After we have savored the joy of seeing justice upheld and the Constitution protected, it’s time to prepare for more vicious strategies of Gloria Arroyo and her minions to carry out her plan to change the Constitution because that’s one of the few remaining survival options for her. (The other is martial law.)
Truth and justice triumphed in a tight score of 8-7. Much of it is credited to Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, who has surprised many with his independence and integrity in crucial issues concerning Arroyo’s attempts to curtail democracy despite the fact that he was appointed by her.
Panganiban is retiring on December 7. Top contender is Justice Reynato Puno, whose seniority in terms of years of service in the High Court was ignored by Arroyo when she chose Panganiban December last year.
If Puno would be the next chief justice, those who are blocking Arroyo and Jose de Venecia’s Cha-cha express, are in for a more difficult challenge. Just read his dissenting opinion on the petition of Singaw ng Bayan and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap) to push through with Charter Change through their fake People’s Initiative. Better yet compare it with the majority decision penned by Justice Antonio Carpio.
Carpio was clear about what People’s Initiative is as stated in Section 2, Article XVII of the Constitution. (Amendments to this Constitution may likewise be directly proposed by the people through initiative upon a petition of at least twelve per centum of the total number of registered voters of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum of the registered voters therein.)
Carpio said: “The essence of amendments ‘directly proposed by the people through initiative upon a petition’ is that the entire proposal on its face is a petition by the people. This means two essential elements must be present. First, the people must author and thus sign the entire proposal. No agent or representative can sign on their behalf. Second, as an initiative upon a petition, the proposal must be embodied in a petition.”
Carpio brilliantly dissected Singaw and Ulap’s petition and exposed it as merely an initiative of Raul Lambino and Eric Aumentado and their backers. In short, it was a fake People’s Initiative.
“The Lambino Group claims that their initiative is the ‘people’s voice.’ However, the Lambino Group unabashedly states in ULAP Resolution No. 2006-02, in the verification of their petition with the Comelec that ‘ULAP maintains its unqualified support to the agenda of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for constitutional reforms.’ The Lambino Group thus admits that their ‘people’s’ initiative is an ‘unqualified support to the agenda’ of the incumbent President to change the Constitution. This forewarns the Court to be wary of incantations of ‘people’s voice’ or ‘sovereign will’ in the present initiative,” Carpio said.
This is what Puno said: “Oppositors-intervenors contend that petitioners Lambino and Aumentado are not the proper parties to file the instant petition as they were not authorized by the signatories in the petition for initiative.
“The argument deserves scant attention. The Constitution requires that the petition for initiative should be filed by at least twelve percent (12%) of all registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three percent (3%) of all the registered voters therein. The petition for initiative filed by Lambino and Aumentado before the Comelec was accompanied by voluminous signatures.”
Puno also said: “At the very least, the power to propose substantial amendments to the Constitution is shared with the people. We should accord the most benign treatment to the sovereign power of the people to propose substantial amendments to the Constitution especially when the proposed amendments will adversely affect the interest of some members of Congress. A contrary approach will suborn the public weal to private interest…”
In his conclusion, he said: “The people’s voice is sovereign in a democracy. Let us hear them. Let us heed them.”
He believes that what Lambino and Aumentado are pushing is the voice of the people? I cannot fault impoverished and uneducated people for being taken by Singaw and Ulap’s propaganda but a Supreme Court justice?
In fairness to Puno, he did not categorically uphold Singaw and Ulap’s desire to proceed with their Cha-Cha express. He wanted it sent back to the Comelec “as it is the body that is mandated by the Constitution to administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum and recall.”
Some say it was an astute vote, career-wise. He did not vote to reject the fake People’s Initiative. There’s no reason for Gloria Arroyo not to finally make him chief justice come December. Once he gets it, he can do a Panganiban and think of his lasting legacy to the Filipino people which is a Supreme Court that defends and protects the Constitution.
Email from Alfredo Calayag:
I thought the reason why the Comelec passed on the PI
to the SC is because of the SC’s own ruling in 1997
that there is no enabling law? Since up to this time,
there is still no enabling law for PI on Chacha, is it
not only prudent for Justice Puno to say that the
initiative be sent back to the proponents to work on
the law first instead of saying that it should be sent
back to the Comelec? I am not a lawyer but I can
understand his opinion about PI because we have an
established law on how to do it, but to send it back
to Comelec? Correct me if I’m wrong but if I’m right,
I don’t think he should be the next Chief. Thanks a
lot for your time.
Sincerely,
Alfredo Calayag
Alfredo, it was not comelec who brought the issue to the Supreme Court but Sigaw ng Bayan (someone said Singaw ng Bayad. it think it’s more appropriate) and Ulap.
In the 1997 ruling penned by Davide hat said there is no enqabling law for PI, Panganiban and Puno dissented saying R.A 6735 is adequate as an enabling law.
In Puno’s dissenting opinion now, he said something like since the vote then was 6-7, the theory that there is no enabling law for P.I. is not cast in stone.
By remanding the issue to the Comelec, Puno was prepared to take the position of the majority that Singaw and Ulap’s signature campaign was a fake People’s Initiative.
That’s what I cannot accept in Puno’s dissenting opinion. For one not to see that Lambino and Aumentado’s signature gathering exercise was a fake people initiative (it was a Malacañang initiative using taxpayers’ money) is turning a blind eye to a crime staring at your face.
Maybe the lawyers among our bloggers (paging fencesitter) has a more intelligent explanation.
Re your comment “Correct me if I’m wrong but if I’m right,
I don’t think he should be the next Chief.” Why?
Email from Efren Guerrero:
Maligayang maligaya po kami dito sa Qatar sa pagkakabasura ng Supreme sa PI ng Sigaw ng bayan… Binabati po namin ang mga lady justices na bumuto against People Initiative. Mabuhay po silang lahat at totoo kayo na lang po ang kakampi ng nakararaming Filipino. Pagpalain po nawa kayo ng panginoong nasa Langit. We salute you….
OCW
Regards
Efren B. Guerrero
Draftsman (Const.Department)
Overseas Bechtel Inc (NDIA)
Doha, State of Qatar
To Ellen and Alfredo:
“…but to send it back to Comelec? Correct me if I’m wrong but if I’m right, I don’t think he should be the next Chief”
If the basis for his non-appointment will be Puno’s view to send back to the Comelec the petition of Sigaw, then its a very hasty generalization, a huge injustice to the previous judicial performance of Justice Puno.
For everybody’s information – the legal issue in the SC is this – did the Comelec commit an error in denying the petition of Sigaw? If the SC grants the petition of Sigaw, it will still be sent back to the Comelec, for further deliberation and verification, and the holding of a plebiscite, if found meritorious. In short, there is still a long way for cha-cha to take effect, even if Sigaw won in the SC. (of course, admittedly, in history, a ‘Yes’ vote has yet to lose in a plebiscite)
Baka kasi ang iniisip ng nakararami, pag nanalo ang Sigaw sa SC, approved na ang cha-cha! Hinde ganun!
As to an enabling law on amendments by people’s initiative, Joaquin Bernas, the constitutional law expert and Con-COm member, says RA 6735 is a sufficient enabling law.
“That’s what I cannot accept in Puno’s dissenting opinion. For one not to see that Lambino and Aumentado’s signature gathering exercise was a fake people initiative (it was a Malacañang initiative using taxpayers’ money) is turning a blind eye to a crime staring at your face.”
The SC is not a trier of facts. Whether or not the PI is a fake is up for the Comelec to ascertain.
Sorry Ellen, but from the start, you are already pre-disposed against the PI, you have prejudged it, so I find your comment “…a fake people initiative (it was a Malacañang initiative using taxpayers’ money)turning a blind eye to a crime staring at your face” biased, and not coming from a detached observer. You’re just being true to form.
anthony scalia,
this is ellen’s blog and yes we could see her bias. but this is a blog and blogs are opinion driven. i guess there’s a difference between a columnist and a journalist.
This PI of SOB (Sorry, this means ‘Sigaw Of Bayan’) was not really from the initiative of the people. The initiative was traced to come from the Arroyo camp and from De Venecia. This Lambino used to work as liason officer of JDV, so we do not wonder anymore why and who he works for in this SOB.
When the FVR PI was junked with a 6-7 vote, it became a precedent. The Comelec therefore was correct to junk the Arroyo PI.
Puno didn’t show respect to that SC ruling by still sticking to his own dissenting opinion. For that alone, he has shown strong bias for his personal beliefs and therefore lowers his qualification as the next chief justice, in my opinion.
Anthony scalia, ellen’s ‘bias’ is based on real-world facts. Unlike the SC, as individuals, we are our own ‘trier of facts’.
If the SC is not a “trier” of facts, then what are its functions? Just wondering why those PIG proponents filed their appeal in the SC and not in the Comelec. Something must be wrong with their thinking. In that case, if we go by the reasoning that the SC is not a “trier” of facts, then those eight justices who decided against the PIG for reasons that it’s not a real PI due to its infirmities are stupid or maybe even insane because they did what they were not supposed to do, distinguished the fact from fiction. In other words, they don’t know what their functions are and they usurped a function that exclusively belongs to the Comelec. Shame on them, why are they still their sitting in that court?
Anyway, the real battle is still ahead after Panganiban. Puno is a sure bet to be the next chief of the SC. There’s a promise, and promise is a promise and he has shown himself to be a willing tool politically. But still the question is will he stick to his original position after he gets the post? Maybe his sense of wisdom will come into play at the right moment. He may not like to be tagged as one of the “Siete Hudas” who betray the trust of the majority of the Filipino people by giving in to whims of an egomaniacal queen of evil.
Di ba sabi ni bunyeta na we will respect the decision of the Supreme Court. Eh ano naman itong U-turn na ginagawa nila.
Sa administrasyong ito, expect the opposite when they say something that can affect their interest negatively. Walang mga palabra de honor. Sabagay di ba yung amo nila ang nagsabi I will not run ngunit tumakbo pa rin.
Gusto ng mga alipures ni Arroyo na mag bulag bulagan ang korte sa mga kalokohang ginawa nila.
Daming peke signatures. Pati ako nakapirma daw. Susme. Eh sinong pumirma sa pangalan ko?
Jun
Wat about Manila Standard, Philippine Star, Manila Times at Manila Bulletin? At not to mention NBN, RPN 9 at IBC. Throw in some GMA anchormen. Yung mabilis na mag bigkas nag magandang at bangon na!
Ellen Tordesillas has her opinion and I believe its the right one.
Ang problema kasi nila jun, hindinapinoy at anthony scalia ay kahit kailan inuuna nilang defendaha ang bulok na administration ni Gloria, o kaya iniiba ang usapan. Sana naman kahit minsan, inuuna nila maging Pilipino at kapakanan ng Pilipinas. Nakakasawa na.
Ms. Ellen’s opinions are well within the limits of a healthy conscience. She can tell a FAKE president from a REAL one. I think most of us can, except a few. Sadly, these few people CAN NOT anymore tell right from wrong; lies from the truth; bogus from genuine. These few lack scruples. And so like Gloria, we can not expect anything more than what they are.
Hindinapinoy, what’s the difference between a columnist and journalist? Can you please explain? I think a journalist is an occupation, more than a profession, that explains one’s being bias. And such style carries to blogs like this. I thought I was the only one who believed that.
Jun,
Ang blog ay katulad din ng isang bahay. Kung gusto mong pumasok sa bahay ng may bahay e magpakita ka naman ng kagandahang asal. Kung gusto mo mo naman, gumawa ka ng sarili mong blog at doon ka magsawang manlait.
Alam mo Jun, mahirap yung maliban sa nakakaantala tayo sa pag-usad ng kaisipan at sibilisasyon e nakakasira pa tayo sa good manners and right conduct hane!
now that the SC made a milestone decission.its us filipinos,who made all kind of prayers to make this happen that the PI initiative of GMA and JDV to be thrown in the trash bin,the destiny is ours..it is now for us to make a move to oust GMA and her evil minions..no amount of persuation or pressure that GMA will succomb to the will of majority of filipinos for her to resign..with all this setback and negative image that GMA has been recieving from the SC and from the international community,she is still in malacanang as if daring us all that she is in control no matter what kind of decission we all give her.GMA and JDV still have the guts and courrage to say that they still have a plan b or the con ass..why not all of us now unite and we do a civil disobedience..no payment of taxes,and we have all relatives in the goverment in the AFP and PNP to convince them that it is now the time to cut ties and withdraw support with this illegitimate goverment of GMA,we write all the world leaders that it is now time to cut ties with GMA,i know this is harsh but i think this is the only solution that we could oust GMA,all the evil minions of GMA in the goverment dont have a single respect to common filipinos,they are there to protect GMA that is only their agenda..look at DOJ gonzales.he issued a hold order departure to Rep Ocampo,and his reason is that Rep Ocampo when in abroad is telling all the truth about GMA`s corruption,cheating,lying and killing of innocent civilians.what kind of people are this..can we not do something to oust them for the more they stay in the goverment..the bigger their the damages they are doing to us!!
27 OCtober 2006
The real reason why panganiban sided with the anti-chacha is because JDV went out to talk to him and pressuring him on the SCs decision, buti nga
prans
Ellen:
I just got back from a work at the TV, but no one is talking about the decision of the Bansot to reject the SC ruling and go on with the ChaCha even when newspapers here had posted such news in their inner pages—not worth getting a space in the front page for some reason. What is more interesting to the Japanese apparently is the racket on the illegal importation of kidneys from the Philippines. Di bale kung kidney ng baka for such English delicacy as the kidney pies!!! 😛
Yes, I got this news from Yomiuri Daily, and it says:
The Philippine President said Thursday she was committed to shifting to a parliamentary government to shore up the country’s unstable democracy, despite the Supreme Court’s rejection if a petition to change the Constitution.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s opponents hailed the court’s ruling as a victory for democracy, saying the president’s plan to replace the current U.S.-style two-chamber legislature with a unicameral parliament through a referendum was a political ploy to strengthen her grip on power.
******
But the nerve of this bogus president to claim via the radio that “This is a democracy and we follow the rule of law. The sublime idea of reforming the Constitution is alive and its fire should continue to shine.”
Oh yeah? Does this crook really understands what she is talking about? Democracy she says when she would not even recognize the rule of the majority, and what fire is she talking about? The fire of hell? Gosh, why can’t she and her minions not realize that they are in fact quoting the Prince of Darkness, and even dare brag that they are “legions” described in the Bible as the disembodied spirits driven out of heaven or whom a lot many know as the fallen angels!!!
May they then rot in hell!!! 😡
ellen,
if we dont do something,and GMA and JDV and their evil minions still in power till end of this year!! after all
the SC the senate with sen magsaysay doing everything to expose the fertilizer scam,mayor binay stand against his
suspension and erap with his supporter lambasting the corrupt regime,the cbcp gomburza and yes the ngo`s and
the partylist,students and all sectors.and us blogers who have expose all the evil of GMA and FG,and still the
filipinos ignore all this crime of GMA.we might all be the one be in hell!! let us now oust GMA and her evil minions,,the soonest the better,,lets have a civil disobedience,,till all of this evil,feel the heat.
Oops, grammatical error. Sorry, but this should read: Does this crook really UNDERSTAND what she is talking about? ‘Kala mo naman talagang democratic ang palakad niya! Bobo!!!
Ocayvalle:
Kulang pa siguro ang dasal ng mga pilipino? Kunting dasal pa. Matutupad mo na ang pangarap mo!
BTW, Ellen, did you get my message about the meeting with the parliamentarians here on Monday re the political killings, etc.inthe Philippines. Will appreciate additional input if you have that I can distribute to the Diet members attending the consultation meeting with Filipino and Japanese NGO’s. Thanks and best regards! Mukhang maluluto si Bansot kaya humihingi ng tulong sa mga intsik ngayon!!!
Hindina pinoy and Npongco:
There several categories of journalists (A journalist is one who writes or edits in a media company.)
Just a few of the categories are reporters, columnists, editor.
So a columnist is a journalist.
A columnist is one who writes opinion columns.
I thought we should be used by now! One way or the other, legally or illegaly, law and/or without the law of the land, with or without the Supreme Court, bogus Gloria will get her way, matter not what the Supreme Court ruling of no ruling. 8 -7 votes by the Supreme Court is just a minor set back. And bogus Gloria still calling the shot, absolutely. Your very life is no meaning to bogus Gloria, all she has to do is snap her fingers. Bogus Gloria’s immoral tricks are unlimited as her public funds being used to payoff those need to be paid, a deep well that she can get her hands on it unabated. It’s about money and everything in the Phillipines has a price, and bogus Gloria knows it just too well. Bogus Gloria learned the hard way from the Marcosses, and she perfected the art of corruption.
We all know Gloria’s crimes against the people, and no need to keep rehashing them. There is only way to stop Gloria’s regime is to kick Gloria’s butt out of Malacanang by force. Probably, is not the ultimate answer to bring peace and prosperity to the country, but at least we got rid of one corrupt bogus Gloria.
There is no other way! And the talking point is just what it is, to get you high blood pressure up if one is not careful.
One thing the Filipinos can do perhaps to prevent the Midget from availing of funds is to lobby for countries overseas not to lend money or provide grants especially to government-sponsored projects where the money can be siphoned to the Pidal funds. Another is for OFWs (this has been suggested a lot of times by concerned Filipinos overseas in fact) not to send any remittance to the Philippines until the Midget resigns. Dapat kasi may ipon na ang mga pamilya ng mga OFWs. Sakripisyo kailangan sa totoo lang!
The pressure most of all must come from the Filipinos themselves in the country, even from government employees who are held by the neck by these crooks who are pulling the strings even when they actually do not have the right to do so.
Or, pray hard that God will hear your prayers that He removes these crooks from their positions by all means possible, and remove them permanently, never ever have the chance to return to power!!!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Bogus Gloria doesn’t need to change the constitution to remain in power. You got to give her a credit, thus far she’s doing an excellent job of throwing everybody off guard. We must admit, bogus Gloria’s machine(s) are on top of everything. And no need to remind bogus Gloria of what are the stake, most especially for her survival. And bogus Gloria has beat everything the oppostions has threw at her, and bogus Gloria still in our house. Like I said once, burn that doggone Malacanang to ground, it’s a sure way of moving bogus Gloria out of Malacanang and at the same time we rid of our ties to Spain. Since, Malacanang is nothing but a left over from the atrocities done by the Espanol. Lets erase such memory and bogus Gloria mostly.
Puno is just a loyal servant of bogus Gloria and has no real power, only what bogus Gloria dictated directly to him. And how many more of Puno’s are there at the disposal of bogus Gloria? Unlimited resources of Puno, and if not Puno it would be somebody else will take his place in heart beat, because bogus Gloria got what there ego can feed. It’s the rotten system and bogus Gloria’s defile machine(s) the Pilipino Nation is fighting against. Bogus Gloria’s machine(s) are seemed like working as a one unit while the opposition are all over the place without an established planned. “Hate bogus Gloria” is not a sufficient weapon to enter to jump in the battle with bogus Gloria. Just ain’t!
Ellen,
I am terribly wary of Carpio – that he might land the job of chief justice gives me the shivers.
He is a legal genius perhaps but he is just as Machiavellic as Gloria.
Those two will divide the spoils.
Correct, to stop bogus Gloria’s machine(s) is to deny bogus Gloria’s of public funds to payoff the Generals and others, without that mullahs to corrupt others, no support by the Generals and other thieves. Then the Generals has to work for a living for change. It might kill them, but at least they’ll find out how the others lived and to do without.
I’m not buying it! Cha-Cha is nothing but a diversion on the numerous Gloria’s arsenal. Don’t under estimate bogus Gloria’s henerales, I’m sure they are all in combat room strategising the next move. Bogus Gloria got more devious immoral plans under her skirt than the fishes in the Pacific Ocean. You can bet, Gloria’s working machine(s) ain’t sleeping, laughing and having a good beer time and mahjong in Malacanang. Bogus Gloria when the smoke is cleared she’ll be atop with delight on her face. She’ll say to herself, did it again, I saw, I came, I conquered.
Back to drawing board!
Reminder to everyone and a reality check. Bogus Gloria is not going to stop the immoral acts until she has put to stop. Bogus Gloria is in too deep now to quit. She’ll do everything in her power and disposal in her arsenal so she doesn’t have serve a jail time. And that you can take to Jose Pidal Bank Account. Just like money in the bank!
To beat bogus Gloria in her game, you’ve to be smarter than Illegitimate Gloria. Friends, that is reality of fact.
“Battle Ahead” is a one way street, and already pre-determined outcome of who’s going to be on top when it’s all over. Without the benefit of the doubt, again like money in the bank, bogus Gloria loves to be on top, it’s the position she’s more very comfortable with. Bogus Gloria being at the top, she understand as a woman that she is, she can control all the movement below her. So, bogus Gloria has an unfair immoral advantage going into battle. You may not like bogus Gloria’s trust behavior, but what anyone can do but to succumb to her overpowering force. Furthermore, bogus Gloria is now in cruise control, unstopable like an express choo-choo on northrail train.
Email from Nick Jalandoni:
Ellen,
You wrote a good column today. Justice Panganiban is a complete contrast to Justice (daw) Davide. He was a bloody politician and his actions confirmed it. Thank God he is out of the Supreme Court. He finally has taken is veil off and showed the world he is beholden to GMA.
Are robbers and thieves really that smarter just because they cannot be caught yet? I wonder! For what the Midget and her minions are doing are actually highway robbery. If you, guys, do not know it yet, I’m sorry for you!
So Ellen, you’re saying a columnist and journalist are the same which hindinapinoy thinks otherwise. I also think so. Perhaps we could just say there are genuine journalists who took up journalism course and make this as a career and profession. And there are those who make this as their hobby and interest. The late Blas Ople never studied journalism; but he became one of the best writers in the country. My question would have been better asked like this: Is it an occupation for some or profession? This time, there’s a difference between occupation and profession. I think it’s an occupation for you, Ellen.
Ellen,
I am one of those who believe that your professionalism in the field of journalism is commendable.
As an occupation, journalism may not earn a reporter, a columnist, even an editor the enormous wealth that say, someone in national politics can earn but it certainly is a more than a worthwhile occupation and a morally enriching one.
We all know that not many are gifted with the talent to write about the news of the day, to the dissect or analyze political issues and most of all, to have the moral backbone to refuse overtures from powers that be for monetary compensations or social and political prestige.
The country needs journalists of your caliber, Ellen. Your occupation today is a hazardous one but I am confident that with the grace of God, you will continue to report on, dissect the issues, inform us Filipinos at home and abroad of what is happening in our country and to help right the wrong wherever and whenever it happens.
Npongco, for a journalist, writing is both an occupation and a profession. Even if a person did not finish a journalism course, as long as he/she practices writing as a profession, he/she is in the category of a journalist which can take many forms in the field of print and broadcast media. Ellen is a true journalist in and out, meaning education and practice wise.
I worked with the late Blas Ople for many years. And you are right, he’s one of the best writers of our time. Hindi siya nakatapos mag-aral pero ang pagsusulat became his bread and butter (occupation) in his early adult life and a profession until his death.
So, the topic/issue now are about journalists/columnists/reporters/writers/etc? Are we being waylaid from the real issues of the day? Just curious and asking.
well florry, kasama iyan kapag merong nagsimulang isa. besides, blog ito ni Ellen, at ang issues na may kinalaman sa kanya ay isyu rin dito, kung may nagsisimula. just my opinion :). kung baga ay recess muna…
Tama ka chi, kaya lang sa napakatagal ng panahon, (more than 25 years, I guess) na nagsusulat si Ellen, hindi ko makita ang dahilan ng mga nagtatanong at nag-dududa sa kaniyang, sabihin na nating credibility bilang isang journalist/columnist I’ve been following her columns since the time of Marcos, and all I can see is her being consistent on all issues she dwells on. Often times I disagree on how she sees things, but I really respect and love to read her columns even if it doesn’t run parallel with my opinion.
Ang akin lang ay baka may sadyang nang-li-ligaw, kasi, hindi naman dapat na maging issue o subject pa ng discussion natin dito si Ellen. She runs this blog and if anyone who doesn’t like the way she runs it, puwede namang huwag ng sumali. That’s how I see it.
florry,
ang sa akin ay pagsita sa sinabi ni anthony scalia na nakikita ang bias ni ellen. ang sinasabi ko lang naman ay hindi masama na maging bias dahil kung ikaw ay columnist, opinyon mo ang isinusulat mo at ang blog na ito ay parang extension ng mga column ni ellen. tingnan mo sa amerika, ilang mga columnist ang bumabatikos / nagtatanggol sa administrasyon ni bush? tinitira din sila. kung ikaw ay isang columnist, handa ka rin dapat sa mga puna, sa pagbatikos dahil ang isinasaad mo ay iyong mga kuro-kuro at palagay. dapat ba nating pag-usapan ito? lumalayo ba tayo sa isyu? sa palagay ko ay hindi dahil isinasaayos lamang natin ang dapat kung ano ba ang masama sa pagpapalitan ng ating mga nasasaloob. hindi ko alam kung gaano na katagal ang blog na ito ni ellen. sana naman ay huwag ninyong akusahan ang isang naiiba ang pananaw na ito agad ay maka-gloria. kung ayaw kayo kay gloria, dapat bang punahin agad kayo na maka erap, na maka marcos? sa una kung pagsali dito ay inisip ko ang gagamitin kong pangalan. hindinapinoy ang ginamit ko dahil iyon ang aking nadarama sa ngayon. ayaw ko na sa pilipino pero mahal ko pa rin ang pilipinas.
Hindipinoy,
Re: “lumalayo ba tayo sa isyu? sa palagay ko ay hindi dahil isinasaayos lamang natin ang dapat kung ano ba ang masama sa pagpapalitan ng ating mga nasasaloob.”
Sangayon ako sa sinasabi mo.
anna,
salamat. bago ako sumali dito, tinanong ko ang sarili ko kung ako ba ay makakatulong o makakasira. ano ba ang layunin ko dito gayong parang suko na ako sa pilipino? pabasa-basa muna ako sa mga kuro-kuro bago ako nagpasya na makisali. kung may panahon ka, bisitahin mo ang website na ito:
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut?bid=7&pid=132674
ito ay isang blog ng isa sa mga paborito kong columnist na si KATRINA VANDEL HEUVEL. makikita mo dito ang isang masiglang talakayan na kasali na ang pagbatikos kay katrina.
anna,
salamat at naintindihan mo ang layunin ko.
kung may panahon ka, iminumungkahi ko na puntahan ninyo ang website na ito:
http://www.thenation.com
makikita ninyo dito ang ibat-ibang columnists. ang paborito ko ay si KATRINA VANDEN HEUVEL. makikita ninyo dito ang masiglang talakayan na hindi iniinda ng mga columnists ang pagbatikos sa kanila.
Credited Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban? I’m questioning Artemio’s independence and integrity as mentioned in talking point. Lets not so quick to praise the man who gave us illegitimate Gloria at Edsa 2. Not so long ago, in which the reason why we are in such rotten mess. Artemio and Hilario and along with others justices conspired,planned and conspired to rape the constitution and sold their supreme souls to the devil bogus Gloria. I remember it too well! Because of Artemio and Hilario, many innocent human being have died, perhaps approx. 800, thereabout. Billion of Pesos has been stolen and squandered. People’s sovereign rights has been denied. Artemio Panganiban and Hilario Davide instead of protecting and guarding the rights of the Pilipinos to choose their leaders, both celebrated in destroying the very basic foundation of the Republic of the Philippines. It’s little too late to repent, damaged has already been inflicted and the wound just too deep to forget.
Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban was part of the problem, and not the solution.
The battle ahead is the propaganda war. The charter change issue is a wholesale diversionary tactics employed by bogus President Gloria Arroyo and her cohorts. Malacanang propagandists are celebrating because squid tactics works in favor of their master. The main issues of this bankrupt regime are being diverted to Jose De Venecia’s derailed Dagupan CON-ASS Express train and Raul Lambino’s fake people’s initiative. The issue on GMA legitimacy, cheating and cover-ups of electoral fraud, fertilizer scam, OWWA trust funds scam, Jose Pidal money laundering case and many other anomalies have no final resolution so far. Why? Are they still investigating? Where’s justice? The criminals and bloodsuckers are bleeding our country dry under the corrupt Arroyo regime and seems nobody can stop them. Roast these inbreed bastards and let scavengers feast their pea size-brain.
Don’t abuse your freedom of expression! We don’t have to be here, yet we chooses to be part of this blog. We all know who manage the blog, if you feel you’re not being treated fairly by our host, ika nga sa aming Barrio, “don’t let the door hit you on the way out.” Make peace to yourself and go on. Enough against the host has been said unfairly and unfounded, it’s becoming too monotonous. The host of this blog is not your enemy, just keep that in your mind when you start typing an insulting remarks to her direction.
Supreme Court and Congress are nothing but bogus Gloria’s toys that she can play and manipulate at will whenever she get her fancy. Obviously, bogus Gloria doesn’t recognize both branches in her world of enchanted kingdom. She has been doing this game since the day both bogus Gloria and Miguel plotted and planned to subvert the legitimate government of President Estrada. And this when it all started when the Supreme Court and Congress conceded surrendered willingly without so much of firing a shot, the sovereign rights of the people. Thanks to Artemio Panganiban and Hilario Davide, both wimp out on the people. I think there is word for it, for those type of people, betrayal, I believe.
Supreme Court and Congress are useless branches of government without real power. If they do, probably they haven’t found them. They both like to bark but when bogus Gloria growl back, both branches will run with tails tuck between their legs. It has been just too familiar, the game they played. Laughable, and people’s so gullible to buy in to it. Surely, I heard of those hard learner, but this is so ridiculous.
ellen,
“A columnist is one who writes opinion columns”.
amen. that is what i was trying to say.
and i was just pointing out, opinions are not facts although opinions can be drawn from checking credible information and hard evidence.
Back to issue, I read both the decisions of both ponentes, Carpio and Puno repeatedly. I find Carpio’s more technical, and strongly-worded at that. Puno’s wanted to skip the facts and have COMELEC decide it for themselves, a lame excuse hiding behind the “not a trier of facts rule”. I heard the lady lawyer from SC media office yesterday who said yes it was a rule, but it’s not a hard and fast rule. She just made Puno look stupid. That’s if he isn’t one already.
Remember the argument of anti-impeachment dogs regarding attachment of evidence to the complaint as one reason they are convinced it is incomplete in substance? This SC decision is one fast karma. Carpio belabored the point on the attachment of the draft constitution for all signatories to examine before signing. He went a step further by accusing the chacha draft proponents with “logrolling” which was deliberately done to make the draft look lean at face value but in reality was really revision which automatically disqualifies people’s initiative as a mode to effect Chacha. To wit:
Section 4(4). Within forty-five days from ratification of these amendments, the interim Parliament shall convene to propose amendments to, or revisions of, this Constitution consistent with the principles of local autonomy, decentralization and a strong bureaucracy.
Imagine chacha to give birth to more chacha in just 45 days! (Parang manok na leghorn!) And not just that, It’s been hiding more things even people like us who have been digging deep into it never even heard of. Like the interim Senators who have been allowed to stay on as parliament reps are terminated on June 2010 – WITH or WITHOUT ELECTIONS! While the present congressmen will stay even if no elections will ever happen in this country after the shift to parliamentary. Let me choose 1,000 people from the list of supposed signatories and I will ask them to explain that to me if there’s such possibility. I’m sure no one can answer. Which proves that people din’t really know what they were signing up for.
The other difference is that Carpio didn’t find it necessary to revisit Santiago vs. PIRMA since the petition was infirm in the first place as it violated the constitution, while Puno sounded sour-graping on his losing vote in that case.
Finally, Carpio called the petition fraudulent and that rejecting it was to protect the constitution from those who disrespect it. He named many points to prove it while Puno said it’s sovereign will and it must be allowed.
It’s like hearing Abalos declare cheatin’ Gloria was duly elected while the whole counry disagrees. Mahiya ka naman Puno!
Masalimuot pala ang papel na ginampanan ng The Firm dito sa Chacha. Todo ang galit ng Malacañang. Biruin mo sila Simeon Marcelo, Nonong Cruz, Tony Carpio puro mga senior partners ng the Firm na inappoint, tapos nung sumulat ng desisyong pinakaaasahan sa lahat ng kliyente, inilaglag na, binugbog pa! Matinding away ito. Malamang malaking pera ang involved.
Malalaman natin kung tutoo ang tsismis pag umalis na ang Villaraza & Angangco sa LTA bldg ni first gentlepig. Pati nga pala legal adviser ni Donya, pinaltan na ni “Mr. Wetness” Apostol. May kinalaman ba dito sa away si Al Agra na Abugado ng Singaw ng Bayad at abogado ni Gloria at Lakas nung eleksiyon? Sibakin na kayang tuluyan ang the Firm ni Pancho Villaraza? Abangan!
Wala ka bang natutunugan, Ellen?
Parang basang sisiw itong Singaw ng Bayan. Sige mag-rally kayo at kasama ang mga patay na nakapirma sa petition. Isama ninyo si Pandak at kanyang hakot-palakpak brigade. Anak ng jueteng, tama na ang drama dahil tapos na ang moro-moro ninyo. Bakit mag-resign si Justice Carpio? Si Pandak ang dapat itapon sa basurahan.
Sigaw ng Bayan calls for Carpio’s resignation
By Evelyn Macairan
The Philippine Star 10/28/2006
Charter change advocate Sigaw ng Bayan called yesterday for the resignation of Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and warned of massive street protests in the coming days to press for his ouster.
Sigaw secretary general Efren de Luna said they are pressing for the resignation of Carpio, author of the majority decision of the Supreme Court last Wednesday that junked the petition seeking to change the Constitution through a people’s initiative.
Sigaw spokesman Raul Lambino said they will file a motion for reconsideration of the ruling next week, after All Saints’ Day.
TongueInAnew:
Some concerned Filipinos then should follow the Fatso around when he goes to Hong Kong or Switzerland and take pictures. It’s time someone tails the Fatso to prove the anomalies he is said to be engaged in.
Over here, what this guy does, I am told, is company hop with some sipsip in the Philippine Embassy when he comes with the wife and her parties in what they now call as working visit when someone has criticized her calling her globetrotting as state visits even when they are not.
Nabisto iyan in fact, when she came to Japan a day after the 9/11 attack and the airport was opened for her out of courtesy even when there were no Japanese official around to greet her. Sinabi na nga kasing may crisis nagpumilit pa rin. That trip in fact was a waste of money because I doubt if she had been able to achieve anything with no one available to attend to her because everybody was busy making sure that Japan was safe, the Japanese victims accounted for, and their families properly assisted.
The Bansot would not even have such concern. Sobra kasi ang yabang at tiwala sa sarili!!! 😡
TongueInAnew:
Note that I did not say “he is involved in” but “he is engaged in.”
TongueInAnew: Supreme Court and Congress are useless branches of government without real power. If they do, probably they haven’t found them. They both like to bark but when bogus Gloria growl back, both branches will run with tails tuck between their legs. It has been just too familiar, the game they played. Laughable, and people’s so gullible to buy in to it. Surely, I heard of those hard learner, but this is so ridiculous.
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The truth is that this is not something that we can laugh about. Tama ka, TongueInAnew, for what you say about the Supreme Court and Congress being made useless especially by all these open and hidden declarations by the bogus president. This should alarm everyone as a matter of fact. They should now take the cue that enough is enough. She should not get to phase 2 of their plan to make her a queen!
Ang lakas pa ng loob na sabihing improved economy even when we all know the state the country is in that Filipinos would prefer to stay in prison overseas than go home to the Philippines.
Just the other day, I went to visit a Filipino woman in jail who was arrested for theft and robbery. When I told her that her lawyer may try to negotiate for her to be just deported to the Philippines immediately but that would mean no more chance to visit Japan ever or she stays in jail and finish her jail term. She opted for the latter.
When I asked her why, she replied, “Ganoon din, Ate, gutom din ang abot doon. Magtratrabaho na lang ako sa kulungan. Baka makaipon pa!” Susmaryosep! 🙁
Mr. Jalandoni is right about Davide, Ellen. At least, now I can laugh at my fellow UP Alumni who were all praise for Davide, who spoke at the UP commencement exercise after EDSA 2 and everybody went agaga about his role in the said EDSA. Now, we know that there was nothing heroic about what he did then!
I was not deceived as a matter of fact. Not that I really liked Estrada, but I thought there was a better way of bringing him to justice for whatever he did during his reign as president with due respect to those who unanimously voted for him—83% of the voting population of the Philippines, the highest in fact in Philippine history compared to the bogus president who got her present position by hocus-pocus of a well-know vote-rigger. Everybody knows it but how come she is not brought to justice?
Hindinapinoy, you hit the bull’s eye. A columnist writes opinion column. So, an opinion can be bias. Bias doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad per se. Bias can be in favor or against anyone or subject the writer is trying to bring to the readers. During the Marcos regime, anti-Marcos journalists (like Ellen) wrote columns against him. When Cory was selected (not elected) as President, pro-Cory journalists (I think Ellen was also one) wrote columns favorable to her. Ellen was anti-Marcos and pro-Cory. If she denies this, she has no business to continue her profession. I’ve also been watching her columns since the beginning. In fact, I don’t think she wrote favorably of Erap. It’s only know that we see her fights this hard against GMA, a fake and cruel leader. Right, Ellen?
In my understanding of Justice Puno’s dissent, he did not disagree with Justice Carpio’s ruling/position. What was not clear to me was that JP did not disagree, yet maintains that the 6 million signatures, solicited under doubtful circumstances, was reflective of the people’s will. Paano nangyari ‘yon? Mukhang lihis sa lohika. Is it my non-legal brain or the result of Glue’s pressure on JP?
Chi, the Puno family doesn’t have a good reputation even as early as the time of Marcos. Among the Punos, this current DILG Sec. is the worst. He was placed by Gloria in that department to manipulate and operate for her.
Who say that people without guns and ammunition cannot pull down a crook from his/her exalted position? In fact, this is how we do it in more civilized and progressive societies:
UMANGAT AND MIGRANTE PARTYLIST ITALY dedicated a solemn mass and lighted candles at the Redemptorist Mission in Rome to murdered Bishop Ramento and other victims of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances.
Later, an open forum ws held at the mission hall where photos and ames of almost all the 750 plust victims of extra-judicial killings and 180 plus victimsof forced disappearances were on display.
For photos and text, please visit http://www.arkibongbayan.org, or:
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/2006-10Oct25-Oct13massItaly/italy.htm
Arkibong Bayan Web Team
Overseas, it only takes the will to do what it is right. Over in the Philippines, will goes with guts especially when with a die-hard wannabe crooks like Bansot and her minions.
This should read: Overseas, it only takes the will to do what it is right. Over in the Philippines, will goes with guts especially with a die-hard wannabe crooks like Bansot and her minions AS THE PEOPLE’S ENEMIES!!! 😡
Npongco,
I agree with your comments about the Puno family. Just curious though, is Justice Puno the brother or father Ronnie Puno, Dong Puno, etc.?
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After reading the opinions of the Chief Justice Panganiban and Justice Puno, how I understood it was that both their opinions were against Gloria; the 8 Justices took a firmer stand by REJECTING the PI, and the other 7 lead by Justice Puno just said to give it back to the Comelec to verify the signatures. Unless, my intrepretation is wrong, I was under the impression that either way Gloria and her Legions would not have had their way with the Cha-Cha.
Gloria disappointed in Panganiban and plot on quickie MR decision—Gonzalez
DoJ chief raps high court CJ, ‘Firm’ for PI junking
By Benjamin B . Pulta
10/28/2006
Retiring Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, along with the “Firm” otherwise known as Villaraza, Angcangco and Cruz law offices, are the latest bete noire of President Arroyo and Malacañang, as they are now being blamed by the President and her aides for the defeat of the Sigaw ng Bayan-Ulap people’s initiative (PI).
They are also being accused by the Justice chief, Raul Gonzalez, of plotting to railroad the junking of the Motion for Reconsideration (MR) to be filed by the proponents of Sigaw-Ulap, to ensure that the final and executory ruling is done while Panganiban remains in office as Chief Justice.
Panganiban is slated to retire by Dec. 9 this year. He has a little over a month in the high court.
The Chief Justice was described as “a big disappointment” by Gonzalez yesterday, as he
bared the truth behind the Palace’s deadpan reaction to the Chief Justice’s decision to vote against the petition for initiative to amend the Constitution.
Gonzalez however, clarified that the Palace respects the SC’s ruling on the issue of Charter change (Cha-cha).
Gonzalez noted that Cabinet officials were hoping Panganiban would have at least abstained, if he could not accept the Charter change petition.
He failed to explain why they expected the Chief Justice to do as the Palace pleases, for Malacañang to be disappointed in the Chief Justice.
“Of course, (Mrs. Arroyo and the Palace are disappointed),” Gonzalez said. “But the Palace respects what they did. I want to be very clear that we respect it. We are not happy, but we respect the decision.”
The DoJ chief, who earlier criticized Panganiban for admitting that pressures were exerted by parties interested in the Cha-cha case on the high court, noted that the Chief Justice reversed himself on the matter of people’s initiative.
“He (Panganiban) went around 360 (sic) degrees. We were hoping that he would have at least abstained if he could not accept the petition,” he groused.
Panganiban, along with Senior Associate Justice Reynato Puno, are the two remaining justices who dissented in the Santiago vs Comelec ruling in 1997 where the SC ruled that Republic Act 6735 is insufficient to implement a system of initiative to amend the Constitution.
In his dissenting opinion in Santiago vs Comelec, where Panganiban stated that the law was sufficient, he also stated there were other elements that had to be fulfilled before the FVR-Pedrosa PIRMA petition that called for the lifting of term limits for then President Fidel V. Ramos, to enable him to run for reelection, along with the congressmen and all elected local officials.
In his concurring opinion on the Sigaw-Ulap PI petition, Panganiban made it clear he “reiterate(s) that only amendments, not revisions, may be the proper subject of an initiative to change the Constitution. This principle is crystal clear from even a layperson’s reading of the basic law.
“I submit that changing the system of government from presidential to parliamentary and the form of the legislature from bicameral to unicameral contemplates an overhaul of the structure of government. The ponencia has amply demonstrated that the merger of the legislative and the executive branches under a unicameral-parliamentary system, ‘by any legal test and under any jurisdiction,’ will ‘radically alter the framework of government as set forth in the Constitution.’ Indeed, the proposed changes have an overall implication on the entire Constitution; they effectively rewrite its most important and basic provisions. The prolixity and complexity of the changes cannot be categorized, even by semantic generosity, as ‘amendments’.”
Panganiban also stressed that “the litmus test of a people’s petition for initiative is its ability to muster the constitutional requirement that it be supported by at least 12 percent of the registered voters nationwide, of which at least three percent of the registered voters in every legislative district must be represented.
“But a remand is both imprudent and futile. It is imprudent because the Constitution itself mandates the said requisites of an initiative petition. In other words, a petition that does not show the required percentages is fatally defective and must be dismissed, as the Delfin Petition was, in Santiago,” his concurring opinion states.
But Gonzales said that which Panganiban wanted to project is that the SC is independent.
“It would seem to me that the thrust of Mr. Panganiban was just to show to the world that the Supreme Court is independent, even if he reversed himself from the 1997 ruling,” he said.
Voting 8-7, the SC dismissed the PI petition for being “void and unconstitutional” for failing to comply with the requirement of the Constitution.
Aside from disappointment over Panganiban’s decision, Gonzalez also hinted that an influential law firm “did something” to block a favorable ruling on the Sigaw-Ulap initiative.
“In every case, there is a person disappointed and somebody is cheering. I think there is big law firm that is cheering . . . that they (the Firm) defeated Malacañang,” he said, obviously referring to Villaraza Angangco Cruz Law Offices, once the personal lawyers of the President.
Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who authored the majority opinion dismissing the petition for initiative filed by Raul Lambino of Sigaw ng Bayan and Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado of Ulap, was formerly connected with the so-called “The Firm.”
Defense chief Avelino “Nonong” Cruz sits in the Department of National Defense.
Gonzalez also assailed as “unusual” the way the notification of the parties involved in the Cha-cha case was done in haste by the high court.
The DoJ chief surmised that the notice of judgment was “hand-carried” on the same day it was promulgated to the litigants to make sure that the reckoning date for the filing of motion for reconsideration immediately starts, and to make sure that Panganiban is still around when the SC tackles the MR that Lambino et. al. is expected to file.
He noted that the serving of the decisions in the SC is usually being done through mail, which usually takes three to four days before they are received by the litigants.
“To me, the SC is very in a hurry about this case because the service of the decision was sent personally. That is very unusual. They are in hurry may be because the time will run out of the MR before Panganiban retires.” Gonzalez said.
“Panganiban wants to make sure that he is still there when SC deliberates on the motion for reconsideration,” he added.
The petitioners confirmed that they received the notice of judgment between 2:30 and 3 pm last Wednesday, hours after SC promulgated its decision on the Cha-cha petition.
Besides, instead of receiving an official copy of the notice of judgment, usually printed in pink paper, the petitioners received a photocopy.
In his concurring opinion, the Chief Justice stated, in conclusion: ” Verily, the Supreme Court is now on the crossroads of history. By its decision, the Court and each of its members shall be judged by posterity. Ten years, fifty years, a hundred years — or even a thousand years — from now, what the Court did here, and how each justice opined and voted, will still be talked about, either in shame or in pride. Indeed, the hand-washing of Pontius Pilate, the abomination of Dred Scott, and the loathing of Javellana still linger and haunt to this day.
“Let not this case fall into the same damnation. Rather, let this Court be known throughout the nation and the world for its independence, integrity, industry and intelligence.”
raul gonzales is one kind of empty headed member of gloria’s circle of fools. and a kind of SIPSIP always licking gloria’s ass.
singaw ng bayad and people’s initiative prejudged? clear as a sun in broad daylight both purpose is to perpetuate the stay in power of corrupt leaders greedily feasting on government coffers. bias? ask the dead.
maiisip lang, bakit sa halip na si puno ay si artemio panganiban ang inilagay ni gloria sa supreme court? hindi kaya upang hindi na mapag-isipang mabuti ni ka temyong anuman ang pabor na hihingin ni gloria? tulad ng pagkonsidera sa singaw ng bayad at peofools initiative? na ngayong isinupalpal sa mukha niya (gloria) na hindi katanggap tanggap ang maliwanag na panloloko sa taong bayan, parang batang nagdadabog ang spoiled brat president daw?
eh kung maghihiwalay ang the Firm at si Bansot, mas maganda. The enemy of my enemy is my friend ika nga. Malaking kawalan ni Bansot pag tumiwalag ang the Firm. Basang sisiw si Pandak pag nagka ganun.
Sino na lang ang matitirang tagapagtanggol niya? SI Ed nachura? ditas guttierez? raul gonzalez? mulong makalintal? “wetness” apostol? Ha ha ha ha ha.
Pag ni reverse ng Supreme Court ang desisyon nila wala na, wala na silang credibilidad na matitira.
Sana white flag na ang Singaw ng Bayad. Peke at pawang kalokohan lang naman yung ginagawa nila.
Ginagago nila pati Supreme Court.
Mrivera:
Ang pag-upo ni Art Panganiban sa SC ay matagal nang balak dahil isa siya sa gumawa ng paraan para mapaalis si Erap. Si Panganiban mismo ang nagsabi niyan, that he actually played God in removing the duly elected president of the Philippines. Ito ang isang dahilan kung bakit hindi ako pabor na pasalamatan ang taong iyan sa pagtanggi niya sa panukala ng mga demonyo. Ito ang tawag ko sa PI na sila mismo ay umamin na sila ay kampon ni Satanas nang kanilang i-quote ang mga demonyong pumasok sa katawan ng isang pinerhuwisyo nila—“Our name is Legion and we are many!” Dapat nga sa mga taong iyan mangilabot dahil hindi nila alam na demonyo na pala ang kino-quote nila!!! 😛
Isa pa, ang alam ko kamag-anak ni Bansot sa ama si Panganiban sa lahi ng mga Pangan na angkan ng nanay ni Dadong Macapagal. Pero, hindi nangangahulugang magkamag-anak ay palaging nagtutulungan kung sabagay.
Whatever, siguro nakonsensiya na lang si Panganiban kaya para hindi magalit ang mga tao sa pag-alis niya ay bumoto siya laban sa PI.
Ang dapat na mag-concentrate ang taumbayan, hindi lang ng mga oposisyon ay ang magbatiskos ngayon sa balak ni Bansot na ipairal ang gusto niya. Hindi daw siya titigil hangga’t hindi nakukuha ang gusto. Aba, e kagaguhan na yatang payagan pa ang iba pang pang-aabuso ng ungas na ito lalo pa’t alam na alam na natin ang mga ginagawa niya, ng kanyang asawa at mga kamag-anak at ang pagbibigay ng puwesto sa mga gusto lang nila lalo na doon sa mga kamag-anak nila. Si Calderon for example are pinsan ng asawa niya, etc. etc.
Panahon na para gisinging mula ang mga pilipino, nasa Pilipinas man o nasa ibang bansa. Isa lang ang kinalulungkot ko sa totoo lang. Iyong mga pilipinong ayaw nang maging pilipino.
Noong isang araw nandoon kami sa legal bureau ng Tokyo. May isang pilipina doon na nag-aapply ng Japanese citizenship. Pinagsabihan na hindi siya qualified dahil hindi siya nakakabasa at nakakasulat ng wikang hapon. Kailangan kasi iyong gawa ng kailangan niyang bumoto sa sulat kamay. Aba, sabihin ba namang walang kuwenta daw ang bansa niyang Pilipinas at banas na banas na raw siya kaya gusto na raw niyang maging hapon. Hindi daw niya mapagmalaki ang bansa niya. Sa isang banda naiintindihan ko ang damdamin niya dahil ganyan ang nararamdaman ng maraming pilipino dito, pero dapat pa bang ipagsigawan sa iba iyon. Hindi na-impress ang mga kausap niyang mga hapon. Sad but true!!!
may mga taong pinipilit gawing tuwid ang baluktot habang halos magkandairi sa pagbaluktot ng tuwid. ayaw masabing pabor at boto sa namumugad na mga ulupong sa haunted house by the stinky pasig river, pero pansinin ang mga kunwari ay walang kinikilingang patutsada. bakit kasi ayaw pang aminin, eh libre naman at hindi mababawasan ang taksan taksang salaping pinagbilhan ng mga kaluluwa.
2003 Oakwood mutiny not violent, ex-AFP chief tells court
10/28/2006
A former military chief yesterday testified before a court that there was no violence during a short-lived mutiny staged by some 300 junior officers and soldiers in July 2003.
Gen. Efren Abu told a Makati City court hearing the coup d’etat charges against several alleged leaders of the rebel soldiers that the attempted takeover of the posh Oakwood Apartments was not hostile.
Theodore Te, one of the counsels of the Magdalo group, for his part, said the statements of Abu have weakened the case against his clients.
He stressed that for a coup to have taken place, at least three elements were needed — violence, an attack in the center of the power and a call for the resignation of the Chief Executive.
“We have the highest ranking military witness who swore that there was no violence. Definitely that statement disproves an element of the offense,” Te said.
But Richard Anthony Fadullon, assistant chief state prosecutor, noted that violence was only one of the elements so the coup case against the mutineers could still be justified since they had called on President Arroyo to step down.
On July 27, 2003, the Magdalo group took over the Oakwood Apartments demanding the resignation of Mrs. Arroyo and Defense and military leaders over allegations of corruption.
The mutiny, however, was short-lived as the rebel soldiers eventually sur-rendered at the end of the day after negotiations with authorities.
Over 100 soldiers who participated in that uprising had since returned to active duty after being penalized accordingly while their leaders are undergoing trial before military and civilian courts.
Meanwhile, court martial proceedings may start next month against the Army and Marine officers involved in the failed plot to oust the Arroyo administration last February, a top military official also yesterday said.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. made the pronouncement a day after he received the recommendation submitted by the pre-trial investigation panel.
“Within November, we should be seeing a court martial if there will be court martial,” he told reporters at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.
Esperon directed his staff judge advocate to review the recommendation of the investigation panel under Col. Al Perreras and make his “pre-trial advise.”
“I would like to expedite the decision on whether the coup plotters should go to court martial, but, at the same time, I do not want to sacrifice fairness and thoroughness,” he said.
The 38 officers implicated in the failed coup plot and were investigated by the panel are led by former Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and former First Scout Ranger Regiment commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.
The AFP chief, however, said “not all may be recommended for court martial. What is definite is there is probable cause to file cases.”
Esperon stressed that once he gets the pre-trial advise, he would act on the recommendation immediately.
“I will see to it that I will read it as fast as I could so that I could decide as soon as possible,” he added.
On whether he would have a hard time deciding on the case, Esperon said: “I must admit it’s very difficult. General Miranda was my roommate in the academy.”
Esperon and Miranda belong to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1974.
“But, that should not be a reason I could not objectively decide on the matter,” he added.
katulad ng esperon na ito ang isang ama na ang malasakit sa kapakanan ng kanyang mga anak ay nahuhuli kaysa kanyang pagbibigay halaga sa sariling kasiyahan. mas mabuti pa ang hayop na marunong magtanggol sa kanyang mga anak kapag nabibingit sa panganib.
Chabeli, the current SC Associate Justice Puno could be the brother of the other Punos that include Dong Puno. Among them, I like Dong Puno more. I’m not sure if Justice Puno is the father because if he is then he was Marcos’s Justice Minister. Perhaps Ellen could share what she knows about the Puno family being one of those anti-Marcos advocates in the past. Besides, I think Ellen is much older than all of us here.
Thanks for answering my queries, Npongco.
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On another note, thought I’d share this you this “DESPERATE GLORIA” story:
I got a call earlier from a friend who is based in Hong Kong (as we all know, Gloria is vacationing there). The person was extremely FRUSTRATED because a simple private dinner in a company’s yacht became an investors pledging forum upon the urging of Peter Favila and Tom Alcantara. These “2 Clowns,” as my friend called them, insisted that the clients of a particular bank COMMIT to Gloria that they will invest in the Philippines millions and millions of dollars! This was, of course, IMPOSSIBLE, especially since these Clowns wanted the pledging on November 1–Pista ng Patay!!! How could this happen overnight? To begin with, this particular bank would have to study the returns they will get from their investments in the Philippines first. In the end, the dinner on the yacht was cancelled!!! Now, what does this say about Gloria and the 2 Clowns?! Gloria has been so IRRITATED for not getting her way lately, that these Clowns are trying to do everything to get brownie points! And, if I may quote my friend, “have things been that bad in the Philippines that Clowns are accepted to be in government?” My answer: Yes, it’s that bad! Only the desperate join Gloria!
Pas de quoi, Chabeli. You mentioned Hongkong. Do you know that millions of people’s money are deposited by this Pig in Hongkong’s banks? Hongkong is second to Switzerland for these corrupt government officials and leaders. I believe that Nani Perez’s money’s still in Hongkong. Another venue is Singapore where the Arroyo family also frequents. Bonsoir.
Re:
“But Richard Anthony Fadullon, assistant chief state prosecutor, noted that violence was only one of the elements so the coup case against the mutineers could still be justified since they had called on President Arroyo to step down.”
Fadullon is an idiot!
Chabelli,
That’s a good input on Gloria, spoiled brat personified. Thanks.
Npongco,
Yes, I know. “The bank that never sleeps” is one of them (Citibank) and “the world’s local bank” (HSBC). Even in Manila, these 2 banks have depositors of alledged smugglers (Lucio Co, for instance). As long as it’s money, they don’t give a hoot WHO is depositing. No wonder when it comes to getting verifications from these banks on anomalous depositors, they use the “secrecy” card.
Anna de Brux,
Indeed it is, “spoiled brat personified”!
Npongco,
Thanks for your info about this PUNO family. Wala palang ugat ang mga Punong ito :).
The only Puno I admire is this Rico Puno.
anna de brux Says:
October 29th, 2006 at 12:45 am
Re:
“But Richard Anthony Fadullon, assistant chief state prosecutor, noted that violence was only one of the elements so the coup case against the mutineers could still be justified since they had called on President Arroyo to step down.”
Fadullon is an idiot!
anna, mahal din siguro ang bayad kay fadullon, o baka nagsisipsip upang maging THIEF STATE PERSECUTOR.
This is what happens when the military is given too much power. I understand that even when trying cases in US court martial to determine in fact whether the personnel is liable to dishonorable discharge or not, they have to follow some rule of law prescribed by the country’s Dept. of Justice.
This has been explained to me in fact by a US serviceman caught and arrested in Japan for drug suggling, possession and use. I was assigned as an interpreter for the Japanese police and customs police. The legal office of the military base in fact were depending on the investigation of the Japanese police before the serviceman would be subjected to some military discipline prior to turning him over to the Japanese court upon finalization of the indictment against him to be submitted to the Japanese court.
This goes true to rape cases likewise that I handled involving US servicemen in Japan that I don’t think would be any different to similar rape cases elsewhere especially when there is an existing military treaty covering this kind of criminal and civil cases involving US personnel and can affect adversely diplomatic relationships.
It is just a matter of knowing the rules of law and implementing them so that justice and truth will prevail.
OK, Trillanes, et al made a mistake when they mutineed against the Bansot, not that they were wrong to do that, but they should have planned out carefully their actions with majority of disgruntled members of the Philippine Military. Kundi wala na sana si Pandak sa puwesto. Mahina din sila e. Kinuha nila mga duwag din na kasama nila.
God-willing matatapos din ang hinagpis nila. Right now, They need a lawyer who will not be and cannot be subjected to intimidation and harrassment by the military generals on the payroll of Malacanang. Kung bakit naman ang dami nila, iisa ang abogado nila. Dito iyan isang katutak ang mga abogadong hahawak ng kaso nila even just for publicity’s sake. Ang hina talaga. Kasi puro naman pera din ang nasa isip. Doon ang mga animal sa mas makakabayad!
Statement of Philippine Anticorruption Movement U.S.A.(Pamusa). (This was also sent to Vice President Noli de Castro, Senate President Manuel Villar, Speaker Jose de Venecia, Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, Secretaries Alberto Romulo and Eduardo Ermita)
tama ka, ystakei. take note of the 360 degrees turn around ni lawrence san juan. noong una, ang yabang niya pang hamunin si assperon ng ganito: “sir, mahuhuli o mapapatay ninyo ako, subalit kailanman ay hindi ko pagsisisihan ang pagkamulat ng mga mata ko sa katotohanan. mabuwal man ako, hindi na mapipigilan at marami pa ang magpapatuloy ng agos ng pakikibakang aming sinimulan.”
gayundin ang iba pa niyang mga kasamahang sina bumidang at iba pa. sayang na mga batang opisyal na sumandaling naging huwaran (sana) ng mga kabataan. sa halip na patunayang nasa tamang landas sila ng pakikipaglaban, nagpatalo sa buktot na hangarin ng aso ng malakanyang. tinanggal nila sa kanilang sarili ang karangalang makapagsuot ng unipormeng nararapat lamang sa magigiting at kagalang galang na mga kawal. mga kawal na sumumpang ipagtatanggol at ipagsasanggalang ang kasarinlan ng lupang sinilangan mangahulugan man ng pagbubuwis ng sariling buhay.
sa kanilang pagtalikod sa kanilang pananagutan sa mga karaniwang kawal na naniwala sa kanilang mga salita upang sumama sa paglulunsad ng pagmumulat (hindi pag-aaklas o kudeta) ukol sa mga katiwaliang namamayani sa loob ng AFP at maging sa kasalukuyang administrasyon ay isang maliwanang na karuwagan sa pagharap sa anumang kalalabasan ng kanilang ginawa. hindi sila karapat dapat sa slogan o motton ng PMA.
….motto ng PMA.
US$120 million in six years as commission sa petroleum import? tapos, nakukuha pang kurakutin ang kaban ng bayan? madadala ba niya ang pera sa hukay? super glutonia nga! kaya ayaw nang bumaba sa pwesto at nagpapakamatay sa pagsusulong ng chacha. palibhasa lahing suwitik, gahaman, sukab, mandarambong, limatik at dugong buwitre!!!!
Mrivera, ano yung sukab at limatik?
zenzennai, ang sukab ay kalinya ng mga buhong at walang budhi at ang limatik ay lintang pumipitik upang kumapit sa nais sipsiping biktima.
This is Kit Tatad’s (Daily Tribune) brilliant dissection of the SC 8-7 ruling of the PIG’s initiative.
Is the season for lying and cheating ending?
By Francisco S. Tatad
ANALYSIS
10/30/2006
The livid official reaction to the Supreme Court’s junking of the proposed “people’s initiative” on the Constitution merely confirms the point penned by Justice Antonio Carpio for the court that it was not a true initiative coming from the people but rather from the administration.
The court ruling proved once more that one can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but one can never fool all the people all the time.
For refusing to become party to the fraud, Carpio and the seven other justices who voted to junk the petition are now being accused of having turned the high court from “final interpreter of the law” into a “trier of facts.”
This has happened before, but not this time.
In 2001, in a ruling penned by Justice Reynato Puno in Estrada vs Arroyo, the court held that Estrada had “resigned constructively,” despite the absence of a resignation. Had there been a resignation, the court would have ruled on a question of law — was the resignation valid or not? But as there was no resignation, the justices simply supplied “the fact” that Estrada had “constructively resigned.” The final interpreter of the law then morphed into something else.
That was not the case here.
The court dismissed the petition on a question of
law and on the basis of the facts. The letter and intent of the law are clear, and the facts were supplied by the petitioners themselves during the oral arguments before the court.
The Constitution mandates that a people’s initiative be proposed by the people themselves — not by their proxies or representatives. That is the law. The failed initiative was authored by government officials, using a non-official front. That is the fact.
The Constitution mandates that a people’s initiative propose amendments only, not revisions thereof. That is how the framers of the law had intended it to be, and that is how they wrote the law. The proposed initiative sought a major revision of the Constitution instead. That is the fact.
The petition had gone up to the court, after it was thrown out by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), based on a 1997 Supreme Court ruling in Santiago vs Comelec, which stopped a proposed initiative to lift term limits and allow then President Fidel V. Ramos to run for reelection in 1998.
The court had ruled then that Republic Act (RA) 6735, enacted in 1989 to provide for a system of initiative and referendum on national and local laws, was insufficient to implement a people’s initiative on the Constitution.
It also “permanently enjoined” the Comelec from entertaining any proposed initiative on the Constitution until a sufficient law shall have been validly enacted by Congress.
Lawyer Raul Lambino of Pangasinan and Gov. Eric Aumentado of Bohol had asked the court to reverse its ruling, claiming that its 1997 decision arose from a petition that lacked the support of at least 12 percent of the total number of registered voters — each district represented by at least three percent — as required by the Constitution.
Their petition, on the other hand, was supported, they said, by 6.3 million signatories, “verified” by local Comelec officials — more than the required number.
The court held that there was no need to revisit the ruling on RA 6735, since it could dispose of the petition on other constitutional grounds. It was enough that the alleged 6.3 million petitioners were strangers to their own proposed “amendments,” and were proposing to revise the Constitution rather than merely propose amendments, for the court to strike down the petition as fraudulent. There were other grounds.
Justice Puno, in his dissent, said RA 6735 was sufficient, and the Comelec gravely abused its discretion when it threw out the petition. He described as an “intolerable aberration” the 1997 ruling which held RA 6735 insufficient without, however, striking it down as unconstitutional.
Puno merely reaffirmed his dissent in 1997. But the 1997 ruling merely describes RA 6735 as it is — sufficient to implement initiatives on national and local laws, but with no sufficient standards for an initiative on the Constitution. Thus, insufficient, though not unconstitutional.
But even if RA 6735 were sufficient, the petitioners did not even try to comply with its simplest requirements. The text of the law to be amended, and the text of the proposed amendments were not made part of the petition. The proposed amendments covered more than one subject. They contained editorial absurdities, contradictory provisions, incomplete structures.
Still the petitioners expected all these to be approved in a plebiscite where the voters would be asked to answer one deceptive and misleading 45-word question, instead of being asked to vote on the proposed amendments themselves. If approved in a plebiscite, which would be easier to rig than an election, they would go uncorrected because no one would have the authority to correct them. That would make the revised Constitution unfit for human consumption.
Puno obviously expected the Comelec to simply ignore the court’s “permanent” injunction upon it, not to entertain any petition on people’s initiative on the Constitution until a sufficient law shall have been validly enacted. It was a most unusual statement.
Happily, not all the dissenting justices shared his view. Justice Leo Quisumbing, for one, pointed out in his own dissent that the Comelec “merely relied on this court’s unequivocal ruling. Of course, the 1997 decision could be reviewed and reversed by the court, he said, “but until the court does so, the Comelec was duty-bound to respect and obey this court’s mandate, for the rule of law to prevail.”
Now, if the Comelec was duty-bound to reject the petition, what then was the legal basis of the local Comelec officials’ allegedly “verifying” the signatures of the 6.3 million alleged petitioners? Clearly, the “verification” was in contempt of court, and therefore void. So the 6.3 million “verified” signatures had no legal existence.
The court was not as blunt. But that is how it appears. What “voice of the people” then could possibly have come from those 6.3 million bogus petitioners? The people’s voice was not heard there; only some “masters of manipulation who misrepresent themselves as the spokesmen of the people,” to borrow some of Puno’s words.
The eight-to-seven close vote has led some people to predict that after Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban retires on Dec. 9, the failed initiative would stand a better chance, if the petitioners are able to keep their motion for reconsideration alive until then. This is a sad and painful way of looking at things.
The slim majority win by one vote is not a simple victory of numbers. It is the triumph of truth over falsehood, of justice over so many venal obstructions, of judicial independence and integrity over incessant political meddling. It should be the duty of everyone in the court, including those who had voted in favor of the petition, to try to preserve this gain. The time for lying and cheating is probably coming to an end, and the court, which has not always been blameless, has delivered the first blow to end it. Let every magistrate now try to savor that gain.
Ms. Ellen, I can only congratulate PAMUSA for their statement! That was courageous of them. However, their may be some opinions that may differ from mine, but, I must admit they did their homework, as most of what they state are pretty close to the truth. Once again, congratulations to PAMUSA, for a job well done!
Yuko,
Just a thought: The military is NOT given “too much power”. I find as an institution, even with Gloria at the helm (bogus), the military is still “not given too much power”.
First, what does “too much power?” Second, the ordinary trooper does not have as “much power” as the civilians in government, in the sense that they still KOWTOW to these non-uniformed civil servants, eg., legislators, members of cabinet, local and national executives; and thirdly, the ordinary officers and men of the AFP do not have the access to wealth, illegal or not that those civilians have. They remain poor for the most of them.
What I do find, however, and this is in conjunction with what you say as “given too much power,” are a few leaders in the military who abuse their oath and waylay their duties and responsbilities to their troops and to the common, impoverished folks whom they have sworn to respect and protect from the abuses of their enemies.
Therefore, to my mind the military today, the AFP that is, as an institution has not been given TOO MUCH POWER. They still function as a “democratic institution” so to speak, save perhaps if Gloria decides on her own to unleash them as her personal dogs of war. It is Gloria who has been given TOO MUCH power to abuse the military for her own selfish motives. That is all wrong…If she continues to do that, the Philippines will lose the last bastion of the nation’s sense of discipline to anarchy.
Ellen,
This statement from Pamusa ” …Arroyo while trade undersecretary and executive director of the Garments and Textile Export Board engaged in black-marketing garment quotas that commanded premiums of $10 and up per dozen. Garment quotas reached hundreds of thousands of dozens for some categories annually and brought in millions of dollars from Hong Kong exporters short of quotas.” was not a secret among DOT’s and other gov’t offices’ employees in her time at DOT. In fact, I first heard of this “tsismis lang noon” from a close friend of my hubby (habang nag-totomahan) while he was employed at DOT. And then on from some friends who said “hinding-hindi nila iboboto si Gloria sa Senado” dahil nga dito sa isyung nabanggit ng Pamusa.
Never thought na pasok(?)(“CIA must’ve picked up media reports and verified that…) na pala dito sa kasong ito ang CIA. Well, it’s my impression that this was one of the many reasons why Mrs. Aquino (at least impliedly) did not support her protege in the 2004 election.
Lots of info from Pamusa, thanks.
As far as I am concerned, Anna, not being used to the military being seen around conspicuously, the Philippine Military is being given too much power nevertheless regardless of whether or not the Bansot holds the strings.
With these former military men now in civilian clothes (barong tagalog, etc.) serving in the Bansot Mafia organization as cabinet members, etc., we cannot deny that the military has become powerful over there.
Let’s face it, when they point their guns to civilian, that is being powerful and abusive.
I’m glad to know that the Senators are apt to investigating where the Singaw ng Bayan is getting their funding. I hope they will succeed and this is not mere grandstanding.
As I have stated previously, there is really nothing to thank the 8 SC judges for voting against the bogus people’s initiative. Trabaho nila iyan, dapat lang nilang gawin. Now, we know why! Pwe, pwe, pwe!!! 😡
Let’s just keep on insisting that they do what they are supposed to do and be worth the taxpayers’ money paid them. Let us not allow the Bansot most of all from taking credits where credit is not due!!! Kasi iyan ang hilig niya—tap her own shoulders even for a lousy performance. PATALSIKIN NA LANG, PLEASE, NOW NA!!!
Sinong may sabing hindi malakas ang military natin? Malakas sila…malakas sumipsip kay tiyanak. Siyanga pala, tigilan na natin tawagan ng Bansot o Pandak si Gloria Arroyo. Natatamaan din ang kumpare kong si Binay. Tiyanak na lang ang itawag natin kay Gloria.
To hindinapinoy:
“this is ellen’s blog and yes we could see her bias. but this is a blog and blogs are opinion driven. i guess there’s a difference between a columnist and a journalist”
Agreed. Why do I keep forgetting that this is a blog? Ah, here it is – Ellen is a journalist, first and foremost. A journalist is supposed to be a detached observer. I expected her to retain her detachment in this blog. However, the restrictions on print do not exist in the blogosphere. So yes, it is Ellen’s right to be opinionated in this blog. Its her blog. Just as I have every right to be opinionated in my blog.
Ang sa akin lang, puwede din namang maging opinionated but at the same time, sounding like a detached observer. Pero kanya-kanyang style yan.
To cvj:
“ellen’s ‘bias’ is based on real-world facts. Unlike the SC, as individuals, we are our own ‘trier of facts’”
What ‘real-world facts’? Did she scrutinize every ‘signature’ to the Sigaw petition? Or, like any SWS survey, sampled a handful and declared the latter to be representative of the whole? Chances are, she is already predisposed against it, even before the ‘signatures’ were taken; this prejudice has become her lens in seeing the world. She only wants to see what she expects to see.
Yes, as individuals, we are our own trier of facts. But unfortunately, as individuals, we don’t have the power of a COMELEC – to either deny or grant Sigaw’s petition. And most important of all, we don’t have an open mind, we are using a lens to look at the whole cha-cha issue.
To chi:
What? A brilliant dissection? By Kit Tatad? Sen. Tatad is a learned guy on many areas, and I will take his word on such areas. But not on the SC decision on cha-cha. He is already biased from the start.
But if you cite a pro-Gloria guy who agrees with the SC decision (like Nonong Cruz) then I’m all ears.
To chabeli:
There are two “strains” of the Puno surname. The Ateneo “strain” is represented by Dong Puno and his siblings. The UP “strain” is represented by Justice Rey Puno.
Yuko,
Re: “not being used to the military being seen around conspicuously,”
Hehehh!
You should come to Brussels and visit the area where the US Embassy is holed. Also in Paris and even in Slovakia. You will think Europe is on the brink of a world war or perhaps it is…
The gendarmes (military, equivalent to former Philippine constabulary perhaps) abound in Paris, in every street corner – the more of them around, the better Parisians feel.
Anthony, sampling is an accepted method of getting a sense of the whole. Being predisposed is not the same as having a closed mind. For example, before ‘Hello Garci’, i was predisposed towards Gloria. The COMELEC may be the authorized body but we must not forget that their credibility is also in question for good reason.
No, Chabeli. The dissenting justices, (Puno, et al) except maybe for Quisumbing upheld the 1997 ruling on PIRMA as Puno reiterated his arguments for voting on PIRMA’s constitutionality and sufficiency. Carpio was more blunt and didn’t even saw the need for RA6735 as he noted the petition failed elsewhere in the constitution. Puno avoided this tack.
Carpio provided the arguments, as they were forwarded by the Binay group and the intervenors, to uphold the COMELEC action of rejecting the petition on other grounds, RA6735, but it is helpless in the fact that COMELEC had successfully put on paper that 6.3 million have endorsed it. (That was the only “mission” COMELEC was able to accomplish!) Carpio, rebuked COMELEC’s act and clearly a step ahead of the “mission”, declared the signature drive fraudulent. On the other hand, Puno is clear on remanding the petition to COMELEC for it to complete its “mission” of verifying the signatures as there were complaints of fraud; Puno attempted to give the COMELEC a chance to correct the infirmities! The two opinions didn’t see eye-to-eye in this case, either, didn’t it?
Finally, Carpio’s long discourse on the differences between amendment and revision, the intention of the framers of the constitution on what is covered by People’s Initiative or not, and Singaw nd Bayad’s attempt to give birth to more amendments (or revisions!) “45 days after adapting the new charter”(!) in one stroke was an intelligent dissection of the intertwined provisions in the existing charter viz-a-vis the underlying time-bomb in the “proposed” one. Meanwhile, what Puno was espousing was that the people have the inherent right to either amend or revise even the whole constitution, though not exactly in these words. If Puno had the majority with him, my God! They would have changed the charter all by themselves!
Who needs Lambino or Aumentado?
Slip of the Tongue:
“…uphold the COMELEC action of rejecting the petition on other grounds, not only by RA6735,…”
“If Puno had the majority with him, my God! They would have changed the charter all by themselves!”
I join you in thanking the Lord for not allowing this.
To cvj:
“Being predisposed is not the same as having a closed mind.”
Probably. But it reveals that the starting point is not an open mind.
“For example, before ‘Hello Garci’, i was predisposed towards Gloria.”
If I may, ‘predisposed’ may not be the appropriate term.
To Ellen:
“If Puno had the majority with him, my God! They would have changed the charter all by themselves!”
“I join you in thanking the Lord for not allowing this. ”
Just as I thought. It seems everybody thought that the amendments will be enforced right away if Sigaw won in the SC. No, no, no.
For everybody’s information – if Sigaw won in the SC, its petition with the COMELEC will be reinstated, and another deliberation will ensue whether to proceed with a plebiscite or not. For sure, if the COMELEC approves the holding of a plebiscite, its opponents can still appeal such approval to the SC.
Actually the sole legal issue with the SC is, did the COMELEC err in denying Sigaw’s petition?
Then there’s still the plebiscite. (of course, with the kind of COMELEC we have, ratification is a foregone conclusion.)
ang tubig kapag lumilinaw, hindi nawawala ang nagtatampisaw upang bumalik ang kalabuan.
Re: Antrhony Scaélia’s “What ‘real-world facts’? Did she scrutinize every ’signature’ to the Sigaw petition? ”
Did you scrutinize every signature in the petition to make sure that they are NOT fake?
What are your real world facts? That Lambino erred or did not err in submitting his Legion’s sigaw petition?
Attn artsee:
Paki isplika nga dito kung ano ang pinag-kaiba ng “Punongbayan” at “puro bayad
hwag ka magkakamali sa ispeling hah? baka, ma-edit ka na naman ni Ellen.
To anna de brux:
“Did you scrutinize every signature in the petition to make sure that they are NOT fake?”
Hey, I’m not the petitioner. Ellen is the one making the generalization. That’s why I’m asking if she made a personal scrutiny of each signature, because she seemed so sure.
Well, I also did not make a personal scrutiny. So Ellen and I just cancel each other out. What then becomes of her statement?
“What are your real world facts? That Lambino erred or did not err in submitting his Legion’s sigaw petition?”
I don’t have any ‘real world facts.’ To repeat, I did not make the declaration first, Ellen did.
My point is, Ellen is making a hasty generalization. Her prejudice is her lens in loking at the situation. Actually, that’s how the rest of the posters here look at the situation. Your prejudice filters what you see.