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Tag: PHLVote2019

‘Ang Probinsyano’ emerges as top kingmaker

Published by Ellen on May 22, 2019

The single most formidable political force in the country today as shown by the results of the May 13 elections is not President Duterte nor his daughter, Sara, who made her debut in the national political scene with her newly-formed party Hugpong ng Pagbabago.
It is ABS-CBN’s top-rating soap opera “Ang Probinsyano. “

It also affirms what surveys have been showing that television, not social media, is still the number one source of information by the electorate.

Just to show how much the Filipino people believe in the longest running soap opera in the country, two partylist groups bearing the name “Probinsyano” – Ang Probinsyano and Probinsyano Ako – are in the top ten, assured of seats in the House of Representatives.

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‘I’ve made mistakes, corruption is not one of them’– Jinggoy Estrada

Published by Ellen on May 19, 2019
Pres. Duterte greets former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada who is free on bail for his pending plunder charges. Birthday of former President Joseph Estrada in April 2017.

Former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who failed in his bid to return to the Senate in the just- concluded elections, called me up yesterday complaining of my description of him as “corruption-tainted.”

Accusing me of being “mean”, Estrada said, “I’ve committed mistakes, corruption is not one of them.”

He reminded me that he was cleared by the court of the charges of plunder and graft.

I didn’t have time to clarify with him which case he was referring to.

In 2001, immediately after his father , President Estrada, was ousted, both father and son were charged with plunder in connection with the multi million collection from jueteng, an illegal numbers game, and other anomalies. He was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan but his father was convicted. The older Estrada was pardoned by then President Gloria Arroyo which paved the way for his running for president again in 2010 and Manila mayor in 2016.

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Trust and elections

Published by Ellen on May 12, 2019

Trust is supposed to be an essential element in an election.

You vote for a candidate that you trust will serve the country well. You vote for a candidate that you trust will not steal the people’s money. You vote for a candidate that you trust will help stop abuse and violations of the law.
You vote for a candidate that you trust will fulfill the promises they made during the elections.

Trust is what you have when you go to the polling place and cast your vote.

You trust that your vote will be counted.

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Duterte wants Bong Go, not Sara to succeed him

Published by Ellen on March 27, 2019
Who of the two -Bong Go and Sara- would the President want to succeed and protect him? Malacanang photo during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping Nov. 20, 2018.

A political analyst-friend has an interesting observation about how Pres. Duterte is preparing for post- 2022.
He said contrary to what many assume that Duterte is grooming his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, to succeed him in 2022, it’s actually his most reliable, ever loyal aide, Bong Go, that he wants to install in Malacañang after his term.

“No, no, it’s not Sara, without an “H,” he said. He explained father and daughter don’t see eye to eye on many issues and choice of people. ‘He can’t control Sara. He does not want that,” the analyst said.
He makes sense.

With Bong Go, it will truly be an extension of the Duterte presidency. Unlike Sara, Bong Go will do what Duterte says. He knows his role in this world: a Duterte gofer.

Continue readingDuterte wants Bong Go, not Sara to succeed him