Villar most trusted–survey

Noynoy next, followed by Erap, Gibo and Gordon

 

from Manila Times

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/12222-villar-most-trustedsurvey

With less than three months to go before the elections, it appears from the most recent survey that Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. and Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd are the frontrunners in the May 10 presidential race.

Results of the latest Pulse Asia survey showed that Villar and Aquino, consisternt top choices for president in surveys, were the only candidates trusted by majority of Filipinos.

“Among those seeking to become the country’s next president, only Senators Manuel Villar Jr. and Benigno Aquino 3rd enjoy majority trust ratings [70 percent and 64 percent, respectively],” Pulse Asia reported on Wednesday.

The top two presidential candidates were also the only ones who got a 100-percent awareness rating. Villar garnered a net trust rating of +58 and Aquino +52.

Noynoy: Higher pay will curb gov’t graft

by  WENDELL VIGILIA
http://www.malaya.com.ph/02252010/news9.html

LIBERAL Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III yesterday allayed fears that politicians surrounding him will lord over his government and commit graft and corruption.

Speaking at the 33rd 553rd general membership meeting of the Philippine Management Association of the Philippines in Makati City, Aquino said he believes that apart from setting a good example, increasing the salary and benefits of public officials will lessen graft and corruption.

"Let’s give them the wherewithal to do that (maintain a decent lifestyle)," he said, on how he intends to prevent his allies from committing graft and corruption.

Aquino noted the President gets only P50,000 a month despite the amount of work the people expect from him or her, including presiding over the use of a trillion-worth national budget.

EDSA Revolution dapat laging alalahanin -- Binay

nina Eralyn Prado/Rey Marfil (Abante)
http://abante.com.ph/issue/feb2510/news06.htm

“Dapat laging alalahanin ang EDSA Revolution na isang pag-alay ng buhay ng mamamayang Filipino para sa bansa.”

Ito ang naging mensahe ni Makati Mayor at vice presidential candidate Jejomar Binay kaugnay ng paggunita sa anibersaryo ng EDSA Revolution.

“For me, EDSA was all about courage. It came to a point where Filipinos were willing to make the supreme sacrifice. Iaalay ang buhay kung kailangan,” ayon kay Binay.

Ihinalimbawa pa ni Binay ang maiksing talumpati ng yumaong si dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino sa Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) Building noong hapon ng Pebrero 24 kung saa’y nanawagan ito sa sambayanang Filipino na manindigan at mahalin ang bansa.

LP calls NP-NPC coalition ‘bogus’

from Malaya

http://www.malaya.com.ph/02252010/news12.html

THE Liberal Party has claimed bragging rights as the dominant minority party saying the merger of the Nacionalista Party and the Nationalist People’s Coalition of tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. was "bogus."

"It is beyond doubt that the supposed NP-NPC coalition is not a registered political party. It is therefore not qualified to file a petition for the accreditation for dominant party status," LP said in its Feb. 23 petition before the Commission on Elections.

LP said the NP-NPC coalition is a mere "afterthought" in a bid to grab the dominant minority party status.

It noted that the coalition was only formed in Jan. 10, 2010, which is six months after the Comelec’s deadline for party registration.

"The out-of-order petition filed by this imaginary coalition scorns both the political party system and the electoral exercise," LP stressed.

Aquino says he’ll throw book at DepEd execs over error-filled textbooks

by Philip Tubeza (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100225-255251/Aquino-says-hell-throw-book-at-DepEd-execs-over-error-filled-textbooks

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino IIII said he would “throw the book” at officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) for failing to prevent error-riddled textbooks from being used in the country’s public schools.

In an interview with Inquirer editors and reporters on Tuesday night, Aquino said reforming the country’s education system would be a priority if he were elected.

“Why do we keep on accepting these erroneous textbooks? (Education officials) are authorized to issue contracts every five years and yet when the book is produced, there are 500 errors,” Aquino said. “This is my pet peeve.”

He said that he would give DepEd officials a chance if he were elected but if error-filled textbooks still came out, those responsible would face the full force of the law.

Jinggoy: Students, employers to reap SPES benefits

from The Daily Tribune

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/20100225nat4.html

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada urged school youth and employers to maximize all the benefits and opportunities provided in the improved Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) law which he principally authored and sponsored.

The new SPES law (Republic Act 9547), enacted in April 2009 and which introduced needed amendments to the original 1992 SPES Act, was based on a Senate bill filed by Estrada in June 2007 and worked for its enactment into law.

The SPES provides opportunity to poor but deserving students to get employed during summer and Christmas vacations to enable them to earn Education Vouchers used to pay for school expenditures; acquire on-the-job training and experience; accumulate academic credits in school as well as skills-and-probation credits for their future permanent employment; and, earn money to help their families.

Pampanga not solid for GMA; Gloria sis backs Erap 2010 bid

by Gerry Baldo (The Daily Tribune)

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20100225hed5.html

MAGALANG, Pampanga — The alleged bailiwick of President Arroyo in Pampanga is not, after all, solid for her.

This as former Pampanga Vice Gov. Cielo Macapagal-Salgado, Arroyo’s half-sister, yesterday announced that she is going to be the campaign manager of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), the political party of former President Joseph Estrada, in the province of Pampanga.

“We are confident that we are going to win,” Macapagal-Salgado said in an interview at the Dee Hwa Liong College in Magalang where the standard-bearer of the PMP and some of the members of his senatorial slate stopped en route from Arayat to Mabalacat, Angeles City and to the Erap Housing Project in San Jose del Monte in Bulacan where a big rally was held.

Together with Estrada were former Negros Occidental Rep. Apolinario “Jun” Lozada, Senate President Juan Ponce

Gordon bats for foreign investments in RP media

by Edson C. Tandoc Jr. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) 
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100224-255118/Gordon-bats-for-foreign-investments-in-RP-media

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, Philippines—Lamenting that his “message” for the country has been underreported in the media, presidential candidate and Senator Richard Gordon said he was in favor of allowing foreign companies to own media outfits in the country.

Pushing to amend the Constitution, Gordon said that one of the amendments he would introduce would be relaxing the ban on foreign ownership of media companies.

He told the Philippine Daily Inquirer: "I would open up media for foreign participation so we will really have a competitive media."

Told that national interests might be compromised in the daily reporting, Gordon replied: “It will still be Filipinos who will write the stories.”

Revolt vs corruption – Bro. Eddie

from People's Journal

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/national/3858-revolt-vs-corruption--bro-eddie.html

FIRST, he declared that there will be no crooks in his government. Now he is calling on the people to revolt against corruption.

Bangon Pilipinas presidential candidate Bro. Eddie Villanueva was reacting to the recent statement of Transparency International that the next president will have to undo institutionalized corruption and win back the respect of the people.

“This time, we will engage the support of the people, particularly the OFWs whose hearts bleed for the chance to go home and be with their families in the Philippines,” he said.

Villar gets Magdalo Group backing

by Rene Acosta (Business Mirror)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22269:villar-gets-magdalo-group-backing&catid=26:nation&Itemid=63

 

THE group of junior military officers headed by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, which tried to oust President Arroyo in 2003, has thrown its support behind the presidential candidacy of Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar of the Nacionalista Party (NP).

The decision by the group, which has 400 national and local chapters with more than 50,000 members, to support the candidacy of Villar was announced on Wednesday by discharged Air Force lieutenant Ashley Acedillo, the group’s spokesman.

Acedillo said that aside from Villar, the Magdalo Group also endorsed the candidacies of Sen. Mar Roxas II for vice president and Ariel Querubin, Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Toots Ople, Gilbert Remulla, Adel Tamano, Danilo Lim, Ruffy Biazon, Vicente Sotto, JV Bautista and Joey de Venecia for senator.

Madrigal asks US to stop military aid to RP

by Jerry E. Esplanada (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100224-255200/Madrigal-asks-US-to-stop-military-aid-to-RP

MANILA, Philippines -- Independent presidential bet and Senator Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal has called for an immediate stop to US military aid to the Philippines, in view of the questionable arrest and detention of 43 health workers suspected of being communist insurgents.

Madrigal expressed hope, on Wednesday, that the Obama administration would “see it fit to withhold Washington's military assistance until human rights abuses, such as the case of the ‘Morong 43,’ are fully resolved.”

Extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, illegal arrests and politically motivated prosecution of activists have become basic features of the Arroyo administration, noted Madrigal. According to the independent presidential candidate, “US assistance should not be used as an instrument to further violate human rights.

In 2009, the US Congress withheld $2 million in military aid from the Philippines reportedly due to human rights concerns.

Melo to quit if auto polls fail

By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=552747&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo is ready to resign if the May elections fail.

In an interview, Melo said the Comelec is responsible for ensuring the holding of clean and honest elections on May 10.

“I will not shrink on that responsibility,” he said.

“But to be fair to Comelec officials and employees, if something happens beyond our control, it is not their fault.”

Melo said he will answer for any problem with the counting machines even if it’s the responsibility of Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. (TIM), the firm contacted to supply the precinct count optical scan machines.

Comelec adds printer at NPO to speed up ballot printing

by Anna Valmero INQUIRER.net
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100224-255137/Comelec-adds-printer-at-NPO-to-speed-up-ballot-printing

 

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Wednesday they will be renting an additional printing press to fast-track the printing of ballots for the May automated elections.

Chairman Jose Melo said they made the move to ``make up for the slight delay in printing.”

The fifth printer would arrive “very soon” at the National Printing Office, which has printed last week the 1.7 million special paper ballots to be used in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“We need to be sure all ballots will be printed,” said Melo.

Comelec without safeguards, anti-fraud firm tapped enjoys support of election syndicate

TWG warns poll body vs fake ballots, sabotage

 

by Ninez Cacho-Olivares Editor-in-chief  (The Daily Tribune)

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20100225hed1.html

The 2010 presidential elections in May will likely be marred by massive electoral cheating, a warning that has been earlier aired by the poll body’s Technical Working Group (TWG), in a report to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc.

The anti-fraud company that is supposed to embed through advanced technological and electronic devices which will consist of the safeguards to prevent the use of fake ballots, the BTI Advantage Inc. (BTIE) which has reportedly been favored by the Comelec was pointed to by the TWG to the poll body as “enjoying the support of the powerful (cheating) syndicate in the Comelec.”

The BTIE, according to the same report which was updated on Feb. 3, 2010, “was able to block the notice of award for mysterious reasons” and because it is only Smartmatic and the National Printing Office (NPO) that have their own “safeguards,” and with Comelec having none at all, “Comelec is totally ‘naked’ now.”

“Any clever operator can make fake ballots. It is obvious now that the real purpose of BTIE is either to overprice or sabotage or both (to plunder at least P200 million in overprice or simply sabotage the elections to let cheaters win),” the report said.

Ramos' presidential pick to be revealed in May

by Abigail Kwok (INQUIRER.net) 
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100224-255143/Ramos-presidential-pick-to-be-revealed-in-May

MANILA, Philippines--Former President Fidel Ramos has yet to choose his president for the coming elections.

"We are now in the process of making judgments and all the presidential and wannabe candidates are facing the public to convince them. We have a month and a half to make up our minds," Ramos said in an interview at the sidelines of the 24th anniversary of the People Power.

Ramos said that he would possibly announce his choice for president by the end of March or by the first week of April.

He said that based on public appearances of candidates in debates, almost all candidates are merely giving motherhood statements.

Lim welcomes Magdalo endorsement

by Katherine Evangelista (INQUIRER.net) 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100224-255175/Lim-welcomes-Magdalo-endorsement

MANILA, Philippines—Former Brigadier General Danilo Lim on Wednesday welcomed the support of the Magdalo group of soldiers for his senatorial bid.

"I am grateful that they have endorsed my candidacy and have pledged to continue to do so," the detained former military general said in a statement.

"However, their support for Senator Manny Villar's presidency runs counter to my present situation having been adopted and supported by another party," Lim said.

The former military official is a guest candidate of the Liberal Party, whose standard-bearer is Senator Benigno Aquino III.

Palace to LP senatorial bet: Take a rest

by Aytch S. de la Cruz (The Daily Tribune)

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/20100225nat3.html

Malacañang yesterday urged the Liberal Party (LP) senatorial candidate, Risa Hontiveros, to consider the option of taking a rest from running after the Chief Executive, assuming that her plan to file a motion for reconsideration does not prosper.

“She (Hontiveros) can pursue the case against the President — she can file any kind of motion... But I am sure that motion for reconsideration will be denied also (by the SC) and I know that Ms. Hontiveros is aware that her case is not going anywhere,” Arroyo’s counsel, Romulo Macalintal, told a press conference.

Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar, for his part, said: “If you (Hontiveros) are going to insist on doing something which you know you have a right to do so but at the same time are aware of the fact that it is not going anywhere, in this case, it only goes to show that you’re just doing it to gain continuous publicity.”

Election 2010 News - February 24, 2010

• Teodoro overtakes Villar in Davao City survey  (The Philippine Star) 
• DESPITE NEGATIVE PERCEPTIION Teodoro vows never to abandon admin party (INQUIRER.net)
• Teodoro counting on Lakas' political machinery  (The Philippine Star)
• Rice import policy breeds corruption -- Villar  (Journal Online)
• Villar, Legarda 'part ways' to cover more ground  (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• Pacquiao to join Villar's campaign sorties after Clottey bout  (Business Mirror)
• Gibo to adopt 'carrot-stick' policy vs corruption  (People's Tonight)
• Erap gets more 'sorries' on ouster  (The Daily Tribune)
• Villar binasbasan ni Cardinal Vidal  (Pilipino Star Ngayon)
• Definitely no hero's burial for Marcos, says Aquino  (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• Binay: Mindanao gets 9% of money pie (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• Leave my nephew alone -- Aquino  (INQUIRER.net)
• Noynoy Aquino still carping vs Marcos, 2 decades past  (The Daily Tribune)
• Teodoro: Expect more political lies  (Business Mirror)
• Gordon goes around for voter education  (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• De los Reyes 'concedes' presidency to Aquino  (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• Bro. Eddie tells HK flock: no crooks on slate  (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• Madrigal says Villar ads will also reach saturation point  (INQUIRER.net)
• Quit now, Arroyo Cabinet execs told  (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• IF ELECTED: 3 presidential bets to waive rights to bank secrecy  (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• Noynoy, Villar 'gitgitan' din sa mock polls sa Europe  (Abante) 
• KAMPANYA, BAN SA GRADUATION!  (Abante)  

Teodoro overtakes Villar in Davao City survey

by Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=552347&publicationSubCategoryId=67

 

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has overtaken Sen. Manuel Villar as the second most preferred presidential candidate – at least in Davao City.

A survey conducted last Feb. 1-8 among 700 city residents by the polling firm Issues and Advocacy Center (The Center) showed Liberal Party candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III leading the race with 37 percent.

Teodoro came in second with 23 percent, followed by Villar, 15 percent; Sen. Richard Gordon, 11 percent; and former President Joseph Estrada, eight percent.

Davao City has more than 948,000 voters.

DESPITE NEGATIVE PERCEPTION Teodoro vows never to abandon admin party

by Lira Dalangin-Fernandez (INQUIRER.net)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100223-254924/Teodoro-vows-never-to-abandon-admin-party

MANILA, Philippines—Hounded by his ties with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which some sectors said have kept him low in the surveys, administration standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro said he hopes the public would see him as his own man.

But he said that despite the negative perception, he would not abandon his party mates in the Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) to boost his survey ratings or win the presidency.

“I took my oath as chairman of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, I am running because I was chosen by Lakas-Kampi-CMD, I will stand and I will fall on that,” Teodoro said in an interview over radio dzBB Tuesday.

“Ano’ng aasahan ng ating mga kababayan kung kanilang makikita na para sa aking sarili lang na ako’y magtatakwil ng aking mga kasamahan? Hindi ko naman kukunsintihin ang katiwalian, pero hindi ko rin naman gagawin ang madramang paraan para manalo (What will our people expect from me if they see me abandoning my party mates for my own good? I will not tolerate wrongdoings, but I will not also resort to drama just to win),” he said.

Asked about "Villarroyo," talks that Arroyo's real bet in this election is Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Manuel Villar, Teodoro said they are just "political rumors."