My fearless forecast
By Ramon Tulfo
Inquirer
Last updated 03:23am (Mla time) 05/03/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- Here is my fearless forecast a little less than two weeks before the May 14 election:
Sen. Lito Lapid, who was elected to his current post and, before that, Pampanga governor based on his popularity, will meet his political Waterloo in Makati where he’s running against the incumbent, Mayor Jejomar Binay.
I have no love lost for Binay, who has been accused of massive corruption (which politician is clean and honest, anyway?), but from what I’ve gathered from residents, he’s a modern-day Robin Hood. He has done for Makati what his predecessors—including the much-loved, albeit controversial Nemesio Yabut—had not done: Take care of the needs of the poor and elderly residents.
Board Member Lilia “Baby” Pineda will win by a mile in the Pampanga gubernatorial race against the incumbent Gov. Mark Lapid, the senator’s son, and Catholic priest Eddie Panlilio.
There’s been a lot of hype about Panlilio getting the support of the middle class, the rich and the intellectuals in the province. But do these sectors comprise the majority?
Pineda, married to alleged “jueteng” lord Bong Pineda, is known for her charitable work even before she ran for office a couple of years ago. She’s the first to lend a helping hand to calamity victims who are not even her constituents, like when she organized a 30-truck convoy to typhoon-ravaged Bicol a few months ago.
Panlilio’s fellow priests are, of course, secretly supporting the woman candidate. Why? Because when they need help in their parishes, they run to her or her husband Bong.
The poor and the unlettered, who comprise the majority of voters in Pampanga and who supported Lito and Mark Lapid, love Pineda.
Retired two-star police general Eduardo Matillano will not win against incumbent Edward Hagedorn, who’s leading his opponent by a mile in the surveys in the Puerto Princesa mayoralty race.
Like Pineda and Binay, Hagedorn is also a Robin Hood in Puerto Princesa.
Even if Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had an opponent—he’s practically running unopposed—he would win by a landslide over his strong rival.
Duterte, whose alleged brand of governance is comparable to the mythical movie character “Dirty Harry,” is also loved by his constituents for bringing peace and order to their city.
Davao City residents don’t care about alleged human rights violations attributed to Duterte in dealing with notorious criminals like rapists, robbers and drug pushers.
* * *
Banana king Antonio Floirendo Sr. is supporting the rival of his brother-in-law, Rodolfo del Rosario, for the Davao del Norte gubernatorial race, the incumbent Gov. Yayong Gemintiza.
Sources close to the Floirendo family said they consider Del Rosario an “ingrate.”
Floirendo Sr. gave Del Rosario the management of the Tadeco banana plantation and supported his candidacy for governor the first time.
The old man wanted his son, Antonio Jr. or “Tonyboy,” to run but Del Rosario opposed it and instead said he would join the race.
In order not to divide the family, Tonyboy withdrew his candidacy in favor of his uncle, the sources said.
But now, it seems all the resources of the Floirendo family, which include the billion-peso banana plantation, will be brought to bear against Del Rosario, a former governor. My sources said Gementiza would not have run had Tonyboy thrown his hat in the gubernatorial contest.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
It’s about time someone officially complained!!!
Sen. Panfilo Lacson did an honorable act which honorable men should do.
He filed a complaint against Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez regarding the Justice Secretary’s recent controversial “incentives” for the province of Iloilo to give a 12-0 victory for the administration candidates. In short, what Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez did was simply “vote-buying” in any which way you look at it.
Criminal raps, disbarment sought vs DOJ chief
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez now faces criminal charges and a disbarment case over his recent statements about cash rewards for village chiefs and the death of US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell.
Stressing public office is a public trust, opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson filed Monday graft charges against Gonzalez for the alleged P10,000 offer to village chiefs in Iloilo in exchange for 12-0 votes for administration senatorial bets.
Lawyer Ely Pamatong, meanwhile, lodged a disbarment complaint against Gonzalez before the Supreme Court over the justice chief’s “immoral statements” that Campbell was partly to blame for her death.
Lacson said he is filing the case as his civic duty to stop Gonzalez from “blatantly and arrogantly” violating the law.
“I’m filing this not as a senator but as a citizen. If we allow high officials to violate the law with impunity we are equally guilty. The Bible says that for evil to triumph, it takes just a few good men to do nothing. We’ve been a shame to other nations because our own officials violate the law,” he said in Filipino.
Lacson said he might file similar charges against other candidates who had made similar promises in past weeks, but not during the campaign period.
“There’s time for that. Once we get evidence after the elections I might file charges against them. But right now I don’t want to be accused of playing politics,” he said.
He also challenged Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to act swiftly and fairly on his complaint, after filing the case before her office.
“On a larger perspective, said offer of Secretary Gonzalez will have a far-reaching effect as this will make the officials concerned and the public in general complacent and look the other way even in the face of massive cheating that will be committed just to ensure the victory of Team Unity candidates,” he said in his complaint.
He added it was clear that the promise of P10,000 was designed to influence barangay (village) officials to vote and to work doubly hard for a 12-0 vote in favor of Team Unity.
This, he said, was “an act which is tantamount to vote buying and punishable under the Omnibus Election Code.”
Worse, he said Gonzalez remained defiant and claimed he did nothing wrong, by claiming non-candidates are not prohibited from buying votes, and that the funds will come from his own pocket anyway.
“Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice and lead modest lives,” he said.
Lacson pointed out that Gonzalez’s acts constitute the crime of attempted corruption of public officials penalized under Article 212 in relation to Article 6 (Consummated, Frustrated and Attempted Felonies) of the Revised Penal Code.
The provision penalizes “any person who shall have made the offers or promises or given the gifts of presents.”
He added Gonzalez is liable for violating Section 3(a) of the Anti-Graft Law, which punishes “persuading, inducing or influencing another public officer to perform an act constituting a violation of rules and regulations.”
Meanwhile, Pamatong likened Gonzalez to a rampaging “elephant” with a loose tongue, dzBB radio said.
In seeking Gonzalez’s disbarment, Pamatong said the Supreme Court was the proper entity to punish the justice chief since the latter was the highest prosecutor in the government.
Gonzalez earlier said Campbell was a “little irresponsible” for walking alone at the mountain trail in Batad village at Banaue, Ifugao on April 8.
Campbell was bludgeoned to death by a 25-year-old woodcarver who claimed he mistook the American volunteer as his enemy in the same village. - GMANews.TV
He filed a complaint against Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez regarding the Justice Secretary’s recent controversial “incentives” for the province of Iloilo to give a 12-0 victory for the administration candidates. In short, what Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez did was simply “vote-buying” in any which way you look at it.
Criminal raps, disbarment sought vs DOJ chief
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez now faces criminal charges and a disbarment case over his recent statements about cash rewards for village chiefs and the death of US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell.
Stressing public office is a public trust, opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson filed Monday graft charges against Gonzalez for the alleged P10,000 offer to village chiefs in Iloilo in exchange for 12-0 votes for administration senatorial bets.
Lawyer Ely Pamatong, meanwhile, lodged a disbarment complaint against Gonzalez before the Supreme Court over the justice chief’s “immoral statements” that Campbell was partly to blame for her death.
Lacson said he is filing the case as his civic duty to stop Gonzalez from “blatantly and arrogantly” violating the law.
“I’m filing this not as a senator but as a citizen. If we allow high officials to violate the law with impunity we are equally guilty. The Bible says that for evil to triumph, it takes just a few good men to do nothing. We’ve been a shame to other nations because our own officials violate the law,” he said in Filipino.
Lacson said he might file similar charges against other candidates who had made similar promises in past weeks, but not during the campaign period.
“There’s time for that. Once we get evidence after the elections I might file charges against them. But right now I don’t want to be accused of playing politics,” he said.
He also challenged Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to act swiftly and fairly on his complaint, after filing the case before her office.
“On a larger perspective, said offer of Secretary Gonzalez will have a far-reaching effect as this will make the officials concerned and the public in general complacent and look the other way even in the face of massive cheating that will be committed just to ensure the victory of Team Unity candidates,” he said in his complaint.
He added it was clear that the promise of P10,000 was designed to influence barangay (village) officials to vote and to work doubly hard for a 12-0 vote in favor of Team Unity.
This, he said, was “an act which is tantamount to vote buying and punishable under the Omnibus Election Code.”
Worse, he said Gonzalez remained defiant and claimed he did nothing wrong, by claiming non-candidates are not prohibited from buying votes, and that the funds will come from his own pocket anyway.
“Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice and lead modest lives,” he said.
Lacson pointed out that Gonzalez’s acts constitute the crime of attempted corruption of public officials penalized under Article 212 in relation to Article 6 (Consummated, Frustrated and Attempted Felonies) of the Revised Penal Code.
The provision penalizes “any person who shall have made the offers or promises or given the gifts of presents.”
He added Gonzalez is liable for violating Section 3(a) of the Anti-Graft Law, which punishes “persuading, inducing or influencing another public officer to perform an act constituting a violation of rules and regulations.”
Meanwhile, Pamatong likened Gonzalez to a rampaging “elephant” with a loose tongue, dzBB radio said.
In seeking Gonzalez’s disbarment, Pamatong said the Supreme Court was the proper entity to punish the justice chief since the latter was the highest prosecutor in the government.
Gonzalez earlier said Campbell was a “little irresponsible” for walking alone at the mountain trail in Batad village at Banaue, Ifugao on April 8.
Campbell was bludgeoned to death by a 25-year-old woodcarver who claimed he mistook the American volunteer as his enemy in the same village. - GMANews.TV
Cory Aquino’s phone bugged
Cory Aquino’s phone bugged
Who would do such a thing as to bug the phone of an Ex-President? Would it be someone paranoid and insecure?
By Tetch Torres, Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 11:47am (Mla time) 05/03/2007
MANILA, Philippines — A surveillance device has been discovered at the residence of former president Corazon Aquino in Quezon City.
As of posting time, Mrs. Aquino is giving a press conference at her home at no. 25 Times St.
The device was discovered by crew of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) who had been doing a regular check up every two weeks on so-called cross switching stations of the PLDT, according to Congressman Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the former leader’s son, in a separate interview.
The equipment was a two-piece wiretapping device made up of a tape recorder and a power supply, the Tarlac lawmaker said.
“Kahapon binuksan [The box was opened yesterday] as part of the routine at may nakita silang [and they saw a] two-piece device consisting of a tape recorder and a power supply,” the young Aquino told reporters.
“Nung tiningan kung anong linyang kinabitan, natuklasan na sa nanay ko po kaya minabuti na informed nanay ko early evening [When they checked on which line the box had been attached to, they discovered that it was connected to my mom that’s why they informed my mother early evening],” he said.
Members of the Aquino household said they had been hearing static sounds during phone calls, which was why they have been very careful in their conversations.
The device was the size of a car stereo with an ordinary cassette tape inside, said police investigators.
The device has been turned over to Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula of the Quezon City police district.
The younger Aquino urged the PLDT to act on this matter as he challenged the government to put behind bars those responsible.
“Hinahamon po natin ang gobyerno na madala at makulong yung mga gumawa nito natural sila ang magiging unang suspek kung may gagawa ng ganitong operation [We are challenging the government to bring to justice and put behind bars those responsible. Naturally, the government will be the first suspect in such an operation],” the lawmaker said.
Since they are in the opposition, the young Aquino said they assumed that they would be monitored by their perceived enemies.
“But I think this [is] one of the first times na may [that] physical evidence kaming na recover [has been recovered],” he said.
The Tarlac legislator said however that he could not think of any reason why the former leader would be monitored except that she was a “person of interest.”
Who would do such a thing as to bug the phone of an Ex-President? Would it be someone paranoid and insecure?
By Tetch Torres, Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 11:47am (Mla time) 05/03/2007
MANILA, Philippines — A surveillance device has been discovered at the residence of former president Corazon Aquino in Quezon City.
As of posting time, Mrs. Aquino is giving a press conference at her home at no. 25 Times St.
The device was discovered by crew of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) who had been doing a regular check up every two weeks on so-called cross switching stations of the PLDT, according to Congressman Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the former leader’s son, in a separate interview.
The equipment was a two-piece wiretapping device made up of a tape recorder and a power supply, the Tarlac lawmaker said.
“Kahapon binuksan [The box was opened yesterday] as part of the routine at may nakita silang [and they saw a] two-piece device consisting of a tape recorder and a power supply,” the young Aquino told reporters.
“Nung tiningan kung anong linyang kinabitan, natuklasan na sa nanay ko po kaya minabuti na informed nanay ko early evening [When they checked on which line the box had been attached to, they discovered that it was connected to my mom that’s why they informed my mother early evening],” he said.
Members of the Aquino household said they had been hearing static sounds during phone calls, which was why they have been very careful in their conversations.
The device was the size of a car stereo with an ordinary cassette tape inside, said police investigators.
The device has been turned over to Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula of the Quezon City police district.
The younger Aquino urged the PLDT to act on this matter as he challenged the government to put behind bars those responsible.
“Hinahamon po natin ang gobyerno na madala at makulong yung mga gumawa nito natural sila ang magiging unang suspek kung may gagawa ng ganitong operation [We are challenging the government to bring to justice and put behind bars those responsible. Naturally, the government will be the first suspect in such an operation],” the lawmaker said.
Since they are in the opposition, the young Aquino said they assumed that they would be monitored by their perceived enemies.
“But I think this [is] one of the first times na may [that] physical evidence kaming na recover [has been recovered],” he said.
The Tarlac legislator said however that he could not think of any reason why the former leader would be monitored except that she was a “person of interest.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
