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Officer in Oakwood sets plea bargain

Published by Ellen on March 6, 2007

Courtroom sidelights: click here.

An Army officer accused of participating in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny is set to withdraw his not guilty plea to the coup d’état charge and plead to a lesser offense.

Speaking through his counsel Paulo Primavera, Lt. Lawrence San Juan yesterday told Judge Oscar Pimentel of Branch 148 of the Makati regional trial court that he is ready to enter into a plea bargaining agreement and plead guilty to the crime of conspiracy to commit coup d’état.

Conspiracy to commit coup d’état is punishable with six to 12 years imprisonment while coup d’etat carries the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Pikon sa katotohanan

Published by Ellen on March 5, 2007

Bakit kaya galit ang kampo ni Mike Arroyo sa political ad ni Alan Cayetano, kandidato para senador ng Genuine Opposition, na pinapakita ang kanyang ginawa noong hearing sa kongreso sa kasong kanyang isinampa laban kay Alan?

Hindi naman niretoke ang kanyang mukha at kanyang sinabi. Talagang makatotohanan.

Ang galing nitong ad ni Alan. Pinapakita ang video clip ni Arroyo na buong yabang na nagsabi, “It’s none of your business” (Wala kang paki-alam).

Opposition’s duty to the people

Published by Ellen on March 4, 2007

The senatorial campaign is going on its fourth week. Both sides are fine-tuning their organizations based on realities on the ground after their initial salvos.

Team GMA has brought in Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, who is supposed to take over the media and logistics aspect of the campaign, according to campaign manager Reli German.

Team GMA probably thinks Evardone, being a former reporter, could make media sing more praises to their candidates. Although, I was thinking, what can Evardone give to media that Ike Gutierrez, media operator of former President Joseph Estrada who is now deputy to German, has not given? Probably as in -charge of “media and logistics”, Evardone will have a bigger budget.

Turning the tables on Mike Arroyo

Published by Ellen on March 4, 2007

This is a bright idea.

Update on “That’s none of your business” political ad: Mike Arroyo’s aide says they will sue. Click here.

Following article is by Volt Contreras in the Inquirer.

“That’s none of your business!’’ says a peeved First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, cueing the start of a 30-second political TV ad.

It features a brief footage of Arroyo snapping at Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano during the House committee hearing on the First Family’s alleged hidden wealth abroad. It also shows Cayetano insisting: “No, it is the business of the Filipino people!’’

Debate ng mga kandidato para senador

Published by Ellen on March 3, 2007

Naghamon ang Malacañanang ng debate tungkol sa ekonomiya nang magpalabas ang Genuine Opposition ng isang advertisement sa mga diyaryo ng tunay na kalagayan ng ekonomiya.

“Call,” sabi ng GO. Ngunit ang pag-usapan ay hindi lang ekonomiya. Lahat na isyu.

Oo nga naman. Lahat ay magka-kabitkabit. Ang nangyayari sa pulitika ay may epekto sa ekonomiya. Ang pandaraya ni Gloria Arroyo sa eleksyon ay dahilan ng sinasabi niyang “instability” sa bansa. Kaya maraming pinapatay na mga aktibista at manunulat dahil maraming tinatago si Arroyo. Kapag walang tiwala ang mamamayan sa hustisya at batas, nakakaroon ng kaguluhan. Kapag may kaguluhan, bagsak ang ekonomiya.

Major Aquino’s quarters ransacked again

Published by Ellen on March 3, 2007

Malaya’s story by Victor Reyes. Click here. For the second time in a month, the quarters of detained Army Maj. Jason Aquino in Camp Aguinaldo…

Restrictions on Trillanes tightened

Published by Ellen on March 2, 2007

Malacañang must be sensing that the candidacy of Sonny Trillanes is taking off, despite his absence in the campaign trail and lack of resources. Now, they want him isolated from his campaign leaders and supporters:

Genuine Opposition (GO) spokesman Adel Tamano yesterday criticized government and the military for imposing more restrictions on detained Magdalo core leader Antonio Trillanes IV.

“We’re concerned na naghihigpit sila. Why? Because he’s a GO candidate and is doing good in surveys?” he said in a media briefing at the GO headquarters in Mandaluyong city. “He’s not even physically out there campaigning.”

Banayo to run as Fred Lim’s vice mayor

Published by Ellen on March 2, 2007

Here’s the report of Gerard Anthony M. Naval for Malaya:

A staunch ally of deposed President Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s has agreed to run as the vice mayor of Senator Alfredo Lim in the latter’s bid to regain his old post as Manila chief executive.

Lito Banayo, who previously served as Estrada’s presidential political adviser, confirmed the report, saying his decision to run has the blessing of his former boss.

“I think it’s high time for me to directly serve the constituents of Manila because I have been living in the city since I was six years old,” Banayo said, calling himself a “genuine Batang Maynila.”

But he added that he is still waiting for the official announcement of his candidacy by Estrada and the Genuine Opposition (GO), where he is also serving as a political strategist.

Political updates

Published by Ellen on March 2, 2007

While the GO has the people’s support it would do well for them to do something about their organization.

What happened in Iloilo, where the rally was cancelled, shows a major problem in their organization. It would do well for them to take note of this comments by Gabriel Claudio, Malacañang’s political operator.

Click here.

A ray of hope

Published by Ellen on March 1, 2007

At least, it looks like we are not going to have another case of Mayuga Report.

Those watching closely the trial of the military officers being involved in the aborted plan to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo’s bogus presidency have been given hope that the panel led by Lt. Gen. Alexander B. Yano trying the case might yet be fair.

The hope comes from Yano’s decision last Tuesday to release the Pre-Trial Investigation Report prepared by a team from the Office of Judge Advocate General led by Col. Al Perreras dated Oct. 25, 2006. This is small victory considering that the prosecution had been wanting to shortcut the process and go ahead with the trial without even giving the respondents a copy of the basis of the accusations against them.

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