I caught up with the last 45 minutes of the televised impeachment proceedings at the House committee on Justice.
As expected, or rather as Malacañang instructed, administration solons turned deaf and blind to the truth, even if they were staring at it. They dismissed allegations of culpable violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust, bribery, graft and corruption, obstruction of justice, crimes against humanity and many more as rehash.
They used such terms as “ukay-ukay” and “segunda mano”.
So what if it’s rehash? It doesn’t make it less true.
Eastern Samar Rep. Marcelino Libanan, at one point, asked “Where are the evidences? Where are the (alleged tampered) ballots?
Yet, they did not want to entertain evidence.
Lawyer Howie Calleja, analyzing the proceedings for ANC, said, “They (administration congressmen) are looking for evidence but they don’t want the evidence to come out.”
Calleja said it was evident from the anti-impeachment congressmen’s actions that their mission was to prevent Gloria Arroyo from being compelled to answer even one charge.
The opposition made 22 allegations. Even if only one charge would be approved, Gloria Arroyo would be vulnerable to further accusations.
Example is influencing election results by talking to a Comelec official. She has said that it was “a lapse in judgment”. If she stands by that line, Calleja said it would be detrimental to her because lapse in judgment like ignorance of the law does not exempt one from the law.
The impeachment proceedings resume today.
Ellen as they say, in the Philippines impeachment process is heavily a number game. Most congressmen voting on the floor on important political matters to be decided cast their votes not based on sound moral principles and convictions with only the general welfare in mind but rather based on party line. If I am not mistaken, during Nixon’s time, the US Senate was dominated by senators belonging to his party, and yet after the initial transcribed tapes were made known to them, one after the other expressed their intention to vote based on the evidence presented if the impeachment case reached the senate, forcing Nixon to tender his resignation.
Sadly in the Philippines, most of our lawmakers vote on important issues based on which side of their bread is buttered.
The scene in the august hall of our legislative chamber (both upper and lower house) is always a pathetic sight to behold everytime there is a very important matter to be decided that would greatly affect the lives of ordinary mortals like us. Controversial issues always attract national attention and standing on the floor is the only opportunity to catch media attention.
Don’t be deceived by politicians. Carefully check their faces. Some of them were at the other side of the political fence defending to death their patron against the same process not too long ago.
Dalawang bagay, Ellen. Walang delikadesa sa mga mukha ng mga kongremen. 80 sa kanila ay kasangkot sa mg krimeng dinadala laban ke Gloria pero ayaw nilang “inhibit” ang kanilang mga tinamaan ng lintek na sarili sa impeachment proceedings. Pati ba naman si Mickey na anak ni Gloria ay gustong kasama siya. Kapal ng mukha nila at ang tapang ng apog. Kung meron ding oposisyon sa 80 ay dapat lahat sila “inhibit.”
Ikalawa,kung numbers game ang impeachment ay itigil na natin at alisin ang prosesong iyan sapagkat nagpapakita lamang na hindi maaari sa atin ang parliamentary form of government. Biruin mo kung wala nang Senado? E di wala nang pipigil sa majority kongresmen na naglalaro ng numbers game sa impeachment. Sila-sila ang nagkakausap, nagkakayari, at pumipigil sa anumang hakbang laban sa kanilang mga sarili at sa kanilang amo na si Gloria. Unicameral body? Kayo na lang. At least ngayon me Senado pa na pangbuong bansa ang pananaw at hindi parochial na gaya ng mga kongresmen na wala namang kakayahang mahalal sa isang national election. Pero ang gusto nila sila ang sundin ng buong bansa at mula sa kanila kunin ang magiging Pangulo ng Pilipinas. Muli, kayo na lang!
The majority party congressmen in committee on justice are showing their true colors. They are representing bogus President Gloria Arroyo. I have the reason to believe that the impeachment complaint will be junked due to bullshit technicalities. There’s a ton of testimonies, documents and other evidences to jail Gloria Arroyo and her cohorts. The Filipino people want justice. Majority of the people are convinced that GMA and election officials deliberately tampered election results in her favor. Where’s the evidence? Former Comelec commissionaire Garcillano and ex-Department of Agriculture Usec Joc-Joc Bolante have direct links for alleged electoral fraud, bribery and plunder. We don’t expect justice in the halls of congress because Malacanang lapdogs are obstructing justice. The Filipino people are tired with zarzuela Gloria Encantada. It’s like a volcano where it needs a vent for their boiling frustrations and anger against corrupt and abusive Arroyo regime. People’s justice can be settled in the streets. Hang ‘em high!
Ano pa nga ba ang aasahan natin sa mga tsonggo ni Gloria? Nakanganga at nakabukaka na ang mga bulsa niyan at hinihintay na ang pagbagsak ng mga grasya mula sa mga kamay ng kanilang mahal na reyna, o baka naman tapos na ang hatian.
Money talks!
Someone in another post came up with a hate-list, names of congressmen used by GMA to cover up for her crimes. I’d like to also have a list of truth warriors.
Let’s start with:
1. Chiz Escudero
2. Allan Cayetano
3. Roilo Golez
4. Satur Ocampo
5. Teddy Casiño
6. Liza Maza
7. Rissa Hontivero-Baraquel
8. Etta Rosales
9. Mariano
10. Neric Acosta
11. Nonoy Aquino
12. Butz Aquino
13. Ronnie Zamora
14. Agarao
15. Rodolfo Bacani
Ma’m Ellen..the words “ukay-ukay” and “recycled” was used by TONGressman luis villavuetre of bicol(he even pronounced recycled as re-say-kold, trying to sound “bakya”)…I really can not phatom how these ASSHOLES of gloria could sleep at night…and HOW THEIR FUCKING PARENTS BROUGHT THEM UP…if we could just be like BOSNIA, the “bloodline” of these liars, cheats, crooks and evil filipino politicians should be “CLEANSED”.
Sa mga pinaggagagawa ng mga Tongressman na ito na patuloy na “ginagago at sinasalaula” ang KATOTOHANAN sa mata ng TAUMBAYAN, nasisimula na akong maniwala na totoo ang “kuwentong barbero” ng isa naming kasamahan dito na taga Bicol..na katuald din ng iba pang politiko diyan sa ating bansa, lalo na iyong mga “naghahari-harian” sa mga probinsya ay “nagbabayad din ng proteksyon” sa mga “taong-labas”(NPAs)…dahil kung hindi, matagal na dapat “NAGSITUMBA” ang mga WALANGHIYA na ito.
Kaya nga KA ROGER…dadami ang Pilipinong maniniwala sa “prinsipyo at adhikain” nyo kung ang mga tulad nitong si villavuetre, nograles, pichay, at jdv ang mga ITUTUMBA ninyo…hindi iyong mga “pulis patola at sundalong kanin” lang ang lagi ninyong KINAKAIN!!!
The power of the people is only expressed and seen during elections (and political accident/s like the people power). Our problem is that the majority of voters are not well-informed of what is really happening that come election time, even those politicians who show supreme stupidity, ignorance, and moral moron-ness get re-elected time and again.
But as we can see, things have changed. Tech has helped us be informed well. Let’s wait for some more time when the majority are well-informed and the politicos cannot do their hocus-pocus as easily as they can do today.
Even if it is quite disappointing, I really think that we’re on the right road. It’s just a matter of time when like-minded people looking for the truth will not be denied.
SMS text messaging may help in the information campaign against hocus-pocus politicos. Pinoys love txting. There are millions cell phone users n the Philippines.
16 August 2006
It can be told that these TONGressmen of the leprechaun will do everything to stop the impeachment of the leprechaun, you’re correct to say, for example, libanan asking for the evidence, yet they are the ones who don’t want to see or even study the evidences to be presented by the pro-impeachment group. Prudence dictates that in order for anything, in this case the impeachment/cases to be debated/discussed, is the presentation of evidences by both party, sadly these TONGressmen as mentioned a lot times will not presented. Even datumanong mentioned the word recital of evidences, yet he, as the chair on the (in)justice committee don’t want the evidences to be presented for they know the fact the leprechaun will be found guilty. I hope I am not wrong to say that the impeachment proceedings will only be a waste of time, I for one is losing hope in the impeachment of the leprechaun, for the anti-impeach will again and again will railroad the proceedings. They said that the leprechaun is willing to counter all the charges leveled against her, but don’t want her minions to go ahead with the impeachment. Tsk, tsk, tsk……as they said the impeachment proceedings is a zarzuela, yet I beg to disagree, because a zarzuela is a form of entertainment where people watched enjoy the actors/actresses play their role, in the case of the impeachment, I can say it is a form of destruction, destroying everything our forefathers fought for,. One thing for sure, nothing will happen.
jinx
16 August 2006
Additional………
What does the Amnesty International meant by risking retaliatory assassinations unless it stops the spate of political killings??? gloria and her government had “failed to protect individuals and their human rights.” Even the ambassador of the EU calls for the spate of political killing. There my friends, these TONGressmen doesn’t have to look far for they have the facts in their hands with the report from the AI and the EU. What kind of evidences does these TONGressmen want??? To absolve Gloria of graft and corruption???, culpable violation of the constitution???, betrayal of public trust??? Etc, etc, etc…….
What more do they want????
VERY STUPID, VERY ANNOYING!!!!!
jinx
sinabi ko na nga yang villa-buwitre na yan, mukhang amoy baul na, boploks pa…ang alam lang namn nyan ay manigaw at magmura. ang misis nya na kunwari ay puro bible verses ang hilig i-quote..now i knw, ciguro ito ang denial tactic ni mrs villa-buwitre. their children are into exports kaya u can imagine talagang lagi silang nakikinabang sa mga funds allocation like pagka may mga exhibit missions. in fairness some products are ok…as to the circus that tongrales, jode-amnesia, lecheng-pichay, egghead lagayman…magtataka pa ba tayo na kaya namumutok ang pagmumukha nila sa manas ay puro may mga sakit din yan sa atay…at utak pareho ni bruha!!!!
SIno na ang pwede mag-coordinate para patumbahin na ang nakakasukang rehimen na ito…KBB,Ka Roger??? pwede na ba kayo mag-liquidate ng mga tongressman, senatong, tongbernor at mga lintang nasa palasyo?!?!?! PLEEEAASEEEEEE!!!!
Isn’t Pandak wants her day in court?
Now is the time for the administration congressmen to give what their patron wants. Give her the impeachment court.
Sana ay mayroon nagbababasa sa mga congressmen na kakampi ni Pandak sa mga comments natin dito at malinawan nawa ang kanilang mga pag-iisip.
Ang kinabukasan ng kabataan ang nakasalalay sa kanilang ginagawang pagtatakip sa paglalahad ng katotohanan.
Maaaring wala silang pakialam dahil ang kanilang mga bulsa ay patuloy na pinupuno ng lagay ni Pandak, eh, papaano naman ang karamihan na mga Pilipino na kahit anong kahig ang gawin ay napakahirap pa rin ng pamumuhay?
Emilio, at least we know Mike Defensor is reading this blog.
But, will our cries be enough to shake Malacanang? No. We’ve tried everything allowed under the law and constitution. What’s next? REVOLUTION !
Pardon me, but I am posting a long one after this one.
Spartan, Villafuerte didn’t have parents, I’m told.
Npongco, nah, not yet. For the meantime, let’s give Mike Defensor what he has been aching to eat since childhood: butong-pakwan!
Listening to the impeachment debates sent my blood pressure to a new record high. What was clearly noticeable was the distinction between the arrogant cherry-pickings of the hopelessly incorrigible veteran trapos and the wishful articulations of the inexperienced youth.
The vomit-inducing, self-contradicting kindergarten logic employed by the Doña’s defenders was heavily loaded with technical legalese stuff revolving only around the “numbers ‘ game” chuva, self-serving legalities forced through, played-up potshots on Cayetano’s presumed “blunder” by adopting the old impeachment rules in favor of enacting a new one (as if they will not use that opportunity to further make difficult the tyrant’s future impeachments), Bunyetized interpretation of the Supreme Court’s decisions on CPR, 1017 & 464, and the ironic “this is not a criminal hearing but a political exercise” ekek at the same time calling for stringent application of rules of criminal proceedings.
Well, what do you expect from this bunch of nuts who seem to have just emerged from an experiment in Artificial Stupidity? Especially if you saw the antics of Louie Billya-forty, the orphan from Bicol whose whole family was beheaded by WWII guerillas for siding with the Japs (my Grandma, a family friend of his used to tell us this), while he waved his own snut-filled hanky towards the gallery waving white envelops at his direction.
Or his kababayan, Mr. Prejudicial Question#1, Ed-Sell Lagayman, who tried his best to be cool as if he was surfing in Nebraska, who bungled the last chance among the 8 opponent-speakers given by Chiz Escudero to deny any single one of the charges against his idol, the super-sinungaling, super-kurakot, super-mandaraya, super-killer super-president of this super-country of super-maids.
Oh yes, there was the ever-indefatigueable Dogleash Cagas, who has intellect rivaled only by garden tools, desperately trying to sound neutral at first (not yet given his new fertilizers?) but, I assume, got the signal from his staff that the much-awaited phone call has been received right there and then, swiftly switched to his old leash and back to pro-GMA mode. This sorry excuse for a Congressman who wanted us to believe he’s impartial, only proved that if he had another brain, it would be lonely.
I terribly missed the arguments of my other favorite Fruit Loops soaked in milk and honey in the dogfeed bowl called Congress due to more important things I had to attend to. But I would have loved to hear the musings of a Salacnib Baht-erina, the only living proof that evolution CAN go in reverse; a Money-ko Beinte-Bill-ya, the only clown who laughs at his own jokes (even if its on him); a Puros-pera Pichay who’s missing a few buttons on his remote control; a Puros-pera NoBraless who’s sooo booring I’d rather watch paint dry; a Markolekta whose successful mission with Marcos-clone Atty. OhLeaveHer Lozano last year got him enough lard to buy a cabinetful of wigs yet left none to pay his brain bill.
Oh, I would have loved to listen to Rodolfo Angtongnino debate his pointless arguments that never make its goal, like he couldn’t pour piss out of a boot with instructions on the heel. Its frustrating though that as Chairman, Simeon DatungManong wasn’t allowed his own arguments but I’m sure we heard his mind from the gavel he pounded an arm away, making sure it doesn’t hit his empty skull. His hollow threat to move the proceedings to the Andaya Hall (what better name can you call it!) backfired on him as it made him look silly staging a walkout on the heckling of people in the gallery. Hah, a people’s rep walking out of the people!
Ditto for zombies Coin-stantino Jaraula and Buenasing Mandaram.. I mean, Macarambon.
Today, soulless Tongressmen from the house of representa-thieves, headed by trapo de tutti trapi Joe De Vinili-sya, celebrate yet another early Christmas in August itching to get their hands on the balikbayan boxes of moolah to be handed soon by Santa Claus y Pidal under the missile-Toh. This is for nice boys and girls who stopped the 7 balikbayan boxes of evidence from being opened.
Yesterday’s spectacle wasn’t that entertaining after all. Whoever had the delusion that he was watching an Enchanted Kingdom circus couldn’t have it any worse. It was simply a game show. A numbers game show.
Kwarta o Kahon?
tongueinanew, nice one!!!!
nawili akong basahin ang sinulat mo sa itaas.
well, the tongressmen of gloria’s colour had spoken, favouring the peso sign, instead of the truth.
so the big question is: WHAT NOW?
what options are left for the pro-impeachment legislators and the complainants?
ang ipinagtataka ko, harap-harapan na ang panggagago ng mga for-sale na congressmen na yan, bakit walang magawa ang mga naapi? sino kaya ang pwedeng mamuno para mag-aklas na ang sambayanan?
sana, may maglakas loob na barilin si gloria….isang bala lang, tama na…..sa liit niyang yan? diretso sa ulo, para matapos na lahat na paghihirap na ito!!!
fencesitter:
During Nixon’s Watergate scandal, the democrats held the majority on the House and the Senate. Democrat Carl Albert was the Speaker of the House from 1971-1977. Democrat Mike Mansfield was the Senate Majority leader at that time.
Here’s more on which party held the majority during Watergate:
So it was very likely that Nixon would have been impeached by the House because Democrats held the majority, and would have been convicted too in the Senate because of the strong evidence against Nixon.
Yung sa kaso naman ni Clinton, the Republicans held a 55-45 majority in the Senate in 1999 w/ Sen. Trett Lott as Majority leader, but the Republicans could not even get a majority vote to convict Clinton. A few Republicans thought lying about sex didn’t rise to the level of an impeachable offense, and broke ranks with their own party and to acquit the president, as the 1st article of impeachment failed by a vote of 45-55, and the 2nd one by 50-50.
Here are the Republicans who voted to acquit Bill Clinton in 1999:
Yung Senate naman natin, some of the administration senators started out as Arroyo defenders, but because of the tapes and the testimonies of key witnesses (eg balutan, gudani, zuce), and as more evidence on election fraud came out, some have later switched sides or have become less vocal in their defense of Madam Arroyo.
The problem though fencesitter, is that alam ni Arroyo na hindi aakyat ang impeachment complaint sa Senado dahil hawak ni GMA ang mga Tongressman, so resignation is an option she’s not seriously considering.
IMO, the House is acting like Marcos’s Batasan. Noong 1985, may impeachment complaint rin laban kay Marcos, pero ibinasura lang ito ng mga kaalyado nito sa Batasan.
When will the House committee start playing the Garci tapes? especially the part about abducting Rashma Hali? If the House play the tapes, then tv stations like GMA7 and ABS-CBN can now be allowed to play the tapes on the air too, yes?
Or are they going to only record the sounds of the Garci tapes being played in the Batasan, and use this on their tv news programs, kahit na poor ang quality ng audio na ito?
johnmarzan, in case you still don’t know…impeachment was already killed. So, how can the Garci tapes be played in Congress? Rep. Gilbert Remulla was very upset after the impeachment killing. GMA’s paid allies claimed there were no new evidences; just recyled allegations. But Remulla insisted that they brought boxes of evidences to be presented as evidences but GMA’s allies refused to listen to their pleas. Time is ripe for REVOLUTION !
Thanks, Myrna. I just had to let some steam off, it’s my self-initiated therapy. In your case, however, shooting Gloria in the head may be the more fatal option than in the chest because she doesn’t have a heart. Doctors at St. Luke Hospital checked twice but didn’t find any. I won’t recommend assasination though. It’s way too easy of a punishment for the Diabolic Doña.
johnmarzan, if we have a truly functioning government (not this lame, dysfunctional, press-release governance), the House debates would have triggered automatic mass mobilizations in investigative agencies like AFP, PNP, NBI, Ombudsman, AMLC, Comelec, etc., but hey, under Gloria, it’s just fairytale fantasy. Like a teenager creaming his pants wet-dreaming sex bouts with Pamela Anderson. Justice isn’t as swift as, say, fat-ass pachyderm Mike Arroyo suing Jinggoy for libel or a Mike Arroyo dummy Customs official’s revenge on Raffy Tulfo, or Sir Raul O. Gonzales against anyone who hates his smirk. Look, Frank Chavez’ 2-year case against Jocjoc Bolante, so serious that reporter Marlene Esperat was perpetually silenced, is doing a Mona Lisa at the Ombudsman.
BTW, Alan Cayetano in his rebuttal spoke of the kinds of evidence contained in the boxes, like, hundreds of millions of dollars in bank accounts, even providing the account numbers, AMLC, a real one, should by now be working on it.
People like me are so helpless in this situation; I’m not even convinced Uncle Sam is looking in our direction, or Kofi Annan jumping into his superhero costume to save us from this hell anytime soon. George Bush has his own problems such as terrorism and his war economy that more Americans want him removed. I saw a picture of a woman carrying a placard that says, “Can’t anyone give Bush a blowjob so we can impeach him already?”
I’m feeling something in my guts that says the Subic rapists will be bargaining chips for Jocjoc Bolante or Michael Ray Aquino or even Atong Ang. The same gut however says Condi Rice who, like Bush, is a history scholar, knows her contemporary history on politics which dictates that a much abhorred, semi-dictatorial, de facto martial law regime such as Arroyo’s deserves immediate removal lest it becomes fertile breeding grounds for new terrorist cells America doesn’t need now more than ever. Such government also makes it difficult to legislate American-patterned anti-terrorist laws as what is happening here.
Chris Hill, a Bush top adviser was back in town recently, again, quietly. The last time he was here, the week-old PP 1017 was immediately lifted despite a bombing incident in Mindoro and 2 more, just a few hours before the announcement of the lifting, in Ortigas’ business district. As for the Amnesty International and the European Commission’s strongly worded condemnations of Arroyo’s terror reign, these might just be the forces of salvation now at work. Even Amb. Kirstie Kenney’s cancellation of Jocjoc’s visa is a welcome development I am even daring the other “fertilized” congressmen to try visiting US now to see if Jocjoc’s was an isolated case. Hehehe.
Sad, but I have to say it, we cannot do it on our own. It’s not our vaunted patience, as most would say, that is the culprit here. Not even our “pa-martir” virtue (that we nurtured from watching too much TV soap or too much BDSM from the web?) that’s keeping us somewhat apathetic to the issues at hand. It’s our nationalism that has failed us; the naivete of individualism that is the rule these days. Can’t blame them, either. Filipinos can barely survive in their daily struggles, courtesy of course of this evil tyrannical triumvirate of Gloria, her soldiers/police, and trapos, that they do not have the luxury of time nor the dispensable resources, nor the balls, to show the world that the Filipinos have remained decent, righteous, intelligent, proactive. Do we need another superhero to do the job while we wait in the sidelines? Or there isn’t just enough spoils in there for us to divide among us later.
Pathetic, isn’t it?
From The Philippine Star:
Pimentel slams House for abdicating role in upholding justice
08/18 12:56:03 PM
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. Thursday said the arbitrary dismissal of the impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo further exposes the House of Representatives’ subservience to Malacañang.
Pimentel also cited the House’ failure to discharge its constitutional role in pursuing the people’s quest for justice and truth.
“The death of the impeachment case means the death of the credibility of the House of Representatives. It also means that peaceful options to remove Gloria may narrow down precariously,” Pimentel said.
The minority leader said the despicable verdict of the House justice committee also confirms his worst fears that the administration congressmen are incapable of transcending their narrow personal and partisan political interests to protect the national welfare.
* * * *
Palace tired of allegations of electoral fraud, calls for people to ‘move on’
08/18 2:19:59 PM
Enough is enough, said Palace Friday on the accusations of electoral fraud against the Arroyo administration.
This was the gist of the statement made by Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye as two Commission on Elections employees have come out claiming to have been involved in an alleged conspiracy to rig the 2004 national elections in favor of President Gloria Arroyo.
“The never-ending allegations of electoral fraud have become a broken record to the ears of the people who have already chosen to move forward in view of growing opportunities awaiting the entire country if we would only work together as one team,” Bunye said.
He added, “The issue of poll fraud has long been laid to rest and it is time to shift all our energies instead to the pressing task of nation-building.”
“We cannot, and should not, allow these desperate moves and acts of gimmickry to distract the nation from moving forward in step with the rest of the world,” the presidential spokesperson noted.
One of the witnesses admitted that he participated in the switching of ballot boxes at the House of Representatives in 2005. The other witness admitted tampering a certificate of canvass from a Mindanao province to add more votes for Mrs. Arroyo.
Electoral fraud is one of the allegations in the second impeachment complaint filed against Mrs. Arroyo.