Month: December 2006

Following article by Marie A. Surbano is from today’s issue of the Daily Tribune.

A bishop started the political-moral ball rolling as he flung the first challenge to the Philippine soldiery to defend the Constitution that he said is today under attack by the Arroyo government.

Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias, an outspoken senior bishop-critic of President Arroyo and her administration, yesterday openly called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to perform its bounden duty to defend the Constitution and protect the Filipino people from the machinations of Mrs. Arroyo and her allies in the House of Representatives in their multiple immoral plots to amend the Charter and thereby ensure that their selfish vested interests would be protected.

“The soldiers, the Armed Forces, are sworn to protect the people and to defend the Constitution,” the bishop said, justifying his call as legal and constitutional, stressing that “Today, the Constitution is being ravaged in the interest of private individuals. We should be dependent on this (constitutional duty of the AFP to correct this wrong) and I ask them (military) to help the people,” the Novaliches bishop told reporters during a press briefing yesterday after the Mass held at the St. Peter’s Parish in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.

From today’s issue of Malaya:

The United Opposition yesterday renewed its call for a presidential snap election coinciding with the May 14 elections because it said the Arroyo administration no longer enjoys a mandate from the people.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, UNO president, said the postponement of the Asean summit in Cebu and the backing off by the House from its Constitutional Assembly plan were clear indications that President Arroyo and her allies now realize they no longer enjoy support from the majority of the people.

Binay said this should be more than enough reason for the President and the majority in the House to resign.

Following is the motion of Rep. Prospero Nograles after the opening remarks of House Speaker Jose de Venecia picturing themselves as sensitive to the concerns of the Filipino people and patriots willing to sacrifice to achieve unity for the Filipino people

Nograles:

Mr. Speaker, thank you for outlining the prelude to this motion.

In behalf of the Majority, I now move to CANCEL, SUSPEND AND POSTPONE amendments to or revisions of the Constitution scheduled to be held at the plenary hall of the House of Representatives at 10 a.m. in the morning of Dec. 11, 2006 as provided for in Resolution No. 197 pursuant to House resolution no. 1450 until such time that may be set at a later date by this House to enable the House members to deliberate on the option of a Constitutional Convention to effect charter change in accordance with the majority consensus to act towards accommodating the various sectors of society.

Congratulations to Mau Marcelo, the first Philippine Idol.

She bested two other finalists, Gian Magdangal and Jan Nieto.

The announcement was made after a two-and-a -half hour musical extravanganza at the Araneta coliseum that featured the ten other finalists and other celebrity guests like Gary Valenciano and Aiza Seguerra.

(Pictures of the incident below)

Renato Constantino, Jr. (RC) would like to correct the published statement he said to House Speaker Jose de Venecia and 24 other congressmen during an emotionally-charged press conference at the Dusit Hotel last Friday. He said, it’s “collective gall” and not “collective goal.”

The complete sentence which jolted JDV and his friends:“I would like to say to you all (that) I am completely appalled by your collective gall. You’re totally bereft of principle that’s why you’re without shame.”

We all know what happened after that. Philippine Star columnist Carmen Pedrosa stood up and shouted at RC that he didn’t belong to the event because it was only for members of media. Vic Agustin, columnist of Philippine Daily Inquirer, threw a glass of water on RC.

Statement of House Speaker Jose de Venecia and the Majority Coalition, House of Representatives

Speaker Jose de Venecia and we, the leaders of the majority coalition, met in a caucus yesterday, to consider alternatives or variations to the existing “Constituent Assembly” scenario that the Senate has resolved to boycott – irresponsibly, in our view – despite the formal letters of invitation that the House Secretary-General has caused to be issued to all the 23 Senators and the 232 Congressmen.

We agreed to firm up our collective decision to hold national and local elections on May 10, 2007, and not o consider other proposals to hold the election son Nov. 10, 2007. or a technical extension of six months, to enable the Commission on Elections to computerize the elections and prevent any recurrence of dagdag -bawas.