Raul Gonzalez: "The law applies to everybody."

‘No show’ si Pangulong Arroyo at mga kinatawan nito sa unang araw ng pagdinig ng People’s Court sa mga kasong isinampa rito kaya’t bakante ang mga upuang inilaan sa mga ito sa UP Theater, UP Diliman, Quezon City. (Jhay Jalbuna)

-- DOJ Sec. Raul Gonzales: Citizens’ Congress for Truth and Accountability (CCTA) may be charged with "inciting to sedition." Naku Tito Guingona, magtago ka na.

Buti pa si Susan Roces nakalusot, dahil hindi raw pwedeng ikulong ang mga magaganda na katulad nya, according to siRAULo Gonzalez.

And I love this part:

Gonzalez said he does not want to be accused of threatening the convenors of the CCTA, but "the law applies to everybody."

No, it does not! It apparently does not apply to your boss!

MORE: GMA napra-praning sa People's Court

-- Sorry La Salle, but "winning at all cost" mentality is wrong. But at least they're trying to do the right thing -- so unlike this somebody we know.

What is happening at the De La Salle University’s basketball fiasco within the UAAP league is some kind of mirror into the country’s state of affairs. Sometime last month, after it was discovered that De La Salle unknowingly fielded an ineligible player, Mark Benitez, the university admitted to its fault. It voluntarily offered to return its 2004 championship trophy.

Succeeding investigation revealed that another player, Tim Gatchalian, was likewise ineligible. The La Salle community, both officials and alumni, were tremendously upset. It would seem that winning at all costs was all that mattered, and that certain sports officials had closed their eyes to violations of rules simply because they wanted good players that would enhance the team’s chances at basketball glory.

Two days ago, team manager Terry Capistrano resigned, and three more officials followed suit. Bro. Bobby Casingal, sports development director, alumnus and internal affairs director Danny Jose, and university registrar Edwin Santiago all submitted their resignations. Capistrano, in his resignation letter acknowledged that as head of the basketball team, he was assuming "full responsibility for the situation". There is intense pressure from among several La Salle alumni asking for the resignation of Coach Franz Pumaren.

Apart from ferreting out the truth about these attempts to soil sportsmanship and honor, the De La Salle officials are seriously considering a voluntary leave of absence from the UAAP, as some sort of chastening process while they institute internal reforms.

What is admirable about these developments in amateur sports and the academe is the realization that there is yet a sense of honor amongst some of us in this benighted country. That there is a real desire to show to the rest of the nation that the end, which is winning, must not, and can never, be justified by the means used to attain it.

All too often we are blinded by our goals, and we have become habitually a people fond of taking short-cuts, of violating the rules, of mocking the law – all to score. Whether it is a basketball championship, or, as recent events have demonstrated, political primacy and the presidency no less.

And many of us have been more than willing to accept the pragmatic reality, live with a lie, just to preserve the status quo, no matter how morally bankrupt.

What is happening at the De La Salle University, which must be traumatic and gut-wrenching for those involved, gives all of us reason to believe that there is yet a sense of honor amongst us. Would that such honor would infect those who claim to lead the entire nation.

-- Ducky Paredes: SEA games lalangawin

-- More on the Rape case against the 6 US Servicemen

From Conrad de Quiros:

Both Malacañang and US authorities have been quick to say this is an isolated incident and should not be turned into a political issue. Well, at the very least, there is nothing isolated in the American response to it, which is to keep the suspects in their custody. That has been the typical response of American officials to their servicemen committing rape and murder in this country since the time of the Clark and Subic bases. They refuse to yield them to Philippine authorities. Which raises all sorts of questions about what is so mutual in the Mutual Defense Treaty. Can you imagine Filipino servicemen raping an American woman in America and the Philippine Embassy being allowed to harbor the fugitives?

Or how about this: Can you imagine the outrage that this would generate around the world if this happened in Iraq? Can you imagine how damaging this is to the US efforts to promote democracy in that region? The anti-war MSM like Al Jazeera, BBC, NYT, CBS, CNN and other mainstream media would go nuts over it's coverage on the rape of an Iraqi woman by US soldiers, just like they did in Abu Ghraib.

-- AFP Visayas Chief all praises for Gen. Gudani and Balutan. These are the two people who testified against GMA on the 2004 election fraud and they are now facing a possible court martial for speaking the truth.

-- Archbishop Capalla: I'm no GMA supporter!

Sha sha... you protest too much, LOL.

He pointed out from the time of former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino, he had been helping the government and that the same support has been extended to the presidencies of Fidel Ramos and the deposed Joseph Estrada.

"From 1986 until now, I've been helping the President. I have helped Cory, Ramos, Erap (Estrada) and Gloria for years. (And) it's only now that they have called me pro-Gloria," Capalla said.

The Davao archbishop, however, failed to explain how he could have helped Estrada or his government then, since he was part of the bishops body that called for Estrada's ouster through unconstitutional means, which he never did with Mrs. Arroyo in Malacañang.

It was also Capalla who, along with other bishops and Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, without the need to so do, put out a paid ad claiming that there was no cheating in the presidential polls, despite the many indications of poll fraud even then.

-- More Conrad de Quiros on GLORIAGATE and Filipino culture.

-- Malaya Editorial: The language issue

The medium of instruction debate is a pedagogical issue. Do children learn to read, write and do sums better and faster when the medium is English or Pilipino? The DepEd says their studies weigh in on the side of Pilipino. It adds that studies in other countries corroborate local findings. More telling yet, the DepEd says those taught in Pilipino in the first three years of the elementary grades learn English faster after gaining competence in the three R’s....

If we have reservations over the DepEd decision to retain Pilipino as the medium of instruction in the first three years, it is again a matter of pedagogy. Studies after studies have shown that the most effective medium is the language used in the household. So why Pilipino? Why not Tausug for those who were born and raised in that dialect? Or Cebuano or Ilocano or Bicol or Ilongo?

After mastery of their first language, the kids can be taught in Pilipino and/or in English. Or in German or in Chinese, for that matter.

-- OFWs ninakawan ng kredito ni GMA

Kung mayroong dapat pasalamatan ang sambayanang Filipino sa paglakas ng piso kontra dolyar ay walang iba kundi ang mahigit walong milyong Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) at hindi si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Pinagtawanan kahapon nina Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson at Sen. Sergio Osmena III ang pagbubuhat ng bangko ni Mrs. Arroyo sa pag-angat ng piso kontra dolyar.

Nauna rito, inangkin ng Malacañang ang paglakas ng piso kung saan isinangkalan pa ang ipinatupad na Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) dahil positibo umano ang pagtanggap dito ng mga creditors at negosyante.

"The strengthening of the peso can be attributed mainly sa pagtaas ng remittance ng OFWs dahil na rin sa pagdami ng umaalis patungong abroad. Wala kasing job opportunities dito sa ating bansa. Bukod dito, nalalapit na rin ang kapaskuhan. Traditionally padami talaga ang remittances kapag ganitong panahon," ani Lacson.

Puro panloloko lang talaga itong si Arroyo.

More: Utang sa OFWs hindi sa EVAT

Inangkin na naman ng Malacañang sa pangunguna ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang papuri sa nararanasang paglakas ng piso kontra dolyar ng bansa.

Agad na inilutang at ginamit na dahilan ng gobyernong Arroyo sa kaganapang ito ay ang implementasyon ng expanded value added tax (EVAT).

Buong pagmamalaking inihayag ng Malacañang na isa sa rason kung bakit gumanda ang palitan ng piso kontra dolyar ay dahil naging positibo ang pagtanggap ng mga creditor at negosyante sa bagong batas para sa dagdag buwis.

Hindi kaya kuryente o mali na namang impormasyon ang nakarating kay Pangulong Arroyo sa tinuran niyang ito?

Sa aming pagkakaalam, hindi lamang ngayong taon lumakas ang palitan ng piso kontra dolyar kundi taunan itong nangyayari at kadalasan ay tuwing buwan ng Nobyembre at Disyembre.

Sa mga nabanggit na buwan kasi buhos kung dumating ang remittances ng walong milyong overseas Filipino workers bilang pamasko sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay.

-- What does it mean when an Arroyo official "takes full responsibility"?

PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao has rejected calls for an investigation of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group team that flew to Zamboanga to effect the wrongful arrest of Antonio Gara, said to be a lookalike of Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron.

Lomibao waved off the calls with a “I take full responsibility” statement. This is a usual tactic of the President, Cabinet members and military commanders when a wrong is committed by their men, to come to their defense with a I take full responsibility declaration.

Exactly what does that mean? Does it mean, don't investigate them, investigate me? Does it mean I serve at the pleasure of the President, she can dismiss me if my people did wrong?

When GMA or her officials “take full responsibility,” that is usually the end of the matter — no investigation, no penalties, no dismissals. In some cases, only a reassignment or float for a few months, or a kick-up promotion.

The other self-defense mechanism employed by GMA and her officials and lawyers is: If we did anything wrong, file charges in court. That's the height of arrogance and hubris. They, of course, know that considering the cost of filing charges in court including high attorney's fees, very few would actually file a case. Add to that the correct perception that courts under GMA are partial to the administration and can't be expected to decide with objectivity, not to mention their penchant to delay proceedings. Most accusers actually just throw in the towel.

Add to this the unfortunate experience of whistleblowers such as Acsa Ramirez who was charged with a crime by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Now take the case of the three alleged carjackers killed in an alleged shootout on Ortigas Avenue. There are a lot of questions raised to suggest there may have been a rubout.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes and Gen. Lomibao have already prejudged the case by pinning a wounded soldier's medal on PNP senior inspector Samson Belmonte.

Will GMA order an investigation or will she just take responsibility?

HEH.