Bongbong bats for more green buildings

(Malaya)
Link: http://www.malaya.com.ph/04262010/news10.html
 

NACIONALISTA senatorial candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos yesterday said he would introduce legislation that would put emphasis on the design and construction of green buildings and structures.

Green buildings, he said, ensure better health and productivity of occupants aside from being environment-friendly through the use of technologies that use resources with minimal ecological impact.

The green building concept was hatched in the US in the 1970s at the height of the oil crisis and growing concerns over environmental degradation.

Marcos torch passed on to Bongbong

from The Philippine Star 

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=560793&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has formally accepted the symbolic torch of leadership of the Marcos forces in Philippine politics when he was feted on Wednesday last week at the Manila Polo Club by former Cabinet members and colleagues of his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, political leaders and supporters, former ranking officers of the military and police, and members of the Marcos-Romualdez clan.

“I know everyone of you have busy schedules and active lives,” Marcos, a senatorial bet, told the gathering of some 300 guests. “For you to find time to show support for my candidacy is very moving. You strengthen my confidence that we will win in the coming elections.”

Marcos spoke of how he could have had a comfortable life, just staying away from politics. But the legacy of his father was in fact “a call to service and leadership.” Politics and leadership are in his DNA, he said.

The gathering was conceived by Philippine Constitutional Association president and former presidential legal counsel Manuel Lazaro and former deputy executive secretary Ramon Cardenas as a rally of support for Bongbong’s candidacy. The event became an emotional reunion for many, as they renewed ties with one another.

Torch of leadership passed to Bongbong

from Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/03222010/metro6.html

NACIONALISTA Party senatorial candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. formally accepted the symbolic torch of leadership of the Marcos forces in Philippine politics when he was feted at the Manila Polo Club by former cabinet members and colleagues of his father, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos, political leaders and supporters, former ranking officers of the Armed Forces and PNP, and members of the Marcos-Romualdez family clan.

The gathering was organized by Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) president and former presidential legal counsel Manuel Lazaro and former deputy executive secretary Ramon Cardenas as a rally of support for Bongbong’s candidacy.

Among the key personages from the Marcos administration were former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, former Central Bank governor and education secretary Jaime C. Laya, former agrarian reform secretary Conrado Estrella, former economic planning secretary Vicente Valdepeñas, and former budget secretary Manuel Alba.

Estrella spoke of the passing of the torch to Bongbong, as he talked of Marcos I and Marcos II, and called on Bongbong to carry and build on the legacy of his father.

The Marcos-Romualdez family was led by Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, herself a former human settlements minister and governor of Metro Manila.

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.

Pursue peace talks — Bongbong

by Jester Manalastas (Journal)

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/national/5453-pursue-peace-talks--bongbong.html

ILOCOS Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. urged the government to resume peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army.

He said the government should prevent further disorder and bloodshed that may be launched by the rebels on May 10.

Marcos, a senatorial candidate of the Nacionalista Party, said the bloody encounters between the military and the NPA could have been prevented had the peace talks pushed through.

“It’s only saddening that there’s a possibility that the upcoming elections will not be peaceful as it should be as we expect violence to get worse,” Marcos said.

He noted that the military and the police cannot focus on dismantling private armies and warring politicians because they also have to go after the communist rebels.

“The people are not only afraid of the private armies but also of the NPA. If only the peace talks ensued, we won’t be worrying like this,” Marcos said 

Bongbong vows justice in Ilocos killings

by Cheeko Ruiz (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=559172&publicationSubCategoryId=67

MANILA, Philippines - Nacionalista Party senatorial candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos yesterday vowed to pursue justice for various politically-related killings in Ilocos Norte, particularly in the town of Dingras.

Marcos Jr., son of former President Ferdinand Marcos, told The STAR that investigations are underway which could shed light on recent murders in the province which prompted various groups to ask the Commission on Elections to declare Dingras a hot spot this coming elections.

Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative board president Lorenzo “Rey” Ruiz was gunned down in September 2009 while barangay chairwoman and NP councilor bet in Dingras Joan Cañete was slain last December.

Ruiz’s murder was said to be related to his re-election bid as head of INEC while Cañete was part of a five-vehicle convoy of the opposition party in Dingras that was riddled with bullets from unknown gunmen last December.

Before the two successive ambush, there was also a slay attempt against Joeffrey Sa­guid, the Nacionalista Party mayoralty bet in Dingras.

“The cases are making progress. We hope to pinpoint the mastermind of the killings soon,” Marcos said.

Ilocano welcome awes Aquinos

by Gil C. Cabacungan Jr. (Cebu Daily News)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100319-259576/Ilocano-welcome-awes-Aquinos

LAOAG CITY—It was the first time Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III set foot in the province of his parents’ arch-nemesis, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and the welcome overwhelmed him.

It helped that Aquino had come with his younger celebrity sister Kris and her husband, basketball star James Yap.

But the welcoming mob at the Laoag City International Airport was totally unexpected with the locals jostling for pictures, autographs or just a glance at the famous siblings.

It also helped that the welcome was led by Ilocos Norte Gov. Michael Keon, a nephew of Marcos, who said that the much vaunted “Solid North” was now a thing of the past with the province’s 350,000 voters expected to go for four presidential candidates—Manny Villar, Gilbert Teodoro, Joseph Estrada and Aquino.

Cousin vs cousin

“With a much younger voting population, the voters are more discerning and discriminating,” said Keon who is running for reelection under the Liberal Party, Nacionalista Party and Lakas-Kampi-CMD against his cousin, Imee Marcos, daughter of the late dictator.

Kris said she was so nervous about the welcome they might get from the people in Marcos country that she prayed the rosary twice to seek “divine intervention” before deciding to join her brother’s sortie.

“I prayed to my mom that I won’t say any word that would court the Ilocanos’ ire,” she said.

Villar on Noynoy's debate challenge: Anytime, anywhere

By Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star)

Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=558165&publicationSubCategoryId=63

NAVAL, Biliran, Philippines – Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday said he is ready for a one-on-one debate with Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Noynoy Aquino so long as the debate will be conducted in a “neutral area” and with fair moderators.

“I have long accepted that challenge. My only condition is that the hosts will be neutral and fair,” said Villar at the sidelines of the NP’s campaign sortie at the Naval State University. “Anytime, anywhere.”

NP vice presidential candidate Sen. Loren Legarda said she is also ready to debate with LP vice presidential Sen. Manuel Roxas II, who is leading the surveys.

“If Mar Roxas wants to prove that he’s more fit than I am to be vice president, he should be ready to debate with me on issues,” Legarda said during a break in their campaign in Northern Samar last Saturday.

Legarda expressed displeasure upon learning from her staff that black propaganda text messages against her are spreading.

“It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book,” she said. “Making your opponent look bad so that you look good in comparison. But that’s not going to make him (Roxas) any good as a vice president. Or even a barangay chairman for that matter.”

Bongbong warns of civil war by Ryan Ponce Pacpaco

from Journal

Link: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/national/4931-bongbong-warns-of-civil-war.html

THE son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos yesterday warned of a civil war should massive cheating in the coming polls happen and the real winner in the presidential race will not be declared.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., a senatorial candidate of the Nacionalista Party (NP), said the people should be vigilant in ensuring that the real choice of the people would lead the country after June 30.

Marcos issued the warning amid speculations that the recent appointment of Gen. Delfin Bangit as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is connected to the purported massive election fraud scheme being readied by the administration.

The opposition lawmaker said the Commission on Elections, Philippine National Police and the AFP itself must ensure that the next president will be the real choice of the majority of Filipinos.

“It’s going to be chaos if voting in the May elections will be marred by widespread fraud. If in previous elections we saw only demonstrations and rallies, this time around, civil war could erupt,” Marcos warned.

He said the people will not allow a repeat of the massive cheating during the 2004 presidential election which the late opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr. lost to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Poll cheating could trigger civil war

By Jomar Canlas Reporter James Konstantin Galvez and Ruben D. Manahan 4th (The Manila Times)
Link:http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/13185-poll-cheating-could-trigger-civil-war

Civil war could erupt if massive cheating would mark the May 10 elections.

The warning was made on Thursday by the only son a former president in reaction to allegations that the recent appointment of a new military chief by President Gloria Arroyo was part of the administration’s plans to cheat in the polls less than three months away.

“It’s going to be chaos if voting in the May elections will be marred by widespread fraud. If in previous elections we saw only demonstrations and rallies, this time around civil war could erupt,” Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of Ilocos Norte said.

One of the three children of Ferdinand Marcos, whose strongman rule was ended by a popular revolt in 1986, Bongbong called on the Commission on Elections, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure that the next president will be the real choice of the majority of Filipinos.

The May 10 balloting will pick the successor to the President, whose nine-year stay in the presidency ends on June 30.

Bongbong vows to represent LGUs in Senate from The Philippine Star

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=556739&publicationSubCategoryId=67

SURIGAO DEL SUR, Philippines – Senatorial candidate Bongbong Marcos of the Nacionalista Party (NP) vowed to fully represent local government units (LGUs) in Congress if he is elected in the coming national elections.

“I will be the voice of the LGUs,” he said before an assembly of mayors and political leaders at the residence of Gov. Vicente Pimentel Jr. in Tandag City.

Marcos and the other NP candidates headed by presidential candidate Sen. Manny Villar were in the middle of their series of sorties in Mindanao.

The Ilocos Norte congressman knows well the pressing problems of local executives in funding their projects for their local communities.

“The local government is often neglected by the national leadership in terms of supporting the needs of its constituents,” said Marcos, who also served as governor of his province for three terms.

He called on the local leaders of this southern province to unite and combat the negligence of the national leadership to address basic problems in their localities.

“It’s very important for you to have a collective stand because the national government will only hear your problems if you have strong representation,” he said.

Bong, Jinggoy, Miriam still up

by Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=556547&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Re-electionist senators Bong Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Miriam Defensor-Santiago were statistically tied at first place in the latest senatorial survey by Pulse Asia.

Pulse Asia said 14 candidates have a statistical chance of winning Senate seats if the elections were held during the Feb. 21 to 25 survey period.

The non-commissioned survey showed Revilla getting 53.6 percent of votes, which translates to a statistical ranking of 1st to 3rd place. He is in a statistical tie with Estrada, who got 52.6 percent of the votes.

Santiago received 49.4 percent of votes, which places her anywhere from 1st to 5th.

Another re-electionist, Sen. Pia Cayetano, who received 45.4 percent, ranks 3rd to 6th.

Cayetano shared the same statistical ranking as former Senate president Franklin Drilon with 45 percent.

In sixth place is Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (43.8 percent) with a statistical ranking of 4th to 6th.

Other senatorial candidates who have a statistical chance of winning were former senator Tito Sotto with 33.2 percent, former senator and former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Ralph Recto (33.1 percent), former senator Serge Osmeña (29.1 percent), Ilocos Norte Rep. Bongbong Marcos (28.2 percent).

Bongbong warns Comelec of CIA meddling in polls

by JOMAR CANLAS Reporter (The Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/12993-bongbong-warns-comelec-of-cia-meddling-in-polls

Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of Ilocos Norte on Monday warned the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against the possibility of agents of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) coming to the Philippines to monitor the May 10 elections disguised as legitimate foreign poll observers.

Bongbong, the only son late former strongman President Ferdinand Marcos, asked the Comelec to strengthen accreditation procedures for foreign observers, especially those arriving from the United States, as they may be CIA agents.

“The Comelec should thoroughly examine the credentials and backgrounds of all foreign observers, particularly the Americans, to ensure that they are not CIA operatives,” he said.

Bongbong, a senatorial candidate of the Nacionalista Party in the May balloting, also underscored the need for Comelec Chairman Jose Melo to come up with guidelines on foreign observers so that they may know their limitations and their duties in the elections less than three months away.

“Once we discover that there are foreign observers who are actually CIA members, we must immediately send them out of the country,” he said.

Marcos also warned that the policy of intervention by the United States is noticeable during presidential elections because the Americans want to make sure that their interests in the country are always protected.

“We should remain vigilant. We must not allow the US to intervene in our elections. Each of our votes is sacred. The real voice of the Filipino people must be heard during the elections,” he explained.

Bongbong argued that the CIA has a long history of spying in countries like the Philippines where the US wants to maintain its influence and protect its interests.

Nuclear energy to solve energy crisis—Marcos son

from Banderahttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100307-257104/Nuclear-energy-to-solve-energy-crisisMarcos-son

MANILA, Philippines – Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is urging government to reexamine the feasibility of recommissioning the Bataan Nuclear Energy Plant amid continued energy crisis in Mindanao and now recently in Luzon.

The mothballed BNPP can generate at least 600 megawatts "enough to energize Luzon," said Marcos in his visit to Bandera office Saturday.

He said the shutting down of the BNPP when the Aquino administration took charge in 1986 was a “political decision” and “there was no scientific or technical bases made.”

“Maybe this is about time for us to reexamine the feasibility of putting it on line," said Marcos, son and namesake of the late strongman under whose term the BNPP was constructed.

Marcos, who is running for senator under the Nacionalista Party, also opposed giving special energys to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, saying this will not lead to a solution to the energy crisis.

OSG: Void Marcos claim over ‘Malacañang of the North’

from Malaya

http://www.malaya.com.ph/03052010/metro2.html

THE Presidential Commission on Good Government and the Office of the Solicitor General yesterday petitioned the Sandiganbayan to nullify the 32-year-old deal between the late President Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippine Tourism Authority involving the development of a 57-hectare lakeside property in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

Government lawyers named as respondents former First Lady Imelda Marcos and her son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, being the co-administrator of the Marcos estate, and PTA general manager Mark Lapid representing the agency.

Aside from a declaration of nullity, the government also asked the court to pronounce the properties as owned by the Republic of the Philippines.

Marcos poll posters removed; he cries ‘Foul’

from Malaya

http://www.malaya.com.ph/03052010/metro4.html

NACIONALISTA Party senatorial bet and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. yesterday cried foul over the removal of his campaign posters and banners all over Metro Manila.

He said his supporters said a group of five was seen unloading pails of water, scrapers and metal ladders from a van.

Marcos said he is convinced that he is the lone target of the group because, according to his informants, only his posters were taken down.

The opposition lawmaker also condemned the proliferation of stickers posted on buses plying along EDSA, which says, "Where is the real Bongbong Marcos?" The stickers bear the name of Movement Against Dictatorship.

"Their attacks against me are non-stop. Aside from those stickers, they are also using text brigades. The Filipino voters are intelligent enough to know that these are just dirty tactics employed by my detractors," he said. – Peter Tabingo

Estrada not allowed to campaign in La Union

from The Manila Times

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/12377-estrada-not-allowed-to-campaign-in-la-union-


Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, was not allowed hold his campaign in La Union Friday the same day Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro is scheduled to visit the students of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University. According to Rep. Victor Ortega of First District of La Union there was a request from the camp of Estrada if they could campaign in the same venue where Teodoro met the students, however, they decided to turn it down to prevent possible complications.

“We arranged for this meeting. They [Estrada’s camp] can come here any day, any other day, but not today. It could erupt into trouble,” Ortega said.

The lawmaker, however, made it clear that they are not barring Estrada to campaign, in fact, he said, Estrada and other candidates of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) is welcome to campaign and he is willing to escort them but not on same day the administration party bet is holding his campaign.

Aquino, Villar rock to People Power politics

by Philip Tubeza, Michael Lim Ubac (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100226-255392/Aquino-Villar-rock-to-People-Power-politics

MANILA, Philippines—The top two rivals in the May presidential race hosted star-powered gatherings that ostensibly marked the anniversary of EDSA I but were suspiciously political.

One showered a packed coliseum with yellow confetti, the other drew orange-shirted followers to a mall for a rock concert.

Cheered by a crowd singing EDSA theme songs, Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III marked the 24th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, promising to right the wrongs of the Arroyo presidency.

He said the Arroyo administration owed its mandate to a people power uprising yet it ended up in many ways worse than the Marcos dictatorship which the 1986 revolt had toppled.

Bongbong asks Noynoy not to be too personal

from Journal Online

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/national/3835-bongbong-asks-noynoy-not-to-be-too-personal.html

 

ILOCOS Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos yesterday said his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, deserves to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani being a World War II veteran.

“My father is long dead. My only wish is that he will be given a decent burial,” said Marcos.

Rep. Marcos asked presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III not to be too personal against them and instead open his heart towards genuine reconciliation.

“We must come together. We must move forward. We need genuine reconciliation.

It’s time we bury the hatchet. I hope he won’t get too personal,” he said.

The Ilocos Norte congressman made his statement after Aquino claimed that he won’t allow the late president to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani if he is elected president.

The young Marcos said he finds it strange why Aquino suddenly backtracked from his earlier stand of creating a commission that would decide whether the older Marcos can be buried at the resting place for heroes.

“I just hope that Noynoy will remove anger from his heart. We need genuine reconciliation so the nation can move forward. ’Wag na niya kaming personalin,” said Rep. Marcos.

Meanwhile, he thanked Sen. Manny Villar, Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and former President Joseph Estrada, also presidential candidates, for their position that his father deserves a hero’s burial

NP a united political body

by Raul S. Beltran (Journal Online)

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/national/3854-np-a-united-political-body.html

DESPITE the clash of opinions among its members who come from diverse backgrounds and different ideologies, the Nacionalista Party remains a united and democratic political organization as the May presidential election approaches, NP standard-bearer Manuel Villar said yesterday.

Villar cited the three senatorial candidates in the NP slate who, he said, are on the opposite side of the political spectrum.

The former Senate president was referring to militant Representatives Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza, who are running for senator in the NP under the Makabayan Party, and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of ousted President Ferdinand Marcos, who sent Ocampo to military detention during martial law.