Politics – Page 11 – ellen tordesillas

The November 29 movement

Published by Ellen on December 14, 2007

If Gloria Arroyo and her minions think they have crushed the passion for truth and justice of those who were at the Manila Peninsula on Nov. 29, they are very wrong.

The civilians arrested at the Manila Peninsula hotel at the end of the November 29 Makati standoff have formed a new “movement” after a court dismissed the rebellion charges filed against them.

Former University of the Philippines president Francisco Nemenzo told reporters at Camp Crame Thursday evening that they had named their new group the November 29 Movement or N29M.

Trillanes: “Tuloy ang laban!”

Published by Ellen on December 12, 2007

This is to clarify recent news reports and headlines pertaining to my PDAF Allocation and yesterday’s court apology.

It had been my campaign promise to waive my PDAF allocation and I remain committed to that. However, I was informed by my Senate staff that since I am entering in the middle of the Fiscal year of 2007, half of the P200M PDAF allocation per senator is already part of the budget and, therefore, cannot be waived anymore. Otherwise, if the said amount would not be programmed, it would be like giving GMA a P100M blank check. Hence, I decided to have my PDAF funds programmed to various public hospitals all over the country as well as for the construction of school buildings. This is not a crime!

However, what had been conveniently excluded in the reports is my letter to the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile dated 28 Nov 2007, where I requested that my PDAF allocation for infrastructure projects be removed from next year’s budget which is exactly my campaign commitment.

GMA found most corrupt president

Published by Ellen on December 11, 2007

Palace says media is to blame for survey results

by Regina Bengco

Almost one of two Filipinos believe that President is the “most corrupt (president) in the history of the Philippines,” a survey conducted from Oct. 20 to 31 by Pulse Asia showed.

The survey was done at the height of reports of cash payoffs to congressmen and local officials in Malacañang, the renewed calls for Arroyo’s resignation and the planned revival of impeachment moves against her, the Glorietta explosion, the continuing investigations on the broadband deal, the rift between Arroyo and Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., the grant of pardon to former President Joseph Estrada, the holding of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, and the rising prices of oil products.

A People on Standby

Published by Ellen on December 10, 2007

by Enteng Romano
Convenor, Black and White Movement

As soon as the Manila Pen siege was over, there was a flurry of pronouncements from just about every political group as well as personalities from both sides of the political divide. Invariably, the statements depicted Trillanes and Lim as misguided, military adventurists, rebels, criminals, or arrogant fools for repeating the same mistakes in Oakwood and in 2006. At best, some would say they sympathized with Trillanes’ and Lim’s cause, but did not agree with their methods.

But why did they have to wait until the standoff was over before they spoke their minds? Simple. They weren’t really sure about how the incident would turn out and they didn’t want to be caught with their feet in their mouths just in case Trillanes et al prevailed.

Shaken but not deterred

Published by Ellen on December 7, 2007

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has survived a series of scandals to hold onto her presidency

by Alan Robles
South China Morning Post

In 1997, the influential Catholic prelate, Jaime Cardinal Sin, belittled the ambition of then-senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to run for president. He asked her disparagingly: “What would you do when there is a coup d’etat? Cry?” The cardinal, who died two years ago, couldn’t have been more wrong about the diminutive leader’s personality.

Far from being a faint-hearted, delicate creature, Mrs Arroyo has proven to be as tough as nails. And she’s needed the grit because she’s also turned out to be one of the troubled nation’s most contentious and beleaguered leaders.

A nation of Sancho Panzas

Published by Ellen on December 7, 2007

by Raul Pangalangan
Inquirer

Had Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV succeeded last Thursday, would we be hearing today from all the naysayers? Indeed, success has many fathers and defeat is an orphan. But to the Monday morning quarterbacks out there, I ask: Would you rather have celebrated a tainted victory?

Sure it would have helped to have some prominent opposition politicians around. But in all candor, wouldn’t you have been more wary to see the likes of House Speaker Jose de Venecia at The Peninsula Manila? Wasn’t it the best endorsement that the new “Peninsulares” were absent and nowhere to be found?

Two intelligent views on Nov. 29 incident

Published by Ellen on December 2, 2007

The Hero of the Hotel by Isagani Cruz Utter disgust — that is what I felt when I watched the foolishness that happened at the…

Mar vows to lead LP to victory

Published by Ellen on November 26, 2007

by Dennis Gadil

Sen. Manuel Roxas II yesterday took over the presidency of the Liberal Party with the promise of leading the once dominant party to victory in 2010.

Roxas was overwhelmingly elected to a three-year term by the LP executive council after an hour-long, closed-door session at the Club Filipino in San Juan.

He was given “blanket authority” to appoint the party’s officers and reorganize the party starting November 30.

Mar Roxas warming up to reconciliation with GMA for 2010?

Published by Ellen on November 24, 2007

Tomorrow, at the historic Club Filipino, Sen. Mar Roxas is expected to be elected president of the Liberal Party, taking over from former Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Roxas is being groomed as the Liberal party’s bet for 2010 in its bid to recapture Malacañang which they have failed to do in the post-Marcos era.

If there would be elections in 2010, we expect the following to run for president: Loren Legarda, Noli de Castro, Manny Villar, Ping Lacson, Mar Roxas, Dick Gordon.

Continue readingMar Roxas warming up to reconciliation with GMA for 2010?

Freedom mural defiled

Published by Ellen on November 4, 2007

This is outrageous!

Mabasa said he doesn’t want the press to be “politicized”. But what he did, bowing to the will of Gloria Arroyo’s paetorian guards, was political. A despicable kind of politics.

Media must be politically sensitive and responsive. Media should be an agent of liberation, not for idiotization.

by TJ Burgonio
Inquirer

A group of artists is outraged at the “bastardization” of its mural on press freedom at the National Press Club, and is accusing the NPC of “censorship.”

“Isn’t it ironic that an institution such as the NPC would cause the censorship of a work that they themselves commissioned purportedly to promote press freedom?” the Neo-Angono Artists Collective rued in a statement posted on its website.

Category: Politics