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Bishop Tobias calls on soldiers

Following article by Marie A. Surbano is from today’s issue of the Daily Tribune.

A bishop started the political-moral ball rolling as he flung the first challenge to the Philippine soldiery to defend the Constitution that he said is today under attack by the Arroyo government.

Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias, an outspoken senior bishop-critic of President Arroyo and her administration, yesterday openly called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to perform its bounden duty to defend the Constitution and protect the Filipino people from the machinations of Mrs. Arroyo and her allies in the House of Representatives in their multiple immoral plots to amend the Charter and thereby ensure that their selfish vested interests would be protected.

“The soldiers, the Armed Forces, are sworn to protect the people and to defend the Constitution,” the bishop said, justifying his call as legal and constitutional, stressing that “Today, the Constitution is being ravaged in the interest of private individuals. We should be dependent on this (constitutional duty of the AFP to correct this wrong) and I ask them (military) to help the people,” the Novaliches bishop told reporters during a press briefing yesterday after the Mass held at the St. Peter’s Parish in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.

Tobias, a known critic of the Arroyo government, pointed out that the soldiers are constitutionally sworn to protect the Charter and therefore, as it is now under attack, they should now show that support to the mass actions being organized by no less than the majority of the Filipinos who oppose Charter change (Cha-cha).

It is the same constitutional proviso that then Vice President Arroyo and her elite group that grabbed power from then sitting President Joseph Estrada in January 2001, used to justify the military withdrawal of support by then AFP chief of staff ( Ret.) Gen. Angelo Reyes and his service commanders, which the Supreme Court, then headed by Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., did not rule as unconstitutional, in legitimizing the Arroyo coup d’etat.

“I expect the soldiers to at least express support to the mass actions taking place now,” he said stressing that he is not urging them to be divided but to be united in defending the 19- year old Charter which congressional allies of the President want to dispose of, while ushering a new one that would effect a shift from the presidential system with a bicameral Congress to the parliamentary system with a unicameral congress through the railroading of the Constituent Assembly (Con-ass), as displayed by the House majority last week.

The bishop also voiced his disappointment with the manner by which the administration lawmakers are now pushing the Constitutional Convention (Con-con) which the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) had earlier declared to be the preferred mode of Charter change.

“I couldn’t believe that our congressmen would stoop to that level. I regard them highly because before I had relatives who were in Congress and they are really good persons,” Tobias said.

Tobias was also pointed to by a former Oakwood Mutiny core leader as having given the then rebel officer, Lt. Lawrence San Juan, who has since sworn allegiance to Mrs. Arroyo, safe haven by hiding him in several safehouses of the bishop.

Despite the sworn affidavit of San Juan pointing to Tobias as the bishop who had given him refuge, intimating that the bishop was part of the alleged coup d’etat then being allegedly planned by the rebel soldiers, the Department of Justice, however, never included him in the list of persons being charged for rebellion and coup d’etat.

The Novaliches bishop is convinced that the shift from Con-ass to Con-con is yet another ploy of the Arroyo government, and he appealed to the public to be more vigilant.

“Vigilance. This is what I am asking our people,” he stressed.

Tobias also rejects the claim that the President has nothing to do with the shift from the Con-ass to the Con-con, saying: “Let’s put it this way, this is one means to shelter President Arroyo from the things that are happening. But it is she who started all this (Cha-cha moves), the reason we are divided and the reason there is infighting”.

(Click here for the rest of the story)

Click here for Inquirer’s story .

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137 Comments

  1. More quotes from Bishop Tobias from Malaya’s news report:

    Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias called on the public to maintain vigilance in the face of administration’s moves to dampen the anger of the people by proposing a Constitutional Convention.

    “Gusto ko manatili tayong gising maski pa pagbigyan tayo sa gusto nating Con-Con pagkat meron pa ’yang ibang plano. ’Wag tayong matakot ipakita na sa bawat step nila nakikita ang tunay na hangarin ng ating mga mambabatas,” Tobias said in his homily yesterday at the St. Peter’s Parish in Quezon City.

    “Sumama tayo sa mga pagkilos para maipakita ang boses ng bayan. Kung di kayo makakasama, puwede ba pagpaliwanagan ang inyong mga kapitbahay, ’yung hindi nakakaintindi para sila ay magising,” he said.

    Tobias “thanked” the House majority for uniting the nation by “raping the Constitution.”

    “Gusto ko nga magpasalamat sa ginawa ng Batasan. Nagkaisa ang bayan. Kasi noon, nagkakaisa kami, hindi nga lamang kami magkaisa kung ano ang gamit o dapat gawin. Thank you sa pinakita ninyo na kailangan na namin kumilos,” he said.

  2. Ellen,

    Re “Tobias, a known critic of the Arroyo government, pointed out that the soldiers are constitutionally sworn to protect the Charter and therefore, as it is now under attack, they should now show that support to the mass actions being organized by no less than the majority of the Filipinos who oppose Charter change (Cha-cha).”

    What does Bishop tobias mean exactly by “they should now show that support to the mass actions being organized by no less than the majority of the Filipinos who oppose Charter change (Cha-cha)?”

    How can the soliders help exactly? or how can they support the mass actions being organized?

    Bit tricky situation – there’s bound to be repurcussions if those soldiers come to the rescue…

  3. There is, they say, a season for everything:
    GOD in His ways, shows us what to do.
    It is in this light that we will all go…..
    and seek redress for the serial murder that they have done.

    Murder of the people who dare spoke against a regime
    that bespeaks of treachery, malpractice, and massive corruption starting from the top to her minions.
    Murder of everything, including the Constitution that serves as the Basic Law of the Land…..
    Murder of the right of every Filipino to speak and be heard via their votes which was robbed many times over in recent years, because they “Helloed Garci” and tinkered with the money bag.

    This country has lost its morality because the very leaders who vowed to protect the Country are the ones raping it….murdering it, and robbing it.

    This may hark the beginning of her end….
    God Bless the Philippines:
    Land that WE all love!

  4. Fr RC Constantino, Jr:

    Hi Ellen

    Maraming salamat uli. Pakiparating naman sa iyong mga contributors and
    taos puso kong pasasalamat sa ipinamalas nilang suporta at pag-unawa sa
    aking ginawa noong Disyembre 9, 2006 sa presscon ni Speaker Jose de
    Venecia at ng mga congressmen mula sa mayorya.

    Lalong tumibay tuloy ang determinasyon kong bumalik sa larangan ng
    pakikibakang iniiwasan ko nang dahil sa nabubulok kong puso. Pinalukso
    niyo ang tibok ng aking puso sa mga sinulat niyo sa blog ni Ellen.

    While I had no illusions I was speaking for anyone but myself, I am so
    glad that, no matter how inadvertently, I have articulated what our
    silenced people feel in their hearts.

    On the other hand, if there is anything I wish my action has produced it
    is this: having contributed to opening the floodgates of disgust, each
    Filipino should speak up and thus exercise the power that each one of us
    inherently has. A power that others have wielded for so long in our name.

    To my mind, the issue is not about elections these false leaders seek to
    mislead us with. It is no longer about charter change, either con-ass
    or con-con. Having exposed themselves with their arrogant machinations
    for self serving objectives, they have lost the right to lead.

    Warm regards

    RC

  5. joeseg joeseg

    Bishop Tobias calls on soldiers to support the mass actions taking place might finally prompt the DOJ to charge him with rebellion. But of course, his calls are directed to either to top AFP honcho to duplicate what Angelo Reyes did on Joseph Estrada or to some officers who are already very much agitated and have enough soldiers under their command. We could surmise that all their movements are now under scrutiny. I said it before and I am saying it again, we hope and pray that everything will end well without anybody getting hurt.

    Meantime, I gathered some QUOTABLE QUOTES:

    1. DAN MARIANO: “Solons unite nation…against them.”
    2. CONRADO DE QUIROS: “I would very much like to thank the “tongressmen” for doing what the opposition, in whole or in part, united or fragmented, has not been able to do all this time. That is to rouse the people from an immense and bovine stupor to protest wrongdoing.”
    3. HERN ZENAROSA: By now they must have realized the folly of their political braggadocio – or haven’t they learned?
    4. EMIL JURADO: The motives of the House ChaCha advocates became too clear. And as I had stated, any postponement of the elections would be difficult for the people to accept
    5. ANTONIO ABAYA: Shame on you, Joe. For sheer gall and shameless chutzpah in changing house rules.
    6. PING LACSON: “Will they or will they not abandon their con act?”
    7. JOSIE LICHAUCO: “Obfuscating collection of words. It does not cancel Con-Ass.
    ==

  6. npongco npongco

    While Bishop Tobias is calling the soldiers to defend the constitution, Malacanang has ordered the PNP and Military to block all exits entering Metro Manila from the provinces. According to them, they’re doing this not to stop the people from rallying but to watch for criminal elements and terrorists who might take advantage of the situation. Sound familiar? Everytime there’s a rally to be staged by anti-Arroyo forces, these PNP goons use the same reason.

  7. noypi noypi

    It was very disgusting that “tongressmen” acted like they have the sole franchise of legislating laws. Masyadong garapal.

  8. These Majority Allies will never learn, simply because they have been so arrogant to the citizens and senators with their numbers game that they are still acting as if they have the numbers. They are about to discover that its the citizen who have the numbers, One Million and no less!
    Bishop A. Tobias shows courage, now its the citizens and soldiers turn to support him this week-end.

  9. Re: “Despite the sworn affidavit of San Juan pointing to Tobias as the bishop who had given him refuge, intimating that the bishop was part of the alleged coup d’etat then being allegedly planned by the rebel soldiers, the Department of Justice, however, never included him in the list of persons being charged for rebellion and coup d’etat.”

    Duwag is what I’d call Gonzalez of the DoJ.

    Gosh, how many tank divisions does Bishop Tobias have that they should be scared of him? NONE! Yet the good bishop can stare down Gonzalez. SiRaulo talaga itong si Gonzalez!

  10. The PNP and soldiers have families, these families will also be part of the survey results negative to GMA. These soldiers don’t have to take action, in fact the only thing required of the PNP & Soldiers is to quietly not take action against the citizen. The PNP & Soldiers are not being asked to divide, its better for them to unite and take no action, which will uphold the Constitution and not to rape it like these Congressmen.

  11. chi chi

    “Tobias also rejects the claim that the President has nothing to do with the shift from the Con-ass to the Con-con, saying: “Let’s put it this way, this is one means to shelter President Arroyo from the things that are happening. But it is she who started all this (Cha-cha moves), the reason we are divided and the reason there is infighting”.
    ***
    TOTOO ‘YAN BISHOP TOBIAS, Thank you for the clarification.
    SI GLUERIA ARROVO MACAPAGAL PIDAL ANG MAY KASALANAN NG LAHAT. SI JDV ANG SHOOTER AT SI FIDEL RAMOS ANG SULSOL!

    I agree with you WWNL. Huwag lang mananakit ng mga tao ang kapulisan at sundalos. mahiya naman sila, duling na bulag pa kung susundin nila sa mga panahong ito ang utos ng mayordomang tiyanak sa malacanang.

  12. nelbar nelbar

     

    inabolish nila ang HOuse of Represetatives noong isang linggo , – “dry-run for a Parliamentary set-up”.

    Pakitang tao lang na kunyari ay pinakikinggan nila ang boses ng minorya pero ang totoo ay kumukuha lang sila ng tiempo.

    Dapat dyan ay magsi-resign sila.

    Mas masahol pa sa mga tongressman ang ginawa nito kung ikukumpara sa mga sundalo noong February 24,2006.

    Ganito ba ang ibig sabihin ng democratic exercises?

     

  13. I’ve also stopped reading Ducky Paredes. There’s been a change in the way he formulates his opinion or perhaps I’m just being too finicky but I find that his stance doesn’t seem to be as cut and dry as they used to be with regard to Gloria and her government.

  14. Ooops, mali ang thread, sorry.

  15. npongco npongco

    Anna, I also noticed Ducky’s change of tone. The other Jesus Sison has become a bit balanced from his previous pro-GMA style. Aside from Ellen, the other more consistent writers are Lito Banayo, Herman Tiu Laurel, Nixon Kua, etc.

  16. Don’t know Nixon Kua though.

  17. chi chi

    Anna,

    Ducky Paredes seemed to have a change of style for quite sometime now. I don’t read him anymore, just a waste of my precious time.

  18. This JDV’s mouth is non-stop repeating, repeating and repeating like a bad attack of diarrhoea. In answer to a question asking if he had spoken to GMA in the past two days JDV said “as god knows I never spoke to the President; it was me that decided to change it” No wonder he sounds like a bad attack of diarrhoea, his answer is full of shit. Does he expect us to believe him, better if JDV kept his talking to simple “Yes or “No”.
    JDV when I look at you, are you the best speaker they could find, you make me laff!

  19. Joeseg,

    Have just read Bel’s Cunanantics; she concludes her piece with the following rant:

    “The fact is that the Senate — with a budget of P3 billion a year, a pork barrel of P200 million for each senator with no direct constituency to account to, and after passing only four bills — is fighting for survival because of the threat that a unicameral chamber will be established. The senators like to point to House members’ “agenda” e.g., extending their terms, lifting term limits, etc. But the senators also have their interest to protect. Also some of them just want to be president, never mind if it’s plain to see that our political system has become a dead-end.”

    So she says Senate is fighting for survival. Well, if she ain’t that bigotted, she should also say that the Lower House, most of whom, her bosom rat at the top of the heap, is also fighting for their survival and doing it in such a way that would make the even the debilitated prozac patient puke in agony.

    Cunanan’s cunananatics ommitted to include that not only is the major House rat de Venecia fighting for his ugly, political life but is also fighting for the liliput-sized bogus queen in Malacanang and her survival.

    She now seems to blame the political dead end this nation finds itself in because of the Senator’s reluctance to join the House rat in eating away at the foundations of nation – the Philippine Constitution while she conveniently forgets that it’s her mistress, Gloria Macapal, who was the initial cause of the current constitutional crisis the nation finds itself in.

    If that’s not being bigotted, I don’t know what is…

    Bel’s cunananatics are so warped, I feel like dousing her with an arinola of turd!

  20. Joe de Venecia is turd personified!

  21. Oops mali na naman ang thread! Should have posted that comment attn Joeseg in a different thread… yikes!

    Darn, I think I’m getting cross-eyed. I think I Need to hit the sack, fellas!

    Tomorrow is another day – good night!

  22. chi chi

    When JDV mentioned ‘god’, it only affirmed that he’s totally lying. These liars frequently involve god in every corrupted words they say. Questions is, who or what kind of god they refer to in their excuses. Mga baliw!

  23. Mrivera Mrivera

    anna, nixon kua sings the same lito banayo tune in “phrasing” (not praising, ha?) gloria mukhang bato.

  24. Mrivera Mrivera

    lahat ay gagawin ni gloria mukhang bato upang huwag mawala sa kanya ang black magic wand na kanyang ginagamit sa paghohokus pokus kapag gusto niyang lokohin ang taong bayan at maging ‘yung mga dayuhang lider at mangangalakal na nag-aalinlangan sa kanyang kakayahang mamuno. ang utos niyang pagpapakalat ng mga sundalo sa mga entry points papuntang metro manila na pikit matang ipinatutupad ng kanyang K9 chief, asoperon ay patunay lamang na desperado na siya sapagkat lumantad ang tunay niyang anyo at kulay sa pambababoy at pagsalaula sa saligang batas sa pamamagitan ng pag-udyok sa kanyang mga kaalyado sa kongreso na ipasa nang sapilitan ang con ass na ilang beses nang ibinasura ng korte suprema at isinusuka ng taong bayan.

    at tama si bishop tobias na dapat manatiling gising ang taong bayan at huwag hayaang muli pang mahulog sa bitag ng panlilinlang ni gloria mukhang bato!

  25. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    we-will-never-learn said: “The PNP & Soldiers are not being asked to divide, its better for them to unite and take no action.”

    A neutral AFP and PNP is a big disadvantage to Gloria Arroyo regime. She survives due to their blind support. I hope the military and the police force stay neutral in event of massive protests. The Rose Revolution 2003 was a peaceful revolution that started as massive anti-governmental demonstrations massive anti-governmental demonstrations started in the central streets of Tbilisi and later involving almost all major cities and towns of Georgia. Georgia President Eduard Shevardnadze was ousted because the elite military units refused to support the government. This can happen in the Philippines if the military refuses to follow illegal orders from their bogus Commander-in-Chief.

  26. Mrivera Mrivera

    dkg, with asoperon as CSAFP and his cl-ass-mates as major service commanders who, like him had already sold their souls to the queen devil, gloria mukhang bato may still survive. but, with the brewing discontentment within the lower ranks, expect the spring out of the real protectors of the people in a few days to come.

  27. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Middle level officers can neutralize General Esperon and his maggots. They * captains and majors* hold the real firepower in the military. It will be better if principled *colonels and lt colonels* join to protect the people and the State. It would be a walk in park ouster of Gloria Arroyo.

  28. ocayvalle ocayvalle

    soldiers have sworn duties that is to defend the constitution and the people!!what bishop tobias said is really called for..and its now time for us to be vigilant and united in one to boot out GMA!! she is the cause of all this nightmare we are heaving!!malapit na!!konting tiis na lang mga kababayan ko..GMA will be ousted..i am sure and it is just around the corner..mabuhay po ang mga pilipino!! mabuhay ang ating bayang pilipinas!!

  29. Mabuhay ang mga sundalong sasagot sa tawag ni Bishop Tobias. It’s about time to pull the bogus president by the hair and send her to the gallows. They should return the death penalty with whom I actually do not see eye to eye about with my good friend, Senator Pimentel. Everybody I talked to about the Philippine government today on the plane said the same thoughts as those of the bloggers here.

    We’ll talk to UP organizer in SFO tomorrow. Love you guys, who are my barkada. Sorry, cannot contact yet through my email. Will do it via webmail.

    If the soldiers can pull the bogus family squatting at the palace by the murky river, I’ll fast and thank God for it. Tapos fly over to Manila to celebrate with Ellen, Anna, Schumey, Alitaptap, Soleil, Taipan88, Emilio, Chi, Chabeli, TongueT, Mrivera, Elmer, et al.

  30. Elvira Sahara Elvira Sahara

    RE: Anna
    Thanks for affirming once again DOJ Gonzalez’ Katangahan, Kagaguhan at Kaduwagan! And dami niyang “K”. I can still enumerate a lot of “K’s” that can give justification to his major ones. Kaya lang, I don’t want to destroy my day. Outside is 1 degree Celcius at 7;50 am. Time for me to go back to work.
    Bishop Tobias has made a first Call to the soldiers. Other bishop should follow so. I haven’t heard of my good friend “way back when” bishop from Cotabato City.
    Bis spaeter! (See you guys later)

  31. I’ll pray for the safety of Bishop Tobias, who must be another British descendant like the Mayo who was an ancestor of Claro M. Recto. Mabuhay ka Bishop Tobias even if we are not churchmates as I am not a Catholic. Contrary to some idiot’s idiotic notion, we are not a cult but a true Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days. May you win this war—it is a war against a bogus president and her lackeys. May they rot in hell as they claim they are legions of Satan.

  32. brad brad

    am still proud to be a filipino despite sa mga pangyayari pero mas maganda kung tuluyan ng mabura si tyanak,ang kaso di basta basta magpatalo ang walang budhing ito..mahusay manlansi itong black magic woman na ito..imagine,si assperon or si jd-tenga ang nagsasalita pero tyanak ang nasa loob katawan nila.mabuhay po ang mga pilipino.

  33. Ocayvalle:

    Mukhang makakamtan mo na ang pangarap mo! God willing the Great Switik will be out with countries like Japan now saying no more aids unless the bogus president steps down. Wala na siyang ipapangsuhol sa mga sakim at ganid na tongressmen na kakutsaba niya sa mga kahayupan niya. Balimbingan galore na naman!

    Dasal, dasal, dasal!

  34. Everyone I talked to since my arrival in SFO was rather skeptic about the Great Switik being removed sooner than as it looks now unless everyone as the Catholic bishop says remains vigilant and is not easily persuaded by the Dementia-Dorobo alliance as they play all kinds of tricks to sway disgruntled Filipinos out of having her removed from office. Just look at how the Great Switik now acts as if she has nothing to do with the Con-Ass when we all that it was her original idea to make herself a queen with parliamentary government under her control and another great deceiver acting as her assembler and convenor in exchange for a premiership and/or peerage title. ‘Tado talaga!

    I hope and pray that Filipino Christmas gift from heaven will be the removal of the Great Switik.

    BTW, Christmas in the US this year looks bleak. There is no Christmas in the air as it was before. I wonder why.

  35. Prospero Nograles just said on a phone interview (Top Story TV) that the con con is pending awaiting the senate. That the con ass is shelved. Ism’t it strange that they all changed there minds when last week they said there was a “clamour” for it. Nograles says that it was a House of Represenatives decided alone, that GMA had no say in it. Then why was GMA meeting with them last week.
    Once a liar always a liar?

  36. I think in the next few days the Bishops will make more appeals to the soldier groups to defend the Constitution. Hopefully the citizens will respond in large numbers on the streets on Sunday. Numbers, large numbers, are the only thing that will scare these congressmen.
    These liars cannot be trusted, nows the chance to remove them forever.

  37. Mrivera Mrivera

    sigurado, bubuweltahan ni gloria mukhang bato ang mga bishops at ipasasauli ang mga sobreng ipnamudmod noong bishops’ conference at ‘yung mga noodles na ibinigay para ipamahagi sa mga parokya.

  38. Renato Renato

    Ikaw naman Anna D.B.oh.Hubby mo ba naman ang iappoint ng pekeng presidenteng ito bilang director ng SSS,kung di ka magkandaugaga para dilain at laplapin ang wetpu ng pekeng presidente!Disgusting ad infinitum indeed!This belinda olivares nancunanan bitch, is your typical ABC corrupt columnist, A=ttack,B=ribe,C=ollect!Napraning narin tulad ng huwad na presidente at mga garapal at buwitreng tongreman niya!Ganyan na ganyan si mon tulfo, kaya yan kinakarma tuloy!Ganyan din pupulitin itong matandang sinungaling na nacunanan.Dapat di sa Inquirer ang mga yan!Nakakahiya!They definitely belong to the philippine star, a known cesspool and dung-heap of bayaran and tuta journalists!May interest kasing pinoprotektahan yung matandang nacunanan kaya,hayun binenta ang kaluluwa sa demonyo sa malakanyang!Tingnan niyo na lang itong isa pang tuta at duwag na journalist kuno,victor bakla agustin!Ingat tayo sa mga ganyang columnista, madaling bumaligtad ang mga yan,let’s be vigilant this coming days!A sinking ship will cause the rats to panick and abandon ship!Just watch!We should not yield now!We call on the RCs and Tobias’ of our country,now is the time to stand up and be counted!Soldiers/Protectors of the People and Constitution,move now and stand with us!Protect the People,your sworn duty!Do not obey orders from an illegal president and gov’t.!We call on the International Community,the ASEAN, the EU, be vigilant with us, the Filipino People against a monster,a bogus and immoral leader and glov’t.!!!Patalsikin na, NOW na!!!

  39. May nabasa ako na nag-i-invite si President Cory sa isang Prayer Rally sa Luneta sa Linggo, Dec. 17th…
    Anong oras kaya ang simula nun?
    Baka maka-join ang karamihan, paki-announce naman dito, kung sino may alam. Salamat po.

  40. Rumors say that the pandak wants to join the rally on Sunday. Any reactions?

    taipan,

    I’m still waiting for the schedule, I’ll post it as soon as I get it.

  41. norpil norpil

    bilib na ako talaga diyan sa kalokohan ni gma kapag sumama siya sa rally na iyan. baka naman may ka look alike lang iyan tulad nila hitler at stalin nuong panahon nila.

  42. Schumey,

    Ano iyang gaga na iyan, nasisira na ang ulo? Which prayer rally is she attending? The INC’s?

    One thing I learned in our church as a matter of fact is that it is important that there will be no animosity in a prayer meeting for the Holy Ghost to come down and make the meeting as spiritual as it can be possible for God to hear the prayers said in such meeting. If the Great Switik comes, surely there will be jeering, etc. and the kind of spirituality that everyone is looking for will not be successfully receive.

    Surely, the Great Switik must be prompted by Satan to try to break the line of spirituality for God’s people to concentrate on praying to Him by saying that she will be there.

    I will pray that she won’t be able to come for heaven’s sake! She should not be invited there. If she is a repentant individual wanting to seek amend by announcing right then and there that she will step down at last, then so be it. Let her come to such prayer meeting. If not, she should be prevented from coming by all means possible, and when I say possible, it is by the Grace and Will of the Lord.

    God forgive this crook for even trying hard to anger everyone who just wish and pray she would have the decency to step down by all means.

    PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!

  43. chi chi

    schumey,

    She wouldn’t dare. On the second thought, publicity nga pala na talaga namang ayaw niya sa Cha-cha at ConAss!

    Nah! Titirisin siya sa Luneta! As the good Bishop Tobias said,
    she started all the cha-cha moves!

  44. schumey:
    The Bishop’s spokes person has advised against GMA attending on Sunday saying it wouldn’t be “prudent” for GMA to attend. Surely GMA must by know believe she is the most hated president ever!
    Let her attend, let her see and feel the anger from citizens. This administration just don’t get it do they.

  45. chi chi

    Off topic,

    Yuko,

    It’s only 5a.m. in SF! Miss na miss mo na kami ano?

  46. chi chi

    Remember when FPJ died at St. Lukes? Nagpipilit din ang tiyanak na makiramay kuno! Good publicity nga naman. Walanghiya talaga! Glueria doesn’t have any good manners and right conduct. Akala ba niya ay mau-ulol niya ang mga tao na siya ay kaisa natin sa damdamin? Gusto lang niyang maka-pogi points kahit pa-float lang ang balita.

    I’d say let her attend the Luneta rally, para madali siyang mahuli ng mga tao at tuloy bitaying patiwarik sa Quirino Grandstand!
    GGGGGGGRRRRRRRR!!!!

  47. The ANC news just quoted GMA, refering to Japan as saying that the economy of the Philippines is ready for take off, its like a broken record. Amazing.

  48. Thanks, schumey….
    Sarap sigurong mag-attend ano….lalo na kung nandun si glue. Pero lasa ko baka umurong ang bahag ng mga may sala.
    Imbes na plantsado ang mukha nya, malamukos pa ng taumbayan. She can’t possibly throw her tantrums in public now, could she?

    Chi,
    I don’t think glue will dare attend an opposition rally even if it is for her favorite pasttime: photo-op…..She’d be booed and heaven knows what the angry mob will do…..Kahit pa sabihing prayer rally yun. Minus ilan na nga ba ang rating sa survey??

  49. OT rin….[sorry po]
    It’ll take some time for Yuko-san to adjust, I guess….
    Kaya nandito yan at nagmamasid…..
    Sleepless in Frisco…..

  50. Where is this GMA wanting to attend on Sunday coming from? This woman and her administration is scared of the general public let alone the opposition groups. Call her bluff and invite her to attend. The Bishops spokes person, tonight, invited soldiers to join in and pray with the crowds saying he supported Bishop A. Tobias.

  51. WWNL,

    Maybe she thinks the people will be civil. Hahaha, I hope she’ll attend so she can see for herself the civility of the Filipino with despots like her.

  52. Toney Cuevas Toney Cuevas

    Leave the soldiers alone! It’s wrong of Bishop Antonio Tobias to called on the soldiers. It say so in the constitution. The soldiers shouldn’t get involve in politics except to vote. If anything else, Bishop Tobias should call the people’s support for the One Million Warm Bodies to park themselves for whatever how long it take at the gates of Malacanang. Lets not get down to bogus Gloria’s level of insanity in breaking the very foundation of the constitution when bogus Gloria conspired with then traitor Angelo Reyes, still a traitor now. Also with the Henerales that help bogus Gloria with the election ballots.

    It’s only the will of the majority of the citizens to rid of bogus Gloria and not the soldiers.

  53. Mrivera Mrivera

    tribune headline:

    AFP troops warned: No joining of Cha-cha protests

    “Seditious” bishops will be arrested—PNP chief

    12/13/2006

    Apparently fearing a withdrawal of support from President Arroyo from a number of soldiers and police owing to the expected massing up of people from all walks of life for the massive rally at the Luneta Park against Charter change (Cha-cha) and reacting to a call made by Catholic Bishop Antonio Tobias on the military to do their duty to protect and defend the Constitution which he said was under siege from attacks by Mrs. Arroyo and her allies in Congress, the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief yesterday warned bishops that they would be arrested if they utter “seditious” remarks while the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) leadership yesterday publicly issued a warning to the entire soldiery not to join the scheduled massive rally planned for Sunday which will be led by the Catholic bishops and the El Shaddai flock, along with political opposition groups and anti-Gloria critics.

    PNP-National Capital Region Police Office chief, Director Reynaldo Varilla, warned bishops and other participants of the Dec. 17 prayer rally to watch that their actions and statements or

    are not seditious or they will have to suffer the consequence.

    “Religious groups or whoever else have the right to free expression as long as they don’t incite (people) to sedition or rebellion. If they break the law, you know what we will do, we will arrest them,” Varilla told reporters during a press briefing.

    But the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) spokesman, Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, reacting to Varilla’s statement, pointed out that which the police should do is to ensure that the prayer gathering will be secure and that no untoward incident takea place.

    “For us their duty is to secure the place and we will also do our job to pray,” he said.

    For the AFP, its spokesman, Brig. Gen. Jose Angel Honrado said: “The only political activity they (soldiers) are allowed to engage in is to cast their vote. That’s it.”

    Bishop Tobias, an Arroyo critic angered the military leadership by publicly calling on the Armed Forces to take sides during the protests.

    “We are appealing to all individuals and groups to help us insulate the Armed Forces from any political issues,” Honrado said, saying the military is an “apolitical organization.”

    In January 2001, the military, then under the command of (Ret) Gen. Angelo Reyes, along with his service commanders, withdrew their support from their constitutional commander and chief and president, Joseph Estrada, which caused the collapse of his government. The military generals were also caught cheating for Mrs. Arroyo during the 2004 elections, as evidenced by the wiretapped conversations between an election commissioner and the incumbent President.

    Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, who also acts as spokesman of the AFP, echoed the military line, but appealed to rally leaders not to drag the AFP into the ongoing political exercise.

    He however claimed that “the soldiers’ focus is to do their job. They will not be lured into joining in any partisan political exercises.”

    He failed to explain why a public warning had been issued on soldiers not to join the rally if they cannot be lured to join, as he said.

    “We have become a more mature Armed Forces. I don’t feel any movement or anything unusual in the navy,” said Commander Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, Navy spokesman also chimed in.

    Colonel Ariel Caculitan, Marines spokesman said that as far as the Marines are concerned, there has been no information on groups heeding the call of Bishop Tobias.

    Tobias in his Monday homily called on soldiers to come out and participate in street rallies to protest moves in the House to amend the 1987 constitution through a Constituent Assembly (Con-ass).

    Tobias is the same church official who admitted several months ago of giving temporary ‘shelter’ to four members of the Magdalo rebel group who escaped from an army detention center in January this year.

    Malacañang downplayed the rallies, with National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales saying that the scheduled nationwide anti cha-cha street protests and prayer rally do not pose a threat to national security. He, however, admitted monitoring these, for fear of the rallies being used by radical groups that want to topple the Arroyo government.

    In a phone interview, Gonzales said: “I don’t think it (rally) is a threat to our security. This is being ridden on by some political groups and they are doing this to inflame the people. I don’t think it’s a threat at all. My fear is that the radical groups will take advantage of the issue on Cha-cha. But they can’t do anything else (to topple Mrs. Arroyo) as they do not have the capability to do it. All they can do is to make noise,” he said.

    He also refused to identify the “radical groups” which he earlier described as the forces which will take advantage on the anti Cha-cha sentiments of some legitimate groups, even when it was evident he meant some groups within the military.

    “ They (military and police) are as solid as ever. The issue of Cha-cha will not affect the solidarity of the military and police forces.. Cha-cha is already being settled because government allies are now pursuing Con-con. I don’t think this will be divisive at all,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), through its spokesman, yesterday also said the CBCP-led prayer rally on Sunday will be a “purely prayer” gathering.

    Quitorio, spokesman, said this as he reacted to the chief of the PNP NCRPO chief saying the police will arrest people even bishops who would be caught making seditious or inflammatory statements during the big prayer march.

    “We will only pray, there will be no seditious statement,” Quitorio said in a telephone interview.

    According to Quitorio the prayer rally organized by the bishops aims to ask for the enlightenment of the lawmakers that had been supporting the government sponsored Con-con.

    “This is merely a prayer gathering. In fact we are discouraging banners as well as allowing politicians to speak during the rally,” Quitorio said.

    Asked if he feels that this is another strategy to dampen the prayer rally which was originally scheduled on Dec. 15, the CBCP official replied: “I hope not”.

    Quitorio said that aside from the bishops, other groups that already called in their participation to the event include the Makati Business Club and other civic organizations while reports claimed that former president Cory Aquino has signified intentions to join in the march.

    “The invitation is open to all because this is ecumenical and when you say it’s ecumenical, it is without barriers. So whether you are a religious, politician or ordinary civilian you can join the rally,” the CBCP spokesman added.

    Among the organizers of the prayer vigil are the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines and the El Shaddai Movement.

    Organizers said they expect at least 500,000 people to attend the Sunday gathering. At least 1,000 police officers will be deployed in Rizal Park during the rally.

    Brother Mike Velarde, founder and leader of El Shaddai Movement, said the rally will start at 3 p.m. He added that rally organizers will ban political speeches and political streamers during the gathering.

    Politicians and celebrities who will attend the prayer rally cannot go on stage, he added.

    For his part, another bishop-critic of Mrs. Arroyo, Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz on Tuesday said the Arroyo administration should not be allowed to come up with a Con-con under her regime.

    “If the Con-con would be held during the term of the present administration, I am very certain that this administration will intervene using its power and influence in launching (its allies) to become (delegates),” Cruz said. “I’m sorry to say that I do not trust them,” he added.

    Cruz said that while he and other prominent religious leaders support a Con-con, it should be conducted when President Arroyo is no longer in power.

    Bishop Tobias and leaders of militant groups yesterday vowed to continue with street protests until Mrs. Arroyo and House Speaker Jose De Venecia permanently shelve all Cha-cha moves.

    Tobias and Ana Maria Nemenzo, president of the advocacy group Freedom from Debt Coalition, said the protests will continue. “We are going to continue to march until the Arroyo administration backs off from their move to tinker with the Constitution,” Nemenzo told the Tribune during the march-rally at the Batasan yesterday.

    Nemenzo pointed out that there is a need to change the members of Congress if the Filipino people want some changes in the Constitution.

    As the protests continued in Manila, militant groups in Cebu City yesterday also marched from Fuente Osmeña to Colon St. for a rally against charter change.

    Lito Vasquez of FDC in Cebu said they are heeding the call of Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Cebu archbishop, for prayers.

    Vidal, a staunch supporter of Mrs. Arroyo, has called on the flock not to join rallies and instead discuss the Cha-cha issue in churches.

    “We respect the Cardinal’s position” Vasquez said even as he added that “his call for ‘widespread discussion’ of the issue can also be pursued in the streets where a bigger number of people can participate.”

    The police also blocked their march before they could reach the “Malacañang sa Sugbo.” Gina Peralta-Elorde, Marie A. Surbano, Sherwin C. Olaes, Gerry Baldo and AFP

    **************************************************************************

    he he he heh! umpisa na ito ng pagkatuliro ng mga baliw!

  54. norpil norpil

    in a way i agree with toney c. democracy will be much better if soldiers are in their barracks and the police just obeserving.

  55. Mrivera Mrivera

    toney c., norpil,

    hindi naman kailangang lumabas pa ang mga kawal at pulis natin upang ipakita ang suporta nila sa mamamayan ngayong nananawagan upang maipaglaban ang niyuyurakang karapatan at dangal.

    magagawa nila ang pagtatanggol at pagsasanggalang sa taong bayan kung susuwayin nila ang mga utos na harangin at saktan ang mga magpoprotesta laban sa pambababoy sa saligang batas.

    walang magagawa ang mga heneral na iyan kung sila mismo ang aarestuhin ng kanilang mga tauhan! takot na lang ng mga iyang mabugbog at mamamatay!

  56. chi chi

    Mrivera,

    I said it before, huwag lang sasaktan ng mga kapulisan ang mga tao na sasama sa rally. malaking pasalamat na ‘yan!

  57. norpil norpil

    i wonder if praying for the expulsion of gma be counted as seditious.

  58. Ellen,

    Off topic: I’ve just posted in a separate blog the pictures I took of the Stop the Killings in the Philippines rally in Brussels last night.

    The rally was attended by almost a thousand people who braved the rain and the cold in a torch procession in the streets of the Ixelles district toward Avenue Molière where the Philippine Embassy is located.

    The rally was organized by Stop the Killings in the Philippines Belgium chapter.

    http://www.the-philippine-vigil.blogspot.com/

    Thanks.

  59. Who is being seditious, the bogus president who stole the presidential seat not once but twice or the concerned bishops? I think it is about time that people there toe the line before Filipinos get so disgruntled that they now want to just leave the country not just one or two persons in a family but the entire clan regardless of whether or not they would like to join the millions of Filipinos the Great Switik boastfully exports overseas. Tonguena, pinagmalaki pa kundi ba naman talagang inutil that Philippine export increased by 15% this year.

    Mrivera says it’s panloloko. You bet it is, because export spells human trafficking with Lagayman of Bicol even boasting the Philippines’ Numero Uno exports are the OFWs! Wow, bilib ka!

    PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA! IYONG MGA DUWAG NA PULIS DAW NA SUNDALO, PLEASE TIGILAN NA NINYO ANG PAGSUPORTA SA ISANG PEKENG PANGULO! IPAGTANGGOL ANG KARAPATAN NG MGA TAUMBAYAN NA SIPAIN ITONG SEDITIOUS PEKE NA ITO. SIYA ANG NAG-COMMIT NG SEDITION WHEN SHE IGNORED THE IMPEACHMENT OF ERAP BEFORE AND USURPED HIS POSITION. BOBO DIN IYONG MGA ABOGADONG NAGSUSUPORTA SA UNGAS NA IYAN! SOBRA NA, TAMA NA! MAAWA KAYO SA MGA PILIPINO AT BANSA NINYO! KAWAWANG PILIPINAS!

    BAYAN KO, (NINYO PALA!) WINASAK NINYO
    NASADLAK SA DUSA
    SA ILALIM NG HUWAD NA
    PALALONG DUGONG ASONG
    APO NI LAZARO MACAPAGAL!!!

  60. chi chi

    Anna,

    I saw the photos and the rally was impressive in sight and numbers! Congratulations to all participants, and thank you very much!

  61. Chi,

    Missed this blog, really. Arrived in SFO at 6:50 am Monday, and upon reaching home, I fell flat on the bed. Tried to sleep on the plane and did not watch the movies available on flight except two hours before landing. Na-miss ko kayo for a flat whole day. Pero jet lag pa rin. Ngayon palang ako inaantok. I have not changed my laptop’s time. It’s 0:11 in Tokyo as I write this.

    Tuwang-tuwa ako when I read Bishop’s Tobias call to the PNP. I haven’t watched Philippine Channel yet.

    Talked to some Filipinos on the plane on the way to Tokyo. They were going back to the USA from Manila. Galit na galit din kay Pandak. They said that they decided not to spend Christmas in the Philippines. Walang kuwenta daw. Besides, ubos daw ang pera nila doon dahil sa dami ng mga kamag-anak na nakasahod ang kamay.

    Kawawang Pilipinas! Please inform Ellen your phone no. so I can give you a call from Hayward.

  62. Related Topic:

    From Tribune:

    Marine seeks TRO vs AFP, calls tribunal “kangaroo court”

    By Benjamin B. Pulta and Gina Peralta-Elorde

    12/13/2006

    Beleaguered Philippine Marine Col. Ariel Querubin is asking the Court of Appeals (CA) for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) pushing through court martial proceedings against him.

    In an 18-page petition, Querubin, through his lawyer Rodrigo Artuz, yesterday denounced as a “kangaroo court” the special general court martial created by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to try him and 29 other military officers for violation of the Articles of War in connection with their involvement in an alleged plot to overthrow President Arroyo in February this year.

    The court martial for the 30 alleged coup plotters also yesterday was temporarily suspended because the head of the military tribunal that will try them is said to be busy with disaster rehabilitation.

    Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, chief of the AFP-Public Information Office (PIO), said Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, commander of the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) and whose area of jurisdiction was recently ravaged by two typhoons, is giving priority to relief operations.

    In seeking a TRO against the military, Querubin at the same time said his continued detention

    is illegal, considering that the panel that conducted pre-trial proceedings on the case had recommended to drop the mutiny charges against him and his fellow accused.

    Esperon, according to the petitioner, failed to observe due process when he issued a memorandum on Nov. 17, 2006 ordering the creation of a special general court martial and Letter-Order 758 dated Nov. 24, 2006, affirming its creation despite the findings of the pre-trial panel.

    Querubin said he and his fellow accused were only able to get a copy of the findings of the pre-trial panel by downloading it from the Internet.

    The findings were also leaked to the media.

    The petitioner also noted that Esperon had been making biased prejudgment on the case before and even during the entire period of the pre-trial investigation.

    Querubin was referring to Esperon’s statement on March 18, 2006 assuring the prosecution before a court martial of military officers involved in the alleged attempt to topple Mrs. Arroyo.

    He said the AFP chief made the statement even as he disclosed that he would be testifying against the officers implicated in the failed mutiny.

    Querubin also scored Esperon’s statement that regardless of the result of the investigation of the Judge Advocate General’s Office (Jago), he would push through with the convening of the court martial.

    “Petitioner and his co-respondent officers would surely not be afforded fair trial by the respondent court martial, as the person who shall ultimately review and approve the latter’s decision, is no less than their principal accuser-witness and who, in his various pronouncements, already made up his mind about the guilt of herein petitioner and his co-respondent officers that no proofs to the contrary presented by the petitioner shall persuade him to rule otherwise,” Querubin said.

    He stressed that any proceeding where the ”accuser, prosecutor, judge and executioner are one and the same person is a gross violation of due process.”

    To show his impartiality, Querubin said, Esperon should have deferred to Mrs. Arroyo in the creation and convening of the court martial.

    The petitioner is currently detained at the Fort San Felipe Detention Center, Naval Base Compound, Sangley Point, Cavite.

    In suspending the court martial of Querubin and the other alleged plotters, the military’s PIO said “more pressing concerns” had prompted Solcom chief Yano to give “more priority to the retrieval and relief operations right now.”

    Bacarro said Yano will immediately proceed with the trial of the accused led by former Marines Commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, cashiered First Scout Rangers Regiment commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Querubin, who had been sacked as First Marines Brigade commander, once the situation in the typhoon-ravaged areas in Southern Luzon normalizes.

    It was learned that since Yano was named as head of the general court martial, or GCM, he has not convened the seven-man panel that will try the 30 Army and Marines officers.

    “There was a plan for members of the GCM to meet and sort of find out their schedules but the disaster happened and the typhoons had occurred,” Bacarro said.

    Yano’s troops have been busy in the disaster relief efforts in the Bicol region, especially in Albay province, where several villages at the slopes of Mount Mayon were buried by mudslides.

    Esperon Jr. appointed Yano as GCM president last Nov. 30, or a day before super Typhoon “Reming” devastated several provinces in Southern Luzon.
    *****

    Iyan ang tunay na bayani! Mabuhay ka Col. Querubin for refusing to kill your fellow Filipinos! Salamat sa tapang mo!

  63. npongco npongco

    Anna, Nixon Kua is a Tsinoy and a very credible columnist in the Tagalog version of Phil. Star. He and Lito Banayo are buddy-buddy. They are both identified with Ping Lacson. Of course they are very much anti-GMA. FYI, Lito Banayo also has Chinese blood.

  64. I felt nauseated as I read the Malaya report on the 200-truck caravan daw for Bicol parang parade to advertise the Great Switik’s concern daw for the people of Bicol a week after the deadly Reming’s devastating “visit” there. Tanong ng pamangkin kong Amerikana, “Bakit ngayon lang?” And the timing? Wow! Kasabay ng announcement ni Bishop Tobias. And why not use some helicopters to make the deliver faster kundi ba ang purpose is to advertise the Great Switik with her big pictures on the trucks. Inuna pa ang pagpapagawa ng mga truck na may litrato niya! What a hypocrite!!! Suka, suka, suka!

    Can’t help saying, “Mamatay na sana!” God forgive me for saying this, pero talaga namang ipokrita!

  65. Anna:

    Sorry, I can receive emails with my laptop but I cannot send mails. I received the pictures and video clips of your protest in Belgium. Congrats! Iyong grupo din sa Hapon, busy din.

    Tiyaga lang talaga. As the song says, “We shall overcome!”

  66. Phil Cruz Phil Cruz

    Ang kapal talaga. Now she wants to gatecrash the big rally at the Luneta?! Tsangna! But of course we all know what she’s up to. She’s gonna try to con the rally organizers and the whole nation – again. She will feign innocense. Like she was never a part of the Con-Ass Gang. Hah!

    Hey, Woman! Hey, You the Floppy Eared One and your Con-Asses! Stop it already. Stop tinkering with our Constitution. Stop the conning already.

    Which part of “COZ WE DON’T TRUST YOU” do you not understand?

  67. Yuko,

    Re Querubin’s stop the court martial through a TRO

    I think he is right! His rights have been waylaid, violated from the start and so it is in the interest of justice, military and otherwise that he should work to make sure that Esperon kangaroo court that proposes to try him (and his colleagues) are restrained from further making fun of lady justice.

    Of course, a general court martial would have been the best venue with a caveat: that it is not convened by Esperon!

  68. Is that so, Phil? She really, really is going to attend a prayer rally organized to “oust” her?

    My goodness me! Even alligators would feel the shame and the wrath of their enemies but this punggok is one undescribable little shameless wh*re!

  69. Hihihih!

    What on earth are these funny looking characters and what do they mean?

  70. Gatecrasher! That’s another name for the Great Switik if she insists on going to the prayer rally for her removal by Divine Providence! Bilib ka rin ha! Ang kapal ng mukha!

    Anna, got the pictures. Thanks. I can reply by webmail from where I am now. I’m hooked on my sister’s DSL. I can receive my mails but not reply from here. My provider does not allow it, I guess. Tuloy ang laban. Gotta check my mail from the group in SFO. If they go on rally, I will join them. Gotta get lots of pictures if that happens.

  71. Ellen,

    There is another intruder calling itself “Kokuren Iraq Shien Dan” in Japanese characters. Must be one of the paid Internet Brigade operating in the Philippines with a Japanese Ime! Please delete.

  72. Phil Cruz Phil Cruz

    Anna, those are her and her con-asses trying to gatecrash into Ellen’s blog, but can’t.

    But yes, a guest on ANC tonight said he had it on very reliable source that the despicable one is trying to wangle an invitation to attend the prayer rally. Monsignor Quitorio, spokesman of CBCP was asked by Pia Hontiveros for comments about it and the Monsignor said it was a prayer rally and they have invited all to come and pray for the nation. But he added that it wouldn’t be prudent for her to come.

    What do you think, will she attend or not?

  73. Ellen:

    Here’s a message from Bayan Muna USA:

    INTERNATIONAL LABOR RIGHTS FUND

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    December 7, 2006

    CONTACT: Bama Athreya, bama.athreya@ilrf.org, 703-328-1964

    Brian Campbell, brian.campbell@ilrf.org, 202-320-8380

    HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER DEPORTED FROM THE PHILIPPINES

    PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS BLACKLIST OF HUMAN RIGHTS SUPPORTERS

    Washington, DC: Brian Campbell, Staff Attorney for the International
    Labor
    Rights Fund (ILRF) was detained at an airport in Manila on December 6,
    2006
    and denied access to the country because of his support for Filipino
    human
    rights activists.

    After presenting his passport to airport officials upon arrival in the
    Philippines, Campbell was questioned about his past trips to the
    country on
    fact-finding missions. Campbell had traveled to the Philippines in
    April on
    an International Solidarity Mission sponsored by the Center for Trade
    Union
    and Human Rights and the Ecumenical Institute of Labor Education and
    Research where he met with several families of victims of political
    killings
    including Mrs. Luz Fortuna, the wife of Diosdado “Ka Fort” Fortuna, a
    murdered union organizer.

    A security officer showed Campbell a list of names of international
    human
    rights advocates who would not be allowed into the country. Also on
    the
    list were members of the National Lawyers Guild who had recently
    published
    an article about the Philippines as well as a number of priests. The
    existence of the blacklist has been confirmed by Immigration
    Commissioner
    Alipio Fernandez and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez in an Associated
    Press
    article published on December 7 th.

    Campbell was traveling to the Philippines at the invitation of several
    Filipino human rights organizations to gather further information about
    the
    situation in the Philippines. As Campbell said, “You can rest assure
    that I
    am being denied entry into the Philippines as just another small part
    of the
    government’s concerted long-standing campaign to silence the critics of
    the
    Arroyo regime and the continuing political killings.”

    The Philippines remains one of the most dangerous countries for
    unionized
    workers and human rights activists. From the Chong Won garment factory
    where workers have been on strike after management violated their
    rights to
    freedom of association, denied workers bathroom breaks and forced
    workers to
    take on 24 hour shifts, to the murder of Bishop Alberto Ramento of the
    Philippines Independent Church, a supporter of striking workers in the
    Cavite Economic Zone, the government of President Gloria
    Macapagal-Arroyo
    has grown increasingly repressive over the past few years. Arroyo has
    been
    supported by the Bush Administration and the US government announced
    just
    last month intentions to pursue a Free Trade Agreement with the
    Philippines.

    Despite the attacks on human rights advocates, the International Labor
    Rights Fund will continue to join our allies around the world to demand
    protection for human rights activists in the Philippines.

    ###

  74. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    The Great Switik is like a two faced-monster. Con-ss and Con-Con have the same greedy motive. She can claim, look I’m also for Constitutional Convention being supported by the Roman Catholic Church, other Christian groups and the Senate. She can feel the public anger in Luneta prayer rally. Baka batuhin siya ng bulok na itlog at kamatis. Mas -okay kapag granada. Tama na ang panloloko mo Pandak.

  75. Anna,

    I have posted some of the pics in my blog. I will be posting Yuko’s tomorrow.

  76. Chabeli Chabeli

    Ystakei,
    You say that “If the soldiers can pull the bogus family squatting at the palace by the murky river, I’ll fast and thank God for it. Tapos fly over to Manila to celebrate with Ellen, Anna, Schumey, Alitaptap, Soleil, Taipan88, Emilio, Chi, Chabeli, TongueT, Mrivera, Elmer, et al. ”

    I look forward to that celebration, Ystakei!
    **********************************
    Schumey,
    You say that you heard “…that the pandak wants to join the rally on Sunday…” Funny, but I heard that rumour, too. The thought apparently was floated because the Glorialets want to neutralize the rally and show that Gloria is one with the people in not wanting Cha-Cha. However, the possibility of her being lynched is there…I wonder then what the final decision will be.

  77. Chabeli Chabeli

    I was also wondering what the characters were all about. I was going to ask Ystakei if they were in Japanese.

  78. Chabeli Chabeli

    Anna de Brux,
    Great photos. It seems to have been a successful one!

  79. chi chi

    Nagpapa-imbita ba talaga ang tiyanak na ‘yan?! Lahat yata ng apog sa mundo ay nakatapal sa pangit na mukha ng bruha!

  80. Thanks, Chabeli and Schumey!

  81. Chabeli Chabeli

    Read on The Philippine Daily Inquirer that according to Malacañan, “Public discontent for Arroyo no longer disturbing.” The report goes on to say that “Malacañang was no longer disturbed by the “dissatisfaction” of Filipinos on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as shown by the latest Social Weather Station survey.” Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said that Malacañan is “…not in a popularity contest but in a contest of performance for the benefit of the people,”

    An arrogant statement like that only goes to show that Gloria has no care in the world about how her own people think of her. Politicians are PUBLIC SERVANTS and must heed the voice of the people. Gloria has just affirmed that she only listens to herself and the Glorialets, and is loyal to nobody but herself.

    She should not even dare to include statements like “…for the benefit of the people…” because GLORIA DOES NOT CARE ABOUT FILIPINOS !

  82. ocayvalle ocayvalle

    everybody is shouting stop con-ass,stop rchange,stop political killings!!we are all shouting and remarking against jdv and his bum!!we are all asking our soldiers to protect the constitution and the people and cory is asking to join the luneta rally!!we might be surprise later as GMA will be there attending the rally..the true will and shout by the people even by men in uniform is to let GMA resign or be booted out the hard way!!the real solution about what`s happening now in our country is the immediate ousting of GMA!!no amount of millions of millions of filipino people in the street if we can not oust GMA!! the issue here so we can have peace on the land and to stop all this killings and corruption is the immediate ousting of GMA..all others and her evil group will soon to follow!! tha message is clear!!

  83. Anna, i saw it on my email but didn’t have time to open it. Have beeen very busy these days.i’ll see tomorrow.

  84. Phil,

    Gloria might get it into her ugly skull that since she is a DEEEEVOOOTED CHRISTIAN (my fingers almost froze there for a moment), she just might don her ALLIGATOR SKIN and attend the rally with an Army Division in tow or surrounding her.

    However, she just might also get scared like the VULTURE that she is and so could do a volte face in the same way she did for the FPJ wake when she learned that she was close to getting lynched and so just sent flowers (although the flowers got lynched.)

  85. But to be very, very honest Phil, I’m NOT against her attending the prayer rally to oust her.

    If she’s bold enough to tempt fate, then we might just see fireworks and what better way than to test the waters before the end of the year, if you see what I mean…

    I mean, let’s see how serious the nation is…

  86. parasabayan parasabayan

    I would like Glue to attend the prayer rally. This is the best solution to our problem. I would like to have a piece of her pinky! I doubt though if she will join the rally. Ang takot lang niya.

    If I am a soldier and I can not join the rally, I will ask my better half, my children, my in-laws and all my relatives,friends and even my enemies(heh,heh,heh) to join the rally. This way I am fully represented without openly going against the military code( if it is really adhered to in the Philippines by these prostrituted generals).

    Remember when I asked you guys one time “where are all these religious groups in all these?”. I am fully convinced that they are integral groups who can call your much needed “one million warm bodies”! Let us just hope that Assperon will do the same tactic he did in February- blocked all the streets leading the Fort Bonifacio. Sana tapos na noon si tiyanak. I URGE THE PEOPLE TO JUST WALK TO LUNETA. IT IS A VERY GOOD EXCERCISE! Di ba we are always thinking of ways to lose calories? This is a very good way to do it. I do not think that the soldiers are going to stop anyone who is walking to Luneta. TO THE SOLDIERS,ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK THE OTHER WAY, JUST WATCH THE PEACEFULL LOVING FILIPINOS WALK TO THE PARK! YOU DO NOT NEED TO WALK WITH THEM! JUST OPEN UP THE FLOOD GATES, THAT IS ALL!!!

  87. parasabayan parasabayan

    I meant, let us just hope that ASSPERON WILL NOT DO THE SAME TACTIC OF BLOCKING ALL THE STREETS as he did in February.

  88. He just might, Parasabayan… He’s frigging scared but won’t admit it. Imagine millions of warm bodies likely to lynch his beloved punggok?

  89. npongco npongco

    I salute Bishop Tobias for having the guts to call on police and soldiers to join the rally. But my question is, has he violated something? Why is this administration and the AFP hierarchy afraid to arrest him for his call? Yet, if it was made by opposition politicians like Reps. Beltran and Ocampo, the book is immediately thrown at them?

  90. Chabeli Chabeli

    Mrivera,
    “Vidal, a staunch supporter of Mrs. Arroyo, has called on the flock not to join rallies and instead discuss the Cha-cha issue in churches.”

    What a RIDICULOUS statement! How DETACHED naman can the Cardinal be ? I am almost sure that this statement of the Cardinal was upon the advice of his right hand man, LINO LIBRON, who is SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPER STAUNCH ALLY OF GLORIA ! Cardinal Vidal should pray hard for discernment!

  91. Mrivera Mrivera

    suskupungmaawainatmahabagin!!!!! pati ba naman si cardinal vidal, na-hynotized na rin ni gloria mukhang bato?

    isang banal na taong inaalipin ng alagad ng demonyo?

  92. chi chi

    Chabeli, Mrivera,
    Hayaan mo na si cardinal vidal, matanda pa yata yan kay espinosa. malaking pera ang kapalit niyan! His mind is always clouded kaya malabo ang discernment. Already made his pro-Glue choice a long time ago!

  93. chi chi

    Glueria is a certified traitor and user! She’s worst among her kind!
    ******

    Tumal

    Lito Banayo
    Abante, 12/13/06

    Naging basang sisiw sina Speaker Joe de Venecia at kanyang mga kasabwat sa Kongreso. Binitiwan sila ni Donya Gloria. Biglang umatras, ngunit wala namang “exit plan”. Basta na lamang natakot si Donya Gloria sa banta ng mga Obispo, pati na ng mga lider ng iba’t ibang relihiyon, na maaring magkaroon ng “people power” dahilan sa kapalaluan nilang ipilit ang ChaCha sa anumang pamamaraan.

    Inutusan si Manong Joe na umatras. Ni hindi man lamang muna pinatawag upang mapagpulungan kung ano ang istratehiya sa pag-atras. Hindi lider itong si Donya Gloria. Manggagamit lamang. At ginamit sina Manong Joe. Ngayong gamit na sila, initsa na lamang na parang basahang marumi. Trapo naman kasi.

    * * *

    Pati ang ASEAN summit, basta na lamang kinansela, na diumano’y dahil sa banta ni Seniang. Ngunit malinaw naman sa lahat, maging sa mga “advance party” at mga foreign newsmen, na hindi si Seniang ang dahilan. Konting ulan lamang ang tumama sa lungsod ng Cebu, kung saan idaraos ang summit. Malinaw namang sinabi ng Pagasa na sa Samar-Leyte at maging sa Panay dadaan ang hindi naman kalakasang bagyo. Ngunit nagkaroon ng dahilan ang Donya na ikansela ang maaaring maging malaking kahihiyan para sa kanya.

    Biro mo nga naman – habang nasa Cebu ang mga matataas na pinuno ng labing-apat na bansa, nagkakagulo rito sa Kamaynilaan dahil sa kanyang ChaCha? Makikita ng mga pinuno ng ASEAN at karatig-bansa na sadya palang walang tiwala ang sambayanan kay Donya Gloria. Sadya palang isinusuka na ito ng taong-bayan. Kaya ayun – kinansela ng walang kaabug-abog.

    * * *

    Ang problema ng ganitong desisyon ay nasira rin ang imahe ng ating bansa. Sadya palang magulo rito – iyan ang iisipin ng mga lider ng ibang bansa. Kaya ngayon pa lamang ay nagpapasabi na ang marami sa kanila na sa kalagitnaan ng Enero, kung kailan ipinostpone ng Donya ang Summit, ay hindi na sila makadadalo.

    Marami silang mas mahalagang bagay na gagawin kaysa magpiyesta sa Cebu, kasama ang isang lider na kinamumuhian ng sambayanan.

    * * *

    Sa gitna ng lahat ng kaguluhang nangyayari sa bansa kung kailan pa mandin magpa-Pasko, ang angal ng karamihan ay saksakan ng tumal ang bilihin. Nitong Linggong nagdaan ay bumisita ako sa dalawang shopping mall sa Makati at Manila. Parang Biyernes Santo ang kapaligiran. Malungkot ang mukha maging ng mga tindera at mga amo nila. Para namang bilasang isda ang mga damit at epektos na paninda. Wala man lamang pumapansin.

    Sa bilihan ng masa sa Divisoria, maging sa tanyag na 168 Mall, marami man daw pumupunta ay tipid na tipid ang pamimili. Sadyang napakatumal.

    Mukhang daraan at daraan ang Paskong ito na walang galak sa puso ng nakararami. Matumal ang paninda. Matumal ang palamuti ng Kapaskuhan. Matumal ang galak at mga ngiti. Napakatumal ng kinabukasang nakikita.

    * * *

    (banayo_at@yahoo.com)

  94. norpil norpil

    chi. saan naman gagamitin ng cardinal ang pera kung sakali, dahil sabi mo ay malaking pera ang kapalit ng suporta nito kay gma.

  95. golpedegulat golpedegulat

    Ang mga sundalo bawal sumama sa rally pati daw govt. employees bawal? Si gloria sasama sa rally?Pinaglalaruan tayo nina Sec. Gonzalez at ni gma..again, right our very noses ay ginagago tayo.when will they stop fooling the people?We have all the reasons now to show our support sa rally na ito..Hindi na uso ang magpakuyakuyakoy tayo sa bahay habang ang ibang kapwa natin ay nag rarally fighting for our very rights!Dapat na tayong makialam for our country’s sake.Nakakainis ang ibang kapwa Pinoy na galit na galit sa mga nag rarally sa simpleng dahilan na na tatraffick sila when in more ways than one ang mga taong nakakaabala sa iyo sa traffick ay ang mga taong nakikipaglaban ng iyong karapatan. Habang ikaw ay nakaupo sa iyong malamig na sasakyan, ang mga nagrarally ay nag ririsk ng kanilang sariling buhay, nagpapainit sa ilalim ng araw, handang magpabomba ng tubig o mabatuta para din sa hindi mayurakan ang iyong karapatan..Hindi na uso ang kanya kanya, tayo tayo!!Kailangan na nating maintindihan ang issue at makialam..

  96. RE Golpedegulat’s “Ang mga sundalo bawal sumama sa rally pati daw govt. employees bawal? Si gloria sasama sa rally?Pinaglalaruan tayo nina Sec. Gonzalez at ni gma..again, right our very noses ay ginagago tayo”

    Agree!

  97. chi chi

    norpil,

    CV needs a lot of money for his needy flocks (harinawa!)
    Hindi pwedeng i-discuss dito, too sensitive ang buhay nila.
    Masi-censor tayo! Itanong natin sa mga Cebuano, eh?

    Basta ako, si Mother Teresa of Calcutta ang aking inspirasyon.

  98. chi chi

    Oo nga, why the sundalos are not allowed to join the rally and glue is? di ba ang tiyanak ang kanilang kumander? talagang itong SiRaulo at Glueria ay manloloko. Sabagay ay gising na ang diwa ng nakararaming pinoy, neknek na lang nila!

  99. Chi,

    Gloria’s is the caricature of dictator Pinochet, that’s why!

  100. Mrivera Mrivera

    since it is the survival and existence of the great con woman is at stake, joining any protest action against her government is forbidden by her ever supportive clingers like siraulo gunggongnagagonzalez, hernia asoperon and oscar ascalderon.

    shall we listen to them? let’s go!!!!

    tara lets. tara lets. tara, tara, tara lets!!!!!!

  101. npongco npongco

    Something comes to my mind regarding the rally and disallowing policemen and soldiers from joining. If violence erupts during the rally, how would these policemen and soldiers react if they belong to some of these religious groups like El Shaddai and Jesus is Lord? Would they hurt and shoot their brethren?

  102. Mrivera Mrivera

    … survival and exixtence of the great con woman THAT is at stake………..

  103. Mrivera Mrivera

    existence………

    huwaaaah! inaapi ako!

  104. Here’s my take Re: “Would they hurt and shoot their brethren?”

    Depends on how they interpret CPR orders of their “commander in chief! If they interpret the orders to the letter, they will shoot…

    If they accept that such orders border on the illegality, they should not.

    To a certain degree, we witnessed that overall, the military had stood down in the face of an overwhelming civilian force, i.e., Edsa 1 & 2. With that for a gauge, there is a chance that they might back down.

    However, we also know that their current self-styled commander in chief has a nubulous view of legal and what’s not legal, i.e., Edsa 3.

    Again, with that for a gauge, there is a possibility that she might give orders (perhaps through Defensor who is the acknowledged official interpreter of Gloria’s CPR rule – fire for fire sort of blah) and if that happens, the shift of burden must lie in the ground commander and in his ability to interpret fire for fire as an overkill and at worst, illegal.

  105. npongco npongco

    I agree, Anna. But, I think policemen and soldiers who are members of INC would not shoot and kills those they know are their brothers. That explains why INC seldom if never joins gatherings organized by other groups. It has been a long time since INC members went out in the streets. I remember the last one was many years ago when they celebrated their church anniversary. Millions of INC members filled up the entire Metro Manila especially in areas leading to their INC Temple in QC. Buses carrying members from the provinces entered Manila. The security and escorts were provided by picked PNP and soldiers who were mostly INC members themselves. Would INC cops and soldiers hurt their brethren even if ordered by their superiors? I don’t think so. Remember that story I shared about some Marcos soldiers ordered to raid the INC Temple compound at the outset of Martial Law? Soldiers who were INC members shot their comrades from behind. That story shocked Marcos and Enrile as well as the entire AFP then. Do you know that INC members are even forbidden to sue one another in court? Well, they base this on one biblical teaching that states brethren should not be judged by unbeliever. What they do is settle their case or difference with the INC leadership. Failure to obey this rule may result in expulsion. Once one party is expelled, only then could the other party sues him since the other is no longer a member. Weird teaching and practice…but that’s what INC is. That’s one of the things that makes this religious group unique.

  106. chi chi

    Noel,

    I pray they point the triggers on the con-woman and fire! The best they can do to a suffering nation.

  107. chi chi

    correction: for a suffering nation.

    Noel,

    These policemen will not hurt people at Luneta. They too are just waiting for Glueria’s exit. They know that without a religious backup left to lean on, this midget is now kaput!
    Don’t you think?

  108. norpil norpil

    this is assuming that gma is not inc member.

  109. Npongco,

    Re: “Failure to obey this rule may result in expulsion.”

    I don’t know much about the inner workings of INC but I do know of a member of the INC, a lawyer who was expelled I believe for de-facto poligamy; his true wife was working abroad; he cohabited with a young assistant and sired two kids, not content with that, he took on a third “wife” and sired another child, declaring in both instances for birth certification purposes of his progenitures that he was legally married to both women.

    He was promptly expelled by his church when the “scandal” broke out but managed to elude his court accusers when the two women demanded financial support for the children, he fled to Japan with a passport containing a different identity and has not been heard since.

  110. I know of the case because I was helping one of the women by financing the legal battle to disbar the said lawyer.

  111. npongco npongco

    Are those women members of the church? I think one is a member while the other two are not. Otherwise, the other two mistresses would have been expelled too. The first one, the legitimate, would be saved from expulsion which is just fair.

    INC is very strict in matters like the above. Even marrying non-members could result in expulsion. Young unmarried members are prohibited from romantically involved or courting non-members. Again, they have biblical basis for such practice.

    There are good and bad apples everywhere and in any organization. But from my experience and my acquaintance with their members, most are nice, very disciplined and try to put their teachings/doctrines into practice.

  112. No, the two women are not INC members but the first one based on what I was told, is I believe a member.

  113. npongco npongco

    Chi, don’t be sure that GMA’s PNP goons will not hurt the people. Look at what they did to Edsa Tres. About three or four were shot and killed. Remember the Mendiola massacre where several farmers were killed? That was Cory’s time. PNP and soldiers are trained to kill. If orders come down for them to shoot, they will. Then, they shall be awarded medals and recognition by GMA.

    Worse comes to worst, GMA would send her so called “Black Army” similar to Cory’s “Yellow Army”. These special forces and groups are picked, and their loyalty is tested. They are ready to kill and die.

  114. chi chi

    noel,

    If they hurt people at Luneta prayer rally, all hell will break loose! I pray they have the brains to understand the consequencies this time.

    For now, i’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. If they hurt people, kukulamin ko na sila!

  115. Chi,

    hahahahah! nakakatawa ka naman, kukulamin mo na sila? heheheh!

    jesting aside, i think people must be prepared for the worse because as things stand, the battle must be all out, it’s good vs evil.

  116. norpil norpil

    bilib ako sa kulam mo chi kapag tumalab iyan sa layo na iyan.mga taga davao daw ang malalakas ang kulam pero hindi makalampas ng dagat.

  117. npongco npongco

    This Sunday rally could be it. Hopefully, Uncle Sam has already given his signal. CIA operatives could be coordinating with their local counterparts mostly in the AFP. The atmosphere is very much similar to the 1986 Edsa Revolt. What’s lacking is a genuine opposition leader to lead the people against GMA. And I believe Susan Roces is the best and most accepted peronality by all groups. If she goes and attends, that would be the DAY will all are waiting for. But, will she? Why is she so quiet? Thinking about FPJ again? Cory has spoken again and will attend. If people see Susan-Cory on stage, that triggers…

  118. chi chi

    Anna, Norpil;

    I’ve learned some withcraft techniques from Avebury, UK and Salem, MA. Nobody has been hurt yet, I hope Glueria will be my first victim. heheh! Sounds desperate na ba? Hay naku, buhay sa pinas nakakaawa!

  119. artsee artsee

    Ako na lang ang kukulam. Marunong ako…

  120. Chi:
    Glueria is in a confused state, she thinks the needles you are using is acupuncture hehehe

  121. I’m wondering what sort of signal was given by Uncle Sam gavw, was it a hand signal; a nod; a wink or a freemason handshake

  122. Mrivera Mrivera

    meron ba namang mangkukulam na ang kukulamin aypadadapain sa sewing machine? ikaw talaga, artsee, oo. gagawin mo pa yatang baro’t saya si glutonia!

  123. chi chi

    Pati mangkukulam ay matutuliro dito kay Glue.

    WWNL, Oo nga ano? Then i’ll not use needles anymore. breaking the doll’s neck is easier!

  124. artsee artsee

    Sa tutoo lang, hindi natatablan ng kulam si tiyanak. Dapat kumuha ako ng Taoist Priest para palayasin ang masamang ispiritu.

  125. golpedegulat golpedegulat

    npongco,
    I share the same observation re Susan Roces. She would have been the best person to lead the people. Sadly, Susan doesn’t want to be involved in politics. But then, that is her choice and we can’t do anything about it but to respect her decision..Maybe we really don’t need somebody to lead us..Maybe it’s time we realize that we can do it by our own selves..what is important now is we should act together for a common goal of saving this country we love..

  126. Toney Cuevas Toney Cuevas

    This is the very words of Susan Roces, and I won’t never forget it right after FPJ passed away. Susan told the people at the very height of controversy of Hello Garci, “you (people) start it and I shall finish it.” Well what happen to Susan? And what’s that all about, another bogus Gloria? Don’t say anything if you don’t mean it, a lesson I’ve learned a long time ago. Same when bogus Gloria made a pronouncement that she’ll not run for president. I guess, in the Philippines anyone can say anything, it’ll soon be forgotten. Just words, I suppose!

  127. chi chi

    golpedegulat,

    yeah, we shouldn’t put our hopes in one person, we should act collectively in deeds, words, and spirit if we want a better Philippines!

  128. npongco npongco

    Toney, perhaps at that time when Susan uttered those words, she might be sincere and serious. She had all the good intentions or might be carried away emotionally by her husband’s untimely death. But deep inside her, she might really want to lead the nation even temporarily until another takes over. The problem is she could have smelled that other politicians have selfish motives. For one thing, the opposition is still very much disunited. But I hope she would consider playing the lead role this time. Cory is a goner. Only Susan can do it !

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