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21 dead in Maguindanao poll-related violence

From: abs-cbnNEWS.com

Bodies of 21 of 44 kidnap victims, including the wife and relatives of Buluan town’s vice mayor, were recovered by government troops in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province Monday afternoon.

The killings are the first reported poll-related violence. The May 2010 elections are still 6 months away. Most of the victims are women.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. confirmed to ANC that 13 female and 8 male bodies were found by members of the 601st Infrantry Brigade of the AFP around 4:30 p.m. Monday.

Etta: don’t forget Marcos’ victims

Etta Rosales, former partylist representative and now chair emeritus of Akbayan, has written another open letter (two weeks ago it was addressed to Liberal party presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on the Hacienda Luisita issue) , this time to Nacionalista presidential candidate Manuel Villar, comrade in the fight against the Marcos dictatorship Satur Ocampo, and Marcos son Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr, representative of Ilocos Norte (2nd district).

Etta was writing this letter as chair of “Claimants 1081”, a group of victims of Marcos’ martial rule under Presidential Decree 1081.

Here’s Etta’s letter:

Efren Peñaflorida: CNN’s “Hero of the Year”

Congratulations! The true hero.

by Alexander Villafania
Inquirer.net

For his innovative “Kariton Klasrum” (pushcart classroom) Filipino educator Efren Peñalforida has been awarded by CNN as “2009 Hero of the Year.”

Peñaflorida was awarded during the CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. He received his award from American actress Eva Mendes.

Tumatawa lang siguro si Arroyo

Tumatawa lang siguro si Gloria Arroyo sa nangyayari ngayon na ang kanyang mga tauhan ay pinag-aagawan ng Liberal Party ni Noynoy Aquino at Nacionalista Party ni Manny Villar.

Noong isang linggo, nakita natin sa TV si Caloocan Mayor Enrico Echiverri na nagtatalon sa tuwa sa kanyang panunumpa sa LP kasama ni dating Senador Ralph Recto, na sumanib na rin sa LP kasama ang kanyang asawang si Batangas Governor Vilma Santos.

Sa Quezon City, si Mayor Sonny Belmonte na loyalista ni Arroyo ay nanumpa na rin sa LP kasama ang kanyang vice mayor na si Herbert Bautista na siya ngayon ay magiging kandidato para mayor at ang anak ni Belmonte na si Joy na tatakbo para vice mayor.

Si Belmonte ay kaibigan ng pamilyang Aquino. Malaki ang kanyang pakinabang noong pangulo si Cory dahil ginawa siyang chairman ng Government Service Insurance System.

Magdalo poll aspirants get leave

by Ashzel Hachero
Malaya

gary-alejanoA Makati court yesterday granted a leader of the Magdalo group that staged the 2003 Oakwood mutiny temporary leave of detention for him to file his certificate of candidacy.

Marine Capt. Gary Alejano was granted a five-day leave starting today. He is running for mayor of Sipalay in Negros Oriental.

The filing of COCs starts today.

Alejano, chair of the Samahang Magdalo, is detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame for his involvement in the Oakwood mutiny and the Manila Peninsula standoff in November 2007.

James Layug
James Layug
The court has also granted leave to another Magdalo leader, Navy Lt. (s.g.) James Layug, effective November 25. Layug is seeking a congressional post in Taguig City.

Aside from Alejano and Layug, four other Magdalo officers are running for elective posts in the 2010 elections.

Former Air Force 1st Lt. Francisco Ashley Acedillo is running for a House seat representing the first district of Cebu City; Army Capt. Dante Langkit for the sole district of Kalinga province.

One of the core leaders of the group is former Navy lieutenant and now Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV who is also under detention.

LP’s difficult balancing act

The infighting in the Liberal Party which had caused the departure of one of its senatorial candidates, Sergio Osmeña III , stems from hype that the presidential bid of Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is a battle of “good versus evil.”

Aquino was thrust into the presidential contest after the death of his mother, Cory, which saw a massive outpouring of grief for the most admired housewife –turned –president who inspired the nation to oust a well-entrenched dictator.

The nation’s grief over Cory’s passing was also seen by many as a yearning for decency in government because she had led protests against Gloria Arroyo’s corruption-riddled government.

Since Aquino’s s entry into the presidential race last September, which was made possible by the sliding down of Sen. Mar Roxas, the original LP presidential bet, he has been enjoying remarkable ratings: 44 per cent in Pulse Asia and 60 percent in Social Weather Station.

Gibo promises to continue Arroyo’s “success”

Thanks to Inquirer for photo.
Thanks to Inquirer for photo.
Saying that the administration of Gloria Arroyo has “undeniably been successful” in fighting poverty, Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro, former defense secretary, vowed to continue the programs of Arroyo if he is elected president.

He assured the people that he will address the four faces of poverty: poverty of the mind, poverty of the pocket, poverty of the environment, and poverty of relationships.

Teodoro and actor Edu Manzano, former chairman of the Optical Media Board, were proclaimed as Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential and vice-presidential candidates, respectively, in the administration party’s national convention this morning held at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Click below for Teodoro’s speech

Gilbert Teodoro acceptance speech