The Fight Continues! Onward!

By the way, thanks Arlyn dela Cruz for that comment in my previous posts. It's quite encouraging. And also, as a rejoinder, the "colonel" you referred to in your event, is, I believe, retired already?

Like Ding Gagelonia over at http://midfield.wordpress.com/, I'll post our photo here. Now, to allay fears that I am now with Senator Loren Legarda, let me say that I was just invited by Arlyn in this event, along with other journalists. Legarda is not a client, nor a close friend. She's being handled by noted PR man, Willy Fernandez. Enuf said.
(photo cap: Left-to-right: Standing, Senator Loren Legarda, Arlyn de la Cruz, Patricio Mangubat. Seated, Ding Gagelonia. Event: Manila Polo Club, April 28, 2009)

All politicians and CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, as what regular NPR readers already know, are all FAIR GAME. Even Mar Roxas whom I castigated in my previous posts and whom I consider as a friend, became a victim of my vicious pen.

My classmate, Mike Defensor, also received a fair share of comments, especially on the ZTE and his role in the Chinese mining firm. Another classmate, Miro Quimbo of Pag-Ibig once received a fair share of praise and derision in this site.

For those who want to invite me in their affairs, they can just send their invites thru my email address at mangubat.patricio@gmail.com. No fancy whatever, no gifts please. If you want me to write about your side, then, this site is open. I believe in the Right to Reply although this does not mean that Congress should make this unwritten ethical thing a law. Send your statements thru mangubat.patricio@gmail.com.

I don't attend blogger nights or press conferences. I seldom meet other bloggers, except when invited by Noemi, Ding, Janet, DJB, Manolo, Juned and even Jester. I share an affinity with Noemi because I feel in my heart that she's a very nice person. And of course, we have a bull frog friend (BFF), whose bite is weak and unconvincing because of hunger (hungry for attention and hungry for food). Janet is also a highly respected figure in the netsphere. Janet was the only one who convinced me to attend a blogger event. After that, I was'nt able to go to her events due to commitments. Ding, you all know, is a good friend. DJB, I consider an intellectual and Manolo, of course. I met Manolo and AWBHOLDINGS last night. Jester, well, I go to his meetings (if he calls for it) because I want to pry his mind, hehehe! Same with Marck Rimorin.

If there's a chance, I want to meet RJ Marmol, Leslie Bocobo, Manuel Buencamino, Mel Alarilla and other bloggers who want to see a New Philippines emerge from the rut. I now have close to 900(?) friends over at Facebook and most, if not all, are friends from way back who know Revo, my petname when I was a student.

And for those who want to destroy PM, just check if I have political personalities as clients. I have NONE. They can all write ad hominem attacks. But, they'll never desist me from writing the truth. No. Kiss my lovely pen.

(Everyday, the NPR continues to receive emails of support from thousands of New Patriots in every corner of the country and in the world. NPR continues to improve its Technorati rankings and hits (more than 2,500 everyday). Google has also placed a 4/10 ranking for NPR)

Only God has the power to shut me up. Death will not deter Patricio Mangubat from his advocacy. Even if I die, other Patricio Mangubats will rise to continue the New Philippine Revolution.

By the way, I'll be re-setting my timer here. Mrs. Arroyo's days are beginning to shorten. Later, I'll do that. I just need to go to the camps, hehehe! (Joke!) :-)

Why Lozada refuses to post bail

First, did Lozada committed perjury? Did he lied about former Arroyo Chief of Staff Mike Defensor's role in the ZTE scandal?

Lozada has first-hand knowledge of what really happened. He said that Defensor tried to convince him to "re-imagine" what had happened during his abduction. Lozada refused. Now, with the filing of this perjury charge, Defensor wants Lozada to again "re-imagine" his role in the controversy. Defensor said he's doing it for his children. But is he?

If Lozada accepts this perjury charge, it is as if, he admits that everything he said, everything he wrote and everything he testified before the Filipino People, are all just lies or just imagination. He's sticking to what he said---Defensor tried to coax him. If Lozada posts bail, it is as if, he recognizes the jurisdiction of the courts and dignify the case of Defensor against him.

For Lozada and the rest of the Filipino People, there is no perjury case because he just told what happened. If Lozada accepts this perjury case, it is as if all those testimonies before the Filipino People and all those he wrote that forms part of the People's case against the First Gentlemen, former COMELEC chair Ben Abalos and former NEDA chief Romulo Neri, are all just lies and "a figment of imagination."

Defensor is a shrewed politician. He used his kids to counteract Lozada in the emotional and sympathy department while knowing that this perjury charge would destroy the entire ZTE case altogether. The game plan of Defensor etal is make the public and the courts believe that the ZTE scandal is just, a lie, or best, hearsay.

Defensor and his associates over at ZTE wants to make a second dig at us. If they succeed, the First Gentleman etal would go scot-free and the corrupt and graft practices they so promoted with zeal all these years, would continue.

The fight of Lozada is a fight for the Truth. The ZTE scandal did happen. Lozada was there. He saw the corruption. He saw the greed. And Lozada is fighting so that people like Defensor would not succeed in their intention to re-write History.

For those who still believe in the purity of Truth, who still want real Justice to prevail and just want Peace for all of us----go to Lozada's aid. Go, go to the MPD headquarters.

This is NOT the time for all of us to procrastinate. NO.

This is NOT the time for all to all just be fence-sitters. NO.

We must unite now. We must fight this enveloping darkness that eventually tries to eat our very souls as a People.

We must rescue Lozada, a symbol of our collective thirst for Truth, from the clutches of a totalitarian regime.

Now, more than ever, the Motherland needs everyone.

**Last night, I went to the MPD to assess the situation. Nuns and common folk were there with Jun. I also saw a steady stream of people pouring. Gut feel tells me that this is something extraordinary, something which will eventually lead to a bigger assembly. Am I expecting an EDSA? No.

Mrs. Arroyo and her demons do not deserve an EDSA. No.

They deserve an exorcism of historical proportions.***

Lozada stays in jail

As I write this, ZTE whistleblower Jun Lozada is still in a small and cramped room inside the Manila Police District headquarters. Yesterday, MPD officers arrested him after he refused to post bail shortly after being made to answer to a perjury charge filed by former Arroyo Chief of Staff Mike Defensor. Defensor, a known staunch ally of Mrs. Arroyo, filed the perjury case after Lozada allegedly lied about his true participation in the ZTE controversy.

Defensor said, he's willing to go to the Supreme Court just to prove his case. He is doing it for his children which he presented before the media in his press conference yesterday.

Defensor said it is not about politics this time--it's about honor. He wants to protect his name which he said remains "unsullied" yet was "smeared" when Lozada told everyone how Defensor tried to coax him to lie about his alleged abduction.

Defensor may have his reasons but are those reasons really non-political or not just for show? Defensor said he wants to protect his children, but if he really intended that, why go to such lengths as present all of his five kids before the prying eyes of the media? Surely, Defensor's dramatics are counter-measures to dilute the possible emotional outbursts that a Lozada arrest is expected to generate.

Lozada remains in jail, a victim, says former presidents Cory Aquino and Joseph Estrada, of government injustice. People ask why he continues to reject pleas for him to post bail. Senators Richard Gordon, Ping Lacson and Mar Roxas, even Manila mayor Alfredo Lim, all gave 6,000 pesos for Lozada to use in his bail. Lozada said thanks but respectfully gave all their monies back.

Why?

What this case says is this---you, Lozada, should rot in jail because you sided with the "wrong crowd" (opposition), hindi ka kasangga or KAKAMPI, and you should suffer". That's what Congressmen Dado and Mikey Arroyo said in their respective statements yesterday. In fact, they all wished him to suffer the fate of condemned criminals in Saudi Arabia.

What this government is trying to tell us is simply---shut your mouths up. If you see injustice, don't speak. Just close your eyes and toe the line. Just do your business.

So what if we want to get a US$ 300 million commission from a sorely defective telecomms project? So, what the hell if we decide to give millions to the First Gentleman and Chairman Abalos? So what if we tried to protect all our hides and file charges against those who chose to stray? And so what if we pour millions of pesos just to kill the story in the media?

With all their millions and billions, these devils failed to gag a person like Lozada. Why? Because Lozada chose to be on the "wrong side", that is, on the side of Light, of Truth, of Real Justice.

In the eyes of these corrupt and evil men, the right side is graft and corrupt practices. And the wrong side is morality, Truth and justice.

Lozada continues to reject the help being extended by well-meaning friends simply because 6,000 pesos is really not the right price for Truth. No.

If Lozada posts bail, it is as if he admitted that he told a lie. Defensor and his ilk wanted Lozada to re-write history to suit their personal interests. Defensor wants Lozada to "re-imagine" what happened and strike him out of the picture and eventually a new version of the ZTE scandal would emerge from a Lozada statement.

Exclusive: Loren Legarda to announce her candidacy by July

Last July 2008, Pulse Asia released a survey showing that a Loren Legarda-Chiz Escudero tandem would probably get 40% of Filipino votes. While an Escudero-Legarda tandem would just get 20% of the votes.

The question---how about an Estrada-Legarda tandem or a Legarda-Estrada tandem?

This and more, you'll find out in this frank encounter with Senator Loren Legarda in Arlyn dela Cruz's lunch fete at the Manila Polo Club today.

According to Legarda, she's consulting with her supporters, leaders and her family on the best possible option for her come 2010.

She says that she needs time to discern and would probably announce what post she'll run in July, 2009. She has'nt picked her running mate yet since the situation in politics right now is "fluid".

In this interview we had with her today, Loren Legarda answered some of the questions about her political plans come 2010. Some of the highlights include:

1. Loren Legarda being invited by former president Joseph Estrada to go with him on his sorties to the provinces. Legarda will go with Erap in his Bicol trips.

2. Loren answers gender preferences---what she thinks about "prevailing" perception about another woman president in 2010.

3. Loren answers questions about her possible teamup with Chiz Escudero and the possibility of snatching 40% of the votes should they decide to run under the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). But, as Loren says, the situation is still very fluid, meaning, we may yet find her either staying with NPC or team up with another political party. She just did that in 2004, when she teamed up with Opposition standard bearer Fernando Poe Jr. In that elections, she lost to former senator Noli de Castro for the vice presidential post.

Legarda also reveals the intention of various groups to unite under one opposition movement in 2010.

Let's listen in....

Part 2: The Arlyn dela Cruz Kidnapping

In Part two of the interviews, Philippine journalist Arlyn dela Cruz talks about the root causes of the Sulu problem. She explains why people in Jolo continues to defy government forces in their island province.

Arlyn talks from experience, she having covered Sulu since the beginning of the Abu Sayyaf Group or the Al Harakatul Al Islamiyah. Arlyn explains that those Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members are doing propaganda campaigns to highlight the sad plight of the Tausugs, the majority group in Jolo, Sulu.

For centuries, Bangsamoros have been fighting for a separate homeland. Tausugs are part of this Bangsamoro homeland. In the 1970s, a young Tausug professor by the name of Nur Misuari established the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). This force grew and led the anti-Marcos armed rebellion in the South which killed hundreds of thousands of Filipinos. In the 1990s, Misuari entered into negotiations with the Ramos administration. Some parts of Mindanao were turned into the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). ARMM was an experiment in self-government.

Lack of support, scarcity of funds and unfulfilled promises from the national government weakened the ARMM. With the weakening of ARMM, Islamic dissident groups reinvigorated the Bangsamoro movement in Mindanao. A branch from the MNLF broke off and became what is now known as the ASG or the Abu Sayyaf Group (formal name Al Harakatul Al Islamiya or the Bearers of the Sword).

The ASG was founded by an USTADZ, an Islamic scholar named Abdurajak Janjalani, who fought side by side with the Afghans in the Afghan-Russia war. When the Russians were annihilated, Janjalani went back to his native Bangsamoro land and formed the ASG, along with some Muslim engineers and Islamic scholars.

The elder Janjalani was killed by police in Zamboanga, believed to have been betrayed by a Muslim convert, Edwin Angeles (also killed in Zamboanga City). The brother of Janjalani assumed the leadership and led the ASG's most famous hostage capers. He has since been killed by government forces, along with original ASG members such as Commander Robot, Commander Abu Sabaya and others. Only Dr. Abu remains.

ASG has a new emir by the name of Yasser Igasan, a staunch believer of Islam and a very religious man. Igasan is said to have assumed the leadership of the group and made it closer with the regional terror group, Jemaah Islamiyah.

Arlyn dela Cruz saw the birth of the ASG and was there as a close spectator when it grew into what it is now---the most feared, and the most dreaded jihadist group in the entire Asia-Pacific region.

Part One: The Arlyn dela Cruz kidnapping

Seven years ago, a young journalist by the name of Arlyn de la Cruz was kidnapped by rogue elements of the military in the hinderlands of Jolo, Sulu. Arlyn was there to cover a story. She was snatched by some para-military men, taken into custody, interrogated and made a prisoner for so many days. Through the intercession of then Senator Loren Legarda, Arlyn was released by her captors.

Yet, what has not been told is how Arlyn de la Cruz (now a mother of two young kids) managed to survive that ordeal. Who helped Legarda and Arlyn? Who initiated the negotiations? Was there ransom paid? These and more unanswered questions were fortunately taken up in today's commemoration of Arlyn's ordeal many years ago.

I was fortunate to be part of this interview held at the Manila Polo Club today. Here is the first part of the interview. I'll be releasing these interviews in a series.

IN this movie, Loren Legarda narrates the circumstances behind the kidnapping and narrates, in brief, how she managed to release Arlyn from her captors.

By the way, there was a Colonel in the military who took a very active part in the release of Arlyn. For security purposes, the name of this Colonel will not be revealed here. (For further info, you can check this on YouTube also. I've recently opened a YouTube channel account. Starting today, I'll be working on uploading videos on YouTube)

** Who is Arlyn dela Cruz? Arlyn dela Cruz is a noted journalist in the Philippines. If my memory serves me right, she started as a reporter over at ABC Channel 5 before being hired by ABS-CBN Channel 2. Right now, she writes for the Philippine Daily Inquirer as a correspondent and anchors the news and public affairs shows over at NET 25. She is considered an expert in Mindanao affairs, having covered the region since the 1990's.

Expose Villar's Indiscretions!

Since i started as a journalist in 1992, I always believe in the saying that you really can't please everybody. When I wrote a disparaging article against Mar Roxas for his stupid tv ad, those who are dedicated online bashers and defenders of Senator Manny Villar came to populate the FilipinoVoices website with kudos and comments.

When I wrote an article commenting on Villar's similarly stupid TV ad, many came to his rescue. Instead of seeing the article as something which they should take notice and correct, these commenters over at FilipinoVoices started ad hominem attacks. They even employed squid tactics.

That's the problem with these agency guys---they don't know how to counter a negative article. They just know that the best solution is diversion when, sometimes, it is best to just owe the issue up and start making some improvements.

Really, I'll tell Senator Manny Villar to retire his account with his advertising and/or external PR agency since they don't know how to address a very simple PR issue such as this one. I know many people linked with Villar and I will ask which agency they hire to do their online stuff.

That made me angrier. I wrote that piece over at FilipinoVoices.com to tell Villar's staff to shape up or ship out. Now, I will write more articles exposing Senator Manny Villar.

Let these online Villar supporters do their thing right. And I'll expose Villar's indiscretions with more alacrity than ever. That's a promise. Why?

Because these pro-Villar supporters are like Hitler's S.S. or NAZI supporters---they don't like constructive criticisms. What if Villar wins? Imagine a situation where we can't even write criticisms against him.

Villar is like Mrs. Arroyo. And the People hate the pretender.

Swine flu and DOH readiness

The Department of Health (DoH) should be put to task for allowing pork meat to still be sold in the markets. Yes, you really cannot get the deadly Influenza A virus H1N1 strain by eating pork meat. Yet, doctors from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) already advised US markets to limit the importation of pork meat from affected countries.

Besides, the DOH failed to inform us the volume of anti-swine flu vaccines they have stockfiled.

Pork, as what scientists described as "vessels" for viruses, should at least be limited in consumption. We exactly don't know how this latest strain acts or we have'nt exactly mapped its behavior. Therefore, as a precaution, we should at least refrain from eating pork for now. We'll never know if such a strain has already infected our swine stocks.

The H1N1 strain is transmitted either through close contact (hand shake) or airborne through air molecules coming from the mouth or nose (sneezing). For more information read: http://pinoyobserver.wordpress.com.

What I'm worried is the possibility of this flu strain reaching the Philippines through trade winds coming from the Northern Hemisphere. Trade winds coming from that side of Mexico reaches the Philippines, especially in the months of May-June. Since this newest strain, the deadliest so far and considered similar with the Spanish flu which killed 100 million people worldwide, is still being studied (and would take six months to develop an anti-virus vaccine), is there a possibility that such a virus can travel through air and reach a tropical country such as ours?

Remember that weeks before, the DOH reported swine flu affecting piggeries in Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Pangasinan. Though there were only two or three people affected, that shows you that, here in our country, the possibility of animal to human infection exists.

The DOH should not trick us with PR laden statements and just tell us the truth. Because the more the DOH limits information on this deadly virus, the more dangerous the situation becomes.

Likewise, the DOH did not even inform us how much Tamiflu stocks they have. At least in the US, they can adequately vaccinate 50% of their population, while Malaysia can vaccinate 10% of theirs (according to the latest BBC report).

How about us, Filipinos? If the worst case happens, how many of our population would survive such a vicious virus attack? 5%? 10%? India allotted 0.000025% of their population or just 2 million vaccines.

Health secretary Francisco Duque III should refrain from doing PR and instead tell us the things we want to know: how many anti-viral stocks do we have stockfiled and how quick the DOH can contain the spread of this virus.

40 Billion "pesoses" for Gloria's pwet, err Bet

Heard from highly knowledgeable sources that Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's "anointed" stands to gain FORTY (40) BILLION PESOS worth of campaign funds in 2010. Wow.

Previous presidential campaigns only cost 2 billion pesos. With this, Gloria and her minions upped the ante a humongous bit. Where did she got those billions?

Let me count the ways....

1. From private individuals who gained billions from the SSS fund infusion, allegedly part of the "stimulus" fund to protect the country from the effects of the global recession.

2. From public funds. As I wrote in previous entries, the Arroyo gang of misfits stand to gain at least US$ 1 billion from various government projects.

3. From illegal sources----lagays from smugglers at the Customs, lagays from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and from jueteng. Remember Chavit Singson co-manages the country's intelligence agency. A big-time jueteng lord says that the entire country is now under Chavit's ambit.

4. From foreign sources---foreign contractors of defense projects, etc.

So, you see, that's why Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro salivates on getting that "blessing" from Mrs. Arroyo. Many sees it as a "curse", a "kiss of death". Yes, it is, IF THE ELECTIONS ARE SPOT CLEAN.

In an election such as what would surely happen in 2010, a 40 billion peso election kitty is something very serious and nothing to sneeze at. Literally, you could turn a baron or a petty citylord into your servant in seconds.

Question---will the Opposition top it all up? Or will they also take the bait and give everything on the table? A coup is cheaper than an election....

Teodoro should resign now to level the playing field

Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro should resign from his Cabinet portfolio, right now, while all these political maneuverings happen in the AFP. Why? Because he stands to benefit from all these AFP re-organization should he really run either for the presidential or the vice presidential posts in 2010. (see previous posts on AFP re-organization). Or even, for that matter, a seat in the Senate.

We all know that the key towards election victory here in the Philippines is simply having the right number of Generals at your side come election time. Generals control major areas considered their "turf" and they use these as political leverages. Generals take an active part in the elections. They are the silent "king-makers" in their territories (with the exception of those provinces under the Northern Alliance. There, civilians serve as kingmakers, not the other way around). They decide who wins and who loses.

With Teodoro still at the helm of the defense department, he enjoys the privilege of being the ultimate kingmaker. He may not have the billions of Villar, nor the masa appeal of Erap, but, he sure stands to gain from all these maneuverings happening inside the AFP organization.

If things continue, we may yet find ourselves waking up one morning to find Teodoro either as president or vice-president.

If we are to assess the chances of Teodoro, he stands a better chance of winning either posts than say, Villar or Mar Roxas or even Erap.

First, he has a political machinery. Second, he has the military hierarchy to back him up. And third, Teodoro has massive resources for his disposal. He can fund a grass-roots organization from the ground up.

And in a multi-party elections such as ours in 2010, administration bets are sure to win since the possibility of a minority president is now being floated around. Teodoro or a De Castro win will be justified.

And we all know who are behind either Teodoro and Noli....they have military men inside their organizations.

Bangit to lead Hello Garci Part Two in 2010

Why Lt. General Delfin Bangit as AFP Chief of Staff in the May 2010 elections? Two things: assure administration victory in 2010 and if the administration fails to at least get the two top posts for its bets, Vice President Noli de Castro and Gilbert Teodoro, unleash the dogs of war in Mindanao and Metro Manila to justify a full military-led government.

As I wrote in previous posts, Bangit serves as Arroyo's final option should attempts at term extension fails in Congress (it would surely fail) or if the opposition snatch the presidency in 2010.

Bangit is Mrs. Arroyo's former intelligence chief and her most trusted security group head. Sources say Bangit is closer to Mrs. Arroyo than former AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

Both Bangit and Esperon took an active part in the 2004 elections that snatched electoral victory from opposition presidential bet Fernando Poe Jr. and gave the controversial win to Mrs. Arroyo. During that time, generals led by Esperon operated in major parts of the country to implement a massive cheating operation, now conveniently called " Hello Garci" scandal.

Bangit, sources say, is expected to populate the entire country with his own men, political operators posing as military men. This massive organization will ensure the victory of the administration bets in 2010.

So, now, what would be the role of new AFP Chief of Staff Lt. General Victor Ibrado? Ibrado, sources say, is a professional soldier. However, questions abound as to the loyalty of Ibrado---will he allow the AFP to be mangled by politics or will he do his own thing and continue the reforms of his predecessor, Alex Yano?

Like Yano, Ibrado is also a "sitting duck", since people will definitely flock to Bangit instead of him. This situation occurred during the time of former PNP chief Roberto Lastimoso who was perceived to be a "transition" chief to pave the way for his lower classman, Ping Lacson.

Surely, a clash is definitely expected between Ibrado and Bangit simply because people, especially defense operators, with long-term modernization projects, will probably hesitate to report to Ibrado since Bangit is there as his "shadow", perceived to even be stronger than the sitting AFP C-S.

A power struggle is sure to tear the AFP apart, thanks to pronouncements by Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro that Ibrado will also retire early to pave the way for Bangit to assume full control of the military come 2010.

By the way, Vice Chief of Staff Cardozo Luna will also retire early with Yano. Luna, as some sources say, has been tagged as a "major stumbling block" in Mrs. Arroyo and Bangit's efforts to consolidate the entire AFP General's club behind the devil's flock.

Luna is also rumoured to be against the ensuing politicization of the military during Mrs. Arroyo's administration. He will be replaced by General Rodrigo Maclang, a classmate and bunkmate of former AFP Chief of Staff Alex Yano.

Now, what is the true reason behind these maneuverings in the AFP?

Their mission is simple----prevent an opposition victory especially forces allied with former president Joseph Estrada.

Sources say, Malacanang is doing its best to prevent Erap from snatching the top plum. A case is being strengthened to again, prosecute and detain the former president.

Erap, sources say, will be prevented from running AT ALL COSTS.

Should these Machivellian moves fail, the next in the agenda is strengthening the military hierarchy through a re-organization. The PNP has already been re-organized. The AFP will undergo re-organization after Yano steps down, replacing his men with Bangit's. Ibrado will not be allowed to populate the organization with his own appointees without the prior "clearance" from Bangit.

Aim? Simple. Prevent opposition forces from having their own "generals" to help them secure victory in certain populous, voter-rich areas. We all know that generals assume "turfs" during elections and these "turfs" serve as their leverage to politicians come election time.

This is Hello Garci part two. Expect an administration win in 2010.

Yano retires to become Ambassador

Why the sudden haste for AFP Chief of Staff Alex Yano to abandon the AFP Top post on May 1? Yano is retiring one month early to give way to new AFP Chief of Staff Ibrado. As I said in my previous post, Ibrado is just a bogey to allow Mrs. Arroyo's hatchet man, Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit to assume the top command in the May 2010. Ibrado will also retire one month early, on February 2010 to allow Bangit to assume full control of the military during the 2010 elections.

Why Bangit as AFP Chief of Staff in 2010? Two reasons: First, to take an active part in the administration victory in 2010 and two, to assume top command in the event of a declaration of a State of Emergency or worst, martial rule should a failure of elections happen.

Bangit is this administration's final option for a term extension.

As we speak, Yano is preparing for his "graceful" exit from the military to an ambassadorial post in Brunei Darussalam. Yano will be joining the growing ranks of ex-military men in the bureaucracy.

Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro said that Yano will be a fitting member of the diplomatic corps and will serve as a crucial cog of the government panel in negotiations with Brunei Darussalam.

What Teodoro is NOT saying is this---Yano opted to retire early to save face. After Teodoro's announcement of Ibrado's appointment, Yano became a "lame duck". Projects and plans are not submitted to Yano's office anymore. Poor Yano. The professional soldier has been politicized.

Mar to wed Korina, at last!

After bashing him for having this "teka-teka" attitude, I now take a step backward, fill my cup with lambanog, and toast for the soon-to-be wedding of Senator Mar Roxas and my lovely friend, Korina Sanchez.

Mar just proposed to Korina over at Wowowee, the afternoon variety show over at ABS-CBN Channel 2. Obviously, it was a gimmick but you can't deny that it was effective. Where is the better place to announce a wedding than at Wowowee, a show positioning itself as a "pang-masa" program. Mar and Korina are public personalities and we can't fault them for thinking that, a "pang-masa" show fits very well in the scheme of things.

Mar and Korina have been "into this romance thing" years ago. After Korina's split with Noynoy, her relationship with Mar grew stronger. And this wedding announcement caps a very romantic engagement which has animated our lives for quite some time now.

However, we can't stop people from spreading intrigues, like what would happen to Mar's son or if Korina is the best choice for Mar, etc. These intrigues are not to be dignified here. These things are sure to be another shrill jobless blogger's ultimate desire to write in its blog.

What's best is we all wish the couple a happy life together and should Fate wills it, we will see Mar and Korina manning a mangled Republic post 2010. Despite rumours that Korina is not "First Lady" material due to her alleged "attitude", I think Korina is the best there is. She's beautiful. She's intelligent. She has a very strong political will. And when she's in her element, expect people to get their acts together and do things quicker and sooner inside Malacanang. We need someone like that at the palace.

Lapdogs and New Patriots in Philippine Congress

I congratulate my friend and colleague, Raymund Palatino of Ang Kabataan partylist. Raymund is now a Congressman, after being sworn in yesterday by COMELEC officials.

Raymund is a fine addition to the growing bevy of revolutionaries and reform-minded individuals now manning Congress in behalf of the Filipino People. Like Satur and all the rest of the Patriots of the New Generation, Palatino is a breath of fresh air in the rancid halls of Congress. The only reason why Hope is still being talked about by the people is simply there are Patriots like Raymund who'll risk life and limb just to advance the Cause of the Filipino People.

If we expect Raymund to do the right thing, how about former General Jovito Palparan? Palparan claims to have a constituency. He claims to represent those alleged victims of what he claims to be "Communist" terrorists. Is Palparan fit to become Congressman?

If we are to follow COMELEC's fitness test, yes, he is. But, what about the fitness test of the Filipino People?

I remember Germany in the 1930's, when a middle-aged Adolf Hitler entered the halls of Reichstag, Germany's parliament. He represented the National Socialist Party or NAZI which promoted anti-Semitism and German race supremacy.

After a few years, he became Germany's Chancellor.

Like Hitler before him, Palparan became an active part of the military's anti-insurgency campaign. He's anti-revolution, anti-reform and anti-Communist. He subscribes to the belief that force begets force and he does this in brutal fashion.

And there are similarities between Hitler and Palparan. Aside from being anti-Communist, Palparan is also anti-Chinese. He blames the Chinese for the Filipinos' woes. When he was chief of the Infantry division, he did'nt lift a finger when Chinese businessmen were abducted and killed in his jurisdiction despite pleas of help from the victims' families. He was even heard saying "buti nga sa kanila!" when one of the victims got killed.

Instead of running after armed revolutionaries, Palparan takes delicious fancy arresting and killing unarmed reform-minded individuals. He salivates every time an activist gets nabbed, raped (if female), killed and buried in shallow graves. The Melo Commission found this out. Yet instead of castigating him, this administration tolerated and even cuddled him. It's a known fact that Malacanang poured millions of pesos in Palparan's partylist group, Bantay during the elections. And the palace seems to like the idea of having Palparan as its enforcer poster boy. Or imagine Palparan as Speaker of the House? That would surely bring the country down.

Will History repeat itself and see the emergence of a New Hitler in the person of "the Butcher" General Jovito S. Palparan? Will Palparan do a Hitler and go after the Chinese and the Communists when in Congress?

The partylist concept was originally made to empower sectors in Philippine society. It's supposed to be an experiment in democracy. It's supposed to expand horizontally the people's participation in legislation.

Yet, throughout these years, this concept has been mangled and torn to pieces by rapacious and profit-hungry forces out to make a fast buck from the People's sagging resources. Look at the number of partylist groups right now. Examine and study them and you'll find that only a fraction are legitimate groups advancing the People's Cause.

This administration is to be blamed for having smeared the very noble concept of partylist groups. Using government resources, the Arroyo government supported pseudo people's organizations and pseudo cause oriented groups.

Look at the new partylist groups sworn as Congressmen yesterday. We have an Arroyo Watchdog (Bantay) who'll surely promote and legitimize the record of human rights violations of this regime. We have the sipsip group, the Kasangga, who'll surely advance bills that will seek to advance the fiduciary interests of the landlord class. Do you believe what new Cong. Arroyo of Kasangga told the media yesterday, that they'll help the balut vendors improve their lot? Are balut vendors so substantially huge a sector that they can be classified as disenfranchised? Maybe Cong. Arroyo would help balut producers, instead of the vendors? How would they even help them? By asking the MMDA to legitimize their street vending activities which, under the law, is illegal? Will they then pass legislation legitimizing street vending? Or probably, they'll pass laws that would TAX the underground economic sectors to again fatten and line the pockets of greedy government officials?

Since Kasangga is now in Congress, expect the price of balut to go up.

It's interesting that, in the next Congress, two reform-minded individuals from the ranks of the AFP will be gunning for a Congressional seats. Inspired by their idol, Senator Antonio Trillianes, former Navy Lt. James Layug and former Air Force First Lt. Francisco Acedillo will be running as Congressmen in Taguig and Cebu City.

Should they win and Bantay's infamous posterboy, the butcher General also wins, Congress would be a very interesting place to watch. A murderous lapdog going against the New Patriots---that's a classic match even better than a Pacquiao-Hatton fight.

Again, I toss my lambanog filled glass to Raymund Palatino of Ang Kabataan partylist. May God give you strength to battle it out against lapdogs and Arroyo's sipsip brigades. Make the Filipino People proud.

Mar Roxas and the Wrong Way to Padyak

Modes of transport have been used in the past as political communication tools. In 1998, former president Joseph Estrada rode a JEEP on the way to Malacanang. Former Speaker Joe de Venecia had his "jet" to spite Erap, but crashed with just 16% of the votes. He had his jet alright, but not enough gas to even land in NAIA.

And here comes Mar Roxas, seen pedalling a "padyak", a local, all human powered tricycle in a television commercial. First scene shows Mar inside the padyak, talking with the young padyak driver. Young kid had forgettable dialogue. Kid had to sing a song to delight his esteemed passenger, a senator.Then scene cuts with Mar Roxas pedalling the padyak himself and saying " let's continue the fight."

See the raison d'etre? I don't.

Look, for all these years as a legislator, it was only now that Mar wants to assume the driver position. For years, he, together with a band of legislators, self-proclaimed saviors and elite landlords allowed that boy to peddle his way to the dirty and dangerous streets of Manila. Mar, and those working for laws which we don't use in that "hallowed" sanctuary called the Senate, even had the gumption to glorify that kid pedalling a padyak, when, in other countries, that's plain and simple child labor. Is Mar aware that kids are not supposed to work until 18 years old? Is Mar saying that he knew this hard reality but it'll be just now that he wants to act on it, a year before the elections?

The very fact that he rode that padyak shows you how insensitive Mar is when it comes to this socio-economic reality. By riding that padyak, he made himself a party into this tragic invincible and socially acceptable practice of child labor. Why only now Mr. Senator that you want to replace that young driver?

It could have been better if Mar's commercial started with him pedalling the padyak, with those kids inside the trike. That would show that he has only the welfare for the masses. That would show that his heart belongs in the right place.

But, no. Mar began his crusade on the wrong side of the padyak. Imagine, after all these years of serving as our Senator, he was not able to provide a law that would help impoverished padyak kids go to school and off the streets?

Another thing---yes, a padyak is a symbol of Filipino ingenuity. Yet, it is also a stark symbolism of backwardness. It's slow, cumbersome and plain and simple, stupid to run.

Is Mar now saying that he'll use the padyak to symbolize his administration? That, it'll be backward, slow to act, cumbersome to many and simply stupid to run? Yes, many would argue that a padyak is the Pinoy's answer to global warming but if we are to use this as a symbol for our growth and development, then, we need to analyze our heads.

It could have been better if we saw Mar riding a solar or water powered car invented by a Filipino. Imagine Mar driving a mini-bus with a water-powered engine invented by a Pinoy, with a throng of Filipinos, representative of our society behind him. Or Mar wearing a racer's suit with the country's tricolors, behind the wheel of a Pinoy invention of a solar powered race car? That would have rocked our world.

But, no. Mar had to settle for a padyak to peddle his way to the corridors of power.

Daniel Smith had consensual sex with Nicole whom he threw out of his van like a pig

It's like this.

If you're a Filipina and some Arab raped you, remember what former Philippine foreign affairs secretary Raul Manglapus once said---spread your legs further and "enjoy the ride."

That applies to Filipinas raped in other countries.

But, if you're a rape victim of some band of foreigners, most especially American, and they happen to be U.S. servicemen out on an R&R in some honky-tonk place, just remember to keep your mouth shut, and like what Manglapus said, just "enjoy the ride."

Because even if you complain, Philippine courts, especially the Court of Appeals would simply say that "you're not innocent as what you told the court" ergo, " you're not raped."

This is the first time in Philippine jurisprudence that "sexual innocence" has been used as a factor in determining the existence of rape. In previous cases, forced sex thru illegal penetration (for those with kids, just tell them to close their eyes first and read no further) is enough to convict somebody of rape. Three things should be present to determine if there was a crime committed: force, sexual penetration and lack of consent.

The reason rape is being punished here is simply it defies the honor of women victims. If there was force applied to commit sex, that's punishable. If there was utterly lack of consent, that's rape. If there was penetration, however slight, in the oral, vaginal or anal opening of a woman (House bill no. 169 of the US State of Idaho), surely its rape. In fact, in Section 18:6101, it says there that rape is present even when a woman is in an intoxicated state:

5. Where she is prevented from resistance by threats of
immediate and 22 great the infliction, attempted infliction,
or threatened infliction of bodily 23 harm, accompanied by
apparent power of execution; or by is unable to resist
24 due to any intoxicating, narcotic, or
anaesthetic substance. administered by 25 or with the privity
of the accused.

So, when the Philippine Court of Appeals used Nicole's innocence in overturning a local court's decision condemning former US serviceman Daniel Smith of the crime of rape, a question is now before us---is sexual innocence or the lack of it, an important factor in determining if the crime of rape is, indeed, committed?

If before 1997, the crime of rape was classified as a crime against chastity, Congress has now re-classified rape as a crime against persons, consistent with the definition of the US State of Idaho.

Some might say that the Court of Appeals used the innocence play card to demolish the lower court's argument that there was force and lack of consent. However, this might redefine the definition of rape as what we knew in terms of jurisdiction.

If a prostitute, say, cries rape, would the Court of Appeals say later on that there was no rape because "she's not as innocent as she looks"? What if a mother cries rape? Would the Court of Appeals says there was no rape because " she's not as innocent as she looks"?

So, the Court of Appeals overturned the local court's findings of rape by just looking at Nicole and saying, "here's a woman who's surely a "woman of the world". It's impossible to find rape here coz she's not the provinciana she said she is."

So, damn the physical evidence, curse the medico-legal findings and all those testimonies which pictured a sordid scene where "the victim is being thrown out of the van like a pig" all part of the romance between Nicole and Daniel Smith.

So what if Nicole was treated like a pig after being ravished by Smith and company? That's part of the love game between the two "lovers", if we are to believe the Court of Appeals. Nicole and Daniel were caught in a forbidden love triangle with Brian, Nicole's ex.

So Daniel Smith was probably a sex sadist; that after a lustful tryst inside a van, he'll throw his lover out like a pig being held in her hands and feet. For Smith and Nicole, that's all part of this sweet and romantic sexual game.

Crap.

Save Boayan Island from Commercial Tourism!

What's happening to the town of San Vicente in the province of Palawan is a prime example why we can't entrust the lives and welfare of our people to our local officials. If we are to agree on a federal parliamentary form of government, we might yet end up with practically all prime and pristine lands of this country destroyed due to the capriciousness and rapaciousness of those who'll rule this Paradise called Filipinas.



Residents of San Vicente are up in arms over the scare and bullying tactics being done by San Vicente mayor Antonio V. Gonzales. A former executive of the biggest logging firm owned by billionaire Jose Pepito Alvarez, Gonzales ran and won the mayoral post in this once quiet town. After winning the elections, Gonzales marshaled the entire town on a selling spree and for what? To transform the place into a multi-billion tourism estate.



Nothing wrong here except that, as of late, the construction of tourism facilities has already disrupted the ecosystem. A hill has already been destroyed and some age-old trees have already been cut. Natural springs have been destroyed and what's worst, the pristine paradise called Boayan Island is now being threatened by commercial tourism interests.



It seems that Mayor Gonzales is lusting for millions of pesos worth of commissions from these tourism projects in exchange for destroying the natural wonder that is San Vicente, Northern, Palawan.



The target for this monumental environmental destruction in the name of commercial tourism is a 15 kilometer stretch of beach with world-class fine, white, powdery sand called Long beach. Long beach is reputedly better than Boracay beach sand. The buying spree started when the local government gave permission for commercial tourism companies to occupy these beach fronts. A marina is being built right now as we speak. Residents said the marina already destroyed the natural protective barriers that shield San Vicente from torrential storms and strong waves.



Aside from the Long beach, rapacious commercial tourist groups are eyeing the natural wonder called Daplac cove. Boayan Island is part of that cove of pristine wonder.



For local residents, Boayan Island is a place very close to their hearts. One of its residents, D. Roxas, a daughter of Sixto Roxas, has been living in the island for more than twenty years with her French husband. She described the place as a heavenly paradise, teeming with rich wildlife and a stretch of fine powdery sand.



An investment group called Palawan Cove Development Corporation in partnership with Boracay-based Discovery Suites has obtained a licence to develop the Daplac cove into a high-end luxury resort.



Nothing wrong with the vision except that it will totally destroy the ecosystem in Daplac, endangering wildlife and opening the place into more predations and environmental destruction brought by commercial tourism. Imagine thousands of uncaring tourists flocking to the place and trashing around. Just think of those tons of garbage destroying the natural beauty of Boayan Island, Daplac cove and the rest of the town of San Vicente in Northern Palawan due to commercial tourism.

This shows you how perverted the view of government in terms of tourism. Why Tourism secretary Ace Durano agreed on this is beyond me. Tourism is good, yes, because it generates employment and much-needed revenues. Yet, growth and progress should be tempered with environmental welfare.

Eco-tourism should forever be the policy of this government simply because these natural wonders which God gave us is not just for the present generation---it is also for the future generation of Filipinos to enjoy. These future Pinoys have every right to see their Motherland protected against commercialism.

Let this be our crusade. Every Filipino who loves the Motherland should see to it that these God-given gifts, like Daplac Cove and Boayan Island would not be ravished by these commercial tourist entities. If we need to launch a revolt against the government, we will.

Coup-Me and Nograles use of back door tactics

While most of us huddle in our tambayans, speculating on what really happened to Trina Etong, a group of politicians are busy trying to invent ways on how to circumvent the Constitution and for what? Speaker Prospero Nograles' group is trying to "test the waters" so to speak so that his proposal to allow foreign ownership of Philippine lands pass Congressional scrutiny. Nograles wants to include a proviso in his proposal by delimiting the coverage of the change in the charter "by just this one---change in the economic provisions". And he wants his theory tested by allowing his detractors to file a Constitutional question before the Supreme Court, confident that, in the end, it would be the "kampihan" (camaraderie) that would prevail instead of plain and simple, katarungan (justice).

It is an elementary principle in Constitutional Law that any change in the charter shall only be done in either a Constitutional convention or a Constituent Assembly. Changes cannot be piecemeal and deemed enacted by legislative or executive fiat. It must undergo a process whereby all members of Congress (both the Senate and the Lower House, voting separately) are involved. As contemplated by the Constitutionalists, the House will gather its votes and decide, while at the same time, the Senate votes as a collegial body. If the measure passes in the House but is rejected by the Senate, then, it not deemed enacted. Rather, it would be brought back to the House and the same procedure happens again.

It would be easier if Congress allows a Constitutional Convention, which, by the lack of time, is impossible to happen if the desire is simply to extend the term of Mrs. Arroyo.

Nograles just wants to use the back door in order to complete his mission for the Arroyos. He knows that his neck is on the line on this one and he does'nt want to disappoint his benefactor, Mike and his son, Mikey Arroyo. It's quite obvious though that he'll fail since majority of the LAKAS-CMD and some members of the KAMPI disagree with efforts to amend the charter at this time. In fact, LAKAS-CMD spokesman Juan Miguel Zubiri and even Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio have been telling Nograles and his cohorts to abandon charter change and concentrate on fortifying the administration block to prevent an expected Opposition win in 2010.

With so little time left, Nograles has no other option but to force the issue down our very throats. He'll proceed by testing the waters and armed with 187 votes, he'll try to ram his ridiculous suggestion and then, throw the ball to the Supreme Court. That's a shrewed way of telling Malacanang that he's like Pontius Pilate, washing his filthy hands and distancing himself from the unpopular decision.

And Nograles and his ilk might simply succeed in their tug of war. Otherwise, if all stops are lifted, Arroyo's devilish clan, especially those hawks in the palace, might simply proceed with their Plan B, which is subject the entire country under martial law thru a "God Save the Dirty Queen."

A "God Save the Queen" scenario is not entirely far-fetched given that Mrs. Arroyo already got the complete loyalty of the AFP generals and even the police. The fact that PMA Class 1978, the class who gave Mrs. Arroyo her honorary class membership has now ascended the highest echelons of power and is poised to dominate both the AFP and the PNP this year and the next shows opportunity. This opportunity is not to be wasted by Mrs. Arroyo, no, because what's involved here is basically either a life of continuous glory or a fate worst than death.

The only way for Mrs. Arroyo to lose that opportunity is by being deprived of that opportunity. Obviously, the ascendancy of this class should be deterred, prevented and/or hindered at all costs by the New Patriots of the New Generation. Mrs. Arroyo and her ilk should be stopped at all costs; otherwise, the Nation faces the prospect of another ten years under the ignominious rule of the devil enfant.

Villar's Defense Thru Radio Ads

Last Monday, the Senate floor saw former Senate president Manny Villar defend himself against accusations levelled against him by colleagues, Senators Jamby Madrigal and Ping Lacson. Manny's defense was aired live by DZMM (ABS-CBN 2) and DZBB (GMA Channel 7). Despite his booming voice and his attempt to present a strong alibi (" I was the one who suffered here for the sake of my constituency" line of defense), the beleguered senator failed to convince me and even some of my colleagues.

Villar's said he did'nt benefit from allowing the C-5 circumferential road to cross his vast real estate properties in Daang Hari, when, it was very clear that his real estate firm raked in millions from the right-of-way deal.

Villar also said that it was not him that prodded government to construct the C-5 road---it was originally an American idea which DPWH pursued later on to "decongest" traffic in Las Pinas, Paranaque and Cavite. True, it was the idea of the Americans way back in the 1920's yet it was only vigorously pursued when Villar became senator.

Villar claims that more than 6 million people benefit from the construction of the Daang Hari road. No dispute about that. That road really benefitted not just residents of Cavite or Las Pinas; moreso, it benefitted the house owners who bought lots and H/L from Camella and VistaLand. Truthfully, Villar actually benefitted from the construction of the road because his real estate agents were able to sell his products faster than others.

What Villar failed to establish is the veracity of his allegations against Ping and Jamby. He accused them of malicious intentions, pointing to Lacson and "other presidential aspirants" as behind the move to "smear" his good name. But, is politics the true reason why Villar is now suddenly being questioned?

Even before 2007, Villar's name has been unnecessarily dragged into this controversy. While the Daang Hari road is being constructed, malicious tongues already wagged that the "power" behind it was really the Senate President. Let's just give Villar the benefit of the doubt that he did lost money by not getting any single cent from those lucrative right-of-way deals. But, the very fact that he now earns billions through real estate sales, can you still say that he did'nt benefit from the project?

Months ago, Villar also admitted that he did, indeed, requested the DPWH to complete the construction of bridges and overpasses along Daang Hari road. Even that road linking Cavite to Paranaque and on to C-5 road was Villar's idea.

The question that crossed my mind is, why did Villar deny this when everybody knew already that he, together with his Congressman wife, were behind those projects? And is'nt strange that these projects cross his vast real estate properties in that part of the South?

Again, if Villar is in this thing "with clean hands", why did he purchased radio spots in selected radio stations at the very day that the Senate ethics committee questioned him? Yesterday, it was apparent that Vista Land's marketing and advertising department was behind those radio commercials which were aired shortly after his "defense" at the Senate.

When it was Senator Jamby's time to speak, DZMM and DZBB aired Villar's radio ads. The public was not able to hear Jamby's speech because of those ads. And we all know that advertisers can request these two networks to "just keep silent" or "just air Villar's defense" in exchange for advertising spots. That's an age-old trick by PR practitioners especially those who are unsure whether they influence the station or not.

Now, if Villar is really innocent of the crime charged by his colleagues at the Senate, why go to lengths like this (placement of radio ads)? Is Villar afraid that the public will know the truth?

Mr. Villar, if you're really clean, then, allow the Public to hear both sides, not just yours. Don't bind the hands of radio and TV stations by influencing their editorial discretions thru advertisement.

DZMM and DZBB should also explain to us why they ended the live coverage of the "Senate word war" yesterday and instead, aired Villar's radio ads. Were they instructed by their respective marketing departments not to anymore air the accuser's side and just air Villar's? The Ethics Committee and even the entire Senate should probe deeper into this.

Pampanga Governor Panlilio goes back to priesthood and Pimentel's Pseudo Oppositionists

It's definitely official and you read it first here---Pampanga governor Ed Panlilio is going back to the priestly class by 2010. Yes, Panlilio who earlier intimated his desire to run for the presidency, is taking a back seat and for good reason--he and Isabela Governor Padaca's negotiations with the Liberal Party fell thru, leaving them in the lurch. Without a strong political machinery, Panlilio and Padaca's chances of clinching the presidential and vice presidential or even the senatorial spots are close to nil. The Liberal Party has Mar Roxas already and they're just looking for his running mate.

Likewise, a new political movement has announced the candidacy of Senator Richard Gordon. As i write this, there are five (5) confirmed candidates for the presidency in 2010:

1. Richard Gordon, being backed up by the Bagumbayan Political Party
2. Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party
3. Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party
4. Either Chiz Escudero or Gilbert Teodoro of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC)
5. Joseph "Erap" Estrada of the JEEP NI ERAP/Partido ng Masang Pilipino or PMP.

It seems that there are at least three clear groups claiming to be "opposition"---Roxas, Villar and Erap. Gordon's movement is not technically "opposition" but can be described as "neutral" (neither here nor there, I suppose) likened to that of Manoling Morato's party when he ran in 1998.

If Loren decides to throw her hat unto the ring, she might find herself forming another party since her political party (NPC) is full of presidential aspirants. She may have to settle for the vice presidency.

Possible mergers

Now, the possibility of the Lakas and Kampi merger is about " 80 percent complete", according to Lakas-CMD spokesman Zubiri. Mrs. Arroyo is currently engaged in talks with Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio.

A Lakas-CMD-Kampi merger would surely field in Vice President Noli de Castro as presidential bet and possibly, Teodoro. Now, if the opposition has a problem, the administration also has a very clear dilemma.

The field of candidates is far and wide, which includes Teodoro, Escudero, De Castro and Loren Legarda. A coalition would pit these four personalities against each other, leading to expected fractures and fissures in organizational unity.

If the administration would field a De Castro-Teodoro tandem, the NPC may have to contend with an Escudero-Legarda one, which, in all honesty, is quite formidable compared with a De Castro-Teodoro. If these tandems run against each other, they will split the administration vote.

Escudero-Legarda may have to position themselves as "opposition" to avoid such a scenario which in this case, would surely clash with the "United" opposition led by Erap. Erap would probably enter into a compromise with the administration, since, he will never be allowed to run for another term. This compromise would surely result to the "opposition" anointing a Manny Villar as their bet. Running as Villar's vice president would be either Jinggoy Estrada or JV Estrada, proxies of the former president. A Villar-Estrada tandem is a sure winner.

Possible tandems

For Lakas-KAMPI: De Castro-Teodoro
For NPC: Escudero-Legarda
For UNO: Villar-Estrada
For himself: Gordon and ?
For Liberal Party: Roxas and Padaca (?)

If these tandems or configurations push thru, then, it's a sure win for the Opposition, the one being led by Erap. Why?

Surely, De Castro-Teodoro will not be eating up the constituency of a Villar-Estrada since it is proven by recent elections that Estrada has his own strong mass constituency. The "Erap" magic is still there and the administration knows it. It would definitely be the mass following of Gordon who'll eat up the constituency of De Castro-Teodoro or can even be vice versa.

Gordon would surely eat up the administration areas, diluting support for De Castro-Teodoro.

The Roxas group would surely eat up the Escudero-Legarda constituency (or can also be the other way around) which is about 12-25% of the electorate. Remember that both groups appeal to the intelligentsia and some segments of the C-D class; yet not as wide as that of Erap.

So, the only one with the solid constituency and possibly the eventual winner in 2010 would definitely have to be the one being run and controlled by Erap.

Now, the question---is there any other force equal or similar with Erap's? The answer is none. Even if Ping Lacson tries his hand at challenging the Erap group, he will find it very difficult since the people favor Erap more than Lacson. There is no chance for Lacson to even eat up Erap's constituency since Lacson does not have a solid grassroots organization to speak of.

So, the clear winner in this case is Erap's group.

Philippine Economic State

The first quarter economic figures is not entirely optimistic. Export earnings in February 2009 dropped by 39.1 percent to $2.504 billion from $4.112 billion in February 2008 (go to census website at http://www.census.gov.ph for additional info). Total quantity of domestic trade transactions in the 4th quarter of 2008 went down by 29.6 percent, resulting to 3.73 million tons from 5.3 million tons reported during the same period of 2007.

The Producer Price Index (PPI, 2000=100) for the manufacturing industry recorded a slower growth of 2.7 percent in February 2009, still modest, yet compared with other Asian countries which registered negative figures, practically in still good standing. Yet, owners and manufacturers whom I met at Sherwood Hills Golf Club last Friday said they're not quite optimistic that they'll be able to recover very soon and replicate the phenomenal manufacturing growth they had in 2006 and 2007.

This explains why factories are shutting down, export industries are trimming their labor force and a lesser than expected number of new businesses are cropping up. Simply put, orders from abroad are lessening if not entirely nil. The need for Philippine-made products are slowing down. Even the local economies are also slowing down or very near crash levels.

Our local economy cannot generate enough funds and revenues. That's why the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced that it is lowering its revenue targets simply because of the state of our economy. The 800 billion peso revenue target is so high, says one BIR friend, that it would take a whole new set of tax laws or even an increase in existing tax laws to be able to generate such a figure, when, one or two years ago, this figure would have been easy cake.

Now, the so-called economic reforms being implemented by the Obama administration is still not working. As described by a Boston-based balikbayan whom I chatted during a golf game last Friday, the US economy is still very weak. Obama's "magic" is still not being felt by many despite the passage of the economic stimulus package. One reason: the crisis has reached critical levels and still remains impossible to solve. Analysts say this crisis is expected to last more than the predicted 18 months period. If the US economy continues to falter, then, it would be very hard for the US government to even extend a hand to other economies such as the Philippines.

The logical direction is therefore other "more robust" economies, such as China and Japan. Yet, these economies are taking a battering worse than the US. Singapore is not faring any better. Nor does European economies. So, what would save us from an impending economic meltdown?

We must turn this negative thing into a positive one. How do we do that? By fortifying or enhancing our competitive strengths and lessening our weaknesses. How do we possibly achieve that?

1. Break down monopolies and allow new money to compete.
2. Generate more revenues by passing the sin tax laws.
3. Spur growth by attracting foreign investors and undertake infrastructure projects under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law.
4. Generate growth in the tourism sector by emphasizing on local tourism instead of relying much on foreign tourism.
5. Encourage more Filipinos to undertake entrepreneurial pursuits to grow the economic base horizontally while managing vertical growth.
6. Build more second home communities for foreign retirees, targetting the US, European, Chinese, Korean and Japanese markets.
7. Implement the agrarian reform program in an honest fashion.
8. Lessen graft and corruptive practices in the bureaucracy by trimming it down to manageable levels. A humongous bureaucracy is proving to be a burden rather than a boon during these hard times.
9. Create newer zones of peace in violence-prone yet prime tourist locations.
10. Encourage banks to further improve their marketing efforts, therefore encouraging more deposits and widen their loan portfolios to be able to extend fund assistance to new entrepreneurs.

US Marines and How They

A friend just sent this photo. Is this the way the United States want the War on Terror conducted? By running roughshod over another country's religious beliefs and sacred worship sites? US President Barack Obama should review the current military campaign against terrorism. How can the world re-define or re-imagine their view of America if these soldiers are not culturally sensitive about their perceived enemies?

Erap to be arrested?

Rumblings within the Enchanted Kingdom all have one thing in common---the hushed plan to arrest and re-detain former president Joseph "Erap" Estrada. A classmate, who's now working inside the evil regime, says that a plan is a-foot to negotiate with Dante Tan, a former associate of the deposed president. Tan is in Canada, although certain reports say, he's now living in New Zealand, Australia or even in Singapore. Unlike former cop, Cesar Mancao, negotiating with a businessman is easier. Cretins within the Kingdom are salivating over the possibility of again, putting an end to the numerous provincial sorties the ex-Chief Executive have been doing for the past months.

Now, is this possible? And will Erap allow himself to again, be denied of his rights and jailed?

The devils and demons in the palace did it once--in 2002--and they could possibly do it again. In fact, doing this now, the arrest and detention of Erap, would be easier than last time since the Erap camp would find it very hard to muster enough warm bodies to protect their principal once this happens.

One tip to the camp of Estrada---instead of trying to reach Dante Tan, beat Malacanang to the gun by talking with former Department of Agriculture secretary Cito Lorenzo.

Since late last year, Cito has been sending feelers to expose the Joc-Joc Bolante case. This fertilizer scam is juicier than the feeble attempt by the palace to link an innocent Erap to the murder of publicist Bubby Dacer. If they succeed in bringing Cito back, that would spell the start of the end of this evil regime.

The fertilizer fund scam is still the hottest issue to date, with the Legacy scam a far second. Thousands of farmer families are still hot over Joc-Joc Bolante, now enjoying his multi-millions in the comforts of his palatial Ayala Alabang house, while farmers are having a hard time making ends meet. An agrarian revolt is sure to follow if the Opposition successfully convinces Cito Lorenzo to finally reveal who really backed Joc-Joc Bolante up and who really benefitted from this fertilizer fund scam.

ICRC Kidnapped Worker Notter freed by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)

After Sulu Governor Abdu Sakur Tan allowed five religious clerics to negotiate for and on behalf of ICRC kidnapped victim Andreas Notter, the victim was released unharmed in the town of Indanan Sulu. Here is the latest update from the Philippine Star, published today:

Kidnappers release 2nd Red Cross worker Updated April 18, 2009 10:03 AM MANILA (Xinhua) -- Abu Sayyaf rebels released the second of three kidnapped Red Cross workers Saturday morning held captive in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, the military said on Saturday.

Sulu-based military spokesman Edgard Arevalo said that Swiss Andreas Notter was found in Indanan town by security forces cordoning off the bandits and now is staying with Sulu governor Abdusakur Tan, who is heading a government Crisis Management Committee tasked to secure the freedom of the International Committee of the Red Cross members.

Notter, together with Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipina Mary Jean
Lacaba were snatched by the rebel Abu Sayyaf group on Jan. 15 in Patikul town
after they inspected a jail project in the Sulu province. Lacaba was released
earlier by the kidnappers on April 2, after 77 days of captivity."He was
released. Based on the information that reached us, Notter was freed, (and) then
he was found in Indanan," said Arevalo. The officer could not say what specific
time the hostage was released."But definitely our troops are still in their
positions, where they are supposed to be. The pressure that we are exerting is
still there, we didn't remove it. Definitely the pressure on them contributed in
releasing their hostage," said Arevalo.Neither did the spokesman give
information about Vagni, the third kidnapped aid worker, on Saturday.He said
earlier this week that Vagni was ill and needed rapid medical
treatment."Intelligence reports reveal that Vagni is afflicted with Hernia. This
is a medical condition that physicians say could be serious and thus requires
immediate medical attention," Arevalo told reporters on Wednesday.

THIS IS GREAT NEWS! Allahu Akbar! Let the World Thank Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'Alah for His Mercy and His Justice.

I urge all the other Muslim brothers and sisters in Sulu to further illuminate the minds of the Muslims in that group and release the remaining foreign hostage without any ransom consideration.

The Relevance of "?"

My previous entry which had the title " Ted Failon...Shades of O.J" used the punctuation mark "?". Now, if Marocharim is to be believed, this entry aims to propound a theory or a "parallelism". But, was it intended to maliciously link the case of Manong Ted with that of O.J. Simpson?

No.

It was intended to actually squelch the very notion that these two cases have similarities. That's the reason why a question mark was used. It was written to erase every notion that this case has similarities and therefore, justifies the "professional barbarism" by the police to the family of Manong Ted.

Radio commentators had a field day, insinuating that this case has "shades of O.J." last Wednesday, April 15, 2009 and even last Thursday, April 16.I had to articulate that in the article because I heard it. If you're a journalist or an opinion writer, you'll definitely use that in your entry so that later on, you'll be able to provide information that would surely dispel any other notion that it was somewhat linked.

Likewise, if I indeed wanted to even link the case to O.J., I would have erased the question mark and instead wrote " Ted.....Shades of O.J" with a period in the end.

A blogger commented that the last paragraph was "irrelevant". Was it, irrelevant? For some, probably. But, it was not.

It was not irrelevant because it actually aimed to DISPEL certain talk about the alleged parallelism between the case of Failon and O.J. Simpson. By including a statement which says "we need to avoid speculations...etc." means that the writer just articulated a prevailing sentiment and HIS OWN SENTIMENTS were written immediately AFTER that paragraph. And that sentiment clearly and simply says that "AVOID SPECULATIONS".

Hay, naku. Ano ba naman? Hahanap lang ng butas, eh, sa mga ganito pa! Next please!

Marocharim's Irrelevance

I promised not to write any other update on the Ted Failon case. Yet, marocharim's article was linke to my blog and therefore, I need to read him. And it seems that he's having this umbrage against me for writing an entry which establishes a parallelism between the case of Manong Ted and O.J. simpson.

Let me be frank and say that Marocharim had a misreading on this entry. Look, re-read the article. In the bottom of the article, it says:

"Clearly, these are all INITIAL REPORTS and I wrote them here just to
update our readers on this case. The police is investigating this incident,
which has shades of that O.J. Simpson murder case some years ago.

Will Failon be our next version of O.J. Simpson? Remember that some years
ago, former Ilocos Congressman Farinas was, himself, accused and speculated to
have murdered his wife Maria Theresa Carlson. Farinas was later cleared after
reports say Carlson committed suicide by jumping from the open window of their
condominium unit.

We need to reserve judgement on this one and avoid speculations since the
authorities are doing their jobs to get to the bottom of this very controversial
incident."

Analyze the entry very clearly, Marck. I stressed "initial reports" therefore, anything that was written there and anything that was observed, were clearly fresh and raw.

Now, on linking parallelisms with the O.J. Simpson and Ted Failon, that was the prevailing sentiment or view by many LAST WEDNESDAY. Radio commentators had a field day talking about what is happening and that case of O.J. Simpson. I need to articulate that. Why?

To immediately squelch it afterwards. That this is NOT like the O.J. SIMPSON CASE. NO. That's why i wrote

" we need to reserve judgement on this one and AVOID
SPECULATIONS since the
authorities are doing their jobs to get to the bottom
of this very controversial
incident."

Is that irrelevant? No. Pinangunahan ko na ang ibang bloggers o
kung sino man ang magaakalang hawig itong kaso na ito kay O.J. Simpson para ako
mismo ang magsabi later on na HINDI.

Prinutektahan ko ang integridad ni Manong Ted by writing
ahead of the rest para nga hindi isiping me hawig ito sa O.J. Simpson case.

Even by using the editorial/literary convention of the Cong. Farinas case shows you that something like this is actually a suicide since Farinas was initially accused and was found INNOCENT. But I left it all up there in full sundry for one reason---I am leaving it all up to the readers what to think but
URGING them NOT to speculate.

Hay naku, Marocharim.

Ikaw ang isa sa mga taong inaakala kong matalino at marunong bumasa ng artikulo. Unfortunately, like that pseudo-CPA based in the States, you're misreading me.

Yung sinasabi mong "making kapa" on this or "who shot who"---was
it there in the entry? Did you see anything similar or remotely similar with
propounding a theory on this "who shot who". Pakitignan nga ulit yung entry kung
me theory doon that is INCONSISTENT with initial police findings and other
things.

Marocharim, huwag mo sanang isipin ang mga bagay na nasasa imahinasyon mo
lang. Basahin ng mabuti ang entry at tignan kung obhektibo o hindi.

Huwag sanang maglagay ng mga salitang hindi naman sinabi ninuman. Huwag
tumulad sa ibang naghahanap ng butas dahil nabayaran ng administrasyon.

You're the last person whom I least expect to make a moth hill out of nothing.

RP Police Brutality and Professional Barbarism

It was only this year when members of Central Police District of the Philippine National Police (PNP) brutally killed members of a notorious carnapping syndicate. In plain view, these gun crazy cops mauled these criminals to death inside a suspected carnapped vehicle. When one was still breathing, one cop shot him point-blank, austensibly as part of a police procedure called "mopping up operations". For these cops, "mopping up" means killing everybody, including potential witnesses who could have provided more leads for the cops to go after the rest of the syndicate. For CPD members, best to kill everybody since they're the dregs of society anyway and they'll just become a burden to the State once they allow them to live and populate an already distressfully overpopulated CPD jail. Or maybe the cops do not want these victims to squeal more names that could potentially implicate high-government officials.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) admonished the cops and filed administrative charges against them. They were since removed from the service after a big hooplah. Yet, the cycle of crazy, brutal and hellish killings and mishandlings continued unabated. Crime has not abated in the Quezon City area. Carnappings have since risen. Salvagings and other nasty crimes have not stopped. The PNP leadership has since replaced the head of the CPD, yet these crimes continue non-stop.

Quezon City's reputation as the "carnapping capital of the world" remains. And with such colorful characters as CPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) head Supt. Mabanag leading the pack of ravenous and blood thirsty cops there, expect no such changes in the peace and order situation in this city soon.

And to think that friends and partymates of QC Mayor Belmonte tinkered an idea of making him run as presidential candidate, or at the least, a senatorial bet. A government run by Belmonte would surely be a blessing for carnappers, kidnappers, thieves and every hooligan in this country.

And probably because of the pressure they get for their failure to arrest the rising crime incidence in the city, members of the Central Police District (CPD) see everybody as suspects, criminals and what-have-you.

For having been charged with human rights violations and pressed for "fair treatment", these cops are pressured to treat everybody with disdain. Their overzealousness led to brutality since this is the only one they know as effective countermeasures against criminal elements.

Brutality can only work if the suspect is acting in a similar fashion. If there is resistance, like the suspect is shooting at the cops, then, appropriate and similar force should be applied only in that instance.

In the minds of CPD cops, everybody, should be accorded such brutality, be it a person who was just accused of a crime or just being blamed of an illegal act.

This explains why even the househelps of Mr. Ted Failon were victimized by the barbarism of these cops.

If Ted and his household were shocked upon seeing Trina slumped on the bathroom floor, nearly lifeless after taking her own life, the cops were similarly shocked to find themselves in the midst of a maelstrom.

If Ted and his household were stupefied after seeing one of their loved ones take her own life, the cops were similarly stumped after learning that they were handling a case that's undermanning their traditional procedures and barbaric thinking.

Malacanang has just asked that the CPD handle the case in a "professional fashion" and in the minds of cops, particularly Supt. Mabanag, they're handling this in a superb way. The word "professional" seems to mean "professional barbarism", the only creado he knows as the only way to "arrive at the truth" about this case.

To those who are living in Quezon City, beware.

You live in a place where professional barbarians rule the streets. Be alert. And be afraid, be very afraid.

Kung si Ted ay nakalasap ng barbarismo mula mismo sa mga awtoridad, papaano pa sa tulad nating mga ordinaryong Pilipino?

Ted's wife died tonight--my last entry

At exactly 8:50 pm, Manila Time, Trinidad "Trina" Arteche-Etong died at the New Era University General Hospital. The forty-five year old wife of ABS-CBN News Anchor Ted Failon expired due to multiple organ failure. She sustained a lone gunshot wound in the left temple and was rushed unconscious to the hospital two days ago. Doctors say the cranial fractures which Trina suffered due to the self-inflicted shooting led to multiple organ failure. Physicians tried to revive the already brain dead nurse for thirty minutes, but failed. Her blood pressure reached the most critical levels at around 8 in the evening.

She left a young daughter, Karisma and Kaye, who's now in college. Peter Musngi, ABS-CBN DZMM boss and bosom friend of Ted Failon described Ted as "unconsolable". Fr. Jerry Orbos, a family friend, gave the final rites. The priest also prayed together with the family.

I, together with my other colleagues in the media, pray for Trina's soul. I also prayed for Ted Failon and his family. The family is under tremendous pressures and stress right now. May God protect them and keep them safe from all harm.

Manong Ted, I know you're having some trials right now, but I have full faith that you'll be able to get thru with all these. May God, the Living Lord, give you strength. May God protect your kids and for them to recover from this personal tragedy.

I sincerely believe that what happened was a suicide. Whatever the reason of Trina, we'll leave it up to God, who is the Originator of Everything. Right now, tatagan mo ang loob mo Manong Ted for the sake of your young kids. There's always a reason for all of these things.

This will be my last entry. Out of respect for the grieving family of Manong Ted Failon, I shall now refrain from writing any updates on this case. Clearly, based on the pieces of evidence gathered so far and corroborated from the testimonies of eye witnesses, this is a classic case of suicide. This is a purely personal tragedy for the Failons and it is but proper for all of us to reserve judgement against them and let us just pray that they triumph over this very painful incident.

May the Living God, the Most Kind, the Most Gracious, and the Most Merciful give the Failons strength to move forward. Amen.

Ted Failon's Wife Suicide Attempt: Timeline and Latest Update

Pamela, the younger sister of Trinidad "Trina" Arteche-Etong, revealed to ABS-CBN News anchor and reporter Ces Orena Drilon the reason behind the attempted suicide.

Monday, April 13, 2009

In an interview over at TV Patrol, Pamela reportedly received an urgent call from his elder sister. Trina asked Pamela to come to Manila. Trina allegedly wanted to tell her a serious financial problem. Pamela sensed something wrong. She immediately packed her bags and booked a Tacloban-Manila flight.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Trina fetched Pamela from the airport on a Tuesday. According to Pamela, they went around Manila. They stopped at a church where Trina prayed. They also went to a restaurant to eat. During this time, Trina was just silent.

When they arrived at the Failon's house in Tierra Pura subdivision, Pamela noticed that Trina was acting rather weird. She was saying things which frightened Pamela. She was apologizing to Pamela for some unknown reason.

Before Ted Failon arrived at their house, Trina reportedly wrote a note of apology. She placed it on the dining table. Trina was so ashamed to tell her husband about this serious financial problem.

When Ted arrived, he had a serious talk with Trina. They went inside the master's bedroom. Ted asked Trina what's the problem. Trina refused to tell Ted. Ted assured his wife that whatever the financial problem was, he would back her up. Trina left the house.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Before 10:30 am

On the morning of Wednesday, Ted went to ABS-CBN to do his morning show. Trina reportedly went back to the house. Pamela meanwhile observed the behavior of her sister. Pamela saw her sister standing inside the master's bedroom. Trina was texting someone. It was later revealed that she was texting her husband Ted. She later locked herself inside the bathroom.

When Ted sensed something wrong, he called his wife. According to Ted, the wife was distraught and was very apologetic. Ted then cut his program short, boarded his Pajero and rushed to their house.

When Ted arrived, he saw Pamela and Lot, the maid. He asked the maid to go with him to the room. When he saw that the door was locked, he asked the maid to get the keys.

Ted opened the door and found the room empty. He saw the bathroom door. It was locked. He tried to open the door. He found that the key was different. He asked the maid to go downstairs to get the proper key.

When they opened the door, Ted and the maid Carlota ("Lot") found Trina slumped with a bullet wound in the left temple. Ted was stufefied. The maid howled in shock. Pamela heard their shouts and rushed upstairs.

She found her sister slumped, with blood oozing from her head. Pamela got near his sister. She noticed that Trina was still alive. She asked Ted to ask the driver, Glen Potan, to help them carry her sister and rush her to the hospital. Ted was still in shock. He gathered his wits and had the strength to carry his wife downstairs and onto the Blue Pajero.

11: 20 am

Ted, the driver Glen and Pamela went to the hospital. The maid Lot was left behind to take care of Ted's youngest daughter, Karisma. The incident happened around 11 since they arrived in the hospital around 11:20 in the morning.

1pm

At around 1 pm, Ted and the driver Glen went back to the house. No other info was clear at this point.

3pm

At around 3pm, the hospital notified the police about the incident. After an hour, police arrived at Ted's house and they then started the probe.

4-5pm

News broke out about the shooting incident. Ted was interviewed by Ces Drilon at around 5 to 5:30pm.

Between 5:45 to 6:20pm

Vice President Noli de Castro arrived at Ted's house. Other friends of Ted Failon also arrived to give him support. Lawyers also arrived. It was also during this time that Ted underwent a paraffin test.

Between 8-10pm

Ted's eldest daughter Kaye, arrived. The father hugged his daughter and explained what happened. Daughter asked the other househelps on what really happened.

11pm

Ted arrived at Camp Caringal to give his formal testimony. The other househelps also gave their testimonies. Present inside the room were Ted, the driver Glen, the two female househelps and PAO attorney Percy Acosta. Reportedly Acosta also asked for some info from the investigating team and asked the househelps if they want to get free legal assistance from the PAO.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

In the morning, Ted went to the hospital to see his wife. He was accompanied by the police. The househelps remained under custody but later went back to the house.

around 10:30am

CPD Chief Rosales gave a press conference. It was an update regarding the case. He announced that:

1. Ted Failon was found negative of gunpowder residue but stressed that this is inconclusive. Further investigation will be conducted.

2. Rosales said that the case will be treated like an ordinary one.

3. Rosales said they are still gathering more evidence on the scene of the incident and is not ruling out foul play.

4. The police will invite Ted and the other househelps for further questioning.

At around 11-12pm

DOJ secretary Raul Gonzales commented on the on-going drama and admonished the PAO for helping Failon. He also placed Failon in the BID watchlist. The secretary also said that Ted Failon, like all the other occupants of Failon's house, are now officially "suspects".

Between 1-6pm

Members of the NBI led by NBI team leader Dalumpines arrived at Ted's house. They were tasked by the DOJ secretary to help the police in the investigation. The NBI said that they will try to reconstruct the scene of the incident which was "contaminated".

At around 1pm, Ted's househelps and the driver were bodily arrested by the police inside Ted's house, despite the protestations of Ted's lawyers.

Around 6-6:30pm

The arrested househelps (now suspects because they are to be charged with obstruction of justice) were brought to the fiscal's office for booking.

Some members of the CPD then went to the hospital and arrested Pamela, the sister of the victim. A male member, a relative of Trina Etong was also taken into custody. Lawyers of Ted were at the Camp Caringal now.

More as this develops...