More on Garcillano

Lot's of Clintonian statements from Garcillano.

He couldn't say if it was his voice on the tape.

"I do not even remember such conversations," sabi ni Garci. Of course, that's different from saying na he never made those statements.

Sagot sa Jeopardy question kay GMA: "Benjamin Abalos"

Who's the COMELEC official Arroyo admitted talking to during the last election in her "apology"?

Go find out why. ;)

Some of the pro-Arroyo sympathizers (you know you are) are claiming na brilliant raw ang strategy ni Garcillano na damayin ang opposition, na nakipag-usap rin raw sila kay garci boy. But I predicted na that's what would happen back in july 8, 2005 pa!

Since it is looking more and more na guilty talaga si GMA, nag-iba na naman ang tactic ng Admin. Instead of focusing on GMA's defense, they instead tried to implicate the opposition in the cheating scandal by claiming that some opposition members talked to COMELEC officials too.

But there's nothing really wrong with talking to a COMELEC official per se. I mean, kanino ka pa ba lalapit kung may complaints ka or may election dispute kang gustong ipa-settle? Kanino ka lalapit kung mayroon kang inquiries or election-related questions na gustong mong malinawan?

Kaya nga most people didn't take GMA's "apology" very seriously, kasi she apologized only for "talking" to a COMELEC official. Well, we're not asking her to resign because she "talked" to Garci. We're asking her to resign because she conspired with a COMELEC official and the military to rig the elections.

(At hindi lang naman yung tape ang ebidensiya na may dayaan eh. The opposition has accumulated plenty of evidence of massive election fraud during the vote canvassing, pero binaliwala lang ito ng mga administration allies ni Arroyo. The opposition asked for a recount, but Mr. Pangilinan and Mr. Raul Gonzales denied their request more than 200 times by repeating the line "Noted, noted, noted.")

So even if some in the opposition (or administration) may have talked to Abalos et al, unless there is credible evidence that they discussed re illegally increasing their vote totals with Garci or talked about abducting a whistleblower to prevent him from talking, then wala ring kwenta ang "damay tactics" ng arroyo administration.

Of course, if any opposition candidate was discovered to have coordinated or discussed with Garci re rigging the elections to ensure their victory, then they too will have to resign.

But even if assuming na some of the opposition were caught cheating in the tapes, it still doesn't make Gloria Macapagal Arroyo any less guilty. It may have put some of the opposition on the defensive, pero buking pa rin si GMA.

At best, the admin allies may have muddled the GLORIAGATE issue more with this tactic, just like when Bunye presented the "original" and "spliced" tapes para lituin ang publiko.

Man, ako ba ang nagsulat nyan back in July? LOL. Kasi my posts have been crappy lately eh (thanks for bringing it to my attention, DJB.)

But I don't know if this strategy of smearing the opposition is really all that effective.

Lacson said he would file perjury charges against Mr. Garcillano:

Lacson said he would file perjury charges against Garcillano. "As I had anticipated yesterday, Garcillano lied under oath to serve the interests of his handlers and his principal, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo."

"I would like to reiterate: I never called him up or contacted him much less sought or attempted to set an appointment with him anytime before, during and after the 2004 elections," Lacson added.

I know, i know, may mga anti-lacson na nagbabasa ng blog ko. But on this issue of who called or contacted who -- who should we believe? Garcillano or Lacson. (I believe dinamay ni Garci si Lacson dahil isa siya sa mga top candidates na tatakbo sa bagong special election once arroyo is out of power.)

Who do we believe? Golez or Garcillano? Ito ang comment ni Roilo Golez nung nalaman niya na dinamay siya ni Garci boy.

Maging si Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez na tinukoy rin ni Garcillano na isa sa 20 congressmen na tumawag sa kanya ay galit na galit at sinabing nandadamay na lamang at nagba-black propaganda ang dating election commissioner.

"The statement of Garcillano including my name as among those who allegedly personally or by phone talked to him is crazy. I did not know him from Adam prior to this Garci tape controversy, don’t remember ever meeting him, unless he was with Comelec Chairman (Benjamin) Abalos du-ring Comelec public briefing on computerization for NCR candidates conducted in the Comelec session hall sometime in Jan-Feb 2004," ani Golez.

More from Richard Gordon:

Gordon said Garcillano might be "hallucinating." "I have never met the guy [before the elections]."

"I met him in February 2005 when he was lobbying that his CA [Commission on Appointments] appointment be affirmed. [There's] nothing wrong with that. I have never met him. He must be hallucinating. Siguro natataranta na sya [He must be frazzled]," he told reporters.

Gordon said the mention of his name made Garcillano's testimony "incredible."

Asked about Garcillano's possible motive for naming him, Gordon said, "Medyo [It's a bit] malicious nga."

"To divert attention from others, he [Garcillano] is giving out names that could create a headline. It's either [one] of two things. Number one, it's an honest mistake. Number two, it's a smokescreen, squid tactics."

So, isa pang Senator na associated with the Arroyo admin ang pumalag. Hallucinating raw si Garci, LOL. Strong words. Again, who has more credibility on this (or any) issue? Richard Gordon or Master Cheater Virgilio Garcillano?

And here's Jamby's reaction nung dinamay siya:

"I do not know Mr. Garcillano personally. I did not call [him] personally," Madrigal said.

"In one of the political meetings I was having long before the actual elections, somebody passed to me the phone, and to my surprise told me that it was Commissioner Garcillano on the other line," she said.

"I did not ask Mr. Garcillano for anything. I did not attempt to exert influence over him," she said.

Madrigal said she was willing to have her "respectable and respectably achieved" mandate scrutinized.

More on the reactions of the other named here.

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Dean Jorge Bocobo said the Supreme Court will now rule in favor of Garcillano na inadmissible raw ang wire-tapped tapes sa korte. That's okay, Dean.

We kinda expected that anyway from Carpio's Supreme Court, even if the gave this throwaway decision just to make them look "impartial".

Already, there are perceived indications that when the impeachment case goes to the high court, the Gloria-appointed justices will be ruling in Gloria's favor whether upholding the majority's acts or even throwing the case back to the House for Congress to decide on it, while claiming this to be beyond them, being a political question is explosive enough to start the street fires going.

But the indications are there. Just a few weeks ago, the high court ruled on a libel case, saying a video or an audiotape — which was not even illegally wiretapped — is inadmissible as evidence unless the tape is first authenticated by the proper persons, which would be the media outfit, which would hardly do it for the accuser. This, incidentally, was the ruling being used by the majority to dismiss the complaint on substance.

Meaning, the video should be authenticated by the one who made the tape, which would be the media outfit. But why would this media outfit help authenticate their own tapes for the accuser when yung accuser mismo ang nag-file ng libel case laban sa kanila.

Or why would ISAFP authenticate the tapes when delikado yan sa boss nila? And Vidal Doble is a lost cause now because Soc Villegas backstabbed him and handed the guy over to ISAFP's "rescue team." Bumaliktad na si Doble ala Udong Mahusay.

I love this part from de Quiros:

At the very most, we have at the other side concrete evidence Arroyo cheated. The veracity of the “Hello Garci” tape remains undisputed to this day, Mike Defensor’s defense having been refuted by the very expert he cited. True, that evidence cannot be used in court because it was illegally obtained, but that only means Arroyo can’t be jailed on that basis, it doesn’t mean she can’t be ousted on that basis.

True.

loved this part too:

Garci may be free to regale the world with tales of pirates and cutthroats, but Gen. Francisco Gudani and Col. Alexander Balutan may not be allowed to speak their truth. Who is Garcillano? He is someone who, by his own avowal, cut his teeth (into its shark-like formation) with Leonardo Perez, Marcos’ chief counter of votes and plebiscite results. Who are Gudani and Balutan? They are military officers who have forged a reputation of being honest men in a dishonest world. Balutan in particular lives with six children in a modest apartment, while Garcillano lives with who knows whom in who knows where surrounded by high walls and bodyguards. Where are they now? Garci is in Manila, where he enjoys pelf and privilege as the official tirador, while Gudani and Balutan are under arrest and awaiting court martial for saying their piece.

Santiago, a self-proclaimed constitutional expert, calls that law and due process. Imagine a basketball game where one player is exempt from foul, where a replay about his "pambabalya" [body contact] can’t be seen because it is inadmissible, where the crowd that witnessed his atrocities is forbidden to speak, and you get an idea of where we are. And that is called fair play.

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Dean also wrote in his latest post:

If proven, as I've said before, such illegal wiretapping activities are tantamount to high treason and ought to be punished as such for prostituting the Military to selfish political purposes. There will surely be a regime change around here if it is next proven that that "higher up" was the Palace's occupant.

But what if the "higher ups" are neither the "Palace's Occupant" (that would be GMA herself) or the Opposition but somebody else inside the admin, R.O.E.? Paano kung si Rear Adm. Tirso Danga ang umutos ng wiretapping? Paano kung yung isa sa malapit kay Arroyo ang gumawa niyan (can't imagine who it is ;) )?

Tuloy pa rin ba ang "regime change", kuya?

UPDATE: For the latest on Garci and GLORIAGATE, go to PCIJ blog. Maganda ang coverage nila. Lalo na itong latest:

-- Dagdag-bawas, Lanao style

In his Senate testimony today, Lucman said that the lead man for the Lanao del Sur operations was sharia’ah court judge Nagamura Moner, who was supposedly receiving instructions from Mr. Arroyo and Philippine Ports Authority general manager Alfonso Cusi.

But Moner, who also testified at the Senate, denied these charge, saying only that Cusi gave him P200,000 last May to monitor election results in Muslim Mindanao. Moner had previously prepared an affidavit confirming the vote-padding operations for President Arroyo, but today he told the Senate that his lawyer had tricked him into signing that affidavit. (That original affidavit is here.

Senators had a field day punching holes in Moner’s testimony, especially after his lawyer played a tape where the Lanao judge detailed how the “special operations” went. They were obviously incredulous as Moner recounted how Cusi had sent a helicopter to take the judge to Sulu and Tawi-Tawi shortly after election day just to ask whether the voting was going in President Arroyo’s favor. Moner told the disbelieving senators that he never talked to election officers there, but merely asked tricycle drivers and ordinary people who was winning in the count.

More from Ernie Maceda:

In his opening testimony, former poll official Virgilio Garcillano admitted that GMA and he had talked and, in addition, he named Senators Loren Legarda, Juan Ponce Enrile, Jamby Madrigal, Fred Lim, Richard Gordon, Mar Roxas and Panfilo Lacson and 20 congressmen as having called him or talked to him personally.

Upon questioning by Minority Leader Francis Escudero, he also clarified that none of those who talked to him was asking for anything illegal or improper.

It was, therefore, made clear early that Garcillano came out to defend GMA by his blanket clearance of everybody who called him.

In short, he is saying even if GMA and 27 other candidates called or talked to him, there was no cheating involved. If that is the gist of Garcillano's testimony, then there's no closure.

It is noteworthy that when Rep. Teddy Boy Locsin asked Garcillano specifically if any of those named asked him to do something illegal or improper, Garcillano hedged and refused to answer “unless the particular person who called gives him permission to reveal what they had talked about.” Locsin correctly concluded, “I will take your answer to mean that some did request something illegal or irregular.”

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Garci admits. During an interview with Michael Lim Ubac of the Philippine Daily Inquirer where he refused to admit talking to GMA as taped, Garcillano, however, admitted that Sen. Robert Barbers indeed called him with regard to the special elections in Lanao. That conversation was part of the tape played in the House. That proves that the tape is authentic, that one voice is that of Robert Barbers and of course, the other voice on the line is that of then Commissioner Garcillano.

He also claimed to be the victim in the wiretapping. That's correct too. But if he's the victim, then he was wiretapped and the tape is genuine.

The more he speaks, the deeper he gets into his quagmire of lies. His testimony is another case of dagdag-bawas.

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Best quote. From Sen. Panfilo Lacson: “Garcillano may name as many politicians that called him but it does not take away the fact that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cheated.”

Isn't it providential that Garcillano has come out to testify in Congress on the eve of the 1st death anniversary of FPJ?

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Here it comes. The Energy Regulation Commission has granted National Power Corp. a P12.33-centavo per kilowatt hour rate increase to take effect January 2006. Water rates have also been increased. Inflation is projected by National Economic Development Authority at 9.5 percent for 2006.

More hardships inflicted by the GMA administration.

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Confirmed. It has been revealed that the bodyguards of Garci in Maguindanao are men of gambling lord Bong Pineda, a known supporter and compadre of GMA and the First Gentleman.

As soon as Garci went underground in July, reports filtered in that men of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane as well as Bong Pineda were providing security for Garci in Tagaytay, Clark and Subic.

Recall that Capt. Marlon Mendoza, Garci's aide the camp, testified that Pineda sent P300 million to Garci during the elections.

Not surprisingly, Ebdane was the first visitor of Garci at his plush Camp Bagong Diwa apartment.

It is clear now that all along, GMA and her people not only knew where Garci was but also assisted him all the way.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and special prosecutor complain about the cost of providing security for detained President Estrada whenever he requests for a medical or Christmas furlough. But they don't hesitate to provide 200 men to escort Garcillano, a private citizen, to go to the House. Are they admitting that the streets of Metro Manila are that dangerous? Or that Garci may be kidnapped by Ping Lacson? Ha ha!

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Suspicions. After a peaceful two weeks of Southeast Asian Games competition when not a single threat of terrorism was received, suddenly the United States, Singapore and Switzerland embassies are threatened with bombing. Then last night, the PNP reported that shots were fired at the LTA Building which houses the First Gentleman's private office. Is this the start of the long predicted “terrorist” activities first announced by National Security Adviser Secretary Bert Gonzales in October, followed by Sen. Miriam Santiago's warning of an assassination plot against GMA?

Something's wrong here.

More GLORIAGATE news

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Rasputin.

May balita rin na isa-isa nang kumakalas ang mga kakampi ni Arroyo sa kanya.

President Arroyo's House allies appear to be breaking up, with a key Cebu ally yesterday denouncing the poll fraud in Cebu intimating this was done with the knowledge and consent of Mrs. Arroyo.

At the same time, the opposition bared that despite the presidential spokesman being tight-lipped about his source of the tapes, it was an assistant deputy National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that had supplied Malacañang the tape.

Insisting she is in possession of a tape that holds the tapped conversation between poll Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and the President that delved into the election fraud in Cebu and stethis should be played during the congressional hearings to get to the truth, Cebu Rep. Clavel Martinez yesterday said she regrets having supported Mrs. Arroyo during the May 10, 2004 polls.

She added that after reading the transcript published in the Tribune, and hearing the tape itself, she was certain it was Garcillano and the President on the tape, as gleaned and that elections in Cebu were rigged, from the conversations between Garcillano and certain Cebu leaders.

Clavel said she has a copy of the tapes that would be submitted to the five committees and stressed it was Mrs. Arroyo and Garcillano together with one Tony Gatuslao whose voices were recorded in the tapes, adding: “I feel sorry that I campaigned for President Arroyo.”

And remember the names of those who are opposed to the playing of those tapes:

Prior to the resumption of the hearing at 1 p.m. Yesterday, three of the five committee chairmen of the committees hearing the matter, had already expressed opposition to the playing of the compact discs containing purported conversation between the President and Garcillano.

Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino, chairman of the house committee on public order and safety said “I will not agree on playing the tape because nobody is coming out in the open to claim that he owns one of the voices there. I am also the chair of the oversight committee overseeing the implementation of RA 4200 and I cannot afford to violate it,” he said.

Had the committees allowed the playing of the tapes, Espino said he would not hesitate to walk out in protest. He said he would agree to playing of the tapes if this will be done in an executive session.

Representatives Simeon Kintanar (Cebu) and Teodoro Locsin (Makati), chairpersons of house committees on information and communication, and suffrage and electoral reforms, respectively, said they were against the playing of the tapes.

“There will be no playing of the tapes and that is for sure,” Locsin said as he noted the proliferation of various tapes containing the alleged conversation between the President and Garcillano on instruction of rigging election results.

Kintanar said playing the tapes in public could pose a risk to the country's security.

The hearing was suspended but upon resumption, Paras still pressed that the tapes be played. Administration congressmen were persistent in opposing the move.

Teddyboy Locsin, hindi ba siya yung mayari ng Today? Why is he part of the STONEWALLING operations? Akala ko pa ba naman na matinong tao itong si Teddy Locsin. Sigh. Another Civil Society idiot exposed.

And Rep. Amado Espino said that he will agree to play the tapes if this will be done in an "executive session." Hmmm, correct me if I'm wrong, pero hindi ba serado sa publiko yang "executive session" na yan? Hmmm...

As for Rep. Kintanar saying na playing this tape "could pose a risk to the country's security", weeeelll... if you say so Mr. Kintanar.



Winasak rin ni Lito Banayo ang pathetic performance ni Bunye sa GLORIAGATE hearing:

What is it in the air inside the palace that causes otherwise proper gentlemen to lie and lie so glaringly? He was pressed by the Malacañang reporters to play the tapes, declared Bunye. But on television, he was very graphic. Wanna listen?, as he proudly showed his un-identical twin tapes. He didn’t even remember that, as he lied barefacedly before Congress. Well, lying is certainly infectious. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Malacañang, do as the lady always does. Lie.

Bunye now says he can’t be certain if it is his voice, or the President’s, "if he listens to a copy of a copy of a copy of a recording".

Wow indeed! Attorney Bunye must have such an expensive collection of CD’s and the now obsolete cassette tapes. All masters! Bocelli doesn’t sound as good in his millionth CD as in the master, the original recording. Bunye’s ear is most discriminating. Wealth of wonders, WOW!

If it ain’t the master tape, how would he listen to the foot taps or even the perspiration drops of Gary Valenciano in concert? Nothing but the original recording is good enough for Bunye’s fine-tuned ears. He must be drooling with envy at Sammy Ong’s ecstasy when first he heard Doble’s master (he calls it "mother") tape. Hello Garci? can be an ululating peregrination into the depths of auditory pleasure.

Atty, Bunye tells us the tapes were in a Manila envelope, delivered to his house in Alabang, then sent to his office later that day. One was labeled "original", and the other "fake". And presto! He presented them to media and the world as labeled —- the original and the fake. No judgment calls. As is, where is.

Will wonders never cease talaga!

If only because it was not Raul, or Wycoco, or Mike, Mikey, Iggy and Glory saying those things, but Toting whom I always thought was a decent person, I would not have been surprised. I was truly saddened when I saw and heard Bunye lie, and lie with impunity. How truly pathetic that a man could prevaricate in a manner so gross that he swallows all self-respect. Wow!

Fugitive Virgilio Garcillano is back

But under Gloria custody while ‘tutored’ by palace aides. From the Tribune:

Virgilio Garcillano, former Commission on Elections commissioner alleged to have been directed by President Arroyo to conduct massive electoral fraud in ensuring her victory at the polls in 2004, and for which at least 15 telephone conversations between the two were wiretapped, has just returned to the country, Garcillano's wife, Grace, said yesterday, during an exclusive interview aired over Lopez-owned cable network ANC. The interview was conducted by ANC's Ricky Carandang.

Bureau of Immigration officials also yesterday claimed there were no records either of the Garcillano couple's departure or arrival.

Reliable sources, however, told the Tribune that Garcillano has been back for some weeks now and contrary to what Grace had claimed during the interview, he is in the outskirts of Metro Manila, not somewhere in Mindanao, as earlier stated by the wife.

They also noted that Garcillano has been taken into presidential custody and has been coached for several days and continues to be coached on what to say by TV director Lupita Kashiwahara and Rep. Ronaldo Puno, adviser and confidante on the alleged poll and survey-rigging operations.

I hope this is not true. Kasi hindi ba obstruction of justice yung ginagawa nila, and Lupita and Ronnie Puno could be charged with suborning perjury (tama ba ito?) if Garcillano lied under oath.

Dean Jorge Bocobo seems confident this latest Garci stunt is a winner for Arroyo.

Perhaps now the Opposition is learning that the Palace plays for keeps on every single round of this game. That is why they have won every important round....

The President has a really mean streak when she wins is what this says to me.

He also agreed with Teddy Boy Locsin na the opposition should be preparing for the next impeachment attempt raw.

Dean, numbers at pera ang kailangan mo. Hindi ba idinaan ng mga kaalyado ni Arroyo sa superior numbers nila (at sa salitang "noted") ang pag-proclaim kay Arroyo noong 2004, and they used the same strategy sa pagpatay ng impeachment complaint nung 2005? Kaya kahit unahan ng opposition si Oliver Lozano sa pagsubmit ng impeachment complaint sa June 7, 12:00am, walang kwenta rin.

At hawak ni Arroyo ang COMELEC, Congress, SC, DOJ, ang pulis at military, kinda like Marcos. So she may have to be forced out of Malacanang.

More from Abante-Tonite:

Matapos makumpirma ang palihim na pagbabalik sa bansa ni dating Commission on Election (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, kaagad namang pinagdudahan ng oposisyon ang motibo ng Malacañang kaakibat ang alegasyong sumailalim na ito sa matinding "rehearsal" para sa inaasahang pagharap sa imbestigasyon ng "Hello Garci" scandal.

Ayon kay Senate minority floor leader Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr., sa halos anim na buwang pagkawala ni Garcillano, walang maniniwala na hindi ito pinag-praktis ng Malacañang sa mga ihahayag o ikakanta sa publiko, katulad din ng umano’y ginawang pagpapraktis ni Cong. Iggy Arroyo sa pirma ni Jose Pidal....

Sinabi naman ni Pimentel na walang pakialam ang oposisyon sakaling idamay ni Garcillano ang ilang opposition personality na naka-phonepal nito nakaraang presidential election katulad ng namagitan sa kanila ni Mrs. Arroyo kung saan pinag-usapan ang pandaraya.

"Wala kaming pakialam kahit sino pang idamay niya, ang importante narito siya at magsasalita tungkol sa kanyang nalalaman kung paano nila dinaya ang resulta ng halalan," ani Pimentel.

Tulad ni Pimentel, ikinatuwa ni Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson ang paglutang ni Garcillano dahil magkakaroon na ng linaw ang mga isyung nakapaloob sa "Hello Garci tape" subalit hindi rin inilalayo ng senador ang senaryong sumailalim sa pagsasanay ang dating Comelec official para sa gagawin nitong ‘pagkanta.’

Plus: May maniniwala pa sa kanya?

So now it's okay to legalize jueteng?

From Neal Cruz:

ISN’T it ironic that while former president Joseph Estrada is being tried for allegedly receiving kickbacks from illegal numbers game "jueteng," the person who grabbed the presidency from him is restoring jueteng under another name? The Small Town Lottery (STL) being pushed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Malacañang is the same dog with a different collar.

Not only that Neal, pero hindi ba nagalit rin ang simbahan at civil society kay erap for trying to legalize jueteng and calling it Bingo 2-ball?

Here's some info on Bingo 2-ball:

On the surface, Singson's charges against the President and Ang appear to stem from differences over the numbers games in the country. Ang claimed Singson was resisting the government's efforts to legalize jueteng through the introduction of the "Bingo two-ball" game last August. Ang further claimed Singson wanted to continue the illegal numbers game because he got more money from jueteng.

.....Singson admitted that he opposed "Bingo two-ball" because Ang gave the franchise to operate the numbers game to his political enemies--his younger brother and his cousin. He claimed his authority as governor was undermined when Ang gave the "Bingo two-ball" franchise to his political rivals.

And this too from PCIJ:

Ang's proposal to legalize masiao in the Visayas coincided with the President's approval of Ang's Bingo-2 Ball, which Pagcor and Ang say was aimed at eradicating jueteng, the illegal numbers game that is rampant mainly on Luzon.

Bingo-2 Ball is very similar to jueteng except that the former will be under the strict supervision of Pagcor, according to Ang's plan. Ang's Power Management and Consultancy Inc. will get 23 percent from the daily earnings from Bingo-2 Ball, based on an agreement with Pagcor.

Full backing
Bingo2 was allowed to operate for close to a month—without any written contract with Pagcor - until Singson's jueteng exposé. Pagcor says Bingo 2 generated P43 million from its September 18 to 30 trial run.

So where's the outrage now on the STL?

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Devious Cha cha moves by Arroyo people assailed.

PARTY-LIST congressmen of the Laban ng Masa sa Kongreso yesterday assailed Malacañang for spearheading a "silent, sinister, illegal and unconstitutional" people’s initiative mode in amending the Constitution.

In a statement, Akbayan Representatives Loretta Ann Rosales, Mario Aguja and Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel along with Anak Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman and Partido ng Manggagawa Rep. Rene Magtubo said the campaign is "being done surreptitiously, in careful details and with blatant use of government resources and machinery."

"It proves once again that faced with a daunting opposition to Cha-cha in the Senate, the government is willing to mangle the law and contort the Constitution in order to push their agenda," it said.

Ellen Tordesillas has more.

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Conrad de Quiros on Courage:

Last Thursday, a reporter asked me if I wasn't afraid about doing something like mounting the concert that we had at Sunken Garden in the University of the Philippines in Quezon City. I said, of course, I am, I have mouths to feed, too. But that is what courage is, overcoming fear to do what you have to do. The way I saw it, I said, it was just a choice between two things. I could be arrested and brought to prison where at least I could be free in mind even if I were not free in body. Where at least I could have the satisfaction of knowing my integrity and dignity and freedom are intact even as my body is shackled and subjected to various indignities. Or I could live in the bigger prison outside whose watchtowers grow taller and whose searchlights become more blinding each day that I am silent, where I can be free only in body but not in mind. Where I can be miserable in the knowledge that I am bequeathing a world to my kids where there is no air and sunlight and nourishment, spiritually if not physically.

The choice is a no-brainer.

House allies, DFA will not file case vs. Garcillano

Former poll commissioner Virgilio “Garci” Garcillano won’t be brought to court or even penalized by the majority in the House of Representatives, despite proof presented by the central bank that he not only committed perjury before the House, but had also manufactured a fake passport, as he had allegedly manufactured fake cretificates of canvass for President Arroyo, to ensure her victory in the 2004 polls.

The President’s House allies aren’t lifting a finger to get the courtroom rolling against Garcillano while the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which earlier helped in stonewalling the wiretapped Hello Garci probe, now claims it is ready to file charges against Garcillano for presenting a fake passport but subject to conditions, such as claiming that it would wait for the House to file a case, which the House is not inclined to do.

I noticed na Teddyboy Locsin is back to being an Arroyo ally. Sad.

read this too:

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III yesterday also bared the existence of a manifest where Garcillano’s name appears on a flight from Johannesberg, South Africa. It also showed that the poll commissioner took the flight en route to a Middle East country destination and to Singapore on his way home.

“As expected, Garci was caught lying and such was a blatant display because he did it before the lower house (during a hearing). Obviously, his entire testimony now is put into question.

“If you lie in one thing, under the law, if you lie in one, you lie in all. So when he said he did not leave the Philippines, did not travel, did not talk to Gloria (Arroyo), did not engage in vote-padding and shaving...that’s all in doubt now,” Osmeña said....

Lacson said he is holding off any plans to file charges as well against Criminal Investigation and Detection Group- National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR) chief Senior Supt. Asher Dolina whom he identified as the alleged culprit in the manufacture of the tampered passport, due to lack of credible evidence and witnesses at this time.

“If evidence so warrants, later on (we will file charges) not now because we have no sufficient evidence (to pin Dolina down) unless we secure the deposition of the person who witnessed his delivery of passport (to the doosteps of Garcillano),” Lacson said.

Lacson also bared he has information that a Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer is involved in the tampering of passport as well.

At the same time, Lacson warned the Palace against toying with the idea again ensuring that Garcillano becomes scarce from public’s eye.

Osmeña, in emphasizing the need to take immediate action, noted the negative image this creates before the international community. “That’s (tampering of passport) one of the most-watched regulation today in the world because of the 9-11 (incident). All the Americans are going to be upse that we have fake passports running around this country.”

buking ka, garci. and word to sen. osmena.

btw, here's some old info on Asher Dolina back in dec. 16 2005:

The conspiracy to cover up the alleged cheating in the 2004 presidential elections has gone a notch higher, threat-ening to protect President Arroyo at the expense of Philippine-Singapore relations.

Opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday made this claim after receiving information that Senior Supt. Asher Dolina, who was implicated in the reported illegal raid of handwriting expert Segundo Tabayoyong last August, was behind the purported manufacture of "clean" passports of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio "Garci" Garcillano to back up claims that he never left the country during the five-month period he had been reported missing.

By doing so, Lacson said Dolina may have unwittingly exposed a high-level conspiracy to cover up the cheating in last year's presidential elections at the expense of the country's diplomatic relations with the government of Singapore that had issued a note verbale attesting to the entry of Garcillano to the city-state last July 14 before proceeding to London.

Reliable informants of Lacson claimed Dolina was behind the alleged fabricated passports of Garcillano showing he did not have any foreign travels since 1996.

"Our sources identified the culprit as Dolina. The passport was made to conform with Garcillano's statement that he never left. We're still investigating how he did it," Lacson said.

Dolina, head of the Metro Manila division of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), happened to be the same person involved, along with several others, in the controversial San Mateo raid last Aug. 17.

The incident involved the questioned entry into the residence in San Mateo, Rizal, where Tabayoyong, a former ranking National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official and considered as a handwriting expert, was staying.

The police seized from Tabayoyong's rented apartment alleged tampered election returns (ERs) and certificates of canvass (CoC).

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Bystander comments about his experience with Sassy Lawyer.

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-- Fil-Ams, alarmed about threats to RP democracy, urge Bush to act


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Randy David on military's role under arroyo admin:

In the same forum, titled "The role of the military in a troubled democracy," UP professor Randy David said President Arroyo has succeeded in turning the military’s institution weakness into her strength.

He said Arroyo’s call for Armed Forces to remain apolitical means they should not interfere or grab power.

But, he said, she uses the military for her own selfish interest.

President Arroyo is accused of rigging the May 2004 elections to ensure her victory. The names of four generals were mentioned by former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano in the "Hello Garci" wiretapped conversations between him and Arroyo during the 2004 election period.

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JB Baylon says the noose is tightening on all the corrupt politicians

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Ninez, on Chavit's inconsistencies:

Ridiculous it was, coming from Chavit Singson, to tell the media after Erap’s testimony before the court, that the detained leader’s testimony was full of inconsistencies and lies, when it can be proved, as it already has been proved, that it was Chavit who was caught lying under oath.

It can hardly be denied, as this is part of the court records, that Singson’s claim of having given Erap in his Polk Street home, P130 million in four boxes whose measurements were provided by Chavit and his accomplices who are also into the perjury game, was an impossibility, given the fact that this was tested in the central bank, with the BSP coming up with the money, in P1,000 bills placed in the measured box and concluded that less than P80 million could have fitted into four boxes. And that’s on the supposition that all the bills were of P1,000 denomination, which the BSP pointed out, was not probable at the time, as this should have been a mix of P500 and P1,000 bills, given the big amount of P130 million.

Add to the fact that Chavit’s tale of Atong Ang having driven the car they were riding right into the Polk driveway while Chavit watched from a street corner was all shot and full of lies. It has also been proved, during a physical reenactment with the justices present, that it was an impossibility as from that given distance, it was too far for anyone to view the car being driven into the driveway. Besides, being the President and in his home, as pointed out by Erap, the PSG would not allow any visitor’s car to get into that small driveway and block the presidential car.

In brief, there was never any delivery of the P130 million as claimed by Chavit and the Commission on Audit report will show it was Chavit who funneled that money and took it, which was why he flew to San Francisco to ask Erap to transfer CoA auditor Agustin Chan to another area, as Chan was getting to the truth of the tobacco tax money diversion. He paid for this with his life as Chan was peppered with bullets on his way to Ilocos Sur from Baguio, while following up the plunder in billions, as alleged, of Singson and his officials. The pattern of diverting the tax fund was established long before Erap became President. Chavit has been doing this for so long.

This is the reason Chavit turned against Erap, as the detained leader refused to do what Chavit asked.

It is Chavit’s testimony that is full of inconsistencies. Still, he knows he will get away with this, since he is being protected by Gloria Arroyo.

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Ernie Maceda always has lots of stuff:

Plunderwatch chairman, Dr. Carol Araullo, boycotted the Erap testimony at the Sandiganbayan because the trial is now “hostaged” by political realities...Special prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio said Erap said nothing new. But this is the first time he has testified. Legally, everything he said is new...Erap’s teenaged son, Jake (with Laarni Enriquez) attended the trial, dressed in a barong “to give support to my father.” Son Jude was there, too...The Special Division trying Erap has undergone several changes with Justice Badoy, Ilarde, Chico Nazario and Sandoval having been replaced...Lawyer Rufus Rodriguez was at the Sandiganbayan hearing...The Sandiganbayan trial was momentarily stopped when they had to change microphones. Justice de Castro also admitted they had no Tagalog stenographer. The clerk translating Erap’s testimony from Tagalog into English was corrected many times. Pitiful!...Sen. Loi Estrada was in stylish St. John green suit. Erap called Jackie “my favorite daughter.” Jackie, dressed in white, blushed. The Sandiganbayan security people were efficient but respectful...At one point Justices Villaruz and Peralta reprimanded Villa-Ignacio for raising objections on minor matters which will not hurt his case...Sen. Ping Lacson said on TV that his predecessor at PNP, Director General Roberto Lastimoso, received P5 million a month in jueteng payola from Chavit Singson. So why didn’t he charge them?...CHR Commissioner Wilhelm Soriano has turned out to be an excellent constitutional officer. It takes a lot of courage to recommend murder charges against the powerful Angelo Reyes and Gen. Arturo Lomibao...The two-month expanded value-added tax target of P4.47 billion has not been met. Only P2.95 billion was collected...Liberal Party Atienza faction claims that 59 out of 102 National Executive Council members attended their meeting Wednesday. Drilon’s faction says only 22 did. They can’t even count right...Then incumbent Solicitor General Alfredo Benipayo did not sign the 47-page memorandum submitted to the Supreme Court. It was signed by Associate Solicitor General Margarita Eugenia Victorino...It is right that charges of child abuse were filed against Taguig teacher Brenda Elbambuena who forced two pupils to swallow pencil shavings...A Premier Bank branch in Quirino Highway, Novaliches, was held up by four men and one woman...A Taiwanese syndicate has introduced well-crafted fake $100 bills into the country, mostly in Mindanao...

Nagsalita na naman ulit Teddy Locsin

From the Malaya:

Locsin described the impeachment proceedings as a "fight between two groups of liars – the minority that claims it has proof of (Arroyo’s) guilt and the Palace which insists it is innocent."

Walang ebidensiya you say Mr. Teddyboy? Hindi lang naman yung "Hello garci" tape ang ebidensiya na may dayaan eh. What about the conflicting ERs and COCs that were presented during the canvassing of votes, Mr. Teddyboy? What about the "bokyahan" (GMA gets all the votes in that area, the rest all gets zero votes). Or the fact that GMA won in areas where mas maraming bumoto kaysa sa registered voters?

There were enough election fraud evidence presented during the canvassing of votes in 2004, but those were just "noted" away by kiko pangilinan and now DOJ secretary Raul Gonzalez. The opposition's request for a recount were denied more than 200 times by GMA's stonewallers. Dinaan nila sa numero ang pag-railroad ng proclamation ni GMA.

Sinabi rin ni Locsin na nagsisinungaling raw ang Palasyo dahil "hindi rin inosente" ito. Pero hindi specific si Teddyboy kung ano yung tinutukoy niya.

Hindi innocent si Arroyo dahil ninakaw niya ang eleksyon? O baka naman sa tingin ni Locsin ay "guilty" lang si Arroyo dahil nakipag-usap siya kay Chairman Ben Abalos at "lapse of judgment" lang ang kasalanan ni GMA? Medyo malabo si Locsin dito.

Ito kasi ang problema sa mga pro-Arroyo people (at mga pro arroyo bloggers, you know who they are) na nagkukunwaring "neutral" raw sila, but they spend most of their time criticizing the opposition instead of the administration on the GLORIAGATE case -- as if yung opposition, si Lacson at si FPJ ang nandaya at nagko-coverup sa nakaraang presidential election.

Locsin also advised the "united" opposition to pull its act together.

"If they continue to be bedeviled with their broad coalition, like Marcos, Cory, Erap and others, it would be very hard to reconcile (their conflicting views). Like, how can you have a rally with a Marcos and an Aquino? What would you call it, the Assassins of Ninoy Aquino for Freedom Movement?" he said.

well, the fact that people from opposite extremes like cory and erap have come to the same conclussion about GMA's illegitimacy without any quid pro quos or bayaran involved says a lot, don't you think Teddyboy?

And Imelda Marcos is now pro-Arroyo, FYI.

UPDATE: Garcillano's case is being revived.

UPDATED: Stonewallers Teddyboy Locsin and Amado Espino

What is happening to Manuel L. Quezon III's old colleague at the Today newspaper?

Isafp agent grilled, but invokes right to privacy

By Gerry Baldo
Thursday, 07 07, 2005

The agent of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp), who earlier admitted in an affidavit that it was he who wiretapped Commission on Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, yesterday retracted even as President Arroyo's allies who head some committees conducting the inquiry on the controversial tapes were perceived to be lawyering for T/Sgt. Vidal Doble.

Representatives Darlene Antonio Custodio and Justin Chipeco complained that two of the chair-men of the five committees handling the investigation were acting like lawyers for Doble even as they cited Nueva Ecija Rep. Amado Espino and Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin for telling Doble not to answer the questions propounded by Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez.

Golez was asking Doble whether his wife and his common-law wife were now staying at the Isafp compound.

The Parañaque lawmaker also wanted Doble to be subjected to a voice analysis because he was repeatedly invoking his right to privacy during the hearing, but Locsin objected to Golez's motion and line of questioning.

Chipeco, Custodio and Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano pointed out that the chairmen of the committees should be impartial and not intervene in behalf of the witness' right to privacy.

And don't think that we will forget this, Teddyboy Locsin. History will not be forgiving on your role in GLORIAGATE.

(Btw, Teddyboy Locsin is Cory Aquino's former speechwriter. ;) )

UPDATE: It's not like the administration and Doble's tactics were unexpected or anything.

More here:

Sa kabuuan, walang gaanong napiga ang mga kongresista kay Doble dahil sa paggigiit nito ng "national security" kaya minabuting magdaos ng executive session. Subalit wala naman umanong napag-usapang masasabing involve ang national security sa executive session na nag-adjourn dakong alas-9:50 kagabi, ayon sa isang opposition solon.

"National Security"? Yung tungkol sa GLORIAGATE at dayaan sa eleksyon? LMAO!

Teddy Boy Locsin is a Tool

Jessica Zafra interviews Teodoro Locsin Jr. on the Automated voting system:

Why is there so much resistance to election automation?

It began in Congress, which passed the law with only one dissenting vote. Then the guys who delivered one million vote majorities to GMA in the House started opposing it. Which makes me suspect they don’t control one million votes.

Funny, I thought your committee report on Hello Garci whitewashed the whole thing.

Five House committees that heard the "Hello Garci" wiretapping controversy have adopted a final report, practically clearing former commissioner Virgilio Garcillano of the alleged rigging of the 2004 elections.

But while the report mentioned an opposition conspiracy to unseat President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, it also briefly questioned the administration's attempt to cover up the scandal.

"Malaca�ang was clearly at an utter loss to explain the tapes and, on at least one occasion, attempted a cover-up," said the report, which pointed to inconsistencies in presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye's statements.

Bunye had said there were two compact discs -- one version spliced and the other original -- that contained conversations between Arroyo and "Gary", initially said to be a political officer of the Lakas party.

In sum, the report said: "A conspiracy clearly existed to topple the President by embarrassing her with the so-called Garci tapes, but on the other hand, the administration could not and would not confront the tapes, and contributed nothing towards arriving at the truth about them, but on the contrary attempted a cover-up."

So, did the 1 million vote padding happen, or did it not? Here's a list of names who authored the report:

The committees behind the report are: public information, under Rep. Emmylou Talio-Santos of North Cotabato; suffrage and electoral reforms, chaired by Representative Teodoro Locsin Jr. of Makati City; public order and safety, under Rep. Amado Espino of Pangasinan; national defense and security, under Rep. Jose Solis of Sorsogon; and information and communications technology, under Rep. Simeon Kintanar of Cebu.

Newsbreak pictures and Erap Videos

So mukhang totoo pala yung mga pictures ng cheating sa Newsbreak.

It was a shocking to hear Roque Bello admit on TV last Wednesday that he "cut and pastes" election returns.

This is what he said when pictures of election returns being altered were shown on TV and was asked if it was part of the work being done in his office/residence: "Yes. The numbers ba, because this is one of the ways that you can determine whether the election returns are fake or not. We cut the paper then paste it to try to get the exact diameter or size."

He said they needed to do that to be able to compare with those in possession of the Comelec. He denied though that he was manufacturing fake election returns.

Election lawyer Leila de Lima was also surprised. She said it was the first time she heard of "cut and paste" to determine the authenticity of election returns. "I don’t do that and I don’t know of any election lawyer who does that," she said.

Another election lawyer who asked not to be named said he was aghast at Bello’s admission on TV. "It shows that’s the kind of work he does. That’s his specialty."

It was, therefore, not surprising that he revised his statement when I talked with him yesterday. He said they just "measure distances" to determine the diameter of the serial numbers.

Read the whole thing. And read this too from JB Baylon.

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Malaya Editorial: "The military was used to steal the election. It is now being openly used against those who oppose the administration."

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Arroyo allies in the House has pretty much whitewashed GLORIAGATE and the case against Garcillano. Well, whaddaya expect? this is the same Congress that used their superior numbers to railroad GMA's proclamation while ignoring the opposition's request for a recount on the disputed COCs during the canvassing. This is also the same Congress that killed the impeachment. Interesting that Teddyboy Locsin is one of the five committee panel members who approved of this report.

More from Maceda on the Garci report:

Garci report. Once again, the House of Representatives has reaffirmed that it is under Malacañang’s control with the way the final report of five House committees on the Garcillano tapes came out. It did not hold GMA or any official of her administration liable for poll fraud, violation of the Anti-Wiretapping law, perjury, obstruction of justice and the Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards for public officers.

Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla who headed most of the joint hearings before being replaced by Rep. Emmy Lou Taino Santos, commented that GMA, former Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Subic Air should have been held liable for violation of several laws.

No closure on the impeachment proceedings, no closure on the Garci tapes. This gives good reason for the closure of the House of Representatives. It will be worst under a unicameral parliamentary system.

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Question of the week. “Does Noli de Castro know the difference between “can” and “must?” — Loren Legarda.

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GMA's net trust rating drops to -30 during Proc. 1017

The survey, which had 1,200 respondents, showed Arroyo’s net trust rating dropping from negative 21 in Feb. 18-23, before the issuance of Presidential Proclamation 1017, to negative 30 in Feb. 24-March 4.

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Kung may video "Paglaban sa Kataksilan 1017" ang Arroyo admin, meron ring latest video si erap called "Triumph of Truth"

President Estrada’s dialogue with the nation has been hamstrung by court limits to his speech, mobility and public presence. While Gloria showed her video lies over several channels repeatedly, President Estrada’s story recorded in several VCD productions have never been allowed by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board on regular TV or cable channels, not even in movie houses. The latest VCD “Triumph of Truth” has been shown to media around Metro Manila and distributed to schools and other sectors. Those whom I promised copies, please text again your addresses as its release was delayed for two months. Civic groups, communities and schools can text me at 0917-8376037 to schedule showings.

herman, why not make the video downloadable on the internet, man... katulad ng video rin ng malacanang?

UPDATE: here's the downloadable erap video called "Triumph of Truth".

Neal Cruz: Gov't documentary 'Kataksilan' is libelous

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Lito Banayo on how GMA will be remembered, and Lupita Kashiwahara's email to him.

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Helga announces that Newsbreak has a new website.

She also has pictures of OUST GMA photos from abroad. (buti pa sila at sa Thailand, pwedeng mag-protesta sa kalsada. dito sa atin, CPR ang sasalubong sa mga anti-arroyo protesters).

And Black Friday protest #3 - Baywalk Makapili Protest

My personal opinion about the B&W style of flash mob protest is that mahirap gawin ito linggo-linggo, without it getting stale and old. I heard na well-attended ang first Black Friday protest (i don't know about the second one).

Mas maganda kung biglaan at "surprise events" ang mga flash mob meetings na ito, at hindi scheduled every week/friday. And it doesn't have to be every week.

Aside from PROC 1017 and Arroyo's illegitimacy, parating na ang Cha cha at No El ni Arroyo, and I hope the ARroyo admin will give us permission to protest her CHA CHA in the streets.

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How the Jamby-Enrile rift got started.

Ho Lordy, another GLORIAGATE roundup

Randy David: Fighting a repressive and immoral regime

AS we now have seen, Proclamation 1017 had two basic objectives: first, to create a climate of urgency to justify extreme police measures and, thus, a chilling effect on the public; and second, to test the public acceptability of the use of even more coercive measures in the future.

The Arroyo regime's readiness to use coercion against its critics should, however, not lull us into thinking that her other powers have completely run out. Ms Arroyo continues to enjoy residual support from the mass media, from the business community, and from religious leaders. She knows this support is dwindling and is becoming passive. That is why she is doing everything to preserve what is left of it by paying these key sectors well-publicized presidential visits or by inviting them to dinner in Malacanang. We have to tell these presidential props that they cannot play this game without being made accountable. If they wish to remain politically neutral, they must manifest their neutrality both with respect to Ms Arroyo and to those who oppose her.

WORD! Read the whole thing.

As long as we just keep telling the truth about this administration and their allies, in the end, babagsak rin ang corrupt at mandarayang "presidente" na ito.

Ellen Tordesillas comments on David's article and has this story to tell about an ARroyo incident 2 years ago.

The deceased was one of the very few friends that Arroyo had since their Assumption high school days. She was with Arroyo during her Senate days and was in Malacañang during the first six months of Arroyo’s unelected presidency.

After a bitter departure from Malacañang over an issue that involved Mike Arroyo, the lady was found to have cancer. A source who was close to the family said as the lady lay dying at the hospital, Arroyo sent word that she would like to visit her. She was asked if she had forgiven her powerful friend. She nodded. Asked if she would welcome her visit, she shook her head.

At the wake at the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Arroyo sent word that she was going visit and there was not much that the family could do.

When Arroyo entered the room, someone who was there described the scene as like "parting of the Red Sea." All those who were seated near the aisle, moved out. When Arroyo took the seat on the left side, almost everybody went to the right side.

The source said, the hostility of the other guests towards Arroyo was so palpable she left immediately after the mass.

That experience must have been the reason why Arroyo did not dare foist her presence during the wake of a distinguished journalist and an incorruptible lady government official last year. Malacañang officials, who paid their last respects to both personalities, must have told her that her wreaths were relegated far away from the coffin, an eloquent statement how she was regarded in those circles.

Si Bing Rodrigo ba ang tinutukoy dito?

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Erap to be released in 2007?

From the Tribune:

Despite its much publicized efforts to reconcile with the camp of deposed President Joseph Estrada, Malacañang yesterday refused to give any commitment on the proposed release of the ousted leader next year when he turns 70 years old.

This was the Palace’s reaction to the statement of lawyer Leonard de Vera, convenor of Equal Justice for All Movement, who said Estrada should be released once he turns 70 years old next year based on Memorandum Circular (MC) 155 issued by President Arroyo on Nov. 17, 2004, which granted executive clemency to convicts who are 70 years old and above.

Heh. And Leonard de Vera is the one suggesting this? Hindi ba Erap hater yan dati? What made him change his attitude on Erap?

Of course, this move will be done to appease erap's masa supporters.

Estrada would turn 70 years of age on April 2007.

I wrote something about a possible "Free Erap" move by the admin back in February.

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Arbet Bernardo calls for a debate on Charter change among bloggers.

Sorry, but I think I'll pass. I'm in no mood to debate CHA CHA as long as the fake president is the one orchestrating the change (and I'm against CHA CHA btw, since FVR's time pa.)

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The "great debate" on Charter change has begun:

AT least two million people have signed a petition supporting amendments to the 1987 Constitution via the people’s initiative route, a coalition spearheading the campaign yesterday said.

The Sigaw ng Bayan Movement said it expected the figure to rise dramatically as more reports from the field were expected to pour in Sunday night.

It said local executives who monitored Saturday’s barangay assemblies reported that 20 to 60 percent of registered voters were likely to sign a petition calling for people’s initiative to amend the charter.

Opposition lawmakers lambasted the exercise, saying voters were being asked to sign the petition under false pretenses.

They added it was the height of hypocrisy for Malacañang to deny its hand in the signature campaign or its funding for the exercise.

Bayan Muna Rep. Joel Virador, one of the five party-list congressmen who are under House custody for rebellion charges, said Bayan Muna chapters in the Visayas and Mindanao "have monitored local government officials gathering signatures from barangay residents without even telling them the nature and purpose of the administration’s desperate drive for changing the 1987 Constitution."

"Our people must reject completely deceptive move of President Arroyo to continue with her illegitimate presidency," Virador said. "Malacañang-financed barangay assemblies nationwide are not sanctioned under the 1987 Constitution," he said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said: "This government has near-perfected the art of deceiving the people."

He said reports from the field showed government men were orchestrating the barangay assemblies.

"Talagang gumagastos sila ng pera sa pagpipirma na ginagawa nila. Sinasamantala nila ang kumakalam na sikmura ng kababayan natin para maisakatuparan ang kanilang hangarin na mag-shift tayo sa parliamentary system through people’s initiative. Alam nilang malaki ang problema sa Mataas na Kapulungan ng Kongreso," Lacson said.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said P20 million was initially released for the signature campaign.

He said municipal development officers of the Department of Interior and Local Government organized and coordinated the barangay assemblies.

"In that meeting, the local government officials were told about the funds for the holding of the barangay assembly and the money had been released," Pimentel said.

Pimentel also took note of the one-page advertisements on people’s initiative which appeared in several newspapers on March 24.

He said only the government is in a position to bankroll such an expensive promotional campaign.

Pimentel said he was not surprised anymore when barangay officials and workers, as well as residents, openly admitted that bribe money was being offered to those who would sign the petition calling for amendments to the Constitution.

Sen. Edgardo Angara said the use of money funds and barangay personnel in pushing for charter change via people’s initiative should not invalidate the entire process.

Angara said the funds doled out by local government leaders to bankroll the people’s initiative petition were "a consequence and necessary expense."

Thank you, Ed Angara, thank you.

More on the Cha cha from Neal Cruz and Manuel L. Quezon 3.

Conrad de Quiros: "Change the Charter? Nope, just change the usurper. Cheaper, faster, better."

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Ninez isn't through with Garci and Arroyo's allies on the Passport scandal.

Nene Pimentel: GMA true to form in dropping Garcillano.

MALACAÑANG’S failure to come to the aid of former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano shows President Arroyo’s penchant to use others for her own ends and abandon them in their time of need, Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel yesterday said.

"(Former Agriculture Under-secretary Jocelyn) Bolante and others, beware!" Pimentel said.

Yeah, I even remember the admin and her House allies being very protective of Garci, even offering Garci police protection and a safehouse to prevent people from making a citizen's arrest of Garci. My, my... how times have changed.

Rep. Teddy Locsin's comments on Garci's palusot:

"Nagsa-shabu ba s'ya? Nasisiraan na ba s'ya ng ulo?," tanong ni Locsin patungkol sa nagbitiw na komisyuner.

Ito ay reaksyon ng Makati congressman sa pahayag ni Garcillano na posibleng nagkaroon ng 'switching' at maaaring napalitan ng 'pekeng pasaporte' ang pasaporteng kanyang isinumite noon sa Kamara.

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Smugglers are in Subic and Clark, not 168: Serge Osmena

SMUGGLERS are lurking in Subic, Clark and Batangas port and not in an obscure retail mall in Divisoria called 168, Sen. Sergio Osmeña said over the weekend.

Osmeña said the recent raid on 168 Mall was an attack against legitimate retailers who unknowingly purchased goods from smugglers.

"Zarzuela lang yon," he said.

Osmeña said government authorities could stop smuggling by apprehending container vans at the Subic, Clark Freeport zones and at the port of Batangas.

"Don’t raid the retailers but the bringers of smuggled goods in container vans. They’re there in Subic, Clark and Batangas," he said.

He said the 168 tenants paid for their inventories and could not be aware that taxes had not been paid.

"When you buy from a supplier, say a t-shirt, do you ask if taxes were paid for the t-shirt?" he asked.

He said until now the government has yet to arrest or charge a big-time smuggler.

Ducky Paredes: Retailers as Smugglers?

President Arroyo’s order to raid the 168 Mall in Divisoria was meant as a warning to smugglers that, henceforth, the government will be out to get them at all costs. Sadly, because the raid targeted only retailers and not the smugglers, all that the raid on 168 did was to create victims, Thus, the raid only turned out to be another signal of how repressive the government can be.

Taking goods from a retail store on the suspicion that these are smuggled does not hurt the smuggler. The hardest hit is the retailer who probably has his life’s savings in those goods.

How can anyone say that any goods being sold at retail have been smuggled? The way that the Bureau of Customs works these days, a flat fee is paid on a container that leaves the Customs Area. These containers are not inspected. They leave the piers unopened, with no customs personnel having ever seen them. How can anyone know what has entered the country when even the customs personnel are not allowed to inspect shipments? So, how can they possibly know whether taxes and tariff were paid on a particular item? The retailer too is hard-put to produce any entry documents of any products on his shelf.

More often than not, the retailer is five or more times removed from the smuggler. (When the goods arrive, the smuggler will often divide this up among his dealers who then distribute the goods to their sub-dealers, wholesalers and so on. The one at the end of the line is the retailer.) How can anyone expect him to produce the original documents of the shipment? The original document that proves that a fee was paid the BOC for clearing the container might exist but the retailer cannot possibly access this since he bought the goods from a sub-dealer of a sub-dealer.

Read the whole thing. Arroyo's barking at the wrong tree.

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Military's loyalty should be to the people, not to one person, especially one that was never elected by the people.

Let’s talk about loyalty. The AFP’s loyalty should be to the Republic and Constitution, not to a person. We have been seeing clear abuse of this principle.

Remember the use of Intelligence Service of the AFP to concoct derogatory information against opposition leaders, starting with the purported hundreds of millions of dollars stashed abroad by Sen. Panfilo Lacson? That short step into politicizing the AFP was followed by the giant leap of using the military to manipulate the presidential election in 2004 in Mindanao. Last month, the Armed Forces was called in under PP 1017 to suppress "lawless violence" which in this particular case amounted to nothing more than a few thousand unarmed protesters trying to march to the Edsa Shrine.

It should be no surprise, thus, that using the military to bludgeon legitimate opposition and dissent has resulted in the restiveness in the military. Professionalism of the junior- and middle-rank officers and their men had not been an issue for sometime until Gloria grabbed power from Joseph Estrada. The last time soldiers marched out of the barracks was in 1989 against the Aquino administration.

"I expect you to be loyal to your values, to your nation and to your Constitution," Arroyo told the graduates.

She is preaching to the choir. Cadets don’t lie or cheat and don’t tolerate others who do so. It is in fact the cadets of recent years who are now serving in the Armed Forces who cannot stomach the lying, cheating and thieving they see around them.

Gloria should have addressed the generals whom she had placed in plum positions in payment for their conspicuous devotion beyond the call of duty to keep her in power.

Teddy Boy Locsin was part of the Hello Garci Coverup?

I remember him being one of the more vocal defenders of Arroyo's 2004 legitimacy while pushing the idea that hello garci was just made up by the opposition to overthrow Arroyo.

House probe report sidesteps Garci,
focuses on ˜conspiracy" against Gloria

FIVE House committees which jointly investigated the "Hello Garci" wiretapped conversations yesterday adopted a final committee report which gave more weight to the alleged opposition conspiracy to unseat President Arroyo than to the alleged cheating in the 2004 presidential election.

The report also practically clears former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano of any liability for his alleged masterminding of the doctoring of the results of the election to ensure Arroyo's victory.

The five panels led by the committee on public information chaired by Rep. Emmylou Talino-Santos (NP, North Cotabato) approved the fourth version of its report which carried almost the same findings and recommendations as that of the 18-page third draft report released on Feb. 18.

The other committees composing the joint panel are suffrage and electoral reforms of Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr. (PDP-Laban, Makati); public order and safety of Rep. Amado Espino (Kampi, Pangasinan), national defense and security of Rep. Jose Solis (Kampi, Sorsogon) and information-communication technology of Rep. Simeon Kintanar (NPC, Cebu).

More here.

the final full report submitted in 2007 is here.

The latest on Joc Joc Bolante's trouble with the law

Pidal's fugitive Joc Joc seeks asylum in the US. Haha! Pero sabi ni Roilo golez:

Rep. Roilo Golez (Ind., Parañaque) earlier said that Bolante has no right to apply for a political asylum in the US because what he is facing is more of a deportation than an extradition case.

"How can someone considered to be one of the closest political allies of the powers-that-be in the Philippines apply for political asylum? That’s only if he faces persecution for political reasons. In my opinion, he is not a victim of political persecution but a beneficiary of political protection here," he said.

The latest: Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez criticized for inaction on Joc Joc gate.

All indications point to the Ombudsman, envisioned as an independent and constitutional anti-graft office, getting all its directions and orders from Malacañang, as it continued to sit on the Senate’s recommendation for the Ombudsman to charge former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante and his other associates in the P3-billion fertilizer funds scam for the crime of plunder.

A frustrated Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., chairman of the Senate panel that turned over its results of the fertilizer anomaly results to the anti-graft agency for action, yesterday scored Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, said to be part of the inner presidential circle, with a presidential mandate for her to protect the presidential kith, kin and cronies from any and all charges leveled against them, for her inaction on ensuring that the embattled Bolante is extradited to the country.

Jokjok!

From the Malaya Editorial: Joc Joc’s asylum bid

Joc Joc Bolante, Mike Arroyo’s erstwhile man at the Department of Agriculture, is seeking asylum in the United States. What the hell is going on?

The Senate committee on agriculture and the blue ribbon have recommended that Bolante be charged with plunder for using P700 million in fertilizer funds to buy the support of local officials for Gloria Arroyo in the 2004 elections. The Senate has also issued a warrant for his arrest for repeatedly failing to attend hearings on the fertilizer fund.

There is, however, no danger of his ending up in the slammer soon. The Office of the Ombudsman, headed by Mike’s Ateneo law classmate Merceditas Gutierrez, is sleeping the sleep of the dead on the Senate recommendation. Bolante used to breeze through the international airport gates without the Senate warrant servers seeing just even his shadow. Airport authorities certainly can extend the same accommodation.

If Bolante is being politically persecuted, then Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez must be coddling Satur Ocampo in placing the latter in the hold-order list.

(rimshot) Ba-da-bing!

The editorial has more, this time w/ my favorite US ambassador Kristie Kenney getting a mention:

There are reports that immigration officials cancelled Bolante’s visa on the recommendation of the US Embassy in Manila. Curious, isn’t it? Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture, has been pestering US Ambassador Kristine Kienney on what action her government has taken on inquiries about Bolante’s presence in the United States.

Magsaysay has not received any answer, but Kienney apparently had been playing possum. Bolante is now in the hand of US authorities.

We have not a whit of understanding of how US immigration laws work. But if Bolante really wants to convince US authorities he’s dead meat upon exiting from the NAIA passenger tube, we have a suggestion.

Bolante should name those who ordered him to rob the treasury to buy votes for Gloria. It’s guaranteed. He would not only be facing political persecution here. He would be the target of execution.

Foolproof yung suggestion na yan, JOKJOK!

More details on who this Joc Joc Bolante is, from Ducky Paredes:

Joc Joc may only have been a Usec in the Department of Agriculture but the old-timers there will tell you that Bolante had more power than the agriculture secretaries under whom he served. For one thing, Bolante controlled the purse. No funds were released without Bolante’s say-so. He seldom even showed up at the Department. He did most of his work remote control – through text messages and phone calls to his people.

More here:

The US Embassy isn’t talking. The family doesn’t want public attention, invoking its right to privacy. Malacañang is – as usual – talking from both sides of the mouth.

What’s going on here, that is, former Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc Joc" Bolante’s arrest by US immigration authorities last week upon setting foot on American soil?

Bolante was arrested in California reportedly on visa violations. It’s public knowledge that Bolante has been in and out of the United States. His lawyers during last year’s Senate investigation of the alleged use of P700 million in fertilizer funds to buy the election for Gloria Arroyo in 2004 said his regular presence was needed at the Rotary International headquarters in Illinois as the group’s treasurer (the claim was denied by Rotary International officials in official communications to Senate probers).

So there apparently was no problem with his US visa then. His trouble with US immigration clearly came up only recently.

It was unclear if his visa had been cancelled before he landed in California. Such violation usually leads to the illegal entrant’s being bundled off on the first flight out of the plane that brought him in. So why was Bolante taken into custody? Reports said his visa was cancelled at the time of arrival by immigration authorities who promptly sent him to jail while awaiting a hearing by an immigration judge. The reports added he declined – or was unable - to post $100,000 bail.

Something bigger than trying to illegally sneak into the United States is going on here and it could not have happened to a man more desperate than anyone else in seeking to avoid official attention for almost a year now.

Bolante has a standing warrant of arrest issued by the Senate for contempt. The Executive department has not lifted a finger to help implement the Senate’s order. On the contrary, the Executive has practically been aiding Bolante evade custody by rejecting a Senate request to have his passport cancelled so he could be forced to come home.

Ellen Tordesillas and MLQ3 comments on the Joc Joc case.

More from the Tribune:

Former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante, who was arrested upon arrival at the Los Angeles Airport on July 7, may have brought in an undeclared amount of dollars in the tens of millions to the United States.

Reliable sources at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is probable that the initially claimed $100,000-$500,000 bail set for Bolante is 1 percent of the amount brought into the US or its equivalent.

It was Bolante’s son, Anthony, who went to the US, along with a lawyer, to ask for a bail reduction, but it is still unclear whether this will be granted by the court.

A news blackout at the DFA was reportedly imposed, following the Tribune report that the issues taken up during the meeting among high level DFA officials Thursday discussed the money laundering charges of which Bolante may have to explain, intimating that it is not just Bolante but more powerful Palace officials who are being linked to money laundering raps.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) was just as tight-lipped on the issue of the probable money laundering issue that may be leveled against Bolante, who is known as one of the presidential couple’s bagmen.

It is usual, especially when money laundering allegations are leveled against President Arroyo’s known foes in the media, for the AMLC, as well as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to quickly state that the agency will be investigating these allegations, as it did when former beauty contestant Joelle Pelaez claimed she would be filing money laundering charges against deposed President Joseph Estrada.

This time however, both the AMLC and the NBI remain silent on the alleged money laundering issue directed at the supposed presidential bagman.

MORE: Raul Pangalanan writes:

FORMER undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante has snubbed five Senate hearings, casually flouting each Senate summons and at times flying out of the country days before the hearing. He skedaddles despite an immigration watch-list, a Senate contempt order, a Senate report and a plunder complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman implicating him as the “architect” in the diversion of agriculture funds into the election campaign war chest of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in May 2004.

All this, under a government that has proclaimed itself as a regime under the rule of law! All this, under a President who has called upon her soldiers to lay down their lives to uphold the Constitution and defend the rule of law.

Get this: Bolante has admitted to signing the papers releasing P728 million for fertilizers and pesticides for GMA, the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani program, and distributing them to congressmen and local politicians right in time for the presidential campaign. He has washed his hands, saying it was all “demand-driven,” and that he gave only to those who asked. And yet, Rep. Teodoro Locsin of Makati, the country’s financial district, says he never asked, never received, and yet was recorded to have gotten the fertilizer funding -- this, for Makati’s concrete jungle where only the flower pots in the Ayala Center have any use for the illicit dung.

And it takes the US Immigration and Naturalization Service finally to arrest Bolante -- two years after the scam was first exposed!

The Arroyo administration can hunt down coup plotters belonging to well-organized and richly funded (or so it claims) conspiracies. It can hound the enemies of the state, force their leaders to hole up in the Batasan complex of the House of Representatives, round up their followers in “sonas” historically rife with human rights abuses. But it couldn’t find Bolante.

Rep. Satur Ocampo of the Bayan Muna party-list group was hassled at the airport and almost missed his flight to an international human rights conference, all because of a hold-order issued merely by the executive department -- and boy, did the justice secretary publicly berate his immigration bureau chief for wimping out on the hold-order. Bolante was subject to a contempt order by the elected Senate, but was he ever asked at the airport why he was decamping in seeming haste?

.....

But this should be no surprise. This isn’t the first time this government will play possum and pass the buck to another legal system. We are a proud independent republic, except when it is politically inconvenient.

“Garci” disappeared for the good part of a year. He supposedly flew to Singapore from Manila. But it took Singaporean consular records to show that he landed in the city-state, while Manila’s immigration records show he never even left!

How about the former comptroller of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)? It took US customs authorities to document his son’s undeclared $100,000 at a US airport and his wife’s sworn statement before them that this was merely “gratitude money from [AFP] contractors.” Yet back home, when the Money Laundering Council obtained a freeze on his bank accounts, Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia was able to make massive midnight withdrawals just before the courts stepped in. In the end, he was cleared of the watered-down charge of perjury, because either the Ombudsman or the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court was wanting in zeal or wit.

PDI Editorial: Bring Joc Joc back

Now Bolante is in the hands of the US government with whom the Philippine government has an extradition treaty. It should be much easier for the administration to bring him home and make him explain how he “supervised” the disbursement of the P728-million fertilizer fund. But Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has said the Philippine government would ask for Bolante’s extradition since it is not the obligation of the executive department to enforce a warrant of arrest issued by the Senate. Apparently to Gonzalez, the Senate is no longer a part of the Philippine government. But by refusing to lift a finger to bring Bolante home, he has only confirmed the public perception that Bolante is special to the Arroyo administration.

A few weeks ago, President Arroyo announced that she was putting P1 billion more into the government’s war against graft and corruption. If she meant it as a signal of her renewed resolve to stamp out corruption in government, that resolve will be put to a test by Bolante’s arrest. She can move that campaign one big step forward by ordering the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs to start the legal process that would bring Bolante back to explain where the P728 million went. But will she dare to hear what Bolante might reveal?

UPDATE: Eto pa, from the Tribune Editorial:

With all official and identifiable sources clamming up on the arrest, detention and hearing of former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante, more speculations on this incident occurring in the United States Immigration have risen — all of which impact negatively on the Malacañang tenants.

When news first broke on the Bolante case, both the Palace and its Foreign Affairs department took the line that it was a canceled visa problem Bolante was facing. But that was when the speculation grew, since there were reports of his having been arrested and detained, plus a bail of $100,000 slapped on him last July 7, a Friday. Local media had the report on this on the 12th, which time lag is much too long, and suspicious. It is impossible for Malacañang not to have known of his arrest on the day Bolante was arrested, and just as impossible for the Department of Foreign Affairs officials not to have been informed by the LA office about the Bolante arrest. After all, Joc-Joc isn’t just an ordinary Pinoy stranded in the US and slapped with an arrest. Arroyo officials know just how close Bolante is with Gloria.

But Malacañang washed its hands off the Bolante arrest, saying he is no longer a government official, but also said, as a private citizen, that the consulate in Los Angeles would afford Bolante the assistance given to any Filipino citizen. On the matter of the details and background of the Bolante affair, nothing was offered, which in itself is much too strange, considering that consulate officers can definitely obtain basic information from the US authorities, having the official foreign government status.

But giving out information that Bolante’s case involved a canceled visa made things even worse, since there have been too many Filipinos — relatively known and unknown — who have had their visas canceled by US authorites, denied entry to the US and detained very briefly, with these Filipinos quickly shipped back, without being arrested, and without having to post bail of $100,000 or have a hearing. And this is Joc-Joc Bolante, known to be a close ally and associate of the presidential couple, who many times over, ensured his protection when he flitted in and out of the country to evade being called to the Senate to testify on the P3-billion fertilizer funds scam.

More strange official behavior was noted. On the day of the hearing, the DFA claimed that Bolante had spurned the Arroyo government’s assistance, invoking privacy, then saying all queries on Bolante should be coursed through his lawyer in Manila, who couldn’t be found. Then came word that Bolante, who is now detained in a federal jail — which may mean that Bolante is out of the LA Immigration jurisdiction -- is seeking political asylum, which is strange in itself. And the DFA officials were called to a meeting on the Bolante issue, with a report sent to Malacañang on how to treat the issue. All for a canceled visa?

Reports also said among the issues discussed in that meeting between DFA officials was the money laundering charge, which is interesting since Bolante has been tagged too many times as the presidential couple’s bagman, even long before the fertilizer funds scam was first exposed.

Ninez further pounds the nail on it's head:

Joc-Joc Bolante must be ready to sing — not before the Filipino people, but before the American authorities, for Malacañang to suddenly say it is now studying ways of extraditing the controversial P3-billion Fertilizer Man — and this, after Gloria’s lackey of a Justice secretary, already stated bluntly that there is no way they can extradite Bolante because (a) there are no charges against him in the country and (b) the arrest order for Bolante from the Senate is not enforceable in the United States, that has jurisdiction at this time.

It is now official too, that the P3-billion Fertilizer Man has asked for political asylum, which is much too strange a move, as he is certainly known to be the presidential couple’s close financial confidante and was in fact being protected all this time, when he slipped in and out of the country.

Why apply for political asylum in the US and even have himself detained in a federal prison? Surely he is not shaking in his boots because of the Senate’s probe of the fertilizer funds scam. So the Senate found him guilty and recommended his being charged with plunder in the Ombudsman, but he, being in the presidential couple’s innermost circle, certainly knows that the Ombudsman would be protecting him, by not doing anything about the Senate case against Bolante, just as the Ombudsman, then headed by Simeon Marcelo, did nothing about the plunder and money-laundering raps against former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, and just as Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, Mike A’s trusted pal, didn’t do anything but sit on the Comelec commissioners’ anomalous poll automated machines contraption. And not to forget, even if Gutierrez recommends the poll commissioners for impeachment, why, there is always Gloria’s congressmen to kill the impeachment complaint. And didn’t the bishops already junk the impeachment process as a means to search for the truth?

Joc-Joc was certainly a protected specie under the Arroyo adminstration. Immigration even lies for Joc-Joc and ensures that there is no stamped entry and departure on his passport. So why should he seek asylum?

There could be varied reasons behind this move by Joc-Joc. For one, Sen. Ramon Magsaysay intimated that his life may be in danger, as some people want him killed — and the first guess would be right. But why? Why may be due to the fact that he may know too much, or he may be asking too much from very important people in the Philippines.

There are too, indications that Joc-Joc’s move caught Malacañang and its prostituted Department of Foreign Affairs off-guard, so much so that for some six days, they all maintained silence and were at a loss at how to handle the Bolante incident, with the DFA even asking Gloria how to handle this incident which they all claimed was a canceled visa problem.

Besides, for such Arroyo VIP, it is not unlikely that everytime Bolante would be anywhere in the world, there would be Philippine Embassy people greeting him upon arrival and taking care of airport and hotel stuff, not to mention dinners and entertainment. Apparently, Joc-Joc dispensed with these perks. Also, Bolante reportedly rejected the Philippine consular officers’ assistance during his hearing with US officials. But then again, it makes no sense for one seeking political asylum to have Philippine diplomats assisting him.

When one — such as Joc-Joc, seeks political asylum, this can only mean that he has decided to break his ties with the presidential couple, which can only mean more political trouble for Gloria and her government, if not total devastation for her. After all, one seeks political asylum out of fear of his government’s political persecution, which is no one else but Gloria — and it certainly can’t be from the Senate’s persecution, since it has been shown that in such instances, the Senate is toothless. And it can’t be just all about the P3-billion fertilizer funds scam. That’s an internal matter to the Philippines and the US has no jurisdiction over a local crime.

But then again, if that local crime’s funds inch their way into American shores, as in money laundering, then this becomes a crime and Americans certainly have that jurisdiction now.

Do your math. From the P3-billion fertilizer funds scam, only a few millions were distributed to the congressmen, governors and mayors, and the fertilizers, overpriced by at least 1,000 percent, were already diluted in the first place. So where the other billions go, if not to private accounts, not in the Philippines either. Still, there was no doubt, more of the millions going out of the country and into foreign shores, which can only be done by political biggies in the country. Wasn’t a political heavy in Switzerland recently, and rushed to the US when the Bolante caper erupted?

So what song is Joc-Joc ready to sing, to make Gloria and her allies much too jittery?

What may be clear is that Joc-Joc’s lips may not be sealed anymore, which is why Gloria now wants him back and perhaps stilled forevermore.

UPDATE: DFA sat on the Bolante report for 5 days. bakit kaya?

Meanwhile, career foreign service officers also yesterday scored the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for employing “Garci-style” delaying tactics in keeping the arrest of Bolante under wraps.

According to the Union of Filipino Foreign Service Officers (Uniffors), DFA spokesman Gilbert Asuque’s explanation on why the DFA kept mum was similar to its excuses in confirming whether former Commission on Elections Commissioner Virgilio “Garci” Garcillano had fled the country.

“The DFA exercised the same delaying tactics with the Singapore government’s confirmation of Garcillano’s entry and departure from Changi International Airport. (It should be ashamed)!” Uniffors said in a statement on its blog site.

In 2005, the group noted that the DFA held out for a week before confirming from Singapore authorities that Garcillano had indeed left the Philippines and landed in Singapore.

Its confirmation came after Garcillano already left Singapore.

Garcillano’s vanishing act happened at the height of the scandal arising from the “Hello Garci” tapes, which contain his mobile-phone conversations with President Arroyo on their rigging the May 2004 elections in her favor.

Uniffors also noted that Mike Flemming, spokesman for the US Customs and Border Protection Service, had said the Philippine consulate in Los Angeles has known since July 7 that Bolante was arrested and detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

It quoted Flemming as saying the US ICE had “sent them (DFA) a fax, and we also spoke to them on the phone.”

Yet, Uniffors said, Asuque did not tell the public about Bolante’s arrest until July 12 and blamed Los Angeles Consul General Willy Gaa for the delay.

“Well, that raises two questions. Why did Gaa sit on the information for three days and why did Asuque sit on it for another two days?” the group asked.

The controversial Bolante, allegedly the bagman of First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, is wanted in the Philippine Senate for his alleged role in the diversion of P728 million in fertilizer funds to the campaign chest of Mrs. Arroyo in the 2004 polls.

“We all know why the consulate and the DFA sat on the report. The question is not why the delay but who are these people serving — the public or Mrs. Arroyo?” Uniffors again asked.

Bolante, while he was on the run from the Senate, had been practically abandoned by Malacañang, which said he no longer is its concern, having given up his government post long ago.