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US rejects ‘Joc Joc’ bid for asylum

Published by Ellen on February 25, 2007

By Reinir Padua and Jocelyn Montemayor
Malaya

THE United States has denied the petition for political asylum of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc Joc” Bolante, a UP law professor who has been monitoring the case said yesterday.

“My sources have said that was denied three or four days ago… Maybe on Wednesday,” Harry Roque said in a phone interview.

“It was denied because of insufficiency (of evidence his life was in danger)… He doesn’t qualify for an asylum… The judge (handling his case) is very strict,” he said.

Esperon bats for Palparan running for congressman

Published by Ellen on February 25, 2007

And he says it is not electioneering which he forbids all soldiers to do. Victor Reyes’ report in Malaya.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermo-genes Esperon Jr. yesterday said he hopes retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, scourge of communists and alleged mastermind of a rash of extra-judicial killings, will win if and when he runs for congressman of Misamis Oriental.

“That is a matter of personal choice and an exercise of an individual freedom that is accorded to all Filipinos. So, if he wants to enter (politics), I will wish him luck and I hope that he will succeed in what he is doing,” said Esperon. He quickly clarified, however, that he was not speaking for the AFP.

GO candidates scores dishonesty, corruption-trademark of Arroyo admin

Published by Ellen on February 24, 2007

Abs-cbn’s report of GO proclamation rally:

The proclamation rally of the Genuine Opposition at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila Saturday was dominated by anti-Arroyo speeches from its senatorial candidates as they brought back issues that have rocked President Arroyo’s six-year administration.

In its almost three-hour proclamation rally, the opposition candidates slammed President Arroyo for her policies such as the calibrated preemptive response, Proclamation 1017 and the Malacañang-backed Charter change.

They also assailed the President for alleged corruption such as the fertilizer scam, the reported electoral fraud that marred the 2004 presidential elections and the high incidence of extrajudicial killings in the country.

Hindi bagay si Pangilinan sa GO

Published by Ellen on February 24, 2007

Ang kumakalat ngayon na text: “Sabi ni Kiko Pangilinan, hindi siya sasama sa proclamation rally ng GO. Sagot ng bayan, “Noted.”

Sana sa palabas ng kolum na ito natanggal na si Francis Pangilinan sa listahan ng Genuine Opposition.

Hindi naman talaga siya bagay dahil hindi naman siyang totoong oposisyon sa pandaraya ni Gloria Arroyo. Kasabwat pa nga siya.

Go proclamation rally in Plaza Miranda

Published by Ellen on February 23, 2007

There’s a famous political quote, “Can you defend it in Plaza Miranda?”

The Genuine Opposition is taking up that challenge as they will hold their proclamation at Plaza Miranda tomorrow at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan continues to act high and mighty. He issued a press statement that he will not be attending the Go proclamation rally.

Trillanes puts Joker Arroyo in his “trapo” place

Published by Ellen on February 22, 2007

Statement of senatorial candidate Antonio F. Trillanes IV

During the past several days, I’ve been the target of verbal attacks by some officials and candidates of this administration. While I expected this type of gutter politics from them, I was hoping that they were at least man enough to let me address their attacks squarely by not opposing my court motion to be allowed access to media. I want a fair fight.

For that matter, I hearby challenge candidate Joker Arroyo to a debate on resolutions to our country’s problems. I am not a debater myself, but I believe this is a way of “elevating the level of election campaigning” to where it ought to be. May the candidate with the better prescriptions win.

If you are up to the challenge then let us immediately make the necessary arrangements. If not, then keep your “trapo” ways to yourself because it is a disservice to the electorate.

Esperon assails Melo, Alston credibility

Published by Ellen on February 22, 2007

Victor Reyes’ report in Malaya:

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. yesterday assailed the credibility of separate investigations conducted by a United Nations special rapporteur and the Melo Commission that blamed the military for the rash of extrajudicial killings.

Esperon sought to turn the tables on UN special rapporteur Philip Alston who said Wednesday the military “remains in a state of almost total denial” over the killings which have been “convincingly attributed to them.”

“I believe that Mr. Alston might be in a state of denial himself. He probably refuses to believe that the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army could perpetrate such killings,” said Esperon.

The Melo report

Published by Ellen on February 22, 2007

INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO

ADDRESS MEDIA AND ACTIVIST KILLINGS

Created under Administrative Order No. 157 (s. 2006)

INTRODUCTION

There is no shirking the fact that people, almost all of them activists or militants, have been killed. There is no denying the reality that militant citizens have been liquidated. The numbers vary. Task Force Usig of the Philippine National Police listed down one hundred eleven (111) killings, which has since increased to one hundred thirty six (136). Amnesty International, in its official website, mentions 244 victims. The group Karapatan is said to have counted at least 724 killings. Unfortunately, none of the so-called activist/militant groups, be they outright communist or satellite groups, came forward if only to inform the Commission of the numbers of their members who have become victims of extrajudicial killings. Be this as it may, the number, whether at a low of 111 according to Task Force Usig, or a high of 724 of Karapatan, is one too many.

Alston statement

Published by Ellen on February 22, 2007

Report of Professor Phillip Alston, Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Manila, 21 February 2007

I have spent the past ten days in the Philippines at the invitation of the Government in order to inquire into the phenomenon of extrajudicial executions. I am very grateful to the Government for the unqualified cooperation extended to me.

During my stay here I have met with virtually all of the relevant senior officials of Government. They include the President, the Executive Secretary, the National Security Adviser, the Secretaries for Defense, Justice, DILG and the Peace Process. I have also met with a significant number of members of Congress on different sides of the political spectrum, the Chief Justice, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Chair of the Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman, the members of both sides of the Joint Monitoring Committee, and representatives of the MNLF and MILF.

Lalong nabubuhay kapag habang pilit pinapatay

Published by Ellen on February 21, 2007

Nagsampa na naman ng panibagong kaso si Mike Arroyo sa Inquirer.

Ito ay kaugnay sa artikulong “Mike A didn’t go to Marawi? Tell that to the Marines” na sinulat ni Fe Zamora noong March 2, 2006.

Kaya pang-46th na si Fe Zamora sa listahan ng mga journalists na sinampahan ni Arroyo ng kasong libel. Ang ibang mga kasama niya ay dati ng nasampahan ni Arroyo ng libel suit tungkol naman sa sinulat ni Ramon Tulfo tungkol sa smuggling ng isang babae na malapit raw sa nakatira sa Malacañang.

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