No, that is not the latest Lito Lapid flick. It refers to the current troubles of our Ombudsman, or Tanodbayan as she's fondly referred to by law school buddy Big Mike. Now that her articles of impeachment are almost done, the battleground shifts to the Senate, where 16 votes are needed to convict. In former Pres. Estrada's case, he had a firewall of 11 senators that would prevent conviction (of course, this is on top of the fact that the case brought forward to the Senate was half-baked, at best). Let's see how each Tsene-tor would vote (there are 23, and Mercy needs only 8):
Liberal Party Bloc/Allies
(Drilon, Recto, Guingona, Pangilinan, Osmeña, Lacson, Escudero)
Obviously would vote for impeachment. They made this a campaign promise. At some point, they need Ping Lacson to come out of hiding to secure that 16th vote.
Nationalista Party Bloc
(Villar, Cayetano x 2, Marcos, Sotto)
They are the true swing vote here. Your guess is as good as mine. It would be worthwhile to note that some of them (or their loved ones) might have some cases pending before the Ombudsman.
Angara, Legarda
These two BFF's vote together and will probably vote against impeachment.
Erap/Gloria Opposition Bloc
(Enrile, Estrada, Honasan, Trillanes)
They are likely to vote for impeachment though it would be interesting to note that the two special prosecutors who handled Erap's plunder case are Mercy's arch-enemies. The enemy of my enemy is my friend nga ba, Jinggoy? Where Enrile goes is where Honasan goes.
Lakas/Gloria Bloc
(Revilla, Lapid, Zubiri, Arroyo)
Alam na. Diba?
The Miriam Bloc
Hard to tell, but based on her pronouncement, will likely vote against impeachment not because she thinks Mercy is innocent, but rather based on the legal merits of pursuing the case.
Mercy currently has six or seven Tsenators on her side and would only need to convince one or two more to be her firewall against impeachment. A lot is at stake here that why's dapat abangan ang susunod na kabanata.
***
Impeachment is clearly defined as a political process. It does not require the subtlety and careful analysis that is required of criminal proceedings. It is merely an act of accusation. It does not result in any loss of life, liberty or property.
It was awfully entertaining to see the railroaders before get railroaded now.
Sabi nga ni Erap at ni Kuya Kim, "weather-weather lang yan!"
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
When the Wolves Guard the Henhouse
A glaring sign of the sheer incompetence of our student council in Malacañang:
They appoint a Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief who's being investigated for being in cahoots with carnapping syndicates.
I have something to add to their decrepit vocabulary: VETTING.
***
A simple case of vetting with the Justice department or the Ombudsman would allow them to discover that Asst. Secy. Virginia Torres of LTO had pending cases related to the registration of possibly stolen cars. Apparently, student councils are ignorant of vetting. Betting siguro marunong sila.
For all the hits (DPWH Secy. Singson, DOJ Secy. De Lima, DFA Secy. del Rosario), there have been an awful lot of misses (retaining DFA Secy. Romulo, DILG Usec. Rico Puno, ES Paquito Ochoa). Mr. President, while you need people you can trust to serve you, you don't need retards either.
***
We want something to come out of the Senate investigations into anomalies in the AFP. Wala nang EO 464 and more importantly, we have a cooperating executive. There's absolutely no excuse for you guys this time.
As for the current impeachment proceedings, there is also no excuse to not prosecute Ombudsman Gutierrez for her errors of omission and commission. I'd like to commend the House Justice committee for trying to do this right, not unlike the way they did it in 2001 for fmr. Pres. Estrada. They should act as prosecutors to gather evidence against the Ombudsman and not do it in the Senate. Good luck!
They appoint a Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief who's being investigated for being in cahoots with carnapping syndicates.
I have something to add to their decrepit vocabulary: VETTING.
***
A simple case of vetting with the Justice department or the Ombudsman would allow them to discover that Asst. Secy. Virginia Torres of LTO had pending cases related to the registration of possibly stolen cars. Apparently, student councils are ignorant of vetting. Betting siguro marunong sila.
For all the hits (DPWH Secy. Singson, DOJ Secy. De Lima, DFA Secy. del Rosario), there have been an awful lot of misses (retaining DFA Secy. Romulo, DILG Usec. Rico Puno, ES Paquito Ochoa). Mr. President, while you need people you can trust to serve you, you don't need retards either.
***
We want something to come out of the Senate investigations into anomalies in the AFP. Wala nang EO 464 and more importantly, we have a cooperating executive. There's absolutely no excuse for you guys this time.
As for the current impeachment proceedings, there is also no excuse to not prosecute Ombudsman Gutierrez for her errors of omission and commission. I'd like to commend the House Justice committee for trying to do this right, not unlike the way they did it in 2001 for fmr. Pres. Estrada. They should act as prosecutors to gather evidence against the Ombudsman and not do it in the Senate. Good luck!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
EDSA: Isang rebulosyon o ma-trapik na lansangan?
I'd have to say it's more of the latter now. But, let's not get into an argument on the merits of EDSA. History will be the judge of the events that transpired. What is obvious is that the script is the same, but the actors are different.
In the spirit of this half-baked holiday, I would like to propose that we move on as a nation. This starts with the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos being buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. He was twice elected President, was a Senate President and Congressman, and he fought as a guerrilla fighter during World War II.
Note that I omitted the fact that he stayed too long as President.
The qualifications to be buried in that cemetery are pretty straightforward. To deny him his right is to deny that the years 1965 to 1972 never happened.
***
"... cut and cut cleanly"
- me to my hair stylist
- former Sen. Paul Laxalt (R-NV), on his advice to former Pres. Marcos at the height of the 1986 EDSA Changing of the Guard
In the spirit of this half-baked holiday, I would like to propose that we move on as a nation. This starts with the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos being buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. He was twice elected President, was a Senate President and Congressman, and he fought as a guerrilla fighter during World War II.
Note that I omitted the fact that he stayed too long as President.
The qualifications to be buried in that cemetery are pretty straightforward. To deny him his right is to deny that the years 1965 to 1972 never happened.
***
"... cut and cut cleanly"
- me to my hair stylist
- former Sen. Paul Laxalt (R-NV), on his advice to former Pres. Marcos at the height of the 1986 EDSA Changing of the Guard
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Dancing Chacha to the Wrong Tune
The words "Charter Change" or Chacha for short has been a toxic term during the time of former Pres. Gloria Arroyo. Initiatives then were seen as a demonic ploy to extend her term beyond 2010. We had her for more than nine years. I think that's too much already.
Now, demoted to a mere representative, I don't perceive her to have enough chops to come back to power (we'd have to be really really stupid for this to happen). Therefore, the time for dancing the chacha is now. Recently, the Senate, which has stood as our nation's firewall against Arroyo's plot, received comments and presentations on the need for chacha. I totally agree with this move. A lot of the provisions of our constitution are outdated and misguided. One of these is the ban on the use of nuclear power. This was an obvious tirade against former Pres. Marcos and his advocacy for nuclear power. We are suffering one of the highest power rates in Asia.
Another is the greatly abused provision is on Party-List representation. While I'm at it, I might as well include the composition of the House of Representathieves. The party list provision allowed the likes of Mikey Arroyo and her aunt, among others, to represent supposedly marginalized sectors of society. In determining the number of representathieves, an absolutely short-sighted minimum of 250,000 population merits a representathieve in the august halls of Batasan. This retarded provision is the reason why the House keeps on growing in size, when we should be downsizing them. It's also why there's a great imbalance of representation for our cities and provinces. Quezon City (pop. 2.8M) has four representathieves, Manila (pop. 1.8M) has SIX, Parañaque City (pop. 0.6M) has TWO, Cavite (pop. 2.9M) has SEVEN and more importantly, Camarines Sur (pop. 1.6M) has FIVE. A better model would follow the US Congress, wherein the size is fixed (435) with each congressional district representing the same amount of people. It doesn't make any sense that Rep. Winston Castelo (2nd Dist. QC, pop. 1.6M) has the same vote as Rep. Rolando Andaya (1st Dist. CamSur, pop. 0.18M). Incidentally, the reason why Rep. Andaya has a very small district is because another district was gerrymandered from his old district to accommodate Rep. Dato Arroyo. Guess who signed the law creating his district???
***
What we can't allow our chacha dancers to do is to change our form of government to anything other than one with a direct vote for the Chief Executive. Calls for a parliamentary form of government should be ignored. While it will do away with military coups and impeachment trials, it will also pave the way for someone (in whatever form in the future) in the mold of Jose de Venecia to be our Chief Executive. Our country is not ready for a unicameral form of government. Just take a good look at Congresses past and present and you will know why. Besides, I like voting for my president. I don't trust my douchebag representathieve enough for that.
***
Drug mules, or persons used as drug couriers by big drug syndicates, is old news. What's new is that three Pinoys are about to be executed in China after they were caught bringing in a bunch of heroin. They have been tried and convicted to suffer the death penalty under Chinese laws. While I am not exactly a fan of capital punishment, what I do hate is when one country meddles in the affairs of another sovereign country. Remember all the rage about the trial of Daniel Smith? Filipinos howled over the supposed intervention of Uncle Sam. Now, we're guilty of doing pretty much the same to China.
Here's the thing. It's sad that they're gonna die. As long as they were given a fair trial, I suppose that justice has to prevail. We can't keep sending high-level delegations to appeal the rulings of another country. We hated it when it was being done to us, why should it be different the other way around? I'm just saying...
Now, demoted to a mere representative, I don't perceive her to have enough chops to come back to power (we'd have to be really really stupid for this to happen). Therefore, the time for dancing the chacha is now. Recently, the Senate, which has stood as our nation's firewall against Arroyo's plot, received comments and presentations on the need for chacha. I totally agree with this move. A lot of the provisions of our constitution are outdated and misguided. One of these is the ban on the use of nuclear power. This was an obvious tirade against former Pres. Marcos and his advocacy for nuclear power. We are suffering one of the highest power rates in Asia.
Another is the greatly abused provision is on Party-List representation. While I'm at it, I might as well include the composition of the House of Representathieves. The party list provision allowed the likes of Mikey Arroyo and her aunt, among others, to represent supposedly marginalized sectors of society. In determining the number of representathieves, an absolutely short-sighted minimum of 250,000 population merits a representathieve in the august halls of Batasan. This retarded provision is the reason why the House keeps on growing in size, when we should be downsizing them. It's also why there's a great imbalance of representation for our cities and provinces. Quezon City (pop. 2.8M) has four representathieves, Manila (pop. 1.8M) has SIX, Parañaque City (pop. 0.6M) has TWO, Cavite (pop. 2.9M) has SEVEN and more importantly, Camarines Sur (pop. 1.6M) has FIVE. A better model would follow the US Congress, wherein the size is fixed (435) with each congressional district representing the same amount of people. It doesn't make any sense that Rep. Winston Castelo (2nd Dist. QC, pop. 1.6M) has the same vote as Rep. Rolando Andaya (1st Dist. CamSur, pop. 0.18M). Incidentally, the reason why Rep. Andaya has a very small district is because another district was gerrymandered from his old district to accommodate Rep. Dato Arroyo. Guess who signed the law creating his district???
***
What we can't allow our chacha dancers to do is to change our form of government to anything other than one with a direct vote for the Chief Executive. Calls for a parliamentary form of government should be ignored. While it will do away with military coups and impeachment trials, it will also pave the way for someone (in whatever form in the future) in the mold of Jose de Venecia to be our Chief Executive. Our country is not ready for a unicameral form of government. Just take a good look at Congresses past and present and you will know why. Besides, I like voting for my president. I don't trust my douchebag representathieve enough for that.
***
Drug mules, or persons used as drug couriers by big drug syndicates, is old news. What's new is that three Pinoys are about to be executed in China after they were caught bringing in a bunch of heroin. They have been tried and convicted to suffer the death penalty under Chinese laws. While I am not exactly a fan of capital punishment, what I do hate is when one country meddles in the affairs of another sovereign country. Remember all the rage about the trial of Daniel Smith? Filipinos howled over the supposed intervention of Uncle Sam. Now, we're guilty of doing pretty much the same to China.
Here's the thing. It's sad that they're gonna die. As long as they were given a fair trial, I suppose that justice has to prevail. We can't keep sending high-level delegations to appeal the rulings of another country. We hated it when it was being done to us, why should it be different the other way around? I'm just saying...
Friday, February 11, 2011
Congressional Ethics
... is an oxymoron. That can't be any made any clearer. Recent troubles of Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson (sayang pogi pa naman ng first name niya) have proven that. He is caught with a bunch of coccaine, pleads guilty to drug possession and admits to drug use yet he still won't resign his seat in the House of Representathieves. Dad says the Senate should expel Ping Lacson first. The difference is Singson was caught red-handed and admitted to a crime. Lacson's just a douchebag for refusing to be sent to jail (though for the record, I believe charges against him are politically motivated and have no basis).
Rep. Singson should take his cue from US Rep. Chris Lee (R-NY) who resigned his seat a few days ago as a scandal was about to erupt about his flirtatious email exchange on Craigslist. And all this guy did was /flirt with a girl online.
***
Anyone who tells you that the possible reason behind former Secy. Angelo Reyes' suicide is anything other than guilt or shame from what was being exposed is spewing out pure bull. The circumstances behind his death are sad, and I condole with the family about their loss. However, it's very clear that guilt pushed Reyes to pull the trigger and take away his own life. Now, that's one general down? How about the others?
***
I'm sure all of us has had an interesting discussion with a cab driver at least once. Recently, most discussions center on the pity cabbies put on themselves for not having their meters calibrated (to reflect higher fares). Most would plead for an extra, some would outright name a ridiculous fare. The most interesting discussion thus far goes like this (cab, a 1995ish Corolla, has driven about 500m):
Cabbie: Sir, magdagdag na lang kayo ng 50 ah, hindi pa kasi na calibrate to...
Me: Ah ganun ba, bakit di mo pa-calibrate?
C: Eh matagal pa ang turn namin.
M: Ah, kung di pa calibrated di ba bawal pa maningil ng extra?
C: Kami naman po humihingi ng tama lang.
M: Magbibigay naman ako ng extra, wag mo lang ako pangunahan at wag mo akong diktahan ng halaga.
C: Eh legal naman po yang paghingi ng extra.
M: Pakibaba na lang ako dyan. Bulok na nga ng taxi mo ang lakas pa ng loob mo.
Public Service announcement (save niyo ang mga numbers na ito)
The DOTC hotline numbers for reporting “Abusadong Taxi Drivers" (Abusive Taxi Drivers) are:
7890
0917 247 0385
0919 222 7462
Rep. Singson should take his cue from US Rep. Chris Lee (R-NY) who resigned his seat a few days ago as a scandal was about to erupt about his flirtatious email exchange on Craigslist. And all this guy did was /flirt with a girl online.
***
Anyone who tells you that the possible reason behind former Secy. Angelo Reyes' suicide is anything other than guilt or shame from what was being exposed is spewing out pure bull. The circumstances behind his death are sad, and I condole with the family about their loss. However, it's very clear that guilt pushed Reyes to pull the trigger and take away his own life. Now, that's one general down? How about the others?
***
I'm sure all of us has had an interesting discussion with a cab driver at least once. Recently, most discussions center on the pity cabbies put on themselves for not having their meters calibrated (to reflect higher fares). Most would plead for an extra, some would outright name a ridiculous fare. The most interesting discussion thus far goes like this (cab, a 1995ish Corolla, has driven about 500m):
Cabbie: Sir, magdagdag na lang kayo ng 50 ah, hindi pa kasi na calibrate to...
Me: Ah ganun ba, bakit di mo pa-calibrate?
C: Eh matagal pa ang turn namin.
M: Ah, kung di pa calibrated di ba bawal pa maningil ng extra?
C: Kami naman po humihingi ng tama lang.
M: Magbibigay naman ako ng extra, wag mo lang ako pangunahan at wag mo akong diktahan ng halaga.
C: Eh legal naman po yang paghingi ng extra.
M: Pakibaba na lang ako dyan. Bulok na nga ng taxi mo ang lakas pa ng loob mo.
Public Service announcement (save niyo ang mga numbers na ito)
The DOTC hotline numbers for reporting “Abusadong Taxi Drivers" (Abusive Taxi Drivers) are:
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
It Starts Today...
Mr. President,
Una sa lahat, isang maligayang kaarawan sa iyo. Pareho pala tayong pinanganak sa buwan ng Pebrero, gaya rin ng napakabibo mong kapatid na si Kris.
I have absolutely no remorse whatsoever about what happened today. God knows how many times I clicked the "Like" button, at least in my head, every time I saw a status that had the words "Reyes" and "suicide". He knew what was coming and did the most cowardly thing possible. In the midst of this sweeping investigation into the anomalies in the AFP, I hope that after a customary period of mourning (he is still a human being, albeit an extremely dishonest one), this investigation leads to something. Mr. President, there is no more E.O. 464 or A.O. whatever to hide behind from. GMA is nothing but a TV network along Timog Avenue. You are in command. The entire Filipino nation will hold you accountable for what happens with this investigation. This will not be like Jose Pidal, Oakwood, or ZTE because you have the power to make things happen.
What's the countdown about? As your boss, I am giving you a ONE YEAR DEADLINE to make something out of this. What specifically? I'll outline your specific and measurable goals later, but it will involve arrests and LOTS of jail time for those whose names are being mentioned now (AFP Chiefs and their generals and whoever they're in cahoots with). Now if they decide to go Angie's way, let's not stop them and I'll count that as an accomplished goal.
And oh, we get your point. You're one of us (though you're really not). You don't cruise through traffic with sirens and wang-wangs, you go to the mall, and you line up at LTO just like all of us. At first it was laudable. Now it's downright silly and you're giving your security detail a lot of headache. We 'effin get it Mr. President! You've made your point. Now, please use your time wisely and run this student council type of government better!
Una sa lahat, isang maligayang kaarawan sa iyo. Pareho pala tayong pinanganak sa buwan ng Pebrero, gaya rin ng napakabibo mong kapatid na si Kris.
I have absolutely no remorse whatsoever about what happened today. God knows how many times I clicked the "Like" button, at least in my head, every time I saw a status that had the words "Reyes" and "suicide". He knew what was coming and did the most cowardly thing possible. In the midst of this sweeping investigation into the anomalies in the AFP, I hope that after a customary period of mourning (he is still a human being, albeit an extremely dishonest one), this investigation leads to something. Mr. President, there is no more E.O. 464 or A.O. whatever to hide behind from. GMA is nothing but a TV network along Timog Avenue. You are in command. The entire Filipino nation will hold you accountable for what happens with this investigation. This will not be like Jose Pidal, Oakwood, or ZTE because you have the power to make things happen.
What's the countdown about? As your boss, I am giving you a ONE YEAR DEADLINE to make something out of this. What specifically? I'll outline your specific and measurable goals later, but it will involve arrests and LOTS of jail time for those whose names are being mentioned now (AFP Chiefs and their generals and whoever they're in cahoots with). Now if they decide to go Angie's way, let's not stop them and I'll count that as an accomplished goal.
And oh, we get your point. You're one of us (though you're really not). You don't cruise through traffic with sirens and wang-wangs, you go to the mall, and you line up at LTO just like all of us. At first it was laudable. Now it's downright silly and you're giving your security detail a lot of headache. We 'effin get it Mr. President! You've made your point. Now, please use your time wisely and run this student council type of government better!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)