Survivor of Limo Fire 5 Describes What Happened

One of the survivors of a limousine fire that killed five people on a San Francisco Bay bridge is describing the terrifying moments — and disputing the driver's version of events of what happened when the limo burst into flames.

With a cut visible on her face, an emotional Nelia Arellano told San Francisco's KGO-TV that she yelled at the driver to stop the car, but he "didn't want to listen."

When the driver, Orville Brown, did finally stop, Arellano says he did nothing to help the women get out of the burning car after he exited.

Brown has said that, at first, he misunderstood what one of the passengers in the back was saying when she knocked on the partition between the passenger area and the driver and complained about smelling smoke.

Brown says he helped the survivors escape through the partition.

———

Information from: KGO-TV.

Embassy warns Filipinos against camping out RIYADH: ABDUL HANNAN TAGO

 The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh has delivered a stern warning to Filipinos residing in the Kingdom to refrain from public rallies and protests, as they are a violation of Saudi laws and an impediment to the embassy’s ability to deliver services to community members.
In a text message, Ambassador Ezzedin Tago said: “We did not authorize anyone to call on our behalf,” in reference to advice given from unofficial sources encouraging OFWs to rally near embassy premises.
The embassy had earlier received inquiries from Filipinos regarding whether they could camp on embassy premises and in areas adjacent to the Philippines Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) in order to seek repatriation.
In a statement issued yesterday, the embassy made it clear that it had not authorized any person or group regarding such action, nor had it received consent from the Saudi government for camp arrangements.
Filipinos with irregular status who are affected by the recent developments regarding labor and immigration law violations need only visit the embassy or POLO to have their respective cases documented and enable them to be given appropriate advice or assistance, the ambassador explained.
At present, the embassy is recording information on the status of overstaying Filipinos for documentation purposes and these cases are forwarded to Saudi authorities for consideration and resolution in accordance with existing regulations.
In a related development, families of stranded OFWs in Jeddah were unhappy with the outcome of the dialogue with Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario recently.
According to Garry Martinez, chairperson of the group advocacy group Migrante International, the dialogue was just a repeat of the Department of Foreign Affairs' promises since the Jeddah tent city was set up.
“Insofar as demand for free, immediate and mass repatriation is concerned, no commitment was made by the DFA,” he said.
Martinez, along with Migrante Middle East Coordinator John Leonard Monterona and some of the OFWs’ relatives, held talks with DFA officials recently. The talks were a result of negotiations with the DFA following the OFW families’ decision to camp out in solidarity with workers outside DFA gates yesterday.
Martinez said that all the DFA offered were piecemeal solutions and token actions with the hope of appeasing families who are already into day two of the solidarity camp-out.
“They promised to prioritize the cases of OFWs whose families joined in the dialogue. But the families were not appeased. Like their relatives at the tent city, they are united in the demand for free, immediate and mass repatriation of their loved ones,” he said.
After the dialogue, Migrante and the families decided to pack up camp at the DFA and proceed to set up camp at Mendiola. “We’ve been to the DFA but received no commitment from them. It’s time to bring our demands to President Aquino.”
“We want to hear what the president has to say. It’s been 24 days since the Jeddah tent city was established and we haven’t had any statement from him. If he’s still too busy campaigning for his candidates, then we hope that this could finally get his attention,” Martinez said.

Former pope moves back to Vatican

Benedict XVI has moved back to the Vatican, opening an uncertain era in Catholic Church history where an “emeritus pope” and a ruling pontiff will live as neighbours for the first time.

By Philip Pullella, Vatican City

Benedict, the first pope to abdicate in 600 years, will live in a restored convent in the Vatican gardens with a view of St Peter’s Basilica and just a short walk from the residence of his successor, Francis. 

Benedict, 86 and in frail health, arrived by helicopter from Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence south of Rome, where he had been staying since Feb 28 while the convent was restored. 

The Vatican said Francis greeted Benedict at his new retirement home, and the two prayed together in the adjoining chapel. 

It was first time they had met since Mar 23, when Francis visited Benedict at Castel Gandolfo and Benedict renewed a pledge of “unconditional reverence and obedience” to Francis. 

The small building includes a chapel, a library, quarters for his aides, and a guest-room for his older brother, Georg, a monsignor. 

While the presence of a reigning pope and a former one is a new situation, experts say it would only cause difficulties if Benedict tried to influence Pope Francis’s decisions, something he has promised not to do.

MILF chair to candidates: “you can come and talk to our people”

By Carolyn O. Arguillas on April 29 2013 11:39 pm

DARAPANAN, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao  (MindaNews/29 April) — The chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said candidates running for elective posts on May 13 “can come and talk to our people” but  the MILF stand has not changed: “we will not participate … but we will not prevent people to participate.”

“If they want to vote, they can vote,” MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim told a press conference at the launching Monday noon of the Facility for Advisory Support for Transition Capacities (FASTRAC), a three-year program in partnership with the United Nations and the World Bank.

Along the three-kilometer stretch from the highway  to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s main gate, posters of candidates lined the roadside, many of them posted on coconut trunks.

There were no posters of national candidates (for senators),  just regional  (for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM)  and local (for Maguindanao).

Most of the posters were from the team of Datu Tucao Mastura and Ali Midtimbang, candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) for governor and vice governor of Maguindanao, and Mastura’s nephew, Vice Governor Ismael Mastura who is now running for ARMM Assemblyman.

The elder Mastura is mayor of Sultan Kudarat town where the MILF camp is based, Midtimbang is former Talayan mayor

Mayor Mastura is a brother of  MILF senior peace panel member Michael Mastura, father of Ismael.

Posters of  ARMM gubernatorial bet Pax Mangudadatu and his running mate Bashier Dimalaang  Manalao were also visible.

Mangudadatu, former governor of Sultan Kudarat province, is an uncle of incumbent Maguindanao governor Esmael Mangudadatu of the Liberal Party while Manalao is former governor of Lanao del Sur.

A few posters of  the first district congressional candidates – reelectionist Bai Sandra Sema (Liberal Party) and Baisendig Dilangalen (Ind), were also seen. Russman Sinsuat, Jr. who is

Mastura-Midtimbang posters dominate on the road to the
MILF's Camp Darapanan. MindaNews photo by Carolyn O. Arguillas

running for provincial board member under the Liberal Party also had some campaign materials.

There were no posters of reelectionist governor  Mangudadatu and the ruling party’s candidate for ARMM governor, Mujiv Hataman and his running mate, Al-rashid Lucman although Hataman has reportedly been endorsed by both Mastura and Esmael Mangudadatu.

Both candidates for Maguindanao governor have repeatedly committed their support to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro  which the government and MILF peace panels signed on October 15, 2012.

“The MILF has not changed its official policy of non-involvement in the ongoing electoral process,” Murad said, adding this has been “the policy of the MILF since the very beginning.”

“We will not participate in the electoral process but then we will not also prevent the people to participate.”

Murad clarified that ‘it is only the MILF officials who are prevented from participating (in the elections).

“Now at this point in time you’d notice that when you enter Camp Darapanan, you will notice there are so many posters of candidates (along) the route. This is not a violation of the policy. We do not see it as a violation of the policy. We do not see also as a violation of the policy for candidates to come and talk to our people because as I have said, we are not preventing them. If they want to vote, they can vote. Only some officers are prevented from voting,” Murad said.

He acknowledged that there are candidates “coming to Darapanan to talk to our people”  but did not name them. But he reiterated that the MILF’s policy on the elections has not changed. “The policy remains as is,” he said.

When a reporter asked if it is true that the MILF would hold a “proclamation rally” in Shariff Aguak town on May 5, allegedly to announce the candidates they would support, Murad replied there is no such rally.

“That is not true. There is no proclamation rally of the MILF because we are not participating in the elections. So there is no truth to the information that there will be a proclamation rally on May 5. We are not a party to that. The MILF is not a party to that,” he said .

Asked if there was an MILF activity in Shariff Aguak on May 5, Murad replied their provincial committee may have “but it is not related to the political exercise.” (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews).

Rating fall puzzles Binay Veep approval drops 8 points in new SWS poll

“Puzzling” was how the Office of the Vice President (OVP) described the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey in which public satisfaction with Vice President Jejomar Binay slipped, spoiling his “excellent” rating streak that stretched for five quarters.

The net satisfaction ratings of other government officials and institutions also declined in March.

The survey, conducted from March 19 to 22, found Binay’s net satisfaction rating dropping eight points from an “excellent” 70 (79 percent satisfied, 9 percent dissatisfied) in December 2012 to a “very good” 62 (75 percent satisfied, 13 percent dissatisfied) in March.

Results of the survey, first published in BusinessWorld, used 1,200 face-to-face interviews nationwide and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

In an earlier report, President Aquino’s net satisfaction rating went up by four points from 55 in December to 59 in March, both within the “very good” category.

In a statement, the OVP on Monday observed that the SWS survey overlapped with that of Pulse Asia but produced divergent results.

“While SWS showed a decline [of eight points], the Pulse Asia survey showed an increase of six points in the Vice President’s performance and trust ratings,” it noted.

Binay’s spokesman, Joey Salgado, said despite that, the Vice President remained grateful for his high approval ratings. “Since 2012, the Vice President’s ratings ranged from very good to excellent,” Salgado said.

Since Binay assumed the vice presidency in June 2010, his net satisfaction ratings ranged from a low of 57 in November 2010 to a high of 76 in August 2012.

Political dynasty

Binay is campaigning for the senatorial slate of the “opposition” United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which includes his daughter Nancy.

The Binays have been accused of building a political dynasty, as the Vice President’s son is a reelectionist mayor in Makati City while another daughter is running for reelection as representative of the city. The wife of the Vice President, like himself, is a former mayor of Makati.

The Catholic Church is among the groups campaigning against political dynasties in the country.

Backlash

A political analyst is not puzzled at all by the decline in Binay’s satisfaction rating.

Ramon Casiple said Monday night that backlash over the issue of political dynasty was the main reason for the drop in the net satisfaction rating of Binay.

“A turn-off is the charge of political dynasty. There’s no doubt in the minds of the people that he brought in his daughter as a senatorial candidate simply because she is his daughter,” Casiple said by phone.

The perception that Binay was “too eager” to become the country’s next leader also did him in, he said. “He has an image problem. He has come across as too eager for the position. He’s the only one who has announced his candidacy,” he said.

The net satisfaction rating of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, a stalwart of the UNA like Binay, suffered a 17-point decline from a “good” 47 (63 percent satisfied, 16 percent dissatisfied) in December 2012 to a still “good” 30 [rounded off] (53 percent satisfied, 24 percent dissatisfied) in the latest survey.

As Senate President, Enrile’s satisfaction ratings ranged from a low of 5 in December 2008 to a high of 65 in August 2012.

Slew of controversies

Enrile is campaigning for his son Jack, a senatorial candidate of UNA.

Casiple said a slew of controversies—the grant of bonuses to favored senators, smuggling in Port Irene, in his home province of Cagayan, and his son’s checkered past—pulled down the net satisfaction rating of Enrile.

“That was corruption; unlawful or illegitimate use of public money,” he said of Enrile’s grant of P1.6 million in additional maintenance and other operating expenses to 18 senators last Christmas. Four senators critical of Enrile each received only P250,000.

Belmonte, Sereno slide

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.’s net satisfaction rating slid by four points, from 15 in December 2012 to 11 in March. Both numbers are within the “moderate” rating.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno registered a five-point decline from a “moderate” 14 in December 2012 to a “neutral” 9 in March.

The SWS classifies a net satisfaction rating of 70 and above as “excellent”; 50 to 69, “very good”; 30 to 49, “good”; 10 to 29, “moderate”; 9 to -9, “neutral”; -10 to -29, “poor”; -30 to -49, “bad”; -50 to -69, “very bad”; and -70 and below, “execrable.”

Institutions

The net satisfaction ratings of major institutions also declined, with the Senate slipping by six percentage points from December 2012’s “very good” 51 (65 percent satisfied, 14 percent dissatisfied) to a “good” 45 (63 percent satisfied, 18 percent dissatisfied) in the latest survey.

Net satisfaction with the Cabinet also fell by three percentage points from 26 (45 percent satisfied, 19 percent dissatisfied) in the previous quarter to 23 (44 percent satisfied, 21 percent dissatisfied).

On the other hand, the Supreme Court and the House of Representatives’ net satisfaction ratings slipped by two percentage points.

The high court’s rating fell from 36 (55 percent satisfied, 18 percent dissatisfied) to 34 (54 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied) in the latest survey.

The House’s net satisfaction rating declined from 31 (50 percentage satisfied, 20 percentage dissatisfied) in the previous quarter to 29 (49 percent satisfied, 20 percent dissatisfied) in March.—Lawrence de Guzman, Inquirer Research; Jerry E. Esplanada and TJ A. Burgonio

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/399533/rating-fall-puzzles-binay#ixzz2Rz0BQl8q

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PH buying 2 brand-new warships

By Marlon Ramos

The Philippines is getting two brand-new frigates as part of the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said on Monday.

He told reporters that the Department of National Defense (DND) had earmarked P18 billion for the purchase of the two vessels through a public bidding. He said a number of countries, including South Korea, Spain and Singapore, would participate in the bidding.

Manalo also disclosed that the DND had been negotiating for a government-to-government acquisition of 12 jet fighters from South Korea.

He said the DND had decided to scrap previous plans to acquire refurbished frigates since secondhand vessels would be more costly to maintain. He said the DND had allocated P9 billion for each frigate, or fast warship.

“The purchase of the frigates has been in the pipeline,” Manalo said.  “We are just waiting for the Navy to submit their ‘decision package.’ After that, we will review it and issue an acquisition decision memorandum signed by (Defense) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin,” he said.

Manalo said the process could take a week. “After that, we’ll schedule one or two prebid conferences.”

“We originally wanted to buy secondhand frigates but then we realized that it would be expensive in the long run if we are going to buy secondhand,” he added.

He noted that older ships required more maintenance repairs compared to new vessels. He said the DND had previously approved P6 billion for each refurbished frigate.

The Philippine Navy has only one battleship, the 48-year-old Hamilton-class cutter BRP Gregorio del Pilar, which the Philippines acquired from the United States in 2011.

A second warship, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, would finally sail to the Philippines in June after undergoing repairs in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Navy earlier said the Alcaraz, a 45-year-old frigate, was expected to arrive this month.

The Hamilton-class cutter was acquired for P450 million by the AFP from the US Coast Guard on May 22, 2012, as part of the US government’s military assistance program for the Philippines.

In his State of the Nation Address last year, President Aquino announced that the Alcaraz would arrive from the United States in January 2013 as part of the much-needed AFP upgrade.

“We are not sending paper boats out to the sea. Now, our 36,000 kilometers of coastline will be patrolled by more modern ships,” the President then said, referring to the decades-old vessel, which the US Coast Guard decommissioned on March 30, 2012.

Formerly known as USCGC Dallas, the AFP’s second frigate was named after the late Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a World War II hero who commanded the Q-boat Abra, which shot down three Japanese aircraft.

Like its sister ship, the Alcaraz was classified as a high-endurance cutter built in 1968.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/399539/ph-buying-2-brand-new-warships#ixzz2RyzG8uXO

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Philippine Campaign Violations you Need to be Aware Of

Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote (and who do not give a damn!). 

As the May 2013 election draws near, more and more campaign violations can be observed along the streetwalk and other campaign venues. 

Here are the set violations by our Commission on Elections: 

Unlawful Campaigning

Campaigning on Maundy Thursday, March 28

Campaigning on Good Friday, March 29

Campaigning on the eve of Election Day, May 12

Campaigning on Election Day, May 13

Foreign Intervention

A foreigner, or foreign entity, aiding a candidate directly or indirectly, or spending for a candidate’s campaign

Prohibited Campaign Propaganda

- Printed materials such as leaflets, exceeding eight and one-half inches (8 ½”) in width and fourteen inches (14”) in length

- Posters made of cloth, paper, cardboard or any other material, whether framed or posted, with an area exceeding two feet (2’) by three feet (3’)

- Streamers exceeding three feet (3’) by eight feet (8’) in size displayed at the site and on the occasion of a public meeting or rally.

- Said streamers displayed more than five (5) days before the date of the meeting or rally or NOT removed within twenty-four (24) hours after said meeting or rally

- Use of hazardous materials in campaign materials; use of plastics in jurisdictions where plastics are banned

-Absence of this information on printed propaganda material: “political advertisement paid for,” followed by the true and correct name and address of the candidate or party for whose benefit the election propaganda was printed or aired; and “political advertisements paid by,” followed by the true and correct name and address of the payor

Source: www.philstar.com

- To print, publish, broadcast or exhibit any such election propaganda donated or given free of charge by any person or publishing firm or broadcast entity to a candidate or party without the written acceptance by the said candidate or party and unless they bear and be identified by the words “printed free of charge,” or “airtime for this broadcast was provided free of charge by”, respectively, followed by the true and correct name and address of the said publishing firm or broadcast entity

-To show, display or exhibit publicly in a theater, television station, or any public forum any movie, cinematography or documentary portraying the life or biography of a candidate, or in which a character is portrayed by an actor or media personality who is himself a candidate

-To post, display or exhibit any election campaign or propaganda material outside of authorized common poster areas, in public places, or in private properties without the consent of the owner thereof.

NB: “Public places” include any of the following:

-Electronic announcement boards, such as LED display boards located along highways and streets, LCD TV displays posted on walls of public buildings, and other similar devices which are owned by local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, or any agency or instrumentality of the Government;

-Motor vehicles used as patrol cars, ambulances, and other similar purposes that are owned by local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, and other agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, particularly those bearing red license plates;

-Waiting sheds, sidewalks, street and lamp posts, electric posts and wires, traffic signages and other signboards erected on public property, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers and underpasses, bridges, main thoroughfares, center islands of roads and highways;

-Schools, shrines, barangay halls, health centers, public structures and buildings or any edifice thereof;

Public utility vehicles such as buses, jeepneys, trains, taxi cabs, ferries, pedicabs and tricycles, whether motorized or not;

Within the premises of public transport terminals, such as bus terminals, airports, seaports, docks, piers, train stations, and the like.

So what will you do if you see these violations? Report it. COMELEC has a program called ISUMBONG MO which is open to valid reported violations. All submitted reports to COMELEC are treated as CONFIDENTIAL unless the one reporting requests otherwise.

You can call in your valid and detailed report through the COMELEC Cebu hotline: 4169773. Manila hotline numbers are 5275574; 5259345; 5259302

For those more "techie", the COMELEC earlier called on the public to report violations on campaign rules by tweeting the poll body @comelec and using the hashtag #sumbongko. Don't forget to give out your email address and just wait for COMELEC's Direct Message (DM) where they will reply to your report or they can ask further queries regarding your report. 

You can also leave a comment or PCOSdemo fanpage. The same thing, you need to give out your email address and other contact information. 

Visit www.mycomelec.tv for more information.

Or-- you can also leave a valid comment below so we at iSTORYA.NET can also help out in reporting such violations. 

So, what are you waiting for? Be vigilant and let us help each other in having a smooth-flowing campaign period and a successful election day this May! 

And to all registered voters, do not forget to vote!

“Have you ever stopped to ponder the amount of blood spilt, the volume of tears shed, the degree of pain and anguish endured, the number of noble men and women lost in battle so that we as individuals might have a say in governing our country? Honor the lives sacrificed for your freedoms. Vote.” - Richelle Goodrich

Source: www.comelec.gov.ph

PNoy vows arrest of NPAs in Guingona attack

MANILA (UPDATE) - President Benigno Aquino on Monday vowed that government troops will track down New People's Army (NPA) rebels who attacked a convoy carrying Gingoog Mayor Ruthie de Lara Guingona.

Guingona, wife of former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona Jr. and mother of Senator TG Guingona, suffered serious injuries but survived the attack.

"Nabalitaan naman po natin ang pag ambush kay Ruth Guingona," Aquino said in a speech in Misamis Oriental. "Nangangako po ako na sa abot ng ating kapangyarihan at kakayahan, at sa ngalan po ng batas, mananagot po ang dapat managot. Huhulihin at dadakipin po natin ang mga taong nasa likod ng karahasang ito."

Aquino also visited Guingona in a hospital where she is recuperating.

The 78-year-old Guingona went under the knife because of injuries sustained in a clash between members of the communist group and her police escorts.

Her son said she is still in pain after she suffered fractures in her arms and legs, as well as shrapnel wounds in different parts of the body.

Guingona was on her way home from a fiesta last night when they passed an NPA checkpoint.

Her 2 aides, brothers Nestor and Bartolome Velasco, were killed.

"They alleged that they fired upon my mother because my mother breached a policy of bringing arms in their checkpoint. The persons that were carrying the arms are members of Philippine National Police," Sen. Guingona said in a press statement.

"The New People’s Army has fired upon an elderly and innocent woman who is already bowing out of politics," he said.

"We would like to remind everyone in this country that there is only one government of the Republic of the Philippines. There is only one President who is in-charge in executing the laws of this land. That is President Noynoy Aquino. He is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. And most importantly, he is the leader of this nation. No one has the right to usurp the laws of this country," he added.

Casiño blasts NPA attack

The attack has drawn wide condemnation, including criticism from left-wing senatorial candidate and former party-list lawmaker Teddy Casiño.

"I strongly criticize the New People’s Army’s military action on Mayor Ruthie Guingona’s convoy that resulted in the death and injury of civilians. What happened is wrong and unacceptable," he said. "Civilians, especially women and the elderly, should be spared from such actions."

"Although the NPA has admitted its mistake, we expect them to make a thorough investigation, hold those responsible to account, take remedial actions and make amends to the victims’ families," he added.

"My prayers go out to Mayor Guingona and for her speedy recovery. Likewise, I condole and offer my prayers to the families of her two companions who were killed," he said.

Palace: Don't give in to NPA demands

Malacañang also condemned the NPA attack and said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is ready to protect candidates from NPA threats.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda asked local politicians not to give in to demands of the NPA for protection money.

"The AFP is fully aware and they have taken steps also to ensure that the politicians are spared from all these permit-to-campaign," Lacierda said.

"Those in the local [campaign] can inform us and we let our AFP units go and make sure that there are no NPA checkpoints. This is not tolerated under this system of government," he added.

Lacierda said that the government remains committed to continue peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF but said that the group should show its sincerity.

"It's obvious that the CPP-NPA-NDF is not interested in pursuing peace talks with us. Our position has been very, very clear. We are committed to resolving the internal armed conflicts peacefully. However, there seems to be disconnect between the Netherlands and the people on the ground," he said.

"So is it worth discussing peace with them? Certainly, we would like to pursue peace talks with them but the burden is on the CPP-NPA. If they want to do so, we will pursue peace with them. If they are not interested in pursuing peace then we will be prepared to defend our citizens." - with reports from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News; Primy Cane, ABS-CBN News Northern Mindanao

 ABS-CBNnews.com Posted at 04/22/2013 11:55 PM | Updated as of 04/23/2013 2:09 AM

Drilon on Comelec resolution on polls: Don’t shoot the messengers

 By Cathy Yamsuan Philippine Daily Inquirer
Wednesday, April 24th, 2013  |  12:17 pm

MANILA, Philippines — Team PNoy campaign manager Senator Franklin Drilon welcomes the resolution of the Commission on Elections requiring survey firms to reveal the political parties and other interested individuals who commission or subscribe to their reports.

“This is for the sake of transparency.  however, we should not be shooting the messengers, they are just carrying the message. We have to learn from the message,” Drilon said in a news conference at the Liberal Party headquarters in Makati City.

Drilon shot down speculations that results regularly released by the Social Weather Station, Pulse Asia and other surveyors could be manipulated.

“These firms have more to lose uf they do that. Remember that political (clients) are only a small portion of those who commission or subscribe. They just happen to be more prominent at this time,” he said.

Drilon added that survey firms rely more on private businesses seeking feedback on products.

This community, he said, was sensitive to consumer feedback and would not tolerate such manipulation.

What makes a ‘good senator’, Maceda counts the ways

INQUIRER.net 1:43 pm | Monday, April 29th, 2013

MANILA, Philippines – Intelligence alone does not necessarily make a good senator.

Former senate president Ernesto Maceda believes that it takes years of experience—54 years in public service and 43 government positions, to be specific.

Maceda was a member of the Senate from 1970 to 1998—at one point serving as Senate President— and was Philippine Ambassador to the United States from 1998 to 2001.

“I have delivered 200 exposes, authored and co-authored 600 laws, and I have been in public office for 54 years and held more than anybody else, 43 government positions. I don’t think anybody else can equal my record,” he told INQUIRER.net in a recent interview.

“I have the Maceda Law which provides protection to real estate buyers. For you to have a law named after you and it is being studied in law school is some sort of an exceptional achievement,” he said.

And at 78 years old, the former senator feels that the time is right for him to take his place among fellow lawmakers once more, feeling that the quality of debates in the Senate has been declining.

“The general impression is that if you go farther back, the better, the higher the quality of debates. As you go near the present time, it seems to me that the quality is declining,” said Maceda, a senatorial bet running under the United Nationalist Alliance [UNA].

A good senator would attend as much committee hearings as possible in a day, continue researching and studying laws, and exert the power of check and balance in the government.

But it still boils down to more than five decades in public service for Maceda.

“You must have a lot of experience and knowledge and intelligence to be able to discuss well over… 5,000 to 6,000 bills. If you don’t have an extensive background you probably will be very selective. You cannot be good enough to involve yourself in the debates of all the bills,” he said.

“Almost automatically if you have good senators you have good debates, if you have silent senators you have no debate,” Maceda added.

Usually a member of the opposition, the UNA bet believes that he can “shine more as an expose person, a fiscalizer and an independent senator. That is one thing you have to look for in a senator… hindi pwedeng yes sir ng yes sir sa Presidente.”

If he did not choose to pursue a career in politics, Maceda said that he would have become a doctor.

“In a sense, I am a doctor—a doctor of political diseases,” he said.

Lawmakers receive P10.6-B 'pork'

by Jess Diaz
The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) appears to be speeding up the release of pork barrel funds to senators and congressmen, many of whom are seeking reelection or other posts in next month’s polls.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has exempted pork barrel funds from the ban on the release of money from the national treasury provided these are not used for election purposes.

As of last Friday, the DBM website showed that a total of P10.6 billion of the P25-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) had already been released. PDAF is the official name of the congressional pork barrel.

The P10.6 billion is almost double the P5.8 billion that was out as of March 8, or less than a month ago.

Of the P10.6 billion, P9.4 billion has been made available to members of the House of Representatives and P1.2 billion to senators.

Of the amount released to House members, P7.6 billion was for those elected from legislative districts and P1.8 billion for party-list groups.

Among the recipient-lawmakers are senatorial candidates of the administration Team PNoy coalition and the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

The biggest recipient is reelectionist Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III of Team PNoy, who has received P167.3 million.

Senate colleagues Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Antonio Trillanes IV, who are also seeking reelection under the administration coalition, have received P90.5 million, P88.8 million, P7.3 million, and P30 million, respectively.

Some P50 million has been released to another Team PNoy senatorial candidate, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara.

UNA candidates are also getting their share of the pork barrel. Sen. Gregorio Honasan has received P54 million, while Reps. Joseph Victor Ejercito of San Juan and Jack Enrile of Cagayan have received P32 million and P15 million, respectively.

The campaign managers of the administration and the opposition are also getting their share. Some P41 million has been made available to Sen. Franklin Drilon of Team PNoy and P16 million to his UNA counterpart, Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco.

Other senators who have received their allocations are Edgardo Angara, P80.2 million; Pia Cayetano, P12.1 million; Jinggoy Estrada, P95.5 million; Juan Ponce Enrile, P5 million; Teofisto Guingona III, P31.2 million; Ferdinand Marcos Jr., P51 million; Sergio Osmeña III, P82.5 million; Francis Pangilinan, P98 million; Ralph Recto, P23 million; and Manuel Villar Jr., P49.5 million.

Vicente Sotto III and Lito Lapid have availed themselves of their full half-year allocation of P100 million each.

There are no entries in the DBM website for Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Ramon Revilla Jr., while Joker Arroyo and Panfilo Lacson have not been using their annual P200-million fund since their election to the Senate more than 11 years ago.

Party-list groups that have been disqualified by the Comelec are among the recipients of pork barrel funds.

These groups have questioned the Comelec decision before the Supreme Court, which has decided to return their cases to the poll body with a new set of parameters for qualifying or disqualifying them.

They have received their share of pork barrel funds even if the Comelec insists on their disqualification.

They include Ako Bicol, which has received P90 million; Alliance for Democracy and Nationalism, P35 million; Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives, P35 million; and 1st Consumers’ Alliance for Rural Energy, P69.8 million.

Meanwhile, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the Aquino administration should tap pork barrel funds to finance programs under the Magna Carta for the Poor.

“If they are going to utilize (pork barrel) properly, it will really help the poor and not coursed it through the hands of legislators because that is not their job,” said Pabillo, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace.

Last month, President Aquino vetoed the proposed Magna Carta for the Poor, explaining that it would be a “mission impossible” for the government to allocate around P3.3 trillion from the P2-trillion annual national budget to fund the programs outlined in the bill.  – With Evelyn Macairan, The Philippine Star

Mrs. Binay urges Sandigan to discard contempt charge

FORMER MAKATI City Mayor Elenita S. Binay has asked the Sandiganbayan on Thursday to junk the request of state prosecutors to cite her for contempt of court for traveling abroad without permission from the court.

"The prayer to cite the accused in contempt should accordingly be denied," said the wife of incumbent Vice President Jejomar C. Binay.

This, as Mrs. Binay left the country on Mar. 18 to attend the inaugural mass of Pope Francis in Vatican City, despite the lack of permission from the court’s fifth division where she faces a graft case, said state prosecutors in a "Motion" filed last Apr. 2.

They added that the third division, whose justices are in-charge of signing resolutions of the fifth division justices as they were in Cagayan de Oro City for hearings, granted her travel authority issued only on Mar. 19, making it insignificant as Mrs. Binay was already abroad.

In the said motion, state lawyers also asked the court to hold accountable "officials of the executive branch" who let her fly out of the country amid the court’s hold departure order. The prosecution did not specify any name.

On the other hand, Mrs. Binay told the anti-graft court’s fifth division that the mere request of state lawyers cannot start contempt proceedings against her as court rules require a petition with original supporting documents and paid docket fees.

"...[I]n all cases other than those initiated by the Honorable Court ... contempt proceedings may not be initiated by a mere motion, but through a verified petition with supporting particulars and certified true copies of pertinent documents or papers and full compliance with requirements for filing initiatory pleadings for civil actions," she stated.

"Instead, the motion is anchored on an unverified and unconfirmed news report from an online edition of a national daily," she added.

She also opposed the state lawyers’ request to null her P30,000-travel bond which she has not yet withdrawn.

"With respect to the prosecution’s prayer for the forfeiture of her travel bond, herein accused opposes the same for utter lack of basis."

Mrs. Binay faces a graft case in the fifth division for giving undue advantage to Office Gallery International, Inc. via a rigged bidding, wherein a padded contract worth P72.06 million was awarded to the said firm for the purchase of office furnitures and fixtures for the new Makati City Hall in 1999.

By: http://www.bworldonline.com

Bet for municipal council in NCotabato town shot dead

By John Unson (philstar.com) 

 Updated April 29, 2013 - 1:59pm

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  --- A still unidentified gunman shot dead Sunday night a candidate for the municipal council in troubled  Banisilan town in North Cotabato.

Senior Supt. Danny Peralta, director of the North Cotabato police, said the victim, Gafur Omar, was on his way home from a late campaign engagement at the town proper of Banisilan when a gunman approached from behind and repeatedly shot the victim with a pistol.

Peralta said Omar, who was a candidate for municipal councilor, died on the spot.

Peralta said investigators are still trying to determine if the shooting incident was politically-motivated.

Two security escorts of a re-electionist councilor in the same town were wounded in an ambush about a month ago. The councilor survived the ambush unscathed and was quick to blame Moro guerillas identified with a rival clan as behind the attempt on his life.

Peralta said he has deployed a company of  policemen to Banisilan as part of the security measurest to stave off any escalation of election-related hostilities in the area.

Banisilan accounts for most number of still unresolved “rido,” or clan wars involving armed Moro clans in North Cotabato.