“PGMA (Mrs. Arroyo) will win as Speaker hands down. She continues to wield power and influence. So if her detractors think they’ve seen the last of her, they are mistaken. She’ll be around longer than they think,”

Agusan del Norte Rep. Jose Aquino.

Arroyo is like a hard-to-reach bugger

Aquino, obviously and hopefully not related to Senator Noynoy Aquino made this prediction yesterday. And quite expectedly, it sent chills down the spine of those who heard it. Three years more of Arroyo? Are we not soo sick already of her that we actually hope we have seen the last even of her puny shadow? And are we saying that she’s so great and so wonderful that we hope we could at least deal with her more?

Wow. This is so great an idea that I am thinking of why God allowed us to have her in the first place. She is like a hard-to-reach bugger or just this plaque caused by years of smoking tobacco.

What did we do to deserve this?

Nothing prevents Arroyo from being a Speaker. If Lakas-KAMPI successfully wins majority of the seats in Congress, it may nominate Arroyo to the posts. Yet, this is too presumptousfor even an ass-licker such as Aquino to say. Or, probably, he knows something we don’t?

There are three (3) things which will allow an extension of the illegitimate Arroyo regime.

The first is, if she wins as Congresswoman and her party, the Kampi, wins majority of the seats in the House. That will make her Speaker.

The second is, if a failure of elections or even a non-proclamation scenario happens, Arroyo will probably be elected as the Speaker, hence, the legitimate successor. A scenario like this will surely happen in a non-proclamation scenario. In an automated elections, there is a possibility that proclamation of winners of national posts will be delayed up to the last week of May 28, or the expected opening of Congress. If no clear winner emerges a day or a week after the casting of votes in May 10, due to post-election controversies or complaints in the results of the automated and manual counting of votes, then, definitely the Comelec will only allow the election of members of Congress. Remember that, by that time, only the Supreme Court Chief Justice sits as the Constitutional successor. If in the exercise of Constitutionally mandated powers, the Supreme Court is replaced because his retirement date is up, then, this will surely cause a national ruckus, not easily contained.

The third of course, if the poll violence and confusion heats up to the extreme, then, as president, Arroyo has the power to declare martial law or a selective state of emergency. If this happens, then, even the possibility of martial law looms in the horizon.

Gloria Arroyo's naked grab of Pampanga

Why is it very important for the Arroyo power bloc to give Lilia Pineda a win over Panlilio, when the very palace resident herself supported Panlilio’s run against the Pinedas? What does this mean anyway?

Pineda’s win shows a strategic shift of policy by the Arroyos, from enacting a policy of political tolerance and encouraging new politics, to enacting a brutal trapo-istic policy. What the Arroyos are after are simply maneuvering to consolidate their power, strengthen their base and ensure their safety once they gave up power in June. A Pineda win is crucial in this scheme since this will enable the Arroyos to muster more resources and hope that all political forces in the province gravitate to the Arroyos.

Mrs. Gloria Arroyo is running as a Congresswoman in the first district of Pampanga, a district which has the most number of voters in the entire province. With a governor as adversary, the Arroyo bloc will obviously encounter stiff resistance and will definitely not be able to use the resources of the provincial government for its ulterior political motives.

With a Pineda serving as a puppet in the provincial capitol, Gloria and her son, Mikey, will have a cost-free win in the forthcoming May 10 polls. Pineda will obviously drain the coffers just to ensure her re-election and that of her benefactor. Political reality shows that governors are the real kingpins and political sheiks in this country and they exert a tremendous influence over other power blocs and forces in a province.

A Pineda win simply says that the entire Pampanga is for Gloria’s easy picking.

And so the ending turned out to be just a numbers game. And what was betted upon was no petty sum. They actually gambled the very essence of democracy and what it really means when we say “clean elections”.

The Comelec second division yesterday declared Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda, winner by a breath against Priest-turned-politician Ed Panlilio in the 2007 gubernatorial race. First, Pineda countered cheating, which did not really jell. Then, what obviously follows is simply countering by numbers.

Malacanang, as if by cue, immediately issued a statement saying that all sectors should respect the decision, as if they expected a huge outpouring of disgusts and hatred against the Comelec’s decision. No one went to the streets nor any one got his firearm and cried foul. What had happened here was simply a developing social phenomena that is more dangerous than any coup or a pseudo-EDSA.

The slip is showing, says one kibitzer. The palace probably knew the results even before the Comelec formally issued its controversial decision penned by no less than homophobic Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer. What is NOT surprising is the fact that the entire Republic already knew that this administration will turn things upside down and will do whatever it takes just to satiate the hunger for power of one of their most trusted underlings.

Pineda won, Panlilio lost. But it was not only Panlilio who lost this one—the Comelec lost all credibility when it issued this decision. And it puts the entire May 10, 2010 at the stake.

It was clearly a gamble to test the strength of public tolerance. It gambled the very belief of the public in the forthcoming polls, that, despite automation, a poll body peopled by individuals with dubious traits and characters will definitely exercise its powers and just whisk its wand and change the entire political scenario.

Such is the gravity of this one that had it happened in other countries, it would have placed the entire country under a state of alarm. Yet, there lies the extreme irony of it all–total silence.

But, don’t think that silence means acquiesce. No. Silence just means that people are preparing for the final burst of monumental anger, just quelling, waiting to explode.

Pineda may have won and jueteng may have triumphed over decency, but the fact remains, and this is quite evident—in this next elections, Kapampangans should rise up and show the world that they are not as brazen and as walang hiya as these two ladies–Gloria and Baby Pineda.

Next elections, Kapampangans should really show the entire Nation that they hate injustice, that they hate the prevalence of jueteng and they are not of the same kind and stock as that of Gloria Arroyo and Baby Pineda and they will do the right thing—vote overwhelmingly on the side of good, rather than shameless evil.

Among those accused of graft and corruption charges are former NEDA chief Romulo Neri, ZTE-NBN whistleblower Joey de Venecia III and Jun Lozada and DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza and other DOTC officials.

It took the Senate thirteen hearings to come up with the recommendatory report on the deal.

Danding Cojuangco (in suit) having a toast with NPC partymates

From 1973 to 1982, small copra farmers were charged with 15 pesos per 100 kilograms of their copra sold. Thru PD 276 and 414 and RA 6260, PDs 961, 1468 and 1699, these taxes collected from 18 million coconut farmers were put under what is now popularly termed as “coconut levy fund”. The aims of the fund were lofty and ideal. It aims to develop the coconut industry and make it globally competitive. 

The fund started as “public funds”, but through the machinations of some of Marcos cronies, allegedly led by Danding Cojuangco, it turned into “private”. Most of the fund, estimated to be worth P 9.7 billion then, were used to purchase stocks in different corporations and some used by Marcos cronies to buy personal properties for themselves. 

After 1986, the estimated value of the funds was placed at P 135 billion. Coco levy funds is estimated to be about P 2 billion. 

Under the Aquino administration, the PCGG declared that the coco levy funds were plundered by Marcos cronies led by Danding Cojuangco and Cocofed. One hundred officials of Cocofed led by Cojuangco and Lobregat were charged with conspiracy in the coco scam. One hundred billion of coco levy funds were sequestered by government, including that 720 million common shares of San Miguel Corporation, purchased using the funds.

President Ramos issued Executive Orders 277 and 481 declaring coco levy funds as public funds. SMC immediately filed TROs to stop the implementation of the EOs. Then Vice President Joseph Estrada talked with SC Chief Justice Narvasa to delay the decision of the Supreme Court declaring the coco levy funds as “public”.

When Estrada won the presidency, the control of the levy funds were returned to Danding Cojuangco, despite pending graft cases against the SMC chairman. Estrada initiated a “compromise settlement” between Cojuangco and representatives of the coconut farmers.

Estrada then issued EO 313 reversing the earlier Ramos’ executive orders declaring instead that the funds are “private” and authorized the use of its proceeds to pay in full creditors who are actually the cronies of Marcos.

When Estrada was deposed, his successor, Vice President and now President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did not repeal EO 313. Gloria reportedly entered into an “unwritten” compromise agreement with Cojuangco, which allowed the SMC chair to enter into a “mutually beneficial” agreement with the  farmers. The agreement, which contemplates giving full control of the funds and SMC shares to Danding, while giving P 20 billion pesos to Arroyo for her 2004 re-election bid, did not materialize.

On December 14, 2001, the Davide Supreme Court ruled that the coconut levy funds which were used to purchase 720 million common shares of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) were “public”, and therefore, not subject to a sale by the corporation.

Daniel Romualdez, brother of Leyte Cong. Ferdinand Martin

Ferdinand Martin Romualdez found his voice today after days of silence. Romualdez now denies that he paid the US$ 20,000 bill which he and the Arroyo entourage of about twenty people at Le Cirque restaurant in New York. Romualdez tagged his brother Daniel, a successful Filipino architect/decorator and socialite in New York as the one who paid the bill. Obviously, this differed from the OFFICIAL VERSION of the palace, which Cerge Remonde, Presidential mouth….piece told the media the day the story broke out.

My, my, my, Romualdez wants to extricate himself out of the rut, only to find himself in total and deeper SHIT.If that is true, then, it does not ABSOLVE him nor his brother Daniel from LIABILITY. His statement further enflamed public sentiment and interest about this issue and unwittingly dragged his socialite brother in this scandal. Why you say?

Daniel should not have footed the bill because it was downright UNLAWFUL to treat a head of state or any government official. The Code of Ethics for Public Officials and laws against graft and corruption explicitly prohibits and penalizes this.

First, any one from the official entourage is prohibited from BEING TREATED BY THIRD PARTIES SINCE BEING TREATED TO A MEAL IS TANTAMOUNT TO A GIFT WHICH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE PROHIBITED BY LAW TO RECEIVE. Malacanang, of course, would say that it was a PERSONAL invitation from New York architect Daniel Romualdez who happens to be part of New York’s creme de la creme.

WHETHER its PERSONAL OR NOT, the LAW is VERY CLEAR—NO GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IS ALLOWED TO RECEIVE GIFTS FROM 3RD PARTIES. That trip was an OFFICIAL WORKING VISIT according to Malacanang. Hence, even if Mrs. Arroyo already finished her meeting with Barack Obama, that dinner was still part of the OFFICIAL itinerary.

(A brief background about Daniel Romualdez. According to Panache Privee, Daniel Romualdez is a noted architect and interior decorator. He got his bachelor’s degree at Yale University and a master’s degree from Columbia University School of Architecture. He’s the namesake of former Speaker Daniel Romualdez. He climbed his way to the top by working for renowned architects Thierry Despont and Robert A.M. Stern before starting his own firm in 1983. Past clients include: Tory Burch, Diane von Furstenberg, Paul Goldberger, and Marina Rust.)

Now, I don’t know if Martin realizes it, but dragging Daniel into this scandalous controversy is WRONG. Cong. Romualdez will realize this in the next few days.

So this is how our government officials here in the Philippines commemorate the memory of one of our great icons of democracy, Cory Aquino.

At the time when everyone were mourning over our great loss, here are our officials pigging out in a glitzy royale French fine dining restaurant in Manhattan, New York and spending US$20,000.00.

A few days prior, detained Senator Antonio Trillianes called upon the people to support the impeachment complaint against Gloria. Saying it’s the last legal option to oust the Pinay anti-Christ, Trillianes says it is still possible for the democratic soldiers to “intervene” into this political mess and rectify these errors wrought against the people by this evil administration.

Question that everybody is asking–will there be a realization of the People’s dream for the ouster of Gloria? Rumours say, a big event will happen on the 28th of November, the day when Gloria comes back from her Latin American trip. Others say, the 30th of this month will signal a week-long “Revolution of Hope” and would culminate with Gloria’s ouster.

Observing what’s happening, I think that the thirtieth will just be the proverbial first shout that would culminate to Gloria’s eventual ouster before January 2009. There are very auspicious signs which point to a weakening of Gloria’s defenses by December 2008. The apex of the people’s sentiments may be reached next month as Congress formalizes the killing of the impeachment, a symbolic act which could trigger widespread dissillusionment and cause the justification of a December affair.

Or, it could be prolonged to January of next year. If the forces against Gloria succeeds in ousting her in January or weaken her pro-cha-cha forces in the first quarter of 2009, kiss charter change goodbye. People behind Gloria will definitely not be able to implement their dastardly plot in summer, since there will not be sufficient time to effect charter change.

Unbeknownest to Gloria, the more anti-charter change proponents delay the hearing of the cha-cha proposals, the lesser the prospects for Gloria to extend her term. Surely, they cannot ram cha-cha in June of 2009 simply because Congressmen will be busy by then for their re-election campaign. So, the critical months begins in December and ends in March 2009 or the month where Congress adjourns. However, there is another card which Gloria’s minions are contemplating and that is the emergency power card. These Malacanang hawks will try to implement black operations, will try to portray lawlessness in the Metro and in Mindanao and justify it. Like charter change, however, they are also pressed for time since they need to muster enough support from the AFP to do this. Surely, the defense secretary will not be a party to this, since Danding’s party, if reports are to be believed, is aligning itself with the JDV-FVR faction in Lakas.

We all know that Gloria is not Jesus, nay, far from him. Jesus was never greedy nor had that insatiable appetite for power. Christ even sacrificed his life so that others may live. For Gloria, as the records would show, she ordered the killing of activists, arrested change agents, destroyed thousands of farmer’s lives and promoted an immoral governance style. “We will know them by their fruits”, the good book says.

And like that proverbial story in the bible, in just three days, the cabal of Gloria killed the impeachment complaint. Voting 42 to 8, these cult followers of Gloria wearing amerikanas and barongs showed their unfledging worship to the Philippine anti-Christ. With their hossanas, they infused new life to the old fogey, albeit, literally bringing forth the resurrection of the Pinay anti-Christ. What is left right now in the House of Represent-the-Thieves is that elixir, a proposal to extend the life of the Pinay Anti-Christ up to 2011.

After that infamous voting, Gloria’s “John”, Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita treated Malacanang reporters and other “disciples” of the Anti-Christ to a sumptuous lunch. ” Triumph of justice”, so they say as they feasted on roast pig, and other gourmet foods which ordinary Pinoys just eat in their dreams. Gloria’s cult delivered in Congress, led by a man who sired a boyish looking demon who now is on a mission to flatten our mountains and mine our gold to sacrifice in the altar of the almond-eyed Mammon.

” This signals the death of truth and justice”, was the only remarked of the reformed cultist member who once feasted with the Anti-Christ and once masterminded the antics of the cabal in repulsing the truth. The reformed master of tricks now feels very threatened, knowing that his political extinction is beyond reach. ” It’s only the people who can save this country from infamy and tyranny”.

But, what of the people? We live in such evil times that the blackness has even creeped within our very souls. We live in a chaotic era where hope is non-existent. As predicted in the good book, these times try men’s souls. We will be lured to worship the anti-Christ. We will succumb to her wiles. And we have. Oil companies just lowered pump prices. Employers just gave out 13th month pays. Malls have cut their prices by 50%. Government is creating a favorable environment, giving us the crumbs while they feast on 30 billion pesos of stolen money from our pockets.

We feel nothing because the State has injected a social anesthetic. Can we ever defeat the power of this Anti-Christ who use our monies to lull us to complacency while they rape and sodomize us? Such is the power of this social anesthetic that even those who are enlightened, are themselves, helpless against this anti-Christ.

” Cha-cha is evil”, says the head of one of God’s divisions. But, yes, we know. Since last year, the people already know that Gloria is the anti-Christ. What will God’s disciples do to defeat Satan’s daughter? Place their hope in law? Hope lies not in law, but in men. In these times, we need to expunge the anti-Christ from our midst. And it should be now, not later.

Strategy? Avoid staying at the Senate holding area and ask for hospital arrest. The Senate is not his comfort zone. He’s vulnerable there. He can’t receive instructions from his “friends”. Besides, the proper forum that he intends to show up is where he’s comfortable at—the Office of the Ombusman. 

The Office of the Ombusman would speed up their investigation, allow Bolante hospital arrest and possibly coming up with a decision that would find reasonable doubt to prosecute Bolante. Bolante will be given a jail term, a short one, and all’s settle and done with. Before Arroyo goes on indefinite sabbatical in 2010, he’ll be given a quiet reprieve and he’s scot-free. What’s a year or two of staying in the Bilibid or at QC jail or even his jail term spent in a hospital? He already suffered two and a half years of incarceration in the States. What’s a year of hospital arrest?

Is this possible? Yes. The only thing that separates Joc-Joc and his handlers from getting what they want is public indignation. Going by their experience with Neri,  a good measure of “pamasko” spread among those who cover and report about this helps a lot in neutralizing any public indignation. Besides, survey says, Filipinos just get angry for three and a half days and afterwards, they just forget about it. Joc-Joc is not a showbiz personality. If he was, then, expect this issue to last even a year, with people talking about this for a looong time. 

But this is politics. And in politics, a week is just too long for anything to happen.