January 2012 – Page 3 – ellen tordesillas

Bottomline for Trillanes in Corona impeachment

Published by Ellen on January 8, 2012

Trillanes at hearing — Bottomline is national interest

Expect Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV to call a spade a spade.

In his speech at a forum held at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, Diliman last week, Trillanes said, “… the over-arching policy issue in this whole impeachment episode is, whether the conviction or acquittal of Chief Justice Renato Corona would be good for our country.”

Unlike other senators who give hypocritical statements that they will decide solely on evidence presented, Trillanes said, “ My verdict should not be based solely on evidence as it (the impeachment trial)now becomes a matter of public policy.”

But it doesn’t mean, he said, that he will ignore the evidence that will be presented by the prosecution.

Ang ‘fun’ at hindi ‘fun’ sa Pilipinas

Published by Ellen on January 7, 2012

Nagsu-surf ako sa internet kagabi para sa pinakahuling balita tungkol sa landslide sa Compostela Valley at napansin ko na ang balita ay nasa bandang ibaba na sa mga websites ng mga diyaryo, TV stations at Facebook at ang nasa itaas ay ang bagong ad slogan ng Department of Tourism na “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

Hindi yata ‘fun’ ang ganun.

Ayun sa balita, 27 na ang patay sa Compostela Valley at marami ang sugatan. Malungkot itong trahedya lalo na malaki na naman ang kagagawan ng tao.

Mayaman kasi sa ginto ang Compostela Valley kaya namimina doon. Siyempre, binungkal mo ang bundok. Sinira mo na ang pundasyun nun. Kaya kapag lumambot ang lupa dahil sa ulan, mangyayari talaga ang landslide. Lumalaban na ang kalikasan.

Remove that crown of thorns

Published by Ellen on January 6, 2012

By Joel Rocamora
Secretary, National Anti-Poverty Commission

The language of the Corona impeachment is, of necessity, legal. The senators who sit in judgment will do their best to couch their opinions in legalese. Media commentators will try to catch up. But everyone knows that, in the end, it’s all about power and politics.

Law and the judicial system just happen to be the battlefield in this instance. The Corona impeachment is the single most important exercise of presidential power by President Aquino in the year and a half he has spent in office thus far.

The Corona impeachment is about Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA). But only in that GMA has been the symbolic lynchpin of opposition to the reforms that the Aquino administration is currently undertaking. The trigger for impeachment was the Corona Supreme Court’s attempt to facilitate GMA’s escape from the clutches of the law. While there is still another case in the Supreme Court which could be used to spring GMA from prison, more likely she will remain there for some time. The battlefield has now shifted to Corona.

Anything but the evidence

Published by Ellen on January 5, 2012

gettin ready — Getting ready. Photo by Jonas Sulit of Malaya

I think President Aquino will have the numbers to convict Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona regardless of whether the prosecution will be able to support the charges they enumerated in the impeachment complaint.

In a TV interview, Sen. Francis Escudero said it is the presentation of witnesses and evidence, not public opinion, which should decide the outcome of the impeachment trial of Corona.

Even Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who had earlier asked Corona to inhibit on cases involving Gloria Arroyo, also said that the quality evidence will be the determining factor in his decision.

Si Abalos ang konek sa “Hello Garci” at NBN/ZTE

Published by Ellen on January 3, 2012

Pangalawang kaso ng graft laban kay dating Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos kaugnay sa ma-anomalyang NBN/ZTE ang isinampa sa kanyan ng Ombudsman kasama si Gloria Arroyo.

Una ay yung isinampa ng Akbayan noong 2007. Paglabag din ng Republic Act 3019, ang Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Hindi isinama ng Ombudsman na si Merceditas Gutierrez noon si Arroyo.

Sa kasong isinampa ng bagong Ombudsman, Conchita Carpio-Morales kaugnay ng anomalya tungkol sa NBN/ZTE bago matapos ang 2011 laban kay Arroyo, kasama din si Abalos.

Sabi ni Ombudsman Spokesman Asryman Rafanan ibang bahagi daw R.A. 3019 ang tinumbok ng bagong kaso laban kay Abalos.

Nakakulong si Abalos ngayon kaugnay sa kasong electoral sabotage noong 2007 na eleksyun na isinampa ng Comelec.

What about Ruben Reyes, Leo San Miguel et al?

Published by Ellen on January 1, 2012

Madriaga, witness on state corruption in the Philippines, takes his oath during a senate inquiry in Manila — Dante Madriaga. Thanks to Reuters

Aside from Gloria Arroyo, only three other persons were included in the graft charges filed by the Ombudsman with the Sandiganbayan last week in connection with the grossly overpriced NBN/ZTE deal.

They were Gloria Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, former chairman of the Commission on Elections Benjamin Abalos, and Leandro Mendoza, former secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications.

During the Senate hearings on the controversial deal, there were several names mentioned who have allegedly participated in the attempt to con the Filipino people of P14.8 BILLION (peso equivalent of $329 million, the cost of the project at the exchange rate of P45 to US1).

Mapayapa at masaganang bagong taon

Published by Ellen on January 1, 2012

Riding the wave — Sakay sa agos ng buhay,payapa man o maalon.

Taong 2012 na tayo.

Sa mga katulad ko na nasa pangalawang buhay (nagkaroon ako ng ovarian cancer noong 2003), bawat minuto dito sa mundo ay bonus na. Kaya kapag nakabuo ng isang taon, talagang malaking bonus.

Alam ko naman na darating na rin talaga ang oras na kailangan nang pumunta sa pupuntahan natin lahat. Palagi ko iniisip, paano ngayon kung tanungin ako ng Panginoon, ano ang ginawa mo sa bonus na binigay ko sa iyo?

Life after Sendong

Published by Ellen on December 31, 2011

By Erwin Mascariñas

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – After the shock and the tears, people here and in Iligan City are starting to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives two weeks after tropical storm Sendong ravaged their homes and their land.

Lack of sufficient water supply, electricity and other basic necessities, did not stop the survivors of Sendong from moving on.

“We lost our house, clothes, everything. It’s s hard but we have no choice but to move on,”said Jocena Kanood who lost her home in Isla de Oro.

Month: January 2012