Senators launch Gloria Quit Drive

Senators launch Gloria Quit drive

SENATORS led by Senate President Franklin Drilon yesterday launched a campaign aimed at forcing President Arroyo to resign.

"We don’t agree on many things. But here we are united in our call on our beloved President (to resign)," Drilon said at the launch which was attended by Senate staffers.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said, "It’s time President Arroyo followed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shrinawatra’s footsteps."

Thaksin the other day decided to step down after a by-election triggered by protests against corruption and abuse of power failed to secure for his party uncontested control of parliament. (See related story on Page 3)

Also present at the launching, which coincided with Arroyo’s 59th birthday, were Drilon’s wife Mila, Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and his wife Lourdes, and Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Jamby Madrigal and Sergio Osmeña III.

Other members of the 24-man chamber are set to join the campaign but are biding their time in making their sentiment public, sources said.

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Palace to use House reenacted budget to fund Cha-cha — solon

Malacañang has made more obvious its game plan — to have a new parliament by hook or by crook by July and a new Constitution in place — by having this year’s proposed national budget deliberately stalled to pave the way for its reenactment, effectively ensuring much-needed funding requirements in having the 1987 Charter amended.

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., finance committee chairman, during an interview, yesterday said this is clearly the plot hatched by the executive department and its congressional allies in having the proposed P1.05-trillion budget approved by the House of Representatives early morning yesterday, the last day of session before Congress goes on a five-week Lenten recess.

“I don’t believe in coincidence. Why approve it, have it turned over to the (Senate finance) committee on the last day of session? So technically, we can’t touch it (while it’s still not here in the Senate). And the only way to have it approved is by holding a special session,” the senator said even as he ruled out the possibility of special sessions mandated by laws to be called only by the Chief Executive, noting that President Arroyo is obviously against the passage of the budget.

“The mere fact that they gave me the budget today (April 5), means they don’t want to pass it. We have four weeks left before we go on the next round of regular sessions. There is no way in the world that they want this passed because it will take us four weeks to debate on it…they sat on it for eight months,” Villar noted.

The Arroyo admin loves them reenacted budgets, don't they?

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Ernie Maceda: Filipino vs Thai

The successful “people power” rallies in Bangkok, Thailand, raises valid questions as to the character of the Filipino vis-á-vis the Thai people.

The Thai economy is one of the best in Asia. The Thai baht is at a high 38-1 to the dollar. Foreign investments in Thailand are eight times more than the Philippines. Thailand has 11 million tourists to our two million. The Thai government handled the tsunami disaster efficiently, and yet on the issue of corruption, the three opposition parties were successful in uniting the people against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, thus causing his resignation.

Will this be a wake-up call for the Filipinos?

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From Black Friday Protest at the Thai Embassy:

Black Friday Bulletin # 6 - Pa-THAKSINin Na. Now Na!
Pa-THAKSINin Na. Now Na! FRIDAY PROTEST

Designated time and place of flash protest for April 7:

In front of the Thai Embassy (along Rada St., Legaspi Village, Makati) - 5:30 to 6:15 PM

For more info, click on the Black and White blog link.

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-- Luli's in the news yesterday.

And this is crazy stuff man...