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Businessmen concerned over RP political outlook

“2007 will be like 2006. In my view, we will muddle through. Be happy if you don’t need government, like consumer-based industries. If you need government for your business in 2007, take an extended leave.” -Henry Schumacher, executive vice-president of the European Chamber of Commerce

Foreign and local businessmen in the Philippines on Friday expressed grave concern over alleged electoral fraud and policy reversals under President Arroyo.

These factors risked undermining recent successes in fixing the economic and fiscal front, they said in a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

Court martial of plotters bogs down

Victor Reyes report for Malaya:

Court martial proceedings against dozens of officers linked to last year’s alleged plot to overthrow the Arroyo government failed to move anew yesterday due to a number of issues, including access by the defense to a pretrial investigation (PTI) report which cleared the accused.

Defense lawyer Abraham Espejo immediately revived the issue on the controversial report shortly after the court convened for the second time since Dec. 14 at the headquarters of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.

Espejo, who represents Scout Ranger Lt. Cols. Edmundo Malabanjot and Nestor Flordeliza, protested the refusal of the prosecution panel to furnish them with a copy of the PTI report.

There was a war in Iloilo

From Malaya:

CHR to probe violent Iloilo capitol takeover;‘Cops acted like they were in war zone’
by Reinir Padua

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) yesterday ordered an investigation into the police takeover of the Iloilo provincial capitol Wednesday for possible human rights violations.

CHR chair Purificacion Quisumbing said she issued the order after seeing on TV a “very shocking view” of the incident.

Dream senatorial tiket ni GMA

Kailangan ng administrasyon manalo ang anim nilang kandidato para senador para magkakaroon na sila ng siyam na haharang kung sakaling makarating ang impeachment sa Senado.

Nandoon na kasi si Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla at Miriam Santiago na maaasahan ni Arroyo na magpu-protekta sa kanya.

May anim na raw na mukhang sigurado sa tiket ng administrasyon. Sila ay sina Mike Defensor, Prospero Pichay, Chavit Singson, Edu Manzano, Miguel Zubiri at Gina de Venecia.

Kung sabagay itong si Gina, mas mabuti namang di hamak kaysa kanyang asawang si Joe de Venecia. Si Gina ay grasyosa, mabait at talagang matulungin. Ang problema niya ang image ng pagka-trapo na pinairal ng asawa niya at nakakabit ang tiket niya sa mabahong pangalan ni Gloria Arroyo.

Davide can’t wait to go to New York

Retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide is moving heaven and earth to assume the post of permanent representative to the United Nations.

Like what he did on Jan. 20, 2001, when he trampled upon the Constitution to install power grabber Gloria Arroyo into the presidency, he is trashing again the law again just to be able to live it up in New York.

Last Sunday, in the margins of the East Asia summit in Cebu, Davide took his oath as Philippine permanent representative to the UN even if his nomination has not yet been confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

Gringo seeks leave to file candidacy;DOJ blocks it

Former senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan today asked the Makati regional trial court to allow him to leave his detention cell in Laguna to personally file his certificate of candidacy as an independent senatorial candidate.

In a four-page motion for leave, Honasan, through lawyer Daniel Gutierrez, said he would pose no objection to any security measure the court would require.

The Department of Justice said it will oppose Honasan’s motion asking for court permission to personally file his candidacy for midterm elections. (Click here.)It suggested, instead, that representatives from the Comelec personally see Honasan in Camp Santo Domingo to allow him to file his certificate for candidacy.

Constantino sues Vic Agustin

Aftermath of the water-dousing incident last Dec. 8:

MANILA — Political activist Renato Constantino Jr. filed on Tuesday criminal charges against former Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Victor Agustin for “grave slander by deed and maltreatment by deed” after the two figured in an altercation during a media conference last month.

Describing Agustin’s act as “analogous to being slapped in public by a woman,” Constantino sought P5 million in damages from Agustin who doused him with cold water after the activist berated members of Congress holding a press conference on Charter change.

Agustin, who was suspended by the Inquirer for one month due to the incident, could not be reached for comment.

Family affair sa senado

Nagpahayag si dating Senador Francisco Tatad ng kanyang hindi pagsang-ayon sa kandidatura nina JV Ejercito, Koko Pimentel, at Alan Peter Cayetano sa pagka-senador.

Sabi ni Tatad, kung mananalo ang tatlo, na mukha namang malaki ang tsansa, parang family affair na ang Senado. Magkakaroon na ng mag-ama (Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel at Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel), magkapatid (Pia at Alan Cayetano) at magkapatid sa ama (Jinggoy at JV).

Sabi pa niya, 24 lang naman ang miyembro ng senado tapos ganyan ang sitwasyon, hindi nakakatulong sa maayos na talakayan at labag sa prisipyo ng good governance o pamamalakad ng pamahalaan na ang kapangyarihan ay dapat nakakalat sa mga Pilipino na manggaling sa iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan.