February 2009 – ellen tordesillas

No to Right of Reply bill

Published by Ellen on February 26, 2009

I’m glad that Senators Mar Roxas and Chiz Escudero have withdrawn their signatures on the dangerous Right-of-Reply bill that the Senate passed last July and which is due for second reading at the House of Representatives.

I’m not surprised about Rep. Monico Puentevella pushing for a bill that would be disastrous to democracy in this country. What can the people expect from an Arroyo lackey?

But Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr? He who fought the Marcos dictatorship? Disappointment is an understatement.

Three years after: no end in sight for detained Marines and Rangers

Published by Ellen on February 26, 2009

by Tessa Jamandre VERA Files Exactly three years ago today, hundreds of Marines marched in full battle gear outside the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio,…

Sagot ng Meralco sa kaso ni Arman Eusebio

Published by Ellen on February 25, 2009

Noong Pebrero 16, inilathala ko rito ang reklamo ni Arman Eusebio, taga Pasay, tungkol sa sinasabi niyang pangi-ngikil ng mga tauhan ng Meralco sa kanila pagkatapos nadiskubre ang jumper sa kanilang katabing bahay noong Oktubre 2008.

Sabi ni Arman, sinisingil siya ng Meralco ng Php237,670.80.

Sabi ni Arman, “Ano bang klaseng trabaho ba ito? Parang isang malaking ‘extortion practice’ itong ginagawa nila eh. Pati ba naman sa Meralco wala na ding hustisya ang mga imbestigasyon?

Arroyo’s favored Marine

Published by Ellen on February 24, 2009

Update: CA hearing and plenary session scheduled today was cancelled due to lack of quorum.

john-martir
How come John Martir is being promoted major general when he has a pending case before the Ombudsman?

Since deliberation on the confirmation of the promotion of seven military officers which was supposedly yesterday was deferred by one day, members of the Commission on Appointments should take a closer look at the record of Martir and see if his promotion now would be good for the Philippine Marines and to the country.

His case before the Ombudsman is about his having gone on AWOL (absent without leave) for more than one year (477) days from July 1998 to January 2000.

WB: Mike part of syndicate

Published by Ellen on February 24, 2009

Please see official statement of World Bank on the meeting with senators below.

by JP Lopez
Malaya

The World Bank had named presidential spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo as a participant in the rigging of biddings for WB-funded road projects and this information was relayed to the Ombudsman 15 months ago.

This surfaced after a briefing yesterday by WB officials of senators on an investigation in 2006, which found that a “cartel” of local and foreign contractors, assisted by public works officials and two “public figures,” had been colluding in bidding for contracts.

The “public figures” were Mr. Arroyo and the late Sen. Robert Barbers.

Majority of Filipinos want Gloria Arroyo removed: Ibon

Published by Ellen on February 24, 2009

Even as Gloria Arroyo declared that the “world would not forgive another People Power”, 66.67 per cent of respondents believe that she should be removed…

Updates on the manifesto of support for BG Danny Lim

Published by Ellen on February 23, 2009

BGen Danny Lim’s reaction released through his lawyer, Vicente Verdadero:

I am humbled by this expression of support.

Not one to shirk away from the challenges and responsibilities, I accept the mantle of leadership bestowed upon me by the collective wisdom of the leaders and followers of the various reformist groups.

I will do justice to the trust and I commit myself to the attainment of the aspirations for a country of peace,progress and prosperity.

Statement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, through its spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres:

1.It is the inherent right of everyone to express his thoughts and his support to anyone or anything as an invocation of freedom of expression;

Three years ago

Published by Ellen on February 22, 2009

Three years ago, on this day, there were talks of restlessness in the military as more first-hand accounts of how the military was used as cheating operators in the 2004 elections were being shared by the soldiers themselves.

Eight months earlier, on June 6, 2005 then Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye revealed the existence of a taped conversation between Gloria Arroyo and then Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano about manipulating the results of the election in Muslim Mindanao to offset the huge lead posted by opposition candidate Fernando Poe Jr. in Luzon.

Gloria Arroyo apologized on TV for “talking to an election officer” which is prohibited by law. “A confessed felon,” lawyer Francisco Chavez said.

Declaration of Unity and Solidarity

Published by Ellen on February 21, 2009

We, the undersigned, hereby officially declare that we have formally united under the leadership of BGen. Danilo “Danny” Lim.

We have agreed to unite for the following reasons:

We aspire for the collective vision of a country of peace, progress and prosperity;
We are fully aware that our country is slowly being engulfed by the fires of poverty, war and corruption;
We concede the need to strengthen our ranks in the face of a ruthless enemy;
We recognize our people’s longing for change and their desire for a new breed of leader.

We have chosen BGen. Danilo “Danny” Lim for the following reasons:

Usapang “new media” sa Baguio

Published by Ellen on February 21, 2009

Tuwang-tuwa ako tuwing makapunta ako sa Baguio City dahil sa malamig na klima at mga bulaklak.

more-flowers Umakyat kami sa Baguio noong Huwebes kasama sina Yvonne Chua at Luz Rimban, mga kapwa ko awardee ng Marshall McLuhan fellowship para sa forum na ginanap sa University of the Philippines,Baguio City na inurganisa ng Canadian Embassy.

Umulan ng Huwebes ng hapon kaya hindi kami nakapaglakad-lakad sa Philippine Military Academy na busy sa paghahanda para sa PMA alumni homecoming ngayong araw. Ang daming streamers ng mga iba’t-ibang mga klase mula Pampanga. Lalo na sa gilid ng daan bago pumasok sa PMA.

Month: February 2009