Senator (and presidential wannabe) Senator Mar Roxas has asked that Joc-Joc Bolante of the Fertilizer Scam be deported to the Philippines. Allegedly, more than P700 million of funds for fertilizers were diverted for the campaign funds of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
IF Bolante is deported back to the Philippines, what will happen? Will he undergo a Senate inquiry? Will charges be filed against him and all the suspects who STOLE money from the Filipino people? Will Arroyo finally be impeached?
This year, bloggers are enjoined to discuss and be part of the revolution. October 15, 2008 is this year’s Blog Action Day. The topic is “Poverty,” what it and what can be done:
I care if Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is “president” after 2010. I care because I am a Filipino, and concerned about this country and the welfare of its people.
I care because GMA has been accused of lying, cheating, and stealing, and she has shown no proof that she is not one.
I care because GMA and her con-conspirators has done nothing to improve the lives of the Filipino. Rather, they have proven to be selfish and self-serving.
I care as any Filipino, or any human being in his right mind should.
I have had the privilege of knowing the thoughts of Moslemen “Jun” Macarambon Jr, a blogger and Bangsamoro advocate, on the controversial Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE).
According to Jun, the BJE or MOA-AD/Memorandum of Agreement - Ancestral Domain will be composed of the present Autonomous Region for Mulsim Mindanao (ARMM) as the core territory plus other areas outside ARMM. These other areas will have its plebiscite after the signing of MOA-AD. The MOA-AD is an agreement laying the conceptual foundation and framework for the future Bangsamoro Homeland.
Jun thinks that the ARMM is not a genuine solution for Moro self-governance. He cites that the Supreme Court voided the creation of Shariff Kabunsuan Province that was passed and approved by the ARMM Legislative Assembly.
On the other hand, BJE gives the Moro people, self-governance. Jun quotes the draft agreement:
8. The parties agree that the BJE shall be empowered to build, develop and maintain its own institutions, inclusive of, civil service, electoral, financial and banking, education, legislation, legal, economic, and police and internal security force, judicial system and correctional institutions, necessary for developing a progressive Bangsamoro society the details of which shall be discussed in the negotiation of the comprehensive compact.
Jun believes that the agreement will pave the way for genuine self-governance for the Moro people. MOA-AD will support the creation of BJE. He believesthis agreement will correct the social injustices committed by the Philippine government to the Moro People for the past decades.
If the GRP implements the agreement, Jun thinks peace can be attained in Mindanao. However, Jun cited statements such as those allegedly by opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson asserting that after GMA, the next president won’t recognize this agreement.
I have been reading, reviewing, and re-reading statements, articles, and blog posts about the pending Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). And I am still confused and on the fence.
On one hand, I think that is is good that the government is finally recognizing that land, ancestral domain should be given to the Muslims who rightfully deserve it. But putting the MILF in charge might not be the best thing to do. While the MILF represent some of the aspirations and interests of some of the Muslims in Mindanao, I do not think that they fully and wholly represent Muslim Mindanao.
The Republic of the Philippines owes Davao City a total of PhP142,000,000. This is the total amount of our Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) that the national government haven’t paid. Councilor Laviña is asking the opinion of Davaoeños on which of the three options we should take to get our fair and RIGHTFUL share of the IRA.
Ces Drilon’s abductors have demanded that the ransom of 15 million be paid at lunchtime today. Then, they extended the deadline to “indefinitely.”
With the extension is a promise not to harm Drilon and the others kidnapped with her, Jimmy Encarnacion, and Octavio Dinampo.
What does “indefinitely” mean for the abductors? Does it mean they’ll wait until Drilon’s family will pay? Does it mean they will wait until they longer have patience? What then if Drilon’s family refuse to pay the ransom indefinitely?
The US Court has ruled in favor of the Philippine government regarding an account of former President Ferdinand Marcos. The case will now be settled in the Philippine courts with some $35 million dollars on the line. Human rights victims during the Marcos regime have been fighting to get the account as part of their $2 billion claim against the Marcos estate. The Philippine government, however, claims that the money belongs to the government.
Natural na proseso ito sa isang market system. E ano kung politiko sila na may hangarin sa 2010? Hindi sila nangampanya; nagsabi sila ng opinyon ukol sa isang produkto, o nagtulak ng isang adbokasya. Malaki raw ang maitutulong ng mga naturang ad sa kanilang kampanya, sa “awareness” ng tao sa mukha at tinig nila. Ano ang mali doon? Ano ang ikinaiba nila sa lahat ng ibang celebrity na nagtutulak ng produkto– na, sa totoo lang, e makakatulong din sa awareness ng publiko sa mga artistang ito, sa “kampanya” para tangkilikin ng tao ang susunod nilang pelikula? O kunwari may isang artista ngayon na maraming ads sa TV– si Piolo, kunwari. Paano kung bigla niyang maisipang tumakbo sa 2010? Unfair advantage din ‘yun, di ba? Iba na ba ang standards na gagamitin natin para sa mga pulitikong lumalabas sa ads, mga pulitikong nababalitang kakandidato sa 2010, balitang media lang din naman ang nagpapakalat? Nasaan ang mali du’n?
Tulfo cited “a scion of the wealthy Villa Abrille clan of Davao City” who is accused of murder and pointed out that Davao City Prosecutor and his assistants have not filed a case against the “scion.” According to Tulfo, “city prosecutor, Raul Bendigo, said he was adopting a ‘hands-off’ stance because another member of the Villa Abrille clan, Antonio V. Tan, used to be his boss.”
