Category: Malaya

Who is the better fictionist?

Published by Ellen on February 16, 2012

Just when we were getting excited by another set of accounts by Chief Justice Renato Corona with the Philippine Savings Bank, Katipunan branch, totaling some P36 million which were withdrawn on Dec. 12, 2012, the day the House of Representatives approved the impeachment of the Chief Justice, bank manager Annabel Tiongson, dropped another information that brought us back to the fascinating tale of the “small lady” that has regaled us the past days.

Nineteen days of impeachment trial have revealed that Corona has not been truthful in the declaration of his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth.

Corona stated in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for 2010 that he had only P3.5 million in cash and investments. Yet his five peso accounts at the Philippine Savings Bank showed he had P19,728,555.39 while his checking account at the Bank of the Philippines Island, Ayala branch contained P12,024,000.67 or a total of about P32 million as of Dec. 31, 2010.

Why is Malacañang vouching for authenticity of ‘fake’ bank document?

Published by Ellen on February 14, 2012

Enrile with fake PSB doc — Enrile showing prosecution's 'fake' document

Why is Malacañang vouching for the authenticity of the documents supposedly on the bank accounts of Chief Justice Renato Corona at the Philippine Savings Bank submitted by the prosecution to the impeachment court?

That document, which PSB Katipunan branch manager Annabel Tiongson, said was fake became the basis of the subpoena issued by the impeachment court for the information on Corona’s bank accounts.

An ABS-CBN report quoted Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda as saying, “Ano ba ang fake? Fake ang account number e mayroong account number doon sa PSBank eh. Kung signature card, pirmado naman po ni Chief Justice Corona ‘yun. So I suppose they’re protecting their bank because there’s a violation of the Bank Secrecy Law so I would assume that the bank will do everything to protect itself from liability from the Bank Secrecy Law. But what has been proven is that it is not fake insofar as the account numbers, insofar as the figures are there.”

Grace Lee wants PNoy to stop smoking

Published by Ellen on February 12, 2012

Grace Lee with Pnoy — The meeting that ignited the 'sparks'

Anti-smoking advocates have a new ally and could yet be the most effective in the crusade to stop the habit that kills some 80,000 Filipinos every year.

In her radio program, “Good Times in the Morning”, with Mo Twister last Wednesday, the 29-year old Korean TV and radio host who has admitted dating 52-year old President Benigno Aquino III, said, “I can always convince the guy to quit smoking.”

Lee should have a good chance to succeed in convincing Pnoy to stop smoking because she said they always talk “animatedly for three to five hours. “

Lee’s self-imposed mission should warm the hearts of anti-smoking advocates in the country like Dr. Anthony Leachon, internist-cardiologist and consultant to the Department of Health on Non-communicable Disease and Dr. Cecilia Llave, gynecologist-oncologist, Initiative Coordinator of the national Cancer Institute.

Corona is finished

Published by Ellen on February 9, 2012

Corona emotional — Corona becomes emotional in front of supporters at the Supreme Court. Photo from ABS-CBN online.

As I was writing this piece, Supreme Court Spokesman Midas Marquez was having a press conference announcing the Temporary Restraining Order that the High Court issued against the Senate, seating as an impeachment court, to subpoena information on the foreign dollar account of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The vote was 8-5-1. Corona inhibited.

As to the petition of Corona to stop the his impeachment trial, no action was done because when it was raffled Wednesday, it went to Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, who inhibited because his son is a member of the House of Representatives from where the Corona impeachment emanated.

Whatever would be the final decision on the Chief Justice’s dollar account or accounts, Corona is finished.

A must in the fight vs cancer: leaders should set example of healthy lifestyle

Published by Ellen on February 5, 2012

From the power point presentation of Dr. Leachon

All the speakers in last Friday’s symposium on “A Global Call to Action: Public-Private Partnership for Cancer Care and Control” stressed three must- do: No smoking, eating healthy and balanced diet, and regular exercise.

The event was to mark World Cancer Day.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona laid out the burden of cancer in the Philippines, which kills 7.3 million people worldwide annually.

He said it is estimated that one in five Filipinos will be afflicted with cancer during their lifetime. “With the population approaching 100 million, this translates to 20 million of our countrymen that will require cancer care,” he said.

Should we let it be?

Published by Ellen on January 10, 2012

By Joel Butuyan
Roque & Butuyan Law Offices

I finally had time to sit down and write the percolating thoughts in my mind as I read and watch the impeachment drama. This debate has brought our nation at a crossroads. Which of the two roads should our nation take? The road to impeachment or the road where every person you meet is karaoke-singing the song “Let It Be.” The decision and direction our nation takes hold huge potentials in transforming our society for better or for worse.

Some of our fellow Justices in the 90 million-member Sovereign Court of Public Opinion raise the alarm that the impeachment of the Chief Justice will destroy the essence of the Supreme Court as the sole institution that can decide constitutional issues. This is pointed out because the impeachment complaint accuses the Chief Justice of liability on constitutional issues that were decided by the Supreme Court as a collegial body.

Bottomline for Trillanes in Corona impeachment

Published by Ellen on January 8, 2012

Trillanes at hearing — Bottomline is national interest

Expect Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV to call a spade a spade.

In his speech at a forum held at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, Diliman last week, Trillanes said, “… the over-arching policy issue in this whole impeachment episode is, whether the conviction or acquittal of Chief Justice Renato Corona would be good for our country.”

Unlike other senators who give hypocritical statements that they will decide solely on evidence presented, Trillanes said, “ My verdict should not be based solely on evidence as it (the impeachment trial)now becomes a matter of public policy.”

But it doesn’t mean, he said, that he will ignore the evidence that will be presented by the prosecution.

Anything but the evidence

Published by Ellen on January 5, 2012

gettin ready — Getting ready. Photo by Jonas Sulit of Malaya

I think President Aquino will have the numbers to convict Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona regardless of whether the prosecution will be able to support the charges they enumerated in the impeachment complaint.

In a TV interview, Sen. Francis Escudero said it is the presentation of witnesses and evidence, not public opinion, which should decide the outcome of the impeachment trial of Corona.

Even Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who had earlier asked Corona to inhibit on cases involving Gloria Arroyo, also said that the quality evidence will be the determining factor in his decision.

The ‘thief in the night’ gets caught

Published by Ellen on December 29, 2011

Conchita carpio morales2 — Ombudsman Carpio-Morales

Finally, Gloria Arroyo will be made accountable for the anomalous NBN/ZTE deal.

gloria arroyo with neckbrace — GMA, the accused

The Ombudsman yesterday charged Gloria Arroyo, her husband Mike Arroyo, and two other officials of her government – former Commission on Elections Benjamin Abalos and former Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (R.A. 3019).
Arroyo was also accused of violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (R.A 6713).

Aquino to strengthen legal team

Published by Ellen on December 27, 2011

Aquino in ANC presents dec 2011 — Aquino in ANC interview

It’s good that President Aquino finally saw the need to make changes in his legal team.

With a stronger legal team, he need not resort to making us believe it is good governance to bend the law to make Gloria Arroyo accountable for the crimes she committed against the Filipino people.

In an interview with ANC’s Lynda Jumilla, Aquino said his legal team is “being improved.”

No names were mentioned but it’s being talked about for some time that many of the lawyers in Aquino’s official family including Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is not happy with Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz.

Those reportedly being considered for the SolGen position include Securities and Exchange Commission Chairperson Teresita Herbosa; Professor Raul Pangalangan, former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law; and Chief negotiator with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Marvic Leonen, also former dean of the UP College of Law.