Last Wednesday, the Senate approved the Anti-Terror Bill which will be known as Human Security Act of 2007. It is now sent to the bicameral conference committee.
CODAL (Counsels for the Defense of Liberties) is concerned about the Senate version. Codal said, the Senate version is more draconian than that of the House.
Codal’s statement:
CODAL wishes to correct members of the Senate who contend that their version of the anti-terrorism bill is watered down. In this instance, the authors of the House version could not outdo Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile in crafting a bill intended to terrorize legitimate dissenters.
The claim by opposition Senators that they managed to water down the bill, to justify their approval of the same, is an illusory and untruthful statement.
CODAL commends Sen. Jamby Madrigal and Sen. Mar Roxas, the only two senators who voted against the bill for maintaining their principled position despite the absence of support even from pretend human rights advocates like Sen. Joker Arroyo.
The Senate Bill is draconian because it contain the following provisions that are not found in the House version, and in fact, have never been found in Philippine legal history:
I.Under Sec. 26, it allows for House Arrest despite the posting of bail, prohibition of the right to travel and the right to communicate with others
Sec. 26 Restriction on the Right to Travel—In cases where evidence of guilt is not strong, and the person charged is …granted… bail, the court shall …limit the right of travel of the accused to within the municipality or city where he resides. He or she may also be placed under house arrest by order of the court… While under house arrest, he or she may not use telephones, cell phones, emails, computers, the internet or other means of communications with people outside his residence until otherwise ordered by the court.
Considering that the evidence of guilt is not strong, Section 26 violates the suspects constitutional right to travel guaranteed under Section 6, Art. III of the Constitution when it prohibited the travel of a suspect outside his place of residence absent a court order.
It also violates Sec. 13, Art. III which grants bail as a right to “ALL persons, when evidence of guilt is not strong” when it allows the house arrest of that person despite posting bail. Worse, it prohibits that ‘suspect’ from communicating through “cell phones, emails, computers, the internet with people outside his residence” a form of incommunicado detention outlawed under Sec. 12 (2) Art. III of the Constitution. This provision virtually punishes a mere suspect even if that suspecte has not been convicted—a draconian provision that tramples on the constitutional presumption of innocence and the right to due process enshrined under Sec. 1 and 14 (2) Art. III of the Constitution.
This not only surpasses the House version, but any law passed even by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos during martial law. Sen. Enrile, with the support of opposition senators, certainly outdid himself in crafting this law.
II. Provides for Indefinite Detention upon orders of an official who is not part of the judiciary
A deeper scrutiny of Section 19 of the Senate Bill shows that indefinite detention is allowed upon the mere approval of a mere municipal official, among others:
Sec. 19—In the event of an actual or imminent terrorist attack, suspects may not be detained for more than three days without the written approval of a municipal, city, provincial or regional official of a human rights commission or judge of the municipal. . .
Section 19 actually states that a suspect may be detained for more than three days provided a municipal officer, inter alia, of an amorphous ‘commission on human rights’ approves. An ‘official’ who does not have the judicial authority to order the arrest of a person, is empowered by the Senate to order his detention for more than three days, a blatant violation of many provisions under Article III of the Constitution.
Worse, that suspect, who is not even judicially charged as an accused, may be detained for more than three days, a clear violation of the Sec. 18, Article VII of the Constitution which provides that “During the suspension of the privilege of the writ, any person thus arrested or detained shall be judicially charged within three days, otherwise he shall be released.”
Demand Rejection of ATB During the Campaign Period
The Senate bill contains more repressive provisions on surveillance, opening and freezing of accounts, and other threats on civil liberties which may be used by the executive to persecute dissenters. The above provisions are not only constitutionally infirm but are even violative international human rights law and the principles of international criminal law, which makes the Senate version worse than the House bill, or any other law in Philippine legal history.
Attacks against civilians by the likes of Al Qaeda. JI and the Abu Sayyaf are condemnable and must be dealt with decisively. However, the current anti-terror bill will not curtail attacks from these groups and may even inspire more attacks once abused by the executive and the military. The bill, even as it will not strike fear on the ‘terrorists’, will certainly be used to terrorize the opposition. Pres. Arroyo has shown her penchant to misuse laws against her detractors as shown by our experience under EO 464, the CPR policy and Proclamation 1017.
The credibility of the Senate and almost all senators on human rights issues are now tainted if not completely destroyed. CODAL asks members of the legal profession and human rights advocates to launch a campaign for the rejection of the resulting bill once it is again by a lame duck House of Representatives in June. The people must require their district representatives during this election to declare that they will vote no on the anti-terror bill once it is presented in the House for ratification.
This is one rare instance when the people must assert a clear position on a national issue from local politicians in a local election. Since the Senate failed to protect the people from this draconian anti-terror bill, it is now up to the people themselves to directly act to force the rejection of the bill.
Iyan, Ellen, ang sinasabing “gaya-gaya puto maya!” Can’t the Midget and her lackeys be more original? Why call everybody terrorists? Why not just label the lawbreakers,including the Malacanang squatters, as “criminals” and be subjected to prosecution according to the laws that they have broken?
I am for the trashing of this terrorist bill aimed mainly in fact to tickle only the mad man at the White House, because the short woman does not have her own original agenda!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA! TERRORIST BILL IBASURA!
This bill is a poisonous prescription that need to be rejected by the people. Curtailing of freedom and liberty. I am smelling another scenario like Cuba. Philippines will be a year of the pigs. People who opposed to Gloria will end up in a slaughter house.
Eto ang balitang baka hindi niyo alam: Habang nagpapahinga ako sa aking mansion at nanonood ng High Definition TV sa loob ng Mini theater room ko, napanood ko sa CNN na may 24 Pinoy na nahostage ng mga militante sa Nigeria. Ang mga militante ay ipinaglalaban ang langis ng bansa na hawak ng mga banyaga. Minalas ang 24 Pinoy na nagtratrabaho doon. Bakit walang balita sa atin? Utos ba ng Malacanang na media blackout ito? Balita pa sa CNN na pumapayag ang pamahalaang Pilipinas na magbayad ng ransom para pakawalan ang mga hostage. Mabigat na balitang ito na pinalabas sa CNN at nabalitaan ng buong mundo pero ipinagtatakpan yata sa atin. Subay-bayan niyo ito. Baka patayin ang 24 Pinoy na hostage. Ayaw ni tiyanak at Malacanang na malaman ng mga tao dahil siguro malapit na ang halalan.
“If we cannot learn, if the only effect upon us of the presence of the dynamiter in our midst is to make us multiply punishments, invent restrictions, increase the number of our official spies, forbid public meetings, interfere with the press, put up gratings — as in one country they propose to do — in our House of Commons, scrutinize visitors under official microscopes, request them, as in Vienna, and I think now at Paris also, to be good enough to leave their greatcoats in the vestibules — if we are in a word to trust to machinery, to harden our hearts, and simply to meet force with force, always irritating, always clumsy, and in the end fruitless, then I venture to prophesy that there lies before us a bitter and an evil time.”
– Auberon Herbert “The Ethics of Dynamite” written a hundred years ago.
Nakakakilabot ang mga provisions ng bill naito. Bakit, hindi na ba marunong magbasa at umintindi ang mga opposition senators at sumama sila sa pag-pasa nito? Nagtitiwala pa ba sila sa magasawang demonyo at kay Siraulo gonzales? Kung noong walang bill na ganyan nagagawa nilang tapak-tapakan ang batas at ang konstitusiyon, di lalo na ngayon. Basta kalaban, tawaging kang terrorist, kulungan na ang bagsak mo. Pati mga newspaper publishers at mga journalists kapag panay ang pagpuna at pag-expose ng mga katiwalian, maari na rin silang tawaging destabilizers at terorist libre na silang hulihin at ikulong. Siguro kapag naging sample silang biktima ni Aling Pidal saka sila magngangawa at magsisigaw ng foul. Para na kayong naging mga bobo.
RE: Utos ba ng Malacanang na media blackout ito?
The Department of Foreign Affairs imposed a news blackout on the negotiations for the release of the 24 Filipino seamen kidnapped in Nigeria. WHY? It’s an election season. If something goes wrong or death, Gloria will be blamed for not doing enough to save lives. Public anger may dump GMA candidates. It appears that Gloria Arroyo government is *playing safe* to avoid another embarrassment. The Angelo de la Cruz hostage incident where the government reportedly paid $6 million in ransom to Iraqi militants. Of the $6-million payoff, $5 million was shouldered by Libya and $1 million by the Landbank of the Philippines.
The Nigerian militants demanded the release of imprisoned militant leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari. Dokubo-Asari, who was convicted of treason in September 2005 for advocating the Niger Delta region’s secession and the overthrow of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
You are correct. Ayaw talaga ni Tiyanak at Malacanang na malaman ng taongbayan dahil malapit na ang halalan. Ano ba ang terorista? Basta anti-Tiyanak terorista na ayon kina siRaulo at Norberto Gong-gongales.
I don’t know what good will it do to pass another law in the Philippines when they cannot even follow their Constitution, much less revere it as the basis and foundation of all their laws. If they follow the law to the letter, they will not have to worry about passing a law based on the perception ad situation of the US of A that may not even be practically applicable to them, especially for a people who have not learned in fact to abide faithfully by the law!
What they have there apparently is a Congress dominated by mediocres and nincompoops! And then, enters a bogus president with bogus credentialsm if we are to believe a hush-hush report that the PhD was conferred by devious means—with a term paper modified and revised from the files of the man she claims to be her father!I That, too, should have been proven by some DNA test especially now when plastic surgery can change one’s appearance according to specifications.
Ang sarap mag-imbestiga sa totoo lang!
Ystakei Says (February 10th, 2007 at 3:42 pm):
“I don’t know what good will it do to pass another law in the Philippines when they cannot even follow their Constitution, much less revere it as the basis and foundation of all their laws.”
Agree ako.
The 50 gallons drum size is running scared in this coming election, she could not even muster her senatorial slots. Once, this bill passed that she urgently orchestrated, those political butterflies will be killing each other to be included in her political party wings. Without this bill, her senatorial bets will be suffocated to death. They know that they could not again cheat, her administration candidates will be badly beaten by the opposition. This bill if it is being pass, is the icing on her cake.
Who are the terrorist anyway? If the government are really looking for a real terrorist, the queen wannabe and her minions together with the fatso ali baba and his thieves should surrender themselves. Then, it is a jubilant for a Filipino people to have peace.
mga kasama, nasaan na kayo,
ang ating sumpaan ba’y nalimot na ninyo
bihira na kayong mapasyal doon sa isyu
itong lubid bang iyo’y papatirin nang totoo?
anumang inyong kagustuha’y aking igagalang
sa pagbabalik ninyo ako’y laging maghihintay
abutin man ng gabi’t lubugan ako ng araw
walang sawang aasang lungga’y inyong babalikan.
Di ba dapat i-sample muna ang Anti-Terrorist bill na ‘yan kay Gloria Tiyanak ang her minions? Si DOJ Gonzalez, the other Gonzales, Defensor(playing innocent face) the lil president Ermita, Nognog Nograles, si Picjhay pa atbp., yes, unahin na silang arestuhin. Ay kasabad nila!
Terrorism is a two-sided coin. It depends on which side of the political fence you’re sitting. From where I sit, the terrorists are those who murdered the very concept of democracy by stealing elections through guns, goons, gold and Garci; those who wreak havoc on the collective wisdom of the Filipino minds through Gonzales (Raul – hindi ko malilimutan ang kanyang tahasang panggagahasa sa kapangyarihan ng Pilipinas na ipatupad ang batas mapagbigyan lamang ang kapakanan ng ‘Kanong si Smith), and Gonzales (Norberto – may death threat daw si Erap? Hahahaha!); those who exemplify the virtues of arrogance in power much like the ones we saw dictating the events in the recent Ethics Committee hearings. Who killed the freedom of expression by killing those who merely exercised their right to freely express themselves? Lucky are those who were sued for libel- what shiny badges they are wearing now!
OT: If we care to look at the Philippine situation now, the terms “Honorable Congressman”, “Military Intelligence”, and, yes, even “President Macapagal-Arroyo” are nothing but anomalies called oxymoron.
Don’t these crooks realize that they are exposing the bad systems (justice, etc.) in the Philippines when they say that a person in court/police custody is under threat, especially when everybody knows that Erap is not even with anybody in his cell, and if there is going to be any threat on his life, it will be the killers hired or to be hired by those who want him dead, particularly the people who unseated him and grabbed the throne at the palace by the murky river.
That alone is proof enough that the Malacanang occupant is an idiot backed up by her fellow idiots, namely the Rasputin of a husband, her Injustice Secretary, et al. Gosh, isinusuka na ng taumbayan, hindi pa rin bumaba at kung anu-anong kabulastugan ang ginagawa!
Ang galing pang mang-insulto ng kapwa niya pilipino na akala nila lahat naloloko nila! You bet, kapag napatay si Erap, alam na natin kung sino ang pumatay sa kaniya—the Great Switik and her minions. Kasi under custody ng mga tauhan niya si Erap!
I’ve worked in a prison in Japan as an interpreter. Kahit detention house dito imposibleng mapasok ng mamamataytao maliban na lang kung papasukin ng mga guwardiya na mga bureaucrats na konektado sa Ministry of Justice namin. Komo ganoon sa Amerika, ganoon na rin ba sa Pilipinas na kung gustong tikluin ang nakakulong puede na? Reflection ng incompetence at inefficiency ng mga gunggong sa Department of Justice, ipinagmamalaki ni Gunggonzales? Unbelievable! Dapat sa inutil na iyan, bawasan ang sueldo! Best, ipairal ang batas na hindi siya puede umasta-asta na akala mo kung sino na hindi naman pala siya na-confirm!
Heavens, papaano nasisikmura ng mga taumbayan iyan? PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Elvira Sahara Says:
Di ba dapat i-sample muna ang Anti-Terrorist bill na ‘yan kay Gloria Tiyanak ang her minions? Si DOJ Gonzalez, the other Gonzales, Defensor(playing innocent face)…..
Defensor(playing innocent face)? ngek!!!
si mingot, innocent face? tama nga, inosente sa paggawa ng matino!!!!
sira ulo ring nagpapaamo ng mukha, eh mukhang amu (tsonggo)nga!!
Re: Terrorist
President Nelso Mandela’s version of himself: Freedom Fighter
I agree with Elvira. If this anti-terror bill, which is no more than an attack on human rights, should first be tested on the fake president and her cohorts. Afterall, she a first class terrorist! Sampulan muna s’ya!
***
Amoy-lupa Enrile is “kasuka-suka”! May katotohanan pala ang narinig ko minsan sa aking tiyuhin na si Enrile daw ay mas masama kesa kay Apo Lakay!
Noong araw ay si Marcos lang ang matinding kalaban. Ngayon ay pinagtutulungan tayo ni Glueria at Enrile!
this anti terror bill is another weapon to be trained by the bogus administration to its critics and political opponents.
nakakatakot na naman ang lagay ng pilipinas.
Amen, Ka Enchong.
“….the terrorists are those who murdered the very concept of democracy…”.
chi, talagang ganyan ang labanan. kung sino ang mga alalay, siya pang mas matapang kaysa among tunay. masdan ninyo at iba ang klase ng tawa ni enrile kapag meron siyang kinatutuwaan – tawang hudas!!
Chi,
“Amoy-lupa Enrile is “kasuka-suka”! May katotohanan pala ang narinig ko minsan sa aking tiyuhin na si Enrile daw ay mas masama kesa kay Apo Lakay!”
Enrile has always had a short fuse; very pikon and quick at the draw (literally); probably because he’s always carried a chip on his shoulder, i.e., being an illegitimate child who had to practically beg his Dad and half-siblings to recognize him. Was extremely poor as a child. One thing though, in spite of his being an Ilocano (although from Cagayan) he was generous with money, perhaps because he knew he could always get more where he took them – heheheh!
Marcos oozed with charm even when he was gonna shoot an opponent down. Even Joma Sison recognized that Macoy was one heck of an opponent in that regard.
Bakit ito nakapasa kina Lacson, Pimentel, Osmena, the Ejercitos?! You disappointed us!!!
I’m learning a lot from you PV.
You confirmed stuff I heard only from my uncle. Nakakatawa, he also used “charm” in describing the Apo!
Mrivera,
Naiiyak na ako nito, ah! Hudas talaga itong si Enrile. Sino ba ang mga bumoto d’yan?! Ah, nandaya yata e!
Chi,
The only time Enrile didn’t win an election was when he ran for the first time as Senator under the Nacionalista Pary banner because virtually all the Liberal Party candidates won, remember when Joma bombed Plaza Miranda and blamed it on Macoy?
After that Enrile swore never to lose again.
Oh yeah, in private gatherings, he spewed cusses in the direction of Imelda and called her ‘Tabatsoy na Bangus.’
Ellen,
Sen Jamby Madrigal didn’t vote for this Terror Law (that’s the more fitting title of the law).
Wonder why…
Re Marcos charm
In 1975 during the Ms Universe pageant in Pinas, there was a huge party in Malacanang hosted by Imeldific, guests included Dame Margot Fonteyn of the ballet fame.
Daughters of some friends of Macoy got invited to the huge party – Macoy danced with every single one of the teen age girls – heh!
PV,
“After that Enrile swore never to lose again.”
Huh! Nakakakilabot to the bones!
PV, bear with me here, please. How did Enrile come to power before Martial Law, thru his law firm?
Chi,
Enrile was spotted by Macoy way back in the mid-50s.
In 1959 or 60 Macoy used everything in his power to have him appointed as Customs Commissioner. Enrile became very very rich.
Enrile, in spite of the fact that he’s always lost the case he ever defended as a privated lawyer, was very useful to Macoy who needed another lawyer to do things for him, particularly in investing funds in the US, read Wells Fargo.
Also, Enrile used to swear brotherly loyalty to Marcos after all, he (Enrile) became FILTHY F***ing RICH thanks to Marcos.
Enrile was ALREADY Marcos’ Defence Secretary even before martial law. And that’s how their association endured to the last days of Marcos.
I was told that had Imelda not been too meddlesome, Enrile would have kept his bonding with Macoy, can’t be sure about that though.
Enrile used to say to friends in private (he’s not a social function butterfly but likes small, very intimate chats with close friends particularly if they are golfing buddies), “I don’t care if they don’t love me, for as long as they’re loyal to me to the death, that’s fine and that’s how I am with FM.”
It was pretty surprising therefore when he launched his coup d’état against Marcos. Unbelievable.
Capt Rex Robles (who retired as Commodore) can confirm this to Ellen coz he served Enrile faithfully; Rex Robles the “chauve” is a regular participant in Carmen Guerrero Nakpil’s mid-week lunches.
Chi,
Enrile was also Finance Secretary of Macoy at some point. Gosh, PNB was a very useful tool for Enrile when he was its Chairman. Heheh!
When Marcos and Enrile decided to organize and launch the invasion of Sabah (to get it back from the frigging next-door neighbours), money flowed like there was no tomorrow.
Pity that Ninoy Aquino made a scoop of it – Sabah would have been recovered. Anyway, CIA made an about face re Macoy plan and confided the scoop to Ninoy.
The US had agreed to sell vessels (leaving Vietnam) to Pinas so AFP could transport troops troops to the South in time for invasion. Several PAF pilots were marooned somewhere between Mindanao and Sabah because Macoy cancelled invasion plans due to Ninoy exposé.
This is one of the reasons why many military men today don’t particularly consider Aquino a hero. To many, they say, he’s a traitor.
Sorry, really sorry folks… I don’t mean to blacken Ninoy’s memory to those who look up to Ninoy as a great man; am just repeating what some key military officials say of Ninoy.
Ellen, off topic:
Read this in the Tribune “Military, MILF forces trade mortar fire in N. Cotabato”
How on earth or where did MILF forces get their mortars which I suppose are 80 caliber?
Malaysia will never sell such things to MILF so where did the MILF get them?
Phil Army has loads of them… would be good to make an audit of the arsenal.
Immediately after Sept. 11, 2001, our parliament passed an Anti-Terror Bill, a Draconian measure in which provisions allow indefinite detention of suspected terrorists. At the moment there are less than half a dozen suspects detained and can not be prosecuted because they have not committed any terrorist acts inside the country, and since they are all aliens, they are not willing to be deported back to their native country for very obvious reasons.
Even with outmost care, the authorities and the intelligence agencies have made many grievous mistakes. A few years back, they announced to the world the arrest of several Pakistani Students as terrorists only to discover upon further investigation that most were just illegal students trying to play hide and seek with the authorities. And the worst mistake was when the RCMP provided the U.S. Authorities wrong information on Mr. Maher Arar, a Canadian, which resulted of his deportation to his Native Syria, upon landing in the U.S. for which he suffered Tortures for the purpose of Extracting “confession” for the U.S. Intelligence . That case resulted in an Inquiry which concluded that Mr. Arar was innocent of all suspicions and was compensated in an out of court settlement of $10 millions plus legal expenses.
Such mistakes and miscarriages could happen in a very conscientious and “stick” to the rule society, and considering that even with all the so-called safeguards the Philippines Senate are drumming about, there is no freaking Chance that the Government Forces of the Evils will ever Observe a single safeguard, as it never does, even with regular Criminal Statutes.
Thanks, for the infos about Enrile, PV!
I met Enrile at the GENSAN airport 6 years ago. We were supposed to be on the same flight to Manila but there was some mechanical trouble with the plane so we waited for an hour. He sat right beside my husband and exchanged some niceties with my hubby. I heard that Enrile and his party had a previous meeting in Gensan the day before and he was in hurry to go back to Manila for another very important meeting. That was the first and the last thing I could remember on him. Yes, he wore an all white attire from head to foot!
First it was the plane of Pichay (although he wasn’t aboard his Islander plane) that crash landed near a resort in Mactan, Cebu.
Second, was Chavit Singson being rushed to the Asian Hospital in Albang for a herart-related anyeurism.
Third, is this story in the web of The Philippine Daily Inquirer “Barbers, family escape kidnap try”:
“A group of government security forces waylaid and aimed their weapons at Philippine Tourism Authority general manager Robert Dean Barbers in Bauan, Batangas Saturday morning in what authorities say could be a hijacking or kidnapping attempt.
In an interview with INQUIRER.net, Barbers said he was driving along the highway between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on the way to Mabini, Batangas on a day trip with his wife, three kids, and a friend when the suspects, who were on board two cars, blocked the path of his Ford Explorer.”
What do all these 3 politicos have in common ? They are all w/ Gloria. Is this an omen ? Are these signs that those associated w/ Gloria are being punished by someone up there ? Ang kalaban na ni Gloria ay ang Dios. Malaking kalaban yan !
Chabeli,
I fervently, sincerely, dearly hope so!
“Is this an omen ? Are these signs that those associated w/ Gloria are being punished by someone up there ?”
PV,
Thanks very much, very helpful info, indeed!
Interesting point is the Sabah issue. Hmmnn, something is not right! Also, I heard about that but my mind was rather small way back then, and not interested.
I wish a credible historian, who has a personal knowledge of what really transpired during those long years, would write about it. (Baka patay na silang lahat, ano?!)
Chabeli,
Hey, I like what you’re saying! Aha, sinisingil na sila ng unti-unti to torture the biggest liar, cheat and thief!
Chi,
One guy who knows plenty about the preparations for the Sabah invasion is Nanding Campos, the son in law of President Carlos P Garcia.
Otherwise on the Sabah issue, i.e., if it belongs to RP or not, the best source would be the International Courts UN because after the failed invasion, Marcos (I believe) filed a suit against Malaysia or something to that effect in the UN.
I think Cory should know lots about it too. But of course she was so beset with problems that she probably didn’t press it – don’t know really. Perhaps Manolo Quezon could do research about it – there’s one credible historian.
The records are there, evidences, etc. in the Courts. FVR didn’t pursue it either – had much on his hands besides he became very buddy buddy with Malaysians.
Don’t know what’s happening anymore.
As far as I’m concerned, for the moment with Ganid Gilagid Gloria being at the helm, I’d rather leave Sabah in the hands of the Malaysians (FOR THE MOMENT!) because God knows what Ganid Gilagid would do to Sabah if ever we recovered it today – she’d transform it into one Poro-Poro Point operated by her kalahating Ganid Gilagid (Fatso.
When she’s toppled from her throne, kicked out hard, her backside lifted from the Malacanan throne to be thrown into the Pasig river, then we should and MUST deal with the Sabah claim once and for all, and YES, MUCH AS I LOVE MALAYSIA, I WOULD ACCEPT THAT WE GO TO WAR AGAINST MALAYSIA TO RECOVER SABAH if UN procrastinates!
But as ever, it’s easy to go to war over something but it is IMPERATIVE to plan for after war, i.e., what to do with Sabah (a prosperous province daw ng Malaysia – Put******* nila!) We cannot just take back SABAH without a proper, workable blueprint of how to keep it prospering – geez, our Pinas is soooooo bad, it’s almost better to give provinces away to neighbours who could run them efficiently and wonderfully!!!
So !çàèé!çà!§çàçà)éà-)jà-é!
Con’t Sabah issue:
In 1997, Najib, PM Mahathir’s golden boy told me non-challantly when the Sabah issue cropped up in a private conversation, “Why do you think we’re constantly upgrading our defence forces?”
I retorted: “To invade Indonesia so you could get another province in addition to Sarawak?” We all laughed…
In 1998 – 1999 when he was appointed Minister of Defence, I teased him about the Sabah issue again, he clammed up and refused to comment because he knew anything he said from then on would become an official govt line.
In 1999, he came to Paris to sign up a huge defence deal.
In 2000, Malaysia signed up for the acquisition of 2 submarines and a third one is lined up for acquisition.
Know where they set up their submarine base (not contained on any official Malaysia map to this date) on the border of Sabah.
Oh by the way, all short air defence missiles of Malaysia that they acquired in the early 90s are trained towards the Philippines.
This is a serious concern..This approval by the Senate of this Anti-Terror Bill. And it is definitely urgent that this bill be stopped dead in its tracks because Gloria is calling for a special 2 day session of Congress to have this bill pushed or rammed through again? And on Feb. 19-20, is it? So she can use this as a weapon to bludgeon the opposition this elections? And afterwards? So she can continue to reign past 2010?
Hell! No way! This is one matter that will haunt us and our children and the next generations. And for what? To please an idiotic bumbling US President who is already a lame duck and is about to be tossed into the trash bin by the American people?
This Enrile is devious. He has found his specialty could be of service to the Desperate Woman of the Pasig. And those Senators who voted for this are idiots and should be called to task. And the sooner this is done, the better. There’s not much time. Again, I say, it’s URGENT! This is a matter for the People to show its Power again, if need be.
Sa simula’t simula pa, buo ang paniniwala ko tungkol sa sting senado. INUTIL, MGA KRIMINAL, MGA KOMIKO, MG MANLINLANG, MGA MADYIKERO,
Walang dapat itulak, or dapat kabigin sa hanay ng mga gago at matalinong manloloko. TERRORIST tayong lahat. Ano ba ang akala ninyo. Noon si Pimentel nakulong dahil terrorist daw, ngayon takot na rin sa terrorists. Bakit ba sa Senado daming may atraso sa tao, na kailangan ang proteksyon ng batas na ito?
Bakit si Jamby at si Mar Roxas hindi bomoto para isulong ang bill na ito?
Nangunguna ang senado sa pagsikil sa karapatan ng tao. Mga bloggers dito inupakan ninyo ako dahil sa posteng ko tungkol sa senado. Para sa kanila Terrorist din pala kayo, tulad ko. Lahat tayo. Sige mahalin ninyo ang Senado na unang nagpasa ng bill laban sa terrosimo.
Totally agree with you Phil!
Up to the people to fight for their liberty too.
If they can’t or don’t want to fight for their own liberty, freedom and the whole democratic shebang, they deserve Gloria’s Terror Law.
“When she’s toppled from her throne, kicked out hard, her backside lifted from the Malacanan throne to be thrown into the Pasig river, then we should and MUST deal with the Sabah claim once and for all, and YES, MUCH AS I LOVE MALAYSIA, I WOULD ACCEPT THAT WE GO TO WAR AGAINST MALAYSIA TO RECOVER SABAH if UN procrastinates!”
Atta girl, PV. That’s what I like in you, diretso!
Phil Cruz,
According to Sen. Nene Pimentel the special session that Gloria is calling from is “to raise P10B poll money”. The Daily Tribune (02/11/2007 issue on its web) reported this:
“Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday expressed reservation over President Arroyo’s call for a special session of Congress on Feb. 19 to 20 as he charged that it is intended to railroad the passage of a questionable bill that will provide administration politicians with a slush fund that they could use for their election campaign.
He said the final approval of the Anti-Terrorism Act by Congress is just a disguise for the real motive behind the holding of a special session — the enactment of a law allocating funds for the planting of 10 billion trees bill being pushed by Speaker Jose de Venecia.
Pimentel pointed out it was the De Venecia who convinced the President to convene a special session, pointing to the need to ratify the Anti-Terrorism Act as the main reason.
But Pimentel said since the Anti-Terrorism Act will take effect two months after the May 2007 elections, the ratification of the bill can be made when Congress resumes session in June.
“Speaker De Venecia’s call for a special session is out of place. Now, he wants money for 10 billion trees. If granted, even the birds and the trees will vote for administration bets in May. How sad that money-making now is the administration’s name of the game,” he said.”
Full article: http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/20070211nat2.html
Phil Cruz,
According to Sen. Nene Pimentel the 2-day (Feb. 19-20) special session that Gloria is calling from Congress on is “to raise P10B poll money”. The Daily Tribune (02/11/2007 issue on its web) reported this:
“Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday expressed reservation over President Arroyo’s call for a special session of Congress on Feb. 19 to 20 as he charged that it is intended to railroad the passage of a questionable bill that will provide administration politicians with a slush fund that they could use for their election campaign.
He said the final approval of the Anti-Terrorism Act by Congress is just a disguise for the real motive behind the holding of a special session — the enactment of a law allocating funds for the planting of 10 billion trees bill being pushed by Speaker Jose de Venecia.
Pimentel pointed out it was the De Venecia who convinced the President to convene a special session, pointing to the need to ratify the Anti-Terrorism Act as the main reason.
But Pimentel said since the Anti-Terrorism Act will take effect two months after the May 2007 elections, the ratification of the bill can be made when Congress resumes session in June.
“Speaker De Venecia’s call for a special session is out of place. Now, he wants money for 10 billion trees. If granted, even the birds and the trees will vote for administration bets in May. How sad that money-making now is the administration’s name of the game,” he said.”
Phil Cruz
Right on, on your gloria’s tongress timetable.
Gloria is shooting two birds with one stone. Always. Dubya the first bird, her protection and perpetual stay in office the second bird, the stone, this anti-terrorist law.
This is a better stronger stone, batong buhay but not marble, than the ombudsman she just used to suspend and or dismissed opposing politicians. This new stone, a worthy gift from the senate will not only suspend them, but throw them in jails with no keys, or just kill them, and any of the people from those 75% of the population who hated her. Is there anything nicer than that?
Is there an animal of the lowest form lower than the Senate who’s giving Gloria this most treasonous stone?
Phil Cruz says:
This Enrile is devious. He has found his specialty could be of service to the Desperate Woman of the Pasig. And those Senators who voted for this are idiots and should be called to task. And the sooner this is done, the better. There’s not much time. Again, I say, it’s URGENT! This is a matter for the People to show its Power again, if need be.
Jay says:
If Gloria, a dumb economist knows a little of history, he will issue orders (like Marcos) to arrest Enrile to save her skin.. Who knows, Ramos is still there in the wings. She should put Gringo too, under close watch.
If Enrile, Ramos, and Gringo know history. They would be very careful to repeat history. Unlike Ver, Esperon could blast them to kingdom come. For those who know the lessons of history, they should avoid a recycle one.
Chi,
The impeachment of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo SHOULD be decided by the people in the May elections.
How the hell could one man of martial law expertise have convinced all but two of the senators to pass this bill which is more draconian than the House version? It’s shocking and intriguing.
I can understand the likes of Lacson and Lim voting for it. Their background in police work and culprit control could have influenced them. Same with Biazon as a military man.
Could these police and military minded senators have helped convince the others, too? If so, not a good idea to pepper the Senate with militaristic minds.
But what about the rest? But really, what can we expect from the likes of Lapid, Revilla and Jinggoy? They’ve played out pistolero and toughie roles in their movies,too, haven’t they?
What about Mr. Noted? Just took note of the matter, I guess? But I thought he was a strong advocate of human rights. Recto will ultimately grudgingly give way to his Madame when push comes to shove. But what about Pia?
On this issue, I salute Jamby and Mar. I thought Mar had gone to the moon. Nandidito pa rin pala.
Danke schön liebe Chi!
Chère Chabs,
Re “If granted, even the birds and the trees will vote for administration bets in May.”
I believe they would too. What other ways of kurakots have these two twin tiyanaks devised to ensure the election of their favorite hatchett men and women to the legislature?
Planting 10 billion trees? So they want to copycat a Napoleonic decree, eh?
Napoleon decreed in the early years of his reign in the 19th century that trees should be planted all over France.
He decreed that avenues (a French word) should be created with trees planted on each side leading to all the provinces in the realm.
Do tiyanak twins JdV and Gloria now think they could just copy the great Napoleonic decree BEFORE election period and get away with it?
The most intriguing senator in all these is Joker, of all people.
I know Jamby is vehemently OPPOSED to the Terror Bill.
She voted against it. I congratulate her – I do hope her voting against it hasn’t been influenced by Joma.
Philippine Vigil,
“Napoleon decreed in the early years of his reign in the 19th century that trees should be planted all over France..Do tiyanak twins JdV and Gloria now think they could just copy the great Napoleonic decree BEFORE election period and get away with it?”
Bingo, they posses a Napoleonic complex after all !
PV
You got it all right regarding the rise (and fall) of Enrile.
But this anti-terrorism bill must not have passed the senate if they were not in a hurry to end the debate. I know Pimentel and Jamby are the wrecking duo against Enrile when it’s being discussed. Somewhere in the third reading, Pimentel gave way to some of Enrile’s overtures inspite of bad blood existing between the two. Sa senado kasi, may mga backroom negotiation at ang lasa ko, sumangayon na rin si Pimentel sa pakiusap ng iba leaving Jamby to decide for her own but not necessarily parting ways with Pimentel.
Joeseg,
In fairness to Sen Pimentel, I believe he did everything lawyerly possible to tone down the more draconian provisions that were initiated by Enrile.
Bystander, another fellow blogger (haven’t seen him here though) made a detailed commentary on the proposed Terror Bill. It’s in his blog: http://www.attyerwinjames.blogspot.com
Very insightful and helpful commentary to a layman like me.
Anna, you said:”How on earth or where did MILF forces get their mortars which I suppose are 80 caliber?”
This is one of the issues raised by Magdalo. They are being killed with bullets supplied by their superiors to the enemy.
Ellen, after I wrote that, it dawned on me that the Magdalo allegation just might be true.
Military, officers, men and women alike are far from being saints, they’ve been moulded to be tough, to cause havoc on the enemey, kill and maim their adversaries.
In spite of the fact that the AFP operates under Gloria’s evil tenet, I still can’t believe that men in uniform are capable of doing the most atrocious thing but would stop short of selling wares to their “enemies”, wares that would ultimately KILL their own. The AFP, after all is a tiny military force, not even at par in number with their more progressive counterparts so it’s easy for them to check on each other.
But Ellen, you are perhaps right – unless MILF themselves come to the fore to deny that their mortars were not sourced from the AFP, I think I will begin that the AFP today has completely become TULISANS of the worst variety.
Ellen, I am very angry!
And now I hear that stupid, idiotic Esperon has ordered A NAVAL BLOCKADE on Sulu?
What the frigging shit did he think he was doing?
A naval blockade to try to catch a dozen AS bandits? What will happen to the province? Will the navy POUND THE ISLAND OF SULU to submission?
Doesn’t goddamn Gloria realize that when you carry out a naval blockade, it’s a punitive action, you punish even the civilians – you create a terrible atmosphere of hostility that’s quite unnecessary.
There are kids there, women and old people there who are also helpless and just think of the trauma that will be inflicted on the poor hapless civilian population of Sulu particularly when they see the PHILIPPINE NAVY along with the goddamn US NAVY being militarily hostile, sapping up the last ounce of their dignity and the strength of their poor province, ready to pound their shores with naval guns.
Have you ever heard naval guns pounding?
And the more this nation carry out a punitive action of the like AND together with the WHITE elements of the US Navy, the more Abu Sayyafs you will create from among those little boys and girls who witness the gang rape of their island. Does Esperon think those kids are blind, unfeeling, uncaring of what is done to them?
NAVAL BLOCKADE! Shitheads the lot of them! Why don’t they do that around Malacanang and hang the frigging liar, cheat, thief unano this country has ever known!
pv,
during my numerous trips to Davao city where my late brother lived, I’ve seen a house, a mansion accross the street owned by a major or colonel of the AFP, and the rumors of high ranking officers selling hardwares to the seccesionist movements fighters has been going on since. If you observe, the also have the modern equipment the same as the AFP and we know that these hardwares can not be easiy obtained by them in any market. and with all the Military Aid by the U.S. in hardwares and small arms, the field soldiers are still wanting for them. deduce and the math is simple. horsetrading has been going on since…
vic,
so sorry to hear that your davao-based brod is no longer with us.
Chi: Amoy-lupa Enrile is “kasuka-suka”! May katotohanan pala ang narinig ko minsan sa aking tiyuhin na si Enrile daw ay mas masama kesa kay Apo Lakay!
*****
But there is somebody much worse that him, Chi. Si FVR! Actually, Enrile can be a good statesman if he could control his greed, maybe, and there is no personal interest involved. He actually did a great thing helping us get a Supreme Court ruling declaring all properties of the Philippine government as patrimonies that could not be sold without a national referendum that over here we believed was presenting something to the Filipino populace through a special election, something that we actually do in Japan especially when the properties involved were the properties given to the Filipino people by the Japanese government/people as war reparations payments that BTW the hoodlums at the palace by the murky river are eyeing to pay off these crooks running for office this May.
The properties here are being bidded for sale or whatever WITHOUT THE FULL CONSENT of the real owners, the people of the Republic of the Philippines.
What the idiot does not realize apparently is that there is a provision in the treaty between Japan and the Philippines regarding these properties that when the conditions are not met, that is the CONSENT of the real owners of the property is not received in full, then the people of the Philippines can sue whoever is responsible for this bidding and swindling them in a Japanese or Phiippine court, the latter more preferable because over here there is full guaranty that justice can be served. Lawyers of the Japanese bar association will be more than happy to lend a hand as a matter of fact because this can bring them instant fame!!!
Enrile is in fact a relative of my mother. I did not know that actually until we compared notes and he asked me about Brig. Gen. Alfredo Cayton. A relative of ours is serving in fact as his personal aide/bodyguard.
I have actually been wanting to write to him and ask why he has been actually queerly.
The great Apo in fact told his loyalists that they could make deals with Enrile but never to FVR after he was toppled down. So, there must still be some trust afforded Enrile, but never to his own cousin, Fidel, who must be the real ass.
Frankly, Chi, over here, when a relative betrays another kin, it can mean self-destruction. Rather than do such thing as a matter of fact, they hang themselves or throw their own selves from a highrise building to save face and family honor.
It’s really too bad that there is no such culture in the Philippines of redeeming family honor or even just one’s honor by self-destruction. In a way, it is a good way to weed out the crooks in this world!!!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA! PAKAPALAN NG MGA MUKHA! PWE!
Vic,
When I was working as a tourist guide/escort long, long time ago before the tourism boom in the 70’s, I went with a group of Japanese tourists when they were taken to a house of ill-repute or what they called “casa” somewhere in Pasay City. There were guards in military uniform. It was a big house with a big garden, and you get the impression that it was owned by a very rich man.
Then, someone told me that it was owned by some powerful military officer.
Another such house that our tourists were taken to was in Quezon City and it was also owned by a military official. My father was still alive then, and when I visited him in the USA, I told him about those houses of ill-repute, and he said it was no big deal. He said it was why he did not pursue a career in the military after serving as a USAFFEE soldier and decided to stay in the Philippines until the mid-60’s.
My father was actually disillusioned by the fiasco regarding the backpays in the late 40’s and 50’s with a lot many of them, who served in the military and guerrilla movement during WWII, not being paid their dues because of the rackets involving even these officials who must have made money and built those mansions that did not deserve to own. And all because of the “palakasan” and all, and reason why sometimes, one cannot help wondering what kind of DNA these crooks have, and if majority of Filipinos have what they call “bad genes” for supposedly decent people to be doing all these indecent and shameless activities!!!
As my Tsinoy friend has pointed out to me, “Buti na lang tayo, Yuko, may ibang lahi, ethnically speaking!” 😛
Ellen: This is one of the issues raised by Magdalo. They are being killed with bullets supplied by their superiors to the enemy.
*****
Anna, it is an open secret as a matter of fact. Senator Pimentel told me about why Senator Magsaysay was sent there to investigate at the height of the impeachment trial against Erap. Walang nangyari, and reason why I am not so keen about Senator Magsaysay the way a lot many members of the Talsik group seem to idolize him just because the father was a great soldier. For me, anyone who can make a deal with the devil as he does with the Midget, is not one I can respect and idolize.
And this is one reason why I am supporting Sonny Trillanes. Meron na nga akong ipapadala sa grupo niya na mga computers.
Ellen, can you tell one of his people to get hold of me so they will know where to get the computers that I will send through a relative there so they can have something to start with in case he gets elected? God willing he will win.
Gotta go to the temple every week between now and election for his and other UNO candidates’ sake. I plan to do a lot of fastings for them, too.
SAKIT NA PILIPINAS, SI TRILLANES ANG LUNAS!
ALAN CAYETANO, PAG-ASA NG MGA PILIPINO, HAWAK MO!
ESCUDERO, DANGAL NG LOLO MO, ITAYO MO!
ABEL TAMANO, BAYAN MO ISULONG MO!
LACSON, HUWAG MATAKOT SA MGA KURAKOT!
KOKO PIMENTEL, LIKE FATHER LIKE SON, PARA SA BAYAN!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Unbelievable indeed what I hear of the stupidity of the people running the Philippines like hell now! Why are these people who are supposed to protect their country and people now doing this war on their own people, be they Moslems or Communists! Tarantado talaga!
This is what they get for not putting their police force in order, for running after criminals should be the sole responsibility of the police, not the military. Sino bang stupid ang nag-utos na ipailalim ang pulis sa military? Bobo talaga!
This is one thing that I think the Senators and Congressmen should make clear about. They should have a police agency that should be free from the dictates of these military and civilian politicians. It is why the police there is being made useless for the laws of the land to be followed and upheld. Gosh, sa kaswapangan ng mga ungas, nabobobo ang lahat!!!
Ibalik ang pulis under civilian supervision!!! Ibalik ang dating Manila’s Finest!!! Nababoy lang ang pulisya dahil sa mga kurakot na sundalong kanin na ito!!!
SAKIT NA PILIPINAS, SI TRILLANES ANG LUNAS!
ALAN CAYETANO, PAG-ASA NG MGA PILIPINO, HAWAK MO!
ESCUDERO, DANGAL NG LOLO MO, ITAYO MO!
ABEL TAMANO, BAYAN MO ISULONG MO!
LACSON, HUWAG MATAKOT SA MGA KURAKOT!
KOKO PIMENTEL, LIKE FATHER LIKE SON, PARA SA BAYAN!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Iyan ang dapat gawin. Baguhin ang palakad ng pulis para makulong ang mga ungas, hindi iyong Terrorist Bill kuno e sila itong mga terrorists! But as a friend say, “Mahirap gawin iyan, Yuko, kasi hindi na sila makakanakaw!”
‘Nak ng pating talaga! Lahat na lang ba kurakot?
SAKIT NA PILIPINAS, SI TRILLANES ANG LUNAS!
ALAN CAYETANO, PAG-ASA NG MGA PILIPINO, HAWAK MO!
ESCUDERO, DANGAL NG LOLO MO, ITAYO MO!
ABEL TAMANO, BAYAN MO ISULONG MO!
LACSON, HUWAG MATAKOT SA MGA KURAKOT!
KOKO PIMENTEL, LIKE FATHER LIKE SON, PARA SA BAYAN!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
My point PV when I defended Trillanes, who was disillusioned with the system, even perhaps when he saw the anomalies at the PMA, and the idealistic soldier had “to rebel” and he could only do that by remaining there instead of opting to go out. Eventually, he ended up in jail, where he is continuing to be a symbol of what is right and proper sans protocol in a military that does not in fact follow any sane and logical military rule!!!
SAKIT NA PILIPINAS, SI TRILLANES ANG LUNAS!
ALAN CAYETANO, PAG-ASA NG MGA PILIPINO, HAWAK MO!
ESCUDERO, DANGAL NG LOLO MO, ITAYO MO!
ABEL TAMANO, BAYAN MO ISULONG MO!
LACSON, HUWAG MATAKOT SA MGA KURAKOT!
KOKO PIMENTEL, LIKE FATHER LIKE SON, PARA SA BAYAN!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
thanks zenzennai, I appreciate it very much. We will be observing the first anninversary this Easter Sunday.
PV says:
“Marcos oozed with charm even when he was gonna shoot an opponent down. Even Joma Sison recognized that Macoy was one heck of an opponent in that regard”.
I could’nt agree more, and I have something to add;
His convincing power was so powerful. I witnessed how he convinced an entire family of ten (friends of mine)to go for him when he ran for re-election. This family came from the south and they were all for Osmena. We were then watching him on a TV question and answer program and the head of the family called up the TV station asked him questions and did not even bother to hide his preference and whom he was going to vote. But surprise of all surprises before they hang up the phone, the whole family changed their mind and decided to go for him. He was very patient too.
Anti-Terror Bill nakasalang na, kamatayan lulubha pa. Wala namang pinagkaiba kung may bill o wala patuloy naman ang pagpatay sa mga kalaban ng Palasyo. Patuloy na natutumba ang mga lider militante. Malamang pag plantsado na ang Terror Bill, lalaong darami ang matutumbang kalaban. Mga kababayan gumising na po tayo tanghali na naman nakabalik na po ang kadiliman. Salamat Jambi at Mar kahit papaano di pa ako nawawalan ng pag asa.
Tatalsik ka rin…!
Si Marcos ang pinakamatalinong presidente ng Pilipinas.
Kaya pala ginagaya siya ni Glueria Arroyo?!
Bakit ang ikli na ng mensahe ko sa itaas? Ang haba ang sinulat ko. Bakit nagkaganoon? Si tiyanak gagayahin si Macoy? Magpataas muna siya. Noong buhay pa si Marcos maliit pa ni tiyanak at hanggang ngayon maliit pa.