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ellen tordesillas Posts

Schizophrenia: Arroyo’s survival

Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, head of the National Capital Region military command, is now acting as spokesman for Gloria Arroyo.

He gave to media Arroyo’s supposedly exact quote when she visited the Baseco compound slum last Saturday, which was: “Congratulations and keep up the good work.”

We have no reason to doubt Dolorfino’s report because Ignacio Bunye, the one who holds the title of presidential spokesman, has not denied Dolorfino’s quotation of his principal.

Nasira ang pagpa-papel ni Singson

Naisahan ba tayo ni Jun Ducat at Chavit Singson?

Tinatanong ko ito kasi ng mapakinggan ko si Ducat sa radyo noong Miyerkoles, nakisimpatiya naman ako sa kanyang crusada laban sa corruption at sa kinabukasan ng kanyang mga pinapa-aral na mga bata kahit na hindi ako sang-ayon sa kanyang paraan upang maparating sa publiko at sa kinauukulang ang kanyang mga isyu.

Ngunit ng gabi na yun, medyo nagtataka na ako bakit nandoon si Chavit Singson, ang kandidato ng Team GMA. Lumalaban ka sa corruption, tapos magkasama kayo ni Singson.

The crusade of Sabas Mabulo

Sabas Mabulo is running against Dato Arroyo, son of Gloria and Mike Arroyo, in Camarines Sur.

Against all Odds

By Sabas Mabulo

More than a decade ago, when I first entered government service by way of running in an elected position, it was clear in my mind that the only desire in me was to give a part of my life in the service for my people.

True enough, I was entrusted a sensitive post for 12 years (3 years as a municipal kagawad and 9 years as a local chief executive). But, least to my expectation and never in my wildest dreams have I considered the thought of wanting a higher post other than what was granted to me by my town folks for I am aware that, that would be like paddling against all odds.

Bizarre indeed

I looked at the statistics of the Department of Education and I deeply understand why Jun Ducat had to do something drastic for the 145 children in his Musmos Day Care Center.

DepED statistics (2004) showed that for every 100 children Grade One pupils in the Philippines, only 51 or about half manage to finish high school.

DepEd has this term “cohort survival rate” (CSR) that means “the proportion of enrollees at the beginning grade or year who reach the final grade or year who reach the final grade or year at the end of the required number of years of study.”

Alston warns of dire consequences

Update:The militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) yesterday urged President Arroyo to immediately comply with the recommendations of United Nations special rapporteur Philip Alston on ending the wave of extrajudicial killings. Click here.

Philip Alston, United Nations special rapporteur on extra-judicial killings in the Philippines, warned of dire consequences of a failure to end extrajudicial killings.

“The consequences of a failure to end extrajudicial killings in the Philippines will be dire. Efforts to resolve the various insurgencies will be set back significantly. Incentives to opposition groups to head for the hills rather than seek to engage in democratic politics will be enhanced, and international support for the Government will be undermined,” he said in his preliminary report submitted to the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva last March 15.

Halata ang kamay ni Mike Arroyo

Napanood nyo ba noong Martes ng gabi ang Strictly Politics?

Nagwalk-out si Oliver Lozano, handler ni Joselito Cayetano, ang kandidato para senador para pampasira kay Alan Cayetano.

Ang guest ni Pia Hontiveros ay sina Alan Cayetano at Oliver Lozano at ang topic ay ang desisyon ng first division ng Comelec na i-deklara si Joselito na “nuisance candidate” o pampagulo lang.

Duque’s P1B bag of goodies

Malaya’s editorial:

We were prepared to believe the Palace was honest in saying the P1 billion hunger-easing fund would not be used to buy support for administration candidates. Easing hunger pangs is beyond politics. So by all means, we told ourselves, let’s give Gloria Arroyo the benefit of the doubt.

Our new-found charity toward the basic decency of Gloria and her subalterns was immediately rudely shattered, however, by the Palace announcement that Health Secretary Francisco Duque would serve as point man in an inter-agency ad hoc committee handling the war against hunger.

After his designation as anti-hunger “czar,” Duque appealed to everyone to shun partisanship and work hand in hand in providing a food safety net for the poorest of the poor. One out of five families going without food even if only once in three months is unacceptable. Duque said the battle against hunger will show dramatic results in six months.

Not yet time to rejoice

Yesterday, I was starting to write this column and my opening sentence was: “As long as Joselito Cayetano is not declared a nuisance candidate, I will regard Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos as the hatchet man of Mike Arroyo.”

A few minutes after 12 noon, I got a text message from Comelec spokesman James Arthur Jimenez: “Joselito Cayetano has been disqualified.”

Jimenez said Commissioner Resureccion Borra, in a press conference, announced the decision of the Commission’s first division to declare Joselito Cayetano as a nuisance candidate.

Joselito Cayetano disqualified!

Breaking news! Joselito Cayetano has been disqualified, Commissioner Resurrection Borra announced in a presscon.

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said the First Division of the Comelec ruled that Joselito Cayetano is “a nuisance candidate.”

Jimenez quoted Commissioner Romeo Brawner saying that Joselito Cayetano has not shown the capacity to wage a nationwide campaign.

Ang Kapatiran

Sa panahon ngayon na para ka magiging senador ay kailangan kang gumastos ng P250 milyon (pinakamababa) hanggang P500 milyon para manalo, mayroon din namang mga kandidato na hindi sumusunod sa ganitong malaking kahibangan.

Dapat naman talaga ganun. Kasi naman common sense lang, bakit ka naman gagastos ng ganyan kalaking pera sa kampanya lang para magiging senador na ang sueldo lang ay P40,000 a month lang yata.

Ang malaking gastos sa kampanya ay siyang ugat ng talamak na kurakutan sa pamahalaan. Kasi naman, saan ba naman babawiin ng mga kandidato na yan an ang kanilang gastos, di sa kaban ng bayan?