3 Terrorist Leaders of Abu Sayyaf Group killed--where are their kidnap victims?

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) did a fine job killing three (3) alleged terror leaders in the Muslim controlled island of Sulu. Two of those killed were high ranking Jemaah Islamiya leaders.


AFP Chief Dellosa described the attack as a surgical bombing mission which lasted just a few seconds. Based on Dellosa's statement, the attack was made using sophisticated technology. Bombs were unleashed in a thickly forested area filled with camps where the suspects were allegedly staying. The attack was all so sudden. The terrorists were reportedly asleep when the air strike happened. 


Twelve other members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were also killed. About twenty plus more people who were in the camp when the strike happened escaped. 


AFP identified the terrorist leaders as Zulkifli Bin Hir or Marwan, a Malaysian JI operative close to Omar Patek, with a US$ 5 million bounty over his head. Marwan was allegedly involved in the Bali bombing incident. 


Dr. Abu or Umbra Jumdail was also killed. Jumdail was involved in several ASG-led kidnapping operations. While another operative, a Singaporean by the name of Abdullah Ali, was also killed.


No bodies were presented or photos which prove that these terrorists were indeed killed. What the AFP wants us to believe is that these people were positively identified by the PNP and several intelligence assets.


The question that I would like to ask is---where are the kidnap victims being held by the ASG? Were they recovered?


Unknown to the public, several foreigners have been kidnapped by the ASG these past few months, including a former Australian soldier. 


If the AFP already killed these people, why is there no effort to recover their kidnap victims, who are still believed to be in the area?


Reports say that a Malaysian, a Japanese and an Indian are still being held hostage by the group. Where are these people?


A Dutch guy and a Swiss guy were also kidnapped in Tawi-Tawi. About five multinationals were kidnapped in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi by alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).


Don't tell me that the AFP undertook this propaganda blitz to hide their inefficiency of identifying the exact location of the kidnap victims and of launching a rescue operation.

Shame Ruffy Biazon: Porsche-riding Customs Clerk faces lifestyle check

So there.


A mere clerk of the Bureau of Customs was arrested recently when he shot and nearly killed a motorist two nights back. The Customs employee was riding his Porsche when he was reportedly sideswiped by the motorist. The Customs man gave chase. Eventually, this man was arrested.


The name of this man, the Porsche-riding Customs clerk? Paulino Elevado.


Customs chief Ruffy Biazon tried to remedy this PR fiasco by placing Elevado under investigation and training his guns against the clerk and subjecting him to a lifestyle check.


Mr. Biazon, you're toooo late. Imagine, you have been in your post as Customs chief for many months and vowed to rid the agency of misfits, and here is one man, Elevado, flaunting his wealth.


Pnoy was subjected to insults and brickbats when he bought a Porsche. Now, a mere clerk of a government bureau owning one, and the only thing that you, Mr. Biazon did was place him under investigation.


Mr. Biazon, are you blind? You should have fired the guy, pronto!! By not firing him, you, Mr. Biazon is party to the on-going corruption at the Bureau!


Why, are you afraid of a mere clerk, Mr. Biazon? And imagine, you wanted pa to be a Senator when you can't even look us in the eye and tell us straight that you do not tolerate corruption in your bureau.


Shame on you, Ruffy, shame. And I thought you're one of the persons we, the people, expect to cleanse the bureau of misfits and corrupt men. 


Mr. Biazon, under your management, the Bureau of Customs had the lowest revenue collection in history. Worst, smuggling and tara collection have gotten really very serious in the bureau. 


I'm sorry, but I have to strike your name out of those whom I consider to be real Patriots in our generation. 

Grace Lee--former Girlfriend of President Noynoy's brother in law James Yap

Grace Lee Uno Photo

So, there was a swapping involved? 


Malacanang should have researched more about Grace Lee before officially admitting that the Korean star is dating Philippine president Benigno S. "Noynoy" Aquino III 


You know why?


You see Grace Lee, several months ago, has reportedly been the girlfriend of James Yap, the estranged husband of Kris Aquino, the president's sister. 


Grace Lee also posed for the magazine UNO several months back.


So now, are we saying that Noynoy is after a girl whom his brother-in-law already dated and had a relationship with? Or, in kanto boy speak, "pinagsawaan na ni James Yap, nakay Noynoy naman." Grace Lee is the one whom James Yap courted to replace Kris, who happens to be Noynoy's sister. Whattaconfusing situation!

Grace Lee with Pnoy

The thing is, there's nothing wrong with that, except of course, it somewhat leaves a bad taste in the mouth, don't you think? 


Plus of course, Grace Lee was also a magazine pinup girl, again nothing wrong except that she's now dating the Chief Executive and President of more than 90 million people. 


Again, lest I be misinterpreted---there is nothing absolutely wrong with this. This happens not just here in the Philippines but more elsewhere where the ex of another goes to his brother-in-law, shortly after a few weeks.


Nothing wrong with this absolutely! Grace Lee and Noynoy Aquino are both single. So, even if James Yap already dated and had a thing with Grace, what's wrong with his bayaw, now enjoying sweet funny moments with Grace Lee? Absolutely nothing wrong. 

Iggy Arroyo's death will reveal who is the real Jose Pidal

Representative Iggy Arroyo is dead. Senator Panfilo Lacson says Iggy left behind a 2billion peso account which lies offshore. Aside from this, there's the Jose Pidal account which also contains millions of pesos. Now, the question is---will the legitimate family of Iggy claim these billions?


If they will, then, half of it goes to Aleli, who, before their estrangement, had a very brutal fight with the deceased Congressman. If you remember, Aleli tried to file a criminal complaint of domestic abuse against Iggy. To settle the matter off court, Iggy agreed to part ways with Aleli and settle abroad. It was convenient for Iggy to do that since he's also sick and he needs treatment abroad. 


The other half will be spilt between Aleli's children and Grace Ibuna and her kid with Iggy. All of them will then go to the legal process of splitting the estate of Iggy. These will then all be put on public record. 


Now, will the splitting of the estate involve the alleged 2 billion peso account abroad and the Jose Pidal account? It should be.


God really works wonders. Senator Lacson therefore does not need a Senate inquiry to re-open the Jose Pidal account because these things will all be revealed finally when the court judicially intervenes to split the Iggy Arroyo estate. 


The Senate can actually order or request the court to reveal what underwent during the estate proceedings and secure documents. This will reveal or solve two things: one, if Iggy Arroyo was really the Jose Pidal account owner and two, if Iggy Arroyo did, indeed, open a 2 billion peso account abroad.


As they say, the dead doesn't keep secrets. Or, the dead tells no tales, or something like that. :-) God is really Great!

Anti-Corona losing steam

Here's the dilemma.


The interest of Malacanang is really an expeditious ending to this impeachment trial. The more this trial drags, the better chance for Corona to be acquitted of all charges.


Seriously, this case could actually last for forty weeks, by which time, public sentiment against Corona would have seriously been reversed. And by that time, it would be hard for anti-Corona forces to muster enough numbers to conduct a "people power" exercise against the Chief Justice.


However, I give credit to the prosecution because they are slowly closing in on Corona, with all these pieces of evidence showing real properties bought by the Coronas without being shown in his SALN.


I heard that the prosecution will force the Senator-judges to vote on Article 2, which is sufficient to impeach Corona. This explains why Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is expediting the offering of evidence and making it easy for the prosecution to present and enter these as pieces of evidence. 


I know the defense knows this but the more pieces of evidence, irrefutable evidence at that presented before the impeachment court, the more chances of a guilty verdict for the beleaguered Chief Justice. The problem really is, the public's waning interest about the case. The trial has been, what, on its fourth week, and since the prosecution has failed to present their most explosive witness yet, this is beginning to turn into a dragging courtroom drama which is interesting only to those who love reading John Grisham or watching mock courts. 


Lastly, as time passes, Noynoy Aquino is building for himself, more enemies, while Corona continues to get support from unlikely sources, something of a political phenomenon, if you will.

INC pressured by Malacanang on Impeachment Trial

Is Malacanang so desperate that it asked one of its most trusted generals to pressure the Iglesia Ni Cristo to ask former Justice Serafin Cuevas to drop the Chief Justice as his client in the impeachment case?


A Manila Times report today says that Presidential adviser on Political affairs Ronald Llamas reportedly met with one of the church spiritual leaders, named Erano Codera and ask him to mediate between him (Llamas) and Cuevas on the issue of Cuevas' role as defense lead in the impeachment trial.


The 83 year old former Justice refused Codera's request. 


This report validated an earlier report by Christian Esguerra of the Philippine Daily Inquirer where Cuevas himself admitted receiving some form of pressure from the palace in relation to the impeachment trial. 


In Cuevas' revelation, the former justice said that a former student of his at the University of the Philippines in Diliman approached him. The former student asked Cuevas to inhibit himself from the trial. Cuevas refused.


Sources told me that this incident was the second such attempt by Malacanang, the first with Llamas. Llamas was reportedly sent by the palace in an official capacity to convince the Iglesia Ni Cristo leadership to drop their support behind Corona. When Llamas himself failed, another Palace insider asked his classmate, a former student of Cuevas, to intervene.


Sources told this writer that Llamas would possibly be "sacrificed" after his failed "mission". The "sacrifice" is to be done to salvage the grievous injury in the relationship between the INC and the Aquino administration.


The INC supported Aquino during the 2010 elections. Mar Roxas is said to have asked his classmate, a son of former INC head Erano Manalo, to lend its support behind the presidency.


After the elections, several INC members were made officials in the Aquino administration, including Torres as head of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), DENR secretary Ramon Paje and several others. Magtanggol Gatdula, an Arroyo appointee, was allowed to continue his stint as NBI director.


Gatdula has recently been accused of the crime of kidnapping by the Department of Justice. Gatdula has since protested his being "fired" by Malacanang. A team of legal eagles from New Era School of Law have lent their legal expertise to Gatdula.


Sources told this writer that Gatdula has absolutely nothing to do with the kidnapping case. Since his days as a distinguished cop, Gatdula's name has not been involved in any criminal or syndicated activity.


Sources also told me that Malacanang intends to cut short Paje's stint as DENR secretary, and same goes to Torres, who, again according to sources, will be asked to leave the LTO. Her replacement is being readied by the palace. 

Pirated Political Adviser out due to buying pirated DVDs?

Presidential adviser on Political Concerns Ronald Llamas is trying to wiesel himself out of this new rut. He's being accused of buying pirated DVD. 


I met him last Thursday at Casa Roces and when I shook his hand, he immediately said " Bili ka ng DVD?". I laughed. 


Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte hinted that Malacanang will issue a decision on the fate of Llamas today. What? Because of that simple incident of buying a pirated DVD?


Let's be extremely frank. Llamas will get the rod because he spent close to 2,000 pesos buying those DVDs and for whom, I may reveal here? Just for himself. I dein expose it here.


Puno, when he bungled that Manila Hostage taking incident, was spared. Torres who bungled and continues to bungle her job as LTO chief was also spared the rod.


Graft and corruption continues unabated at the Bureau of Customs, and both Commissioners, Ruffy Biazon and General Danny Lim, are not being punished despite their very low revenue collections.


Several NBI agents have been caught with their pants down, trying to help drug syndicates and they are not being filed any criminal case?


Now, a Presidential adviser is being asked to leave because of a moment's lapse in personal judgment when he bought those pirated DVDs?


When Jesus confronted the Pharisee who tried to stone a prostitute to death, the Messiah asked them a very simple question: stone her, those who committed no sin.


Let me ask you---how many of us do not have an illegal or pirated material in our homes? Buying pirated material is still not a criminal act in this jurisdiction. We buy those pirated stuff because the price of the originals pale in comparison with the street peddled price of 30 or 50 pesos. 


The law punishing piracy is infirm. The role of other government agencies is simply ask those who sell original DVDs to lower their prices, and not be too greedy for profit. 


Example--I am simply not buying pirated DVDs anymore. Why? Because Astrovision sells some of their originals at prices lower than 100 pesos. A Blueray copy of a pirated movie sells at 100. Surely, why will I buy that pirated copy when there's another one, clearer and the original still, for only 100 pesos?


Don't fault Llamas for that masa impulse. Are we trying to punish someone who belonged once with the masa, and is expected to behave like a masa because, for all his life, he's been with them? 


Seriously, I don't condone what he did. But, let's forgive him for this personal lapse in judgment. 

The Parody of People Power

Wagging tongues say, Malacanang is orchestrating a sort of "people power" to oust Chief Justice Renato Corona. Spearheading this "initiative" is DSWD secretary Dingky Soliman. The objective? Impress upon the world that the people is the supreme sovereign power, and the people want nothing more than see Corona out before it celebrates EDSA people power uno.


Wow, talk about franchises, Malacanang really thinks that it has the sole franchise of this creation. 


If People Power uno broke out because sickly dictator Marcos prevented people from opening certificates of canvass, and its parody, the so-called "EDSA dos", went into fashion because Erap purportedly disagreed with the opening of the "envelope", what kaya will be the "reason" for another people power revolt, this time? 


If this forthcoming people power is about rising fuel prices, rising prices of foodstuffs, joblessness, apathy of leaders to manage domestic and international affairs, the rising Corporatism of this administration, the rising criminality, the institutionalization of KKK, the institutionalization of graft and corruption, the ever increasing exodus of Filipinos out of this country, then, count me in.


That, my friend, is a true People Power revolt.


But, if this administration thinks that it can muster enough numbers to create a pseudo-revolt out of very thin political air, then, get ready to disburse millions of pesos for your hakot crowds.


The people are hungry for reforms. The people are extremely and truly hungry for this administration to at least ease their every day burdens on where to get money for their last meal, or where to get milk for their suffering and wailing babies.


Soliman's people power is nothing more than vile air coming from someone's arse. Isang utot na panguuto sa masa.


We all know what Malacanang is fighting for--they are not fighting for the people's interests, oh no.


Malacanang is fighting for supremacy. Malacanang is fighting for the interests of Big Business, who, in the last few decades, have entangled corporate money with politics. This "people power" will be the last manifestation of intra-elite fighting for the title of "supreme elite group" in these isles of plenty.

People Power against Chief Justice Renato Corona

Talks are rife that DSWD secretary Dingky Soliman reportedly met with several key leaders of the Black and White Movement (BWM), together with different cause-oriented groups to stage, what is the biggest gathering of people against Chief Justice Renato Corona. 


Soliman and the rest of the groups want to pressure Corona to resign ahead of the outcome of the on-going impeachment trial. Soliman says several sources, is worried over the fate of the impeachment, which, some quarters say, is turning into a non-issue as the trial drags on. 


As I wrote in this corner several days before, this impeachment trial will go the way of Corona if it drags on until March, 2012. The faster this goes, the more chances Malacanang will get what it wants--an outright ouster.


Seriously now, the "heat" generated by the impeachment trial is actually slowing down. Ask people, and you'll find that they are more concerned with the lessening power of the peso than Corona's fate. They're more concerned about their fate, instead of someone who is perceived to be "corrupt" without any evidence to support such claims.


Unless the prosecution panel comes up with an explosive witness, this trial will drag on and this will lose a substantial amount of public interest. If the defense succeeds in isolating Malacanan and reveals that the people is disinterested in pursuing such a trial and only those in the elites close to the Powers-that-be want this Chief Justice out, then, it will win this battle.

Shalani Soledad wept in her wedding

The Bride who was sacrificed for the sake of
the Filipino People

The camera never lies. When the camera shot the beautiful bride, Shalani Soledad, she was on the verge of crying a bucketful. For someone who just separated from her lover several moons ago, and now, married to someone she just met last August, it must have been a whirlwind and a difficult thing to accept for the thirty four year old beauty from Valenzuela. 


What were her thoughts back then, minutes before she walked the aisle and unto the arms of her new husband, Pasig Congressman Roman Romulo? Was she thinking of President Benigno Noynoy Aquino, the lover that decided to sacrifice his own happiness in favor of the presidency?


Noynoy decided to end his relationship with Shalani a few months after his vows before the people. The people, they say, are a jealous lot. They want their president for their own. Rumors also of Shalani's past haunted him, who, sources very close to PBSA3 say, disturbed but never changed his love for her. 

Sources told me that Pnoy just locked himself up in his Bahay Pangarap during the time that Shalani and Roman were saying their vows at the Ayala Westgrove church in Santa Rosa Laguna. Pnoy reportedly asked his aides not to disturb him. Pnoy had just ordered his aides to send his gifts to the newly-weds, since both are his friends. 


Shalani, according to friends who attended the wedding, was simply elegant. She was wearing a very simple Inno Sotto gown, with a veil hiding her lovely face. That veil hid her lovely eyes. No one ever noticed that, minutes ago, those eyes were filled with tears.


Were they tears of joy or of sadness or of regret? No one can tell, except Shalani who probably cursed the day when her love, Pnoy, went unto that stage, and promised to serve this country as its Bachelor President?


It must also been hard for Pnoy. At fifty years old, Pnoy has been reported to date this and that, and been seen, cozying up with this girl and that girl, only to end up, just by his lonesome after a dinner date. When he was still a Senator, Pnoy looked radiant. Look at his latest photo now, and you'll noticed that Pnoy, our President, just got thinner and he aged a lot. The burdens of the Presidency must have taken most of his time and his health as well. 


I pray for a time that we will not burden the Aquino family anymore on the affairs of the Philippine State. This family has taken more hits than any single one of us. The Aquino family has been tortured to no avail during the dictatorial regime of Marcos, humiliated, spit at, and isolated. It was the Filipino People who urged this family to take the cudgels of leading the fight for democracy. This family has sacrificed a lot for the Filipino Nation.


BY 2016, I hope that we give Pnoy and his family, the rest that they deserve. The Aquinos must retire from politics, knowing full well that they have contributed enough for the Inang Bayan and their stature in history will never be questioned. If the Americans have their Kennedys, we have our Aquinos. 

Pnoy should stop playing and concentrate on his work as President

As some of us salivate over news of another Pnoy tryst with a Korean celebrity, many of us are deathly worried over the cavalier attitude of this government insofar as economic matters are being discussed. As Pnoy tries to cozy up with Korean celebrity Grace Lee, the Philippine stock market dived to its lowest in two years. Foreign investors are not buying what Pnoy told the business community that this administration will further open the domestic markets for globalization. How can that be possible, when the business tycoons of this country are slowly making a killing by limiting the space that foreign-based investments can actually play on?

Tell me of just one Private-Public Initiative that took off and I'll tell you, there's none. Tell me of one big company sued by this government of economic sabotage and I'll tell you, there's also none. Ask me if some big time businessman has been put to jail for not paying the right taxes and i'll also tell you, there's no single animal out there who was hand-cupped and put in jail. Those press releases from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) are not making it quite easy for investors to really consider the Philippines as an open market.

Carmen Pedrosa in her article today over at the Philippine Star blame wrong policies of the Aquino administration as the reasons for the lackluster economic performance of government. There is so much potential in this country but this administration is taking its sweet time, spending precious moments planning instead of just implementing what the previous Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) PROPOSED SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIONS AGO. That plan was a blueprint, yet some if not many of its proposals are being left to rust in time by this administration. 

How then can it solve the increasing number of job hunters in the market or the debilitating rise of poverty throughout the archipelago? Graft and corruption continues unabated, and if we are to believe certain quarters, like what my friend Bobby Capco wrote in his column, corruption continues at the Bureau of Customs, even. Big-time players have cornered the entire market, and those two idealists whom Pnoy put in trust there, remained busy counting their blessings, never their accomplishments.

Politics is destroying this administration, bit by bit, and I'll not be surprised if later on, we see a hollow administration. 

Tampakan Copper-Gold project---Aquino's ZTE in the making?

DENR secretary Ramon Paje in his 9 January 2012 decision rejecting the ECC application of Sagitarrius Mines Incorporated (SMI) rationalized his decision by stating this in his letter to Mitch Cuna, the OIC chief of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB):

“We are returning herewith the application documents with instruction to deny the same without prejudice to resubmit until the issues and concern on the use of open-pit mining method have been clarified and resolved by the company [SMI] with the Provincial Government of South Cotabato,” 

The ECC or Environmental Compliance Certificate based on the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 is described as:

"Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC)" refers to the document issued by the government agency concerned certifying that the project under consideration will not bring about an unacceptable environmental impact and that the proponent has complied with the requirements of the environmental impact statement system.

CLEARLY, Paje acted in excess of his powers and jurisdiction as the DENR chief for two (2) reasons: First, he rejected the ECC using the open pit mining ban issued by the Provincial government of South Cotabato as a reason. Paje probably did not know the law or was absent when the DENR law was being taught to him.


By using this as a reason, Paje exceeded his duties and powers as DENR chief. It is clear in the environmental laws of this country that the ECC is to be granted to an entity if an EIS (Environmental Impact Study) was submitted and all documentary and regulatory requirements are satisfied by the applicant company. 




A DENR circular memorandum issued by then DENR secretary Angelo Reyes dated July 2007 says in very clear language that :

No  permits,  and/or  clearances  issued  by  other  National Government  Agencies  and  Local  Government  Units  shall  be required in the processing of  ECC or CNC applications. (provision no. 1 in DENR MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2007 - 08 SUBJECT  :  Simplifying  the  Requirement  for Environmental  Compliance  Certificate  or Certificate of Ron-Coverage  Applications)

Likewise based on the ECC approval process flow, only the EMB DIRECTOR can reject or approve the ECC of the applicant, based on of course, suggestions from other government agencies. You see, when an application is submitted to the EMB, the application is passed to other relevant agencies. 


Besides, the reason used by Paje in rejecting the ECC is also FAULTY and in direct contravention of the law because the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 does not require the people's approval in the issuance of the ECC:

Sec. 70 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Except during the exploration period of a mineral agreement or financial or technical assistance agreement or an exploration permit, an environmental clearance certificate shall be required based on an environmental impact assessment and procedures under the Philippine Environmental Impact Assessment System including Sections 26 and 27 of the Local Government Code of 1991 which require national government agencies to maintain ecological balance, and prior consultation with the local government units, nongovernmental and people's organizations and other concerned sectors of the community: Provided, That a completed ecological profile of the proposed mining area shall also constitute part of the environmental impact assessment. People's organizations and non-governmental organizations shall be allowed and encourage to participate in ensuring that contractors/permittees shall observe all the requirements of environmental protection.

Clearly, this means that the participation of the DENR and the EMB in issuing an ECC is MINISTERIAL. If the study followed the Philippine Environmental Impact assessment and procedures and those of Section 26 and 27 of the Local Government Code of 1991 and prior consultation, then the government is free to issue an ECC.


Prior consultation provision in the law only says that the applicant shall involve people's organisations and NGO's and other concerned sectors of the community in "ensuring that the contractors/permittees shall observe all the requirements of environmental protection." If the applicant has substantially followed and satisfied the requirements of the law, it is the right of the applicant to be issued an ECC.


I have been part of the ZTE scandal, and I sense something terribly wrong with how government handled this thru the DENR secretary. Paje should explain this otherwise, there might be some confusion especially from the foreign investor community. This is ONE EXPLOSIVE ISSUE WHICH COULD HURT THE REPUTATION OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.