Arroyo skips Lakas proclamation; in Laguna with Villar
By Maricar Cinco
Inquirer Southern Luzon
First Posted 16:58:00 02/09/2010Filed Under: Elections, Eleksyon 2010, Politics, Inquirer Politics
SAN PEDRO, Laguna—Amid speculations that Malacañang has thrown its support to the Nacionalista party (NP), its standard bearer Manuel Villar and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were in the same city in Laguna, almost at the same time, as the campaign period formally kicked off Tuesday.
Villar, with running mate Senator Loren Legarda and his senatorial slate, was in Calamba City for the party’s proclamation rally.
Arroyo, on the other hand, was also in Calamba for her “Education for All” legacy campaign.
Just think of it. Take away those annoying ads from the airwaves, and Manny Villar is nothing.
Just look at the debates and forums held where Villar participated. His performance is pathetic. If I am a Villar supporter, I would cringe everytime he speaks. Nakakahiya. His ideas are not inspiring and when he talks, he lacks self confidence.
The only good thing on Manny Villar in the forums are his lambast against Noynoy Aquino. But even at this he sound self serving. “ako hindi ako umaasa sa mga magulang ko…” My goodness.
His actions in the Senate hearing on the Committee Report on the C-5 mess is very deplorable. He hides. And when he appears he suddenly disappears without showing a little courtesy on his colleagues by telling them. Para na lang siyang asong umalis.
Furthermore, if Villar is really innocent in all of the charges, why cant he face his colleagues straight in the eye, engage them in the interpellation, and tell them in their faces, “I did not do it.” Why just walk away?
To Villar’s supporters, is this the guy whom you HONESTLY believe will bring the Philippines to greatness for the next six years? Even if he is not yet President he is already showing arrogance and high handedness. Just look at the C-5 road mess. It is very clear and evident Villar diverted the road to pass to his many subdivisions, jack up its value and make a fortune out of it. He did these without his eyes blinking.
This early, Villar shows what kind of a President he will be if elected. It is still much the same as Gloria.
Or even much worse! (which is more likely)
Whichever will be, the Filipino people stands to be the biggest loser.
The handlers of Gibo Teodoro are selling him as Mr. Galing at Talino, as a description of Gibo’s achievements and intellectual superiority. This could have been alright, after all Gibo himself advocated for positive campaigning, a call which is not heeded to the letter by his supporters.
While Gibo fans are praising the brilliance of their candidate, they at the same time belittling Noynoy Aquino. They say Noynoy Aquino got a fat egg as far as passing laws are concerned. Yet, they glossed over the fact that Noynoy has filed hundreds of bills while in Congress, some of them signed or lapsed into law. These has been answered again and again but the Gibo loyalist kept on repeating it.
However, if we take a closer look at the laws passed by Gibo while in Congress, it yielded the following:
HB02478
AN ACT GRANTING THE RADIO MARIA FOUNDATION, INC. A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN FOR RELIGIOUS AND NONCOMMERCIAL PURPOSES RADIO BROADCASTING STATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Status: REPUBLIC ACT RA09354 (Lapsed into law on 2006-09-2HB03932
AN ACT CONVERTING THE CONCEPCION-CAPAS ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF CONCEPCION AND CAPAS, PROVINCE OF TARLAC INTO A NATIONAL ROAD
Status: REPUBLIC ACT (RA09349) enacted on 2006-08-04HB03935
AN ACT CONVERTING THE RAMOS-PURA ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF RAMOS AND PURA, PROVINCE OF TARLAC INTO A NATIONAL ROAD
Status: REPUBLIC ACT (RA09350) enacted on 2006-08-04HB03936
AN ACT CONVERTING THE VICTORIA-LA PAZ ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF VICTORIA AND LA PAZ, PROVINCE OF TARLAC INTO A NATIONAL ROAD
Status: REPUBLIC ACT (RA09351) enacted on 2006-08-04HB03938
AN ACT CONVERTING THE ANAO-RAMOS ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF ANAO AND RAMOS, PROVINCE OF TARLAC INTO A NATIONAL ROAD
Status: REPUBLIC ACT (RA09352) enacted on 2006-08-04
A careful reading of these measures and one can conclude that these are bills of local application. Take note also that these 4 of these bills are passed in one day while the other just lapsed into a law a month after. These laws were past during the last term of Gibo Teodoro. So what was Gibo doing during his first two terms in Congress aside from leading the impeachment of then Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.?
Now compare this to the legislative record of Noynoy Aquino. Noynoy has filed bills of local application. Some are pending in the Committee. Some signed and passed into law. If we will take a closer look, it is fair to conclude that in terms of legislative accomplishments, Noynoy and Gibo are not far from each other. They are most likely at par with each other in this department.
So where is this vaunted superiority of Gibo in terms of achievement and track record they are harping about? The records speak for itself. The enlightened voters cannot be tricked into believing this black propaganda against Noynoy for the truth shall set us free.
Killings in just a span of 1 month? I think the Comelec should seriously consider the municipality of Taganaan in Surigao del Norte as a hotspot. Otherwise, more killings and bloodshed will happen once the campaign period went into high gear.
The killings have a tell tale signs of political vendetta. Last December, its an ally of Nacionalista Party running under the Barbers group was once gunned down. This time, its the supporter of Lakas CMD under the Matugas group who was murdered.
Comelec must act now before its too late.
Reposted from ABS CBNNEWS.COM
Gibo’s local ally slain in Surigao Norte
SURIGAO – An ally of Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro has been shot dead in Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte, police said Tuesday.
Oscar Animo, a local organizer for Teodoro and his party in May’s election, was gunned down as he rode his motorcycle through a Tagana-an town.
Police in Tagana-an town said the killing was likely due to a personal grudge, but Lakas-Kampi vice-president Francisco Matugas insisted the murder was linked to the election.
“It was politically motivated. He was killed precisely because he was our supporter and local coordinator,” Matugas told reporters.
Matugas did not say who might be behind the killing.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has endorsed Teodoro as her chosen successor but he has so far struggled in opinion polls.
Animo is the 2nd political figure to be murdered in Tagana-an in the run-up to May’s elections. Wilbert Suanco Origenes, an opposition candidate for vice-mayor, was shot dead in December last year.
Reposted from Philippine Daily Inquirer
Kin of victims recall crash of Cebu Pacific flight 387
By Ma. Cecilia Rodriguez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:50:00 02/03/2008CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The youngest of Marlene Oca’s five sons had just turned 1 year old when her husband Ric died, along with 103 other passengers of the ill-fated Cebu Pacific flight 387, on Feb. 2, 1998.
Ten years after the tragic event, Marlene said she has moved on, but sometimes think it may have been easier to raise her teenage boys if Ric was still around.
“He could have given better advice to his sons on how to court girls,” she chuckled.
On the eve of the 10th year anniversary of the Flight 387 tragedy, Marlene and other relatives of the crash victims shuttled to Claveria, Misamis Oriental to once again remember their loved ones.
A shrine, which was built at the foot of Mt. Sumagaya, serves as a memorial for the victims, including those whose bodies were never recovered.
At the shrine, the victims’ families recall the day when body bags were being piled one after the other as they waited anxiously for news about possible survivors.
Then the reality struck. There was no survivor.
Relatives from all over the country are expected to visit the shrine starting yesterday to offer prayers for their dead.
“We expect at least 200 family members to visit the shrine and the Oro Garden Memorial Park in Lumbia during the anniversary,” said Charlie Palpalatok, human relations officer of the Cebu Pacific office here.
Aside from relatives, members of rescue teams that helped in the search and retrieval of the victims are also attending the events marking the tragedy.
Marlene said the tragedy has transformed the victims’ families into stronger ones.
She recounted that a year after the tragedy, she and the other widows decided to form a small support group through which they channeled their grief and anxiety over losing their husbands.
There is a misconception now on the COA finding jailed Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that he spend 250,000 pesos in traveling expenses. To the cynics and detractors, it will appear that Sen. Trillanes wasted this money even if he was not able to attend a single Senate session.
But let us remind them that Trillanes is a duly elected Senator of the Republic voted by no less than 8 million votes! While he was not be able to attend a single session, he is entitled to a staff and of course, the budgetary allocations for an elected Senator.
So what is wrong if Trillanes spent 250,000 pesos as long as there is no irregularity in the spending? So what if Trillanes did not Senate session? Does it mean he cannot discharge the function of a Senator even if this privilege is deprive of him?
If there is to be blame for Trillanes failure to attend in the Senate session, blame it to the Arroyo government who disrespected the will of the 8 million Filipinos who elected Trillanes! If the repressive Arroyo government can deprive Trillanes right to be present in the Senate, it is but rightful to Trillanes to exact his revenge by availing of the budget appropriated for his office which he earned honestly.
I am not saying my candidate, Noynoy Aquino is not intelligent. He is intelligent of course. He studied in Ateneo and he inherited the brains of his father and the compassion of his mother. Its just that Noynoy Aquino is unique in his own ways. But I do not doubt on his sincerity. This is what I am banking on.
His cousin Gibo is different. He was a bar topnotcher and studied in Harvard. His eloquence always show in forums. He is very articulate and can think fast. This is something where the youth are impressed with.
But here lies the danger. Intelligent candidates if they can make it to the Presidency can wiggle out in every situation because they can justify their actions and still sound credible and believable. Just take a look at the recently concluded youth forum in De La Salle University. In a question whether he will put Gloria Arroyo to justice of her deeds as President, Gilbert Teodoro answered in this manner,
“If I say ‘yes,’ I might be accused of riding on the popular sentiment against a party mate and former boss in the Cabinet. If I say ‘no,’ I would be depriving myself of the objectivity I need as President.”
It is said in the report that cheers erupted after his answer. Now, the applause is a result maybe not on the believability of his statement but on how he “escaped” on the very difficult question, Harry Houdini style. People applauded him because of his great escape act not because we are convince with his statements.
Frankly, if Teodoro say yes to prosecuting Arroyo, I will never think of him as riding a popular sentiment. I will applaud him. Why? Because prosecuting Gloria Arroyo and made her accountable for her misdeeds is the RIGHT thing more than being a popular one.
You already have a bird’s eye view what will be the kind of President Gibo will be if elected. We are still talking here about questions in a debate? How about if Gibo will commit questionable and illegal acts? He like Marcos, can explain everything and because he is able to play with his words he can wow the people with his eloquent answers but altogether evade the real issue.
Ferdinand Marcos was able to rule the country because people are so brainwashed with his intelligence that they thought he cannot go wrong with his decisions. It took 20 years for the people to wake up from its stupor and only through a miracle like Edsa People Power.
People should look beyond the facade of each candidate. Outward projections are deceiving. It would be wise to look into their backgrounds and the people they are affiliated with to unmask the real person. In the case of Gibo, knowing the people who are pulling his strings, is good enough to conclude that he is a candidate to be avoided.
I stumbled upon an article from the Philippine Star mentioning that Gibo may be a master in politics but not in his house. Boo Chanco said the rift between Gibo Teodoro and his uncle Danding is caused by Gibo’s wife, Nikki Prieto, according to Gibo’s cousin, Mark Cojuangco.
This disturbing because if this is true then we will have another Imelda Marcos and Mike Arroyo figure in Malacanang if ever Gibo Teodoro will be elected President.
The similarities are quite eerie. Gibo is a bar topnotcher like Ferdinand Marcos while Nikki Teodoro is as stunning as Imelda Marcos. Imelda Marcos has her way on Ferdinand which Nikki may have done the same on Gibo. This is something, the voters should also consider aside from the fact that Gibo is the candidate of the much maligned administration.
Here is the excerpt of that Philippine Star article.
Joey Salceda for President
DEMAND AND SUPPLY By Boo Chanco (The Philippine Star) Updated January 27, 2010 12:00 AM…
The other thing with Gibo is… unlike Gov Joey, Gibo has a wife he may potentially have difficulty controlling once in office. Even Gibo’s relatives are wary about his wife, who they say, is at the root of the problems between Gibo and his uncle Danding. When I once asked Mark Cojuangco months before the campaign season started if Gibo was running for President, the stark reply I got was: “according to his wife.” It gave the impression Gibo is not in full control of his decisions.
To put it bluntly, those who know Gibo tell me that eloquent as he may be in public, all that is lost in the house. Then again, us husbands know how our wives mostly get the last word… but then we aren’t running for president. A runaway First Lady (or Gentleman) may be bad for the image of the President but could be disastrous for the nation, if history is to be our guide.
There are those who say that the late President Marcos started going downhill in earnest after he lost control of Imelda. He could no longer say No to Imelda after he was caught in the Dovie Beams scandal.
While Gibo doesn’t look like he will take risks like Marcos did with a Dovie Beams, we cannot afford a repeat of a First Lady acting as if we elected a conjugal presidency. Our liberty, our lives depend on the character of the next president’s family members.
Wives and even mothers-in-law and grown up children of future presidents are part of the package we are voting for. Women and children cannot be spared vetting in this electoral process. We have to be sure they are not capable of getting away with murder, in a manner of speaking. They should thus, also be vetted as hard as we vet the candidates themselves. We are looking for a future first lady like Ming Ramos, intelligent, with high moral values and knows her place in the scheme of things.
Based on most of our recent experiences with Presidential spouses and grown up children, I am on the brink of advocating a constitutional amendment that will require future presidents to be celibate. But that’s not necessary if only we can vote for Gov Joey now.
The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued a statement relating to the upcoming May 2010 Presidential elections. In a pastoral letter they urge Catholics to follow their conscience and not on surveys in voting for candidates. They urged voters to vote for candidates who will fit in their previously issued guidelines, that is, the candidate must have: competence, leadership, personal integrity and a commitment to the common good.
I feel that the statement is a direct swipe against front runner Noynoy Aquino who has earlier expressed his support for the Reproductive Health Bill which the Church is vigorously campaigning against.
Now if the Catholic Church is telling their members not to vote for Noynoy, who then they have in mind? Villar? Erap? Gibo? or Gordon? Any of the four may have the qualities they (the bishops) are searching for but not all. If Noynoy is not only supporting the RH bill, he will perfectly fit to the criteria they set.
I am a Catholic, and I am starting to get confused with the way our Bishops are acting nowadays. It seems that they are just consumed with this RH bill that they tend to ignore that there are other more pressing issues of the day, like corruption, cheating, patronage politics in the government. It seems that when it comes to these issues, the Bishops are just shrugging it off like it didnt matter after all.
I am losing my respect for the Bishops (but not losing my Catholic faith) every time they open their mouths on when it comes to politics. If they are trying to show their conservative views they must do it consistently. Is being a conservative now only means, anti contraception but pro corruption?
Lastly, do you mean to say, good Bishops, that when the people responded to the surveys, they did not follow their conscience? This is misleading. The Bishops should know that the surveys reflect the conscience of the people. Their conscience is to put a stop of corrupt politicians being elected President again. Therefore there is no point calling the people to follow their conscience when they make it known with their preference in the surveys.
The camp of Manny Villar again published the results of the December 26-27, 2009 SWS survey commissioned by its ally Rep. Ronaldo Zamora. This time, instead of the normal survey of all the Presidentiables, it is publishing the scenario surveys i.e. surveys in case one or two candidates withdraw from the race.
Now this same survey is included in the December 26-27, 2009, why published it again this time and passed it up as a new survey? The intention is clear. To show that Villar is catching up with Noynoy.
However, there is another reason for the “recycling” of the same survey. This week Villar is facing censure of his role in the controversial C-5 extenstion road project which he ducked all along. His ally, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, dismissed the Senate Committee report as political timed when the field workers of the survey firms are conducting the interviews for the next SWS survey and Pulse Asia results. So the Villar camp, as part of damage control made a press release of the same biased survey to preempt the negative publicity to be generated by the C-5 project road mess which they feared will adversely affect Manny Villar’s rating in the next uncommissioned and unbiased survey.
