Poe-Llamanzares wants to sell Philippines to foreign investors

I don't know if Bayanmuna and the Magdalos heard what their presidential candidate Grace Poe-Llamanzares said---that she is actually in favor of opening up the Constitution for discussion and even changing the economic provisions there, which our Constitutionalists actually included to provide a protective shield for our local enterprises in the event of globalization.

Is she crazy or the better question is--does she really know what she is talking about?

In an era where foreign firms are slowly eating up local industries and at a time when there is still no strong critical industries to speak of, this presidentiable wants to open our Constitution and change it so that foreign investors would benefit from exploiting our domestic consumer market, even our natural resources see this story.

The fact is--if you look at her argumentation in this story, you'll arrive at the conclusion that the solution is really not for opening the economy further, but in improving or ridding the bureaucracy of red tape and graft and corruption. The reason why the business environment is somewhat unpalatable to some is because of the reasons already cited by Llamanzares in his article.

If those are the reasons, then, you don't need to open the market more for foreign investors. One just needs to improve the regulatory environment and make sure that governmental processes are free from politics and promote a "level playing field." That is the urgent need.

I thought Llamanzares is in favor of a national economic development program centered on strengthening our vital industries first to aid them in surviving the harsh economic competition brought by foreign capital?

And since BayanMuna and The Magdalos support Llamanzares, are these groups amenable to opening up our economy for more foreign devils to come in? If this is true, then, Bayanmuna and Magdalo supporters should seriously consider going to a brain surgeon.

Grace Poe-Llamanzares' intellectual dishonesty destroying FPJ's legacy

In one of the social gatherings I attended these past few days, one of my friends asked me “what’s my beef with Grace Poe-Llamanzares” and why is it that most of the blogs I wrote for the past few months were devoted to her?

I answered back with a matter-o-factly statement---I am angry with her because of her intellectual dishonesty which is destroying the name of her deceased adoptive father, the late FPJ whom I supported way back in 2004.

Like what Poe-Llamanzares told the media just recently---she is asserting that she is Filipino and is qualified to run for the presidency.

Mrs. Llamanzares, plu-lezz, spare us the awa effect.

There is no question that you are Filipino but to assert that you are qualified to run for the presidency smacks of your intellectual dishonesty.

You know for a fact that (1) even though you are Filipino, you are not natural-born according to what the Constitution defines a natural-born Filipino citizen is; and (2) you lack the residency requirements as what the law clearly says.

Spare us the awa effect that any decision about your case would affect Millions of foundlings in this country. According to government statistics, there is but 0.0001% foundlings here, and not all of them are running for the presidency.

Besides, any ruling about your status would not even touch or affect the right of a foundling to run for public office. You know what this issue is all about—it is all about the limitations set by the Constitution on those who want to aspire for the presidency. A foundling can run for a local post but posts like the senatorial, vice and presidential posts—these are reserved only for natural born Filipino citizen.

I would admit as to your being a Filipino citizen but as to you being a natural-born one, that is the one that is most contentious.

No one is disputing that you are qualified to run—but not for the senatorial, vice and presidential positions, for these positions are, again, reserved for natural-born Filipinos. Is this discriminatory? No. For election to an office is not a right, but is a privilege accorded by the Constitution to those who want to serve the Filipino people, and not Big Business.

Millions are asking—why are you so adamant in running for the highest post in the land? Anong meron at masyado kang gung-ho ngayon? Is it because of the millions San Miguel is pouring to your campaign?

Everyone knows that you still have 2022 for you, and by that time, you probably had stayed longer here and probably a law had already been passed which clarified the state position on foundlings. I sincerely don't know if the public remains as sympathetic to you by then, but sincerely, I think there is still some who will choose you over another.

You know why your ratings are going south as fast as a speed train? Because people are now seeing the real You--it is being revealed bit by bit, with how you conduct yourself during this time. They are being exposed to the real you---a budding trapo, pretending to sympathize with us, poor Filipinos, when, in truth and in fact, the very reason why you are running is because of your desire to help your financiers who are spending tons of monies with hopes of recouping their investments when you win.

Let the people decide? That's a stupid call. How would they decide on your case when the very issue is your real status as a candidate? If the poll body or even the Supreme Court allows such a candidate like you to run, then, that'll be the Day, when every single unqualified Filipino applicant for the top posts would howl to the high heavens and ask that even their names be included in the poll ballot.

November 3 Grace Poe faces the Comelec for allegedly committing an election offence

This November 3, Grace Natividad Militar a.k.a. Grace Poe-Llamanzares will face the Commission on Elections law department. Llamanzares will be asked simply to respond to a very simple question---did she or did she not committed a violation of the Omnibus Election Code when she filed her Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) last 2013, the time she first ran as a Senator.

The violation? Section 74 in relation to section 262 of the Omnibus Election Code which states:

Sec. 74. Contents of certificate of candidacy. - The certificate of candidacy shall state that the person filing it is announcing his candidacy for the office stated therein and that he is eligible for said office; if for Member of the Batasang Pambansa, the province, including its component cities, highly urbanized city or district or sector which he seeks to represent; the political party to which he belongs; civil status; his date of birth; residence; his post office address for all election purposes; his profession or occupation; that he will support and defend the Constitution of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto; that he will obey the laws, legal orders, and decrees promulgated by the duly constituted authorities; that he is not a permanent resident or immigrant to a foreign country; that the obligation imposed by his oath is assumed voluntarily, without mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that the facts stated in the certificate of candidacy are true to the best of his knowledge. 

Unless a candidate has officially changed his name through a court approved proceeding, a certificate shall use in a certificate of candidacy the name by which he has been baptized, or if has not been baptized in any church or religion, the name registered in the office of the local civil registrar or any other name allowed under the provisions of existing law or, in the case of a Muslim, his Hadji name after performing the prescribed religious pilgrimage: Provided, That when there are two or more candidates for an office with the same name and surname, each candidate, upon being made aware or such fact, shall state his paternal and maternal surname, except the incumbent who may continue to use the name and surname stated in his certificate of candidacy when he was elected. He may also include one nickname or stage name by which he is generally or popularly known in the locality. 

The person filing a certificate of candidacy shall also affix his latest photograph, passport size; a statement in duplicate containing his bio-data and program of government not exceeding one hundred words, if he so desires. 

Section 262 of the Omnibus Election Code states:

SECTION262.Otherelectionoffenses.– Violationof theprovisions,orpertinent portions,of thefollowingsectionsof thisCodeshallconstituteelectionoffenses:Sections9,18,74,75, 76, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 122, 123, 127, 128, 129, 132, 134, 135, 145, 148, 150, 152, 172, 173, 174, 178, 180, 182, 184, 185, 186, 189, 190, 191, 192, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 223, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235, 236, 239 and 240.

The punishment for committing election offenses is stated in Section 264 which states, in toto:

SECTION264.Penalties.– Anypersonfoundguiltyof anyelectionoffenseunderthisCode shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years and shallnot besubject to probation.Inaddition,theguiltypartyshallbesentencedto suffer disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right of suffrage.If he is a foreigner, he shall be sentenced to deportation which shall be enforced after the prison term has been served. Any political party found guilty shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than ten thousand pesos, which shall be imposed upon such party after criminal action has been instituted in which their corresponding officials have been found guilty.(Sec.181, 1978 EC)

Now, what are the material facts that probably constitute the offenses allegedly committed by Grace Poe-Llamanzares?

First, she signed the COC attesting that she is a natural-born Filipino citizen, when she knows for a fact that she is a foundling, and that status cannot be changed even with adoption. The act of adoption is, ipso facto, an act bestowing citizenship, something not within the contemplation of our 1987 Constitution (and even in the 1935 Constitution) when it comes to defining who is a Filipino citizen or not. It is very clear in our constitution that natural born Filipino citizens do not have to do any act to acquire citizenship. In Poe-Llamanzares' case, adoption was an act---hence, she cannot claim the status of a natural-born Filipino citizen.

Second, Poe-Llamanzares claims to be suited to the office which she aspires for when she knew for a fact that she lacks the residency requirement as stated by the Law. 

There are just two things which the camp of Poe-Llamanzares needs to answer--did she or did she not claim the status of a natural-born Filipino citizen when she is not and did she or did she not state that she satisfies the residency requirement as stated in our Constitution. Simple. 

The camp of Poe-Llamanzares is resorting to different diversionary tactics, one of which is emotional appeal even trying to use foundlings as a peg in their election campaign, trying to picture that Poe-Llamanzares' case would affect the statuses of millions of foundlings in this country. Such a pitiful thing, really.

Poe-Llamanzares needs to seriously study their options. Some people are raising the argument that it harms democracy if we allow just two qualified candidates to run for the position of President.

I beg to disagree. As it stands, there are five to at least 10 people who filed a CoC and are more than qualified than Poe-Llamanzares. So it is not a matter of national security that Poe-Llamanzares be held accountable for what she claimed in her 2013 COC.

The issue here is SIMPLE--THE RULE OF LAW.  Whether the person who committed the offense belongs to the rich or from the poorest of ranks, the violation has been committed and the offender must answer for it. 

The fact is---a much higher standard is expected of leaders since they vowed to uphold the Constitution and the Law. Hw dare you claim to be a leader of 101 million Filipinos when the very simple act of attesting the truthfulness of your personal circumstances you cannot give an assurance of being precise and of following the law? 

Poe-Llamanzares needs to answer all of these and she says it anyway that she is ready to face her accusers in court. So be it. 

 

Grace Poe really jumping into the presidential fire

ABS-CBN news.net reports that Grace Poe, along with several other political allies, is now barnstorming in the provinces in an apparent bid to "determine the people's pulse."

Bull. Crap.

Poe says she wants to know if the people "love her." Excuse me, Mrs. Llamanzares, but this presidential run is not about the people loving you. We don't need a leader whom the people love. We need someone capable of representing our interests as a people, and frankly, in my book, you simply do not have the capabilities or the right motivation to effect change in this country.

Capability-wise, compared with other candidates such as Mar Roxas, VP Binay, Duterte, Panfilo Ping Lacson, and Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, you lack the experience, the wit and even the breadth of understanding and patience of the dynamics of politics. Yes, you understand the dynamics of transactional politics, which, to your mind, is enough to weather you if you win this post. Sadly, the presidency is simply a different ball game altogether. It is not as simple as an MTRCB post or as crudely political as a Senate post, no.

Of course, you probably think that such a simple man as Benigno "Pnoy" Aquino III can hack it in spite of having a spotty mental record, you can do it as well. That is simply not the case here.

Aquino's family was cut out for politics, yours is not. Do not be misled and believe that running government is like running showbiz ness, or like running FPJ productions--those two worlds are simply not parallel ones. Besides, for the record, you did not get the chance to run FPJ productions simply because, admit it, when your father was still alive, he did not forget that stunt you did last 1991 when you abandoned your studies in UP and decided to migrate to the US despite the loud protestations of your father. Your adopting father loved you, but did you really love him back?

I sincerely doubt it. For one, you did not even vote for him when he ran for the presidency in 2004. Why? Because back then, you were still an American citizen. If you really loved him and really intended to support him, then, why did you not re-acquired Filipino citizenship in 2003, the very minute FPJ declared his intention to run for the presidency? You waited for him to die first before going back to the country which nurtured you before but you abandoned because of your selfishness.

Who will benefit in case you win? Obviously, you will leave it to your mentor, Senator Chiz Escudero and his henchmen, along with several big businessmen with political ambitions to manage and govern this government. Frankly, it does not sit well for many people. Ask Serge Osmena, mam.

Why leave government in the hands of a pseudo-leader and reputedly a megalomaniac according to several people? Are you saying that the likes of Ramon Ang and the Zamora brothers will definitely be more visible in the affairs of the state when you win? Such a scenario will definitely feed this country to the dogs, Mrs. Llamanzares.

Such big businessmen such as the ones I mentioned here have their own business interests to attend and pursue that is the reason why they are supporting you, because, right now, you are popular. Wait til your ratings go down further South and such calls for you to go and run for the top post will slowly fade away like snow flakes.

Mrs. Poe-Llamanzares, honor the memory and the legacy left by your adopting father. Do not go the way of the trapos. They are the very species which your father tried, yet failed, to defeat last 2004. And you had the gall of telling us that you intend to continue his legacy? In the first place, do you really know what you are claiming in public?

An Appeal to Grace Poe-Llamanzares--Honor the Legacy and Memory of FPJ

I heard what Grace Poe told my fellow journalists when she graced the birthday celebration of her adopting father before his tomb yesterday. When asked about her plans for 2016, Poe says:

"There are so many character traits of FPJ that I really admire. But even though I admire him, I’m thinking: ‘Am I really capable?’ Yes, he ran for president, but I am studying my options very carefully because I think what is important is that I honor his memory and that I don’t destroy his legacy,” she said.(Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/grace-pays-tribute-to-her-father-fpj-says-she-is-now-at-a-crossroads/#YmVzTxpYHJvuRRzE.99)"

Thanks,  Mrs. Poe-Llamanzares, thanks for considering your father, Fernando Poe Jr. With this statement, I am slowly reconsidering  giving Grace Poe-Llamanzares, the benefit of the doubt.

Fernando Poe Jr died with his honor intact. When he was running his candidacy, Fernando Poe Jr never succumbed to his own selfish desires--he agreed to run because he saw there was a need for private citizens like him, to stand against the creeping totalitarianism being espoused by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

When we were still helping FPJ (I was the PR man of Amina Rasul, a senatorial candidate under the FPJ banner), several hundreds of businessmen flocked to FPJ, all desiring to place their bets in his favor. Some of these businessmen have spotty records.

There were several others who also went and tried to get an audience with FPJ. Some of them were known jueteng lords. You know what FPJ did? FPJ politely rejected their overtures. Those millions being offered to him to fund his candidacy could have changed the endgame, so to speak, yet FPJ stood his ground. No to illegal money. No to election contributors whose offers were tied with giving them favors the minute FPJ wins.

That explains why FPJ ran his campaign with very limited funds. There were times when we go to sorties armed with nothing more than our courage and a few hundreds of pesos. Yet we campaigned hard for him.

I risked my personal safety just to campaign for FPJ. I went out of my comfort zone, believing back then that an FPJ win would totally change things. FPJ, for me, was that man on horseback. Believe me, I did not earn a single cent from that campaign. The fact is, I used my own money just to help FPJ win over an accomplished and well-funded opponent.

We were running a campaign with dignity, honor,  and integrity. Our political leader has a rock-solid integrity. FPJ was running under a platform of Honor.

When we were cheated, I was one of those who really felt anger. That explains why I led several groups in that historic Welcome Rotunda rally. I was with Tita Midz (Tita Armida Siguion-Reyna), along with Bibette Orteza and her husband, direk Siguion-Reyna and several others at a makeshift stage atop a flatbed truck.

I remember being hosed down by dirty water by the police back then. Tita Midz was just starting to speak when she got hit by water sprayed at our direction. Police confiscated the truck and asked us to go down.

We went back to Burger King when we learned that FPJ was going there after his meeting at the Sto Domingo church. When we saw our principal, silence ensued. I saw FPJ's eyes. He was angry inside but never succumbed to his emotions. Had FPJ been weak, he could have played with the mob's emotions and called for a revolt. He did not. Back then, I never understood why. Later, I realized that what FPJ did was out of compassion for us. We were like basang sisiw back then. He probably felt pity seeing us all wet. FPJ had a very kind heart in him. He feels for his compatriots.

FPJ taught me a very valuable lesson in life---never be like your enemies. One must rise above them. If they used terror tactics against you, respond with restraint. If you use force, you will only act like them, and realizing that they are stronger than you, even if you use equal force, you will never achieve victory because your enemy will just use more lethal force seeing that you just engaged them and justified their action.

Madame Grace Poe-Llamanzares, if you are listening, hear my voice---honor your Father's memory and keep his legacy intact by not playing politics. Do not succumb to the offers of these businessmen. These sweet entreaties have blunt ends.