As always, we need to be violently jolted to do what is needed to be done. Whether the three recent incidents are harrowing enough for our authorities and lawmakers to move remain to be seen.
Bodies strewn after the gunbattle.Last Sunday, 13 people died in a gun battle in Atimonan, Quezon. The reports get uglier as the root of the shootout or rubout is being uncovered. Three of those killed were members of the Philippine National Police and another three had identification cards of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Reports said the killings have something to do with jueteng.
Reports said authorities recovered from the vehicles 11 .45 ca. pistols, a 9 mm pistol, an M14 rifle and an M16 carbine.
Last Friday, a defeated candidate for barangay captain, Ronald Bae, went on a rampage with his .45 cal. Gun in Kawit, Cavite killing eight people including a pregnant woman, two children and a taho vendor who just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
If you see any politician campaigning at the cemetery as we remember our loved ones who have passed away, erase his name from the list of the candidates that you will not vote in the May 2013 elections.
Even if they are not physically present many politicians take advantage of the crowd to have their followers distribute materials about them. The ultimate Epal.
Epal is slang which for the tagalog word ma-papel ( credit grabber or scene stealer).
Trillanes to public officials: don’t promote yourself using taxpayers’ money.In connection with anti-Epal campaign spearheaded by Vince Lazatin of Transparency and Accountability Network, Mae “Juana Change” Paner and Carlos Celdran, Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV has added his name to those who want to do away with this offensive practice of self-promotion using taxpayers money.
Last Tuesday, Trillanes, , who chairs the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization, filed a bill that seeks to eradicate the unethical practice among public officials of claiming credit for various public works projects funded by taxpayers’ money.
Senate Bill No. 3310 is the consolidated version of the bills filed by Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago
“This measure was put forward in relation to the prevalent unethical practice among our public officials who affix their names and/or pictures to announcement of projects which were funded or facilitated through their office, despite the fact that these projects were funded using the taxpayers’ money,” Trillanes said.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday accused Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile of being a “GMA lackey” for supposedly rushing a bill that would cut…
Victim of malicious reporting Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has issued the following statement regarding the rumor that he owns condo units in Mandaluyong:
“ Last 18 April 2012, Mr. Arnold Clavio alluded to me in his radio program over DZBB as the buyer of two condominium units in Twin Oaks at Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City amounting to seven million pesos each. This was the same subject of the column of Mr. Jojo Robles in Manila Standard on the same day and the radio program of Mr. Deo Macalma on 19 April 2012.
“ In response to these obviously well-orchestrated and malicious reports masquerading as blind items, I hereby categorically deny that I have bought a unit or units at the Twin Oaks Condominium, Mandaluyong City. I further state that I do not have any property not declared in my Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN).
Statement of Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario April 14, 2012, 6:50 pm.:
“As I said earlier, my meeting with Amb. Ma last night resulted in a stalemate. Notwithstanding, Amb. Ma has asked if we could commit to no surprises until we meet again to which I agreed.
“However, today, we received reports that the Philippine Coast Guard that 1) China sent back one of its white ships bringing the number of Chinese ships in the area back to two;2) A white Chinese aircraft with blue stripe was also sighted conducting flybys near Philippine Coast Guard vessel; and 3) A white Chinese ship harassed a Philippine-registered vessel with 9 French nationals which has been conducting archaelogical surveys.
“It appears there is an element that is lacking in our negotiations. I seek a deeper element of trust from our Chinese friends.”
The latest incident in Scarborough shoal reminds us of the issue of the non-inclusion of the sandbar, also known as Panatag , in the country’s baseline which was one of the points of conflict between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV in 2008. Trillanes was then in detention
If you missed the impeachment trial hearings last Monday (Jan. 30) and Thursday (Jan. 26), please visit VERA FILES’ Corona Impeachment trial page. The official…
Some “survivors” of what media calls the Nov. 29, 2007 “Manila Peninsula siege” got together with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (no, not at the Manila Pen).
Yesterday’s reunion had an added significance in the sense that Trillanes, Brig. Gen. (ret.) Danny Lim and other members of the Magdalo, who dared take on Gloria Arroyo at the height of her power, are now free. Trillanes is serving his electoral mandate in the Senate and Lim is deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Customs.
And Arroyo, their jailer?
It is now being debated whether she should be granted her request for a house arrest or be confined at a government facility. She has been charged with electoral sabotage in the 2007 election, a crime punishable by a life sentence and bail is not recommended.
This was taken inside Rizal room, a few minutes before authorities started tear gassing the hotel.Sa Martes,Nob. 29, ay pang-apat na taon makalipas ang tinatawag natin na “Manila Peninsula siege.”
Kinumusta ko sa aming abogado na si Romel Bagares ng Roque, Butuyan law office kung ano na ang nangyari sa aming isinampang kaso laban sa mga pulis at military na nanghuli sa amin (ang iba sa amin ay pinusasan) na inapela naming sa Court of Appeals. (Kinampihan kasi ni Makati RTC Judge Reynaldo Laigo ang mga pulis at military kahit na sinabi ng Commission on Human Rights na ang paghuli sa amin a”constitutes arbitrary arrest/detention in violation of human rights standards.”)
Abigail Valte
No doubt that Gloria Arroyo and her cohorts would encourage dissatisfaction with the Aquino government but floating a destabilization rumor to divert attention from the Malacanang’s public management bungling of the Oct. 18 Albarka tragedy is a big turnoff.
Peace adviser: MILF to be charged if P5-M aid misspent
The Aquino administration on Thursday vowed to hale the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to court if a P5-million “aid” for a leadership institute is found to be spent for “lawless elements” instead.
But presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles insisted the P5-million transaction was above board, and that the money was for establishing a Bangsamoro Management and Leadership Institute.
“Certainly if we can see the P5 million was spent for lawless elements, criminal charges will follow. That is the way it is in any such transaction,” Deles said in an interview on dwIZ radio.
Probably anxious to contain the public’s outrage over the seemingly lack of anger by the President against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which killed 19 soldiers in an encounter last Oct, 18, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte confirmed rumors of destabilization plot against the Aquino government in the wake of talks of widespread demoralization in the military.
A cavalier, a term used for graduates of the Philippine Military Academy, forwarded to me a series of texts.The first one was this:”Let us not forget the uncavalier act of Antonio Trillanes that humiliated and shamed Cav Reyes to the public.
“When the proper time comes, let every cavalier judge Antonio Trillanes and put him where he rightfully belongs.The time of reckoning is about to come.”
It was followed by other Trillanes demolition texts which were circulated immediately after the 2003 Oakwood incident and revived during the 2007 senatorial campaign. It’s about the finances and rifts in Magdalo. Those misinformations have been answered by Trillanes.
One PMAer also texted me that in the forthcoming PMA alumni homecoming, there’s a plan by some to put up a streamer, “Let’s boycott Trillanes in the next national election. Be a wise voter!”
Former AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon (Class ’74) has chimed in and said he was also hurt of the treatment by Trillanes (Class ’95) of Reyes (Class ’66). He said, “Sobrang yabang ng batang ‘yan” (That young man is so arrogant.)
