Year: 2010

Clans dominate in Maguindanao; 68 Ampatuans, 15 Mangudadatus running

Published by Ellen on February 9, 2010

by Carolyn O. Arguillas
MindaNews

Andal Ampatuan Sr ((December 4, 2009 - Photo by Jeoffrey Maitem/Getty Images AsiaPac)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/08 Feb) – The Ampatuans, Mangudadatus, Midtimbangs, Sinsuats, Masturas, Sangkis comprise the majority among Maguindanao’s 879 candidates running for 374 posts: two congressional representatives to Congress, one governor, one vice-governor, 10 provincial board members, 36 mayors, 36 vice mayors and 288 municipal board members or councilors.

The Ampatuans lead the list of candidates with 50 carrying the same surname, at least 23 of them directly related to the patriarch, Datu Andal Ampatuan, Sr., and 18 with Ampatuan as middle name, according to records of the Commission on Elections (see list in article below)

Among the Ampatuans running are the patriarch, Datu Andal Ampatuan, Sr., the three-term governor of Maguindanao who resigned in January 2009 and returned as OIC governor in late 2009 (he was OIC governor when the November 23 massacre in Ampatuan town happened).

He is running for vice governor as an Independent candidate against three others, including his daughter Shaydee Ampatuan-Abutazil. His other opponents are Ma-arouph Bajunaid Candao and Ismael “Dustin” Veloso Mastura.

Simula ng matagal ng nagsimula na kampanya

Published by Ellen on February 8, 2010

Noynoy: Hindi ako magnanakaw!
Gibo: Hindi ko na kailangan magnakaw!
Villar: Hindi na ako magnanakaw!
Erap: Kailangan ko ulit magnakaw!
GMA: Wala na kayong mananakaw pa!

‘Yan ang kumakalat na text at marami pa tayong makukuha na mga ganyan habang palapit na palapit na ang eleksyun. Ang iba nakakatuwa, ang iba nakaka-inis. Kailangan salain ang impormasyun. At i-enjoy ang nakakatuwa.

Ngayong araw ang simula ang opisyal na kampanya. Sa totoo lang matagal ng nagkakampanya ang mga kandidato dahil sinabi ng Supreme Court na hindi daw labag sa batas ang magkampanya kahit hindi pa official camapign period. Huwag lang daw sabihin na “Iboto mo ako.”

Military justice, almost

Published by Ellen on February 7, 2010

Philippine Navy reaction to the dismissal of charges against Lt. Raymundo and the “disrespect” charge:http://www.malaya.com.ph/02092010/news9.html

Good news is rare these days that the text of my friend, Atty. Romel Bagares last Friday was like rain amidst drought.

Romel informed me that the motion of his client, Marine First Lieutenant Artemio Raymundo’s motion for finding him not guilty was sustained on all serious charges.

“Light charge remained but maximum sentence already served,” he said.

Romel was referring to what we call the “Erap CD case”. This is a classic example of injustice in the military system. I’m glad that after almost three and a- half years, the military court has corrected the injustice. Although not yet fully.

Since September 26, 2006, Raymundo has been in detention at the Marines Brig accused of violations of Articles of War 96 (Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and Gentleman) ; 97 (Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline) and 64 (Disrespect Towards Superior Officer).

Journalists score on libel raps filed by Mike Arroyo

Published by Ellen on February 7, 2010

by Evangeline de Vera
Malaya

Journalists who are suing First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo for damages for his propensity to file libel charges yesterday scored a victory after the Court of Appeals turned down anew Arroyo’s bid to dismiss the same damage suit.

The newsmen are seeking P12.5 million in damages before the Makati regional trial court in response to the flurry of libel cases that Arroyo filed since 2003 – 10 against 45 members of the press, a number unprecedented in Philippine history.

All these libel cases that Arroyo filed against the journalists prospered, with the city prosecutor of Manila supposedly finding probable cause to charge them.

In a 23-page decision penned by Associate Justice Sesinando Villon, the CA’s Ninth Division sustained the ruling of Judge Zenaida Galapate-Laguilles in denying Arroyo’s motion to dismiss the damage suit for failure of the journalists to immediately answer the written interrogatories within the extended period.

42 community health workers, suspected as “reds” detained in Camp Capinpin

Published by Ellen on February 7, 2010

Update: Kin of 43 health workers go to Supreme Court

Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) strongly condemned the illegal raid and abduction of 42 community health workers and doctors who were conducting health skills training in Morong, Rizal Saturday.

Around 300 soldiers and police of the Southern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Rizal Philippine National Police and headed by Colonel Aurelio Baladad and Police Superintendent Balonglong, respectively, forcibly entered the farmhouse of Dr. Melecia Velmonte around 6:15 this morning. The training participants were then lined up, frisked, blindfolded, and forcibly brought to Camp Capinpin, headquarters of the 202nd Infantry Brigade, AFP.

Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, civil-military operations chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said in a text message to GMA News that the 17 men and 26 women are suspected members of the rebel group He said initial investigation showed that the suspected rebels were conducting a training on how to make improvised explosives when they were nabbed by authorities.

Laking tuwa ng Malacañang

Published by Ellen on February 6, 2010

Walang mapagsidlan ang Malacañang ng kanilang tuwa sa tagumpay ng operasyon nila laban kay Sen. Panfilo Lacson ng ililabas ng judge kapahon ang warrant of arrest para sa pinakamasugid na kritiko ng pamahalaan.

Nakita nyo ba ang mukha ni Gary Olivar, deputy presidential spokesman ng nagbigay ng reaksyun sa warrant of arrest ni Lacson? Hindi maitago ang tuwa. Kunwari pang hands off. Alam naman natin kung paano pinaandar ang makinarya ng pamahalaan para lamang madiin si Lacson sa pagkamatay ni Bubby Dacer at ng kanyang driver na si Emmanuel Corbito.
Narinig ko sa radio si Ric Diaz, hepe ng National Bureau of Investigation counterterrorism unit, at siya ang namumuno sa team na maghahanap ngayon kay Lacson. Tumatawa siya sa radyo na parang nanunuya.

Sige tumawa ka. Bilog ang mundo. Kapag oras na ang amo mong utak ng maraming krimen sa mamamayang Pilipino ang hahabulin ng batas, ang taumbayan ang magkaroon ng selebrasyon.

Top ten messages left in Noynoy Aquino’s answering machine after the release of the latest Pulse Asia Survey

Published by Ellen on February 6, 2010

From the Professional Heckler: No. 10: “Hi Noy. Korina here. Have you heard the news? Mar has been pulling away in the vice presidential surveys.…

Revilla and Jinggoy take the lead in latest Pulse Asia survey

Published by Ellen on February 6, 2010

Pulse Asia’s score card based ontheir Jan 22 – 26 nationawide survey among 1,800 respondents with a +/-2 margin.
The top 12:
1. Bong Revilla
2. Jinggoy Estrada
3. Pia Cayetano
4. Frank Drilon
5. Miriam Santiago
6. Juan Ponce Enrile
7. Ralph Recto
8. Serge Osmeña
9. Tito Sotto
10. Lito Lapid
11. Bongbong Marcos
12. Joey de Venecia

Currently leading the senatorial race is Senator Revilla whose overall voter preference of 51.9% translates to a statistical ranking of 1st to 2nd places, putting him in a virtual tie with Senator Estrada (50.4%), who is ranked 1st to 3rd. Meanwhile, Senator Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano (46.8%) is ranked 2nd to 4th, slightly ahead of former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon (43.2%) who ranks 3rd to 6th. Tied from 4th to 6th places are Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (41.2%) and incumbent Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (39.7%).

Media covenant for elections

Published by Ellen on February 4, 2010

Media remains the main battleground for the hearts and minds of voters.

As we approach the start of the official campaign period (Feb.9), members the Philippine Press Institute came up with a media covenant for elections.

The covenant was drafted when PPI, with the support of The Coca Cola Export Corporation, conducted a seminar-workshop on preparing journalists for the 2010 election in Cagayan de Oro in October 2009. This week, in Cebu, the covenant was approved by 31 journalists who represented PPI newspaper members.

Mahigpit na ang laban

Published by Ellen on February 4, 2010

Dapat pasiglahin na ni Noynoy Aquino ang kanyang kampanya.

Kahapon lumabas ang pinakabagong survey ng Pulse Asia kung saan halos pantay na si Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III at Sen. Manuel Villar, Jr. sa mga nangunguna sa presidential race.

Sa survey na ginawa ng Pulse Asia noong Enero 22 hanggang 26 sa 1,800 sa buong bansa, 37% ang nakuha ni Noynoy at 35% ang kay Villar.

Dahil plus at minus two percent ang survey, sabi ng Pulse Asia halos tie na yan sila.