COMELEC Junks Sigaw's Bid?

The COMELEC voted unanimously against Sigaw ng Bayan's petition. Citing the Supreme Court's ruling, Sigaw would now have to ask the SC to hear their case. But despite the junking, the COMELEC took cognizance of the signatures submitted by SnB. This means that SnB did meet the required per centum to "amend" portions of the constitution.

Without going thru any scrutiny, these signatures are deemed authentic by the en banc's statements. Why did the COMELEC do this? This could only mean one thing, should the SC reverse its previous ruling, the COMELEC does not have to check each and every signature. Accusations of forged signatures will not be heard anymore. The COMELEC came out clean and played safe with their decision. Now they will just await the SC's ruling and God forbid it rules for SnB, then we're really screwed as whatever accusation of fraud will not be accommodated by the COMELEC because of this cognizance.

Those who questioned the alleged "spurious" signatures now cannot contest the signatures. Is this the script that was written by the palace? It could be, as we all know the administration's use of technicalities and (un)due process to get what it wants. It just needs to follow the schedule it set and nothing can derail their plans of total domination.

We have to closely watch the Supreme Court and be more vigilant now. The next chapter of the script could spell the end of democracy and the start of hell for all of us. The tyrannical dinosaurs in the administration will stop at nothing to push their Cha-Cha bid and make sure any constitutional attempt to rid the country of the "virus in the palace" will not succeed.

The next couple of months is crucial, and this could be the turning point. The lower house announced that they are just two votes shy of their constituent assembly bid. A two-pronged attack on democracy if I may say. Now the opposition has to divide its attention between SnB and the lower house. Now we really have to work hard to foil the pretnder's evil plan.

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IMPOSTORS BEWARE!

I hate moderating commenters on my blog. But it seems that some will do anything to ruin another blogger's name. I'm referring to person/persons who have in the past commented here impersonating another blogger. Gari (Bangketa Republique) helped me trace and locate the impostor/impostors who used and maligned Mong Palatino (Mongster's Nest) by posting a pathetic comment broadsiding Manolo Quezon and Toots Ople. I have informed Mong and he had since issued a disclaimer on his blog.

My only request is for the commenters here to be truthful. Otherwise, I will be forced to ban you.

These are the aliases this impostor uses to comment on this blog:

Tessie, Tony, Carlo, Lt. Edmundo, Sr. Angela, Arkibo, Juancho, Quisumbing and Ssan.
The IP address they use are 198.24.31.111 and 68.100.157.109 (Fredrericksburg, TX, USA).

To other bloggers, take note of the IPs I mentioned. I hope this will prevent impostors from sowing any misunderstanding in the blogsphere.

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GUIMARAS: Ecological Timebomb

Guimaras has been known for its natural bounty and its beautiful beaches. Like many of our nation's provinces, its inhabitants rely on the sea for their livelihood. Tourism has also been booming since people from the the cities discovered its pristine beaches.

Late July and early August saw a barrage of storms and unrelentless rain hit the country. August 11 was the fateful day that MV Solar I sank 24 kms. off the island of Guimaras. With a cargo of 2 million liters of bunker fuel, it now has turned the once beautiful coastline to a sea of oil. Coral reefs, magroves and whitesand beaches now tainted by the black gold. Residents and NGOs had mobilized themselves into a cleanup brigade and races against time to save whatever could be saved.

But it seems the government has once again turned a blind eye to the catastrophe that threatens to engulf the entire Visayan region. Just like the case of the repratriating our OFWs from Lebanon, the government continues to move at its own snail-like pace. Refusing to admit that funds are not coming, GMA continues to give lip service intstead of mobilizing the vast resources of government. The U.N. has manifested its intention to help save Guimaras and pledged $16 million in the cleanup effort.

While weeks have passed, the government's only action was to the declare a state of national calamity. People on the ground can only do so much with whatever resources they can muster. First Response's limited funding is fast dwindling. Dispersants being sprayed by the coastguard cannot cope with the volume of oil still leaking from the sunken tanker. Petron, the cargo's owner has not done much and like the government, its only response to the crisis is minimal. Sunshine Maritime, Solar I's owner has not done much either.

From hair salons to simple folks have lent their hand in trying to prevent the oil spill from creating more devastation. But the three entities which has the most responsibility has offered nothing. The people had taken the initiative, what else does these three want. Or they are really not concerned with the nightmare the people of Guimaras now face. Winds and waves has caused the spill to widen its destruction, it now threatens most of Visayas. Fertile seabeds, coral reefs and other marine sanctuaries are in danger of of being decimated by this impending calamity of unimanginable proportions. What the people want to see now is government response and action. Mere statements and press releases will not stop the spill. Photo-ops will do much less.

Its obvious she does not want to touch her remaining funds to be used for her big Cha-Cha push. This is the reason why she continues to stall and hopes that the international community would take notice and spend for the cleanup instead. How callous this administration is. While they continue to point fingers and discuss courses of "action", the ecological timebomb continues to tick. It might be too late for anyone to do anything.

*Ellen Tordesillas has more to say about this. Click here and here.

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The FIXER

Much had been said about the "PI ni Gloria", but what is it really? This monstrosity first reared its ugly head right after her SONA last year. She had tickled the fancy of incumbent officials and the lure of extended if not permanent hold on power was just too juicy to disregard. Local officials sprung to life when the pretender herself endorsed the idea of "revising" the entire constitution and shifting from presidential to parliamentary system. AdCom, ULAP, the administration bloc and the PI of Sigaw ng Bayan did not waste time to conduct an "expensive" campaign to push for Charter Change.

An entire year had passed since the Gloriagate and the queen of the Enchanted Kingdom sits atop the throne, wielding power like there's no tomorrow. Her legions claimed to have gathered ten million signatures with the "aid" of local officals and "funding" from the vault of the Enchanted Kingdom. While PIRMA (FVR's friends) tried this trick back in '97, the Supreme Court issued a permanent injunction to this futile practice due to lack of an enabling law. But what are we in power, retorts Malacanang. With the continued mockery of the constitution by the pretender, she can do anything she wants and get away with it.

The noose of public disgust though not openly expressed, is slowly tightening. The administration and the proponents of Cha-Cha obviously is spooked. The Second Impeachment Complaint had to be quashed, as reward, all those who connived to junk the impeachment now faces the reward of perpetual bliss. The rush to ram the Cha-Cha down the people's throat is the pay-off the congressmen had been waiting for. Obviously, the script set by the conspirators had been followed to the tee. Regardless of whatever denial or explanation emanates from the administration, the public has judged them. Whatever you may want to call it, to me, this is plain and simple "PAYOLA". By hook or by crook, unless some hand of miracle intervenes, we are facing a new breed of tyrants. How power corrupts. The taste of power has drowned any sense of decency and had placed the welfare of the country to the least of their priorities.

We whine about fixers in the different agencies of government, what we failed to see was the pretending president is the biggest "FIXER" in government. Yes the fixer who corrupts and destroys the institutions of society and government to finally secure her throne and hold on power.

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THANK YOU! - (Swindler's List Part 1)

Thank you to the 173 "TRAPOS" who connived to hide the truth. Thank you for showing us what you are made of. Thank you for showing us what a corrupt official really looks like. Thank you for showing us your lack of decency, integrity and principle. Thank you for showing us, the voters, that you are not worth voting into office again. Thank you for exposing to us your true colors. Come election day, we the betrayed electorate will show our gratitude to you by not allowing you or any member of your family to sit in any public office. So take note of the names which appear on this list. Do not believe any "empty" promises made by these "TRAPOS". This is also the hungry mob who is pushing for Cha-Cha that will allow themselves to stay in power for eternity. Remember these names well, and do not allow any of their relatives to swindle you of your votes come election day.

THOSE WHO ARE GUILTY OF BETRAYAL OF PUBLIC TRUST

Benjamin Abalos, Jr., Bienvenido Abante Jr., Harlin Abayon
Roque Ablan Jr., Rodolfo Agbayani, Rodolfo Albano III, Proceso Alcala
Felix Alfelor Jr., Joel Mayo Almario, Antonio Alvarez
Genaro Rafael Alvarez III, Prospero Amatong, Hussin Amin
Rodolfo Antonino, Trinidad Apostol, Jesus Reynaldo Aquino, Munir Arbison
Ignacio Arroyo, Augusto Baculio, Alipio Badelles, Leovigildo Banaag
Roseller Barinaga, Salacnib Baterina, Claude Bautista, Luis Bersamin
Ferjenel Biron, Anna York Bondoc, Narciso Bravo Jr., Danton Bueser
Elias Bulut, Belma Cabilao, Douglas Cagas, Roberto Cajes, Carmen Cari
Bobbit Carlos, Tranquilino Carmona, Nanette Castello-Daza, Fredenil Castro
Arthur Celeste, Antonio Cerilles, Edgar Chatto, Leonila Chavez
Erwin Chiongbian, Solomon Chungalao, Eufrocino Codilla Sr.
Mark Cojuangco, Guillermo Cua, Junie Cua, Antonio Cuenco
Rodriguez Dadivas, Samuel Dangwa, Simeon Datumanong, Del de Guzman
Jose de Venecia, Arthur Defensor, Matias Defensor, Raul del Mar
Antonio Diaz, Baisendig Dilangalen, Abdullah Dimaporo
Victor Dominguez, Mauricio Domogan, Jack Duavit, Faysah Dumarpa
Tomas Dumpit, Ramon Durano VI, Consuelo Dy, Faustino Dy, Glenda Ecleo
Eileen Ermita-Buhain, Gerardo Espina Jr., Amado Espino Jr.
Edgar Espinosa, Emilio Espinosa, Conrado Estrella III, Peter Paul Jed Falcon
Catalino Figueroa, Eduardo Firmalo, Antonio Floirendo, Orlando Fua Jr.
Albert Garcia, Vincent Garcia, Janette Garin, Ernesto Gidaya
Raul Gonzalez Jr., Oscar Gozos, Eduardo Gullas, Joey Hizon, Gregorio Ipong
Nur Jaafar, Eladio Jala, Cecilia Jaloslos-Carreon, Cesar Jalosjos
Exequiel Javier, Uliran Joaquin, Josefina Joson, Simeon Kintanar
Jose Carlos Lacson, Danilo Lagbas, Edcel Lagman, Marcelino Libanan
Teodoro Locsin, Jaime Lopez, Mikey Macapagal-Arroyo
Benasing Macarambon Jr., Emilio Macias II, Sunny Rose Madamba
Amang Magsaysay, Ma. Milagros Magsaysay, Corazon Malanyaon
Suharto Mangudadatu, Alfredo Marañon Jr., Rodante Marcoleta
Roger Mercado, Florencio Miraflores, Anthony Miranda
Abraham Kahlil Mitra, Rafael Nantes, Francis Nepomuceno, Reylina Nicolas
Ernesto Nieva, Prospero Nograles, Arrel Olaño, Ernesto Pablo, Pedro Pancho
Jacinto Paras, Remedios Petilla, Prospero Pichay, Arthur Pingoy Jr.
Monico Puentevella, Herminia Ramiro, Isidoro Real Jr., Jesus Crispin Remulla
Victoria Reyes, Miles Roces, Isidro Rodriguez, Antonino Roman
Jesus Jurdin Romualdo, Eduardo Roquero, Gerry Salapuddin, Joey Salceda
Federico Sandoval, Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, Hans Christian Señeres
Lorna Silverio, Eric Singson, Jose Solis, Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz
Danilo Suarez, Victor Sumulong, Mary Ann Susano, Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado
Judy Syjuco, Emmylou Taliño-Santos, Gilbert Teodoro, Herminio Teves
Acmad Tomawis, Generoso Tulagan, Aurelio Umali, Renato Unico Jr.
Edwin Uy, Reynaldo Uy, Edgar Valdez, Florencio Vargas, Rene Velarde
Eduardo Veloso, Luis Villafuerte, Ma. Amelita Villarosa, Eleuterio Violago
Laurence Wacnang, Antonio Yapha, Eduardo Zialcita, Juan Miguel Zubiri

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Philippine Politics In The Eyes of A Common Man

In the end, it was after all, a numbers game. Conscience and truth had been sent to the sidelines as the "TRAPOS" in congress drove the final nail on the Second Impeachment. Though obviously outnumbered, thirty-two unfazed representatives fought with youthful idealism, the nation's clamor for truth. The "TRAPOS" voted as usual not for what is right but for how much their pockets can hold. Defend as they might, their vote, to the discerning Filipino, its all about power and money. They used every trick they can employ to cover for, or should I say, to lawyer for the beleaguered pretender in the palace.

Such is the case with Philippine Politics. Its no wonder the dinosaurs in congress refuse to accept that even politics is evolving. They would do anything to keep this evolution from coming to age. Political debt, consideration and accommodation has been the norm and this is precisely why our country has stagnated and even regressed politically. Public service and public trust has been thrown out the window when these traitors tasted power. I can imagine our "genuine" heroes turning in their graves as all their sacrifices are wasted by these "TRAPOS".

Politics to me is an advocacy. Its not to be treated as a form of business where one expects to be monetarily rewarded but as something you do from the heart. I may sound cynical but how else can you define public service? Its something you do because you care. Through the years, our politicos lost sight of what service means. And with that, so did the pride of serving the people. There are still true public servants in our midst but sad to say, they cannot be found in congress nor in Malacañang. Its no wonder why those who truely want to serve the people stay out of politics. They wouldn't want to be infected by the kind of politicos we now have. But there are still a choice few who continue to fight against the rotten system that is in place. And these individuals we must keep in office.

People are desperate for change, but change can only be effected if we have a genuine cleansing of our politics. Its not about what form of government we have but what kind of people serve in government. We must throw out this breed of politicians who portray themeselves as servants and yet lord over the constituencies they represent. Representatives only by title, they hold hostage their constituents with hollow promises. All they cared about was getting themselves in office and then use the people as bargaining chips to futher their personal ambitions.

Such is the case with the pretender in the palace. She continues to dangle the promise of eternal power to our corrupt politicians. Who wouldn't support an idea like that, just imagine the wealth they'll gain and the power they'll wield. With the proposed unicameral sytem, they can get away with anything. With a clear majority, opposition will be reduced to an inconsequential participant. Our courts reduced to nothing and check and balances will be non-existent.

To my simple mind, this is what Philippine Politics is all about. Its about power, wealth and ambition. Gone were the days when Filipinos thought more of Filipinos. Now its personal gain and forget the constituents. They can always hoodwink the people to elect them again to office.

Its about time we put a stop to this malpractice and abuse of the simple people. We have about eight months to go before elections. We must take note of what our representatives have done for us during their term. We must check if they have really kept their covenant with us, the voter. Its imperative for us to know how they represented us in congress and if they have been just and true. Its every Filipino's right to make each and every politician accountable as we are their masters and they, our servants.

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The Parliament They Want

Tyranny by numbers is the order of the day. Today, the lower house will finally put to rest, the second impeachment of the pretender in the palace. As expected, the (in)Justice Committee by sheer number, approved the committee report. Steamrolling the opposition to a vote of 36 to 0, they will now present the report to the house plenary for final approval. The minority refused to vote, denouncing the way the majority railroaded the process. Reneging on their "gentleman's agreement" (as if there is any gentleman in the majority bloc) to deliberate and scrutinize the report.

The majority would love to put the impeachment behind so they can finally concentrate on the most important "resolution" in their agenda, to turn congress to a constituent assembly. They boast that they only need six more signatures to finally entrench themselves in power for eternity.

Are we going to allow this rape of democracy? We have witnessed the congress at work, their demeanor and their arrogance. To allow this institution to make a mockery of the constitution would send our country back to 1973. The current lot of politicians in the majority bloc reminds us of what traditional politics is all about. Its all about keeping the power in the hands of a moneyed few.

They accuse those against charter change as counterproductive where in fact its only themselves they want to "progress". Time and again they betrayed their constituents' trust all in the name of the mighty peso. They have yet to prove to the people that they adhere to the principle of good governance and transparency. They have brought nothing but suffering to the people they swore to serve by spending their pork on worthless billboards, ghost projects and sub-standard infrastractures. They continue to deprive the people of basic social services and condone the abuse of our rights.

Would we want these hooligans in barongs and coats to run our country to the ground? These are the very persons who wish to turn congress into a parliament. A parliament they themselves will benefit from, a parliament whose sole purpose is to entrench and enrich themselves. A parliament where the voice of the people will never be heard, A parliament which can do what it wishes without being scrutinized nor be put in check by the courts. Will this parliament they propose be for the people or is this the parliament the people want? Or is this a parliament which these "trapos" want? To me, its clear as day, this is the parliament they want.

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