May 2007 – Page 8 – ellen tordesillas

Magsaysay awardee Naga mayor ousted

Published by Ellen on May 5, 2007

MAYOR Jesse Robredo of Naga City, a 2000 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service, was disqualified yesterday by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the ground of his citizenship.

Comelec ordered Vice Mayor Gabriel Bornado to assume the mayoralty post as mandated by the Local Government Code.

In a resolution by the First Division, Robredo, son of a Chinese, failed to “perform any act showing his intention to elect Filipino citizenship” despite reaching legal age 31 years ago.

PNP tried to take over Makati City Hall

Published by Ellen on May 4, 2007

Updated Inquirer report:Binay questions suspension order

The Philippine National Police tried to take over the Makati Police at past 9 p.m.They removed the bullets from the guns of Makati City Hall security.

Reports said a suspension order would be served on Binay.

Binay’s supporters have surrounded the City Hall.

Here’s Abs-CBN report:

DILG official arrives in Makati to serve suspension order vs Binay

Mike Arroyo sees the light?

Published by Ellen on May 3, 2007

Mike Arroyo yesterday announced that he is withdrawing the libel suits he filed before 46 journalists.
The announcement was made in a 12-paragraph statement read for him by Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, which was about his recovery from what he called “a dreadful ordeal”.

He quoted Fr. Fernando Suarez saying “there are times when God performs miracles to remind people that he is there.”

Mike Arroyo withdraws libel suits vs journalists

Published by Ellen on May 3, 2007

Malacañang announced that Mike Arroyo, husband of Gloria Arroyo, has decided to withdraw all libel suits he filed against 46 journalists.

Part of Arroyo’s statement read by Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye: “In sincere gratitude to a nation that deserves a more harmonious leadership, and as a gesture of peace to the many kind hearts who have helped my family weather this crisis, I have instructed my attorneys to withdraw all the libel suits pending before the courts.

“Seeking redress for all the grievances that the libel soughts to address now pales in comparison to taking on a genuine chance to make peace and to pursue a more positive and constructive relationship with those who will accept my offer of a handshake.

“I am determined to keep in touch with the God that has been magnanimous to me, and to let His spirit of generosity steer me through any future conflicts.”

My reaction:

I’m glad that mike Arroyo near-death experience has made him see the light. I hope the libel suits were not the only ones he saw.

Malinis na dayaan

Published by Ellen on May 2, 2007

Nasa balita na may mga grupo raw ng mga election observers mula sa iba’ibang bansa ang drating para mag-obserba sa May 14 na halalan.

Sabi ni Leah Navarro, lider ng Compact for Peaceful Elections, dadalhin raw nila ang 17 na observers mula sa Europe, United States at ibang bansa dito sa Asia Pacific sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa bvansa kung saan mukhang mataas ang posibilidad na magkaroon ng dayaan.

Kasama raw sa mga election hotspots ay Caloocan City, Pampanga, Quezon City, Albay, Cmarines, Maguindanao at Cotabato City.

‘Major announcement” by Gloria Arroyo today: Malacañang

Published by Ellen on May 2, 2007

Yesterday afternoon, Malacañang sent out this media advisory: PGMA to make amajor announcement tomorrow, may 3, 2007 10 a.m., reception Hall of Malacañang. Open to…

Pray for Jayjay

Published by Ellen on May 1, 2007

Update on Jonas: Cory Aquino to govt: Where’s Jonas Burgos?

Here’s Malacañang’s directive.

What struck me in that Pieta-like picture of Edith Burgos holding the picture of her missing son was the close resemblance of Jonas Joseph (Jayjay) to his father Joe Burgos, press freedom crusader and founder of We Forum and Malaya.

A witness to the abduction of Jayjay surfaced the other night at ABS-CBN after he saw Edith appealing for help to find her son.

The witness who hid under the name “Randy” said he saw Jayjay eating alone at the Hapag-Kainan restaurant at the Ever Gotesco Mall on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City about 1 p.m. when four “bodyguard-looking” men approached him. At first, Randy said, one of guys put his hand on Jayjay shoulders. “Hinihimas-himas,” was Randy’s description. I can imagine that it was a hard massage that the bodyguard-looking guy was applying on Jayjay.

It’s still GO candidates leading

Published by Ellen on April 30, 2007

In Pulse Asia’s April 21-25 survey on Filipinos senatorial preferences, six Genuine Opposition candidates make it to the Magic 12, four Team Unity and two independent.

The six from GO are Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero, Manny Villar, Panfilo Lacson, Alan Cayetano, Noynoy Aquino.

From the TUTAs, the four are Ralph Recto, Joker Arroyo, Edgardo Angara and Migs Zubiri.

The two independent candidates are Kiko Pangilinan and Gregorio Honasan.

Anak ni Joe Burgos, nawawala

Published by Ellen on April 30, 2007

Kahapon, nag-apela si Edith Burgos, ang balo ni Joe Burgos, ang founder ng Malaya, sa mga dumukot ng kanyang anak na si Jonas na kung maari ay pakawalan nila dahil walang masamang ginawa ang kanyang anak.

Si Jonas Joseph (Jay-jay) Burgos, 36 taong gulang at may-asawa, ay huling nakita ng kanyang pamilya ng umalis sa kanilang bahay sa Tandang Sora Avenue sa Quezon City mga ika-lima ng hapon ng Sabado. Dapat may ka-miting siya.

Labing-apat na oras ang nakalipas bago nila nakontak sa text si Jayjay ngunit ang kanyang sagot ay hindi maintindihan. Nakausap rin siya ng kanyang pamilya sa cellphone ngunit parang siyang inaantok o bangag at hindi maintindihan ang sinasabi.

Nangangamba ang kanyang pamilya na may masamang ginawa ang nagkidnap sa kanya.

Si Jay-jay ay isang agriculturist at aktibo sa Alyansang Magbubukid sa Bulacan, ang provincial chapter ng Samahang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

Month: May 2007