Year: 2010

Kasapi ng INC: ‘Hindi oportunista ang INC’

Published by Ellen on April 28, 2010

9 pm, May 3, Got this message from a friend who said the other day that INC will endorse Erap-Binay: INC changes mind, goes for Noy-Mar.”
Inquirer: Quiboloy endorses Teodoro

Got word from a friend yesterday that INC leadership chose Estrada over Aquino.

Sumulat sa akin si Generoso Arinuelo tungkol sa aking sinulat noong Martes na dahil sa mukhang panalo na si Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, ang kandidato ng Liberal Party, aasahan natin sa susunod na mga araw i-endorso siya ng mga sigurista at mga oportunista .

Sabi ko, “Hindi malayo ang Iglesia ni Kristo , El Shaddai at Pastor Quiboloy hahanay na yan kay Aquino.”

Nasaktan si Gen Arinuelo na nagtatrabaho ngayon sa New Doha International Airport Project ng Overseas Bechtel bilang Civil/Structural field engineer .

Ito ang buong sulat ni Gen: “ Isa po ako sa marami ninyong tagasubaybay ng inyong kolum sa Abante Online dito sa ibang bansa. Pagpasok ko pa lang sa umaga sa aking opisina ay agad kong binubuksan ang aking computer para magbasa lagi ng inyong kolum habang nagkakape. Sa bawat kolum po ninyo, ako po ay humahanga at naniniwala sa inyong mga sinasabi.

Is Aquino preparing for repeat of EDSA One?

Published by Ellen on April 28, 2010

Update:

Cardinal Rosales: Calls for People Power irresponsible and crazy

Aquino Says Philippine Poll Fraud May Trigger Turmoil

By Francisco Alcuaz Jr. and Haslinda Amin

April 27 (Bloomberg) — Philippine presidential frontrunner Benigno Aquino said only fraud can stop him winning next month’s election and any such attempt would trigger unrest comparable with the protests that swept his mother to power 24 years ago.

The 50-year-old son of former president Corazon Aquino, who has led opinion surveys since entering the race last year, criticized how a switch to electronic voting machines is being implemented and said a declaration that he is the loser of the May 10 poll would bring supporters on to the streets.

“If we have a correct counting of the votes, I think we will be very victorious,” said Aquino, whose mother toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos amid protests that followed a rigged election in 1986. If “the people’s will is frustrated,” demonstrations could make this month’s protests in Thailand seem “mild” by comparison, he said in an interview in Manila yesterday.

Aquino, known as “Noynoy,” claims his closest rival, property tycoon and Senator Manuel Villar, is secretly backed by outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and has accused both of corruption. A contested election result might disrupt efforts to tackle a record budget deficit, reduce Asia’s third-highest unemployment rate and increase foreign investment.

Local politics: hot spots and confusing alliances

Published by Ellen on April 27, 2010

Since March when Vote 2010 was unveiled in VERA Files website, our local partners have been actively sending us stories which give us a picture of the situation in the provinces this election season.

In Iloilo, Melvin Purzuelo of Green Forum Western Visayas said there is no clear party lines. It’s halo-halo. His report:

“As if the automation of the May 10 polls were not complicated enough, local political formations here are making the upcoming elections more confusing.

“Mayor Jerry Trenas, who is running for congressman, and Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog, who is running for mayor, have formed an alliance with only the two of them as common candidates. Trenas supports the Nacionalista Party (NP) for the national positions while Mabilog is with the Liberal Party (LP).

We will miss you, Neonate.

Published by Ellen on April 27, 2010

The April 24, 2010 post in Neonate’s blog, “Winks and Blinks” says:

This is Grace, the daughter of neo.nate. My family and I regret to inform you that my father passed away on April 19, 2010. Thank you for taking an interest in his blog and his writings – it was one of the things that kept him going during his retirement. We miss him very much. RIP Dad.

I only knew Neonate online but I can say that I have been enriched by his participation in this blog. I will miss him too.

I looked at my blog archives and would you believe, Neonate’s comments covered 30 pages since 2005. He was one of the early participants in this blog.

Mga sigurista at oportunista takbuhan na kay Noynoy

Published by Ellen on April 26, 2010

Huwag lang mangisay si Noynoy Aquino (Liberal Party) habang nangangampanya sa naiwang dalawang linggo bago eleksyun, mukhang siya na ang magiging sunod na pangulo ng Pilipinas.

Sa pinakahuling survey ng Social Weather Station na kinumisyun ng diyaryong Businessworld, lumaki ang lamang niya kay Manny Villar ng Nacionalista Party. Nakakuha siya ng 38 per cent, si Villar ay bumaba ng dalawang puntos (26 percent) kaysa yung nakuha niya sa survey na ginanap noong Marso 19-22.

Si dating Pangulong Joseph Estrada na tumaas rin ng kaunti noon ay bumaba na rin (17 percent) kaya 7 points na ang lamang ni Villars a kanya.

Kaya sa sunod na mga araw, sigurado ang mga sigurista at mga oportunista ay i-endorso si Noynoy. Hindi malayo ang Iglesia ni Kristo , El Shaddai at Pastor Quiboloy hahanay na yan kay Aquino.

Kapag inindorso ng INK si Aquino, ito ang kauna-unahang endorsement na makukuha ng isang Aquino sa religious group na nagdadala daw ng hindi kukulang sa isang milyong boto. Noong Ferdinand Marcos versus Cory Aquino, kay Marcos ang INK.

Noynoy in double digit lead over Villar; Mar firms up lead as Jojo overtakes Loren

Published by Ellen on April 26, 2010

Latest (April 16 -19) survey by Social Weather Station commissioned by Businessworld:

• Liberal Party’s . Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino III gains 38 percent over closest rival, Nacionalista Party’s Manuel Villar,Jr who got 26 percent for a 12-point lead.

• Pwersa ng Masa’s Jejomar “Jojo” C. Binay with 25 per cent overtook Nationalist People’s Coalition ‘s Loren B. Legarda, who got 24 points but Liberal Party’s Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas continues to enjoy a large lead with 39 percent.

• The top 12 in the senatorial race: 1. Ramon “Bong” B. Revilla, Jr. (Lakas-Kampi.CMD); 2. Jose “Jinggoy” E. Estrada (PMP); 3. Miriam Defensor-Santiago ( People’s Reform Party/Nacionalista Party); 4. Juan Ponce-Enrile (PMP); 5. Pia Cayetano (NP); 6. Franklin Drilon (LP);
7. Tito Sotto (NPC/NP); 8. Ralph Recto (LP); 9. Sergio Osmeña III (LP); 10. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. (KBL/NP); 11. Lito Lapid (Lakas-Kampi-CMD); 12. Gilbert Remulla (NP).

Agra shocker: a diversionary tactic?

Published by Ellen on April 25, 2010

While everybody was busy moving heaven and earth to prevent Justice Alberto Agra from clearing Zaldy Ampatuan, former governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao, and his uncle Akmad of complicity in the Nov 23, 2009 massacre in Maguindanao, the government panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Muslim rebel group are moving towards signing agreement that officials say would lead to peace in Mindanao but others are concerned could spark another round of war.

Are the two issues connected? After all, didn’t the government arm and coddle the Ampatuans as vigilantes against the MILF?

We hope Agra’s shocking decision of exonerating the two Ampatuans from the crime so shocking it earned for the Philippines the dubious distinction of being the most dangerous country for journalists was not meant to make us too pre-occupied that they would be able to finally sign an agreement that would result in the dismemberment of the country.

In a 10-paragraph joint statement that Ambassador Rafael Seguis, chair of the Philippine government panel and Mohagher Iqbal, MILF panel chair at the conclusion of the 18th round of exploratory talks last Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, there’s a one sentence that is causing a lot of concern to many who are worried that Arroyo would try again what she failed to do last year with the MOA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement- Ancestral Domain), which is to create a Bangsamoro state within the Philippine state.

Last two minutes: Groups urge Comelec to decide on manual count now

Published by Ellen on April 25, 2010

(Note: VERA Files website is down.While it is being restored, the stories will be posted here.)

By MARK JOSEPH UBALDE
VERA Files

Press con-MBC leaders Alberto Lim and Ramon del Rosario. Gus Lagman in blue.

WITH barely 14 days left before the elections, a multisectoral group is making a last-ditch effort to convince the Commission on Elections to adopt a parallel nationwide manual count to avoid a possible “Automated Garci.”

In a press conference held at Club Filipino Sunday, leaders of concerned groups that include the Makati Business Club and Philippine Bar Association read their open letter to the Comelec, saying the decision on their proposal cannot be delayed beyond April 29 or else the parallel manual count won’t be doable.

“If the Comelec decides after April 29, then we are afraid and gravely concerned that the May 10 elections would remain extremely vulnerable to manipulation and fraud,” they said in the letter that will be given to Comelec on Monday when the poll commissioners meet en banc.

Augusto Lagman, an IT specialist and convenor of TransparentElections.Org, said,“It would only take two to four days to ready the system. The Comelec should ensure accuracy than speed of the results.”

Gloria’s labandera sa anti-Money Laundering Council

Published by Ellen on April 24, 2010

Suspetsa ko, yung mga aksyun ni Gloria Arroyo nitong mga nakaraang linggo na talaga namang nakakagulatang katulad ng pag-appoint niya kay Anita Carpon, ang kanyang manikurista bilang member of the board ng Pag-ibig Housing Fund at ng kanyang hardinero na si Armando Macapagal bilang deputy administrator ng Luneta Park Administration ay pang-inis sa atin.

Wala siguro siyang maisip na paraan para magantihan tayo sa ating pagtuligsa sa kanyang pangungurakot at paglabas sa batas kaya gumagawa siya ng mga bagay na manggagalaiti tayo sa inis.

Hindi ko na sasayangin ang aking emosyon kay Arroyo. Pagtawanan na lang natin siya.

Ganun din ang reaksyun ng aking mga ka-blog. Sabi ng mga sumusulat sa aking blog, kulang pa yun. Dapat lubusin na ni Arroyo at ito ang mga suhestyun nila:

Estrada wows Caviteños

Published by Ellen on April 24, 2010

CAVITE CITY.—Former President Joseph Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) showed he has not lost his “masa “ appeal despite having been ousted from…