Senator Francis Pangilinan sent me a message clarifying some issues I raised in my column last Friday titled “Who’s afraid of Adel Tamano?”In that column, I discussed Pangilinan’s objection to the plan of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, to get Adel Tamano as general counsel to set the direction and pace of the investigations the committee would undertake.
It has been reported that Pangilinan resented the statements of Adel, who was spokesperson of the Genuine Opposition, on his ambivalence about joining GO. I said that Pangilinan should not blame Adel about the public perception that he is an opportunist because people have not forgotten his “Noted, Noted” act during the presidential canvass of the 2004 elections.
I said: “Even without Tamano, the public knows that he owes his electoral victory largely to his megastar wife. He will always be remembered as an accomplice to Gloria Arroyo’s stealing of the presidency when he relegated to “Noted, Noted,” to evidence of Gloria Arroyo’s cheating in the 2004 elections.”
I also wrote that although Pangilinan has his personal issues with Adel, my sources said he was just acting as hatchet man for Malacañang because the young lawyer is seen as one of the opposition’s senatorial bets in 2010.
Pangilinan wrote:
“While I respect your views expressed in your column today, I disagree on some points raised.
“1) I was never a party to electoral fraud in 2004 and when I found out about Hello Garci, I did not hesitate to call for the resignation of GMA.
“2) I think my being wooed by the opposition in ’07 and my victory despite being an independent shows that the ‘Mr. Noted’ has been set aside as a non- issue. If it were truly an issue, why was the opposition open to having me in their line up? I believe it was because I had shown a consistency in taking stands in opposition to GMA from ’05 to ’07. My refusal to join the admin ticket despite the offer of P150 million is proof of this.
“3) My victory, I believe, was a combination of both a solid track record and support of my wife, my family. Without the solid track record I don’t think victory would have been possible.
“Why, because other showbiz candidates didn’t make it. ”
“I hope I have clarified some matters.
“Oh and I am certainly not a hatchet man of anyone.”
One thing that struck me in Sen. Pangilinan’s message was his disclosure that the administration offered him P150 million to join Team Unity.
Offers of hundreds of millions of pesos were talked about during the campaign but this is the first time that someone has admitted it on the record.
This jibes with the information that Malacañang was buying everybody to be in their side. Senate President Manuel Villar was also offered P150 million and Sen. Loren Legarda, P200 million. Like Pangilinan, the two rejected the offer and went on to win under the opposition ticket.
I’m thinking that means Sen. Joker Arroyo got his P150 million. So did Ralph Recto, who lost. I can imagine almost the same amount was offered to Tito Sotto, who was rating high until he joined the administration.
I imagine Team Unity must have been awash with money last election. Huge amount of money. Our money.
There is one reaction to last Friday’s column that amuses me no end.A reader wrote:
“Hindi maaring awayin ni Kiko Pangilinan si Alan Cayetano. Paano kung magsumbong si Alan sakanyang kapatid na si Lino. Sasabihin ni Lino sa kanyang girlfriend na si KC (Concepcion). Iiyakan ni KC ang kanyang Mommy Sharon. Babatukan ni Sharon si Kiko. Ang takot lang ni Kiko kay Mega.
”
From Ramon Mayuga:
I have reserved great respect for your views and never fail to read your articles since I got access to Malaya. I also recognize your right to air your criticisms against anyone or any issue you deemed such criticisms are called for.
You would certainly understand that reasonable readers also reserve the right to read articles between the lines and cross check the opinions on the issues concerned in search for a common ground as in concensus gathering.
I said these as a reaction to criticism of Sen.Francisco Pangilinan in your article “Kiko’s Clarification,” which I accept as your right in the excercise of free speech.
What I found uncalled for was the “icing” on your article by way of inclusion of what you called “a reader’s opinion,” which in my view was a personal affront on the family of the senator. The motive is obvious.
Personal offense has no place in the forum of reasonable discussion of issues.
Ramon Mayuga
Essen, Germany
R. Mayuga said: “personal offense has no place in the forum of reasonable discussion of issues.” How many times has Ellen been insulted in this blog? Personal offense has no place..I agree with you. But as you said.. “exercise of free speech”. And that is why when Ellen’s name being a Tordesillas and there are many of them particularly in Antique is insulted it becomes a personal affront on the family too. Thus for them someone comes up in her defense because knowing her she will just keep quiet..it is part of her being a journalist. I suppose you are doing the same for Kiko. Welcome to the world of bloggers here in Ellenville.
Pahabol: “Pangilinan said his victory was due to his solid track record.” That is quite true..didn’t he keep note of a lot of things? Noted..that was all? You can keep note of all things but if you didn’t do any thing concrete about them..what good does it serve? Kung sa bagay nakinig siya. In college we take note of every thing said in the lectures..pero kung hindi mo pinagaralan ang notes mo babagsak ka sa examin..kaya nga marami ang may nakasulat sa palad and cheating was accepted.. may nagsabi nga sa akin ” cheating is a Filipino way of life..ok ang mang daya. Maraming kaibigan si Mang Dayaan.
Kiko cannot claim that he was never a party to electoral fraud in 2004. The railroading of the National Canvass through his and Raul Gonzalez’ “Noted”‘s, denying the opposition the opportunity to prove electoral cheating, was the culmination of the fraudulent process that started with Garci’s handiworks.
No amount of clarification from Noted Kikay will erase the fact, witnessed by millions of pinoy on television, radio and congress, that he was a party to the electoral fraud in 2004 that brought his fake president to another stolen throne!
Tumigil ka Kikay!
“Noted”, “Noted”, at “Noted” pa! Remember Mr. ni Cuneta!
Hmmnn, Ramon Mayuga is touchy! Journalist kaya si Mr. Mayuga?
Kailan naging personal offense ang may konek-konek na insidente, it was explained here in the blog, and even if not ay alam naman sa world of Pinaz showbiz), kung sino si Lino at KC a!
In fact, I believe that this joke was true, totally. teheeeehhh!
Oh yeah, Rose. Kiko Cuneta was voted for his “solid’ track record.
Ano ba yun, baka solid track song records ni Magastar!
If Kiko was offered by Malacanang with such a huge amount, most of the other candidates could have been offered too. So,
What Kiko is telling us is that most if not all who ran under the administration ticket were offered that amount or even more. Yet, many lost last election. What Kiko failed to admit is that he might have received the money just the same and pretended to be an independent but actually Malacanang’s boy. Who knows? We’ll never know.
the fact is, you people cannot accuse sen pangilinan for being an ingrate. you have no right at all. he ran under his own term and he won. he is 5th overall and surprise, surprise even part of those 11 millions “smart voters voted for him.
and to mr. mayuga, well said. that was a nice piece but you know how it goes in this country. in military, the offense is called, “conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman”.
Whatever…..!!! Kiko Pangilinan is clearly part of the 2004 elections fraud and we have NOTED it. Kaya siya nakisama noon sa pagpaparesign kay gloria ay dahil nakokonsensiya na. Pumutok ba naman ang Hello Garci, ano pa ang idadahilan niya?? Akala kasi nina Kiko walang lalabas sa kanilang pandaraya. O, ayan, e di pahiya sila dahil kay Garci.
Kiko Pangilinan’s clarification is noted. Kahit anong klaseng paliwanag babalik din sa original sin. Kasabwat siya sa 2004 electoral fraud.
it is also an undeniable fact; of Kiko’s admission that we was offered such huge amount of money in exchange for a slot in the administration ticket, do constitute an evidence of a serious crime—-funds coming from the public coffers to finance a candidacy, is a big no, no, anywhere.
sad and truly pathetic to see; but if only honesty, sanity, and justice do rule our institutions; the Ombudsman, the Comelec, the COA, the NBI and the police, etc. should have by now, as a result of Mr. Noted’s giving direct credence to a long-held public suspicion, bang doors to investigate and prosecute if necessary.
the mainstream media, too, should not let this issue pass without any credible resolution.
responsible net-citizens, ought to set aside political differences and rally together in resolving an obviously criminal activity of Malacanan occupants to buy candidates using public funds.
surely, the commenter above, agrees that this option is more pro-active than trivializing a serious and patently illegal activity into a non-issue of something who-voted-who, no?
may katwiran si mayuga. isang maituturing na ‘gossip’ ang pag dagdag ng “reader’s opinion”. syempre abswelto si ellen dahil hindi sa kanya yung ‘opinion’.
Why would Mr. Noted accept the 150 million offered by TU? He knew that his chances of winning is almost nil if endorsed by gloria. And if he loses, 150 mil lang ang naibulsa niya, while if he wins by himself, he is still a senator and will be getting 200million every year and if his term is for six years, kikita siya ng 1.2billion, so, it’s not so surprising at hindi niya dapat ipagmalaki why he rejected the offer of TU. Any way you calculate it, peanuts at barya-barya lang yong 150 million. Talagang wise at utak ang ginagamit, just like marrying the Maga, that’s the most important and wisest decision he made during his entire life. It’s all centered in his personal interest.
Dinapinoy and Rego is a very good duet. If they think they can attract enough audience to hear them sing here, they’re wrong. Winning in election is not the only measurement of one’s acceptance by the people. Kiko won partly or mainly because of his celebrity wife. My source told me that the Megastar begged Estrada and used her relationship with INC Manalo’s daughter Beth to get the INC’s endorsement. Estrada and INC’s support plus the Megastar’s fans equal victory. Let’s not discount the fact that Malacanang was secretly helping Kiko.
goji,
sa umpisa pa lang ng ‘pagkanta’ ko dito, ito ang sinabi ko:
Pare-pareho yang mga politikong yan.
iisa ang takbo ng utak ng mga yan – sariling interes.
matalino na kamo ang mga botante?
bakit nanalo si angara?
bakit nanalo si kiko?
Talagang wise at utak ang ginagamit, just like marrying the Maga, that’s the most important and wisest decision he made during his entire life.
***
Swak na swak, florry!
The giant intelectual Conrado De Quiros said… “Kiko made the right and bright decision” in running an independent. Congratulations to Kiko.
flory says:
“Talagang wise at utak ang ginagamit, just like marrying the Maga, that’s the most important and wisest decision he made during his entire life. It’s all centered in his personal interest.”
reply: iyan ang “malinaw” na dahilan at walang kaduda-duda!
rego says:
“in military, the offense is called, “conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman”.
reply: what you think? is “kiko noted” a gentleman? when he tried to blocked adel tamano’s nomination as general counsel for the controversial blue ribbon committee?
AK-47, in the case of Kiko Rego can say “conduct unbecoming an obedient husband (henpeck) and children’s nanny”.
aaaaahhhh. is kiko trying to clarify his side?
okey, NOTED.
I’m sure Kiko made that clarification after consulting his beloved wife.
How about a clarification of Kiko’s role in the cheating in 2004 by the criminal now protected by Esperon, Ermita, et al, and lawmakers who are there in the Philippine Tongress and Senatong only for the pork barrel? Hindi pa siya nagpapaliwanag tungkol diyan.
Iyong sinasabi ni Kiko, in fact, no bilib ang mga kaibigan kong nag-support sa GO, and convinced to even include him in the ballots because of the initial inclusion of his name in the GO slate. Ngayon nga sising-sisi sila!
Sa mga bumabatikos kay “mr noted”, huwag kayong mga ipokrito. During the 2004 official canvassing by congress, the act of “mr. noted” is not an issue. Everyone is even giving him the “tumbs-up” sign. No one suspects that time of any massive cheating done by gloria. Infact everyone readily accepted gloria’s victory even roco and lacson readily conceded defeat (if some people will dispute this, then you must be an fpj fan).Those acts by fpg’s camp at that time were deemed as delaying tactics only. Pangilinan and the big part of the opposition now (used to be w/ the majority) like guingona, aquino, drillon, roxas, pimentel, legarda, etc (except for the camp of erap and lacson) are mostly allies of gloria. Everybody’s rooting for her to win and why not? Would anyone on his right mind agree for an fpj victory to lead this country? Anyone here who will say yes ay mga ipokrito (parang sinabi nyo na ring si lito lapid ay mas pipiliin ng mga taga makati kaysa kay binay).
The dismay and anger came much much later and only after that damning garci tape scandal was exposed by the media. That’s when gloria became the evil one in the eyes of everybody.
By accusing pangilinan, are you saying then that other anti-gloria and opposition figures like drillon, roxas, aquino (who all belong to the same party), legarda and even dinky soliman and the hyatt 10 are all part of the cheating machinery of Gloria? Then I think we are all guilty of being gloria’s accomplice not just pangilinan. Bago nyo punahin ang dumi sa mukha ng iba tingnan nyo muna ang dumi sa inyong mga mukha.
Dagdag pa na kaipokritohan, kung sinasabi ninyo na nagsalita ang tumbayan sa pamamagitan ng 11M boto para iabsuelto si trillanes sa krimeng nagawa nia, what can you say about the more than 14M votes garnered by pangilinan? dinaya lahat yun? Tama si pangilinan if “mr noted” is an issue w/ the opposisyon, bakit pilit siyang isinasama sa ticket ng GO? Think people, think.
= =
and toAK-47: is it not within the rights of pangilinan as a member of the senate to question tamano’s nomination? you should do a simple research how things are done in congress.
No one suspected that there was massive cheating in 2004 when Kiko made that famouse “Noted”? You gotta be kidding, Rego. Everyone knew except perhaps a few like you. Kiko was with another Arroyo stooge, Raul Gonzalez. The two succeeded in blocking and manipulating the canvass under the supervision of JDV.
“No one suspected that there was massive cheating in 2004 when Kiko made that famouse “Noted”? You gotta be kidding, Rego. Everyone knew except perhaps a few like you. Kiko was with another Arroyo stooge, Raul Gonzalez. The two succeeded in blocking and manipulating the canvass under the supervision of JDV.”
goji read my comment again about the massive cheating, obviously, you don’t know what you’re talking about (and you must be an pfj supporter). just research how pangilinan and gonzales got the moniker “mr noted”. by the way, you should know that a JOINT COMMITTEE composed of the lower and upper chambers of congress acts as board of canvassers for the presidential/vice presidential votes. these people are not under the supervision of jdv. try researching also what’s the specific job of the board of canvassers.
you should know too that Namfrel’s last Quickcount tallies got almost the same result as that of Congress’.
incidentally, The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines issued a statement saying that the elections were generally peaceful and that there was no sign of massive electoral fraud on a nationwide scale. again, this pronouncement happened before the garci tape scandal.
Let me put it differently Rego…okay those idiots were not under the supervision of JDV but dictated by JDV upon direct order of the Palace. Sounds better to you? Being FPJ supporter or any group is irrelevant to what we’re discussing here. And who says Namfrel’s counts tallied that of Congress.
They tallied because Namfrel stopped counting when FPJ’s victory was inevitable. Had Namfrel continued the counting, figures would show that Gloria Arroyo was way behind. Namfrel was identified with Arroyo at that time. Namfrel only changed its color at the height of the “Hello Garci” tape scandal to go with the flow at that moment. The Hyatt 10, Black & White Movement and all the elite groups were identified with Cory Aquino who also withdrew her support from Gloria. And Cory has always been identified with the Concepcions, top leaders of Namfrel and Makati Business Club. These groups, you can call them Civil Society, were the same groups that ousted Marcos and Estrada. My question to you and to them is: Why can’t they do the same to this Arroyo? Why can’t they oust her? Or is it because they have since lost their credibility. People don’t trust them anymore. They ousted two better leaders and yet cannot do this to the worst leader today.
Re: They ousted two better leaders and yet cannot do this to the worst leader today.
The civil society played a minor role in both EDSA power grab. The military-police force and blessings from Washington, D.C. are the key factors for its successes. Uncle Sam may have decided to keep Gloria Arroyo until 2010. The Arroyo regime openly supports US direct intervention in Mindanao war against global terrorism. Dismayed soldiers and junior officers the way Malacanang handles Basilan-Sulu military offensive may cause trouble in the AFP. Uncle Sam may soon drop Gloria Arroyo like a hot-potato to protect US interest in the Asia-Pacific region.
Absolutely. I share your opinion, Diego. That has always been my position from the very beginning in this blog.
Rego says:
“…the act of “mr. noted” is not an issue. Everyone is even giving him the “tumbs-up” sign. No one suspects that time of any massive cheating done by gloria.”
Me: Hahahaha!
Tongue, I think it was only Rego who gave Kiko the “thumbs-up” sign. The rest of us gave Kiko the dirty finger sign.
“Everyone is even giving him the “tumbs-up” sign.”
inaaaaaahhhhaaaannnnngggggg!!!!!
uwwwwwaaaaaaaaarrrrrrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!
Goji, I’ll make it very simple for you to understand my point and before you go ballistic on other things, what we are talking here is about the MANIPULATION of the 2004 presidential election results that according to your horrific assertion happened during the official canvassing of votes, pulled off by those you called “idiot” members of congress sitting as board of canvassers and as “dictated” by JDV (upon direct orders from the palace).
If you had checked the function of the Joint Committee (composed of 11 members from each chamber) you will find that during the canvassing proceeding, the canvassing body’s job is purely “administrative” and does not have the authority to usurp the power of the electoral tribunal.
My contention is, the cooking up of the election results did not happened in congress but at the provincial level the reason why I brought up the results of Namfrel quickcount (show me your figure that fpg’s victory is inevitable). You are talking of a wide scale conspiracy to commit fraud which is quite absurd. The only participation of congress or specifically our subject of discussion here, co-chair pangilinan, is in not allowing the request of fpj’s camp to open the ballot boxes and check the documents inside against those COC’s and SOV’s being canvassed. Had they allowed it, discrepancies could have been found and determined where exactly the cheatings came from (again, let me reiterate to you that allegations of massive cheatings came out only after the garci tapes surfaced). Still, there’s nothing irregular with what the board did since its job as mentioned is only administrative and for those who wanted to raise questions about any irregularities should have brought their case not to the canvassing body but to the electoral tribunal. And if there is any irregularity with the conduct of the canvassing body, why was there no petition in the SC to put a stop w/ the canvassing? You know, w/o any proof you cannot stop the ongoing canvassing (or maybe you have it?). Otherwise, what resulted in Coco Pimentel’s petition would have happened that time also.
If indeed, there was an attempt to cover up on the part of the board of canvassers specially pangilinan, deliberately or unwittingly, that was never been proven and I’m not going to pass judgment on him (a character typical of the people frequenting here). If you or anyone had the goods against pangilinan, et al, you should have brought them out and filed a case against them instead of your usual quacking.
I’ll say it again and again, “mr noted” was never an issue to the more than 14M voters who voted pangilinan back in office. A view shared by GO in trying to entice him in joining the opposition. And for ellen and the others here (including you) to insist in ridiculing pangilinan that he won because of sharon, that is plain hypocrisy and inconsistency in your statements. For how many times you people have said that voters now are much wiser and candidates coming from showbiz are not guaranteed with victory in politics anymore? This I fully agree with just take the case of sotto, recto and even pacquiao. But in the case of sen pangilinan, those people you are calling apathetic silent majority and the masa simply believe in him. That’s the fact that you bigots cannot accept.
“Me: Hahahaha!”
another fpj diehard fan.
“inaaaaaahhhhaaaannnnngggggg!!!!!
uwwwwwaaaaaaaaarrrrrrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!”
another one.
While we’re all debating about Kiko here, few know that Tito Soto is currently selling his body and soul to Malacanang to get appointed in the cabinet or other government position. He might get it because Arroyo is working on his request. Tito is practically begging these days for a job in Malacanang. What a shame!
From Laurence Siao:
Even if Kiko says that he wasn’t part of Gloria Arrovo’s inner sanctum of cheating operators, what is undeniable is that he, by refusing any and all objections of the opposition against the conspiratorial conduct of the NBC, apparently marching
to the same beat as his fellow LP sycophants in protecting their then patroness (whose regime they helped usher in unconstitutionally back in 2001), made sure that all attempts to set aright manifest election irregularities in the proper forum were thwarted.
Now, is that not being a party to wholesale electoral fraud?
Second, if it ever were true that he has been consistent in calling for Mrs. Arrovo’s resignation since the Hello Garci scandal erupted, why then was he caught on TV in the run-up to the 2007 polls saying that we, as a civilized lot, have no other recourse
but to acquiesce to the powers-that-be if the sitting president chooses not to heed the public’s overwhelming clamor for her to step down because resignation, he says, is a voluntary act?
Where’s the consistency in that? He’s simply too full of himself for his own good.
“While we’re all debating about Kiko here, few know that Tito Soto is currently selling his body and soul to Malacanang to get appointed in the cabinet or other government position. He might get it because Arroyo is working on his request. Tito is practically begging these days for a job in Malacanang. What a shame!”
Goji, goji. You’re so fond of showbiz. Who cares what Sotto does? What’s so suprising about his move? Don’t you remember? He ran under the administration ticket the last time. You think what he did is shameful? Whatabout those other Edsa 2 personalities and opposition figures like Miriam Santiago, Enrile, Angara and Honasan? And you think what Sotto did was the worst? Don’t waste your time and energy. Or this is your scream therapy version?