Governance – Page 33 – ellen tordesillas

Rotarian tell Bolante: tell the truth

Published by Ellen on November 11, 2008

In many of the exhortations to former Agriculture Secretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante to tell the truth about the P728 million fertilizer scam, he is always reminded of the Rotary’s four way test: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Many Rotarians are dismayed that the name of the prestigious organization has been dragged into this Bolante mess. As director of Rotary International, Bolante had used his official Rotary duties in evading Senate arrest.

Bakit praning si Gloria?

Published by Ellen on November 11, 2008

Napadalas yata ang biyahe ni Gloria Arroyo sa Amerika, ah.

Noong Septiembre nandoon din siya kahit na katakot-takot na batikos ang nakuha niya sa biyahe niya doon noong Hunyo sa gitna ng bagyong “Frank”.

Kagabi umalis na naman siya papuntang New York para raw dumalo sa Interfaith conference. Nakahanap lang siya ng rason para pumunta ulit sa Amerika.

CBCP head rejects Arroyo’s call for ‘political ceasefire’

Published by Ellen on November 9, 2008

The head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) rejected over the weekend Malacañang’s call for a political ceasefire, once again stressing that the issue was about corruption.

CBCP president and Jaro archbishop Angel Lagdameo said the call for a change in government that he and four other bishops made is not for political but for moral change.

“Kung ang ating sinasabi ay pagpuna sa mga maling gawain, hindi lang naman yan sa government kundi sa lahat na pati sa lahat ng antas or level ng ating society. Sapagkat ang corruption ay hindi lang naman nasa gobyerno kundi maging sa iba’t-ibang antas ng ating society,” Lagdameo said over Church-run Radio Veritas.

Multuhin sana sila ni Marlene Esperat

Published by Ellen on November 8, 2008

marlene-esperat Ito ang nasabi ng abogadong si Harry Roque nang malaman niya na ibinasura ng Ombudsman ang kasong isinampa ni Marlene Esperat laban kina Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap, dating Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante, sa salang ilegal na paggamit ng pondo ng bayan.

Ito ang kasong kaugnay sa P728 milyon para sa abono ng mahihirap na magsasaka na ginamit para pambili ng boto para kay Gloria Arroyo noong eleksyon ng 2004.

Ang resolusyon ay inaprubahan ni Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro at Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus Jr base sa rekomendasyon ni Director Elvira Chua ng Preliminary Investigation, Administrative Adjudication and Monitoring Bureau ng Ombudsman.

Siyempre lahat yun aprubado ni Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez na kaklase at matalik na kaibigan ni Mike Arroyo.

Ombudsman junks Esperat case versus Bolante

Published by Ellen on November 7, 2008

Related article in Verafiles : Coverup, whitewash seen in Bolante case

by Johanna Camille Sisante
GMANews.TV

The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday junked the 2004 case filed by slain journalist Marlene Esperat against Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap, former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante, and other officials over the illegal use of public funds.

In a telephone interview with GMANews.TV, Anna Sanchez – media officer of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez – confirmed the ruling on Esperat’s complaint but did not disclose any further details, saying a press conference will be held Monday regarding the resolution.

Lawyer Harry Roque, who has made it a personal crusade to find truth and justice in the fertilizer scam, said: “I hope that Merceditas Gutierrez can explain that to the children of Marlene Esperat who all witnessed her gruesome murder.

Continue readingOmbudsman junks Esperat case versus Bolante

Lagdameo denies Andaya spin on projects

Published by Ellen on November 6, 2008

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya went to see Archbishop Angel Lagdameo Tuesday night, a week after the latter called for the people to prepare for a “new government now.” Andaya told reporters that they have forged a “partnership” with the CBCP. Lagdameo denies it.

Malaya’s account:

Archbishop Angel Lagdameo yesterday said the Church has not agreed to forge a “partnership” with the government in monitoring the implementation of projects and programs as part of efforts to prevent corruption.

What was discussed with government officials, led by Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Tuesday night was that the Church would be given a list of ongoing projects, said Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Bolante forum-shopping

Published by Ellen on November 3, 2008

The son of an embattled agriculture official has asked the Court of Appeals to order his father’s immediate release from Senate custody.

Owen Vincent Bolante, son of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante said in a 15-page petition for habeas corpus, which he filed Monday that his father’s detention was unlawful and called for his immediate release.

Click here for the full Inquirer article:<

It’s obvious: Bolante evading to tell the truth

Atty. Harry L. Roque. Jr.
Chair, Center for International Law
Co-Convener, Concerned Citizens Movement

The petition for the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus, which was filed today on behalf of Mr. Jocelyn “Joc-Joc Bolante” by a son of his, is obvious proof that he does not plan on answering any of the public’s questions about the rotten multi-million peso fertilizer scam at the Department of Agriculture where he was once a well-placed official fixture.

Security ni Bolante ang nagpagulo sa airport

Published by Ellen on November 1, 2008

Ang Undas ay okasyon para natin gunitain ang ating mga mahal sa buhay na sumakabilang buhay na. Sa mga Kristiyano kasi naniniwala tayo na panibagong buhay pagkatapos ng ating buhay dito sa mundo.

Ang undas ay pagpa-alala rin sa atin na ang buhay natin dito sa mundo ay temporario lang. Dumadaan lang tayo. Lahat tayo ay mamamatay.

Paala-ala rin sa atin na walang kabuluhan ang pagnanakaw at panloloko ng kapwa tao dahil hindi natin madala ang mga kayamanan sa kabilang buhay.

Is there a storm on the horizon?

Published by Ellen on November 1, 2008

by Joel Rocamora
Akbayan Chairman

The bishops did it. Their call for a “new government”, then building hope around “liberators” who are “just around the corner” got everyone worked up. A “new government” in advance of the 2010 elections, of course, means the extra constitutional removal of the Arroyo administration. Everyone assumes the bishops are not talking of the Second Coming. Maybe those knights in shining armor who are a long time coming.

Conspiracy theorists are having a field day. The impeachment initiative, chacha, and the arrival of Jocjoc Bolante primed the public for the bishops’ statement. Are these moves linked? Is there a master conspiracy behind these linked moves? Did the bishops light the fuse for a coming explosion? Is it a short or a long fuse? The nice thing about conspiracy theories is that we can enjoy dramatic tension even if we cannot find out if there’s anything to the theory.

Seditious

Published by Ellen on October 30, 2008

The Webster dictionary defines “seditious” as “tending to cause discontent among the people; fostering the spirit of rebellion.”

I think Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez was barking up the wrong tree when he said that the pronouncements of Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines ; Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz;Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas; Masbate Bishop Joel Baylon, and Legazpi Bishop Emeritus Jose Sorra at a press conference last Tuesday were “seditious.”

I checked again what the five bishops said. Their statements were mostly on graft and corruption which they said were the “biggest culprit and major cause of the our nation’s poverty and hunger.”

Category: Governance