Calling for the immediate resignation of GMA and Noli de Castro

Kung sa tingin mo'y wasto ang "pampulitikang linya" at napapanahon na ang panawagang ito.......pirma na! Pwede rin naman dedmahin... "wala lang"?
- doy / ipd
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Calling for the immediate resignation of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Noli de Castro and for the Holding of Special ("Snap") Elections within 60 days

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View Current Signatures - Sign the Petition

For listing of initial petitioners and relevant articles, please go to http://www.snap08.blogspot.com. These include SENATOR AQUILINO PIMENTEL, JR., SENATOR ANTONIO F. TRILLANES IV, FORMER SENATOR SERGE OSMENA, BISHOP LEO ALCONGA, PASTOR DOMENG RIVERA, LT. GEN. RAUL URGELLO, LT. GEN. ROMEO DOMINGUEZ, ATTY. JOSEFINA LICHAUCO, ATTY. RAMON PEDROSA, ATTY. LUIS SISON, AMBASSADOR ROY SENERES, MARIETTA PRIMICIAS GOCO, RENATO CONSTANTINO, JR., AMADO MACASAET, CONRADO DE QUIROS, ELLEN TORDESILLAS, CHARMAINE DEOGRACIAS, ARMIDA SIGUION-REYNA, BIBETH ORTEZA, BUTCH ALBERT, BENJAMIN CO, PASTOR BOY SAYCON, ATTY. HARRY ROQUE, ATTY. ARGEE GUEVARRA, AMADO GAT INCIONG, ALAIN DEL PASCUA, PATRICK PANTALEON, DULCE CEPEDA, DR. JACQUELINE SANCHEZ, J.L. LINGGOY ALCUAZ, BUDDY GARBANZOS, RONALD LUMBAO, VER EUSTAQUIO, REZ CORTEZ, MANUELY PORTES, DAGGY COPRADO, JOSE PETE ARCE, P.B. KINTANAR, JR., RIC SERRANO, ED OREDINA, MANUEL ARIAS, LITO RALLISTAN, JUN SORIANO, BUTCH PENA, ROMMEL ZAMBRANO, DAVID DIWA.

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To: President and Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines

MANIFESTO / PETITION ONLINE CALLING
FOR THE IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO AND NOLI DE CASTRO AND FOR THE HOLDING OF SPECIAL (“SNAP”) ELECTIONS WITHIN 60 DAYS

WHEREAS, because of the numerous unresolved scandals involving the present administration, including but not limited to the “Hello Garci” Election controversy, the ZTE , North Rail Project, Diosdado Macapagal Highway scandals, the Joc-joc Bolante Fertilizer scam, Jose Pidal caper, hundreds of unresolved extra-judicial killings and the latest Malacañang Bribery Incident, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has completely lost her moral authority to govern this country;

WHEREAS, the GMA has lost public sympathy and support in the light of her tainted electoral mandate and her responsibility for the numerous controversies hounding her administration, as consistently shown by survey after survey conducted by reputable polling entities;

WHEREAS, Vice President Noli De Castro is a member of the Arroyo cabinet and is a beneficiary of the cheating perpetrated during the May 2004 Elections and is also considered to be a silent partner in crime of GMA not only because of his close personal association and unflinching support for GMA but also because of his failure to stand-up against and denounce the abuses and excesses of the Arroyo regime;

WHEREAS, the recent Glorietta bombing incident appears to be a signal for the more violent phase in the regime of GMA;

WHEREAS, the sham impeachment case filed by personalities connected with Malacanang effectively sabotages and ridicules the impeachment process;

WHEREAS, the only peaceful, legal and constitutional option available to the Nation under the circumstances and to prevent the situation from developing into a full-scale conflict or civil strife is for GMA and Noli De Castro to resign from their respective positions as President and Vice-President, of the Republic of the Philippines;

WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution, under Section 10, Article VII, expressly provides that:

“Sec. 10. The Congress shall, at ten o’clock in the morning of the third day after the vacancy in the offices of the President and Vice-President occurs, convene in accordance with its rules without need of a call and within seven days enact a law calling for a special election to elect a President and a Vice-President to be held not earlier than forty-five days nor later than sixty days from the time of such call. Xxx.”

NOW, WHEREFORE, We the undersigned citizens, taxpayers and voters of the Republic of the Philippines, in our capacity as the true sovereign of the Nation, DO HEREBY:

1. Call upon Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Noli De Castro to spare the country from further turmoil and violence by immediately resigning from their respective positions as President and Vice-President of the Philippines;

2. Demand the holding of a Special Presidential and Vice-Presidential Election within Sixty (60) Days from the date of the resignation of GMA and Noli de Castro, pursuant to Section 10, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution;

May God bless our Great Nation!

DONE in Metro Manila, Philippines on this 21st day of October 2007.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

View Current Signatures

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The Calling for the immediate resignation of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Noli de Castro and for the Holding of Special ("Snap") Elections within 60 days Petition to President and Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines was created by The Sovereign Filipino People and written by Juan dela Cruz (coraval@gmail.com). This petition is hosted here at http://www.petitiononline.com/petition.html as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

Pardon ni Pres Erap Estrada, political survival ni Ate Glo

Kung si Erap ay may midnight cabinet, krudo't tanga raw, popular at maka-masa ang turing, hindi masinop, babaero, sugarol, Pinoy ang lengwaheng gamit at barumbado; May GREASE MONEY administration-lame duck-sitting duck administration, may tusong esposo, sinungaling, madiskarte, maingat, organisador , madasalim (nagpa-pray gabi-gabi), SPOKENING DOLLAR, PhD at bode-bodegang diploma, mataas ang pinag-aralan at kaklase pa ni Pres Clinton, mahusay at kayang magsalita sa United Nation General Assembly ang Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. (Larawan sa Itaas: Dating Pres Erap Estrada / http://www.tribune.net.ph/ at GMA / http://www.balitangmarino.com/images/gma.jpgg)

Kaya lang, halos walang pinagkaiba ang dalawa, parehong dambuhalang ELITE, DOROBO't utak pulbura, KURAKOT/plunder, burikak/nagpagamit sa mga dayuhan, immoral, namumudmud ng pera at nanalaula ng demokratikong INSTITUTION ng bansa.

Mukhang kayang malusutan ni Ate Glo ang sabay-sabay na pampulitikang krisis na kumukubabaw sa Malakanyang.Sa loob ng anim na taon sa Malakanyang, tulad ni Erap Estrada (3 year terms), may mahigit sampung bilyong piso (war chest) itong ipangsusuhol, manatili lamang sa poder. Maliban sa weak at devided ang political opposition, junior officers sa AFP, kalat-kalat, patuloy ang sigalot sa kilusang progresibo at kanya-kanyang lakad ng social movements. Kung sa bagay, sa loob ng anim na taong punong-puno ng gusot at mismanagement (bad governence) sa gubyerno, maliban sa devide and rule tactics, natuto't may kasanayan sa "malikhaing pampulitikang maniubrang" si Ate Glo.

Ang pagkakapardon kay Erap, ang propagandang LET'S MOVE ON, "patapusin sa mandatong hanggang sa 2010 ang pangulo, "gumaganda raw ang ekonomiya, ang lumalakas na piso't stock market at kawalang nakikitang alternatibang papalitna lider sa bansa at ilan lamang sa estratehiya't taktikang bubuhos ng malamig na tubig sa nagbabagang apoy ng kaguluhang pulitikal sa bansa."

Ang apat na isyung ito ang malamang na magpa-neutralisa sa ano mang planong "impeachment complaint" ng elite political opposition laban sa pangulo. Ano man ang sabihin ng mga kaalyado't kaaway ni Ate Glo, "political suicide man ito o reconcilliation, ang mahalaga sa lahat, tulad mga naunang kahalintulad na krisis na pinagdaanan nito ay ang political survival."

Ganun pa man, may nagsasabing hanggang tatlong Linggo at may pumupusisyong maaring tumagal pa (the least, 1st quarter of 2008) hanggang Enero - Febrero 2008 ang kaligayahan ng pangulo sa Malakanyang? Abangan na lang natin ang susunod na kabanata. Kaya lang, sino ang makikinabang dito? Ang taumbayan ba?

Naniniwala ang lahat na ang pagkakapardoned sa dating pangulong si Erap Estrada na trinabaho ng mersenaryo at operador na si Kalihim Ronaldo Puno ng DILG ay bahagi ng political survival ni Ate Glo, ang taktikang makabig ang ilang section ng Pro-Erap hard core at sympatizer na Urban Poor organization na alam naman ng lahat ay naghihingalo't demoralisado na. Kung sa tantya ni Ate Glo't kanyang mga political operator na mababawasan ang political tension sa pagkakapardoned ni Erap, mukhang hindi sila nakakatiyak.

Maaring tignan sa positive side, "mas delikado, mas tatapang at mas lilinaw ang political line ng iba't-ibang pampulitikang pwersa na mas itulak na patalsikin sa poder si Ate Glo at pursigihin ang pagbabago ng sistemang pulitikal sa bansa."

Kung political survival at political reconcilliation ang nais ni Ate Glo, bilang iiwang legacy sa country, pakawalan niya ang lahat ng BILANGGONG POLITICAL (Kaliwa), ilabas (patay o buhay) ang mga dinukut at iprosecute ang lahat ng salarin sa ilang daang insidente ng POLITICAL KILLINGS at palayain ang dalawang pu't walong (28) mga junior officer, Capt Faeldon, ex-Army Scout Ranger chief-Brig. General Danilo Lim, Col. Ariel Quirubin, Marine Maj. General Renato Miranda at higit sa lahat, si Senator Sony Trillanes, na ang tanging nagawang kasalanan lamang ay magkaroon ng pagbabago't magtaguyod ng transparency's at good governance.

Isa pang legacy na makakatulong kay Ate Glo ay ang pamamahagi ng mahigit isang daang bilyong pisong Marcos Compensation at damyos pinsala sa mahigit siyam na libong mga (1081 claimants) biktima ng kalupitan nuong panahon ng diktadurang Marcos. Mas lalong bibilib ang taumbayan kung ipagwawagwagan niyang magkaroon ng tatlong taong (3 years) DEPT MORATORIUM sa pagbabayad ng iligal at immoral na UTANG, ang lola ng mga suliranin ng bansa. Kung may buto sa gulugud at magagawang resolbahin ang tatlong isyung ito, aabot nga hanggang 2010 sa pwesto si Ate Glo.

Ayon sa mga kapihan sa gilid-gilid, habang umiinit ang isyu ng katiwalian at suhulan, ang garapalang cover-up ng Glorietta 2 bombing, unti-unting parang sasabog ang pulitikang Bulkang Mayon sa Malakanyang. Kung makukompleto ang mga sangkap at lalala ang bitak sa loob ng political elite (JdV at GMA), tinatantyang bilang na ang araw ng lameduck at sitting duck na pangulo sa Palasyo, meaning mukhang hindi na aabot sa 2009 si Ate Glo.

Ang tanong, sa anong klaseng pamamaraan maibabagsak si Ate Glo, Constitutional / extra/unconstitutional succession; people power, impeachment, withdrawal of military (AFP) support, PALACE COUP o iba't-ibang kombinasyon, malamang alam na ninyo! Paano ang mga presidentiable na maagang naghahanda sa 2010?

Doy Cinco / IPD
October 27, 2007

Let a Hundred EDSAs Bloom

Korek ang "Let a Hundred EDSAs Bloom," dati ng gawain 'yan at dapat ituloy lang.... pero parang may kulang? Kung bihasa na tayo sa social movements, diba mas mainam kung hindi tayo naiiwan at nag-eengaged sa political movement, particular sa local politics at governance?

Sa tatlong Edsa uprising (Edsa 1, 2 at 3) na nasaksihan at nilahukan, "political elite" ang nakaka-agaw ng kapangyarihang politikal at ang malungkot na katotohanan, hindi kinikilala, makaporma't makapamuno ang Kilusang Kaliwa't PROGRESIBO.

Sa tatlong Edsa incidents, bagamat maingay at sanay sa gawaing propaganda, may kahinaan sa pagbasa ng kalagayan, palaging napag-iiwanan, parating naiisahan, saling pusa at ang malungkot, kun'di man na-iitchapwera, nagagamit lamang sa mobilisasyon.

- Doy Cinco / IPD

By Emmanuel M. Hizon and James Miraflor
October 26, 2007

We are glad Mr. Joseph Estrada was pardoned. We are glad Erap entered into a compromise with Mrs. Arroyo, in effect absolving him of any wrongdoing he bestowed to a country so wronged and offended. Thank you for sparing us the effort to remind everyone that justice here in our society is a plaything of the rich and powerful, that the search for truth within the comforts of legalism, of our ‘beloved constitution’ and jurisprudence, is nothing but a blind alley.

We are also glad Mrs. Arroyo is capable of feelings, however twisted the brand of empathy and compassion she usually evokes whenever her throat and her ‘presidency’ is on the line. We are glad Mrs. Arroyo once again spat on the spirit and ethos of Edsa 2, reminding everybody especially the middle class that it takes more than a restrained remonstration to bring forward a better future free from elite exploitation and domination.

We are equally glad Erap puked on the masses who stormed the gates of Malacanang in Edsa 3, all for the comfort of his mansion in San Juan which none but the few like him enjoy. We are glad he swindled those who believed in him, those who sacrificed and died all in his name. We are glad the self-styled champion of the poor accepted a cowardly, pathetic and unsacrificing settlement with the same faction of the elite he regularly lambasted as the ‘real enemy.’ We are glad he finally went back to the fold of his true class roots. We are happy that with his newly found freedom he denied satisfaction to a people longing for truth, justice and accountability.

We are glad they did it. We are happy they finally shed any form of pretension and illusion. We are relieved they finally erased any memento that their was an indeed an “Erap-Gloria war”, that our society is stupidly divided between their interests, that our struggle is a fight between the camps of Estrada and Arroyo and that we are compelled to decide if we are for “Erap for the masses”, for “Gloria’s Economic paradise” or national suicide.

Now, it’s just between them and us, between the haves and have-nots, between the different factions of the elite pursuing the same elite interests and the poor who for the longest time have been sidelined, used and abused.

Now, let us march in the streets not in their name, not with their plundered resources, not with their prodding. Let us pour in the streets without them, without their plastic smiles, without their fake patriotism, without their unsolicited leadership, without their phony loyalty to the people—the same people they unhesitatingly rob and oppress whenever they are in power. We must hit the streets because we are sick and tired of them all. Let us tell them that we are tired of elitist reruns, of same conjured dreams, of the same trapo governance.

We must muster our strength because we believe that a better world is not only possible but is currently under construction. We should not limit ourselves in outlining an alternative society; we must begin building the edifice of a humane and egalitarian future now. For pete’s sake, let us spare the next generation of this system.

Instead of getting frustrated and disappointed, instead of running away to some first world country, instead of being paralyzed by apathy and indifference, let us have the resolve to have another Edsa. Let us reclaim it from the elite who bastardized it.

Let a hundred Edsas bloom. Edsa uprisings that are radical, mass-oriented and explicitly anti-elite rule.
(larawan: EDSA 2;mrzine.monthlyreview.org/edsa1-celeb-011L.gif)

LPP (Liga ng mga Puppet ng Pangulo): “kami ang namudmud ng pera?”

Matapos ang labing dalawang araw (12 days) na kimi't pananahimik, matapos isiwalat ni Gov Among Ed ng Pampanga, Jonjon Mendoza ng Bulacan at iba pang LGUs at Kongresman, inako na ng LPP ang nangyaring "suhulan-gift giving" sa Malakanyang.

Sa kanilang PAID AD sa malalaking pahayagan kahapon, nanawagan itong “ihinto na ang pamumulitika at magfocus na sa ekonomyang pangkaunlaran (Stop the Political Noise, Focus on Economic Growth).” (Larawan sa itaas: June 21, 2007) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo swears in re-elected Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone in cremonies Thursday at the MIP Lounge in Mactan Cebu International Airport, Cebu/ http://www.blogger.com/www.op.gov.ph/newphotos/062107_5es.jpgnewphotos/062107_5es.jpg)

Muling pinagwagwagan ng LPP (League of Provinces of the Philippines) ang mainit at patuloy na suporta para kay Ate Glo at "itinanggi ang nasabing suhulan at pamumudmud ng cash gift” sa mga gobernador at kongresman.

Isang araw matapos ang total denial sa PAID Ad, nagsirko ito't inamin na rin ng LPP na sila ang may kagagawan sa nasabing “gift giving” operation ng Malakanyang, kaya lang, itinangging may kinalaman ang pangulo, ang pusakal, ang engot na operador at mersenaryong Kalihim ng DILG na si Sec Puno (mula pa sa panahon ni Pres. Erap estrada). In peranes sa pamunuan ng LPP. si Gov Joel Reyes ng Palawan at Evardone ng Eastern Samar (Lakas), bukud pa sa kapwa nakatago sa saya ng pangulo, sila naman daw ay “nagmamagandang loob lamang, tumutulong lamang sila sa mga neophyte (frat term) na gobernador at walang intensyong masama't manuhol."

Kung matatandaan, may mga nag-leaked out na mga balita na ang naghatag ng mga makikintab na bag na puno ng mga kwarta ay si Rey Roquero, isang mataas na opisyal ng Lakas-CMD. May mga nagsabi na ipinamahagi ito ni Interior Secretary Austere Panadero (DILG), may chismis na galing daw ito kay Speaker JDV at may kumalat na balita na galing sa PAGCOR Vice President ang daan-daan milyong pisong iminudmud sa breakfast meeting. Itinanggi ng lahat mga ito ang alegasyon.

In fairness sa LPP-ULAP, kung hindi sila hahalik sa tumbong ni Ate Glo, "paano na ang kanilang mga constituencies, ang mga proyekto't kaunlaran, alalahaning napakaliit ang pondong inaasahan sa Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) sa mga probinsya?” Para sa mga LGUs, isang bangungut ang sinasabing konseto't prinsipyo ng LOCAL AUTONOMY, devolution at decentralization sa isinasaad ng Local Government Code.

Hindi na bago ang pangungumpisal, ang damage control ni Gov Evardone at ang LPP, kung baga, alam na ng lahat kung sino ang salarin at puno't dulo ng talamak na “culture of corruption” sa gubyerno't sa Malakanyang. Simula't-simula pa, kilala na kung anong kara't kaluluwa mayroon ang LPP at ULAP (Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines). Bukud sa magkaka-partido, magkakabalahibo't iisang bituka, ang LPP at ULAP, anuman ang mangyari ay bahagi na sa iskimang isalba ang pangulo (political survival) sa kapahamakan.

Una ng napatunayang mapagkakatiwalaan ang LPP-ULAP tandem nuong kainitan ng Hello Garci controversy, ang malawakng Hyatt 10 resignantion at tangkang kudeta't pagpapabagsak kay ATe Glo ng junior officers sa AFP. Sa kinang ng “projects at pakimkim,” unang sinandalan at inatrasan (fall back) ni Ate Glo ang LGUs, partikular ang mga gbernador, ang LPP-ULAP upang makapagkonsolida ng kapangyarihan at kastiguhin ang mga kaaway sa pulitika.

Sa pamumuno ni Sec Puno ng DILG, malaki ang naging papel ng mga Gobernador upang sama-samang isawata ng dalawang beses (2005-6) ang impeachment complaint ng mga oposisyon sa Kamara. Sila rin ang trumabaho para maisulong ang Charter Change sa pamamgitan ng Pipol Initiatives, ang pagpapapirma hanggang sa barangay maisakatuparan at manatili lamang sa poder si Ate Glo hanggang 2013. Hinihinalang may ilang bilyong piso ang winaldas at kinupit sa proyektong Cha Cha sa paraang pipol inisyatib na kinatay ng Supreme Court at CBCP.
(larawan: Sec Ronaldo Puno ng DILG / www.pia.gov.ph/image/cabinet/small/puno.jpg)

Bilang bayad utang at pasasalamat, sinigurado't itinaga nito sa bato na tutukaan, alagaan at ipriority, ang LGUs-Gobernador bukud pa sa mga Tongresman, na isinama sa kanyang national agenda (2005-6) at halos dalawang beses iprinisinta sa pamamagitan ng Power Point SONA Presentation ni Ate Glo ang bilyung pisong INFRA at mega projects o ang balangkas ng “super region” sa mga probinsya, mula Aparri hanggang Jolo. Tiniyak din ni Ate Glo na ipanalo ang mga gobernador, bukud pa sa sinasabing bahagi sila ng local machinery (ULAP at LPP). Simple lang ang kahulugan, “kamutin mo likud ko't kakamutin ko rin ang sa inyo,” sama-sama tayo sa kasaganahan at kickback, ayon kay Sen Mirian Santiago.

Sa nangyaring insidente ng suhulan at gift giving sa Malakanyang, sinong gago at tgang Pinoy ang maniniwalang sila nga ang namudmud ng pera nuong breakfast meeting?

1. Bakit masyadong late, pinalipas muna ng 11 days ang reaction ng LPP? Dahil ba sa pahayag ni Sec Lito Atienza-DENR na galing sa Office of the President (OP) ang ipinamudmud na pera at para sa kanya, bilang “attendance fee,” normal na kalakaran ang bigayan ng pera sa palasyo? (larawan: DENR Sec Lito Atienza newsimg.bbc.co.uk/.../jpg/_40800598_mayor.jpg)

2. Kulang-kulang sa dalawang Linggo ang nakalipas at bakit masyadong late ang reaction? Maari rin namang kinausap na lamang ni Evardone si Gov Among Ed at Jon jon Mendoza at sabihing tulong, token, pakimkim at donasyon para sa pagpapapintura ng simbahan?

3. Bakit hindi matukoy ng LPP kung sino-sino ang mga nakatanggap ng pera, samantalang kumalat na sa media sa video (U-tube) na nakitaang bitbit ng mga pulitiko ang maliit na bag habang lumilisan ito palabas ng Palasyo? Inamin din ni Gov Ningning Lazaro ng Laguna na siya rin ay nakatanggap ng kalahating milyong piso.

4. Lapses raw ng secretariat? Bukud sa walang papeles, voucher at mga nakapirma sa bundle ng bag (kung legal ito, dapat si Gov Ynares ang nakapirma sa papeles), hindi rin nito alam ang account no. ng perang nagmula sa Bank of Commerce.

5. Tinatanyang mahigit isang daang milyong piso (P120.0 milyon) ang isinupalpal na salapi sa Malakanyang breakfast meeting. Saan galing ang ganito kalaking pondo? Kung totoong may P20.0 milyon pondo ang LPP, paaano nakalap ang halagang ito, bakit Pampanga at Bulacan ang nilaglagan ng pondo, bakit hindi Jolo,Basilan, Kalinga-Apayao at Northern Samar at iba pang mahihirap na probinsya, bakit hindi nito alam kung sino ang sumagot at magkano ang gastos sa malaking paid ad nito sa major dailies?

Kung inaakusang isang baguhan, bagito at neophyte gobernador si Among ED at Jon Jon Mendoza, ibig bang sabihing nito na ang mga datihan gobernador ay may mga tahig na, propesyunal at beteranong pulitiko. Mas tamang sabihing nasa balangkas ng BAGONG PULITIKA ang dalawa at LUMA o TRADITIOANAL na PULITIKA (TRAPO) ang kalakhang bumubuo sa LPP at ULAP. (Larawan: Governor Among Ed ng Pampga)

Mas maraming katanungan kaysa kasagutan ang dapat linawin ng pamunuang pulitikong TRAPO sa LPP. Ang alam ng lahat, DILG Sec Puno't si Ate Glo ang may pakana ng pamumudmud at suhulan. Anuman ang pagtatangging gawin ng Malakanyang, may maniniwala pa kayang gunggung na Pinoy? Ang sigurado, bahagi lamang ito ng mas malaki't malawak na isyung parang cancer na bumabagabag sa ating lipunan, ang kabulukan ng sistema ng pulitika, ang PATRONAGE POLITICS,ang vulnarability ng gobernador, mayor at kapitan ng barangay sa sistemang padri-padrino.

Read: "Panahon ni GMA, maiksi na-FVR" / http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/oct2607/main.htm
"Governors’ league urged to name names"; http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2007-10-26&sec=4&aid=36534
"The latest version"/Editorial; http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/oct/26/yehey/opinion/20071026opi1.html
"Accumulation of manure theory;" http://www.tribune.net.ph/commentary/20071026com1.html

Doy Cinco /IPD
October 23, 2007

TRILLANES STANDS BY HIS ALLEGATIONS; WILLING TO TELL ALL TO AN INDEPENDENT, IMPARTIAL AND CREDIBLE COMMISSION

Ayon sa isang Chemical Engineering professor ng UP College of Engineering, "sa tindi ng impak at magnitude," labing-isang tao ang patay at mahigit isang daan (110)ang sugatan, malabong isang leakage at industrial accident ang insidenteng pagsabog sa GLORIETTA MALL."
Pangalawa; itinaong nasusukol na si Ate Glo, sa kalagayang nalalagay sa matinding kahihiyan, political survival at crisis ang Malakanyang, "mas may isang libong beses (1,000 x) na mas kapani-paniwala't may katotohanan na ito'y pakana at may kaugnayan sa pulitika, sadyang pambobomba (semtex-bubble gum type o C4 / RDX) kumpara sa katawa-tawang palusot na anggulong "gas-posonegro leak/diesel- bunker fuel."
Pangatlo; ang nakakalungkot, kung mahihirapang ibenta ng Malakanyang ang teoryang aksidente, baka sa bandang huli, muling balingan ang JI, RSM, Abu Sayaff at CPP-NPA. Hindi ring malayong baka ang ituturong salarin at utak ng pagpapasabog sa Glorietta Mall ay si Senator Trillanes. Naman, naman, naman, naman..........

- Doy Cinco / IPD
October 24, 2007

Office of Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV
PRESS STATEMENT
Friday, 19 October 2007
Ref.: Atty. Janelle Cajote, 0922-810-3919; Nicon F. Fameronag, 0921-976-2232
http://magdaloparasapagbabago.blogspot.com/2007/10/trillanes-stands-by-his-allegations.html

ON HIS GLORIETTA BOMBING STATEMENT

(Agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) visited detained Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV twice last Saturday ostensibly to gather information regarding Trillanes' statement on the "Glorietta 2 Bombing" where he accused National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and AFP Chief of Staff Gen Hermogenes Esperon. However, Trillanes said that he will only reveal what he knows to an independent, impartial and credible body that would be created for the purpose. Following is the senator's full statement today on the same issue.)

"As a person, and now as an elected lawmaker, I do not just make
statements out of pique, or without anything to stand on, or to grandstand. I have information obtained from my own network of informants in the AFP and the intelligence community."

"I am willing to cooperate and reveal all the information I have in
front of an independent, impartial and credible body. "

"Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) officials have
visited me in my detention cell twice to gather information but I simply cannot imagine them investigating Norberto Gonzales and Esperon once I give them everything I know. For that matter, did we ever have a truly impartial investigation conducted by the Arroyo administration?"

"I now challenge them to create this independent commission composed of competent and respected members of society to really get to the bottom of this. The victims of this carnage, more than anything else, need justice."

"But to give everybody a brief background of Norberto Gonzales, he is one of the masterminds of the Light-a-Fire Movement in the 70's, the anti-Marcos group responsible for several bombings in Metro Manila, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of Filipinos. This information is readily available in the Internet and was even documented in the memoirs of Ed Olaguer, one of the leaders of the Light-a-Fire Movement. In short, this man is very much capable of wreaking havoc to our society. He is the true terrorist."

END OF STATEMENT

Glorietta Bombing, prelude to a PALACE COUP?

Pinsang buo ng aking BILAS (asawa ng kapatid ng asawa ko na OFW sa kasalukuyan) ang isa sa labing-isang (11) mga biktima sa bombing ng Glorietta Mall 2. Ang biktima ay nagtatrabaho sa isang restaurant sa ground floor na mukhang na sa ground zero't napuruhan ng pagsabog. (Larawan sa ibaba: newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40967000/jpg/_...)

Napaka-volatile ang sitwasyon ng bansa, anumang sandali, ika nga ni Sen Trillanes, "sasabog ang gubyerno." Sa nangyaring pambobomba, imbis na humupa ang sitwasyon, lalong lumala ang krisis at political uncertainty at mukhang nadamay pa ang ekonomya't pamumuhunan.

Patuloy ang pagbabasa ng kalagayan, nagtatantyahan, nagbabantayan, bumabalanse, naghihintayan at malamang sa hindi naghahasa na ng guluk ang iba't-ibang grupong politikal. Sa mga inuman, mas matindi ang speculation, iba't-ibang analysis, mga obserbasyon at paghahanap ng A1 info sa loob.

Kung babalikan ang pangyayari, nagsimula ang labanan sa iskandalong sumambulat na ZTE-Broadband scandal, ang suhulan, ang sinasabing “sec may 200 ka rito” na parang lindol na intensity 7 na nagpayanig sa buong bansa, bumalik sa China ang mga suspek at napakiusapang ikansela muna ang ZTE-Broadband at kung saka-sakali, bumawi na lang sa Cyber Ed na halos ganun din ang kickback. Ang problema, paano ang nauna ng naipaluwal na komisyon ng China? Hinihinalang bilyong pisong 20% komisyon ang malamang na ginagamit sa pamumumudmud ng pera sa mga taung involved, may kakayahan at maimpluwensya. Nauwi sa panibagong suhulan matapos ang isang breakfast meeting sa Malakanyanag. Humantong sa isang mega-exposay ni Gov Among Ed at ni Jon jon Mendoza, hanggang sa huling kaganapan, ang pagpapasabog ng prestisyoso-high end at kilalang Mall sa Metro Manila at sentro ng negosyo (CBD) sa bansa. Labing-isa (11) ang patay at mahigit isangdaan ang sugatan na itinuturing "pinakamalakas, kakila-kilabot at pinakamagastos na pinsalang terror attack sa kasaysayan ng bansa."

Sino ang may kapabilidad (capacity), organisado, may koneksyon at may access sa palasyo't armory ng AFP na may kakayahang makagawa ng ganitong klaseng pagpapasabog lalo na sa sentro ng negosyo at sa isang pinakamaunlad na lunsod na sinasabing isang highly secured na lugar sa bansa?

Itinanggi na ng CPP-NPA, grupong MNLF, Abu Sayaff -JI at MNLF ang insidente at ayon sa kanila, “isang gawaing terorista, walang puso't prinsipyo't walang kadahi-dahilan. Ang may motibo't makikinabang lamang sa Glorietta bombing, ayon sa kanila, sa gitna ng matinding political crisis, kontrobersyal at iskandalong kumukubabaw ay ang Malakanyang." Nagbabala rin ang grupong kaMOROHAN (BILLAH ISLAM) sa kinaukulan na lubayan na ang scapegoat na parati na lamang grupong muslim ang palusot na itinuturo sa tuwing may kaguluhan at bombing sa bansa.

Ayon sa mga grupong ito, "ang pekeng destabilization na kinasapitan ng karumal-dumal na krimeng Glorietta 2 bombing ay isang malinaw na diversionary tactics lamang upang iligaw ang buong bansa sa lumalakas na panawagang "magresign na si ate Glo sa pwesto," matinding iskandalo, katiwaliang tunay na destabilization kumukubabaw sa mamamayang Pilipino na ang pangunahing culprit ay ang Malakanyang." (Larawan: Davao International Airport BLAST na ibinintang sa grupong Abu Sayaff at bahagi ng Oplan Greenbase / newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38918000/jpg/_...)

Kung kakayahan, sinabi ng dating RAM (Reform the Armed Forces Movement) na si retired Commodore Rex Robles, "apat (4) lamang na grupo ang papasa at may kapabilidad na gumawa; ang ASG, MILF, MNLF at ang Special Units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines." Para sa grupo ng Magdalo at Sen Trillanes na may sariling pinagbatayang istilo at buluk na iskimang "Oplan Greenbase sa Mindanao," si Gen Esperon, Norberto Gonzales ng NSC at ang Malakanyang ang utak ng pagpapasabog sa Makati.

Bago sabihing isang aksidente ang pangyayari sa Glorietta, unang pinagbintangan ni Sec Norberto Gonzales ng National Security Council (NSC) ang Islamic Terrotist group na malamang ang tinutukoy ay ang matagal ng "in-active" na grupong Rahaj Solaiman Movement (RSM). Ito rin halos ang tinutukoy na salarin ng AFP, ang RSM ang may pakana sa Glorietta bombing. Kaya lang, mukhang hindi bumenta, naging katawa-tawa at suntuk sa buwan sa mata ng marami sapagkat mismo ang PNP, ang naatasang nag-imbistiga sa insidente ay nagduda sa RSM. Mismo ang mass media, lalong-lalo na ang Abs-Cbn, ang nagsasabing peke ang grupong RSM. (Larawan sa baba: ajnorge.0catch.com/.../image011.jpg)
Sa ngayon, ang pinalalabas na dahilan ay isa lamang "AKSIDENTE" ang naganap na pagpasabog. Batay sa huling pag-iimbistiga, "wala raw bombang nakita at lalong wala raw trace na C4 explosives / RDX na unang nakita raw sa finding." Ito'y dulot raw ng isang "singaw ng bunker fuel," methane gas mula sa septic tank o poso negro na nagleak, may nagsindi ng lighter o posporo at biglang sumabog? Ganito na rin halos ang posisyon, analysis at batikang intelligence na si Sen Ping Lacson na mukhang umurong ang buntut na ituro ang Malakanyang.

Kaya lang, mainit na usap-usapan sa mga inuman sa gilid-gilid na ang Glorietta bombing ay prelude at may anggulong “Palace Coup.” Kung ang capacity na makapagsagawa ng ganitong uri ng aktibidad, halimbawa sa usapin ng access at possesion ng C4/RDX higly capable ang grupong nasaloob at labas lamang ng Palasyo. Ilang malalapit sa dating presidente, mga matataas at MAKA-KANANG mga opisyal ng AFP at ilang mga dating rebeldeng opisyal at ilang gabinete ang malamang na kabahagi sa “palace coup.” Sinasabi rin na ang grupong ito, bukud sa asiwa na rin sa nakaupong pangulo sa Malakanyang ay hindi rin gaanong kumbinsido sa political opposition na nasa kabilang bakod. Para sa kanila, pare-pareho't magkakabalahibo lamang ang nagtutunggalian sa pulitika.

Anuman ang sabihing pahayag ng Malakanyang, ng AFP at ilang malalapit na alyadong pulitiko, aksidente man o kanino man niya ito ibintang ay malamang agad itong hindi paniniwalaan ng madla sapagkat napakababa ang kredibilidad at walang tiwala ang mamamayan sa maraming usaping bumabalot kay Ate Glo, ang anim na taong punong-puno ng cover-up sa katiwalian, ang kaliwa't kanang iskandalo at kontrobersya.

Kung tatanungin ang pangkaraniwang mamamayan, maliban sa ilang media practitioners, si Mang Pandoy, mga taxi driver, vendor, barbero sa kanto, simpleng manggagawa at silent majority, sintido kumon lang ang katwiran, ito may espekulasyon at walang gaanong basihan, "diversionary't upang ilihis ang isyu, ang palasyo ang nasa likod ng pambobomba sa Glorietta Mall 2.”

Sa katanungan kung bakit ang Malakanyang ang salarin, una; iligaw at ilihis ang mamamayan sa nagbabagang isyu ng “culture of corruption,” ang pangungurakot, immoralidad, walang patumanggang panunuhol at katiwalian (ZTE-Broadband at Cyber Education). Pangalawa; maibaling sa iisang kaaway ang atensyon ng ruling elite, imbis na pamumulutika (GMA, JDV at Oposition) at impeachment complaint sa Kamara. Pangatlo; makapag-create ng isang peke at gawa-gawang senaryong terror attack sa bansa, takutin ang populasyon, maijustified ang emergency rule, idiklara ang Martial Law at kastiguhin ang mga kaaway sa pulitika, kilusang progresibo at elite opposition.

Kahit anupang paraan o panlalansing ilihis ang usapin, hindi mawawala sa isipan ng tao na ang ugat at punot-dulo ng Glorieta Mall bombing ay ang Malakanyang. Kaya lang, batid ng lahat na "POWER STRUGGLE, laro lamang ng political elite ang nagaganap at walang mahihitang ganansya ang mamamayang Pilipino."

Click / Read: ‘Kuya’ tells Trillanes to put up or shut up http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=96167
'Anggulong methane-diesel gas blast malabo'
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=96732
"WASAK NA ANG GOBYERNO!" --SALONGA
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/oct2307/main.htm
"Cover up again?"
http://www.tribune.net.ph/commentary/20071023com2.html

Doy Cinco / IPD
October 22, 2007

'SOPs' and the Grease Money Administration

by: Aya Fabros / IPD
Social Movements

The past couple of weeks, we've been bombarded with news of one government scandal after another -- from the ZTE-NBN deal and golf meeting offers to the impeachment vote bribes, to the Malacañang brown paper pabaons. These unfolding series brings together a cast from various government units, as it bares exchanges among powerful players including appointed and elected officials. It's not just the scale of corruption and the amount of bribes and kickbacks that make the cases shocking and explosive. It's also the way that the cases are insidiously interconnected, rather than separate, isolated incidents. We bear witness to a trail of kickbacks and bribes, one deal spawning, requiring, demanding yet another, underscoring the critical engine that actually drives this government: grease money.

The ZTE-NBN project alone demonstrates the kind of grease going around these days. If we go by Joey De Venecia's statement, the project was overpriced by 100%, with at least $160 million dollars allotted for the pockets of Mike 'Mystery Man' Arroyo and other related 'items' such as pay offs and bribes to competing firms (Amsterdam Holdings, 10 million dollars), possible collaborators (NEDA chief Romulo Neri was offered 200 million pesos), and close cohorts (COMELEC Commissioner Abalos, ? ). The Chinese government provides a soft loan to cover the bloated cost of the project, under the condition that a Chinese firm bags the deal. ZTE gets the broadband project, Mystery man and company anticipates its cut, Comelec Commissioner goes around offering bribes to swing officials in favor of ZTE, a competing firm proposing a BOT scheme is told to 'back off' and we almost end up with yet another anomalous debt.

The dimensions of this sort of plunder is so incomprehensible, it has to be spelled out. We're talking about officials incurring loans, with our names on it, that only serves to fatten their bank accounts. We're talking about $ 160 million dollars worth of grease that adds to our national debt, which we end up paying for, with our taxes. The three percent interest on the grease alone translates to an added burden of approximately $ 4.8 million dollars. That's an added P211 million pesos worth of interest payments, that we have to shoulder each year, thanks to their kick backs and cuts. We're talking about the way, our government officials, their friends and families, can just easily cook up such a scam, at our expense. It's an unbelievably shameless and incorrigible scheme that they expected to carry out right before our noses. That is, until Joey de Venecia exposed the whole scam, which led to a senate inquiry and headline after headline that links the president's family to our generation's Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. GMA retreats and the ZTE-NBN deal is scrapped. But then again, it doesn't end there.
(Larawan: http://www.tag.org.ph/imagelib/gma_impeachment.gif)

The $329M ZTE-NBN scam generated enough dirt for the president to get impeached, analysts say. The impeachment buzz over the ZTE-NBN scandal begets new cases of bribery and pay offs to insulate the president. Listen to the reports and you'll find an exaggerated version of the gameshow 'Deal or No Deal. Those who go 'deal', get as little as P200,000 to as much as $10 million dollars. Before ZTE spilled over to Congress, Joey de Venecia was being offered $10 million dollars by Abalos, just so he would 'back off' the project. Former NEDA Chief Romulo Neri would've gotten P200 million, had he accepted Abalos' proposition. Representatives in the house were offered P2 million pesos, according to Represenative Beltran, to favor the 'weak' impeachment. Governors and Mayors, according to Gov. Ed Panlilio, got loot bags containing P 200,000 to P 500,000 after their breakfast meeting in Malacañang. It's these 'deals' that seem to link the different government agencies and institutions, from COMELEC to NEDA to CONGRESS to MALACAÑANG down to the different LGUs of the archipelago. Rather than set up a broadband network that would ensure the smooth coordination of government offices, this whole National Broadband Network episode brought to light an existing ' bribeband network' that facilitates the sinister collusion of government officials.

Of course, grease money isn't just about who gets how much. It's about projects being bloated to accommodate the kind of grease that has to go around. It's about loans we have to make to finance the grease projects. It's about anomalous debts that taxpayers have to pay. It's about Comelec commissioners suddenly becoming jetsetters, spreading the word about a project that promises to link up the different agencies of government, dangling millions of pesos for possible 'interagency collaboration' . It's about impeachment cases being resolved in Malacañang and not in the halls of Congress. It's about our representatives being bought. It's about cash being spread around to keep the whole thing together.

In every sense of the term, SOP, the euphemism for cuts, kickbacks and payoffs, has become standard operating procedure, spearheaded by the highest officials of the land. Standard operating procedure describes the way millions can be offered and taken so casually and so frequently. It portrays the manner that this perverse protocol has become so ubiquitous and pervasive. It explains how easily certain officials can turn their backs, invoke executive privilege and move along, just because they didn't take the money. It captures how other officials can promptly rationalize their acts, even if they did take the money. It accounts for elected officials just going public about how these gifts are actually 'common practice'. It depicts the way a president can get away with just saying “huwag mong tanggapin”. It tells us why we can just shake off the news, and ignore the fact that this whole fiasco started escalating around the same time the budget hearings have been taking place in Congress.

Think about it. On the one hand, long grueling debates on how to make ends meet, extensive discussions on how much money should go to which agency, how little is left to health, education and other social services. On the other hand, quick, casual meetings, with hundreds of millions of pesos up for grabs in just one encounter, where half a million can easily be handed out, to hundreds of officials-- no vouchers, no line items, no questions asked. Now, what's wrong with this picture?

What we are seeing now tells us that grease money does not only 'facilitate' transactions ('pampadulas' ). It characterizes how state institutions relate with each other. It determines which policies, projects and programs are thought of, initiated and carried out. It dictates the sort of loans and deals we get into. It defines the way this government operates. Forget about sound governance and a strong republic, this is how things are run under the Grease Money Administration. The thing is, as SOPs have gone higher and higher, our standards of governance have sunk lower and lower.
--------------------////---------------------

Democracy can be Designed

BILLAH ISLAM CONDEMNS THE BOMBING OF GLORIETTA 2
Once again, Muslims (especially the Balik-Islams) are being dragged in the limelight, with the recent bombing at Glorietta 2. We strongly condemn these terrorist and criminal acts which are denounced by Islam.

Mikhail Abdul Aziz Abrera

Executive Director

Click / Read: http://www.freewebs.com/billahislam

Who is our choise for the next COMELEC chief?

Mas ang tamang tanong, dapat na bang i-overhaul ang Comelec at ireporma ang sistemang electoral?
Click/ Read: http://doycinco.blogspot.com/2007/10/who-is-our-choise-for-next-comelec.html


BARANGAY at SK ELECTION, DEMOCRACY from the GRASSROOT (theory lamang) ?
By: Doy Cinco
October 10, 2007

Bagamat naninindigan tayo sa kasagraduhan at balangkas ng local governance, awtonomiya at demokrasya sa grassroot at pangangailangan ng matitibay na batas at reporma na magpapalakas pang lalo sa naghihingalong “paggugubyernong lokal............
Click/Read:http://doycinco.blogspot.com/2007/10/barangay-election-democracy-from.html


Torture in his history taints Spanish martyr’s beatification
by: All Things Catholic by John L. Allen, Jr.
Friday, Oct. 12, 2007 - Vol. 7, No. 6

In a nutshell, the charge is that during a much earlier period in his life, when he was a young missionary in the Philippines, Olaso was guilty of torture.
Click / read: http://ncrcafe.org/node/1373



Wi-Fi, The Death Of Us All
By Mark Morford

You are going to die. Wireless gizmos are devouring your brain, right now. Very sorry
Click / Read: http://www.countercurrents.org/morford191007.htm

Complimentary Wi-Fi internet access ...

Yoko Ono's Iceland Peace Tower
By: Amy Goodman

The peace tower in Iceland that Yoko Ono dreamed up 40 years ago has as much resonance now as it would have during the Vietnam War.
Click / Read: http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/65487/

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j92/rshields30127/johnpeacesign.jpg

GLORIA PARANG BULKANG SASABOG! -- TRILLANES

(Rey Marfil)
October 20, 2007

Ito ang naging prediksyon at paglalarawan ni opposition Senator Antonio "Sony" Trillanes IV sa harap ng mga eskandalong kinasasangkutan ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, kalakip ang babalang magkakaroon ng rebolusyon kapag patuloy na nagmatigas sa panawagang magbitiw na ito sa puwesto.......
Click/Read: http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/oct2007/main.htm

ZTE Broadband tragedy

By: Doy Cinco
September 19, 2007

Nakakalungkot isiping nalagay na naman sa isang malaking trahedya ang country, isang bansang dumaranas ng walang humpay na katiwalian sa paggugubyerno. Mas matindi ang tama’t epekto nito kung ikukumpara sa hello garci controversy may dalawang taon ang nakalipas........

Click/Read: http://doycinco.blogspot.com/2007/09/zte-broadband-tragedy.html

"SQUATER WAR" posibleng sumiklab sa Kamaynilaan?
By: Doy Cinco
September 4, 2007

Sa mata ng maralitang Pinoy, ang 7.5% GDP economic growth na inanunsyo ni Ate Glo kamakailan lang ay isang malaking kalokohan, propaganda, insulto at anti-Pilipino..........

Click / Read: http://doycinco.blogspot.com/2007/09/squater-war-posibleng-sumiklab-sa.html

GMA, accountable only to the Bishops?

SNIPPETS: http://www.philippinepage.blogspot.com/
October 19, 2007

Secret-keeper, err, Secretary Toting Bunye announced that Gloria Arroyo will be meeting with the Bishops to explain her side on the bribery scandal that broke out days ago. This followed after the CBCP called the Arroyo government as "morally bankrupt". (Larawan: http://content.answers.com/main/ content/wp/en-commons/thumb/3/37/400px-Catholic_Bishops%27_Conference_of_the_Philippines_HQ_Manila.jpg

But since the day the scandal broke out, the Filipinos have been dying to heard the voice of GMA with regards the scandal. After days of silence, she finally wanted to unzip her mouth and report only to the CBCP. Which implies that GMA is accountable only to the bishops and not to the Filipino people.

Teka, teka, teka. Amended na ba ang Constitution to state that "sovereignty resides on the bishops and that all government authority emanates from them"? And, therefore, GMA is answerable to the bishops and not to the Filipino people? Kala ko ba there is a separation of Church and State?

Kunsabagay, there could be reasons why GMA has shifted her accountability from the Filipino people to the bishops. Many are claiming that she cheated her way to power in 2004. If that is true, and that she didn't really win the elections, it is therefore logical that she cannot be compelled to vow to the Filipinos who did not install her as president. So, who installed her, the bishops? Which leads us to think how the PPCRV behaved during the elections...

Second, during the Hello,Garci! scandal, the bishops called for sobriety instead of GMA's resignation. As a result, GMA was never ousted nor impeached -- courtesy of the bishops. Which means that GMA, indeed, is accountable to the bishops rather than the Filipino people.

Pero tanong ni Tikboy: While there is no problem with GMA being the president of the bishops, what about the money that had been circulating lately as alleged bribes? And what about the money that GMA is spending to run her government for the bishops? Di kaya pera rin yun ng mga bishops? O kaya naman pera yun na nahulog mula sa langit considering that GMA is close to the bishops?
Hmmmnnn....

GMA Resign, maisustained at matupad na kaya?

Dahil sa sunud-sunod na katiwalian, iskandalo, political killings at bad governance, nawalan na ng moral ascendancy, credebility ang bangkarote at ilehitimong gubyernong Arroyo, muling sumigla't nabuhay ang panawang GMA resign. (Larawan sa kaliwa:GMA: "...I am sorry... www.sundalo.bravehost.com/.../image008.jpg)

Sa anim na taong nasa poder si Ate Glo, may halos apat na beses na itong ipinanawagan ng mga kritiko at political opposition na lisanin na ang trono at magresign na sa tungkulin. Ang impeachment na dalawang beses na naunsyami sa Kongreso, ang malawakang pagreresign ng 10 gabinete ng palasyo (Hyatt 10) matapos ang "hello Garci controversy" at ang troops withdrawal na may kombinasyong pipol power na pinulot sa kangkungan ng kasaysayan.

Ilang araw matapos pumutuk ang bulkang Mayong pagkaka-exposed ng kalakarang suhulan, "pakimkim o cash gift" ng palasyo ni Gov Among Ed ng Pampanga, ni Bulacan Gov Mendoza, Cong Abante at ilang Kongresista, ilang Linggo matapos yanigin ni Joey de Venecia III ang suhulan ng ZTE Broadband scandal at ipagwagwagan ang katagang “back off ng Unang ginoo at tanging esposong si Mike Arroyo,” muling sumambulat ang panawagang magresign na si Ate Glo.

Inaasahang susundan pa ng ilan o marami pa ang lalantad sa hanay ng mga kongresista't LGUs (LP at NP), na maglalakas loob na isiwalat ang katotohanan ng iskandalong suhulan ang mismong Malakanyang ang may gawa. Mukhang ito na ang pinakamalakas na panawagang magresign na sa tungkulin si Ate Glo ng mga oposisyon.

Ang lamat sa loob ng ruling elite coalition ay lalo pang lulubha lalaki't titindi kung matutuloy magsipagresign ang ilang malalapit na gabinete ni Ate Glo, si Sec Ermita, Neri, Mar Teves at iba pa. (Larawan: masasayang araw nila GMA, JDV,FVR at ilang alyadong pulitiko/ http://www.op.gov.ph/newphotos/ 020407_07rp.jpg)

Matapos ang iskandalong ZTE broadband at pag-iimbistiga ng Senado kung saan nalagay sa alanganing sitwasyon ang Palasyo, agad pinagalaw ng Malakanyang ang makinarya ng kontra-opensiba o “special operation” laban sa napipintong planong impeachment ng mga kaaway nito sa Kongreso. Inunahan agad ni Ate Glo ang mga kaaway ng magsagawa ito ng peke at impostor (Cong San Luis at Atty Pulido) na pagsasampa ng impeachment laban sa sarili o ang “impeach me.” Imbis na gumulong ang pekeng pakana, mas lalong tumagilid ang palasyo at mukhang tutuluyan na siya ng kanyang mga kaaway sa pulitika.

Dahil sa exposay ng astig-palabang anak nitong si Joey de Venecia III at dahil na rin sa patagong plano ng Malakanyang na tanggalin sa pagka-speaker si Joe de Venecia(JDV), mas tumatalim at tumatapang ang mga deklerasyon ng huli at hindi malayong paniwalaang napipinto ng bumitaw sa alyansa't ruling koalisyon si Speaker. Kung hindi maagapan ang bitak, mukhang handang makipagkaisa na si JDV sa mga opposition at kilusan para sa ikakasang ikatlo at pinakamalakas na impeachment complaint laban kay Ate Glo. (Larawan: Joey de Venecia III; professionalheckler.wordpress.com/2007/09/)

Walang dudang nasa "war footing," naghahasa na ng GULUK at nagpupuyat ang magkabilang mga pampulitikang pwersa ng bansa. Unang nananawagan ang United Opposition, sinundan ng ilang senador, si Nene Pimentel, Kiko Pangilinan at Ping Lacson, ilang kilusang progresibong naghahangad mapatalsik sa trono ni Ate Glo at ang pinkamatinding dagok sa mukha ni Ate Glo, ang hanay ng simbahan, ang CBCP. Inaasahang poposisyon na rin si Sen Mar Roxas at ang partidong Liberal. Nababagabag ang business sector sa mga nangyayari at nanawagan itong magkaroon ng "independent" investigation sa nangyaring suhulan sa palasyo. Bakit, wala ba kayong tiwala sa Umbudsman at PAGC?

Inamin rin ni Gen Dolorpino ng Marines na may retiveness na kumakalat sa hanay ng kasundaluhan sa Mindanao at Kamaynilaan. Ganito rin ang binabanggit ni Gen Razon ng may lumalakas na sentiemento ang hnay ng kapulisan – PNP. Ang nakaka-alarma, tulad ng sinasabi ni Gen Dolorpino, baka raw magkaroon ng “civil war” o mas kapani-paniwalang manawagan ng “withdrawal of support” ang ilang mataas na opisyal at junior officers ng AFP.

Ano ang inaasahang galaw ng Malakanyang? Ang isang sigurado't pangkaraniwang taktika, muling gapangin ni Ate Glo ang mga lider ng negosyo, mga bayarang LGUs-ULAP at OBISPONG (CBCP) hindi gaanong hardline upang ipaliwanag at ikumpisal ang iskandalong panunuhol. Hindi malayong paghinalaang mauwi lamang ito sa "cashsunduan at pamimigay ng donasyon at proyekto." Dahil hindi papayag na magresign si Ate Glo, maaring idiklara nito ang "emergency rule" o martial law.

Maaring iwasan ang "civil war" sa tulad ng ipinahahayag ng kanyang mga generals at i- Damage control ang sitwasyon at magkaroon ng malawakang revamp sa hanay ng mga gabinete o ang mapayapang “Constitutional succession," meaning tuluyan ng magbibitiw si Ate Glo't ibigay na kay Vice President Noli de Castro o kay Sen Manny Villar ang trono, bilang OIC na pangulo ng Pilipinas.

Kaya lang, makumbinsi kaya ang ibang political party (LP) at kilusang progresibo sa ganitong klaseng "POLITICAL LINE" at constitutional succession na panawagan ng opposition?

Ano ang posibleng senaryo't "tipping point,” magkaroon ng withdrawal of support ng ilang makabayang AFP junior officers at cabinet members ng palasyo (maramihang resignation), impeachment sa Kongreso at pipol power na pangungunahan ng simbahan?

Kaya lang, ang isa pang matinding tanong, masustini kaya ang panawagang GMA resign, hindi na kaya aabot sa 2010 o tulad ng dati muling misalba't makalusot si Ate Glo? Ang sabi nga ni Bishop Bacani, "where's people's outrage?"

Basahin: Amid warnings of civil war, AFP grumbling ; http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20071018hed1.html
5 PANG SOLONS AAMIN SA SUHOL; http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/oct1907/main.htm
Lakas boys pinipitik na sa M'cañang; http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/oct1907/main.htm
Temperature extreme of CBCP quit call; http://www.tribune.net.ph/

Doy Cinco / IPD
October 18, 2007

Filipinas Trafficked as Sex Slaves for Saudi Arabian Prince

Sana naman matauhan na ang Malakanyang sa walang kakwenta-kwentang patakarang sinusunod hinggil sa kinang ng dolyar ng OFW, maisalba lamang ang ekonomya ng bansa.
Dahil sa kawalan ng empleyo't oportunidad sa sariling bansa, dahil sa patuloy na pangungurakot, kawalang direksyon pang-ekonomya't industrialisasyon, nakakalungkot tanggaping humantong na tayo hindi lamang sa pagiging "katulong- super maid," trinatrato't itinuturing prosti narin ng mundo ang Pilipinas.
- Doy / IPD

Jean Enriquez
Executive Director, CATW-AP

Two young women, aged 19 and 20, came out today to speak of their tragic experience in the hands of an Arab royalty. Having been harassed with suits of libel and estafa by their own perpetrators, the two women decided to disclose to the public the sexual abuse they suffered in a press conference organized by the Kanlungan Center Foundation, Inc. and the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women - Asia Pacific (CATW-AP).

Anna and Lina were recruited to work as "chambermaids" in Saudi Arabia in January, 2005. During the processing period, they were made to "model" various hairstyles and were photographed and videoed. Their ages in their passports were changed, such as Anna's, from 19 to 23. Before they left, they were accompanied to shop for expensive clothes - including make-up and t-back underwears - by their local recruiter. (Larawan sa kaliwa: "Hope in Heaven" For more information about the film and how you can help girls like Mila: http://www.hopeinheavenfilm.com/images/HopeinHeaven_sidebar.jpg

When they arrived at the airport, officials noticed the inconsistency in their documents as their passport indicated that they will work as janitress, their employment contract cited 'chambermaid' , and their POEA papers indicated 'nurse'. A man, known to the local recruiter assisted them and facilitated their exit, towards Saudi Arabia.

Arriving in Dammam in April 2005, they were fetched and brought to an enormous house. They were not made to work for a week. When they asked the 'caretaker' inside the house as to what their work will be, Lina was told that they will be sex slaves. Anna and Lina were very scared and wanted to go home to the Philippines immediately but they could not leave the villa. The following day, a man referred to as the Prince or Chairman by the caretaker arrived and the women were ordered to enter his room and immediately take their clothes off. The two were shaken and begged the Prince to allow them to go home, as they cannot do what is being asked of them to do. They stated that they don't like that kind of job, but the Prince was enraged and raped Anna first. Lina, who was sobbing uncontrollably and had difficulty breathing, was made to leave the room.

The next day, the Prince came back to use Lina this time. He also used Anna. The two were then forced to perform sexual acts, before money was thrown to their faces. When the Filipino recruiter called, the two young women narrated what were done to them but the recruiter allegedly did not believe them. They were called liars.

Lina decided to call her family and told them that she has become homesick and would want to go home, not disclosing what happened so as not to make her parents worry. Lina's parents immediately went to the agency, and talked to the Filipina recruiter. In May 2005, they were able to return to the Philippines. After a week, the nightclub owner for whom the two women were made to work before going to Saudi Arabia, brought Lina to a doctor for medical examination. When Lina inquired on the medical results, the nightclub owner mentioned that she indeed was raped. Lina was suffering from deep humiliation but decided to keep the matter to herself. The nightclub owner and the recruiter promised Lina that they will give her a vehicle as long as she doesn't reveal her experience to her parents. Lina still opted to file cases with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Department of Justice against her traffickers. She states, "Nagpumilit akong umuwi dahil hindi ko masikmura o hindi ko kaya ang maging prostitute." ("I insisted on going home because I couldn't stand being a prostitute." )

In March 2006, Anna was offered P25,000 by the recruiter to submit a statement countering Lina's charges. In the same year, Anna was given an affidavit to memorize for the POEA hearing. Anna decided to take Lina's side.

Both pray that justice will be served, even as at least ten libel and estafa suits have been filed against them and Lina's mother to harass the two victims. Anna herself stayed overnight in jail after having been served an arrest warrant for estafa, filed by her recruiters against her. DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzales even blamed Lina's parents for allowing their daughter to leave.

After having approached various government agencies, the victims came to Kanlungan Center Foundation, Inc., an NGO helping migrant workers who then sought the help of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women - Asia Pacific (CATW-AP). Two legal groups are now helping the victims pro-bono, these are WomenLEAD, a member organization of CATW-AP and the Quisumbing Torres Law Office.

"The Anti-Trafficking Law understands the vulnerability of victims to trafficking, given dire poverty, thus the statement of the DOJ Secretary reveals lack of understanding not only of the law but the pervading situation of Filipinos who are desperate for a living," states Jean Enriquez, Executive Director of CATW-AP. Lina's father is a driver, while Anna's father is a janitor. The mothers of both are unemployed.

Loida Bernabe, lauds the victims' courage, saying, "we hope that their brave disclosure will stop further victimization of Filipinas to sexual slavery, particularly in Saudi Arabia."

Organizations such as WomanHealth, Bagong Kamalayan, the Women's Crisis Center PREDA in Olongapo City, IMA Foundation, BUKLOD, SALIGAN, and other organizations fighting trafficking, came to the Press Conference to support the victims.

The Coalition is also pushing for the passage of the anti-prostitution bill, to complement the anti-trafficking law, as they mark today the International Day of No Prostitution. The bill intends to punish not only the business who profit from the system of prostitution but also the buyers.

October 16, 2007
Contact Person:
Yen Belarmino 0928-9830717 Tel: 63-2-4269873
www.catw-ap. org