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Last two minutes: Groups urge Comelec to decide on manual count now

Published by Ellen on April 25, 2010

(Note: VERA Files website is down.While it is being restored, the stories will be posted here.)

By MARK JOSEPH UBALDE
VERA Files

Press con-MBC leaders Alberto Lim and Ramon del Rosario. Gus Lagman in blue.

WITH barely 14 days left before the elections, a multisectoral group is making a last-ditch effort to convince the Commission on Elections to adopt a parallel nationwide manual count to avoid a possible “Automated Garci.”

In a press conference held at Club Filipino Sunday, leaders of concerned groups that include the Makati Business Club and Philippine Bar Association read their open letter to the Comelec, saying the decision on their proposal cannot be delayed beyond April 29 or else the parallel manual count won’t be doable.

“If the Comelec decides after April 29, then we are afraid and gravely concerned that the May 10 elections would remain extremely vulnerable to manipulation and fraud,” they said in the letter that will be given to Comelec on Monday when the poll commissioners meet en banc.

Augusto Lagman, an IT specialist and convenor of TransparentElections.Org, said,“It would only take two to four days to ready the system. The Comelec should ensure accuracy than speed of the results.”

Gloria’s labandera sa anti-Money Laundering Council

Published by Ellen on April 24, 2010

Suspetsa ko, yung mga aksyun ni Gloria Arroyo nitong mga nakaraang linggo na talaga namang nakakagulatang katulad ng pag-appoint niya kay Anita Carpon, ang kanyang manikurista bilang member of the board ng Pag-ibig Housing Fund at ng kanyang hardinero na si Armando Macapagal bilang deputy administrator ng Luneta Park Administration ay pang-inis sa atin.

Wala siguro siyang maisip na paraan para magantihan tayo sa ating pagtuligsa sa kanyang pangungurakot at paglabas sa batas kaya gumagawa siya ng mga bagay na manggagalaiti tayo sa inis.

Hindi ko na sasayangin ang aking emosyon kay Arroyo. Pagtawanan na lang natin siya.

Ganun din ang reaksyun ng aking mga ka-blog. Sabi ng mga sumusulat sa aking blog, kulang pa yun. Dapat lubusin na ni Arroyo at ito ang mga suhestyun nila:

Estrada wows Caviteños

Published by Ellen on April 24, 2010

CAVITE CITY.—Former President Joseph Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) showed he has not lost his “masa “ appeal despite having been ousted from…

Gloria appoints manicurist to Pagibig board and gardener as deputy Luneta park administration

Published by Ellen on April 22, 2010

Just like manicurist, GMA gardener gets sinecure
by Jarius Bondoc

Professionals among Malacañang’s housekeeping staff are outraged. Not only did Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appoint her personal manicurist to the board of trustees of Pag-IBIG Housing Fund. She also earlier named her gardener as deputy of the Luneta Park Administration. Both postings are improper sinecures, Palace aides murmur.

One insider feels disgust that beautician Anita Carpon and gardener Armando Macapagal were placed in positions in a departing admin. As Pag-IBIG trustee Carpon will make P130,000 a month in per diem, plus perks, for a fixed two-year term. Macapagal’s seat as Luneta deputy earns less. But his appointment can be as dubious if he and the President happen to be related. The Constitution and anti-graft laws prohibit government officials from appointing or transacting with kin.

Another source laments that the postings were made on the sly. Carpon was sneaked into the Pag-IBIG board along with three others after the terms of four trustees lapsed in recent weeks. But she was unable to join them in last week’s oath taking and first board meeting as she accompanied Arroyo to the US and Spain. Macapagal’s appointment surfaced only after Carpon’s hit the headlines. A Palace reporter says the offices of Executive Sec. Larry Mendoza and Press Sec. Cris Icban are mum about the appointments, likely made during the election ban.

Si Remulla at si Ampatuan

Published by Ellen on April 21, 2010

Kalimutan na ni Gilbert Remulla ang kanyang ambisyon na magiging senador.

Sa kanyang pagbisita sa mga Ampatuan sa Davao noong isang buwan, lumabas na may pagkukulang sa kanyang values o moralidad. Dating journalist pa naman siya.

April 22 -Tumawag sa akin si Gilbert at nasaktan daw siya sa aking sinulat.Sana man lang daw tinanong ko siya bago ko siya binanatan. Sabi niya hindi pa niya ngayon masabi ang detalye ngunit may kinalaman sa “security” ang kanyang pakipagkita sa mga Ampatuan sa Davao.

Sira rin dito si Nacionalista party presidential candidate Manny Villar. Dapat ipakita niya na kaya niya magdisiplina ng kasama na nagkamali. Kung hindi, pareho na sila babagsak.

Si Remulla kasi bayaw ni Sigfrid Fortun, abogado ng mga Ampatuan. Ngayon kasi malakas pa rin ang mga Ampatuan sa Maguindanao. Marami nga sa mga kamag-anak nila ang tumatakbo itong eleksyun at malamang mananalo.

Obscene

Published by Ellen on April 20, 2010

It’s so obscene, I can’t find the right words to express my outrage over the gall of Justice Secretary Alberto Agra to clear Zaldy Ampatuan, suspended governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao, and his uncle Maguindanao Vice Gov. Akmad Ampatuan Sr. of complicity in the most heinous crime this country has experienced and shocked even the a violence-weary world.

It’s also obscene hearing Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar describe as “an obscenity” the public’s accusations about Malacañang’s role in absolving the two Ampatuans of responsibility in the Nov 23 Maguindanao massacre that claimed the lives of at least 57 people, 32 of them journalists.

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility is right. “.. the real and current obscenity in this country is the fact that the alleged president for whom Olivar speaks has become central to the major issues that beset this country, most particularly that of whether there will be a change in its putrid leadership rather than more of the same despite the 2010 elections.

Simpleng kaligayahan

Published by Ellen on April 19, 2010

Tuwang-tuwa ako sa Facebook shoutout ni dating Lt(sg) Manuel “Cash” Cabochan noong Linggo ng gabi.

Halatang excited na siya sa kanyang paglaya pagkatapos ng sobra pitong taon na pagkulong dahil nanindigan sila laban kay Gloria Arroyo mula pa noong Hulyo 2003 sa Oakwood. Inulit nila ang kanilang paglaban kay Arroyo noong Nobyembre 2007 sa Manila Peninsula.

Sabi ni Cash paglabas na paglabas niya ang gusto niya gawin ay “kumain ng fishball sa sidewalk..pwedeng sumama, bawal kumontra.”

Batangueños give Noy-Mar warm welcome

Published by Ellen on April 19, 2010

I covered the Batangas rally of the Liberal party in Batangas last Saturday. The mood was celebratory. The atmosphere was that of victory- at- hand.…

AFP Chief Bangit to Magdalo soldiers: Move on

Published by Ellen on April 18, 2010

Magdalo soldiers former Marine Captain Gary Alejano and former Ltsg James Layug were released today after Armed Forces Chief Delfin Bangit approved the recommendation of the military court to consider the eight month sentence served as they have been in prison for almost two and half years after the 2007 Manila Peninsula incident.

(Left to right) Marine Capt. Gary Alejano; Lt (sg) James Layug; Lts. (sg) Eugene Gonzales;;Air Force Capt Dan Orfiano; Lt(sg) Andy Torrato

The eight others are former Lts. (sg) Eugene Gonzales, Andy Torrato, Manuel Cabochan; Capt Dan Orfiano; Lt. (jg) Arturo Pascua; and 1Lts. Billy Pascua, Jonnel Sangalang, and Armand Pontejos are expected to be also released tomorrow (Monday) after they have posted bail.

(Left to right)Air Force 1Lt. Billy Pascua;Lt (jg) Armand Pontejos; Lt (jg)Jonnel Sangalang;Lt (sg) Manuel Cabochan; and Lt (jg) Arturo Pascua.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV will continue to remain in detention as he has not been allowed to post bail in the coup d’etat case in connection with the July 2003 Oakwood incident.

Two explanations

Published by Ellen on April 18, 2010

Last week, I wrote that “The law doesn’t protect deceit” in connection with the report on the fake psychiatric evaluation of Liberal Party presidential candidate Benigno Aquino III and the refusal of ABS-CBN to name the source of fraud.

I’m running here two statements from ABS-CBN on the issue because I believe that it benefits us all to listen to all sides in any issue.
The first article “Telling it like it is” is by Maria A. Ressa, head of ANS-CBN News and Current Affairs and managing director of ANC.
The other article “Name Your (Anonymous) Sources! “ is by Glenda Gloria, chief operations officer of ANC and member of the board of the Public Trust Media Group.

Telling it like it is
by Maria Ressa

Author: Ellen