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Author: Ellen

Batting for Chiz to fill a dangerous power vacuum

Published by Ellen on April 8, 2010

Raissa Robles, Philippine correspondent of the Hongkong-based South China Morning Post, has waged an online campaign to have Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero elected as interim Senate president to be eligible to be the acting president in case there would be a failure of election in the May 10 polls.

Escudero
Escudero
In her personal blog, Raissa said, “ Pssst, let’s urge senators to elect Chiz Escudero as Senate President to avoid dangerous power vacuum… in case a new President is not proclaimed by June 30 – the same day the tenures of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Vice-President Noli de Castro, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Prospero Nograles all lapse.”

I join Raissa in the campaign to elect Chiz as Senate president before June 30. But an election for a new president can only happen if there’s vacancy in the position. So let us also ask Senate President Enrile to do the patriotic act of resigning as Senate President.

Why is this necessary?

The Constitutional provision on succession states: “When no President and Vice-President shall have been chosen or shall have qualified, or where both shall have died or become permanently disabled, the President of the Senate or, in case of his inability, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall act as President until a President or a Vice-President shall have chosen and qualified.”

Continue readingBatting for Chiz to fill a dangerous power vacuum

Seven years in detention, 10 Magdalo officers sentenced to 8 months in prison

Published by Ellen on April 8, 2010

Lim reading withdrawal of support from Arroyo government
Lim reading withdrawal of support from Arroyo government
A military tribunal sentenced on Wednesday to eight months in prison 10 former military officers from the reformist group Magdalo for their their participation in the November 2007 incident at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City, their lawyer said yesterday.

The 10, led by Magdalo core leaders Lt. (sg) James Layug and Capt. Gary Alejano, were given the light verdict after pleading guilty to all the four remaining charges filed against them before the court headed by Maj. Gen. Eduardo Oban.
The eight other officers were Lts. (sg) Eugene Gonzales, Andy Torrato, Manuel Cabochan; Capt Dan Orfiano; Lt. (jg) Arturo Pascua; and 1Lts. Billy Pascua, Jonnel Sangalang, and Armand Pontejos.

Lawyer Ed Abaya said his clients pleaded guilty to charges of violation of Articles of War 63 (disrespect to the President), 96 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman), 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline) and 70 (escape from confinement). The charge of mutiny was dropped.

Continue readingSeven years in detention, 10 Magdalo officers sentenced to 8 months in prison

Supreme Court allows “Ang Ladlad” in May election

Published by Ellen on April 8, 2010

Patrick King Pascual, production assistant/researcher of ANC’s Strictly Politics is ecstatic because of this news.

From Yahoo, Philippines

by Oliver Teves
Associated Press

The Philippine Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a decision barring a gay rights group from contesting national elections in May and recognized it as a legitimate political party for the first time.

Voting 13-2, the court threw out decisions by the Elections Commission denying accreditation to Ang Ladlad (Out of the Closet) on grounds that it tolerates immorality and offends Christians and Muslims.

The justices said the party had complied with all legal requirements, and that there is no law against homosexuality.

“I felt vindicated,” said the group’s leader, Danton Remoto, an English professor at the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University. He said that Ang Ladlad had struggled for recognition and accreditation for the past seven years.

Continue readingSupreme Court allows “Ang Ladlad” in May election

Labanan ng lokal na makinarya

Published by Ellen on April 7, 2010

Nang umuwi ako sa amin sa Antique noong Pebrero, napapunta ako sa mga liblib na baryo dahil sinamahan ko ang isang kaibigan na gumagawa ng research tungkol sa komedya. Ang hirap kumuha ng signal ng cellphone sa mga lugar na yun doon.

Napag-usapan naming ng mga taga-doon paano na lang ang mangyari sa eleksyun kung walang signal. Paano ma-transmit ang boto kung walang signal.

Sabin ng mga titser doon, dahil ang mga presinto ay pagsama-samahin, doon ilalagay ang clustered precincts sa lugar na may signal.

Continue readingLabanan ng lokal na makinarya

Another survey, different findings

Published by Ellen on April 6, 2010

Yesterday, Pulse Asia released its latest survey conducted March 21- 28 which showed Liberal Party’s Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (35 percent) maintaining his 12 point lead over Nacionalista Party’s Manuel Villar (27 percent).

Partido ng Masang Pilipino’s Joseph Estrada was third with 18 percent followed by Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s Gilbert Teodoro with 7 percent. The rest of the presidential candidates got two percent or less.

But there’s another survey I got last Sunday which showed a different standing of the presidential candidates.
The survey firm, Campaigns and Images Group, and its research arm, “Tools and Strategy, Philippines” are new to me. Their analyst is Aniceto “Abbey” Canturias.

An Internet search shows Canturias is no stranger in market research. In 1991, he, along with newspaper publishers and editors, formed the Campaigns & Image Group. Through his PR management, Canturias worked in the successful vice presidential bid of Sen. Joseph Estrada in 1992. He also was Visayas Bureau chief of The Manila Times from October 1999 to March 2001 and editor in chief of The Freeman Mindanao from August 1995 until September 1999.

CIG’s survey, which is given to Philippine and foreign clients, is much more detailed. Their base is 2,550 respondents. They have focused surveys on different age groups and economic sector.

The result of their survey, conducted April 1 to 4, on the most likely winner in the May 10 elections has Villar, Aquino, Teodoro in the top, in that order.

Continue readingAnother survey, different findings

Aquino maintains significant lead over Villar in Pulse Asia’s March 21-28 survey

Published by Ellen on April 6, 2010

Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Senator Benigno “Noynoy” C. Aquino III, scoring a 37% voting preference, continues to lead the other presidential contenders. In second place is Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar (Nacionalista Party [NP]) with 25% voter support.

Former President Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada is the only other candidate with double digit support, at 18%, while the other candidates register single digit voter preferences—LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro with 7%;Bagumbayan standard-bearer Senator Richard “Dick” J. Gordon at 2%; and, Bangon Pilipinas candidate Brother Eddie Villanueva, with 2% voter preference.

Nine percent of the survey respondents refused or remained undecided as to their presidential preference.

LP’s Mar Roxas also continues to maintain a big lead (20 points) over NP’s Loren Legarda.

Continue readingAquino maintains significant lead over Villar in Pulse Asia’s March 21-28 survey

Usapang pera

Published by Ellen on April 5, 2010

Tinawagan ko kahapon si dating congressman Prospero “Butch” Pichay tungkol sa kumakalat na tsismis na kaya daw walang pera para sa kampanya ang mga senador ng Lakas-Kampi-CMD at walang perang pambigay sa mga lokal na kandidato dahil binulsa raw niya ang pera.

Natawa lang si Pichay, na tumakbong senador noong 2007. “Nag-abono na nga ako ng P20 milyon. Tapos sabihin binulsa ko?”

Sabi ni Pichay ang kanyang assignment sa Lakas-Kampi-CMD ay mga senador. Si Local Governments Secretary Ronaldo Puno ang nag-manage ng kampanya ni presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro at Vice Presidential candidate Edu Manzano.

Sabi ni Pichay P90 milyon lang daw ang binigay sa kanya para sa anim na kandidato ng Lakas-Kampi-CMD para senador na sina: re-electionists Lito Lapid at Bong Revilla, radio broadcaster Rey Langit, dating cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Raul Lambino, at Ramon Guico, mayor ng Binalonan at presidente ng Mayor and League of Municipalities President.

Continue readingUsapang pera