ellen tordesillas – Page 163 – Making life worth living.

Is Aquino saying that protection of drug traffickers is national interest?

Published by Ellen on December 12, 2010

There is something wrong here.

President Aquino said the Philippine government boycotted the awarding of the Nobel peace prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo in exchange for the freedom of five Filipinos in the death row in China for drug trafficking.

Are we condoning drug trafficking?

What happens now to our own fight against illegal drugs? If we ask foreign governments to relax their laws against Filipinos involved in trafficking of illegal drugs, have we the right to be hard on other nationalities involved in drug trafficking in our own country?

Kaya naman pala eh

Published by Ellen on December 11, 2010

Ang pagpalaya sa mga Morong 43 ay nagpapatunay na kung gusto talaga, mahahanapan ng paraan. Kaya gawin.

Salamat naman at nagkaroon ng “political will” si Pangulong Aquino na pakawalan ang Morong 43, ang 43 na health workers na nakakulong ng sampung buwan mula pa nang sila ay inaresto noong Pebrero habang sila ay nasa outreach program.

Sa kanyang memorandum order na pinalabas noong Biyernes, sinabi ni Aquino sang-ayon siya na may pagkukulang sa batas ang pag-aresto ng 43. Ito ay nangyari ng malapit na matapos ang termino ni Gloria Arroyo na walang pakundangan nilalabag ang karapating pantao ng mamamayan..

Aquino orders dropping of charges vs jailed health workers

Published by Ellen on December 10, 2010

By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Radyo Inquirer

President Aquino ordered the Department of Justice to withdraw the charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against 43 health workers arrested in Morong, Rizal, on suspicion of being members of the communist New People’s Army.

“The medical workers were arrested in the waning days of the Arroyo administration on the suspicion that they were aiding NPA insurgents. These are valid concerns. Nevertheless, we recognize that their right to due process was denied them,” President Aquino said in a brief televised speech on the occasion of International Human Rights Day.

“As a government that is committed to the rule of law and the rights of man, this cannot stand. Therefore, I have ordered the DOJ to withdraw the informations filed before the court,” Aquino added.

Thank China for the lighthouse

Published by Ellen on December 9, 2010

From Vietnamese website — Subi Reef in 2007, from Vietnamese website

We perfectly understand why the military has to deny VERA Files story about their discovery of a lighthouse that China has constructed on Subi Reef in the hotly-contested Spratly islands.

At this time, when the wound created by the Aug. 23 tragedy has not healed as shown by the rejection by Beijing three times of request of a meeting by President Aquino with either the Chinese premier or the president, the Philippines does not want to ruffle further Chinese feelings.

Just to regain China’s favor, the Philippines has joined the boycott tomorrow of the awarding ceremony for Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo in Oslo, Norway.

Philippines draws vs Myanmar, off to ASEAN semis

Published by Ellen on December 8, 2010

From ABS-CBN:

The Philippine national football team advanced to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup semi-final for the first time by holding Myanmar to a goalless draw in Vietnam on Wednesday.

Myanmar dominated offensively in the first half, but the Azkals’ defense stayed solid throughout the match held at the Hien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh.

Philippine coach Simon McMenemy’s squad, however, was dangerous after the half-time break, with at least 3 scoring attempts rattling the uprights and the crossbar.

The Myanmar goalkeeper was also kept busy by long-range strikes.

The Myanmar players were aggressive in the first half, but gradually lost steam.

President Aquino on SC decision declaring Truth Commission unconstitutional

Published by Ellen on December 8, 2010

reporting first 100 days — Matter of accountability

Marami ang nadismaya sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema na ipawalang-bisa ang Truth Commission. Bilang inyong pinuno, tinatanong ako kung ano ang mga susunod kong hakbang.

Link to the SC decision; cuncurring and dissenting opinions: http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/toc/december.htm

Kasalanan ba ang maghanap ng katotohanan? Di ba obligasyon kong tuklasin ang katotohanan? Di ba obligasyon ko rin na maparusahan ang mga lumabag sa batas? Di ba tungkulin nating malinis ang pangalan ng mga inakusahan nang walang base?

Nanumpa po ako bilang inyong Pangulo: ipagtatanggol ko ang konstitusyon; ipatutupad ko ang mga batas; at magbibigay ako ng hustisya sa bawat Pilipino. Sino mang alagad ng katarungan ay sumusumpa rin sa kanilang tungkuling kumapit sa kung ano ang totoo.

Ang hinahabol po natin dito ay katotohanan. Itinatag natin ang Truth Commission upang isara ang sinasabing isa sa mga pinakamadilim na kabanata sa ating kasaysayan—at malinaw na makakamtan lamang natin ito kung patuloy nating tutuklasin at kakapitan ang katotohan.

China builds lighthouse on PHL-claimed territory in Spratlys

Published by Ellen on December 7, 2010

By Tessa Jamandre
VERA Files

subi-reef1 — Chin aexpands territory with new lighthouse over disputed islets.

China has constructed a lighthouse on Subi Reef in the disputed areas in the South China Sea which Chinese troops are occupying but is being claimed by the Philippines and Vietnam.

Aerial shots taken in October by the Philippine Air Force on routine reconnaissance flights show the 20-by-20-meter structure complemented by parabolic antennas and domes on the reef, which the Philippine government calls “Zamora” and lies only 26 kilometers southwest of Pag-asa that is part of Kalayaan town.

The lighthouse is intended to expand and fortify China’s claim over the hotly contested Spratly group of islands, experts said.

Envoy’s account of PHL win over Vietnam in Asean Football Suzuki Cup tournament

Published by Ellen on December 7, 2010

Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Jerril Santos has an exhilarating account of the PHL-Vietnam football game last Sunday in his Facebook wall. He has granted me permission to use it here.

He first wrote in his wall: “PHL-2, VN-0! great game! The local support for the defending champion,Vietnamese team, was just amazing but the Philippine team’s performance induced My Dinh Stadium into a stunned silence. What an achievement!”

Jerril related how it was to be in “enemy” territory:

“The few Pinoys in the stadium – three of us in the grandstand area we were in – couldn’t cheer as much as we wanted. It would be foolish to do that in a sea of 40,000 fans who were lustily cheering their team…cheering that turned to anger and frustration at their team’s inability to beat an underdog Philippines.”

SC decision should not be hindrance to make Arroyo accountable

Published by Ellen on December 7, 2010

I’m not surprised that the Supreme Court slammed President Aquino’s Truth Commission, 10-5.

I’m bothered, of course, that we have a Supreme Court, beholden to a person who held power illegally for nine years, plundered taxpayers money and destroyed democratic institutions.

But even if the Truth Commission were declared “constitutional”, I was not really optimistic that Gloria Arroyo would be held accountable because Aquino chose to head it former Supreme Court Hilario Davide, who is also beholden to Arroyo.

I also believe that even without the Truth Commission, Aquino can make Arroyo accountable for her crimes against the Filipino people. What is needed is political will and a brilliant and efficient team to implement that “will.”

SC declares Truth Commission unconstitutional

Published by Ellen on December 7, 2010

From ABS-CBN:

In another blow to President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s administration, the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional the much trumpeted Truth Commission.

Voting 10-5, the Supreme Court ruling effectively bars the prosecution of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other officials and parties involved in alleged scandals under the previous administration.

The 5 who dissented were: Associate Justices Antonio Nachura, Antonio Carpio, Conchita Carpio Morales, Maria Lourdes Sereno, and Roberto Abad dissented.

The high court apparently gave credence to the petition of minority lawmakers led by Rep. Edcel Lagman, who sought to have the executive fiat that created the Truth Commission quashed.

House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman praised the Supreme Court for junking the Truth Commission, a move that, he said, signals the triumph of the rule of law. Negros Rep.Ignacio Iggy Arroyo also approves of SC decision.http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/12/07/10/lagman-sc-decision-triumph-rule-law

The commission, tasked to investigate the anomalies during the 9-year term of Mrs. Arroyo, was created with too much power that it has already stepped on the rights of constitutionally-created bodies, they had said.

The commission, headed by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., has already actually convened. It has not started investigations, however, absent a ruling from the high court.

This decision comes in a string of setbacks for the Aquino administration.

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