Supreme Court voids NP-NPC merger

By Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)
Link:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=573041&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Liberal Party (LP) stopped the Nacionalista Party (NP) yesterday from acquiring the status of dominant minority party after the Supreme Court (SC) voided the NP’s coalition with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

In a unanimous decision, the SC agreed with the LP that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) committed “grave abuse of discretion” in disregarding its own deadline in approving the NP-NPC coalition.

“(The) NP-NPC’s petition for registration as a coalition is time-barred,” read the decision.

“Thus, Comelec was wrong in ordering the out-of-time registration of the NP-NPC coalition.

“In so ruling, we emphasize that the matter of party registration raises critical election concerns that should be handled with discretion commensurate with the importance of elections to our democratic system.

“The Comelec should be at its most strict in implementing and complying with the standards and procedures the Constitution and our laws impose.”

'Poll watchers getting advance pay in GMA district'

By Ding Cervantes (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=570182&publicationSubCategoryId=63

LUBAO, Pampanga , Philippines - Liberal Party (LP) re-electionist Gov. Eddie Panlilio urged yesterday the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate reports that his gubernatorial rival has been paying advance salaries ranging from P1,500 to P4,000 monthly to people who will act as poll watchers in the second district of Pampanga, where President Arroyo is the official congressional candidate of Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

“I urge the Comelec in Pampanga and Central Luzon to check out reports that my fellow gubernatorial candidate, Mrs. Lilia Pineda, and her campaigners at the Lakas-Kampi-CMD are doing a massive recruitment of poll watchers beyond what is allowed by election laws,” the Pampanga governor said in a statement yesterday.

Panlilio said that a “first batch of poll watchers have been designated as barangay coordinators” and have been required by the Pineda camp to recruit 10 poll watchers each.

“Election laws allow two poll watchers per party in every clustered precinct to work on alternate duty. When the precinct is small, the BEI can ask the poll watchers to leave. Only a representative of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting will be allowed,” he noted.

Why was Noynoy vs playing of ‘Hello, Garci’ tape?–NP

( Business Mirror)
Link: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24572:why-was-noynoy-vs-playing-of-hello-garci-tapenp&catid=26:nation&Itemid=63

THE Nacionalista Party (NP) said Liberal Party (LP) presidential bet Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and campaign officials of the LP played a key role in helping President Arroyo remain in power by voting against the playing of the “Hello, Garci” tape during the congressional investigation of alleged fraud in the 2004 elections.

NP spokesman and senatorial candidate Gilbert Remulla said voters should be reminded that Aquino, who promises new leadership that will be free of corruption, did not vote for the playing of the “Hello, Garci” tape, which was the key to enlighten the public in determining if Mrs. Arroyo cheated during the 2004 elections.

“It is highly suspicious why Sen. Noynoy Aquino did not vote to listen to the ‘Hello, Garci’ tape when he was House Deputy Speaker for Luzon,” said Remulla in a press briefing on Monday.

Villar’s mere presence already undue pressure

By Jason Faustino (The Daily Tribune)
Link: http://www.tribune.net.ph/

The mere presence of Villar as Senate president in the offices of Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) executives and the regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or personal calls he made to them is already a form of applying undue pressure, a former Senate president said yesterday.

Former Senate President and Liberal Party senatorial bet Franklin Drilon labeled as “excuses” Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential candidate Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr.’s claim that he indeed made the rounds with the PSE and SEC in 2007 when he was the Senate president but denied pressuring its officials for his or his companies’ gains.

Villar, in denying that he pressured the PSE, admitted that he made calls to the SEC and met with PSE officials, but said he never pressured them.

Drilon said the issue is not about violating laws but is more of a morality and ethical issue on the part of Villar, as well as delicadeza.

Loren lashes out at bashers

BY JP LOPEZ (Malaya)
Link: http://www.malaya.com.ph/04232010/news9.html

BACOLOD CITY – Nacionalista Party vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda on Thursday described as "delusional" the candidates of Liberal Party for linking her and her party to the move of Andal Ampatuan Jr., prime suspect in the Maguindanao massacre, to endorse the candidacy of Benigno Aquino III and his running-mate Manuel Roxas II.

"My only response is one word, delusional. Wag kayo mawawala sa sarili!" she said.

"Yung presidential candidate, yung president nila wala sa isip, yung vice presidential candidate nagpapadyak, umiiyak pag nag-aalyansa ang NP-NPC. Yung mga kanditotong vice president at pagka-senador delusional. Sana magpakatotoo naman ang mga Liberal. Wag naman delusional," she added.

Sen. Edgardo Angara said it was malicious of the LP to link him, through his lawyers, to the endorsement of Ampatuan, who last week proclaimed he was for the NP’s Manny Villar.

The endorsement was made in a press conference held by the detainee.

Gibo, Erap lead mock polls in Metro

By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=568870&publicationSubCategoryId=65

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate and former defense secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino former President Joseph Estrada are dominating mock polls in Metro Manila’s slum districts, newly-formed “Green Army Brigades” (GAB) bared yesterday.

Daisy Bardoquillo, head of the Kilusan ng mga Aktwal na Naninirahan sa Estado ng Payatas (Kanepa) and spokesperson of the newly-formed Green Army Brigades, said that results of mock polls they have been conducting since last month among informal settlers in Metro Manila, were in total contrast to the survey results being released by the Social Weather Station (SWS) and the Pulse Asia.

“Our own surveys had Teodoro winning popular support among the urban poor. In six big events attended by leaders of urban poor groups held in March and early April, a total of 963 joined the mock polls conducted after the meetings,” Bardoquillo said. Joven Pajora, president of the Parola Binondo Coalition, also of GAB said Teodoro was the top choice for President with 464 respondents voting for him.

Legarda pulls out ads, uses funds to feed the poor

By Michael Lim Ubac (Philippine Daily Inquirer )
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100422-265750/Legarda-pulls-out-ads-uses-funds-to-feed-the-poor

MANILA, Philippines—Vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda last week pulled out her solo TV advertisements, diverting funds to regular feeding programs dubbed “Lingkod Loren” in depressed areas in Metro Manila.

The move could turn out to be a political suicide since her main rival, Sen. Mar Roxas, airs about 20 TV ad spots a day.

The prime time rate, including spots in news programs, is P303,015.30 per 30-second ad, not including the 12-percent value-added tax.

“The politics of hunger is the politics we must address now,” said Legarda, urging candidates running for elective posts in May not to neglect the plight of poor and hungry Filipinos.

“Amidst the political noise and mudslinging, millions of Filipinos go hungry everyday; some die of hunger or lack of access to medicines,” she said.

Gibo to pull off come from behind victory - Lakas

By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=568673&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr. would pull a “come from behind victory” with the resurgence of support for him three weeks before the May 10 elections, party officials said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters, Ray Roquero, Lakas-Kampi secretary-general, said attacks against Teodoro, who continues to place fourth in surveys, have backfired.

“There is such a thing as a come from behind victory, and we can see the campaign being galvanized, the black propaganda being waged against us by the opposition seemed to have backfired and favored us,” he said.

“We have seen unheard-of groups now helping us in the provinces. All the sorties now of Gibo (Teodoro) are packed even if there are no artistas (stars) but they come and we are very happy about this development.”

Solon turns Teodoro green to Villar orange in a snap

By TJ Burgonio, Jhunnex Napallacan (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100421-265518/Solon-turns-Teodoro-green-to-Villar-orange-in-a-snap

MANILA, Philippines—He made it as easy as changing campaign baller IDs.

Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona took his oath before Sen. Manuel Villar on Monday afternoon only hours after he attended a meeting of Lakas-Kampi-CMD lawmakers presenting a show of force for Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

“He was there with us to pledge support for Teodoro,” the ruling party’s secretary general Raymundo Roquero said over the phone, expressing disbelief at Madrona’s turnaround. “It’s his problem to explain himself to his constituents.”

Party officials were pleasantly surprised by the turnout of 130 lawmakers at the meeting despite short notice. But Madrona’s defection to Villar’s Nacionalista Party (NP) spoiled the mood.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stopped by the hastily called meeting at Dusit Thani Manila hotel at around 2 p.m., and exhorted party mates and allies to “stick together” for the administration standard-bearer.

Teodoro himself showed up at the meeting. But he left before Ms Arroyo arrived, saying he had to travel to Antipolo City for an earlier scheduled lunch with local officials.

No bribery attempt during Lakas meeting

BY JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ Reporter (The Manila Times )
Link: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/15703-no-bribery-attempt-during-lakas-meeting

Malacañang on Tuesday denied allegations that “money changed hands” during a recent meeting of lawmakers belonging to Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) that was personally attended by President Gloria Arroyo.

During a press briefing in Malacañang, Press Undersecretary for Broadcast Roger Peyuan dismissed alleged bribery attempts by the executive committee of Lakas-Kampi CMD on some 130 lawmakers who attended the meeting at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City (Metro Manila) on Monday.

“Wala kaming nalalaman na pagkakataon sa pagpupulong na iyon na tinalakay ang usapan sa pananalapi. At lalong hinding-hindi nagkabigayan sa pagpupulong na iyan [We don’t know anything about money being discussed during that meeting. And definitely, nothing was given out to anyone there],” Peyuan said.

“Marahil ang mga bagay na may kaugnayan sa mga pangangailangan nila at kakulangan ng kanilang pangkampaya at pag-ayuda ng partido ay bahagi lang ng kanilang mga tinatalakay. Pero walang usapang ganito sa loob ng 30-minute stay ni Pangulo [Perhaps things related to campaign needs and the support from the leadership for the party’s candidates were tackled. But nothing irregular happened during the President’s 30-minute stay at the meeting],” he added.

Teodoro to maintain principled fight

By Paolo Romero ( The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=568399&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - With elections just two weeks away, administration presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro vowed to focus on positive issues.

Teodoro said he would not yield to pressures to engage in dirty campaigning just to boost his ratings.

Teodoro said he would stay the course to campaign positively instead of engaging in a word war like that between frontrunners Liberal Party (LP) presidential bet Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar.

Teodoro though admitted he had issues of his own to contend with, particularly the defections of key leaders of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD to the NP and LP.

Spokesman Mike Toledo pointed out that since the campaign started in February, Teodoro has never resorted to “dirty campaigning or black propaganda” and maintained his positive campaign that presented his platform of government.

Minority tag looms for Lakas Defections mean loss of dominant status

BY BERNICE CAMILLE V. BAUZON Reporter ( The Manila Times )
Link: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/15348-minority-tag-looms-for-lakas

Defections of members of the administration party Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) could lead to the ruling coalition losing its claim to dominant majority party status in the May 10 elections, a high-ranking official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.

But according to Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, they still would look into political developments within political parties to determine which party should be declared as the dominant majority party and as the dominant minority party in next month’s polls.

He said that it would not matter if only Lakas-Kampi CMD was the only one to apply for the dominant majority party status.

Sarmiento added that the poll body could go around and declare another party as the dominant one.

NP to Aquino: Come clean on security agency

By Michael Lim Ubac ( Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100416-264533/NP-to-Aquino-Come-clean-on-security-agency

MANILA, Philippines—The Nacionalista Party (NP) on Thursday urged Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to tell the truth regarding his involvement in a security agency that obtained government contracts during his mother’s presidency.

NP spokesperson Gilbert Remulla scoffed at Aquino’s claim that he had divested from Best Security Agency (BSA) when his mother, Corazon Aquino, became president.

In an interview, Remulla said BSA’s Articles of Incorporation on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) showed the agency was formed in November 1986, well after Aquino’s mother had assumed the presidency.

“The truth is that Noynoy put up BSA on Nov. 6, 1986, or nine months into the presidency of his mother,” said Remulla, an NP senatorial candidate.

Villar, NP court Muslim vote

By Christina Mendez ( The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=566931&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur , Philippines – Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. and the party’s senatorial slate yesterday received a strong show of support from local leaders who gathered 20,000 supporters for their political rally in Barangay Banggolo.

The NP has allied with local party Ummah-Ompia led by re-electionist Gov. Omar Ali Solitario and sworn in local leaders from the province’s 38 municipalities.

In expressing his support for Villar, Marawi second district congressional candidate Jun Macarambon took potshots at other presidential candidates who he claims are “insensitive” to the Mindanao peace process.

Macarambon claimed that Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino standard-bearer former President Joseph Estrada practically declared an all-out war in Mindanao when he delivered a speech during his campaign sortie in Davao.

Villar, Noy both GMA bets - PMP

By Perseus Echeminada (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=566922&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - A campaign manager of former President Joseph Estrada has tagged Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar and Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as President Arroyo’s secret candidates.

Outgoing Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco told The STAR that the exodus of Lakas-Kampi-CMD stalwarts to NP and LP has exposed Mrs. Arroyo’s support for Villar and Aquino in her bid to promote her political agenda beyond the May elections.

Tiangco, who is on his third and last term, said the latest defection of Albay Gov. Joey Salceda to LP is a clear sign that the President has scattered her political allies to the two parties so she can continue her agenda even after the polls.

“Senators Villar and Aquino should stop accusing each other of being an Arroyo front because both of them are allies of the President,” he said.

Villar takes up Aquino challenge on lifestyle check

Written by Butch Fernandez / Reporter (Business Mirror)
Link: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24140:villar-takes-up-aquino-challenge-on-lifestyle-check&catid=26:nation&Itemid=63

NACIONALISTA Party (NP) presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar took up the challenge hurled by his rival, Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno Aquino III, for candidates to undergo a lifestyle check.

“They may be the ones to lose face because my family and I lead simple lives,” Villar told reporters, saying he has no problem with that. “My wealth was built on hard work and perseverance. I shed sweat and blood to earn a living, so I wont waste my hard-earned money for luxury,” he added.

Aquino, responding to Villar’s dare that presidential candidates take psychiatric tests to determine their mental fitness, countered that he and Villar should first undergo a lie detector test and lifestyle check, amid talks that Villar outspends his rivals in the May 10 elections. 

Villar, who made billions in the real-estate business, said he still “prefers boiled kamote [sweet potato] and bananas for breakfast,” adding that people close to him can attest to his simple lifestyle.

Comelec affirms ruling on NP-NPC coalition

By RAYMUND F. ANTONIO (Manila Bulletin)
Link: http://mb.com.ph/articles/252568/comelec-affirms-ruling-npnpc-coalition

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday stood pat in its decision to grant accreditation to the coalition of the Nacionalista Party (NP) and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NCP) in spite the NPC’s failure to meet the deadline for registration of political parties.

“That provision refers to groups that are not yet registered as parties. The NP registered even before you were born. And NPC has been long time registered. So, these are registered organizations. They do not come under that provision, which gives deadline,” said Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer.

Ferrer, who heads the poll body second division, issued the statement as the Comelec came under fire for its approval of the NP-NPC coalition.

Most wanted on May 10: An education president

By Philip Tubeza (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100415-264344/Most-wanted-on-May-10-An-education-president

MANILA, Philippines—While the Arroyo administration trumpets improvements in education

Former Education Undersecretary Jose Miguel Luz says it’s a case of “arrested development.”

“It’s flat. In this business, flat is not good. Going 1 or 2 percent up is not good. You’ve got to be going up 5, 8, or 10 percent,” says Luz, associate dean at the Asian Institute of Management’s Center for Development Management.

“In this business, if you are not getting better, you are falling farther and farther behind. And that’s the problem. When we compare ourselves to where we were and compare ourselves to our neighbors, we’re not getting better. They’re getting much better than us. They’re improving at a faster rate.”

Luz is one of the key advisers of Sen. Benigno Aquino III, the Liberal Party candidate for president in the May 10 elections. He has been on the forefront of a movement in the Philippines over the past dozen years to improve the quality of education—the main vehicle for social mobility among the large impoverished segment of the population that has little access to wealth, because of the failure of agrarian reform, or capital. His ideas are reflected in Aquino’s education program, regarded as one of the most progressive among the presidential candidates.

Lakas may expel members supporting other bets—Teodoro

By Yolanda Sotelo (Inquirer Northern Luzon) 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100324-260646/Lakas-may-expel-members-supporting-other-betsTeodoro

BINALONAN, Pangasinan, Philippines—Lakas-Kampi standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said party members who back other presidential aspirants run the risk of enduring strict disciplinary actions or outright expulsion.

But he said the Lakas campaign had already forecast the eventual party-switching among its ranks before it launched his presidential bid.

"We have factored [into the campaign strategy] a certain amount of defection [that would take place]. That happens. You can't stop it. Rather than not accept [defections] as a reality, you have to be ready [if you want to proceed with an efficient campaign]," he said.

Teodoro toured this town on Wednesday, part of a Pangasinan sortie that coincided with the two-day provincial tour of his cousin, Senator Benigno Aquino III, standard-bearer of the Liberal Party.

On Sunday in Baguio City, Florencio Abad Jr., LP campaign manager, said his party had been documenting the activities of Lakas provincial candidates, who have openly campaigned for Senator Manuel Villar Jr., the Nacionalista Party standard-bearer.

Abad said LP has concluded that Villar may soon receive full backing from the Lakas-Kampi leadership, which would place Teodoro in an awkward position.

Palace on Noynoy threat of protests: Bring it on

By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star)  

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=561048&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang belittled yesterday the threat of Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to lead massive street protests against a Supreme Court (SC) ruling allowing President Arroyo to appoint the next chief justice.

Presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo also maintained that Mrs. Arroyo would proceed with the appointment of the successor of Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who retires on May 17.

“She will comply with her duty under the Constitution. The Constitution requires that a Supreme Court chief justice should be appointed within 90 days (upon vacancy) and she will do her part, that one is appointed within 90 days,” Saludo told a news briefing.

“We believe that at the end of the day, the great majority of our people and their leaders will comply with the demands of the Constitution as interpreted by the body that is authorized to interpret it, the Supreme Court,” Saludo said.

“The people want to see the Constitution followed,” he said.

Referring to Aquino’s statements, he said “people will say all sorts of things during campaign period to get into the papers.”