Even whistleblowers don’t escape Gordon fire
by JP Lopez
Malaya
President Arroyo committed an impeachable offense, that of culpable violation of the Constitution, when she did not stop the corruption that attended the negotiations for the overpriced $329 million national broadband network project with the Chinese firm Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment, the Senate Blue Ribbon committee said in its draft report.
“There’s a culpable violation of the Constitution. Why did she not stop these people from committing crimes?” committee chair Sen. Richard Gordon said in a press conference.
Gordon routed the 127-page report among senators yesterday.
The committee started its investigation in September 2007. It has conducted 13 hearings and four technical working group hearings since then.
Aside from Gordon, four other senators signed the report as of last night. They were minority leader Aquilino Pimentel, Senators Edgardo Angara, Gregorio Honasan and Joker Arroyo.
Recommended charged before the Office of the Ombudsman were Jose Miguel Arroyo, Benjamin Abalos, Jose de Venecia Jr, Romulo Neri, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza and transportation assistant secretaries Lorenzo Formoso and Elmer Soneja.
The report also recommended the filing of charges against whistleblowers Joey de Venecia III and Rodolfo Lozada Jr.
Gordon said that except for the President, they should all be charged with violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Environment Secretary Lito Atienza and Executive Deputy Secretary Manuel Gaite should also be charged with violation of Section 150 of the Revised Penal Code or disobedience to summons issued by the national assembly for restraining Lozada from attending the hearing.
Gordon said the President “has lots of explaining to do.”
He cited Article VII, Section 5 of the Constitution which provides that the President should “preserve, and defend its Constitution, execute its laws, and do justice to every man.”
Article VII, Section 17 of the Constitution also provides that “The President shall have control of all the executive departments, bureaus, and offices. He shall ensure that the laws be faithfully executed.”
“Her acts in this case reveal that her performance of presidential duty has been wanting,” Gordon said in the report.
He also said Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is wrong in dismissing the case against the President Arroyo on the ground that she is immune from suits.
“It is the duty of the Ombudsman to investigate impeachable officers,” he said.
He said what Gutierrez should have done was investigate the allegations and if probable cause was found, refer the case to the House of Representatives.
Gordon said the Ombudsman should not have made a blanket statement of immunity.
The government officials involved were likewise accused of violating R.A. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard for Public Officials.
The committee report was in contrast to the recommendation of the Office of the Ombudsman last August, which dismissed the complaint against the First Gentleman for lack of probable cause and dropped President Arroyo as respondent due her immunity.
Gordon cited the presence of Mike Arroyo in a game of golf with ZTE officials in Shenzen, China, in November 2006 where the President and Speaker De Venecia were also present.
In March 2007, Joey de Venecia told the committee that Mr. Arroyo told him to “back off” from the broadband project at a “conciliatory meeting” at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club hosted by Abalos.
Neri testified that Abalos tried to bribe him with P200 million to approve the deal with ZTE.
Joey de Venecia also claimed that Abalos offered him a $10 million bribe during the Wack-Wack meeting.
The report also said the former Speaker intervened in at least three instances in the NBN project.
Gordon said the two “whistleblowers” actively participated in the project, with Joey de Venecia crying foul only when his firm, Amsterdam Holdings Inc., lost in the bidding.
He said Lozada could be tapped as a state witness and could not be called a whistleblower. He however, recognized the contribution of Lozada in the investigation of the anomaly.
Senators, upon learning the inclusion of Lozada and Joey de Venecia in the recommendation to be indicted, said they would not support the report.
Alan Peter Cayetano, former Blue Ribbon chair, has said there is a probability that his colleagues from the minority, might come up with a “minority report,” a dissenting report, if they were not satisfied with the findings and recommendations of the Gordon panel.
Not true
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said there was no truth that the President did not act on Neri’s report about Abalos’ bribe attempt.
Remonde said the President ordered Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno to investigate through the PNP.
He said Puno said the PNP promptly conducted an investigation but the result was inconclusive.
Remonde said Puno told the President that there was no basis to file charges against anybody at that time.
Gordon agreed to release the final report on the NBN-ZTE- deal on the prodding of Joey de Venecia.
For the young De Venecia, the release of the report is the culmination of a two-year odyssey to ferret out the truth about the project.
“It really doesn’t matter if Senator Gordon has prejudged me by saying I was guilty even after the Ombudsman cleared me,” he said, “What’s more important is that the committee report be released for the people to judge for themselves if its findings are valid.” – With Regina Bengco
Nagpapakitang gilas lang naman itong si Gordon kasi malapit na ang election.
Dadalhin na naman sa office ng ombudsman. May mangyayari ba? Si Gutierez pa e hawak sa ilong ni Jose Miguel iyan. Chuwariwariwap ng mga Arroyo iyang kumag na iyan.
Dito sa Pinas usong usong yung “authorities emanates from the people.” Huwag na dapat ihain sa ombudsman, sa mga taumbayan na lang tiyak may resulta agad iyan. Within the span of 3 to 5 minutes may resulta na iyan.
Dapat sa ombudsman na iyan, ihabla sa Office ng Ombudsman.
There’s a culpable violation of the Constitution. Why did she not stop these people from committing crimes?” committee chair Sen. Richard Gordon said in a press conference.
Hindi niya ng pinigil yung mga tao niya sa panloloko ng taumbayan noong 2004 elections, gagawain pa ba niya yung pigilan ang mga hinayupak na ito na gumawa ng kabulastugan?
Kung ipitin niya ang mga iyan dahil pinigil sila, e di kumanta ang mga iyan sa mga kalokohan niya. The worst is she did not stop herself from showing her ass to the public.
Because she looks exactly like her ass.
to impeach putot is an impossible dream…Mercedita is now the Death of Justice Secretary..
Nunca na ilabas ni Dickdick ang report/recommendations na yan kung walang eleksyon na darating at mapapalitan na si Gloria.
Lahat ngayon ay hindi sumusunod sa unana, kahit ang oil companies ay palaban sa kanya. Mangyayari ba yan kung si Gloria ay may pwersa pa?
Why did she not stop these people from committing crimes?” -Gordon
Kung hindi idiot na tanong yan, ano pa?
In the firt place, the bitch and her pig directly participated in committing the crime, meron pang pictures and witnesses. In short, Gloria even encouraged her people to commit the crime for reasons we all know.
Ang galing ng timing ni Dick. Tinantiya muna kung maraming kakampi si boobuwit. Ngayong alam niya na halos lahat ng kaalyado ni boobuwit eh nagsilayasan na, inilabas yung ZTE-NBN report. Mabuti nga at lumabas pa itong report na ito. Yung Mayuga report na naglalahad kung paano nandaya si boobuwit sa 2004 elections eh nase safety deposit box pa at nakasusi.
Nagpapatawa itong si Dick. Kelan at sino ang dapat na mag-impeach kay boobuwit? Isn’t it too late to do that now?
At sino naman ang magsasampa ng mga kaso sa mga ito? Di ba “no case” na ito kay Chedeng? Inabsuwelto na niya yung dalawa, si boobuwit at si fatso. Sa nakikita ko, yung mga small fishes lang ang mapaparusahan at yung matatabang isda eh makakalusot as usual.
Kasama si De Venecia at Lozada sa charge kasi nagalit sa kanila si Gordon sa ginawa nilang pag bulgar sa kaniyang mga boss.
Ina nakulong sa pagnanakaw ng uniporme para sa anak
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/nov1109/crimes02.htm
Gordon ang Hustisya ng Bayan..Too late !..pakitang Tao, para sabihing may ginawa bilang Blue Ribbon Chairman..Bistado na kayong mga mahilig mag-laro sa Batas ni Juan de La Cruz. Sana tutuhanan na iyan flash gordon..naka-katawa lang ang mga gina-gawa nila…Pahiran mo na lang ng pawis si Pacman, katulad ni Chavit..baka lalo kang pansinin..Bayang Pilipinas saan ka patutungo ??
sana naman sa 2010 mayroon ng mabuting mga pamunuan sa Bansa..Kaya lang parang “sila-sila pa din”..abangan na lang natin kung may-mangyari nga…at salamat naman, sakaling mayroong progreso ang kunyaring mga charges sa
mga mangungulimbat sa bulsa ni Juan…Kung sakaling mayroon, ” kudos “, kung wala, sayang lang ng panahon, at
pasahod sa kanila, na milyones ang katumbas..
Sabi ni boobuwit, “we are ready”. Alam na ni boobuwit ang gagawin para mawala itong kasong ito. Ilabas lang yung milyones, ayos na!
Why did she not stop these people from committing crimes?” -Gordon
How can she ever stop herself?
Whether it prospers or not, practical or otherwise, another impeachment complaint must have to be filed if we are to stick to principles.
Ms. Fajardo, if she would have her way, wants us to believe that there are more pressing concerns the government has to act on, and that an impeachment complaint would only serve to distract her boss’ focus away from these concerns. May focus nga ba? Lumang tugtugin na yang excuse na yan, e.
Gloria’s clan is a clan known for double crossers so be prepared for everything as in dapat magkaisa tayo to defeat her plans…..
If not for the traitors in this clan the spanish occupation will not even last for 300+ years and the american occupation is not even possible that is why dapat magkaisa tayo para talunin itong pandak na ito….
Tirador ng donation box nahuli
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/nov1109/luzon03.htm
Yeah, agree that an impeachment complaint against Gloria should be filed asap to distract her focus on Lubao, Pampanga and selling all Pinas assets abroad, only two of her main focuses.
Sa tingin ko hindi useless na ma impeach si GMA kahit patapos na ang termino nya. Kung totoong bayan ang pinagsisilbihan ng mga senador, ituloy and impeachment at tanggapin lahat ng ebidensya laban sa pangulo. Sa impeachment, represented ng counsel ang pangulo. Sa loob ng 5 buwan matatapos ang impeachment at tanggal si GMA bilang presidente. Kesohodz 3 araw na lang sa termino nya ang natitira o kahit isang minuto na lang, ang importante, impeached siya. Nalantad ang mga katiwalian.
Pagkatapos ng term niya, ituloy na ang kaso sa Ombudsman, using the records in the impeachment proceedings. this time, criminal liability naman ang ipataw sa kanya.
Yeah, agree that an impeachment complaint against Gloria should be filed asap to distract her focus on Lubao, Pampanga and selling all Pinas assets abroad, only two of her main focuses.
My guess is that those Pampanga sorties are meant only to provide a smokescreen for a more ‘clever’ strategy still in the wraps. She’s too smart to know that being a mere Congresswoman Arroyo won’t give her all the clout, the power and immunity from suits she would require once she leaves Malacanang. Ngayon pa nga lang, nag-aalsa-balutan na ang mga alipores niya e.
She’s probably fishing for attacks against “Congressional candidate Gloria” while quietly preparing for her role as President-for-life Gloria. Remember, the rumored congressional run was started by Aling Gloria herself through a joke that went like “Who knows, I can run as congresswoman in Pampanga when my term ends in 2010.”
Excellent thought to ponder on, Ka Enchong.
“Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and the Cojuangco family were direct beneficiaries of the P170-million private road interchange in Hacienda Luisita as well as a P80 million for the right of way (RoW), it was bared yesterday.
At the hearing conducted yesterday by the House oversight committee headed by Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, lawmakers uncovered that the Cojuangco-controlled HLI, was a direct beneficiary of the SCTEX project, whose proponent, as revealed in the Jan. 12, 2005 Senate hearing, was Noynoy Aquino who was then a congressman.
“This probably explains why Senator Aquino, who despite professing he is a righteous man and that his bid for the presidency is a fight between good and evil, and that he is of course on the side of the good, refused to dip into the C-5 controversy because he himself has been hiding skeletons in his closet,” Dela Cruz said, adding: “And to think this is even BIGGER THAN THE C5 ISSUE!”
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20091112hed1.html
Noynoy is more corrupt than Villar!
Villar C5 = stole 200 Million pesos of public money
Noynoy SCTEX = stole 250 Million pesos of public money
Cheap Talk Chiz = stole 490 Million pesos of public money (pork barrel)
Erap = did not steal any public money, if he stole public money it will be peanuts compare to those three.
x-man, baligtarin man ang langit at lupa ay hindi ako maniniwala na “Noynoy is more corrupt than Villar”.
Si Danilo Suarez pa na tool ni Gloria ang nag-uncover kuno, hahaha!
Nag-benefit nga ang HL sa SCTEX location wise and so are thousands of families living along the highway, pero meron bang na -uncover na tongpatz-TAGA na directang naibulsa ni Noynoy? Kung meron, magkano ang naka-record,(yung ganun kay Money Villar)?
Okey na sana yung #19 comment ni xman, dinugtungan pa, OA tuloy.
Puro ka “stole”, sino ba ang nakulong sa plunder?
“What is evident is that Estrada has been convicted not on the merits of the case but definitely on political grounds.
The conviction of Estrada was in the cards from the day the Supreme Court justices chose to become active players in a plot to oust Estrada, followed up by their decision vesting legitimacy on Gloria’s ascession to Malacañang through a coup d’etat and then creating a special court just to try Estrada.”
http://www.tribune.net.ph/20070913/commentary/20070913com1.html
Kung ikukumpara mo yung SCTEX sa C-5 na maraming liko, mas maniniwala akong na-divert talaga yung C-5.
Ayoko ngang mag-drive sa SCTEX dahil sa haba ng biyahe na wala man lang liko, makakatulog ako kahit tumatakbo ako ng 100kph sa loob ng 45 mins.
Ang raket dito sa SCTEX e yung mga interchange na wala naamang dumadaan tapos dun sa mga dulo, walang interchange, lalo sa Pampanga side. Ang kumurakot dito, yung nag-approve ng additional $50M loan mula sa JICA, wala na sa level ng mga local politicians yan. Malacañang yan.
Naniniwala ako sa sinabi ni Erap na wala siyang “ninakaw sa pondo ng gobyerno ni singko”.
Pero yun bang jueteng e hindi pera ng taumbayan? Mas may konsensiya lang siya kesa iba, pero magnanakaw pa rin.
The crime of plunder, as explained by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, has to do with the the malversation of public funds, or raids on the public treasury.
One must then ask: Where was the plunder then that the Sandiganbayan Special Division justices claimed Erap Estrada committed when they declared him guilty of plunder in two instances, namely, the commissions from the BW shares of stocks and the jueteng payoffs while acquitting him of two other plunder charges, namely, the P130-million tobacco excise tax diversion and the Jose Velarde account, since neither the BW commissions nor the jueteng payoffs came from public funds?
http://www.tribune.net.ph/20070913/commentary/20070913com2.html
Tama ka xman, kaya nga sabi ko sa kauna-unahang post ko sa blog ko, dapat na-acquit si Erap sa plunder.
Anong gagawin sa impeachment?
Dadaldal nang dadaldal, hanggang Enero. Yung mga dating sipsip, boboto in favor. Sasabihin, yung mga una, walang ebidensya. Ngayon, mukhang mayroon, so handa kaming makinig.
That saves their asses, so that they get reelected. But the articles of impeachment will be filed at the Senate in February; too late for any deliberations, much less a trial.
They need to save their asses, so that they can preserve their supermajority (3/4). Kung simple majority lang, walang success ang cha-cha, and Congresswoman/Speaker Glue cannot become the Crime Minister.
Consider this part of the playbook.
atty sax, Oo nga noh?
Ano kaya’t tumabi muna si Laway Gordon at turn over nya ang Chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon Committee kay Lito Lapid para masabi man lang nya na mi ginawa siya sa Senado. Puro dress to kill, warming da bench, at pangiti ngiti rin ang hindut na tu – can’t fathom how on earth the Juans and Maryas voted for such a waste.
maganda ang naging report ni gordon sana magkatotoo
medyo busy sa panahon ngayon. makasundot nga lang ng comment… medyo magandang balita… kahit na halatang pasikat lang to si Gordon!
Trapong-trapo diskarte! hoy umalis ka nga dyan sa PNRC.. baka pati libreng dugo, sipsipin mo!
kung sabagay, sa ibang banda… malaking hambalos yan kay Gloria, Gibo at mga alipores!
The crime of plunder, as explained by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, has to do with the the malversation of public funds, or raids on the public treasury.
naniniwala pa ba kayo dyan kay brenda. kahit may legal basis sinasabi nyan… isipin nyo ung motibo! nampotsa! mga doble kara!
Yeah, agree that an impeachment complaint against Gloria should be filed asap to distract her focus on Lubao, Pampanga and selling all Pinas assets abroad, only two of her main focuses.
Anong distract? wala pang 1 week after filing of the the case in tongress, siguradong sa basura lang bagsak nyan!
Noynoy is more corrupt than Villar!
ano na namang kalokohan to? tribune na nman! watafak!
Mercedita is now the Death of Justice Secretary… Totoo ba to? nampotsa!
huli na ko sa balita… ibang klase talga tong ellenville, magbasa ka lang ng 1 thread, parang nagbasa ka na ng balita for a week!
xman – November 11, 2009 10:34 pm
Villar C5 = stole 200 Million pesos of public money
Noynoy SCTEX = stole 250 Million pesos of public money
Cheap Talk Chiz = stole 490 Million pesos of public money (pork barrel)
Erap = did not steal any public money, if he stole public money it will be peanuts compare to those three.
sa madaling salita lahat ng tongressman at senatong na tumatanggap ng Pork Barrel magnanakaw. So si Lacson lang ang hindi magnanakaw! si Trillanes ba, tumatanggap?
Sax, I agree with you 100%. Itong impeachment na ito eh “drama” na naman para yung mga alagad ni boobuwit eh magpapasiklab para may re-election sila. Let us not give them the stage this time. TAMA NA!
Kaya nga yung C5 na yan ni Villar na akala mo eh pinanggalingan na ng lahat ng pera ni Villar eh “suspect” sa akin yan from the very beginning. Dahil unang una, kung may kasalanan si Villar, di ba may kasalanan din yung mga senators na pumirma dyan sa singit niya? Why did they allow Villar to insert anything in the budget?
The Aquino road was exposed quite a while back but it did not quite make a big splash. Ngayon na presidentiable si Noynoy, lahat na ng kung ano ano eh lumalabas.
I say it again and again na tignan sana lahat ng mga senators at mga congressmen kung itong mga ito ay may mga “insertions” at hindi lang itong si Villar at Noynoy ang sinisilip dahil nagkataong kumakandidato sila sa pagka-presidente at nangunguna pa sa survey. It looks like this may be a black propaganda on these two by those trailing in the surveys! It is not right and fair,di ba?
Meron pa pong isang malaking scandal itong sila Arroyo. Ang tawag dito ay yung SICPA tax stamp. Di masyado pinapansin ng radyo, diyaryo, at telebisyon, pero kikita ang mga salarin ng mahigit P18 billion.
Sabi ng SICPA nuong 2007, ang project cost nila ay aabot ng P12 billion. Pero ayon kay BIR Deputy Commissioner Lilia Guillermo, ito daw ay aabot na ngayon sa P18 billion. Ang dahilan: Inflation daw. Owwwwwssss?
Sinabi nga pala ito ni Lilia Guillermo duon sa Kongreso noong Nov. 10, 2009 lamang.
Di kaya ang dahilan nito ay maraming nakisawsaw sa deal na ito?
Let them act on another impeachment of the panduck. Pasiklab man ito o ano, alam naman ng mga tao kung ano ang papel nitong mga kotonggresmen sa mga nagdaang pagkaabsuwleto ng pamilya dorobo.
Tick on each of their palpak moves and fail their grades on papogi and kunyari actions against their patron.
Ganti ganti katwiran magbayad ang may utang.
After their respective terms in not supporting another attempt to fool the people in their candidacies, charge them all in court re unexplained wealth/corruption by conniving with the corrupt arroyo family.
Bandang huli, ang taong bayan naman ang magtatakda ng kanilang kapalaran.
Enough with lies and deceit.
“Who knows, I can run as congresswoman in Pampanga when my term ends in 2010.”
May pakyut pang kumpas ng kamay, pa-innocent ng mukha at pantalaysing eyes ang bruha.
Let them act on another impeachment of the panduck. Pasiklab man ito o ano, alam naman ng mga tao kung ano ang papel nitong mga kotonggresmen sa mga nagdaang pagkaabsuwleto ng pamilya dorobo.
Agree 100%!
May pakyut pang kumpas ng kamay, pa-innocent ng mukha at pantalaysing eyes ang bruha.
May kasama pang hagalpak sa dulo ‘yan… not unlike the laughter one hears at the end of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’. Ahahahahaha! Ahahahahaha!