ellen tordesillas – Page 138 – Making life worth living.

Fascinating assessments from US Embassy, Manila

Published by Ellen on September 4, 2011

Kristie kenney wd esperon — Kenney with the Hermogenes she admires

I’m fascinated by the Wikileaks releases of the cables from the US Embassy in Manila.

The latest I’ve read was then ambassador Kristie Kenney’s assessment of Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. as the defense secretary written in March 2007. It was one insult after another.

It said, “Tongue-tied and reticent, Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane stands in stark contrast to his articulate and sophisticated predecessor, Avelino “Nonong” Cruz. “

It continued: “Ebdane was far from the best choice President Arroyo could have made to succeed former Secretary Cruz. He is clearly no intellect, but a through-and-through loyalist, a quality that the president, who only a year ago faced down a coup attempt, treasures. “

Wikileaks:Ramos got P5M campaign contribution from Gaddafy

Published by Ellen on September 2, 2011

Fidel Ramos2 — Got illegal foreign election contribution?

Former Libyan strongman Moammar Gaddafy contributed P5 million to the campaign of former President Ramos in 1992, according to a US Embassy report exposed by Wikileaks.

The Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines (Batas Pambansa 881) prohibits accepting contribution from foreigners.

The US Embassy report, written by then Deputy Chief of Mission Raymond Burghardt, quoted extensively a conversation with Joel de los Santos, who served as consultant to the Ramos administration.

“It was a well-kept secret, according to De Los Santos, that Ramos had received five million pesos (about dols 200,000) From the libyans to finance his presidential campaign in 1992,” the US Embassy cable said.

Dapat may panagutan si De Castro sa anomalya sa Pag-ibig

Published by Ellen on August 31, 2011

Tama naman si Sen. Serge Osmeña na imposible naman na mangyari ang multi-bilyon na anomaly sa Pag-ibig na walang pananagutan si dating Bise-presidente Noli de Castro , ang hepe ng Home Development Mutual Fund nang administrasyon ni Gloria Arroyo.

Vice president and concurrent chair of the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Jejomar Binay said there’s no evidence that would link his predecessor former vice president Noli de Castro to the multibillion-peso anomalies at the Home Development Mutual Fund, also known as Pag-Ibig Fund, involving a housing firm.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/50625/binay-no-evidence-vs-de-castro

Sabi ni Osmeña, “Totoo, walang nagsabi na binayaran niya si Noli ngunit hindi naman siguro mangyari ang ganung anomalya na walang kalokohan sa itaas. Siya ang chairman ay may responsibilidad siya.”

Ito ang kaso ng Globe Asiatique na pag-aari ni Delfin Lee na ayon sa imbestigasyon ay umutang sa HDMF (Pag-ibig) ng P6.6 bilyon para daw ipatayo ng 9,000 na mga bahay para sa mga miyembro ng Pag-ibig. Ang kanilang proyekto na ang pangalan ay Xevera ay nasa Bacolor at Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Lee didn’t make it as envoy to China

Published by Ellen on August 28, 2011

domingo lee photo — Going to China but not as ambassador yet

The Commission on Appointments was not able to take up the nomination of Domingo Lee as ambassador to China in its hearing last Wednesday so he won’t be able to assume the post in time for the visit of President Aquino starting tomorrow up to Sept. 2.

To justify Lee’s inclusion in the official delegation, President Aquino appointed him “presidential adviser for the China visit.”

We are sure the Chinese will perfectly understand.

The next CA meeting will be on Sept. 7. If any member of the CA invokes Sec. 20 (Suspension of action by the Commission on any nomination), Lee would have to wait for the November hearing for him to take on his much-coveted post which he got with a lot of help from presidential brother-in-law Eldon Cruz.

That should give him time to make his assets and income tax payments jibe because we heard a CA member noticed the big discrepancy and would like to ask him about it.

Sana magkaroon ng katuturan ang pagpalaya sa Alabang Boys

Published by Ellen on August 28, 2011

Santiago and Marcelino: a good team at PDEA

Maayos naman ang mga reaksyun ng dating hepe ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency na si Dionisio Santiago at ni Marine Major Ferdinand Marcelino ng dating hepe ng PDEA Special Enforcement Service sa pagpawalang sala sa dalawa sa tatlong akusado sa grupong tinagurian ng media na “Alabang Boys.”

Pinalaya na sina Jorge Joseph at Richard Brodett , kabilang sa mga mayayaman na pamilya,pagkatapos ma- absuwelto ng Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Judge Juanita Guerrero ng paglabag ng Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act ng 2002.

Maala-ala na nahuli sila sa isang buy-bust operation na nagbe-benta ng shabu sa ahente ng PDEA noong Septyembre 20, 2008 sa Ayala Alabang, tirahang eksklusibo para sa mga mayayaman. Ang isa pa nilang kasama na si Joseph Tecson ay nahuli sa magkaibang operasyun sa Quezon City. Naghihintay na rin ng desisyun ng korte si Tecson.

‘Alabang Boys’ acquitted on technicality

Published by Ellen on August 26, 2011

Joseph and Brodett — Jorge Joseph and Richard Brodett. Photo from the Inquirer

By Marlon Ramos, Miko Morelos
Philippine Daily Inquirer

A “glaring blunder” in the handling of evidence has led to the acquittal of two of the so-called “Alabang Boys” arrested in 2008 for the alleged possession and sale of 60 “ecstasy” tablets.

“That (breach) in the chain of custody of evidence became a fatal flaw,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Friday after a Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court judge dismissed the charges against Richard Brodett and Jorge Joseph, citing the prosecution’s failure to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Relatives of the two young men gave out a whoops of relief and joy after the court handed down the verdict, ending a two-year, 11-month legal battle marked by charges of bribery and the intervention at one point of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Strange movements at the Comelec

Published by Ellen on August 25, 2011

rafanan2 — Uncompromising stand makes his bosses uncomfortable

A number of recent movements at the Commission on Elections don’t make sense.

Update: Rafanan also removed from DOJ-COMELEC probe team. Brillantes says he is “uncontrollable”
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/26/11/rafanan-removed-poll-fraud-fact-finding-team

The person who has always been known to be uncompromising in matters of electoral crimes and graft and corruption has been dismissed from his department level position while those who were involved in graft and corruption continue to enjoy the trust and confidence of top officials.

Ferdinand Rafanan, director of the Comelec’s Law Department since June 2008, who investigated the overpriced P690-million ballot secrecy folder contract purchased for the May 2010 elections with OTC paper supply, is now on a floating status.

Lacson agrees with SC order in favor of Mike Arroyo

Published by Ellen on August 24, 2011

Even Mike Arroyo’s nemesis, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson agreed with the Supreme Court’s grant of temporary restraining order against putting him (Arroyo) on the watch list restricting his right to travel.

“I myself am not in favor of the watch list. That’s tantamount to a hold-departure order without saying that it is one,” Lacson said.

Lacson said putting Arroyo on the watch list showed an “arrogance of power,” noting that Mike had to regularly seek permission from De Lima each time he would leave the country.

Inquirer’s report:

Former first gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo is now free to travel anywhere in the world.

Where did Habacon get all those money he distributed during 2004 elections?

Published by Ellen on August 21, 2011

One of the libel suits filed by Mike Arroyo against Malaya publisher Jake Macasaet and editors was over a May 19, 2004 article by Senate reporter JP Lopez quoting former senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad identifying the husband of Gloria Arroyo as the “chief operator” in manipulating the results of the 2004 elections.

Tatad, in that article, said uniformed personnel were seen altering elections results in Mindanao precincts.

Please click here (VERA Files) to read the 65-page summary of interviews.

There were also reports of Arroyo and then National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales in Mindanao. Their visits usually preceded distribution of money to election operators.

These things came to mind while reading the summary of the interviews done by the Mayuga Fact-Finding board headed by then Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga on the alleged involvement of the military in the 2004 electoral fraud.

Nabiktima ng snatcher

Published by Ellen on August 21, 2011

Noong Biyernes, galing sa San Agustin church sa Intramuros kung saan binisita namin ang ‘libingan’ ng aming dating kasama sa VERA Files na si Chit Estella (birthday niya Aug. 19), ibinaba ako ng aking mga kasamahan sa kanto ng T.M. Kalaw at Taft Avenue mga alas-tres ng hapon.

Lumalakad ako sa Taft Avenue papuntang bus stop malapit doon sa Rizal Park nang may biglang humawak ng malakas sa aking dalawang tenga mula sa aking likuran at sa isang iglap, natanggal ang aking dalawang hikaw.

Biglang tumawid ang snatcher sa Taft Avenue. Tumalon pa sa konkretong island. Babae siya, parang nasa edad 30 anyos.

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