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Bonfire of institutions

Published by Ellen on February 23, 2008

By Randy David
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Because it is easier to imagine it, corruption has taken center stage in the public’s appreciation of the current national crisis. Against the backdrop of mass poverty, the quantities are truly mind-boggling: $130 million in kickbacks for a government project worth $329 million, a bribe offer of P200 million for a single signature, cash gifts of half a million pesos each for politicians who attend a breakfast or lunch meeting with a President facing impeachment, half a million pesos in pocket money for a government functionary who flies to Hong Kong in order to evade a Senate inquiry, and many more. But it would be a mistake to think this is just about corruption. This is, more importantly, about the long-term damage to a nation’s social institutions.

Arroyo: I learned about ZTE mess on eve of signing deal

Published by Ellen on February 23, 2008

From GMA-TV News

Update:Gloria Arroyo continues to spin tales. She said the five-month delay in the cancellation of NBN/ZTE deal was because the Chinese government had to be informed properly.

Arroyo says corruption probe will spare no one. (How about herself?) But she also cleared herself and her husband saying no one proftted from the deal.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Saturday said she learned that something was wrong about the Philippine government’s $329.48-million National Broadband Network (NBN) project with China’s Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) Corp the night before she witnessed the signing of the NBN-ZTE contract.

More soldiers from countryside to capital

Published by Ellen on February 22, 2008

by Victor Reyes

The Armed Forces has deployed additional troops to Metro Manila to pre-empt possible attempts to grab power during protest rallies scheduled for Monday.

A composite battalion arrived at the headquarters of the AFP National Capital Region Command (NCRcom) in Camp Aguinaldo Wednesday from nearby provinces, Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa, NCRcom chief, said yesterday.

Opportunity for Heroism

Published by Ellen on February 22, 2008

No arraignment took place yesterday in the court martial hearing of the 28 officers accused of withdrawing support from Gloria Arroyo two years ago.

The court, though, denied the motion of Atty. Homobono Adaza for a suspension of the hearings for 45 days as a cooling off period. He said there’s no point “for both parties to be shouting at each other now,” when considering the current political situation, the case might be “moot and academic” in a few weeks time.

The court also didn’t agree with the defense that they have to wait for five days after service of the corrected amended charge sheet which was yesterday before they can go to arraignment.The five- day wait, the court said, applies only to the original charge sheet.

Continue readingOpportunity for Heroism

Dramatis personae in NBN/ZTE deal

Published by Ellen on February 21, 2008

On days that Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada was testifying in the Senate, all the taxis that I took had the drivers tuned in to the live coverage of the Senate hearings. The drivers by now know the story of the NBN/ZTE, including the riveting kidnapping episode.

No doubt, the broadband deal has become a blockbuster. Rightly so, with a $329 million (P16.4 billion at the exchange rate of P50 to $1 at the time it was negotiated). It’s turning out to be mind-boggling in scope and audacity.

Although the title NBN/ZTE deal has already become a byword, there have been more colorful quotes from participants like “back off” or “may 200 ka dito” and the most recent “moderate their greed.”

Rallyists vs ‘evil’ warned on sedition

Published by Ellen on February 21, 2008

Luneta protest moved to Makati

by Regina Bengco

Malacañang yesterday said government would allow its critics to hold a prayer rally on Friday but the justice department would monitor it for seditious statements.

“Hintayin natin ang mangyayari. Hindi namin sila pipigilan,” said chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Apostol.

Friday protest activities

Published by Ellen on February 21, 2008

I.The Godmother: fight the Philippine Mafia – a film showing

May we invite you to cover the “Premiere of the Godmother: Fight the Philippine Mafia”, a press conference and forum exposing the Philippine president and her “mafia” and revealing human rights violations under the present administration on February 22, 2008, Friday, 9:30 AM at the Sta. Ana Room, 3rd Floor, College of Law, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

Green Cross at Gold Cross

Published by Ellen on February 20, 2008

Sa gitna ng pagsubok, hindi nakakalimutan ng Pilipino ang tumawa.

Noong Martes, ang court martial hearing ng 28 na opisyal na sangkot raw sa withdrawal of support kay Gloria Arroyo noong February 2006 sa pangunguna ni Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda at Brig. Gen. Danny Lim ay medyo tensyunado dahil alam ng lahat na may order si AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon na i-arraign o isakdal na sila ng pormal ngayong linggo.

Magdalawang taon na kasi at kung hindi pa sila maisakdal sa Martes, Feb. 26, i-dismis na ang isang akusasyon, ang “Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and a Gentleman” na ang parusa ay dismissal sa serbisyo.

The Truth

Published by Ellen on February 20, 2008

Take note of the yellow steel bars that confine the accused officers to a certain area of the courtroom.

As they mark next week two years in detention, the 28 officers facing trial for allegedly planning to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006, issued this statement on Truth.

In a statement that undermines the independence of the court martial trying the case,AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon has made public statements that “they will be arraigned.” Court martial hearing resumes tomorrow.

It is often said that “the truth will set you free.” But this would be understood in the philosophical and moral context, because the truth, in many cases will send a person to prison. Mr. Lozada does not appear to be a saint, but the truth may have set him “free,” as perhaps, it was a means for him to attain peace with his own God and to reconcile himself with his concept of what is just and good. However, for Mrs. Arroyo, some members of her family, and their cohorts, including Mr. Esperon, the truth will send them to prison.

Adviser calls Arroyo ‘luckiest bitch’

Published by Ellen on February 20, 2008

Text going around: “Yesterday, evil. Now, a bitch.”

From ABS-CBN online:

It was may have been a joke but it made its mark nonetheless, especially now that President Arroyo is being besieged by ouster calls amid allegations of corruption in her administration.

On Wednesday, one of the President’s economic advisers referred to her as the “luckiest b*tch around” during a forum attended by businessmen and business leaders.

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