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VERA Files video: court martial face-off

Published by Ellen on September 23, 2009

by Tessa Jamandre
VERA Files

The mutiny case against the 28 officers in connection with the alleged February 2006 plot to withdraw support from President Gloria Arroyo is on its final stretch.

The prosecution presented on Wednesday its last and most important witness. Presidential Management Staff chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who was Armed Forces Chief of Staff at the time, had ordered the detention of the 28 officers—nine from the Marines led by their commandant, Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, and 19 Army Scout Rangers led by Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.

Click here (VERA Files) for the video and the full report.

It was a conspiracy to grab power, Esperon tells court martial

by Victor Reyes
Malaya

Former Armed Forces chief Gen. (ret.) Hermogenes Esperon, testifying for the prosecution, yesterday said the officers implicated in the alleged attempt to overthrow the Arroyo government in February 2006 conspired with other quarters to grab power.

Continue readingVERA Files video: court martial face-off

Hindi totoo ang P25 milyon: Boy Abunda

Published by Ellen on September 23, 2009

Boy Abunda
Boy Abunda

May natanggap akong tsismis noong isang araw na binabawi raw ng kampo ni Sen. Manny Villar ang P25 milyon na binayad kay Boy Abunda sa paglabas niya sa political ad kung saan ini-interview niya si Villar tungkol sa kayang pag-asenso sa pamamagitan ng sipag at tiyaga.

Si Sen. Noynoy Aquino na kasi ngayon ang tinutulungan ni Boy na matalik na kaibigan ni Kris Aquino.

Tinanong ko si Boy kung tutuo ang tsismis at natawa lang siya. Hindi totoo sabi niya.

“Nakakahiya naman kina Sen. Villar,” sabi ni Boy.

Continue readingHindi totoo ang P25 milyon: Boy Abunda

Sheer opportunism

Published by Ellen on September 22, 2009

Update: Romulo wants to have his cake and eat it too.He says he will vote for Noynoy but will serve Gloria up to the “end and beyond.” Story in comments.

Romulo and Arroyo
Romulo and Arroyo
Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo’s disclosure that he will be supporting Sen. Noynoy Aquino for president is nothing but sheer opportunism unless he does something to stop Gloria Arroyo’s degradation of the foreign service.

Right now, he can oppose Arroyo’s midnight appointment of Foreign Undersecretary Esteban Conejos as ambassador the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva to replace Erlinda Basilio who will be retiring soon.

Arroyo has nine months left in her unelected presidency. As a political appointee, Esteban’s term is co-terminus with the appointing power. If he gets to assume the Geneva post in the next month or so, Esteban would only be serving for about seven months.

Continue readingSheer opportunism

Prosecution or Persecution?

Published by Ellen on September 22, 2009

by Sen. Panfilo Lacson
2nd privilege speech

I rise again today on a matter of personal and collective privilege.

On several occasions, I took the floor of this august hall on very important issues affecting national interest.

Jose Pidal. Hello Garci. The NBN-ZTE Broadband Deal. The Fertilizer Scam. Jueteng Anomaly. The C5 Extension Road Project Double Appropriation. The Pork Barrel Anomalies. Plus many others, the latest of which talked about Joseph Ejercito- Estrada in “Dalawang Mukha ng Sining.”

I did not have to seek out most of these anomalies. They came to me. The easiest and most convenient thing to do was to ignore them. Wala akong magiging kaaway. Tahimik pa sana ang aking buhay. But that would be betraying my oath to the Filipino people as an elected Senator of the Republic.

Continue readingProsecution or Persecution?

Enrile defends Estrada

Published by Ellen on September 22, 2009

by Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile

Mr. President and my colleagues, I rise today on a matter of personal privilege. I do so as a Senator of the Republic who sought and obtained the people’s mandate in the Senatorial Elections in 2004 under the banner of the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

Last week, I sat at that exalted seat of the Senate President and listened with deep pain, a heavy heart, and a troubled mind as I presided over the session when my friend and colleague, the Hon. Panfilo Lacson, delivered his searing privilege speech. He rendered his own personal account and portrayal of the person and character of Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, the founder and leader of my Party, the PMP.

The next day, the Hon. Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, stood and took the Floor, and properly so, to defend the name and honor of his father.

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Iba ang “Partido Magdalo” sa “Samahang Magdalo”

Published by Ellen on September 21, 2009

Noong Martes, nagpuntahan ang nga defense reporters, ang mga nagku-cover sa mga pangyayari sa military, sa bahay ni Sen. Manny Villar sa Shaw Boulevard dahil sa press release ng Nacionalista Party na ang Partido Magdalo ay sasama sa kanila para suportahan ang kandidatura ni Villar para presidente.

Akala nila ay yung mga Magdalo na mga batang opisyal ng military na nanindigan laban sa corruption sa administrasyong Arroyo noong Hulyo 2003 sa Oakwood Hotel sa Makati. Ang isa doon ay si Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV na hanggang ngayon ay nakakulong.

Nagtaka sila na pagdating nila doon, wala naman silang nakita na mga rebeldeng sundalo. Ang nandun ay mga taga-Cavite na mga pulitiko sa pangunguna ni Rep. Boying Remulla.

Continue readingIba ang “Partido Magdalo” sa “Samahang Magdalo”

Arroyo tries another tack to stay longer

Published by Ellen on September 20, 2009

I’m glad that Comelec Chairman Jose Melo accepts the possibility that automated elections may not take place in many parts of the country on election day.

Last Wednesday, a week after the Supreme Court upheld Comelec’s claim that they are fully capable of a nationwide automated elections despite questions raised by the Concerned Citizens Movement on the legality their having skipped the required testing of the contracted system, Melo said, “Aside from preparations for poll automation, Comelec is also preparing for manual elections sa mga liblib na lugar (in remote areas), provinces with no electricity, and would have issues in electronic transmission. We are ready for manual polls in at least 30 percent or 50 percent of the country as a last contingency measure in case the contingency plans for automation are difficult to implement.”

I don’t know if Melo’s admission of lack of electricity in many areas of the country has something to do with the warning of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes of a power shortage next year, during election period.

Continue readingArroyo tries another tack to stay longer