Palace reminds Erap, Binay they are not above the law

(Kasi sila sa Palace eh above the law?)

SAN JUAN, Batangas , Philippines – Malacañang yesterday reminded pardoned former President Joseph Estrada and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay that they are not above the law and that they should be responsible for their actions.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde was commenting on the complaints of Estrada and Binay that they are being harassed after Philippine National Police (PNP) officials said they would be investigated for violating a law banning the display and possession of real-looking firearms.
The two opposition leaders were seen riding a restored World War II US army jeep with a mounted .30 caliber machine gun replica during their “Lakbay Pasasalamat” tour in Cebu last March 4. “Officials in the administration of President Arroyo, the sitting President, when going around the provinces, do not ride vehicles with a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on them,” Remonde said in a radio interview.

He said Binay and Estrada should explain their actions instead of crying political harassment.
PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa has said that authorities are investigating if charges can be filed against the two. Verzosa said the Central Visayas Police Office (Region 7) in Cebu had confiscated the machine gun replica. Police revealed that the restored army jeep is owned by the husband of Carmen Mayor Sonia Pua and had recently won in a vintage car show in Cebu.
Verzosa directed PNP-Civil Security Group director Chief Superintendent Ireneo Bacolod to monitor the investigation of the incident. Bacolod said Estrada’s group might have violated Letter of Instruction (LOI) 1264, signed by former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1982, that bans the import, sale and public display of gun replicas.

He said a technical working group would discuss the issue of gun replicas as part of the effort to amend the law on controlling firearms. The PNP has decided to regulate the proliferation of gun replicas, which are sometimes used by criminals in carrying out illegal activities, including bank robbery.

A case of ‘serious sunstroke’

However, Binay said Malacañang is just suffering from “serious sunstroke” and that it is not in a position to give him a lecture on respect for the law. “There are far larger violations of the law that have been committed right inside Malacañang. Yet they choose to hang us for riding a jeep with a replica machine gun,” he said. The feisty local executive said he is ready to face the charges in court, and even dared Mrs. Arroyo, her husband Jose Miguel and other Palace allies to do the same for violations of the law. Binay had earlier dismissed the “gun toting” charges as absurd and ridiculous. “These allegations should be ignored but under Mrs. Arroyo, the absurd and ridiculous are used as evidence in court cases against the opposition,” he said, adding the administration has started its demolition job on them.Estrada, on the other hand, challenged the PNP to file the charges in court, saying its officials are “a bunch of ignoramus.”

(Comments: Hay naku, nag-away ang dalawang grupo ng mga corrupt! Nagtapunan ng parehong baho ang mga kulugo! Waste of ime, money, and effort lang ito. Kapag ang dalawang parehong me baho ay nagsalubong, siguradong wala bangong maibibigay ang mga ito sa mga tao. I suggest na huwag na nating botohan ang lahat na mga kandidatong nanggagaling sa malalaking partido at oposisyon (kuno) since pareho namang mga corrupt ang mga ito. Vote for independent candidates who have no parties, no huge amount to bribe the voters, at saka dahil lamang sa kilala at sikat ang mga ito (dating mga artista). Putulin na rin natin ang pagboboto sa mga kandidatong anak ng dating politiko at galing sa pamilya ng mga politiko dahil wala rin namang plano ang mga ito sa mga Pilipino. Inuuna pa nila ang pansariling interes bago ang mamayan. For more than 40 years, ganito na ng ganito sa bansa. Hindi pa rin ba tayo nagsasawa? Hindi na ba natin mahal ang puturo ng mga anak natin ngayon sa mga magigi nilang mga anak? Kung ang sagot n'yo ay "Oo", then botohan 'nyo ang mga ito.

Hindi pa ba natin napapansin na kahit na sinong politiko ang umupo sa puwesto, wala pa rin tayong asenso. For so many years now, political dynasties had brought no richness and development to the country except corruption, extortion, cheating, embarassment to the people, killings of media practitioners, bad image to the country, insensitivity to the real needs of the poor, unemployment, widening war and misunderstanding in Mindanao, loss of respect of the people to the government (so, the government people just steal their money), illiteracy of the masses, cultural and religious divisions, high prices and inflation, and countless sufferings of the people. Four decades ago, the Philippines is the envy of Asians. Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, and even China were all looking up to us as the future competitor of Japan. Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea were just pieces of rocks. Isang malaking pantalan lang ang Hong Kong at Singapore. Pero dahil binigyan nila ng halaga ang kanilang puturo, ang kanilang boto, naging maunlad silang pareho. Ngayon, tayo ang mga alila nito. Now, all these countries (and even other western and eastern countries are looking down at us like shit (and these "S.O.Bs" in the government (and many of their cohorts don't even give a damn about it! As long as they can squeeze zillions of cash from the people - including OFWs - they are happy and can sleep well at night. What if we, OFWs, exchange positions with these dirty politicians? Let them come to Hong Kong or Saudi or America to work as amahs and engineers or musicians working 12-18 hours a day with no protection or securities or being paid less than what they are supposed to earn? Or being kicked, slapped or dumped in jails because their employers do not like their smell? Can you imagine Mrs. Arroyo being kicked or spat upon in her face by her Chinese employer here in Hong Kong because she can't iron their clothings well? Or Erap, Mar Roxas, Nograles, or Chiz Escudero receiving 12 lashes per day for 4 weeks in a Saudi jail because they're being accused of stealing from their employers? Can we imagine Mr. Enrile or Manny Villar working in Hong Kong as drivers and are asked to clean their employers' swimming pools, scrubbing their toilet bowls or washing their cars or being insulted by their "amos" calling them stupid because their government cannot provide decent jobs for them in the country? Can we imagine Meriam Defensor being scolded and hout upon while removing the shit-filled bed pan of her senile employer? Ano kaya kung sila ang magtrabaho sa abroad and mga OFWs ang umupo sa kanilang puwesto? Finally, siguradong lilinis ang gobyerno natin! Kung talagang nasa puso ng mga lider natin na tawagin tayong mga bagong bayani, sana matagal na nilang binigyang pansin kung papaano tayo makakauwi sa ating mga mahal sa buhay dahil mas mahalaga sa ating mga Pilipino ang pamilya kaysa kita sa malalayong bansa.

Sana matagal na nilang ginamit ang kinurakot na pera sa pagbukas ng mga negosyo para magbigay ng trabaho sa mga OFWs. Ilang milyong kabataan ngayon sa bansa ang nagsilaking walang ama at ina? Marami ang naging mga drug addict, prostitutes, walang natapos at nalulong sa mga sindikato. Sa Hong Kong lang ako nakakita ng tatlong henerasyong lahat naging katulong: yung lola, ina, at babaing anak puro katulong ang kinahitnan dito. Sigurado akong ang magiging anak ng babaing anak na ito ay magiging katulong din pagkatapos nitong mag-aral. Kailan pa natin puputulin ang katarantaduhang ito dahil walang magawang solusyon ang gobyerno ngayon--- at ang magiging kapalit nito kung hindi natin ihahalal ang may tama at tunay na hangarin para sa 88 milyong Pilipino? Gising na, kababayan ko!

Ano nga ba talaga ang nagawa ng maraming politikong naka-upo ngayon sa ating mga Pilipino at sa mga politkong nakaraan na sa ating ekonomiya? Sa ating image sa abroad? Sa ating employment? Sa ating security? Sa ating environment? Sa ating health protections? Sa ating mga paaralan na delapidated na? Sa ating mga public infrastructures? Basura pa lamang sa Metro Manila eh hindi nila mabigyan ng tamang solusyon! Kidnapping na walang katapusan! Gutom! Marami ang namamatay dahil mahal ang hospital at medisina! Maraming kababayan natin ang pumapatol na lamang sa kung sino-sinong banyaga makaahon lamang sa gutom. Marami ang inililibing na walang tamang respeto dahil walang pambayad? Maraming Pilipino ang mistulang tulala at magpakumbaba dahil lumaki silang "sir" at "mam" ang tawag sa mga taong umaabuso naman sa kanilang kahinaan. Tingnan na lamang natin ang simpleng problema sa mga "casual" workers sa bansa. Dahil marami ang walang trabaho, tyaga na lamang sila sa pagiging "casual" kahit college graduate naman ang mga ito. Kaso, inaabuso naman sila ng mga malalaking shopping malls at ibang negosyo sa bansa. Bakit hindi natin baguhin ang sistemang ito? Lalong yumayaman ang mga mayayaman at lalong naghihirap ang maraming mahihirap.

Nasaan na ang ating national pride, mga kapatid? Where is our diginity? Matuto na tayo, mga kababayan ko! Let's clean and make good changes in the country for the benefit of our posterity!

DPWH executives in World Bank mess face raps - Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines - Former secretary Florante Soriquez and 16 other officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are facing charges of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and other offenses after the Office of the Ombudsman found documentary evidence linking them to alleged anomalous biddings for World Bank-funded road projects.

Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni told The STAR the anti-graft agency and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will jointly probe alleged collusion between private contractors and government officials in the supposed anomaly. The investigation of their Field Investigation Office (FIO) covers only the first phase of the fact-finding process since the Office of the Ombudsman does not have jurisdiction over private contractors, he added. Jalandoni said First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo was implicated in the alleged bid-rigging in a World Bank report based on alleged interviews with unnamed witnesses.

Mr. Arroyo can only be probed based on the testimonies of private contractors in the Senate hearings since the witnesses were never named, and the report was confidential, he added.
Jalandoni said their FIO tried to make use of the copies of the testimonies sent to them by the Senate by asking the World Bank to authenticate them. However, the World Bank refused their request, he added. The joint probe with the NBI will have to again call on the witnesses and have them testify on Mr. Arroyo’s supposed involvement in the anomaly, as well as other government officials mentioned in the Senate hearings, he said. Jalandoni said Soriquez, now a DPWH undersecretary, leads the list of officials who are being charged for grave misconduct, dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service, and neglect of duty based on provisions of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Government Officials and Employees before the Office of the Ombudsman’s Preliminary Investigation and Administrative Adjudication and Monitoring Office.

Soriquez, as acting DPWH secretary when the biddings were held, should have rejected all bids that went beyond the approved budget for the contract, he added. The strongest evidence against the respondents are documented bidding records that show supposed irregularities or anomalies in the process, he said. Jalandoni said the World Bank rejected all three winning bidders due to findings that the detailed analysis of the original bids themselves reveal clear patterns of collusions among the bidders, and that in all three occasions, the lowest bids are some 15 percent higher than the estimate cost, which is indicative of alleged bid-rigging.
Graft investigators found sufficient documentary evidence to show that a violation of the Procurement Law has been committed, he added.

All 17 DPWH officials are being charged for approving bids that went beyond the approved budget of the $150-million National Road Improvement and Management Project-Phase 1, Jalandoni said. Charged with Soriquez were Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan as chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Visayas and Mindanao projects; BAC Assistant Secretaries Bashir D. Rasuman, Salvador Pleyto, Juanito Abergas as BAC members; Mocamad M. Raki-in Sr., as Vice Chairman for the Mindanao area; and Rafel C. Yabut as Vice Chairman for Operations for Area III. The anti-graft agency’s investigators also found sufficient grounds to charge BAC members Emerson L. Benitez, who is also a Project Manager III and head of the BAC-Technical Working Group; Baliame P. Mamainte, project director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development-Project Management Office (IBRD-PMO); Lope S. Adriano, the project director of the IBRB-PMO; lawyer Joel I Jacob, officer-in-charge (OIC) of the legal service; Camilo G. Foronda, OIC of the Comptrollership and Financial Management Services; Director Walter R. Ocampo of the Bureau of Construction; and Florencio I. Aricheta, a representative of the National Constructors Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Construction Association.

Part of the World Bank-funded project covers the rehabilitation of the Marihatag-Barobo/Tagbina-Hinatuan section of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road Contract Package, according to Jalandoni. A bidding was held on Nov. 20, 2002 wherein the BAC recommended the awarding of the project to China Geo Engineering Corporation which had a bid that was 15.59 percent higher than the approved budget for the contract (ABC) worth P967,012,362.15.
The second part of the NRIMP-1 covers the rehabilitation of the Kabankalan-Basay/ San Enrique-Vallehermoso Road Hinobaan-Basay/La Castellana-Canlaon Section Contract Package or CW-RU-1.6, which was later split into two projects as CW-RU-1.6A and CW-RU-1.6B.
For CW-RU-1.6A, a bidding was held on Aug. 8, 2006 wherein the BAC recommended that the project be awarded to the China Road and Bridge Corporation which had a bid that was 13.38 percent higher than the ABC of P682,396,537.65, according to graft investigators.
For CW-RU-1.6B, a bidding was also held wherein the BAC recommended that the project be awarded to China Wuyi Co. Ltd., which again had a bid that was 16.85 percent higher than the ABC worth P640,574,987.79.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez was not present during yesterday’s presentation of the initial findings on the World Bank case as she was allegedly out attending to other matters.

(Comments: Hay, grabe na 'to, nakakahiya na talaga. Halos lahat na yata ng departamento ng gobyerno sa atin ay corrupt! Again, pera ng tao ito at pera ng mga gustong magpahiram sa atin para maibsan ang kahirapan -- na ninanakaw naman ng mga corrupt officials sa atin na kasabwat ng mga taong kasama sa anomalous bidding na ito. Kelan pa natin susugpuin ang salot na ito, kababayan? Lately lang, 'nabigyan' ng bagong award ang ating bayan na pinaka-corrupt na bansa sa buong mundo!)

Plunder raps filed vs National Printing Office officials

By Rainier Allan Ronda, Philstar

MANILA, Philippines - The owner of a private printing firm filed plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against officials of the National Printing Office (NPO) for the alleged anomalous biddings of an estimated P141-million worth of contracts for the printing of official forms of various government agencies and local government units last January and February.
Guillermo Sylianteng Jr., general manager of Ready Form, Inc., filed charges of plunder, dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the civil service against former acting NPO director Enrique Agana; NPO officer-in-charge Dionisia Valbuena; Miguel Arcadio, chairman of the NPO’s Bids and Awards Committee; and BAC members Eddie Vista, Florencia Reyes, Federico Ramos, Elsa Calma, and Sol Tamayo.

Charges were also filed against Evelyn Perlado, chief of the NPO’s Production, Planning and Control Division; and legal consultant Phio Viovicente. Private printers who participated and bagged contracts in the three public biddings were also included among those charged as private respondents. In his plunder complaint filed before the Ombudsman last Feb. 13, Sylianteng accused the NPO officials of presiding over three alleged “fixed biddings” on Jan. 13 and 19 and Feb. 6 to award multi-million peso printing contracts to produce the standard and official accountable forms of different national government agencies and LGUs.

Sylianteng said that during the Jan. 13 and 19 bidding during which Agana was still the NPO acting director, there was no public notice made of the bidding. In the secret biddings, only the “pre-selected and invited” private printers were able to participate and bag the printing contracts. Among the agencies that gave the NPO their printing contracts were the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Philippine Ports Authority, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the Manila International Airport Authority, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, and many others.

Sylianteng said that the officials had falsified bidding documents to make it appear that the two biddings were conducted on Dec. 24, 2008. He said the NPO held the two biddings secretly after he notified the agency that subcontracting of government printing contracts to favored private printers is illegal. The NPO resorts to subcontracting the printing of government forms if the printing agency cannot accommodate more printing jobs for government agencies. The Jan. 13 bidding involved an estimated P50-million worth of contracts of 11 government agencies including the LBP, the Philippine Ports Authority, the Western Visayas State University, Baguio City Hall, Pasig City Hall, and the province of Mindoro Oriental.

The Jan. 19 bidding reportedly involved P60-million worth of printing contracts of about 23 agencies including the LBP, the MIAA, the SBMA, the Philippine National Police, the provincial governments of Aklan, Bukidnon, Negros Occidental, and Antique, the National Children’s Hospital, and many others. After Agana was relieved from the NPO, the agency, then headed by Valbuena as OIC, again held another subcontract public bidding for 61 printing jobs referred to them by other government agencies. The Feb. 6 public bidding involved some P31-million worth of printing contracts. The STAR could not contact Valbuena to get her comment on the plunder charges filed against her and her colleagues. Valbuena stepped down as OIC and resumed her previous post as deputy director last Monday to give way to recently appointed NPO director, retired police general Servando Hizon.

Sylianteng said that the government agencies were prevented from getting cheaper printing services due to the rigged biddings. He cited Executive Order 378 issued by President Arroyo on Oct. 25, 2004 that took away the NPO’s exclusive jurisdiction over the printing of official accountable and standard forms of government agencies. Last Feb. 24, Malacanang’s legal office, through Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Manuel Gaite, issued a legal opinion declaring that the NPO should no longer conduct such “sub-contract” public biddings of multi-million peso printing contracts. Gaite said that E.O. 378 was issued to ensure that government “benefits from the best services available from the market at the best price.” “Clearly, the NPO no longer has exclusive jurisdiction over the printing service requirement of the government over standard and accountable forms. In fact, it has to compete with the private sector, except in the printing of election paraphernalia which could be shared with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,” said Gaite, who was recently appointed as commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The legal opinion was sought by the Department of Finance’s Bureau of Local Government Finance, which has complained of delays in the delivery of vital forms such as official receipts by the NPO’s contracted private printers. Currently, many government agencies still go to the NPO for the printing of official accountable forms such as official receipts printed despite E. O. 387.
Due to its lack of modern printing facilities, the NPO merely farms out these contracts by holding public biddings wherein they select the private printers that will undertake the printing of government forms. The NPO charges the government agency a 15 percent “service fee” for the supposed printing of the forms that was actually undertaken by a winning private printer.

The NPO, it was learned, has around 33 “accredited” private printers that could bid for the subcontracted printing jobs. Official accountable forms are those which the printing office and government agencies have to strictly keep track of and account for, such as official receipts and registration documents such as those issued by the Land Transportation Office for motor vehicle registration and driver’s licenses, money order forms issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation, and the official receipts issued by local city and municipal treasurers to payers of local taxes such as real property taxes, and the receipts and other forms issued by government banks such as the Land Bank of the Philippines.

(Comment: Hay naku... sinabi ko na, kapag corrupt sa taas, corrupt din sa ibaba! At the expense of poor Filipinos, these people in the government treat their jobs as their own business na. Wala ng delikadesa, wala pang kahiya-hiya. Lantarang pang-aabuso sa pera ng tao na para bang isang napakalaking sindikato na ang ating gobyerno. Again, when corrupt leaders govern, the people suffers. I suggest a strong leadership with strong political will will finally eradicate corruption in the country and finally put these corrupt officials into JAIL!)

'Arroyo behind charter change - de Venceia'

MANILA, Philippines—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is behind a move to amend the Constitution that is being pushed by her son in Congress. Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo attempted but failed to enlist the support of Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia in exchange for his reinstatement as House Speaker, the former Congress leader said. De Venecia on Wednesday said that Representatives Arroyo and Martin Romualdez came to his office two days before the House adjourned for a Lenten break March 5 to request him to shepherd the passage of the draft resolution calling for a constituent assembly (Con-ass). In return, De Venecia said he was offered back the speakership stripped from him in what was described as a “political assassination” after his namesake son exposed the NBN-ZTE deal with China. Mikey and his brother-congressman, Dato, engineered the ouster.

“I preempted them by saying ‘no,’” De Venecia told reporters. “I turned down the request for me to help because they are not telling the Filipino people the truth,” he said, pointing to the obvious motive of Con-ass—“so that Gloria’s term can be extended.” De Venecia said as long as administration allies could muster the 197 votes in the House and get the Supreme Court to uphold their move, “there will be no stopping Cha-cha.” Mikey denied De Venecia’s allegation. “I never offered him the speakership,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net). “What will I offer him? He’s the one who volunteered to help.” “All these people crucifying this resolution must have first the decency to read the resolution. It hasn’t even been filed yet,” Mikey said, adding that the measure neither calls for scuttling next year’s balloting nor extending the term of sitting elective officials.

Malacañang also scoffed at claims that the administration was bent on amending the Constitution ahead of the 2010 elections to pave the way for a parliamentary form of government. Secretary Gabriel Claudio, presidential political adviser, said that Malacañang, which approved the P11.3-billion budget for poll automation on Monday, was all psyched up for the May 2010 elections.

Palace on election mode

Claudio said the Commission on Elections had gone “full blast” preparing for the first nationwide computerized elections, even as the administration coalition “is pursuing its selection process in earnest.” “The whole country, the administration included, is on election mode,” he said.
“I can feel that they still need 20 votes to obtain the required 197 votes,” De Venecia said, referring to the magic number which represents three-fourths of the combined Senate and House membership to effect any changes in the 1987 Constitution. Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte has said the House could push through Con-ass despite the Senate’s strong objection if it could get 197 signatures. Villafuerte disputes the contention that the Constitution provides a two-thirds vote of members of the House and the Senate, voting separately, was needed to call a Con-ass.

Hopeless proposition

De Venecia stressed that even the separate Cha-cha resolution filed by Speaker Prospero Nograles was only a “decoy,” pointing out that limiting amendments to purely economic provisions was a “hopeless” proposition. “The Nograles resolution is just a decoy and the Villafuerte resolution does not say anything, except to get the Supreme Court to rule favorably on a constituent assembly,” De Venecia said.

Afraid of plunder cases

“They will buy her (Ms Arroyo) immunity. They are afraid of the plunder cases to be filed against them. If the Cha-cha move has no go-signal from the President, will they get 177 votes?” De Venecia said. He was referring to reported Palace efforts to keep Ms Arroyo as transition president or prime minister if the move to abolish the presidential system to pave the way for parliamentary or federal system pushes through. As of February, 180 congressmen had signed the Con-ass resolution, other Congress sources said. Should the Con-ass bid succeed, De Venecia said Congress could then push for a transition period that would extend the terms of all elected officials by one or two years after 2010 to allow the Con-ass to revise the Constitution.
Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Francis Pangilinan called on Ms Arroyo to break her silence on Con-ass. They said her unclear position was only fueling rumors that she really wanted to stay on as President beyond June 30, 2010. Cayetano said that after years of “undeclared strong-arm rule, many still can’t believe that she will simply leave in 2010 without a Plan A and C in place.”

Cha-cha is Plan A

“Everyone knows that Cha-cha is Plan A, emergency rule is Plan B and support for a candidate or an opposition Trojan horse is Plan C,” Cayetano said. “They are playing with fire and making a costly mistake if they think they can ram Cha-cha down the throats of people already sick and tired of abuses and corruption in government,” Pangilinan said. He said administration officials were afraid they would lose their immunity after the 2010 elections and face “a string of nonbailable plunder cases and jail.” Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. said that the off-and-on move of Malacañang and its allies to revive Cha-cha was an exercise in futility “because the means with which they are pushing for it is unconstitutional.”

No time left

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said there was no time for Charter change. “It’s difficult to go through that. We don’t even know how it will be done. They are quarreling in the House if it will be treated like an ordinary bill or it will be separately done,” Enrile said in an interview.
Even if Charter change proponents get the required number, it will face rough-sailing, he said.
“If they will disregard the Senate, it will have to go to the Supreme Court. They have to remember that we’re a bicameral Congress. The House of Representative is not the Congress of the Philippines, neither is the Senate,” Enrile said. “And my guess as a lawyer … they will lose if they will do it alone. The Supreme Court cannot skirt the issue. Once you are appointed as a member of the Supreme Court, you are only beholden to your conscience, to God and to history,” Enrile stressed.

Plebiscite needs funding

The Senate president said that funding a plebiscite to ratify the new Constitution also needed the support of the Senate because it would entail appropriation. “If the plan is to bypass the Senate, then I will be the first to challenge it before the Supreme Court,” said Sen. Francis Escudero, who is the chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of laws. “If by any chance it passes the Supreme Court, then I am sure that the people will reject it,” Escudero added. Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III said that Ms Arroyo should come clean on the Con-ass by asking her son to withdraw his support from the draft resolution to parry charges of “collusion” between mother and son. “If they have the chutzpah to assume that they can violate the rules of the House, our laws and the Constitution so they can push for Con-ass, then they should at least have the guts to come out,” Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel said.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, president of the United Opposition, said Ms Arroyo’s failure to make a categorical statement that she would step aside in 2010 meant she was endorsing Charter change. “Ms Arroyo is feeding their optimism by not publicly disavowing any plan to stay in power beyond 2010,” he said.

Arroyo’s men unfazed

But the President’s allies stood firm. “The House is mandated to act and decide on any Cha-cha proposal after it has been filed. The Palace has nothing to do with our action or decision on any Cha-cha proposal,” said House Deputy Speaker Simeon Datumanong. With reports from Leila B. Salaverria, TJ Burgonio and Allison W. Lopez

(Comment: Hay naku, taghirap na nga ang mga kababayan natin, patuloy pa rin ang CIRCUS at SARSWELA ng mga politiko! Ang kapal na talaga ng mga mukha ng mga ito. Everyone is trying to hold on to power and everyone is 'screwing' everyone just to stay on top. KASO, naiiwan ang taong bayan na naka-tanga sa kahirapan at kawalang direksiyon! Sa akin lang, wala pa sa 500 katao itong mga nasa puwesto na parang mga batang naghaharutan at nag-aaway-away to the expense of the hungry Filipinos! I say we kick the hell many of these corrupt officials and elect young, vibrant, and idealistic Filipinos whose loyalty is to the country first, then to their parties second).

2 Alabang kids snatched; P1.5M ransom paid

MANILA, Philippines—Two brothers, both high school students, were kidnapped on March 19 and were released five days later upon their parents’ payment of P1.5 million in ransom, according to police sources.

Teresita Ang-See of the Citizens’ Action Against Crime and Corruption (CAACC) Wednesday confirmed the kidnapping, saying it was only one of a series of abductions that suddenly became frequent in the first quarter of the year.

Ang-See said the boys—one studying at the Beacon School and the other at the British School of Manila, both located in Taguig City—were released on Tuesday afternoon. Police sources said the brothers were abducted by armed men while they were on their way to school between 6 and 7 a.m. on Thursday from their residence in Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City.
The kidnappers were said to have originally demanded ransom of $2 million in the belief that the parents, both currency traders, could afford it.

Pure Filipinos

Ang-See said the kidnappers eventually settled for P1.5 million, after the parents swore that the amount was all the money they could raise in cash at the moment. “The parents tried taking out a bank loan, but practically all their money had gone to the construction of a big house, and the kidnappers wanted cash quick,” Ang-See said. She said she was not able to talk to the family, but added that the brothers were pure Filipinos and not Chinese-Filipinos—the usual targets of kidnapping-for-ransom syndicates. The family did not report the kidnapping to the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER), the Philippine National Police’s special anti-kidnapping unit, and personally handled the negotiation for the boys’ release, police sources said.

P24M in 3 months

According to information gathered by the CAACC, there were 17 kidnap victims in January, 20 in February and 12 in March, including the two brothers. All of the victims were released after payment of ransom, and the CAACC monitored more than P24 million paid to various crime syndicates in the last three months. “We are really very bothered that there’s a sudden escalation of kidnapping incidents in the first quarter of this year. In the last two years, there was none. It was quiet. Now the kidnappers are hungry,” Ang-See lamented. She said there was not a single kidnapping case in the last two years, particularly because of the Chinese-Filipino community’s vigilance and continuous cooperation and dialogue with PACER. But according to the PACER chief, Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina, only four kidnapping-for-ransom cases had been reported since January.

Twelve such cases were reported to PACER last year, Espina said. The figure excludes terror-related abduction cases in Mindanao, which the PNP accounts for separately, he said.
“I can say that the situation in the first quarter of 2009 is pretty much the same in 2008 in terms of the situation on kidnapping-for-ransom syndicates ... There are only a few groups now,” Espina said.

Of the four cases, one has been solved. PACER is building up cases against the suspects tagged in the three other incidents and has intensified “coordination with territorial police units where these cases happened,” he said.

Different style

Ang-See said the current modus operandi was to hold the victims for only five to seven days and release them for any amount offered by their families. “Now the kidnappers’ style is different—fast, no protracted negotiation, quick payment of ransom,” she said. The ransom demand is initially high but the actual amount paid ranges from P500,000 or P800,000 to P1 million, Ang-See said. She observed that among the kidnapping cases in Metro Manila and Luzon, the ransom paid for the brothers released on Tuesday was the highest. “Times are hard. The families of kidnap victims can no longer afford to meet big ransom demands,” she said.

Espina made a similar remark, saying the kidnapping trend had developed into smaller-time, quick-money abduction schemes pulled off by maids or even gang members holding children and demanding a release fee of as low as P2,000. “That’s what is increasing the figures. There are many cases not perpetrated by syndicates but by maids, relatives, friends and the like out to make money from their friends or relatives,” he said. Ang-See said that with the similar modus operandi in the cases monitored by the CAACC, the kidnappings could have been pulled off by just one group.

Admit the problem

She said she was not discounting the possibility that this group was being protected by corrupt police and military personnel, whether active or retired. Citing earlier arrests made by PACER, Ang-See said former police and military officers were behind kidnapping-for-ransom activities. She said that in one such case, an active member of the PNP Special Action Force was among those arrested.

But Ang-See expressed confidence in the capability of PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa and PACER to identify and arrest the groups behind the sudden escalation of kidnappings, especially in Metro Manila. She said stamping out kidnapping for ransom should start with the first step—“to admit that there is a problem.” With a report from Tarra Quismundo

(Comment: How can we invite investors and tourists to visit our country if our authorities can't even handle kidnappers and corrupt authorities? Sinabi ko na long before that corruption means hardships to our people (including authorities). No amount of pa-pogi points will eradicate these bad elements in our society when we have a weak government with no political will.) Hindi nila masupil and corruption kasi sila corrupt din.

SAY ANALYSTS: Money, loyal network will decide 2010 polls

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—The presidential election next year will be won by the candidate who has the biggest campaign budget and ground-level network, analysts said Thursday.

About a half-dozen candidates are expected to be in the fray for the May 2010 presidential election to replace President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and lead the country for the next six years.

“This is going to be one of the closest political contests in Philippine history,” said Earl Parreño, an analyst at the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms.

“Based on initial public opinion polls, we don’t really see any runaway candidate. Next year’s contest might be decided by less than one million votes [out of a 40-million electorate] so the candidate with vast resources and network would really have a clear edge.”

The likely candidates are:

Sen. Manuel Villar. Perhaps the best placed in terms of money, he is a self-made billionaire and controls real estate firm Vista Land and Lifescapes. In politics for 17 years, he says his experience in running a company will be key to a successful presidency.

Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. Called the intelligent man’s candidate, Roxas is a former Wall Street banker and the grandson of a former president. He has served as trade secretary in two Cabinets. No slouch in the money department either, his mother belongs to the wealthy Araneta clan, which owns a large chunk of Manila real estate.

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero. Not yet 40, he qualifies to run for president only in October. He is frequently compared with US President Barack Obama and is banking on his charisma and the large number of young voters to win. He is seeking the backing of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, headed by San Miguel Corp. chair Eduardo Cojuangco, one of the wealthiest individuals in the country.

Sen. Loren Legarda. The only woman among likely candidates, she won the biggest number of votes in the senatorial elections in 2007, a good indicator of national appeal. A former cover girl and television news reader, she wants to be the country’s first “green” president. May be hampered by a lack of funds and doubts whether another woman would be able to win after Ms Arroyo, whose popularity is currently low.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. Says he is waiting for Ms Arroyo’s approval. If he gets that, he will get the support of the powerful Lakas-Kampi ruling coalition’s electoral machine, but may also inherit Ms Arroyo’s unpopularity. Teodoro is also a nephew of former President Corazon Aquino and of Cojuangco, and the latter could end up supporting him.

Vice President Manuel “Noli” de Castro. Consistently high in opinion polls, but has refused to indicate whether he will be a candidate. Has rarely spoken publicly about serious issues, but enjoys wide popularity because of his career as a radio and television news anchor.

Parties don’t matter

Analysts say a good campaign could cost P3 billion to P4 billion and a loyal network will be essential for a candidate looking to win.

“Parties do not really matter, because at the end of the day politicians will choose the one with the biggest chance,” said political analyst Antonio Gatmaitan.

Local politicians, from governors down to mayors, were expected to cross party lines and loyalties to support the candidate perceived to have the highest chance to win, he said.
“The candidate is the party,” Gatmaitan said.

By the end of this year, perhaps only four serious candidates will be left, analysts said.
“By then, the major political forces would have chosen their bets,” Gatmaitan said. “It’s totally a free-for-all contest,” he added.

(Comments: Hmmm.. sounds like the election is a done deal? Well, choosing any of these politikos tantamounts to saying that the country will stay the same for the next 6 years! Let us remember that our barometer for choosing the next president should be: transparency, honesty, anti-corruption, anti-nepotism, anti-cronyism, pro-poor (where majority of our kababayans are really poor in the country), focused on the country's economic development and prosperity and not "the party first" mentality, credibility, one with a strong political will to send the corrupt to prison, and one who leads by example. Anything or anyone short of this is NOT qaulified to run. Now, go over those presidentiables again above and check for yourselves if these candidates qualify at all...Hay... di na talaga ba tayo nagsasawa sa mga taong ito? Di na tayo natuto o nadadala. We Filipinos never and want to learn from history. Ang dali nating makalimot at magpatawad. Tayo rin and binabalikan! Aba'y maawa naman tayo sa mga susunod na henerasyon! Huwah tayong selfish. Nothing's new, nothing will change).

'P50-billion road fund misused'

By Jess Diaz. Philstar

MANILA, Philippines - At least 15 congressmen are seeking an investigation into the alleged misuse of more than P50 billion in funds for road maintenance, road safety and pollution control.
Representatives Abraham Mitra of Palawan, Paul Daza of Northern Samar, Marc Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur, Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, Niel Tupas Jr. of Iloilo and Carlos Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya sought the inquiry in separate manifestations they made at recent House hearings.

Eight other congressmen led by Deputy Speaker Eric Singson of Ilocos Sur filed a resolution also proposing an investigation.

The congressmen said a large part of the money goes to the pockets of corrupt officials and contractors.

The funds whose use or misuse they want the House to look into are collections from the so-called motor vehicle user’s charge (MVUC), otherwise known as the road user’s tax.
This is a levy Congress imposed six or seven years ago on owners of all motor vehicles, whose annual registration fees were increased by 100 percent over a four-year period.
The collections go to a special fund administered by an agency called the Road Board, which the secretary of public works and highways chairs and which is attached to his department.
More than P50 billion in MVUV taxes have been collected. Annual collections now reach P10 billion to P11 billion.

Most of the funds go to road maintenance and safety projects such as the installation of catch eye markers and guard rails. A portion goes to pollution control.

Mitra said despite insistent prodding from him and his colleagues, the House committee on public works chaired by Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado has not conducted a hearing on the misuse and misallocation of MVUC funds.

Mitra has filed a resolution that seeks to abolish the Road Board and to use MVUC collections to support the annual budget instead of the money going to a special fund outside the control of the Department of Budget and Management and being dissipated.

Padilla complained that projects funded by more than P400 million in road maintenance and road safety money allocated to his province four years ago could not be found.
“The projects and the money have vanished,” he said.

There were complaints of missing funds in other provinces as well.

In Eastern Samar, road signs and guard rails worth P350 million could not be located.
“What we need here are roads, not catch eye markers and guard rails,” one local official said.
Many congressmen complain of inequitable distribution of funds. For instance, in the past two years, Nueva Ecija was given about P2 billion in MVUC money.

More than P1 billion of the projects in Nueva Ecija were given to a newly formed company called Meditech Trade and Development Corp. The company has also won contracts in Laguna. Nueva Ecija officials said they could hardly find the P2 billion projects in their province. Rep. Rodriguez, who belongs to the opposition bloc in the House, complained of politics in the allocation of MVUC money.

He said his district was not given funds, while other districts received tens of millions and even hundreds of millions.

In their resolution, Singson and his seven other colleagues, all belonging to the Northern Luzon bloc of congressmen, said the House should revisit the MVUC tax.

Despite the collection and expenditure of more than P50 billion, they said many roads are still in a state of disrepair and are not safe to travel.

They said people need roads, not luminous signs and markers and guard rails.

They stressed that the bulk of the money is just being dissipated for projects that the public does not really need.

US report: RP judiciary corrupt, inefficient

By PIA LEE-BRAGO, Philstar

MANILA, Philippines - A US State Department report said corruption and inefficiency in the judicial system have undermined human rights in the Philippines and caused “widespread skepticism” of due process.

“The law provides for an independent judiciary; however, the judicial system suffered from corruption and inefficiency,” the State Department’s 2008 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in the Philippines released yesterday said.

“Personal ties and sometimes bribery resulted in impunity for some wealthy or influential offenders and contributed to widespread skepticism that the judicial process could ensure due process and equal justice,” the report said.

“Trials were delayed, and procedures were prolonged. Corruption was a problem throughout the criminal justice system,” the report said.

The report also said political killings and disappearances “dropped dramatically” in recent years “following increased domestic and international scrutiny.”

But the report said some members of the security forces continued to abuse detainees physically and psychologically and there were instances of torture.

Prisoners awaiting trial and those already convicted were often held under primitive conditions, the report said.

Leftwing and human rights activists were often subjected to harassment by local security forces. Problems such as violence against women, abuse of children, child prostitution, trafficking in persons, child labor, and ineffective enforcement of workers’ rights were common, the report also said.

The report also cited abuses by the New People’s Army, particularly its liquidation of government officials and perceived civilian enemies.

The rebel group’s recruitment of child soldiers was also noted in the report. The use of children for combat or auxiliary roles was also common in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and in the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.

The report also cited inroads in judicial reforms initiated by the Supreme Court.
It mentioned, for example, the dismissal in September of a Court of Appeals justice and the disciplining of four others for their roles in a bribery scandal. In October the high court denied the motions for reconsideration filed by these justices.

The report also said time limits for the resolution of cases appeared ineffective.
The law provides that cases should be resolved within set time limits once submitted for decision – 24 months for the Supreme Court, 12 months for the Court of Appeals and three months for the lower courts.

“However, these time limits were not mandatory and, in effect, there were no time limits for trials. Lengthy pretrial detention remained a problem. Anecdotal evidence suggested that, in practice, trials can take six years or more,” the US report said.

Cheating seen without automation budget

By Thea AlbertoINQUIRER.netMANILA, Philippines --

The president of the United Opposition (UNO) warned of massive cheating in the 2010 elections if the poll automation budget is not immediately approved by the House of Representatives.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay said a manual or even a hybrid system will only benefit candidates identified with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was accused of rigging the 2004 elections.

Retaining the manual system, or even a combination of manual and automated counting, will favor the administration candidate,” Binay said Thursday, as a proposed P11-billion supplemental budget for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) appeared to stall at the House, where it has been approved at the committee level but has yet to get the nod of the plenary.

Binay lamented that there has been "no serious effort to reform the election system" since the controversial "Hello Garci" tapes, purported wiretaps, made public in 2005, of phone conversations between Arroyo and then election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, in which they allegedly discuss cheating.

"Unless we fully automate in 2010, we will be playing with practically the same rules that led to the fraud-ridden election of Mrs. Arroyo in 2004,” Binay, who has declared plans to seek the presidency in 2010, said.Binay said cheating would be massive because Arroyo would have to keep her allies in power. And although Garcillano has retired, "his network is still intact."

“There are bigger stakes for Mrs. Arroyo in 2010. She doesn’t want to go to jail. Mrs. Arroyo and her allies are afraid that justice will finally catch up with them should a genuine opposition candidate get elected,” he said.If Congress fails to pass the supplemental budget before going on recess in March, the Comelec might not be able to implement automated vote counting.

Poll automation bill ‘urgent’—Palace

By Joel GuintoINQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang reminded lawmakers that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo certified as urgent a bill appropriating P11.3 billion to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to automate the 2010 polls.

“I think we have sent a lot of signals already. That is the strongest signal that the Palace can send on that issue,” deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said, referring to the urgent certification.

“Members of Congress are aware of the deadline set by the Comelec. They are aware of that. Everybody is working hard to reach that point,” he said.

The Palace supports the poll body’s position that eradicating cheating “will entail full automation,” he said.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo had raised concerns that a “hybrid” election in 2010, or a combination of manual and automated systems, could pave the way for a repeat of massive cheating that allegedly occurred in the last general election in 2004.

Arroyo was an alleged beneficiary of the poll fraud, which enabled her to win a fresh six-year term over popular movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., who died in 2005.

(Comments: Hay naku! I told you so...)

World Bank meets with senators, stands firm on findings

By Aurea Calica Updated February 25, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - World Bank officials led by country director Bert Hofman told lawmakers yesterday that it was up to authorities to prosecute contractors the bank had banned for collusion in bidding for road projects.

Hofman said the lending institution welcomed a Senate inquiry into the case and was working closely with the government to improve procurement systems.

He presented bidding documents that formed the basis for the debarment of seven contractors as he stood firm on the Bank’s findings of collusion.

The World Bank brought up the issue of collusion in a Referral Report that it relayed inNovember 2007 to the Department of Finance and the Office of the Ombudsman. The WB had briefed the Ombudsman about the case as early as May 2006.

“It’s the discretion of the Philippine authorities to pursue or not to pursue anything that we referred to them in the Referral Report,” Hofman said in a press conference after briefing the senators about the report.

“It does not mean that since it is confidential, it cannot be used,” Hofman said, apparently referring to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez’s explanation for not investigating the allegations contained in the report early enough. Gutierrez was present at the briefing.
Hofman welcomed Gutierrez’s assurance that her office would come up with its own findings by the first week of March.

“We’re looking forward to that,” Hofman said.

The bank had earlier blacklisted several Chinese and Filipino firms it said colluded in the bidding for a $33-million road rehabilitation project.

Hofman said the World Bank was mandated to make sure that its funds are used properly, stressing that its internal investigations and sanctions “ultimately protect the taxpayers’ money” of member countries.

(Comment: Hay naku, collusion with co-businessmen or c0-politicians is old story in the country. This is a real old bad habit of cabals with the intent of cheating and corrupting just to win government and non-government projects. Lumang tugtugin an ito! Harapin na lamang ng mga contractors na ito ang katotohanan na nabuking sila at napahiya! The World Bank officers who busted them are not STUPID that think like them. Blacklisting them is just right and they should accept the consequences. HIHIRIT PA KASI, eh! Hay naku talaga!!!! Just shut the f_ck up and fade away. Kung talagang nandaya kayo, aba'y saluhin n'yo ang consequences nito. Magpaka lalaki kayo. Nakakahiya na talaga).

Comelec worried over possible manual system in 2010 polls

By Sheila Crisostomo. Philstar

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) expressed apprehensions yesterday that elections might revert back to the manual system with the failure of Congress to pass the P11.3-billion supplemental budget for automated polls for 2010.

According to Comelec Chairman Jose Melo, there is a snowballing proposal in the House of Representatives to use a “hybrid” of manual and automated systems.

He said deliberations on this proposal could further delay the release of the budget. “It’s been three weeks since the House began deliberating on our supplemental budget. Everything was all right until a certain congressman raised questions regarding a provision in Republic Act 9369 about manual voting,” Melo said, referring to Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez.

Golez had proposed to Comelec not to totally abandon the use of the manual system in the 2010 elections.

Golez pointed out the use of manual conduct of the elections is mandated in RA 9369. Golez led lawmakers in proposing that the local elections – from councilors to congressmen – should be done manually while those for national elective positions should be automated. To automate next year’s polls, the lawmakers wanted to amend the provisions of RA 9369 before allocating a separate budget to be used by Comelec.

“We are a little bit disappointed. I don’t think there is still time to pass the new law because Congress will be on recess (next week). We are in a quandary … we might end up doing it manually if we don’t get the budget soon enough,” Melo stressed.

Melo expressed concerns that another scandal-ridden elections like what happened during the 2004 presidential polls could occur anew if the 2010 exercise is done manually.

“If we go manual all the way, it would allow another Garci and that is the great danger,” Melo said, referring to former elections official Virgilio “Garci” Garcillano who was widely believed to have been responsible for rigging the results in Mindanao during the 2004 presidential elections.
National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting chairman Henrietta de Villa echoed similar concerns of manual elections next year.

“We are really disappointed. They (congressmen) should have raised it a long time ago when they were still deliberating on RA 9369,” De Villa said.

(Comment: Hay naku, DELIBERATE and INTENTIONAL neglect na naman ito ng mga congressmen - who are, by the way, majority loyal to the administration - not to pass this law of automating the election. Nakakahiya na! This is really shameful and a total embarassment on the part of our our corrupt lawmakers who will do their utmost to CHEAT and WIN the coming election in 2010. I am sure there will be another GARCI next year - 101%! We are the only alleged 'democracy' in this world manually counting the ballots because of the blatant neglect of these sonsofbitches in the government. These corrupt officials not only can cheat the upcoming election, but also save the budget for automation and POCKET the budget in various 'hidden' means. It's time to kick them out of the government. Let us remember that these assholes are mere government servants and not gods and untouchables. The people now should be the ones to throw them out of office by not electing them. They rigged elections and corrupt the money. So, let us kick them out in embarassing manners so that their families and children will not have the face to continue their bad names). Hay, di natuto ang Pilipino! If we want to continue suffering hardships and injustices for the next 10 years, go ahead and choose these assholes! But don't blame me for it - Melo is right and Golez is thinking very shortsightedly - I already told you so!

'Danny LIm' ad 1st salvo for Senate run

By Jocelyn UyPhilippine Daily Inquirer, MANILA, Philippines

—It isn't a call to arms, but a signal to the people that they want a "moral leader" in the halls of power, installed not by extralegal means but through the 2010 elections.

That was how a reformist bloc composed of civilian professionals and active and retired military officers Monday explained the full-page advertisement that appeared in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Monday declaring they were united "under the leadership" of detained Army Brig. Gen. Danilo "Danny" Lim.

"We are telling the people that they should consider Danny Lim as an emerging new leader, which will not be attained through extralegal means," Ernesto Macahiya, president of one of the groups, the Guardians Nationalist of the Philippines (Ganap), said on the phone.

"We intend to nominate him for senator either with the opposition or to run as an independent," said Macahiya, who described himself as a "retired banker."

Lim, detained since 2006 for alleged involvement in plots to unseat President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is "entertaining that suggestion," according to his lawyer, Vicente Verdadero.

In a statement sent through Verdadero, Lim said: "Not one to shirk away from challenges and responsibilities, I accept the mantle of leadership bestowed upon me."

Malacañang probe

Verdadero said the advertisement came as a surprise to Lim. "He was not aware that there was an initiative of this kind," he said.

The signatories in the ad included detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Navy officer.
The signatories in the ad – which cost P176,229 to put out – included active officers linked to the Oakwood Mutiny in July 2003, the Marine standoff in February 2006 and the Peninsula Manila hotel siege in November 2007, who are now held at Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame.

The ad has spurred an investigation by Malacañang.

Lorelei Fajardo, deputy presidential spokesperson, said a legal team was particularly checking if military officers on active duty were involved in the statement of support for Lim.
Not a threat

Fajardo said the Palace investigation would determine possible cases that could be filed against signatories who are still members of the armed forces.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said he was not considering the supposed statement of support for Lim as a "threat to the unity of the Armed Forces behind the chain of command."
"We have proven the unity of the Armed Forces behind the chain of command," Teodoro told reporters.

"What's important to us is that no military personnel in active duty is supporting him," he said.
"(The ad) is a political statement coming from some groups that have the freedom to express their sentiments."

Gomez disowns ad

One of the supposed signatories, retired Maj. Gen. Johnny Gomez, Monday sent to Hermogenes Esperon, presidential management staff chief, a text message denying any hand in the advertisement.

"Be informed that I have not joined the group of Danny Lim nor am I one of those who officially declared that 'we are formally united under the leadership of B/Gen. Danilo 'Danny' Lim," a Malacañang statement quoted Gomez as saying.

In the paid advertisement, the signatories said they had agreed to unite under Lim's leadership for his "impeccable character."

"He has the essential leadership qualities to steer us towards our vision; he has consistently displayed uncommon valor and patriotism in the face of extremely difficult situations," according to the ad.

Fed up with 'trapos'

The ad was initiated by several reformist groups including the Guardians, Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabayan (RAM), Bagong Katipunan, the Magdalo and the Samahang Magdalo group, Macahiya said.

"We all look up to him as the moral leader who was not corrupted by this regime," Capt. Ruben Guinolbay said, responding to written questions. He is currently detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.

Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian, a former battalion commander deployed in Mindanao, said what the country needed in the coming elections was an honest leader like Lim.

"We are supporting him because we're fed up with traditional politicians who only work for their personal desires," Scout Ranger Maj. Jason Aquino, another signatory, said.

Segumalian and Aquino, both detained at Camp Aguinaldo, spoke through lawyer Trixie Angeles.

Other retired officers who signified their support for Lim included Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez, former Northern Luzon commanding general.

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, a former Armed Forces chief of staff, said he had heard as early as two weeks ago from young military officers that Lim was running for the Senate in 2010.

He said it was Lim's right to run for office if he wanted to.

"But he has to make a lot of noise to get attention,” Biazon said.

With reports from Christian V. Espiritu, Christine O. Avendano, and Leila B. Salaverria.

(Comment: I still prefer a civilian President than someone who comes from the military. This issue is very sensitive to Filipinos. Mr. Lim should run as my vice-president instead. Though I personally advocate for a strong military, I am not sold out to a military personality to run the government).

The Kind of Leader we need for 2010

By Harvey S. KehContributor

THE past weeks we have seen yet again another controversy involving the first family particularly first gentleman Mike Arroyo. According to an alleged report by the World Bank, the Arroyo has been at the receiving end of bribes given by contractors who aim to corner infrastructure projects run by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and primarily funded by the World Bank. As a result of this report, the World Bank has decided to suspend and ban these contractors from taking part I any future biddings for their projects. This issue has since elicited various reactions from our political leaders. Our Congressmen and Senators have since began their own investigations regarding this matter with even one congressman saying that it should be the World Bank and not Arroyo who should be investigated. Up until now, Arroyo continuous to create all sorts of excuses just to be able to avoid being called and asked by Senators who are trying to get to the bottom of yet another corruption scandal that has been an all too often refrain in this present administration.

What is primarily lacking in our present government and leaders is transparency and accountability. Sadly, our President didn’t even help as she even took out a right to information clause in our National Budget which would’ve made it easier for ordinary Filipinos to ask where our money is going. We have also seen that prior corruption and political scandals have died a natural death not because they were resolved but simply because the attention of media has been shifted to other equally pressing and important matters. Up until today, we still haven’t heard Senator Manny Villar explain clearly about the budget insertions that he allegedly made that would favor his real estate company.

Last week, we celebrated the first year anniversary of Jun Lozada’s expose on the NBN-ZTE deal but up until now its alleged main perpetuators are still enjoying their lives playing golf. Finally, we will already be going to the 2010 national elections and even up to now, there is still no closure in the 2004 Hello Garci elections controversy.

Given the kind of government that we have had the past 8 years, we have seen it to be a government that has continued to condone and perpetuate graft and corruption at all levels. Several democratic institutions such as the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Office of the Ombudsman have also been compromised. Thus, while many of us are already starting to lose hope in our government and our political system, I believe that this kind of situation calls for us to be more vigilant to look for a leader that will first and foremost be God-fearing, ethical and morally-upright.

I have always believed in the saying that a great leader is a product of the need of his or her time. We have seen in the United States of America that they were able to elect a African-American President in Barack Obama simply because they wanted to see a drastic change in the way their country was being run.

As if on cue, one of Obama’s first Executive Orders was to ensure transparency and social accountability in his government by banning current lobbyists from serving in his government. Right now, I believe that our country needs a righteous leader more than a leader with a Doctorate in Public Administration. It seems that we have often looked at the competencies of the leaders we elect while failing to check whether or not they have a genuine heart to serve our countrymen. I am not saying that competencies and skills is not important but with the kind of situation that we are in right now, our next President should primarily have the strength of character and unceasing will to battle the growing corruption found in our government today. I have always believed that leadership skills can easily be learned but the character and principles of a leader whether good or bad cannot easily be changed.
Comments are welcome at harveykeh@gmail.com.

Harvey S. Keh is Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government

23 Years After EDSA, Marcos cronies are back!

GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc Updated February 23, 2009 12:00 AM

At first Malacañang declared there’d be no celebration this year of the People Power Revolt. But belatedly last Friday it suspended school today to mark the popular uprising’s 23rd anniversary. And hurriedly yesterday Gloria Macapagal Arroyo laid a commemorative wreath at Libingan ng mga Bayani. Yesterday’s ceremony and today’s special holiday are on the wrong venue and date. Past fetes have always been at the EDSA Memorial on Feb. 25, the day Ferdinand Marcos fell in 1986. The Arroyo admin seems averse to observing the EDSA Revolt. Any revelry would only point up the unpleasant truth. People Power brought down a dictator and his cronies; today Marcos’s confederates are back — as Arroyo cronies.

Juan Ponce Enrile had enforced Marcos’s martial law for 14 years, before a 1986 breakaway that sparked the civilian-backed military mutiny. As defense minister he muzzled the press and jailed dissenters. He also led the takeover of the coconut industry. Today Enrile is Senate President and one of Arroyo’s chief defenders against exposés of corruption and abuse.
Enrile and Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. were the only civilians among the “Rolex 12” plotters of military rule in 1972. They partnered to govern the coconut sector, from planting to harvesting, processing to trading. Using personal and public funds (coco levy) Cojuangco gained control of food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp. in 1984. Ever loyal, he and his family flew with Marcos to exile in Hawaii in 1986. Cojuangco returned years later and formed the Nationalist People’s Coalition. Today the party has two senators, 63 congressmen, and dozens of local officials, all aligned with the Arroyo admin. Cojuangco continues to nurture assets in the police-military establishment; the present defense chief is his nephew.

Cojuangco regained SMC in 1998 and, with sidekick Ramon Ang, grew and diversified it into mining, utilities, and infrastructures. His recent foray into energy was most intriguing. In Oct. 2008, just weeks after Ang disavowed interest, SMC bought 27 percent of Meralco, RP’s largest electric utility. The block came from GSIS, the state employees’ pension fund run by Malacañang appointees. GSIS was already in talks with Metro Pacific to unload the shares for P26 billion cash, at least 50 percent more than its worth. Vivian Yuchengco reportedly got wind of it and, through close ties with golfing buddy First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, got GSIS to entertain SMC instead. GSIS relented, and SMC ended up buying the block for the same price, but at installment of three years.

Controversy didn’t end there. A nine-month-old firm called Global 5000 bought up another 10-percent block of Meralco held by other Palace-controlled agencies: SSS, Land Bank, and Development Bank of the Phils. Global 5000 is led by Cojuangco associates: former Marcos trade minister Roberto Ongpin, SMC board director Iñigo Zobel, and partner Joselito Campos (son of Marcos crony Jose Yao Campos). It is named after the long-range executive jet sent by Ang to pick up tummy-aching Mike Arroyo in Osaka, Japan, last Nov. Securities and Exchange Commission records show that Global 5000’s telephone is SMC’s trunk line. The outfit picked up the additional Meralco shares supposedly so Cojuangco can command a total of 37 percent. Market analysts say it is preparatory to wresting control from the Lopez family, which has 32 percent and whose ABS-CBN is a thorn on the Arroyo admin’s side. The separate purchase of the 27- and 10-percent blocks effectively skirted an SEC rule that any buyer of at least 35 percent of a listed firm must offer the same price to smaller shareholders. With Meralco shares trading below P60 in Oct. 2008, compliance would have cost SMC a heavy sum.

Ongpin’s role in the Meralco deal was a dead giveaway. Only weeks before he had paved the way for Cojuangco’s entry into petroleum. First, as agent of London-based Ashmore Group, he bought for $550 million Saudi Aramco’s 40-percent block in Petron, RP’s biggest oil refiner and distributor (42-percent market share). Government owned an equal 40-percent chunk through Phil. National Oil Co., but strangely relinquished the board to Ongpin’s group. Invoking right of first refusal, Ashmore then demanded that PNOC sell its block for the same price as Aramco’s. It was a distorted definition of the option. The proper procedure should have been for PNOC to publicly bid out its 40 percent. Fetching a higher tag than $550 million, it could have told Ashmore to match it, or else lose to the better bidder. As it happened, PNOC’s Malacañang gofers meekly accepted Ashmore’s price. At the time of sale the government even lost about P1.5 billion, due to a drop in the dollar value against the peso.

While all this was going on, Ashmore negotiated to sell to Cojuangco 50.1 percent of its Petron buildup. The final deal was for SMC to pay Ashmore in two years. But SMC gave up front $10 million “consideration”, by which Ashmore granted it seats in the Petron board. Business buzz is that the amount went to certain “coordinators”.

Cojuangco’s charge into Meralco and Petron followed an attempt to buy the state’s electric transmission lines. But the National Grid Corp. of the Phils., also close to Arroyo, had beat him to it. Arroyo’s party treasurer Ricky Razon and Endika Aboitiz, whom former economic secretary Romy Neri once described as “national oligarchs,” are part of NGCP. Critics have pointed out a breach of the law that bars electric distributors like Aboitiz from going into transmission. But regulators ignored them.

(Comment: Like I said, greedy Filipinos and their cohorts will hang to everything to survive or control anything and everything. Putting the welfare and benefits of the country and its people first would have given different twists for these things to happen. Perhaps many of these cronies and their cohorts would have landed in jail a long time ago should the succeeding leaders and the Filipinos as a whole (after Marcos) have done their part in prosecuting these cronies that had plundered the country. Nagpabaya tayo kaya nakawala ang mga ito. Ngayon, sila pa ang mayayaman at nagpapatakobo ng negosyo at gobyerno sa atin. This time, sa susunod ba eleksyon, matuto na tayo at pangalagaan ang boto. Maging responsableng mamamayan na nakikialam. Accountability and transparency should be on top of the agenda for the next leader of the country. Ipaimbistiga ang mga cronies at kapag guilty, ikalabuso!)

Colonial mentality

Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 02:16:00 02/17/2009Filed Under: Foreign affairs & international relations, Subic rape case, Crime and Law and Justice, Veterans Affairs

That is one mental and psychological affliction that we as a people are still suffering from, more than a century after we won our independence from Spain and more than half a century after we regained it from the United States. And colonial mentality reared its ugly head again last week.

The first manifestation was when Philippine officials said they could not have US Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, a convicted rapist, detained in a Philippine jail despite a ruling of the Supreme Court that he be kept in a Philippine-run facility, and not the US Embassy, while he awaits the result of his appeal.

The second manifestation occurred when many people, including government officials, jumped up and down like chimpanzees after the US Congress passed a stimulus bill that includes a provision granting Filipino veterans of World War II a $15,000 compensation each if they are living in the United States and $9,000 if they are in the Philippines.

Bayani Mangibin, spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said that any new negotiations on the custody of Smith would have to wait until the Americans are ready to talk. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the government could not start negotiations on the transfer of Smith to a Philippine jail because his conviction for rape is not final yet.
But the right approach to the issue was that suggested by retired Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban: Junk the Philippine-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and consider Smith like any other accused, whether Filipino or otherwise, and confine him in a Philippine jail immediately. That should have been the move taken by a self-respecting sovereign nation.
Administration Senators Joker Arroyo and Miriam Defensor-Santiago have also urged Malacañang to scrap the VFA and immediately take custody of Smith.

The Supreme Court has spoken: Smith has to be detained in a Philippine-run facility and not at the US Embassy, and yet the Executive Branch is hemming and hawing and awaiting word from the US Embassy. What are we, an independent, sovereign nation or a colony of the United States? Panganiban, Arroyo and Santiago have pointed the way to an honorable and self-respecting approach to the issue, and we hope Philippine officials will heed their advice and assert the sovereignty of the Philippines in this case.

On the matter of compensation for Filipino World War II veterans, Arroyo said it is “too little and too late.” The senator estimated that each Filipino veteran would get only P7,000 for each year of the 63 years that he waited, or a measly P600 per month. Filipinos now cannot help but suspect that the United States kept postponing the payment of compensation to Filipino veterans so that their number would be substantially reduced by death.

Is this any way to treat the surviving members of the army of nearly 200,000 Filipinos who were drafted to fight side by side with the soldiers of Gen. Douglas MacArthur? President Franklin D. Roosevelt promised to indemnify Filipinos to the last carabao they lost fighting the Japanese. But here we are not talking about carabaos being killed but about Filipino soldiers who risked their lives in fighting the Japanese.

Filipino soldiers risked their lives to defend not only their homeland but also America. Some historians said that the Filipinos’ valiant stand on Corregidor and Bataan upset the war timetable of the Japanese and thus they may have prevented a Japanese invasion of the United States. And for doing this, all they get is peanuts?

The $9,000 lump-sum compensation for the surviving Filipino veterans is a measly amount. Let us hope that our officials will lobby the US Congress for additional compensation, and for other benefits extended to US veterans, such as health care and insurance. The Filipino veterans of World War II deserve nothing less.

It’s time government officials and ordinary citizens shed their colonial mentality. It has been more than a century since the Philippines gained its freedom from Spain and more than half a century since it regained its independence from the United States. The government should stop acting as if the Philippines were still a US colony, assert the country’s sovereignty and stand up for the rights of its people.

(Comment: When are we Filipinos learn to accept the fact that Americans are Americans and Filipinos are Filipinos. When are we going to start learning to stop being dependent to the Americans? (With respect to our more than 2 million Filipino-Americans in and out of the U.S.) Though President Obama is the first U.S. colored president, still Filipinos - and other non-white Americans - are considered 2nd class citizens. That is a solid fact. Our American colonial mentality should stop NOW! Let us start thinking that Filipinos can do it too! That we can create our own, produce our own, and rule our own. Now that the U.S. is in deep recession, there is no way that the country can send aid to us or help us in future conflicts. We have to strengthen our own foundations by getting rid of corruption, cleaning the government, and bringing back the respect of our people. We should stand in our own two feet and we can only do this if we are united, are able to feed our people, and guard our own resources. Slowly but surely we can do many changes in our economy, way of thinking, attitudes, lifestyles, and discipline. These and other factors will surely make us independent and are able to revive our dignity and respect as a nation. There is no need to hate anybody or make war with somebody. Let's work together and help each other towards a common goal of developing ourselves.

1 M bond for candidates

Nuisance candidates Peter Cayetano and Fernando Po may think twice before casting their lot in the forthcoming elections in 2010.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is planning to impose a P1-million “campaign bond” to get rid of so-called nuisance candidates in the scheduled computerized elections.

“We are still looking at ways to do it, but we are toying with the idea of putting up a P1-million bond for those aspiring for national positions so we could easily purge our list of candidates,” Comelec Chairman Jose Melo disclosed.

Melo said there is a need for the Comelec to purge the list of candidates because it is costing the poll body a huge sum of money in the printing of ballots containing a long list of aspirants, including nuisance bets.
He said under the current regulations, almost any Filipino can comply with the existing requirements and file their candidacy for various national and local positions.

Melo noted that there are people who just file their certificates of candidacy just so they can see their names in the list of candidates while others do it to “break down” votes of well-known aspirants.

Comelec records showed that a certain Fernando Po has been consistently filing his certificate of candidacy every senatorial election for more than a decade, but usually he is removed from the list for being a nuisance bet.

A namesake of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano also filed his certificate of candidacy in the 2007 senatorial elections. He was eventually disqualified.

Melo said the Comelec hopes to purge not only the list of voters but also the list of candidates for national elections.

“Those who have the capacity to mount a national (campaign) must also be able to put a P1 million bond,” Melo said, adding the Comelec may also require the same for local candidates.

Melo added that the Comelec is also considering coming out with a resolution that would forfeit the P1 million in favor of the poll body for those national candidates who would not be able to obtain at least two percent of the votes.

Aside from national candidates, Melo said, the Comelec also intends to purge the participants in the party-list elections.

“The participants in the party-list elections have gotten out of hand, any small group just claims to be marginalized and run in the polls,” Melo pointed out.

Melo said there are over a hundred party-list groups in the Comelec list.

“This is just a side issue, but we will have to look into this,” Melo said.

Sen. Loren Legarda welcomed the plan of the Comelec to put up a P1-million bond for national candidates to deter nuisance candidates.

“It’s okay to make sure that there are no nuisance candidates. But what we must focus on is automation so we can prevent massive fraud as in the past,” Legarda said.

Legarda said poll automation would also discourage vote-buying.

As this developed, Sen. Richard Gordon said he expects Congress to act immediately on the supplemental budget for the automation of the May 2010 elections as soon as its members return from Christmas break on Jan. 19.

Gordon said the Department of Budget and Management had finally submitted P11.9-billion supplemental budget request for poll automation to the House committee on appropriations.

“Malacañang and the Comelec have finally done their part in the submission of the budget proposal. Now it is Congress’ turn to act with dispatch on the supplemental budget for the 2010 automated elections,” he said.

(This Comelec idea may disqualify me to run for president - in case this ruling is passed.. Comment - This idea will not only curtail our rights to suffrage or for any Filipino to run in office. All Filipinos of the right age can run for any office in the land, but not all good Filipinos with good intentions to fix the country can afford to put up 1 M because the COMELEC says so. If the COMELEC has the right automation to count the ballots, no matter how many nuisance candidates put their names on the ballot, the real elected officials will come out. It's not the number of nuisance candidates that matter. It's how they make a good program on the computer that will eliminate the nuisance candidates from making the poll ineffective). Independent candidates here are severely discriminated. Hay naku, will any smarter Filipino heads the COMELEC, please - before they start counting the ballots again.

'Fix-cal' problem? Pay them more

By Artemio Dumlao, Philstar

BAGUIO CITY – Sen. Francis Pangilinan is urging Malacañang to immediately increase the pay of prosecutors or fiscals to reduce their vulnerability to bribes.

The senator said the government must push for the implementation of the salary standardization of government workers in order to discourage bribery and corruption in government.

“The important role of government prosecutors in the fight against criminality and lawlessness has been the main reason for the commission of bribery and corruption,” Pangilinan said.

According to the National Prosecution Service, an estimated 30 percent vacancy rate, or over 400 prosecutor positions, are vacant due to low compensation.

It is also reported that a janitor at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is paid more than a first level prosecutor at the DOJ.

“Government prosecutors are underpaid and overworked. Unless we raise the salaries of the prosecutors, bribery and corruption will continue to thrive in government. Keeping our prosecutors honest with their low pay is to prepare them for sainthood,” Pangilinan added.

Meanwhile, Speaker Prospero Nograles commended Marine Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino, chief of the Special Enforcement Service of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) “for working with the system to correct its flaws.”

In line with this, Nograles has reportedly directed the House Oversight Committee on Drugs to probe the so-called “Alabang Boys” drug case.

He has recommended a full-blown review of the operational coordination between the DOJ and the country’s law enforcement agencies, especially those involved in the anti-drug campaign, Gil Bugaoisan, public relations officer of Nograles, said.

The Speaker also recommended that Marcelino be given full protection to ensure his safety during the course of the congressional inquiry.

“Major Marcelino is a rare breed of soldier. Unlike others who choose to attack and destroy the government on the basis of some allegations, he decided to work with the system in order to correct what is wrong with our government institutions,” he said.

Nograles insists that the people need not go out on the streets to join rallies or take over hotels and threaten to bring down the government to correct the flaws in government.

“We can work hand in hand with our government institutions to correct some of its flaws,” he said.

Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara seconded Nograles’ position, pointing out that the “Alabang Boys” controversy shows that public vigilance is the best security that laws are enforced without fear or favor.

“The government is not perfect and therefore we need the public to exercise continuing vigilance over our law enforcement and judicial agencies to make sure that criminal elements and lawbreakers do not escape prosecution and just punishment,” Angara said.

Nograles said the DOJ and law enforcement agencies need to establish more viable operational partnerships. “They should be complementing each other in combating the menace of narcotics trafficking,” he said.
While the bribery issue on the “Alabang Boys” controversy may be hard to establish without any money trail, Nograles believes that the circumstances leading to the dismissal of the case by the prosecution are highly questionable.

Scrooge of Congress? Joker retains title (This one's for the record-ERS)

By Christina Mendez, Philstar

For 17 straight years, Sen. Joker Arroyo has remained the undisputed “Scrooge of Congress” for being the thriftiest, most frugal, tight-fisted, penny-pinching lawmaker.

The officially published Itemized List of Expenses of each senator for 2007 as audited by Commission on Audit (COA) showed that Arroyo had the lowest expenses for incumbent senators who served the full 12 months.

COA statistics showed that the senator incurred expenses of P12,293,084.06.

Only Sen. Manuel Villar came close, spending P12,442,323.98. Villar was ousted last November following speculations that he may have used his previous position as Senate President to pursue his presidential plans.
The COA report showed actors-turned-senators were the biggest spenders. Sen. Bong Revilla was on top with P15,889,626.66 followed by President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada with P15,449,229.69. Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan’s expenses amounted to P15,271,305.21 while Sen. Lito Lapid spent P15,103,242.15.
Pangilinan is the only non show-biz personality among the top four biggest spenders, although he is married to actress and mega star Sharon Cuneta.

When reached for comment by The STAR, Arroyo said he hopes to encourage his colleagues to be frugal in spending the people’s money. “I sacrificed for that. I deprived myself a few million pesos. I want to impress on my colleagues that we should try to be thrifty,” he said.

However, the senator expressed surprise when he learned that the newcomers in the Senate spent an average of P7 million for the first six months alone.

Seven senators who were elected in the May 2007 elections served only for six months in 2007 and therefore, their expenses should have only been half that of senators who served 12 months.
“Yet, their expenses are a revelation,” Arroyo said.

Records showed that it was detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV who had spent the most among the newcomers.
Trillanes is barred from attending session and cannot perform his duties as senator because he is in a military stockade.

For six months from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2007, he spent P8,167,433.95, COA records showed.

Analysis on that data showed that if you double that amount to simulate a 12-month service, the former Oakwood mutineer would be spending P16,334,867.90, thereby making him the biggest spending legislator ever in the Senate.

The six other newly elected senators had a median expense from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2007 of P7,602,386.00 or the equivalent of P15,204,830.00 for a full year.

That places them in the high-spenders’ list.

In ascending order, their expenditures are: Sen. Noynoy Aquino, P7,233,950.09; Juan Miguel Zubiri, P7,486,542.34; Alan Peter Cayetano, P7,490,153.03; Loren Legarda, P7,511,829.43; Francis Escudero, P7,782,864.79; and Gringo Honasan, P8,109,000.39.

Meanwhile, the mid-range spenders who spent P13.5 million to P15 million in ascending order, from the lowest to the highest, were Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel, Edgardo Angara, Mar Roxas, Pia Cayetano, Jamby Madrigal, Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Rodolfo Biazon, and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Records revealed that Pimentel spent P13,452,506.50; Angara, P13,579,151.74; Roxas, P13,810,176.81; Pia Cayetano, P13,916,309.50; Madrigal, P14,305,778.16, Lacson, P14,456,161.38;
Gordon, P14,491,565.44; Santiago, P14,806,163.63; Biazon, P14,895,189.42 and Enrile, P14,993,705.40.
Arroyo’s frugality with legislative monies started in the House of Representatives where he had no staff, except for a driver and a utility man, doing his work as congressman all by himself, including making his own phone calls. He carried this work ethic to the Senate when he was elected in 2001 and had a skeletal staff of three.

Arroyo is also proud of his perfect attendance record for 17 years. It’s like not being absent from class even once from Grade 1 until you graduate from college, he said.

Since Arroyo joined the government in 1986 as Executive Secretary up to the present, he has never traveled on government money.

Arroyo chose not to chair any committee in the present 14th Congress although he was offered two prize committees.

In the 12th and 13th Congresses, he chaired the Blue Ribbon Committee, the Public Services Committee, and the Justice and Human Rights Committee and has always prepared a committee report or at least a disposition report for every referral to any committee he chairs.

Arroyo has no media officer, writes his own press statements, discusses only issues he considers important and avoids subjects that he feels are inanities, but occasionally drops by the media office after everyone has filed his story and enjoys bantering with media.

Reporters who covered Arroyo in the legislative beats know that he writes his own press releases by hand, and even faxes them to reporters. Arroyo keeps a small phonebook where he writes the contact numbers of media and political personalities.

'Arroyo allies in House have P20-B pork'

By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Allies of President Macapagal-Arroyo in the House of Representatives have built up a large pork barrel by diverting close to P20 billion in proposed spending this year from debt service and agrarian reform to increase allocations for public works, local governments and Congress, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Tuesday.

“Some congressmen are obviously more concerned with winning in 2010 than ensuring the economy’s survival this year,” Lacson told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net).

Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II confirmed the dubious diversions.

“This is evidently a blatant attempt to raise funds for the Cha-cha (Charter change) and the elections. It is clear that the economy is the least of the President’s priority. She is bent on staying in power forever,” Roxas said.

Pork barrel finances the pet projects of legislators. Though the money is not directly released to senators and members of the House, pork barrel is believed to be a major source of kickbacks for lawmakers. The kickbacks come from contractors who bag the projects.

Lacson, a member of the bicameral conference committee, said the House version of the P1.415-trillion proposed budget for 2009 slashed P14.776 billion from debt service, P3.5 billion from miscellaneous personnel fund, and P1.3 billion from the Department of Agrarian Reform.

Public works

The cutbacks, totaling P19.576 billion, were allocated for the regional infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (P8.178 billion), additional spending money for local government units (P3.36 billion) and additional pork barrel for Congress (P1.46 billion).

A cutback of P6.578 billion has yet to be accounted for as this was most likely “inserted” in the 2009 budget.
The bicameral committee, tasked with reconciling the House and Senate versions of the proposed budget, is expected to resume its discussions with the resumption of sessions next week.

Bigger budget deficit

By cutting the proposed allocation for debt service, the House will be forcing government to borrow more, resulting in a bigger budget deficit, the member of the bicameral committee said.

The Arroyo administration has been urged to refocus the 2009 budget to make it more responsive to the country’s economic slowdown amid lower remittances from Filipino overseas workers and export earnings due to the deepening global recession.

Lacson said the members of the House wanted to redirect the funds to expense items controlled or influenced by them and local government officials to boost their political stock ahead of the 2010 elections.

Sweetener for Cha-cha

The senator said the fund diversion could be used as “sweeteners” to induce more lawmakers into supporting Charter change moves in the House.

Ms Arroyo’s allies in the House are pushing for a constituent assembly as a mode of amending the Constitution, which critics claim would extend the term of the President and other elected officials.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño said that allocating more money for regional projects of the public works department and the pork barrel of local government executives and House members showed that the proposed 2009 General Appropriations Act was an “election budget.”

“These funds should have been realigned to education, health, housing and social services,” Casiño said in a text message.

Earlier, senators were accused of making P20 billion in total insertions in the proposed 2009 budget that would benefit their pet projects.

Supplemental budget

House Speaker Prospero Nograles has pushed for the swift approval of the proposed P11.3-billion supplemental budget to ensure the automation of elections next year.

The budget covers the P1.3-billion budget for the preparations of the Commission on Elections and other government agencies, and P9.559 billion for the acquisition and deployment of poll counting machines.