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Month: March 2008

ADB: RP growth among most inequitable in region

Published by Ellen on March 6, 2008

by Anthony Ian Cruz
Malaya

The Arroyo administration’s much-touted “highest economic growth” is “among the most inequitable” in the region, according to a new report of the Asian Development Bank which also said government corruption continues to hamper development in the country.

In an 83-page study “Philippines: Critical Development Constraints,” the ADB downplayed Malacañang’s declarations of an economic take-off, saying that “while growth has picked up in recent years, with the economy in 2007 posting its highest growth of 7.3 percent in the last three decades, both public and private investment remain sluggish and their share in gross domestic product has continued to decline, raising the question of whether the current economic momentum can be sustained.”

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Cimatu confirms gentleman’s pact in Oakwood

Published by Ellen on March 6, 2008

by Ashzel Hachero

Former Armed Forces chief Roy Cimatu yesterday testified before the Makati regional trial court in the coup d’etat trial of the Magdalo soldiers that there was indeed a gentleman’s agreement forged between the government negotiating team and the Magdalos that led to the bloodless resolution of the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny.

Cimatu said he had been given orders by then Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo to lead the negotiations with the Magdalos led by then Navy Ltsgs. Antonio Trillanes IV, James Layug, Marine Captain Gary Alejano and Army Captains Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo who were holding out at the Oakwood Premiere Hotel in Makati.

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Do your worst

Published by Ellen on March 6, 2008

Statement issued by detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV today. It was in his own handwriting:

“st.JPGI am supposed to testify as a defense witness today in connection with my coup d’etat case at the Makati RTC. However, after much reflection, I decided to forgo my testimony and write this letter instead.

“There are few undisputed facts in this case: 1) That on July 27, 2003, I, together with 300 other officers and men, spoke the TRUTH; 2) No person was harmed; 3) No property was damaged; and 4) Not a single shot was fired. Yet, after almost five years in detention, we still stand acused of committing a crime that could have us incarcerated for life. Is this just? No. Did I ever regret my actions? No.

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Kawawa naman pala si Mike Arroyo

Published by Ellen on March 5, 2008

Anak ng Diyos pala ito si Mike Arroyo.

Sinabi niya sa Ombudsman na hindi siya pwede kasuhan dahil hindi naman siya public official. “”I do not meddle in governmental affairs. I do not know all the antecedent, contemporaneous and subsequent events surrounding the NBN project. I cannot be indicted for bribery simply because I am not a public officer. I can neither be indicted for corruption because there is not even an allegation, much less proof, that I ever offered any public officer any gift by reason of his or her office.”

Hindi raw siya nakiki-alam sa mga transaksyon sa gobierno. Hindi raw siya pwedeng kasuhan dahil wala raw pruweba ang mga paratang sa kanya.

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Lozada banned in public schools?

Published by Ellen on March 5, 2008

We are still trying to get a copy of the reported directive of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus banning Rodolfo Noel Lozada, former president of Philippine Forest Corporation and star witness in the NBN/ZTE deal scandal and former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, one of the principal personalities involved in the deal from attending fora in public schools.

We, however, are getting reactions. One came from Sen. Francis Pangilinan:

With news of DepEd’s instruction to ‘insulate’ students from politics in light of NBN ZTE witness Jun Lozada’s campus rounds to gather support, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today scored the “Worsening suppression of our freedoms.”

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Government Should Serve the Truth

Published by Ellen on March 4, 2008

Statement of former senior government officials:

We are former senior government officials who have served the government in the administrations of Presidents Marcos, Aquino, Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo. Today we see how the institutions of government are being manipulated, weakened, and corrupted. We are committed to help rebuild and strengthen the government institutions in which we worked to serve the public good rather than personal and partisan interests.

Our people can only trust a government that governs with truth. We grant government so much power over our lives, resources and shared future because it governs with truth. When there are serious doubts about government’s adherence to truth in matters of vital public interest, no real peace or substantive unity is possible until such doubts are resolved. We cannot move on without the truth.

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‘I cannot be indicted for bribery because I’m not a public official’

Published by Ellen on March 4, 2008

by Peter Tabingo

Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo yesterday asked the Office of the Ombudsman to junk criminal complaints against him, saying allegations that he is involved in anomalies in the $329 million ZTE broadband project were fabricated.

In his first-ever appearance in the Ombudsman probe on the ZTE deal, the First Gentleman claimed ignorance of the details of the contract and denied allegations he offered a bribe and that he told ZTE whistleblower Jose “Joey” de Venecia III to “back off” from the project.

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We deserve better

Published by Ellen on March 4, 2008

Sheryl Martinez is a working mother with two very young girls.

She has put up an online Gloria- resign petition:http://www.petitiononline.com/gmaout/petition.html. Her blog address: http://gloriaresign.wordpress.com/

Sheryl said she is not aware that there are already two Resign-GMA online peitition. One initiated by imprisoned senator Antonio Trillanes IV (http://www.petitiononline.com/snap08/) which includes Vice President Noli de Castro and the calling for a snap election within 60 days, and another by the Black and White Movement (http://www.pinoybigbriber.com/index.php).

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House asked to open own ‘Spratly deal’ investigation

Published by Ellen on March 4, 2008

Related article: Cat is out of the bag

by Wendell Vigilia

Rep. Roilo Golez (Ind., Parañaque) has called for a House investigation into the “Spratly deal” between the Philippine and Chinese governments in exchange for what he called anomalous deals such as the $329 million national broadband network and the $500 million NorthRail project.

“Already, this issue has been swirling with dangerous implications in defense and security-related eGroups (e-mail groups) and must be clarified urgently in a formal forum such as a congressional inquiry,” Golez said.

Detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has filed a resolution calling for an inquiry into the “Spratly deal” which he alleged was entered into by the Arroyo administration with China “in exchange for dirty loans.”

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