Nameless group targets 9M new voters

By Philip TubezaPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 04:37:00 05/08/2009Filed Under: Elections, Youth,

Reprinted from the May 6, 2009 issue of The Philippine Star

Defensor to be blamed if Lozada is harmed
GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc Updated May 06, 2009 12:00 AM

The Manila police has moved ZTE scam whistleblower Jun Lozada from the warrant office to the detective jail. Acting chief Rodolfo Magtibay was dispelling rumors of treating special the popular Lozada, and so placed him in a real cell Monday. “He’s around common criminals,” moaned Sister Estrella Castalone, one of two-dozen nuns who have been bodyguarding Lozada since his aborted abduction in Feb. 2008. “General Magtibay assures us Jun will be safe ... but we do not know what will happen inside.” Given the state of Philippine jails, all the worst things can happen. Mike Defensor, who had charged Lozada with perjury, may be professing to want only to clear his name and not imprison him. But as a lawyer he knows that detention is a consequence of criminal suits. If harm befalls Lozada in jail, Defensor can only be blamed.

In fact Lozada fell ill minutes after being shoved into the company of killers and robbers. A doc had to be called in to check him for nausea. Low blood pressure and asthma also ail the former government consultant who confirmed the overpricing in the $329-million ZTE deal. A congested jail during Manila’s scorching summer isn’t the best place for a sickly 46-year-old to be in. Any untoward event will only highlight the injustice done him. Ever since Lozada revealed to the Senate last year the sordid details of the ZTE fraud, the Arroyo admin has slapped him and his wife with 16 court raps. Yet not one of those he had implicated — Gloria and Mike Arroyo, Romy Neri, Larry Mendoza, Peter Favila, Ben Abalos — has been indicted. Neither have those who bade or bribed him to evade or lie to senators — Defensor, Lito Atienza, Manuel Gaite. Ironically Lozada’s wife too has been sued for perjury, by the very police colonel he had accused of abducting him at the airport. More trouble arising from Lozada’s jailing will be bad for Defensor’s political career and incriminate his close pals, First Couple.

Even the judge trying Lozada’s perjury case thinks so. That’s why he is advising Defensor via a court notice to consider dropping the rap for his and the Arroyos’ sake. For if Defensor hasn’t weighed its outcome, the trial might cost him his political future, and the unease of the Arroyos being subpoenaed as witnesses.

Manila Judge Jorge Lorredo set Lozada’s arraignment for tomorrow. In the same memo, he set for Friday the police motion to transfer Lozada to the city jail and the Senate request for the detainee’s custody. The judge then took the opportunity to present some points for Defensor to ponder, like:

• Pressing the case would be political suicide because it could incite public hatred;
• It could cost Defensor his health, and make him suffer from serious ailment like Mike Arroyo “that he (Arroyo) is in no condition to attend Senate probes”;
• Lozada might call in the Arroyos as hostile witnesses, which would mean subpoenas being issued to compel them to appear in court;
• Failure to show up would mean issuing arrest warrants for the President and the First Gentleman; and
• If the police refuse to serve such warrants, the court might deputize other officials to do so, like Manila Mayor Fred Lim, or opposition Senators Ping Lacson and Antonio Trillanes IV. “They can arrest, handcuff, and put behind bars any fugitive.”

(Complete text of Judge Lorredo’s order at www.verafiles.org.)

* * *

Interestingly, while colleagues pillory Sen. Manny Villar for alleged financial fraud, his popularity continues to rise. In the latest SWS quarterly survey last Feb., he was still second to VP Noli de Castro as “best leader to succeed Arroyo in 2010.” It’s been that way since Sept. 2007.

MISSING THE ACTION by: Kiko Ortelano

CORY AQUINO

We will never have a president like her. (We also hope and pray that we will never have a president like the one that we currently have for the sake of our children and our children's children). Former president Cory is the epitome of a god-fearing, law-abiding national leader. Her principled stand on a lot of national matters will attest to her steel nerves. Her gutsy fight against her current medical condition is an inspiration to all the people of the world.

She also did well in raising her children. Her youngest may have fallen a few times during her younger years, but she has recovered very well from this too. Never did any one of Cory's (and the late NINOY) children were ever abusive because of their political and/or economic clout. Sadly, we can not say this of a lot of former and current family members of politicians.

Let us all pray for her recovery. Let us also pray that not only she recovers, but also for her to live a lot longer so younger generations of Filipinos will continue to see her as a living inspiration to us al.

ONE YEAR TO GO

Among Ed Panlilio basically has one year left in his current term as Governor of Pampanga. Contrary to the claims of a lot of his critics, the governor has achieved a lot in his almost two years stay at the capitol. He has instituted pioneering activities that was never done by his predecessors. He has shown to the world that having no party affiliations, no Guns, Goons, and Golds can propel you to a high elective position. He has also created an atmosphere of free speech in the province that was never before seen.

Unfortunately, he could have done more.

He has also made a few poor decisions in his choices of his internal team. He should look at the Arts, Culture and Tourism department now. This can show him where he made mistakes and how he can correct them. The Pamisaupan office is another one. KASAUP has provided him an initial list of recommendations on how to maximize the benefits of this office, and it seems that nothing is being done about it as we write this.

There is also a failure on his part to fully implement the second part of his avowed advocacies when he was campaigning in 2007; RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP. He might be trying to really do something about this but it seems that he is not able to "sell" this advocacy to our Kabalens including those in his internal team.

Time is running out.

Right now, the common perception among many of our Kabalens about the legacy that he might be leaving behind this term is his failure to unite the Kapampangans, the wasted opportunities to fully utilize the gains of the quarry collections, and his seeming lack of decisiveness to act on crucial matters affecting the province.

This may not be fully accurate, but when there is smoke, there is. . .

Luid ka!

Panlilio mania did not benefit Pampanga

Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:56:00 05/05/2009

To the admirers of “Among Ed” Panlilio, forgive me for spoiling the fun, but you are merely blinded by perception. Be careful what you wish for, Governor Panlilio might just upset us all.
I am a Kapampangan, a Catholic and an active community leader, and I know whereof I speak. Readers may care to know that even before Among Ed improved quarry collections in our province, there was Yeng Guiao and several mayors who filed with the Ombudsman a P1-billion graft case against then-Gov. Mark Lapid for various quarry operation anomalies. No, not everybody in the Pampanga Capitol is a crook.

Readers may also wish to know how the budget is dispensed in our province. With a budget of more than P700 million in 2007 and another P968 million in 2008, all Among Ed can boast of are projects that are within the ambit of his job description as chief executive of the province— barangay roads, medical supplies and equipment, public schools, livelihood and agricultural skills training, support to micro-enterprise, scholarship grants, job opportunities, medical and dental missions, disaster management, collections from quarry operations and incentives for employees.

Thank you, Among Ed, but these traditional projects are expected to be done because you are our governor. I will not buy your PR that these are sterling accomplishments as you’d like us to see. In my humble knowledge of good governance, accomplishments mean advances made in housing, health and education sectors, a vibrant business environment and flourishing investments that generate jobs and empowerment of barangays. Were there any accomplishments in ensuring ample rice production for Pampanga? Were there any advances made in maintaining peace and order; to curb drug addiction and prostitution or reduce unemployment?

The list goes on, and for the benefit of Manila-based academicians and political analysts, take a personal look at the province and its people up close. The Panlilio mania was just that; we are still lacking in effective governance with beneficial, long-term results.

Among Ed may have the best of intentions in leading our country, as most politicians do, but he is locked away in his own bubble of distrust and self-delusion of uprightness. Honesty is indeed one big trait we need in our leaders but it is not enough. We need someone who can lead us without hypocrisy, unite us in principled harmony and translate revenues—quarry for example—to improve the lives of Kapampangans.

—ARNOLD GUINTO,guinto.arnold@gmail.com

Reprinted from the May 5, 2009 issue of Pilipino Star Ngayon

Hinirang sila ni GMA hindi para magsilbi
SAPOL Ni Jarius Bondoc Updated May 05, 2009 12:00 AM

Kapansin-pansin ang dumi sa paghirang ni Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa mga opisyales ng gpbyerno. Hindi niya pamantayan ang galing o gana ng appointee na magsilbi sa bayan. Ang batayan niya ay ang pagbabayad ng utang pampulitika, na ang kapalit ay pansariling interes ng in-appoint. Halimbawa si Angelo Reyes, na dahil sa pagtiwalag bilang AFP chief sa ilalim ni Joseph Estrada nu’ng Enero 2001 ay naging Presidente si Arroyo. Nakaka-apat na puwesto na si Reyes sa Gabinete: defense, interior, natural resources, at ngayon energy. Lahat pinalpak niya. Ni hindi niya masaway ang masisibang oil companies sa overpricing ng gasolina. Halatang hindi na siya gusto ni Arroyo, pero hindi maalis dahil nagbabayad-utang pa.

Ehemplo rin ang pagpuwesto kay Bong Villafuerte bilang executive director ng Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission. Tatlong beses nang pinangalanan si Villafuerte sa congressional inquiries na jueteng lord sa Camarines Sur. At isang syndicated felony ang illegal numbers game. Pero dahil loyalistang presidente ng Kampi party ni Arroyo ang tatay ni Bong na Rep. Luis Villafuerte, hayun at hinirang siya sa puwestong hindi dapat sa kanya. Aba’y umi­ikot ngayon si Villafuerte na ka­sama ang mga taong armado, animo’y alagad ng batas tulad ng AFP at PNP. Hindi kaya ni Arroyo sawa­yin ang mga uma­abu­song appointees. Ikinu­wento ni Ramon Tulfo na nu’ng magkaibigan pa sila nina GMA at First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, malimit niya isinu­ sumbong sa Presidente ang mga tuwali at pabaya. Ang para­ting sagot sa kanya ni Arroyo­ ay, “E di pag­sabihan mo.” Papano naman sasawayin ni Mon ang mga opisyales, e outsider siya at si Arroyo ang nag-appoint sa kanila?

Ni hindi kaya ni Arroyo su­mibak ng opisyal na sa palagay niya’y nabayaran na niya ng utang pampu­litika. Kadalasan na­gu­gulat na lang ang opisyal dahil may ibang nakaupo sa mesa niya pagpasok sa opi­sina. O kaya, sa paha­ya­gan lang niya malalaman na sinibak na pala siya.

Reprinted from the May 4, 2009 iaaue of The Philippine Daily Inquirer

Theres The Rub

Liar, liar
By Conrado de Quiros
Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:28:00 05/04/

They want to jail Jun Lozada for perjury. Which means they want to jail Lozada for telling lies about his kidnapping and about the NBN. Which means they want to jail Lozada for being a liar.

They have Mike Defensor. He is the fellow who abducted Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s chief witness in the Jose Pidal case and called it a rescue. (If it was a rescue, how come they never charged Lacson with kidnapping?) He is the fellow who brought an American expert to prove the “Hello Garci” tape was a fake only to have the fellow prove that it was his (Defensor’s) claim that it was fake that was fake.

And they want to jail Jun Lozada for being a liar.

They have Defensor’s boss, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. She is the person who was proclaimed president in the dead of night with only the crickets and cicadas to greet it, which were reported to have fallen silent that night out of protest. She is the person who vowed on the grave of the most honest Filipino, Jose Rizal, that she would not run for president in 2004, but ran for president in 2004. She is the person who apologized for having talked to “an election official” during the counting but refused to say who it was, regretting later not the fact that she talked to “a Comelec official” but the fact that she acknowledged it. She is the person who despite all this calls herself president.

And they want to jail Jun Lozada for being a liar.

They have the First Gentleman. He is the presidential spouse who by simply calling himself First Gentleman already strains the limits of truth, given the prefix “gentle.” He is the one who filed a libel case against a horde of journalists—thereby calling them liars—because he insisted he was not a public figure, only a private one. He minded that the journalists insisted he could not distinguish the concepts of public and private, being prone in particular to regard the public treasury as private property. The journalists fought back, filing a class suit against him, to prove he was in fact a very public figure, meddling in elections, negotiating with the generals and telling people to back off.

And they want to jail Jun Lozada for being a liar.

They have Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo. He is the presidential son who says he hasn’t got anything to do with Charter change (Cha-cha), it is something hatched from the brain of Prospero Nograles despite the fact that that brain is connected to his like effect is to cause. He continues to call Nograles the Speaker of the House when Nograles is just the Loudspeaker of the House magnifying somebody else’s voice. In fact he continues to call Nograles Prospero when Nograles’ real name is Prosperous. Mikey is the presidential son as well who, even as he furiously mounts Cha-cha, insists that his mom will live a quiet and reclusive life as a schoolteacher after her term.

And they want to jail Jun Lozada for being a liar.

They have the congress of vultures. They are the people who thrive not far from the Payatas dump in Quezon City but exude a smell stronger than Payatas. The smell from the “smoky mountain” of Payatas can be smelled only in Payatas, or on a bad day when an ill wind blows, in immediate environs. The smell from the Batasan can be smelled across the entire country when the winds stand still and the country is caught in a squall. They are the ones who blocked the efforts to impeach their boss saying the “Hello Garci” tape could not be used as evidence when the evidence was first presented by the press secretary himself. They are the ones who go to Las Vegas every time the Pacman fights and say they are using their own money for it. They are the ones who call themselves representatives when all they represent are the manifold manifestations of the legions of Hell.

And they want to jail Jun Lozada for being a liar.

They have Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. He was the man who admitted to having faked the ambush on himself that triggered martial law, but who recanted later on, a case not of compounded rebellion (a legal concept he invented) but of compounded prevarication. We have Sen. Joker Arroyo who still calls himself a human rights lawyer, who still regards himself as feisty and independent, who still claims that with him “pag bad ka, lagot ka,” without adding “joke lang.” We have Miriam Defensor-Santiago who calls herself sane.

And they want to jail Jun Lozada for being a liar.

They have Anthony Golez, Lorelei Fajardo and Jesus Dureza. Golez is the one who said we Filipinos have become more mature than the Thais because the Thais have found People Power, the one thing that brought his boss to power, while we have lost it. And got a rebuke from the Thai ambassador. Fajardo is the one who makes two Malacañang press conferences necessary, the first to say what Malacañang wants to say, and the second to correct what she said Malacañang wanted to say. Dureza is the one who prayed at the opening of a Malacañang meeting for God to keep Ms Arroyo in power forever, and got a severe tongue-lashing because for the first time in his life he told the truth.

And they want to jail Jun Lozada for being a liar.

They have the coven in Malacañang. They are the people who have elevated lying, cheating, stealing and murder into national policy, etching them in tablet as the 10 commandments for all public officials to obey without thought and practice without exception. They are the people who presume to govern when all they have done is to divide and confuse, to root out all that remains good and decent in this country, to conspire to thrive forever while swearing before God, before Jose Rizal and before Juan de la Cruz, they would go gentle into that good night. They are the people who have stolen the vote of the Filipinos, the lives of the Filipinos, the future of the Filipinos.

And they want to jail Jun Lozada for being a liar.

Reprinted from the May 4, 2009 issue of The Philippine Star

Lozada jailing displays unjust Arroyo system

GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc
Updated May 04, 2009 12:00 AM

Expectedly Arroyo officials are muddling the issue of ZTE scam whistleblower Jun Lozada’s jailing. There’s Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez, disowning any admin role in the perjury rap filed against Lozada by ex-presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor. And there’s Palace spokesman Anthony Golez, yakking that the police only served an arrest warrant issued by an independent court.

Being both as nebulous as Defensor, the two need straightening out. Lozada’s detention can only be seen as harassment by the admin, because Defensor is very much its member. Gloria Arroyo appointed him recently as railways chief and special presidential adviser. He also remains the First Family’s favorite neighbor in Quezon City. In suing Lozada, he may intend self-vindication, but he’s also getting back at a detractor on behalf of the admin. Moreover, the claim of merely obeying court orders doesn’t wash, considering that the admin defies the judiciary in bigger cases. In the same week as Lozada’s arrest, Executive Sec. Ed Ermita refused to enforce the Sandiganbayan’s suspension of the mayor of Rodriguez, Rizal.

The Lozada issue is simple. Ever since he validated in Feb. 2008 the ZTE overpricing, authorities have slapped him with 16 court charges. By contrast, not one of those whom he linked to the $329-million anomaly — Gloria and Mike Arroyo, Romy Neri, Leandro Mendoza, Peter Favila, Ben Abalos — have been indicted. Neither have those who bribed or ordered him to avoid or fib in Congress — Defensor, Lito Atienza, Manuel Gaite — been investigated. Yet Lozada’s wife too has been sued for perjury — by the police colonel-stranger who had picked him up at the airport supposedly to be taken home 15 minutes away via a circuitous route of five hours.

The better to point up the injustice, Lozada opts to not post bail. This riles Gonzalez and Golez, who rant that he’s challenging the rule of law. Lozada must post the P6,000 for his liberty as part of the legal process, they insist. Again they try to distract attention from the fact that the ZTE scam perpetrators remain free. Not to forget, the easiest way for Lozada to regain freedom is for Defensor to withdraw the lawsuit.

Defensor claims to be suing Lozada to clear his name for the sake of his four growing children. That’s debatable. As the 70-strong Former Senior Government Officials says: “What moral value does he hope to impart to his young children with his vain and obstinate defense of injured pride, while participating in the cover-up of gross abuses against our people and our laws? [He should] stop posturing as if he is the aggrieved person, even as he was clearly a participant in the cover-up of what became an aborted abduction of Lozada.”

For accusing Lozada of lying, Defensor’s checkered past is being raked up. Rep. Teddy Casiño recounts two times when Defensor told fantastic tales. One was the then-presidential chief of staff’s supposed rescue in 2003 of a Senate witness against Mike Arroyo’s hidden wealth, whom they then hid from further congressional grilling. The other was Defensor’s presentation in 2005 of a fake audio expert peddling the sham that it isn’t Gloria Arroyo’s voice in the Hello Garci tapes.

Actually there’s more. Defensor has yet to explain his participation in another scam. As Arroyo’s chief aide he had signed as witness in the July 2006 Malacañang contract that unconstitutionally gave ZTE International mining rights in Diwalwal and North Davao, Compostela. Copies of the deal are with the Senate. Justice department and Ombudsman prosecutors easily could have obtained the evidence to pin down Defensor, main signatory Favila, and authorizer Arroyo. Yet they’ve all been quicker going after crime exposer Lozada.

In sidebar, the Lozada episode inadvertently reveals quirks in the justice system. For one, the police cannot transfer detainee Lozada from its holding area to the city jail, nor can the Senate regain custody of its witness — all because the judge who ordered the arrest suddenly went on leave. So Lozada has to suffer asthma in a hot cell. Again by contrast, two healthy Swedes, nabbed in a raid of their cyber-sex den in Cagayan de Oro, have been granted special detention in air-conditioned hospital suites. Will Gonzalez and Golez blame that ironic twist on Lozada too?

* * *

Three weeks after the tragedy, the NBI finally is finding that Ted Failon’s wife’s death by gunshot was a suicide. Had they listened to the accounts of Trina’s sister and daughter, the cops would have reached the same conclusion. Sadly they heeded instead the intrigues of Raul Gonzalez and envious crabs in the media who were vilifying the popular Ted.

They’re no different from the talangka who wanted Manny Pacquiao to lose yesterday on the presumptuous notion that one more win would make him richer and hence haughty.