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Category: Politics

Lozada to gov’t: Account for $1.4B loans

Published by Ellen on February 29, 2008

Whistleblower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada urged Filipinos tonight to demand from the Arroyo government an accounting of the $1.4 billion loans it obtained from China last year.

Speaking at around 6:30 p.m, Lozada said the $329 million NBN deal financed from a loan from the Chinese government was just the tip of the iceberg. The government, he said, borrowed from China last year a total of $1.8 billion.

Lozada had earlier told a Senate inquiry the contract was overpriced, with former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos supposedly seeking a $130 million cut with the Palace’s knowledge.

Continue readingLozada to gov’t: Account for $1.4B loans

Makati rally draws huge crowd

Published by Ellen on February 29, 2008

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More than 50,000 people are gathered at the heart of Makati’s central business district for the interfaith prayer rally, most of them demanding President Arroyo’s resignation following damning allegations of corruption over the aborted NBN-ZTE Project.

Ayala Avenue is packed with people from all walks of life and of different political persuasions. The mass began at 4:30 p.m.

Reminiscent of the pre-EDSA 1 protests here, confetti rained from buildings. When the student contingents arrived, they were wildly applauded.

Continue readingMakati rally draws huge crowd

Huwag umasa sa mga obispo

Published by Ellen on February 27, 2008

Dahil sa hindi nanawagan ang mga obispo sa pag-resign ni Gloria Arroyo, lalong titindi na ang pagpatalsik sa kanya dahil alam na ng taumbayan na wala silang maa-asahan kungdi sarili nila.

Dahil sa mabait sa kanya ang mga obispo, siguradong lalakas ang loob ni Arroyo na kumapit sa kanyang ninakaw na pwesto at lalong magiging mayabang ang kanyang mga tauhan. Siyempre may kakampi silang CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines) kahit sabihin pang hati sila.

Hindi na ngayon maiwasan ang dahas sa pagpatalsik kay Arroyo. At iyon ay dahat dalhin ng kunsyensya ng mga obispo.

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Bishops slam corruption but do not call for Arroyo’s ouster

Published by Ellen on February 26, 2008

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Malacanang is happy. See statement of Bunye below.

Influential Philippine Roman Catholic bishops slammed endemic government corruption Tuesday but stopped short of urging President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign.

The statement by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, issued after a 10-hour emergency meeting, was a small victory for Mrs Arroyo’s efforts to serve out the last two years of her term amid widespread calls for her to step down.

Continue readingBishops slam corruption but do not call for Arroyo’s ouster

Solidarity walk

Published by Ellen on February 19, 2008

Erap had a similar photo a few weeks before his downfall

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo walks with CHED Chairman Rony Nery,Vice President Noli de Castro, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Finance Secretary Gary Teves, Trade Secretary Peter Favila other members of her Cabinet, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, and Philippine National Police Chief Director General Avelino Razon on their way to the Aguinaldo State Dining Room in Malacanang where she presided over the joint Procurement Transparency Group-National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Cabinet Group Meeting Tuesday (Feb. 19). (Rey Baniquet/OPS-NIB Photo)

by Jocelyn Montemayor
Malaya

President Arroyo and Cabinet members yesterday walked from the Premier Guest House to the State Dining Room in Malacañang and had their pictures taken for what the Palace said was a “solidarity walk.”

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‘Sobra na. Resign!’

Published by Ellen on February 15, 2008

Arroyo warned of ‘boiling point’

Inquirer: 10,000 display outrage

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Photo by Malaya’s Philip Buquiatan

by Ashzel Hachero and Anthony Ian Cruz
Malaya

Thousands converged yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino monument in Makati City to call for President Arroyo’s resignation and prosecution of officials involved in graft and corruption.

They also expressed support for Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada, the Senate’s main witness in its inquiry into the national broadband network project that Arroyo cancelled last year amid allegations of payoffs.

Continue reading‘Sobra na. Resign!’

Arroyo’s military chief says Al Qaeda wants to kill her

Published by Ellen on February 14, 2008

May death threat din daw si Gloria Arroyo.

By Oliver Teves
Associated Press Writer

MANILA, Philippines – Militants linked to al-Qaida plotted to assassinate the Philippine president.

Military chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said the assassination plot allegedly was hatched by the extremist Abu Sayyaf group and its Indonesia-based ally, Jemaah Islamiyah.

Opposition groups dismissed the allegation as government scare tactics to prevent people from joining protests Friday to demand Arroyo’s resignation over corruption charges.

Continue readingArroyo’s military chief says Al Qaeda wants to kill her