Category: General

“2007 will be like 2006. In my view, we will muddle through. Be happy if you don’t need government, like consumer-based industries. If you need government for your business in 2007, take an extended leave.” -Henry Schumacher, executive vice-president of the European Chamber of Commerce

Foreign and local businessmen in the Philippines on Friday expressed grave concern over alleged electoral fraud and policy reversals under President Arroyo.

These factors risked undermining recent successes in fixing the economic and fiscal front, they said in a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

He says 21,500 new troops will help quell violence, hasten homecoming

WASHINGTON (NBC News)- Defying public opinion polls and newly empowered Democratic lawmakers, President Bush told Americans Wednesday that he is dispatching 21,500 additional U.S. troops to Iraq. And in a rare admission, he said he made a mistake by not deploying more forces sooner.

“The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people, and it is unacceptable to me,” Bush said in a televised address from the White House. “Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me.”

I am intrigued by the motive of Malacañang for allowing Nani Perez to be charged for the $2 million he received from mark Jimenez. I’ll write about that later. Here’s Malaya’s update on the $2 million man.

By JP Lopez

Malacañang will apparently turn former Justice Secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez into a “sacrificial lamb” to show the Arroyo administration is running after corrupt officials, Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said yesterday.

“They want to create the impression that they are not tolerating corruption,” Pimentel said.

Continue readingNani seen as Palace sacrificial lamb

The graft and extortion charges to be filed by the Ombudsman against former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez is based on the claim of former Rep. Mark Jimenez that he paid Perez $2 million to stop him (Perez) from harassing him to execute an affidavit against former President Estrada.

Jimenez made this claim in 2002 at the time when he was fighting his extradition case to the US. His story didn’t help him because he was sent back to the U.S. where he served his time in jail (two years and three months) for charges of tax evasion, conspiracy, fraud and illegal campaign contributions. He returned to Manila in December 2005.

That Jimenez gave Perez $2 million is proven by the money trail. But many doubt Jimenez’ version of the origin of the $2 million and give credence to rumors that “The $2 million was alleged to have come from a $14-million bribe for the approval of the contract for the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan hydroelectric plant won by Argentina’s Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona Sociedad Anonima (Impsa).”

This is what happens when everybody is programmed to bow to the emperor all the time:

By Nikko Dizon

MANILA–Which should be given priority on the runway? A Lear jet taking off with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on board or an incoming long haul Airbus 340 ferrying 231 passengers that is running low on fuel?

This was the question posed by an official of the Airline Operators Council (AOC) after a Gulf Air flight from Bahrain was reportedly denied landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) because Arroyo was using the runway for her flight to Davao City on Wednesday to stand as a wedding sponsor.

Let me tell you a learning experience I had last night:

Every now and then, Fe Zamora of the Inquirer and Gay Jarque, widow of the late Rene Jarque (a truly admirable officer), would get together for dinner. Last Friday,it was Fe who chose the place. She said Mikey’s Bar and Grill along Diosdado Macapagal Avenue.

Mikey is a common name and I didn’t attach it to one of Malacañang’s illegal occupants until I entered the restaurant and saw Mikey Arroyo holding court in one of the tables.

Lawyer Harry Roque today got several text messages and a phone call threatening him and his family harm unless he stops lawyering for “destabilizers”.

One message gave a prize of P5 million for his head and gave a number to contact. We called up the number and it turned out to be the Public Affairs of the Philippine Army.

The first message which came at about 1 p.m. said “Dura lex sed lex. Our law maybe harsh bt it’s still our law. Not all the time u are lucky, ur end is near and ur family.”

Faithful to the scenario written by Malacañang (see preceding post), the Court of Appeals today considered the issue on Daniel Smith’s detention at the Makati City jail “moot”.

Malaya’s updated report:
CA trashes Smith petition, but bows to Palace stand
Upholds judge on detention in Makati

By Evangeline de Vera

THE Court of Appeals yesterday dismissed the petition of convicted rapist Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith to be transferred to the custody of the United States, but the court deemed the matter mooted because Philippine officials have already turned Smith over to the US Embassy.

In mooting Smith’s petition, the CA Special 16th Division took cognizance of the “imperious” intervention of the Office of the Solicitor General on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

I wish to appeal for understanding from the people that this action will not affect the substantive issues at bar, nor impede justice and the rule of law.

The government had to take this action in order to forestall the further deterioration in our strategic relationship with the United States, which was being rapidly eroded by our non-compliance with the Visiting Forces Agreement.

Evalyn Ursua filed contempt charges against those involved in spiriting Daniel Smith out of Makati City Jail and bringing him to the US Embassy.

The U.S. couldn’t wait to reward Gloria Arroyo for putting American interests over that of her countrymen, they immediately announced that the Balikatan exercises in February will push through. Click here.

Malaya’s update on Smith custody: