Dahil sa kawalang kredibilidad ng administrasyong Arroyo, marami ang nagdududa kung meron talagang krisis sa bigas kahit na araw-araw maraming mahihirap ay anim na oras na pumipila para lamang makabili ng dalawang kilong bigas sa NFA.
Marami ang nagsu-suspetsa, kasama na si dating Pangulong Estrada at si Jun Lozada ang star witness sa imbestigasyon ng ZTE na gawa-gawa lang ni Gloria Arroyo ang kriris sa bigas para matabunan ang eskandalo ng NBN/ZTE kung saan maaring sabit si Arroyo.
Spare us, please, the lie that the guilty plea of Captains Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrocampo and seven other officers was not the beginning of the devious script that will end with Gloria Arroyo pardoning them.
Gambala and company were a pitiable sight in that presscon last Friday arranged by the military at the Philippine Army Officers Club. It was heartbreaking.
AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon could have executed the script without subjecting the nine to further indignity with a public plea for pardon. The officers could have just written the fake president a letter. But no, Arroyo and Esperon get their high from torturing people.
Sabi ni Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, “Wala tayong krisis sa pagkain. Ang krisis ay sa presyo”
Kaya mahirap talaga kapag masyado marunong ang isang tao katulad ni Gloria Arroyo at ng kanyang mga kampon dahil ang daming naiisip na anggulo. Sa ordinaryong Pilipino kasi, lalo na sa mahihirap, ang mahalaga ay may makain. Kapag walang makain, krisis yan.
‘Scripted clemency’ playing out?
by Victor Reyes
Nine junior officers who have been meted prison terms by a Makati court for the 2003 Oakwood mutiny yesterday asked for forgiveness for their misdeeds as they said they are seeking “mercy” from President Arroyo.
The nine, led by Capt. Gerardo Gambala, faced the media in a press conference in Fort Bonifacio for the first time since the promulgation of their sentence last Tuesday.
Update, Apr 12: Col. Querubin back in the hospital after he experienced chest pain again Friday.
It’s a blessing in disguise that his planned transfer to Camp Capinpin last Wednesday didn’t push through.
More details in comments section below.
Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and Col. Ariel Querubin were brought back to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal last Wednesday (April 9) in what is seen as escalation of pressure by AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon.
The rest of the officers will be brought back in batches to their former detention facility which was fortified while they were at the ISAFP compound in Camp Aguinaldo. While before the set up was barracks style, Esperon has individual cells built. Para ring nakabartolina.
Lady Justice is really blind under Gloria Arroyo’s rule
by Peter J. G. Tabingo
Malaya
Retired Major Gen. Carlos F. Garcia scored his second straight court victory against the government Thursday after the Sandiganbayan Second Division acquitted him of a perjury charge alleging misrepresentations in his 1998 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).
Remember my column last April 4 titled “The offers”? More details are coming out:
by Victor Reyes
Malaya
A lawyer of officers facing court martial for an alleged overthrow attempt in February 2006 yesterday said Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon has sent a member of his staff to make “overtures” to the accused.
Trixie Angeles said Maj. Cristobal “CJ” Perez has approached the officers twice since last week, asking them what he could do for their pending cases, particularly those of the junior officers.
Update: DOJ welcomes pardon for the 9
Halatang-halata naman itong mga opisyal ng military na puring-puri sa siyam na dating opisyal ng Magdalo sa kanilang pag-amin na guilty sila sa ginawa nila sa Oakwoong noong July 2003 nang nanindigan laban sa pamahalaan ni Gloria Arroyo.
Halatang-halata naman na may deal. Huwag na tayo magtaka kung sa susunod na linggo,
ipa-pardon ni Gloria Arroyo itong siyam.
No worry. Esperon has promised them pardon very soon.
The Makati Regional Trial Court on Tuesday handed down a sentence of imprisonment ranging from six years up to 40 years on nine members of the Magdalo group who pleaded guilty to charges of coup d’etat for the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny.
Makati RTC Branch 148 Judge Oscar Pimentel sentenced Captains Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrocampo – who are among the Magdalo’s core leaders – to reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years of imprisonment.
By Jessica Hermosa And Johanna Sisante
Vera Files
(Last of two parts)
Perhaps no other lawmaker is as enthusiastic about biofuels as Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Zubiri was still congressman for the Third District of Bukidnon when he became principal author of the House bill that eventually became Republic Act 9367 or the Biofuels Act. He campaigned hard to get other lawmakers to support the measure that he earned himself the nickname “Mr. Biofuel.” His official page in the Senate website describes him as the “father of the Biofuels Act of 2006.”