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.

Villar allies slam Aquino over Hacienda Luisita

By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100317-259146/Villar-allies-slam-Aquino-over-Hacienda-Luisita

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the Liberal Party standard-bearer, came under fire Tuesday after his cousin was quoted in The New York Times article published March 14 as saying that the Cojuangco family would not give up Hacienda Luisita.

The distribution of all agricultural lands to farmers—over 1 million hectares in the most productive areas of the country that had not been distributed under the agrarian reform program in the past two decades—is mandated under a new law extending the program for five years and appropriating P150 billion for its implementation.
Hypocrisy, double-speak
Gilbert Remulla, spokesperson of Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Manny Villar, accused Aquino of “political double-speak” over the hacienda issue.
“Senator Aquino says in his latest political ads that he will continue the fight. I think he owes it to the Filipino people to first settle his family’s fight with the farmers and tenants of Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac,” said Remulla, also an NP senatorial candidate.
“It is hypocrisy and double-speak, plain and simple,” Remulla said.
“He can no longer evade the issue as he did all these months. For a presidential candidate who is supposedly running on a platform of change, the appalling conditions that pervade in his family’s hacienda and the continuing plight of the farmers and tenants there should be explained and not swept under the rug,” Remulla said.

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.

EDSA I not yours, Aquino, LP told

by Michael Lim Ubac (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100219-254013/EDSA-I-not-yours-Aquino-LP-told

NO ONE—Not even the Aquino family and the Liberal Party (LP)—holds a franchise to the historical event that was the EDSA People Power revolution, according to party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo.

“EDSA I is not yours,” Ocampo, who is running for the Senate under the Nacionalista Party (NP), told the rival LP as he insisted it could not take ownership of the revolt of the masses in February, 1986.

Ocampo told reporters at a campaign sortie in Aklan that the icon of people power, the late President Corazon Aquino, was merely a “byproduct” of that people’s movement.

“EDSA I is a specific event that was not invented or led by one particular person. No one has a franchise on EDSA I,” he said.

NP camp warns LP not to exploit Edsa I rites for political gain

by Angie M. Rosales (The Daily Tribune)

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20100218hed3.html

Just when Nacionalista Party (NP) frontrunners call for traditional form of campaigning, some of the party’s senatorial candidates yesterday took an offensive stance, taking a dig at the Liberal Party (LP) which is said to cash in on the coming People Power I anniversary celebration to further boost its edge over rival parties.

Sen. Loren Legarda, NP’s guest candidate for the vice presidential post, made an appeal during a press conference in Capiz addressed to the LP to elevate the level of political campaign and refrain from mudslinging.

Yet, a number of NP bets fired a mouthful against LP which is said to be planning a series of activities of LP presidential bet, Sen. Benigno Aquino III, the son of the late President Corazon “Cory” Aquino.

The sone of detained Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, Martin who is representing his father in the party, gave the most scathing statements among them.

Maza, Marcos to join common NP sorties

By Leila Salaverria (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100118-248076/Maza-Marcos-to-join-common-NP-sorties

MANILA, Philippines—Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos can look forward to spending more time together.

Maza on Monday said she and Marcos would be in one group of the Nacionalista Party senatorial candidates touring the country during the campaign period.

The NP divided its 12 senatorial candidates into two groups to maximize the exposure of the party's candidates. Maza would be in one group while Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo would be in another group of senatorial candidates.

Maza and Ocampo joined the NP and endorsed its top two bets, but have refused to support Marcos, whose inclusion in the party slate almost led to the two Bayan Muna representatives to reject the party.

The militants have been critical of the Marcoses, saying no member of the family have shown remorse for the wrongdoing committed during the regime of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Ocampo was among those thrown in prison and tortured when the elder Marcos imposed martial law.

Maza said she plans to simply avoid standing next to Marcos during the sorties.

“Of course, it would be difficult for me to raise his hand. I will make sure we will not be beside each other,” Maza said when asked how she would deal with being with Marcos on the same stage.

Marcos earlier said he hoped to have a “good working relationship” with the militants and was willing to be on the same stage with them.