Photos of Erap-Binay, Villar-Loren and Noynoy-Mar
As of today, more than 50 have filed certificates of candidacy for president in the 2010 elections.
Erap came driving a jeepney, reviving his 1998 “Jeep ni Erap” motif, with the senatorial candidiates as passengers. His senatorial candidates include his son, re-electionist Jinggoy Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile, Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, Rep. Rodolfo Plaza, former Negros Occidental Rep. Apolinario Lozada.
Gloria Arroyo’s declaration of her candidacy for second district of Pampanga.
Mga kababayan, lubos na karangalan at pribilehiyo sa akin na maglingkod sa taongbayan bilang Pangulo.
Gumawa ng malalaking pagsulong sa bagay ng ating economy, education, foreign affairs and job creation. While I’m very much looking forward to stepping down as president at the end of my term, I have been mulling different ways to stay involved.
Tiningnan ko ang pagbalik sa pagtuturo. I have also examined ways of working with non-profit organizations on issues ranging from the environment to women’s issues. After much contemplation, I realized I am not ready to step down completely from public service.
As you know, people from my hometown in the second district of Pampanga have been asking me to remain in public service. So after my soul searching, I have decided to respond affirmatively to their call.
To that end, I will file my candidacy for Congress in order to serve the hardworking people of my province.
Ang paglingkod sa publiko ay banal na trabaho. At a very young age, it was emblazoned in my DNA. Umaasa akong ipagpatuloy ang pagkampiyon ang pangangailangan ng mahihirap, ipaglaban ang mas malakas na economy at tiyakin na nasa kaabutan ng karaniwang pamilyang Kapampangan ang education, kalinga sa kalusugan at trabaho.
Binibigyan ako nito ng pagkakataong ituloy ang paglilingkod mula sa puwestong mas malapit sa taong bayan.
Hayaan niyong linawin ko, I will be firmly in control of our national government until the last day I am in office. As president, my first commitment is to the nation we all love. My bid for Congress will be spirited but secondary to my duties as president. We have come too far and too much is at stake for me to waiver these last few months from my commitment to the people of the nation. I will keep a steady hand on the tiller of the ship of state.
Our nation is entering a crucial election year at a time when our economy has just survived a global recession. Though the lead in ensuring free, fair and open elections belong to the Comelec, now more than ever, it is is important for me to focus on the Executive’s duty to help the Comelec perform its role. I will ensure the resources required by the Comelec to see the elections through and then I will work cooperatively with the incoming administration so that they can hit the ground running.
Her lawyer, Romulo Makalintal said, Arroyo will continue performing her duties as president until June 30, 2010 even as she campaigns for a congressional seat.
Media groups and journalists call for the resignation of Gloria Arroyo if her government fails to the catch the perpetrators of the Maguindanao massacre and make them accountable for the crime.
Statement of the Nov. 23 Movement
A Challenge of Conscience
The brutal, indiscriminate mass murder on Monday in Ampatuan town, in Maguindanao province, raises the ultimate challenge of conscience. It carries the culture of impunity at work in this country to such levels of horror that, if it remains unpunished for long, can send the nation into an inexorable descent into absolute dehumanization.
The crime thus calls for swift justice, which can only be achieved through a credible and independent process, which in turn can only be achieved without the hand of this government – a government justly mistrusted generally and openly friendly precisely to the very members of the clan accused in the massacre.
We, ourselves colleagues of the more than a score journalists who were killed, demand the following:
Last April, I attended a very informative lecture by Peruvian forensic anthropologist Jose Pablo Baraybar on investigating extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances.
Sponsored by the Center for International Law chaired by Harry Roque, the US Department of State and the American Bar Association, the seminar in General Santos City had prosecutors, members of the military and the Philippine National Police assigned in Mindanao as participants.
Baraybar, who has been called on by the Commission on Human Rights to help in the investigation of the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre, comes with impressive credentials and solid accomplishment: he helped secure the conviction of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori for his role in two cases of massacres in the 1990s.
Photos of Brig. Gen. Danny Lim, Col. Ariel Querubin, Capt. Gary Alejano, Ltsg James Layug.
Magdalo former Marine Capt. Gary Alejano was granted five days out of detention last week to file his certificate of candidacy for mayor of Sipalay in Negros Occidental.
Last Wednesday, another detained Magdalo officer, Navy Ltsg James Layug filed his certificate of candidacy as representtive of the seond district of Taguig.
Layug,39, is a graduate of Philippine Military Class of 1995. He served in the Philippine Navy and was assigned in several posts throughout the country. He said he joined the July 27, 2003 Oakwood incident “to air out their grievances against a corrupt, inept, and oppressive regime.”
Running as an independent, Layug enjoined everybody to practice new politics: “Sama-sama nating isulong ang Bagong Pulitika. Isang pulitika na kakatawan sa boses ng masa, ipaglalaban ang interes ng bayan, babantayan ang kalikasan at maglilingkod ng tapat sa mamamayan. Bagong pulitika na naka-angkla ang plataporma sa patriotismo, nationalismo, idealismo, at altruismo. Pulitika na hindi nakatali sa salapi bagkus ang pinapahalagahan ay ang malasakit sa kapwa,” Layug added.
Human Rights Chairperson Leila de Lima said the commission has deputized Jose Pablo Baraybar, a forensic anthropologist who helped convict former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori for mass murder, to initially ” make crime scene on-site assessment and evaluation.”
She said, “If Dr.Baraybar recommends the exhumation of the bodies for further investigation, we will coordinate with relatives and proper authorities for that.”
De Lima said Baraybar will be assisted by British Chris Cobb-Smith, a seasoned inspector and investigator in trouble spots all around the world. “Smith’s expertise is relevant to our investigation of the November 23 carnage,” she said.
Marami ang nakapansin na sa pag-aresto kay Mayor Andal Ampatuan,mayor ng bayan ng Datu Unsay, hindi siya nakaposas. Escorted siya ng mga ahente ng National Bureau of Investigation at kasama rin niya si Presidential Adviser Jesus Dureza.
Sabi ni Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera sa mga reporter na sumalubong sa kanila s airport, “He is properly restrained.”
Si Andal Ampatuan ang tinuturong nag-utos na pagpapatayin sina Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu at ang kanyang mga kasamahan sa Maguindanao. Ang namatay ay ang asawa ni vice mayor, kapatid at 55 pa. Ayon sa report, 37 sa mga napatay at nawawala pa (hindi pa siguro nakikita ang mga bangkay) ay mga journalist. Ang iba ay mga kasamahan ng mga Mangudadatu at at iba ay talagang namalas lang na nagbibiyahe kasabay ng mga Mangudadatu.
After Edsa 1, Andal was appointed OIC mayor
Newsbreak
It’s interesting how the Ampatuan clan’s political fortunes seem to be turning full circle—and how political camps that now call them “monsters” seem to have conveniently forgotten that they had something to do with how these “monsters” were bred to begin with.
Liberal Party presidential bet Aquino, sure that violence in Maguindanao would escalate due to “this administration’s inaction,” is demanding the suspension of Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. and other local officials found involved in the November 23 massacre of civilians.
Note from Fr. Eliseo “Jun” Mercado:
Datu Andal Sr. was the henchman of Marcos in Maganoy in 1986.. He also was de facto mayor… acting since he was the vice mayor and already appointed as OIC.
Cory removed him from Office!!! I was a witness to that!
The Chief of Police, another Ampatuan yet non political and decent by the name of Datu Mod Ampatuan was appointed by Cory as OIC! I was the one who recommemnded for Datu Modi. He is an Ampatuan so he could maintain order and rule of law being the modest and clean chief of police in the place.
But in the first election post Cory, Datu Andal, Sr was back in power… since he was and still is the undisputed power in Maganoy.
I was the parish priest of Maganoy at the time and NAMFREL chair of the Province.
We don’t know if the senator realizes that he is in effect calling on the Arroyo government to undo an action by his mother’s administration.
By ROMEL REGALADO BAGARES GENERAL SANTOS CITY.—Sixty-nine-year-old Maura Montaño seethed with anger when she was asked what she thought of the men—no, the monsters—who did…
VERA Files photojournalist Mario Ignacio took the following photos of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. as he underwent medical examination at his holiding cell…