By VERA Files and YouthVotePhilippines By ELLEN TORDESILLAS and YOUTHVOTEPHILIPPINES WHATEVER the final outcome of the tightly contested vice presidential race, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay…
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Information is power.
Only an informed citizenry can give true meaning to the definition of democracy, which is a government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Our Constitution recognizes this. That’s why it is enshrined in the Bill of Rights that “The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized.
“Access to official records, and to documents, and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.”
The Freedom of Information bill, which Arroyo-administration dominated House of Representatives refused to pass, gives flesh to this Constitutional provision.
As a lawyer, he was in the forefront in giving support to the families of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre, a number of them his friends.
At the CenterLaw, where he is the executive director, he handles the media cases like our suit against Mike Arroyo. Also our suit against police and defense officials in the 2007 Manila Peninsula standoff.
He also successfully defended Lt. Artemio Raymundo in the court martial over the latter’s sharing of DVDs on the lifestory of former President Joseph Estrada.
We congratulate Romel for his fellowship from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of France under its “Programme d’invitation des personnalités d’avenir” ( Invitation Program for Personalities of the Future) .
The program, run by the ministry’s Policy Planning Staff (Centre d’analyse et de prévision), selects young prominent personalities ranging from 25 to 40 years of age from all over the world who have spent little or no time in France, but who have a growing influence on their country’s affairs or on their country’s relations with France. With the award, the CenterLaw Executive Director joins the circle of about 220 personalities from Asia and Oceania who had already been granted the fellowship.
By Wilson Lee Flores
The Philippine Star
SSS president Romulo Neri recently made news headlines again along with former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, with both pinned twice by the Ombudsman for a graft case, while President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo were cleared by the same Ombudsman of alleged wrongdoing in the controversial and allegedly overpriced US$329.48 million National Broadband Network (NBN) project with ZTE.
As former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief, Neri was in 2007 invited by the Senate to testify on the alleged NBN anomalies where he revealed that ZTE broker Abalos had offered him a P200 million bribe at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club for him to approve the NBN project. Neri narrated that he informed GMA about this bribery attempt and that she instructed him not to accept the bribe. However, when the Senate probed further on whether GMA herself had followed up the project, directed him to prioritize or approve it, Neri refused to answer the Senate, invoking “executive privilege.” The Supreme Court in 2008 affirmed Neri’s right as a cabinet official to invoke “executive privilege.” Neri has since declined to discuss at length this controversy with the media, but this writer recently convinced him to grant The Philippine STAR an exclusive no-holds-barred interview. Here are excerpts:
Update: Kris Aquino urges Abunda to accept position of Tourism secretary; admits it was her idea
Ano ba naman ito.
Ayun sa report ng GMA News TV, gusto raw ni Noynoy Aquino, ang nanalo sa pagka-pangulo ng Pilipinas sa nakaraaang eleksyun , iniisip raw niya bigyan ng pwesto sa gobyerno ang mga Kapuso stars na si Dingdong Dantes at Ogie Alcasid.
Hindi pa raw niya nakaka-usap ang dalawa na tumulong sa kanya noong kampanya. Ngunit ang pag-suporta sa kanya raw ay hindi lamang ang basehan ng kanyang desisyon na kukunin sila para manglingkod sa gobyerno.
“Matagal din naman natin silang nakasama sa kampanya, nalaman natin ang mga advocacy nila, ano yung mga tinutulungan nilang sector, sayang naman kung hindi magtutuloy-tuloy,” paliwanag ni Aquino.
Dagdag pa niya: “Kung papayag sila (Dingdong at Ogie) bakit hindi. Si Dingdong alam ko may youth foundationsi Ogie ganun din yata plus yung OPM (organisasyon ng mang-aawit).”
Rogue magazine asked me to write about the May 10 elections. I have not bought a copy of June 2010 issue yet but it looks…
No quorum kills freedom of info bill
by Leila Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
The House of Representatives accomplished nothing on its last session day Friday, but claims of deceit, threats of arrest and declarations of outrage flew fast and furious.
Declared seven short of a quorum, the House adjourned without ratifying the freedom of information (FOI) bill—a landmark piece of legislation that would have lifted the shroud of secrecy over government transactions and data.
Ratification was to have been the last step before the nine-year-old bill is submitted to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her signature.
Enrile: Bangit bypassed by CA, must vacate office
by Christine O. Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Bad news for AFP chief of staff Gen. Delfin Bangit.
Because Congress adjourned on Friday without him getting the nod of the Commission on Appointments, Bangit is deemed bypassed and thus he has to vacate his position and be replaced by his vice chief of staff, Lt. Gen.Rodrigo Maclang, according to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
Enrile said President Macapagal-Arroyo can no longer re-appoint Bangit because of the ban on appointments that is effective until her term ends on June 30.
by Lito Banayo
Malaya
A friend sent me a partial listing of supposed “midnight” appointees of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Some had to be filled up simply because the offices were vacated, and therefore an appointment in “acting” capacity was required by law. The better option was to name an officer-in-charge (OIC) from any of the undersecretaries or those of lower management rank.
Jesli Lapus was moved from DECS to DTI on March 8, 2010, because Peter Favila who used to be Trade secretary wanted a cushy retirement job as member of the Monetary Board. GMA had to press my good friend Raul Boncan to retire earlier, “for reasons of health”, so as to give way to the desires of Peter.
To replace Jesli at DECS, she resurrected Mona Valisno from retirement and gave her cherished dream of being a line cabinet secretary, at last.
That’s why the yearly French film festival in Manila is an event film lovers look forward to. That’s why it has lasted this long and still going strong.
In last Tuesday’s preview of the film “La graine et le mulet” (The secret of the grain), Martin Macalintal, head of the audio-visual section of the French Embassy, said in selecting movies to be shown in the festival they always make sure that they are the latest releases. Although there are a number of historical or period films in past festivals, the bulk of the films showcase French contemporary society.
“La Graine et le mulet” is about a 60-year old divorce who was retrenched from his job at the shipyard. In relating how the main character copes with the crisis in his past mid-life (putting up a restaurant that offers couscous , a grain dish, on a junk ship), the film also shows family relationships in today’s France.
Another admirable thing about French films is that their stars are not always the usual young ,handsome and pretty actors and actresses. They stress more on character. And yes, seductive scenes, are part and parcel of French movies.
Screening schedule of La Graine et let mulet: June 4, 6 p.m.;June 6, 3 p.m.;June 9, 3 p.m.;June 11, 9 p.m. and June 13, 9 p.m.
Another film I will make sure not to miss is ” L’immortel” (22 Bullets) starring Jean Reno and directed by Richard Berry. The synopsis says “Charly Mattei has turned over a new leaf and left his criminal past behind. For three years now he has been leading a peaceful existence dedicated to his wife and their two children. However, one winter morning, he is left for dead in a parking lot in the old port of Marseille, his body riddled with 22 bullets. To everyone’s general astonishment, he doesn’t die. Based on real life, the story has been reinvented within the Marseille gangster underworld.”
Screening Schedule: June 10, 12 noon;June 12, 6 p.m.;June 13, 3 p.m.