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‘AFP won’t be dragged into poll scandals again’ — spokesman

Published by Ellen on January 15, 2007

By using the word “again” AFP Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro practically admitted what was heard in the Hello Garci tapes which was the military participated in cheating in the May 2004 elections to make Gloria Arroyo win.

As a Tagalog saying goes, “Ang isda ay nahuhuli sa sariling bibig.”

Joel Guinto’s report in the Inquirer.net:

THE military on Monday said the memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would ensure it is not dragged again into election controversies during the May polls.

Continue reading‘AFP won’t be dragged into poll scandals again’ — spokesman

Davide’s swearing in stirs foreign service

Published by Ellen on January 15, 2007

The swearing-in of Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. last Sunday as permanent representative to the United Nations in Cebu in the midst of Asean activities is causing a lot of concern among foreign service officers.

They sense something sinister. Davide’s appointment, despite his being past 70 years old, has already caused demoralization in the foreign service corps.

In a letter to Arroyo today, Michael G. Macaraig, president of the DFAPA (Department of Foreign Affairs Personnel Association), asked “Bakit? Dahil po ba na walang kwalipikadong tao na dito sa aming sangay manggagaling?” (Why, is there no one qualified from the DFA?)

IMPSA again

Published by Ellen on January 14, 2007

The Ombudsman may have thought that with their filing of graft and bribery charges against former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez in connection with his $2 million Swiss deposit, they were able to shoot two birds with one stone: They gave Gloria Arroyo something to impress the Swiss government with when she goes to Davos next week, and they protected Perez from the non-bailable crimes of plunder and money laundering.

That, they thought, closes the $2 million episode.

The Ombudsman action against Perez, however, revived the $14 million alleged bribe, through then Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez, of the Argentine power firm IMPSA (Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona Sociedad Anonima) for a guarantee clause they had assiduously sought but didn’t get from the Estrada administration.

Takbo, Chavit, takbo para senador

Published by Ellen on January 13, 2007

Nasa balita kahapon na gusto raw ni Chavit Singson, gubernador ng Ilocos Sur, na tumakbong senador.

Sabi ni Singson, pini-presenta niya ang kanyang sarili sa administrasyon ngunit kung puno na ang tiket, balik na lang siya sa Ilocos Sur. Pwede pa naman siya magpa-reelect para gubernador.

Sige, Chavit, takbo para senador. At nang makita mo kung gaano ang pagkamuhi sa iyo ng taumbayan.

Swiss trip is the reason

Published by Ellen on January 11, 2007

On January 25, Gloria Arroyo will be in Davos, Switzerland to attend this year’s World Economic Forum, an annual event supervised by the Swiss Federal government that aims to “improve the state of the world.”

Participants to the WEF come from business, politics, academe, media, and civil society.

This is the second WEF participation of Arroyo (the first was in New York in 2002) but this will be her first visit to Switzerland.

The Swiss trip is the answer to questions why after sitting on it for four years, the Arroyo administration decided to file graft and extortion charges against former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez even as Malacañang, specifically Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, declares him innocent.

Admitting strategy error, Bush adds Iraq troops

Published by Ellen on January 11, 2007

He says 21,500 new troops will help quell violence, hasten homecoming

WASHINGTON (NBC News)- Defying public opinion polls and newly empowered Democratic lawmakers, President Bush told Americans Wednesday that he is dispatching 21,500 additional U.S. troops to Iraq. And in a rare admission, he said he made a mistake by not deploying more forces sooner.

“The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people, and it is unacceptable to me,” Bush said in a televised address from the White House. “Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me.”

Press freedom, not technicality, is the issue

Published by Ellen on January 11, 2007

Last Monday, Jose Miguel Arroyo, through his lawyer, asked the Makati Trial Court to dismiss the class suit we (more than 35 journalists he charged with libel plus more than 30 co-petitioners) filed against him describing it as as “plain political harassment”.

Arroyo’s lead counsel Ruy Alberto Rondain said the suit “is not even a class suit and is only a move by the plaintiffs to vindicate personal and individual interests, albeit imagined.”

Arroyo’s spokesman Jesus Santos said the case is defective in nature and should be dismissed.

Nani seen as Palace sacrificial lamb

Published by Ellen on January 11, 2007

I am intrigued by the motive of Malacañang for allowing Nani Perez to be charged for the $2 million he received from mark Jimenez. I’ll write about that later. Here’s Malaya’s update on the $2 million man.

By JP Lopez

Malacañang will apparently turn former Justice Secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez into a “sacrificial lamb” to show the Arroyo administration is running after corrupt officials, Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said yesterday.

“They want to create the impression that they are not tolerating corruption,” Pimentel said.

Continue readingNani seen as Palace sacrificial lamb

Trillanes para senador

Published by Ellen on January 10, 2007

Bakit kaya hindi nasasama si Navy Ltsg Antonio Trillanes sa ginagawa ng oposisyon na senatorial tiket?

Malaki ang sakripisyo na napuhunan ni Trillanes, lider ng Magdalo na umalsa laban sa kurakutan sa military noong 2003. Oakwood mutiny ang tawag sa pangyayring yun.

Ang mga ibinunyag nina Trillanes na kurakutan sa military ay napatunayan sa maraing expose na lumabas katulad ng kaso ni Gen. Calos Garcia.

Repentant mutineers treated better, Army admits

Published by Ellen on January 10, 2007

If you want a good life in the military, just say Gloria Arroyo is the best president the Philippines ever had and that you will die fighting for her. Check out this story by Joel Guinto in Inquirer.

THE Philippine Army admitted on Tuesday that rebel soldiers who have reaffirmed allegiance to the government are detained in more comfortable facilities than their defiant former comrades.

The group of Captain Gerardo Gambala, who have issued two statements of support to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, are housed in “comfortable living quarters” complete with accommodations for their visitors, Army spokesman Major Ernesto Torres told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.

Continue readingRepentant mutineers treated better, Army admits

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