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Author: Ellen

‘Favored’ general seen to succeed Yano as AFP chief

Related article: Solons warn versus militarization

by Victor Reyes
Malaya

Five months before the retirement of Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano, there are already talks on whether President Arroyo’s perceived favorite officer, Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, would make it to the top military post.

Some military officers are wary of Bangit’s possible appointment as the military chief, citing the fact that he would be overtaking more senior officers and upperclassmen at the Philippine Military Academy.

Bangit, chief of the Southern Luzon Command, belongs to PMA Class ‘78 that has adopted President Arroyo as an honorary member. He served as chief of the Presidential Security Group and had been with the President since she was vice president. After his stint at the PSG, Bangit was named head the Intelligence Service of the AFP and later on commander of the 2nd Infantry Division. He has been a three-star general for more than a year.

Nawawalang trabaho

Noong isang buwan, nang unang bumulaga ang krisis pinansyal sa Amerika na kumalat na sa ibang parte ng mundo, sinabi ni Gloria Arroyo hindi raw masyadong apektado ang Pilipinas dahil malakas daw ang pundasyon ng ating ekonomiya.

“Fundametals are strong”, yan lang palagi ang kanyang pinagyayabang. At yan daw dahil magaling daw siyang ekonomista kahit na garapalan ang kurakutan sa kanyang administrasyon.

Anong “strong fundamentals” ang pinagsasabi niya samantalang alam naman natin lahat na ang bumubuhay lang sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas ay ang mga dolyares na pinapadala ng mga Overseas Filipino Workers na hindi bababa sa sampung milyon sa lahat na parte ng mundo, kahit sa kasulok-sulokan ng Alaska at Africa.

Obama’s message

I love U.S. President Barack Obama’s speech especially the part where he said, “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

Gloria Arroyo’s fake presidency fits the description to a T.

She grabbed power from an elected president in January 2001, something that she herself is ashamed of it. Now, she wants the people to forget about it while she continues to cling to power.

Prosecutor probed on P800,000 bank deposit

Updates:

Golez wants Resado probed.
Resado resorts to the classic strategy: when trapped, create confusion.
At the House hearing Friday, Resado claimed he was offered a bride by PDEA lawyer Alvaro Lazaro.

Related stories: PDEA: Drugs threaten national security

Narco-politics a factor in 2010

by Evangeline de Vera

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez yesterday ordered the NBI to reopen its probe on John Resado, one of the state prosecutors who dismissed the drug charges against the so-called Alabang Boys after allegedly receiving bribe money.

Gonzalez asked the Anti-Money Laundering Council for advise over the bank deposits of Resado following the circulation of a one-page anonymous letter faxed to his office, and to NBI Director Nestor Mantaring and ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon.

The letter sender, signed “Juan dela Cruz,” claimed that he has personal knowledge of the alleged P800,000 deposit to the joint account of Resado and his wife Rowena in Banco de Oro (BDO) in Bacoor, Cavite.

Sige, Raul G, magkalat ka pa

raul-g-ang-gma

Natawa ako sa reaction ni Rep. Roilo Golez sa rekomendasyon ng Integrated Bar of the Philippines na suspindihin ang justice secretary ni Gloria Arroyo na si Raul Gonzalez.

Sabi ni Golez, dahil sa rekomendasyon ng IBP, dapat ng mag-resign si Gonzalez dahil yan ay galing sa kapwa niya abogado. Hindi lang magiging mababa ang paningin sa knayna gpagkatao, pati na rin ang posisyon.

Inulit ni Golez, na kababayan ni Gonzalez (pareho silang Ilonggo), ang kanyang panawagan na ang natira na lamang na marangal na alternatibo para sa kanya ay mag-resign.

Rigodon in cabinet

From Malaya:
Gloria Arroyo yesterday reshuffled three Cabinet positions, naming Presidential Management Staff chief Cerge Remonde as press secretary vice Jesus Dureza, who is now the chief presidential legal counsel, and Hermogenes Esperon as Remonde’s replacement.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Avelino Razon, National Security Council deputy director for the National Peace and Order Council, takes the place of Esperon as presidential adviser on the peace process.

Ermita said Transportation Undersecretary Ma. Elena Bautista was named administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority, a post she used to head as officer in charge, while Land Transportation Office chief Alberto Suansing was transferred to the DOTC as undersecretary.

US President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech

inauguration

(Photo from MSNBC)

Fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

IBP to SC: suspend Gonzalez for misconduct

Update from Malaya: Comelec pins down Gonzalez

See story in comments.

Case was his 2007 elections offer of P10,000 for 12-0 win of administration senatorial candidates

by Evangeline de Vera

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines has recommended the suspension of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez for obstruction of electoral processes.

In a one-page notice, the IBP Commission on Bar Discipline through its national secretary Tomas Prado took note of the Board of Governors’ Resolution dated Nov. 20, 2008 that “resolved to reverse… the Report and Recommendation of the Investigating Commissioner and approve the suspension from the practice of law for one year of Gonzalez for his reprehensible conduct of openly and publicly offering P10,000 to any barrio captain in his area (Iloilo) of political influence who can give a 12-0 vote in favor of President Arroyo’s senatorial candidates and taking into consideration his previous professional misconduct.”

As mandated, the IBP through the Commission on Bar Discipline acted as prosecutor in the complaint that investigated the case for finding of probable cause.

The Marine who said “No”

By Ellen Tordesillas
VERA Files


The soldier who stirred a hornet’s nest by accusing Department of Justice officials of bribery in the so-called “Alabang Boys” case could have been a millionaire by now.

Marine Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino, chief of the Special Enforcement Service of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, has experienced being bribed by smugglers, politicians and drug dealers in his 14-year career as a military officer.

But Marcelino, who belongs to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1994, said he has made it a point to give back the thick envelopes stuffed with cash, and was not even curious enough to count the money and see how much he is worth.