Mike Arroyo yesterday announced that he is withdrawing the libel suits he filed before 46 journalists.
The announcement was made in a 12-paragraph statement read for him by Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, which was about his recovery from what he called “a dreadful ordeal”.
He quoted Fr. Fernando Suarez saying “there are times when God performs miracles to remind people that he is there.”
Malacañang announced that Mike Arroyo, husband of Gloria Arroyo, has decided to withdraw all libel suits he filed against 46 journalists.
Part of Arroyo’s statement read by Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye: “In sincere gratitude to a nation that deserves a more harmonious leadership, and as a gesture of peace to the many kind hearts who have helped my family weather this crisis, I have instructed my attorneys to withdraw all the libel suits pending before the courts.
“Seeking redress for all the grievances that the libel soughts to address now pales in comparison to taking on a genuine chance to make peace and to pursue a more positive and constructive relationship with those who will accept my offer of a handshake.
“I am determined to keep in touch with the God that has been magnanimous to me, and to let His spirit of generosity steer me through any future conflicts.”
My reaction:
I’m glad that mike Arroyo near-death experience has made him see the light. I hope the libel suits were not the only ones he saw.
Nasa balita na may mga grupo raw ng mga election observers mula sa iba’ibang bansa ang drating para mag-obserba sa May 14 na halalan.
Sabi ni Leah Navarro, lider ng Compact for Peaceful Elections, dadalhin raw nila ang 17 na observers mula sa Europe, United States at ibang bansa dito sa Asia Pacific sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa bvansa kung saan mukhang mataas ang posibilidad na magkaroon ng dayaan.
Kasama raw sa mga election hotspots ay Caloocan City, Pampanga, Quezon City, Albay, Cmarines, Maguindanao at Cotabato City.
Yesterday afternoon, Malacañang sent out this media advisory: PGMA to make amajor announcement tomorrow, may 3, 2007 10 a.m., reception Hall of Malacañang. Open to…
Update on Jonas: Cory Aquino to govt: Where’s Jonas Burgos?
Here’s Malacañang’s directive.
What struck me in that Pieta-like picture of Edith Burgos holding the picture of her missing son was the close resemblance of Jonas Joseph (Jayjay) to his father Joe Burgos, press freedom crusader and founder of We Forum and Malaya.
A witness to the abduction of Jayjay surfaced the other night at ABS-CBN after he saw Edith appealing for help to find her son.
The witness who hid under the name “Randy” said he saw Jayjay eating alone at the Hapag-Kainan restaurant at the Ever Gotesco Mall on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City about 1 p.m. when four “bodyguard-looking” men approached him. At first, Randy said, one of guys put his hand on Jayjay shoulders. “Hinihimas-himas,” was Randy’s description. I can imagine that it was a hard massage that the bodyguard-looking guy was applying on Jayjay.
In Pulse Asia’s April 21-25 survey on Filipinos senatorial preferences, six Genuine Opposition candidates make it to the Magic 12, four Team Unity and two independent.
The six from GO are Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero, Manny Villar, Panfilo Lacson, Alan Cayetano, Noynoy Aquino.
From the TUTAs, the four are Ralph Recto, Joker Arroyo, Edgardo Angara and Migs Zubiri.
The two independent candidates are Kiko Pangilinan and Gregorio Honasan.
Kahapon, nag-apela si Edith Burgos, ang balo ni Joe Burgos, ang founder ng Malaya, sa mga dumukot ng kanyang anak na si Jonas na kung maari ay pakawalan nila dahil walang masamang ginawa ang kanyang anak.
Si Jonas Joseph (Jay-jay) Burgos, 36 taong gulang at may-asawa, ay huling nakita ng kanyang pamilya ng umalis sa kanilang bahay sa Tandang Sora Avenue sa Quezon City mga ika-lima ng hapon ng Sabado. Dapat may ka-miting siya.
Labing-apat na oras ang nakalipas bago nila nakontak sa text si Jayjay ngunit ang kanyang sagot ay hindi maintindihan. Nakausap rin siya ng kanyang pamilya sa cellphone ngunit parang siyang inaantok o bangag at hindi maintindihan ang sinasabi.
Nangangamba ang kanyang pamilya na may masamang ginawa ang nagkidnap sa kanya.
Si Jay-jay ay isang agriculturist at aktibo sa Alyansang Magbubukid sa Bulacan, ang provincial chapter ng Samahang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.
Just when I was to start writing a feel-good story about Mindanao (the Canadian Embassy’s additional pledge of P40 million for the Mindanao Trust Fund), Leah Navarro’s email about the killing of Solema Jubilan, came in.
Jubilan was a human rights lawyer and congressional candidate for the second district of Cotabato. Inquirer.net’s breaking news said Jubilan was “accidentally shot by a policeman who was also her relative” at about 7:45 p.m. Saturday. She was brought to Kidapawan City hospital where she died.
The policeman, identified in the report only as “Moreno” is now in the custody of Kidapawan police.
1.The Concerned Citizens Group is holding a forum “Calm before the Storm” on May 3, Thursday, ast 5:30 p.m. at the Manila Polo Club. Speakers:…
Noong isang linggo ibinasura ng Commission on Elections ang disqualification petition ni Pateros Mayor Jose Capco laban kay Alan Cayetano na tumatakbng senador sa ilalim ng partido ng Genuine Opposition.
Sinabi kasi ni Capco na hindi raw Pilipino si Alan na siyam na taon ng nanunungkulan bilang kongresista ng Taguig-Pateros.
Siyempre sinabi ng Comelec na walang batayan ang reklamo ni Capco. Hindi naman nakakagulat ang ganung deisyon ng Comelec. Ang nakakapagtaka nga ay kung bakit ang tagal-tagal bago sila nagdesisyon.