Erap tied with Villar in latest Pulse Asia poll

By Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)
Link:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=571135&publicationSubCategoryId=63


MANILA, Philippines - With elections less than two weeks away, the tandem of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) standard-bearer former President Joseph Estrada and running mate Jejomar Binay surged to the number two spot.

Results of Pulse Asia’s latest pre-election survey showed that Estrada and Nacionalista Party (NP) bet Sen. Manuel Villar are now tied at second place with 20 percent each.

Binay, showing strong improvement, also overtook NP bet Sen. Loren Legarda for second place (28 percent versus 20 percent).

Pulse Asia said Binay gained nine percentage points in electoral support while Legarda’s score dropped from 23 percent in March to 20 percent in a survey conducted from April 23 to 25.

Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno Aquino III is still dominating the race with 39 percent or four in 10 Filipino voters showing preference for him. Aquino is leading by 19 points over Villar and Estrada.

Gordon sues SWS, Pulse Asia

By Reinir Padua (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=569021&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Bagumbayan presidential candidate Sen. Richard Gordon yesterday filed with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court a P650,000 civil suit against survey firms Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia Inc. for negatively affecting his campaign.

Gordon asked the court to temporarily restrain the polling firms from conducting surveys and publishing survey results.

Gordon asked for P100,000 in nominal and tem perate damages, P500,000 in exemplary damages, and P50,000 in attorney’s fees.

“Without regard to their fundamental duty to act with justice to observe honesty and good faith, defendants SWS and Pulse Asia, for pecuniary gain and solely for reasons intended to favor their moneyed clients, have published false, fraudulent, biased and defective surveys which have undermined the campaign of Senator Gordon and (former MMDA) Chairman Bayani (Fernando) and made them as unwinnable contenders for president and vice president, respectively,” the 26-page complaint said.

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.

Gibo tops online survey; Erap second, Noynoy fourth

By Charlie V. Manalo (The Daily Tribune)
Link: http://www.tribune.net.ph/

Debunking results from long suspected-tainted opinion polling firms, voters in an on-line survey picked administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro as top bet, deposed President Joseph Estrada a close second, while perennial survey frontrunner Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III landed a mere fourth place behind fierce rival, Sen. Manuel “Manny Villar Jr.

It was Teodoro’s third time in a week’s time to either come out No. 1 or No.2, having topped the online polls conducted by the Manila Bulletin newspaper. He also came in second in a separate survey done by Dutch finance giant ING.

This time in the BusinessWorld survey, Gibo picked up 26.50 percent of the 102,057 voters polled to top the poll; followed by Pwersa ng Masa’s Estrada with 25.77 percent.

Villar, of the Nacionalista Party, came in third place with 19.07 percent; while Aquino of the Liberal Party came in fourth place with 18.62 percent.

Bro. Eddie Villanueva of the Bangon Pilipinas party was fifth with 2.52 percent, followed by Nicanor Perlas III (2.53 percent); John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes (1.90 percent); Jamby Madrigal (1.71 percent); and Richard Gordon (1.56 percent).

Gordon to Comelec: Ban sample ballots

by Edson C. Tandoc Jr.

From Philippine Daily Inquirer

Link:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100411-263608/Gordon-to-Comelec-Ban-sample-ballots

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Senator Richard Gordon asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to issue a resolution banning the distribution of sample ballots to voters, warning that these could be exploited to buy votes and sabotage the automated election.

Gordon on Saturday said that allowing national and local candidates to print and give out sample ballots as campaign paraphernalia was also "environmentally unfriendly" and would be an "insane misuse of valuable resources."

Speaking with reporters in this city, Gordon said: "I am calling on the Comelec not to allow sample ballots."

Gordon, who authored the automated election law, warned that saboteurs could purposely insert the sample ballots, which would be designed to look similar to the actual ballot, to jam the counting machines and delay the election.

The sample ballots could also facilitate vote-buying, he added.

He said the shift to an automated election wiped out "wholesale cheating" in the form of selling tampered certificates of canvass but it will force the return to retail-style cheating through massive vote buying.

He also asked the Comelec to limit the number of allowed poll watchers per candidate or party, saying that some candidates hire as many as five poll watchers per precinct which is already a form of vote-buying.

Gordon said: "Everybody should be vigilant."

VP bet Fernando shoots funny video for Web

by Edson C. Tandoc Jr.

From Philippine Daily Inquirer
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100411-263615/VP-bet-Fernando-shoots-funny-video-for-Web

MANILA, Philippines—Three weeks after a funny video of presidential candidate Senator Richard Gordon spread on the internet, it's Bayani Fernando's turn to dance and lip-synch with internet comedians Moymoy Palaboy and his brother Roadfill.

Fernando shot a short clip—filmed using a cell phone—on Friday afternoon right after a press conference where Gordon's Bagumbayan Party gathered supporters in a show of force.

It so happened that Moymoy Palaboy, or James Obeso in real life, and his brother Rudolf also attended the press conference to show their support to Gordon's presidential bid.

So, wearing his signature yellow construction hat, Fernando danced with the brothers to the tune of Beastie Boys' "Intergalactic" inside the Barbara's Restaurant, owned by Gordon's sister, in Intramuros, Manila.

The clip will be edited first and is scheduled to be uploaded soon, the duo’s manager Mitch Razote said.

Fernando is known as a singer—he won in GMA7's version of the Celebrity Duets in 2008 and even had concerts with former senator Joey Lina and former energy secretary Angelo Reyes—but he has not been widely seen dancing.

In an earlier interview, Fernando said he could also use his singing skills if he wins as vice president. He said he could provide entertainment in social functions and even wow members of the diplomatic corps and visiting heads of state.

Villar, Roxas top UP mock presidential polls

By Michael Punongbayan (The Philippine Star)  

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=560795&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. topped the third and final mock elections among students of the University of the Philippines Diliman campus in Quezon City.

Villar garnered 2,866 votes or 33.8 percent of the total votes cast by 8,468 students from 25 different colleges in the mock polls conducted by the Alpha Sigma Fraternity’s Boto ng Iskolar ng Bayan.

Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III garnered 1,787 votes, or 21.1 percent, a difference of 12.7 percentage points.

Bagumbayan presidential bet Sen. Richard Gordon came in third with 1,317 votes or 15.5 percent while administration candidate Gilbert Teodoro, who topped the last mock election, dropped to fourth place with 646 votes or 7.6 percent of the total votes cast.

The students were asked, “If elections were held today, (whom) would you vote for president and vice president?”

Alpha Sigma explained the difference in the results of the three mock polls was attributed to how voters are yet to make a final decision on who they would vote for on May 10.

NO FREE PASS FOR PRE-CAMPAIGN ADS Top bets liable for breach of ethics; donors for taxes

By Malou Mangahas (Malaya) Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
http://www.malaya.com.ph/03232010/news4.html

THEY probably thought they got a free pass to flood television with political ads beyond the airtime and spending limits set in law, having run commercials before the 90-day campaign period could start last February 9.

But the top candidates for president and vice president, as well as those who donated and bankrolled their pre-campaign ads, had better think again, according to lawyers and officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

By the letter and spirit of anti-graft and tax laws, say the lawyers and tax officials, their pre-campaign period airing of political ads does not free the candidates and their donors of all liabilities.

By PCIJ’s calculations, the combined actual ad spending of six presidential candidates and four vice-presidential candidates from November 1, 2009 to February 8, 2010 comes up to P1.472 billion. By most standards, the amount is huge enough to compromise these candidates, most of whom are incumbent public officials.

The figure is also huge enough to shore up the tax collection drive of the BIR amid the country’s rising fiscal deficit -- if the candidates’ donors have paid taxes.

Just last week, BIR Commissioner Joel Tan-Torres said his agency has collected only P100 million from the five-percent withholding tax slapped on all political contributions and campaign expenditures of candidates during the campaign period.

Election rules on posters Offenders all, Comelec says of major candidates

By Kristine L. Alave (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100320-259769/Election-rules-on-posters

MANILA, Philippines—Equal offenders all.

This was how the Commission on Elections described candidates for national office when it comes to following the law as their political advertisements continue to litter the streets of Metro Manila.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez on Friday said the poll body has found that several presidential, vice-presidential and senatorial candidates have posters and streamers in violation of size limits in the Fair Elections Law.

“We recently went on a drive across the city and we took pictures. It seems that it is widespread and commonplace. It’s not limited to a particular candidate or block. Everyone is equally in violation, it would seem,” Jimenez said.

The rule says that posters should not exceed 2 feet by 3 feet while streamers should be no more than 3 feet by 8 feet.

Oversized

Jimenez said many of the streamers and posters they found during their inspection violated these size limits. Many were also out of place and were posted in public infrastructures.

Jimenez said compliance with the poster regulations has been “dismal.” Candidates do not own up to the violations and blame their supporters for putting up the posters.

But the Comelec will not accept this alibi, he said.

“They must be reminded that according to the implementing rules of RA 9006, a candidate will also be held liable for the violations committed by his supporter,” he said.

Jimenez identified the offending streamers as those of presidential candidates Sen. Noynoy Aquino (Roxas Blvd. cor Vito Cruz); Gilbert Teodoro (Edsa Southbound); Joseph Estrada and Jejomar Binay (Edsa North Ave., Philam); Sen. Richard Gordon; and Sen. Manuel Villar (Edsa cor. Reliance St.).

The rest belonged to vice-presidential candidate Bayani Fernando (Edsa Cubao, and Shell North Luzon Tollway, Burol Balagtas, Bulacan); senatorial candidates Sen. Lito Lapid (Edsa cor. Reliance St.) JV Bautista (Edsa near Nepa Q-Mart) and Rey Langit (in front of the MMDA office near Edsa Guadalupe).

Three days to comply

Jimenez said the Comelec has also received reports that these candidates have been littering the provinces with their propaganda materials.

The candidates have three days from receiving notice to remove the offending materials.

Those found guilty of an election offense face imprisonment up to six years, disqualification from public and government office, and revocation of the right to vote.

Early this week, the Comelec notified Gordon, Fernando and Bangon Pilipinas presidential bet Bro. Eddie Villanueva about removing their giant billboards on South Luzon Expressway, Edsa and Quiapo, Manila, respectively.

Gordon, Villanueva: Why pick on us?

by Edson C. Tandoc Jr., Tina Santos (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100318-259328/Gordon-Villanueva-Why-pick-on-us

MANILA, Philippines—Bring it on.

Sen. Richard Gordon is not taking down his huge billboards on EDSA and on South Luzon Expressway despite an order from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for him to remove them.

“I will not dismantle it. I don’t own it. It does not belong to me,” Gordon, a presidential candidate of the Bagumbayan Party, said Wednesday when asked about the Comelec order.

Gordon, his running mate Bayani Fernando and presidential candidate Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas have billboards that exceed the mandated size, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said Wednesday.

The Fair Election Act specifies that the maximum size of posters should be 2 ft by 3 ft. For streamers announcing a public meeting, it’s 3 ft by 8 ft, which can be placed five days before the event and should be removed within 24 hours after the event.

Without his knowledge

Gordon said the two huge billboards that the Comelec referred to as oversized were donated by supporters and were put up without his knowledge.

Noynoy, Mar most trusted in Pulse poll

by ROMMEL C. LONTAYAO (The Manila Times)
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/13580-noynoy-mar-most-trusted-in-pulse-poll
 
Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd emerged as the most trusted presidential candidate, according to the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia.

Aquino got a trust rating of 64 percent while his closest rival, Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party, slid down to 59 percent, said the survey conducted by Pulse Asia from February 21 to 25.

Villar had a 70-percent trust rating a month earlier.

Aquino’s running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd, also had the highest trust rating among vice presidential candidates with 70 percent.

Only 14 percent of voters said that they had “small/no trust” for Aquino, with the rest saying that they were undecided.

Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino came in third, with a 40-percent trust rating followed by administration bet Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro with 29 percent and Sen. Richrad “Dick” Gordon of Bagumbayan Movement with 25 percent.

Among the other vice presidential bets, Sen. Loren Legarda, Villar’s running mate, got a 58-percent trust rating, a 3-percent drop from her January rating. Following Legarda was Mayor Jejomar Binay of Makati City, Estrada’s running mate, who got 45 percent while former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, Gordon’s vice presidential bet, got 22 percent.

Future scientists pinili si Gibo

mula sa Pilipino Star Ngayon
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=558620&publicationSubCategoryId=92

MANILA, Philippines - Kahit hindi pa mga botante ang mga future scientists ng bansa na pawang estudyante ng Philippine Science High School, pinili nila si Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr. bilang susunod na pangulo sa isinagawa nilang mock elections.

Hindi man sila botante sa ngayon, alam ng mga estudyante ng PSHS na dapat paghandaan ang kanilang magiging kinabukasan kaya dapat paghandaang mabuti at piliin ang susunod na lider ng bansa.

Sa mock elections na nilahukan ng may 300 estudyante, nakakuha si Teodoro ng 54 percent habang si Liberal Party presidential bet Noynoy Aquino ay nakakuha ng 19 percent kasunod si Sen. Richard Gordon na may 12 percent.

Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nanalo si Teodoro sa mock elections na isinagawa sa mga paaralan sa bansa kung saan maging ang alma mater ni Noynoy na Ateneo de Manila University ay ang una ang nanalo. Maging sa isinagawang independent survey ng Campaigns and Images sa koordinasyon ng Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting ay big­lang umangat si Teodoro sa 2nd spot kung saan ay tinalo na niya si Noynoy. (Rudy Andal)

Take down oversized billboards, Gordon told By Kristine L. Alave, Edson C. Tandoc Jr., Dona Pazzibugan Philippine Daily Inquirer

By Kristine L. Alave, Edson C. Tandoc Jr., Dona Pazzibugan (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100317-259153/Take-down-oversized-billboards-Gordon-told
 
MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has warned candidates Sen. Richard Gordon, his running mate Bayani Fernando and Bro. Eddie Villanueva to take down their campaign billboards that are oversized, lest they risk election charges.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez Tuesday said the poll agency had been monitoring the outdoor ads of the candidates and found billboards of Gordon, Fernando and Villanueva that exceeded the size mandated by law.

“The clock is ticking. They should remove the billboards forthwith, otherwise they risk sanctions for violating election laws,” Jimenez said.

He said the Comelec sent photos of the offending billboards to its law department, which would notify the candidates to take them down.

Jimenez said the Gordon and Fernando billboards were found along EDSA and the South Luzon Expressway.

Villanueva, on the other hand, had a giant banner near Quiapo Bridge in Manila.

Saving Gibo: Lagging numbers don’t faze Palace strategists

By Regina Bengco (Malaya)

Link: http://www.malaya.com.ph/03152010/news3.html

MALACAÑANG yesterday said it is too early for administration presidential candidate Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. to throw in the towel especially since a recent survey conducted with the participation of the election watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting showed him already climbing to second place early March.

"Hindi pa po tapos ang laban... it is certainly too early for anybody to say na dapat mag-give up ang administrasyon sa tsansa ng kanilang standard bearer," said Gary Olivar, deputy presidential spokesman.

Olivar said the Palace still believes that Teodoro is the most qualified of all the presidential candidates and hopes that Filipino voters would realize it in the end.

The tracking poll done by political research outfit The Campaigns & Image Group conducted with PPCRV, which was done in the week ending March 7, showed Manuel Villar Jr. (Nacionalista Party) remaining on top with 31 percent of the 5,100 respondent-voters.

Teodoro followed with 24 percent, Benigno Aquino III (Liberal Party) with 20 percent, Joseph Estrada (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino) with 13 percent, Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan) with 5 percent, and evangelist Eddie Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas) with 2 percent.

The survey was based on the question: "Who among the 10 presidential candidates do you think is capable of governing the Philippines and for whom will you be voting for the presidency?"

Presidential hopefuls offer solutions to Mindanao woes

by SARAH JANE R. HILOMENhttp://mb.com.ph/articles/247100/presidential-hopefuls-offer-solutions-mindanao-woes

DAVAO CITY — Presidential aspirants positioned their proposed solutions to the different problems that are beleaguering Mindanao during last Tuesday’s presidential forum held at the covered court of Ateneo De Davao University.

The forum dubbed as Panaghisgut-hisgut 2010 Mindanao Presidential Forum sponsored by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated, Southern Mindanao Tourism Council, Mindanao Business Council and ADDU was attended by the presidential candidates except Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Sen. Manny Villar.

The candidates discussed the peace problem, energy crisis, mining and other issues plaguing Mindanao.

The dry spell in the country has not only affected farmers’ crops but has also resulted in the reduction of power supply in the largely hydro-powered island. The candidates were asked what they would do to solve the current power shortage.

Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon and former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro both called for exploring the possibility of utilizing nuclear power to boost the power needs of Mindanao.

Gordon said nuclear power is already being used by the neighboring Asian countries so there is no reason why the Philippines should not also do the same.

Aquino, Villar apologize for Davao forum no-show

by JP LOPEZ (Malaya)

http://www.malaya.com.ph/03112010/news4.html

KABACAN, Cotabato – Nacionalista Party standard bearer Manuel Villar yesterday apologized to religious leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for his failure to attend the presidential forum Tuesday in Davao City.

The forum, organized by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ which was founded by Quiboloy, featured presidential bets former President Joseph Estrada, Gilberto Teodoro, Richard Gordon, Jamby Madrigal, Nicanor Perlas and Eddie Villanueva.

Aside from Villar, Liberal Party’s Benigno Aquino III also failed to attend the forum.

Aquino, in letter to Quiboloy, claimed he was advised by his doctor to skip traveling by air for two days due to a nasal ailment.

Villar was reported to have stayed at a nearby hotel in Davao City for the duration of the forum.

"Humihingi kami ng paumanhin subalit grabe talaga ang demand ng kampanya at nakita ninyo naman na kulang na kulang ang oras sa pag-ikot. Talagang hirap na hirap ang mga kandidato at talagang malakas ang pressure considering na dalawang buwan nalang ang nalalabi sa kampanya," Villar said in an interview after he arrived at the University of Southern Mindanao in this town.

Noynoy, Manny are no-shows; pastor fumes

by JP LOPEZ (Malaya)

http://www.malaya.com.ph/03102010/news5.html

DAVAO CITY – THE two leading contenders for the presidency based on surveys snubbed a presidential forum sponsored by Kingdom of Jesus Christ headed by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Quiboloy scoffed at Liberal Party presidential bet Benigno Aquino III for reneging on his commitment to attend the forum.

Quiboloy said he was disappointed since it was Aquino who chose the date for the forum.

Quiboloy said the forum was originally scheduled on Feb. 11 but because Aquino was not available at that time, he said he asked Aquino to choose the date.

In his e-mail to Quiboloy, Aquino said doctors advised him to prevent any travel by any craft for at least two days because he was suffering from barosinusitis.

"As previously arranged, I already marked and prioritized this event in my schedule and I’m eagerly looking forward to meeting you personally," Aquino in the letter read by Quiboloy before the start of the forum.

"However much as I’d like to participate in the said forum, I deeply regret to inform you that I have been advised by my physicians to provisionally defer any flights due to barosinusitis. My doctors have advised me to provisionally avoid any travel by aircraft for at least two consecutive days because any atmospheric or barometric pressure will only aggravate my present condition," Aquino further said.

Barosinusitis or baratrauma of the paranasal sinusitis, as defined by a medical dictionary, "is a risk factor for anyone exposed to ambient pressure changes."

But Quiboloy appeared dissatisfied with Aquino’s explanation.

Aquino leads Villar by a hair

from Manila Standard Today

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews.htm?f=2010/march/8/news1.isx&d=2010/march/8

 

SENATORS Benigno Aquino III and Manuel Villar Jr. remained locked in a statistical tie, 34 percent to 32 percent, in Manila Standard’s latest nationwide survey, in contrast to a Pulse Asia poll that showed Aquino pulling ahead.

The Manila Standard survey, conducted between Feb. 20 and 26, asked 2,500 registered voters to cast their ballots for the positions of president, vice president and senators in a way that simulated actual voting in the coming automated elections in May.

By contrast, a Feb. 21 to 25 survey by Pulse Asia of 1,800 respondents showed Aquino ahead, and by 36 percent to 29 percent.

The Standard’s February poll showed that the race for the presidency continued to be tight, with Aquino and Villar losing 2 percentage points each from the January survey, said Standard resident pollster Pedro Laylo Jr.

News of a Senate censure of Villar for his alleged role in irregularities in the C-5 road expansion project did not seem to affect their respective standings.

'Energy crisis just artificial'

from The Philippine Star

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=556312&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Richard Gordon said the power crisis in Mindanao is artificial and may be part of a sinister plot, and demanded an explanation from the Arroyo administration.

“They should explain why there is a power shortage. From what I have heard – and I have just been to Mindanao – the water level in Lanao lake is normal. They just opened up a power plant in Cebu and they will open up a couple more. I don’t know what they are talking about,” Gordon, Bagumbayan party presidential candidate, told editors and reporters of The STAR yesterday.

“They have a lot of explaining to do.”

Gordon said a shortage of power is a threat to national security, hence the need for the government to be transparent.

“It is artificial, I agree. That is why I want it explained. If this is not artificial, she should explain. Her administration must explain, so must her candidate,” he said, apparently referring to administration bet Gilbert Teodoro Jr., former defense secretary.

“When you have no power, it becomes a security issue eventually,” he said.

Gordon also said frequent power interruptions don’t only cause inconvenience but also drive away investors.

Estrada: I never tried to buy off my rivals

from The Daily Tribune

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20100306hed5.html

Sen. Manny Villar is trying to buy his way into the presidency, and that is a danger signal that the electorate must take into account when they go to the polls in May.

In a press statement sent to media outlets yesterday, former President Joseph Estrada chided Villar for making an attempt to bribe Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Richard Gordon, one after the other.

“The term bribery attempt may be harsh, but I have no other way to put it,” Estrada said. “In any case, it has never occurred to me to buy off my political opponents, not now and certainly not in 1998, when I first made my successful run for the presidency.”

He said the voters should be given the biggest possible number of candidates to choose from.

The former president noted that of all candidates seeking the highest office of the land, Villar has the biggest war chest. He cited a study made by AG Nielsen, which shows that the real estate mogul spent more than P120 million on radio and TV advertising in a two-month period, from Feb. 9 to March 2.