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.”

Noynoy tinawanan lang ni Villar

by Butch Quejada (Pilipino Star Ngayon)
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=560502&publicationSubCategoryId=92

MANILA, Philippines - Tahasang binalewala at tinawanan ng kampo ng Nacionalista Party ang akusasyon ni Liberal Party presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino na ipinababaklas ni NP standard bearer Manny Villar ang kanyang mga campaign posters.

“Ito’y isang bagong black propaganda ng partido li­beral,” anang kampo ni Villar.

Tahasang sinabi ng NP na imposible ang naturang balita dahil talong-talo ni Aquino ang kampo ni Villar sa postering at paglalagay ng streamers.

Halimbawa na dito ang mga lalawigan ng Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Mindanao, Bacolod at iba pang lugar sa bansa kung saan namamayagpag ang streamers at posters ng Noy-Mar tandem.

Inireklamo rin ng supporters ni Villar ang pambabaklas ng yellow armies at volunteers ni Noynoy sa mga orange ribbons na nakakabit sa mga poste at streamers ni Villar at ng iba pang NP candidates sa isang sortie sa Catbalogan, Samar.

“Kami nga ang dehado. Kung tutuusin, wala ni kati­ting ang mga campaign posters at streamers ni Sen. Villar at ng buong tiket ng NP. Samantalang yung kampo ng mga dilaw ay nagsalimbayan kahit sa mga puno at poste ng kuryente ang kanilang mga mukha,” ayon Adel Tamano, senatorial candidate ng NP at dating spokesman ng United Opposition.

Villar vows justice for Luisita victims

By Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star)  

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=560191&publicationSubCategoryId=63

TARLAC City, Philippines – Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. and running mate Sen. Loren Legarda (Nationalist People’s Coalition) vowed to pursue justice for the victims of the so-called Hacienda Luisita massacre five years ago.

Villar and Legarda, along with NP senatorial bets Adel Tamano, Toots Ople, Gilbert Remulla and Ilocos Norte Rep. Bongbong Marcos campaigned last Saturday in the home province of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer, Sen. Noynoy Aquino.

Villar said he would allow the wheels of justice to run their course if he becomes president and would look into the issue of land distribution after the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) under the administration of Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, failed in their family-owned Hacienda Luisita.

Legarda, on the other hand, said that those who have committed crimes and human rights violations in connection with the massacre should be brought to court.

She also took potshots at Aquino, saying that a candidate who has no respect for the rule of law and tolerated the killing of the aggrieved Luisita farmers should not be elected to the presidency.

Tamano expressed concern that the issues surrounding the non-compliance of the Aquino-Cojuangco clans to subject the 7,000-hectare Hacienda Luisita to land reform will not be resolved under an Aquino presidency.

NP won’t let Noynoy get away on Luisita

from Malaya

http://www.malaya.com.ph/03192010/news10.html
 
THE Nacionalista Party yesterday said Liberal Party presidential bet Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has shown his "callousness and insensitivity" towards the poor for saying that his family on the maternal side – the Cojuangcos -- is the oppressed party in the Hacienda Luisita land dispute.

"Aquino family oppressed? Tell it to the Hacienda farmers," NP spokesman and senatorial bet Adel Tamano said.

Aquino, in a campaign sortie in Catarman, Samar Wednesday, said his family has been unduly put at a disadvantage by parties out to distort the facts about the Hacienda Luisita issue to derail his presidential bid. He said his opponents have been using the Hacienda Luisita issue as a political issue.

The New York Times on Sunday quoted Aquino’s cousin Fernando Cojuangco as saying the family has no intention to part with Hacienda Luisita, contrary to Aquino’s promise to distribute the sugar estate to farmers within five years of his presidency.

Tamano said Aquino should face the families of the 13 farmers who died in the Mendiola massacre, as well as the heirs of the seven farmers who were killed in the Hacienda Luisita massacre. This is not to mention about 15 farmers who were killed in Lupao, a day after Mendiola Massacre, on suspicion that they were communist rebels.

Aside from them, 74 farmers were injured in Mendiola and 121 in Luisita.

Villar dares TV, radio to disclose earnings from political ads

by Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star) 
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=555416&publicationSubCategoryId=63

DAVAO CITY , Philippines – Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday challenged television and radio broadcast firms to make public their actual earnings from airing political advertisements.

Villar, a billionaire real estate developer turned politician, lamented what he called “exorbitant” airtime rates being charged by broadcast firms from candidates.
“On ad spending, I am following what is in the Fair Elections Act. As far as I am concerned, the figures shown are not the actual figures, they are the published rates and there are discounted rates,” he said.
Villar said the high airtime rates are costing him so much in the campaign.
Villar made the statement as he received criticisms from major TV and radio networks.
NP spokesman Gilbert Remulla agreed that he too is having difficulty putting out campaign ads because of the high rates, a concern also raised by fellow NP senatorial candidates Adel Tamano and Gwen Pimentel.