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Happy days are here again for Gloria Arroyo and associates

Published by Ellen on May 15, 2016

It’s only 45 days away when Rodrigo Duterte becomes the 16th president of the Republic of the Philippines.

If Duterte makes good his election promise, Gloria Arroyo, who has won another term as representative of the second district of Pampanga, can look forward to days of freedom very soon. She has been confined at the Veterans Memorial Hospital since 2011.

Duterte lawyer Salvador Panelo took a selfie when he attended Gloria Arroyo's birthday party in La Vista last April 5. — Duterte lawyer Salvador Panelo took a selfie when he attended Gloria Arroyo’s birthday party in La Vista last April 5.

When he campaigned in Pampanga last Feb. 7, Duterte said, “If I am elected President, I will release her. Why? Because the evidence [against her] is weak. I know that. I am a lawyer.”

Duterte’s assessment of cases against Arroyo as “weak” is supported by the dismissal by the Ombudsman of the P200 million fertilizer scam case and the alleged illegal transfer of funds of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to Philhealth.

Duterte eyes Gilbert Teodoro for foreign affairs

Published by Ellen on May 12, 2016

Former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro is being eyed by President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to be his foreign secretary, not as defense secretary,as some new reports say, a source close to Duterte said.

In an interview before the May 9 election, the source said Teodoro has not yet responded to the invitation to join the Duterte cabinet.

Teodoro ran for president in 2010 but lost to his cousin, Benigno Aquino III.

The job of foreign secretary would be doubly challenging in a Duterte presidency considering the incoming head of state’s irreverent nature, lack of patience for formalities and protocol and penchant for profanity.

The most important foreign relations issue for the incoming administration is China. The decision of the Arbitral Tribunal of the United Nations Commission on the Law of the Sea on the case filed by the Philippines to declare illegal China’s all encompassing nine-dash-line map is expected to be handed down in the next few weeks.

China hopeful of better relations with Duterte government

Published by Ellen on May 12, 2016

By ELLEN TORDESILLAS, VERA Files

CHINA is hopeful that relations with the Philippines will be better under the government of Rodrigo Duterte, who will succeed President Benigno Aquino III on July 1.

In a regular press conference in Beijing Wednesday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang was asked about statements by Duterte that he is willing to talk with China and go into joint exploration in disputed areas in the South China Sea.

We deserve the leader we elect

Published by Ellen on May 11, 2016

In a democracy, where we have the freedom to choose our leaders through an election, we deserve the leaders we get.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is the clear choice of the majority of the Filipino people and whatever kind of leader he turns out to be, we deserve him.

The Filipino people who trooped to the polls last Monday (highest voter turnout – 81 percent of 54.3 million) showed the vibrancy of Philippine democracy. It was the most vicious election campaign which was made more acrimonious by the mis-use of social media.

The atmosphere became toxic that caused many to be concerned whether we would ever be whole again after being torn apart by partisan politics.

Poe concedes

Published by Ellen on May 9, 2016

By Ellen T. Tordesillas, Maria Feona Imperial, Verlie Retulin
VERA Files

With almost 65 per cent of the results of the voting for the 2016 Elections, Sen. Grace Poe of Partido Galing at Puso conceded the election to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of PDP-Laban.
Poe concedes in a televised past midnight press conference.

Poe concedes in a televised past midnight press conference.

In a statement which Poe read in her past- midnight press conference, she said:

Duterte-Marcos win: Aquino and Roxas’ karma

Published by Ellen on May 8, 2016

Aquino campaigning vs Duterte for Roxas.Allan Yves Briones

If the pre-election surveys are confirmed by Election Day votes, then it would be Rodrigo Duterte as president and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr as vice president.

It would be slap in the face of President Aquino who refuses to see that the Filipino people’s attraction to the putang-ina talking Duterte is an expression of their disgust for his government.

On the 30th anniversary of People Power revolution last Feb. 22, Aquino warned against electing the late dictator’s son. But Sen. Marcos popularity continued to surge even as the administration’s candidate, Leni Robredo, tries to catch up close.

Scenes from Miting de Avance Elections 2016

Published by Ellen on May 8, 2016

Take a glimpse of the miting de avance of the five presidential candidates plus that of Bongbong Marcos in the following links to VERA Files’…

PWDs slap Duterte with a suit for insensitive joke

Published by Ellen on May 7, 2016

PWDs file complaint vs Rodrigo Duterte at the Commission on Human Rights
By MARIA FEONA IMPERIAL, VERA Files

PRESIDENTIAL race frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte, already facing a plunder case filed by Sen. Antonio Trillanes, has been slapped with yet another complaint, this time by disabillity groups and advocates.

Disability advocates Ranilo Sorongon and Liza Martinez charged the Davao City mayor before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Friday of violating the law when he ridiculed persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens during a now infamous campaign sortie in the Visayas weeks ago.

“As PWDs advocating for respect of the rights of all PWDs, including older persons with disabilities (and) our inherent dignity, diversity and humanity, we are outraged and vehemently and unequivocably condemn, the disparaging comments of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during his campaign sortie in Kalibo, Aklan,” the complainants said in a statement.

Media group raises alarm on harassment of journalists covering political campaign

Published by Ellen on May 6, 2016

Tne National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has expressed grave concern over the increasing harassment of journalists who are covering the election campaign and asked the candidates to call for calm among their supporters.

NUJP chairman Ryan Rosauro said that in their monitoring of the plight of journaslits in the campaign trail, they “note a pattern of harassments perpetrated by supporters of Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrrigo Duterte.”

They cited the following incidents:

• Vera Files editor Ellen Tordesillas was bullied in social media for her effort to verify the existence of the assailed BPI bank account of Mayor Duterte;

• Alleging biased reporting, supporters harassed numerous times ABS-CBN reporter Raffy Santos while following Duterte in the campaign trail;

• Jacque Manabat was cursed by a supporter after a man identified her as an ABS-CBN reporter;

• A camera crew of ABS-CBN reporter Doris Bigornia was thrown punches during a coverage;

• On Friday morning, May 6, a wreath was laid outside the ABS-CBN station in Davao City bearing the words: “RIP ABS-CBN”;

• There have been calls in social media for an “occupy ABS-CBN” in Davao and Cagayan de Oro cities; and

• There have been numerous posts in social media inciting hate and anger, especially against ABS-CBN reporters.

Larrazabal presses alarm on Comelec’s replacement ballot rule

Published by Ellen on May 5, 2016

As the official who supervised the first automated national elections in 2010, former Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal wants the elections on Monday to succeed. That means for it to be accepted by the Filipino people as honest and credible.

But there are a number of things that the current Comelec leadership is doing that worries Larrazabal.

Yesterday, he wrote again Comelec regarding the last minute insertion of the provision on replacement of ballots. He has written Comelec at least twice earlier raising “the red flag about this provision” but Comelec has not resolved the issue.

In yesterday’s letter, Larrazabal wrote: “Last night, I read a tweet posted by ABS-CBN Reporter Pia Gutierrez which said that, “Comelec: In case ballots run out on election day bec of replacement ballot rule, voter will be asked to vote in nearest neighboring precinct.”

“If this is already in the proposed rules regarding replacement of ballots, this is very alarming as it clearly lacks legal basis,” Larrazabal said.

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