Malaya – Page 54 – ellen tordesillas

Cha-Cha train cranking up

Published by Ellen on November 20, 2008

Malaya report:

A separate resolution on the mode for Charter Change being circulated by Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo (Lakas, Pampanga) was also signed by 150 congressmen, a source from the majority bloc said.

The resolution, which calls for the convening of a Constituent Assembly (Con-ass), is authored by Kampi president and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, the source said.

Inquirer: Mikey leads cha-cha bid

This is what the five bishops warned about just three weeks ago: Gloria Arroyo will ram Charter Change down the people’s throats.

The report from the House of Representatives yesterday said House resolution 737 amending the economic provision of the Constitution has been signed by 163 congressmen. House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who authored the resolution, needs only 15 more signatures to meet the required 175 signatures, representing three-fourth of the House of Representatives to bring the resolution to the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, then to the plenary..

The Cha-Cha train is cranking up and is expected to leave the station in the coming days to a destination beyond 2010.

The morning after:Senate coup revisited

Published by Ellen on November 19, 2008

by Lito Banayo
Malaya

Speculations and spins always fly whenever something takes everyone by surprise. Thus did the Senate “coup” which replaced Manuel Villar as its president with 84-year old Juan Ponce Enrile come to most everyone.

One paper bannered an Erap hand in the coup, banking only on the supposed membership of Enrile in the latter’s party, and the perceived “closeness” of the two, which isn’t exactly true. They are friends, but they are not that close. Even when only the two of them survived the Cory juggernaut in the first elections under the 1987 Constitution that re-installed a two-chamber Congress, they were not that close. Estrada, who tries to be friendly with everybody, and forgives anyone and everyone at the drop of a tear, fake or feigned, knew the political value of the wise Ponce Enrile, so that even if the latter did not support his presidential run in 1998, he reached out. He needed the cooperation of the Senate, and so politically, he bedded even with other unlikely political “friends” as Miriam Defensor Santiago. That paper cited an “administration senator” as its source, but the guy, who can easily be identified by any political observer, was also just speculating.

An exciting US election

Published by Ellen on November 2, 2008

David Plotke, a recent visitor courtesy of the US Embassy, said he didn’t rule out that George W. Bush’s secretarry of state Condoleeza Rice would vote for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Plotke, professor of political science and chairman of the Historical Studies Department of the New School in New York, said this before Rice’s predecessor, Colin Powell endorsed Obama.

Powell’s endorsement was a huge boost to Obama’s candidacy not only because the former was a Republican but as former chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff and secretary of state, he has helped neutralized the propaganda of Republican candidate John McCain’s camp that Obama is naïve in matters of security and foreign affairs.

Seditious

Published by Ellen on October 30, 2008

The Webster dictionary defines “seditious” as “tending to cause discontent among the people; fostering the spirit of rebellion.”

I think Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez was barking up the wrong tree when he said that the pronouncements of Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines ; Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz;Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas; Masbate Bishop Joel Baylon, and Legazpi Bishop Emeritus Jose Sorra at a press conference last Tuesday were “seditious.”

I checked again what the five bishops said. Their statements were mostly on graft and corruption which they said were the “biggest culprit and major cause of the our nation’s poverty and hunger.”

Bishops call for GMA’s ouster

Published by Ellen on October 28, 2008

That was one great statement that the Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, released yesterday. He practically called for the ouster of Gloria Arroyo.

Not in 2010 but now.

In a statement he read flanked by four other progressive-thinking bishops namely, Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz, Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas, Masbate Bishop Joel Baylon, and Legazpi Bishop Emeritus Jose Sorra, Lagdameo said: “The time to start radical reforms is now. The time for moral regeneration is now. The time to conquer complacency, cynicism and apathy and to prove that we matured from our political disappointments is now. The time to prepare a new government is now. ”

The return of Joc-joc

Published by Ellen on October 19, 2008

Last Friday. I got this text from a friend: “NAIA manager Al Cusi, Dureza and Atty. Tony Zulueta here now in Manila Pen bar brainstorming on how to shield Jocko when he arrives. Pabalik na Jocjoc. Overheard sila by a friend. Media should be alerted.”

Dureza, of course, refers to Press Secretary Jesus Dureza and Zulueta is the lawyer of former Agriculture Secretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante.

The next day, I got another text from the same friend: “From embassy source:Jocjoc next week to be escorted by US Marshall. Jocjoc wife already here. Maybe media should start making noise to pre-empt government attempt to silence him.”

PNP learns from Gen. Carlos Garcia

Published by Ellen on October 16, 2008

While the world is in financial crisis and Filipinos are tightening their belts some more, the top brasses of the Philippine National Police are living it high.

News report say two police generals, Police General Eliseo de la Paz, director for comptrollership until Oct. 9 and PNP Region 9 chief Director Jaime Caringal, together with their wives are being held in Moscow pending completion of the probe on the 120,000 euros (roughly P6.9 million), found with Mr. Maria Fe de la Paz while they were exiting the Russian capital last Saturday.

The amount of 120 euros exceeds the allowable amount of $10,000 (roughly 7,365 euros) for each airline passenger.

A healthy lifestyle keeps cancer away

Published by Ellen on October 14, 2008

The place to go to this weekend is the Pink Kitchen in Rockwell Tent in Makati.

Pink Kitchen is a fund-raising event of ICanServe Foundation, an advocacy group of mostly breast cancer survivors that provides hope and help to those afflicted with cancer.

Pink Kitchen gathers the country’s culinary experts who will showcase their yummy treats, in the words of Bettina Osmeña, one of the organizers, for very reasonable prices. In the evening, entertainment will be provided by Bituin Escalante, Leah Navarro, Peppermint Jam, cellist Renato Lucas and the University of Asia and the Pacific Chorale.

Why try impeachment again?

Published by Ellen on October 12, 2008

Click here for Inquirer story on filing of impeachment complaint.

When it was announced last Friday that concerned citizens will try once again , for the fourth time, to file an impeachment complaint against Gloria Arroyo, the immediate reactions I heard were, “ “Why try again? It won’t prosper anyway.”

My answer is, Gloria Arroyo should be impeached because she has committed impeachable crimes. That’s the plain and simple reason.

What are those impeachable crimes that Arroyo committed? Culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, just to name a few.

Putting a gun to media’s head

Published by Ellen on October 7, 2008

I texted Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. of my concern about his right of reply bill that was passed by the Senate and is awaiting the House version for consolidation before it is sent to Malacañang for signing into law.

Pimentel is one of authors of the Senate Bill SB 2150 together with Senators Francis Escudero and Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., “An Act granting the Right of Reply and providing penalties for violation thereof.” The House version (HB3306) is authored by Representatives Monico Puentebella (Bacolod city), Juan Edgardo Angara (Aurora), Bienvenido Abante, Jr (Manila ,6th ), Orlando Fua (Siquijor), Jeci Lapus (Tarlac, 3rd), William Irwin Tieng (Buhay), Eduardo Zialcita, 1st Parañaque).

Pimentel, who has fought hard to regain the Filipino people’s freedom suppressed by the Marcos dictatorship, replied: “I guess any one who hasn’t read its contents and intent would be. Briefly, it’s a companion measure to decriminalize libel. Basic intention is to widen, not to limit, freedom of speech. Right to reply will lessen violence against journalists. It has a sunset clause when journalist organizations can police their own ranks.”

Category: Malaya