Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Yesterday I offered a mass for members of Cyber Plaza Miranda & my FB friends

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Hi guys,

I just thought I’d tell you before I lose Internet access again.

Yesterday, I visited St. Francis’ basilica in Assisi – where his remains are buried.

I made an offerta – a mass offering – for all the members of Cyber Plaza Miranda, along with my family, close relatives and friends in Facebook.

His feast is coming, you see. And he is my favorite saint, perhaps because he lived life so simply but delivered a very complicated message to the world.

I just wanted you all to know we are in this journey together – to build a better country and community together. I’ll post pics when I return. Hard pala to post when you have no PC.

– Raissa

 

Comments

  1. At least six names have been “floated” as possible contenders:

    Former Senator Wigberto “Bobby” E. Tañada
    Retiring Associate Justice Conchitina Carpio-Morales
    Prominent human rights lawyer Jose Manuel I. Diokno
    Former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rene Villa
    Justice Secretary Leila de Lima
    And private lawyer Frank Chavez

    http://raissarobles.com/2011/05/03/can-abs-cbn-gma-7-and-abc-5-please-grill-all-wannabe-ombudsman/

    What if Rene…Villa…was Ombudsman now?

    Imagine…

    • A CPA-lawyer, Ms. Villa obtained her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Accounting degree from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas in 1974 and her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of San Agustin where she graduated valedictorian in 2001. She has also a Master in Management-Business Management degree from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas.

      Ms. Villa is married to Atty. Rene C. Villa with whom she has four sons, Rene, Jr., Felix Michael, Leo Giorgio and Anthony.

      http://www.coa.gov.ph/COA_News/2010/1stqtr/news4_1stqtr2010.htm

    • COA web page ‘waiting for moderation’. Here’s the follow up to No. 210:

      A CPA-lawyer, Ms. Villa obtained her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Accounting degree from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas in 1974 and her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of San Agustin where she graduated valedictorian in 2001. She has also a Master in Management-Business Management degree from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas.

      Ms. Villa is married to Atty. Rene C. Villa with whom she has four sons, Rene, Jr., Felix Michael, Leo Giorgio and Anthony.

    • Rene Villa is linked to Napoles as once her lawyer.

      Rene’s wife is with COA.

      The Commission on Audit has four new senior directors. Chairman Reynaldo A. Villar promoted Directors Narcisa T. Marapao of the Internal Audit Office, Nestor A. Montalbo of COA Region V, Roy L. Ursal of COA Region XIII and Sheila U. Villa of the Adjudication and Legal Services Office to Director IV on February 23, 2010.

  2. @Leona, Rene-ipil, John C Jacinto at #206

    Some interesting points about ret. CJ Puno from an Inquirer letter to the ed:

    Unmitigated Hypocrisy

    This refers to the Inquirer’s banner story in its Oct. 20 issue about the start of people power versus the pork barrel, to be led by retired chief justice Reynato Puno.
    Puno said that the pork barrel is the worst “violation of human rights” that has led to the “failure of democratic institutions and to a large degree destroyed our democracy, principle of separation of powers and the doctrine of checks and balances.”
    As a lawyer, I am all for the abolition of the pork barrel because it is one of the major sources of corruption. But I cannot understand why the movement for the abolition of the pork barrel is to be led by Puno who, when he was a Supreme Court justice, strongly voted to uphold the constitutionality of the pork barrel system: first, in the case of Philconsa v Enriquez (G.R. No. 113105, Aug. 19, 1994) and second, in Sarmiento et al. v Treasurer of the Philippines (G.R. Nos. 125680 and 126313, Sept. 4, 2001).
    Puno’s tirade against the evil of the pork barrel system, which he strongly upheld and defended when he was in the high court, smacks of unmitigated hypocrisy.
    The crusade against the pork barrel system should be led by a man whose character should be beyond reproach and whose public career has not been tainted with opportunism and breach of judicial ethics.
    Puno’s meeting with then House representative Matias Defensor, a close ally of Gloria Arroyo, in December 2009 regarding the nomination of applicants to the possible vacancy of the seat of the chief justice led to the anomalous appointment of Renato Corona in gross violation of the Constitution. (“Hour Before Dawn” by Marites D. Vitug, pp. 19-21, 2012 edition).
    In the consolidated cases of Lambino et al. v Comelec, G.R. No. 174153, Oct. 25, 2006), Justice Puno wrote a strongly worded 70-page dissenting opinion in support of the constitutionality of the People’s Initiative which could have perpetuated Arroyo in power as prime minister.
    It was a close 8-7 vote against the People’s Initiative. In December 2006, Mr. Puno was appointed chief justice by Arroyo.
    Puno’s close professional and personal association with lawyer Estelito Mendoza, his former boss in the solicitor general’s office during martial law, will always haunt him and forever taint his claim as a “crusader” for reforms.
    Judicial ethics should have impelled Puno, during his watch, to inhibit himself from the many high-profile cases handled by Estelito Mendoza before the Supreme Court. But he did not, despite criticisms from the bench and the bar (“Shadow of Doubt” by Marites Vitug, pp. 164-165, 2010 ed).
    Does former chief justice Puno have the moral authority to lead the crusade against the evils of the pork barrel system?
    —DEMOCRITO C. BARCENAS, regional chairman, Region VII, Free Legal Assistance Group, past president, IBP Cebu City Chapter

    • Cha….salamat for bringing this out.

      Mr. D.C. Barcenas’s comments truly exposes the hypocrisy of the ex-CJ. His interview with the Manila Times also displays himself to be cocky, arrogant and conceited. It is for this reason that his initiative will wither on the vine.
      The vigilance of Mr. Barcenas’s memory is to be lauded.

    • I remember or noticed that Mr. Puno was ‘inside’ that room of a ‘newspaper’ like holding a ‘media conference’ or kwentong kutserong kwento ng barbero…

      Maybe, having a lot of free time now as having retired he learned some old tricks…exercising like a ‘gymnast athlete’…jumping on air and turning on air…

      …that’s what he appears to be doing…

      …naka kain maybe ng BalimBING…

      …you’re right!

  3. ‘Heart Center chief condemns doctors driven by profit’ – Manila Times today news. (conclusion)

    The chief lashed out at what he considered malpractices – “in our profession, there is a growing number of doctors to whom the word ethics is unheard of and for whom the driving, motivating force in their practice and decision-making is financial profitability.”

    Curing our ailments nowadays is very expensive: medicines prescribed by some doctors are so costly it could make one financially bankrupt. Hospital expenses the same.

    Why are many medicines like for cancer treatment so expensive? One sample is taking a tablet for it that costs P400/tablet for 1 whole year. Breast cancer operations are very expensive and the post-treatment like Chemo is another so expensive ordeal without forgetting the pain, suffering,vomiting and loss of hairs etc. to consider, to kill cancerous cells.

    One said that in the 1950s we had tablets that cures boils and tumors so easily. This all disappeared years hence when Pharmas prescribed newer medicines at higher costs.

    The Chief ordered one doctor to find out the services being offered at one outside facility of the Heart Center, and on further prodding the doctor admitted getting a rebate for every patient sent to that outside facility. Then the Chief got sued in court for his actions.

    But the patients were happy.

    If anyone wants to seek and to get cured at much lesser expense, some simply surprising hope – HOPE, for those suffering from any ailments of the body – 17-A A.Burgos cor. Droid Sts. Q.C. near Cubao, is a place you might get interested in.

    I’ve been there too. I want HOPE and it could be there for some of us ailing people.

    • si bong marcos talaga, trying to pass a law that punishes restos for not serving 1/2 cup rice. why not pass law that tells restos to use smaller cups instead of standard cups, and so save on rice wastage? already some restos are serving smaller portions of rice, all you have to do is ask, hindi kasi alam ng mga restos kung matakaw ba o hindi kung yong mga kumakain, kaya it’s best for customers to ask for smaller portions before hand, rather than wait until they got served, and then, sue restos, or blackmail them in worse cases. but, I’d go for using smaller cups. yong mga wait staff kasi sobrang busy at paminsan nakakalimutan isulat kung sino-sino yong nanghihing ng smaller portions of rice. unfair naman kung paparusahan kaagad yong restos sa pagkakamali ng wait staff nila.

      • that’s right, moonie. i frequent a chinese fast food chain where i can get a smaller portion of rice with my order of steamed rice. same amount of ulam, lesser rice. mas malakas ako sa ulam, eh. i don’t mind paying the same, i’m just glad that i could finish everything on my rice bowl. malakas din ang kapit ng disiplina namin when we were kids – my parents and grandparents have drilled into us that we have to finish everything on our plate. kahit ilang beses kumuha ng pagkain, just get small portions that you can manage, so that you’ll be sure to finish everything you have on your plate.

  5. Am I getting jittery or someone else? Ex-CJ Puno is reported saying

    “FORMER Supreme Court chief ustice Reynato Puno warned on Monday of chaos, including a possible military intervention, if the People’s Initiative (PI) to scrap the pork barrel, which he considers as the “last peaceful alternative” against government fund misuse, fails.”

    …by by JOEL M. SY EGCO
    REPORTER AT LARGE – at Manila Times Oct. 28, 2013.

    Reporter wrote –

    [It] is the last peaceful alternative for the people to take charge of their destiny . . . if it failed, we can expect the anger of the people to reach a higher temperature. There will be no other option left,” said Puno, who relinquished his post as chief justice after he was convicted in an impeachment trial last year.”

    ‘who relinquished his post xxx after he was convicted in an impeachment trial last year’…that is Mr. Ex-CJ Reynato Puno?

    Jittery – me or Mr. Puno?

    Editor of Manila Times omitted maybe that paragraph I’m sure. But it is utterly a blunder against the good CJ Puno. Nakalusot.

    • [email protected]

      Who is Joel M. Sy Egco?

      Jose Joel M. Sy Egco tweeted before about Corona’s impeachment:

      “Fariñas calls them “Palusot” but why the hell did they not cross examine Corona to belie his alibis? So, Fariñas is “PATAWA” and “PA-CUTE”
      2:28pm – 29 May 12″

      “Teditorial: I Told You So – ANC anc.abs-cbnnews.com/blogs/248/tedi… a grand conspiracy of hypocrites
      4:32pm – 30 May 12”

      “Corona’s 2nd anniversary as CJ. I wonder who between them would survive their terms- PNoy or CJ.
      2:27pm – 17 May 12”

      “AMLC is running the impeachment show. Rep. Umali’s “little lady” and the anonymous sender of docs to risa and harvey are one-AMLC. a ruse.
      3:54pm – 16 May 12″

      https://mobile.twitter.com/joel_egco

      Joel Egco is a free lancer or a journalist for hire. His article on Puno’s people’s initiative connects the dots between Puno and Corona and Gloria. See comments of Netty, Kajames, Moonie, Leona, Yeheywater & Rene-Ipil @ 173.

    • [email protected]

      I posted a comment showing that the article of Joel Egco – on Puno’s warning of military intervention – connects the dots between Puno and Corona and GMA. But still waiting for moderation.

      • We could discern who the real Joel Egco is with his comments during the Corona impeachment trial. Joel Egco wrote:

        “Fariñas calls them “Palusot” but why the hell did they not cross examine Corona to belie his alibis? So, Fariñas is “PATAWA” and “PA-CUTE”
        2:28pm – 29 May 12″

      • …ala Egypt style? ‘O wala ala style? If ‘he’ leads a rebellious march ‘he’ will be the ex-cj charged for rebel with [out] a cause?!

        Dare it! I wanna see it.

  6. A high NFA gov’t official has or did have an anomalous appointment by the president. ““The ruling Liberal Party, to which Alcala and the President belong, and the government’s economic managers’ team backed Calayag’s anomalous appointment, which was not subjected to strict vetting by the committee headed by Budget Secretary Florencio Butch Abad and Finance Secretary Ceasar Purisima,” the Palace source said.”

    This official involved is now reported to be a ‘naturalized citizen’ and not a natural-born citizen. But held the office and was paid a salary, plus getting perks as such.

    In the US, some questioned Pres. Obama’s citizenship, calling these people ‘birthiers.’

    Here, as Mr. Calayag is holding both US and Pilipino citizenships, he can be called ‘dualtier.’
    [for dual citizenship]

    Dualtier is seemed allowable in the ‘Pinas, a FUNtier. Why is this happening in our gov’t? My ignoranTIER.

    • …the mess at the NFA…Sec. Alcala says Calayag ‘already renounced’ his US citizenship –

      “Alcala said Calayag personally told him that he has already already renounced his American citizenship.”

      When? Very lately?

      Sec. Alcala also ‘added’ saying “Alcala added that Calayag is very much qualified for the post, and that NFA employees appreciate the reforms he instituted in the agency.”

      ‘very much qualified”…again, WHEN did Mr. Calayag ‘become’ very much qualified for the post as chief of NFA? Very lately also?

      Btw, the June 19, 2009 SC case Rosellier De Guzman on dual citizenship issue, the SC in this ‘election case’ G.R. No. 180048, said –

      “By the same token, the oath of allegiance contained in the Certificate of Candidacy, which is substantially similar to the one contained in Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9225, does not constitute the personal and sworn renunciation sought under Section 5(2) of Republic Act No. 9225. It bears to emphasize that the said oath of allegiance is a general requirement for all those who wish to run as candidates in Philippine elections; while the renunciation of foreign citizenship is an additional requisite only for those who have retained or reacquired Philippine citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225 and who seek elective public posts, considering their special circumstance of having more than one citizenship. ”

      …’who seek elective public posts’, an express renunciation of US citizenhip or other citizenhip, is further required by a ‘candidate for public elective office’ as expressly further required by SEC. 5 (2) of RA 9225 on Dual Citizenship.

      Question: Is Mr. Calayag’s case about an ‘elective office’ in this cited De Guzman case?
      Answer: No.

      It is only about his ‘appointment’ to a gov’t office. Does such appointment need to ‘reacquired natural-born citizenship’ requirement [renouncing US citizenhip] under RA No. 9225 as ruled in the De Guzman case?

      It seems that the answer is it does not. That SC case is about the issue of running for an elective office [candidate for vice-mayor].

      So, is Sec. Alacala or Chief Calayag correct in their stand? Was PNoy’s appointment of the latter legal/valid under the law on dual citizenship?

      It seems again, the answer is yes. Is there a SC ruling on this particular issue – on appointment to a gov’t office?

      My answer is: I’m ignoranTIER on that. What say you? This matter is of public interest indeed!

      • I always believe that PNoy always think of his boss’s benefits before he decides on something such as this appointment. It is because I believe in PNoy as my President. I never doubted his decisions. Because I believe PNoy is a fair man. If his decision turned out to be bad for his boss’s, I say I still trust him and that trust has not diminished a bit.

      • Rene-Ipil says:
        Your comment is awaiting moderation.
        October 30, 2013 at 2:44 pm
        Leona @ 205

        Orlan Calayag re-acquired his Filipino citizenship on January 7, 2013 in accordance with R.A. 9225. He was appointed NFA administrator effective January 17, 2013 and took his oath of office on January 21, 2013. According to Sec. Alcala, he personally knows that Calayag renounced his american citizenship. (http://pssstcentro.com/%E2%80%8Bnasaan-si-nfa-administrator-orlan-calayag/)

        Both the appointment and election to public office are reserved to natural-born Filipino citizens. And natural-born citizenship is deem re-acquired by taking the oath of allegiance in accordance with RA 9225. But an elective office differs from an appointive office in the sense that the former requires specifically a personal and sworn renunciation of foreign citizenship before a public officer authorized to administer oath. On the other hand the appointive office merely needs renunciation – without specific process required by law – of oath of allegiance to a foreign country. The former deals with citizenship while the latter deals with allegiance.

        Indeed, a recent Supreme Court decision mentioned the deliberation by congress of RA 9225 wherein Congressmen Dilangalen and Locsin debated on the issue of dual citizenship and dual allegiance, to wit:

        “Rep. Dilangalen asked whether in the particular case, the person did not denounce his foreign citizenship and therefore still owes allegiance to the foreign government, and at the same time, owes his allegiance to the Philippine government, such that there is now a case of dual citizenship and dual allegiance.

        “Rep. Locsin clarified that by swearing to the supreme authority of the Republic, the person implicitly renounces his foreign citizenship. However, he said that this is not a matter that he wishes to address in Congress because he is not a member of a foreign parliament but a Member of the House.

        Xxx

        “Rep. Locsin further pointed out that the problem of dual allegiance is created wherein a natural-born citizen of the Philippines takes an oath of allegiance to another country and in that oath says that he abjures and absolutely renounces all allegiance to his country of origin and swears allegiance to that foreign country. The original Bill had left it at this stage, he explained. In the present measure, he clarified, a person is required to take an oath and the last he utters is one of allegiance to the country. He then said that the problem of dual allegiance is no longer the problem of the Philippines but of the other foreign country.”

        Link follows.

        • so, orlan calayag is being hit now. damn those nfa rice smugglers. they are so loaded with money they easily bought bodegas and bodegas of nfa rice and so caused artificial rice shortage, but cannot import rice on the sly. with no import duties to pay, the profits they would make on smuggled rice are more than enough to make up for their losses in buying up bodegas of nfa rice.

          they are being watched. the nfa rice they have hoarded ended up rotting in storages, could not be confiscated and priorly sold. or suspicion will fall on them. if cornered, they might even challenge the government in a protracted legal battle, but as long as they are not mentioned by name, no harm done, apparently. and with no money coming in, their privateering days numbered, smugglers are getting edgy and are hitting hard on orlan calayag.

        • @moonie…Orlan Calayag…being ‘calagyagyad’ on his citizenhip issue. Does he really have that LGC Sec. 40what in his favor for ‘appointive’ position?

          Maybe, the gov’t can ‘borrow’ Lee Yuan Yu of Singapore to help us as granting him ‘honorarier citizen’ of the Philippines to catch corrupt public officials!

          HONORARIER!

        • @Rene…I am very thankful specially for the judicial link you provided here. That SC case you linked is very elucidating on citizenhip etc.

          Blissful for Maquiling…the intervenor who got the post!

          One good SC case indeed on the matter of ‘who are citizens of this country’…the dualtiers…the renounciers…the alieniers…the natural-borniers…the naturaliziers…ATBPAiers!

          Thanks again[email protected]!

        • hehehe…checked Sec. 40 LGC…it says ‘election’ of someone with dual citizenship. Nothing about appointed to a gov’t office like NFA.

          ‘TITLE TWO. – ELECTIVE OFFICIALS
          CHAPTER 1. – QALIFICATIONS AND ELECTION
          SEC. 39. Qualifications. – (a) An elective local official must be a citizen of the Philippines; a registered voter in the barangay, municipality, city, or province or, in the case of a member of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, or sanggunian bayan, the district where he intends to be elected; a resident therein for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the election; and able to read and write Filipino or any other local language or dialect.
          (b) Candidates for the position of governor, vice- governor or member of the sangguniang panlalawigan, or Mayor, vice-mayor or member of the sangguniang panlungsod of highly urbanized cities must be at least twenty-three (23) years of age on election day.cralaw
          (c) Candidates for the position of Mayor or vice-mayor of independent component cities, component cities, or municipalities must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on election day.cralaw
          (d) Candidates for the position of member of the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan must be at least eighteen (18) years of age on election day.cralaw
          (e) Candidates for the position of punong barangay or member of the sangguniang barangay must be at least eighteen (18) years of age on election day.cralaw
          (f) Candidates for the sangguniang kabataan must be at least fifteen (15) years of age but not more than twenty-one (21) years of age on election day.cralaw
          SEC. 40. Disqualifications. – The following persons are disqualified from running for any elective local position:chanrobles virtual law library
          (a) Those sentenced by final judgment for an offense involving moral turpitude or for an offense punishable by one (1) year or more of imprisonment, within two (2) years after serving sentence; (b) Those removed from office as a result of an administrative case;
          (c) Those convicted by final judgment for violating the oath of allegiance to the Republic;
          (d) Those with dual citizenship;
          (e) Fugitives from justice in criminal or nonpolitical cases here or abroad;
          (f) Permanent residents in a foreign country or those who have acquired the right to reside abroad and continue to avail of the same right after the effectivity of this Code; and cralaw
          (g) The insane or feeble-minded.” link – ChanRobles website on the Code.

    • Leona @ 205

      Orlan Calayag re-acquired his Filipino citizenship on January 7, 2013 in accordance with R.A. 9225. He was appointed NFA administrator effective January 17, 2013 and took his oath of office on January 21, 2013. According to Sec. Alcala, he personally knows that Calayag renounced his american citizenship. (http://pssstcentro.com/%E2%80%8Bnasaan-si-nfa-administrator-orlan-calayag/)

      Both the appointment and election to public office are reserved to natural-born Filipino citizens. And natural-born citizenship is deem re-acquired by taking the oath of allegiance in accordance with RA 9225. But an elective office differs from an appointive office in the sense that the former requires specifically a personal and sworn renunciation of foreign citizenship before a public officer authorized to administer oath. On the other hand the appointive office merely needs renunciation – without specific process required by law – of oath of allegiance to a foreign country. The former deals with citizenship while the latter deals with allegiance.

      Indeed, a recent Supreme Court decision mentioned the deliberation by congress of RA 9225 wherein Congressmen Dilangalen and Locsin debated on the issue of dual citizenship and dual allegiance, to wit:

      “Rep. Dilangalen asked whether in the particular case, the person did not denounce his foreign citizenship and therefore still owes allegiance to the foreign government, and at the same time, owes his allegiance to the Philippine government, such that there is now a case of dual citizenship and dual allegiance.

      “Rep. Locsin clarified that by swearing to the supreme authority of the Republic, the person implicitly renounces his foreign citizenship. However, he said that this is not a matter that he wishes to address in Congress because he is not a member of a foreign parliament but a Member of the House.

      Xxx

      “Rep. Locsin further pointed out that the problem of dual allegiance is created wherein a natural-born citizen of the Philippines takes an oath of allegiance to another country and in that oath says that he abjures and absolutely renounces all allegiance to his country of origin and swears allegiance to that foreign country. The original Bill had left it at this stage, he explained. In the present measure, he clarified, a person is required to take an oath and the last he utters is one of allegiance to the country. He then said that the problem of dual allegiance is no longer the problem of the Philippines but of the other foreign country.”

      http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2013/april2013/195649.pdf

  7. Barangay Elections…some went for ‘new vote buying like candies.’ Some candidates went for the old way…cash buying. Building up dynasties this is!

    Some candidates incumbents had no opponents…so why vote?

    Can it happen a candidate for president [of the republic] has no opponent? So why vote too?

    • Thank you! I thought i stii have to wait a month and alf more, feeling depressed na ako eh. ? ? Buti na lang matyatya ang mga cpmers mag comment at mag update ng ibat ibang news, kundi going crazy na ako. Tnx mam Leona. And thank you ma’m Raissa sa pag uwi.

      • Bukas.

        Maaasahan mo.

        Mag-update ako. Ang haba kasi, e.

        At pinapa-check ko muna sa kabiyak ko. Mas mabuti nang apat na mata ang tumitingin. :)

        • Very, very good you’re back! I missed your blogging. And i hope you are now in excellent health. In your absence, I still go back to your website to read my favorite commenters….welcome home!

    • Comments abound in your absence

      So, please thank not only patience
      Also appreciate readers’ persistence

      They look forward to your reviviscence

    • Thank you! Welcome back! Welcome home! Missed you so much! Buti na lang maraming matyatyagang cpmers mag comment and keep your site very interesting. Looking forward to newer posts! Hope you got yourself fully recharged, vibrant and happy.

  12. MAKE it short and simple the RELIEF BROUHAHA IN BOHOL.

    Daming lumalabas na anggulo at opinyon sa pagitan ng Maribojoc Mayor at ng Red Cross sa tulong parang sa mga nasalanta. Kung simplihin ganito ba ang suma tutal:

    Mayor: Ibigay ninyo sa office of the mayor yang mga relief goods or cash, kami ang bahalang mag distribute niyan. Kami ang autoridad diyan.

    Red Cross: Meron kaming kakayahan at kaalaman, kami na lang diretso ang magdi-distribute ng mga pagkain, damit at ibang tulong.

    Mayor: Kung ayaw ninyong sumunod, hindi kami interesado sa tulong ninyo, umalis kayo, inyo na ang tulong ninyo.

    MGA opinion at anggulong politikal:

    Ayon kay Easton: “Politics is the authoritative (kapangyarihan) allocation (mamahagi) of values (yaman, cash and goods relief) in the society (lipunan).” Kung saan o kanino mapupunta ang badyet or mga proyekto ay desisyon ng gobierno local.

    Sa mga tao o organisasyon gustong magbigay ng tulong or kawanggawa diretso sa gustong bigyan, di dapat hadlangan ng gobierno.

    Ang sambayanan ay may sapat na kaisipan upang iwasan ang karanasan na ang tulong sa kalamidad ay kinukurakot ng mga politico at kanilang alipores.

    Ang mga tao kanino ba dapat meron mas tiwala, sa mga trabahador ng Red Cross na sanay palaging namamahagi ng tulong o sa mga trabahador ng mas sanay mangulekta ng donasyon or contribution.

    Ang importante at kailangan pag meron kalamidad ang gobierno local ay tumulong sa lahat ng individual o samahan para mapabilis ang tulong sa nasalanta, walang angkinan. Ang kapangyarihan ng autoridad sa pamamahagi dapat sakop lamang lahat ng tulong galling sa kaban o badyet ng bayan. Jung galling sa pribadong bulsa dapat magtiwala sa pantay-pantay (fairness and honesty) pagbibigay ng tumutulong na organisasyon.

    • SORI PO, kasi binura ng moderation ito as KISS . . . ayon lumabas
      din pala, naulit tuloy. panggulo minsan yan MODERATION, yung
      moderator kung programmed machine, at idiot yung programmer
      kawawang Plaza Miranda.

  13. Kotongan at extortion sa Senado ayon sa dating pulis Sen Lacson

    Smart lawmakers got as much as P1B in pork, says Lacson
    By Norman Bordadora
    Philippine Daily Inquirer 1:18 am | Sunday, October 27th, 2013

    Some lawmakers are smarter than others and those who are can get as much as, or more than, P1 billion in additional pork barrel during congressional budget deliberations, according to retired Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

    In a speech on Thursday night, Lacson recalled how in 2006 he played “killjoy” as his colleagues discussed how they could partake of billions of pesos in additional pork the senators had slashed from then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s P38-billion proposed lump-sum funds.

    During his 12-year stint in the Senate, Lacson refrained from using his P200-million-a-year pork entitlement under the P25-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in the budget, citing its reputation as a source of kickbacks for unscrupulous lawmakers.

    “The smarter ones manage to wrangle as early as during the committee hearings held to tackle the budgets of departments and agencies. Likewise during plenary debates, when questions are addressed by individual legislators to the heads of the different agencies through the budget sponsors,” Lacson said in a speech before the Philippine Constitution Association, one of the petitioners before the Supreme Court against the Aquino administration’s controversial multibillion-peso Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

    “If you ask me how much, all I can tell you is that the monies are carefully parked in the budgets of some departments and agencies whose heads are willing coconspirators in the schemes or scams. The amounts realigned or inserted range from a few hundred million to even over a billion pesos for the smart,” he said.

    Critics also see the DAP funds as pork barrel because of the discretion given to legislators to identify projects that will be funded from the DAP, sourced from alleged savings of the executive branch to which legislators are given access to, ostensibly to help in accelerating spending.

    Minimum amounts

    Lacson said the PDAF of P200 million per senator and P70 million per House member under the proposed budget are the minimum amounts of pork that lawmakers could access for their projects.

    “I said minimum because every year, just before the period of amendments of both chambers, small and big group caucuses decide how much each member would get as additional pork, usually at least P100 million more for senators,” he said.

    The second tranche of how much more comes just before the bicameral conference committee meetings, “traditionally referred to as the third and most powerful chamber of Congress,” he said.

    “The pork barrel system is ugly, more often than not cruel, sometimes merciless toward the people we all swore to serve and protect when we took our oaths of office,” Lacson said.

    “I learned of it with my own eyes and with my own ears. I’ve known about it firsthand. I participated and objected to it in caucuses and during plenary debates on the Senate floor, even in bicameral conferences,” he said.

    Lacson recalled how at a Senate caucus in 2006, senators decided to slash a substantial portion of Arroyo’s P38-billion Special Purpose Fund.

    “But that was only the good part. The ugly side, and I loudly objected to it, was to, hold your breath, reallocate the deducted amount to the pork barrel of legislators, P300 million each [per senator] in addition to the regular P200-million pork barrel,” Lacson said.

    “Without my knowledge, they held a second caucus on the same subject,” he said.

    Without him knowing, the senators decided to reduce the proposed additional pork for themselves to just P200 million per senator from the initial P300 million, he said.

    Cayetano siblings’ move

    According to Lacson, one day that same year, then Pateros-Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano requested through Lito Banayo, a former political adviser of deposed President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, “that I allocate P50 million to Taguig out of our additional P200 million from the realigned Special Purpose Fund.”

    “Apparently, Congressman Alan got wind of the information from his ate (older sister),

    Sen. Pia Cayetano,” Lacson said.

    “I lost no time in confronting the finance committee chair and the Senate President, and threatened them that I would go to town on that issue and would not stop interpellating on the Senate floor all the way to the period of amendments until the P4.6 billion in additional PDAF of 23 senators disappears from the proposed GAA (General Appropriations Act).”

    “A few more intervening events transpired afterward but, to make a long story short, the P200-million additional pork for each of the 23 senators did not materialize. Needless to say, I was the bad, killjoy, corny kontrabida,” Lacson said.

    Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was an ally of Lacson’s in the opposition against then President Arroyo.

    Amid the current raging controversy over the misuse of pork barrel funds, Cayetano has repeatedly defended his use of the PDAF and additional allocations, claiming that they actually went to real beneficiaries of his projects.

    100 pork stories

    He said he knew of “a hundred more stories of similar nature, done collectively and individually to fatten individual pork barrel allocations, from the committee hearings to the period of amendments, all the way to the bicameral conferences.”

    “More than 10 years ago, on March 11, 2003, I delivered a scathing privilege speech on the Senate floor, unequivocally calling for the abolition of the pork barrel system,” Lacson said, referring to the system as “a virus of corruption that must die.”

    He said the speech “was an appeal to the conscience of my colleagues or, at the very least, their sense of shame.”

    According to Lacson, he was bracing for an extended interpellation from his colleagues and was ready to defend his position.

    None came, as then Senate President Franklin Drilon adjourned the session shortly afterward.

    From that time on, Lacson said he continued to forego the P200-million yearly share of pork.

    Now pork-averse

    Drilon, who’s now Senate President again, has since called for and filed a resolution on the abolition of the PDAF in the face of the P10-billion pork barrel scam scandal.

    Cayetano, now the Senate majority leader, has said all the incumbent senators wanted to eliminate the pork barrel.

    They, however, have yet to decide how to do so—whether to deduct the senators’ share of P4.8 billion from the P2.268-trillion proposed 2014 budget or realign the funds to government

    Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/514827/smart-lawmakers-got-as-much-as-p1b-in-pork-says-lacson#ixzz2ivZtDX65
    Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

    • para sa akin, lacson is fast getting to be irrelevant, the 2nd motioner, never the prime mover. he makes himself hollier than anyone, lahat corrupt yata maliban sa kanya. he is so full of angst and wears it on his sleeves, very spiteful. he also wants those nasampahan ng kasong pork scam like revilla, estrada, enrile, etc, be allowed to leave the country with no restrictions in travel.

      lacson could have taken his previous share of pork, and not follow the examples set by the kasamahan niyang corrupt. give his pork to worthy projects and support good causes, then follow them up to ensure his pork was not waylaid and used elsewhere. not got stymied himself just because there are corrupts around, and then, blamed them for his inaction.

      • What’s really the ‘reason or reasons’ behind Mr. Lacson’s hitting the head of this PNoy Administration on this funds…PDAF and DAP?

        I read past news articles he’s a candidate for a high gov’t post…cabinet? But with his ‘assaults’ this may not happen anymore.

        What are the hidden reasons?

        • I think ping lacson is being a jerk, he wants to be noticed, acknowledged and given credit for things he could have done but did not do. given full credit for things he did only in halves. mantra yata niya, look at me, I was mr clean long before all of you. you owe me, pay me my dues, give me respect. people are being ingrate yata toward him and did not glorify him, did not say thank you, mr good governance, for pointing them to the right direction. he ought to go first to the direction he was pointing, rather than expect people to go where he wants them to go, and then, let them suffer consequences while he go scots-free.

          action speaks louder than words. people wants ping lacson to show sincerity, act rather than talk. already they have lumped in ping’s son, roped him in with the sins of the father, and voted him out last election. binahiran. I think it’s time for ping to stop behaving like a prima dona, act not just talk. and do it with humility. he ought to smile once in a while, even in defeat, and not be seen to be constantly angry, palaging nangungutya, naninisi at nagmumukmok. he is uncomfortable to be with. and people are keeping their distance, baka masisi pa sila.

        • If PingLac runs for president 2016 what are his odds considering he has opposed the distributions of PDAF and DAP?

          Isn’t it he has created ‘enemies’ on it comes that election time? He placed himself in a very tight spot.

          You’re right @Moonie. @Rene…what got PingLac into bitter in real life? His being once a fugitive from justice, Kuratrat balongbalong or what?

          Or he can’t forgive even himself for what?

  15. An EDSA Street Directory for the abolition of PDAF and other Pork ‘Barrel’ programmes (i.e. DAP)?

    “Who can abolish pork barrel? Answer: the Supreme Court, by declaring the law unconstitutional. Or Congress, by eliminating (1) the lump-sum appropriation and (2) the legislators’ power to direct the use of the lump sum via their chosen agencies or NGOs.

    …

    “Can it be abolished by a people’s initiative? The Supreme Court, in Lambino vs. Comelec (Oct. 25, 2006, penned by Justice Antonio T. Carpio during my term as chief justice), restricted the use of initiative to simple “amendments,” not to complicated “revisions” requiring debate and deliberation. As to whether the pork’s abolition is a simple amendment or a complicated revision could be debated ad infinitum and would surely end up in the courts.

    Besides, initiative is a tedious process. It requires the signatures of at least 12 percent of the 50 million voters and of at least three percent of the voters in each of the 234 legislative districts; favorable action by the Commission on Elections; and a referendum by the people, all of which will take at least a year. Longer, if the matter is raised to the Supreme Court, as was done in previous initiatives.

    “In short, the unconstitutionality route, or congressional repeal, would be less convoluted and much faster. If these two solutions are ignored, it is time for another Edsa.”

    SOURCE:
    With Due Respect
    Pork barrel 101
    By Artemio V. Panganiban
    Philippine Daily Inquirer
    1:05 am | Sunday, October 27th, 2013

    • The justice reading outside of the Constitution.

      What is not provided in the fundamental law should not be supplied or misinterpreted. It is as clear as one’s image before a mirror.

      Too much knowledge is also dangerous. The ‘initiative clause’ is is simply clear to include ‘any law’ as will be proposed including amendments or revision etc. It did not state a ‘limited initiative’ clause or provision.

      • Dahil sa PORKeng napapanahon, retired Justices of the Courts (from the Lower to the Supreme of Courts) may opt to form, to participate in the Party-list representation in the House of Representatives of the Philippines.

        Mental Prowess, Work Discipline based on Education, Qualification & Real World Experiences on Jurisprudence
        Not only to prevent amnesia or beat Alziehmers, maybe just another league on mental or memory exercises for ex-magistrates to participate now in formulating, enacting, debating and passing Bill(s) into Law(s).

        Law Interpreters to Makers
        Dahil maraming mang-mang sa Kongreso sa paano at paggawa ng ‘batas’, hindi ba nararapat at napapanahon lang na bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga datihang mahistrado na umupo bilang mambabatas?

        Kung ang pangalang tradisyonal (hal. Dynasty), o artista at boksingero ay nagiging mambabatas, pagbigyan ang mga retiradong mahistrado na silang mag-gabay sa Kongreso.

        Ex SC Justices Puno or Panganiban should consider formulating a Party-list Representation for the House of Reps.

        • Former judges to be lawmakers? Aw…they’ll all be the same…crooks! No one can refuse hundreds and billions of pesos!

          No one will be satisfied with one peso or one billion pesos. That’s real life. Ideals, we can forget it!

      • heck, kinain na naman ni Akismet ang punto ko.

        ulitin ko, at hatiin ngayon sa dalawa

        —-
        1

        Dahil sa PORKeng napapanahon, retired Justices of the Courts (from the Lower to the Supreme of Courts) may opt to form, to participate in the Party-list representation in the House of Representatives of the Philippines.

        Mental Prowess, Work Discipline based on Education, Qualification & Real World Experiences on Jurisprudence
        Not only to prevent amnesia or beat Alziehmers, maybe just another league on mental or memory exercises for ex-magistrates to participate now in formulating, enacting, debating and passing Bill(s) into Law(s).

        • ang kadugtong …

          2
          Law Interpreters to Makers
          Dahil maraming mang-mang sa Kongreso sa paano at paggawa ng ‘batas’, hindi ba nararapat at napapanahon lang na bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga datihang mahistrado na umupo bilang mambabatas?

          Kung ang pangalang tradisyonal (hal. Dynasty), o artista at boksingero ay nagiging mambabatas, pagbigyan ang mga retiradong mahistrado na silang mag-gabay sa Kongreso.

          Ex SC Justices Puno or Panganiban should consider formulating a Party-list Representation for the House of Reps.

      • 2
        Law Interpreters to Makers
        Dahil maraming mang-mang sa Kongreso sa paano at paggawa ng ‘batas’, hindi ba nararapat at napapanahon lang na bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga datihang mahistrado na umupo bilang mambabatas?

        Kung ang pangalang tradisyonal (hal. Dynasty), o artista at boksingero ay nagiging mambabatas, pagbigyan ang mga retiradong mahistrado na silang mag-gabay sa Kongreso.

        Ex SC Justices Puno or Panganiban should consider formulating a Party-list Representation for the House of Reps.