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Arroyo under new media challenge

Published by Ellen on November 18, 2006

This article by Raissa Robles, is in today’s (Saturday, November 18, 2006 ) issue of Hongkong-based South China Morning Post.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo insists her government is “committed to freedom of media as the bailiwick of Philippine democracy”.

But her claims have failed to convince critics, one of whom received a death threat the day before Mrs Arroyo replied to concerns raised by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce.

On Wednesday her government was also condemned for its “abject failure” to investigate extra-judicial killings and prosecute those involved, in a report prepared by the Hong Kong Mission for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines.

Continue readingArroyo under new media challenge

No dearth of honorable men

Published by Ellen on November 16, 2006

Commenting on the arrest of former Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Gloria Arroyo, through her spokesman Ignacio Bunye, said “No one can make a mockery of the law… and get away with it.”

She should tell that to herself. She has been making a mockery of the law, beginning with her power grab in February 2001, to her cheating in the 2004 elections, to her EO 464 destroying the government’s check and balance mechanism; to her Calibrated Pre-emptive Response, to her Proclamation 1017 which was martial law in disguise. We are just mentioning a few because the list is long.

She also said Honasan’s arrest “brings to a close a broad conspiracy to destabilize the government and is a harbinger of growing political stability underlying steady economic growth.”

She is dreaming. She should have been there at Department of Justice during the preliminary investigation of 49 persons charged with rebellion last Monday.

Sabwatang Gloria at Mike laban sa media

Published by Ellen on November 15, 2006

Dumistansya si Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye sa mga pulis na na pumunta sa Malacañang Press Working area para mag-aresto kay Mia Gonzales, reporter ng Business Mirror at correspondent ng Newsbreak Magazine noong Lunes.

Sabi ni Bunye na sana hindi nagkaroon ng kontrobersya ang pagpatupad ng batas tungkol sa warrant of arrest ni Gonzales kung nakipag-ugnayan ng maayos ang mga pulis sa kanyang opisina.

Ang opisina ni Bunye ay sa third floor ng New Executive building sa Malacañang compound. Ang press working area ay sa ground floor.

Gringo captured

Published by Ellen on November 14, 2006

Former Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, wanted for charges of rebellion against Gloria Arroyo, was captured early this morning (about 2:45 a.m.) at Green Meadows in Quezon City.

Honasan sustained a deep cut in his right foot and a sprain in his left foot after he tried to elude arrest by jumping off from the second floor of the townhouse reportedly owned by a certain Ingrid Ramos in Green Meadows.

Initially detained at the CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, he was later transferred to the PNP General Hospital where he was treated.

Business with conscience puts Arroyo on defensive

Published by Ellen on November 14, 2006

Gloria Arroyo practically told the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFC) yesterday that they are listening too much to her critics.

In answer to the letter of executives of seven major US retail giants that source garments from the Philippines expressing concern on the killings of militat labor leaders and critics, Arroyo said through her spokesman Ignacio Bunye,”We are fully aware that there is a continuing, insidious propaganda campaign to undermine public trust in the government.”

“We condemn these killings,” Arroyo said as she admitted that “They are a smear to Philippine democracy and the rule of law.

Here’s the letter that Arroyo was reacting to:

Supporting men of honor

Published by Ellen on November 13, 2006

Outside the DOJ:

Investigating men of honor

Published by Ellen on November 13, 2006

Following are scenes from today’s preliminary investigation of 51 persons, both military and civilian, accused of rebellion against Arroyo’s bogus presidency.

MGen. Renato Miranda. To his left, partly hidden is Col. Ariel Querubin

Judicial shortcut almost led to journalist’s arrest

Published by Ellen on November 13, 2006

Six policemen yesterday came to the Malacañang Press Working Area to arrest Mia Gonzales, Malacañang reporter of Business Mirror and contributing reporter of Newsbreak.

The arrest was in connection with the libel suit against Gonzales filed by Mike Arroyo for an article Mia wrote in Newsbreak in June 2004 which mentioned the perception that Mike Arroyo is crooked and influences official decisions as problems facing Gloria Arroyo in her new term as president.

The strange thing about the warrant of arrest was, the respondents never received a resolution on the case. Newsbreak editor-in-chief Maritess Vitug said, “We deplore the shortcut of the judicial process.”

Gonzales did not report for work yesterday. Vitug said Gonzales will post bail tomorrow.

Following is Philippine Daily Inquirer online report:

Original sin confirmed anew

Published by Ellen on November 12, 2006

Sideswept by Atong Ang’s high-powered arrival last Friday was the testimony of the owner of the printing press that printed some of the official election returns that the ERs inside the ballot boxes in Congress are fake.

Robert Payongayong, manager of Ernest Printing, made the explosive revelation at the hearing of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal of the election protest of Loren Legarda, vice presidential candidate of the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkaisang Pilipino against the proclaimed winner, Noli de Castro of the administration’s Koalisyon ng Karapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan.

Payongayong said the ERs being kept under guard in Congress are “fake” but those submitted by the Commission on Elections and the National Movement for Free Elections were “genuine”.

Nemenzo’s statement

Published by Ellen on November 12, 2006

Today, the Department of Justice will start the preliminary investigation on military officers and civilians accused of rebellion in connection with the February 24, 2006 activities.

The hearings will be at 10 a.m at the DOJ Multi-purpose building.

Among those accused are 21 military officers, two police officers, six retired military officers, 21 civilians and several John Does.

Included in the list are Brig. Gen. Renato Miranda; Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim; Col. Ariel Querubin; Col. Orlando de Leon; Col. Januario Caringal; Ct. Col. Armando Bañez; Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon; Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian.

Also included amoing the accused are former Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan , and former UP President Franciso Nemenzo, whom they erroneously listed as “Prudencio ‘Dodong’ Nemenzo” apparently mixing him up with former president of the Polytechnic of the Philippines, Nemensio Prudente.

Nemenzo issued the following biting statement on today’s investigation:

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