courts. Military courts operate under their own procedures but are required to accord the accused the same constitutional safeguards received by civilians. Military tribunals have jurisdiction over all active duty members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. So, which article in the 1987 constitution that the Supreme Court has jurisdiction under military court martial? Under the Constitution, the government is divided into executive, legislative, and judicial departments. The separation of powers is based on the theory of checks and balances. How can the case of Oposa vs Factoran Supreme court ruling has to do with military court martial? Where is the precedence case or a similar case of rebellion, mutiny or conduct of unbecoming applies in this case.Also,no one can chase me out in a country which I am a citizen,where I own properties and pay my taxes.Think!Think! and Think!

  77. Valdemar Valdemar

    …while in a Christian setting, even the court lies.

  78. CaseBlue CaseBlue

    The Supreme Court can intervene in the military court martial only if it is shown that there was grave abuse of discretion. The 1987 Constitution expanded the judicial power of the Supreme Court to include the authority to look into the actions of all branches and agencies of the government, which includes the military, if they were committed with grave abuse of discretion. Chief Justice Puno appears to be a civil libertarian. We can only wait and see if the Supreme Court will muster the courage to disband what appears to be an illegally constituted court martial.

  79. CaseBlue CaseBlue

    Addendum: The power of the Supreme Court to determine if grave abuse of discretion was committed by any branch or instrumentality of the government is found in Article VIII, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution. This provision is unique and is not found in any of the country’s previous constitutions. The legality of the court martial can be questioned under this article. If I am not mistaken, the accused officers have already filed a petition before the Supreme Court.

  80. klingon klingon

    Messrs. Cocoy and Azcarrraga,
    I think you are both correct. The courts can intervene in cases of grave abuse of discretion, and this may be such a case. The accused have pending petitions before the Supreme Court for certiorari and habeas corpus. However, in the absence of a TRO, the lawyers must continue to fight it out in the court martial.

    Sir cocoy is correct in that the military tribunals are primarily set up to address matters of discipline. The Manual on Courts Martial however, is clear that even the tribunal must adhere to the Articles of War and the Manual in following procedure, otherwise, they too will be liable for their own disciplinary case.

    sir Azcarraga is also correct because the tribunal does not exist in a vacuum. Even the courts martial admit of the constitutional requirements of due process, the presumption of innocence, etc and it states so in the Manual.

  81. azcarraga_times azcarraga_times

    furthermore, section 3, article 2 of the constitution says: Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. sec 11 says: the state values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for HUMAN RIGHTS. note, EVERY human person without exception to military officers.

    no person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspriations.

    all members of the armed forces shall take an oath or affirmation to uphold and defend this constitution. note, the word UPHOLD this constitution. how, then, can this constitution not apply to that court martial when it functions precisely because of this set of laws?

  82. cocoy cocoy

    the President would have the power to impose court-martial proceedings under the backing of the Commander-in-Chief clause.Yet if there is an enabling law passed, such as Commonwealth Act No. 408, then the President is bound to exercise the power to prescribe court-martial proceedings only within the limits imposed by the law. These precepts should not preclude the President from mandating other forms of military discipline, but if the choice is to subject the soldier concerned to court-martial, then such proceedings should ensue within the boundaries determined by the legislature under Commonwealth Act No. 408

    Commonwealth Act No. 408,article 1 as amended, otherwise known as the Articles of War, the term “officer” is “construed to refer to a commissioned officer.

    Art. 2. Persons Subject to Military Law. – The following persons are subject to these articles and shall be understood as included in the term “any person subject to military law” or “persons subject to military law,” whenever used in these articles:

    (a) All officers and soldiers in the active service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or of the Philippine Constabulary, all members of the reserve force, from the dates of their call to active duty and while on such active duty; all trainees undergoing military instructions; and all other persons lawfully called, drafted, or ordered into, or to duty or for training in the said service, from the dates they are required by the terms of the call, draft, or order to obey the same

  83. cocoy cocoy

    On Section 1 of R.A. No. 7055.

    SEC. 1. Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other persons subject to military law, including members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Units, who commit crimes or offenses penalized under the Revised Penal Code, other special penal laws, or local government ordinances, regardless of whether or not civilians are co-accused, victims, or offended parties, which may be natural or juridical persons, shall be tried by the proper civil court, except when the offense, as determined before arraignment by the civil court, is service-connected, in which case, the offense shall be tried by court-martial, Provided, That the President of the Philippines may, in the interest of justice, order or direct at any time before arraignment that any such crimes or offenses be tried by the proper civil courts.

    As used in this Section, service-connected crimes or offenses shall be limited to those defined in Articles 54 to 70, Articles 72 to 92, and Articles 95 to 97 of Commonwealth Act No. 408, as amended. In imposing the penalty for such crimes or offenses, the court-martial may take into consideration the penalty prescribed therefor in the Revised Penal Code, other special laws, or local government ordinances.

  84. cocoy cocoy

    Section 1 of R.A. No. 7055, quoted above, is clear and unambiguous. First, it lays down the general rule that members of the AFP and other persons subject to military law, including members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Units, who commit crimes or offenses penalized under the Revised Penal Code (like coup d’etat), other special penal laws, or local ordinances shall be tried by the proper civil court. Next, it provides the exception to the general rule, i.e., where the civil court, before arraignment, has determined the offense to be service-connected, then the offending soldier shall be tried by a court martial. Lastly, the law states an exception to the exception, i.e., where the President of the Philippines, in the interest of justice, directs before arraignment that any such crimes or offenses be tried by the proper civil court.

    The second paragraph of the same provision further identifies the “service-connected crimes or offenses” as “limited to those defined in Articles 54 to 70, Articles 72 to 92, and Articles 95 to 97” of the Articles of War. Violations of these specified Articles are triable by court martial. This delineates the jurisdiction between the civil courts and the court martial over crimes or offenses committed by military personnel.

  85. cocoy cocoy

    Such delineation of jurisdiction by R.A. No. 7055 is necessary to preserve the peculiar nature of military justice system over military personnel charged with service-connected offenses. The military justice system is disciplinary in nature, aimed at achieving the highest form of discipline in order to ensure the highest degree of military efficiency. Military law is established not merely to enforce discipline in times of war, but also to preserve the tranquility and security of the State in time of peace; for there is nothing more dangerous to the public peace and safety than a licentious and undisciplined military body. The administration of military justice has been universally practiced. Since time immemorial, all the armies in almost all countries of the world look upon the power of military law and its administration as the most effective means of enforcing discipline. For this reason, the court martial has become invariably an indispensable part of any organized armed forces, it being the most potent agency in enforcing discipline both in peace and in war.

  86. azcarraga_times azcarraga_times

    nevertheless, the 1987 constitution will and should always prevail. if particular statutes or enactments fall contrary to 1987, then they cannot apply. the charter has been crafted as a response to an abusive military during martial law, needless to say, it has become the best safeguard against tyrannical institutions. if military law for all its intents and purposes should be absolute, then it can never be arbitrary, moreso, contrary to fundamental provisions of our charter.

  87. azcarraga_times azcarraga_times

    a great chinese philosopher once said that the fool is one who is too fixated on the finger pointing to the moon, rather than the moon itself.

    the specific provisions of our laws, systems of justice and other juridical structures are mere instruments meant to protect and uphold certain values such as justice, truth and freedom. the law should never be used to circumvent the very values it seeks to uphold. we must be focused on the right things. thanks to the 1987 constitution, though imperfect, we can now set our eyes on what matters most.

    military discipline, again, is meaningless if it is enforced by people not bearing the discipline they seek to enforce. Esperon, for instance, cannot even make two laps in his own oval for fear of a heart attack. he cannot even discipline his diet, exercise habbits and tactless comments. that ugly loser cannot even keep his hands off military coffers, he cannot even reach his targets nor can he control his tears. what right does he have now to enforce that discipline?

    to give us a glimpse of reality, our military institution is far from being disciplined having been implicated in corruption and cheating scams. there is therefore no sense in following military law intended to achieve discipline cos the criminal gang in it perpetuates and embodies indiscipline. i refuse to be too fixated on the law cos in this country it only protects the privileged few. instead of being trapped by it, we must continue to gear our actions towards the very values all these are for. and begin to solve the real problems of our country.

  88. azcarraga_times azcarraga_times

    to start with, get the diablos out of power. second, create a meaningful, patriotic and reform-oriented regime. third, reform the national pysche and consciousness through intense educational reform, better budget prioritization, and intolerance for corruption. and when all the work has been done, leave it all up to the Almighty.

  89. GPS GPS

    “I think you are both correct.”- klingon

    I think so too.The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over any case, civilian or military with regards to the constitutionality of any issue and “grave abuse of discretionon of any branch or instrumentality of the Government.”
    On the other hand, the Supreme Court cannot and will not engage itself in any judicial process to determine the facts of the case. A good example to note is the Supreme Court decision regarding the Magdalo soldier’s case:

    “This Court holds that herein respondents have the authority in convening a court martial…”
    “It stressed that there was no dispute that petitioners, being AFP officers, are subject to military law…”-
    (GR No. 164007, Gonzales, et al. v. Abaya and Sarmiento, Jr., August 10, 2006).

    The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is shown by the fact that the Supreme Court took cognizance of the petition and did not outrightly dismissed the said petition and instead made a ruling in favor of the authority of the Chief of Staff to convene a court martial.

  90. cocoy cocoy

    Klingon and GPS:

    The key controversies are the scope and depth of its interpretation. We might look at it and says its unconstitutional. We may be right or we be wrong. There is a long history of the supreme courts not wanting to intercede under president executives orders into despotic law. But other have looked at and think it might be constitutional especially if they are on the payroll of Arroyo. But, the Supreme Court in its ruling in case that things would have been different in its ruling if civilians were being prosecuted in time of war, In the face of an actively hostile enemy, military commanders necessarily have broad power over persons on the battlefront.

    Predicting what the Supreme Court may or may not rule seems a lot like predicting the lottery. We won’t know until there is a test case. Until then, it’s the law of the land. Anyone who tells to ignore the law because it might be unconstitutional is giving bad advice. An important underlying issue, that illustrates the change, is that we can be very certain that the Supreme Court, however it might rule, is not going to state that the previous state of confusion and accountability should be returned to. Whatever the outcome, things get clarified. Also, whomever, is that test case person is going to be inside the legal system, rather than getting away scot-free, as has been the case for many incidents so far.

  91. klingon klingon

    I take it you’re not in favor of the lawyers’ walkout, then? I really would like to hear your thoughts on that. Actually from both you and Mr. Azcarraga.

  92. klingon klingon

    GPS, its also in Navales versus Abaya, sorry, don’t have the citation, also a Magdalo case, one of the issues dealt with the determination of the prescriptive period for arraignment.

  93. cocoy cocoy

    Klingon:

    As long as these soldiers are all still receiving their compensation and their military pay check goes to the family,it’s okey.To me, lawyers walk out is an illegal tactics of buying time and prolonging the time on a court martial proceeding. this lawyer know that these soldiers don’t have slim chance to present there case, while Esperon is holding the big gun. But, it does their clients a favor. To me if these court martial will convene on speedy pace and they lost the case, Esperon and Gloria will line all these soldiers in about face formation and command all the members of the firing squad to pull the trigger if they will be found guilty. Maybe, by 2010 we have a new president who’ll be compassionate to these soldiers and dismiss the case with 20 push-ups and send them back to their mother unit.Being guilty under the article of war diminish soldiers moral.

  94. azcarraga_times azcarraga_times

    based on my readings of the incident, i think the lawyers asked to be excused for various professional and personal reasons, amongst them, the blatant partiality of the tribunal. any person, for fear of not being able to contain his frustrations/anger/disgust, should be allowed to leave the premises for both practical and symbolic reasons.

    the right to due process, in the case of the tanay 28, is said to have been violated by the denial of every motion from the defense panel. it is also clear how the prosecution, whether or not they present valid arguments, are favored affectionately by the panel. the lawyers asking to be excused is therefore justified. if they cannot find justice in that court, they could else where.

    the irony of it all is brought to the fore. the court martial claims to gather its authority from the ‘rules’ of military law, the same law they continue to violate shamelessly without conscientious deliberation every time they deny the motions of the accused.

  95. azcarraga_times azcarraga_times

    as to the comment that Esperon has the big guns and the accused do not have a case to present. i think such comment is incredibly unfair given the fact that based on judicial facts and the merits of the case, the PTI board cleared most of them of high crimes and instead recommended charges punishable only by a ‘reprimand’, thus, incarceration is not necessary.

    the walk out cannot be illegal, we have the freedom to move. besides, the lawyers asked to be excused and their motion was granted by General Fojas. how can it be an illegal tactic when the president excused them?

    speaking of firing squads, do you honestly think a soldier would have the guts to fire on these gentlemen? they cannot even contain a walkout, what more shooting at them. you know, mr cocoy, the contributions of these officers to philippine society is indispensable and greater than you can imagine. their medals will speak for them. people like you and me, who have yet to make significant sacrifices for our country, better quit speculating on their guilt and instead focus on the abuses done to them. they are still innocent, no proof as to their guilt has been made yet.

    and besides, do you honestly think Esperon is that tough? a guy who spent less than 4 years in the battle field, who’s medals cannot compare to a captain accused, who’s highest medal came from doing a desk job, who weighs 80 pounds more than he should, who cheats and lies and cries? besides, Esperon is retiring in roughly 80 days. after 80 days, no one will be left sucking up to his position and power. after 80 days, Esperon loses everything. he will end up a sad and lonely old grouch. he may have succeeded in making people fear him, but he never succeeded in winning the love of his troops. Machiavellian he may be, but he will die a lonely man.

  96. klingon klingon

    I dont’ think Mr. Cocoy was saying that they dont have a case. He was saying that with Esperon around, they would not be able to present their case fairly. But you both agree that the walk-out was a valid expression by the lawyers. I’m more worried about the speed with which these men will be convicted without their lawyers, and convicted they surely will be. They might become early Christmas presents from the court martial panel to Esperon.

  97. klingon klingon

    Dont also discount how angry Esperon is at these officers. There may no longer be any death penalty, but there are rumors about what Esperon wants for these officers.

  98. CaseBlue CaseBlue

    The problem is that the Articles of War (Commonwealth Act No. 308) and the Manual of Courts Martial are outmoded and anachronistic. It is prone to abuse. No less that the Supreme Court en banc has declared this in the case of Abadia v. Court of Appeals (GR No. 105597, Sept. 23, 1994).

    The Supreme Court compared the US Uniform Code of Military Justice, which it found to be progressive when it comes to the rights of an accused, and our Articles of War, which is outmoded and draconian in character. Legislative action is required to introduce reforms in the military justice system.

    Under the present set-up, it is most unlikely that the Tanay 28 will get a fair trial. The cards are stacked in favor of the prosecution since a verdict will have to be approved by the convening authority General Esperon. Their lawyers should do all they can to delay the proceedings while awaiting a verdict from the Supreme Court on the legality of the court martial as well as the retirement of General Esperon.

  99. klingon klingon

    Yeah, but a walk-out doesnt delay the trial. It will hasten it, and Esperon will wave the decision around saying, these guys are guilty. We know it isn’t ture, but Cocoy is right. Its a terrible blow and puts these men in an even worse position than before.

  100. The Supreme Court is THE Supreme of All Courts, civilian and military.

    Assperon only knows one thing. He considers himself as a Supreme Being.

    Pweeeehhh!

    Sarap tadyakan.

  101. GPS GPS

    “Legislative action is required to introduce reforms in the military justice system.” – caseblue

    I think Senator Biazon has a pending bill regarding the reforms and amendments of the said Articles of War.

  102. Lets face it, the judiciary, both civil & military are proving to be in a mess the PNP find it difficult to follow their own rules and regulations when investigating and the AFP also find it difficult to follow their own rules even in their kangaroo court martial.
    Once again the question arises, who monitors the PNP & AFP especially their adherence to their own laws, rules and regulations, anybody we know?

  103. Do these Leaders of the PNP & AFP have a Job descriptions of lists of the general tasks, or functions, and responsibilities of their position?.
    Typically, these job descriptions also include the name and position to whom they report to. Its called being professional.

  104. It is a fact that the London Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) has a manual they call ‘General Orders’ that covers all and every question possible in any permutation to be able to answer with exact wording all questions on laws passed by Parliment complete with Acts & Sections, together with police internal rules and regulations and procedures. This ‘General Orders’ is constantly ammended the very moment any change is made. There is no doubt in my mind that the British Army has a similar reference.

  105. If you give it some thought, the ‘General Orders’ and following it to the letter is the start to having an efficient PNP & AFP. But first they need to write it, then follow it. Not impossible!

  106. Meanwhile they can go to the London web site to learn what is required to efficiently serve the public, its all there complete.

  107. cocoy cocoy

    Thanks klingon! That’s the same response I have for azcarraga.

  108. Off topic: I just learned that Gloria is going to Spain on a state visit sometime early December and then following it up with a rigodon in Paris so let’s hope El Rey Juan Carlos will read your blog.

    (She is gonna be sipping tea as well with Elizabeth I Regina too — wonder why these monarchs are wasting their time… maybe they wanna have fun and see for themselves a real-living clown, what with court jesters not existing anymore.)

  109. cocoy cocoy

    people like you and me, who have yet to make significant sacrifices for our country, better quit speculating on their guilt and instead focus on the abuses done to them. they are still innocent, no proof as to their guilt has been made yet.—-Azcarraga;

    I guess the khaki military uniform I used to wear being part of defending American freedom has no match to the significant and sacrifices for my country,Ha! My eldest brother death during vietnam war was then in vain and my uncle sacrifices losing limbs during WWII under Japs occupation has no meaning .If that’s the case on your thought, therefore we are a family of unpatriotic people and undesirable citizen in a freedom society.

  110. Cocoy, Este, Atty. Cocoy,
    Pambihira ka, pag may ka-debate ka, diretso ingles mo, pati spelling tama!

  111. cocoy cocoy

    Tongue;
    Galing sa strayt ruler mo iyan.Hehehehehe!

  112. Valdemar Valdemar

    Patriots? Wait when they get the visas. Pity my neighbor, aint no patriot, just he cant leave, he cant get a US visa.

  113. dandaw dandaw

    Prince Juan Carlos and Queen Elizabeth are fools to receive that pretender to the Presidency of the Philippines. Pandak can fool a lot of people. She has no shame or decency. Swetik talaga.

    AFP PLACES NEWSMEN COVERING COURT MARTIAL OF ‘PLOTTERS’ UNDER SURVEILLANCE. Democracy is sure dead in the Philippines.

  114. nelbar nelbar

    ANO!

    AFP PLACES NEWSMEN COVERING COURT MARTIAL OF ‘PLOTTERS’ UNDER SURVEILLANCE

     
    ayaw na nila ng uzi.

    isuzu o suzuki yata ang gusto nila?

    mga sasakyan pala?

    ah oo, hindi na nga pala pwede ang kabayo.

    may nabasa kasi ako, heto:

    “kabayo, pinalo ng pinalo hanggang sa inabot ang sukdulan ng pagkahapo, bumigay din.”

    kailan magiging puti ang sneakers na chocoleyt?

    kapag kumagat sa queso ang daga!

  115. Mrivera Mrivera

    magandang araw sa inyong lahat!

    hindi pa pala kinakapon ang supot na si esPWEron?

  116. Mrivera Mrivera

    tatablan pa kaya ng hiya?

    Esperon urged to quit post or risk gov’t destabilization

    11/18/2007

    Reformists in the military and Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday urged Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to quit his post this early, saying his prolonged stay in office is fueling disgust and open disobedience from the idealists men in uniform, a development which could escalate and end up destabilizing the Arroyo government.

    During a phone interview, Young Enlisted Soldiers Active and Retired Military Police for Solidarity (YesArms) spokesman retired Commodore Ismael Aparri said Esperon is violating the law, citing the first time in the history of military service where the former refused to sign the pre-trial advice (PTA), which would legally allow the court-martial proceedings against military officers involved in an alleged plot of withdrawal of support from Mrs. Arroyo in February 2006 to push through.

    http://www.tribune.net.ph/20071118/nation/20071118nat1.html

    ellen,

    puwedeng malaman ang contact address ng YesArms? i might have some former colleagues who are members of said organization. i would like to sign in as a member. please?

  117. Ka Magno,

    Maligayang pagbabalik-loob! Saan ka ga ipinadpad ng panahon?

    Kumusta si Ka Emil?

  118. cocoy cocoy

    Pareng Enchong:
    Akala ko ba ay ikorporal panismint mo si Pareng Magno,dahil hindi ipinapirmahan sa iyo ang leave pass niya at na-awol na sila ni pareng Emil.
    Welkam back Pareng Magno.Matagal kayong nawala,ah! saan mo ba dinala si Chi?Nawawala rin siya.Hehehehehe!

  119. Anna,

    Do you happen to have the schedule of the ambitious nobody who wants to rub shoulders with the royalties of Europe? Sobrang kililing sa ulo, pero gago din iyong mga monarchs na gustong makipagkita sa isang kriminal! Yuck!

    The queen of UK should treat her the way the monarchs there treated Eva Peron in 1949. Don’t tell me nawalan na rin ng delikadeza ang mga royalty ng UK. Tama pala si Princess Di!

  120. nelbar nelbar

    Ang korona na suot ni Elizabeth ay napapalamutian ng mga diyamante, ginto at kung ano ano pa.

    Ang mga diyamante’t ginto na ito ay sumusimbolo ng dugo at mga buhay ng mga bansang kanilang sinakop.

  121. Would you know what this whole new “treaty/agreement/contract” covering the “the extent of a territory that would fall under Muslim control in the impoverished Mindanao” is all about?

    Also, what does “fall under Muslim control” mean? –ADB

    Anna,

    As far as some people are concerned, this is a forgone conclusion already, some high ranking muslim officers (PMA and reservists) are expecting stars when this happens ridiculously ahead of seniors. Although it might be delayed due to Akbar’s death, which according to some sources was a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, in other words “pumalpak sila” what could have been a convincing prelude to “emergency powers” went the other way. Of course the Abu Sayaf fallguys were conveniently allowed in Metro Manila, ready to be “pounced on” na walang kamalaymalay.

  122. Mrivera Mrivera

    sa inyong lahat,

    ang isa sa dalawang dahilan ng aking matagal na pagkawala at hindi pakikitalad sa inyo ay ang pagkalipat (muli) ng aking munting kubakob at pansamantalang pagkaputol ng kominikasyon na sa aking muling pagbabalik akala ko ay hanggang e-mail ang ipinagkaloob na pahintulot at walang internet kung tutuusin ang ilang linggong nalalabi at matatapos na ang project pero kahapon din ay ibinalik dahil nagrali akong mag-isa.

    ang pangalawa ay ang pagmo-monitor ko sa kalagayan ng aking anak na lingid sa aking kaalaman (at hindi niya pagpapabatid) ay ilang buwan na palang minamaltrato ng kanyang bagong pinamamasukan. siya ay kinukulong at pinababantayan at walang anumang komunikasyon sa amin maliban sa mga panakaw na pakikiusap sa kapwa katulong na pinay na kanyang nakilala sa kalapit na bahay bakasyunan ng kanyang amo sa half moon beach sa tuwing siya ay nagtatapon ng basura.

    ayon sa nagmalasakit na kababayan ay sinampal sa leeg (magtatatlong linggo na mula ngayon) ng kanyang ng among babae ang aking anak matapos siyang matiyempuhang kinakausap ng kapwa katulong na lalaki. bunga ng pagkakasampal na yaon ay namaga ang kanyang leeg at ilang beses na humingi ng pahintulot na magpatingin sa doktor subalit ilang beses ding binalewala ng asal hayup na amo kasunod ang pagkulong sa kanya sa loob ng bahay at hindi nga makalabas maliban kung pinagtatapon ng basura.

    ako ay nakipagtalastasan na sa mga kinauukulan sa POLO-OWWA at naghihintay ng resulta sa kanilang ipinangakong pagtulong upang masagip ang aking anak mula sa kamay ng kanyang pinaglilingkurang among syrian.

    masakit para amin ang nangyaring ito lalo pa’t ka-o-opera pa lamang ng aking maybahay na ngayon ay alalang-alala sa kalagayan ng aming anak na ipinagsapalaran ang sarili upang maitaguyod lamang ang kanyang dalawang supling .

    dahil sa kapaitang ito ay nagpapasalamat ako at nagpupugay kay gloria arroyo, ang marangal at mapagkalingang pangulo (daw) ng pilipinas dahil sa kanyang pagpupunyagi na mai-angat ang katayuan ng mga katulong bilang mga super maids.

    mabuhay ka, gloria subalit huwag na sanang dumami ang katulad mong MANHID AT MAKAPAL ANG MUKHA! HAYUP!

  123. Mrivera Mrivera

    pareng cocoy,

    ikaw ang malapit d’yan kay chi. dapat ikaw ang nakakaalam sa kanyang routine. sayang na lamang ang intelidyens network mo.

  124. ADB,

    It has come to a point where staying in the active duty means being deaf and dumb to everything thats happening around you (keep your nose clean) or join in the melee of unlimited income opportunities (no tax pa). If you point out these anomalies, sa kangkongan ka pupulutin.
    Thats why I have always encouraged my friends to take a post graduate degree (MBA, etc), resign, and join the private sector later, there are so many of us, and we never regretted the decision. I even jokingly said, the government will still spend our hard earned taxes on your MBAs but at least I’ll know its put to good use, bawi na lang kayo when you’re in a multinational company already, lets join charity/civic organizations like Gawad Kalinga or something.

  125. Mrivera Mrivera

    tama si jaggernaut.

    patibayan ng sikmura at pakapalan ng mukha ang ginagawa ng mga opisyal na nagpapasasa sa marangyang pamumuhay ng dapat ay marangal na organisasyong binaboy ng magpartner-in-crime na kapwa salot!

    tama mga ang kasabihang kung ayaw mo, huwag mo.

  126. Anna,

    Another thing, the PSG guys are getting priority in promotions nowadays. “No prestige,” its a term used for people who do not deserve to be honored or respected, higher ranking but not “superior” officers. Have you ever seen a full colonel being scolded by a major, its happening, the vaunted chain of command is falling to pieces.

  127. Mrivera Mrivera

    ka enchong,

    marahil si ka emil ay masaya na ngayong nasa bakasyon, ayon na rin sa kanyang mga pahimakas noong bago ka umuwi at magbalik.

    baka kalaro na kanyang mga apo at piangpipistahan ng halakhakan ang “isalin sa inggles” na pabaon ko sa kanya.

  128. Mrivera Mrivera

    “…..the vaunted chain of command is falling to pieces.”

    good if like that. it can still be gathered. but what about falling into ashes?

    sana, sina gloria at esPWEron ang maging abo at tangayin na lamang ng hangin!

  129. I am sure that there are visitors to Ellensville who have had the priviledge to serve under true Leaders of men whereby they would follow them into any situation willingly. There may be a few who were also to follow in the footsteps of their Leaders and experience for themselves also the priviledge of being followed themselves in combat with its greater proud experience.

    It explains mr assperons having experienced his combat duty only behind his desk, never having earned this priviledged respect of the men who were expected to follow him because they know as mr assperon knows he cheated to gain his Leadership of the AFP after avoiding combat experience and he mr assperon revealed this when he was asking his men “Do you think that I cheated” and they answered to a man with non committal answers.

    Any court martial conviction will not delete mr assperon’s cheating, that everyone knows about including his boss, whilst he continues to keep true and respected combat tested Leaders in detention under trumped-up charges.

    Before mr assperon’s appointment, his boss was warned that this was a wrong move. Together mr assperon and his boss is destroying the AFP as we know it in an attempt to cover up their corrupt greed.
    Shame on you, are you alright mr assperon.

  130. Mrivera Mrivera

    at, ka enchong,

    kailanman ay hindi ko tinalikuran at iniwan (ni sumagi sa aking isip) ang ellenville.

    hindi kayo maaaring itatwa!

    ay lab yu ol!

  131. azcarraga_times azcarraga_times

    mr juggernaut, i admire your views and convictions. ive known many in the service with similar paradigms. great. however, i think that being in the system is the challenge. you’ve been sent sheep amongst the wolves. face them head on even if it means giving up what matters dearly, knowing that whatever you do is for a greater cause. please stay, we need people like you.

    do not run away from the enemy, instead, be steadfast in your commitment to reform. do what the tanay 28 did, or what the magdalos did, and be willing to suffer for what is right. be willing to suffer, and fight, and maybe even die for it. you may not have a rich wealthy life, but you will have a meaningful one.

    evil triumphs when good men like you do nothing. stay and fight.

  132. Hi Magno, Long time no read!

  133. “Another thing, the PSG guys are getting priority in promotions nowadays.” Juggernaut

    I am not surprised. When you have a former PSG chief whose only rise to fame was not battlefield honours but bodyguarding honours, it’s not surprising that those who have no prestige at heart follow the leader.

    Never in the history of the professionalized armed forces have a bodyguard with so little to boast of in terms of soldiering has achieved so much in terms of promotions in so little a time.

    It will take at least a generation to undo the systematic destruction of Filipino soldiering that Esperon has inflicted on the AFP. One can only hope today that good officers of the AFP who are younger should not fall prey to Esperon’s brand of soldiering.

  134. Mrivera Mrivera

    anna,

    the reasons of my absence were stated in my post above.

    glad to be back again.

  135. Which really makes me cringe at the thought that the AFP is coming close to being a banana military.

    It is incredible that Chief of the Armed Forces should waylay one the most important pillars of military leadership — welfare, morale, well-being of the officers and men in the service of the nation.

    A total opposite of General Sir Richar Dannatt, the British Army chief who took over command in October last year, who has just submitted a damning report, which will get the gong of UK government naturally, saying that the present level of operations is “unsustainable”, the Army is “undermanned” and increasing numbers of troops are “disillusioned” with service life.”

    I don’t see this happening in Pinas!

    I have only great admiration for the British Army Chief (and wrote about it in my blog today: http://www.hillblogger3.blogspot.com/2007/11/general-sir-richard-dannatt-reports.html ) but hold Esperon in utmost contempt.

  136. Magno,

    I am so sorry to hear that! I didn’t know. Have you talked to your child yet? Why can’t she be taken out of employment now? No one has the right to commit someone to eternal servitude against one’s will!

    How can we help Magno?

  137. Juggernaut,

    While Esperon cowardly punishes officers who have the courage to speake out, i.e., as when Gen Lim told General Senga about the restiveness in the military, the British Army Chief General Dannatt makes use of the stars on his shoulders to take on the Establishment.

    In my blog I said, “Dannatt has spoken out and must be congratulated. He is a brave man and risks the wrath of his political bosses. His punishment is probably that he will be passed over for the position of CDS. This would be a travesty. He may have spoken out, but this writer believes he has remained true to his role as head of the army. He has spoken the truth and alerted the government to a real problem that, if not properly addressed, will destroy the British armed forces. So far he has only revealed the tip of an iceberg, when the full size becomes apparent it will be seen that he did the right thing by his men, the British army and his country.”

    Esperon should be ashamed! At best (and that’s because I’m being generous) I could liken him to British Gen Percival, commander of British forces in Singapore during WWII, the stupid bungling idiot of a general who gave Singapore to the Japanes without a fight!

  138. Mrivera Mrivera

    help, anna?

    kaya ko pa. maybe later.

    maraming salamat.

    anymore?

    he he he he!

  139. Mrivera Mrivera

    it is not only the present rotten system introduced by esPWEron in the AFP that counts most why the institution fell deep into shame but also the young officers’ will that succumb to it.

    some take advantage of the system and find it the easiest way to attain their goal in their military career.

    tsk. tsk. tsk. tsk.

    sayang. mga academy graduates pa naman.

    bulok pa ang pinagmanahan!

  140. azcarraga_times,

    Unfortunately, I have left the service a long time ago preferring to be in the private sector and becoming the favorite “ninong” to my friends. But take heart, there are still brave and honorable men in the corps, mostly choosing frontline assignments to avoid the corruption and apathy in the cities. But how long can they last? They have families to support also. This administration must give way to genuine reforms, not just window dressing to hide the rot inside.

  141. Mrivera Mrivera

    galing sa unahan, puwede rin siguro dito:

    “Army Scout Ranger and Marine officers who walked out of their hearing before a military court last week could be held liable for “breach of discipline,” Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Monday. ”

    ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaakh!!!!!

    esPWEron, bugok ka nga talaga!

    kinakain mo ang sariling mong tae at iniinom ang sariling ihi!

    mabango para sa iyo ang amoy ng iyong utot!

    gunggong!

  142. Mrivera Mrivera

    juggernaut,

    you’re from the army, i guess?

    how long have you been out from the military service?

  143. I approve of Juggernaut’s move to leave the Army when he didn’t believe in a military career anymore.

    It takes courage to be able to say I don’t believe under which I propose to serve is no longer worth my servitude, my life. You either have to give it your all or not at all.

    Esperon, for instance, has not only NOT GIVEN IT HIS ALL, he is hell bent on destroying the last remaining professionalism in the military — might as well not have a military at the rate he and Gloria are destroying the institution!

  144. (correction: It takes courage to be able to say I don’t believe THAT THE ARMY under which I proposed to serve is no longer worth my servitude, my life.

    An officer either has to give it his all or not at all.)

  145. Magno,

    I think Juggernaut graduated from PMA just as you were leaving…

  146. Mrivera Mrivera

    “This administration must give way to genuine reforms, not just window dressing to hide the rot inside.”

    mahihintay kong pumuti ang uwak at umitim ang tagak kaysa umasa ng isang makataong paglilingkod ang administrasyong ito.

    ano ang aasahan natin sa isang gobyernong naglisaw ang mga linta, limatik, buwaya, buwitre at mga ganid na walang iniisip kundi huthuting tuyo ang kaban ng bayan habang namamayagpag sa kapangyarihan?

    para tayong naghangad lalo ng bangungot!

  147. “some take advantage of the system and find it the easiest way to attain their goal in their military career.” -mrivera

    There’s no other recourse, the first exposure for the new graduates will be a corrupt chain of command, headed by Esperon. There are no role models to follow, for sure their superiors have already brainwashed them to despise the officers in Tanay or the Magdalos. Just like Ramos used to say “keep your nose clean.” The academy has changed a lot they say, where there used to be rows of showers and barrels (in case there is water shortage) with ice cold water (siyempre Baguio) and you could literally see vapor coming out of your skin and mouth when you take a bath – there are now shower cubicles with hot and cold water. Its become more of a boarding school now and the thousands of squat thrusts that was the norm, now an upperclassman can get punished for excessive exercise how much more for cruel and unusual punishment?
    If the administration continues to foster “PSG” as the norm inorder to succeed in the chain of command, both careerwise and financial, we’re in for a big disappointment.

  148. Mrivera Mrivera

    ‘langya pala naman.

    pinalaki sila sa layaw kaya mas gusto pang magkamot ng mga bayag pagkagradweyt at sumipsip sa puwet ng mga korap na heneral at mag-yes ma’am sa pekeng commander-in-shit.

  149. Mrivera Mrivera

    “I think Juggernaut graduated from PMA just as you were leaving…”

    anna,

    buti naman at hindi mo ako ginawang parang lolong may apo na sa kuko.

    he he heh.

  150. zen2 zen2

    the fiery poet, Mrivera is back, yes!!

    =====

    o, makata ng bayan:
    panaghoy mo’y aking ramdam
    ikindat mo’t, anino ko’y dudulog
    kung kaagapay kinakailangan…

  151. Anna:
    General Sir Richar Dannatt, now there’s a guy with real balls.

  152. WWNL says:
    “Anna:
    General Sir Richar Dannatt, now there’s a guy with real balls.”

    But Esperon has real BIIIG balls, too. It’s just that he uses them to plug-up his asshole so his brains don’t fall out.

  153. The impression I got from some officers is “walang batas.” Meaning, there is no “rule of law” as far as their superiors are concerned. This explains the behaviour of the officers in Tanay during the recent proceedings. What a shame…Apparently, Esperon thinks whatever words comes out of his mouth is considered the law already. But he’s not fooling us, there is always a time for reckoning…

  154. parasabayan parasabayan

    Gee, Atty Cocoy, I did not know that you are an expert in military law! Unfortunately, although we have laws to be followed, the law of the ones in power prevail. When those in power are rotten, the process of litigating the accused is also rotten. This is what these 28 officers in Tanay are going through-injustice in the highest degree! In the military where the chain of command is supposedly the highest form of respect, it is so easy for those in power to abuse those under their command in the guise of implementing the “respect for the superior”. This is precisely the reason why is(the letter i in plural) should be dotted and the ts crossed to warrant a just court martial. In the case of these 28 soldiers’ court martial though, from day one, all investigations were compromised (the PTI was replaced by the PTA), court martial rules were not followed to the letter, pronouncements by asspweron and his mouthpiece “the bakero(bacarro)” are constantly played to the tune of “these 28 officers are guilty and they should be punished”! So, Atty Cocoy, no matter what the military laws are if the “judges” like the tiyanak and asspweron already made up their minds on these soldiers’ guilt, what laws do you think the court martial panel will follow? The military laws or the “rulers” laws? Tapos and usapan!

  155. Mrivera, pare ko. Mabuti naman at back in circulation ka na. Gaya mo, matagal din akong nawaglit, mula nung patirin ang sinulid na pinahaba natin. Marami akong pinagkakaabalahan kaya bihirang-bihira na lang ako papasyal dito. Pero napansin ko na parang wala halos ipinagbago–si Gloria pa rin ang isyu. Good luck sa inyong lahat sa inyong mga prinsipyong ipinaglalaban. Lalo na yung tungkol sa anak mo. Ipag-aalay ko ng dalangin ang kalagayan niya.

  156. This is too much already. GMA must be the most fearless President we ever had or the most “makapal ang mukha.” She has no respect for the military institution whatsoever. Why even Marcos dropped “conduct unbecoming” charges for some officers who stood out against him 20 years ago and we called him a dictator. He dropped the charges when the press made a big thing out of it. Now, its different, the press is under surveillance pa. Let us now witness the emasculating of the whole military, she is literally slicing off their yagballs and in plain sight. Where are the opposition? Why is it that we can’t see anyone stepping up ala Ninoy Aquino defying this tyranny? Where is our voice? Have they been silenced by Php500K also?
    How can anyone with half a brain even think that national reconciliation is possible at this time? How can we even think of reconciling with people as callous as these? Its impossible, light cannot join with darkness, oil and water won’t mix…does Gloria think she can control even the laws of physics and nature?

  157. Is it at all possible for us to move our congressmen to take action? Can we as their constituents be able to tell them what our sentiments are? If indeed this is a numbers game, and the congressmen make up the numbers as they represent us, can we shake down our congressmen? These congressmen are supposed to be our voices, they speak in our behalf, how can we speak to them?

  158. Do they want another EDSA? I was expecting we should have learned from experience by now, that there is no need for us to directly confront the government because we have elected people who will speak for us, to fight for us. Why bother with elections if this is what happens – nothing!

  159. Ellen,

    If GMA and company are playing the numbers game, maybe we can also play? Like coming up with a “talk to your congressman” campaign? For instance, people in Mandaluyong are in charge of communicating to our congressman specific issues, we duplicate this in other areas, where there is a representation in congress? Or has something like this been done in the past? If going against the whole administration is futile, why don’t we break them down into districts, thats assuming the people in these districts will cooperate. This is still democratic, its not illegal, so they have no reason to neutralize it.

  160. GPS GPS

    “This is too much already. GMA must be the most fearless President we ever had”- juggernaut

    juggernaut,
    the next three months(December,January,February) are crucial months.Abangan mo ang developments.

  161. parasabayan parasabayan

    Juggernaut, unfortunately “talking” to anyone in the tiyanak’s dynasty will be futile. Did you not just see that 43 of the tongressmen junked the impeachment complaint and only a lone vote for the impeachment? In the 2007 elections, allegedly, these tongressmen were financed by the “loot” of the Abalaos( the komisyoner of elections) from the ZTE/NBN deal with China implicating the fatso hubby of the tiyanak! Thank God he resigned but of course gldly because he now can enjoy the loot he got from the deal.

    The opposition senatongs are playing it safe because there are a few who are aspiring to replace the tiyanak and they do not like to rock the boat! Look at how the tables are turned on Doble, the witness to the “Hello Garci” scandal. Now he is being sued! The senatongs can not even summon Neri, one of the witnesses to the ZTE/NBN overpriced transaction.

  162. parasabayan parasabayan

    GPS, sana nga may mangyari na sa mga demonyong naghaharian sa ating bansa! Why December pa? Sabagay dalawang linggo na lang at December na. Sana nga may mangyari na!

  163. Mrivera Mrivera

    pareng norim,

    habang nariyan ang diwatang itim sa palasyong inaanay sa gilid ng umaalingasaw na ilog at patuloy ang pagwawalanghiya ng kanyang mga kabig ay hindi magbabago ang isyu.

    salamat sa dasal-pagdamay tungkol sa kalagayan ng aking anak. hinihintay ko pa ang resulta ng ginagawang pagsagip sa kanya ng mga taga POLO-OWWA.

    salamat uli.

  164. Mrivera Mrivera

    “Major General Jogy Leo Fojas told the accused: “You are ordered to observe proper decorum when inside the court.””

    another ass-licking star officer?

    does this officer know what proper decorum is? or he only observes and follows what his shit-of-staff and commander-in-cheat want him to say and do?

    ang dating marangal na armed forces noon ay ampaw forces na ngayon!

    nakupunamangmaawain!

  165. cocoy cocoy

    Parasabayan;
    These soldiers should be released if there is no charge against them Under the Rule of 308—-Notification to accused of charged–—–The immediate commander of the accused shall cause the accused to be informed of the charges preferred against the accused, and the name of a person who ordered the charges to be preferred, if known as soon as possible.–When notice is given, a certificate to that effect on the charged sheet should completed.

    I think the person who charged these accused with unknown and unclear attributed cases is Esperon. As I have previously read on this blog it was unsigned by Esperon.

    A charge should be dismissed when it fails to state an offense, when it is unsupoted este, unsupported by available evidence, or when there are other sound reasons why trial by court martial is not appropriate. RCM{Rules of Court Martial}401[d].

    I try my best to contribute some informative legal military argument among us.

    Thanks! I was commissioned in the military after I graduated from college.

  166. cocoy cocoy

    Azcarraga;

    Delaying these court martial proceeding gives the accused some leverage. Lawyers are clever,. delaying tactics is common in any court hearings. Rule 707–Speedy Trial–In general the accused shall be brought to trial within 120 days after the earlier of, Preferral of charges.

    A failure to comply with the right to speedy trial will result in dismissal of the affected charges, The dismissal will be with or without prejudice to the government’s right to reinstated court martial proceeding against the accused for the same offense at a later date. The charges must be dismissed with prejudice where the accused has been deprived of his/her constitutional rights to a speedy trial
    RCM 905 [d] Remedy.

  167. Just sharing especially if you are an OFW:

    —– Original Message —–
    Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 4:37 PM
    Subject: Photos/Text: Save the life of Marilou Ranario

    > Filipinos in Tokyo, New York and New Jersey held picket and community
    > prayer vigil to save the life of Marilou Ranario.
    >
    > Please visit:
    >
    > http://www.arkibongbayan.org
    >
    > for photos and text.
    >
    > Arkibong Bayan Web Team

  168. I seriously doubt that Esperon had any field experience, because if he did, he will know how to treat the men under him. Its a basic lesson in small unit leadership, be strict, but don’t let your men down, to gain their respect and not fear. If he behaved like this in the field, he would have shot in the back by one of his own men like so many dim-witted but arrogant officers.

    Another slap on our face, the World Bank just shelved a Usd230M loan because of corruption – the bidding was found to be rigged. Don’t they ever learn, now its all over the international press again! Whats happening here? If I didn’t have any idea who GMA was I’d pity her and try to help a “damsel in distress” but on the other hand it seems she has put herself above everybody else, almost like “we didn’t know any better” that we are all gullible, inferior minded fools.
    Even her “I’m sorry” before sounded and looked insincere, almost condescending.

  169. Its really very difficult being an OFW and having to answer so many questions about “corruption issues” everytime there is a management meeting. Its downright embarassing to have to explain. Being the first and only Filipino in our company, I believed I had to do my best so that other Filipinos can follow, but sometimes biases can be formed based on perception. We cannot disassociate ourselves from being Pinoys, and just shrug these issues as “thats them” or “I’m different” but we can only say, “we are trying to improve.” I speak for the thousands of OFWs who have attained sensitive positions in their respective companies, they will all agree that no one will say “I’m only half Filipino”, or “I’m an American citizen already.” Whoever we are, wherever we are, we will forever be perceived as Filipinos, and maybe even as coming from one of the most corrupt countries in Asia. Are we to be trusted with the management of millions of dollars?

  170. Another slap on our face, the World Bank just shelved a Usd230M loan because of corruption – the bidding was found to be rigged.

    We have come to a point in our nation’s history when majority (as per latest SWS survey) no longer trust the government. I, too, am embarrassed with this move by the World Bank.

    My embarrassment, however, does not stem from the same reason government must feel embarrassed.

    While government’s embarrassment must logically result from its perceived (or real) corrupt practices, my own embarrassment comes from knowing that I have allowed government to continue what it does best – rob us of our body and soul.

    While government’s embarrassment must logically result from its perceived (or real) failure to make good use of the vast powers and resources under its command, my own embarrassment comes from feeling so utterly helpless in demanding that government be held accountable for the perceived abuse of these powers and resources entrusted to it (or, most will say, powers and resources it arrogated unto itself).

    I may be wrong. But I see the Philippines as no longer a single, indivisible entity. It has become a two-state nation- one state is made up of government and its sycophants, the other composed of people so alienated from its government due to failed expectations and a long-running string of scandals upon scandals.

  171. GPS GPS

    Corruption is a universal problem, every country has its own kind of corruption, but the corruption in our country is like wildfire consuming the souls especially of the poor.
    “The World Bank says that for every P1 earned by the government, 40 percent goes to corruption. Even the Ombudsman admits that its budget is less than one percent of the total budget for this year,”

    How can you reasonably stop it if the Ombudsman , mandated by the Constitution to investigate and prosecute malfeasance in government, does not have the resources to do its job?

  172. Its really very difficult being an OFW and having to answer so many questions about “corruption issues” everytime there is a management meeting.

    juggernaut,

    We share the same pains.

  173. Its really very difficult being an OFW and having to answer so many questions about “corruption issues” everytime there is a management meeting.

    juggernaut,

    We share the same pains.

  174. GPS GPS

    “I may be wrong. But I see the Philippines as no longer a single, indivisible entity.” – Ka Enchong

    Ka Enchong,
    I hope you are wrong, but I’m afraid you are right.

  175. Its really very difficult being an OFW and having to answer so many questions about “corruption issues” everytime there is a management meeting.

    Why not, the OFWs, as a block do something about it?

    You have the bargaining chip of being able to keep the national economy afloat. Why not wield this power to change this country for the better?

    Why not finance a coup of Idealist Soldiers to wrest power from this bogus, corrupt, ruthless Arrovo Regime?

    An OFW Junta would be a lot better than a Military Junta, right?

    GMA’s management skills, which I doubt if she has any, is simply inferior compared to our OFW Executives.

    Ang hinihintay ng tao ay di mga baklang solusyon, kundi’y malawakang pagbabago ng sistema at mga humahawak nito.

    Tama na ang pa-cute at sosyalan.

  176. norpil norpil

    Is’nt it good gma was not allowed to borrow more? There is probably no reason to borrow more when the ofw’s send so much dollars each month to pinas.

  177. Sampot,

    Actually, that possibility never escaped our minds, most especially that several of us came from the same mold as Esperon (shamefully), but history tells us that no unconstitutional change in government especially with military backing ever prospered. The military, no matter how noble the reasons may be, cannot and must not, be allowed to rule, its one sure way to destroy it. In military juntas, we will see principled men become monsters overnight.
    Prior to Marcos’ downfall, something like that happened, the coup plotters here were funded by supporters from abroad, there were also several bombings, then we had the birth of Honasan et al as heroes but they themselves were hounded by so many cases of human rights violations.
    I believe there was a movement started by OFWs or something during the elections, if I’m not mistaken its “Ang Kapatiran” or something like that, I’ll have to look for the website.
    The consensus is, we have to do it right this time, no shortcuts, trust in the democratic process, let us not teach our young impressionable officers to become facists. After all the fiery talk and emotional outbursts, everything still boiled down to “TRUST IN GOD”, if I summarized everything. Unfortunately I am not a religious person, but if what they say is true that some events in our lives lead us to humble ourselves and trust in the Almighty, then so be it.

  178. GMA needs to borrow more for her “infrastructure plans”, you know, the one she talked about in the SONA where she practically mentioned the names of local government execs to show her solidarity with them.

  179. Speaking of OFWs, here’s an article written by a friend and published in Filipino Globe (a Hong-Kong based OFW newspaper.)

    Pardon the noise, it’s just us trying not to think

    By ALAN C. ROBLES

    from Filipino Globe (www.filglobe.com)

    One of our neighbors works abroad as a seaman, and we always know when he’s in town. He throws a big party, an all-night celebration featuring lots of food, lots of guests and lots and lots and lots and lots of noise.

    Did I say “lots of noise”? Kindly excuse the weakness of my descriptive powers. What I meant was “mind shattering explosive bursts of hideous sound strong enough to split boulders and cause the resulting pebbles to bleed.”

    The highlight of the celebration (and if you’re a true Filipino you’ll have guessed it by now) is a karaoke sing-along, where guests of various ages, genders and states of inebriation take turns belting out what I suspect to be music. I’m pretty sure they think they’re carrying a tune, although from where I am it sounds like two drunken steel factories mating.

    I think my neighbors wire large speakers atop each tree, and bury a subwoofer the size of a living room in their garden. Anyway, the output can make the trees dance – in fact the trees would probably want to run away, if they weren’t weighed down by speakers.

    My neighbors are just being Filipino. This, after all, is the Republic of Noise, where every citizen is duty bound to make a constant racket. Noise wakes you up in the morning, follows you in your commute, surrounds you in your office, in the malls, in the gym, escorts you home and tucks you in at night. After that you can look forward to some restful quiet until such time (2 am) as you are blown off your bed by a passing jeep playing music loud enough to wake the dead.

    Speaking of the deceased, they shouldn’t expect to rest in too much peace either. Anyone who went to the cemetery this month during All Saint’s Day will have seen the touching Filipino tradition of showing reverence for our dead by bringing offerings such as food, memorabilia, mahjong sets and of course boom boxes, sound systems and the ever popular Magic Sing microphone pre-loaded with hundreds of karaoke tunes. No wonder we have so many stories involving vengeful ghosts.

    I’ve read that any sound above 75 decibels is supposed to pose health risks. One study puts the average noise level in Quezon City at 90 decibels – in Q.C.’s district 2, it’s 110 decibels (district 2’s motto is “WHAT DID YOU SAY?”) A tricycle’s engine registers at 80 decibels. I’ve heard –get it? oh, never mind — the drivers actually remove mufflers because they want their machines noisy. I can picture the scene at the terminal, one macho driver holding forth, “Wala yan, konting ingay lang yan” while his pals nod and laugh uproariously though the truth is they can’t hear what he’s saying because they’re all stone deaf.

    A friend, Sheila Coronel, offers this explanation why Filipinos say they love noise: “masaya kasi.” Here’s how I see it: constant noise prevents any deep thought and reflection. The minute Filipinos are compelled to be quiet they’ll be forced to start thinking about serious stuff like our political leaders and their bank accounts. And then there’ll be real trouble.

    So, next time you ask me to contemplate the age old conundrum of the sound of one hand clapping, here’s what I’ll say: you bring your hand. I’ll bring the Magic Sing. It will be a perfect match.

  180. “The military, no matter how noble the reasons may be, cannot and must not, be allowed to rule, its one sure way to destroy it. In military juntas, we will see principled men become monsters overnight.” — Juggernaut

    Agree entirely. I’ve always said, ‘militarist’ as I may sound that the military has functions in a in a democracy but running a country is not one of them.

    In principle, the military institution itself and the members who run it are by training, vocation and thus by nature are not necessarily democratic and by calling, can be severely martial, i.e., dictatorial, on many aspects. To give them the reign of government is like surrendering some of your liberty.

    (That said, in the context of the Philippines, very difficult to see today the difference between Gloria’s way of “enforcing” her rule, i.e., no rule of law, and eventually a formal martial rule.)

  181. WWNL,

    I don’t know about Gen Dannatt’s anatomy but if courage is gauged by the size of one’s manhood, then I have every reason to believe you are right.

  182. ADB,

    That was a very interesting article, actually very accurate. Now I see why we like to drink, sing, and laugh with friends and somehow feel refreshed the morning after and focus on our work. Somehow oblivious to everything thats happening around us – stuff that would make the Japanese commit seppuku, the Singaporean jump from the penthouse floor, and the American play high noon in a school somewhere. Without this “Pinoy” habit, we will all be paralyzed with too much worries, or too much stress, what psychologists call as “information overload.” Thanks Anna, you reminded me that we Pinoys can take it, give us some more, we eat these stuff for breakfast! We will outlive these gluttons!

  183. Honestly, we needed that loan for important infrastructure like roads, main and access (to link agriculture lands) and improve industry, tourism and a lot more more. I believe that proceeds from loans make up a big portion of our budget. Of course, we don’t know for sure how these will be disbursed. One sure thing though, some congressmen, governors, and mayors are now scratching their bald heads saying “sayang, pera na naging bato pa.”

  184. Juggernaut,

    You’re welcome — Alan Robles, a very dear friend, is one heck of a writer who can turn the most morbid of issues into great satire and comedy.

    He started with the now-defunct Chronicle. He has a regular column with the China Morning Post too. All his articles are great fun to read.

  185. Alan Robles

    http://www.hotmanila.ph

    I especially liked his :
    “Baby Steps, Giant Stride, The Road to A Political State”
    …and there’s some more

  186. Juggernaut,

    Confess rarely watch video either on TV or in You Tube but the first one, Hello Garci is funny!

    Second one, was that a real movie? Bit saccharine, isn’t it? (Ooops, sorry, those people in the video are perhaps your friends?)

  187. “Honestly, we needed that loan for important infrastructure like roads, main and access (to link agriculture lands) and improve industry, tourism and a lot more more. I believe that proceeds from loans make up a big portion of our budget.” — Juggernaut

    There is no turning around it, we need those loans but WB is right to disect every penny they lend us. There is no doubt to my mind that the end users of the loans, DPWH in this case, are involved in the rigging of bids.

    The sad story is that in reality those loans which should be enough to cover say a construction distance as specified in the application are not used entirely for the projects they are intended for. A portion of those loans, as WB rightly pointed out, cover over-pricing, hence lots of the WB end up in private pockets.

  188. atty36252 atty36252

    “The military, no matter how noble the reasons may be, cannot and must not, be allowed to rule, its one sure way to destroy it. In military juntas, we will see principled men become monsters overnight.” — Juggernaut
    ******************

    There is one exception – the Turkish military. Three times, they have intervened in politics, only to restore order, and hand over control back to the civilians. The military is the only institution that has consistently enjoyed the trust of the majority of Turks.

    The military sees itself as the guardian of the Constitution – the secular government; and has intervened when Islamist administrations veered away from secularism.

    If only our military had been that protective of the Constitution instead of the Commanders in Cheat (Marcos, Ramos, Gloria), then maybe we would already be a NIC (newly industrialised country).

  189. Anna,

    I was just trying to find out your age, if you knew Claudine and Rico Yan, I would have guessed you’re just in your middle to late thirties. hehehe

  190. Rackets in that agency responsible for building roads are nothing new. I welcome the freeze of foreign aids.

    I remember translating a lot of documents in the mid-70’s regarding rackets at the Bureau of Highway with money paid by Japan as reparations and supposed used to building that ambitious highway from northern Luzon to Southern Mindanao going to some private pockets.

    At least, the road between Nagtahan and the Paco Station planned in the early 50’s was completed before 1986 when Marcos was toppled down by a US-flavored people’s revolution (daw). But the plundering of funds for the roads apparently has become more rampant.

    Kawawang Pilipinas!

  191. Hah! Tricky eh! Unfortunately, I’m within the age range of a lt colonel about to get his next sun promotion (but definitely not in the age range of Col Querubin yet(?) – heh!

  192. There is one exception – the Turkish military. Three times, they have intervened in politics, only to restore order, and hand over control back to the civilians. The military is the only institution that has consistently enjoyed the trust of the majority of Turks.

    The military sees itself as the guardian of the Constitution – the secular government; and has intervened when Islamist administrations veered away from secularism. – atty36252

    Now this is very good, one model that works. Do you have any material on this one atty? This is a perfect working example of military socialization as opposed to politization. I know some people (instructors) who will be interested in this.

  193. Also, quite unfortunately, I’m not familiar with Filipino singers or songs, old and new (save for Bahay Kubo but can’t even tell you that I know the lyrics of that song.)

  194. GPS GPS

    GMA’s First Quarter Storm

    This is just a personal opinion of what might transpire from December 2007 to February, 2008.

    Things to be considered:
    1. GMA is now in a transition mode of governance, she has barely 14 months before May, 2010 ( actually 29 months minus the 3 months campaign period, minus the 9 months solicitation of funds and building/oiling of machinery, minus the 3 months for slot jockeying ). She must now decide on whether she will step down or continue her term

    outside her mandate as prescribed in the Constitution. I think the first quarter of 2008 will be very crucial for her and for “those” who will not take the chance of waiting for 2010.

    2. Esperon will be retiring in February,2008, if GMA is “cooking up something”, she better do it while Esperon is at the helm of the AFP, no General has ever been that loyal albeit blindly to GMA except Esperon, he is GMA’s lapdog and attack dog rolled into one. He will even mop the floors of Malacanang if told to do so.

    3. If GMA decides to extend her term beyond 2010,the expedient way but not necessarily acceptable is through Charter change and the only way for GMA to change the charter is through Constitutional Assembly (Constitutional convention is very impractical and risky for her). When FVR attempted it during his term, it was shut down before it can take off, how much more with GMA who has an approval rating much lower than that of FVR. A willing Congress and some coopted Senators will accomplish this feat, but how can this thing come about?

    4.I think GMA will use martial law as a means to an end (charter change). She will have to do the following:

    – create a crisis to justify the declaration of martial law.

    – declare martial law while Congress is in recess.

    – do it while Esperon is at the helm of the AFP.

  195. Spy Spy

    Why Esperon projects himself like that?

    Answer:
    to compensate his inadequacies.

    1. No combat exposure
    2. He’s far below in the lineal list (pma academics) than Gen Miranda
    3. He gained his promotions thru militics.
    4. He accepted the highly questionable Gold cross award when he was with the NICA in the 80’s
    5. He failed almost all Physical Fitness Test in the army.
    6. He cried and cried until gma was convinced to run in 04.
    6. He’s supot.
    7. Like Palparan, Romeo Tolentino and most pma class 74, esperon is a lifetime member of the league of UDS (under de saya) and he’s suffering from asma (ask my wife).

  196. Atty,

    In recent times, the first time that the Turkish military intervened in politics was during the time of Attaturk, who was himself a military officer that dictated the course of Turkey and thus became the father of modern Turkey. Attaturk used the military to restore order, run important govt infrastructures, eg, water, electriciy, public services but Attaturk was a very strong person, a real leader, respected, nay revered by the military and it was he who finally decided that Turkey was prepared for democracy and so the Turkish military obeyed. (Suggest to people here to read the biography of Attaturk, a great leader with extraordinary vision for his country…)

    More recently, the Turkish elections were guarded by the Turkish military but there was a working democracy, hence there was no reason for them not to let it work.

    I personally believe that even for as long as there is a semblance of democracyn the military is the last institution to break from the Republic but when that Republic has become wobbly and unable to function, the military will be the first institution to break away to instill to attempt to instill discipline.

    For the moment, we have a semblance of a democracy, hence our military won’t budge…

  197. ADB,

    Wherever did you find that hideous video? Whatever you do, don’t show it to Gen. Miranda, he’ll have a heart attack (from laughing too much)!

    I like this quote though, so we don’t have to be ashamed of poverty but these politicians shouldn’t be parading around in Expeditions also…

    In a country well governed poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed wealth is something to be ashamed of. – Confucius

  198. I strongly recommend the reading of the biography of Attaturk. There’s a lot to learn — how he raised Turkey from being a backward nation to one that is proponent of democracy in a heavily Muslim populated region today(following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the grandiose Turkish military in WWI and the civil war that ensued…)

  199. “Wherever did you find that hideous video? ” Juggernaut

    Hahahahahaha! It was passed on to me but it’s on You Tube and Esperon knows about it. I learned that he was so very happy with himself when it was shown to him. Someone from his entourage said, that after viewing it, Esperon said, “Now I know how Alexander the Great felt.” Hahahahahahah!

  200. GPS,

    Your words are like large tolling church bells in my mind’s ear, especially number 4 – I’ve heard it before, not just once…Its time to pack up the family and move to Europe! Nah, whatever happens, I want my kids to witness it, its part of who we are…

  201. after viewing it, Esperon said, “Now I know how Alexander the Great felt.”

    YIKES! Didn’t he know that Alexander the Great likes to make love to men? Frankly, I believe even the gays will disown him.

  202. Hihihihihi!

  203. Hmmmmmm. Esperon may be one of those guys who sidle up to you in the shower and keeps dropping his soap? In the old days, PMA shower room or “sink” is just that, a big room with rows of showers. Guys like that can get through the physical exam, the tactical interview, even the battery of psychological tests – but no, not the shower test!

  204. Hahahahahah! “Guys like that can get through the physical exam, the tactical interview, even the battery of psychological tests – but no, not the shower test!”

    Which reminds me that two PMA friends of mine both admitted they were punished and made to do a “French kiss” (I think the act consisted of toothbrush and colgate or something like that — can’t really remember how they “kissed” but they did, they were bunkmates too, Bravo company and were really both short, 5’4 at most.)

  205. 7. Like Palparan, Romeo Tolentino and most pma class 74, esperon is a lifetime member of the league of UDS (under de saya) and he’s suffering from asma (ask my wife).
    – spy

    Honestly, not just ’74 but a lot are. Its probably due to being such an absentee husband that makes the wife grow a strong personality and overcompensation for this absence makes a man look meek by comparison. But some just appear to be UDS because of love (halata na ba?)

  206. GPS GPS

    “whatever happens, I want my kids to witness it, its part of who we are…”- juggernaut

    I think, if ever GMA declares martial law it will not be the Marcosian type.It will be short, short enough for the Constitution to be amended/change.It will just be a means to an end and besides the international community will not approve of it until GMA’s announcement of the plebiscite. So, I think your children will be safe.

  207. The “you kiss each other with matching colgate!” thing, it usually happens when you’re caught “conniving” or talking to each other as plebes are not allowed to talk to each other especially in plain sight of upperclassmen. It mostly happens during summer camp, when you’re bunkmate who is confused by all the pressures suddenly breaks down crying and you have to calm him down and whala – the CCQ (cadet in charge of quarters) comes along and catches you.

  208. These two friends of mine told me horror stories when they were plebes — were hungry most of the time and thirsty that one had to drink the water in the toilet bowl and when his parents visited him, his one request for them was to bring him food.

  209. “I think, if ever GMA declares martial law it will not be the Marcosian type.” – Anna

    I agree, she can’t do anything worst, the repercussions will be unimaginable, patient people make the worst enemies. And what I see are so many patient, restrained, good people.

  210. The other one was made to enter in a boxing match with a fellow mistah who was 6 footer and he was mere 5’4″. Heard horror stories from friends from various PMA years, they used to tell me their experiences, punishments eg, carrying the world, rifle butt on their toes, hit with a wet towel in the shower, etc., etc., those who make it to PMA supt post (one was Gen Boy Enrile and even Cris Balaoing) have always vowed to do away with hazing but somehow never quite managed to get rid of the hazing even if it’s supposed to be illegal today.

  211. “the repercussions will be unimaginable, ”

    I believe big business might oppose her this time.

  212. My colgate moment was with this Air Force brat (son of an Air Force officer) actually general. He even told me “I” was his first “nyah!” But he only stayed a week because he topped the exams earlier and was sent to Annapolis Naval Academy, he’s now the VP Logistics for a telecoms company here. I plan to visit him someday bring our kids and wives together, hopefully no one mentions daddy’s first kiss.

  213. Oops, gotta go. Goodnyt everybody!

  214. GPS GPS

    juggernaut,Anna
    There is an existing blueprint,its up to GMA if she will eventually use it. My source(we grew up together as very close friends)told me about it before he left for a country I will not mention, as a M.A.He is still in the active service but requested to be tranferred, he was so disgusted about the plan.

  215. GPS,

    An existing blueprint? Same as you described here?

    “I think, if ever GMA declares martial law it will not be the Marcosian type.It will be short, short enough for the Constitution to be amended/change.It will just be a means to an end and besides the international community will not approve of it until GMA’s announcement of the plebiscite.”

  216. GPS GPS

    sssssshhhhhhh

  217. GPS GPS

    Bakers agree to sell ‘pansedal’ for P5/pc

    At least 35 bakery owners from Bulacan and Pampanga provinces gathered Tuesday to decide on the proposed P5 per piece selling price for “pan de sal” because of the skyrocketing prices of flour.

    At the end of the seminar in Sta. Ana, Pampanga, bakery owners agreed that soft pandesal weighing 90 grams will now be sold at P5 per piece starting this month.-abs-cbnnews

  218. There is one exception – the Turkish military. Three times, they have intervened in politics, only to restore order, and hand over control back to the civilians. The military is the only institution that has consistently enjoyed the trust of the majority of Turks.

    Juggernaut,

    This is what i meant.

    The military is the protector of the State. The State is the people.

    From what the military are doing now, is not doing the right thing. Its inaction is virtually a countenance to what this ruthless administration is doing.

    Shortcuts?

    Is 8 years of Glueria not long enough?

    How about children like Mariannet taking a shortcut, is that what we want instead?

  219. We as a people has perfected not only the art of corruption, but also the art of making excuses.

    I’m sorry.

  220. Adebrux,

    Accurate tale.

    Sad but true. I have seafaring relatives, and they love fiesta a lot.

  221. May I add this to Sampot’s “We as a people has perfected not only the art of corruption, but also the art of making excuses.”

    Our Republic represented by Gloria and her govt have also perfected of blaming others and never admitting that the fault is ours, eg. Malacanang blaming the WB for RP corruption…

  222. dandaw dandaw

    11/20/07

    Does anybody know why the Pandak is always in the front page of Malaya surrounded by Asian Leaders or her cabinet people. Is she conducting a serious business or signing documents to borrow money from these countries?

  223. Dandaw, she is making noise about the Phils.’ (the people, not her gov’t) rejection of the Asean agreement if it does not provide for a mode of removal of a member who violates human rights large-scale. AS IF

  224. I’d like Equalizer to find the exact words so he can include that in his collection of “nuggets” (fool’s gold?)

  225. klingon klingon

    Re: foreign loans
    I wouldn’t be so sold on foreign loans. Has anyone read Confessions of an Economic Hitman? It details how creditor nations push un-needed and un-necessary projects to Third World nations. The loans rarely benefit the debtor nations because no real money comes in to stimulate the local economy. Instead, the money remains with the creditor nation, consultants from that country are hired (none from the debtor country), even supplies are bought from the creditor country. The only money that is paid out is in the form of graft so that the debtor country agrees to the insiduous loan. And even that money doesnt come as a fresh infusion from a foreign source, instead, it is borrowed from local banks.

  226. klingon klingon

    The worst part about it is that many of these debtor nations have programs that are not as insiduous as these loans. Japan, for instance gives foreign aid in the form of grants as part of their form of national corporate responsibility. However, because the creditor companies in these nations are very pushy about the loans, they use various forms of persuation. The most common is graft, but assasinations are not uncommon either.

    The book makes for very interesting reading, especially in light of the ZTE cotnracts.

  227. Klingon, there is a simple solution if such problems are realistic: RP govt must stop asking for loans.

  228. parasabayan parasabayan

    Klingon, the so-called loans and grants can also be in the form of equiptments(military, computers etc) which are actually at the end of their usable life and we end up with real expensive retrofitting and upkeep. Only the “bribe” money are given in cash to those who will be signing off on the loan. Such was the case in the ZTE/NBN deal where the “Big One” and the “small one”, Abalaos etc benefitted with the “loot”. It may be possible that China will give us an obsolete system that we will be stuck with for years to come but we end up paying them for 10 years (or over if we restructure the loan at a future date). Most of the stuff that we are given are actually “junk” but the country giving us the “loan” or “grant” repaint these junk stuff so they look “new” but they still are that, JUNK!

    Whenever the tiyanak and her cabinet men go for State visits in the first world countries, the sole purpose is to get fresh contracts. It is not the product they may be interested in but the “DAGDAG” in the form of cash. This is why the Senate and the Congress as well as the Supreme Court should be extremely careful with the “BAD” habit of the tiyanak. She is just in for the upfront money , “grease”, “lagay” , “komisyon” ,”dagdag”, this is why she is known as the “kulimbat” as Yuko disdainly calls her. An excellent description indeed!

  229. Beg your pardon but what is ‘kulimbat’ again? Nakalimutan ko…

  230. parasabayan parasabayan

    The statement of the World Bank that only 40% of the borrowed money actually goes to the projects is actually a very optimistic one. It is probably more like only 20% and 80% go to corruption. Roads and bridges are purposely constructed poorly. This is to ensure that the local politicians will always have funds for infrastructures but in reality, the money personally used by these politicians. Even the roads that are still okay are destroyed so there is the pretext of having something “under construction” and thus more funding.

    There are so many corruption laws but no one is jailed for it. The criminals(most of them are politicians) may be only suspended or removed from the office but are never accountable for the money looted. If only these laws of corruption can be implemented and the perpetrators given some jail time and garnish any of their future incomes or even sequester the properties acquired while they are in office, the corruption may be diminished. For as long as the likes of sabit swingson are in power, the Philippines will go deeper and deeper in debt!

  231. atty36252 atty36252

    juggernaut was asking about info on the Turkish military.

    Here are two sites:

    http://www.foreignaffairs.org/2006/1.html
    Scroll down for the article on Turkey.

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Council_(Turkey)#_note-3

  232. atty36252 atty36252

    The second site needs the h t t p : / /

    For some reason, the post is not accepted if the h t t p is typed in.

  233. A MILITARY LIKE NO OTHER

    The Turkish armed forces have an unusual relationship with both the country’s civilian leadership and Turkish society. Despite its record of tampering with civilian politics and ousting democratically elected governments, the military remains extremely popular. A poll published in the daily newspaper Hürriyet last September found that the military was Turkey’s most trusted institution. The relationship between the Turkish military and Turkey’s civilian authorities may be an “exception to the ‘standardized’ civil-military relationship,” Chief of the General Staff of the Army Hilmi Özkök said in a speech in August, but every country has “different needs, conditions, values, histories, societal concerns, and dynamics.”

    This popularity is largely a result of Turkey’s modern history. As the Ottoman Empire was collapsing after World

    War I and the ruling aristocracy was dithering in the face of invading foreign powers, the armed forces, under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal (later known as Atatürk), struggled side by side with the people of Anatolia to protect the homeland. “While saving the very country, these soldiers also destroyed the political structure that had been based on the sultanate and caliphate,” Özkök said last August. “They built up a … -NSC Turkey

    Atty,

    I found it! This is very interesting indeed, one topic that needs to be discussed. I will try to get in touch with my colleague in Istanbul also see what her views are being on the civilian side.
    Sampot, ayaw kabahala, suwayan nako pag-istorya, tan-awon nato, kadaghanan mga bisaya ra man pod.

  234. cocoy cocoy

    Another slap on our face, the World Bank just shelved a Usd230M loan because of corruption – the bidding was found to be rigged/

    Dealing business with the Arroyo government is a risky preposition, She’s the inventor of the power of modern super greed. This power is felt at world levels. It’s led by corrupt leaders of big businesses, governments, and religious groups. It harms more and more people and things. It even harms those who’ll be born hundreds of years from now. It makes as much money as fast as it can for a few people. And it makes the following lasting problems as it does this. It uses up our country’s supplies without having things to replace them. It uses them in ways that pollute land, water, and air. It treats animals with cruelty. It has unsafe working conditions, it treats people worse than animals. It starts wars and mass murders. It sells weapons to dangerous rulers and groups. And it uses money and mass media to take away people’s power to govern and protect themselves. Super greed in her government is harming democracy and economy. It bribes and scares government officials. And it corrupts systems for choosing them. Super greed gets richer from human misery. They people to be ignorant and arrogant. They tells them to have too many babies. It takes and sells country’s supplies in an ignorant and selfish way. It tells people to buy more things and borrow more money. It starts wars to steal things. And it gives money and power to its friends.

  235. cocoy cocoy

    cont;
    Dealing business with the Arroyo’s government in babies production is profitable preposition, corrupt leaders and some of the super rich want more and more people. They do this for the following selfish reasons; They get more people to rule over. They get more people to be in their religious groups and give them money. They get more people to give them money for things they sell. They get more people to work for very low wages. They get more OFW’s. They get more people to be so poor they’ll do very bad things to themselves and others for money. the police wants more criminals, the more criminals the more bribes to general.

  236. juggernaut,

    Daghang salamat ug maayong buntag sa tanan.

  237. atty36252 atty36252

    juggernaut:

    About the Turkish military, if they were in the Philippines, matagal nang wala si Glo. They would also have intervened when InFidel Ramos started his money-making ventures. That is the military I wish we had – true guardians of the Constitution.

    There is a sequel to the Confessions of an EHM, “The Secret History of the American Empire.”

  238. Oddly enough, many foreigners actually admire GMA. In Singapore, when I mentioned she was the cause of all these “corruption” issues I was rebuffed with “your people need to have more respect for the rule of law.” It seems that her “image building” programs are working as far as foreign governments are concerned, or she knows her way around foreign diplomacy. To be honest about it, she could have been our best president yet had she shown any semblance of character and integrity. I have no doubt about her intellectual capacity, its her scruples or lack of it thats making her fail as a leader and an apparent lack of charisma, something Erap was very strong in.

  239. atty,

    Offhand, because I haven’t read much about the Turkish military yet, I’m wondering how they handle promotions in the military. In the Philippines, politicians have a big say in who gets promoted resulting to “patronage” as some officers will have “utang na loob” to these people in the long term.

  240. cocoy cocoy

    If president Bush will pardon another turkey, Yeah! It’s Thanksgiving..

    I bought the turkey and the ham. I bought the sweet potatoes, the white potatoes, the green beans, and the rest of the fixings, beer and wine. I make the pumpkin pie. I roast the turkey. I prepare a feast that everyone enjoy. When it is over ,you all gave your thanks to me. We don’t need the White Lady from Malacanang, nor some hokey myths about pilgrims and Indians. We just enjoy each others company and a good meal. Honor your mythical god, honor your almighty little president, the pig, bunye, ermita, esperon and the weakling impeachment complaint of pulido if you will, and have your sweet little re-written historical scenarios of pilgrims in funny hats. But give thanks to the person who made the meal before you possible. Ellen——– the generous host to among us all.

    As for the pagan/christian, muslims, abu terrorist, criminals, jews and all, without exception, fine people who can share my table any time they wish. Many of them are also fine decent people. But many of them are lying, backstabbing, greedy people. The bottom line is that wealth and fame doesn’t make a person what he is in my list. A person is either good or bad to begin with. Add decency and respect to their lives nothing more. Jesus is alleged to have said that we will know people by their fruits. Judging from the “fruit” is see from many person I have little choice but to presume that the tree has some serious problems.
    Just my two cents worth. Take it for what you will. Save your flames as I don’t make it a habit to check back and see what responses may have been generated by my words. And yes, I would respect Tongue,chi,Anna,yuko,rose,duren,artsee,neonate,shivarn,valdemar,parasabayan,atty,juggernaut,squarenaut,donaut,nelbar,totie and all my pareng camel jockey in the dessert running away from binladen, Mrivera, enchong, emil and angelo dela cruz.To Governor Joeseg and to some I forgot to mention—-HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL–

    Oh! I forgot to fill-up the gas tank on my SUV.$3.65/gallon and it takes 25 gallons full tank.

  241. cocoy,

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU TOO! I’ll check out SM if they have turkey. hehehe

  242. parasabayan parasabayan

    Cocoy, and everyone, Happy Thanksgiving! We have a lot to be thankful for. Thank you Ellen for this blog that you have given us to express our views.

  243. Anna,

    “Nangungulimbat” is the same as “nagnananakaw” with the former more discreet while the latter is common. Another word is mandarambong which is nearer to the meaning of robbery with violence.

    I actually had to find the right words in Tagalog to fit the translations I do in Japanese and vice-versa. At least, I was the first one to use in Japan the word “tagapagtanggol” for lawyer, and “taga-usig” for prosecutor when most Filipinos have the tendency to anglicize them. In translating for the court and police in Japan especially when I am asked to translate in writing as different from interpreting, I try to make my Tagalog more purified. Hopefully, I can have my dictionary ready by next year.

  244. Bottomline, the delima is that the military are caught between 2 realities:
    One being that GMA cheated in the elections making her an illegal occupant for the presidency therefore “unconstitutional” and a withdrawal of support for this “illegal” regime would be an act of “upholding the constitution” which is in line with the code of conduct. However, there is no “legal” evidence to this matter.
    Second, GMA was duly sworn in by the supreme court as the “lawful” president, by all intents and purposes she is the duly constituted Commander in Chief – legally, or paperworks speaking.
    So the split, one group being considered as “mutineers” or “coup plotters.” The other group stand for the “rule of law” thereby protecting the current administration and any move against it will be deemed treason or subversive.
    So what will it be? Obey the law? Or obey your conscience? Do what is right? Or do the right thing?
    Problem is, the powers that be hold the numbers, inorder to prove illegitimacy, we need an impeachment, democracy calls for a certain number of votes in congress for it to be considered – that we don’t have but the administration does. So any overt or covert move against this administration they can always brand as treason or subversion legally speaking, for they have the numbers and the resources. Our government, sad to say is only for the these people, by these people, and of these people…

  245. nelbar nelbar

    Korek si GPS tungkol sa topic nya na pandesal.

    Noong 1977, dyit lang(10 centavos) and pandesal na almusal naming tatlong magkakapatid at isawsaw na lang ito sa mainit na kape, raos na.
    Kapag may piso o wan pikti(1.50 katunog ni Fichte) ka sa umaga, sampu o kinse piraso ng pandesal na nakasupot de pandesal ay mairaraos mo na ang almusal.
    Minsan pa nga nagtataka ang tagapag-alaga ng bunso naming kapatid kung bakit mabilis na maubos itong gatas na malapot na nasa lata(kondensada) at binababad lang sa platitong may tubig.Hindi nya kasi alam ipinapalaman pala namin ito sa pandesal.
    Kapag gumamit ka ng palaman na liver spread noong mga panahong yun, ibig sabihin ay nakasweldo na si Tatay at si Nanay.

    Kapeng may gatas at pandesal, katalo na! Solb ika nga!

  246. nelbar nelbar

    Kadalasan sa mga naririnig ko ngayon na mga usapan sa loob ng jeep, FX, tricycle o mapa pedicab man? Iisa ang hinaing ng mga pasahero, presyo ng mga bilihin.
    Katakot din sumakay ng mga aircon bus dahil sa mga panahon ng magpapasko, madalas ang holdapan. Kaya iwas ako dyan.
    Ordinary bus naman, mapapadali din ang buhay mo dahil sa makakapal ng mga usok na masisinghot mo mula sa tambutso, mababasa ang likod mo sa pawis(matutuyuan) at sigurado na hihina ang baga mo, asthma o TB ang kalaban.

     

    Pero magbalik tayo dun sa tenksgibing na mensahe ni cocoy.
    Alam nyo noong 90’s, lumantad sa masa ang tinatawag na Thanks Giving sa America sa makukulay nitong parada at mga handa sa hapagkainan. Salamat sa media at naipamulat nito ang isa sa diwa ng magandang lipunan sa Hilagang Amerika.

    Ngayon, pilit man na gayahin pero ang paghahanda ng Turkey sa lamesa ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino ay nakalaan lamang sa mga may buhay na nakakariwasa.

    Ibig kong sabihin ay Litson Manok lang na Regular, Large o Jumbo ang kayang abutin ni Juan Dela Cruz.

    P270 pesos ang pinaka malaking litson manok at 150-160 naman ang pinaka mura.Hindi ko na babanggitin dito kung anong vendor ng litsong manok.
    Ang murang tinutukoy ko ay hindi kapa nakakasigurado na kung noong nakaraang araw pa ito nakasalang sa ulingan o lutuan.

    Pero sa totoo talagang nangyayari, duon sa mga kapos o mairaos lang ang isang linggong paglalakbay, walang turkey, ham o anumang litson ang nakalatag sa hapagkainan.

    Huwag kang magtaka kung bakit walang ginisang munggo at piniritong galunggong sa mesa kapag byernes, ibig sabihin nito ay na-delay ng sahod o sweldo si Tatay o si Nanay.

    Kaya’t ang ideyang American Dream dito ay buhay na buhay. Pero hanggang pangarap ka na lang ba?

  247. Esperon is playing his aces well. Any outburst from the detained officers can be used against them, any impropriety will used to tarnish the image, credibility, and cast aspersion on these men, be looked at as conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman, a breach of military discipline. Apparently, GMA and Esperon are occupy a fortification located on high ground, assailing it would mean an uphill battle, with them having the advantage of high ground.
    Chavez and company are their (and ours too) only hope for a “get out of jail” card…

  248. nelbar nelbar

    Tungkol naman sa gaas na tinutukoy sa itaas.

    Iyong bayaw ng hipag ko, may naikwento nuong nakaraang araw.

    Kusot na lang ang ginagamit nila bilang pangluto sa kalan.

    Nang isang beses na napasyal ang pamilya nila sa bahay duon sa inuuwian nila sa Bulakan. Laking mangha nito nang makita na sako sako ang makikita sa malapit sa lutuan.
    Sa pag-aakalang ang mga laman nito ay bigas, mali pala?

    Ito pala ay may mga kusot na nakasako.

    Sampung piso daw ang kada sako ng kusot.

    Ano ba namang klaseng buhay ito, para yata tayong bumalik sa lumang panahon. Mabuti na lang at naimbento ng mga taong peking ang apoy.

  249. Mrivera Mrivera

    shameless people in the present government:

    gloria, the usurper president.

    noli “kabayag” de castro, the useless vice president.

    ignacio “titing” bunye, the perpetual defender of his president.

    sergio “mr. wetness” apostol, the spiral tongued saliva spewing dog of gloria.

    sir raul-o gagonggonzalez, the never confirmed cabinet member.

    norberto gunggongzalez, the insecured adviser.

    hermoranas esPWEron, the supot election manipulator general now SHIT-of-staff of the once trusted armed forces.

    avelino razon, the jueteng general of the visayas.

  250. nelbar nelbar

    Tungkol naman sa bigas.

    Noong panahon ko sa High School na hindi pa nauuso sa pangkaraniwang tahanan ang rice dispenser, lata ng gatas ang pantakal kung magsasaing.

    Duon naman sa mga nakakarangya sa buhay, rice cooker ay isang status symbol.

    Pero ngayon ay iba na.

    Ngayon nasaksihan ko, na ang pantakal sa bigas ay dakot na ng mga kamay.

    Sinusukat sa pamamagitan ng pagdakot ng kamay.

    Kapag malakas kumain ang isang myembro ng pamilya, syempre may dagdag na dakot ito.
    Swerte na kapag may laman ang malaking lata ng biskwit ng bigas at may maisa-saing.

    Pero makakaraos kami, sanay yata kami sa hirap.

    Happy Thanksgiving din sa inyong lahat…

  251. Mrivera Mrivera

    oh, i forgot my honorable kababayan, ed ermitae, the once brave general now an OLD ass licking dog of gloria.

    NAKAKAHIYA KA!!!

    pati ikaw, mendoza!

    PWE!!

  252. nelbar nelbar

    Anna, Atty at Juggernaut:

    Makikisingit na duon sa usapan nyo tungkol sa Kemalist.

    Bakit lalayo pa tayo sa Turkey(Thrace o Rumelia kung palalawigin ito), samantalang nandyan lang sa pagtawid ng South China Sea ay makikita mo kung papaano pinatalsik ng mga Vietnamese ang mga colonial rulers nito.

    3 – 0 for Vietnam!

    French, Japanese at ang mga Kano!

    Kay General Vo Nguyen Giap, taob yan si Ataturk.

  253. Mrivera Mrivera

    WB to lift freeze on $232-M loan for road projects–Andaya

    By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
    INQUIRER.net
    Last updated 01:56pm (Mla time) 11/21/2007

    Most Read Other Most Read Stories x
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    WB to lift freeze on $232-M loan for road projects–Andaya
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    News Most Read RSS
    Close this MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE) The World Bank will recommend the lifting of the freeze on a $232-million soft loan for Philippine road projects, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya announced Wednesday.

    Andaya also said that the multilateral agency has agreed to adopt the country’s bidding process “as an exception to the rule.”

    Andaya said this was the result of the meeting he had with Maryse Gautier, World Bank country manager, earlier in the day.

    http://www.newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=102253

    magpipiyesta na naman ang mga buwaya ni gloria kung totoo ito!

  254. parasabayan parasabayan

    Juggernaut, the installation of tiyanak by the Supreme Court was the first assault to our constitution! Then she said she was not going to run for the 2004 presidential election because she said she was the reason for devisiveness but she turned around and rigged the elections employing her lapdogs, the generals and asspweron was one of them using the military to carry out the cheating operations. So as Susan Roces said, she cheated not once but twice! And since then, cheating and lying has been her expertise and she does it extremely well!

    You are right, the civilian lawyers are the only hope of these incarcerated officers! Their justice will not be in the military court but maybe in the court of appeals or the supreme court! I hope these courts will act on a timely basis before the tiyanak and her lapdogs will succeed in completely destroying the lives of these valiant men of honor!

  255. Nagpipiyesta na naman ang mga “gluttons!” The GMA supporters will keep saying our arguments cannot be admitted in a court of law! That we are howling at the moon! Well every dog has his day, enjoy it while you can, we’ll have ours soon enough…

  256. cocoy cocoy

    Nelbar;
    Naghahanda na sana ako papunta kami ng SanDiego kaya lang habang hinihintay ko si kumander nagbababasa muna ako ng mga post ninyo.Nakakatats naman ng damdamin iyang kuwento mo,pare ko,na ang pantakal sa bigas ay dakot na ng mga kamay.Mura ang bigas dito sa amin.

    Iyong kumpare ko sa probinsya na katiwal ko, tumawag sa akin last year at naikuwento ko sa kanya ang tanksgibing,tamang-tama naman na magbaskasyon iyong utol ko at pinadalhan ko siya ng 3 turkey,butterbol na 16 lbs bumili pa ako ng coleman at 75 dollar sa excess luggages sa PAL para makatikim sila ng turkey kasi raw hindi pa siya nakakatikim 60 years old na siya.Ang ginawa daw sabi ng utol ko ay sinabawan niya at sinahugan ng papaya, ang iba ginawang aroskaldo,parang manok daw ang lasa.3 linggo raw nilang inulam.Di hindi sila nakatikim ng turkey.Iyong stuffing na ipinadala ko ay inihalo nila sa malagkit at ginawang suman,iyong cranberry sauce ay ipinalaman nila sa pandesal.

  257. Mrivera Mrivera

    mga kasama, sabi sa balita kagabi sa TFC, sa kabila ng pagganda ang ekonomiya ay marami pa rin ang umaalis upang magtrabaho sa ibayong dagat. eto ang sagot ko:
    ***************************************************

    ano nga ba’ng ginagawa natin, bakit pa tayo lumalayo
    bakit pa mamamasukan, mandadayuhan sa malayong dako
    gayong may hatid na bagong pag-asa’t masuyong pangako
    pag-unlad at kasaganaang hinahangad na matamo
    itong ating pamunuang naglilingkod nang buong puso? (ngek!)

    lumalakas na ang piso, gumaganda ang ekonomiya
    bakit nga ba ang manggagawa’y lumalayo’t umaalis pa?
    hindi pa nga ba sapat kanilang pagsisikap na mabunga
    upang ang ating pamumuhay maiangat at maisalba?

    siguro nga, siguro nga, tayong pinoy ay walang tigil
    sa pag-asam ng pag-unlad, walang hindi tatahakin
    kahit lawak nitong dagat buong tapang na lalanguyin
    walang balakid na makapipigil, walang hindi tutuklasin
    matupad lamang ang pangarap at makamtan ang mithiin.

    subalit paano mo pipigilin ang isang taong nagugutom
    makakain ba mga datos, ang pangako ba’y maiinom
    makakabusog ba ang balitang sa pag-unlad ay tumuturol
    bakit hindi mabigyang linaw ang katiwaliang patong patong?

    mahiya naman kayo’t sa poder ay lumayas na
    huwag nang hintayin pa’ng buong bansa ay mag-alsa
    sapat na ang pandarambong, ang kasinugalingan ay tama na
    sawang sawa na ang taong bayan sa walang tigil na propaganda
    kumakalam na ang sikmura, ang katinua’y halos patid na!

  258. Mrivera Mrivera

    ito dapat ang post ko sa itaas:

    WB to lift freeze on $232-M loan for road projects–Andaya

    By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
    INQUIRER.net

    MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE) The World Bank will recommend the lifting of the freeze on a $232-million soft loan for Philippine road projects, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya announced Wednesday.

    Andaya also said that the multilateral agency has agreed to adopt the country’s bidding process “as an exception to the rule.”

    Andaya said this was the result of the meeting he had with Maryse Gautier, World Bank country manager, earlier in the day.

    http://www.newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=102253

    magpipiyesta na naman ang mga buwaya ni gloria kung totoo ito

  259. norpil norpil

    Hindi ko alam na may thanksgiving na rin pala sa pinas. akala ko sa amerika lang iyan. pero kahit doon ay marami ang walang dahilan na magpasalamat, sa pinas pa kaya?

  260. Mrivera Mrivera

    norpil,

    meron bang dahilan ang mga taong gutom para magtengksgibing?

    pero sa mga katulad nina pareng cocoy na umaapaw na’y bumubuhos pa ang grasya kabikabila, talagang maraming dahilan para magpasalamat, sa ITAAS.

  261. Without spoiling the party, allow me to go back to reality.

    We have a military that is in a dilemma whether to “take matters into their own hands” or let everything flow its natural course.

    I believe that if this institution would only follow the constitution and its mandate to the letter, i.e. the military being the protector of the state and its people…, meaning – just do its job for nation’s sake… then tapos na sana ang problema.

    The true enemy of the state are not those risking their life and limb marching and shouting on the streets unarmed demanding good governance, but the people from whom good governance would have been expected.

    Sa mga magigiting na sundalo:

    Gawin nyo ang trabaho nyo.

    Remove the cause of hunger, death, humiliation, and the hindrance to our nation’s progress!

    At gagawin din namin ang dapat naming gawin.

    Huwag n’yo nang hintayin na kami mismo ang mag-armas sa sarili namin, dahil di kami sanay humawak noon. At higit sa lahat, baka di natin magugustuhan ang pwedeng mangyayari.

    Uulitin ko, gawin nyo lang ang trabaho n’yo.

  262. norpil norpil

    mrivera: piesta nila gloria, taga bayad ay pinoy..di bale ang pareng cocoy mo mag pa piesta o mag tenksgib pera naman niya iyon.

  263. nelbar nelbar

    Karamihan sa gobyerno ang byurukrasya ay ginagawang gatasan o sa madaling salita, buwis ng taumbayan ang siyang bumubuhay sa bawat transaksyones nito.

    Sinasabi ng mga founding fathers ng bansang Amerika, hindi dapat na asahan ang taxes bagkus ay hikayatin nito ang mamamayan na maging mahuhusay o malalakas, talented at gawing kapakipakinabang para sa ikauunlad ng bansa.

    Nasabi ko ito bilang reaksyon duon sa plano na DICT?

    Ang Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore(IDA) ay isang magandang halimbawa.

    Sana ang DICT ay maging kapakipakinabang at hindi isang sentro ng kontratahan.

    Marami tayong ICT professionals na nasa ibang bansa na pwede nating pakinabangan.

    Lahat ng natutunan natin sa ibayong dagat ay ibigay naman natin dito sa ating bansa.

    Panahon na!

  264. rose rose

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!
    Every day is thanksgiving day for the many little blessings we receive. After two weeks of being away I thought that things would improve for those who are in the Philippines. But my dismay, when my sister in law who really does not pay attention to what is happening in the Phil. called about the bombing and death of Akbar. I thought of Gokusen and prayed that all is well with her and her people. At the Wailing Wall, I prayed for my three Ks for the Philippines..Kapayapaan, Katarungan at Kaunlaran. God save the Philippines and I pray that it be the Home for the peaceful and free..

  265. klingon klingon

    Juggernaut,
    I think I saw it in Fully Booked or A Different Bookstore. My friend got hers in San Fransisco. Its an excellent read for Third World nations. Some South American nations suffered extreme savaging of the environment with the placement of un-needed dams that displaced indigenous peoples (shades of the Chico River dam and the heroism of Mac-ling Dulag). Recently, the province of Bohol built a circumferential road using a Japanese loan. The contractors were Japanese. The project expanded the highway from two lanes to four. It destroyed nine two hundred year old bridges and nearly destroyed a row of heritage houses, according to Atty. Trixie Angeles of the NCCA. The NCCA did an informal vehicle count before the road was constructed. A grand total of 19 cars and 2 trucks passed used the old highway in one working day.
    Happy Thanksgiving to all.

  266. Mrivera Mrivera

    nelbar,

    okey din ‘yang pag-asam mo tungkol sa DICT.

    pero, maraming din namang “dick” na hinahawakan at inaasahan si gloria para magtanggol sa kanya, di ba?

    ‘andyan si dick gordon.

    ‘andyan din si e-dick ermita.

    at lalong ‘andyan si e-dick ramos.

  267. Off topic but might interest some. Here’s Sen Pimentel’s report on Senate meeting with EU Parliamentarians:

    Last Monday, November 19, a delegation of parliamentarians headed by Hartmut Nassauer from the EU visited with the Opposition in the Philippine Senate.

    We shared with the EU parliamentarians our views on Myanmar, Global Warming and Mining.

    A. On Myanmar, we told our guests that:

    1. we suggest that Gambari should be replaced because he has been ineffective in articulating and pushing for the rights of the Burmese people. It is our impression that he is not quite up to the job. He should be replaced by someone from ASEAN.
    2. the Ruling Junta should restore democracy to Burma by releasing Aung San Syu Kyi and the pro-democracy leaders who have been imprisoned not only in the recent August crackdown but earlier (in 1990) when the National Assembly was dissolved.
    3. we applaud the recent Chinese turn around in pressuring the Junta to ease up on the repressions in Burma.
    we hope that EU would continue its own pressure on the Junta so that democracy may be realized sooner than later.
    EU should not place too much hope on ASEAN because its loose organizational set-up prevents ASEAN as ASEAN to impose binding sanctions on Burma.

    They assured us that indeed EU will do what it believes can be done to bring democratic reforms to Burma sooner than later.

    B. On Global Warming, we informed our guests that:

    1. our country is committed to the Kyoto protocol on global warming;

    2. we have our own Clean Air Act and other laws designed to cleanse the environment of pollution.

    3. we are committed to support an upgrading of the contents of Kyoto to promote a cleaner and safer environment that will help combat global warming.

    C. On Mining, we were surprised that our guests did not discuss mining issues which contribute much to the degradation of the environment. Let us just say we did not have enough time to go into mining in detail.

    Fraternally,

    Nene

    Office of Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr.
    Senate of the Philippines
    Pasay City
    website: http://www.nenepimentel.org
    email: nenepimentel@pldtdsl.net

  268. Mrivera Mrivera

    sige, sampot.

    sama tayo. matagal na akong hindi humahawak ng armas at sana’y kalilimutan ko na rin, subalit kung hindi sapat ang panulat at pagkalampag na ginagawa natin upang sila ay mamulat ay handa akong muli na isugal ang aking buhay upang sagipin ang sisinghapsinghap na kinabukasan ng ating mga supling na siyang magiging pag-asa ng ating bayan.

  269. Mrivera Mrivera

    upang maging isang mapagkakatiwalaang kaanib ng kasalukuyang administrasyon, kailangan ang mga sumusunod na katagian upang walang pasubali at pag-aalinlangang mapabilang:

    1. makapal ang mukha

    2. sobrang tapang ng hiya

    3. sa mga pobre ay walang awa

    4. may mala-sawang sanga sangang dilang magaling at bihasa sa paglulubid ng kasinungalingan

    5. talamak na magnanakaw

    6. walang pangimi sa pagkitil ng mga inosenteng buhay

    at higit sa lahat, handang ipagtanggol hanggang sa impyerno ang mga kawalanghiyaan ng pamilya ARROYO!

  270. norpil norpil

    this test is too complicated. i just failed in it.it is probably because it is right minus left.

  271. Mrivera,

    Lichauco’s analysis today is a good indicator that an Idealist Military Coup is more than timely at this stage.

    Anyway, thanks a lot for assuring me your kind support.

  272. Hahahah!
    Norpil — it’s a 6-page test!

  273. Happy Thanksgiving din, pareng Cocoy. Makiki-celebrate na lang ako the next day – ang Turkey Leftover Day! Masarap talaga ang turkey pero mahirap alagaan. Masyadong matakaw, nag-alaga ako noon ng isang pares lang, inubos lahat ng damo sa compound namin within 5 days. Talo ang kambing. Sa pang-anim na araw ni-relleno ko sila, haha!

    Happy thanksgiving din nga pala to everyone. Teka, diyan kina Magno at Emilio, kelan itinutumba ang camel?

  274. i should have been sleeping right now.

    the test is very looooooooooonnnnggggggggg.

  275. My result:

    Economic Left/Right: -6.75
    Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.82

    … 195 degrees approx.

    … roughly means Libertarian Left.

    Believe it or not, it’s almost the same spot where Nelson Mandela is. I guess that’s something to ponder on.

    Thanks, AdeBrux.

  276. Regarding the frozen WB funds, and looking at it in the same frame as this morning’s hearing in the Senate on the bribery of Governors and Congressmen in Malacañang, we are like aimlessly swinging against the windmill that we hope to slay. Corruption, corruption, and more corruption.

    An exasperated Sen. Lacson, (after being told by the director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council that the council cannot investigate direct or indirect bribery because it is not one of the predicate crimes stipulated in the AML Law, then later, by the bank manager, that he can’t answer Lacson’s query if Reghis Romero maintained an account in Bank of Commerce due to bank secrecy rules), seemed surrendered to the fact that they cannot get to the bottom of the bribery incident from within the legal boundaries. Lacson alleged that Malacañang insiders told him Reghis Romero had been paid around P3Billion immediately prior to the cash-in-paper-bags incident.

    Ain’t that stupid? And we thought that that law was to prevent movement of dirty money within the banking system. I’ll bet you my noisy neighbor, the AMLC didn’t even bother to check that other complaint (by the World Bank). The director further reveals that they receive reports of about 114,000 covered transactions daily, meaning deposits and withdrawals amounting to P500,000 and above, and of that, 19 are suspected money laundering cases.

    Jamby Madrigal did the math and she came up with 35 MILLION COVERED TRANSACTIONS PER YEAR for which the AMLC definitely is incapable of monitoring effectively, if at all monitored. Even just the 6000 suspected money laundering cases is a humongous task in itself! What this really means is that it would take several extra-diligent, super-honest, uninfluentiable patriots to make this thing work.

    What we saw in the Senate hearing was a defensive, bitching, whiner of an AMLC who takes pride over ONLY ONE CONVICTION so far. And then some.

    Yes, we may have the necessary institutions to guard against this scourge called corruption, but it will always take moral courage and lots of political will to really make a dent. This regime has comfortably pored through all the loopholes of the laws, killing the spirit. This is not a country that we have now, it’s a pirate’s ship!

    Our laws are sadly strong in defense of criminals and weak in supporting the victims’ quest for justice. Maybe it’s really time to dust the luggage.

  277. Hey, Anna, nice quiz! It says I am an Economic Leftist (-5.25) with Social Libertarian leanings (-2.67) in the company of Gandhi and Fidel Castro, Hahaha!

  278. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is an impotent government agency like the Office of the Ombudsman. These agencies are mandated to protect the Malacanang mafia at all cost. Nagbulag-bulagan lang sila. Sayang lang ang pasuedlo.

  279. dandaw dandaw

    11/22/07
    Tama ka Diego
    All the laws approved by the Representathieves, most of it are broken by Malacanang and the representathieves, such as Anti- money laundering Council, Ombudsman, PGCC, PNP, Supreme Court, with their skillfull manuevering the Malacanang Mafia can always escape. In the news this morning there is a new player who is going to build housing in the smoky mountain. Another annomaly. Naka Americana pa. Akala mo serious na businessman, pala mangloloku lang. Ano ba iyan?

  280. Tongue,

    Hah! Good one ain’t it?

    My economic score is similar to yours (almost): Economic Left/Right: -2.50

    and Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.62

  281. Sampot!That’s good, I wouldn’t mind being put in the Mandela score but unfortunately I ain’t.

  282. Anna, that means you’re more the centrist type in both axes.

  283. EU Parliment scolds AFP & PNP but Praises Puno’s High Court
    Maybe you missed report in the Daily Tribune yesterday.
    Part of the report said
    Jules Maaten, EU parliamentarian from The Netherlands Maaten, praised the Philippine Supreme Court for implementing the writ of amparo that will summon either the military or the Philippine National Police (PNP) to explain its involvement in killing or abduction of a victim.
    Maaten said the EU is “very pleased” with the move that was taken by the high court.
    “It was necessary to come up with some sort of a solution. Of course it would have been better if it has come through the democratic process and by Congress and by the President. But what the Supreme Court has done is that it has helped the process,” he said.

  284. The EU Parlimentarians are not so stupid to realise that the AFP & PNP follow the orders of the president, regardless whether legal or illegal. But the EU are relying on Puno staying independent, he’s the last hope as far as abiding by the Constitution for a solution.

  285. cocoy cocoy

    WWNL:
    Testing ko lang itong LapTop ko dito sa SD.

    Re;The EU Parlimentarians are not so stupid to realise that the AFP & PNP follow the orders of the president, regardless whether legal or illegal

    Supposed that Gloria,issued an order to Esperon that is completely illegal under the article of war {killing civilians in the absence of military necessity}.If Esperon carry the order,the supot Esperon is criminally liable under the Nuremberg precedents and humanitarian law as the perpetrator of criminal act.Ngayon kung ang defense ni Esperon ay he is just following orders,ang sasabihin sa kanya ng korte that the order was illegal and he should not obeyed.Ito naman si Pandak na nag-utos at sinunod ni Esperon,Gloria would be held responsible,under the precedents regarding command responsibilty.

    Under international legal system,as we have seen Gloria’s order was illegal.But,under the domestic system that regulates the military relationship between Gloria and Esperon,Gloria’s order is the legitimate command of a military superior.Under the international system,Esperon must disobey the order because it is illegal.Whereas under the domestic military system,he must obey the order because it is legal.If Esperon is prosecuted in international court,his plea of superior orders is allowed because the international legal system recognize the pressure upon him from domestic legal system.However,the duality of legal system does not exonerate.The orders of Gloria were illegal under the international system,but there was no requirement under the domestic system and local laws that Gloria can order any illegal orders,So,Gloria is guilty of command responsibility.

  286. cocoy cocoy

    cont;
    Considering standpoint of the international legal system,certain acts constituting grave war crimes must be prohibited.No legal excuses can be permitted that would allow wanton soup este.wanton murder of prisoners of war or civilians.So,Esperon cannot raised the theory of military order of his superior as his defence to the international tribunal.As a matter of logic,there can not be a prohibitory law under one legal system that recognize a legal exception under a legal different system.International Humanitarian laws do not contain a built-in exception for a military superior orders,but,rather provide what they call for the commission of international crime,such order of Gloria to Esperon is flatly illegal.

    Supposed that Gloria is found guilty by International Tribunal and is assigned 40% of responsibilty of giving illegal order and Esperon is assigned 60% for commiting the crimes.Under the mitigation approach of the doctrine of superior orders,Esperon will reduce his punishment by 40% that reduction equal to percentage of responsibilty attributed to Gloria,If Gloria is sentence to the crime,she will be typically be punish for the entire crime,and not hust 40% of it,under the doctrine of command responsibility,Gloria’s punishment of 100% plus esperon of 60% adds up to 160%.

    The precedence case for that command responsibility crimes committed in the Philippines the Trial of General Tomoyuki Yamshita.Admiral Toyoda was aquitted and save his neck from hanging on the ground that he lack capability of control.Ganyan ang mangyayari kay Gloria,siya ang bibitayin at hindi si Esperon.

  287. Anna & TT:

    I wonder what’s Ellen’s political leaning. And would she ever reveal it?

  288. Mrivera Mrivera

    tongue,

    marami na kaming itinumbang turkey dito, pero hindi maubos ubos. ang sasama ng amoy! mas maanggo pa kesa kambing.

    he he heh.

  289. norpil norpil

    i think i have to report also my leaning here according to the test link. i thought i failed because i got both negative marks. i wonder what adb got, maybe both positive ala merkel?

  290. Norpil,

    I already posted my profile last night and is above.

  291. norpil norpil

    AdeBrux: Sorry i did not notice it at once. both negative too. i think the result of this test is colored by the country where we live and the age bracket.in my youth i would have probably be on positive side of both the vertical and horisontal axes, and will not have dreamed of being in the company of dalai lama in my later years.

  292. nelbar nelbar

    AdeBrux:

    maiba lang nang usapan at isingit ko na rin dito.

    Mukha yatang natatakot ang France sa bagong imahe ng Russia?

    Naipost ko duon sa site mo tungkol sa bagong re-alignment ng geopolitical equation sa Europe.
    Kasama na rito ang Italy ni Berlusconi.

    Mabubuo na ba ulit ang Holy Roman Empire ng France, Germany at Italy?

    Pati ang role ng France sa middle east partikular na sa Lebanon, mukhang humihina na ang impluwensya nito.

    Kanina kasi nabasa ko sa The Daily Star(Lebanon):
    “Hariri urges Putin to help block Iranian, Syrian meddling in Lebanese election”

    Meron naman kasing klarong mandato si Sarkozy, bakit kailangan pa nito ng audience sa America.

  293. Norpil,

    I don’t know if it’s normal that one’s political/philosophical leanings change with age or as one gets to have access to different schools of western thought but I reckon those two elements, i.e., age and “diasphoric” tendencies tend to contribute to change.

    Always been a bit hard right myself, i.e, very right-wing, in my very young days. But I didn’t think I’d be anywhere near left of center. I thought if at all, I’d be just a lil teeny weeny bit right of center — heh! But perhaps as I was telling cvj, as one gets older (you’re probably very young), one tends to yield more room to reason, hence a tendency for the extreme right to veer a bit to the left. (So as Tongue pointed out, I’m more to center if anything, having veered from “far right” towards the “left.”)

    Frankly, I think the people and events that have been shaping the last 4 or 5 years, eg., Bush and Cheney plus Rumsfeld and Blair (the hypocrite poodle), Gloria and her Malacanang gang, the war on Iraq, Lebanon, the crisis in Palestine, the Afghanistan problem, the extra-judicial killings in Manila, the Burma question, etc., have radicalized (or as cvj says, polarised) those who were once anywhere near the right.

  294. Re Merkel, who was born and raised in then East Germany, I think would have had the tendency to shed all those hard left advocacies that then East Germany lived by (since she must have detested them) and so as life went on for her, when the occassion presented itself, i.e., unification of Germany, from very far left to coming to terms with what she would have always wanted… towards the far right, a bit surprising but understandable.

    (Given those, I could never be or could ever like Merkel because I would always be suspicious of her “political origin” rightly or wrongly.

  295. Nelbar,

    Sorry but don’t understand, particularly “Meron naman kasing klarong mandato si Sarkozy, bakit kailangan pa nito ng audience sa America.”

    Audience sa America – kung ang reference mo ay ang state visit niya, normal lang yan sa mga newly elected presidents. Ayan, he will be going to China on a state visit sa katapusan ng buwan, ibig bang sabihin niyan, humihingi siya ng “permission” sa China?

  296. Mrivera Mrivera

    “He (Estolas) said, “Kaya nga ako nakakulong kasi ayaw ko magsinungaling, tapos sasabihin mo I lied?””

    ayun! sapol!

    makapal na nga lamang ang mukha ng mga de susing prosekyutor ni esPWEron kung hindi nila masakyan ang sinabi ni lt estolas.

    pero tablan pa kaya ng hiya ang mga manhid at balat buwaya ang mukha?

  297. Magno,

    Ang nakakainis ay talagang doble kara itong si Gloria:

    Arroyo rushes home after hitting Burma
    http://www.newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=102418

    By Norman Bordadora
    Inquirer
    Last updated 04:50am (Mla time) 11/22/2007

    SINGAPORE — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Wednesday cut short her scheduled five-day stay here after creating a stir as the only one among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders to warn of the non-ratification of ASEAN’s historic charter if Burma (Myanmar) failed to free pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

    =====

    Imagine, nagpapasikat pa siya samantalang alam ng buong mundo na itong Gloria’s regime isa criminal regime, 1) her human rights records, (nasaan na si Jonas Burgos at iba pa) 2) at human rights abuse, absence of rule of law even if we refer only to the illegalities that her own military chief is committing on the incarcerated officers and soldiers!

  298. “the only one among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders to warn of the non-ratification of ASEAN’s historic charter if Burma (Myanmar) failed to free pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.”

    Really? Did the idiot do such arte in the ASEAN meeting? Did she think she could impress Aung San Suu Kyi with her arte? Bakit anong akala niya kay Suu Kyi? Idiot katulad niya?

    Nagpapa-impress pa ang ungas. Yuck!

    Truth is the Burmese have invited us to join them in their protests against human rights violations in their country, and they in turn will join us in our protests against human rights violations in the Philippines. In fact, they say that we should since both the Philippines and Burma are the same—democratic kuno pero hindi!!! 😛

  299. I sent a copy of blacklistings being done by the Department of Injustice of the Philippines to my friends for them to check if their names are in the list.

    So, who says that the Philippines is a democracy? Sa panaginip! Golly, if you haven’t been overseas, siguro maniniwala ka doon sa gunggong ng unconfirmed Secretary of Injustice of the Philippines that the Philippines is a democratic country!

    Over in Japan, not even members of the Yakuza are prevented from leaving Japan nor are they not allowed to enter the US for example even when their bodies are completely tattooed. A few days ago, a Filipina called me up and told me that her husband was not allowed to enter the Philippines because he had tattoos on his arms. Admittedly, the husband was a member of a crime gang in Japan but has never been in jail in Japan, and was looking forward to retiring in the Philippines with his Fillipino wife and children. Nakursunadahan lang sa airport apparently.

    If that is not injustice and a violation of human right, what is? Kaya ano ang pinipintas ni kumag sa Burma? Puro yabang lang wala namang ibubuga!

  300. Over in Japan, blacklisting of undesirable aliens are done after a court hearing to prove the moral, etc. of a foreigner wanting to enter Japan or a Japanese wanting to travel abroad. In the Philippines, blacklisting is done on personal biases and prejudices by the crooks in the government!

    Anong klaseng democracy iyan? Yuck! Buti na lang iyong kakilala kong hinarang sa NAIA at hindi pinalabas until she filed a complaint with a human rightist lawyer, mahal pa rin ang bansa niya. Bulok lahat ng sistema!

    Puede ba Patalsikin Na, Now Na!

  301. ….the moral standing, etc…..

  302. Mrivera Mrivera

    anna,

    hindi lang DOBLE KARA ang bruha kundi NAPAKAKAPAL NG MUKHA.

    mahilig magmagaling sa pakikialam sa gusot sa pamamahala ng iba subalit hindi gustong ayusin ang PALPAK na pamamalakad niya.

    ganyan ang gawi ng mga ganid na matapos iluklok sa kapangyarihan ay hindi na marunong magbigay halaga sa tunay na layunin ng poser na kanyang kinauupuan. walang mahalaga sa asal hayup na si gloria kundi ang busugin ang sariling pita sa salapi at kapangyarihan.

    masasabi na mula nang siya ay mapaupo sa malakanyang ang ating sandatahang lakas na noon ay isang tinitingala at iginagalang sa buong asya ay pinulot na lamang sa KANGKUNGAN bunga ng kanyang kasibaan na tinapatan ng kawalanghiyaan ng mga kamot bayag na heneral katulad nina esPWEron, allaga, dolorfino at iba pang napakasangkapan sa dayaan noong eleksiyon. ito ang sandatahang lakas na ang mga magigiting at matatapat sa tungkulin na sumusunod sa tuwid na batas at alituntunin ay nakakulong habang ang mga tiwali ay naghahari at nakapangyayari.

    gayundin, ang pilipinas na noon ay isang marangal na bansa ay isa nang taga-supply ng mga alila sa alinmang bansa sa ibayong dagat. at ang lahat ay sa kagandahang loob ng isang ga-kutong sinungaling sa katauhan ni gloria MAKAGARAPAL arroyo.

  303. Mrivera Mrivera

    “….hindi na marunong magbigay halaga sa tunay na layunin ng PODER na kanyang kinauupuan.

  304. Before the start of today’s hearing, Atty. Verdadero approached to correct my entry here of what he said to Col Loy Friday last week:(During one of the many recesses, when tension was high, Atty. Vic Verdadero told Loy to his face: “Ang utak mo Loy kasing liit ng (male organ) mo.” He even made a hand gesture indicating an inch long.)

    He said what he told Loy was:”Bobo. Kasing liit ng (male organ) mo ang utak mo, kung mayroon ka.”

  305. parasabayan parasabayan

    Heh,heh,heh…whichever version it was Ellen, it still means na “maliit” ang “kanyang ano” at maliit din ang utak ni Loy!

  306. Gloria’s warning that the Pinoys would reject the ASEAN charter for the lack of mechanism to remove a human rights-violating leader was actually a defense mechanism aimed to deflect the future outcome if the vote for its ratification is finally held here.

    She definitely knows that whatever issues she would sponsor on a national level would be rejected wholesale by the populace. Not because of the Burmese junta’s faults but because of her own! She knows too well that her human rights record could even be viewed as worse than that of the Burmese so instead of getting blamed for the ratification’s failure, she beats them to the draw.

    What a snake!

  307. He said what he told Loy was:”Bobo. Kasing liit ng (male organ) mo ang utak mo, kung mayroon ka.”

    Hahahahahaha! Bakit bading ba? Yuck! Ang dami naman na kasing bading sa Pilipinas! Tignan mo naman ang arte pati ng mga nasa korte ni Esperon—mga charges against General Lim, et al, based on rumors! Golly, gossipmongers pa ang labas ng mga incompetent fools! Manang-mana doon sa nagdunung-dunungang kulimbat squatting at the palace by the murky river! Yuck!

    Patalsikin na, NOW na

  308. Mrivera Mrivera

    tongue,

    ang katulad ni gloria ay ‘yung lasing na sumusuka sa sariling mukha na kinakain din kapag walang nakatingin sa kanya.

  309. Tongue,

    Doble cara talaga ang putragis na lukaret na Gloria na yan!

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