Blogger finally forced me to switch

to the new blogger.

UPDATED: Darlene Antonino-Custodio vs. Manny Pacquiao

It's like David vs. Goliath in the political arena.

Darlene's clearly the underdog here, kahit na baguhan pa lang si Manny Pacquiao, dahil sa popularidad nito.

This is another proxy war between Mike Arroyo and his enemies. Mike Arroyo also has Lito Lapid running for Mayor in Makati vs. Binay.

In the first place, most of Pacquiao's fans are against Pacman's running for Congress, dahil hindi raw niya maasikaso ng husto ang boxing career niya. And many people are saying na he is only tarnishing his reputation even further by allowing himself to be used as a tool by the administration vs. the hated opposition member Darlene Custudio.

I have nothing against Pacquiao running for office. But I'd rather see him concentrate on his boxing career then venture into something he's not prepared for (at least not yet, anyway). maybe once you're retired manny, then most people would be more willing to see you in the political arena.

I think the people of Cotobato should do Manny a favor and not vote for him this election, because frankly most people would want to see him continue his boxing career. his boxing advisers and his own mother are against his foray into politics, but his political advisers seem to have more clout with Manny.

Anyway, Darlene is in the fight of her life. but I will root for her. I alwyas root for the underdog. And it would be a feel good story if Darlene knocks out Pacquiao in the political ring.

The win will be good for Darlene. And the loss will strangely enough, be good for Manny pacquiao too, so that he can concentrate on the things that make him truly great. Boxing.

Don't worry Manny. You're still young. No need to rush this thing.

And South cotobato will continue to be in good hands with Darlene Custodio.

UPDATE: The PDI editorial had this one dead on:

MANILA, Philippines-- Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao may feel that he’s doing the people of General Santos City a favor by running for Congress. He’s dead wrong. What he’s doing is adding to the scorecard of the millions of Filipinos so disenchanted by politics that they’re about to pack up their bags and leave for the moon or any place where there are no Filipino politicos. What he’s doing is sheer political opportunism that only aggravates Filipino cynicism about the irredeemability of Philippine politic

Manny Pacquiao also said he's willing to give up boxing if he wins. "If the law says so," sabi ni Manny. Not a categorical statement, but i'll take it.

But do we really want to see Manny become a politician, and an agent of the Mike Pidal and Chavit Singson? Or would we rather see him continue his great boxing career (and he hasn't reached his peak yet, i must say). Kulang na nga tayo sa mga sports heroes, tapos mawawala pa ito.

So here's the deal, if people want to see Manny focus on his boxing career, don't vote for Pacquiao.

If people care about Manny, don't vote for him. If people don't want to see Manny used as a political tool by Pidal, Singson and Maam Arroyo, don't vote for Manny.

Vote for Darlene, so that we Filipinos can continue to enjoy Manny Pacquiao's exploits in the ring. I believe there's enough in him to become boxing Champion again.

many people (actually most of his supporters, the people who really cared about him) are right, don't throw away your boxing career manny.

An online survey conducted by Pacquiao's website showed that 91 percent of his fans were opposed to his plan to join politics. Only 3.2 percent said yes, while 5.8 percent said "I don't care."

I do believe Manny has a future in politics one day, but not now. South Cotobato is being well represented by Darlene Custodio.

UPDATE: 1-M Signature campaign niluluto sa pagtakbo ni Pacquiao

From the Abante-Tonite:

Maglulunsad ng signature campaign ang kampo ni People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao upang kontrahin ang kanyang mga kritiko na kontra sa pagtakbo sa Kongreso ng boksingerong idolo ng masa.

Ito ang impormasyong nakalap ng TONITE kung saan isang milyong signature umano ang balak na kalapin ng mga supporters ni Pacquiao na sisimulan anumang araw ngayon.

Layunin ng naturang signature campaign na ipakitang marami pa ang nagtutulak kay Pacquiao na tumakbo bilang congressman sa unang distrito ng South Cotobato.

Nabatid na isasagawa ang signature campaign sa Metro Manila at iba pang bahagi ng bansa dahil kung aasa lamang ito sa mga residente ng naturang distrito ay hindi aabot sa isang milyon ang makakalap na lagda.

Ayon kay South Cotobato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, umaabot lamang sa 250,000 ang botante sa kanyang distrito kaya malamang na hindi sa kanilang lugar mangangalap ng lagda ang mga supporters ni Pacquiao kundi sa ibang lugar tulad ng Manila.

"Wala akong ideya sa impormasyon na iyan pero kung sakali, baka hindi sa district ko sila mangangalap ng lagda dahil more or less two hundred fifty thousand lang ang botante sa amin," ayon kay Antonino-Custodio.

Ayon naman sa impormante, gagawin ng kampo ni Pacquiao ang signature drive dahil sa kaliwa’t kanang batikos na inaabot ng People’s Champ sa desisyon nitong kumandidato sa Kongreso.

Subalit naniniwala ang impormante na mahihirapan ang kampo ni Pacquiao na makakuha ng isang milyong lagda dahil lahat ng mga bumabatikos sa pagpasok nito sa pulitika ay ang kanya mismong mga tagahanga.

"Kung dadayain ang signature baka sobra sa isang milyon ang makukuha nila. Kung malinis, baka walang lalagda kasi nais pa ng kanyang mga fans na ipagpatuloy niya ang kanyang boxing career at naniniwala ang mga tao na wala siyang magagawa sa Kongreso," ayon sa impormante.

And the true fans of Manny Pacquiao could also launch a similar signature campaign to urge Manny not to run and ask him to continue concentrating on his boxing career instead of being used as a tool by the ARroyos, Lito Atienza and Chavit Singson.

I'm sure more than 3 to 5 times pa yung signatures na makukuha sa "Please don't go into Politics, Manny" signature campaign kaysa sa "Run, Manny, Run" sig campaign ng mga Atienzas at Malacanang.

The Petilla-Montano Switcheroo

Can Montano replace Petilla after the Feb. 12, 2007 deadline for the filing of candidacies?

From Ellen Tordesillas:

Team GMA spokesman Ace Durano announced the withdrawal of Petilla and the entry of actor Cesar Montano to the ticket.

Durano said Petilla has decided to run for re-election as governor after his mother, Rep. Remedios Petilla, decided to retire from politics.

Durano said since Petilla was from Lakas, it was also the party that chose Montano. He said geography was also a consideration. Petilla is from the Visayas. So is Montano.

Naku, hindi ba bawal ito? kung ginawa ito ng opposition, hindi papayagan yan ng administration! Magiingay si Romulo Makalintal niyan at mapapahiya ang Opposition.

I believe the admin thinks it made a bad choice with Petilla and don't want to be stuck with him, and i don’t believe Petilla's reason na magre-retire ang nanay niya kaya siya dapat tumakbo bilang governor ulit. the admin just thought petilla is a bad candidate. and now they’re bending the rules to get ahead of the opposition.

i think the admin panicked. but at the same time it is flouting and violating the rules of fair play.

the comelec should be strongly criticized if they allowed this kind of crap.

first, it’s the nuisance candidate bullshit with cayetano, now this.

UPDATE: WTF, Cesar Montano filed his candidacy only today, Feb. 16.

But the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy for senatorial positions was on Feb. 12, 2007. lampas na ng apat na araw si montano.

The Comelec said that the filing of certificates of candidacy and manifestation of intent to participate in party-list election starts on Jan. 15, 2007 and ends on Feb. 12, 2007. The filing of certificates of candidacy for senatorial positions and for those who intend to participate in the party-list polls will end on Feb. 12, 2007.

If this kind of crap is allowed, is it possible for the opposition to say... replace a candidate like John Osmena, Trillanes or Kiko Pangilinan too if the opposition decided to?

UPDATE: Matanong lang, mga readers, when did mr. montano became a member of LAKAS-NUCD? and is petilla allowed to run for governor if he withdrew from the senate race?

UPDATE: Maybe this has something to do why Guv Petilla dropped out:

Team GMA’s campaign manager, my friend Reli German, says his 12-man slate will not hold public rallies. Instead, they will present their "platform" via power point to mayors and other local officials. He said public rallies are like preaching to the believers, who are merely hauled to the town plaza by their mayors. So now they will just preach to the bought. They will razzle-dazzle the bought with their power-point promises. And provided the money comes to greasy palms, their Team GMA will be carried in the sample ballots which their NPO or its sub-contractors, will be printing. Neat.

"Gusto naming itaas ang antas ng kampanya", Reli keeps mouthing on TV and the radio. He, he, he.

Ikaw naman Reli, baka naman takot lang kayong humarap sa taong bayan. And pray tell, why should the team leader, manager, producer all rolled into one, La Gloria misma, be excluded from your campaign trail?

They desperately needed a "crowd drawer" and panicked. So they handpicked Cesar Montano to do the job.

Mike Defensor reads Ellen's blog

Defensor admitted this to Ellen:

Mike Defensor, told me Tuesday night that he reads this blog.

He complained, “Grabe naman Ellen, yung blog mo. panay banat.”

I said, “siyempre, maraming dapat ikagalit sa mga ginagawa nyo.”

As a parting shot, he told me, “Positive naman ha.”

I said, “I’m always positive. I advocate truth and justice.”

He said, “Naloko na.”

Now, sino kaya sa mga commenters ni Ellen si Mike Defensor? is it anthony scalia? hindinapinoy? we-will-never-learn?

=========

Maceda reveals the behind the scenes negotiation with the Wednesday Group. Sabi nya:

MR. EXPOSE
02/15/07, Tribune

Now you know. For six weeks, Senators Ralph Recto and Joker Arroyo kept Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. and detained President Erap waiting and hanging.

Now, the story is out that during the month of January, Senator Recto got P150 million in “pork barrel” for Batangas released and another P150 million for other parts of the country. What a sharp cookie. He certainly put one over Manny Villar and Kiko Pangilinan, keeping them hanging while negotiating terms with GMA.

Joker Arroyo said one reason he can’t join the UNO was that the opposition coalition included Lt./SG Sonny Trillanes IV, a rebel, in its slate. But the fact is, Joker had joined Team GMA before UNO even announced Trillanes. What a shallow alibi.

IIRC, there were 4 slots remaining in the Grand Coalition for the Wednesday Group, after the first 8 candidates were named (Roco later Replaced JV, but 4 slots still remained for the recto, joker et al).

If all four members of the Wednesday group agreed to become part of the Grand coalition, coseteng and trillanes would not have been picked. I thought Trillanes and Coseteng were last minute replacements after Joker and Recto went to the dark side.

I agree when Maceda says Joker's reasoning is shallow. I'll go further and say that joker's excuse is BS. and jokers knows it.

Adminstration uses dirty tricks against Cayetano

I'm sure naalala nyo yung fake documents ni Ricardo Manapat sa National Archives at ang COMELEC dagdag bawas operations laban kay FPJ. Now here's another one, this time against Cayetano. Dapat lahat ng opposition candidates should stand up and defend Cayetano. Make this a big issue. Questionable itong ginawa ng COMELEC na seryosohin ang nuisance candidacy ni Joselito Pepito Cayetano, who's being managed by Oliver Lozano, a known Arroyo tool. But then again, what can you expect from Arroyo's COMELEC?

And as long as this issue is not settled, the opposition, especially mr. binay, adel tamano and others should make a big stink out of it--even if they have to do it on a daily basis. (especially binay. Remember when he was ganged up by the administration goons on false charges? if people didn't come together and defended binay, he would have been removed from his office by now.) They have every right to hold the administration accountable for this vile tactic and clear pandaraya from the administration (and let's not kid ourselves, the administration is behind it.) If people don't stand up now and condemn this blatant panggagago by Pidal and Arroyo's minions, you can be sure na madadaya na naman ang mga anti-arroyo candidates.

Despite obvious indications that Joselito Pepito Cayetano is a nuisance candidate out to ruin all “Cayetano” votes for Alan Peter Cayetano, Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos said they cannot disqualify the former because he was sponsored by a Comelec-registered party, Kilusan ng Bagong Lipunan.

Alan didn’t mince words and attributed to Mike Arroyo the dirty tricks.

The Malacañang connection is bolstered by the statement by presidential legal counsel Sergio Apostol that between Joselito and Alan, it could even be Alan who is a nuisance candidate because Joselito filed ahead of Alan.

It will be recalled that Mike Arroyo tried but failed to have Alan Peter expelled from the House of Representatives for exposing that there’s a multi-million dollar deposit in a German bank that is connected with the Arroyos.

The signs that Joselito Pepito Cayetano is a nuisance candidate:

1. His name is Joselito but he listed his nickname as “Peter”.He was accompanied by lawyer Oliver Lozano when he filed his COC last Sunday. Since then, he is not available for interview. He is reportedly a marine engineer from Davao.

Lozano, who is known as a tool of the Arroyos, said in any media interview with Joselito, he has to be accompanied by a lawyer. Isn’t that strange for a senatorial candidate?

2. Cayetano said initial investigation in Davao showed that a barangay captain put up a bvanner at Sasa wharf, “We support Joe Cayetano”.

Joselito’s place of residence is a property of the Philippine Coast Guard. Neighbors declined to be interviewed. They said he left the place two weeks ago and he has not been heard since then.

If the issue between this mysterious Joselinto and Alan peter is not resolved, all “Cayetano” votes will be invalidated.

Again, if the opposition doesn't defend cayetano and fight the cheaters in malacanang and the COMELEC NOW, they will lose this elections.

More: Read this too from de Quiros and Sassy Lawyer on the why the Arroyos resorted to this PLAN B.

UPDATE: the arroyo defenders and candidates will say na cayetano deserves this for picking a fight with mike Arroyo. but whatever little "moral high ground" pidal and administration had against alan is gone now with this manapat/garci/lozanoesque stunt of theirs.

Arroyo prefers it scripted and stage-managed

I was planning to post something about this. Pero nakalimutan ko lang.

It's about Arroyo getting pikon during a Q and A portion with the media because they asked her some tough political questions. Bush gets asked some tough political questions too, especially on iraq, plamegate etc., pero cool lang siya. Because if he acted like the way arroyo did, mas lalong bababa pa ang tingin ng publiko at media sa kanya.

But arroyo on the other hand, seems to be able to stage-manage and hold scripted media events, where there are the media is only allowed to ask certain questions approved by malacanang. We've seen this before already. The disappointing thing is that there are certain number of pro-Arroyo media types (philstar, manila standard) that are willing to to malacanang's line.

Arroyo loses cool in roundtable discussion with media

By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s infamous temper flared up once more when she abruptly ended an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer in front of a stunned audience which included three Cabinet Secretaries and an official of the International Monetary Fund.

Click here for GMATV’s video report.

President Arroyo was nettled by repeated questions on why the benefits of a spectacular economic growth had not trickled down to the grassroots. She blew her top even before the Inquirer could finish what turned out to be the brief interview’s final question: “Isn’t it a concern for you ma’am that the billionaires during the time of Marcos and Ramos are also the same billionaires now?”

“Those are political questions, Gil. Thank you. That’s the end, thank you. I said it’s (just) follow up questions here. Thank you. And good luck to you in the Senate and in the defense. Ok thanks,” said the President who pushed back her chair before leaving. She left in a huff after saying brief thank yous to her guests that included newly appointed Presidential Chief of Staff Joey Salceda, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, and IMF country representative Reza Baquir.

I don't really see anything wrong with Gil's question. In fact, it's such a softball question compared to the queries the Bush administration is getting from an aggressive White House press corp on a daily basis.

I don't see the point of malacanang holding a press conference or interview with the media if there are certain questions that are off limits. If many in the malacanang's press corp are willing to abide by the restrictions imposed by the malacanang on certain questions to gain more access to arroyo, then they are witting tools being played by this administration to shape and spin the news. And they should be ashamed to call themselves journalists.

A few minutes after leaving in a huff through the back door, the President came back and approached the Inquirer to give her answer. “We will not grow rich by pulling the rich down but by pulling the poor up.. We should be bringing up everybody else…spread the wealth that way. That’s my answer to you,” said the President who made another quick exit.

The President’s outburst was typical of her disdain of the media since she took power in 2001.

She is believed to be the least accessible of all Philippine presidents, preferring to let her Cabinet men – specifically Bunye, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and former Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor — to explain and defend her government.

Nagpahabol pa si maam arroyo. Somebody from her cabinet must have given her this snappy comeback to use against Gil, or texted it to her after nag-walkout si maam, because Arroyo is not known for her sharp and quick responses to tough unscripted questions. Clinton's good at it, and so is Erap, but not Maam. And i would have been more impressed if she answered gil's comments on the spot during the Q and A in front instead of getting pikon for such a softie question.

Besides, the real story is that the middle class is in big trouble. This is a new development because of the exponentially higher costs of living (e.g. have you seen your electricity bills lately?), taxes and stagnant salaries. to the point na more and more of the middle class are becoming poor themselves and can't afford many things anymore. we are not creating enough decent paying jobs in this country, because of investors find to doing business here too costly and expensive. kaya nagsi-alisan na ang mga karamhinan sa middle class at mga "nouveau poor" just to find work overseas. because the only decent jobs available left that the admin likes to crow about are the call centers, and the poor and the majority of the middle class are at a disadvantage competing against overqualified lasalle and ateneo english speaking grads for a frickin entry-level job (albeit a high paying one).

More commentary from Neal Cruz:

In the first place, why did she invite the reporters if she didn’t want to answer questions? Reporters are a very inquisitive lot. By keeping herself away from the press for so long, the President only increases the press people’s inquisitiveness. Have you noticed that it is Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita who have been briefing the press? GMA has been shying away from the media more and more since the “Hello Garci” scandal. She still cannot answer that one, so better “No talk, no mistake.”

And yet GMA pines for more positive publicity. She complains that the press is not publishing the accomplishments of her administration. But how will the press know those achievements if she hides from the press? Tinatarayan pa.

She wants to have a good press but she treats the press badly. During a press conference, she imposes the condition that no political questions should be asked. No political questions during the campaign period of a political year? When the whole nation eats, breathes and thinks politics? And she herself goes all over the country to shake hands and deliver speeches—in other words, play politics.

What GMA is trying to do is manipulate the press in her favor. That, she will never succeed in doing. To paraphrase a famous saying: She can fool some of the press people all the time, and fool all of them some of the time, but she cannot fool all of them all the time.

Read the whole thing.

Joker Arroyo asks public to "take a chance" on GMA administration

But Joker made this remark back in May 2004:

SENATOR JOKER Arroyo called on voters to take a chance on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo despite persistent allegations of corruption against her, instead of betting the next six years on actor Fernando Poe Jr. whom he described as "just plain hopeless."

"Corruption can be contained or blocked and, if need be, a President can be impeached for that. On the other hand, there is no cure for a bumbling president who doesn't have the intellectual wherewithal for leadership," Arroyo said in a statement.

He said a president could not be impeached for stupidity. "There is no clear constitutional remedy for that situation. We just have to bear with him for six years."

So 2007 na ngayon, wala na si FPJ, and we now know with certainty na not only is the ARroyo admin corrupt (pidal, IMPSA, PHILHEALTH, Bolante), but ninakaw rin ng COMELEC at military ang nakaraang presidential elections para kay Arroyo. at wala pa rin sa mga corrupt officials na akusado sa pandaraya at corruption ang napaparusahan.

Joker said Arroyo can be removed via impeachment for corruption, but why isn't he asking for Arroyo's resignation or impeachment, and instead kumampi na naman ulit sa kanya? he did call for erap's resignation and headed the prosecution's impeachment team vs. the previous president, hindi ba?

but it seems that joker is asking us one more time "to take a chance" on the Arroyo government.

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."

— President George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

"Ubusin ang mga Corrupt" Joker becomes main spokesperson for Team Arroyo

Napansin ko na Joker has been taking a more active role as spokesperson for Team Arroyo (even more than Mike Defensor) now that sided with Arroyo's Kampi.

It makes good sense because Mr. Arroyo is perceived by civil society to be an "independent" and a "maverick."

Joker attacked the opposition for having Trillanes in their slate:

Senator Arroyo said the opposition's inclusion of detained Navy Lt. Antonio Trillanes IV in its senatorial slate proved its support for unconstitutional means of changing the government. Trillanes is facing charges for his role in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny.

But the funny thing is, yung arroyo administration at si Mike defensor mismo gusto ring isama si Trillanes sa Unity Ticket nila dati, as long as trillanes will support the administration programs and unification efforts.

Trillanes said negotiations are now ongoing for him to join the slate of the United Opposition.

“I am open to the opposition’s invitation,” he said.

The administration also approached him and is convincing him to run under its ticket, he said.

Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor said those want to be included in the administration slate should agree to help the administration in realizing the goals and programs it has set until 2010.

Defensor also said that Trillanes, by filing his COC, showed he still believes in the election process.

He also said Trillanes’ decision to run is better than resorting to violence or illegal means to effect reforms.

He said Malacañang is not worried that Trillanes might win.

I agree with defensor. i'd rather see him fight his battles in the political arena than participate in a coup. If the admin and defensor are willing to include trillanes sa unity ticket nila, why are some admin candidates now complaing about trillanes ngayong nasa opposition na siya? why don't you complaing about the juetenglord/hoodlum chavit in your ticket, joker boy?

And read this challenge issued by joker to the opposition too. DJB exposed joker's hypocrisy there. then read this. and this comment by ricelander.

UPDATE: Joker and Recto defends their record in the senate:

We fought the Venable contract which involved American money to change the Constitution. We fought the People’s Initiative to do the same. We fought the emasculation of Congress by EO 464 and put the PCGG back under the law when it tried to rise above it. We fought Proclamation 1017, which curtailed freedom of assembly and freedom of the press.

Err... about the Venable contract deal, hindi ba ginago lang kayo ni norberto gonzalez, at pinakawalan nyo siya?

This is another example na walang napaparusahang big fish sa arroyo admin, it's because of this kind of attitude, joker:

SENATORS Panfilo Lacson and Ramon Magsaysay Jr. yesterday asked the Blue Ribbon committee to reopen its investigations on the controversial Venable LLP lobby contract now that national security adviser Norberto Gonzales has returned to work.

But committee chairman Sen. Joker Arroyo said there is no need to reopen the investigation since the contract has already been terminated, and with only Gonzales as a resource person, resuming hearings would be a "waste of time."

Waste of time, huh? But Joker, don't you want to know what really happened and who were the other players involved in the controversial and highly anomalous Venable contract deal? ayaw mo bang maparusahan ang mga taong involved dito?

You say the issue is over because the contract has already been terminated. Ya, it was only terminated after they were caught by PCIJ.

Eh paano kung hindi sila nahuli? And are you certain na terminated na talaga ang kontrata?


UPDATE: More on joker arroyo from Ellen. Money quote:

Naala-ala ko noong imbestigasyon ng Senado ng Oakwood mutiny, tinanong ni Trillanes kay Joker, kung ano ang diperensya ng ginawa nila at ng Edsa Dos?

Sabi ni Joker, “we won”. Nanalo kami.

Ah, dapat pala manalo ka para ma-legitimize ang unconstitutional overthrow. Jose Pidal should know that too.

Anyway, read the whole Ellen article.

Tito Sotto: FPJ would have support my decision to join Team Arroyo

From GMA7:

Would Sotto feel comfortable campaigning with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the administration’s kickoff campaign in Cebu? “I’ve already said what I’ve said before. If we will remain (concerned about) the past, we will never prosper…we will never be able to reconcile. In the future we can still reconcile…I have to respect the alliance…." Sotto replied in Filipino.

Sotto also dismissed the results of earlier surveys that placed him on the number two position when he was still under the opposition and down to number five when he joined NPC.

“I don’t believe in that. Surveys are not the Bible. That’s not accurate… I’ve always been on top five and that’s it….The true survey is on May 14."

Sotto said that if Poe were alive today, “he would support my decision".

“Wherever FPJ goes, he gets angry when somebody criticizes GMA (President Arroyo)….FPJ doesn’t want pouring scorn on people," added Sotto in Filipino.

How did you know that FPJ would have supported your decision? Mindreader ka ba? Did Susan Roces wholeheartedly support your decision to switch to the dark said? It's too bad, cuz if you stuck with the Opposition, you would have been in their senate slate (but probably not Tessie Oreta.)

And the other thing i don't understand is your reason for switching sides. When you were still with the opposition at inaayos pa ang coalition in the early stages, you gave the Wednesday group a hard time because they're not the "real oppositon." You were against kiko pangilinan's inclusion, kaya hindi mabuo buo kaagad ang coalition ng mga senate bets.

There was also resistance to Pangilinan, particularly from Sotto’s camp, but this, too, has been set aside, the source adds.

it has been set aside because all right, but you probably left the opposition because of this, didn't you?

i can understand why you would not want pangilinan on the opposition "unity ticket," but to later turn around and join the administration's own "unity ticket" is the biggest kalokohan and flipflop i've ever heard.

napaka-hardline mo nung nasa opposition ka. but now you're talking about "reconciliation" and "unity"? sorry tito, but me not buying it.

join maam Arroyo, tito? the person who cheated your bet. The person who ordered her dirty tricks dept. at the National Archives to manufacture fake documents to show na hindi pilipino si fpj. that arroyo? unbelievable.

Voting Straight for the Opposition

Sabi ni Ellen:

I’m not sold on Pangilinan and Coseteng. But okay lang yun. I will just support 8.

Sabi ni Schumey:

We don’t actually need to vote for the 12, let’s support who we feel are the deserving ones.

I respect their opinions, but I myself will vote straight for the Opposition. Not a single administration or Arroyo candidate. It's my protest vote. MLQ3 is voting all opposition too, including shaiman and cvj.

I think the Opposition tried it's best to expand it's tent and include as many diverse candidates as possible. the opposition is not as well funded (taxpayer funded) as the administration, and they don't have as much access to gov't jets and helicopters during the campaign. but they did a good job of presenting a better set of candidates than the administration.

I believe this election is about sending a message. it's about hello garci. It's about accountability and changing the culture of corruption and pork barrel politics in Malacanang. Sending 7 or more Opposition bets is nice, but i'd rather send them all to the senate and shut out the administration.

And yes, unless kiko says something REALLY STUPD during the campaign, i'd rather have pangilinan there than defensor or recto.

if UNO manages to get many of it's bets elected, including pangilinan, trillanes, and osmena, it's get partial credit for that. and that would also mean one less candidate for the "United Arroyo" team.

So i'll vote for all of them come election day.

Benigno Aquino III
Allan Peter Cayetano
Anna Dominique Coseteng
Francis Escudero
Panfilo Lacson
Loren Legarda
John Osmeña
Francis Pangilinan
Aquilino Pimentel III
Sonia Roco
Antonio Trillanes IV
Manuel Villar, Jr.

Joker Arroyo, most "effective" fiscalizer???

From Rego:

May ask what are teh issue that Joker palyed so dumbed during his 6 years in the congress? becuase find him the most effective and most objective fiscalizer of the Gloria administration together with Jun Magsaysay and Teddy boy Locsin.

I disagree. during 2001-2004 (before hello garci), joker-- who chaired the blue ribbon cmte.-- was one of GMA and mike arroyo's biggest defenders. he helped stonewall and coverup for pidal during the senate hearings. as blue ribbon cmte chairman, sabi ni joker na bawal raw ang ebidensiya ni lascon vs. pidal kahit na xeroxed o "authenticated" copies yung mga documento o tseke. kailangan raw original copies. but in order to get the originals, mike arroyo and the banks will have to voluntarily give up such documents, which they didn't.

maganda sana kung under oath sabihin ng bank officials kung galing sa original ang mga xeroxed na tseke at documento na yan o hindi. pero "the real pidal" iggy was allowed to invoke his "right to privacy" kaya wala ring nangyari.

for those who didn't remember, those who approved of iggy's "right to privacy" were the "pidal 10" (kinda like the "craven 11") which included joker, noted, recto, noli etc.

Joker also used his blue ribbon committee against ARroyo's enemies. He used his blue ribbon cmte to conduct a three year investigation on victor corpus' expose of lacson's "hidden billion dollar accounts" in the US and rosebud's and ador mawanay's narcopolitics-gate. pero even wala rin. Pinagtawanan lang ng citibank yung bank account numbers ni corpus at blanquita pelaez. The US gov't, thru the justice dept. and the DEA, accomodated the RP's request to investigate lacson's hidden bank accounts and the narcopolitics issue, pero wala rin. tapos pinagalitan pa ng US justice dept. via kyle latimer ang NBI natin under wycoco.

nung sumabog lang ang gloriagate atsaka lang naging "less" pro-arroyo si arroyo. pero tahimik lang siya sa isyu na election rigging, unlike noong panahon ni erap re the corruption issues.

so he joined hands with the opposition on the issues defending the senate against arroyo attacks, pero the most season observers will notice na kampi pa rin si joker kay mr. at mrs. arroyo pagdating sa jose pidal at hello garci.

And in the end, sumama rin siya sa administration, the same admin na gustong i-abolish and senado at itulak ang CON-ASS.

so does that mean na payag na rin siya dito, para lang may access siya sa gov't campaign funds at helicopter accomodations?

UPDATE: Sabi sa statement ni joker at ni ralph recto:

Why then should we not run again in the administration Senate slate? It has never tried to undermine our independence or bind our conscience or stand in the way of what we believed had to be said and done. It has respected if it did not always enjoy our roles as senator.

er... how about EO 464? how about malacanang's attempt to abolish the senate?

(UPDATED) Bakit tahimik lang Demaree Raval?

I wonder what Demaree Raval thinks of Angara, Sotto and Oreta's defection to FPJ's rival? What does he think of his boss Angara (plus Oreta and Sotto) now cavorting with the person who cheated their manok FPJ? nakalimutan na ba ni angara ang nakaraan?

Hanggang ngayon, tahimik pa Demaree siya dito sa isyung ito. pero madalas ang banat niya sa opposisyon sa tribune column niya, lalo na kay kiko noted. pero again, bakit tahimik lang siya sa pangtra-traidor ni Angara?

UPDATE: Here's Raval's latest article attacking the opposition (UNO) on having Pangilinan.

Three Points:

1) Demaree keeps attacking the opposition for having pangilinan, but between Angara (demaree's boss) and Kiko Pangilinan, Pangilinan was "more anti-Arroyo" and "more Anti-admin" than Angara in the last 2 years after Gloriagate. Strange, but it's true. Pangilinan called for Arroyo's resignation and supported the move to impeach her, something Angara did not do (altho i do admit that the last time pangilinan made the resignation call was way back in 2005, and that he hasn't done it enough, IMO.) And worse, Angara pursuaded some of his LDP congressman to junk the 1st impeachment complaint vs. Arroyo. If that's not a pang tra-traidor on Angara's part, I don't know what is. And Pangilinan was also against Arroyo's CON ASS, which angara supported and embraced.

But being "more anti-Arroyo" than Angara isn't really saying a lot though. But still, I believe in redemption. I believe in giving people a second chance, as lang as they've learned from their past mistakes.

Having said that, Demaree's right to be scandalized about Kiko's Noted performance. So I think Pangilinan should be man enough to apologize (if he hasn't done so yet) to Susan Roces if he sees her in public, because it's the right thing to do.

2) Your boss is a liar, Demaree. Sabi nya na ayaw raw niyang sumali sa Opposisyon, na kung bibigyan raw siya ng slot hindi nya tatanggapin.

But in a separate interview, Angara stressed he will not be part of the forces of UNO in taking a bid for another six-year term in the chamber or even seek a slot in its 12-man senatorial slate.

“I’m not talking with anyone from UNO to ask for a slot or a place or any other party…Maybe I am not that great to get a slot under any ticket but I have an option if I really want to, and that is an honest option.

“If the third party will succeed in being formed, that would be the middle way and I will run under that slate,” he said, stressing he is not even interested or toying with the idea of asking favors from detained President Joseph Estrada to secure a slot in UNO.

Is that so? Nakalimutan na ba nya itong previous statement nya, where galit na galit siya na hindi siya isinama sa opposisyon ticket?

SEN. Edgardo Angara yesterday took a dig at minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. for claiming that candidates from the former’s Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino might not be included in the opposition coalition ticket, saying that he remains an oppositionist.

Angara said the question of who or which party would compose the opposition coalition in preparation for next year’s midterm elections should be resolved "quietly."
.....

Pimentel earlier said Angara should make up his mind on whether he would stay in the opposition.

"I really don’t know where his canoe will take him – to the high seas or to the Sierra Madre. But kidding aside, he will have to make up his mind, first and foremost, because I’m not too sure that the opposition will go out of its way and make invitations to prospective candidates," he said.

Knowing what we know now, tama pala si Pimentel re Angara. The Internets do not forget.

Demaree commented on his boss' reaction re the Opposition's Unity ticket that included kiko, recto, and villar back in dec. 10, 2006:

Sen. Edgardo Angara, president of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), was not off the mark when he decried the announcement of a unity ticket for the Senate in the May 2007 elections as a bit premature because it lacked the necessary groundwork for a united opposition.

Not that Angara was sourgraping, that he was excluded from the list or that the LDP was not even mentioned as a party to the coalition. It is the fact that the makeup of the ticket simply does not offer an alternative to the Filipino people. Which is not intelligent politics at all. Expectedly, the premature announcement by the spokesman of former President Joseph Estrada has only served to confuse and sow distrust among the members of the opposition.

Hah, pero in the end, sumali si Angara sa Unity ticket ng administration. and it's ridiculous to hear from him this talk of alternatives, when sila ni angara ang tumulak kay FPJ na maging presidente.

More from demaree:

The LDP has been wrongly branded a company union of the government, principally on the canard that Angara has been dancing the Charter change (Cha-cha) with Arroyo. But then again, this is a fabrication, belied strongly by Angara’s public statements against the Con-ass espoused by Speaker Jose de Venecia.

:rolleyes:

Actually, ayaw raw niyang sumali sa Opposition at Administration ticket. It's either "third force" o magre-retire na lang siya. yan ang sabi nya dati, demaree:

SEN. Edgardo Angara yesterday said he is prepared to give up his reelection bid if efforts to field a "Third Force" or "People’s Choice" do not prosper.

Angara said he would be happy to retire after spending 17 years in the Senate, or a total of 30 years in public service.

Angara, president of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, has been left out in the list of United Opposition senatorial aspirants. Reports said he is being wooed by Malacañang to run under the administration ticket.
.....
"But if I decide to run, my preferred scenario is for the core of the ticket to be composed of incumbent senators who will run as an independent mainstream party. Independent of administration, independent even of the opposition," he said.

"We can be free-thinking agents who will support bills, not because it’s partisan, not because it’s political but because it’s for the country. That’s my preferred (scenario)," he added.

If there is no such "independent ticket," Angara said, "I need not run."

He ruled out the possibility of the LDP going it alone.

He also ruled out joining the administration party or brokering for the administration the inclusion of former senators Loren Legarda and Vicente Sotto III in the administration ticket.

Hahaha... ang galing talagang magsalita si Angara. Which leads me to the third point...

3) If Angara, FPJ's campaign manager, is willing to join forces with the Kiko Pangilinan and the Wednesday group to form a "third farce" party, does that mean na hindi na rin siya galit kay Sen. Pangilinan for what he did during the 2004 canvassing? Would he have complained about pangilinan's inclusion in the opposition ticket kung kasama pa si manong angara sa UNO?

Arroyo admin wants out of Transparency International corruption survey

Another great idea! Katulad ng mga window dressing moves ng admin na ito pagdating sa unemployement at poverty numbers! Why did the previous erap administration not think of this? brilliant fucking idea!

From the Tribune:

To solve the utterly dismal corruption perceptions rating of the country under President Arroyo’s administration, the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) had proposed to the global corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI) to drop the Philippines from its annual listing.

PAGC chairman Constancia de Guzman wrote TI chairman Huguette Labelle to complain about the perenially low ranking that the Philippines gets from TI on its annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), in which the country was ranked a lowly 121st of 163 countries in the 2006 list.

De Guzman, also questioned the integrity of the local TI chapter chairman Dolores Español.

“May we take the opportunity to bring to your attention and request for your position on the propriety of your TI chairperson for the Philippine Chapter, Retired Judge Dolores Español, acting as counsel to one of the top officials of the Philippines who was ordered dismissed by the Office of the President, per PAGC’s recommendations, for malversation charges,” according to De Guzman.

I guess Arroyo's PAGC is referring to this case:

In a press release, PAGC identified lawyer Dolores Español as the chairperson of Transparency International-Philippines and said she served as legal counsel of Jaime Dilag, chairman of the Philippine Racing Commission who was fired by Malacañang on PAGC's recommendation due to alleged malversation and misappropriation of public funds.

Asked if the PAGC was insinuating that the survey was questionable because Dilag's counsel was the head of Transparency International-Philippines, PAGC commissioner James Jacob said the information in their press release was simply a “statement of fact.”

So kung naging lawyer ka ng isang corrupt na official, corrupt o untrustworthy ka rin? is that the best that they can dig up against dolores espanol? yawn...

i guess if you don't like the survey, you shoot the messenger.

Anyway, back to the main story:

“We would like to be clarified if there are standards set by TI in Berlin, as regards how you could, in all honesty maintain objectivity, transparency and fairness, if your country representatives are not given clear mandates on what they should or should not do,” De Guzman wrote.

De Guzman also wrote a long-winded discussion of the supposed progress of the Arroyo administration in the fight against corruption claiming that the TI’s role in increasing awareness on the anti-corruption concerns for the Philippines has long been achieved.

“What we need now, is an honest to goodness assessment of how our anti-corruption programs are faring, and not the kind that is based on perception,” De Guzman added.

She inquired on the processes that the country can take to have it “de listed” from the CPI country coverage.

“We do acknowledge the influence that your reporting commands, but, we are of the belief that the process upon which such was prepared was devoid of an acceptable manner and accurate inputs,” she said.

De Guzman said the PAGC, an agency directly under the Office of the President, cannot allow “such work to tarnish our country’s image and dampen the spirits of our citizenry, thus, it would be best for the country to be de listed or omitted from your country coverage.”

Labelle in response to De Guzman’s letter, defended the objectivity of the method by which TI comes up with the annual CPI.

Labelle said the CPI does not reflect TI opinion but the expert opinion from the business and analyst communities.

“The findings of (TI’s) Global Corruption Barometer 2006 suggest that the general public in the Philippines has not yet begun to feel the positive impact of the PAGC’s work to curb corruption,” the letter said.

“In 2006, one question asked: ‘How would you assess your current government’s actions in the fight against corruption?’ In the Philippines, respondents answered: very effective, eight percent; effective, 13 percent; not effective, 31 percent; does not fight is at all, 23 percent; the government does not fight but actually encourages corruption, 25 percent. Further, three in 10 respondents who had contact with public institutions said that they had to pay a bribe for services,” Labelle added. Chito Lozada

Prediction: Tuloy ang "Third Farce" minus Angara

I don't think sasama ang Wednesday Group kay Angara. At si Villar na lang ang kailangan nilang "kumbinsihin":

MANILA, Philippines -- Only one of the members of a group of reelectionist senators remain unconvinced that they should all run under a common ticket, Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis Pangilinan, a member of the informal political club, said early Friday.

“At this point, three of the four have agreed to run under a common ticket and one of us remains unconvinced,” Pangilinan said of the Wednesday Group in a text message shortly after midnight.

Aside from Pangilinan, the other members are Vice President Noli De Castro, Senate President Manuel Villar, and Senators Joker Arroyo and Ralph Recto.

“We have failed to reach an agreement as a group at this time. It’s a stalemate. We have agreed that we will continue to try and ensure that, until the deadline of filing, our decision as a group is unanimous,” he said.

Ito naman ang version ng Tribune:

Kiko, Recto, Joker work on Villar to join GMA ticket

02/10/2007

The chances of the Senate’s so-called Wednesday Group joining the opposition forces have dimmed, and are seen as nil, as three of its members are no longer keen in seeking reelection under the United Opposition (UNO) and are now allegedly trying hard to lure the only remaining member who remains “unconvinced” about the idea of joining the administration ticket.

Speculation was rife, following a meeting last night by the group minutes before formally closing the plenary session proceedings of the chamber, that Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. might end up being the lone candidate among his reelectionist group to join UNO.

No consensus was reached during the meeting held at an undisclosed venue, which was also reportedly attended by Vice President Noli de Castro, the reason the senators – Villar, Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan, Senators Ralph Recto and Joker Arroyo – decided to hold talks again last night.

Pangilinan said “only one remains to be convinced.”

Mali yung basa ng Tribune. I think matutuloy ang "Third Farce" ng Wednesday Group, Manuel.

UPDATE: but wouldn't it be fun if binay and the other anti-arroyo groups can convince villar not to join the Wednesday Group's third farce party? kung hindi sumali si villar, eh di foiled ang plans nila kiko, joker at ralphie, di ba? lol. that's assuming of kors na "conflicted" talaga si villar. knowhatimsayin ;)

Adel Tamano is the UNO's new spokesperson

Ellen breaks another news: Adel Tamano will be UNO's spokesperson

Lawyer Adel Tamano has accepted the position of spokesman of the United Opposition.

Tamano is a partner in Kapunan Tamano Villadolid & Associates law office and assistant lecturer at the Institute of Law, Far Eastern University.

Even as the young Tamano has committed to help the UNO in the campaign for the May election, House Speaker Jose de Venecia was telling media that Tamano is in the administration senatorial ticket. How pathetic!

It's a high profile job, and at least mai-introduce na siya sa publiko. I think he's a rising star (from all the articles i've read about him) and a future leader of this country (like Barack Obama?, SANA!)

UPDATE: Here's a photo of Adel Tamano, along with Etta Rosales.

Intel relocating it's RP business to China and Vietnam?

I read this in Pinoyexchange. Hope this is not true. From the Wookie:

Chip manufacturer Intel Corporation is reported to be shutting down it's Microprocessor business in its plant in Cavite this 2007, transferring it to China. It's Flash Memory business (also in Cavite), appears to be moving out of the country also, if not sold altogether.

Just as Intel is increasing the size of its operations in Vietnam and China, it is downsizing its factory in the Philippines.

In terms of salary and tax incentives, the Philippines is no longer an attractive site for continued foreign investments. This P125 wage increase will only result to more jobless people.

we need to create more jobs within our country so that our kababayans don't have to leave their families to go work abroad to help cope with the increasingly high cost of living (kuryente, tubig, presyo ng bilihin).

gov't needs to reduce it's wasteful spending (eg. pork barrel spending, election related spending). They need to sacrifice. we need to give tax relief to the middle class and entrepreneurs to encourage them to start or expand their business. we need to lower to cost of doing business so that more foreign investments will come our way (or keep what we already have) instead of them relocating to china, vietnam, thailand, indonesia etc.

abolish pork barrel and wasteful political spending. reduce corruption. lower taxes.

UPDATE: Chiz Escudero: R-VAT not helping much

February 09, 2007 07:04 PM Friday
Chiz: RVAT not helping much
By: Jester P. Manalastas

THE Revised Value Added Tax should be reviewed since it has not contributed much to economic growth and has only become a burden to the people.

House Minority Leader Francis Escudero said even the elderly who depend only on their pensions have been greatly affected by the tax imposition since it has reduced their purchasing power.

“Despite VAT, the economic takeoff promised by President Arroyo did not materialize with the economy registering a GDP of only 5.4 percent in 2006 and 5.1 percent in 2005. What it did was to increase the misery of our people as even the poorest of the poor pay a 12 percent tax on every purchase, the same rate the richest of the rich do,” Escudero said in a statement.

He noted that VAT increased the cost of transportation, electricity and water services and drove up inflation rate to more than 6 percent, while most people’s income remained the same.

He said Congress should study a possible return to the progressive sales tax, where taxes are imposed on a graduated scale, from a low rate on basic necessities to high rates on luxury items.

UPDATE: Okay, here's another news that says na Vietnam got a cool $1 Billion investment from INTEL. Wow. Boo Chanco is disappointed, and offers his reasons kung bakit hindi napunta sa atin yang INTEL business na yan. He wrote the article a few days after Davos.

I had a very interesting lunch last week with pretty knowledgeable people on the subject of investment climate in ASEAN. Finally, I thought, I will have the opportunity to ask a question that had been bugging me since late last year when Intel announced it was investing $1 billion in a testing facility in Vietnam. It will be its largest such facility anywhere, one that could eventually employ as many as 4,000 people.

I thought all along we had the inside track on the Intel investment if only because they already have a similar but smaller facility in Cavite. Surely, I thought, at this stage of Vietnam’s development, we couldn’t be that worse off in terms of the usual things investors look for. Plus we had the advantage of long years of relationship with Intel, we are also more advanced in IT-related manufacturing, we are not communist and we speak English. But Vietnam still got that billion dollar investment. I want to know why we lost.

The consensus of my lunch group was simply, we didn’t fight for it. According to them, including one whose previous work involved selling the Philippines to potential investors, we were just not hungry enough.

I thought they were being very kind. My gut feel tells me the reason we lost a billion dollar potential investment is that the leadership in DTI is finding Ate Glue’s regime a tough sell to investors, beyond the cheap platitudes like that "expression of confidence in her economic reforms" that Malacañang said Intel’s Craig Barrett gave her at Davos.

Or, the DTI top honchos just don’t know how to sell the country as an investment destination, if their lives depended on it. Didn’t they just snub a group of potential German investors who were all set to listen to their pitch?

Read the whole thing. he ends the article with this:

Rudi Giuliani summed it up best: "Government has got to work in order to allow people to have confidence in it." It’s as simple as that. That’s how we lost a billion dollar investment. Ate Glue’s government doesn’t inspire confidence… lacks credibility. And that’s the sad truth whatever else they might have told her at Davos!

UPDATE: More from the tribune: Gloria's mediocrity

Who says the Gloria administration has failed to put the Philippines in the world map?

The Philippines under the Gloria administration had milestones that would be in the annals of history.

The Philippines now has the most unpopular President ever in the world’s political history. The Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) cited the Philippines as the most dangerous country for journalists. The country is perceived to be among the most corrupt in the world by Transparency International (TI) and the fourth most-corrupt country in Asia according to Hong Kong’s Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC). It is Asia’s biggest debtor. It is also one of the mostly restrictive economies according to the Heritage Foundation, and one of the world’s most uncompetitive economy, according to the World Economic Forum.

The country is also among the biggest exporters of labor in the world and has the most number of political killings.
....
The economy has been practically dependent on income sent from abroad by Filipinos. Such proxy economy cannot be a propellant to what Gloria deceives Filipinos into believing that spin of the country leaving its Third World status in 10 years, and crossing over to First World status.

No wonder the arroyo admin wants out of Transparency International's annual corruption survey.

To solve the utterly dismal corruption perceptions rating of the country under President Arroyo’s administration, the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) had proposed to the global corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI) to drop the Philippines from its annual listing.

PAGC chairman Constancia de Guzman wrote TI chairman Huguette Labelle to complain about the perenially low ranking that the Philippines gets from TI on its annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), in which the country was ranked a lowly 121st of 163 countries in the 2006 list.

JV Ejercito gives way to Sonia Roco

Ellen Tordesillas broke the news today:

San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, one of the candidates of the United Opposition, yesterday withdrew from the senatorial race.

One of UNO’s spokesman, Rufus Rodriguez, said Ejercito withdrew after consultation with his father, former President Estrada, for a broader, unified coalition.

Sources said JV is giving way for the entry of Sonia Roco, widow of former Sen. Raul Roco.

Rizalist made a follow up comment after reading the news: Put Kit Tatad in the slate too

Sonia Roco! That would be a brilliant if unexpected choice for Erap Estrada. Maybe he is not a stupid as some people thought. He ought to maybe put Kit Tatad in there too just to put an exclamation point on what may be an inspired decision. And to add some intellectual gravitasse to a slate just a tad light in that department.

UPDATE: Naalala ko yung partial list ng UNO:

1. Loren Legarda
2. Noynoy Aquino
3. Ping Lacson
4. Chiz Escudero
5. Allan Peter Cayetano
6. Koko Pimentel
7. John Osmeña
8. JV Ejercito

So JV is out, to be replaced by Sonia Roco. but there are still four slots remaining.

8. JV Ejercito Sonia Roco
9. Kiko Pangilinan??
10. Manny Villar??
11. ???
12. ???

Big name bloggers for Antonio Trillanes

Dean Jorge Bocobo likes Lt. Sg. Antonio Trillanes and hopes he wins a senate seat.

In a related development, Lt. Sg. Antonio Trillanes IV, leader of the Magdalo group of army officers who mutineed against high level corruption in the Military in 2003, has filed his Certificate of Candidacy for the Philippine Senate. I think his case must be carefully distinguished from that of Gringo Honasan, also under arrest for rebellion in the matter of the Oakwood Mutiny, who will also be running for the Senate. I hope Trillanes makes it, but not Gringo. Trillanes has a real cause which I think Gringo is only exploiting for his own aggrandizement.

Ang masasabi ko lang ay tama si Trillanes re the corruption and the need for reforms inside the military.

I think DJB's endorsement of Trillanes is a big deal for somebody like me who is not really all that excited about the Trillanes candidacy. And if this administration is willing to put a guy like Gringo Honasan in their "Unity Ticket", then this will boost Trillanes' viability as a candidate if he runs under the Opposition slate.

Ellen Tordesillas is for Trillanes too. Ito ang sabi nya sa senate selection ng opposisyon:

Mas maganda pa sana kung masama si Sonny Trillanes ng Magdalo. Ang kanyang programa ay labanan ang corruption sa military. Malaki na ang puhunan ni Trillanes para sa kanpakanan ng bayan. Hanggang ngayon ay nakakulong pa siya.

Ellen also reports that the arroyo administration has also approached Trillanes to run under the "United Administration":

Trillanes said negotiations are now ongoing for him to join the slate of the United Opposition.

“I am open to the opposition’s invitation,” he said.

The administration also approached him and is convincing him to run under its ticket, he said.

Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor said those want to be included in the administration slate should agree to help the administration in realizing the goals and programs it has set until 2010.

Defensor also said that Trillanes, by filing his COC, showed he still believes in the election process.

And last but not the least, si MLQ3, who did not endorse Trillanes, but said this:

The Senate race, with a week to go before the filing deadline arrives and the race truly begins, becomes even more frenzied in terms of jockeying horse trading. Last week, a PR person of Antonio Trillanes contacted me, asking if I’d be willing to meet him. I said, sure. I might, this week, but obviously it was in preparation for his senate candidacy. It will be interesting to find out why he’s running though. An officer I talked to recently (who didn’t side with the rebels) said applications to the Philippine Military Academy increased dramatically after the Oakwood Mutiny.

Hmmm...

NBA player John Amaechi is coming out of the closet

And he has a new book coming out too with the details:

He followed his time as a Cavalier with three years playing in Europe, where he dated and had a regular boyfriend for a time in England. He returned to the NBA in 1999 and was celibate until he went to the Jazz. His guaranteed contract with the Jazz set his mind at ease, and it was there that he began venturing out to gay establishments and building a mostly gay circle of friends (the first wide circle of friends of his life, according to the book). ...

The book also offers insight into the closed world of professional sports, including Amaechi's spirited and friendly political arguments with Karl Malone, what he called the betrayal of Orlando Magic management, kind words from former Indiana coach Bobby Knight, his regret that he never told Greg Ostertag, "the gentle big man" whom he respected, that he was gay when Ostertag asked him while they played together in Utah, his respect for then-Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, and his lack of respect for Jazz coach Jerry Sloan.

"Unbeknownst to me at the time," Amaechi wrote, "Sloan had used some anti-gay innuendo to describe me. It was confirmed via e-mails from friends who worked in high-level front-office jobs with the Jazz."

Question: Is he the first (ex) NBA player who's openly gay?

More on Lito Lapid

I've already pointed out Mike Arroyo's role in getting their puppet Lito Lapid to run for mayor of Makati. Madaldal kasi yung Sen. Lapid eh.

A few days ago, tinanong siya ng GMA7 kung kinumbinse siya ng mga Pidals na tumakbong mayor sa lungsod ng Makati. eto na ang sagot niya.

Meanwhile, Lapid denied seeking the Makati mayoralty post because of the orders of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, his cabalen (provincemate) from Pampanga.

He made no qualms, however, admitting that he would be delighted to receive political backing from the President.

"I asked permission from the First Couple ... When I ran for governor, nobody egged me to do it. It was my decision, not theirs," he said.

Nobody forced you to do it. But you had to get the First couple's permission first. Got it.

A suggestion for Lito Lapid: Having Mike Arroyo running your campaign could turn into an advantage for Lito lapid if he pakages his candidacy as a "Buy 1, Take 1". Meaning, if you vote for Lito Lapid, you get Mike Arroyo too. Jose Pidal will compensate for Leon Guerrero's lack of competence and smarts in running RP's financial center. And he'll advise Lito Lapid on how to run the city of Makati, para may peace of mind ang mga foreign businesses at investors na naka-locate sa makati. It could work!