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Crab talk

Published by Ellen on April 24, 2012

Aquino at PPI 2012 — Aquino whining about media. PPI chair Jake Macasaet and Press Secretary Heminio Coloma listen.

It was crab talk at the two-day 16th National Press Forum of the Philippine Press Institute at the Traders Hotel. President Aquino, who was the keynote speaker, was the one who started it when he began his talk with a childhood anecdote about Filipino crabs:

“Ayon po sa kuwento, narinig ko po sa aking ama, sa loob daw po ng isang bar, umiinom ang isang Amerikano. Pumasok ang isang mangingisdang Pilipino na may dalang timba na puno ng alimango. Ibinaba niya ito, at ang sabi po ng Amerikano: “Buddy, your crabs are about to escape.” Tiningnan lang po ng Pilipino. Ang sagot ng Pilipino, “Don’t bother and don’t fret; they’re Filipino crabs. Before they get out, they’ll be pulled back in.” Walang raw pong makakaangat, kasi lahat sila naghahatakan pababa.Habang pinipilit ng ilang kababayan nating makaahon, siya namang sipag ng ilan na hilain siyang pababa.”

Malacañang websites under attack by suspected Chinese networks

Published by Ellen on April 23, 2012

Statement from the Office of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda: On the denial-of-service attack on PCDSPO-maintained websites At around four o’clock in the afternoon of April…

Aquino urged to appoint PWD as Comelec commissioner

Published by Ellen on April 23, 2012

Note:I did this story for VERA Files Elections Commissioner Rene Sarmiento is urging President Aquino to make history by appointing state solicitor Jessica S. Magbanua,…

Lagman’s head for Enrile’s vote in Corona impeachment

Published by Ellen on April 22, 2012

Juan Ponce Enrile — Does not forget and forgive

Poor Gus Lagman. He didn’t know what hit him.

Never did he imagine that we would be a collateral damage in President Aquino’s rabid pursuit to make Gloria Arroyo accountable for her crimes against the Filipino people.

As a commissioner in the Commission on Election, never did it cross Lagman’s mind that he would be a factor in the impeachment against Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona, which is related to Aquino’s crusade against Arroyo.

Last week, Communications Strategy Secretary Ricky Carandang announced that the President would not issue an ad-interim appointment for Lagman, who has not been confirmed by the Commission on Appointments, chaired by Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile because they have been informed by CA members that “ it will be difficult, if not impossible, to confirm him.”

Mag rally kaya ang Pilipinong mangingisda sa Scarborough shoal

Published by Ellen on April 21, 2012

Walden Bello in front of Chinese Embassy — Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello leads rally in front of Chinese Embassy

Sabi ni retired Commodore Rex Robles, sa usapan daw ng mga opisyal ng Philippine Navy, may nagpanukala na total mahilig tayo mag rally, bakit hindi magrally ang mga mangingisda sa Scarborough o Panatag shoal kun saan nag-gigirian ngayon ang Pilipinas at China.

“Kung may isang daan na fishing boats ang magrally doon sa bukana ng Scarborough shoal, tingnan natin kung anong gagawin ng China. Pagbabarilin ba nila yun? “ sabi ni Robles.

Kapag ginawa ng China yun, tutuligsain sila sa buong mundo, isang bagay na hindi nila gusto.

Who will PNoy send to Beijing?

Published by Ellen on April 19, 2012

There are two positive things that resulted in the ongoing standoff in the Scarborough Shoal.
One is the decision of President Aquino recall the appointment of family friend Domingo Lee as ambassador to China and two, the raising of the conflicting territorial claims to the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea has been accelerated.

With the withdrawal of Lee’s appointment, the next question is, who will Aquino send to fill the long-vacant post in Beijing?

Three names have been mentioned.

The first one is recently-retired Erlinda Basilio. A career foreign service officer, Basilio’s last position was foreign affairs undersecretary for policy under the Aquino administration, a position that she also held under the Arroyo administration. Briefly, while waiting for now Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario to assume the position, she served as acting foreign secretary.

Basilio’s calm demeanor masks a certain toughness that is needed in dealing with a bully like China. Basilio is a veteran in diplomatic pressures. She is not easily intimidated.

Another name mentioned is Luis T. Cruz, who is now our ambassador to South Korea.

Also a career officer,Cruz served as consul general in the Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou, which he opened in 1997.

Cruz has the gift of “speaking his truth quietly and clearly” which is important in dealing with a pugnacious adversary.

Another name being floated is Chito Sta. Romana, former American Broadcasting Company news bureau in Beijing. He has retired from ABC and is now based in the Philippines.

The high cost of a Corona conviction

Published by Ellen on April 19, 2012

Malacañang says the decision not to re-appoint Gus Lagman as Comelec commissioner has nothing to do with the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona presided by Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile. They should tell that to the Marines.

Following is the open letter of Lagman:

To my friends,

Without a new appointment, I cease to be a Comelec commissioner.

It is common knowledge among senators, Malacanang officials, and some members of the Lower House, that Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Chairman of the Commission on Appointments, will reject the confirmation of my ad interim appointment as commissioner of the Commission on Elections. As such, Malacanang explained to me that they thought it best not to renew my appointment in order to save me from having to go through the ordeal of a confirmation hearing where I could be rejected. I truly appreciate their concern and, initially, I also thought that that would be best. However, after thinking about it the last few days, I am now convinced that I would much prefer to be given my day in court, i.e., go through the confirmation process despite the risk of a rejection.

Continue readingThe high cost of a Corona conviction

No need to invite China,PHL should bring case to UN

Published by Ellen on April 17, 2012

Scarborough shoal by Adel Rosario — Scarborough shoal at low tide by Adel Rosario from Wikipedia

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario is in New York now.

The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday released his statement saying,” In pursuing a peaceful settlement of the Scarborough Shoal issue, we fully intend to humbly invite our Chinese friends to join us in the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).”

ITLOS was established to adjudicate conflict over the interpretation and implementation of the United Nations Convention of the Law which defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of the world’s oceans.

Del Rosario said, “The purpose of the exercise will be to ascertain which of us has sovereign rights over the waters surrounding Scarborough Shoal where Chinese ships are currently engaging in illegal activities within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). “

Using the Arroyo stigma again for 2013 and 2016

Published by Ellen on April 15, 2012

Binay — Target of Arroyo stigma campaign

Come to think of it, why would Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay and Miguel Zubiri want to be in the United Nationalist Alliance, a coalition that former President Joseph Estrada and Vice President Jojo Binay are forming for the 2013 senatorial elections, and not under the political party of Gloria Arroyo, their benefactor?

We can only guess that they themselves know how unpopular Arroyo is. They want to use other political vehicles and they have found this in UNA.

This has nothing to do with loyalty because we believe Magsaysay remains solidly behind Arroyo. It’s being practical. Actually a smart move. And opportunistic.

We are intrigued, however, by the decision of Binay, who is not shy about his 2016 presidential plans, to allow the two to align with him knowing the political damnation people tainted by Arroyo, imagined or not, suffer. Remember how the “Villaroyo” tag doomed Manny Villar’s presidential bid?

Not surprising that Liberal Party leaders and anti-Binay operators immediately picked up the slant and pastin on Binay the Arroyo stigma. Binay had to remind the public of the time when those are now styling themselves as anti-Arroyo used to be her ardent supporters.

Mas pinapahalagahan ng Malacañang ang SM mall kaysa kapaligiran

Published by Ellen on April 14, 2012

Deadma lang ang Malacañang sa mainit na protesta laban sa plano ng SM, ang higanteng sa negosyo ng shopping malls, na putulin ang 182 na pine trees sa Baguio para patayuan ng parking lot ng kanilang department store.

Ramon Paje Jr — SM-friendly DENR Chief Paje

Kinampihan pa ni Environment Secretary Ramon Paje ang ginagawa ng SM. Sabi niya,“If we do not allow trees to be cut, will there be a development such as Fort Bonifacio?(Kung hindi natin papayagan na putulin ang mga kahoy, paano tayo magkaroon ng pagsulong katulad ng Fort Bonifacio?”)

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