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Category: Cha-Cha

Madyik na balota na naman sa 2010

Kaduda-duda daw ang appointment ni retired General Tirso Danga bilang hepe ng National Printing , sabi ni Sen. Mar Roxas.

Si Danga kasi ang hepe ng ISAFP (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines) nang mangyari ang pag-tape ng usapan ni Gloria Arroyo at Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano. Ngunit nang mag-imbistigas ang Senado, hindi sumipot si Danga.

“Hindi pa nga nasasagot ni Admiral Danga ang mga tanong sa kanyang naging papel sa kaso ng Hello Garci ay eto at siya pa ang ilalagay sa ahensyang gagawa ng mga balota para sa eleksyon. Talagang garapalan na ang ginagawa ng Malacañang,” sabi ni Mar.

A cheerful, explosive affair

Update: Deedee Siytangco, spokesperson of former President Aquino said Cory’s apology to Erap was said in jest.

Erap’s reaction:

1. On the Statement that Cory Apology A Joke : If it was a joke, there was wisdom and truth in that joke

Even if it was said in jest, as some persons insist, the fact that it was said at all portrays the growing sentiment of regret about Edsa Dos and the realization that it was a mistake. In Mrs. Aquino’s own words, “I am one of those who feels guilty for the 2001 uprising.” Even if it is to be interpreted that former President Cory Aquino stated it lightly, it does not discount the fact that it was stated publicly and with sincerity. So we will take it for what it was worth: an admission by former President Aquino of regret over Edsa Dos and a gesture of reconciliation to former President Estrada for the bad judgment made at the time.

The statement was something that former President Estrada did not expect, much less ask for. Everyone in the audience was surprised by the line. And Mrs. Aquino’s statement to Congressman de Venecia, “Matagal ka na naming hinihintay na sumali sa amin” (we have long been waiting for you to join us) reflects the opposition and deep resentment of former President Aquino against the current administration.

2. On Richard Gordon Statement calling Mrs. Aquino “Sorry Aquino”

Mrs. Aquino is an internationally acknowledged icon of democracy and arguably the most revered citizen of the Philippines today because of her principled reputation. He need not share her sentiments but he should at the very least regard them – and her – with respect.

We can use the good senator’s own wisdom when he said, “When we are leaders, we must be called upon to teach our people.” As one of the most respected leaders of this country, Mrs. Aquino yesterday displayed and taught us humility, something a lot of politicians today need more of. She must be applauded for having displayed this, even if only in the light atmosphere of a book launch.

I have attended numerous gatherings hosted by former House Speaker Jose de Venecia and wife, Gina and I can say that last Monday’s launching of JDV’s book, “Global Filipino” was the most enjoyable.

The atmosphere was cheerful. Maybe it has something to do with Christmas. Definitely, it didn’t look like a gathering of those who are not in power.

Arroyo’s praetorian guards

The military’s seniority and merit systems are again being strained to protect the illegitimate presidency of Gloria Arroyo.

One of the military officials whose promotion is awaiting confirmation by the Commission on Appointments is Brig. Gen. John Martir.

Martir is one extremely lucky guy. Despite a pending case of malversation of funds and falsification of documents before the Ombudsman, the Board of Generals recommended him for promotion to two-star rank (major general). This is the Martir’ second promotion in six months. Last June he was confirmed as brigadier general despite his having gone on AWOL (absent without leave) for more than one year ( 477) days during the period July 1998 to January 2000.

Hamon sa sambayanan

Nakakaloka itong si Congresswoman Juana Change.

Nag gate-crash si Congresswoman Juana Change (ginagampanan ng artistang si May Paner) sa anti cha-cha rally noong Biernes at nilait-lait ang mga rallyista. Inulit niya ang sinabi ni House Speaker Prospero Nograles na wala silang paki-alam sa mga rally rally dahil ang desisyon tungkol sa charter change ay sa kamay nila nakasalalay, hindi sa mga mamayan na nagra-rally.

Tamang-tama yun para pumanting ang tenga ng mga nagra-rally. Kaya kahit medyo mahinahon ang simula (siyempre naman inter-faith rally kaya puro dasal ang simula) uminit na rin.

Sinundan ni Harry Roque ng Concerned Citizens Movement na simple lang ang malakas na mensahe: “Ayaw namin ng Cha-Cha, Lalo na kay Gloria.”

‘Time to grip hands and act’

Related articles:

All 23 senators, including incarcerated Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, signed resolution opposing charter change without concurrence of the Senate being pushed by allies of Gloria Arroyo in the House of Representatives.
Click here for full report.

Arroyo spokesperson: Let’s talk

In today’s anti- Gloria Arroyo, anti- charter change rally, two of the messages to be read are that of detained officers, Brig. Gen. Danny Lim of the Army Scout Rangers and Marine Col.Ariel Querubin.

Lim and Querubin, together with 26 other officials including Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, have been in detention for almost three years. They have been charged with mutiny for allegedly planning to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo following the “Hello Garci” expose that showed Arroyo masterminding the tampering of election results in her favor with the help of some military officials.

Lim’s message was released last Nov. 29 to mark the second anniversary of Manila Pen incident where he, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and other Magdalo officers made a stand against the unabated corruption in the Arroyo government.

Simula ng katapusan

Ang rally bukas ay para ipa-alam kay Gloria Arroyo at sa kanyang mga alagad na ayaw ng taumbayan na amyendahan ang Constitution para lamang panatili sila sa kapangyarihan lampas ng kanilang termino sa 2010.

Simula lang ito. Habang pinagpipilitan nila ang pambabastos ng bayan, titindi pa ang kilos protesta.

Nangyari itong rally dahil pagkatapos ng pang-apat na impeachment na ibinasura ng kanyang mga alagad sa House of Representatives, nang bumalik dito si dating Agriculture Secretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante na panay naman pagtatakip kay Gloria Arroyo ang ginawa, pagkatapos ng napakaraming pambabastos ng batas, marami ang nagtatanong, hanggang kailan pa ba ito?

‘Bring it on’


Although the 28 officers in detention in connection with the alleged plan to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006 were hoping that the junior officers would be home for Christmas, none of them were really surprised when the court martial decided to deny the motion of their lawyers to dismiss the mutiny case against them.

After two years of hearing “Denied, denied”, what’s another “denied”? They are in fact looking forward to the start of the trial on Dec. 16, with trial dates every Friday.

Vicente Verdadero, counsel for Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and 14 other Scout Ranger and Special Forces officers, challenged the court to “Bring it on.”

‘Unhappy is the land that needs a hero’

I’d like Gloria Arroyo and her cabal in the House of Representatives to push charter change to the end.

So what if 64 per cent of Filipinos oppose charter change that would result in Gloria Arroyo staying in power forever? (Only 15 percent agree and 21 per cent are undecided, according to a September-October 2008 survey by the Social Weather Station)

What can those 64 percent, that roughly translates to almost 60 million Filipinos, do? Majority of Filipinos also believe that Gloria Arroyo cheated in the 2004 elections but did they do anything to punish the person who masterminded the thwarting of their will?