September 2009 – Page 2 – ellen tordesillas

Metro Manila flooded

Published by Ellen on September 26, 2009

Breaking news: Supreme Court has cancelled the bar exams scheduled tomorrow.

Many areas in Metro Manila are flooded.

For people who need assistance: National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Emergency Numbers: 912-5668, 911-1406, 912-2665, 911-5061. Help hotlines: 734-2118, 734-2120.42 .

If you are home safe, pray for those who are stranded.

We experienced brownout earlier this afternoon. I’m glad that electricity is back.

If you have electricity, charge your cellphones and laptops. Store water from the rain.

How is democracy defended?

Published by Ellen on September 24, 2009

How does one defend democracy?

By aiding in the tampering of results of election so that your candidate will be declared winner even if she was not elected by the people? Or by joining the people who demand accountability from government officials who subverted the will of the people?

This is the question that face the panel trying the 28 officers accused of mutiny for something that did not happen in February 2006 after former AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon claimed “defense of democracy” in his decision to incarcerate the officers even as he continues serve an unelected president.

I caught up with what happened during the court martial hearing last Wednesday through the VERA files video report.

VERA Files video: court martial face-off

Published by Ellen on September 23, 2009

by Tessa Jamandre
VERA Files

The mutiny case against the 28 officers in connection with the alleged February 2006 plot to withdraw support from President Gloria Arroyo is on its final stretch.

The prosecution presented on Wednesday its last and most important witness. Presidential Management Staff chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who was Armed Forces Chief of Staff at the time, had ordered the detention of the 28 officers—nine from the Marines led by their commandant, Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, and 19 Army Scout Rangers led by Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.

Click here (VERA Files) for the video and the full report.

It was a conspiracy to grab power, Esperon tells court martial

by Victor Reyes
Malaya

Former Armed Forces chief Gen. (ret.) Hermogenes Esperon, testifying for the prosecution, yesterday said the officers implicated in the alleged attempt to overthrow the Arroyo government in February 2006 conspired with other quarters to grab power.

Hindi totoo ang P25 milyon: Boy Abunda

Published by Ellen on September 23, 2009

May natanggap akong tsismis noong isang araw na binabawi raw ng kampo ni Sen. Manny Villar ang P25 milyon na binayad kay Boy Abunda sa paglabas niya sa political ad kung saan ini-interview niya si Villar tungkol sa kayang pag-asenso sa pamamagitan ng sipag at tiyaga.

Si Sen. Noynoy Aquino na kasi ngayon ang tinutulungan ni Boy na matalik na kaibigan ni Kris Aquino.

Tinanong ko si Boy kung tutuo ang tsismis at natawa lang siya. Hindi totoo sabi niya.

“Nakakahiya naman kina Sen. Villar,” sabi ni Boy.

Sheer opportunism

Published by Ellen on September 22, 2009

Update: Romulo wants to have his cake and eat it too.He says he will vote for Noynoy but will serve Gloria up to the “end and beyond.” Story in comments.

Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo’s disclosure that he will be supporting Sen. Noynoy Aquino for president is nothing but sheer opportunism unless he does something to stop Gloria Arroyo’s degradation of the foreign service.

Right now, he can oppose Arroyo’s midnight appointment of Foreign Undersecretary Esteban Conejos as ambassador the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva to replace Erlinda Basilio who will be retiring soon.

Arroyo has nine months left in her unelected presidency. As a political appointee, Esteban’s term is co-terminus with the appointing power. If he gets to assume the Geneva post in the next month or so, Esteban would only be serving for about seven months.

Prosecution or Persecution?

Published by Ellen on September 22, 2009

by Sen. Panfilo Lacson
2nd privilege speech

I rise again today on a matter of personal and collective privilege.

On several occasions, I took the floor of this august hall on very important issues affecting national interest.

Jose Pidal. Hello Garci. The NBN-ZTE Broadband Deal. The Fertilizer Scam. Jueteng Anomaly. The C5 Extension Road Project Double Appropriation. The Pork Barrel Anomalies. Plus many others, the latest of which talked about Joseph Ejercito- Estrada in “Dalawang Mukha ng Sining.”

I did not have to seek out most of these anomalies. They came to me. The easiest and most convenient thing to do was to ignore them. Wala akong magiging kaaway. Tahimik pa sana ang aking buhay. But that would be betraying my oath to the Filipino people as an elected Senator of the Republic.

Enrile defends Estrada

Published by Ellen on September 22, 2009

by Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile

Mr. President and my colleagues, I rise today on a matter of personal privilege. I do so as a Senator of the Republic who sought and obtained the people’s mandate in the Senatorial Elections in 2004 under the banner of the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

Last week, I sat at that exalted seat of the Senate President and listened with deep pain, a heavy heart, and a troubled mind as I presided over the session when my friend and colleague, the Hon. Panfilo Lacson, delivered his searing privilege speech. He rendered his own personal account and portrayal of the person and character of Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, the founder and leader of my Party, the PMP.

The next day, the Hon. Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, stood and took the Floor, and properly so, to defend the name and honor of his father.

Iba ang “Partido Magdalo” sa “Samahang Magdalo”

Published by Ellen on September 21, 2009

Noong Martes, nagpuntahan ang nga defense reporters, ang mga nagku-cover sa mga pangyayari sa military, sa bahay ni Sen. Manny Villar sa Shaw Boulevard dahil sa press release ng Nacionalista Party na ang Partido Magdalo ay sasama sa kanila para suportahan ang kandidatura ni Villar para presidente.

Akala nila ay yung mga Magdalo na mga batang opisyal ng military na nanindigan laban sa corruption sa administrasyong Arroyo noong Hulyo 2003 sa Oakwood Hotel sa Makati. Ang isa doon ay si Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV na hanggang ngayon ay nakakulong.

Nagtaka sila na pagdating nila doon, wala naman silang nakita na mga rebeldeng sundalo. Ang nandun ay mga taga-Cavite na mga pulitiko sa pangunguna ni Rep. Boying Remulla.

Korina Sanchez up close (Q&A)

Published by Ellen on September 21, 2009

It’s Aquino-Roxas for LP in 2010 Courtesy of PROBE PROFILES All eyes were on broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez when her fiancé, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas…

War-displaced civilians mark Eid’l Fitr in Mindanao evacuation

Published by Ellen on September 20, 2009

by Tessa Jamandre VERA Files AS Muslims all over the world end their monthlong prayer and fasting on Monday, their brothers who have been displaced…

Month: September 2009