Aquino leads Villar by a hair

from Manila Standard Today

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews.htm?f=2010/march/8/news1.isx&d=2010/march/8

 

SENATORS Benigno Aquino III and Manuel Villar Jr. remained locked in a statistical tie, 34 percent to 32 percent, in Manila Standard’s latest nationwide survey, in contrast to a Pulse Asia poll that showed Aquino pulling ahead.

The Manila Standard survey, conducted between Feb. 20 and 26, asked 2,500 registered voters to cast their ballots for the positions of president, vice president and senators in a way that simulated actual voting in the coming automated elections in May.

By contrast, a Feb. 21 to 25 survey by Pulse Asia of 1,800 respondents showed Aquino ahead, and by 36 percent to 29 percent.

The Standard’s February poll showed that the race for the presidency continued to be tight, with Aquino and Villar losing 2 percentage points each from the January survey, said Standard resident pollster Pedro Laylo Jr.

News of a Senate censure of Villar for his alleged role in irregularities in the C-5 road expansion project did not seem to affect their respective standings.

Legarda trails front-running Roxas by 9%

from Manila Standard Today

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews.htm?f=2010/march/8/news2.isx&d=2010/march/8

LIBERAL Party candidate Senator Manuel Roxas II continued to lead the vice presidential race, beating out his closest rival, Senator Loren Legarda, by 39 percent to 30 percent in the latest Manila Standard poll.

The survey, conducted between Feb. 20 and 26, asked 2,500 registered voters to cast their ballots for the positions of President, vice president and senators in a way that simulated actual voting in the coming automated elections in May.

The February results for vice president showed the same pattern as January’s, said Manila Standard resident pollster Pedro Laylo Jr.

Former Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay received 15 percent, while former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando and administration candidate Edu Manzano both had 4 percent.

Some 6 percent of the respondents were undecided.

Data by major areas somewhat reflected the same voting pattern as that of the presidential race. Roxas had big leads in Metro Manila, South Luzon and the Visayas. Roxas and Legarda were tied in North and Central Luzon.

‘It’s better late than never’ — Binay

ON ADMISSION OF GOVT’S FAILURE TO ADDRESS POVERTY

from The Daily Tribune

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/20100309nat1.html

United Opposition (UNO) vice presidential candidate Jejomar Binay yesterday said there was nothing new in the admission of Presidential Economic Adviser Joey Salceda that government failed to address mass poverty in the last nine years. But then again, he said it is better late than never.

“Governor Salceda only confirmed what the Filipino people have known all along. Their lives are worse off now than they were nine years ago. But still, it is a consolation that somebody from Mrs. Arroyo’s inner circle has spoken up and admitted what we have been saying and what the people have been going through under the Arroyo administration,” Binay said.

He said Malacañang’s economic policies, particularly the value added tax, may have provided revenue for the administration, but it has been a burden to ordinary Filipinos who ended up paying more for basic needs.

Based on the figures of the National Statistical Coordination Board, the number of five-member households living on P1,200 monthly rose to 27.6 million in 2006 compared to 25.47 million in 2001. The incidence of hunger also nearly doubled from 11.4 percent in 2000 to 20.3 percent in 2009.

Binay said while the administration boasts of increases in the country’s gross domestic product by 4.4 percent, reportedly the highest among all presidents since 1966, the administration failed to make taxes work for the ordinary Filipino.

Fernando: No regrets dismantling illegal vendors’ stalls

by Cathy C. Yamsuan (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100308-257424/Fernando-No-regrets-dismantling-illegal-vendors-stalls

MANILA, Philippines -- Thanks, but no thanks.

Bayani Fernando will not miss the votes of illegal vendors whose stalls he ordered demolished when he was still chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

In fact, the Bagumbayan vice presidential bet said he would repeat the deed if required by the next administration.

“It’s okay if they don’t vote for me,” he said in Filipino in a live interview at a morning talk show on Monday.

“And in case I win, I would not hesitate to do it again in case it’s necessary,” he added.

“I did what I had to do; I am not scared of losing your votes. Leaders need to be strong and be able to defend their decisions. It’s like a father who should not be scared of displeasing his son for the sake of doing what’s right,” Fernando said.

Fernando insisted it was the responsibility of the MMDA to demolish illegal stalls constructed along sidewalks of public markets in Metro Manila.

'Energy crisis just artificial'

from The Philippine Star

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=556312&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Richard Gordon said the power crisis in Mindanao is artificial and may be part of a sinister plot, and demanded an explanation from the Arroyo administration.

“They should explain why there is a power shortage. From what I have heard – and I have just been to Mindanao – the water level in Lanao lake is normal. They just opened up a power plant in Cebu and they will open up a couple more. I don’t know what they are talking about,” Gordon, Bagumbayan party presidential candidate, told editors and reporters of The STAR yesterday.

“They have a lot of explaining to do.”

Gordon said a shortage of power is a threat to national security, hence the need for the government to be transparent.

“It is artificial, I agree. That is why I want it explained. If this is not artificial, she should explain. Her administration must explain, so must her candidate,” he said, apparently referring to administration bet Gilbert Teodoro Jr., former defense secretary.

“When you have no power, it becomes a security issue eventually,” he said.

Gordon also said frequent power interruptions don’t only cause inconvenience but also drive away investors.

Absentee voting registration extended

by Leila Salaverria (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100308-257443/Absentee-voting-registration-extended

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has decided to extend the registration deadline for local absentee voters because of the dismal turnout.

The deadline has been moved back one week to March 15 in the hope that more voters would avail themselves of the opportunity to cast their votes early, said Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal.

Under the law, those who qualify for local absentee voting are government officials and employees, including members of the military and the police, who, on election day, may be assigned to places other than where they are registered, thus losing their chance to vote.

Those registered for absentee voting can cast their ballots between April 24 and 26.

Absentee voters, however, can only vote for president, vice president, senators and party-list representative.

Larrazabal said only 6,000 people had registered so far compared to 2007 when some 40,000 voters registered.

NCRPO to Metro voters: Monitor bets with too many bodyguards

by Cecille Suerte Felipe (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=556227

MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is calling on the public to help the police monitor candidates who maintain more than two police security escorts.

NCRPO spokesman Superintendent Rommel Miranda said they need the help of citizens in the police campaign against private armed groups.

Under the law, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said each candidate can have a maximum of two police security escorts and if they need more than that, the politician must seek permission from the poll body.

NCRPO chief Director Roberto Rosales expressed optimism that elections in Metro Manila would be honest, orderly and peaceful, with a minimal number of election watchlist areas.

But Rosales said the NCRPO is finalizing its plan to reposition of some its closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to places that might be considered later on by the Comelec as areas of concern.

ELEKSYON SASABIT KAY BANGIT?

Nina ROSE MIRANDA, REY MARFIL, BERNARD TAGUINOD, BOYET JADULCO, NOEL ABUEL at DINDO MATINING (Abante)

http://abante.com.ph/issue/mar0910/news01.htm

Nababahala ang mga kritiko ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na sa­sabit ang May 10 national elections bunsod sa pagkakatalaga nito sa kanyang paboritong heneral na si Gen. Delfin Bangit bilang bagong chief of staff ng Armed Forces of the Phi­lippines (AFP).

Sa ambush interview sa pagbisita sa San Sebastian College sa lungsod ng Maynila ay kinumpirma ni Arroyo ang pagtatalaga kay Bangit sa nasabing posisyon kung saan inihayag nito ang desisyon sa gitna ng mga panukala na i-extend na lamang ang termino ni AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, na magreretiro na bukas, dahil ilang buwan na lamang naman umano ang Arroyo administration bukod pa sa nalalapit na ang eleksyon.

Hindi na nagbigay pa ng ibang detalye si Pangulong Arroyo partikular kung na­ging pangunahing konside­rasyon ang pag-ayaw mismo ni Ibrado na palawigin pa ang kanyang termino at ang legal position ni Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzalez na ito ay labag sa Konstitusyon.

Si Bangit ang Presidential Security Group chief ni Pangulong Arroyo simula Pebrero 12 hanggang Set­yembre 2007 kung saan niyanig ang chief executive ng Hello Garci controversy na muntik na nitong ikasipa sa puwesto bukod sa dalawang banta ng mutiny noon sa pamamagitan ng Oakwood mutiny at Marines standoff.

24 election-related violent incidents reported since January – PNP

by Abigail Kwok (INQUIRER.net)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100308-257437/24-election-related-violent-incidents-reported-since-January--PNP

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police has reported a total of 24 cases of election-related violent incidents in less than three months, as it vowed to speedily resolve these cases through the creation of more special investigation task groups.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) reported on Monday said that from January 10 to March 6, it has documented 24 cases involving 28 victims, 16 of whom were killed while three were wounded.

Of the 28 victims, 16 were village chiefs, six were town councilors, three were mayors, while the rest occupied various positions in government office.

CIDG director Chief Superintendent Francisco Montenegro said that he has ordered the creation of more special investigation task groups to immediately solve these violent incidents.

The PNP currently has task force EGO (elected government officials) to handle election-related violent incidents.

One of the election-related violent incidents reported include the murder of vice governor Willy Viloria, who was gunned down by unidentified men last March 1 in Barangay (village) Mabanglit, Cabangan, Zambales.

Election 2010 News - March 8, 2010

• Teodoro bent on becoming President: 'Only God can stop me from running'  (Business Mirror) 
• Nuclear energy to solve energy crisis -- Marcos son  (Bandera)
• NP has most women bets in nat'l state  (Manila Bulletin)
• Bello urges fund release for El Nino  (Manila Bulletin)
• Erap on offensive: Noynoy, Villar sponsored GMA rule  (The Daily Tribune)
• Erap says sincerity to carry him to poll win  (The Manila Times)
• Hagedorn for Bro. Eddie  (People's Journal)
• Poll bets invited to Comelec tour  (Malaya)
• GMA may bypass Congress on crisis  (The Philippine Star)
• Teachers on poll duty to get additional P1,300  (The Philippine Star)

Teodoro bent on becoming President: ‘Only God can stop me from running’

from Business Mirror

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22684:teodoro-bent-on-becoming-president-only-god-can-stop-me-from-running&catid=26:nation&Itemid=63

LAKAS-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro said he will persevere to the end to realize his dream of becoming the country’s next President.

“Only God can stop me from running. He could do that by making me sick or something else,” Teodoro said in a television interview.

And when asked by television anchorman Arnold Clavio on whether some groups have already approached him to withdraw his candidacy, Teodoro replied in the negative.

“No one has yet approached me about that [withdrawal from the presidential race] and I will not be the one to entertain such matter,” Teodoro stressed.

He also pledged to fight to the very end for his legions of supporters who have maintained their trust and faith in his candidacy.

In the same vein, the former defense secretary added that he is content with the support being provided by his party, stating that he expects it to increase exponentially in the coming days.

In the same interview, Teodoro’s running mate Edu Manzano also vowed to carry on his campaign until the “final bell,” as he belied talks that he is now pulling himself out of the vice-presidential race.

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.

NP has most women bets in nat’l slate

by ROLLY T. CARANDANG, HANNAH TORREGOZA (Manila Bulletin)

http://mb.com.ph/articles/246667/np-has-most-women-bets-nat-l-slate

As the world celebrates International Women's Day on Monday, Senator Pia Cayetano lauded Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar for including the most number of women candidates in the party’s national slate for this year’s elections.

Cayetano also called on Filipino voters to support pro-women candidates in the May 10 polls to ensure that the interest and issues of women are protected under the next administration.

“Voters should carefully study the track record of candidates, particularly their stand on women’s concerns,” she said.

“Regardless of whether they are male or female, the candidate should have a clear platform that looks after issues affecting women, including maternal health, the declining state of public health services, feminization of labor migration, gender discrimination, poverty, and trafficking.”

Cayetano, principal author of the Magna Carta of Women, added that a deeper and more diverse field of male and female candidates would give voters more options and better chances of pushing for genuine reforms in 2010.

Bello urges fund release for El Niño

from Manila Bulletin

http://mb.com.ph/articles/246631/bello-urges-fund-release-el-ni-o

Former justice secretary and peace negotiator Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III appealed to the national government to immediately release emergency funds to help farmers affected by the El Niño phenomenon. “Our farmers in Isabela and other provinces are still reeling from the damage the past typhoons have brought, and here comes El Niño, which promises to deliver another blow to their farming revenues,” Bello, a Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial candidate, said.

Bello said that the President’s Social Fund, which is sourced from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation earnings, would be a big boost to the efforts done by other government agencies. Also, the President could also use part of the P2 billion calamity fund to augment the resources of the agencies, Bello said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has said that the El Niño conditions will persist until June based on their climate models. Damage to agriculture has already reached P3.7 billion.

Erap on offensive: Noynoy, Villar sponsored GMA rule

SINCERITY NOT ADS TO WIN VOTES — ESTRADA

from The Daily Tribune

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20100308hed1.html

The recent Pulse Asia survey showing the United Opposition’s (UNO)-Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) ticket for the May 10 elections is starting to catch up with the frontrunners had triggered bigger support to former President Joseph Estrada and his running mate Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, including the traditional administration bailiwick of Cebu province.

Estrada said based on the recent survey, Filipinos are now seeing through the real colors of Estrada’s rivals who are supposedly opposition candidates,adding the two frontrunners — Liberal Party (LP) bet Sen. Benigno Aquino III and Nacionalista Party (NP) standard bearer Manuel Villar Jr. — played pivotal roles in imposing on the people the widely rejected administration of President Arroyo.

In the UNO-PMP sortie in Subic, Zambales, Estrada said sincerity is key to winning the trust of the people and not the quantity of television advertisements and celebrity endorsers.

Apparently taking a potshot at Aquino and Villar, Estrada said people will eventually see the real motives behind every candidate’s decision to run in the 2010 elections as they draw nearer and the campaign digs deeper.

Erap says sincerity to carry him to poll win

by Francis Earl A. Cueto Correspondent (The Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/12923-erap-says-sincerity-to-carry-him-to-poll-win

SUBIC, Zambales: Sincerity, not the number of television advertisements and celebrity endorsers, will help a candidate win the presidency, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada said here over the weekend. Apparently taking potshots at survey frontrunners Sen. Benigno ”Noynoy” Aquino 3rd and Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr., Estrada added that people will eventually see the real motives behind every candidate’s decision to run in the 2010 elections as the balloting draws nearer.

“Sincerity. No matter how many ads you put on television or how many actors and actresses support you, if you are not really sincere with your motives, the people will see through you,” the former leader said.

According to Estrada, also a former movie star, he was able to pull his survey ratings up by 6 percent in three weeks because he was sincere.

He said that the people cannot be fooled as to who among the candidates is really for the poor and who is for the poor only during election time.

Hagedorn for Bro. Eddie

by People's Journal

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/national/4630-hagedorn-for-bro-eddie-.html

“MGA kababayan, ang susunod na presidente ng Pilipinas, Bro Eddie Villanueva!”

These were the words of Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn when he introduced Villanueva to his constituents during the televangelist’s visit over the weekend.

“Nasubukan na natin lahat. Bakit di naman natin subukan ang taong may takot sa Diyos? Siguradong di sya gagawa ng masama dahil di nya pwedeng suwayin ang itinuturo niya,” the city mayor said of Bangon Pilipinas Party standard bearer.

Villanueva who runs on a platform of “Anim na taon na walang korapsyon” wowed the crowd of more than 5,000 people at the Palawan Coliseum.

“Kung matino ang gobyerno, dapat sana’y naibigay sa Palawan ang P5B pondo kada taon. Mai-integrate ang sea transport, land transport, air transport. Dapat sana’y number one tourist destination na ang Palawan sa buong mundo,” he said.

Hagedorn’s faith in Villanueva is not without basis.

“Nung una po akong tumakbong mayor, pinagtatawanan ako ng ibang mga kakilala ko. Pano raw po ako mananalo sa kalaban kong kandidato na 27 taon nang naninilbihan sa Puerto Princesa? Pero nung ipinag-pray po ako ni Bro Eddie, sabi niya ako raw po ang mananalo. Siya lang po ang naniwala sa akin. At nanalo nga po ako!” Hagedorn said.

Poll bets invited to Comelec tour

from Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/03082010/metro5.html

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday urged presidential and vice presidential candidates to set aside one day from their campaign schedule to see for themselves the poll agency’s preparations for the first-ever nationwide automated elections.

Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal reiterated the invitation to the national candidates to join them on Thursday in visiting the National Printing Office (NPO) and the warehouse in Cabuyao, Laguna where official ballots are being printed and the counting machines are being kept, respectively.

"We hope that the presidential candidates will take one day out of their hectic and busy schedules. They have been going around the country for sometime already. Just set aside one day for them to just see the facilities at the NPO and the Cabuyao warehouse," he said.

Larrazabal stressed that the visit, which is an initiative of the Comelec, is in response to constant calls for transparency in governance. Several presidential candidates expressed concerns last month over possible glitches in the conduct of the first nationwide automated elections.

GMA may bypass Congress on crisis

by Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=556035&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo is considering bypassing Congress in dealing with the energy crisis in Mindanao.

Palace legal experts believe an “aggressive” interpretation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act or EPIRA may allow state utilities to generate additional capacity even without congressional approval.

Section 71 of the EPIRA prohibits the government from generating additional power unless allowed by Congress in a joint resolution. But even Palace officials concede that lawmakers, most of them busy with the campaign, might not return to work for a special session that will give the President the needed powers.

“It is possible that if we’re going to be aggressive, if our interpretation is that we are leasing additional capacity as opposed to buying or constructing new capacity, that (joint resolution) might be construed as something that we might no longer need – that particular section (Section 71) in the EPIRA,” deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar told government-run radio dzRB.

He noted some experts said that generating new capacity might be interpreted as acquiring or constructing generating assets.

“But if we are to lease generator sets – we won’t buy or own them – some lawyers might say that you can do that even without the special session,” Olivar said.

Teachers on poll duty to get additional P1,300

by Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=556037&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Teachers serving as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) in the May 10 elections will receive P1,300 on top of the P3,000 honorarium, according to a resolution promulgated by the Commission on Elections on March 4.

“In addition (to the honorarium), each (BEI member) shall receive P500 for the Inspection, Verification and Sealing of Book of Voters; P500 for the Testing and Sealing of Machines; and P300 for one-time transportation allowance,” the resolution said.

The commission also granted the teachers, as well as their support staff, three days service credits.

“Support staff shall receive an honorarium of P1,500 each and service credits for three days of service,” the Comelec resolution said.

According to the law, BEIs are entitled to P1,000 honorarium for each day of service. The BEIs will work for three days: the day before the election, the election day itself, and the day after.

The Comelec plans to deploy 240,000 teachers to man the 74,000 clustered voting precincts nationwide.

The Comelec said a cluster with three polling precincts will be given an additional support staffer; a cluster of four precincts will have two additional support staffers; a cluster of five to seven clustered precincts will be given three additional staffers.

The Comelec has also allocated a total of P30 million to insure BEI members.

“In case of death while in the performance of election duties, the heirs of the deceased official/employee shall be given the amount of P200,000,” the resolution said.

Compensation for BEI members injured while performing election duties, however, was not specified in the resolution.