Malaya – Page 62 – ellen tordesillas

Nolle prosequi

Published by Ellen on April 6, 2008

I took off last Thursday for a much-needed vacation so I missed the court martial hearing of the 28 officers accused of mutiny and conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman for allegedly planning to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006 after her thwarting the will of the people was exposed by the Hello Garci tapes.

But thanks to a friend who was in the hearing. She wrote me the following narrative of what happened last Thursday. I’m sharing this with you to better understand the latest development on the case of these patriot-officers who continue to hold on to their principles despite emotional, economic and physical hardships.

Prosecution agrees to review charges vs Miranda et al

Published by Ellen on April 5, 2008

From Malaya:

by Victor Reyes

The prosecution on Thursday agreed to review the charges against 28 Marine and Army officers who are facing trial for the alleged attempt to grab power in February 2006 based on the “special plea” of former Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, alleged plot leader.

At Miranda’s arraignment yesterday, military defense counsel Lt. Col. Basilio Pooten moved for the withdrawal of the charges (noli proseque), citing lack of evidence against the accused, after Miranda was asked for his special plea.

Dire warnings

Published by Ellen on April 1, 2008

Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan said if the Supreme Court’s ruling on Romulo Neri’s taking refuge under the cloak of executive privilege to hide the involvement of Gloria Arroyo in a scandalously overpriced telecommunications deal, becomes final and executory, “the Blue Ribbon committee will henceforth be powerless to conduct its inquiries on alleged wrongdoing involving high ranking government officials. All the executive secretary has to do is send a similar letter he sent in the Neri case by giving a general reason for invoking the privilege, then we in the Senate can no longer ask questions on the issue.”

What if you win the lotto jackpot?

Published by Ellen on March 31, 2008

Update: The lotto jackpot has been won by someone from Luzon. Not me nor any of those interviewed here. But it was worth dreaming, even for a brief moment.

As I was writing this piece, the P228 million jackpot prize for 6/49 SuperLotto, the biggest in Philippine lotto history, was still up for grabs.

I asked friends what they would do with the money if they won. Their answers revealed their secret dreams. It’s fun and touching.

UNCLOS’ regime of islands

Published by Ellen on March 25, 2008

In the beginning, the bills delineating the country’s archipelagic baselines, filed in the House of Representatives by Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco and in the Senate by detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV were the same.

Both bills included the Scarborough Shoal in the vicinity of Zambales as part of the baseline and the Kalayaan Island Group in the Spratlys as “regime of islands.” While Cuenco’s bill has evolved into something else and has passed second reading, Trillanes’ bill has remained unacted on.

Murder in the making

Published by Ellen on March 23, 2008

AFP Hermogenes Esperon has failed to break the spirit of the 28 officers he has charged with various offenses in connection with the military unrest in February 2006 following the leak of the “Hello Garci” tapes the illegitimacy of the Arroyo presidency.

Now, he is trying to kill them by depriving them of adequate air.

Dawn of Tuesday last week, Medal of valor awardee, Col. Ariel Querubin, complained of shortness of breath and chest pains. It was only after four hours, at about 7 a.m., that he was brought to the Camp Aguinaldo hospital, where the X-ray machine was out of order and no medicine available. Querubin had to send his security escort out to buy his medicine. He was later transferred to V. Luna Medical Hospital where he was confined at the Intensive care Unit. He will be brought to the Philippine Heart Center today for angioplasty.

Which group do you belong?

Published by Ellen on March 18, 2008

Two weeks ago, I interviewed Jun Lozada at the La Salle Greenhills, his and his family’s home for over a month now since he survived the kidnap try by Gloria Arroyo’s minions at the airport.

I’m sharing with you excerpts of that interview. They make good reflections this Lenten season:

Q: You downplay people’s “hero worship” of you. Are you scared?

Halve rice portions, restaurants asked

Published by Ellen on March 17, 2008

Malacañang denies there’s an impending rice shortage but tells restaurant to serve less rice.

Arroyo: Prepare for high prices of rice

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap yesterday asked fast-food outlets to offer half portions of rice to discourage wastage as government scrambles to boost rice supplies.

“We would like to exercise all efforts at ensuring the Philippines rice stocks continue to be maintained at a manageable level to ensure that the food security of the country will be maintained,” he said.

An injustice that must be rectified

Published by Ellen on March 16, 2008

On Sept. 25, 2006, 1Lt. Artemio Raymundo Jr., was riding the LRT and he saw someone distributing DVDs of “Ang Mabuhay para sa Masa” and “At All Costs”. Since it was for free, he got six copies and upon arriving at the Marine barracks in Fort Bonifacio, he shared the extra copies with his fellow junior officers.

The two CDs are documentaries. “Ang Mabuhay para sa Masa” is a biopic of former President Estrada while “At All Costs” is about the rigging by Gloria Arroyo of the 2004 elections.

The CA’s collective gall

Published by Ellen on March 13, 2008

It was about time someone exposed the wheeling and dealing at the Commission on Appointments.

Sen. Jamby Madrigal, by invoking Section 20 of the Senate rules last Wednesday, frustrated the plan of Malacañang to railroad the promotion of 24 military officers despite blatant violations of the law in their appointments.

I have attended three sessions of the CA because I’m closely watching the confirmation of the promotion of John Martir to brigadier general and it’s appalling to observe the “collective gall”, in the words of RC Constantino, of many of the administration allies, especially the CA chair, Rep. Roque Albano III.

Category: Malaya