Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Philippines – Philippines declares state of emergency
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Chiz Escudero Decides Against Running In 2010 Philippine Elections
Kris Alingod – AHN Contributor Manila, Philippines (AHN) – Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday announced that he would not run in next year’s elections but insisted that he would keep his eye on the presidency. The leading candidates in polls, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino of the Liberal Party, has invited him to join his campaign. In an emotional press conference, the 40-year-old Escudero said, “I’ve always said that for me, it’s the presidency but not at all cost. Not at the cost of losing my soul, not at the cost of losing myself, not at the cost by being eaten up by the system and the process and certainly not at the cost of not being able to do the things that I was and set out to do.” He added in Filipino, “I have decided that even without being a candidate, I have a role to play as a Filipino and ordinary voter in this day and age… I am just as sad as you are, but with this sadness is the dream and promise that I continue to hope for: the promise of a new nation, the promise of a new change.” Escudero said he thought the decision would be easy, and that his abrupt departure from his party last month was part of his process of determining his plans without being tied to any outside agenda. The senator unexpectedly left the Nationalist People’s Coalition on Oct. 28 after more than a decade in the party, a rarity in a nation where party loyalties often give way to political expediency. A former congressman who only four years ago was voted one of the nation’s Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), Escudero was key in the impeachment efforts against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2005. He made his announcement less than week before the period for filing of certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections ends, and six months before voters cast ballots. Escudero was reported in recent weeks as considering a vice presidential run instead, a move that would have pitted him against Sen. Loren Legarda, another lawmaker popular among young voters. Legarda has welcomed Escudero’s announcement, but reminded voters about his broken pledge. “Three months ago, he asked me to be his vice presidential running mate, to which I agreed to in my desire to help present a meaningful platform of governance to our people,” Legarda said. “I am now asking Senator Escudero to join me in my fight – no make that our common battle – to help solve our country’s many problems, like poverty, hunger and the threats of climate change.” Legarda, a former late night news anchorwoman and the 2004 opposition party vice presidential candidate, is the only woman to top a national race twice. She is running under the Nacionalista Party ticket of Sen. Manny Villar, the richest member of the Senate. Aquino, meanwhile, called his colleague’s decision “a choice based on principle and on the need to promote a kind of leadership that goes beyond usual politics.” He added, “I am grateful for his friendship and I hope that I can convince him to join our team.” The only son of the late former President Corazon Aquino, the senator is ahead among a crowded field of presidential hopefuls in the latest Pulse Asia survey. His running mate is Sen. Mar Roxas, husband of a popular broadcast journalist and the grandson of Manuel Roxas, the nation’s first president. Roxas said in an interview with radio station DZRH on Tuesday he respects the decision of Escudero, whom he described as a friend and a fellow advocate in many causes. “Our party holds him in high regard,” Roxas said in Filipino. “We are really inviting him to join the cause of the Liberal Party and the People’s Campaign for change. That is what we seek: significant and real change.” The ruling party’s candidate, Gilberto Teodoro, was silent about the move by Escudero, but posted a story on his campaign website about a protest against the visit by Aquino and Roxas in Pampanga, the home province of the President. The protest was by supporters of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD coalition and farm workers from Hacienda Luisita, an estate owned by Aquino’s family where 14 farmers were killed in 2004 while demonstrating for better wages and the implementation of the land reform. Teodoro, a Harvard Law School graduate and son of one of the nation’s richest men, is running with actor Edu Manzano as his running mate. The Philippines is holding its first fully automated national elections in May. Other contenders for the presidency include former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, who was ousted and convicted of plunder, and Hermogenes Ebdane, who resigned as Public Works Department secretary last month to begin his campaign. Article � AHN – All Rights Reserved
The 2010 Presidentiables speak out on Maguindanao Massacre
Presidential candidates in the 2010 national elections condemned on Tuesday the Maguindanao massacre in which 43 persons were killed, including several journalists, a lady politician and two lawyers last Monday.
SENATOR BENIGNO AQUINO III
“We must unite ourselves in order to put an end to these killings,” Aquino said, standard bearer of the Liberal Party (LP).
Aquino said that the country’s new set of leaders should focus their efforts in curbing the worsening peace and order problem in Mindanao.
He emphasized that only by good governance can the government authorities reverse the situation in many areas of Mindanao that are often fazed with problems on rebellion, terrorism and other criminal activities.
HERMOGENES EBDANE
“The perpetrators must account for this brazen crime, and the government should do no less. Whoever is responsible for this gruesome act should be pursued endlessly and brought to justice,” Ebdane said.
Ebdane, standard bearer of Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka (PMM), also called for the immediate relief of all PNP officials in the province and the suspension of operational control by local executives over the police in the province following the massacre.
Ebdane said that he is starting a legal fund for the members of the media who were among those killed. As a personal commitment,
Ebdane is contributing P500,000 from his personal fund to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. “I invite all presidential candidates to contribute to this fund.”
GILBERT TEODORO
Teodoro urged government authorities to arrest the perpetrators whoever they may be of the mass murder in Maguindanao province.
“This goes beyond political alliances,’’ said Teodoro, standard bearer of Lakas-Kampi-CMD. He called for the arrest of Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the Maguindanao governor’s son, to face an impartial investigation for alleged complicity in the mass murder.
Teodoro also called for the disarming of “all non-governmental armed groups in the area” and an adequate security presence by the Armed Forces and the Police to prevent the incident from recurring.
BRO. EDDIE VILLANUEVA
Villanueva, standard bearer of Bangon Pilipinas Party, called on authorities to immediately put a stop to violence.
“If the Maguindanao massacre will not be immediately given attention, it might set a ruthless and shameless precedent not only for the local elections but also for the national,” said Villanueva in a statement.
The former human rights activist- turned-religious leader said what happened in Maguindanao is but a symptom of the lawlessness that prevails in the country today.
“This must be stopped immediately by the authorities who are in charge. Massacres should not define the 2010 elections,” Villanueva said.
SENATOR MANNY VILLAR JR.
The Nationalista Party headed by its standard bearer Senator Manny Villar and his running mate Senator Loren Legarda expressed outrage over the massacre and called on the Arroyo government to take a swift and decisive action to resolve the incident.
NP Spokesman Adel Tamano said the next two days will be a supreme test whether this government is capable of containing the volatile situation even he urged that perpetrators be immediately arrested and give justice to the victims.
source
Make your vote count
By AMBASSADOR JOSE A. ZAIDE
Efren Peñaflorida’s “Kariton Klassroom” made him CNN Hero of the Year. Two factors brought it about – his initiative to bring education to poor children and enough Filipinos to vote in internet.
We hope we can replicate this on May 2010 elections…that enough Filipinos exercise the vote to let the best candidate win.
In & Out of Love. While Piolo and KC mesmerize us in “Lovers in Paris,” the City of Lovers has a trade fair, “New Start,” for would-be divorced couples.
The fair’s organizer, Brigitte Gaumet, said she had the idea for the event after President Nicolas Sarkozy divorced his second wife months after taking office in 2007.
Germany’s former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a frequent-flyer divorcee himself, was said to favor the car Audi because it has four rings.
Russian PM Vladimir Putin came onstage in turtle neck and leather jacket to award prizes to Russian rappers at “Battle for Respect” hip-hop of Muz TV, Russian counterpart of MTV. Despite the street language of the culture, he rapped for clean-living.
Legislation. Sen. Edgardo Angara urged amendment of laws to exempt senior citizens from VAT on goods and services in SB No. 65. He said the left hand VAT took away the 20% discount that the right hand gave, leaving seniors a measley 8% discount.
Senatorial candidate Bongbong Marcos proposed “Debate sa Riles.” Intellectuals beyond Mang Pandoy and homespun wisdom are disqualified.
Safety. As a deterrent to criminality, a Quezon City councilor proposed an ordinance prohibiting motorcyclists' use of fully tinted face crash helmets. Right solution: Allow the tinted and arrest them on the spot.
Despite the law, Ric Bautista permanently straps his seatbelt on his Volvo so the car doesn’t keep reminding him to buckle-up. If he goes through the window, he will even sue the company for failure of the seatbelt.
Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado sought the help of former DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. in realizing a bridge connecting Getafe in Bohol to Cordova in Cebu. With a bridge, no need Ro-Ro. Padjak will be enough. Swerte ang Bohol with their governor – rico na aumentado pa.
DepEd bans cellphones during classes. Students can goggle the answers to quizzes.
Meralco CEO Manuel Lopez is introducing retail electricity to enable consumers to choose their electricity suppliers. Initially it does not include customers who use less that 1 MW. To those that have, more shall be given from those that have not, it shall be taken away.
QC Councilor Dr. Dorothy Delmarmente wants to put more teeth into the no-smoking act. You can tell the smokers… they have yellow teeth.
Philippine envoy to Cuba Ambassador MacArthur Corsino encourages Filipinos taking medicine to avail of full scholarships in a medical school in Cuba, which is outstanding for bio medicine. Two Filipinos, Herbert Baguiza and Robert Corpuz, have received academic citations.
The Asian Institute of Management study on “Philippine Cities Competitiveness” had Baguio slide to 18th in a list of 25 middle-size cities. Our Pines City given the cold shoulder.
AFP finishes 29 development projects. Give us peace and development follows.
Bakers claim flour millers can still slash prices. Better at the Mount of the Beatitudes, you can divide the loaves and multiply the fishes.
Newspaper readership in A, B groups up 64 percent. Either higher literacy or more people move up to A, B bracket.
Land Transportation Office Chief Arturo Lomibao called for “extreme measures” to eliminate anomalies in the emission testing of motor vehicles.
You only have to flag down the smoke belchers.
MMDA Chairman and still presidential wannabe Bayani Fernando inaugurated a public market in Tondo for illegal vendors and store owners occupying the Vitas tenement area. Named, whatya think, "Pamilihan ng Bayani."
QC put up world-class P7-million children’s playground at the Quezon Memorial Circle. The label says, “Made in China.”
5 more bodies uncovered in Philippine massacre
MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine police official says five more bodies have been recovered from a third mass grave for victims of the country's worst election violence. The discovery raises the death toll from the carnage to 57.
Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluna said the five remains found Wednesday were in addition to six bodies found earlier in the day in a large pit buried with three vehicles - the second mass grave discovered since Monday's attack on an election caravan.
No suspects have been formally named. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has been under local and international pressure to swiftly punish the attackers.
Police say they are investigating a member of a powerful clan along with four police officers.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
AMPATUAN, Philippines (AP) - Philippine authorities, under intense public pressure to make arrests in the country's worst election massacre, said Wednesday they are investigating a member of a powerful clan allied with the government along with four police commanders.
Officials recovered six more bodies Wednesday, bringing the death toll in Monday's attack on an election caravan to 52, including 18 journalists.
No suspects have been formally named in the killings, which provoked outrage beyond the Philippines, with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and media and human rights watchdogs calling on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to swiftly punish the attackers.
Arroyo vowed justice for the victims and declared a national day of mourning for them.
"This is a supreme act of inhumanity that is a blight on our nation," she said in a statement. "The perpetrators will not escape justice. The law will haunt them until they are caught."
The bodies were found sprawled a few miles (kilometers) off the main highway in southern Maguindanao province on a remote hilltop, and in two nearby mass graves. Two entire vehicles - a sedan and a van - were also buried in one of the graves, regional police Commander Josefino Cataluna said.
The vehicles were crushed by a large backhoe that ran over and buried them, crime investigator Jose Garcia said.
The dead included the family of gubernatorial candidate Ismael Mangudadatu and 18 Filipino journalists who were accompanying the caravan to file his election papers - the highest number of reporters killed in a single attack anywhere in the world, according to media groups.
Mangudadatu, after receiving death threats, sent his wife and relatives instead. He wanted to challenge a candidate from a rival clan, Andal Ampatuan Jr., whose family has ruled the province unopposed since 2001 with an iron fist backed up by private armies and legions of bodyguards.
Mangudadatu said four witnesses in his protection, whom he refused to identify, told him the convoy was stopped by dozens of gunmen loyal to Ampatuan, currently a town mayor. Mangudadatu's wife, two sisters and other relatives were killed.
Police said they are investigating reports that Ampatuan, four police commanders including the provincial police chief, and dozens of police and pro-government militiamen were among the gunmen who blocked the convoy.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Philippine News:Gilbert Teodoro Picks Edu Manzano As VP Running Mate
I haven’t blogged as much in the past few weeks. Not that there hasn’t been much happening, but actually the fact that there hasn’t been much posting here means that I’ve been quite busy lately. Mostly, I’ve been busy with organizing the co-founding of Green Agenda Philippines, which is an advocacy program part of the non-government organization called Earth Tribe Council. Loads of development there, which I hope to share here in the Philippines Funwall once things get a bit more concrete.
Also, with all the things going on in the country, I’ve just had to shrug my shoulders and kinda sigh. It’s not that I’m hopeless, but it’s just that I’d rather follow the wise words of Thumper who said, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say nothing at all.”
In keeping with that wise saying, I’d like to share my thoughts on the decision of defense secretary and presidential aspirant Gilbert Teodoro to pick showbiz personality Edu Manzano as his running mate for vice president.
In a previous post in the Philippines Funwall, I had some unkind words to say about Gilbert Teodoro and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) earlier in October at the height of the disasters brought by the storms that ravaged the Philippines. (You can read about what I had to say earlier by clicking here.)
Anyway, I did announce back then that Glbert Teodoro lost my vote. Well, he still hasn’t earned it, especially with his decision to take Edu Manzano as a running mate for vice president.
I admire Gilbert Teodoro to an extent, and I really am thankful that he was very dedicated during the relief and rescue operations despite the NDCC’s failure to a quick response. I’m certain it wasn’t his fault that the NDCC wasn’t equipped to deal with the disaster when Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) first struck, but Gilbert Teodoro has done well in being more prepared for the other storms to follow. And that I will give him credit for.
I guess Giblert Teodoro felt that he could run for President, given that he had done well to gain public recognition during his efforts at handling the disasters and storms. The next thing he needed to do was to find a running mate, and he shopped around some of the glitziest names of showbiz-politics, including Loren Legarda (former Senator and news anchor), Bong Revilla (Senator and action star), Tito Sotto (Senator and Eat Bulaga host) and Vilma Santos (Batangas governor and hall-of-fame actress).
Eventually, Gilbert Teodoro settled for Edu Manzano – the fomer Optical Media Board chairperson and also an actor. Gilbert Teodoro’s move to shop for a showbiz-political partner is similar to what Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did when she picked out running mate Noli De Castro for Vice President.
Gilbert Teodoro’s decision to opt (and shop around) for a showbiz-political partner makes me rethink how smart and “for the future” he really is. I mean – the mere fact – that he thinks showbiz personalities will bring him more votes just goes to show that he still is a traditional politician, who still believes in the popularity contest of the upcoming 2010 Philippine National Elections.
Well, certainly it is a popularity contest with all sorts of names to remember come election day. A voter’s list would have to include names of barangay captains, mayors, vice-mayors, city councilors, a congressman, 12 senators, a vice president and a president. And just imagine the list of names a voter has to weed out just to come up with that list.
Anyway, Gilbert Teodoro is the cousin of senator Noynoy Aquino, who is also gunning for the Presidential seat. They’re both nephews of Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr., the president of San Miguel Corporation. Now – what does that say to us about family and politics? The obvious presumption is that the family doesn’t get well enough to support the decision of another family member to run for a position, and then goes against that family member anyway. Certainly, such a situation would divide the family. And what is family if not the backbone of our society? With that argument in mind, I could presume that Gilbert Teodoro (and Noynoy Aquino for that matter) are not such dedicated members of their family, causing a great divide with their decision to run against each other for the Philppine Presidency.
Well – that’s just one issue. The news that Gilbert Teodoro was frantically shopping around for a vice president just goes to show his unpreparedness for the Presidential campaign. It seems like his decision to run for President is on a whim, probably fueled by his recent rise to political stardom over his overwhelming national publicity upon coordinating relief and rescue operations during Ondoy and Pepeng and other storms to follow.
Seriously, you’d think that someone who was prepared to run for President should’ve had a running mate to begin with. Now that just makes me rethink if Gilbert Teodoro is prepared at all for the task of Philippine President if he can’t even be prepared for a campaign for that position. With the elections nearing, Gilbert Teodoro hasn’t even yet established a political platform if he were to become President, and I think a true public servant for the people would’ve already thought of an agenda in helping restore the country prior to even running for any position.
All that Gilbert Teodoro has done is made himself more popular. He has yet to address the country’s needs and provide solutions for its problems. Or provide concrete steps in assuring that the solutions that are currently being worked on are kept in place.
Edu Manzano For Vice President of the Philippines
And then – he has Edu Manzano for a running mate. Well, I won’t comment much on Edu Manzano. I leave it up to the universe to expose him for what he truly is – an actor who knows how to play the part. Maybe the decision of Edu Manzano to run for vice president will be a wake-up call for him. Edu Manzano does have the heart to serve the public, and even ripped up his American passport when he ran for Makati City vice mayor to show his true patriotism. He won that election to become the vice mayor, but lost at the next electin when he ran for Makati City Mayor.
Since then, he has been sidelined in the political scene, and his small stint as a law enforcer for pirated CDs and DVDs (chairman of the OMB) doesn’t really say much for his capabilities to execute the law. Personally, I’ve heard more stories of other controversies about Edu Manzano, although I haven’t confirmed that myself. I guess it’s but natural for a popular figure to be surrounded by controversy, but I just hope that the notoriety will not do damage to the well-meaning Presidential campaign of Gilbert Teodoro and Edu Manzano.
At the very least, the Gilbert Teodoro and Edu Manzano campaign will surely be entertaining. Certainly, the political soirees of the Gibo-Edu pair will bring the likes of Luis Manzano (Edu’s son), maybe Angel Locsin (if Luis can keep her long enough), and Pinky Webb, whom Edu Manzano is currently dating. Maybe, his campaigns will even bring around his former wives like Vilma Santos and Maricel Soriano.
Hmm. Edu Manzano and his many wives. Now – that also says something about your vice presidential candidate. I wonder if Edu Manzano would be pro-divorce? If he is, then maybe he might win my vote after all.
For the sake of Edu Manzano – I just hope the snow doesn’t blow out in these tropics – which is my version of I just hope the shit doesn’t hit the fan.
Ocampo, Maza eye Senate, presidential bet to support
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — After making their mark in the House of Representatives, militant groups are expanding their wings.
Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo and Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Maza Thursday announced they are running for the Senate.
The militant groups have formed a coalition called Makabayan, and will decide whom to support for president and whom to ally themselves with for the May general elections.
But they would definitely choose someone from the opposition. The group has been talking to the camps of Senators Manuel Villar, Benigno Aquino III and Francis Escudero, according to Ocampo.
Of the three, Villar has been the most open since he has said that he is willing to accommodate the coalition’s two senatorial aspirants. Makabayan’s talks with Villar also began much earlier than those with any other candidate.
Aquino elusive
In contrast, Aquino has been the most elusive. Ocampo said the group had made overtures to Aquino that it wanted to talk with him, but it received feedback that he was “not too warm” to the idea.
But a meeting between Aquino and the militant groups has been scheduled next week with the help of former Sen. Wigberto Tañada, former president of Aquino’s Liberal Party.
The issue of agrarian reform in Hacienda Luisita, owned by Aquino’s family, remains a contentious point. But the group’s declaration is that it is not an enemy of Aquino because they have a common foe in President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, according to Ocampo.
Farmers groups in the Tarlac hacienda have been calling for its parceling out after the agrarian reform department struck down the stock distribution option that the hacienda owners exercised, and which allowed the land to be exempted from land distribution.
As for Escudero, Makabayan’s talks with him began before he resigned from the Nationalist People’s Coalition, and are continuing even after he left the party. Escudero, however, has yet to announce whether he would still run for president.
Focus on Satur
Ocampo said the Makabayan coalition was also considering the candidate’s platform when it would choose whom to ally itself with.
Ocampo will have the full attention of Bayan Muna as the party’s senatorial candidate, after Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño said he had abandoned plans to run for the Senate.
Instead, Casiño will seek a third term in the House as Bayan Muna’s No. 1 nominee for the 2010 elections and let the party focus on Ocampo, who he said was the best candidate for senator among all those who are running. Ocampo, a former journalist, is on his third and last term in the House.
The other two Bayan Muna nominees are lawyers Neri Colmenares and Joven Laura.
At the same time, an affiliated party-list group, Anakpawis, disclosed its list of nominees, which include peasant leader Randall Echanis. Echanis is out on bail for murder in connection with the communist purge in the 1980s, a charge he denies and claims as politically motivated.
Anakpawis’ other nominees are its incumbent representatives, Rafael Mariano and Joel Maglunsod.
Three million votes
Casiño pointed out that the presidential candidate the coalition would choose would benefit from being associated with it since, he said, it has broadened its support base over the last decade while fielding party-list groups in the House.
“Despite all these attacks on our parties, we have expanded. We have a sure base of more or less three million votes,” he said.
The militant lawmakers have been a small but vocal group in the House, where they have consistently pushed the impeachment of the President and of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, and have regularly challenged and criticized the decisions of the administration.
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