GMA may bypass Congress on crisis

by Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=556035&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo is considering bypassing Congress in dealing with the energy crisis in Mindanao.

Palace legal experts believe an “aggressive” interpretation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act or EPIRA may allow state utilities to generate additional capacity even without congressional approval.

Section 71 of the EPIRA prohibits the government from generating additional power unless allowed by Congress in a joint resolution. But even Palace officials concede that lawmakers, most of them busy with the campaign, might not return to work for a special session that will give the President the needed powers.

“It is possible that if we’re going to be aggressive, if our interpretation is that we are leasing additional capacity as opposed to buying or constructing new capacity, that (joint resolution) might be construed as something that we might no longer need – that particular section (Section 71) in the EPIRA,” deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar told government-run radio dzRB.

He noted some experts said that generating new capacity might be interpreted as acquiring or constructing generating assets.

“But if we are to lease generator sets – we won’t buy or own them – some lawyers might say that you can do that even without the special session,” Olivar said.

Cojuangco: No alliance with Villar

by Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star)
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=553971&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The leader of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) bloc in the House of Representatives disowned yesterday his party’s supposed alliance with presidential aspirant Sen. Manuel Villar and his Nacionalista Party.

Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco said NPC is sticking to its “neutral stance” when it comes to the position of president that is at stake in the May 10 elections.

“My father and I stand behind NPC’s neutral stance,” he said in a text message sent to The STAR.

His father is billionaire businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., NPC’s founder and chief financier, whom party members still regard as their principal leader.

PMP senatorial bet’s proposal to defer barangay polls gets support

from The Daily Tribune
http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20100227met5.html 

The 400,000-strong Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas has thrown its full support to a measure filed by Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) senatorial candidate Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza seeking to defer the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October so that funds intended for the local polls can be used in mitigating the effects of El Niño.
The group’s national president, Ricojudge “RJ” Echiverri, said the move by Congress to postpone this year’s local polls “is most welcome and timely,” explaining the threats posed by El Niño to the economy should be dealt with more seriously.
“It (El Niño) is a calamity of grand scale. We can forego the barangay elections so that government from the president down to the least barangay official will have more time and resources to help the public cope with the long dry spell. Unless we all do our share, we will be facing one of the worst tragedies ever,” Echiverri, son of Caloocan City Mayor Recom Echiverri, stressed.

PMP in need of campaign funds — Erap

from The Daily Tribune

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20100219hed5.html

GAPAN, Nueva Ecija — Former President Joseph Estrada yesterday said the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) candidates will have to campaign and work harder to offset its meager campaign funds.

Estrada, who flew in by helicopter from Manila and motored from Cabciao to Gapan City, said the party is facing some campaign funding problems. He said that campaign contributions are hard to come by compared to his campaign in 1998.

“That is our problem today—we have insufficient campaign funds. There are some contributors, of course, but these come in trickles,” Estrada said in an interview before speaking to a crowd of over 7,000 at the Gapan City Gymnasium.

PMP vice presidential candidate Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and senatorial candidates Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, former Sen. Francisco Tatad, Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza and former Rep. Jun Lozada were with Erap in his Nueva Ecija sortie.

Erap vows to dismantle private armies

from The Daily Tribune
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20100215hed6.html

Streets in Davao had to be closed owing to thousands of residents making up a massive crowd that had congregated at the Rizal Park where they stood waiting under the hot sun for former President Joseph Estrada to arrive and speak before them in a rally yesterday.

The former president, a charismatic political figure with whom the masses identify, continues to be wildly popular, especially in Mindanao.

Estrada has chosen to spend Valentine’s Day with the people of Davao.

The former president, who flew to Davao yesterday, vowed to dismantle the private armies and eliminate warlords from society should the electorate return him to Malacañang on June 30, 2001.

Maritime disasters will be GMA legacy - Plaza

by Jose Rodel Clapano (The Philippine Star)
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=549101&publicationSubCategoryId=67

MANILA, Philippines - Maritime disasters with hundreds of lives lost and thousands of children left orphaned will be the legacy of the Arroyo administration if heads do not roll immediately at the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and other agencies in charge of safety in sea transport, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino-United Opposition (PMP-UNO) senatorial candidate Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza said.

Plaza aired anew his call for the resignation of Marina administrator and Transportation Undersecretary Elena “Len” Bautista after two passenger vessels collided off the coast of Southern Leyte last Monday.

“Blood is on President Arroyo’s hands. Her refusal to even slap the wrist of her officials in the face of criminal neglect to do their duties in ensuring safety in public transport shows she does not care about the lives lost and thousands of children left orphaned by the sea tragedies,” Plaza said.

Duterte, Erap discuss Mindanao peace

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Even political rivals admire Gibo"s qualities

from The Daily Tribune Jan 15, 2010

http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20100115met4.html

Even members of the political opposition are beginning to express admiration for the intelligence and leadership qualities of Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

They did so at the birthday bash for Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay in Olongapo City over the weekend that was attended mostly by lawmakers who belonged to several rival political parties.

Magsaysay said Muntinlupa City Rep. Rozanno Rufino Biazon and Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III — both of the opposition Liberal Party — did not conceal their admiration for Teodoro when they spoke at the gathering.

“Both warmly greeted Secretary Teodoro when they met each other at my birthday party,” Magsaysay said.

“When they went up to the stage, both of them praised Gibo for his intelligence, leadership skill and integrity, the virtues he had consistently shown when he was a member of the House of Representatives,” the woman solon said in an interview.

Biazon and Guingona are on the LP senatorial slate of presidential candidate and Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino II.

Party stalwarts from the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and the other political parties as well as former Zambales Gov. Vicente Magsaysay, her father-in-law, warmly applauded the two lawmakers in an atmosphere of genuine camaraderie despite the coming May national elections
Although a gathering of rival politicians, the party was cordial with no visible political distinctions. “Secretary Teodoro was warmly received by all,” Rep. Magsaysay said.

The party guests included a number of senatorial candidates, among them Secretary Silvestre Bello III (Lakas-Kampi), reelectionist Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada (Partido ng Masang Pilipino), Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (Nacionalista Party), Jose “Joey” de Venecia III (PMP), Gwendolyn Pimentel (NP), Susan “Toots” Ople (NP), and Rep. Ompong Plaza. Also visible was former Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane who is running for vice governor of Zambales.

Magsaysay observed that it is in Teodoro’s character not to engage in “mudslinging and spats with his political opponents,” the qualities that have endeared him even to his political rivals. “A stable political environment will bring much good to the country,” she added.

Teodoro, the 1989 Philippine Bar Examinations topnotcher, earlier vowed a leadership of healing and political conciliation should he win the presidential elections in May.

“My leadership will be those of the ‘paghihilom’ (healing) style as I believe friendship is more important than  politics,” he stressed.

“There will be no witchhunt against those who did not help in my campaign. Cooperation between all leaders, regardless of party-lines, will be the hallmark of my administration so that the greatest amount of reforms and benefits will be brought to our people,” Teodoro said.

He added it is important to build a broad-based unity among Filipino leaders and their followers, because a “leadership of hate will be very counterproductive.”

“Working together offers us the best chance to bring our country back on the path to development and progress,” Teodoro said.