Month: April 2011

Is Gloria Arroyo’s SanFo trip connected with resignation of Merci?

Published by Ellen on April 30, 2011

At about the time I learned that Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez resigned (noon of April 29, 2011), a friend texted that Gloria Arroyo and members opf her family arrived in San Francisco,U.S.A.

“They didn’t have any luggage ,“ the informant said adding that “Many Pinoys saw them at the airport, including Pinoy waiter at Mcdo who just texted.“
The informant added his own analysis of what he saw : “They fled to avoid arrest when they knew that knew their protector was about to resign.“

Sen Antonio Trillanes IV issued a statement on the resignation of Gutierrez from Boracay where he is attending a wedding of a Magdalo officer :“It’s a relief for everyone, including herself.“

He said,“Also we can revert back to our normal legislative schedule in the Senate so that we can tackle the more important legislative matters.“

Hotdog: The Reunion

Published by Ellen on April 28, 2011

From Yahoo OMG:

On May 16, the grand ballroom of the Dusit Thani Manila hotel will be filled with the delightful hits of the Hotdog band when the trailblazing Pinoy pop- rock group in the 1970s stages a one- night reunion concert.

Dennis Garcia, one of the founders of the band and who plays bass, said the rare event will bring together other members of the group, namely, Rene Garcia (lead guitarist/vocals), Jess Garcia on drums, and Gina Montes, Maso Diez, Joy Reyes, and Rita Saguin Trinidad, all former lead vocalists of Hotdog at various times.

They will be backed up by guest performers Joey Abando from The Boyfriends, and session musicians Benjie Santos, Carlo Gaa, Roy Marinduque, and Roy Sadicon.

Hotdog revolutionized Philippine musical landscape with what was dubbed as the “Manila sound.” The songs were original Pilipino music distinguished for their catchy lyrics written by the Garcia brothers, Rene and Dennis, which mostly conveyed exuberance.

The return of Michael Ray Aquino

Published by Ellen on April 26, 2011

U.S. CA Apr 25 decision: Michael Ray Aquino petition denied

The U.S. Court of Appeals denied Monday former Police Officer Michael Ray Aquino’s third appeal against the extradition requested by the Philippine government under Gloria Aquino in connection with the November 2000 murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.

“The petition for rehearing filed by Apellant having been submitted to all judges who participated in the decision of this court, and to all the other available circuit judges in active service, and a majority of circuit judges of the circuit in regular active service not having voted for rehearing by the court en banc, the petition for rehearing is hereby DENIED,” the decision states signed by Circuit Judge Thomas M. Hardiman.

The U.S. has 60 days to enforce the extradition. I suppose the National Bureau of Investigation would be coordinating with American authorities for the return of Aquino who left the Philippine in July 2001 knowing that the unelected government of Gloria Arroyo would make life difficult for them being identified with Sen. Panfilo Lacson, whom the Arroyos consider their number one tormentor.

Frankl’s ‘Man’s search for meaning’

Published by Ellen on April 20, 2011

This Holy Week, I’m reading an old classic bestseller, Viktor E. Frankl’s “Man’s search for meaning .”

Thanks to Juggernaut for introducing me to Frankl’s masterpiece.

Frankl was Europe’s leading psychiatrist. “Man’s search for meaning” is about finding humanity in the most inhuman environment which was the Nazi concentration camp.

Philosophy professor and writer, Gerald F. Kreyche, describes”Man search for meaning” as “The story of a man who became a number who became a person.”

China accuses PH of ‘invasion’

Published by Ellen on April 19, 2011

By Tessa Jamandre
VERA Files

Philippine-occupied Pag-asa island in the Spratlys

China has accused the Philippines of “invading” the South China Sea which it claims as wholly its own, the first time it has ever done so.

“Since 1970’s, the Republic of the Philippines started to invade and occupy some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands and made relevant territorial claims, to which China objects strongly,” China said in a note verbale submitted April 14 to the United Nations in reply to the protest lodged by the Philippines on April 5.

“The Republic of the Philippines’ occupation of some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha islands as well as other related acts constitutes infringement upon China’s territorial sovereignty,” according to the note verbale.

Early this month, the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against China’s 9-dash line territorial claim over the whole of South China Sea, including the Spratlys group, a cluster of oil-rich islands disputed by the Philippines, China,three other countries, and Taiwan.

We will sorely miss Joe Pavia

Published by Ellen on April 19, 2011

Our condolence to the family of Joe Pavia, a fellow advocate of press freedom.

Jose has been sick for quite some time but he was always with us, even in rallies, calling for justice for journalists who were killed in the Nov 2009 Ampatuan massacre.

Joe, as everybody calls him, passed away early morning of April 18 of complications from lung at the UERM Hospital. He was 72 years old.

His remains lay at the Arlington Chapel on Araneta Avenue. Necrological service will be on Thursday, 6 p.m. to be led by the Philippine Press Institute, where Joe served as executive director until his death.

In a tribute to Joe, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said “His death leaves a gnawing void in the community of press freedom.”

Michael Ray Aquino in third try to void extradition

Published by Ellen on April 17, 2011

Michael Ray Aquino’s April 11 petition: MRA_petition_for_hearing April 11

Former Police officer Michael Ray Aquino cited the Court of Appeal’s judgment of lack of credibility of his former colleague Cezar Mancao II in his last-ditch appeal to stop his extradition.

In his motion for re-hearing filed last April 11, Aquino, who is currently detained at the Hudson County jail in New Jersey, said he filed his petition for rehearing “on the submission that it is not in accord with the accepted definition of ‘competent evidence’ nor is it in accord with the standards for the finding of probable cause for a murder charge…”

Aquino is facing murder charges in connection with the disappearance in November 2000 of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.

In his appeal, Aquino said three facts are clear:

Cagayan de Oro City farmers regret planting jathropa

Published by Ellen on April 17, 2011

By Liezl P. Bugtay and Venus P. Betita AFRIM and VERA Files A promise of prosperity turned into a bitter cautionary tale for a community…

Hindi baril ang solusyon sa lumalaganap na krimen

Published by Ellen on April 16, 2011

Sa halip na magbigay siya ng panahon sa pagtuturo sa mga prosecutor o piskal kung paano maging asintado sa pagbabaril, dapat siguro ang asikasuhin ni Pangulo Aquino ay ang solusyon sa nakakabahalang sitwasyun ng peace and order sa bansa.

Sa kanyang talumpati sa National Convention ng Prosecutors League of the Philippines sa General Santos City, nagboluntaryo si Aquino na maging instructor ng prosecutors sa pagbabaril. Ang isang hilig kasi ng Pangulo maiban sa mamahalin at mabibilis na kotse at maglaro ng computer games at mag-baril.

Maganda naman sana ang kanyang speech. Sinabi niya na alam niya ang panganib na sinusu-ong ng mga prosecutor na siyang tagapagtanggol ng pamahalaan at mamamayan sa mga kasong criminal. Merong public prosecutors na empleyado ng pamahalaan at merong private prosecutors, mga abogado na kinukuha ng mga biktima.

Please, not Domingo Lee to China

Published by Ellen on April 14, 2011

Early this week, President Aquino signed the appointment of 17 career ambassadors to different foreign posts.

Foreign service veterans said they haven’t seen this big a bunch of appointments of career officers in the history of Philippine service. Needless to say, the career officers are very, very happy.

“This would not have been possible under (former Foreign Secretary) Alberto Romulo,” a career officer said adding that morale is high in the department with Secretary Albert del Rosario whom they describe as “conscientious and hands-on.”

I don’t have the complete list of the 17. But here are some of them: Ricky Manalo to London; Cristy Ortega to Paris;Vicky Bataclan to Belgium; Leslie Baja to Switzerland; Maynard Montealegre to Greece; Lourdes Morales to Netherlands; Leslie Gatan to Canada; Ellen Jaucian to Hungary;