Rep. Roilo Golez (Parañaque) is asking House Speaker Jose de Venecia and his gang to postpone by at least a week deliberations on Cha-Cha in deference to the calamity caused by typhoon “Reming.”
Golez said, “It would be the height of insensitivity and callousness to discuss Cha-Cha while hundreds of thousands have been dislocated and mourning their dead or looking for heir missing loved ones amidst the debris and mudflow.
“It would be in very poor, terrible taste to discuss Cha-Cha while a huge fraction of the nation are in pain and anguish. We should have a moratorium on Cha-Cha for a week,” he added.
Golez further said, “The statesmanship and patriotism of the House leadership are now put to a test.”
He proposed that a supplemental budget be passed for Reming’s victims similar to the one the House approved for the victims of the Guimaras oil spill.
Five days after super typhoon “Reming” hit the Bicol region, the number of those who perished continues to escalate. Sen. Richard Gordon, head of the Philippine National Red Cross, there are over a thousand persons missing and they could be buried under the mudflows that now cover 17 barangays (villages) near Mayon Volcano.
Albay disaster officials can only say “overwhelming phonemenon” to the tragedy that caught them flatfooted. Mud and rocks that flowed and rolled down from Mayon Vocano at the height of the typhoon were part of the massive volume of volcanic debris – estimated at 140 million cubic meters –deposited on the volcano’s slopes by its series of eruptions.
Weather specialists said the 446 mm of rainfall dumped by “Reming” surpassed the 370 mm poured by a 2004 typhoon that hit the towns of Infanta and real in Quezon in 2004 which also claimed hundreds of lives and damaged properties worth millions of pesos.
Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal was quoted in a newspaper report that they expected the flood and mudflows to follow the course of the river. Instead the mudflow descended on the villages burying the barangays’ population in their houses.
As survivors search for their relatives from the pile of corpses and bury their dead in mass graves, Mayor Rosal could only say, “Something must be really wrong.”
Rosal was referring to the unexpected path of the mudflow that devastated his people but his statement might as well apply to the priority of De Venecia and his gang who want to change the Constitution before the Christmas holidays by hook or by crook.
Today, De Venecia’s gang is expected to approve the motion of Rep. Arthur Defensor (Iloilo, 3rd district) to amend Section 105 of the House Rules that says resolutions o amend or revise the Constitution shall follow the procedure for the enactment of bills, that means approval of the Senate.
Defensor’s motion is to change the rule so that the House can proceed with amending the Constitution without the Senate on Wednesday (Dec. 6). This coincides with the retirement of Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban the next day, Dec. 7.
De Venecia said he expects a new Constitution that would change the system of government from presidential to parliamentary approved by his Senate-less Con-Ass on Dec. 12 so that it could be “approved” by the people in a plebiscite on Feb. 12, 2007.
The Senate is expected to question the legality of De Venecia’s Con-Ass Express. Sen. Franklin Drilon, who is opposed to changing the Constitution now, warned that with the retirement of Panganiban, the Supreme Court might not be able to issue a temporary restraining order on the JDV’s Con-ass because, if we are to base the voting on the People’s Initiative, a 7-7 split is possible.
JDV and his gang, with Gloria Arroyo’s encouragement, are probably thinking that with the people now in a Christmas mood, no serious protest actions would take place. People are busy doing their Christmas shopping they would have no time to plan to overthrow Gloria Arroyo. By the time January next year, it would be too late to change the course of Cha-Cha.
Golez is mistaken if he thinks the calamity caused by typhoon “Reming” would touch the conscience of his colleagues who will be riding JDV’s Cha-Cha Express (including Bicol congressmen Luis Villafuerte, Edcel Lagman, Joey Salceda).
What they are plotting is a greater tragedy for the Filipino people.
Golez is very right. I only have pity for those typhoon victims and disdain for those insensitive, corrupt leaders who help themselves first. Damn you Gloria and Joe!
No one (except God) can prevent these natural calamities from happening. Humans can only deflect or soften their impacts, if they do happen. For a country like the Philippines that lies in the “Ring of Fire,” a tragedy of this magnitude can be minimized if the leaders do something concrete about the environment. But more than anything else, these leaders are the first to come to their rescue if something bad happens to the people.
What do we expect from an immoral regime like Gloria’s? They can’t even attend to the victims because they are now so engrossed with their own self-perpetuating scheme.
(I have been experiencing disconnection and other anomalies as I post here. Wondering why.)
The greater tragedy is, Filipinos may wake up tomorrow and they see their country gone to the dogs and pigs.
About the only leader from Bicol who thinks of the victims first is Chiz Escudero. Lagayman? Villasuerte? Nah! What conscience? What victims? They don’t exist. What does is the priority now called SELF-HELP. They help themselves stay in power.
(Sorry for short postings, folks. I get disconnected after writing a long one.)
jdv and GMA is the worst nightmare of the filipino people,jdv`s group of bum`s the like of old man villafuerte,lagman and salceda and the crazy bums led by pichay,nograles,jaraula thinks they can con the filipino people..this group will do anything to be illegaly in power.they only think for their own interest.this people are so evil that they think they will last for another 100years..they don`t have any morals at all…ang kakapal
ng mukha,no amount of disaster even to their families that will change their evil ways..let us all pray hard for this people to be ousted..the greatest gift we all ask from God almighty this christmas is for the immediate ousting of GMA by any means..the filipino had suffered enough tragedies.we all can stand typhoons landslide and others but what we can not stand is GMA`s leading this country to disaster..she is the worst nightmare of the filipino people!!
I have heard it said that God speaks to man through his conscience. But with the likes of Luis Villafuerte, Edcel Lagman, & Joey Salceda, not to mention JdV, who have no consciences, how does God speak to them? They should get a tip or two from Gloria, who had mentioned once before that God speaks to her. A blasphemy, to say the least!
The recent typhoon that has struck the Philippines is a natural disaster; an Act of God. It will be His wrath that will be upon these ROTTEN POLITICIANS who have only made His people despondent and their lives in great despair!
Do these congressional freaks have conscience? They are blinded with power and greed and their soul belongs to Satan. The die is cast. De Venecia’s Dagupan Express is fighting for time. Any delay in their sinister CON+ASS plan can be a political disaster in May 2007 midterm elections. House Speaker Jose De Venecia is no longer a sure winner in his congressional district. He is also fighting for his political survival and his political clout in Pangasinan province is waning. He failed to deliver Pangasinanes vote to Gloria Arroyo in 2004 presidential election. The native son of San Carlos City, FPJ won by wide margin in a vote rich De Venecia country even with massive (cheating) dagdag-bawas scheme in favor of GMA. Dagupan City mayor and former congressman Benjamin Lim will clobber Jose De Venecia in a fair election. Traditional politicians belong to trash. JDV spent most his time in barangay Forbes Park, Makati City than in Bunuan District, Dagupan City.
Folks, I bought today’s Sunday paper, and saw this in the front page of Honolulu Advertiser, Dec. 3, 2006. (Also see
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage).
Shame on those RP leaders who think of, and work on, their self-serving agenda as top priority!
=======================
Red Cross: Asia Storm Toll May Hit 1,000
By OLIVER TEVES
Associated Press Writer
Honolulu Advertiser, Dec. 3, 2006
DARAGA, Philippines (AP) — The Red Cross estimated Sunday that up to 1,000 people may have died in the typhoon that unleashed walls of black mud on entire villages in the Philippines. The country’s president declared a state of national calamity.
Typhoon Durian struck the Philippines with winds reaching 165 mph and torrential rains on Thursday, causing ash and boulders from Mayon volcano on Luzon island to swamp villages around its base – a scene Philippine Sen. Richard Gordon described Sunday as a “war zone.”
Hopes of finding any survivors beneath the volcanic mud, debris and boulders had virtually vanished. Bodies were buried in mass graves to prevent them from decomposing in the tropical heat.
Gordon, who heads the Philippine National Red Cross, estimated the death toll could reach 1,000 people. “There are many unidentified bodies. There could be a lot more hidden below. Whole families may have been wiped out,” he told The Associated Press by telephone.
The Red Cross has thus far recorded at least 406 deaths, with 398 others missing, based on figures provided by mayors of devastated towns in Albay province, which was worst affected by the storm. The government placed the number of dead at 324, with 302 missing and 438 injured.
The state of national calamity declared by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will allow the government to rapidly release funds needed to bolster search and rescue efforts. She was scheduled to fly for a second time to Albay province on Tuesday, her spokesman said.
All but two dozen of the deaths occurred in Albay, with 165 in the flooded town of Guinobatan in the foothills of the Mayon volcano, about 200 miles southeast of Manila.
More than 50 tons of relief goods, medicine, body bags and other aid have been flown to the province by air force C-130 cargo planes, officials said.
Australia also made an initial pledge of $780,000 in immediate humanitarian relief. Canada earlier donated $876,000, while Japan said it would send $173,000.
In Albay’s battered capital of Legazpi City, residents lined up Sunday to buy drinking water, gasoline and food. Panic gripped one community due to rumors of an impending tsunami, but officials quickly reassured people that no earthquakes had occurred.
Houses along the Yawa River in Padang, about seven miles from Legazpi, were buried under 5 feet of mud, with only their rooftops protruding. Some bodies had been washed out to sea, then swept by currents to the shores of an adjacent town.
Glenn Lorica, 22, said his family’s house in Albay’s Daraga town was destroyed by a torrent of mud, uprooted trees, rocks and debris. Seven members of his family are missing; only he and his younger sister are known to have survived.
He said he struggled to stay afloat in the rampaging mud flow by grabbing hold of trees while being battered by rocks and other debris. He removed his clothing to avoid being entangled in floating trees.
“I told myself that if I would die, so be it,” Lorica said from a hospital bed.
Associated Press writer Jim Gomez contributed to this report from Manila.
Ellen, Why can’t I send my posts, always recieve this message:
“Duplicate comment detected; it looks as though you’ve already said that!”
Poor Bicolanos, instead of getting new clothes to wear for the coming Christmas, instead found themselves wrapped with body bags the very first day Gloria, the Acting DND Secretary, took over from resigned Nonong Cruz the reins at the National Disaster Coordinating Council.
The mystical Kiss of Death has taken its worse form.
The sad reality is that the entire country has been living in a state of calamity since Glueria took over. And the likes of Villafuerte, Lagman, Salceda are what Bicolanos should kick out. They are scum of the earth and they have the temerity to say they represent their constituents.
Yes, Schumey, just look at their faces and you’d probably believe my lolo who told me as a kid never to go near Mayon Volcano because monsters come out of its mouth.
He also told me how his cousins, the Padua brothers, led the Katipuneros’ slaying of all of Villafuerte’s relatives for being Makapili and orphaned this snut-nosed kid Louie. I guess they made a terrible mistake killing his clan for siding with the Japs while leaving this worse one who sides with the devils.
Lagman, ah, Mr. Cadaver. Well, you now have a lot of ’em cadavers in your town. Enjoy your meals!
Salceda, the real son of Mayon he even has replica volcano craters carved all over his face.
Not to forget, Rolando Andaya, who gave up his Camarines Sur seat for his insatiable lust for pork, instead of receiving his “small” share, now distributes the whole damn thing. He’s the latest addition to the 2007 Cheating Machine. The surname says it all.
Well, before I forget, the latest to be added to the “Anak ng Bulkan” group of lowlife, waste of space, foul-smelling, nocturnal carcass-feeding creatures is Datoh (whose nick is shortcut for “Dapat kay Vicky ‘to”; henceforth, I will spell his nickname with an “h”. I encourage everyone to do the same).
Andaya no less will be endorsing this Kapampangan to represent Bikolanos in Congress, er, Parliamemnt, er whatever.
I hope the Padua descendants are as patriotic as their gramps. Start sharpening those bolos!
Here is another tragedy: http://promdi.net/?p=93
That is precisely what Im talking about. If people can’t do it, let mother nature give them the message. To the kleptomaniacs from Malakanyang and Batasan, ibahagi nyo naman ang mga nakulimbat ninyo. Nang sa ganon mabawas bawasan ang mga karumal dumal na kasalanan ninyo sa taong bayan. Magkaroon naman kayo ng konsiyensiya. Mga hayup kayo!!! Tignan nyo na lang ang sponsor ninyong baboy, padaplis pa lang yan sa kanya. Sana nga natuluyan na.
Chabeli:
The Bansot does not have a conscience. This woman must have already sold her soul to the devil for even initiating a group that would identify themselves literally with the legion of disembodied spirits by quoting these fallen angels that possessed a man exorcised by Jesus Christ in the Bible, even ironically identifying themselves as PIG (People’s Initiative for Gloria).
For those who are unfamiliar with the Bible even when they call themselves “Christians” unlike the Moslems who all are required to read reverently the Koran, the disembodied spirits quoted by members of this initiative in fact went into the bodies of a herd of pigs who tried to escape and drown themselves into the sea.
This woman does not even have any respect for the laws of other countries much less the laws of the Philippines that she and her husband are salivating to own. Take the case of Filipinos she sends to Japan. I’m told in fact that despite the ban on the Japayukis there are still a lot many of them being smuggled and slipped into the country even disguised as domestic helpers, whose demand now is being diminished by the number of foreigners leaving Japan now because of the economic slump worldwide due to these wars that the US has created that contrary to what the mad man at the White House expected is also causing God to pour His anger on America and the cause of a lot of many natural calamities that the Bible in fact clearly states are sometimes allowed by God to happen for the people of the land to turn their hearts back to Him.
Alas, it is having a sad consequence in the Philippines. Instead of the people there start thinking of their tragedies as a consequence of their iniquities, they are being encouraged to lose faith in God, and turn as parasites under the mercy of the Bansot, who can be generous or deny them any help depending on her wiles and whims, not even on whether or not they will be loyal to her.
God forgive these crooks for even trying to use these disasters as a means to replenish the coffers they deplete of funds with monies collected from local and international charities. Nakakarindi na ang paghingi ng mga abuloy sa totoo lang!
It is imperative that the Bansot and her cohorts be removed now, for heaven’s sake! This woman has even used religion for evil as when she has tried to divide the church she goes to into pros and cons, and in their now desperate state, the priests and nuns are being tossed here and there even with a threat of no more subsidies from some gambling agency created in fact not really to help the poor but to enrich the greedy and avaricious members of the Executive, especially the present occupants of the palace by the murky river, Philippine Senate, Congress, Judiciary, Military, Police, local and national governments while the Filipinos starve to death if they are unable to leave or have relatives leave for abroad to save them.
She is desperate to have the ChaCha passed because she knows she cannot win in the coming election with all these lessons that Filipinos have to learn. In a way, these calamities are a blessing in disquise, for what the Filipinos cannot normally see with their eyes, are now swept before them to scrutinize even with their eyes washed of the motes of lies and deceits like the insensitivity of this Bansot and her cohorts, even that Congressman from Bicol, who has been a frequent visitor to Tokyo to pimp his countrymen to the Japanese by trying to convince the Japanese government to grant another waiver to the Japayukis he has been asked to lobby for the sake of recruiters both in the Philippines and Japan, most of whom have crime gang connections.
Now, to show the insensitivity of the Bansot, my, the woman cannot even feel the effect of these disasters and calamities on her own governance as she thinks of the millions and millions of money available somewhere to be poured upon the Filipinos like the disaster funds being given freely through some international organizations but unfortunately end up being stashed in some private fund.
Dios mahabagin talaga! Talaga bang walang magagawa para sipain ang mga salbaheng ito? PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Excerpts from Daily Tribune 12/04/2006
“There is hardly anything we can do about disasters except help. We may all request our congressmen to shell out P100, 000 each from pork barrel to contribute to victims. We have done this before. But postpone Cha-cha may not directly help victims.” House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles.
Wow, what kind of heartless arrogant stupid idiot is this guy Nograles? Even in issuing statements he never tried to hide his insensitivity, callousness and contempt on the poor victims of the tragedy. Not even a bit of concern at all. And where are all those tonggressmen from Bicol; especially Villafuerte, Salceda and Lagman? What are they doing to help their fellow Bicolanos? These guys together with Nograles, under the command of jdv and the glue, preferred the con-ass as their special priority to undertake and nothing could distract them, not even this kind of calamity where maybe more than a thousand were buried alive. Maybe they didn’t even have the time to pray for the victims, and all their times are focused on the con-ass. They have to meet a deadline, and as loyal ass-lickers and tutas, and men with no balls they have to do just as ordered whatever it takes, just to please the evil queen. Oh, what a people!
Florry,
Preparations should have been made before the onslaught of the typhoon.
Those people living on the slopes of the Mayon volcanoe should have been EVACUATED BY FORCE if necessary! Telling them to leave their homes? How? Those people wouldn’t know where to go and even if they did, they needed logistical aid to get there!
Perhaps, they weren’t even aware of the intensity of the typhoon at all! Maybe they had no idea… It is the government’s responsibility and duty to make sure that disaster awareness plans were in place BEFORE THE TYPHOON. It could have been done in 72 HOURS and less! PUT THE ENTIRE AFP machinery if necessary. Each Filipino life should have been given the priority. Had that been done, there would have been less deaths!
This government knew that a typhoon was brewing – even the outpost in the northern tip of Scotland knew that Reming was going to hit Eastern Philippines. Pag Asa knew that too.
WHAT HAPPENED! Why didn’t the government put an immediate disaster preparation plan to save at least a few hundred people from a sure death? AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE! There could have been less deaths and CASUALTIES had this motto been followed!!!? Where there any preparations to provide SUCCOR to the survivors IMMEDIATELY after the typhoon?
Today, people weep and pray for the dead – hah! It’s not enough to provide contigency plans to simply locate or bury the dead, contingency plans should have been made to supply food, medicine, water, medical personnel IMMEDIATELY after a disaster.
It could have been done! Cuba, a nation which is landlocked by its enemy, the US could do it, why can’t this nation with its huge population do it?
Where are the contingency plans? Was this government waiting for other nations to do it for them and waited to do anything at all after the typhoon? Did the government believe that the usual nation donors and givers of aid will provide the cash? And where will the contributions go? To the pockets of FATSO & GLORIA BANSOT? DISGUSTING!!!
This government is GUILTY of having abandoned those people to their fate. Gloria is sick, sick in the head to have left the people of Albay to their fate!
It is NOT AFTER THE DISASTER THAT PEOPLE NEEDED HELP but BEFORE THE DISASTER to avoid this unnecessary carnage!
I am disgusted – terribly angry that we should tolerate this whorish government to behave the way it does. It is despicable to accept that this government should feast on the dead the way it does.
GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO should be REQUIRED TO MAKE A FULL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HER INACTION AND HER INCOMPETENCE AT providing the people with the SIMPLES DISASTER CONTINGENCY PLANS!
God said, I WILL HELP YOU BUT YOU MUST HELP YOURSELVES – it is the government’s duty to protect each and every life of the citizens of the Republic and do everything in its power to ensure that a minimum of damage should happen.
She must be happy that there would be less Filipinos under her corrupt government’s reign with so many deaths.
The Filipino nation should demand a POST MORTEM of Gloria and her incompetent cabinet; the Filipino nation SHOULD DEMAND BLOOD NO LESS!
Sorry, Ellen, I can’t help it ‘cuz it occurred to me just this sec. Anyways, it’s about Bicol still. I just thought that Datoh’s congressional entry via the Bicol route could have been actually laid down by Garci, when he was assigned to oversee the Region in 2004!
He’s probably in possession of a voters’ list or something they would use to fabricate new ballots. Maybe, he’s in possession of the real ballots they substituted with fake ones. That’s Datoh’s ticket to Congress!
That’s the only reason that I could think of why Datoh should run in Bicol. WHat do you think?
The Filipinos must demand blood if these sabo projects and warning and evacuation system was not implemented by corrupt Arroyo administration. Gloria Arroyo is may be partly responsible for the landslide deaths due to her incompetence and too much politicking. Shameless Mt. Mayon disaster area congressmen should use their pork barrel funds in life saving and prevention projects.
EXCERPTS: NEDA MEDIUM-TERM DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2001-2004
Implement sabo projects for the prevention/mitigation of sediment-related disasters, debris and lahar flow/landslide;
Serious and often destructive sediment movement due to landslides, debris flows and river bed deformations remarkably increase damages to lives, properties, infrastructure, etc. Sediment control measures are continuously being pursued, especially within the Mt. Pinatubo and Mt. Mayon influence areas. However, the structures implemented are still wanting in terms of adequacy. As economic activity tends to extend towards the mountain slope areas, sediment-related disasters are likely to frequently occur. The need, therefore, to implement prevention works in disaster-prone areas is recognized for sustainable economic development. These prevention works consist of structural and nonstructural measures such as warning and evacuation system, land use regulation, and disaster preparedness programs.
Hawaiianguy, your post was subjected for moderation (i don’t know how the administrator choose which comment to subject for moderation) and i just opened the computer now. Sorry about that. The comment/article is now posted. Thanks.
WWNL,please take a look at what Josephs linked:Here is another tragedy: http://promdi.net/?p=93 . It’s relevant to the research you are doing.
TonGuE-tWisTeD, that’s highly plausible. That the only way Dato would win.
Ellen:
Thanks for the info[ I’m out of town all week but it will be included A.S.A.P.
People shouldn’t be discouraged, just more determined.
One Million warm bodies outside the Palace gates would be their wake-up call!
The fury of the storm and wrath should have directly hit Villafuerte, Lagman, Andaya and Salceda. Not the innocent lives of the townfolks of nearly 17 barangays near the Mayon Volcano.
If these officials have a little bit of sentido common, nature is sending the message – magbabayad kayo sa inyong mga kasalanan sa taong-bayan kung hindi man directa tatama sa inyo ay sa ibang paraan!
Ano pa nga ba ang bago sa mga BALAKIN nitong pangkat ni gloria at “tengang daga”…iyon ang nasa isip nila, samantalahin ang “holiday mood” ng mga pinoys dahil nga it’s almost X–mas time na nga naman. Pero wala sa “contingencies” nila ang SUPER TYPOON na si DURIAN(alyas REMING)…kaya ngayon, oras na IPAGPILITAN PA RIN NGA MGA HAYOP NA IYAN ANG sagingCON-ASShole nila…dapat na talagang DUKUTIN ang mga ANIMAL na iyan at IHULOG sa BUNGANGA ng bulkang Mayon. Talaga naman po…patawarin ako, pero magkataon lang na “makita ko sa personal” itong UBOD ng YAMAN AT YABANG na si de venecia…MUMURAHIN KO SIYA AT DUDURAAN PA!!! He’s nothing but a “mongrel” to me.
Anna;
“Preparations should have been made before the onslaught of the typhoon”.
That’s true, nothing beats preparedness.
Everytime a calamity descend upon this country, it exposed the incompetence and ill-preparedness of the government. With the modern technology being implemented almost everything that happens around the world regarding weather forecasting and movements can be monitored and forewarned countries that are going to be affected. The forecast and warning about this supertyphoon had been on the air for almost seventy two hours before its arrival in the Philippines, but as expected, the incompetent and bogus authorities just advised the people about the warning, didn’t do anything to help or evacuate them to safer grounds and out of harms way. It’s really amazing how these government people reacts to an incoming disaster. They just sit,lie, wait and hope for whatever it brings. And after, they don’t even know how to coupe with it. They are a bunch of incompetent monsters.
Now, the damage is done. What are they doing to alleviate the situations of those survivors? Reports has it that donations and aids from foreign countries are coming in. For sure, almost all government officials are itching to pick their fingers inside the cookie jar filled with these donations. Sana naman magtira sila kahit na kaunti at iparating sa dapat na kinauukulan at tutulungan at hindi lahat ibubulsa ng mga Pidal at ang kanilang mga kampon. Maghari naman sana sa puso ng mga ito alang-alang sa nalalapit na kapaskuhan, ang kahit na kaunting awa at pagmamahal sa mga taong dapat na tulungan. Pasko naman, kahit ngayon lang, makapagbigay man lang ng kaunting kasiyahan sa tao. Harinawa!
Sunod-sunod ang mga calamity sa ating bansa. Ngunit ang priority pa rin ng gobyerno ay ang mga pansarili nilang pakinabang. Maybe, GOD IS TELLING US AND MOST ESPECIALLY OUR GOVERNMENT TO PRIORITIZE THE PEOPLE’S NEEDS ESPECIALLY THE POOR. Sa istorya ng biblia, pag ang namumuno ng bansa ay hindi pinili ng Diyos, puro pananalanta ang inaabot. Dahil si Arroyo ay HINDI PINILI NG DIYOS KAYA ANG PILIPINAS AY NAKASUMPA. Dapat ang susunod na malakihang prayer rally ay I-PRAY OVER at I-EXORCIZE ang Malakanyang na lumayas na ang mga demonyong nakatira duon para maalis ang sumpa. Sabi sa 2 Chronicles 7:14—If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:13-15 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 7 (Whole Chapter) . Tayong mga may tunay na paniniwala sa Diyos ang dapat manalangin and the work of the devil
THE WORK OF THE DEVIL WILL BE CRUSHED IN JESUS NAME!!!
Suggestion lang sa mga taga Bicol. Ipadama nila ang kanilang galit sa kanilang mga congressman for being insensitive to their plight. Try hurling mud at their houses para maramdaman din nila ang naramdaman ng mga bicolanos.
Posporo Nograles just illustrates a sign of a nation divided. Sa ibang bansa, tulong-tulong kapag may kalamidad; and sakit nga naman ng kalingkingan, dama ng buong katawan. Sa atin, bahala ka diyan, dusa ka.
What congress should be doing is pass a priority bill that declares Bicol as a state in calamity and allocate emergency funds for basic needs. Nakakahiya nauna pa ang ibang bansa while we talk about this stupid Cha-cha.
Pardon my lingo.
04 December 2006
Guys!!!, Rep Golez is correct to say/request for moratorium on chacha, it is only correct to say that, simply because people, esp those TONGressmen to pass a supplmental budget for the “reming victims”. The country has suffered too much politics with gloria and her hoods at the helm, I think it is the right time to think of our kababayans in bicol first, what does villasuerte, lagayman and salceda are =doing now for their kababayans??? they themselves who benefitted from the “pork barrel” should allocate it to alleviate the living conditions of bicolanos and for them to start a new life (although very difficult), I sympathize with our kababayans in bicol.
Not only moratorium for one week on chacha but a total moratorium instead and focus energies in helping not only the bicolanos, but all those who have been victimized by reming.
I call on all bicolanos, if their TONGressmen push for the deliberations on chacha today, I say dont vote them in this coming election, to show them that they are disgusted by looking for their own self interest fitst instead of helping them.
YAN PORK BARREL MO VILLASUERTE/LAGAYMAN SALSALCEDA, IBIGAY NYO MUNA SA INYONG KABABAYAN BAGO NYO UNAHIN ANG INYONG PERSONAL NA INTEREST.
prans
04 December 2006
By the way guys, I dont know if you have heard of de venecia saying that the people are fed up with the political fighting??? i guess he’s right to say that, provided that gloria him and hoods stop ramming the chacha. He is one of the root cause/s of the problem that exists today.
Instead of chacha, why not a snap election.
prans
they know that their cha cha is a lost cause,
but by now,they are already planning to boogie
..tiago, sana nga may conscience ang mga hinayupak na ito like nobrales, villabuwitre, at kung sio pang mga buwaya sa tongress…masakit nga at ang kababuyan ng mga hinayupak na ito, mga inosenteng tao ang nagdurusa…sad to say, aandar na naman ang makinarya ng kampon ng kababuyan at idadaan nila sa pera na kunya ay tumutulong sila sa kanilang kababayan…sana nga lang ay huwag makakalimot ang tao na ang mga kampon na ito ay mga manggagamit lang para sa kanilang boto…
anna, whatever happens, no matter how the photo-ops of on-goings in the office of NDCC having to say that they are prepared, the goings-on in between frm the top to the bottom is always questionable due to the questionable competencies of people that are involved. remmber that this admin likes to appoint mere people na may “pinag-kakautangan nang loob’s sake”…
for whatever is worth to keep on repeating, we know for a fact the this country is being deliberately divided by making the so-called mega-regions, saying that this is for the so-called economic growth that the country needs most.
the division and slow rape of this country is evident with the present incumbents who have nothing in mind but only glory for their names. i dont need to go into further details how this raping and division will be taking place..we are all mature enough to see what is going on.
As leaders of other nations talk about the disaster brought about by Typhoon Reming, our own corrupt leaders discuss how to circumvent the process to save themselves. Disgusting!
Before Congress goes out for X’mas, pork lovers will make sure they have the mechanism in place to revise the constitution and cancel the 2007 elections. Gloria will asertain that this time around the next SC Chief Justice knows how to dance the cha-cha.
Moreover, given the past actions of the court in striking down PP 1017, EO 464, CPR and PIG (People’s Initiative of Gloria), a favorable decision for GMA and De Venecia’s Con-Ass will spell disaster not only for SC but to the entire Filipino people. The nation no longer needs another “Reming” or “Milenyo,” it is already a devastated state beyond redemption.
>YAN PORK BARREL MO VILLASUERTE/LAGAYMAN SALSALCEDA, IBIGAY
>NYO MUNA SA INYONG KABABAYAN BAGO NYO UNAHIN ANG INYONG
>PERSONAL NA INTEREST.
prans, isama na rin natin iyong dalawang ASO ng Malakanyang na sina Kgg. Uy at Kgg. Veloso na nagsabing pagpapa-pansin lang daw ang panawagan ni Senator Ping Lacson na magbitiw si GMA.
Ito yung tungkol sa napabalitang panggigipit ng Malakanyang sa pagbibigay ng mga pork barrel duon sa mga kalaban ni GMA.
Last Thursday, Lacson demanded Arroyo’s resignation as he revealed that pork barrel funds to non-Arroyo allies are being withheld by Malacañang.
(Solons see black propaganda vs GMA , Manila Bulletin , page 6 Sunday, November 26,2006)
it sad and tragedy enough that politicians donot think of natural disasters before it comes, it is even sadder when it is not given top priority.it is criminal to divert funds allocated to disasters into their own pockets.
hawaiianguy:
It maybe that it turns out to be a good thing that these congressmen allies ignor the plight of the victims of the typhoon Reming and blindly continue their plan intended for their self interest. It should prove to the citizens of all classes that “worse is yet to come” unless they take action to stop this administration railroading the citizens Constitution.
One Million warm bodies outside the Palace gates is the only quick fix…or do you know a quicker way!.
sana, lumindol ng malakas bicol mismong sa tapat lamang ng kinatitirikan ng mga bahay ng mga ganid na bayarang tongresman at alamunin ng lupa ang buong angkan ng mga hinayupak na tuta ng reyna anay ng malakanyang!
…at lamunin ng lupa ang buong angkan…..
from tribune:
Orphans, scrap wood coffins in a village buried by mudslide
12/04/2006
Cristina Buen sits patiently as a neighbor hammers together a coffin made of scrap wood for her younger sister Crissa Mae in Maipon, Albay. The smell of death hangs heavy in the air.
Crissa’s small body, wrapped in a dirty blanket, lies on the ground in what is left of this eastern Philippine village, obliterated by a river of mud and ash unleashed by typhoon rains.
Nearby, a bigger coffin under a makeshift tent contains the remains of her mother, Erlinda, who was killed as she tried to reach her children.
“I don’t know what to do with my brothers and sisters. We are orphans now,” she said. Their father passed away years ago.
“Our neighbors are kind enough to build us coffins.”
In the village of Maipon, typical of those that dot the slopes of the Mayon volcano, there is no laughter of children playing, just silence as the walking wounded come to terms with their loss.
“It was dark and the mud was rising fast. Mama tried to save us, but all of a sudden she was gone,” Cristina told AFP, cradling Crissa Mae’s surviving seven-year-old twin, Carissa Joy.
Two younger siblings wander around, mud drying from their clothes, their bare feet sore.
Other children who survived the carnage stare into space or look blankly into cameras capturing the first images of devastation in Maipon, one of the many farming villages around Mayon volcano erased from the face of the earth last Thursday night.
“We don’t have any money. An official already visited us and we are waiting for them to come back to help us carry our mother and sister into a nearby town for a proper burial,” Cristina said.
Nearby, a man is nearly done with the coffin he fashioned out of wooden planks salvaged from a broken cabinet.
A few meters away, a grandmotherly woman watches over the makeshift coffin of Elsa Oximina. Three yellow candles burn while daughter Roslyn herds together surviving family members.
“I am checking if all the children are here,” Roslyn said, her voice thick with emotion.
“We need help here. The children don’t have food and we need assistance in burying our dead.”
The Philippine Red Cross yesterday said it had confirmed a total 406 dead from the mudslides so far. But it said another 398 persons were missing, and fears the eventual toll could be as high as 1,000.
Maipon, a farming village of some 3,000 persons, used to be a lively place. It was spared destruction by a fierce typhoon last October, and was preparing for a modest Roman Catholic Christmas when tragedy struck.
Only the shells of a few houses remain standing in a vast sea of gray.
A river that flows directly from the slopes of Mayon was engulfed by ash and mud, which spilled onto different directions and created new paths, swallowing up everything in its path.
Dead animals, fallen trees and debris float in deep canals, the stench of death hangs thick.
The first batch of rescuers from an auxiliary Air Force unit, aided by a canine search team flown in by the military from Manila, arrived Friday.
A sweep of the outskirts yielded 16 bodies but dozens or even hundreds are believed buried here.
No one is really making a proper count. There are no forensic experts to help identify the dead, who are taken away in body bags and dumped in a funeral parlor in the center of Guinobatan town, three kilometers away.
As of last count, 166 bodies have been recovered here and other villages in the area. Fifty-seven were in advanced stage of decomposition and had to be buried in a mass grave, their identities never to be known.
“This has been by far the biggest tragedy to hit us in recent history,” said Gene Villareal, the vice mayor of Guinobatan with a population of 55,000.
“Our infrastructure is overwhelmed and we are straining our resources in search and recovery efforts,” he said.
He added the death toll would almost certainly rise, with news from isolated far-flung villages only now beginning to trickle in.
“How can you tell for sure how many are dead when an entire village is buried under mud and none of them can report what happened?,” asked Carlos Baylon, the vice mayor of nearby Daraga town. AFP
Habang ang bicol ay nagugutom at hindi na makatangis ang mga nakaligtas, samantalang karamihan ng biktima ay tuluyan ng mababaon sa putik, heto ang pekeng pangulo at maghapon daw na ” halos walang kurap” na nagmomonitor ng operasyon ni Mike Pidal. HOW SWEET!!!
******
FG Ligtas sa Operasyon
(Rose Miranda),Abante 12/04/06
Kinumpirma kahapon ng St. Luke’s Medical Center na isinailalim nila sa isang operasyon si First Gentleman Mike Arroyo dahil sa barado nitong blood vessel sa puso.
Dakong alas-6:30 ng umaga nang isailalim sa angioplasty procedure ang Unang Ginoo kung saan personal umano itong binantayan ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at halos walang kurap na tumutok sa monitoring room sa buong panahon ng operasyon.
Ayon kay Dra. Juliet Cervantes, attending physician ni G. Arroyo, hindi umano sinaksakan ng anesthesia ang pasyente bagkus ay ‘sedated’ lamang ito o ‘half asleep’ habang inooperahan.
Makaraan ang isang oras ay idineklara ni Cervantes na matagumpay ang operasyon at nasa ‘stable condition’ na umano ang presidential husband.
bakit hindi pa matuluyan ang baboy na yan!!!!!…isa kc sa mga mabigat na kanang kamay yan ni pandak. kahit paano ay yan ang pakinabang sa kanya ni bitch-witch, ang mang-harass at mang-bully…dinadaan sa laki kung baga…kc nga naman ay 4’11 lang ang belat…ang mga susunod na babagsakan ng karma ay ang mga balat ahas na sina jo-de-amnesia, gonggongzales, no-brainless, villabuwitre, eghead lagayman, myty myak(na lagi nang sinusupalpal ng sarili nyang kabaro), datoh, punggok miguel ‘artistang laos’ dorobo et al…am sure nag-aalumpihit na ang mga walanghiyang ito…
incidentally, did anyone see brenda going balistic!..hindi sya nakasama sa mga nominated sa SC and boy wat a temper…mabuti at nakunan ang tunay na kulay nya…ganyan ba ang mga taong sinasabing syang mag-proprotekta ng ating batas?…it would be nice to be invisible and go inside the tongress and snoop around, recording the true colors of the swines midst the murky house of so-called moral conscience of the country! PWE!!!
dapat malitson na ang mga baboy ngayong pasko.
soleil, parang bata si brenda. ipinagmamalaki ang 30 aklat na sinulat niyang nagiging references daw ng mga law students. gayundin ang pagiging UP graduate niya with honors (ano ba siya, suman cum laude?). kulang na lang maglupasay sa lupa!
norpil…lilitsonin ang mga baboy at ipakain sa mga buwaya! tutal magkakauri din naman sila…
mrivera..natatawa nga ako nga magbubusa ang manang na kung anu-ano ang nilitanya nya…binabaligtad ata nya ang mga issue..kunwa pa ay komo ka-alyado nya si pandak, at kung ano-anong tsismis ang lumabas sa bibig nya..tsk tsk tsk..umaamin ako na dati akala ko magaling sya when she was was with the immigration but naging tililing ang kinalabasan pala..lumabas ang natural sa daming frustration at hindi nakaya ng utak nya ayun sumayad tuloy!
soleil, nagrereklamo na nga ang janitor sa GSIS building dahil sa pagod sa pamumulot ng mga natanggal na turnilyo sa ulo ni brenda! tuwing papasok sa office niya at uuwi pagkatapos ng session ay nagkalat sa mga pasilyo!
Glueria has no more needs of Miriam. No honor among BRENDAS!
I’m happy Brenda was scrapped from the list. Whew!
With most of my messages being deleted on a daily basis, I now wonder if it’s still wise for me to continue writing and sending my comments. I got many ideas and things to say…but am afraid that these would all be deleted. My heart bleeds seeing so many victims in calamities such as this one. But, we see those every year…yet, we never learn our lesson. The corrupt and incompetent government doesn’t care. It’s the pockets of these officials and politicians that matter most. And where are the religious groups? Imagine the amount of money they collected from their members.
Can you imagine Mrivera? The SC chief justice position would have been more gruelling for all – think of how close SC came to self destruction. All the justices would have lost their turnilyos had they had Brenda in their midst.
At the end of the day, those GSIS janitos don’t have to worry about additional burden of picking up lose screws at the SC building.
Brenda out of the SC race? What a relief!
Somehow I wished she should gotten the post. That will add up to the aggravating circumstances of a system run by rotten people.
What’s left now is the railroading of cha-cha by those pork lovers. The faster they do it, the swifter their political demise. They have underestimated the sensitivity and intelligence of the people.
Should read: …should have gotten…
WWNL, don’t worry, their end is near. Just wait a little bit more. I see the phoenix of EDSA rising.
Ellen, hindi ko makuha ang writer ng Sangang-Diin sa Abante-Tonite, pero siya raw ay si Tunying ayon sa kanyang email address sa ibaba.
****
OPINION, Sangang-Diin, Abante-Tonite, 12/04/06
Sumpa ng kamalasan
Kahit nagluluksa ang bayan dahil sa iniwang perwisyo ni super typhoon Reming, malamang na ituloy ngayon ng mga tinaguriang “Palakpak Boys” ni Pangulong Arroyo sa Kongreso ang pagpipilit na ipasa ang Charter Change (ChaCha) sa pamamagitan ng Constituent Assembly (ConAss).
Bidang-bida sa pagkilos na ito ang mga kongresistang promotor din ng pagbasura sa dalawang impeachment complaints laban kay Pangulong Arroyo. Kasama siyempre riyan ang mga ipinagmamalaki ng Bicolandia na sina Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte at Albay Congressman Edcel Lagman.
Habang todo-arangkada ang ChaCha sa bahay ni Big Brother Joe De Venecia, todo-kayod naman ang mga rescue workers upang makahukay ng daan-daang tao na natabunan ng putik mula sa Bulkang Mayon sa magkakatabing lugar ng Legaspi City, Guinobatan, Sto. Domingo, Camalig at Daraga sa Albay.
Kung may konsensya ang mga promotor ng ChaCha lalo na ang mga kongresistang Bicolano, baka wala ni isa man sa kanila na pumunta sa Kongreso mamaya. Baka lahat sila’y magtungo sa dako ng mudslides upang tumulong sa paghukay ng mga bangkay.
Makapal, manhid, matigas ang mukha at kadiri ang mga Palakpak Boys kung paaandarin ang ChaCha train habang daang libo ang nawalan ng tirahan, naghihinagpis sa kanilang mga yumao at naghahanap ng mga kaanak na nasa ilalim ng tumigas na lahar.
Sumpa ng mga Pinoy, sana pag bumagyo ulit, ang Kongreso naman ang matabunan habang nagcha-chacha ang mga kongresista… hindi namin huhukayin ang bangkay n’yo!!!
***
Habang nililirip ko ang lagim na hatid ng napakagandang Bulkang Mayon, bigla ko na lamang naisipang magbilang ng mga trahedya sa bansa sa panahon ni Pangulong Arroyo. Andami na kasi eh!
Noong Oktubre 25, 2001, binisita ni Pangulong Arroyo ang Mambajao, Camiguin para sa ika-22 Lanzones Festival ng probinsya.
Wala pang dalawang linggo ang nakalilipas, noong Nobyembre 7, 2001, hinagupit ng bagyong Nanang ang Camiguin na nagresulta ng matinding flashfloods doon na ikinamatay agad ng mahigit 130 residente ng Isla.
Gaano karaming buhay ang nasawi sa biglaang pagbaha at pagguho ng lupa sa Surigao City at Panaon island noong Disyembre 2003?
Sino ba ang makalilimot sa napakaraming buhay na naparam at ari-ariang nawasak dahil sa pagguho ng lupa at putik sa dako ng Real-Infanta, Quezon gayundin sa Aurora at Nueva Ecija nang dumaan si Bagyong Yoyong noong Nobyembre at Disyembre 2004?
Andami nga pala. Hindi ko pa isinama ang Guimaras Tragedy, Ultra Tragedy at kung anu-ano pa na hindi iilang bilang ng tao ang napahamak.
Malas ba si Ginang Arroyo? May dala ba siyang sumpa sa mga Pilipino? Ayokong sagutin, nakakatakot!!!!!
***
Hindi naman nag-iisa ang administrasyong Arroyo sa pagkolekta ng sangkaterbang kamalasan para sa bansang ito. Maging noong panahon ni dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino ay inabot din ng katakut-takot na alat ang mga Pinoy.
Pagsabog ng Bulkang Pinatubo noong Hunyo 1991, malakas na lindol noong Hulyo 1990, paglubog ng M/V Dona Paz — mga trahedyang hindi biro ang bilang ng mga taong namatay at napighati.
At paano natin malilimutan ang Ormoc Tragedy noong Nobyembre 5, 1991 na ikinasawi ng libu-libong mga kababayan natin sa Leyte?
***
Ano’ng common denominator sa dalawang babaeng Presidente? Sila ay kapwa naluklok sa puwesto sa bisa ng People Power na parehong nangyari sa EDSA…tsk tsk tsk… Masama talagang mang-agaw!!!
Mabuti nga sana kung damay sila sa kamalasan. Ang problema, tayo lang ang inaalat. Silang dalawa, lalo na si Mahal na Pangulo, tuloy ang SUWERTE. ‘Di bale, mauubos din ‘yan!!!
***
Laging makinig sa amin ni Gerry Baja sa Dos por Dos sa DZMM 630 khz, alas-7:30 ng umaga at alas-5:30 ng hapon at ugaliing manood ng Magandang Umaga Pilipinas, alas-5:15 ng umaga araw-araw sa ABS-CBN Channel 2. ‘Andun ako.
Kung gustong mag-react o magsumbong, mag-email sa tunying016@yahoo.com.
Soleil,
Masamang damo, matagal mamatay! Buti nga ng mahirapan ang ungas. Tapos litson siya sa impiyerno pagkatapos! 😛
akala ko private citizen yang bugok na yan.bakit ipinapa-alam pa sa publiko ang peke nyang heart surgery?
malaking panloloko yan!!paano ooperahan sa puso ang isang wala namang puso?
Kumanta tayo lahat ng “My Way”. Umpisahan natin ng “And now, the end is near. And so she faces the final curtain.” Katapusan na ni tiyanak!
Chi si Tunying ay si Anthony Taberna, hardhitter din kagaya ng partner niyang si Gerry Baja, parehong taga-ABS-CBN/DZMM. Isa sa mga original na sinampahan ni First Gentlepig ng libel ilang taon na ang nakaraan. Binanatan na ng personal ni Donya Encantada sa ilang presscon kaya lalong sumikat si Anthony.
Hahahah! How funny! Apoy, I presume that you know that My Way is ACTUALLY the theme song of the Armed Forces of the Philippines!
This is the favorite song of karaokeing officers of the AFP, I kid thee not!
Best said by Rod Kapunan in the Daily Tribune 12]05]2006
If these political hustlers say time is of the essence, this merely pertains to their greed to stay longer in office. If they were honest, they can postpone Cha-cha by proceeding to hold the scheduled elections this coming May. By then they would have been looked upon as altruistic enough to sacrifice their extra years in office for the good of everybody. But theirs is the cry of a shameless segurista of wanting to have the upper hand to stay longer which now makes their proposal more of an agreement among thieves.
Read full comment: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20061205com3.html
apoy, ang dapat talaga, si Bansot ang magpapaopera noon, vaginoplasty para sumikip ang entrada sa playground kaya lang, bumagyo e wala nang DND Secretary, kailangan siya sa NDCC kaya pina-angioplasty muna si El Esposo Humongo.
Nagalit tuloy ang barkada ko, si Eboy Malabanan, kayang-kaya naman raw niyang alisin ang bara ni Taba, sa pagsundot o pagsipsip, libre na nga, tumanggi pa. Biruin mo, siya pa ang magda-drive ng tanker na pula at pump sa Malacañang, ayaw pa!
Who says that the Bansot is indispensible? Ang daming magaling hindi lang nabibigyan ng chance to prove their worth. Here’s one example.
From http://www.worldmayor.com/results06/profile_makati.html:
Jejomar Binay
Mayor of Makati City, Philippines
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay has shot to prominence as one of the most divisive yet popular figures in Philippine politics, possibly the embodiment of a city leader who can inspire the masses and irk the national political establishment. As well as a hard-earned reputation for sound city management, he can point to a leading role in restoring democracy to the Philippines after two decades of dictatorship. In 2006 he was included among the top ten mayors in the annual World Mayor project.
The hardworking mayor has seen off numerous crises, attacks and even term limits during his almost 20 year stint since taking charge of Manila’s financial district. As with all awkward yet popular city leaders, he is frequently spoken of as a possible candidate for the presidency.
Makati, as well as serving as the country’s financial hub, is also home to an array of top class hotels, shopping malls, skyscrapers and country clubs, rendering it something of a byword for opulence among those familiar with Filipino society. In 2004 Makati was ranked by the Asian Institute of Management as the Most Dynamic City and a year later as one of the Top 5 Most Competitive.
Binay’s jurisdiction may cover the Manhattan-style skyline of the Filipino banking district but his origins are substantially more humble, born into quasi-poverty and orphaned early on, his first job was tending his uncle’s pigs. Continuing to support himself through school, he managed to obtain a place at the University of the Philippines to study political science and then law, before being called to the bar a few years later.
Binay graduated and spent the next few years practising community law among the city’s poor, this being the era in which the post-independence Philippines was subject to considerable internal tension (student unrest and Communist insurgency) and external intervention (CIA meddling), with the US-backed Ferdinand Marcos beginning his tenure as president and de facto dictator for the next two decades. It was during this period that Binay was imprisoned following the introduction of marshal law and state action against pro-democracy campaigners. Binay the lawyer remained committed to his human rights work and campaigning for the reintroduction of popular democracy against the kleptocratic and increasingly draconian Marcos regime (the so-called ‘New Society’ of constitutional authoritarianism).
With the resumption of popular rule following the ESDA revolution of 1986, Binay was installed as the officer in charge of the City of Makati under the transitional government of Cory Aquino, before securing three more terms as mayor, the only impediment to a fourth term coming in the form of term limits in 1998 (where his wife temporarily replaced him).
It is his stewardship of the city he found in near-bankruptcy that his earned him his reputation as a financially sound innovator in city governance, emerging as the most prominent mayor in the Philippines during this period as a result. Since overcoming the budget deficits he inherited on becoming mayor, as well as overseeing the upgrading of the city to a higher tier authority, Binay has transformed Makati into the country’s leading municipality for e-governance, heralding the council’s work towards paper-less transactions.
However, success can also provoke jealousy and begat enemies and Binay is certainly not short of these, as recent events have shown. Binay’s popular touch with the city’s poor and light touch approach to the business sector that has seen him traverse the communal divide in the highly polarised community may also contribute to this. The city is indeed notable for the pass porting of funds to finance special education and healthcare programmes for its poorest inhabitants. Furthermore, Binay belongs to the Philippine Democratic Party-National Struggle, which played a leading role in campaigning for the restoration of democracy in 1986 but is now regarded as small yet influential opposition party.
As ever, politics in the Philippines are in flux. The beleaguered and scandal-hit administration of President Arroyo (which has also faced a coup attempt this year) has been accused of seeking to remove unsympathetic mayors in the run-up to the May 2007 congressional and municipal elections. In addition to banning all ‘unauthorised’ demonstrations under a presidential decree, in October 2006 the Department of Interior and Local Government issued a suspension from office for Binay and several senior officials following an accusation of false accounting at city hall, a charge resisted by Binay, who secured a 60-day appeal against the order in the courts.
Binay and his family, as well as hundreds of supporters, holed themselves up in his city hall office in anticipation of forced removal and possible arrest and even the country’s military were warned to remain impartial in the dispute (Binay is also a marines colonel in the reservist forces). Following the court’s revocation of the government’s order, thousands of supporters took to the streets of Manila to demonstrate their approval of the mayor, who is also backed by former presidents Aquino and Estrada, though the Arroyo administration remain determined that Binay will be suspended from office as part of its efforts to eradicate local corruption.
While Binay can rightly point to an inspiring track record as both a campaigner for democracy and a champion of the city’s poor, there are those who claim the mayor operates as an autocrat and hides behind his populist rhetoric to disguise his machine-like grip on the city’s politics, as evidenced by his virtually uninterrupted two decades in office (the only interregnum coming in the form of his wife during a term limited stint out of office). His supporters’ grip on the most routine and minor aspects of daily life in the city and his continuing friendship with the deposed ex-president and fellow populist Joseph Estrada, currently awaiting trial for corruption, act as black marks for those critical of his administration.
Besides being a member of the Rotary Club of Makati, he is currently on his third term as the National President of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. He also holds positions in international organisations, namely: Vice President for Membership (2006- 2008), United Cities and Local Governments-Asia Pacific Chapter; Life Honorary Member (since February 2001) and Member, World Executive Committee of the International Union of Local Authorities-Asia Pacific; Member, Executive Committee (2006-2009), Network for Local Authorities for the Management of Human Settlement (CITYNET); and Chairman, Finance Sub-Committee, World Scout Organization. Mayor Binay was also a senior executive fellow of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is married to Dr Elenita Binay, a medical practitioner and herself the former mayor of Makati (1998-2001). They have five children.
Makati City, the financial capital of the Philippines
The Finalists were
AFRICA
• Mayor of Antananarivo, Madagascar
• Mayor of Johannesburg, South Africa
• Mayor of Maputo, Mozambique
• Mayor of Tunis, Tunisia
NORTH AMERICA
• Mayor of Calgary, Canada
• Mayor of London, Canada
• Mayor of Toronto, Canada
• Mayor of Denver, USA
• Mayor of Harrisburg, USA
• Mayor of Houston, USA
• Mayor of New Orleans, USA
• Mayor of New York City, USA
• Mayor of Portland, USA
• Mayor of Seattle, USA
SOUTH AMERICA
• Mayor of Belo Horizonte, Brazil
• Mayor of Curitiba, Brazil
• Mayor of Bogota, Colombia
• Mayor of Quito, Ecuador
• Mayor of San José de Mayo, Uruguay
• Mayor of Valencia, Venezuela
ASIA
• Mayor of Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Mayor of Chengdu, China
• Mayor of Shanghai, China
• Mayor of Bangalore, India
• Mayor of Jaipur, India
• Mayor of Rishon-LeZion, Israel
• Mayor of Tokyo, Japan
• Mayor of Nablus, Palestine
• Mayor of Angeles City, Philippines
• Mayor of Makati City, Philippines
• Mayor of Taipei, Taiwan
• Mayor of Istanbul, Turkey
AUSTRALASIA
• Mayor of Melbourne, Australia
• Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand
EUROPE
• Mayor of Sofia, Bulgaria
• Mayor of Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Mayor of Mulhouse, France
• Mayor of St Etienne, France
• Mayor of Augsburg, Germany
• Mayor of Bonn, Germany
• Mayor of Potsdam, Germany
• Mayor of Bologna, Italy
• Mayor of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
• Mayor of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Mayor of Porto, Portugal
• Mayor of Oradea, Romania
• Mayor of Zaragoza, Spain
• Mayor of Valencia, Spain
• Mayor of Zurich, Switzerland
• Mayor of Middlesbrough, UK
Right on!
Congratulations to Mayor Binay!
He placed 4th in the competition! Ain’t bad, ain’t bad at all!
Here’s the e-mail I just received:
Dear Friend
We are happy to inform you that Jejomar Binay, Mayor of Makati City, has achieved 4th place in the 2006 World Mayor Project.
Full coverage is carried on the World Mayor website
http://www.worldmayor.com
We would like to thank you again for taking part in World Mayor 2006.
Best wishes
Tann vom Hove
Editor
City Mayors + World Mayor
London NW11 7HW
Tel: +44 20 8209 1722
Email: editor@worldmayor.com
Internet City Mayors: http://www.citymayors.com
Internet World Mayor: http://www.worldmayor.com
That’s right, Anna! These are nasty small programs that can do anything from monitoring your passwords, credit card numbers, mailing lists, personal info, and when you don’t know it, automatically emails the collated data to its originator. Your PC, as well as your personal data will be compromised.
Beware of trojans that are embedded in emails, websites of:
Medicines, drugs, wellness,
Online casino/gambling sites,
Credit facilities/services,
Insurance,
Travel,
Sex, Porn
Look how many blog posts these hackers have posted in Ellen’s Blog. For example, looking back at http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=45 you will see that they have been sending about 10 entries a day, PER PAGE! Now, wouldn’t that create traffic that would make it difficult for others to login or post comments. Like a denial of service attack, but in scaled-down mode to allow communication between targets to continue. They enter old blog archives so we won’t notice. Sneaky, eh?
Spyware blockers, anti-spam and anti-virus are good investments and are abundant also in freeware in many download sites for those who cannot afford to pay for premium bells and whistles you don’t really need.
Some bloggers here think our Jap comrade (can’t mention the exact name, I’m testing if it’s really being redirected) is simply paranoid but I do know she is being “played with”.
Tongue, Ellen’s post says there are 77 readers (feeds)… Does that mean that there are 77 people actually reading the blog at this precise moment?
ystak is right. so its not only me who had the experience..
nalulungkot lang ako dahil ako pa ang pinagbibintangan ng tropa dito..siguro naman alam niyo na ang problemang sinuong ko.. gusto ko nang kantahin ang my way..
yup, Anna. There are 77 of us here, some are bots waiting for the keywords to be transmitted.
anne,
not all 77 are like you and me. naka-abang ang iba dyan kasi lahi sila ng buwaya,ahas,multo,
TongueT,
Vaginoplasty? bwa ha ha.Ano, gagawing alkansya para lalagyan ng barya?
Sabihin mo na ang totoo.
Ewan ko nga kung bakit e yung sa Baboy, siguradong jutay naman. Baka balak ampunin si LCpl Daniel Smith!
TongueT: The Internet Brigader must have used even an online translator to translate viral messages in garbled Japanese posted in this blog that I have asked Ellen to delete to save innocent bloggers from getting some bug even by curiosity like trying to go to the page of the poster or posters.
Ingat! Anna, better run your virus buster, etc. I think you are bugged as I am getting cloned messages from your end. Paborito ka rin ng mga ungas, I think! 😛
Thanks, TongueT.
Tuwang-tuwa kasi ako sa mga pinagsasabi ni Tunying. Kahit na naiinis ako palagi sa mga masasamang balita, medyo nakakatawa ako pag nababasa ko ‘sya. :).
Anna{
Whenever I hear the word Viagra I immediately think of a certain Sec of Justice, why’s that?
Certain words remind me of certain people, I think its generally known as ‘word related’ such as PIG, FAT, DUMMY, CORRUPT, MIDGET, PORK, etc.
Why would bansot and her trapos try to evacuate the people from the possible mudslide sites? Di nawalan na siya ng international relief monies. Sayang din yun, lamang tiyan din niya yun o kaya “suhol” money for the upcoming elections(if there is ever going to be one) or to pay her trapos to push the cha-cha before Christmas. It will be used for buying the votes of the tongressman. It is very sad but the money for disaster control hardly reaches the poorer citizenry. When the “pork” reaches the elected officials, the officials spend it on themselves first and whatever is left, that is the one used for the projects. This has been going on since we started our governement and it had gotten worse and worse year after year and now it is worst! It is like the final stage of cancer, our state of the nation has no cure in sight. It will just be a miracle.
Naghasik ng lagim si Brenda. Heh,heh,heh… parang batang hindi nakakuha ng kanyang candy. One more down from the bansots entourage. Tuwa ko lang. Mayroon din pala silang hindi nakukuha.
Thanks, Tongue. I try to delete those spams, if I have time. One of these days upuan ko. My administrator said over 90 per cent of the spam have been screened out. pero may nakakalusot talaga. I know some are coming from vicious sources with a more malevolent agenda.
We just have to cope with them. Ganyan lang talaga ang buhay. Sige lang.
>Naghasik ng lagim si Brenda. Heh,heh,heh… parang batang
>hindi nakakuha ng kanyang candy. One more down from the
>bansots entourage. Tuwa ko lang. Mayroon din pala silang
>hindi nakukuha.
parasabayan, YLAP ang nag-endorso kay Miriam sa JBC para sa pwesto ng punong mahistrado.
Wala na lang sana interbyu pa ang JBC para hindi na lang nabastos ang Senadora kung hindi rin lang pala magpapa-interbyu ang iba pang kandidato.
DAPAT DYAN SA MGA MIYEMBRO NG JUDICIAL BAR COUNCIL AY MAGSI-RESIGN NA LANG!!!
KUNG SILA KAYA ANG PAGTATANUNGIN KO NANG “ANO ANG IBIG SABIHIN NG CHILDHOOD TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE?”
Mula noong 2001, nagkanda letse letse na ang sistema ng hudikatura dito sa bansa natin.
Sinumulan kasi ito ni HILARIOUS DIVIDE!
from tribune’s business section:
Hot meat from China traced to Pampanga group — Pampi
12/05/2006
The biggest group of meat processors in the country said the flood of smuggled pork in the market has been traced to a Pampanga-based company.
In a statement, the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) has taken the Department of Agriculture (DA) to task in conducting an impartial investigation on the smuggling from China of 62,000 kilos of meat worth P12 million, which ended up in a warehouse in Pampanga province.
The country bans importation of meat products from China, which remains under a worldwide watchlist for the contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) afflicting Chinese livestock.
Despite the ban, shipments of hot meat from China continue to flood the local market, threatening both the local hog industry and the meat-processing sector.
Last September, four reefer vans containing smuggled meat products disappeared from the warehouse of the Bureau of Customs, only to be later recovered in Pampanga, according to Pampi.
Pampi issued the statement after the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) raided the Kayabe ice plant and cold storage in Barangay Lagundi in Mexico town, Pampanga province in the morning of Nov. 28.
A Pampi spokesman said the group obtained video shots of the hot meat from China stocked in the Pampanga warehouse.
Authorities discovered the missing meat products, believed to have been pilfered from the four reefer vans earlier seized by PNP. The raid in Mexico town yielded an estimated 62,000 kilos of meat that could have been contaminated with FMD.
Inside the cold storage, the operatives met with Alan David, believed to be the owner of the facility and a certain Adrian Garcia, without allowing other people to get in.
Mar Cunanan, operations supervisor of Kayabe, identified the owner of the questionable meat as a certain Polintan, which is believed to be the alias used by Garcia, whose family runs a popular hotdog manufacturing company in Pampanga.
Pampi expressed fear of a whitewash in the police investigation, as the raid involved a four-hour closed-door meeting between the supposed investigators and owners of the meat plant. “During that negotiation or meeting, the media were barred from entering the cold storage,” witnesses said.
Pampi said it condemns in the strongest terms possible this unlawful activity by people who want to earn a fast buck at the expense of local livestock industry, without considering the safety of the Filipino consumers.
Fearing a whitewash in the police investigation, Pampi called on Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap to initiate an impartial investigation on the case. “We urge Secretary Arthur Yap to name the perpetrators, and not just the crime committed,” Pampi said.
The local hog raisers group also threatened to stage a pig holiday during the Christmas season, if the government agency cannot get to the bottom of the pork smuggling case.
************************************************************
may alam kaya si mikey “putang ina” makapal ang mukha arroyo dito?
KAAKBAY APPEALS FOR SENATE INTERVENTION TO STOP THE REBIDDING OF MAYNILAD
Condemns House of Representatives’ utter insensitivity to the water crisis
KAAKBAY today called upon the Senate to intervene by way of
investigation to put to stop the rebidding of MWSS’ 84 percent equity in Maynilad Water, the water company that services the West Zone of Metro Manila, citing concerns about the track record of the two remaining prequalified bidders and the need to review scope of services of the concession.
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has recently revised anew Maynilad’s bidding schedule. MWSS will open the financial bids of the two remaining qualified bidders on Dec. 5 instead of Dec. 8. MWSS expects to
issue a notice of award on Dec. 6 instead of Dec. 13.
The Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan All Filipino Democratic Movement or KAAKBAY noted that of the 2 prequalified bidders, one group (Manila Water) is the concessionaire for the East Zone. In case it wins, Manila Water will have a monopoly of water supply in Metro Manila. The reason why the MWSS coverage area was divided into the East and West Zone in the beginning was precisely because MWSS does not want a monopoly, and yet, it is going against this principle in this re-bidding.
KAAKBAY Workers Representative David Diwa said, “Also, since Manila Water’s performance is similar to Maynilad, there is no assurance that the original commitments will be met. For one, Manila Water’s rates as of October 2006 is P19.73/cu.m., up from P2.32/cu.m. in 1997, by 750% through a series of 12 increases, and Manila Water was given an extension of another year in tax holiday.”
“Let us conduct an honest to goodness review of the performance of Manila Water before allowing them to bid for the West Zone. Let us find out first if all the commitments in the concession agreement have been met by Manila
Water,” Diwa said.
KAAKBAY also expressed concern over DM Consunji, Inc. and Metro Pacific Group, the other prequalified bidder. “DMCI is also a questionable bidder with a bad record. They committed to develop a 4-in-1 Country Club in 1997. For P1M, a club share holder was supposed to be able to use club
facilities in five different locations including the Golf Club in Batulao Batangas, Multi-Purpose Club in Tanay Rizal, Business Club in Makati and the Tennis Club in Pioneer, Pasig. They collected P1M each from almost 2000
prospective club members or about P2B in all. Nine years after, all they can show for the P2B is about P50M of facilities in Puerto Galera, Mindoro Occidental. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ruled in early
2004 that they committed FRAUD and ordered them to return the money to each and every shareholder,” Diwa said.
According to KAAKBAY, DMCI is the major shareholder of the distribution utility in Subic Freeport who reportedly did not meet its service commitments in the midst of skyrocketing water rates and failed to upgrade existing water facilities.
While appealing for the Senate to intervene, KAAKBAY lambasted the leadership and administration congressmen in the House of Representatives for showing utter insensitivity and apathy to the water crisis when it allowed acting majority leader Arthur Defensor to unceremoniously cut off and terminate Akbayan Rep. Mario Aguja’s privilege speech on the impending water crisis to give way to a motion to amend Section 105 of the House Rules stating that resolutions to amend or revise the Constitution ‘shall follow the procedure for the enactment of bills.’ Defensor’s motion was to scrap that procedure to allow a constitutional amendment procedure without participation of the Senate.
KAAKBAY Metro Manila Convenor Joel Tapia said the people can no longer expect any relief from the House of Representatives as this is lorded over by people who would utterly push aside a grave public interest issue to give
way to their political interest and survival.
KAAKBAY last week wrote Senators and Congressmen their official and formal letters urging the legislators to investigate the MWSS in its recent actions regarding the Maynilad water concession; and enacting the appropriate
remedial and corrective legislation.
“MWSS,” KAAKBAY said, “has committed acts grossly disadvantageous to MWSS itself and in violation of its mandate in bailing-out Maynilad, as stated by the Commission on Audit (COA) in its audit reports. MWSS has also declared that its concessionaires are “mere agents and contractors” thereby not to be considered as public utilities.”
Tapia said these acts of MWSS are not only detrimental to the already poor water service in the MWSS coverage area, especially the urban poor, but affects the entire Filipino people as MWSS has to get foreign funding to support its concessionaires, loans that are guaranteed by government,
and therefore payable from the taxes of the people.
Specifically, KAAKBAY pointed out in their letters that:
1. MWSS subscribed to 83.97% of Maynilad when it is already bankrupt: Maynilad’s liabilities or total indebtedness at that time is P22.8B against its total assets of P20.1B or a Stockholders Equity of negative P2.7B.
Maynilad has a net loss of P1.4B in 2003 and a net loss of P2.2B in 2004.
2. Worse, MWSS will infuse $31M financial assistance to Maynilad from an approved World Bank loan of $125M guaranteed by the Government. COA stated in its Report that providing “financial assistance is not within the acts of MWSS enumerated within its Charter and therefore constitute an ultra vires act of MWSS.”
3. MWSS classified their concessionaires as “mere agents f MWSS” and not as “public utilities.” As a result:
a. Maynilad and Manila Water, although on tax break, have been charging the cost of their taxes to consumers: Maynilad at P1.55 and Manila Water at 4.15 /cu.m.
The Supreme Court has ruled that public utilities should not pass on to their consumers the cost of their corporate income tax.
b. Manila Water exceeded the allowable Return on Rate Base from the maximum of 12% to 40.92%.
Existing laws run contrary to this MWSS decision. MWSS claimed that since the concessionaires were not issued legislative franchises, a requirement for operators of public utilities, the concessionaires are
not public utilities.
Legislative franchises are not the only proof that one can operate a public utility, for certain administrative agencies (like the MWSS) can grant licenses or other means for authorization as such. The MWSS Charter explicitly states that it has the power to do so. Sec. 11, Article 12
of the Constitution, does not limit means to operate public utilities to Congress-issued franchises but also includes a “certificate, or any other form of authorization.” The Concession Agreement can be considered as one such form of Agreement.
KAAKBAY said that these acts of MWSS and its resultant effect to its current water performance deserve the scrutiny of Congress to alleviate the plight of the MWSS water consumers and the entire Filipino people that will shoulder the burden of servicing the MWSS loans.
Other concerns of KAAKBAY and other civil society groups are:
1. The Regulatory Office must not be within the MWSS structure to maintain its independence from the MWSS and the concessionaires. This set up will prevent MWSS and the concessionaire to join forces to bypass or get the
RO to make biased decisions. The RO members may have to be selected from reputable pool of public and private personalities.
2. Stricter, stronger and effective provisions must be made to ensure the achievement of water supply standards and performance commitments.
3. There is a need to change the scope of work and coverage of the original Maynilad concession to realize the original promises and benefits of privatization.
4. The TOR of the Maynilad Re-bidding should be revised to reflect that the West Zone currently has 8M consumers (7M in 1997) and about 80% of 200 “water-less” areas in Metro Manila are in the West Zone. There is a
need to look at the scope of work and coverage of the concessionaire.
“Water is one of the most basic of necessities in life. We don’t want the spectacle of people queuing up for water if the Maynilad concession bidder fails anew. The bidders must be screened properly and its high time that the government blacklist individuals and groups with bad track record in
implementing government projects,” Tapia stressed.
KAAKBAY also cited the need to integrate the issue of sewerage in the terms of reference (TOR), saying “failure to address adequately this issue will usually lead to health and sanitary problems.”
“The TOR also has to specify “strengthening provisions” for the MWSS to enforce penalties and ensure that commitments are met and performance are within WHO standards. This includes specific terms for confiscation of
performance bond,” Diwa said.
kung totoong malinis at serbisyo publico ang nasa isip ni JDV, bakit naka bullet proof ang mga salamin sa harapan ng kanyang bahay in a well guarded Dasma Vill.Makati? kaya hindi nakatakas ang anak nya ng masunog ang bahagi ng bahay nito. kung malinis ang budhi mo, hindi ka takot mamatay sa punglo ng baril, dahil mas maaliwalas ang buhay na walang hanggan. walang silbi ang bilyones ninyo kapag bumara ang daluyan ng inyong dugo. Fatsoy! malapit ka na!!!
RP killings ‘more complex’ than extra judicial tag — EU 12/05/2006
http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.
php?article
Whoever is in the EU investigating these murderous events have made a terrible mistake in their assessment of the case studies available. Are they serious when the EU say the reason the RP administration has not yet taken them up to invite delegates is because the administration has been too busy with Cebu Summit,cha cha and the recent calamity.
ilang beses nang nagbigay babala ang kalikasan upang mabuksan ang isipan ng mga pulitikong sinapot na ng pagkagahaman at kasibaan. napakaraming buhay na ang nalagas bunga ng ngalit ng daluyong bunga ng kawalang habas na pagwasak ng ating kapaligiran na ang may kagagawan ay mga taong walang iniisip kundi ang pagpapayaman kahit marami ang maapektuhan. dapat nang nagkaroon ng mga hakbanging makapagliligtas sa mga nasalanta, subalit ang administrasyong ito ay manhid sa karaingan ng mga mas nagdaranas ng hirap. panay pakulo. lahat ay pakunwaring balakin na hindi naisasakatuparan dahil nanghihinayang sa gagastusing pondong galing sa buwis ng mamamayan.
Nelbar,
Your post, “KAAKBAY also expressed concern over DM Consunji, Inc. and Metro Pacific Group, the other prequalified bidder. “DMCI is also a questionable bidder with a bad record. They committed to develop a 4-in-1 Country Club in 1997. For P1M, a club share holder was supposed to be able to use club facilities in five different locations including the Golf Club in Batulao Batangas, Multi-Purpose Club in Tanay Rizal, Business Club in Makati and the Tennis Club in Pioneer, Pasig. They collected P1M each from almost 2000 prospective club members or about P2B in all. Nine years after, all they can show for the P2B is about P50M of facilities in Puerto Galera, Mindoro Occidental. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ruled in early 2004 that they committed FRAUD and ordered them to return the money to each and every shareholder,” Diwa said.
According to KAAKBAY, DMCI is the major shareholder of the distribution utility in Subic Freeport who reportedly did not meet its service commitments in the midst of skyrocketing water rates and failed to upgrade existing water facilities.”
************************
One cannot expect anything intelligent or clean from a DMCI, especially from a SID CONSUNJI. The guy is a drunk and has quite a thuggish-behavior. I remember the shock of foreign investors in a meeting with this man. In fact, we all mistook him for a waiter of the hotel.
over 30 years ago, dm consunji was one of the more respected construction companies.i worked for some years at h.r.lopez and co and consunji was one of the more respected competitors.then a marcos blessed company came and consunji as well as lopez disappeared.
TongueT:
Thanks for the tips. Gago din ha! Alam kasi ng mga ungas na tama ang sinasabi ko based on how we actually do things in Japan. And they cannot deny the things that I write here because they are based on facts and not “guniguni” like the claims of the liar who call herself “president.” Never consider her as one as a matter of fact.
Ang sabihin mo TongueT, takot sila sa anti-Pidal bloggers here! Kasi nga naman if 1M or more Filipinos can be influenced by bloggers here, lagot na sila!
Mrivera:
So, bulate naman ngayon ang ini-smuggle naman ng mga ungas ha? Over here in Japan, we have stopped importing pork from China because of the parasites in the meat from there. Nabisto ang mga bolate that could not be killed even by freezing at sanay yata sa lamig sa China. Baka naka-coat ng pig’s skin!!!! 🙂
Chabeli, how did you know that about Sid? I know the guy and you’re right he drinks a lot even after several warnings from his doctors.
But of the many drinking men I know, Sid is one who has a sharper mind after a drink and is now responsible for all the recent success behind DMCI. Not even the younger (and sober) Jorge could fill in his shoes, and the Board of Directors of the Holding firm knows it.
WWNL, post ko lang dito yung binigay mo sa itaas
RP killings ‘more complex’ than extrajudicial tag — EU
By Veronica Uy
INQ7.net
Last updated 06:52pm (Mla time) 12/05/2006
THE political killings in the country are “more complex” than just being extrajudicial executions, an official of the Delegation of the European Commission (EC) to the Philippines said Tuesday.
Gabriel Munuera Viñals, head of the political, economic, trade, and public affairs section of the EC delegation, told reporters the killings cannot all be lumped as extrajudicial because they “point in different directions…that’s why we prefer to think of them in terms of being unexplained.”
He said some of the killings may be explained by internal purges within the revolutionary movement, which is the government’s argument; those of journalists may be explained in terms of the local contexts in which these occur; and some by the involvement of state security and law enforcement forces.
“The picture that one gets is complex [where] one cannot easily single out that the killings were perpetrated by one sector,” Viñals noted.
He cited independent reports of the Amnesty International, non-government organizations from Canada and The Netherlands, and Philippine authorities.
At the same time, Viñals said the European Union has “reiterated its willingness to assist” in the effort to solve the killings but added that the Philippines has still not “articulated” the specific assistance it needs.
“The articulation is ongoing, in terms of what the Philippine government needs in terms of assistance. Is it in terms of forensic expertise? Equipment? Human rights? We expect a more detailed request soon,” he said.
But Viñals said the Philippine request for assistance may have been delayed by the preparations for the 12th Association of Southeast Nations Summit, the “on-off” political efforts for Charter change, and the government responses to the natural calamities that have visited the country over the past months.
http://newsinfo.inq7.net/topstories/topstories/view_article.php?article_id=36493
I met Sid Consunji in 1992 (after the Mt Pinatubo erruption) – He seemed serious enough.
The discussion focused on land infrastructure (bridges, overpasses, etc.) France was prepared to help with a grant but France was recommending the use of Eiffel bridges or spans for the overpasses but somehow, the Consunjis wanted to use their own stuff, so bye bye grant.
Then came in FCruz (I think that’s his name), the guy who always came dressed in white from top to bottom – with a bevy of girls around him, kept on boasting about his holiday and his yacht in the French Riviera and serving 200 dollar bottles of wines (the French were a bit surprised at his approach, I personally thought “So that’s where the grant money is gonna go, eh?”…)
anna: how come you know much too about engineering firms. i thought you are either a soldier or banker. in my time, fcruz was a surveying firm but not as advanced as rene certeza’s firm which was the first in the pinas to have used aerial photography in map making. i wonder what happen to this firm now.
Norpil,
I resigned my officer’s commission almost immediately after I received it. I ain’t a banker at all nor an engineer. I worked for an international conglomerate in a top executive capacity and was one of the very few or rare women (and the only one of Asian origin) in the division.
In that capacity, I had the privilege of working with EEI (Nelbar’s company), one of the companies we linked with and worked hand in hand with their Machinery division.
Anna, norphil, chi: Jun Cruz (FFCruz, jr.) and the Consunjis are cousins. The older Cruz and David Consunji are both married to Almedas.
Anna, in 1992, DMCI didn’t have the capability to build bridges in the design your French company would have wanted them to. Hence, Sid would prefer to have their old design which they are comfortable with. EEI had previous experience in bridges but not in the caliber of AG&P. DMCI bought AG&P because Sid had the vision that would make them get the upper hand in large-scale industrial construction which EEI dominated after the spiralling down of AG&P in the post-Marcos era. EEI on the other hand tried to venture into high-rise, which is DMCI stronghold. So far, EEI has completed RCBC Tower owned also by EEI’s Yuchengco which took so many years to complete.
FFCruz moved to construction a long time ago and they started Freyssinet which pre-fabbed long span concrete slabs in their Sucat batching plant. That’s the system, I guess, both Sid and Jun would have wanted to use in Pinatubo.
I don’t know what happened to Rene Certeza’s surveying company. After the colonel died, even his pet Blue Diamonds (Phil Air Force airshow group) disbanded after all planes were deemed unserviceable.
thanks tounge and anna for your info.anna, it makes me proud to have met you even only in this blog.ag&p is known for steel construction as well as eiffel who was a guro in bridge building in europe about a hundred years ago, just about before the advent of concrete as a building material. i have seen some of his bridges which are of old steel or iron all over europe and they are quite esthetique as most french made are.prefab concrete bridges are not so pretty but may be cheaper.
Actually, I should have said that in the plural form:
“Friends, ignore the bastardS,” i.e., Gloria and her ass-licking supporter going by the name of Scalia!