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Esperon assails Melo, Alston credibility

Published by Ellen on February 22, 2007

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. yesterday assailed the credibility of separate investigations conducted by a United Nations special rapporteur and the Melo Commission that blamed the military for the rash of extrajudicial killings.

Esperon sought to turn the tables on UN special rapporteur Philip Alston who said Wednesday the military “remains in a state of almost total denial” over the killings which have been “convincingly attributed to them.”

“I believe that Mr. Alston might be in a state of denial himself. He probably refuses to believe that the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army could perpetrate such killings,” said Esperon.

The Melo report

Published by Ellen on February 22, 2007

INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO

ADDRESS MEDIA AND ACTIVIST KILLINGS

Created under Administrative Order No. 157 (s. 2006)

INTRODUCTION

There is no shirking the fact that people, almost all of them activists or militants, have been killed. There is no denying the reality that militant citizens have been liquidated. The numbers vary. Task Force Usig of the Philippine National Police listed down one hundred eleven (111) killings, which has since increased to one hundred thirty six (136). Amnesty International, in its official website, mentions 244 victims. The group Karapatan is said to have counted at least 724 killings. Unfortunately, none of the so-called activist/militant groups, be they outright communist or satellite groups, came forward if only to inform the Commission of the numbers of their members who have become victims of extrajudicial killings. Be this as it may, the number, whether at a low of 111 according to Task Force Usig, or a high of 724 of Karapatan, is one too many.

Alston statement

Published by Ellen on February 22, 2007

Report of Professor Phillip Alston, Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Manila, 21 February 2007

I have spent the past ten days in the Philippines at the invitation of the Government in order to inquire into the phenomenon of extrajudicial executions. I am very grateful to the Government for the unqualified cooperation extended to me.

During my stay here I have met with virtually all of the relevant senior officials of Government. They include the President, the Executive Secretary, the National Security Adviser, the Secretaries for Defense, Justice, DILG and the Peace Process. I have also met with a significant number of members of Congress on different sides of the political spectrum, the Chief Justice, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Chair of the Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman, the members of both sides of the Joint Monitoring Committee, and representatives of the MNLF and MILF.

Lalong nabubuhay kapag habang pilit pinapatay

Published by Ellen on February 21, 2007

Nagsampa na naman ng panibagong kaso si Mike Arroyo sa Inquirer.

Ito ay kaugnay sa artikulong “Mike A didn’t go to Marawi? Tell that to the Marines” na sinulat ni Fe Zamora noong March 2, 2006.

Kaya pang-46th na si Fe Zamora sa listahan ng mga journalists na sinampahan ni Arroyo ng kasong libel. Ang ibang mga kasama niya ay dati ng nasampahan ni Arroyo ng libel suit tungkol naman sa sinulat ni Ramon Tulfo tungkol sa smuggling ng isang babae na malapit raw sa nakatira sa Malacañang.

Selling one’s soul

Published by Ellen on February 20, 2007

.Here’s an interesting item from the blog of Susan Ople.

I have this on good authority.

Detained Navy Lt. SG Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes was recently offered campaign funds amounting to P4 million by a known jueteng lord. Despite meager funds, certainly not enough to finance a full-blown TV ad campaign, the senatorial candidate of GO refused the offer.

That P4 million would have been enough to at least cover the expense of a few radio spots, campaign posters, and mobilization costs of his volunteers. That he turned it down speaks volumes about this young guy’s principles.

Continue readingSelling one’s soul

Pagnanakaw sa taumbayan

Published by Ellen on February 19, 2007

Sa interview ni Cesar Montano kay Nini Valera sinabi niya na Malacañang ang aako ng lahat na gastos niya sa kampanya. Sinabi rin ni Montano na marami rin raw na kaibigan ang magaabuloy sa kanyang kumpanya.

Ang ibig sabihin lang nito ay wala siyang sariling gagastusin. Manalo man o matalo, wala siyang lugi.

Kaya ang sinabi nilang P30 milyon na mga TV roles at commercials na mawawala kay Montano ay mababawi niya sa ibibigay ng Malacañang. Kung wise siya, kikita pa siya.

Justice dep’t probes Cayetano citizenship

Published by Ellen on February 19, 2007

First the attempted expulsion from the House of Representatives. It failed. Next, fielding a nuisance candidate registering his name as Joselito “Peter” Cayetano. Now, it’s Alan’s citizenship.

All these can be linked to senatorial candidate Alan Peter Cayetano’s courage to bring to public attention the information about a multi- billion dollar in a German bank that could possibly be traced to the Arroyos.

The following report is by Evangeline de Vera for Malaya.

Is the government picking on Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano?

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said he received a tip last Saturday that Cayetano, a member of the 12-man Genuine Opposition senatorial ticket, is a “green card” holder, courtesy of his American mother.

Angara cites benefits siding with a cheat

Published by Ellen on February 19, 2007

Team GMA senatorial candidate says he admits that Gloria is a cheat. And yet he is with her. And he is asking Filipinos to vote for him!

Following story is by Gil C. Cabacungan Jr. in the Inquirer.

It sounds crass but senatorial candidate Edgardo Angara says it is true.

Angara said he believed his chances of winning in the May 14 elections had been enhanced by his decision to run under the administration ticket because this was an assurance that his votes would be “counted.”

Joke

Published by Ellen on February 19, 2007

Conrado de Quiros of the Inquirer is always good and inspiring reading. This one is searingly good.

I’ve always liked and respected Joker Arroyo. It’s not because he is a Bicolano. I don’t particularly like or respect the other Bicolanos who have been thrust into the limelight over the years, except for Raul Roco.

Joker I’ve liked and respected in the same way that I’ve always liked and respected Nene Pimentel. Despite drifting to the “Dark Side” at some point in their lives, they’ve kept a good deal of the “Force” inside them—in the form of defending human rights. That was how they made a name for themselves to begin with, as human rights lawyers. No, more than that, as people whose hearts burned with the libertarian fire.

Celebrating life with Tony Modena

Published by Ellen on February 18, 2007

Tony Modena, one of my journalism mentors, would have given me a tongue-lashing for not getting the story right under my nose. I got scooped. In newspapering, that’s a crime.

I didn’t know that Tony was sick. I talked with him last December by phone and we even planned of getting together with Yvonne Chua and Chit Estela, former Malaya editors who are now UP professors, before he went back to Israel. He never mentioned he was battling cancer of the lungs.

I was shocked last Saturday afternoon when I got a text from Charity (Mrs. Modena): “We, his family, thank you for sending Tony off with prayers. He passed away today.”

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