ellen tordesillas – Page 367 – Making life worth living.

Making sense of the Basilan debacle (Part 1)

Published by Ellen on August 26, 2007

As the military gears for the major offensive that AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. announced in Basilan last week, the people recoil over how many lives will be lost further in a war that they do not understand.

In less than two months, the hostilities, which started with the July 10 ambush by elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the town of Al-Barka (formerly Tipo-Tipo) in Basilan, have claimed more than a hundred lives. Fifty-seven soldiers have died, 10 of them in a most gruesome manner, and 30,000 persons have been displaced.

An undetermined number have been killed on the side of the “enemy” that the public is not so clear about.

Harry Roque’s notes on R.A. 4200

Published by Ellen on August 26, 2007

Lito Banayo’s column:Pssst Dick

Republic Act 4200 is what is known as the Anti-Wire-tapping law.

It states that “It shall be unlawful for any person, not being authorized by all the parties to any private communication or spoken word, to tap any wire or cable, or by using any other device or arrangement, to secretly overhear, intercept, or record such communication or spoken word by using a device commonly known as dictaphone or dictagraph or detectaphone or walkie-talkie or tape recorder, or however otherwise described.”

Mana sa magulang

Published by Ellen on August 25, 2007

Like father, like son talaga itong mag-amang Mike at Mikey Arroyo.

Sabi ni Mikey Arroyo, congressman ng Pampanga, “Who, me? A smuggler?”

Sinabi ito ni Mikey noong isang araw dahil sa usap-usapan na kaya laganap ang smuggling ngayon dahil siya ang padrino ng mga smuggler. Kaya tuloy hirap na hirap ang Bureau of Customs makapag –meet ng kanilang target collection. Paano sagan ang smuggled goods.

Alivio confirms aircraft were recalled

Published by Ellen on August 23, 2007

Malacañang wants him restricted and gagged

by Ellen Tordesillas and Victor Reyes

The former Marine commander in Basilan yesterday confirmed that “someone” recalled the aircraft which were supposed to provide support for the Marines who clashed with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Al-Barka, Basilan last July 10.

Fourteen Marines died, with 10 of them found beheaded and mutilated the following day.

The confirmation by Col. Ramiro Alivio, who was relieved as commander of the 1st Marine Brigade Wednesday, is contained in his After Battle Report.

Revival of “Hello Garci” destabilizing:Malacañang

Published by Ellen on August 23, 2007

Update: Six senators in the mongrel majority join minority to push for reopening of “Hello Garci”.

by Regina Bengco

Malacañang yesterday said the revival of the investigation on the “Hello Garci” scandal that Sen. Panfilo Lacson is calling is “in aid of destabilization” and in aid of Lacson’s presidential ambition in 2010.

Apostol said he does not believe that the Senate probe is meant to improve the electoral process, saying it is “just a front so Senator Lacson could have a good publicity.”

“That’s in aid of destabilization, because he will run for president in 2010. (It is) as simple as that,” said chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Antonio Apostol.

‘Let Trillanes Serve’ campaign launched

Published by Ellen on August 23, 2007

by Ashzel Hachero

Civil society groups and the opposition formally launched on Thursday morning the nationwide campaign to “pressure” the government to allow detained senator Antonio Trillanes IV to perform his duties as a lawmaker.

Together in trials and tribulations

Published by Ellen on August 23, 2007

To protest the “incompe-tence” of the military leadership that led to the deaths of 14 of their colleagues in Albarkha, Basilan last July 10, the Marine officers detained in Camp Capinpin in Tanay shaved their heads.

A month after, it was the turn of the Philippine Army. Twenty-five killed in just one day in the fighting in Sulu, the highest casualty in the recent history of the Philippine military. Two weeks after, it was again the turn of the Marines. Last Saturday, 15 of them died in an uphill assault to take over an Abu Sayyaf camp in Ungkawa Pukan in Basilan.

Look at what happens when you wake up sleeping dogs

Published by Ellen on August 22, 2007

Basilan Marines commander relieved

Published by Ellen on August 22, 2007

The commander of the 1st Marine Brigade, Col. Ramiro Alivio, was relieved of his duties for staying in his headquarters while Marines clashed with around 80 Abu Sayyaf forces in Ungkawa Pukan town, Basilan last Aug.18.

AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Alivio’s relief was the decision of the Board of Generals.

Col. Rustico Guerrero, former chief of the Marine Corps Training Center based at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, took over Alivio’s post in simple rites at the 1st Marine Brigade headquarters in Isabela City yesterday.

Hamon kay Sarmiento

Published by Ellen on August 22, 2007

Tingnan nga natin kung ano ang gagawin ni Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento sa panibagong paglitaw ni Master Sergeant Vidal Doble, ang sundalo na kasama sa pag-tape ng usapan ni Gloria Arroyo at dating Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

Noong nabuking siya doon sa Iligan nang nakaraang eleksyon na kinakampihan ang mga election operators ni Garcillano na gumagawa na naman ng milagro, sabi niya paimbistigahan raw niya ulit ang Hello Garci scandal para raw malinis ang Comelec.

Wala namang nangyari. Kasama pa siya doon sa pag-protekta kay Lintang Bedol, ang nagbigay kay Migz Zubiri ng pagka-senador, na prominenteng nabanggit sa Hello Garci tapes.

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