ellen tordesillas – Page 321 – Making life worth living.

The CA’s collective gall

Published by Ellen on March 13, 2008

It was about time someone exposed the wheeling and dealing at the Commission on Appointments.

Sen. Jamby Madrigal, by invoking Section 20 of the Senate rules last Wednesday, frustrated the plan of Malacañang to railroad the promotion of 24 military officers despite blatant violations of the law in their appointments.

I have attended three sessions of the CA because I’m closely watching the confirmation of the promotion of John Martir to brigadier general and it’s appalling to observe the “collective gall”, in the words of RC Constantino, of many of the administration allies, especially the CA chair, Rep. Roque Albano III.

Erap in Focap

Published by Ellen on March 13, 2008

Former President Joseph Estrada at the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines
March 13, 2008

Q and A

(Preparing to run again for presidency in the future?)

Despite of my age i still feel young, there are those people who’s in 60s older than me. I have no intention of running now, but want to ensure the unity of the opposition. Its easier for this adm to cheat again thats what happened in 2004 FPJ. I want to have the opposition of one candidate only to ensure the victory of opposition.

Trillanes’ statement on baseline bills

Published by Ellen on March 13, 2008

Re: Sabotage of Philippine Baseline Bills

I would like to express my outrage over how the pending House and Senate Bills relating to the definition of Philippine territory are being sabotaged and mishandled, apparently because the said bills include our claim of sovereignty over the Kalayaan Island Group (“KIG”), internationally known as the Spratlys, and the Scarborough shoal.

Yesterday, I was informed that House Bill No. 3216 was reverted to the Committee level upon the direction of Malacanang, so that it could be tampered with to completely remove our claims over the KIG and Scarborough shoal. This is despite the fact that the bill was already passed on Second Reading last December 2007 by the House Plenary.

China protests

Published by Ellen on March 13, 2008

Aide Memoire of the People’s Republic of China delivered to the Philippine Embassy in Beijing

Talking Points
(December 2007)

It is learned that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of the Philippines recently passed a revised draft of Act to Define the Baselines of the Territorial sea of the Philippines, which puts Scarborough Shoal and some other NANSHA reefs and islands (referred to as so-called “Calayan Islands”) inside the baseline of Philippine territorial sea, and would be submitted to the plenary of Senate and House of Representatives for review and adoption. China is shocked by and gravely concerned with this negative development. We request clarification from the Philippine side.

‘Nagalak si Ma’am’

Published by Ellen on March 12, 2008

Ping: “I-know-nothing’ witness took a phone call

by Dennis Gadil
Malaya

Connect the dots, if you please, or if you will.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday said his “surprise” witness, Leo San Miguel, was overheard by members of the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) during a break in Tuesday’s Senate hearing on the ZTE deal talking to a person he addressed as “Ma’am.”

On the other side of town, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that President Arroyo was “elated” by San Miguel’s testimony that he knew nothing of supposed kickbacks in connection in the deal.

Beijing letter opposing RP territory bill bared

Published by Ellen on March 12, 2008

by Wendell Vigilia
Malaya

The chairman of the House committee on foreign affairs said yesterday China’s opposition to the bill defining the Philippines’ boundaries prevented the chamber from approving the measure despite the deadline set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).

Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Lakas, Cebu) said Beijing expressed its objection to House Bill 3216 in a “note” to the Philippine embassy in Beijing last December.

“China is shocked by and gravely concerned with this negative development. We request the clarification from the Philippine side,” said the two-page letter which was faxed to Cuenco’s office by Ambassador Sonia Brady.

March 14 rally

Published by Ellen on March 12, 2008

Please join interfaith cultural rally on March 14 at 3 pm, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila to be led by CBCP President Angel Lagdameo.

Tongpats

Published by Ellen on March 12, 2008

GMANewsTV: Madriaga: Tongpats prove San Miguel hand in ZTE

‘Yan ang bagong term sa lumalawak na bokabularyo ng kalakaran sa gobyerno ni Gloria Arroyo.

Itong salita, na lumabas sa e-mail ni Leo San Miguel, consultant ng ZTE, ang Chinese corporation na nakakuha ng kontrata mag-lagay na national broadband network (NBN), isang proyekto na telecommunications.

Ang ‘tongpats” ay baligtad ng “patong” at kasama na siya sa mga salitang “Bubukol ho yan”, “Moderate their greed”, “Sec, may 200 ka dito”, “Greedy group”, na nagpapahiwatig ng gawain ng mga kampon ni Gloria Arroyo.

Gonzales: Worst of oust-GMA is over

Published by Ellen on March 11, 2008

by Regina Bengco
Malaya

National security adviser Norberto Gonzales yesterday said the worst of the moves to oust President Arroyo has passed and the rest of the opposition’s efforts won’t make much of an impact.

Gonzales said the destabilization peaked during the February 29 interfaith rally in Makati City when, he said, the crowd was less than the expected 1 million. Police estimated the crowd at 15,000 while organizers said it was at 75,000.

He said the Lenten break would defuse the tension and this would be helped along by the fact that students, who he said are being targeted by the opposition’s propaganda efforts, would also have their summer vacation.

‘I know nothing about $41M bribes’

Published by Ellen on March 11, 2008

New NBN witness called a liar

By Dennis Gadil
Malaya

New witness Leo San Miguel yesterday said he had no direct knowledge about the alleged $41 million in advances made by China’s ZTE Corp. to the “Greedy Group” of Benjamin Abalos Sr. in exchange for the approval of the national broadband project.

“I’m not aware of any kickbacks or ‘lagayan’,” San Miguel told the Senate tri-committee of blue ribbon, defense and trade, which is investigating the overpriced project.

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