Gordon: Teodoro needs more experience in executive duties

By Mike Frialde
From The Philippine Star
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=563967&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines – Bagumbayan presidential bet Sen. Richard Gordon yesterday said Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. should have gained more experience in executive duties before running for the highest position in the land.

“He is still young and he is coming up too fast. His chances are as good as anybody else’s,” he said during a campaign sortie in Lucena City.

Gordon said Teodoro should have capitalized on strong political experience instead of relying too much on the support of his political party.

“He cannot really rely on the politics of the Philippines which is now bad to the core,” Gordon said.

'No other speaker for Lakas but GMA'

By Ding Cervantes — With Jess Diaz
From The Philippine Star
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=563958&publicationSubCategoryId=63

LUBAO, Pampanga, Philippines – President Arroyo will be the only candidate for speaker of the pro-administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD if she wins a seat in Congress as representative of the second district of Pampanga on May 10.

Amelita Villarosa, Lakas-Kampi-CMD chair, told The STAR the administration party has the numbers to install Mrs. Arroyo as speaker even if the next president would come from the current opposition.

“It will be an honor if we elect her as speaker,” Villarosa said. “She is so knowledgeable. Sino pa ba ang kukunin namin (Who else should we choose)? I would like her to be speaker.”

However, Prospero Pichay, another Lakas-Kampi-CMD stalwart, said electing Mrs. Arroyo speaker would be “difficult” if the next president would come from the opposition.

Election 2010 News - March 31, 2010

• Ruling Party ignores defections, remains upbeat of poll bounce (Manila Bulletin)
• Binay asks Comelec to probe GMA's midnight appointments (Journal Online)
• Estrada welcomes admin local bets to PMP (Journal Online)
• Poll adviser worried over loss of ballot security mark (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• Like district congressmen, party list reps enjoy perks (Malaya)
• PISTON files disqualification case vs Reyes (Manila Bulletin)
• 'No-transition' fears raised Noynoy details events, urges hiked vigilance (Malaya)

Ruling party ignores defections, remains upbeat of poll bounce

by BEN R. ROSARIO

From Manila Bulletin

Link:http://mb.com.ph/articles/250351/ruling-party-ignores-defections-remains-upbeat-poll-bounce

With Lakas-Kampi-CMD accounting for 70 percent of 19,000 candidates running for elective posts, party officials ignored little drawbacks that caused the defection of two governors and remained upbeat of a dramatic poll bounce for their standard bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro in the May 10 elections.

Party leaders said that barely one week after the local campaign started, the overpowering grassroots machinery of the administration party started to give Teodoro vast improvements in mock polls and tracking surveys of presidential preferences.

Massive crowd of supporters has been noted in hectic campaign sorties held in various places in Cebu, Tarlac, Laguna, Quezon, Batangas Caloocan City, and Quezon City that Teodoro attended since Friday.

Despite losing the support of former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, Teodoro maintained an optimistic stance, strongly believing that the vaunted Solid North will remain faithful to the political cause of their fellow Ilocano.

Lawyer and former press secretary Mike Toledo said “the formidable political machinery of Lakas-Kampi-CMD now comes into play as our local candidates and their ward leader’s start campaigning hard for Gibo to ensure his victory.”

“About two-thirds of almost 19,000 candidates running for local elective posts in the May 10 elections belong to Lakas-Kampi-CMD,” said Toledo, who is now Teodoro’s spokesman and director of the Gibo 2010 Media Bureau.

Immediately after the official local campaign period opened on Friday, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia introduced Teodoro to at least 10,000 supporters in Argao as the presidential candidate of One Cebu, the strongest and most influential local political party in the province.

A day earlier, Laguna Gov. Luningning Lazaro gathered 26 mayors and 22 vice mayors from 30 towns to declare her choice of Teodoro as the presidential candidate that must be backed by them.

Garcia and Lazaro were just two of the 51 governors, many of them from the country’s vote-rich provinces, who threw their support behind Teodoro’s presidential bid and vowed to campaign for the former defense secretary so they can deliver “the highest possible number of votes” for him in their respective localities come Election Day.

Binay asks Comelec to probe GMA’s midnight appointments

by Jerico Javier & Alex T. Silva

From Journal Online

Link: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/national/6287-binay-asks-comelec-to-probe-gmas-midnight-appointments.html

OPPOSITION vice-presidential bet Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay yesterday said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should apply its diligence in counting the television airtime of candidates to investigating motu proprio President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s recent midnight appointments.

“If the poll body is so gung ho in reprimanding candidates who have exceeded their television advertisement allotment, then it should apply the same proactive stance in determining if Mrs. Arroyo had exceeded her authority in making election-period appointments,” he said.

Binay said if the Comelec can “micro count the seconds” of candidates’ TV ads then it cannot ignore a big issue like Mrs. Arroyo’s wholesale release of new appointment papers to high-government positions.

He said the Comelec had even reprimanded candidates for plastering posters in wrong places and detailed the size of the posters and the places where they should be put.

“I hope this vigilance and attention to detail should be applied on Mrs. Arroyo’s midnight appointments as well. It cannot be so finicky on posters while being insensitive on presidential appointments,” Binay said.

He insisted that the issue of midnight Cabinet and judicial appointments deserve the Comelec’s attention more than poster violations. “The ban on last-minute executive appointments is written in the Constitution,” he said.

Binay said it is within the Comelec’s powers to summon Mrs. Arroyo’s official representative and make him explain, in person or in writing, the legal basis for the recent appointments she had made.

“The Comelec need not wait for a complainant . It can initiate the scrutiny on its own. After all, its job is to monitor compliance with election laws, so if it sees a violation, then it should immediately blow the whistle,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) standard-bearer former President Joseph Estrada accused President Arroyo of being the opposite of his father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, for the midnight appointments she made despite the ban on them because of the coming elections.

Estrada made the accusation as a reaction to the midnight appointments made by Malacañang recently, including the appointments of a new member of the Court of Appeals and the Philippine ambassador to Germany.

“’Di niya sinusunod ang batas, mabuti pa ang tatay niya. Dapat sundin na lamang n’ya ’yun. Dapat what her father done she should follow, tatay niya ’yun ’di niya sinusunod,” Estrada said the other night during a campaign sortie in Cainta, Rizal.

Estrada recounted that GMA’s father denounced the “midnight appointments” made by his predecessor, former President Carlos P. Garcia.

Estrada added that despite the good example of her father, President Arroyo failed to follow his legacy as she violated the law by appointing government officials despite the ban.

Estrada welcomes admin local bets to PMP

by Jerico Javier
From Journal Online

Link: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/national/6286-estrada-welcomes-admin-local-bets-to-pmp.html

PWERSA ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) standard-bearer former President Joseph Estrada said the party welcomes local administration bets who wanted to “jump ship” from their party except those who were involved in graft and corruption.

This developed as Estrada said the transfer of some local administration bets, including his former bestfriend ex-Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, to the camp of presidential bet Sen. Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party will not affect his candidacy.

“I don’t think it will matter, meron naman kaming leader du’n sa Ilocos Sur,” Estrada told reporters.

But Estrada refused to comment nor confirm the speculation being circulated that the transfer of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD bets to other political parties confirms the alleged ties of Villar to the present administration.

“Hindi natin alam, hindi ko pa confirmed. Nababalitaan lang ’yan, eh. Naririnig ko lang pero wala akong confirmation,” Estrada said.

However, he said he heard that several candidates are planning to join the PMP.

“Okay lang lumipat ’yung mga taga-administration na walang kaso, pero ’yung mga tainted with graft and corruption, hindi ko pwedeng tanggapin ’yun,” Estrada also said.

Meanwhile, Estrada and his running mate Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay were both elated with the result of the recent survey showing they both improved in their rating.

Estrada and Binay said that instead of spending too much on television ads, they will both go “direct” to the people along with their senatorial bets.

“Basta’t maging malinis at marangal ang darating na halalan, labis-labis ang galak sa pagsasama namin ni Pangulong Erap, eh, mananalo po kami sa darating na halalan,” Binay said in an interview.

PMP party hold their campaign sorties in Laguna yesterday. They motored to Siniloan, Sta. Cruz and Calamba

Poll adviser worried over loss of ballot security mark

by Kristine L. Alave

From Philippine Daily Inquirer 
Link:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100331-261718/Poll-adviser-worried-over-loss-of-ballot-security-mark

MANILA, Philippines—Another hiccup has led to one less election safeguard.

A major security feature of the machines to be used in the automated elections on May 10 has reportedly been turned off after tests failed to sense the ultraviolet (UV) mark that would identify a genuine ballot.

Ramon Casiple, a member of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Advisory Council, Tuesday expressed concern over the changes made on the security identifiers used in the ballots, saying the move could compromise the integrity of the elections.

Casiple said Smartmatic-TIM, the automated elections provider, and the Comelec had turned off the UV ink reader on all 82,2000 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines after the UV security marks on the ballots caused the machines to reject them.

“During the lab test performed last January, at least 20 percent of the ballots were not read by the PCOS machines,” Casiple said.

5 security measures

The UV ink mark is one of the five security measures in the automation contract. The others are the paper manufactured in Canada, bar code, Comelec security seal and the unique precinct-based numbers.

To replace the built-in PCOS UV reader, Comelec and Smartmatic-TIM will buy portable UV ink readers for the board of election inspectors (BEI) to use on Election Day to check the authenticity of the ballots, Casiple said.

“Before the BEI gives you the ballot, the BEI will shine the portable reader on it to show that there is the UV ink. What was supposed to be high-tech has become low-tech,” Casiple explained.

The Comelec is expected to purchase about 76,000 handheld UV readers for each precinct.

Like district congressmen, party list reps enjoy perks

by SHERRIE ANN TORRES VERA Files (Conclusion)

From Malaya

Link: http://www.malaya.com.ph/03312010/news11.html

When it comes to the perks of being a lawmaker, party list representatives are no different from congressional district representatives.

Every month, they, too, receive a monthly salary of P35,000. Every year, each of them are also entitled to P70 million from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and at least P30 million from Public Works Fund, more popularly known as "pork-barrel funds."

Then there are the so-called "extras"–at least for those who align themselves with the powers-that-be.

Some party list representatives admit receiving a monthly allowance from the Office of the Speaker. They get additional "bonuses" when the passage of Malacanang-sponsored bills is being rushed. The sums range from P100,000 to P250,000 per vote, depending on the importance of the bill, according to congressional sources.

The opportunity to travel abroad for free, either by invitation of groups abroad or by hosts within the House of Representatives, is also something the party list representatives look forward to.

Because of these privileges, many among the party list representatives prefer to stick it out with the majority bloc. As a result, the party list representatives are divided into three groups–pro-administration, the opposition and hard-line opposition.

Those who have chosen to stand up for their principles say they have had to pay a stiff price.

Luzviminda Ilagan of the militant group Gabriela has not received the PDAF since she assumed office in 2007. Nonrelease of the pork barrel funds to militant congressmen began when they vigorously pushed for President Arroyo’s impeachment in 2005 following the "Hello, Garci" scandal, she said.

Like Ilagan, Gabriela’s Liza Maza, Bayan Muna’s Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casino and Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano have not been getting their yearly pork barrel fund.

PISTON files disqualification case vs Reyes

by PAM BROOKE A. CASIN

From Manila Bulletin

Link: http://mb.com.ph/articles/250358/piston-files-disqualification-case-vs-reyes

Militant transport group Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) filed a disqualification case Monday before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against former Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, who has been nominated to represent the party-list group 1-UTAK in the May 10 polls.

PISTON secretary general George San Mateo claimed that Reyes was never part of the sector he is trying to represent. He alleged that as energy secretary, Reyes opted to be an “accomplice” and “lawyer” of the Big 3 instead of siding with drivers and operators against steep oil price hikes.

“Ang interes ng Big 3 ang lagi niyang itinataguyod at hindi ang interes ng drivers at ng mamamayan. (Instead of protecting the public’s interests, he’s always been known to side with major oil players and their economic interests),” he charged.

“Binabastardize ni Reyes ang tunay na diwa ng party-list system. Hindi naman galing si Reyes sa marginalized and underrepresented sectors ng mga driver kaya wala siyang karapatan at hindi qualified na i-represent sila, (Reyes has bastardized the true spirit of the party-list system. He did not come from the marginalized and underrepresented sectors of drivers, that’s why he’s no right and not qualified to represent them),” he claimed in a interview.

San Mateo also expressed doubt as to whether Reyes has been a member of 1-UTAK for the last 90 days before the elections. He said that he could not understand why the group nominated him in the first place.

“Reyes and 1-UTAK are allegedly backed by Malacañang and the Big 3 oil cartel. They were unleashed to serve President Arroyo staying in power even after her term and to also serve the interests of the Big 3,” he claimed.

On March 26, 1-UTAK Representative Vigor Mendoza affirmed Reyes as the first nominee of their party-list, which made Reyes quit his post the same day

‘No-transition’ fears raised Noynoy details events, urges hiked vigilance

by WENDELL VIGILIA

From Malaya

Link: http://www.malaya.com.ph/03312010/news1.html

LIBERAL Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III yesterday said there is a need for heightened public vigilance because President Arroyo "seems to be doing everything in her power to ensure that there is no smooth and peaceful transition of power."

"Perhaps the operative word is to ensure there is no transition," he told a press conference. "Those who think they can do minimal effort (in guarding their votes) should really awaken and take on a more active role and ensure that peaceful transition does become a reality."

Aquino, who earlier warned of another popular uprising in case elections fail, noted how ordinary citizens fought for the sanctity of ballots in the 1986 snap elections wherein his mother, Corazon C. Aquino, faced Ferdinand Marcos.

Aquino said there is no denying that the chain of events indicates that the Arroyo administration is doing away with what should be its last mandate of managing a peaceful transition of power.

He cited Arroyo’s "midnight appointments," which include that of AFP chief Gen. Delfin Bangit, her plan to appoint the successor to Chief Justice Reynato Puno, the Quezon City court’s decision absolving the Ampatuan clan from rebellion charges, and Malacañang’s warning of a military junta if elections fail.

Another crucial issue, Aquino said, is the lack of material time for an independent review of the poll machines’ source codes with only 40 days are left before Election Day, which he blames on the Commission on Elections.

Election 2010 News - March 29, 2010

• Gov't privatilization 'wag madaliin -Gibo  (Pilipino Star Ngayon)
• Gibo to Palace: Stop 'fire sale' of P30-billion state assets (The Philippine Star)
• Mar Roxas caught lying for multinationals (The Daily Tribune)
• Presidentiables sapaw lahat sa P1.2 bilyong ads ni Villar (Abante)
• Comelec open to complaints vs Party-list groups (The Philippine Star)
• Priests warned on bets taking advantage of chruch  (The Philippine Star)
• Comelec urged to probe Mindanao power shortage (The Philippine Star)
• 5m illegal registrants offer formula for poll failure Speaker warns  Comelec inaction  to fuel revolt  (The Daily Tribune)
• Palace: Not one appointment was made after electoral ban (Malaya)

Gov't privatization 'wag madaliin – Gibo

By Rudy Andal
From Pilipino Star Ngayon
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=562215&publicationSubCategoryId=92

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu, Philippines - Iginiit kahapon ni Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr. na dapat magdahan-dahan ang gobyerno sa privatization nito sa P290 bilyong government assets.

Sinabi ni Teodoro, hindi dapat inaapura ang pagbebenta ng Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) at Fujimi property kung saan ay tinatayang aabot ng P30 bilyon ang mapagbebentahan nito.

Wika pa ni Gibo, dapat ay ipaubaya na lamang ng gobyerno ang pagdedesisyon sa susunod na administrasyon kung nararapat ang pagsasapribado nito upang hindi magdulot muli ng kontrobersya sa Arroyo administration.

Gibo to Palace: Stop 'fire sale' of P30-billion state assets

By Paolo Romero
From The Philippine Star
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=562360&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Administration presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro urged the Arroyo administration yesterday to halt what he called was the “fire sale” of some P30 billion worth of state assets to help stem the widening deficit.

Teodoro, standard-bearer of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, was referring to the proposed sale of the Philippine National Oil Corp. (PNOC), Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI) and Fujimi property, from which the government expects to generate P30 billion in revenues.

He stressed the sale of the three government properties should be left at the discretion of the next elected administration to avoid controversy.

“I am not familiar with the assets, but for me, prudence is the order of the day, be prudent and exercise utmost conservative judgment,” Teodoro said.

Mar Roxas caught lying for multinationals

From The Daily Tribune
Link: http://www.tribune.net.ph/

If a fish is caught by its mouth, so was Sen. Mar Roxas when he was caught lying on cheap drug issue in a move that is intended to promote the interest of multinational companies, not the ordinary Filipino.

This is according to the man who first filed the cheaper medicine bill in the 13th Congress when he was still a representative who described Roxas as “not the author but the murderer of the Cheaper Medicine Act.”

Former Rep. and now Iloilo Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico was referring to the press statement issued last Thursday (March 25) by Roxas claiming to be the “primary author” of the Cheaper Medicine Act which the latter claims to have reduced prices of “200 crucial medicines.” The press statement was also posted the same day on the Senate Web site.

Presidentiables sapaw lahat sa P1.2 bilyong ads ni Villar

By Rey MarfilFrom: Abante
Link: http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/mar2910/news_story4.htm

Kahit pagsama-samahin ang gastos ng tatlong presidentiables, walang tatalo sa laki ng perang inilalabas ni Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential bet Senador Manny Villar.

Sa datos ng Nielsen, nasa P1.2 bilyon na ang perang inilabas ni Villar simula Nobyembre 1, 2009 hanggang Pebrero 8, 2010 na kung hihimayin ay papatak sa P13,333,333 bawat araw at katumbas ng P555,555 kada-oras.

Ang naturang halaga ay mahigit triple pa sa nagastos ng kanyang mga kalaban na sina Sen. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III (P356 milyon); dating Pangulong Joseph Estrada (P93 milyon); ex-DND Sec. Gilbert Teodoro (P473 milyon); Sen. Richard Gordon (P246 milyon) at Bro. Eddie Villanueva (P103 milyon).

Sa nakaraan pa ring tatlong buwan, sa kabuuang 4,903 minuto ng poll ads na lumabas sa mga telebis­yon, 2,054 minuto rito ay kay Villar.

Comelec open to complaints vs party-list groups

By Mayen Jaymalin
From The Philippine Star
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=562359&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is accepting electoral protests against party-list nominees until Wednesday.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the commission’s power is limited to screening party-list groups participating in the elections so the public is encouraged to file complaints against groups whose nominees they distrust.

“We do not screen the nominees. Nominees are not even part of the accreditation process, but the most important thing about the party-list election is the party-list organization. They are the ones in the ballot,” Jimenez said.

He said the Comelec has formulated guidelines in disqualifying nominees found dubious.

“We are accommodating them (electoral protests) as much as we can. Again, the remedies are out there. They have been published. If you have any complaints regarding any party-list nominee, then take advantage of the period that we have given,” Jimenez said.

Priests warned on bets taking advantage of Church

By Evelyn Macairan
From The Philippine Star
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=562361&publicationSubCategoryId=63

 
MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has warned parish priests to be wary of candidates who might take advantage of Church activities this Holy Week to campaign.

CBCP spokesperson Monsignor Pedro Quitorio III said beginning yesterday, Palm Sunday, some candidates might give out palm fronds and campaign fliers to churchgoers.

“The politicians, who may be Catholics, should not use their political agenda during Palm Sunday,” Quitorio said. “We should forewarn the parish priests so that we could avoid these incidents from happening. They (candidates) have been going to mass before and they do not give anything to the people. Anything that would pursue their political agenda is not good.”

Comelec urged to probe Mindanao power shortage

By Jess Diaz – With Alexis Romero
From The Philippine Star
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=562362&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) was urged yesterday to inquire into the continuing power shortage in Mindanao and the Visayas which could have serious implications on the May 10 elections.

Representatives Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City and Florencio “Bem” Noel of the party-list group An Waray made the appeal as they expressed concern over blackouts that they and their constituents continue to suffer for several hours daily.

Noel, a resident of Tacloban City, said the Leyte and Samar provinces should not be suffering from a power shortage since the geothermal plants in the region are producing enough electricity for residents.

“But we continue to have brownouts and there seems to be no end in sight to this problem. I am afraid that if the crisis persists until May 10, it will seriously affect our country’s first automated election,” he said.

5M ILLEGAL REGISTRANTS OFFER FORMULA FOR POLL FAILURE Speaker warns Comelec inaction to fuel revolt

By Marie A. Surbano
From The Daily Tribune
Link: http://www.tribune.net.ph/

The act of omission on the part of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in its failure to decisively move to cleanse the voters’ list from multiple and dead registrants might cause a failure of elections that many presidential candidates have warned as a trigger for a civil revolt, Speaker Prospero Nograles said.

Nograles added while he believes that such a grim scenario “is nearly remote,” the Comelec seems to be providing a formula to stir civil chaos.

“While I don’t subscribe with this scenario, the Comelec’s lack of pro-active thinking is also very frustrating. It seems we only provided the Comelec billions of poll automation fund not to make the elections clean and credible but to make cheating faster and more efficient,” Nograles lamented.

Taking his cue from the findings of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting of more than 40,000 multiple, double and dead registrants in Davao City and Davao del Sur province, Nograles urged the Comelec to cleanse its voters’ list to avert the possibility of multiple voting.

Palace: Not one appointment was made after electoral ban

By Evangeline de Vera and Regina Bengco
From Malaya
Link: http://www.malaya.com.ph/03292010/news4.html

SUPREME Court administrator and spokesman Jose Midas Marquez yesterday said Malacañang may not use the tribunal’s recent decision in appointing officials in other departments of government to various posts.

The high court’s March 17 decision allowed President Arroyo to appoint the successor of Chief Justice Reynato Puno who is retiring in May, saying the election ban on appointments does not cover the judiciary.
 

The election ban started March 10 and will last up to June 30, the end of Arroyo’s term.
"

The SC decision as concurred in by nine justices, and which is not yet final, only exempts appointments to the SC from the ban," he said. The ruling is still subject to review via a motion for reconsideration by the parties.

Marquez issued the statements following reports on the "midnight appointment" of 87-year-old businessman Alfonso Yuchengco as ambassador to Germany, replacing Delia Domingo-Albert.