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Month: December 2008

Military tribunal asked to drop mutiny charge

Published by Ellen on December 7, 2008

by Victor Reyes
Malaya

The military tribunal hearing the case against 28 Army and Marine officers linked to the alleged withdrawal of support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006 will hear today the motion of the defense to mutiny charges for lack of evidence.

In a demurrer, lawyer Vicente Verdadero, counsel for 15 officers including Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, said “assuming the facts alleged by the prosecution to be true, said facts do not in law sustain the charge of mutiny.”

Verdadero said seven of his clients – Lt. Cols. Nestor Flordeliza and Edmundo Malabanjot; Capts. Ruben Guinolbay, and Frederick Sales, and 1Lts. Ervin Divinagracia, Sandro Sereno, and Jacon Cordero – were not even mentioned in the evidence or exhibits of the prosecution panel.

Verdadero also wants dismissed the case against former Scout Ranger chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim; Maj. Leomar Jose Doctolero; Captains Isagani Criste, Joey Fontiveros, William Victorino Upano, Dante Langkit, and 1Lts. Homer Estolas and Richiemel Caballes.

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Masaganang Pasko sa media ni Arroyo

Published by Ellen on December 6, 2008

Mukhang walang financial crisis sa Malacañang.

Hindi lang pala sa mga kongresista na bumuto para patayin ang pang-apat na impeachment at susulong sa charter change sagana ang Pasko ngayon. Sa media rin pala.

Inireport kasi ng Mindanews noong Biyernes na nang pumunta si Gloria Arroyo at si Press Secretary Jesus Dureza sa Saranggani namigay siya ng mga regalo sa mga reporter.

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Arroyo, Dureza shower media with gifts

Published by Ellen on December 5, 2008

GMA, Dureza play Santa in Xmas party for media; ref, TV raffled; gift certificates given

MINDANEWS

ALABEL, Sarangani (MindaNews/5 Dec) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is apparently trying to woo the provincial press, holding her first Christmas party ever with provincial reporters and their families from this province, as well as those in General Santos City and other neighboring areas.

She raffled off a refrigerator, colored television, video player, cellular phones and MP4 players during Thursday’s party at Isla Parilla, an upscale scenic resort of floating cottages owned by tuna tycoon Marfenio Y. Tan. Children were handed out paper handbags containing candies and toys.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza distributed KCC Mall gift certificates worth P1,000 each to local media practitioners after the President left for the municipal gymnasium to distribute rice, sardines and noodles to the thousands of poor people waiting.

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A really messy case in Boracay

Published by Ellen on December 4, 2008

Greg Hutchinson reacts to this two-part article. Please see comments.

Part One:

While in Boracay last week for the anti-smoking seminar organized by the Women’s Media Circle, some journalists and I took time out to visit SandCastles resort, which was in the news recently because of a property dispute that ended up in what was claimed as “hostaging”.

I have stayed in SandCastles a number of times since it was built in 1989. It’s facilities, in Philippine ethnic style, is complemented by modern amenities. It’s beachfront location in the area of boat station One makes it a prime real estate property.

Australian Greg Hutchinson, president and chairman of Tribal Holdings Phils that owns SandCastles, was a journalist writing for foreign publications. He was my co-author of the book. “Hot Money, Warm Bodies – the downfall of President Joseph Estrada”.

Continue readingA really messy case in Boracay

Patuloy ang pagbobobo ng Pilipino

Published by Ellen on December 3, 2008

Pagkatapos ng labin-dalawang taon na pakikilaban para maituwid ang mga mali sa textbooks na ginagamit ng ating mga kabataan, sabi ni Antonio Calipjo-Go,pagod at hihinto na siya.

Nakakalungkot ngunit hindi ko masisisi si Go.

Kaya, sa mga magulang na hindi man lamang umimik at hindi sumuporta kay Go, magtiis na lang kayo kung sa halip na magiging marunong ang inyong anak, ay lalong magiging bobo. Ganyan ang mangyayari kung hindi kayo kikilos at hayaan ang mga ganid na mangingibabaw.

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Thai envoy cries foul over RP officials’ statements on crisis

Published by Ellen on December 3, 2008

‘Yan nagkakandabuhol-buhol na ang utak ni kilay-less Golez.

by Sophia Dedace
GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines – Thailand’s ambassador to the Philippines on Wednesday said he was slighted over Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez and Senator Richard Gordon’s statements on the Thai people’s degree of “maturity.”

In a media briefing, Ambassador Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya expressed “great concern” that Golez and Gordon’s statements could imply that the political turmoil in Thailand reflects the Thai people’s “lack of maturity.”

“That statement is not based on fact at all and may have some indication of hidden agenda why they have to criticize us like that. In fact, the protest is only indication that Thai people are free to exercise their political right based on democracy,” he said.

Continue readingThai envoy cries foul over RP officials’ statements on crisis

Headed for a social explosion

Published by Ellen on December 2, 2008

See statement of Rep. Teofisto Guingona, Jr. on his vote in the fourth impeachment against Gloria Arroyo in comments.

Malaya editorial:

Palace guards have sewn up tight all access to Malacañang. Nothing new. For all we care, they could build a wall around the Palace if they want to. It would be a physical monument to how isolated Gloria Arroyo has become from the people.

What made us laugh was the statement of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita that tighter security is part of standard operating procedures every time the President is out the country. Ermita’s statement simply isn’t true. On the contrary, Palace guards used to take a mini-vacation of their own when their boss was away. They even used to open Jose P. Laurel, the street that fronts the Palace, to motorists wanting to take a shortcut between Ayala and Nagtahan bridges.

Are they perhaps afraid that protesters would take a page from the playbook of Thai activists and occupy Malacañang while Arroyo is in Hong Kong to prick the world’s conscience about the lot of the downtrodden and the poor (that’s according to the press release of Malacañang) at the Clinton Global Initiative?

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A really messy case in Boracay (Part One)

Published by Ellen on December 2, 2008

While in Boracay last week for the anti-smoking seminar organized by the Women’s Media Circle, some journalists and I took time out to visit SandCastles resort, which was in the news recently because of a property dispute that ended up in what was claimed as “hostaging”.

I have stayed in SandCastles a number of times since it was built in 1989. It’s facilities, in Philippine ethnic style, is complemented by modern amenities. It’s beachfront location in the area of boat station One makes it a prime real estate property.

Australian Greg Hutchinson, president and chairman of Tribal Holdings Phils that owns SandCastles, was a journalist writing for foreign publications. He was my co-author of the book. “Hot Money, Warm Bodies – the downfall of President Joseph Estrada”.

Continue readingA really messy case in Boracay (Part One)

Ibasura ang cha-cha, kasama si Gloria

Published by Ellen on December 1, 2008

Maliban sa mga dikit kay Gloria Arroyo na takot mawala ang kanilang tinatamasang nakaw na kapangyarihan at kayamanan, karamihan sa mga Filipino ay ayaw palitan ang Constitution ngayon dahil magagamit yan ni Arroyo upang hindi umalis sa Malacañang.

Kaya ang sigaw ngayon ay “Ayaw ko ng Cha-Cha, lalo na si Gloria.”

Sangayon ako diyan. Ngunit ang tanong: kung mapigilan ang cha-cha, ano ang susunod?

Continue readingIbasura ang cha-cha, kasama si Gloria