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Strange movements at the Comelec

Published by Ellen on August 25, 2011

rafanan2 — Uncompromising stand makes his bosses uncomfortable

A number of recent movements at the Commission on Elections don’t make sense.

Update: Rafanan also removed from DOJ-COMELEC probe team. Brillantes says he is “uncontrollable”
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/26/11/rafanan-removed-poll-fraud-fact-finding-team

The person who has always been known to be uncompromising in matters of electoral crimes and graft and corruption has been dismissed from his department level position while those who were involved in graft and corruption continue to enjoy the trust and confidence of top officials.

Ferdinand Rafanan, director of the Comelec’s Law Department since June 2008, who investigated the overpriced P690-million ballot secrecy folder contract purchased for the May 2010 elections with OTC paper supply, is now on a floating status.

Lacson agrees with SC order in favor of Mike Arroyo

Published by Ellen on August 24, 2011

Even Mike Arroyo’s nemesis, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson agreed with the Supreme Court’s grant of temporary restraining order against putting him (Arroyo) on the watch list restricting his right to travel.

“I myself am not in favor of the watch list. That’s tantamount to a hold-departure order without saying that it is one,” Lacson said.

Lacson said putting Arroyo on the watch list showed an “arrogance of power,” noting that Mike had to regularly seek permission from De Lima each time he would leave the country.

Inquirer’s report:

Former first gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo is now free to travel anywhere in the world.

Where did Habacon get all those money he distributed during 2004 elections?

Published by Ellen on August 21, 2011

One of the libel suits filed by Mike Arroyo against Malaya publisher Jake Macasaet and editors was over a May 19, 2004 article by Senate reporter JP Lopez quoting former senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad identifying the husband of Gloria Arroyo as the “chief operator” in manipulating the results of the 2004 elections.

Tatad, in that article, said uniformed personnel were seen altering elections results in Mindanao precincts.

Please click here (VERA Files) to read the 65-page summary of interviews.

There were also reports of Arroyo and then National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales in Mindanao. Their visits usually preceded distribution of money to election operators.

These things came to mind while reading the summary of the interviews done by the Mayuga Fact-Finding board headed by then Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga on the alleged involvement of the military in the 2004 electoral fraud.

Nabiktima ng snatcher

Published by Ellen on August 21, 2011

Noong Biyernes, galing sa San Agustin church sa Intramuros kung saan binisita namin ang ‘libingan’ ng aming dating kasama sa VERA Files na si Chit Estella (birthday niya Aug. 19), ibinaba ako ng aking mga kasamahan sa kanto ng T.M. Kalaw at Taft Avenue mga alas-tres ng hapon.

Lumalakad ako sa Taft Avenue papuntang bus stop malapit doon sa Rizal Park nang may biglang humawak ng malakas sa aking dalawang tenga mula sa aking likuran at sa isang iglap, natanggal ang aking dalawang hikaw.

Biglang tumawid ang snatcher sa Taft Avenue. Tumalon pa sa konkretong island. Babae siya, parang nasa edad 30 anyos.

Mayuga report: not yet the truth

Published by Ellen on August 18, 2011

Sen. Antonio Trillanes was not exactly surprised that the “Mayuga Report” was a dud.

It actually did not add much more to the one page press statement that the Arroyo government released in April 2006, at the start of the Lenten week when everybody was either in a holy retreat or holiday mood, that cleared all the generals mentioned in the “Hello Garci” tapes of any complicity in the election cheating that allowed Arroyo to keep the presidential powers she grabbed in 2001 from elected President Joseph Estrada.

Trillanes, a former navy officer and imprisoned for more almost seven years for standing up to Arroyo, said the 15-page report, “ per see, as expected, was sanitized.”

But, he said, “the attachments which contain the testimonies of the resource persons and witnesses are loaded with revelations about some officers’ involvement in the election cheating in 2004.”

The Mayuga Report: The story is in the transcripts

Published by Ellen on August 17, 2011

By VERA Files

Retired Vice Admiral Mateo M. Mayuga once said he would bring the results of his factfinding mission on the purported involvement of the military in the cheating in the 2004 presidential elections that enabled Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to stay in power to his grave.

But Mayuga isn’t getting his way. Recently, President Benigno S. Aquino III declassified his “secret” report, popularly known as the Mayuga Report, and the 15-page executive summary has made its way to the news media.

The document, however, does not contain the sensitive revelations offered by resource persons invited by the commission—70 in all, including 68 officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces, a AFP civilian employee and Commission on Elections Region 9 director Helen Flores.

The revelations are instead buried in the voluminous transcripts of the investigation that measure a meter.

One of the most important revelations excluded from the 15-page report was the testimony of then AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, commander of the 2004 Task Force HOPE (Honest, Orderly, Peaceful Elections), who urged the Mayuga Commission to have the funds allotted to his task force audited.

Will Lee defend PH sovereignty over Recto Bank in Beijing?

Published by Ellen on August 16, 2011

Update: Domingo Lee was not confirmed by the Commission on Appointments last Aug. 24 which prevents him from assuming his post as ambassador to China before the state visit of President Aquino starting Aug. 30.

To justify his inclusion in the official delegation, the President named Lee presidential adviser for the China visit.

Domingo Lee, President Aquino’s choice as ambassador to China, has been given briefing by the Department of Foreign Affairs in preparation for his taking up the post in Beijing last week of August in time for the President’s state visit to China starting Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.

There cannot be a discussion about Philippine-China relations without touching on the complex issue of conflicting claims in the Spratlys.

When the issue of sovereignty over West Philippine Sea came up, a source said, Lee said that would not be his priority because he will concentrate more on “business, business.”

Aquino has asked Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr to facilitate the confirmation of Lee next week and it is expected that would be done on Aug. 24.

Lim’s resignation puts Mark Lapid issue in Aquino’s court

Published by Ellen on August 14, 2011

Mark Lapid 2 — Mark Lapid: a test of Aquino's 'tuwid na daan' crusade

Now that Bertie Lim will soon be out of the Department of Tourism, the issue about Mark Lapid rests squarely with President Aquino.

People in the DOT are keenly watching the case of Lapid because it would prove to them that the President’s pledge l to lead the people through the “matuwid na daan” is more than just sloganeering.

I would like to make it clear here that the case of Lapid is a separate issue from Lim’s lackluster performance as tourism chief.

I think that quitting the DOT was a good decision for Lim. His one year stint with the DOT showed that he is not cut for that job which requires more than sincerity, honesty and dedication.

Anyway, sometime in May, Lim reported to Aquino about his problem with Lapid, chief operating officer of Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), formerly Philippine Tourism Authority. The report allegedly involved deals with suppliers.

Ang mas masakit na dagok kay Gloria Arroyo

Published by Ellen on August 13, 2011

gloria arroyo neck — An unenviable situation

Habang binabasa ko ang mga report tungkol sa sakit ni Gloria Arroyo, parang naninigas na rin ang aking leeg at likod.

Hindi biro ang sakit sa spine at naintindihan ko ang hirap ng isang maysakit.

Unang dinala si Arroyo sa hospital noong Hulyo 25 nang may naramdaman siyang may naiipit na ugat sa kanyang leeg. Inoperahan siya ngunit pagkatapos ng ilang linggo, nakaramdan siya sakit sa braso. Lumabas sa X-ray natanggal daw sa kinalalagyan ang titatium implant.Mahina na raw kasi ang mga boto ni Arroyo.

Inaayos nila ang implant ngunit pagkatapos ng ilang araw, balik na naman sa ospital si Arroyo dahil may infection daw.

Dahil wala raw ang implant na siyang sumuspurta ng kanyang spine, kinabitan daw si Arroyo ng “halo vest”, mga bilog daw na metal na nakadikit sa kanyang bungo na may mga “bars” na sumuporta ng kanyang leeg.

Lim resignation leaves Lapid ‘safe’?

Published by Ellen on August 13, 2011

VERA Files The resignation of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim has left unresolved the problem with a politically well-connected tourism official he has brought to the…

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