by Ruben Jeffrey Asuncion OFW Journalism Consortium IF elected, presidential candidates Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Manuel Villar and Richard Gordon would throw cash and strike deals…
Making life worth living.
ellen tordesillas Posts
Liberal Party standard bearer Benigno “Noynoy” C. Aquino III widens the lead over Nacionalista Party’s Manuel Villar in the latest survey of Pulse Asia.
In a survey conducted Feb. 21 to 25, 2010 (Click here), Aquino was the preference of 36 percent on the question “Who would you vote if the 2010 elections were held today?” Villar scored 29 percent.
The seven percentage point difference strengthens Aquino’s lead unlike in the Jan 10, 2010 survey when they were statistically tied with Aquino’s 37 percent and Villar’s 35 percent.
A visiting expert on citizen participation in governance, Dr. Lyle Wray, said two of the important traits that voters should look for in a leader are “ethical” and “effective.”
Immediately, what came to my mind were the top leading presidential candidates Benigno Aquino III and Manuel Villar.
(I believe the presidential contest will be between the two. Former President Estrada is a far third. Gilbert Teodoro is further down in fourth place. His numbers may be improving but the increase is miniscule, it is doubtful if he would be able to catch up.)
I believe Aquino is honest. He has no record of corruption. But there’s so much to be desired in terms of performance.
A man who says he took part in last November’s massacre in Maguindanao province has told Al Jazeera how he now fears he too will be killed as the alleged mastermind of the killings seeks to silence potential witnesses against him.
In an exclusive interview, the man known as “Jesse” told how he had been ordered to kill a witness, and he now fears he will be next after the head of a powerful clan placed a bounty on his life.
“[Datu Unsay] gave the order for me to kill this one guy who could have been a witness against them,” he said.
“I did it. If I didn’t do as told, they would kill me.”
Mendoza is now both DOTC and executive secretary
By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Same faces, no surprises.
Heeding the Supreme Court, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Wednesday replaced Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and at least five other Cabinet officials running for local posts in the May 10 national elections, Malacañang announced.
Ms Arroyo tapped Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza as her new executive secretary in a Cabinet revamp prompted by the Supreme Court ruling that appointive officials running for election were deemed resigned.
Ermita, 74, is seeking a seat in Congress in his Batangas hometown.
Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr. admitted that Ms Arroyo’s moves were prompted by the high court ruling that officials running for election were deemed resigned and should leave their posts effective March 2.
Related story in the Inquirer: Narcotics agent accuses Tingas of coddling kins suspected of drug pushing
Paglabas sa kulungan sa Camp Crame, lumipat lang sa kulungan sa Camp Aguinaldo.
Noong Pebrero 17, inaprubahan ni Judge Elmo Alameda ng Makati regional Trial Court ang pagpiyansa ng 18 opisyal at sundalo na sangkot sa Nov 2007 na insidente sa Manila Peninsula. Maliban kay Brig. Gen. Danny Lim, ang kasama doon ay miyembro ng grupong Magdalo sa pangunguna ni Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
Kaya nagpiyansa naman sina Alejano at Layug noong Pebrero 19. Si Alejano at Layug ay kumakandidato para sa halalan sa Mayo. Si Alejano ay tumatakbong mayor sa Sipalay, Negros Occidental at si Layug naman ay para congressman sa pangalawang distrito ng Taguig.
Akala nina Alejano at Layug ay lalaya na sila kahit pansamantala para naman maasikaso nila ang kanilang kampanya. Mali pala kasi paglabas nila sa Camp Crame custodial center, kinuha sila ng military at nilipat sa ISAFP (Intelligence Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines) compound.
Nandun ngayon sina Alejano at Layug. Magkasama sila doon ni Marine Col. Ariel Querubin.
Ang tatlong sibilyan na nakasama sa Manila Pen (Julius Mesa, Cesari Gonzales at Emmanuel Tirador) na kasama sa 18 nakakulong sa Crame ay nagpiyansa na rin at pinayagang makalaya. Dapat naman.
Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez sees conflict of interest in the membership of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes in 1-Utak (United Transport Koalisyun), a partylist group.
Golez said in the hearing of the House Energy Committee last Monday, Reyes admitted that he was offered a slot in the 1-Utak party list and in a TV interview, he said he is considering it.
His nomination indicates that he has been a member of the past three months because the law states that a nominee should be “A bona fide member of the party he seeks to represent for at least ninety (90) days preceding election day.”
Hindi talaga humihinto itong mga Arroyo sa pambababoy ng batas para lang manatili sa kapangyarihan.
Dahil nawalan siya ng kaharian sa pagtakbo ng nanay niya bilang congressman ng pangalawang distrito ng Pampanga, nakahanap siya ngayon ng paraan na mananatili sa Kongreso sa pamamagitan ng partylist, na linagay sa Constitution para mabigyan ng representasyon ang mga grupo ng mga mahihirap at mahihina sa lipunan. Kasi naman hindi sila maaring makipaglaban sa mga tradisyunal na pulitiko sa eleksyun.
Nominado si Mikey bilang unang kinatawan ng Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP) na ang nirepresenta daw ay transport drivers at security guards. Kasama niya ang outgoing mayor ng Lubao na si Dennis Pineda.
Ang kapal talaga at ang kapal din ng Comelec kung aprubahan ito.
The Philippines is in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the two massive earthquakes that occurred in less than two months in other parts of the world should give us ample warning.
Internet search gives this description of the Pacific Ring of Fire: It is an area where large numbers of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean. It’s an arc stretching from New Zealand, along the eastern edge of Asia, including the Philippines, north across the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, and south along the coast of North and South America. Over 75% of the world’s active and dormant volcanoes are within the arc.
The volatile activities are a direct result of movements of the earth’s plates, which are like giant rafts which often slide next to, collide with, and are forced underneath other plates. There is a tremendous amount of energy created by the movements of these plates. Thus we have volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
As we commiserate with the victims disasters, this time in Chile’s earthquake, we should remember to remain calm and alert. Prepare for the worst, pray for the best.
The 8.8 magnitude quake struck at 0634 GMT about 115km (70 miles) north-east of the city of Concepcion and 325km south-west of the capital, Santiago.
President Michelle Bachelet declared a “state of catastrophe” in affected areas and appealed for calm.
Tsunami warnings have been issued for Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Central America and Pacific island nations.
Click here for the rest of the story.
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It is not possible to predict the time and magnitude of an earthquake, but certain places on the Earth know they are always at risk from big tremors. Chile is one of those places.