Discipline Gibo first for abandoning post —Nograles

By Charlie V. Manalo (The Daily Tribune)
Link: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100428hed5.html

Insisting that he cannot support someone who wants to become president but cannot even run a political party properly, Speaker Prospero Nograles said the self-appointed officials of Lakas-Kampi-CMD are free to pursue any disciplinary action against him but they should also do the same for presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro for supporting local candidates who are running against their own party mates.

Teodoro has openly supported Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who in turn endorsed, not Teodoro but the Liberal Party presidential bet, Sen. Noynoy Aquino.

In the Center’s Pulso ng Dabaw latest survey, the Speaker firmed up his lead over his closest rival to 14 percent when some 44 percent or 1,056 respondents out of the 2,400 respondents who were polled said they will vote for Nograles if the elections are held within the period covered by the survey while 30 percent or 720 respondents said they will vote for Sara Duterte.

Nograles said that those who have been suggesting his ouster from the party cannot even speak for and in behalf of the party because they are holding party positions that were given out like candy and they do not carry the mandate of Lakas’ general membership.

Volunteers vow to deliver 2.5 million votes for Gibo in Metro Manila

By Perseus Echeminada (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=570455&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - A community-based volunteer movement yesterday vowed to deliver some 2.5 million votes for administration presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro in Metro Manila.

The Palit Galing Movement said they have already recruited at least 250,000 residents in Metro Manila that will deliver the “swing vote” for Teodoro and the administration candidates.

“Metro Manila will be the swing vote in the May 10 presidential elections, we will deliver 2.5 million votes to administration candidate Gilbert Teodoro,” declared the group’s leader, Suzette Salazar.

Even without support from the administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Salazar boasted they could deliver the votes for Teodoro from the grassroots.

“We are operating outside the party machinery and we just rely on the corps of volunteers who believe in the leadership qualities of Gibo Teodoro,” Salazar said.

Election 2010 News - April 27, 2010

• 'Poll watcher getting advance pay in GMA district' (The Philippine Star)
• Ballot distribution begins; Coast Guard to deliver poll machines (The Philippine Star)
• Mom's appeal: Give Manny a break (Malaya)
• NP bet admits meeting with Ampatuan Sr.  (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• Why was Noynoy vs playing of 'Hello Garci' tape? - NP (Business Mirror)
• Lakas members leaving Gibo branded 'pseudo' supporters   (The Manila Times)
• Nograles warns: More Lakas members to quit on Teodoro (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• Gibo endorses Duterte; rift with Nograles worsens (The Philippine Star)

'Poll watchers getting advance pay in GMA district'

By Ding Cervantes (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=570182&publicationSubCategoryId=63

LUBAO, Pampanga , Philippines - Liberal Party (LP) re-electionist Gov. Eddie Panlilio urged yesterday the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate reports that his gubernatorial rival has been paying advance salaries ranging from P1,500 to P4,000 monthly to people who will act as poll watchers in the second district of Pampanga, where President Arroyo is the official congressional candidate of Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

“I urge the Comelec in Pampanga and Central Luzon to check out reports that my fellow gubernatorial candidate, Mrs. Lilia Pineda, and her campaigners at the Lakas-Kampi-CMD are doing a massive recruitment of poll watchers beyond what is allowed by election laws,” the Pampanga governor said in a statement yesterday.

Panlilio said that a “first batch of poll watchers have been designated as barangay coordinators” and have been required by the Pineda camp to recruit 10 poll watchers each.

“Election laws allow two poll watchers per party in every clustered precinct to work on alternate duty. When the precinct is small, the BEI can ask the poll watchers to leave. Only a representative of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting will be allowed,” he noted.

Ballot distribution begins; Coast Guard to deliver poll machines

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=570173&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started shipping the ballots to be used in the May 10 automated elections to various areas nationwide.

The distribution of ballots to municipal and provincial treasurers’ offices in Mindanao and Luzon started last Saturday, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said yesterday.

Larrazabal said ballots were sent to the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Zambo Sibugay, Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, Palawan and Masbate.

He said the Comelec opted to distribute the ballots first in Mindanao provinces and other areas, which would take a longer time to reach.

He added that as a general rule, ballots should be delivered directly to the municipal treasurer’s office, but in some instances they are distributed directly to the provincial treasurer’s office because of security concerns.

Mom’s appeal: Give Manny a break

BY JP LOPEZ (Malaya)
Link: http://www.malaya.com.ph/04272010/news2.html

IN-between sobs, Curita Bamba Villar told reporters yesterday how, as a mother, she suffers when hearing criticisms, especially the vicious kind, against her son, Sen. Manny Villar.

The 86-year-old "Nanay Curing" is now paralytic and blinded.

In a press conference held at her house in Vista Grande, BF Resort in Las Piñas City, Nanay Curing said "it pains me and it almost cost my life" hearing the lies being peddled by Villar critics, especially those questioning his roots.

Clad in an orange duster, Nanay Curing started the media interview very calmly as she even managed to narrate how hard their life had been in Tondo.

"Kung ayaw niyo maniwala pumunta kayo sa Divisoria market, Stall 2245," she said.

NP bet admits meeting with Ampatuan Sr.

By Nikko Dizon ( Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100427-266668/NP-bet-admits-meeting-with-Ampatuan-Sr

MANILA, Philippines—Tensions rose in a press conference of Nacionalista Party senatorial candidates after one of them admitted having met with former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr.
Gilbert Remulla, who is also the NP spokesperson, said he visited Ampatuan in April when the latter was confined in a military hospital in Davao City.
“Yes, I did it, I don’t deny it,” Remulla said when asked by the Inquirer to confirm a report that came out last week.

“But I don’t want to elaborate on it for personal and security reasons. Every parent will understand. But my stand against the Maguindanao massacre is even stronger than before. The victims of the massacre must be given justice and the prime suspects should be tried,” he said.

On April 15, Ampatuan’s son Andal Ampatuan Jr., mayor of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao, who stands accused of carrying out the country’s worst election-related killings, was seen on national television wearing two NP baller IDs at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City where he was transferred from the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila.

Why was Noynoy vs playing of ‘Hello, Garci’ tape?–NP

( Business Mirror)
Link: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24572:why-was-noynoy-vs-playing-of-hello-garci-tapenp&catid=26:nation&Itemid=63

THE Nacionalista Party (NP) said Liberal Party (LP) presidential bet Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and campaign officials of the LP played a key role in helping President Arroyo remain in power by voting against the playing of the “Hello, Garci” tape during the congressional investigation of alleged fraud in the 2004 elections.

NP spokesman and senatorial candidate Gilbert Remulla said voters should be reminded that Aquino, who promises new leadership that will be free of corruption, did not vote for the playing of the “Hello, Garci” tape, which was the key to enlighten the public in determining if Mrs. Arroyo cheated during the 2004 elections.

“It is highly suspicious why Sen. Noynoy Aquino did not vote to listen to the ‘Hello, Garci’ tape when he was House Deputy Speaker for Luzon,” said Remulla in a press briefing on Monday.

Lakas members leaving Gibo branded 'pseudo' supporters

BY JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA Reporter (The Manila Times )
Link: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/16126-lakas-members-leaving-gibo-branded-pseudo-supporters

DAVAO CITY: A word war between Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro and House Speaker Prospero “Boy” Nograles Jr. continued and chances of the two patching things up seemed remote.

Nograles fanned the flame on Monday by saying that members of the ruling party, Lakas-Kampi CMD, would soon leave Teodoro because they feel that he has a very slim chance of winning the race to Malacañang on May 10.

He made the statement a day after attending a political rally organized by his supporters here during which Teodoro in a speech described Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Vice Mayor Inday Sarah Duterte-Zimmerman as good leaders. The Dutertes are political rivals of Nograles.

According to the lawmaker, Teodoro’s support for Duterte means nothing where Davao politics or the next month’s balloting is concerned.

Nograles warns: More Lakas members to quit on Teodoro

By Abigail Kwok (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20100426-266539/Nograles-warns-More-Lakas-members-to-quit-on-Teodoro

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — (UPDATE) House Speaker and city mayoral candidate Prospero Nograles on Monday warned that more members of the administration’s Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) will quit on the party’s standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro as Election Day nears.

“The old members of Lakas have left him and others will leave Gibo very, very soon because they feel he has a very slim chance to win,” Nograles said in a statement.

“He has not taken off,” Nograles said, referring to Teodoro’s struggle in the surveys. “And he quit on Lakas in midstream. We have no choice but to quit on him also.”

Nograles had earlier threatened to leave Lakas-Kampi-CMD as he claimed that the party was being run without consultation with its members.

Gibo endorses Duterte; rift with Nograles worsens

By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=570180&publicationSubCategoryId=63

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Any possible reconciliation between Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Speaker Prospero Nograles fell through when the House leader went ballistic against the former Defense secretary here.

In a strongly worded media statement yesterday, Nograles described Teodoro’s public recognition of his main rivals – city Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Sarah Duterte – as an affront to the party leadership.

Speaking at a huge political rally at Rizal Park here Saturday, Teodoro described before the roaring crowd that the Dutertes were good leaders and good friends of his.

“He (Teodoro) quit on Lakas in midstream and we have no choice but to quit on him also,” said Nograles, referring to Teodoro’s sudden resignation as party chairman.

But lawyer Mike Toledo clarified that Teodoro’s acknowledgment of the Dutertes should not be seen as a form of endorsement.

Election 2010 News - April 26, 2010

• Warn of protest actions vs poll body Elite group press Comelec on manual count (The Daily Tribune)
• Comelec exec tagged in secrecy folder deal Lawyer says directive to suspend bidding defied (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• Mock polls in Metro Manila deffered; PNP to secure poll machines (The Philippine Star)
• Comelec prepares for manual audit  (The Philippine Star)
• Bongbong bats for more green buildings (Malaya)
• Villar's mere presense already undue pressure  (The Daily Tribune)
• Gibo backs Duterte in fight with Nograles (Malaya)
• Candidate Gloria hits campaign trail (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Warn of protest actions vs poll body Elite groups press Comelec on manual count

(The Daily Tribune)
Link: http://www.tribune.net.ph/

Insisting that a parallel and manual count at the precinct level would bring about credible elections, an elite group of businessmen, who are mostly identified with the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), yesterday called a press conference at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, putting additional pressure on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to allow a parallel count of the ballots in the precinct level.

The press conference was carried live on the Lopez cable network yesterday morning.

There were hints from some members of the group that, apart from coming up with an open letter to the Comelec, massive protest actions will be employed.

Earlier, there was staged in front of the Comelec, the so-called “Jericho” march, which harks back to the biblical Jericho walls that crumbled.

The business groups warned of massive protests to be staged but failed to state whether these would be staged before the polls, or after the polls.

The group, led by the Makati Business Club (MBC), wants a parallel manual count of the May 10 automated polls, stressing that the manual count will usher in credibility and acceptability of the May 10 election results.

Comelec exec tagged in secrecy folder deal Lawyer says directive to suspend bidding defied

By Leila Salaverria (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100426-266445/Comelec-exec-tagged-in-secrecy-folder-deal

MANILA, Philippines—The winning bidder in the scuttled purchase by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of ballot secrecy folders bagged a contract in 2008 after an election executive allegedly defied a directive of the poll body to postpone the bidding, a Comelec official said.

Lawyer Melchor Magdamo, who is assigned to the office of Comelec Chair Jose Melo, made the statement in an affidavit he submitted to a panel investigating the earlier decision to buy from OTC Paper Supply 1.8 million ballot secrecy folders at P380 each, a deal worth nearly P700 million.

The secrecy folder deal has since been junked, but the poll body has decided to probe the circumstances leading to its decision to buy the “extravagant” folders.

OTC has disputed claims that the folders were overpriced and has contested the Comelec decision not to push through with the contract.

Mock polls in Metro Manila deferred; PNP to secure poll machines

By With Reinir Padua (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=569883&publicationSubCategoryId=63


MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is postponing Thursday’s mock polls in Metro Manila to Monday next week.

This was revealed by National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) chairman Jose Cuisia, who said delays in the delivery of ballots and other poll paraphernalia prompted the rescheduling of the mock elections.

“There are also problems in the delivery of the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines,” Cuisia added.

He said the postponement indicated that the Comelec was still unprepared for automated elections.

“They claim that they are ready, yet we are talking only of one precinct and a thousand voters and they were not able to fulfill their commitment,” Cuisia pointed out.

Comelec prepares for manual audit

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=569882&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is preparing for a random manual auditing of elections results, according to Henrietta de Villa, head of the poll body’s committee on random manual audit.

She said part of the plan is the deployment of an additional 3,500 public school teachers to ensure the accuracy of random manual auditing.

De Villa said the committee has recommended the creation of a special board of election inspectors to undertake the manual audit.

The Comelec has rejected calls for a parallel manual canvassing of poll results, saying it is no longer necessary since a random manual audit is enough to do the job.

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.

Villar’s mere presence already undue pressure

By Jason Faustino (The Daily Tribune)
Link: http://www.tribune.net.ph/

The mere presence of Villar as Senate president in the offices of Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) executives and the regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or personal calls he made to them is already a form of applying undue pressure, a former Senate president said yesterday.

Former Senate President and Liberal Party senatorial bet Franklin Drilon labeled as “excuses” Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential candidate Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr.’s claim that he indeed made the rounds with the PSE and SEC in 2007 when he was the Senate president but denied pressuring its officials for his or his companies’ gains.

Villar, in denying that he pressured the PSE, admitted that he made calls to the SEC and met with PSE officials, but said he never pressured them.

Drilon said the issue is not about violating laws but is more of a morality and ethical issue on the part of Villar, as well as delicadeza.

Gibo backs Duterte in fight with Nograles

BY REGINA BENGCO (Malaya)
Link: http://www.malaya.com.ph/04262010/news7.html

DAVAO CITY. –Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Saturday night expressed support for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, even if the latter is backing his rival and second cousin Sen. Benigno Aquino III.

Teodoro, in a speech before a crowd of 2,000 at the Rizal Park here, said Duterte is a "real friend." He said he used to be Duterte’s lawyer in the 1990s.

"Gusto kong pasalamatan ang isang tunay na kaibigan. Bagama’t iba ang partido niya ay nirerespeto ko pa rin siya…Ang aking paghanga sa taong iyan ay hindi magbabago," he said, eliciting loud applause.

Duterte, who is running for vice mayor, and his daughter Sara, who is eyeing the mayoralty post, were not present during the campaign rally.

The administration candidate for mayor here, Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr., was also not around because of his feud with Teodoro.

Candidate Gloria hits campaign trail

By Tonette Orejas (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100426-266451/Candidate-Gloria-hits-campaign-trail

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—In her first sortie in Pampanga since the campaign period for local positions started on March 26, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sang Florante’s “Handog” on Saturday.

Pampanga gubernatorial candidate Lilia Pineda, a friend of the President’s, joined her in singing the familiar Filipino tune about gratitude at a gymnasium in Lubao, hometown of Ms Arroyo’s late father, former President Diosdado Macapagal.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD campaign coordinators said the rally’s host, Rosve Henson, put Ms Arroyo on the spot during the program by asking her to sing.

The President granted the request of her “cabalen” (province mates) for a song. She embraced Pineda as they sang before some 3,000 people.

Ms Arroyo, however, was unfamiliar with the lyrics of Handog. Her voice was drowned out by Pineda’s in most parts of the song, but it was clearer in the refrain: