Joey de Venecia III dares Dick G---show us the ZTE-NBN Report Now!

Joey de Venecia III asks why Senator Richard Gordon is still fidgeting on releasing the final Senate blue ribbon report on the ZTE-NBN deal. More than two weeks after vowing to release the Blue Ribbon committee report on the ZTE-NBN scandal, Senator Richard Gordon has yet to deliver on his promise.

“Is he seeking approval of the final draft from his superiors in Malacanang?” businessman Joey de Venecia III asked yesterday.

Gordon concluded the Blue Ribbon hearings on the P16-billion scandal earlier this month with a promise to release the final report shortly thereafter. But only after the senator engaged the IT businessman in a heated exchange owing to what the latter said was Gordon’s prejudging the case.

While the Ombudsman had cleared de Venecia and his father, former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., of wrongdoing, Gordon had told a leading national broadsheet two days before the last hearing that he wanted the father and son charged. The Ombudsman is filing charges against former Comelec chief Ben Abalos and former National Economic and Development Authority head Romulo Neri for their culpability in the case, but excluded First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to the strong protests of various sectors.

The young de Venecia had accused Gordon of taking orders from Malacanang to implicate him and his father in exchange for “special favors.”

A failed presidential contender under the administration’s Lakas-Kampi, Gordon is expected to seek reelection in next year’s elections.

“Before he devotes all his time to politics, Senator Dick Gordon should take care of more important matters first. The Blue Ribbon report on ZTE-NBN should be a top priority for him,” said de Venecia.

De Venecia said he wanted to remind Gordon to think carefully about his version of the final report. “As a lawyer, he should know better. I was the whistleblower and my proposal was aboveboard. More importantly, I am a private citizen, not a government official like himself. The Ombudsman can only run after government officials.”

De Venecia added that Gordon has had prior experience on being charged before the Ombudsman. During Gordon’s term as head of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, he was charged with malversation of public funds in excess of P800 million after the Commission on Audit disallowed with finality his various cash advances.

Of Pseudo-Nationalists and Senator Dick Gordon: Prelude to an EXPOSE against Gordon

Senator Dick Gordon is in a quandary. He wants to pander to his political benefactors namely the First Gentleman and Mrs. Arroyo but he does not want to sacrifice his political ambitions. He already made a successful campaign to erase the graft-ridden Joc-Joc Bolante case out of the public's mind, and he has one more case to go---the ZTE-NBN deal. This is a stinking deal which goes, way, way up there, in the stratosphere that is Malacanang.

Former Senate blue ribbon committee chair Alan Peter Cayetano already said before that this deal reaches up to Malacanang. Dick does not agree. For a man who benefitted largely from public trust (I will have a very explosive expose in the next few days about Honorable Senator Richard "Dick" Gordon. Abangan!), the least that Gordon has to do is render fairness.

If you watched the last senate hearing, Gordon was not fair. Yes, before I laud Gordon for his deft handling of the blue ribbon committee hearings but the last hearing, well, it left a very bad taste in the mouth. Gordon showed how he takes his job very seriously to satisfy his friends over at Malacanang.

What is the reason for Gordon's behavior? I will explain that in my next entries.

And to mask his moves, Gordon fooled the people, especially his friends, to think that he's running for president so that people will think that the main reason why Gordon is attacking the political enemies of his friends over at the Pasig is political. Ladies and gentleman, Gordon is not doing that for politics. What are his motivations? I will expose that in my later entries here. And this expose will surely rock Mr. Gordon. Abangan!

I am saddened by the favorable entries written by a blogger about Gordon. That entry was a very discomforting and definitely partial take on the ZTE-NBN deal. The blogger wanted to reinforce into the public mind that those whistleblowers are the ones guilty, NOT, the First Gentleman nor his wife, Gloria Arroyo and her devil gang, the officials of DOTC and others.

And to think that I was the one who endorsed that site to my friends online, thinking that he will only write nationalist entries. I am mistaken. I will correct my mistake in the next few days by presenting here an EXPLOSIVE EXPOSE against the "idol" of this writer.

The blog community is full of pseudo-nationalists, pro-Arroyo and pro-graft and corruption writers who masquerade as for the people, when they are for the perpetuation of the traditional elite mindsets.

Imagine, Gordon wants to file a case against the whistleblowers, namely, Mr. Joey de Venecia III and Jun Lozada, when they were the ones who opened up this case and sacrifice their lives to show the public that this deal will definitely affect them.

Today marks the second year that Joey de Venecia and Jun Lozada went out of the woodwork to expose this stinking deal which Gordon wants to deodorize. They will not succeed. For, we the people, are not fools.

For us not to forget this, I took the liberty of downloading here the famous ZTE Alphabet. Filipinos around the world, don't forget this.

Gordon---whitewasher of ZTE-NBN and Joc-Joc Bolante cases?

I was wrong when I recommended a particular blog here. Obviously, this blog is very partial especially to those who defend the palace, and I'm talking about Senator Richard Gordon.

I was not surprised when this blog claims that Gordon was a saint during both the ZTE-NBN and Joc-Joc Bolante cases. And I'm not entirely surprised that he writes for, err, does political work stuff for him.

When I checked the writer behind this blog, he is actually a PR staff of Senator Richard Gordon. And he writes for other politicos as well. I, along with other readers, should be wary about this. There are obviously, pro-administration people out there masquerading as opposition.

Am I talking about Chiz?

The blogsphere is really a messy place.

ZTE-NBN deal and the Art of the WhiteWash

Tuesday will go down in history as the greatest monumental square-off between former family friends, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and ZTE-NBN whistleblower Joey de Venecia III. And should this square-off happens, there's only one conclusion---the possible incarceration of the whistleblower instead of the master bender.

Senator Richard Gordon has sent word that he invited the First gentleman and the DOTC officials led by Secretary Leandro Mendoza to attend this Tuesday's Senate Blue ribbon committee hearing. Gordon believes that before he even releases his findings, there should be another hearing to "clear some cobwebs" so to speak, about the real story behind the "greatest graft scandal" ever to hit this country in so many years.For me, the square off is clearly not necessary for one obvious reason---there are hours and hours worth of testimonies in past ZTE-NBN hearings and those are more than enough to fill a 100 page report. But, no. Senator Gordon wants to hammer out the message of the Office of the Ombusman--that the First Family is not involved in this anomalous deal.

And with a favorable ally sitting as chair of the Blue Ribbon, the First Gentleman does not need to find succor at St. Luke's. No. He'll probably brave it out. But, will he be able to gaze at Joey de Venecia's direction without even flinching his eyes?

Joey welcomes the chance to face the First Gentleman, confident that he committed no crime. In a statement, Joey said that Gordon committed a grave infraction when he inadvertently announced his initial opinion, saying that the Ombusman should have included the De Venecias in the charge sheet. If Gordon thinks that the De Venecias are guilty, then, why another hearing? Is'nt strange that the Senate blue ribbon needs another day to what? To hammer out a favorable public impression and clean the tarnished name of his amigo, the First Gentleman and his amiga, Gloria Arroyo?

Obviously, Gordon wants to do a Pontius Pilate before he runs for re-election because he knows that his handling of this case would haunt him during election time. He already whitewashed the Joc-Joc Bolante case and because of proper PR handling, there was no public outrage that came out shortly when he released the recommendations. That Joc-Joc Bolante case was a "test case" so to speak, and provided pro-administration senators like Gordon a template to manage sensitive issues like this ZTE-NBN deal.

And that is a problem for whistleblowers Joey de Venecia and Jun Lozada---this administration has now perfected the art of the whitewash. If they mishandle the public relations aspect of this case, they're in for a shock of their lives because they'll be pictured as villains and false heroes instead of Patriots. Gordon and the rest of the First Gentleman's team are exploiting the lingering thought in the public sphere that this deal is about "onsehan" and these whistleblowers were motivated not by love of country but by the very thought of losing a great deal of money.

This thought has permeated even in the inner circles of power and those dinky coffee shops in hotels and places in the Metropolis. A year has passed and the public is now ready to accept new facts about this case. If Joey de Venecia and Jun Lozada mishandle this, they'll surely come out of this as pseudo-patriots and liars. And the public hates liars.

Joey is confident that he did nothing wrong and the public believes him. There are more than enough evidence to pin the First Family in this ZTE-NBN deal, more than, say the circumstantial evidence that the Office of the Ombusman has against Benjamin Abalos and Romulo Neri. The fact that photos caught the First Couple playing golf and eating oysters with ZTE officials and those text messages Gloria sent to Neri, ordering him to just accept the money and approve the deal are more than enough to include them in the graft charge sheet.

Yet, Gordon hopes that if he plays his cards right, he'll be able to convince the public that these pieces of evidence amount to nothing, show nothing and mean nothing. Of course, Gordon embarked on a charm offensive with his tearful outbursts in those kidnapping episodes and those guestings as presidentiable. Yet, behind those charming charades lie a dastardly plan to hide his role as the palace's self-appointed Mr. Clean. Beneath those cheesy smiles and pink-colored cheeks hides an insidious mind ready to follow the wishes and caprices of his principals.
And for what? To get that anointment from Mrs. Arroyo and be part of that 10 billion election campaign kitty? To snatch that nomination from Vice President Noli de Castro or at the least, that vice presidential post from Ronnie Puno?

Or maybe, just maybe, add some more funds for a re-election bid? Or, again chair the revival of Subic as a US military facility?

Whatever it is, expect History to again be on the side of the devil enfant. :-)

ZTE-NBN deal--not a mom and pop ops, says Gordon

So based on the observations of Senator Richard Gordon, the ZTE-NBN deal is not a mom and pop operation. It's a father and son caper. That's how Gordon sees it.

Gordon sees nothing wrong with the First Gentleman Mike Arroyo with his wife, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal strolling down the fairways of Shenzhen golf and country club as "nothing wrong". Gordon sees nothing wrong with the First Gentleman threatening Joey de Venecia III with the now infamous words, " back-off!" as a sign that he's interested with the deal. And obviously, Gordon sees nothing wrong with Mrs. Arroyo's meeting with former NEDA chief Romulo Neri and telling him to "just accept the money and approve the deal."

I'm beginning to think that the reason why Gordon wants to be chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee is he wants to ingratiate himself with the First Family. Is he serving as the First Couple's hatchet man or he's just being himself?

I remember a few years ago when the Americans were still running Clark and Subic. When cases of abuses were filed against American servicemen, Gordon saw nothing wrong with the accused safely inside the bases facility and waited for days before the cases were dismissed. Gordon saw nothing wrong with protecting the Americans rather than those comfort girls in those Zambales honky tonks. And of course, Gordon found nothing wrong weeply unabashedly in public while his fellow Americans left our shores.

Gordon also saw nothing wrong with Americans spraying dirty water to Gordon's fellow Filipinos protesting in Subic. Gordon even saw those protestors as "monkeys", just like what those WASPs think of us.

So, I'm not really surprised that Gordon wants to crucify the whistleblowers than the masterminds.

Or Gordon is doing it because Joey de Venecia stands to get his seat in the senatorial elections? Or, probably, that was the concession Gordon got because America and his friends, Mrs. Arroyo already agreed to revive the Clark and Subic bases and Gordon wants nothing sort of getting his old post back?

Or, Gordon really saw nothing wrong with his logic.

Our 2010 Choices

Don't get me wrong---we have a bevy of talents for the Chief Executive post come 2010. This country does not lack people who dream of someday sitting in that wicked mahogany chair inside Malacanang and commanding like a powerful Sultan and deciding on the fate of 90 million. The presidency is the most powerful post in this land. He is the penultimate governor, albeit, the "governor of all governors." And he scours a vast territory of 7,100 islands, rich in natural resources and prime real estate properties. Under his command, he can sell these lands to foreigners and take billions as commissions. He can decide the fate of 24 million impoverished people by just an executive order discontinuing job placements abroad. He can make a million public servants lose their shirts or take on another million as his pious addition to a humongous bureacracy.

The presidency is so powerful that it is the best interest of everybody to ensure that, come 2010, it'll not go to the wrong hands. Since we are so fearful of changing this system prior to the 2010 elections, we better put our acts together come May 11, 2010 and ensure that the person who'll get the top plum really deserves it.

Who are our choices for the top post in 2010? Let me write about them as precisely and concisely as possible.

1. Mar Roxas. Roxas belongs to one of the richest clans in the country. He's a scion of two great families---one eminent in politics, the other, in business. The Aranetas own vast tracts of land both in Luzon and other parts of the country. The Roxas clan, meanwhile, enjoys the distinction of being once in Malacanang, cut short with the sudden death of Manuel Roxas, the clan patriarch.

Roxas started as a brilliant banker who returned to the country after EDSA uno. He went out of his comfort zone and went head-first to politics after the death of another relative, Gerry Roxas. He first took government posts, positioning himself as a brilliant technocrat and with his sterling record as a public servant, got the highest number of votes as a senatoriable.

He's young, brilliant and possesses a strong, stubborn mien.

2. Chiz Escudero. Chiz inherited his political genes from his father, former Agriculture Minister Salvador Escudero. While his father failed to get the senatorial post, Chiz succeeded him. With his glib tongue, he served as the spokesperson of the opposition. He positioned himself as a fighter of lost causes. He was there when Fernando Poe Jr. died. And when the Big Man passed away, Chiz also passed away. He went under the succor of his party, the NPC, peopled with trapos. He used his affinity with FPJ and the opposition to get the second highest number of votes for senator. Despite his denials, Chiz is salivating for the presidency. That's why he now faces a very tough opponent in the person of Senator Loren Legarda who also wants to get the blessing of NPC financial giant, Danding Cojuangco.

Chiz is young, somewhat idealistic and a liar. He wants people to believe he came from the poor, when everybody knows how rich the Escuderos are. He has no executive post experience, possesses scant knowledge of how to hurdle the deleterious effects of transactional politics and only knows how to placate dissenting feelings through motherhood statements. He offers no agenda of governance except "Truth, Justice and Peace."

3. Gilbert Teodoro. Teodoro is a brilliant guy, finished his studies abroad and returned to serve. Like Mar Roxas, Gilbert belongs to a political clan with various business interests. His family is known all throughout as hacienderos. He was once a legislator and was appointed defense secretary by Arroyo, replacing former ally Avelino Cruz.

As defense secretary, he purportedly professionalize the ranks. Yes, professionalize it. He allowed General Jovito Palparan to arrest, detain and kill political opponents of this administration. He defended the human rights record of this administration by justifying these killings and desaperridos in the name of anti-insurgency. He also made sure that those generals under their protective wing are happy, contented and fully satisfied with all those deals in the defense department.

4. Loren Legarda. Legarda started her career as a journalist and ended up as a professional politician. She was reared in the ways of politics by former president Fidel V. Ramos who saw enormous promise in her. She took up Masters in Defense Administration and graduated with honors. She's a workaholic, a tireless worker who burn the midnight oil just to read and write laws. She nearly took the vice presidency from fellow broadcaster Noli de Castro only to fall victim to vicious dagdag bawas.

Legarda was once married to Batangas governor Tony Leviste, who now faces possible jail time due to his killing his closest associate. She came in first in the senatorial polls in 2007 and wants to take another dig at the presidency. She obviously enjoys the trust and confidence of the people but lack the necessary resources to push thru with her ambition. If she is patient enough to wait in 2016, she may yet see her ambition realized.

5. Noli de Castro. De Castro started as a journalist. He really came from the poorest families in the country. He arrived here in Manila without any decent money and worked as a production assistant in RPN 9. Some of my older colleagues in RPN 9 says he used to sleep in the driver's quarters. His break came when the late Inday Badiday hired him as voice announcer for her highly rated showbiz program.

His big break came when he was hired by ABS-CBN 2 to become the lead anchor in the revitalized TV Patrol. He was given his own show, Magandang Gabi Bayan, which became an instant hit. He ran as senator and won. He again ran for the vice presidency and took it under suspicious circumstances. He reportedly now enjoys the backing of PLDT head honcho Manny Pangilinan. He continues to top the surveys but his lack of political party is a liability. He may have to settle for a movement which PLDT/SMART is reportedly launching for him in the next few weeks.

6. Richard Gordon. Gordon was a staunch pro-American when calls for the abolition of the Military Bases Agreement (MBA) were the "in" thing. Gordon was mayor of Olongapo when the Aquino government, along with a purely nationalist Senate, abrogated the MBA. At first, Gordon did not believe that Olongapo and Bataan would survive a post-troop pullout. Yet, when Aquino gave him full rein as Subic administrator, Gordon backtracked and made a 180 degree turn. He immediately announced that yes, the Filipino can rise from this debacle. He turned Subic into a world-class port facility. During his term as SBMA administrator, he inspired many with his philosophy of voluntarism.

Gordon ran and won a senate seat. There, he excelled in a rather silent fashion. He speaks when necessary and gives his stand when the occasion needs it. He's a pragmatic nationalist. He offers nothing new and says nothing new. He, along with his supporters, want to project that he's the Filipino version of Obama; yet, the more he does it, the more people see his trapo side. Gordon is a weak shadow of Obama.

7. Ed Panlilio. Ed is a priest who rose from the sidelines and ran as Governor of Pampanga. He defeated a jueteng lord and a known collector of quarrying activities in the province. Many opposes him because he defeated the Pinedas, the decades-old jueteng overlords in the province. Yet, many are now slowly realizing that Ed is a poor administrator. Look at Pampanga. Nothing has changed. People remain poor. What Ed can offer to a change hungry Nation is just a sermon--good for the soul yet bad for the body.

8. Manny Villar. Villar, as his publicist says, started work as a fish vendor. After that, Villar's personal history is, at best, spotty. Nothing is known about how Villar started his way up to become a billionaire. He is widely known as the country's most eminent real estate magnate. Malicious tongues wag that he grabs lands, here and there, illegally and legally. He started giving homes to millions of Filipinos, scrimping on construction costs and making those houses in poorly allotted lots. Villar started the practice of transforming idle agricultural lands into paved subdivisions.

He ran as Congressman of Las Pinas and worked his way up as Speaker of the House. An ally of former president Joseph Estrada, Villar betrayed his friend by allowing the impeachment to go pass the lower house. Villar then went to the Arroyo side and the rest is history. Using his vast resources, Villar ran for the senate and won. He became Senate president under an agreement with former senator Frank Drilon and nothing substantial came out of his term.

He now faces a Senate ethics probe for his Daang Hari properties and some say risks the ignominy of being the first post-EDSA senator ousted from the august chamber due to unethical practices.

9. Bayani Fernando. A joker. A person who does not deserve attention nor to be taken seriously. Last night, he was so afraid to face the public. He chickened out. His only claim to fame are those steel bridges which his company benefits from and those U-TURN slots, dangerous construction works. He's the administration's tirador, just to confuse the 2010 elections. COMELEC should regard him as nuisance candidate.

ANC Presidentiable Forum

Last night gave us a sampling of how things will turn out in 2010. Five presidentiables, led by a former top banker and economist Senator Mar Roxas, a lawyer turned Senator Dick Gordon, a young turk by the name of Chiz Escudero, a priest turned traditional politician by the name of Governor Ed Panlilio and a defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro took turns in giving some piece of their mind in slumbook questions. It was not a debate, as some, including this corner, surmise, but more like a gradiose press conference, with a bell as timer to boot.

And it also was no forum, for if it was, surely, you'll see panelists interacting with the audience. Nothing of that sort here. It was more of an ANC event presenting probable candidates to the presidency and giving the public a sampling of what they'll do if they emerge a winner in 2010.

Our options are these:

Choose:

1. A judicious economist
2. A militarist haciendero
3. A young liar
4. An activist priest
5. A self-absorbed do-gooder

At best, what we can expect are these probable scenarios:

1. If we elect Mar Roxas as our president, he'll be an intelligent and judicious president. He'll probe the excesses and corruption of this administration and seek justice. He'll be an intelligent president. He'll not pander to anybody. He'll be his own man, with Korina just in one corner, giving him support.

He'll surely improve the economy. His grasp of what's happening in the economy, both internal and external, is impressive. He'll prosecute erring government officials and file cases against private companies in the business of fooling the people.

2. Should we elect Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro as president, we will definitely see landlords laughing all the way to the bank, turning their agrarian lands into tourism areas and selling them to foreigners. He'll be a tough president, talking peace with rebels while preparing for war. Teodoro will also change the way we see politics---from a presidential bicameral to a presidential unicameral---an obvious tendency to a militarist, totalitarian setup.

Mrs. Arroyo and her devil gang in barongs will obviously laugh their way to retirement. She'll go scot-free to Portugal or Brazil along with billions of pesos while Teodoro and his militarist herd transform the country into a totalitarian plutocracy.

3. If Chiz Escudero wins the presidency, we will surely have a populist government. Grafters and operators will have a field day while the poor will receive crumbs from the national government. Danding Conjuangco will keep his billions while other NPC stalwarts will ran rough-shod of government institutions. Nothing will change. The promise of youth will definitely be wasted in that administration.

Based on his pronouncements, Chiz Escudero would probably be a populist president. The way he pandered to the public, giving us cutsy and motherhood statements, and wary of really revealing his real message, shows you one thing---Chiz is, at best, an improvement of his father, former Marcos associate Salvador Escudero.

First thing, Chiz reiterated that he came from the poor--an obvious lie since everybody knows how rich the Escuderos are in Quezon and in Bicol. Chiz failed in answering Tina Monsod-Palma's first question as truthfully as possible.

Chiz says he does'nt have money---bull. Everyone knows Danding Cojuangco's Nationalist People's Coalition is backing him up. Since his run as Congressman, the NPC has been behind him eversince.

This early, Chiz has showed his true colors. "So young, yet so corrupt," to paraphrase Manila mayor Arsenio Lacson when he referred to a young Manila councilor who later ran as senator. For Chiz, " so young, yet a liar". How can you trust somebody who even lies about his roots?

4. If we elect Ed Panlilio, we'll surely become a theocracy. This early, Manong Ed already gave a series of sermons, good for the soul, bad for the body. In the two hours spent in that forum, Ed Panlilio the priest, failed in two fronts---raise our hopes and at least contribute to the body of literature about change. Nothing substantial was gleaned from Panlilio's sermons. Those are all motherhood statements. Even a first semester political science student could mouth those sorts of things.

5. If Senator Richard Gordon wins the presidency, we will surely see an administration peopled with volunteers while the money allotted to government goes to Big Business. Gordon will also pander to the public, giving them crumbs while allowing the elite to run rough-shod of every piece of change

Our Ideal President, part 2

Dick Gordon's Voluntarism

When Mt. Pinatubo erupted way back in the 90's, American troops decided to leave the country. Clark and Subic were abandoned. Thousands of Filipino families who depended on these two American military bases were left to fend for themselves. Some were hopeless. Others just went to other places to find work. Most stayed because someone gave them hope and inspiration.

Through the courage of former president Cory Aquino, preparations were made to administer the two military bases. She tasked then Olongapo mayor Richard "Dick" Gordon to administer SBMA. Many thought that the base would just be left as a "shell" of a place, since many business interests want to exploit its rich natural resources.

But, no. Exemplifying good leadership, Gordon launched what he called then as "voluntarism". He urged the idealistic youth to go with him to SBMA and transform the place. He instituted discipline. He laid down the rules and made sure that everybody, and anybody who enters the area follow the prescribed law.

Gordon and his volunteers protected Subic's natural treasures like it was their own. No one touched the pristine jungle. Animals were also protected. Yes, Gordon opened SBMA to business but did'nt take all those who want to set up shop in. They need to be qualified. And these businesses should exercise environmental responsibility and stewardship.

Gordon's legacy is still being felt at SBMA. Recently, me and my family went to the place and everybody, and I say, everyone continues to follow the rules (especially traffic enforcement) inside the base. How did Gordon manage to do that---make the Filipino follow the rules?

Dick, despite his poor showing at surveys, has some of the qualifies that we need for our 2010 president. He shows exemplary leadership skills. He's charismatic and leads by example. He's intelligent. And he's fair. His conduct during the Joc-Joc Bolante probe was fair. When everybody thought that he'll just insulate Joc-Joc Bolante and the palace because he's a perceived administration ally, Gordon did the opposite. He allowed both parties---the accusers and the accused--fair share of airtime.

However, Dick's weakness lie in his being self-absorbed some of the time. He thinks he's right all the time, says an observer. Shades of a tyrant?

Loren Legarda's Green Advocacy and Leviste's Shadow

After graduating with top honors from the National Defense College, Loren was immediately pulled out of the broadcast industry by then president Fidel V. Ramos and was made a senatorial candidate. Because of her integrity as a top-notch broadcaster, Loren shot up to the Number One slot. She continued her advocacy to protect the environment and strengthen the rights of women. Loren took part in some of the historical milestones of this country, which led some observers to consider her as a very serious contender for the presidency.

However, talks about her former husband's pervasive influence upon her smeared her chances. Malicious tongues wag about how former Batangas governor Tony Leviste influenced some of the bills she successfully filed and passed at the Senate. Many perceive Leviste as Loren's alter-ego. He's the real senator, some say, not Loren. Other personal issues cropped up. Some even commented about her temper, which, basing their experience with Mrs. Arroyo, even compared her with the former.

Yet, all these things have been put behind her. Leviste is now serving sentence for allegedly killing his aide. With Leviste out of the picture, Loren is perceived to have now been freed from the dark shadow of her former husband. Loren and Tony also dissolved their marriage, which some quarters say, is questionable from the beginning since Tony is still allegedly married to someone else.

Loren is perceived to be strong based on surveys, but weak in reality. She's not being supported enough by financiers. Coming from a tumultuous reign of a woman, many think that Loren's chances to get the top executive post remain very slim. People will not vote for another woman.

Another question---who are the financial backers of Legarda? Are they of unquestionable integrity or the same old traditional economic forces out to perpetuate their rule upon us? Like what I wrote previously, Loren, like Mar, Chiz, De Castro and the rest, should all come clean and show the people their list of financial and military supporters.

Binay's Transformation

Makati mayor Jojo Binay ruled the country's financial district right after former president Cory Aquino appointed him as city administrator. Binay immediately created his mass base. He passed laws that favor the poor, without taxing the rich more. He equalized opportunities to every Makati resident. By doing so, he not only solidified his base of support which continues to show at the polls in full force of him, he also instituted real change in his city.

From a recognized and highly principled human rights lawyer, Binay transformed into one of the country's top local executives. Binay's rule over Makati has spanned decades. Now, he's being touted as a presidential candidate.

Like Gordon, Binay remains at the very low end of the surveys. Name recall is high, yet his trust ratings remain very low. Maybe because people still think of him as just a mayor, good only for Makati. His long stay at the Makati city hall probably impacted on public perception of him as just a mayor, not for the "big guns" such as Malacanang.

His handlers are positioning him as "Jojo-bama" or the Filipino version of US President Barack Obama, playing on his skin color. But, that will not work. His career is actually similar with that of former New York mayor Julianni. However, no US mayor has ever ascended the presidency.

Likewise, some of the elite hate Binay's guts. Some commented on the iron-fisted traffic policy inside Makati, reinforcing perceptions that the city remains under Binay's tight rein. Corruption charges were also brought up against Binay, and these have not been resolved, just yet. Binay remains a strong and credible voice of the Opposition though. His fight against the palace sometime in 2007 left a very lasting impression upon the people.

These things have got to be communicated to the people, if Binay is really dead serious on running for the presidency.

Gilbert Teodoro---Gloria's Defensive Line Backer

Teodoro just recently announced his intention to run for the presidency. Unlike other presidential candidates, Teodoro gave one thing which stupefied even those who truly like him to become the next president--he gave a categorical statement that he'll run only if Mrs. Arroyo gave her the go-signal. When almost everybody, including some administration allies, try to avoid being associated with the devil enfant, Teodoro was the only exception.

Teodoro was probably joking, some say. But no. Teodoro was resolute. He wanted Mrs. Arroyo to commit her support to his candidacy. Many analysts already said that by doing so, Teodoro just committed a political harakiri.

Like Gordon and Chiz, Teodoro is an astute politician. He has a legal mind. He graduated with a Commerce degree from the De La Salle University and finished law at the University of the Philippines College of Law, top honors. He pursued further legal studies in Harvard.

He has legislative experience and now as Defense secretary, Teodoro gained executive experience. His handlers want to position him as a Magsaysay, but the similarity is just superficial. Magsaysay was a World War two veteran who ascended the defense secretary portfolio due to sheer hard work. Magsaysay was a mechanic before he became defense secretary and eventually endeared himself as the People's Guy due to his pro-poor stance and his fairness with the Huks.

Teodoro is not a Magsaysay, not for a mile. Teodoro belongs to the elite, controlled by his uncle, Danding Cojuangco. Everyone knows that Danding wants to perpetuate his economic influence and the only way to do that is control Malacanang. He has three contenders who are sure to protect his turf from economic and political predation once Mrs. Arroyo leaves the palace and they are Chiz, Loren and his nephew, Teodoro.

Teodoro has not been entirely fair with the dissidents of this country. He wants them annihilated, an act considered as pandering to the military elite. Teodoro is a technocrat. He has not shown any real intention of pursuing the People's Cause and remains subsevient to his socio-economic class.

Teodoro is a poor copy of Magsaysay. In fact, his poor showing at the surveys reveal much about the people's perception and trust of him. Truly, Teodoro is not just a poor copy---he's also the exact opposite of a Magsaysay. Magsaysay was never a poster boy of the military elite, which Teodoro wittingly or unwittingly play at this point.

Additional Criteria for us to consider come 2010 Presidential elections

1. He/she must pass laws that equalize economic opportunities for both the rich and the poor.
2. He/she must try to improve on the agrarian situation in this country.
3. He/she must be the primary example of fairness
4. He/she must be a charismatic leader
5. He/she must have a strong political will.

Next....who are the most qualified presidential candidates.

ICRC workers' lives in extreme danger

Two of Mrs. Gloria Arroyo's lieutenants are bickering over the Sulu ICRC Hostage crisis. Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro castigated Senator Richard Gordon, an ally of Arroyo, for saying that the lives of the hostages are now in the hands of the president. This rabid administration dog wanted to shield his boss from brickbats later on. However, this betrays the real intention of the government.

Teodoro does'nt feel like talking with the hostages. For him, enough concessions have already been given. It's not for Gordon. For the head of the Philippine Red Cross, a troop pullout is needed to allow negotiations to continue. An inch of pullback would be enough to allow representatives of the ASG and the government to negotiate for the safe release of the two ICRC hostages, Notter and Vagni.

This is a very dangerous play these two jerks are playing. They're putting the very lives of these ICRC workers in extreme jeopardy. By bickering in public, they're both justifying the use of force and they're both telling us to just accept the terrible consequence later on. They are priming for an attack against the ASG.

What these government officials don't know is they're both playing in the hands of the ASG. Their public bickering would justify what the ASG wanted all along---behead the hostages and show the world that they mean business. They did it before and they're willing to do it again moreso now that even the Pope is watching the developments in that part of Mindanao.

Wittingly or unwittingly, these two government officials have now placed the very lives of these foreign hostages in extreme jeopardy. I would'nt be surprised if we get news that one of the two have already been executed.

Government want an assault. They want to feed on the machismo, the bravado and the confidence of the commander on the ground, to the detriment of the hostages and their families.

Actually, even prior to the release of Lacaba, government has planned for an assault. They want to show the world that they can defeat the ASG by the use of force, consistent with the US policy. They want to show Washington that Mrs. Arroyo is tough against terror.

This justifies what I have earlier wrote here----the government of Mrs. Arroyo, especially those hawks within the palace, want negotiations to fail to justify an armed encounter with the bandit group. This is just a palabas, a show, meant to appease their bosses over at the Pentagon and the State Department. Mrs. Arroyo wants to sacrifice the lives of the International Red Cross workers to show the US that it is serious in fighting intransigent elements in the country.

I say it again, what these jerks intend to do is based on a misreading of the situation.

Religious used as intermediaries for Filipina Hostage Release

Now that one hostage has been released, this indicates a very good chance that the other two, Notter and Vagni are safe and will also be freed soon. Backroom negotiations have indeed started and that's a very good start.

I share the happiness of millions of Filipinos who prayed hard and believed in God. Personally, I am very glad that my initial entries on this issue, that the ASG beheaded these hostages were deemed unverified. At least, these innocents are safe. It is only a matter of time before the remaining hostages are freed.

Gafur Jikiri, the emissary of Cong. Yusof Jiriki, was the one who initiated talks with the ASG. Along with Sulu Vice Governor Sahidulla, they convinced the group to at least free one of the three. We should not talk nor insinuate that money changed hands. For us, it's more than enough that ICRC worker Mary Jean Lacaba is safe and in a few hours from now, would reconcile with her family.

Though the ASG is still keeping high value victims, still, there is now a chance for the state security forces to just keep the status quo and allow these victims to just wait for a while and for both negotiating groups to just continue talking. In hostage situations, assaults and use of violence are frown upon. The best solution is simply continue talking. Find a common or middle ground. Then, work from there.

I think part of the reason why the ASG released Mary Jean is the effective intercession of religious leaders in Sulu. Gafur is a Pious and recognized ustadz in that area. Since last week, religious leaders based in Jolo were already working for the safe release of the victims. Sources there say it must have been some form of understanding between the religious and those in the jungles that caused the observance of the initial agreement between Sen. Gordon and "Al Bader Parad".

That should start a reinvigoration of a movement in Jolo, Sulu for more proselyzation or what Muslims call "dawah". There must be an active involvement of all religious groups in Sulu to strengthen the iman or religious faith (actually, there is a more accurate description of iman than religious faith) especially the Muslim youth there. People in Sulu should fully understand what Jihad really means and how it is used only for the glory of God.

Next week, I would have completed my scholarly article on Islam and the Bangsamoro Struggle. I'll publish it here for initial comments. Being a historian and scholar, I deemed it necessary to contextualize our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters philosophical world-view and where they're coming from. Understanding Islam is the best thing. Understanding cultural influences is also key to peace in Mindanao. Not force of arms. Nor instigating religious hatred.

Spengler's "Clash of Civilizations" is not self-evident in Mindanao. There is no clash of civilizations. There is only one ascendant "civilization" there. The war is simply a continuation of attempts at intruding on the ascendant civilization which started centuries ago.

ICRC Hostage Release Talks: Designed to fail?

Will Senator and Red Cross Philippines head Richard Gordon go out to the streets and reveal the real truth? That hawks within the palace are trying their best to derail and eventually cause the negotiations to fail re: release of the three ICRC hostages in Sulu?

Reports on the ground show that military men did not honor the order given by their Army Chief and even the alter-ego of the president, Ronnie Puno, to pullout from the area where the hostages are being kept. It was a good thing that Gordon is slowly backing out of this issue because I think he felt that forces are out to worsen the situation instead of ameliorating or resolving the increasing tensions in the area.

When Major General Sabban was effectively removed since he was not in agreement with the palabas of removing troops in the area, a charm offensive ensued with the goal of showing government sincerity on troop pullout. Yet, as reports would show, the AFP did not fully complied with the gentleman's agreement, even releasing news showing that it was the Abu Sayyaf Group whose dilly-dallying and insincere in all of these.

And why is that Lady Vice Governor from Sulu talking as if she's the spokesperson of the ASG? Puno should seriously look at the extent (if there are any) of this Lady Vice Governor's complicity in all of these. In the celebrated Ces Drilon kidnapping, this Lady Vice Governor was in the thick of things and was even photographed counting the ransom money.

What is very evident so far is this:

1. The ASG will not behead their hostages. They will not immediately release them either should they fail to get any assurances of troop pullout from the AFP.

2. The ASG wants to end negotiations. Based on the report of Arlyn dela Cruz, the ASG leadership wants to start hostilities already with the military except that they are being burdened by this kidnapping. All they would be asking is some few funds to launch an all-out offensive against the Philippine military and spark a regional jihad.

Should the government fail in its commitment to pullout troops, the ASG will not, I say again, behead these hostages. Yes, they have a history of violence. Yes, they actually beheaded their hostages during Erap's time. But, I don't believe they will do it now.

What is really disturbing is all of these is being done at the height of anti-charter change sentiments. That the pro-charter change advocates already got 185 votes seemed to me that hawks within the palace and with probably the blessing of Arroyo, are heightening tensions in Mindanao as a diversionary tactic. It's a good strategy though, given that Arroyo and her ilk are expanding and making additional options available for them should they get the shock of their lives that this 185 signatories are just illusory and not really bent on supporting a very unpopular cause.

Gordon is all mouth, no action

Quo vadis, Mr. Senator Richard Gordon? What happened to JOc-Joc Bolante? Think we forgot about it? So, he's as free as a bird despite stealing a billion pesos from us? He's now enjoying his riches.

It seems that you're not doing your job, Mr. Senator. You're all bombast, no action. You just fooled us, the people, into believing that what you did at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee would lead to justice. But, what now? Where's our justice? We have'nt seen any one being jailed. Are you part of the conspiracy to dilute the Bolante fertilizer fund scam and again fool the people that government is doing something, when, nothing came out of it?

And now, you want to be president?

I am now near believing that the Senate is a big boudavil, or a big ACT, just for the entertainment of our impoverished folk.

Pontificating Dick Gordon

Much fuzz have been generated by Senator Mar Roxas' outburst during the interfaith rally. A colleague, Senator Richard Gordon, was one of the first one who "castigated" Mar when the Iloilo solon uttered such "bad words". After Gordon's self-moralizing tirade, Malacanang followed suit.

I don't know about you but I remember that incident before the establishment of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Area (SBMA). Gordon was then mayor of, I think, Olongapo Zambales. He was campaigning for the retention of the military bases since, he said, his entire province of Zambales and possibly, of Bataan, would not be able to cope with the withdrawal of US troops.

When Gordon was lambasted publicly by anti-bases groups, he cussed and threatened everyone. His cursing was worst than Mar Roxas. He even accused those who oppose the extension of the military bases as "ingrates", "fools" and "Communists". Had I decided to write in Tagalog, these words would definitely offend the sensibilities of many.

Yet, unlike Mar, Gordon cursed the people, not the people's oppressor, as what the good senator from Iloilo did.

I hope Mr. Gordon would not be that too a moralist and a pseudo good doer. Like Mar, Gordon is just human.

What would Gordon say if PGMA declares, say, Mr. Manny Villar as the administration's standard bearer and colleague Cheez Escudero as the administration's vice presidential timber, leaving him, Bayani Fernando and Noli de Castro in the lurch?Will he blurt the classic Tagalog cuss word against Gloria?

I would advise those who dreams to become president to just shut up, just do your own thing and not pontificate like they're saints when obviously, they're not.

And since I was one of those who suffered the brute force of state security forces during the struggle against the military bases agreement in the 1990's, I still remember that angry face of Mr. Dick Gordon and how he fought for the "right" of foreigners, especially foreign troops with the same color of his skin, to occupy a piece of his own country.

On a similar vein....

I came across a blog maintained by a supposed "queen". My blogger colleague is right. You'll just land there and will not dare come back.

She's one of the worst writers I have ever seen, a prostitute of the English language and of the most brutal kind. She cusses. She curses. And she even sells her mother online.

It's a shame. She speaks like a jolog, yet pretends to be a member of the elite. Shame. And, as I look at her face, her face is as crispy as lechon. Ah, now I understand.

She has flaws and flabs to hide that's why she cusses so that people will look the other way.

IN DEFENSE OF FELLOW BLOGGERS.

I vehemently condemn those who castigated some of the personalities I mentioned in my earlier blog entry. If you're a blogger, you need to respect my views on Noemi Dado and all the rest of the guys I met as I respect your views.

Dado and her husband are right. They are not after cleaning the blogosphere. However, I perceive them to be good people and I really think that they are really doing a great job as bloggers. And it is a shame for those people who hit them just because some blogger who happens to be me, perceive them as good folks. What's wrong with saying that Noemi is a great person? Or that Butch Dado, a great guy? I just met Noemi I think twice and I just like her tenacity. I just saw Butch once during the PhilippineBlogawards and I think that he's also a nice guy. Same as with what I know about Jayvee Fernandez and Juned Sunido. Totoong tao sila and I admire them for the sacrifices they are making for fellow bloggers who want the world to know that, the Pinoy blogosphere exists and it is making huge waves.

Silent rumblings, monumental changes

I'm waiting for Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to do just two things for the Filipino People:

1. Declare her position on charter change and equivocally tell everybody that she's not interested in another term extension. Aside from this, she must execute a document and sign it.

2. Direct the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to inspect the books of food companies. There is a prevailing belief that firms are shortchanging the people. Oil prices have dropped. But no food company ever readjusted their prices. When the oil prices were very high, firms used it to justify food hikes. Now, where's the justification?

On other matters....

Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile said those who'll march on Ayala this Friday will just be wasting their time. Like what I wrote a few entries ago, there is really no time left for charter change proponents to push for charter change due to lack of time. Congress will be adjourning very soon and it would leave a very bad taste in the mouth if legislators would try to rush things. Some KAMPI members asked the Speaker to expedite cha-cha discussions since everybody knows how pressed everybody is on time, but, really everything is going against Gloria as far as constitutional means of extending her reign is concerned.

Now, if Enrile is correct (because until now there's no specific schedule on charter change), then, there is only one way left for Gloria if she and her minions really want to over extend her illegal stay in Malacanang, and that is, emergency rule. That would be a long shot but indications are already existing and probabilities are also high (see my earlier entries on the Analysis of Philippine Situation re: Military). However, Gloria cannot just bang the gavel and announce it. There should be something monumental that needs to happen before she goes on the authoritarian route.

IN TRUTH, I really don't believe that Gloria and her minions would ever attempt to do the extra constitutional route NOR will Gloria ready to court extreme public indignation if she leads the charter change campaign. Gloria is facing extraordinary challenges and though the current atmosphere is really not that hot (everyone even feels that nothing is really happening), some people with sensitive political nose would definitely tell you that things are not what they really appear at this point.

I'll let you on a little secret---negotiations are underway between Gloria's group and those who want her removed now. These negotiations are like those during Erap's time--it concerns a post-Gloria era. Many believe an ouster attempt will not amount to anything, given that the administration already controls the media and that, on surface, things are not "heating" up like what happened prior to EDSA dos. Yet, at some point, things would start to break down and these so-called "influenced" media channels would definitely be forced to accede to the demands of covering events and eventually, the strong character of the anti-Arroyo movement would have been exposed and would have already lead to a snow balling effect.

What am I saying here? The possibility of ending this regime is at hand. I won't say more.

By the way, my favorite guy, Senator Mar Roxas is expected to lead some change agents in Ayala come Friday. Roxas is beginning to amaze us.

Senator Richard Gordon (tukayo) is doing an extremely great job as Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. His demeanour as chairman is impeccable. The job fits him like a glove. Kudos to Senator Gordon. And you know, whenever I watch the Blue ribbon committee hearings, I feel proud because of his wit, his candor, his calm posture and his way of conducting the hearings. Gordon should run for vice president.

I heard the interview of my good friend, Cheez Escudero. Like a courted lover, he laughed mischievously when asked by Karen Davila of the possibility of him gunning for president in 2010. Hate to say it, but Cheez sounded like a true-blue trapo that time. He may sound very different because he uses elegant Tagalog; but he can't hide his true intentions from us. Besides, some people know him and he's like her father.

Also, cut the crap of comparing Cheez to Barack Obama. Cheez has been in politics since his birth while Obama is a relative new comer. Cheez is NOT, I say, NOT the guy who will lead this nation towards true change. The country needs new blood, not those whose roots came from the pool of traditionalist politics.