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.

Election 2010 News - March 06, 2010

• 10,000 Caloocan voters back 'Gibo'  (Manila Bulletin) 
• Villar blames graft, corruption for RP poverty  (Manila Bulletin)
• Teodoro: Time for RP to go nuke but not Bataan plant  (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• Teodoro: AFP modernization won't happen in 6 years  (INQUIRER.net)
• Villar dares TV, radio to disclose earnings from political ads  (The Philippine Star)
• Erap party optimistic of winning in Cebu  (Manila Bulletin)
• Gibo: Only God can stop me from seeking presidency  (The Philippine Star)
• Admin bet not quitting VP race  (The Daily Tribune)
• Binay urges Boy Scout approach  (Manila Bulletin)
• Estrada: I neve tried to buy off my rivals  (The Daily Tribune)
• Villar, Legarda: Race for May polls still close  (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• Papin joins Bro. Eddie's party  (Manila Bulletin)
• Coalition backing Perlas' presidential bid launched  (The Philippine Star)
• Comelec bans PASG from carrying guns during poll period  (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• PPCRV counsel's office ransacked , 'Zombie voters' evidence stolen in break-in  (The Daily Tribune)
• Palace scores LP on ad, cites infra achievements  (Manila Bulletin) 

10,000 Caloocan voters back ‘Gibo’

by BEN R. ROSARIO (Manila Bulletin)

http://mb.com.ph/articles/246368/10000-caloocan-voters-back-gibo

At least 10,000 Caloocan City voters formally pledged Monday to vote only the most qualified candidates in the May 10 elections as their contribution to ensure political harmony and high growth in the country into the next decade.

Former defense secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. led residents of Barangay Bagong Silang, in a mass-recital of the “Panatang Makabago” containing a voter’s commitment in pushing for the victory of only the most qualified candidates.

Bagong Silang folk, mostly belonging to the urban poor sector, mobbed Teodoro as they aired the belief that the Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet’s qualities as a leader best fits the presidency.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD officials noted that the Caloocan City campaign sortie provided the warmest reception yet for Teodoro although he was also warmly welcomed in Malabon.

Leaders in at least 16 purok and barangay officials declared publicly their support for Teodoro during the jampacked gathering at a basketball court.

Leaders of 11 organizations representing the different districts in Caloocan had also expressed their full support for Teodoro, his vice-presidential bet Edu Manzano and the ruling party’s six senatorial bets—reelectionist Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid, lawyer Raul Lambino, former Cabinet secretary Silvestre Bello, media personality Rey Langit and Binalonan, Pangasinan Mayor Ramon Guico.

Thousands of cheering people lined the streets as his convoy passed through on Phase 7, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City

Villar blames graft, corruption for RP poverty

by ROLLY T. CARANDANG (Manila Bulletin)

http://mb.com.ph/articles/246366/villar-blames-graft-corruption-rp-poverty

If we want to govern this nation well, leadership skill and experience should be the basis of our voters in choosing the next president and not popularity and emotion, Nacionalista Party (NP) standard bearer Senator Manny Villar said Friday.

At the same time, Villar, a leading presidentiable, blamed unabated graft and corruption in the past and present administrations “as one of the main reasons why the country remains very poor compared to our neighboring nations.”

Interviewed by DZBB anchorman Mike Enriquez Friday, Villar reiterated that ending poverty and fighting graft and corruption are the main problems that he would immediately tackle once he wins the presidency in the May 10 elections.

The NP standard bearer said that in any organization, structure and even in municipality, what is really needed is leadership skill to address any problems including poverty, peace and order and economy.

Amid the complexities of problems besetting the nation, Villar said the capability to lead is the key to a successful administration.

Teodoro: Time for RP to go nuke but not Bataan plant

by Jocelyn Uy (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100306-256937/Teodoro-Time-for-RP-to-go-nuke-but-not-Bataan-plant

MANILA, Philippines—With many parts of the country suffering through rotating power outages, administration standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr. on Friday said it was time for government to seriously think about developing nuclear power to prepare the country for a power crisis in the next 50 years.

Speaking at a forum with defense reporters, Teodoro suggested a two-fold method for government to deal with the country’s deteriorating supply of energy.

“One, deal with the current shortfall in power supply by facilitating power barges and big users of electricity with whatever they need to self-generate,” said Teodoro, who resigned as defense secretary in November to pursue his presidential candidacy.

The other way is to explore the use of nuclear energy to address power shortages in the next 50 years, he said.

“We have to look that far ahead so that every year, we could put in the additional infrastructure necessary to create generating capacity,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro said hydroelectric power plants may no longer be reliable because of the changes in climatic patterns.

Teodoro: AFP modernization won’t happen in 6 years

by Katherine Evangelista (INQUIRER.net)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100305-256828/Teodoro-AFP-modernization-wont-happen-in-6-years

MANILA, Philippines – Even if he wins the presidency in the May elections, administration candidate Gilbert Teodoro acknowledged that the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines would not come under this term because of budgetary constraints.

In a tete-a-tete with defense reporters Friday, the Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats standard-bearer made a clean breast of the condition of the country’s defense establishment that he used to head.

“Palagay ko hindi, realistically speaking (I don’t think so, realistically speaking),” he said when asked if a modernized military can be expected during his term if he wins the May 2010 elections.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is only undertaking what he calls a “capability upgrade” since it is still focused on internal security matters.

“Internal security ba tayo, or external, iyon ang question, we have to think ano ang mission natin (Are we for internal security or external, that’s the question, we have to think what our mission is),” Teodoro said.

Villar dares TV, radio to disclose earnings from political ads

by Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star) 
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=555416&publicationSubCategoryId=63

DAVAO CITY , Philippines – Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday challenged television and radio broadcast firms to make public their actual earnings from airing political advertisements.

Villar, a billionaire real estate developer turned politician, lamented what he called “exorbitant” airtime rates being charged by broadcast firms from candidates.
“On ad spending, I am following what is in the Fair Elections Act. As far as I am concerned, the figures shown are not the actual figures, they are the published rates and there are discounted rates,” he said.
Villar said the high airtime rates are costing him so much in the campaign.
Villar made the statement as he received criticisms from major TV and radio networks.
NP spokesman Gilbert Remulla agreed that he too is having difficulty putting out campaign ads because of the high rates, a concern also raised by fellow NP senatorial candidates Adel Tamano and Gwen Pimentel.