Monday, August 26, 2013

Pork greedy, corrupt, numb

"Numb" by Raymond CK Go
As Pinoys against pork flock to Luneta today for the peaceful protest rally, Marinduque artist Raymond C Kawataki Go posts his artwork on fb.
 
Part of the Luneta crowd. Photo: InterAksyon

Sunday, August 25, 2013

OFWs in Saudi join growing scrap pork barrel chorus in fb post


Filipino crane and heavy equipment operators in Saudi Arabia voice their sentiments on the pork barrel. (photo from the Facebook page of Junmar Elmedo used with permission) InterAksyon.com
e online news portal of TV5
From InterAksyon Aug 24, 2013

MANILA, Philippines -- The clamor to scrap the pork barrel, fueled by outrage over revelations of corruption and misuse of billions of pesos of the Priority Development Assistance Fund, continues to be taken up by more and more Filipinos, both here and abroad.

In Saudi Arabia, which hosts the largest concentration of overseas Filipino workers, a group of crane and heavy equipment operators decided to join their voices to the growing chorus against pork in a photo posted on Facebook by Junar Elmedo that they have asked users to share and is starting to go viral on the social network.

In a note accompanying the photo, Elmedo, a native of Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, explained their form of protest was dictated by the Saudi government’s prohibition against holding rallies.

Following is the unabridged text of Elmedo’s note:

Magandang Umaga/Hapon po sa lahat. Ito lang po ang nakayanan namin para ipakita sa inyo ang aming pag Supporta sa inyo sa darating na Lunes (August 26, 2013) para sa pagtanggal or pag-abolish ng Pork Barrel, na sa tingin po naming mga OFW dito sa Gitnang Silangan ay nararapat po lamang na TANGGALIN or WAKASAN NA upang hindi na pagmulan ng CORRUPTION at hindi na rin maglakas ng loob ang mga politiko or mambabatas para mangurakot sa Kaban ng Bayan.”

Wala na po kaming nakitang paraan dahil nga sa bawal po dito sa Saudi Arabiaang mag rally.”

Ito lang po ang nakita namin na paraan ng sa ganon, mapakita namin sa inyo ang aming mga Hinaing at sentimeinto, na kahit anong hirap namin dito sa malayong lugar, hindi namin inalintana, para lang makatulong sa Pamilya at sa Economiya ng ating Bansa.”
Pero, sa kasamaang palad, may mga tao pa ring GAHAMAN sa Kapangyarihan na walang awang MAGNAKAW at MANGURAKOT sa KABAN ng BAYAN.”

Sana, ito na po ang SIMULA ng PAGBABAGO ng Ating BANSANG MINAMAHAL. Nananalig po kaming mga OFW na kung magka-isa tayo sa IISANG HANGARIN, makakamit natin ang PAGBABAGO.”

Nandirito po kaming mga OFW na handang tumulong sa ating Bansa. Handang magbuwis ng buhay alang-alang sa kapakanan ng ating Bansa. Sana lang po ay bigyan nyo naman kami ng Pansin, Pagpapahalaga at Pagmamahal!!! MARAMING SALAMAT!”

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Scrapping the pork barrel 6 (Aquino now to abolish it)


Aquino: It’s time to abolish pork barrel

By 

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III on Friday yielded to public pressure and announced to scrap the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) ahead of Monday’s nationwide protest calling for the abolition of the graft-tainted pork barrel fund.

“Despite the reforms we have implemented, we have seen, as the events of the past weeks have shown, that greater change is necessary to fight against those who are determined to abuse the system,” Aquino said in MalacaƱang.

“It is time to abolish the PDAF.”

The remark was a turnaround from Aquino’s position Monday, saying the pork barrel fund had its “good uses” and should not be junked.

Collusion

Aquino at the same time vowed to prosecute those responsible for misusing the fund, which allows lawmakers to allocate government money for projects in their district.

He directed the Department of Justice and other agencies under the Inter-Agency Anti-Graft Coordinating Council to investigate, prosecute and jail those who pocketed public funds and seize their ill-gotten wealth.

“What is wrong — indeed, what has outraged our people — was the collusion among a former president ready to trade favors just to remain in power, legislators, and members of the bureaucracy who were willing to conspire, enabled by a passive and indifferent citizenry,” Aquino said.

He was referring to his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who has been detained in a hospital on corruption and election sabotage charges.

The Commission on Audit said last week that over P6 billion allocated over a three-year period was released to questionable nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and ghost projects identified by lawmakers as beneficiaries.


Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/472911/time-to-abolish-pdaf-says-aquino#ixzz2cv1n1H6s
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Thursday, August 22, 2013

DOH downplaying the chikungunya outbreak in Marinduque?



The Chikungunya mosquitoes

2,207 chikungunya cases in Marinduque alone!

The new health threat posed by the mosquito-borne African viral disease, chikongunya, to residents of many Marinduque barangays is far from over. The municipal government of Boac, alarmed by the increasing number of people downed by the virus that registered more than 1,200 victims in July declared a state of calamity (July 17), for health reasons immediately engaging in massive information, education and clean up drives to eradicate mosquito breeding grounds. Yet the problem persists and there are apparent attempts to downplay the situation.

that a week after the capital town was placed under a state of calamity owing to the outbreak, the number rose from 1,048 to 1,217. 

As of July 25 the number of chikungunya cases reported province-wide from January to July according to the Provincial Health Office was: Boac – 1,237; Torrrijos – 505; Buenavista – 282; Gasan – 53; Mogpog – 121 and Sta. Cruz – 9, or a total of 2,207 cases that were reported to the Department of Health (DOH).

But DOH reports 2,594 chikungunya cases nationwide!

The irony of it all is that we read about DOH Asst. Secretary Tayag expressing concern about chikungunya outbreak in 10 municipalities across the country (and none from Marinduque) – villages found in Kiamba and Maitum in Sarangani; Villareal and Daram in Western Samar; Ma. Aurora in Aurora; Sindangan in Zamboanga del Norte; Sta. Rita in Samar; Concepcion in Romblon; Santiago in Agusan del Norte; and Patnongon in Antique. Tayag said, "from Jan. 1 to June 30 this year, the DOH had registered a total of 2,594 suspected chikungunya cases…” http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/07/13/964738/doh-confirms-chikungunya-outbreak-10-municipalities

And there are other 'alarming' reports from other regions, nothing compared to the Marinduque figures.

“The Department of Health-Region 11 (DOH-11) said chikungunya cases since January, 2013 have reached 72 and raised the alarm that it may be on the rise in the region. The DOH-11 report added that among the provinces in the region, Davao Oriental had the highest number of cases with 32, followed by Davao del Sur, including Davao City, with 25; Compostela Valley with 10; and Davao del Norte with five. “ http://mb.com.ph/News/Provincial_News/27472/Chikungunya-dengue_a_deadly_mix_%E2%80%93_DOH#.UhapwtKkr0w

"(The) DOH confirms (a) chikungunya outbreak in Patnongon, Antique with 313 cases. No deaths," Tayag said in a series of posts on his Twitter account. (GMANetwork June 28, 2013) http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/314952/news/regions/doh-confirms-chikungunya-outbreak-in-antique-pushes-prevention-measures

In 2011 there were just more than 1,000 and less in 2012 according to Tayag:

In a 2012 article http://www.doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/092812-0012.pdf Dr. Tayag of DOH was quoted to have said “In 1992, we already had cases… Last year (2011), there were more than 1,000 cases reported while since January this year, there are over 150 cases reported…”

Current state in some state-of-calamity towns:

Dahil sa may 50 indibidwal sa apat na barangay sa Ilocos Norte sa nasabing bayan (San Nicolas) ang kinakitaan ng sintomas ng chikungunya, nagdeklara ng state of calamity ang alkalde sa nasabing bayan. http://abante.com.ph/opinion2/index.php/luzon-news/2229/chikungunya-state-of-calamity-na-sa-ilocos-norte

NASA ilalim na sa state of calamity ang Barangay San Roque sa lungsod ng Koronadal sa probinsya ng South Cotabato dahil sa pagtaas ng bilang ng kaso ng Chikungunya na umabot na sa 212... Napag-alaman na una nang isinailalim sa state of calamity ang bayan ng Tampakan dahil pa rin sa Chikungunya outbreak. http://www.remate.ph/2013/07/koronadal-nasa-state-of-calamity-dahil-sa-chikungunya-outbreak/#.Uha0vtKkr0w

A state of calamity has been declared in the town of Tampakan, South Cotabato due to the continuous rise of chikungunya cases in the area.. a total of 236 chikungunya cases have been reported. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/07/10/13/chikungunya-puts-cotabato-town-state-calamity


“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” Is there an attempt to downplay the Marinduque chikungunya situation for whatever reason there might be?

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

August 21, 1983, 30 years ago today

Bulletin Today headline, August 22, 1983
It’s Ninoy Aquino Day today, a holiday created by RA 9256, signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo twenty-one years after the event. Today is exactly 30 years from that date Ninoy was felled by a shot fired at the back of his head at close range, exiting his chin then reverberating throughout the country and throughout the world. Thousands paid their last respects at his wake, and 10 days later more than two million watched the funeral cortege or joined the procession to his final resting place in a walk that lasted 12 hours. 

That single shot that felled him ignited a spark that culminated three years later in the Cory Aquino-led People Power Revolution. The quote, “The Filipino is worth dying for” is attributed to Ninoy, yet a couple of years ago the following poster made the rounds of Facebook walls.


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

With rains worse than 'Ondoy', red alert raised over Manila, provinces

Rainfall accumulation for 18 August 2013 derived by Filipino Scientist, Irene Crisologo, using Doppler radar. Posted by Mahar Lagmay on Twitter
Posted at 08/19/2013 

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) - As much as 600 millimeters of rain fell on Manila Bay on August 18, a new record high, according to scientists.

The record-high rains were spawned by the southwest monsoon, or habagat, intensified by storm Maring.

Project NOAH's Dr. Mahar Lagmay on early Monday morning shared Doppler radar maps created by the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Geological Sciences' Irene Crisologo that showed the extent of rainfall in Metro Manila and nearby areas Sunday and Monday.

The accumulation maps show areas in Cavite, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales and Manila Bay covered in pink (420 mm to 580 mm rainfall), as well as white (600 mm or almost two feet of rain).

To compare, Ondoy dumped only around 455 mm rainfall in 24 hours in 2009, and around 472 mm of rainfall fell in Quezon City in a day during the 2012 habagat.

The 600 mm amount of rain seen on the August 18 Doppler radar map did not fall over land, but over Manila Bay. 
"There is a blind spot sa radar. Nasa south sector.  Madami ang ulan na bumagsak sa Manila Bay. Iyung matataas ay sa Manila Bay," Lagmay told ABS-CBNNews.com.

"For the white areas (600 mm rainfall) , there are currently no rain gauges that would verify those readings," Crisologo said. Lagmay echoed her statement. "Noong habagat 2012 ay ganyan din. Sa dagat (lang) bumagsak," he said.
Rainfall amount in the Philippines as of Aug. 20, 2013, 8:02 am, posted by Mahar Lagmay

Monday, August 19, 2013

Scrapping the pork barrel 5 (Fertilizer scam worse than pork barrel?)

"Compare mo sa fertilizer scam, gaano kalaki ang diperensiya? And yung fertilizer scam is the tip of the iceberg, marami pang iba."  - President Aquino


Illustration: Flickr.com/zinkblaster
PNoy: Fertilizer fund scam worse than pork barrel issue

August 6, 2013 
President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday brushed aside reports of anomalies under his administration by saying these “scams” pale in comparison with those that occurred under the Arroyo administration.

"I-contrast mo ‘yung pinalulusot noong araw versus ‘yung nakalusot ngayon," Aquino told reporters during an ambush interview in Subic where he officially welcomed BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the country's second warship.
 
He issued the statement after some lawmakers, even allies, were accused of helping fund alleged bogus groups under businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles using their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) — or “pork barrel”— allocations.
 
Even Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala's office was dragged into the issue after it also reportedly endorsed the release of almost P90 million through one of the bogus operations two years ago.
And although admitting that government processes during his term are not perfect, he said the PDAF controversy is nothing compared to the P728-million fertilizer fund scam during the time of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
 
"Compare mo sa fertilizer scam, gaano kalaki ang diperensiya? And yung fertilizer scam is the tip of the iceberg, marami pang iba," he said.

"Alam mo ‘yung [Department of Agriculture] bago kami umupo...very marked difference ‘yung opportunities for potential—for misuse of public funds," he added.

Aside from the fertlilizer fund scam, other controversies that rocked the Arroyo administration were the scrapped $329-million NBN-ZTE deal and $503-million North Luzon Railways (Northrail) project.

Aquino said since he assumed office, they have been implementing changes in government processes little by little .
 
"Hindi naman namin puwedeng sabihin na magiging perpekto (ang proseso). Hindi namin puwedeng masabi na talagang zero na ‘yung pagkakataon ng mga tiwali na mapagsamantalahan," he said.
 
Aquino said he even asked Alcala and Budget Secretary Butch Abad to explain what these steps are.
 
"Marami talagang pinaghigpitan sa mga proseso. Parang, diyan na rin sa mga NGOs na dating nabibigyan ng mga pondo versus ‘yung na-accredit ngayon (ay) talagang ang laki ng binawas," he said.
 
Aside from this, the President committed that no one will be spared from the investigation being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation, not even Alcala, on the pork barrel scam. — RSJ/KBK, GMA News


Scrapping the pork barrel 4 (Congress won't act?)

Illustration: BusinessMirror

Why Congress won’t act on call for pork scam probe
By Gil C. Cabacungan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Monday, August 19th, 2013

Why is Congress playing deaf to the growing clamor to abolish the annual P24-billion pork barrel?

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said Sunday that with the release of the Commission on Audit (COA) report, the main reason why Congress does not want to investigate the scam has been revealed.
“It is now clear that the reason why there is resistance to an investigation in Congress is because those who are involved are in power,” Colmenares said.

He said, however, that the lawmakers’ involvement should spur Congress to investigate the scam or “risk being accused of making a cover-up.”

The lawmakers involved are either senators or congressmen who received more than their annual Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations (P200 million for senators and P70 million for representatives) or dealt with dubious nongovernment organizations (NGOs) from 2007 to 2009, according to the 412-page COA investigative report.

The COA team that did the special audit of the PDAF was composed of Catherine B. Petri, Kristina Cleo R. Bigornia, Jennifer A. Sanorjo, Cristina P. Mercado, Ma. Cristina Irene P. Franco, Joselita G. Corteza, George S. Tamayo, Jr., Dondon P. Marcos, Joselito N. Sucion, Rosemarie R. Magtaan, Onofre R. Mores, Lydia R. Dizon, Teresita T. Santiago and Grace T. de Castro.

The team leaders were Joan Agnes N. Alfafaras, Angelita A. Aquino, Cheryll Apalisoc, Leona A. Andriano, and Gloria D. Silverio. The overall leader of the team was Elsielin C. Masangcay.

9 senators

There are nine incumbent senators in the COA report: Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Gregorio Honasan II, Lito Lapid, Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Loren Legarda.

Six senators are related by blood to the senators involved in the pork barrel: Juan Edgardo Angara (son of former Sen. Edgardo Angara), Pia Cayetano (sister of Alan), Joseph Victor Ejercito (brother of Jinggoy), Koko Pimentel Jr. (son of former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr.), Cynthia Villar (wife of former Sen. Manny Villar, although she is listed in the COA report as the Las PiƱas representative).

Cayetano, who used to be at the forefront of congressional probes anchored on testimony far less reliable than pork barrel scam whistle-blowers Benhur Luy and Merlina SuƱas, has been quick to reject public demand that the Senate investigate the scam, saying it amounts to senators investigating senators.

His wife, Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano, has also been cited in the COA report for exceeding her pork barrel allocation by P8.5 million when she was a representative under the administration of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Senator Cayetano is also counting on his brother, Taguig City Rep. Lino Cayetano, to hold the same view.
Another political dynasty is in the same boat as the Cayetanos. Makati Rep. Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay also exceeded her pork barrel quota by P47 million from 2007 to 2009, but she could count on her father (Vice President Jejomar Binay), her sister (Sen. Nancy Binay) and brother (Makati Mayor Jun-Jun Binay) for support.

Aquino officials

Some of the implicated lawmakers in the pork barrel scam have taken key positions in the Aquino administration: Interior Secretary Mar Roxas (he gave P5 million to a suspect NGO, Kaloocan Assistance Council Inc.), Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Chair Joel Villanueva.

More than 40 congressmen implicated in the pork barrel scam are still going strong in the House of Representatives, and they are led by Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, who has been found to have exceeded his pork barrel allocations by P205 million during the Arroyo administration and has spent P256.381 million of his pork barrel for projects using spurious documents, including 167 transactions worth P28.744 million that have been denied by suppliers.

Gonzales was senior deputy majority leader from 2007 and 2009 when all impeachment cases against Arroyo were nipped in the bud. He has been in office since 1995 (except when he became mayor from 2004 to 2007) and is currently serving his second three-year term.

Scandal-tainted leaders

The scam-tainted lawmakers who managed to get leadership positions in this Congress are Ronaldo Zamora of San Juan City (minority leader), Carlos Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya (Deputy Speaker), Giorgidi Aggabao of Isabela (Deputy Speaker) and Roberto V. Puno of Antipolo City (Deputy Speaker).

Others got juicy committee chairmanships: Isidro Ungab of Davao City (committee on appropriations), Neil Tupas Jr. of Iloilo (justice) Amado Bagatsing of Manila (ecology), Marcelino Teodoro of Marikina (legislative franchises), Arturo B. Robes of San Jose Del Monte City (social services), Herminia B. Roman of Bataan  (veterans affairs and welfare), Arnulfo Go of Sultan Kudarat (Mindanao affairs), Victor Yu of Zamboanga del Sur (science and technology), Vicente Belmonte of Iligan (dangerous drugs), Al Francis Bichara of Albay (foreign affairs) and Manuel Agyao of Kalinga (rural development).

At least two incumbents have a direct and bigger participation in the pork barrel scam: Rolando Andaya of Camarines Sur (former budget secretary) and Arthur Yap (former agriculture secretary).

Other porkers

The rest of the incumbent lawmakers cited in the report are Diosdado M. Arroyo of Camarines Sur (whose uncle, the late Ignacio Arroyo, is also implicated), Philip Pichay of Surigao del Sur (whose brother, former Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., was also listed in COA report), Julio Ledesma IV of Negros Occidental, Isagani S. Amatong of Zamboanga del Norte, Rommel C. Amatong of Compostela Valley, Benjamin Asilo of Manila;

Ma. Theresa Bonoan of Manila, Nelson Dayanghirang of Davao Oriental, Emil Ong of Northern Samar, Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan, Czarina Umali of Nueva Ecija, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of Leyte, Maria Zenaida Angping of Manila, Joseph Gilbert Violago of Nueva Ecija, Nelson Dayanghirang of Davao Oriental, Belma Cabilao of Zamboanga Sibugay;

Wilfrido Mark Enverga of Quezon, Rolando Uy of Cagayan de Oro, Dulce Ann Hofer of Zamboanga Sibugay, Antonio Lagdameo of Davao del Norte, Franklin Bautista of Davao del Sur, Victor Francisco Ortega of La Union, Carol Jayne Lopez of Yacap party-list, Mariano Piamonte of A-Teacher party-list group and Francisco Manuel Ortega of Abono party-list group.

Related by blood, party ties

Some of the incumbent lawmakers are related by blood or party ties to the lawmakers implicated in the COA report: Reynaldo Umali of Oriental Mindoro (brother of now Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali), Karlo Alexei Nograles of Davao City (son of former Speaker Prospero Nograles), Winston Castelo of Quezon City (brother of Nanette Castelo-Daza), Rene Relampagos (cousin of Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos);

Eleonor Bulut-Begtang of Apayao (sister of former Rep. Elias Bulut), Carlo V. Lopez of Manila (son of former Rep. Jaime Lopez), Mercedes Cagas of Davao del Sur (mother of former Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas), Harlin Abayo of Northern Samar (husband of former Rep. Daryl Grace Abayo); Gerald Anthony Gullas of Cebu (son of former Rep. Eduardo Gullas), Enrique Garcia Jr. of Bataan (father of former Rep. Albert Raymund Garcia);

Mark Villar of Las PiƱas (son of Senator Villar), Magnolia Antonino-Nadres of Nueva Ecija (daughter of former Rep. Rodolfo Antonino), Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas of Pangasinan (mother of former Rep. Rachel Arenas), Rodolfo Biazon of Muntinlupa City (father of former Rep. Rufino Biazon who is now customs chief), Dakila Carlo Cua of Quirino (son of former Rep. Junie Cua), Georgina de Venecia of Pangasinan (wife of former Speaker Jose de Venecia);


Grex Lagman of Albay (son of former Rep. Edcel Lagman), Lani Revilla of Cavite (wife of Senator Revilla), Susan Yap of Tarlac (daughter of former Rep. Jose Yap), Regina Ongsiako Reyes of Marinduque (daughter of former Rep. Carmencita Reyes), Scott Davies Lanete of Masbate (son of former Rep. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete), Felix William Fuentebella of Camarines Sur (son of former Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella).

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/468545/why-congress-wont-act-on-call-for-pork-scam-probe#ixzz2cS1yThv8

Scrapping the pork barrel 3 (The Luneta Protest)

Photo: Bernardo Bernardo's Fb
Who is Organizing This Luneta Protest Gathering? By Gang Badoy
Posted: Monday, August 19, 2013 | By: Esquire Philippines |
Luneta Protest 2013

"...Since there was no ONE recognizable group making “the call”—the usual noisy suspects have been silent—many people started asking and doubting the agenda of the gathering.  “Who’s organizing this?” echoed through Twitter and Facebook. Many were afraid that it was a set-up. A lot were wary of being associated with this or that collective from the broad spectrum of Philippine political leanings.

"Last night I was having a highly charged discussion during a meal with friends when a lady in red shows up. We apparently have a common friend. Her name is Peachy Rallonza-BretaƱa. According to her, she was the one who FIRST re-posted the call of Ito Rapadas. (Ito was the lead singer of a band called Neo-Colors from the early 90s)  BUT- it was Peachy who posted “the call to action” and she was the one who put the time and place – and it was this that was spread and tossed around Facebook via tags and links. In response, Bernardo Bernardo and Monet Silvestre (a stage actor and a musician respectively) who were also the first ones to repost this suggestion put up a Facebook page with a California-based Phil-Am TV show called “Power ng Pinoy.” Peachy says she was tagged as a “host” on the event page, made administrator, and identified as being the spearhead of this August 26 protest. I asked her, “Well, are YOU the organizer? There have been questions, you see. Is there a program? A permit? What can we expect? Who will be beside me if I go?”

"She looked a little beat, and a lot overwhelmed so I stopped to let her speak.

"I learned that Peachy has no affiliation with any political group or movement. She is not sinister—in fact, she is quite reserved. I didn’t see an agenda-filled demagogue. All I saw was a taxpayer who is very angry at what is happening. She is angry and is just inviting people to gather, essentially asking them if they are angry, too. “Luneta is a public space,” she says, “This is just an invitation to go on August 26, National Heroes Day, to go to Luneta, and stake their claim on a little piece of our national historic park...


"…Viva demokrasya."


Scrapping the pork barrel 2 (probe..."to the law's fullest extent")

Photo: InterAksyon

Bishops, business leaders demand: Abolish pork, pass FOI Law now!

ABOLISH PORK. Probe and punish all the guilty. Pass the Freedom of Information Act.

Five major organizations of business leaders, Catholic bishops, and civil society groups in a joint statement condemned the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel as a “systemic diversion of public funds for private aggrandizement, much more into phantom organizations.”

In the statement, the five groups supported the conduct of “an impartial and comprehensive investigation” into the issue, and exhorted “those connected to this scam, whether a private citizen or a public figure, to submit themselves to such a probe.” The groups said all those who would be found accountable should face punishment “to the law’s fullest extent.”

The joint statement was signed by the Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference for Human Development; the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines – National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice, and Peace; Citizens’ Congress for Good Governance; the Makati Business Club; and Transparency and Accountability Network.



Scrapping the pork barrel 1 (declaring a people 'dead')

Photo: aboutphilippines.ph

BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS....
By Bishop Benny Navarro - C2G2 Chairman

"Today, we declare the Filipino people dead. Treacherously murdered by the very people whom they have trusted to take care of them, to govern them with honesty and integrity. The Filipino people have so trusted these murdering and blood sucking leeches and snakes with their lives and money through taxes, which the people painstakingly earned with their blood, sweat and tears, are now gone. Like Cain, after murdering his brother Abel, just shrug his shoulders, and with smile of mockery on his face, declared: "Am I my brother's keeper?"

"The enemy of the Filipino people is in their midst. The enemies are not colored white, black, or yellow. They are brown like us. They are Filipinos like us. They are Filipinos who have sold their souls to the Devil. They are the Filipino Judases called Congressmen and Senators. They live in palaces and own condominiums, riding in the most expensive cars, being attended by servants and drivers, swaggering around surrounded by bodyguards at the expense of the Filipino people who wallow in the most degrading life of poverty, who live in squalor in cramp areas caked in mud and filth. Their food is whatever that comes to them and their future, including that of their children, if they ever have one, has already been hacked to the devil..."



Friday, August 16, 2013

Folkloric Moriones circa 1962


This cover photo from an early 1960s issue of the Chronicle Magazine, the Sunday magazine of the Manila Chronicle, shows  how the Moriones Masks looked like in those years. The men who served as morions were the local farmers and fisher folks.

In a study,  “The Bloodless Head of Longinus: Political Interventions and the Decapitation of the Moriones Tradition in Marinduque”  by William Peterson, Monash University, Melbourne Australia, Petrson wrote:


“These latter folk generally donned homemade outfits that today would be regarded as “folkloric”. But from the 1960s on, morion demographics changed as those from the larger towns found cause to sign up as morions, and brought into practice financial resources which enabled them to outfit themselves in relatively expensive costuming – expensive masks and accompanying headgear, pricey costumes complete with the cape, breastplate, leggings, sandals, accoutrements such as shields, manacles, and swords. The morion masks and costuming from an earlier time, pieced together from whatever was immediately available – which are still possible to find in Marinduque’s smaller towns, such as Mogpog – have mostly now been substituted with their more “Hollywoodised” counterparts.”

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Marinduque News from OFW Magazine.com


Marinduque solon withdraws SC petition, says HRET now proper forum for poll case

Marinduque Rep. Regina Ongsiako-Reyes on Tuesday withdrew her petition before the Supreme Court contesting her disqualification from the May 2013 elections for allegedly being an American citizen.
In a manifestation and notice of withdrawal, Reyes explained to the court that jurisdiction over the issue has now shifted to the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) after she was "officially and formally recognized" as the duly elected representative of Marinduque when the 16th Congress opened its session on Monday.
"With the Petitioner’s admission and recognition in the House of Representatives, and the official opening and organization of the House of Representatives, all controversies regarding Petitioner’s qualifications and election to office are now within the jurisdiction of the HRET," Reyes noted.
Reyes said she and other House members in the 16th Congress have taken their oath of office before House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. in open session after Belmonte was elected House Speaker on Monday.
She also said she was withdrawing her petition considering the absence of any comment and opposition from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which disqualified her, and Joseph Socorro Tan, who asked for her disqualification.
Reyes, however, stressed that she was withdrawing her petition "without  waiver of her arguments, positions, defenses/causes of action as will be  articulated in  the HRET which is now the proper forum."
The high court had earlier upheld the Comelec decision to disqualify Reyes due to issues on her citizenship, prompting Reyes to file a motion for reconsideration.
Reyes also moved for the inhibition of SC Associate Justice Jose Perez, who wrote the decision.
Reyes had accused Perez of being close with Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, whose son, Lord Allan Jay Velasco, was her rival and the proclaimed representative of Marinduque's lone district following her disqualification.
For his part, Reyes had also filed an inhibition petition against SC Associate Justice Arturo Brion, who wrote a dissenting opinion on the case and suggested that Reyes' petition should not be outrightly dismissed.
Reyes had claimed that while she got her US citizenship after marrying an American citizen, she has not  yet undergone naturalization.
The Comelec, however, ruled that Reyes failed to present any legal and factual basis to support her argument. It also noted a Bureau of Immigration document showing that Reyes had been using a US passport since 2005. — Mark MerueƱas/KBK, GMA News

(On July 23, 2013, Reyes formally withdrew her petition before the Supreme Court contesting her qualification claiming HRET is now the proper forum).

Marinduque News from Philippine Canadian Inquirer


Justice's son rightfully wins Marinduque election


2013-07-19 10:17| Publisher: Ching.Dee|Original author: Christine O. Avendano, Philip C. Tubeza|Location: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Reelectionist Lord Allan Jay Velasco, son of Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco,
was declared the rightful congressman of Marinduque after the board of canvassers disqualified 
his opponent, Regina Ongsiako Reyes, for being an American citizen.

Reyes submitted a motion to reverse the Supreme Court’s decision on July 15. The ruling was 
made by Associate Justice Jose Perez. Nelia Aureus, one of Reyes’ legal counsel, walked out 
after the reading of the court’s decision. Now, Reyes also calls for Assoc. Justice Perez to inhibit 
himself from the case, believing that the ruling was influenced by Assoc. Justice Velasco’s clout 
within the court and friendship with Assoc. Justice Perez. Congressman Velasco issued a 
statement about Reyes’ allegations and maintains that they are “baseless.” He also said that 
Reyes violated several rules of court by discussing details of the case and pieces of evidence, 
such as documents that prove her citizenship, publicly.

Reyes’ camp adamantly insists that her initial proclamation as the congresswoman of 
Marinduque is legally binding, which caused her to already carry out the tasks that come with her 
then proclaimed political title. Despite her camp’s claims, Atty. Ma. Josefina dela Cruz, chair of 
the newly established Marinduque board of canvassers, stands by the rule that Reyes’ 
proclamation is “null, void, and without any legal force.”

Reyes is also lawyer and a part of the Reyes clan, a political dynasty that has reigned in 
Marinduque for decades. 
- See more at: http://www.canadianinquirer.net/portal.php?mod=view&aid=3252&mobile=no#sthash.yOLuvgTW.dpuf

Marinduque News from the Filipino Express, New Jersey, USA


Comelec annuls proclamation of Marinduque representative

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has annulled the proclamation of Regina Ongsiako Reyes as the winning representative of Marinduque province in the May 13 midterm elections.
 “The May 18 proclamation of the respondent, Regina Ongsiako Reyes, is declared null and void and without any legal force and effect,” said the 19-page resolution by the Commission en banc.
With this, the poll body ordered the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) of Marinduque to proclaim Lord Allan Jay Velasco as the winning representative in the province’s lone district.
“Since petitioner remains the only remaining candidate for the position of representative, who garnered 48,396 votes, then the PBOC shall proclaim him as the winning candidate,” said the en banc, voting 5-2.
The order added that the proclamation of Reyes should be annulled since she lacked the one-year residency requirement and for being an American citizen.
Last March, the Comelec First Division has cancelled the COC of Reyes on the grounds that she is an American citizen and did not meet the one-year residency requirement.
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Commissioners Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph, Grace Padaca, and Luie Guia voted to unseat Reyes.
For their part, Commissioners Christian Lim and Al Parreno dissented noting that Comelec has no jurisdiction over the case since Reyes has been proclaimed by the PBOC.
However, the poll body said that they still have jurisdiction of the case since what is being declared null is the action of the PBOC, which is under the Comelec.
“Clearly, therefore, contrary to the assertions of the Respondent Reyes, the Commission retains jurisdiction to determine the validity and propriety of the acts of the PBOC,” said the resolution.
On the other hand, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes explained that the en banc is merely continuing the Petition to Deny Due Course on the Certificate of Canvass (COC) of Reyes. 
“Indeed, while the denial of due course to and/or cancellation of COC generally necessitates the exercise of the Commission’s quasi-judicial functions, when the grounds therefore are rendered conclusive on account of final and executory judgments, such exercise falls within the Commission’s administrative jurisdiction to enforce and administer all laws and regulations – which is definitely outside the functions of the HRET,” he said in his concurring opinion. 

Marinduque News from Philippines Today USA


‘American’ elected congresswoman of Marinduque disqualified by SC


MANILA - the Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec)  todisqualify Marinduque Congresswoman-elect Regina Ongsiako Reyes for being an American citizen.

The High Court voting 7-4-3 ruled to dismiss for lack of merit the petition for certiorari filed by Reyes who sought to stop her disqualification..

Siding with Associate Justice Jose Perez who wrote the decision were Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Mariano del Castillo, Lucas Bersamin, Roberto Abad and Bienvenido Reyes.

Four of the justices who dissented in the ruling were  Antonio Carpio, Arturo Brion, Marvic Mario Victor Leonen and Martin Villarama.

Three justice inhibited from the case. They are Justices Jose Catral Mendoza, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Presbitero Velasco who recused himself from the case since his son, incumbent Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, is the opponent of Reyes in the May 2013 polls.

It will be recalled that last May 2013, Comelec ruled with finality that Reyes is disqualified because she is an American citizen.In a four-page Resolution of the Comelec en banc, promulgated on May 14, it junked the motion for reconsideration filed by Reyes.

Comelec has brushed aside the defense of Reyes that she is a dual citizen of the Philippines and of the US due to her previous marriage to Saturnino Ador Dionisio.

Reyes claimed that she got her US citizenship by virtue of her marriage to a US citizen, However she denied having undergone naturalization.

In the ruling dated March 27, 2013, the Comelec First Division held that Reyes is a US citizen and is therefore disqualified from running for a seat in the House of Representatives in the May 13, elections.

The case stemmed from a petition filed by Joseph Tan to deny due course to or cancel Reyes’ certificate of candidacy on the basis of several false representations made by Reyes in her CoC.

The poll body pointed out that Reyes is a US citizen and relied on the certificate issued by the Bureau of Immigration detailing Reyes’ use of a US passport since 2005.