Inside Philippine politics & beyond

The secret to Enrile’s staying power

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By Raïssa Robles

Juan Ponce Enrile, 88, has been a senator since 1987.

Taking into account two terms when he wasn’t elected he has sat in office a total of 17 years. He is now on his fourth term.

He has been Senate President for only four years – since November 17, 2008. Perhaps before that his fellow senators didn’t want to entrust Enrile, long linked to coup plots, with such a powerful position until he became safely old.

Even so, managing to stay as Senate President for four years is still a feat. That ranks him the third  longest-serving official in that post since 1987, after Senators Franklin Drilon and Jovito Salonga.

Enrile’s secret?

He has made good on his election campaign slogan – Gusto ko happy ka [I want you to be happy].

He has kept everyone at the Senate happy –  from the janitors to the senators in the minority bloc.

Lately, though, the Senate has been awash with reports that some senators were no longer happy with his leadership. Enrile has dismissed this as a “silly rumor” but said he was ready to stand aside anytime.

Later, I will discuss why this is likely to happen sooner than later.

But first, let me explain the peculiarities of the Senate Presidency.

The position is notoriously unstable: a Senate President is elected when he obtains 12 votes of his fellow senators, in addition to his own vote. The average shelf life of a Philippine senate president is one to two years only. The holder of the office has no fixed term and can be replaced anytime.

And for this reason, using the word “coup” to describe a turnover is not legally correct. Because a coup denotes an illegal removal.  The media uses the term anyway  because it’s shorter and more headline-grabbing.

The Senate President is powerful

The Philippine Senate is somewhat patterned after that of the United States but in the US, Senate “coups” never happen because the elected Vice-President automatically becomes Senate President.   It appears to me that in the US, whoever is the VP-partner of the winning President is the one who gets elected.

The framers of the 1987 Philippine Constitution never adopted that set-up, perhaps because in our presidential system a Vice-President may come from the elected President’s rival party.  If the VP automatically gets the Senate Presidency, that would skew the balance of power in government.

The Senate Presidency has the potential of making its occupant the second most politically powerful official in the land, depending on the force of his personality and the post’s built-in powers.

The Senate President has the following powers under the Constitution, the chamber’s own rules, practices and tradition:

  1. He has a big say on what laws and treaties the chamber should approve.
  2. He sets the political tone to take toward the President.  His criticisms or praise of the President and his actions are carried on  prime-time news.
  3. He controls the use of Senate funds.
  4. As ex-officio chairman of the bicameral Commission on Appointments, he has a big say on which presidential appointments are confirmed.
  5. He  co-presides in impeaching a president and solely presides in impeachment all other impeachable officials.

The office could turn the occupant into a household name, making him a viable candidate for the presidency.  The first-ever Senate President – Manual Quezon – became the first Philippine President under the American Commonwealth Period.

Seven other Senate Presidents in our history tried to use the office as a stepping stone to the presidency but only one – Ferdinand Marcos (1963-1965) succeeded. The rest failed: Jose Avelino (1946-1949),  Jovito Salonga (1987 – 1991),  Edgardo Angara (1993-1995), Ernesto Maceda (1996 – 1998), Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (2000-2001), Manuel Villar (2006 – November 2008).

I asked a veteran Senate insider, whom I will call “Omega”, when and why  Senate Presidents get unceremoniously removed by their peers. Omega replied:

Whenever we had a Senate President with ambition for higher office or who was magulang (unfair) in the use of Senate funds.

Why Enrile replaced Villar

When Enrile replaced  Villar on November 17, 2008, Omega said it was because Enrile was perceived by colleagues to be Villar’s exact opposite. Recall that before the housing magnate-turned-politician was unseated,  Senator Jamby Madrigal had accused Villar of, among others,

allegedly using his position of power and authority to influence public officials in relocating the C-5 Road Extension Project to deliberately pass thru his properties…redounding in huge benefits for him to the detriment of the Filipino people thereby resulting in a blatant conflict of interest.

Villar dismissed this as a lie, but Enrile himself testified in a Senate probe that  Villar had used his office to “earmark” P200 million in the 2008 national budget for the C-5 road project.

In his newly-issued autobiography, Juan Ponce Enrile: A Memoir, Enrile justified his action against “my friend Villar… (as) just part of the political landscape in the run-up to the presidential elections of 2010.”

Enrile’s long-time political ally and friend, Joseph Estrada, was running for president again. The two went back a long way – back to when they formed the Grand Alliance for Democracy (GAD) Party in 1987 and won Senate seats.

Enrile is a nimble survivor of political disasters. He lost his first Senate run in 1971 but returned to power as the dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ defense chief and Martial Law administrator for 14 years. In 1986, he eluded arrest for allegedly plotting against Marcos by going over to the camp of opposition leader Corazon Aquino. When the Marcoses fled, he became her defense secretary as part of the deal. Later accused of also trying to topple Mrs Aquino,  he made himself politically invincible by winning a Senate seat.

Enrile is used to political intrigues. In his memoir, he revealed how he dealt with one that catapulted him to the Senate Presidency. He recalled that:

Around late September 2008, Senate President Manuel “Manny” Villar talked to me and to Senator Honasan. He said that a group of Senators were actively seeking his ouster as Senate President and he identified some of those involved in the effort – Senators Loren Legarda, Mar Roxas, Jamby Madrigal, and Ping Lacson.

In so many small conversations that we had, Manny Villar had said that he did not believe any move to oust him would succeed unless I myself got involved. I knew that he was thinking that if I was interested in the senate presidency, some variables in the equation could change, perhaps because of my relationship with Greg Honasan and the Estradas and to the other Senators as well. I assured him that I had no interest in taking the senate presidency…

Reading that last line made me imagine a purring cat, moments before lunging at a mouse. Because barely two months after Villar and Enrile started talking, Enrile had displaced him.

Villar only lasted two years; Enrile is about to complete his fourth year in the post.

How did he do that?

My guess is that he took his election campaign slogan to heart – Gusto ko, happy ka (I want you to be happy.)

Enrile’s happy moments

During his first Christmas as Senate President, he wowed all senate employees with a generous cash gift of P60,000 each, Omega told me. Every Christmas thereafter has been equally wonderful.

In contrast, the Christmas bonus during the Senate Presidency of Villar and Franklin Drilon was only P40,000 each and P26,000 each,  respectively.

Omega also revealed that each employee gets an additional monthly allowance of around P10,000 on top of salaries. And Enrile “donated” P50 million pesos to the Senate Employees Fund.

His Senate peers, who fondly address him as Manong Johnny, are recipients, too. Enrile shares with them his own allocation from the Countrywide Development Fund, or pork barrel.

Unlike some previous Senate Presidents who showered their protegés in the Senate with more CDF, Enrile has not openly played favorites but has released senators’ funds in an equitable manner.

Omega’s revelations were confirmed by a  Philippine Daily Inquirer story last Friday entitled Enrile may lose senate presidency anytime says senate insider. Veteran political reporter Cathy Yamsuan wrote that –

Fears of a Senate coup remain a hot topic among the chamber’s employees. A common sentiment is that Senate workers like Enrile because he is generous with year-end bonuses for them.

Yamsuan indicated that the plot against Enrile had moved beyond talk and a headcount was underway.

Ironically, it seems things are coming to a full circle for Enrile. Because it is Villar – who recently made an alliance with President Aquino’s Liberal Party – who may yet deliver the death blow to Enrile’s  Senate Presidency.

Enrile, in his memoir,  recalled that the magic number for replacing a senate president was 13. He said –

I always maintained that whoever had 13 votes would be Senate President. In that sense, the senate presidency has no fixed term. There is no other way to look at it, except if a majority of the senators were committed to such an ‘arrangement’.

But why replace Enrile who has made the Senate such a happy place to work?

I can think of 5 reasons

First, the 2013 electoral battle is shaping up to be a fight between:

  • the bloc of Enrile, Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Vicente Sotto, Vice-President Jejomar Binay and Joseph Estrada
  • against that of President Benigno Aquino III and Senators Villar (Nacionalista Party) and Angara (LDP)

Politicians of all stripes maintain that whichever political bloc attains control of the two chambers of Congress would have a head-start in the 2016 presidential race.

Second, whoever controls the Senate can damage political rivals with high-profile Senate investigations on corruption. It was what the Enrile-Estrada group did to Villar in early 2010, ahead of the presidential polls.

Third, the Senate President controls the legislative agenda. Enrile has been blocking the passage of a Reproductive Health Law and has been pushing for a highly watered down tax on liquor and tobacco.  His bailiwick is the tobacco producing province of Cagayan.

Fourth, the Senate President controls the chamber’s sizable discretionary funds. You’d be amazed how much of the Senate’s money – OUR money – get disbursed without any itemized post-audit.

And fifth, when Congress goes on recess for the elections next year, the following 12 senators whose terms will expire in 2016 will be left as hold-overs in the chamber:

Enrile, Sotto and Jinggoy Estrada, who currently hold the top Senate leadership.

Three from the Liberal Party – Franklin Drilon, Teofisto “TG” Guingona III and Recto

Two from the Nacionalista Party – Pia Cayetano and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos

Two from Lakas Party – Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid

And two Independents –  Miriam Santiago and Sergio Osmeña

If Enrile stays on as Senate President – the way he did during the post-2010 election period – this could enhance his chances of getting re-elected to the same post when the new Congress convenes in July 2013. This would mean the Senate would continue to be controlled by the Enrile-Jinggoy-Sotto- Binay bloc.

This is not a palatable prospect for the presidential palace.

But, you might ask – does it really matter to the nation which bloc controls the Senate?

It should.

But right now it doesn’t, because whichever bloc controls it has no genuine political reform in mind. For instance, neither the Binay nor the Aquino bloc is prepared to enact a law barring political dynasties, in order to implement this 1987 Constitutional provision.

Comments

  1. Araw-araw pagbukas ko ng laptop tinitingnan ko agad kung may isinulat si Ms. Raisa, kapag wala sa FB account ko agad ang punta at basahin ang mga news release ng Rappler. I really find these articles comprehensive and informative! I do not usually make a comment for fear that I may duplicate what already have been said. I am very happy that all the commenters feel a certain kind of bond just like that of a family. Keep it up, Ms Raissa and very slowly change the landscape of our political system!

  2. Tulog muna ako.

    Pls. note –

    If your comment does not appear at once, it is because of THE SHIELD that is protecting this site from hackers.

    It’s quite tight and at times odd in the way it labels genuine comments as SPAM and therefore puts them in a box that says – awaiting moderation.

    Thanks for your understanding,
    Raissa

    • Ignorance, hunger, petty greed and fear of the poor people is the playground of the influential and the wealthy. That kind of people is greater than the number of people who are bright and morally righteous in the Philippines.
      Yes, almost all have been to school and acceptably only few can be called really educated. Our success have always been measured by how much money you have in your pocket than how much you have in your brain.
      Just like in movies, only in the Philippines you can can an actor as okay for his face and body first rather his ability to act.
      One good thing however, through the years,this actors develop his crafts and is often rewarded with awards. But in our political system the more the politician gain experience, the more he learns the crafts of taking control of the ignorant who never try to learn and always blinded by loyalty to what he can get.

      • In acting, actors wait for “take one; take two; take three,” and so on. May director.

        Sa politics, it is “TAKE ALL!” Ang director is MONEY!

        So, mixing the two is horrible! It is “ALL MY TAKES!” Siya lahat!

  3. Are the Filipino people really insane? Since insanity is doing something over and over expecting different result.

    • Sh, the entire country is a giant asylum. And it’s a unique institution because the wardens are crazier than the inmates.

      And, sh, here’s a secret. There’s a Ward E (Electronic) where formerly affected inmates have healed themselves via intelligent discourse. These inmates don’t talk directly to each other. No, they do it using these strange gadgets called keyboards that are connected to another gizmo called a web. And amazingly the entire caboodle works, in spite of efforts by the wardens to shut the thing down. The psychoses of the wardens are exposed, the delusions of the other inmates are being dispelled, and soon – hopefully within our lifetimes – the walls of the institution will crumble.

    • @wa_pera…are including yourself in that as “insane?”…Pag walanga pera, di kaagad insane. But, hungry for long…insanity comes in! Disorientation muna, then insanity.

      Politicians “taking all the money” are bit insane…on the money. Tayo, walang pera are really insane having no money. Who says one is fully satisfied having all the money over and over again? None! Who says having no money over and over again is satisfied? None also. Different results? No. It is the same results.

  4. tuwing makakabasa ako tungkol sa susunod na election kinakabahan ako at naha high blood dahil naiisip ko na maiboboto na naman ang mga HINAYUPAK na mga TIWA sa ating pamahlaan. tyo lang na nakakabasa ng site ni raissa ang naliliwanagan at alam na natin kung sino sino ang dapat na ihalal natin. pero yung mga walang alam at walang pakialam ay mas nakakarami. paano natin maipapaabot sa kanila ang tunay na nangyayari at mangyayari sa atin paginihalal natin ulit ang mga ITO? ang mga kabataan ay palagi sa mga internet cafe. maari siguro yung mga may kakilala na may ari ng mga internet cafe na magpaskel ng mga bagay na magpapaalaala sa tamang pagpili. yun sanang mga magaaral ng namamahala ng kanila kanilang school newspaper ay magsulat tungkol sa tamang pagboto. meron sanang mga makabayang mamamayan na magpunta sa mga liblib na lugar para ipaliwanag ang nangyayari sa ating pamahalaan. marami ang hidni nakakabasa sa mga tunay na pangyayari. sa darating na halalan, ang mga botanteng walang pakialam ay madaling hikayatin ng mga kandidatong mapera dahil mabibili nila ang mga boto. mas marami ang mahirap na walang pakialam kesa sa mga may pakialam at gusto ng pagbabago para sa kaunlaran. sa mga paaralan ang mga guro sana ay magpatawag ng PTA meeting para iparating sa mga magulang ang kahalagahan ng tumpak na pagpili ng kandidato para sa kapakanan ng kanilang mga anak pagdating ng araw. sa mga tanggapan meron din silang mga sariling pahayagan maari din magpaalala tungkol sa tamang paghalal. ito ay isip ko lang. lubha nang nagiging malala ang situasyon ng ating botohan. mga pamipamilya at kamaganak na lang ang namamahala. sila sila na lang ang nagsasabi na FAMILY OF SERVICE(KUNO?????) pakiramdam ko ang mga pobreng Pilipino ay para nang mga negro sa america noong unang panahon na pinaiikot ng mga puti at walang karapatan.

    • @pinay710…yan ang isang depekto ng demokrasya! Lahat sa may edad 18 (?) puede bomoto, basta “knows how to read and write; citizen, etc. etc.” Nasa Constitution yan.

      Di puede ordinaryong batas alisin ito. Kailangan bagohin ang Constitution.

      Ang ating kalagayan ay parang PYRAMID: ang taas ‘O matulis ay nasa baba at yun malapad [like a base] ay nasa itaas. Pag ganyan an TINDIG ng PYRAMID ay walang balansi [no balance; keeps on titling & about to fall or will fall].

      Pag di pa ma approve ang RH bill, dadami ang TAO BAYAN…ang taas ng PYRAMID komo malapad ay BIBIGAT PA subalit ang nasa baba bihira ang dagdag. Nahihirapan ma STEADY ANG TINDIG! Pag sobra na ang BIGAT sa ITAAS, BABAGSAK ng KATUTAK ang PYRAMID! Mag kakalat lahat ang mga TIMBANG. Mahirap itayo uli ay PYRAMID. Nag takbuhan lahat sa takot ng bagsak. Ano ang susunod? KAGULUHAN!

      Doon lang siguro mag babago ang KONSTITUSYON, na hindi lahat “who knows how to read and write” will be allowed to vote!

      Mag cha cha muna tayo sa mabigat na problem na yan. Salamat sa yo. Have HOPE!

      • @ed celis, you are absolutely right, but there are lots of kinds of vote buying. giving alms to needy while election time, is vote buying, giving rides to votes going to and fro to the precint is another, giving lots of funds(?) to the barangay is another, promising something to people in distress specially those in the slum area is another vote buying. lets go to all sites where there are discussions and bombard them with all the links that will enlighten the internet users how to change our government system. lets tell all the new voters who are i think are computer literates. when election time the very first thing a candidate will do is go to the baranggay captain ask who are those people/place who are on the other side of their party. of course the captain knows his constituents. that is the start of the modus operandi how to convince those people who are in distress. distress people are easily bait by promises.

      • @sir/mam leona, tama ka po naiintindihan ko. noong kapanahunan ni magsaysay kaiba kesa sa ngayon. siguro yan ang resulta ng pagusad ng panahon.

        aminin ko po na isa ako sa WALANG PAKIALAM sa gobyerno basta kumikita ako noon bilang isang kawani at kumakain kami ng 3 beses ok na. wala akong alam at hindi pa masyadong naibabalita kung ano ang mga nangyayari sa ating pamahalaan. wala panahon magbasa ng dyaryo.

        mga hepe at mataas na opisyal sa tanggapan ang nakakapagbasa ng dyaryo bago magumpisa ng trabaho. mga kawani pagupo sa mesa trabaho agad.

        ngayon lang sa panahon ng internet at napunta ako dito sa blog ni raissa ako naliwanagan at nagising ang aking kamalayan sa nangyayari sa ating bansa.

        huli na ako para physical na umaktibo sa pagtulong. ang tangi ko lang maitutulong ay ang kumbinsihin ang mga anak ko, kaibigan ko, apo ko pagnasa tamang edad na sila para bomoto at mga kakilala ko na gumising at bumoto ng tama.

        sa internet naman pumupunta ako sa mga sites tulad ng abscbnnews.com, gmanews, taopo.org, sa ngalan ng gobyerno at kung saan saan site para ilink ang blog ni raissa at magcomment tungkol sa pagboto ng tamang candidato.

        pasensya na kayo yan lang ang maitutulong ko. walla akong alam sa batas ng constitution natin.

        alam ko lang bilang kawani ng pamahalaan HUWAG MAGNAKAW NG ORAS. LAHAT NG ORAS AY GAMITIN SA TRABAHO AT MAGPALAKI NG ANAK NA SUMUNOD SA BATAS AT HUWAG MAGING PASAWAY SA LIPUNAN.

        pero ngayon nababasa ko dito sa internet lalo na sa blog ni raissa na GARAPALAN NA ANG MGA NAMAMAHALA SA ATING PAMAHALAAN. KAHIT NA SINO PUEDE NA MAGING OPISYAL NG PAMAHLAAN, KAHIT ARTISTA, BOKSINGERO, PARI, AT MGA PANGKARANIWANG MAMAMAYAN NA WALA NAMAN KAALAMAN SA PAMAMAHALA AY PUEDE NA IHALAL.

        noon kapanahunan bago dumating kay marcos hindi ganun. halos lahat ng pumapasok sa politica ay may KALIDAD. MAY KAALAMAN SA BATAS AT WALANG BAHID DUNGIS NG PAGNANAKAW.

        EH NGAYON KAHIT NA NACONVICT SA ANUMANG KRIMEN NAIBOBOTO PA DIN. GANITO NA BA ANG BANSA KONG PERLAS NG SILANGAN? nakakaiyak at nakakahiyang isipin.

        marahil ay nako kornihan na kayo sa pagbasa ng mga komento ko pero ito talaga ang nararamdaman ko.

        awang awa ako sa nangyayari sa bansa natin. pero wala naman akong magawa kundi idikdik ang mga daliri ko kung saan meron makakabasa sa mga bagay na makakagising ng damdamin ng mga kabataan.

        pasensya na po kayo. masyado akong sentimental dahil gusto ko kummilos pero tali ang mga paa at katawan ko.

        hirap ng ganito.

        • raissa salamat sa pagformat mo ng komento ko. basta lang kasi ako encode ng encode dahil pagtinigilan ko mawawala ang nasa loob ko eh. kaya tuloy tuloy lang ang encoding ko parang yung nasa saloobin ko maihayag ko ng diretso.

      • @pinay710 and @ed celis,

        Maraming salamat. Yours are the strongest and sincerest voices I have heard in a long, long time.

        • springwoodman, nakakalungkot ang situation sa Pilipinas, Lupain ng Ginto at Bulaklak. Napaka-ganda at nakapaka yaman ngunit ang mga may pinagaralan sa ating bayan na may hawak ng kapanyarihan, ay sila mismo ang napapahirap sa Taong Bayan. Mga politicians/ dynasties, mga abogado at judges, mga officiales nang Pulis at militar, mga pinuno nang ahensiya ng govierno, iba-ibang sector nang religion, mga mayari nang compania at corporation na naka base sa Makati, lahat sila ay may pinag-aralan. At sila-sila lang ang nakikinabang ng yaman ng Pilipinas. Dahil ginamit nila ang kanilang pinag-aralan at talino sa masamang paraan para magpayaman. Mula elementary, high school hangang koleyo bagamat hindi ako natapos, ang itinuturo nang mga maestro at maestra ay ang matuwid na daan para mabuhay ng marangal.
          Dalawang bagay lang kung papaano uunlad ang buhay, sa mabuting paraan at sa masamang paraan. Kung sino pa ang may mga pinag-aralan sa ating lipunan at nasa kanila ang kapanyarihan, pinili pa nila ang masamang paraan para umunlad ang kanilang buhay. Sayang lang ang itinuro nang mga magulang at mga maesto at maestra sa paaralan. Ginamit ang pinag-aralan at talino para lokohin, pangsamantalan ang majority na Pilipino na walang pinag-aralan. Kaya ito ang ating bayan ngayon, Majority are Poor, at Minority are Super-Super Rich. Third World Country, ang LUPAIN ng GINTO at BULAKLAK…
          PS.
          Gaano kayaman ang Pilipinas?
          Goldmine fron Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao
          Lucio Tan, Sy, and other TAX CHEAT
          Del Monte, Dole (USA) plantation in Mindanao
          Firestone, Goodyear (USA) rubber plantation Mindanao
          Nestle (USA) coffee and cacao plantation in the P.I.
          Toyota, Mitzubichi, Nissan, BMW, Mercedez Benz, Ford, Chrysler, GM parts manufacturing P.I.
          Electronics, computer chips, USA, Japan, Korea, Germany made in P.I.
          And many more manufacturing companies using the resources ang raw materials of our own country. Paying slave labor to most of their workers.
          Profit of this companies are taken out of the country. And to protect our educated
          leaders in the government, educated politicians and other corrupt, they pass a law to protect their DOLLAR Deposit and other foreign currencies. And now they are trying to silenced the people like us here in Cyber Plaza Miraranda to shut up!!! i will defend my rights to death…long live CPM…

    • I do not see anyone or organization raising concern regarding VOTE BUYING and Selling which are normal practices during election. Even the government and the Comelec pretend to be blind on the issue. VOTE BUYING IS CHEATING!!! What do we expect for a politician who buys or cheated his/her position in office? I believe VOTE BUYING is the ROOT CAUSE of CORRUPTION….

    • pinay, tama ang pakiramdam mo na ang mga pobreng Pilipino ay mga alipin…just look around metro Manila and the remote places of the philippine islands. the gap between rich and poor….

      Majority of Filipinos were treated like SLAVES since the 1500s, during the Spanish era where their Galleon hauled the Philippine GOLD, century old wood and other treasures, for 300 years.

      Nothing has changed up to now, the Majority of Filipinos are Slaves in their own country.
      Who owns the country?
      1. Companies and Corporations with office buildings around Makati
      2. Multi-National Corporations, Banks
      3. Political Dynasties from Mindanao to the Northern part of Luzon
      4. Roman Catholic Church
      All of the above profits in BILLIONS and pay SLAVE LABOR WAGES.

      In other countries a factory worker can own a car and sleep in a soft bed.

      In the Philippines, a factory worker lives in a squatter and sleep on the floor.

      The government has allowed SLAVERY because the leaders are part of the Minority WHO OWN THE COUNTRY!

      PS. Magellan discovered the Philippines Islands during the 1500s. They saw the islands with virgin forest, with exotic birds and wild animals, centuries of hard wood trees, GOLD and other minerals and many more natural resources. Lapu-lapu defended the Island ang killed Magellan and he himself was killed in the battle. The other invaders ware able to report back to the King of Spain. With the vast wealth of the islands and the Filipino natives who will defend their territory to death, in the King’s mind. He then sent his armies of priest and friars to calm down and brainwashed the natives by teaching them to forgive anyone who did them wrong and if someone slap you in the face, have the other side get slap too, ect. They built their churches in the entire Philippine Islands and their GALLEON hauled the the gold and other wealth of the islands for 300 years.

      NOW THE PHILIPPINES IS STILL THE SAME, MAJORITY OF FILIPINOS ARE SLAVE IN THEIR OWN LAND.ONE OF THE POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WHICH HAS EVERYTHING!!!

      the old saying, “ginigisa sa sariling mantika” ( multi-national corporations using our lands, raw materials, slave labor, marketing their products worldwide and taking their profits out of the country…and to the Vatican.

      The secret of Enrile is that, he is the greatest ciminal of all times just next to his master, Marcos. But the majority of the Filipinos don’t know it…He is very smart indeed…

      • @ed celis, hindi masyadong masakit sa kalooban noong unang panahon kasi mga dayuhan ang umapi sa atin. pero sa kasalukuyan ang nananamantala sa atin at umaapi ay mga kalahi natin(maliban dun sa mga may dugo na ng mga dayuhan. natural lang na umiral ang kanilang dugong banyaga). mabuti pa ang mga red americans kahit na inapi sila ng mga puti, itinaboy sa mga bulubundukin meron sila pagkakaisa. ngayon sila ang mayayaman at may sariling pamahalaan na hindi pinakikialaman ng mga puting americano. sana makuha or gayahin(tutal sanay namang manggaya ang mga Pilipino)ng Pilipino ang ugali at cultura ng mga red skin americans. pero huli na. mukhang wala nang pagasa ang Pilipinas sa mga politicong sanay sumipsip ng dugong pinaghihirapan ng pangkaraniwang mamamayan ng Pilipinas kong mahal.
        si enrile ay aral kay marcos, kabarkada, kailocano, dugong ilocano tulad ng dati nyang amo at wise sa lahat ng bagay. isa pa sundalo pa. eh magaling sa mga taktikang militar at criminalidad ang mga sundalo/police. wala akong tiwala sa mga yan. kunwari tagapagtanggol pero ginagamit lang ang mga uniporme para sa kapangyarihan. marami akong experiencya dyan na hanggang ngayon ay nangyayari. alam ko hindi agad mawawala yan. dekada ang dadaan KUNG mababago ang systema ng mga tagapagtanggol(?) ng mamamayan. sorry pero yan ang aking opinion. dahil sa haba ng karanasan ko.
        marahil ang DIOS ay bingi na or ayaw na pakinggan ang mga panalangin natin para sa ating bayan. siguro sabi ng DIOS “kulang pa ang inyong pagsisikap”

    • @ pinay 710,

      Tama ka sa sinabi mo pinay 710, Kaya nga lagi kong sinasabi dito sa Bloggs na ang mga BOTANTE ay dapat na rin Magbago… at HUWAG NA HUWAG NANG IBENTA ANG SAGRADONG BOTO …nang makapamili tayo nang Opisyal na Maka DIYOS at Maka TAO at handang maglingkod nang TOTOO….

      • sir george bernas parang pakiramdam ko WALA NANG OPISYAL NA MAKA DIOS AT MAKA TAO. pagka maka DIOS tingin ko ginagamit na lang agn salitang DIOS. hindi na galing sa kanilang mga puso dahil pagkaupo nila pagnaihalal na iba na ang mga ginagawa. maka TAO? kanino maka tao sa sarili nilang pagkatao. kung totoo yan bakit may mga paaralang walang upuan? bakit daming mga batang nasa kalsada at namamalimos? nagkaroon tayo ng munting pagasa nang maluklok si noynoy pero mukhang mahina si noynoy. ayun pinirmahan ang cybercrime law na sumusupil sa ating kalayaan dito sa internet. yung maka TAO wala kahit isa sa kanila kitang kita na sila sila ang nagpapayaman sa sarili nila. nakakalungkot at mahirap tanggapin. TALAGANG LUBOG NA LUBOG NA ANG PILIPINAS. IILAN LANG ANG NAKAAHON. kailangang magsikap ng todo todo.

        • @ pinay 710,

          Alam mo mayroon pa rin naman mga kandidatong maka Diyos at maka Tao yon nga lang ay kakaunti nalang sila at hindi na marahil 100 % kasi nabahiran na nang bulok na sistema nang halalan. saka hindi kasi sila nananalo kasi tinalo nang pera at minsan nadaya.

          Tanging hinihiling at dalangin ko ngayon sa Panginoon ay Tayong Lahat ay Mamulat na sa katutuhanan na hindi gumagawa nang mabuti ang Pulitikong Nanalo dahil nandaya at namili nang sagradong nating BOTO. Amen….

          NO TO VOTE BUYING……

    • @pinay710 pareho tayo ng agam-agam sa darating na eleksyon 2013 at pag natapos na ang termino ni pres. pnoy.

      Saludo ako sa iyo. Tunay na nakapagbibigay pag-asa ang blog na ito sapagka’t bukod sa kaalaman ay damang-dama ang pagnanasa, pagkakaisa at pagsisikap ng bawa’t sa isang maganda at tuwid na Pilipinas.

  6. JPE had written a memoire, time to let him go, people..I think he is too old to think straight. He is using The Senate as is his retirement village that provide him his comfort zone..

  7. Raissa, Johnny Lin, Andrew Lim and baycas,

    May I address this query to you people who are adept in investigating people or may have “insiders’ in government offices…

    It was stated that Manong Johnny Enrile since becoming the Senate President has been very charitable all the senate employees even acting as a “Big Brother” or especially a golly “Santa Claus” during Christmas season. As his dictum states, “Gusto ko happy ka”. As such these employees are bound to declare in their SALNs whatever monies they received especially from their “Big Brother” or “Santa Claus” …..di ba?…. .

    Is it possible to look into some of these senate employees if they have declared Enrile’s bonuses or other cash incentives? I sincerely believe that cash incentives were distributed in pro rata bases. “Kung malayo ang isang kawani sa paminggalang maliit lang ang kanyang makukuha.” It means that his trusted friends should be receiving more than the others…

    • Within the senate and based on the approved guidelines by Enrille and the senate accounting/finance office , PRO RATA or defending upon the pay of the employee in the senate. If one is holding a position of data encoder with salary grade of let say 10 and a driver of the same salary grade, ” kung 60,000 pesos ang matatanggap nila na nakasulat sa guidelines nila , di iyon ang makukuha nila . Hindi pweding mas maliit ang makuha ng driver ng ibang senador na di nila kaalyado dipo ba? “

  9. Ganun nalang ng ganun. Kahit kasama sa Martial Law o Magnanakaw noon, bigyan mo lang ng ilang taon, yon na ..elected na ulit. Kaya wala rin nangyayari sa Pilipinas. Dapat cguro mas mabigat ang pagpapa alala sa mga tao sa darating pang mga election.

  10. Yes.

    Ellen’s site has been hacked.

    Alan says the index has been re-directed to a pre-existing site called pangit.net – which posts uncomplimentary pics of random people.

    The hack and the site it redirects to could provide a convenient reason for supporting the repressive cybercrime law.

    • As JoeAm states, hackers are as repressive of the freedom of speech as the lawmakers who supported the cybercrime bill.

      • please hackers spare this site. ito lang kay raissa ang kapanipaniwalang site. saka hindi garapal ang mga ginagamit na salita dito. yung ibang site na napuuntahan ko masyadong salaula ang mga ginagamit nilang mga salita. para na akong nabawasan ng hininga. ito lang ang nagbibigay sa akin ng kaalaman tungkol sa ating pamahalaan. paghindi ako nakapagbukas ng site ni raissa parang wala akong gana maghapon. pakiramdam ko parang pamilya ko na ang mga komentors dito na hindi ko puede mabasa ang mga sinusulat nila.sina johnny lin, baycas, leona, cha, parekoy, rene-ipil, joeam, springwoodman, sorry dun sa iba na medyo hindi ko na matandaan pasensya na kayo sa lola nyo hehehhehe pero lahat kayo parang pamilya ang pakiramdam ko sa inyo.

        • @pinay710,

          Well, thank you for making us part of your family. It’s an honor.

          Yung bunso ko, minsan tinutukso ako (kinukuwento ko madalas sa pamilya ko yung mga usap-usapan natin dito kasi), pag-uwi galing eskwela o kaya kapag naghahapunan kami, tatanungin ako kung kamusta ang mga kabarkada ko sa blog na ito. :)

        • ang paniwala ko: ang nagmamahal sa kanyang bansa ay mamahalin ang blog site na ito.
          maaari kong ituring na isang traydor sa kanyang bansa ang sinomang gagawa ng hindi kanais-nais sa site na ito.
          i would suggest na siguro dapat may alternative na site ang CPM na pwedeng gawing tagpuan, if ever.

  11. d2 lang ako nagkakaroon ng know-how about sa mundo ng pulitika. Grabe naman kung makapamigay ng pera sa mga staff – he subtle ,cunningly creates protective wall to stay in power… Pero ang d ko matanggap pera ng taumbayan ung pinamudmod nya. mam raissa, kadalasan ang naririnig ko sa news ang mga senators cla ung nag papaimbistiga s mga ilang kawani ng gobyerno, pero wala pa akng narinig na my kawani ng gobyernong nagiimbistiga sa mga kilos ng mga senador..
    D2 lang.hehe

  12. there should be no reason for “them” to hack this site –
    why kill the goose that lays the golden news?>>>

    Raissa’s blog is investigative journalism at its brightest…, and is
    always current~

  13. dear raissa please pakisafeguard mo ang site mo. ang site ni ellen tordesillas na hack. nawala sa cyber. baka pati ikaw ihack ng mga loko.

  14. Thanks Raissa, this piece has enlightened me very much on what it takes for a Filipino politician to have a “staying power. What I’m bothered much is when you said “Enrile shares with them his own allocation from the Countrywide Development Fund, or pork barrel.” Isn’t this “corruption”? The “fund” intended for “countrywide development” is being used for something else. The Senate employees must be very lucky under Senate Pres. Enrile!

    • Malapit na ang Pasko! Lulubo na naman ang mga bulsa ninyo! A la swerte kamo! Mayroon ba sumusulat dito taga empleyado sa Senado? A la swerte kamo!

      Alam namin nagdadasal kayo. Malapit na ang Pasko! Dadating ang mga regalo! A la swerte kamo!

      Lumalakas ang trabaho ninyo pag nasa Senado kamo! A la swerte ang lakas! May mga regalo lalabas! Malapit na ang Pasko!

      Kilalaki ang bonus ninyo! Wag ma bulilyaso sa pagdating ng Pasko! Sayang ang bonus ninyo. Mag dasal kamo na tuloy ang Pasko! Walang pag babago!

      Maligayang Pasko sa Inyo!

  15. When it comes to double-dealing, I can comoare him to the legendary French cunning figure, TALLEYRAND.

    In womanizing, I don’t know how to compare them, maybe Enrile is ‘faithful’…