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Nonoy declares presidential bid

noynoy declaration

Tinatanggap ko ang hiling ng sambayanan.
Tinatanggap ko rin po ang tagubilin ng aking mga magulang.
Tinatanggap ko ang responsibilidad na ituloy ang laban para sa bayan.
Tinatanggap ko ang hamon na mamuno sa laban na ito.
Bayang Pilipinas, tatakbo ako sa pagka-pangulo sa darating na halalan.
Tutuloy po natin ang laban. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

With those words, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, declared his presidential bid for the 2010 elections in an morning press conference on the 40th day of the passing of his mother, President Corazon Aquino, at Club Filipino, the same venue where she took her historic oath on Feb. 25, 1986 after the ouster of President Ferdinand Marcos.

FBI asked to investigate Mikey Arroyo

After Vera Files released the story on the property of the Arroyo brothers, Mikey and Dato, congressman sons of Gloria and Mike Arroyo, I received a lot of letters giving additional information on the family’s alleged hidden wealth.

By the way, I am a trustee of Vera Files, a group of journalists that undertakes a deeper look at current issues. I am one of the four writers of the articles “Arroyo sons acquire U.S. homes, businesses after election to Congress” and “Following the Mikey trail: 2004, 2007 declarations show no campaign contributions”.

One of the letters I got came from an American who is in the finance business. He asked that his identity be withheld. I’ll call him “Jay”.

‘I should have let my lawyer do the talking’

by Wendell Vigilia
Malaya

REP. Mikey Arroyo (Lakas-Kampi, Pampanga) yesterday said no one is to blame but himself for his failure to credibly explain the issues surrounding his multimillion wealth, particularly his P63.7-million beach front property in the San Francisco Bay Area in California.

President Arroyo’s eldest son said he looked bad in front of the public because he could not cope with Solita “Winnie” Monsod’s style of questioning when she interviewed him on GMA-7’s “Unang Hirit” Tuesday last week.

In an interview with the Inquirer, Arroyo said his wife was the richer one but he quickly added in jest, “I’m not a gold digger.’’

“If my answers to those questions seem a little confused, ako lang po ang dapat sisihin. It’s my mistake alone. Sana po I passed on this issue to my accountant, to my lawyer, because they are the ones who actually prepare these documents,” he told dzRH.

SC okays poll automation

From ABS-CBN Online:

It’s full steam ahead to automate next year’s elections.

Voting 11-3-1, the Supreme Court junked the petition filed by University of the Philippines law professor Harry Roque to declare as invalid the P7.2 billion automation contract between the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and winning consortium Smartmatic and Total Information Management (TIM).

The ruling, penned by Justice Presbitero Velasco, is expected to be promulgated this week. Justices Antonio Carpio, Conchita Carpio-Morales, and Arturo Brion dissented. Justice Leonardo Quisumbing, who is on leave, took no part.

Chiz wants PCGG to start sequestration of Mikey’s property

Philippine Star: Senators want Mikey charged

by Wendell Vigilia
Malaya

“JUST talk to my lawyer.”

Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo (Lakas-Kampi, Pampanga), the President’s eldest son, yesterday evaded questions on why he failed to declare with the Commission on Elections contributions which he said he received when he ran for Congress in 2004 and 2007.

“My lawyer arrived already. Siya na lang kausapin natin,” he said over the phone as he refused to entertain further inquiries on the issue.

Mikey was referring to an Attorney De Guzman, the same lawyer he earlier said would answer questions pertaining to his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Singson bucks Malacañang suggestion to go on leave

From GMA News TV: Singson backtracks, now claims he saved partner’s life

From Abs-Cbn online:

Denies using gov’t resources in his marital row

Refusing to heed advice from the Office of the President, Deputy National Security Adviser Luis Singson said he would not voluntarily go on leave and denied he used government resources in his marital conflict.

In a long distance telephone interview with ABS-CBN News and dzMM on Monday, Singson said he will not go on leave despite getting an advice from the Palace that he should do so out of delicadeza.

“Hindi ako magleleave dahil inosente ako diyan. Ako ang biktima rito. Hindi ako mag-leleave,” Singson told dzMM in an interview with Vic Lima and Karen Davila.

Two hearings

Last Thursday, while former Armed Forces Chief Generoso Senga, now ambassador to Iran, was testifying at a court martial trial in Camp Aguinaldo on the stirrings in the military in February 2006, members of the Magdalo group were at the Commission on Election for a hearing on their application for accreditation of Magdalo Para sa Pagbabago as a regional political party in the National Capital Region.

Questions asked of Former Air Force Lieutenant Ashley Acedillo, secretary general and spokesman for the Magdalo group, revolved around whether they advocate violence as a means to introduce change. ( Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV had wanted to be present in the the Magdalo’s case at the Comelec but he was not granted permission by the Makati Regional trial Court.)

Acedillo told Comelec commissioners that their participation in the election process is proof of their advocacy for reform through peaceful means.

Takot si Arroyo kay Chavit

Related stories in ABS-CBN online: Human Rights chief hits Chavit’s arrogance

Pacquiao supports Chavit

Gloria and Chavit
Gloria and Chavit
Palagi natin sinasabi na pagpasensyahan na lang si Gloria Arroyo hanggang Mayo ng 2010. Total, siyam na buwan na lang yan.

Ngunit sa araw-araw na nangyayari, makikita natin na delikado itong natitirang siyam na buwan dahil una, hindi pa talaga nawawala ang posibilidad na gagawa sila ng hakbang na manatili sa kapangyarihan. Dahil maigsi na ang panahon na natititira, lalo silang nagiging garapal.

Pangalawa, maraming pinagkaka-utangan si Arroyo sa kanyang nakaw na pagka-pangulo at lahat yun nag-iisip rin ng proteksyun para sa kanilang sarili. Sanay sila sa pagbastos o pagbaluktot ng batas. May magagawa ba si Arroyo?