Author: Ellen

Once again,Trillanes answers UNA’s allegations on ‘luxury’ cars

Published by Ellen on October 16, 2014

This is the second time I’ll be running the answer of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to allegations that he owned eight luxury vehicles not listed in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth when he was a Philippine Navy officer.

JV Bautista, interim secretary general of the United Nationalist Alliance headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay,lambasted Trillanes Wednesday: “He styles himself as a moral crusader, but all these years he has evaded the issue of how he was able to afford eight luxury vehicles with his salary in the military and why he did not declare them in his SALN. This is a clear violation of the law.”

This black propaganda about Trillanes owning luxury vehicles first came out immediately after the July 2003 mutiny by a group of young officers that included Trillanes against the government of Gloria Arroyo. They made their stand at the then Oakwood Hotel (now Ascott) at the Makati Commercial Center.

NAIA1 no longer world’s worst, now ranked 4th-worst

Published by Ellen on October 16, 2014

By Ellen T.Tordesillas, VERA Files

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Teminal 1 (NAIA1) is no longer the worst airport in the world, according to an online website dedicated to reviewing airports all over the world.

NAIA is now No. four in the 2014 list of Worst Airports of “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports,” outranked by Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Pakistan (1st); Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia (2nd); and Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal (3rd).

The Guide to Sleeping in Airports explained the improvement in ranking of NAIA1:

U.S. custody of Pemberton denigrates PH sovereignty

Published by Ellen on October 14, 2014

Facebook account of Joseph Scott Pemberton.

The suspected killer of transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton of the US Marine Corps 2nd Battalion 9th Marines, is in the custody of the United States.

A statement by the U.S. Embassy in Manila said Pemberton “ is being held onboard USS Peleliu while a joint Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Philippine National Police investigation is conducted. The United States will continue to fully cooperate with Philippine law enforcement authorities in every aspect of the investigation.”

USS Peleliu, which is in Subic Bay for PHIBLEX 15, a joint amphibious landing exercise, was due to leave Tuesday but its departure was put on hold because of this crime involving one of the American soldiers.

Let’s not forget Purisima

Published by Ellen on October 12, 2014

While we are riveted to the splendor of Hacienda Binay’s Kew Gardens and air-conditioned piggery, let us not forget Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima and his questionable acts as a public official.

PNP Chief Alan Purisima and President Aquino

The public should be more vigilant of the Purisima case because no less than President Aquino is protecting him, vouching for the Police chief’s integrity despite blatant violation of ethical standards set for government officials.

Talking with reporters in Indonesia, Aquino said, “Natuwa ako noong sinama niya lahat sa bahay niya sa Nueva Ecija. Iyon, gawain ng tao na hindi nagtatago.”

What kind of logic is that? Allowing media to see his vacation villa in a 4.5 hectare property in Nueva Ecija does not answer the questions of how he acquired it at a cheap price and how he was able to build a nice four-bedroom vacation house complete with swimming pool, gazebo and a nipa hut out of his salary as a police officer.

It is PR.

Binay can kiss his 2016 presidential bid goodbye

Published by Ellen on October 9, 2014

Aerial view of the 350 hectare Batangas Estate. Photo provided by to ABS-CBN former Makati VM Ernesto Mercado. — Aerial view of the 350 hectare Batangas Estate.

Vice President Jejomar Binay’s 350-hectare luxury estate is so stunning, stupefying and appalling he can kiss his 2016 presidential plans goodbye.

The images shown of Binay’s sprawling property in Batangas during the hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee assault many aspects of the ordinary citizens’ senses: sense of values, sense of propriety, sense of proportion.

To give the public an idea of how big 350 hectares is, former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado said the Binay farm is equivalent to “six Luneta Parks, 10 Araneta Centers or even half the 700 hectare San Juan city.

Is anyone surprised that NAIA1 is worst airport in the world?

Published by Ellen on October 7, 2014

Long lines NAIA1. Thanks to Flickr for photo.

Is anyone surprised that Ninoy Aquino International Airport is once again the topnotcher in the list of worst airports in the world?

The Sept. 30, 2014 post in the website Life Cheat Sheet said “Airports are often an essential and unavoidable part of traveling. Sometimes, you luck out and find yourself in an airport that has minimal wait times and is full of shops, restaurants, and polite staff. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.”
It listed 10 worst airports known for “having rude staff, long lines, poor facilities, and a chaotic environment. “

Life Cheat Sheet website cited NAIA1’s feature that beat competitors hands down: “This Manila-based airport struggles with the 32 million passengers who use its facility each year. That shouldn’t come as a shock, though, considering it only has the capacity for 6 million passengers, according to CNBC.

When stupidity resulted in something good

Published by Ellen on October 5, 2014

The incident involving car model Alyzza Agustin and Police Chief Superintendent Alexander Ignacio is one example of something good coming out of a stupid act.

God works in mysterious ways indeed.

Last Sept. 28, Agustin, who apparently enjoys social media but does not comprehend it’s power and perils proudly posted in her Facebook and Instagram accounts that she was able to get away violating the number coding traffic scheme in Metro Manila by using a calling card Ignacio gave her.

She bragged: “Nahuli na naman ako dahil coding but because of you Boss Alex wala ng huli-huli. Thank you so much sa napaka-useful mong card with matching dedication pa.”

1987 coup: The ties that bind PNoy and Purisima

Published by Ellen on October 2, 2014

President Aquino with PNP Chief Alan Purisima.

President Aquino’s dogged defense of Police Chief Alan Purisima despite revelations of acts of irregularity and the public’s frustration over breakdown of law and order, have led many to ask what’s behind the closeness of the two.

While in New York last week, Aquino described the PNP Chief as ““not capricious.” Back in Manila after information about the luxurious Nueva Ecija vacation house with an attic on a 4.5 hectare property with a separate pavilion, separate four- car garage with quarters, a 7.5m x 15m pool, Aquino maintains the line that criticisms against his administration are really meant to block reforms that he is instituting.

It should be recalled that in order to install Purisima as PNP chief before the 2013 elections, then PNP Chief Nicanor Bartolome was forced to retire three months before his retirement age of 56.

Puzzling numbers in Pulse Asia’s latest survey

Published by Ellen on October 1, 2014

At last, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas numbers moved up.

In a survey conducted by Pulse Asia, Roxas numbers almost doubled in a matter of two months. From seven percent last week of June, it jumped to 13 percent second week of September.

What could be the factors that contributed to respondents finally discovering Roxas after years of ignoring him when asked who they would vote if elections were held at the time the survey was conducted?

Disqualify Binay to level playing field for 2016

Published by Ellen on September 21, 2014

VP Jejomar Binay did not present prook to debunk corruption allegations allegations against him. — VP Jejomar Binay did not present proof to debunk corruption allegations allegations against him.

All these investigations on the alleged corruption of Vice President Jejomar Binay are primarily to level the playing field for the 2016 presidential elections.

That’s because surveys showed that Binay is way, way ahead of other politicians who have ambitions to run for president in 2016.

When Pulse Asia asked 1,200 representative adults, 18 years old and above last June 24 through July 2, who they would vote for president if elections were held at that time, 41 percent said, “Binay.” That’s a good number. Analysts say that a presidential candidate has to have at least 40 per cent of the votes cast to win the presidency.