Malaya – Page 73 – ellen tordesillas

The ghost of Hello Garci is back

Published by Ellen on June 19, 2007

The plan of the three Cavaliers in the new Senate – Senators Rodolfo Biazon, Panfilo Lacson and Antonio Trillanes IV, to re-open the investigation of the “Hello Garci” scandal must be giving some officials sleepless nights.

This investigation would render irrelevant the Mayuga report which Malacañang and the military leadership had tried so much to keep from the public. Retired Admiral Mateo Mayuga (now defense undersecretary) has been quoted to have said that he will bring the secrets of his report, which I presume would be the involvement of ranking military officials in the cheating for Gloria Arroyo in the 2004 elections, to his grave.

Well, he can bring his whole report to his grave, the people will have a way of uncovering the truth.

What will it be for Erap?

Published by Ellen on June 17, 2007

During the tiresome six-hour oral summation by both the prosecution and defense panels in the historic plunder trial of former President Estrada, the one who elicited a most telling reaction was Prosecutor Raymundo Julio Olaguer.

Olaguer opened his summation in the perjury case against Estrada with the famous quote, “Honesty is the best policy.” There was a hushed reaction from the audience. I saw raised eyebrows.

He went on to narrate once again the difference between the 1998 Statement of Assets and Liabilities of Estrada and the bank accounts that held hundreds of millions discovered by the prosecution.

Who is afraid of Cavaliers?

Published by Ellen on June 12, 2007

I’m not a bit worried about the plan of Senators Rodolfo Biazon, Panfilo Lacson, Gregorio Honasan and Antonio Trillanes IV to form an informal Cavaliers Club in the Senate.

Cavalier is a term used for an alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy.

For the first time in the history of the Philippine Senate, out of the 23 senators (Alfredo Lim’s seat is vacant after his election as Manila mayor), four are PMA graduates with Trillanes, who is still awaiting proclamation, as the latest addition.

Trillanes keeps the fire burning

Published by Ellen on June 5, 2007

Senator-to-be Antonio Trillanes IV of the Genuine Opposition does not disappoint those who trace the mess that this country is in to the illegitimacy of the Arroyo presidency.

Foremost, he never refers to Arroyo as “president”. Just plain Gloria Arroyo.

In his interview last Monday with ABS-CBN’s Ces Drilon, the first after he was granted post-election media access, he said he would work for the impeachment of Gloria Arroyo.

Dangerous times

Published by Ellen on May 31, 2007

It seems some people are losing their sense of humor these days.

Yesterday, while having a meeting, lawyer Harry Roque got a call from an unidentified male using cell phone number 0906-2053-307 telling him that they didn’t like the pamaypay incident at the Comelec canvassing at the PICC last Wednesday.

Harry immediately put the call on speakerphone for his companion to also hear. The caller told Harry that the pamaypay incident was pambabastos to former Comelec Chairman Virgilio Garcillano who was caught in a telephone conversation with a number of personalities including Gloria Arroyo discussing the rigging of the 2004 election results in favor of Arroyo.

Look of the Year

Published by Ellen on May 29, 2007

Click here for DZMM interview with Sarmiento.

Inquirer update: I will not resign as commissioner – Sarmiento

The “Look of the Year” award should go to Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento when he was confronted by ABS-CBN News Channel correspondent Ricky Carandang with the video he got of election returns being transported to Maria Cristina Hotel in Iligan City last Monday.

That “look” was captured vividly on TV and seen here and abroad.

It was nakakahiya. A Comelec official caught covering up for something that his people were trying to hide.

New glossary

Published by Ellen on May 29, 2007

A sense of humor is the Filipino’s best coping mechanism. And that’s sharpened in times of crisis.

Lawyer Edwin Lacierda sent us the euphemisms and terms he learned during the 2007 elections which he didn’t learn in law school:

1. Clerical error. Getting caught cheating and explaining it away;

Close encounter with MJ

Published by Ellen on May 27, 2007

The public drama involving businessman Mark Jimenez and wife Carol brings me back to my interview with the controversial former adviser of President Estrada in 1999 when I did an article about him for I-Magazine of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

It was a weird interview, one that I can say was the most unforgettable in my many years in journalism.

The interview was arranged by his sister. She instructed me to just “tell the butler” about the arranged interview once I got to No. 6 Intia St. in South Forbes (Imelda Marcos used to stay there in 1992).

Abalos must go

Published by Ellen on May 24, 2007

There is no way that the degradation of the Commission on Election can be arrested with Benjamin Abalos as its head. Abalos must go.

There is no way that the people’s trust in the electoral body can be restored with Abalos as chairman. Abalos must go.

The Comelec was established as the guardian of the ballot. What every Filipino writes on his ballot is his exercise of his right to vote, which gives life to the democratic principle that sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.

Kontra-Daya slams Comelec, Arroyo

Published by Ellen on May 22, 2007

THE presence of several watchdogs in this year’s elections is an offshoot of the fraudulent 2004 elections.

It is a reflection of the Filipino people’s belief in elections as a means of effective and democratic change in the country’s leadership.

In its post-election report, Kontra- Daya one of the non-government watchdogs this election, says the Commission on Elections and Gloria Arroyo are both liable for the questionable reports of the May 14 elections.

Category: Malaya