Month: February 2013

Aquino fell into saboteurs’ trap

Published by Ellen on February 28, 2013

Aquino on Sabah stanfoff — Needs to learn the importance of right choice of words.

Malacañang believes that the occupation of the seaside village of Lahad Datu in Sabah by Rajah Mudah Agbinuddin Kiram, brother of the Sultan of Sulu, and his followers is really meant to sabotage the peace talks that his administration is conducting with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Reports said Malacañang suspects the national security adviser of Gloria Arroyo, Norberto Gonzales, as behind the sabotage.

It is easily believable because Gonzales has deep network in Muslim Mindanao and is close to Nur Misuari, the leader of another disgruntled group, the Moro National Liberation Front.

Gonzales and Misuari’s partnership go back a long way to their special operations training days in Malaysia during the 1960’s.

When Misuari staged a rebellion in 2001. Gonzales was known to have exerted influence to allow the former governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao to be placed under house arrest. The case was eventually dismissed.

There are intelligence reports that Gonzales and his Jesuit priest friend have been meeting with some sectoral leaders and talking about “a revolutionary situation” under Aquino.

‘Don’t play into Malaysia’s hand’

Published by Ellen on February 27, 2013

“It is a sad commnetary on the Philippines if our own nationals should run to the UN because their government cannot protect their rights. This is not the spectacle our country wants to portray to the international community.

“It is now urgent to cease to be “confused” and move and act decisively. Time to end the Kabuki play on Sabah.”

President Aquino delivering speech on Sabah — What’s his government’s policy on Sabah?

By Lauro L.Baja, Jr., VERA Files

THE President has gone on TV appealing and at the same time chastising the Sultan of Sulu over the standoff in Lahad Datu in Sabah.

The next few days will tell the wisdom of doing it in public. His statements and actions give the unintended consequence of leaning on our own nationals over a foreign power. We may be playing into Malaysia’s hands who has been adopting a studied but cavalier attitude over the standoff. They are exercising acts of “effectivités” over Sabah during this standoff by their actions and even by their silence over our naive pronouncements.

“Effectivités” in a territorial dispute between countries gives weight to actual and continued exercise of authority over a territory. This is the basis of the International Court of Justice ’s 2002 decision on the Ligatan Sipadan case where the court awarded the area to Malaysia over Indonesia. Also the same principle in the case between Chile and Peru and between Nicaragua and Guatemala.

Who is Aquino’s adviser on Sabah issue?

Published by Ellen on February 26, 2013

Aquino warning Kiram on Sabah standoff — Aquino to Kiram III: “….desist from this hopeless cause.”

In his Facebook wall, Cotabato-based Fr. Eliseo Mercado of the Institute for Autonomy and Governance in Notre Dame University yesterday said, “After the President’s press statement on the Sabah issue, I am continued to be deluged with question,’Who is the adviser of the President on the Sabah issue?’

“Sagot ko: Ambot… baka ang Malaysian PM. From the tone and the content would show that he/she is either Malaysian or Malaysian-Philippine.”

In his statement, which came on the second week of the standoff in Lahad Datu, a seaside village in Sabah, President Aquino several times spoke of peace. Yet, the language he used reeks of arrogance that could only come from ignorance of the root of the issue.

Grace Poe wants electorate to learn from 2004 cheating in Cebu

Published by Ellen on February 22, 2013

It’s good that Grace Poe, daughter of the late Fernando Poe, Jr and Susan Roces, brought up the issue of cheating during the 2004 elections in Cebu in the meeting of Team PNoy in that province last Wednesday.

The people should be reminded of that again and again because no one has been punished for that crime against the Filipino electorate.

Gloria Arroyo is out on bail for the crime of electoral fraud but it’s in connection with the 2007 elections, when she was not a candidate. That case is so weak, it would not be a surprise if Arroyo gets acquitted in that case.

Arroyo cheated big time in 2004 but the crime of electoral fraud was enacted only in 2007. She can be charged with the lesser crime (it’s bailable) graft but even that, it has not been done.

Poe, who is a senatorial candidate, said “This is the reason I didn’t stand on another stage in Cebu City, because it still hurts,” referring most probably to Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and the rest of the Garcia political clan who were die-hard supporters of Gloria Arroyo.

The Cebuanos took pride in 2004 that they gave Arroyo over one million lead over FPJ which defied logic and normal practice.

‘ Bizarre’ standoff in Sabah

Published by Ellen on February 19, 2013

Jamalul Kiram III. AP photo by Aaron Favila.

One report described the current standoff in Sabah as “bizarre”.

Bizarre indeed. The Philippines claims ownership of Sabah based on the title of the Sultan of Sulu on the territory. The heirs of Sultan of Sulu who obtained the land are taking possession of a portion of the area. The Philippine government said it has nothing to with the the action of the heirs.

The reaction of the Philippine government is bizarre if one takes it from the presumption that the Philippines is not abandoning its claim over Sabah.

But if there’s one thing that this “bizarre” incident has made clear, the Philippines is no longer interested to pursue its claim over Sabah.

China returns Philippine notice on U.N. suit

Published by Ellen on February 19, 2013

Hong Lei feb. 19 — Hong Lei in a press briefing Feb. 19, 2013

China today announced that it returned the Philippine notification of its suit filed at a United Nations arbitral handed to the Chinese ambassador in Manila last Jan 22, a Xinhua report said.

The report carried by China.org.cn said “The Chinese government has rejected a Philippine move to take their dispute regarding sovereignty issues in the South China Sea to the United Nations for arbitration, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.”

It quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei saying,”Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing had an appointment with officials from the Philippines’ Foreign Ministry on Tuesday and returned a note and related notice after expressing China’s rejection.”

Reacting to the Chinese rejection,the Department of Foreign Affairs issued the following statement: “The Department received this afternoon from Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing a Note Verbale stating that China rejects and returns the Philippines’ Notification and Statement of Claim.

“The Department stresses that China’s action will not interfere with the process of Arbitration initiated by the Philippines on January 22, 2013. The Arbitration will proceed under Annex VII of UNCLOS and the 5-member arbitration panel will be formed with or without China.”

“In its Note Verbale, China reiterated its often stated position that it has indisputable sovereignty over the entire South China Sea encompassed by its 9-dash line claim. This excessive claim is the core issue of the Philippines’ arbitration case against China.”

“The Philippines remains committed to Arbitration which is a friendly, peaceful and durable form of dispute settlement that should be welcomed by all.”

Six ways to keep fit during election campaign

Published by Ellen on February 17, 2013

By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files

Photos and video by Mario Ignacio and Mario Espinosa

More important than winning the election, candidates should make sure they are able to survive the grueling 90-day campaign.

The same reminder applies to the staff of political parties and members of media who are covering the campaign.

An election campaign is exciting and exhausting. Candidates try to maximize their provincial trips by meeting as many groups as they can squeeze in their waking hours. Rallies last up to midnight even early morning.The next day, members of the campaign caravan rush to the airport for the next destination.

Almost always after election, many of those involved in the campaign end up overweight due to irregular and unhealthy meals and lack of exercise.

Concerns about mammoth complex in Boracay

Published by Ellen on February 14, 2013

It’s only February and we are now feeling the beginning of summer.

It’s now time to look for budget offers from airlines and out-of-town hotels.

Boracay island — Boracay. From Korea News Online

Boracay is a logical destination for us because our place in Antique is just three hours away by bus to the popular island.

A recent Facebook post by the peripatetic Teddy Montelibano on Boracay on the plan of San Miguel Corporation to develop Boracay makes it compelling for us enjoy Boracay now.

Teddy’s post was from the FB page of the province of Aklan boasting of the “Country’s biggest hotel and coliseum to rise at Boracay Airport Complex.”

The project which had no less than President Aquino as guest when the renovated Caticlan airport was inaugurated in June last year is to be undertaken by TransAire Development Holdings Corp., a subsidiary of San Miguel Corp.

‘The Pope with a lower- case p’

Published by Ellen on February 13, 2013

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful as he leads the weekly audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican — A leader who is not in control of the institution he heads.Thanks to Der Spiegel.

Pope Benedict XVI may not have gained admirers for his conservatism but his decision to resign from the Papacy, a position for life, shows humility, even nobility.

His resignation letter mentioned of him having repeatedly examined his conscience before making the decision.

“After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” he said.

If only our aging politicians would have even a fraction of that conscience and cease imposing themselves on the people!

Made for TV campaign rallies

Published by Ellen on February 10, 2013

Benigno Aquino III in Mindoro — Aquino campaigning in Mindoro 2010

Election campaign is non-stop, all-season in the Philippines. But officially, for the May election, it starts tomorrow, Feb. 12.

For the opening salvo, the administration’s Team PNoy will have its proclamation rally at the Plaza Miranda while the United Nationalist Alliance will have theirs in Cebu.

Although campaign rallies have lessened their importance as a vote- getting vehicle with the dominance of television and radio as sources of information on elections, barrio folks still look forward to them more as an entertainment show.

Campaign rallies usually feature entertainers. A rally of candidates for national positions (senators in this mid-term election) usually have movie and TV stars to attract a crowd. The masses enjoy free shows. It’s a balm to their weary body after a whole day of toil in the rice fields.

On the part of campaign organizers, campaign rallies are more of photo opportunities for them to show a big crowd on national TV hoping to create a bandwagon.