Category: General

The following article by Raissa Robles is in today’s issue of the Hongkong-based South China Morning Post.

Dozens of Philippines journalists are playing first gentleman Mike Arroyo at his own game, filing a class-action lawsuit against the president’s litigious husband.

University of the Philippines law professor Harry Roque, who prepared the petition, said all but one of the 43 journalists being sued for libel by Mr Arroyo had agreed to sign up to the lawsuit.

The suit claims Mr Arroyo breached their rights under the civil code, and will seek cash damages.

This article by Raissa Robles, is in today’s (Saturday, November 18, 2006 ) issue of Hongkong-based South China Morning Post.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo insists her government is “committed to freedom of media as the bailiwick of Philippine democracy”.

But her claims have failed to convince critics, one of whom received a death threat the day before Mrs Arroyo replied to concerns raised by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce.

On Wednesday her government was also condemned for its “abject failure” to investigate extra-judicial killings and prosecute those involved, in a report prepared by the Hong Kong Mission for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines.

Continue readingArroyo under new media challenge

Former Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, wanted for charges of rebellion against Gloria Arroyo, was captured early this morning (about 2:45 a.m.) at Green Meadows in Quezon City.

Honasan sustained a deep cut in his right foot and a sprain in his left foot after he tried to elude arrest by jumping off from the second floor of the townhouse reportedly owned by a certain Ingrid Ramos in Green Meadows.

Initially detained at the CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, he was later transferred to the PNP General Hospital where he was treated.

Gloria Arroyo practically told the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFC) yesterday that they are listening too much to her critics.

In answer to the letter of executives of seven major US retail giants that source garments from the Philippines expressing concern on the killings of militat labor leaders and critics, Arroyo said through her spokesman Ignacio Bunye,”We are fully aware that there is a continuing, insidious propaganda campaign to undermine public trust in the government.”

“We condemn these killings,” Arroyo said as she admitted that “They are a smear to Philippine democracy and the rule of law.

Here’s the letter that Arroyo was reacting to:

Outside the DOJ:

Six policemen yesterday came to the Malacañang Press Working Area to arrest Mia Gonzales, Malacañang reporter of Business Mirror and contributing reporter of Newsbreak.

The arrest was in connection with the libel suit against Gonzales filed by Mike Arroyo for an article Mia wrote in Newsbreak in June 2004 which mentioned the perception that Mike Arroyo is crooked and influences official decisions as problems facing Gloria Arroyo in her new term as president.

The strange thing about the warrant of arrest was, the respondents never received a resolution on the case. Newsbreak editor-in-chief Maritess Vitug said, “We deplore the shortcut of the judicial process.”

Gonzales did not report for work yesterday. Vitug said Gonzales will post bail tomorrow.

Following is Philippine Daily Inquirer online report:

I just opened my email and I got this message from a Daniel Perez with e-mail address: danie11aperez80@yahoo.com Mr. Perez’ message: What kind of death…

This is lawyer Harry Roque’s report on the trial of former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante:

As expected, Joc-Joc Bolante filled the Chicago Immigration Courtroom with falsehood and lies. While he initially reiterated matters which he mentioned in his affidavit when he was apprehended in LA, such as, that he had a valid US visa and that he did not get any of the two letters sent to him by the US emvbassy in Manila about his visa revocation; he nonetheless submitted that he was a victim of political persecution on the part of the Philipine Senate.

Continue readingJoc-joc Bolante lies and lies

What do you expect from the Malacañang-controlled House of Representatives? The Daily Tribune’s report on the harrassment of Mike Arroyo of Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano:

By Dona Policar

Where before, in at least two impeachment bids against President Arroyo, administration congressmen quickly dismissed these complaints on technicalities and saying they were lacking in form and substance, the presidential allies in the House of Representatives yesterday found the complaint of First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, his congressman-brother, Ignacio and two sons, Rep. Juan Miguel and Diosdado, who is also gunning for a congres-sional seat, meeting the requirements of form and substance, paving the way for the investigation against Deputy Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano that would lead to his expulsion from the House.

Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros) yesterday lost the first round of the many battles raised against him by the very influential figure from Malacañang, the presidential spouse, as the allies of Mr. Arroyo went all out to lay the groundwork for their colleagues’ expulsion, with their instant cognizant of the complaint filed by the First Gentleman against Cayetano before the House ethics committee yesterday.