Inside Philippine politics & beyond

President Aquino can run in 2016, without amending the Constitution

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Analysis by Raïssa Robles

There are now reports of a possible team up of Vice President Jejomar Binay with Governor-actress Vilma Santos in 2016.  Or Binay with a prominent businessman as his running mate.

This is probably the start of a season where we will see various strange combinations floated about.

In this context, let me let me throw in a possible combination: that Aquino could run for vice president. And I don’t mean Kris, as some are suggesting.

But first, let me explain why I’m doing this. When I was in Tokyo recently, a senior editor of  a Japanese newspaper told me the Philippines was about to enter “a period of instability” because in 2016, President Benigno Aquino III would be stepping down from office and be replaced by who knows what.  

Earlier, I was told the same concern by a prominent American businessman in Manila who spoke to me on condition of anonymity. The businessman wondered who would replace Aquino who, he noted, could not run again.

Hmm. It seems both men believe that Aquino lends political stability to the system.

To both the businessman and the Japanese editor my reply was the same: Of course he can run again.

PNoy (as he is popularly called) can run for Vice-President, I said.

My reply was met with skepticism. And so I had to explain how this would effectively change the current political landscape that had only Vice-President Jejomar Binay and Local Governments Secretary Mar Roxas as the main presidential contenders.

Before I go on, I would like to stress that I am neither endorsing nor advocating PNoy’s running again. I am simply analyzing and pointing out the possibilities as a political commentator.

Let’s look at two important aspects of the idea:

  • First, the constitutionality of such a move.
  • Second, the implications of such a move on Philippine politics.

Politics is like entertainment in that it shares some characteristics with the world of movies and entertainment. Political strategists play around with combinations and see what team-ups could produce a box office hit, in this case, electoral victories.

President Aquino is barred by the Philippine Constitution only from running for President, but not from running for Vice-President or any other political office. Given his name recall nationwide and his track record, he is probably a shoe-in if he runs for vice-president.

But why would his party even consider fielding him for the vice-presidency — a spare tire position? They might consider any or all of the following points.

First, it is very likely that VP Binay will run for President in 2016. And Binay could win. If VP Binay and PNoy win – in this case, we would have a Bi-Noy scenario instead of the current Noy-Bi one – then VP Binay’s behavior might be affected by his knowledge of who his stand-by successor is.

Second, PNoy could campaign for vice-president by telling voters – ‘look, vote for the presidential candidate I endorse and for me because I’m his seal of good housekeeping. I am not going to meddle or anything. I will just be there to make sure he walks the straight and narrow.’

Presuming Aquino endorses Mar Roxas, will that be enough to make Mar Roxas win? Frankly, I don’t know at this point because there are other issues swirling around Roxas which he has not addressed.

Will PNoy look at 2016 the way President Fidel Ramos looked at 1998? If you recall, Ramos fielded House Speaker Jose de Venecia out of a sense of loyalty, gratitude and friendship even though many voters clearly did not like De Venecia.

Third, what if PNoy and the Liberal Party were to pick someone other than Roxas? That would make things truly interesting.

Then there is this one other scenario to consider, remote but possible: PNoy teams up with someone who will promise to step down so PNoy can continue being President.

Are these far-fetched? Not in our world of politics where a president is ousted, then convicted, then pardoned, then allowed to run again, then defeated, then runs for mayor and wins.

The last two years of a president’s term are usually called the lame duck years. But just a hint – or threat – of running for the VP post could erase that perception for PNoy.

So when people tell me they are afraid of what would happen in 2016, my reply is – you have to be open to the possibilities. What will happen will simply surprise you.

Comments

  1. This afternoon at DZMM Henry Omaga Diaz confronted Sonny Trillanes in person about the rumor that he is running as VP of Alan Cayetano in 2016. Sonny admitted that there is really such talk going on in the Nacionalista Party. But nothing is final yet.

    • Well, a good tandem sir @RENE… rather than MAR and his VP , Binay and a VP or Bong-Bong and a VP… We’ll go with ALLAN and SONNY or better ALLAN and GRACE..

  2. BELIEVE IT OR NOT

    “Well, anyone old enough to remember the naughty sidelights of martial law must have heard of this juicy showbiz rumor. President Ferdinand Marcos supposedly had an affair with movie star Rosemarie Sonora, with Grace being the fruit of that dalliance. The girl, according to rumor, was later adopted by Sonora’s older sister, Susan Roces and husband, action movie king Ronnie Poe”

    “Rosemarie, of Sampaguita pictures fame, was once married to Ricky Belmonte. The couple’s daughter is Sheryl Cruz, a teen star in the 1980s, who became Poe’s substitute during the campaign sorties for the 2013 elections.”

    The KBL is heard to be fielding BONGBONG-GRACE tandem for the 2016 presidential derby, a remake of the marcos era extravaganza, supported by the billions of arroyos and the marcoses.

      • @ joe america, you are right. “no longer available”… i did as well many times but to no avail.

      • The Grace and Burden of Her Name
        By Fe B. Zamora
        Philippine Daily Inquirer
        7:33 pm | Saturday, January 4th, 2014

        Read more: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/145641/the-grace-and-burden-of-her-name#ixzz2vNgi1wKW
        Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

        Don’t tell Madame Imelda Marcos, but there’s a family secret that Senators Grace Poe and Ferdinand “Bongbong Marcos, Jr. would rather keep from her, though half the country must have heard about it.
        In fact, as speculations go, half the country must have been whispering about it since martial law days when then President Ferdinand Marcos ruled the land and reigned as top rooster, a reputation he did not exactly discourage.
        Already, the secret has become some sort of private joke among the staff and denizens of the Senate, who usually crack up when the two senators themselves bring it up.
        “Sis,” Senator Marcos would address Poe, and they’re not even from the same frat or sorority.
        The “secret siblings” story was alive and well during the campaign period in the May 2013 senatorial elections. At the Inquirer Senate forum in Cebu City, one candidate ended his speech with a blind item: “Who knows what’s going to happen on election day,” the candidate said. “We may even end up with a brother and sister in the Senate, but they don’t know it yet.”
        The audience was intrigued. Does former Senator Ramon Revilla have another progeny that his son, Sen. Bong Revilla, hasn’t met yet? Or is there a family scandal lurking behind the clean-shaven image of Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero?
        Candidate Poe was onstage, seated just a few steps from another senatorial bet who, as fate would have it, could easily have been her publicly unacknowledged brother.
        But Poe seems immune to the vicious rumor. In fact, she has gracefully found a way to deal with what may be considered a dark stain on the family’s reputation if it were true. She grabs the rumor by its horn and uses it to poke fun at herself.
        During the Senate’s first session, Poe greeted Marcos using the rumor as ice-breaker. Recalled the topnotcher in the Senate count: “I told him, Senator Marcos, ang tsismis kapatid daw kita (rumors have it that we are siblings).”
        He replied: “Oo nga, narinig ko rin sa kampanya (Yes, I heard that too, during the campaign).” And they both cracked up, Poe added.

        Later, whenever the senator would visit Marcos’ office, she would tell his staff: “Wow, ang ganda ng office ng kapatid ko! (Hey, my brother’s office is so impressive)” And his staff would end up laughing as well.
        So, how did that rumor start?
        Well, anyone old enough to remember the naughty sidelights of martial law must have heard of this juicy showbiz rumor. Then President Marcos supposedly had an affair with movie star Rosemarie Sonora, with Grace being the fruit of that dalliance. The girl, according to rumors, was later adopted by Sonora’s older sister, Susan Roces and husband, action movie king Ronnie Poe.
        Rosemarie, of Sampaguita pictures fame, was once married to the late actor Ricky Belmonte. The couple’s daughter is Sheryl Cruz, a teen star in the 1980s, who became Poe’s substitute during the campaign sorties for the 2013 elections.
        Poe said much of that rumor stemmed from her close resemblance to Rosemarie. “The thing is, she’s also my favorite tita (aunt), my crazy tita because she’s funny,” the senadora said. When she finally agreed to run for the Senate, the rumor acquired a new sheen. “So that’s why I’m leaning towards politics daw, people would say. Because my father is actually Marcos,” she recalled.
        The rumor continues to gain traction for yet another reason. Poe is actually an adopted child, and to this day, her biological parents remain unknown. No one has come forward, not even during the campaign when Poe’s life story was laid bare in the TV biopic show “Maalaala mo Kaya.”

        According to the story widely believed to be true, Poe as an infant was left at a church in Iloilo City and taken by a family who, in turn, brought the foundling to a rich woman who happened to be a fan of FPJ and Roces. The foundling was brought to Manila and to the Poe household during social gatherings. Childless, the Poe couple became fond of the baby whom they soon adopted legally and raised as their own. Sometime during her childhood, Poe admitted she had wanted to find her biological parents. But the idea was shelved for other pursuits, among them going to the US for her studies, getting married there and raising a family. Poe came home for good after FPJ died in 2004.
        The thought of looking for her real parents regained priority when she finally agreed to run for senator in 2013. She said she even confronted Nanay Chayong, the woman who brought her to the Poe household, to settle the issue once and for all.
        “I asked her, sino ba talaga? She said she didn’t really know, that I was left at the church at 4 a.m., and that there was no way of knowing. Wala talaga.”
        Realizing that no new information was forthcoming, Poe decided to rest her case in the meantime.
        “But if you ask me, is there an emotional void (because I couldn’t find my real parents)? I will tell you, there’s none,” she declares. “It’s important to have the biological relationship, but for me what’s more important is the love and sacrifice that my non-biological parents actually gave me.”
        Poe has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Boston College in the US, and finished two years of Development Studies at the University of the Philippines in Manila.

        She turned 45 last September and is married to her high school sweetheart, Neil Llamanzares, an IT consultant for San Miguel Corporation. The couple has a son and two daughters.
        Before she became senator, the former Montessori teacher in the US chaired the Movie and Television Rating and Classification Board (MTRCB).
        An aparador (wardrobe) made of mirrors makes for a stunning piece inside Poe’s office at the Senate. It lies directly on the path of two doorways and, according to feng shui principles, is meant to deflect bad spirits that might wander through the open doors. The furniture has a purely utilitarian use as well: it is where the senator stashes away her TV set.
        “That’s also where I hide my enemies,” she added, laughing.
        Eye-catching too, is the artistic rendition of a heart ventricle perched on Poe’s table. It’s a gift from Dr. William Chua and is a miniature version of a bigger piece at the Philippine Heart Center, the senator volunteered. “That’s to remind me of what my father used to say: that being a mambabatas, kailangan may puso (a lawmaker needs heart), “ she explained.
        On the wall is a painting by National Artist Abdulmari Imao, a gift to her father by the artist himself. FPJ’s movies about Mindanao has made him an icon among the Muslims.
        Several lampshades, which came from her own house, lend Poe’s office a homey feel. Her office’s interiors were done by a friend, Tina Bonoan, “for free,” said Poe.

        This was the same office that Sen. Franklin Drilon used before he became Senate president. Does this mean you’re also going to be Senate President, we teased her. She shrugged, “Sakit ng ulo yan (That would be a lot of hassle).” And, as if to show that she isn’t necessarily following in the footsteps of any one senator, Poe said her legal assistant used to be with the office of former senator Ramon Magsaysay, Jr.
        It’s been four months since Poe assumed office in July. It may seem like a lifetime to many who had watched her ascendancy from dutiful daughter to MTRCB chair to lawmaker. But even people who have seen her bloom into a winnable senatorial bet were surprised when she topped the count.
        Poe is refreshingly candid about this and does not deny that being FPJ’s daughter has propelled her political career. But, she added quickly, she has “the qualifications naman.”
        As if to prove that, she hit the ground running. On the first working day of the 16th Congress, Poe filed two Senate bills: SB 78 titled “Philippines Film Tourism Act of 2013” and SB 79 titled “Sustansya sa Batang Pilipino Act of 2013.” As of December 4, the Senate topnotcher has filed a total of 13 bills and 26 resolutions, including one urging the Senate committee to begin deliberation on the shelved Freedom of Information law.
        Learning parliamentary procedures was the toughest part of the job, she said. For guidance, Poe said she turns to Senators Escudero and Serge Osmeña. She is particularly close to Escudero, FPJ’s spokesman and legal counsel during the actor’s failed bid for the presidency in 2004. FPJ also stood as sponsor at Escudero’s wedding to Christine Flores, thus making him and the younger Poe almost kin (“kinakapatid” or almost siblings).
        Another “kinakapatid” is Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, son of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, who has revived his political career as mayor of Manila. FPJ and Erap are bosom buddies in and out of showbiz. FPJ’s decision to run for the presidency in 2004 was largely Erap’s idea, sources said. The king of Filipino action movies could never refuse his “kumpa-re,” the father of his baptismal godson, Jinggoy, sources added.
        Such was the closeness between the Estradas and the Poes, according to another Senate source, that when Poe started making courtesy calls on the different senators during her first working day in the Senate, her meeting with her “kinakapatid” turned out to be more memorable than the rest. According to the source, when Poe called on Senator Estrada, the latter had a guest, Ruby Tuason, who used to be the social secretary of former President Joseph Estrada. After the usual banter, the younger Estrada reportedly turned to Tuason and introduced the senadora, before adding, “O, ipakilala mo yan kay Napoles ha? (Be sure to introduce her to Janet Napoles).

        Napoles, according to a recent series on the pork barrel scam run by the Inquirer, was a businesswoman and the mastermind behind a network of fake non-government organizations (NGOs) that lawmakers, through several middlemen or conduits (Tuason reportedly among them), tapped as implementors of development projects. According to testimony by the businesswoman’s former employees-turned-whistle-blowers, the bogus NGOs were allocated a budget from the lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (also known as pork barrel), with the money eventually divided between Napoles and the lawmakers. The younger Estrada, according to whistle-blowers, was assigned the code name “Sexy” and was reportedly among the lawmakers who took part in the scam.
        So, did Estrada’s unusual introduction spiel to Tuason actually happen?
        “Not true,” Poe said categorically. “I haven’t made a formal call on Jinggoy because he was not around when I went to his office,” she said. She doesn’t know Tuason or Napoles, either, the senator said. And while she acknowledges that Estrada is like a brother to her, Poe said she supported a full investigation into the allegations raised against him and the other senators by the whistle-blowers, as well as by the Commission on Audit (COA).
        “You feel awkward at times. You also feel sad for them,” Poe said on how the pork barrel scam has affected the camaraderie among senators. “We need to correct things, but we have to do it with respect,” she said.
        As a Senate insider, what has she observed of her colleagues during those awkward moments? What do they talk about?
        Poe’s face lit up: “Showbiz. It’s our fallback.”
        Sen. Tito Sotto, for instance, would ask, to lighten the mood: “Sino nga yong boyfriend ni Lolit Solis (Tell me, who’s now the boyfriend of movie scribe Lolit Solis)?”
        People say that politics and showbiz are two faces of the same coin – one morphs into the other as easily as the credits on a movie screen dissolve into the next line. Poe, the child of showbiz is apparently in her element in the Senate, while also treading the slippery slope of politics.
        Just how the newly-minted senator can maintain her balance and straddle both worlds comfortably is a class act that voters, Senate watchers and her colleagues are watching closely. After all, as Senate topnotcher, she can do no less.

        • maraming salamat po, ma’am raissa…

          “According to the story widely believed to be true, Poe as an infant was left at a church in Iloilo City and taken by a family who, in turn, brought the foundling to a rich woman who happened to be a fan of FPJ and Roces. The foundling was brought to Manila and to the Poe household during social gatherings.”… it is widely believe to be true because the plan was carried out successfully kasi marami na ding mga ilonggo na makatira sa camp crame noong panahon ni macoy.

        • Ultimately, it is CHARACTER !!! It is character that defines the soul and person of an inidividual. Senadora Grace’s upbringing by FPJ and Susan, the values imbued and the loving care she was nurtured with are the principal determinants of who she is today and who she will be tomorrow. FBJ and Susan are the irreplaceable and irreducible fount of that character. Whatever genes she may carry in her blood and flesh will provide only an uncertain map to her physical make-up. As time goes by, her accomplishments will only embellish her character even more impressively to the near extinction and utter diminution of parentage at conception.

          As of now…..her story is of emotional heights and poignancy that make for saccharine romantic legends. To dare argue against that simply because of rumor, maliciously retailed and remaining a stupid rumor, is asinine paranoia.

          And speaking of physical genes, to my eyes and sense……she does not even look a tiny bit like an M at all! Mas mayroon pang hilatsa ni M iyong anak niya sa Australia na ang Ina ay purong-purong puti! At hindi maipag-kakaila na siya ay kamukhang-kamukha ni Bongx2 at Irene. But who really cares except the unreconstructed “praning!”

          May the FORCE be with you, Grace! You already have the CHARACTER.

        • You are the most experienced,respected and intelligent commenter here @sir Buddy , i always believe in you…..i may have adopted the son of ” MAGNANAKAW ” but 100% he will never become a thief if i will nurture him into RIGHTEOSNESS….as long Grace Poe was doing the right things in the Senate , she will be love by the Filipino people…

          But still no to BONGBONG for president or VP…

        • thank you, raissa, for enclosing fe zamora’s article. much appreciated.

          everyone, almost everyone, profess to have good moral character and outstanding values and virtues, street gangs no exemption, their credo: all for one, one for all.

          I have yet to hear grace poe say that she dont need balancing act, that the nation and its best interests will always get 1st priority to her, not friends, families and relatives.

        • Thank you, Raissa. The more I read, the more I like Ms. Poe. The sense of humor, to take the edge off controversy, is new to me. She seems outrageously normal and well balanced to me. What in the world is she doing in that looney-bin circus, the Senate? Hopefully just passing through . . .

      • @joe….in my opinion true or false Grace will gain more and more suppport from the masses with such story… Ilan lang ba tayo CPMERs compared to millions who believe Grace capabilty and honesty as a politician… Takot siguro si Mar Roxas sa kanya dahil even Escudero will support Grace if the two Senators will have a head on as VP or P….i think it’s too early that they brought out such story…make some surveys in your own areas and for sure mas marami pang naawa ngayon sa kanya… and more mileage for Grace…Hinintay sana muna syang magkamali kahit kaunti bago ilinabas ang storya na iyan….Ngayon kasi parang sa tingin ko ,kabado ngayon ang kanyang kapartedo sa Senado kung sya ang makkaksgupa nila one on one in any election.

        • We, who voted for her in spite of the rumor can relax again. Anxiety will return if and when she teams up with Bongbong in 2016… call me unreasonable but there it is, I am that way. Her response to the rumor relaxes me more and the way she conducts herself in the Senate hearing impresses and makes me realize I voted for the right woman.

        • but, but… a Poe/B.Aquino team up? I’ll make a considerable contribution to their campaign kitty….I am that way

        • ang hirap atalaga. kasi ang mga bagong maganda ang layunin katulad nina G. Poe, Bam A., Robredo are not yet proven but we know their hearts are for the country and its people not their pockets. And then they have this name recall. Kung ako, litung-lito na, ano pa kaya ang mga bobotante. I am also for Duterte because i believe during this time, we need a tough guy who fears no one. one who is decisive kahit sino ang masagasaan. Baka ma-solve pa ang kaso ng massacre in Mindanao.

        • Blood is thicker than water. If it’s too hot in Manila, grace can always go to ilocoslovakia – where she’s most welcome

        • ha, ha, ha, she’ll be among her kins there. nice place ilocoslovakia is. imelda might teach her the proper way of kissing the apo bangkay.

    • Surprise story development ito!

      Matalino talaga si M, alam nya na malakas ang laban ni G. dahil sa name recall. Siguradong tatalunin nya ang mga vp ng bagong partido.

      At kung sa ilokos region din lang panalo na si M.

      At pwede din na sa ibang lugar pa kung ilalabas at ipamimigay ang mga nakatagong pang “kusina package” with matching envelopes.

      Ano kaya ang nasa isip ni B?

      Pero kahit sino manalo na pres sa kanilang dalawa pareho pa din ang mangyayari sa bansa….

      Balik sa dating gawi, pardon o abswelto lahat ng may kaso.

      • He he tama ang assessment mo @kalakala….AFRAID of the truth that sprang out with such a story instead of GRACE lossing some electorate i think many more will come to rescue HER…they will votevfor Grace in case she will run for P or VP.

        • Wag lang syang directly teaming up with the Marcoses,,,, she will ne formidable in any Elections or issue’s that may come up… He he i will go with Grace more with that story but not if she will be aligned to BongBONG.

  3. Re: DECU’s perilous situation, De Lima says

    ” “We are actually giving him a chance to explain or rectify himself on that matter. Will he continue to profess such innocence when it comes to the issue of whether or not he received kickbacks? Let’s just see what his answer will be so that we can act accordingly,” she said. ”

    …decu is ‘a principal’ of the crime whether he got a kickback-money or not…his ‘participating acts’ welds him as principal into it together with the other principals…

    …why give him a tip/wrong idea that he’s possibly can only be an ‘accessory’ to the crime?

    …the act of one is the acts of all…in conspiracy theory.

    …peril and grill decu ! His ‘kicking-back’ is a diversionary attention…forget it DOJ and Senate!

    …no wpp for him then. WhiPPed him [so to say].

      • @leona….naku …tama ka dyan…@LEONA…he he …teach us CPMERs please about NONFEASANCE,MALFEASANCE and MISFEASANCE….as deputy director what crime did CUNANAN committed…saan ba sya dito ilalagay… parang hindi na ako believe kay DE LIMA , just to prosecute clearly ENRILE, ESTRADA and REVILLA an their conviction too,, kahit half truth di CUNANAN ay ilalagay nya sa WPP? ang dami pala ng benefits na matatanggap ..pera ng sambayanang Filipino he he..

        • …as deputy director decu committed pesteance!

          …saan ilalagay?…dapat ibagsak at hindi ilagay!

          …decu I believe is charged as principal…DOJ should just proceed on that, tighten the screws [so to say] up to the Ombudsman and to the Sandiganbayan court…there tighten more the screws so he’ll tweet in pain for a song we are waiting for….

          …you’re right about DOJ’s getting hoodwinked by decu…can’t they see and feel it? A half lie eats up the other half -truth…100% credibility is indivisible!

          @Victin Luz

  4. off-topic…infonews.inquirer.net re Delfin Lee’s crack arrest –

    “Mr. Lee was using his live-in partner’s vehicles alternately to avoid suspicion. The windows of the vehicles had dark tints, which made it difficult for us to determine if he was really inside the vehicle every time we did surveillance operations,” he said.”

    ..noticed anything? It’s re ‘dark tints’ of vehicles’ windows! I thought dark tints are strictly prohibited on vehicles…what happened to the rule- LTO LTRB PNP atbpa?

    …that’s why it took long…DARK TINTS dark eyes black eyed the arresting crack team!

  5. Grace really did a good job in punching holes to the testimony of Dennis. It was shown that in fact he benefitted financially from Napoles as confirmed by Ben Hur. But I believe that Grace was really lawyering for her god-brother (kinakapatid) Jinggoy, same as what she did to Ruby. Such denial by Dennis could affect the credibility of Ben Hur. For that reason Dennis could be denied the WPP. Maybe Dennis would like to protect himself and his family from any detriment that might result to his outright admission of any benefit from the PDAF scam.

    Having said the above I would advise Dennis to “let go” the WPP and apply for immunity direct to the Ombudsman or the Sandiganbayan by taking the position of an adverse witness initially. Prove first that he is qualified to become a state witness. Anyway his denial of PDAF benefits does not disqualify him to be a state witness. Dennis is NOT the most guilty. His positive testimony can be corroborated on MATERIAL points and is absolutely necessary to prove that Jinggoy, Bong and Gigi themselves directly intervened in the release of PDAF. And he has not been convicted of any crime.

    If I were Dennis I would testify in favor of the government on my own, if necessary, to prove my position. But I would try to secure protection from the government as an ordinary witness for the prosecution. And I think the government is mandated by law to extend protection to any of the witnesses favorable to its cause – WPP or not.

    IMO the conviction of Estrada, Revilla and Enrile is non-negotiable. And of course the positive testimony of Gigi is most welcome.

    • Agree [email protected]….The three Senators conviction is none negotiable,, but sana ilabas na lahat para mapalitan na natin ang iba pang Senador na kahit kaalyado ni PNOY ay may mga SCAM like the Angara’s …para tuwid na tuwid ang TAHAK natin at ang administrasyon ni PNOY…

    • @rene-ipil, I still believe she is lawyering for her kinakapatid and doing her utmost. and jinggoy is celebrating, watak-watak na daw ang mga witnesses.

      in fe zamora’s article above, grace’s statement “you fell akward at times, you also feel sad for them” – sorry, no can do. I cannot feel sad for the pork scammers, her kinakapatid included. enrile and bong revilla are wealthy beyond belief. each time enrile get sick, he is immediately rushed to top class private hospital and given the best medical care money can buy. he cannot die. I cannot feel sad for jinngoy too. he has a 120Million mansion in wackwack, looks fit and healthy and strong, and lightning fast that if given a chance, he’d steal millions again.

      I feel sad for the taumbayan and the nation, both got duped. they did not get grace’s sentiments.

      • I would be a lot happier if grace talks to her kinakapatid and convince him to return to the nation what he has stolen. that would be very impressive, indeed! the taumbayan would be grateful to her, worship her, maybe for life.

        our country has already lost billions to the scammers. now, our country is going to lose billions more in legal bills of lenghty court cases just to convict the pork scammers. save the country from spending more billions, grace, be hero and talk to your kinakapatid, convince him to return the money. maybe the rest of the scammers will follow his lead and return money too.

        • Moonie @40.2

          Maybe Grace believes that her “brother” Jinggoy – she said Jinggoy is like a brother – did not steal hundreds of millions from PDAF. On the other hand Grace is convinced that Dennis Cunanan got about one million of PDAF money from Napoles. She and Jinggoy thought that if Dennis lied in one point his credibility as a witness is shattered. False in one, false in all.

          As early as 1959 the Supreme Court ruled that such doctrine is unreliable and much abused. Miriam is correct in saying that 3/4 of relevant and material truth is enough to convict.

          http://www.interaksyon.com/article/79116/mel-sta–maria–wow-mali-sen–revilla-falsus-in-ano-kanyo

        • Isang araw sa pampang ng isang ilog ay may isang daga at isang alakdan. Nakikiusap ang alakdan sa daga na kung maaari ay isakay siya sa likod ng daga patawid sa kabilang pampang ng ilog. Ngunit tumanggi ang daga sa takot na baka siya tuklawin nito habang tumatawid ng ilog. Sabi ng alakdan, “hindi ko gagawin iyon dahil kapag nalunod ka ay mamamatay din ako.”

          Pumayag si daga. Pag dating sa gitna ng ilog ay tinuklaw na nga ni alakdan si daga. Habang naghihingalo ay tinanong ni daga si alakdan. “Bakit mo naman ako kinagat. Di ba meron tayong usapan?” Sagot ni alakdan. “Pasensya ka na at talagang ugali namin ito.”

          It’s in the CHARACTER.

        • true, even houses and trees have characters too. rundown houses, old houses, haunted houses, much-loved houses – all got their own unique characters. trees as well. some are protected.

          no matter how excellent the teaching of parents are, they’re nothing if they cannot be applied to the real world.

          the people in mindanao daw worshipped fpj dahil sa films niya. but the films were not free, people have to pay big bucks just to see his flims. and the people there are not stupid. films are films, and they wanted food on the table so they opted for the money and did not give fpj the vote.

          and, I totally agree with miriam, 3/4 truth is acceptable. I think it’s silly for grace to be chasing the 960k (less than a million) that cunanan stole when jinggoy stole 400 times the amount cunanan stole.

        • . . . and that ventricle of the heart in grace’s office stopped me. to remind her what fpj said daw that a lawmaker needs a heart. what heart? sick heart, conniving heart, stealing heart, ambiguous heart, or achy breaky heart like what billy cyrus (miley cyrus’ dad) sang? grace is well educated, she ought to qualify the heart and use adjectives like good to describe heart. good heart then.

          mali pala ako. akala ko a lawmaker needs a good head and a clear mind, ruled by the head, not by emotions of the heart.

          – and why was fpj talking about lawmakers? he was running for president. I doubt if presidents are lawmakers. before he died, fpj could not have known grace was running for the senate. grace only made the move in 2012 albiet unwillingly, years after fpj’s death.

          grace must be pulling our legs.

          I’d humbly go for the sacred heart of jesus, not some ventrible of the heart.

        • hahaha, ang alakdan ay alakdan.
          ang bunga ng santol ay santol din.
          ang character ba ay nakukuha sa paligid?
          sa magulang?
          sa dugo o genes?
          o iba-iba rin?
          complex ang sikolohiya at anatomiya para sa akin.
          natututo ako dito sa CPM, sa lahat ng mga “CPMers” at iba pang commenters

  6. Just reviewed Senator Grace , grilling on Cunanan CPMERs …malinaw naman na she is extracting the truth kung lahat mga ng katotohanan o lahat mga ang alam ni Cunanan ay sinasabi nya sa Senado o sinabi nya sa kanyang affidavit… Mukhang hindi , mukhang ang sahod nya VS gastusin nya sa bahay ..utility bills… Life style nya ..bagsak sya… nagsisinungaling sya na hindi sya nakatanggap ng PDAF anomalous money… Ngayon it doesnt mean that GRACE was favoring Estrada and the others, what she wanted was for Cunanan to tell the truth the whole truth … And that is hindi lang si Enrile, Revilla, Estrada ang nagawa ng PDAF/bogus/ghost disbursement kundi , kahit sa mga others Administration Senators might be DOING or have DONE such SCAM…. UNFAIR for HER and sa mga taong BAYAN kung ILINILIGTAS nila ang mga kaalyado nila na wag madamay sa kaso… i am PRO – PNOY and against the MARCOSES evrsince i am in college pero if THE PDAF SCAM and those WITNESSES will be targeting a FEW not the WHOLE corrupts in the Senate as well as in the house ay hindi tama iyan…. Hindi iyan TUWID na DAAN na ipinaglalaban natin CPMERs…

    • SAAN KUMUHA ng PERA pala si CUNANAN to LIVE on that kind of life with a 63,000th pesos monthly payment? Kung nagsisinungaling sya ng kaunti ay gaano kadami ang kaunti na dapat nating ngayon paniwalaan…? … Para lang ikulung ang Entile, Revilla, estrada and papabayaan natin ang ibang kaalyado natin at si PNOY ay nakatawa at tahimik lang sa suluk… UNRIGHTEOUS PATH na tayo nyan…. aso natin si CUNANAN ..it can not be he has to tell the whole trutth…. Bam-Bam Aquinos line of questioning ay MALAMYA..hindi iyan ang gusto natin o gusto ninyo…

  7. Grace’s Poe’s destiny is written in the stars – posted on June 16, 2013. http://www.filipinostarnews.net

    One early morning, more than four decades ago, a woman went to the Catholic church in Iloilo City to pray. When she dipped her fingers to the font for holy water, she felt something soft, it was a newly born baby girl.

    After she found the baby girl, she informed the parish priest, Fr. Jaime Sin ( who became a cardinal) of her rare find. She turned over the baby to Father Sin, who turned over the baby to a rich family in Iloilo city. This rich family turned the baby to Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces.

    During the election campaign in April and May 2013, aboard a plane on her way to Iloilo City to join Team Pnoy rally, Grace was seated beside a priest who told her that a woman from Canada, whom he knew, wanted to meet her. Grace gave the priest her telephone number and a few days after, she and the woman ( who found Grace in the church in Iloilo City) met.

    During the martial law years, there were rumors that the baby adopted by the Poe was a child of an actress- sister of Susan Roces and Ferdinand Marcos. iT IS ONLY THESE DAYS THAT THE RUMORS ARE PROVEN TO BE JUST THAT – RUMORS.
    ——————-

    Grace and the Burden of her Name – Philippine Daily Inquirer, Fe Zamora, January 4, 2014

    When she agreed to run for senator in 2013, Grace confronted Nanay Chayong, ( the woman who found her in the church in Iloilo City) who brought her to the Poe household to settle the issue of her parentage. The woman said she didn’t really know.
    ………………………

    Grace Poe: Life as a Senator and Adopted Child of FPJ , Philippine Star, Bianca Gonzales, January 12,2014

    Here are ten things we should know about Grace Poe Llamanzares
    1. On Senate life so far………….
    2. One of her fondest memories of her parents, FPJ and Susan Roces……….
    3. On recalling the day of the presidential proclamation in 2004……………
    4. As a child, Grace would play bit roles in movies…………
    5. She agreed to have her life story featured on Maalaala Mo Kaya………….
    6. On the possibility of finding her real parents………..
    7. When husband Neil Llamanzares was courting her………..
    8. Grace and Neil started their family life in Virginia, USA………..
    9. Grace Poe in numbers…………
    10. On what kind of Philippines she is looking forward to for her children and the next generations ” I would like for them to have a country that they can really be patriotic and proud of………….

    • I think it is impossible to condemn dynasties on one hand, then not give an individual the respect and right to break free from the dynasty. As I penned this morning, you can’t be against dynasties, and then insist on holding Grace Poe within the (imaginary) Marcos dynasty. You can’t be for independence of thought and individuality, then insist an individual MUST by dint of birth, be influenced by other people.

      The failure to respect an individual’s right to be oneself is the same pernicious thinking that leads to racial bigotry and discrimination against women.

      Condemn Poe’s hard grilling of a witness if you think that style is non-productive, great, that is a worthy subject to debate. But don’t put her into some kind of automatic penalty box with no way out, because of what someone else did. It is patently unfair. And take care that you are not using argument about her debating style to somehow confirm that she thinks like Marcos. That is going beyond illogic and into lunatic.

      • The complaint against Nancy Binay ought not be that she is condemned because she is a part of the budding Binay dynasty, but because she has no skills and experience in writing laws. If she were properly trained and demonstrated a knowledge of the constitution and Philippine law and government processes, she should not be condemned for being a Binay. She should simply be weighed against the skill, experience and accomplishments of competitors.

      • Sen. Grace Poe has not done any wrong act or crime. We cannot hold her responsible for whatever Marcos the dictator did or did not do. It is going beyond reason as @Joe Am says.

        To implicate her in whatever sense, material or not, is known as ‘Corruption of Blood’ a discarded lunatic belief [as Joe Am says] where under English Criminal law it says –

        “CORRUPTION OF BLOOD,, English crim. law. The incapacity to inherit, or pass an inheritance, in consequence of an attainder to which the party has been subject
        2. When this consequence flows from an attainder, the party is stripped of all honors and dignities he possessed, and becomes ignoble.
        3. The Constitution of the United States, Amendm. art. 5, provides, that no person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval, forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger” and by art. 3, s. 3, n. 2, it is declared that “no attainder of treason shall work. corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attainted.”

        It is modernly known as a ‘Bill of Attainder’ also found in Article III Sec. 22 of our Constitution of 1987 ‘No xxx bill of attainder shall be enacted.’ [by Congress].

        Link http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Corruption+of+blood

  8. off topic but diyos ko po – kababasa ko lang sa rappler: binay announced that pacquiao will be his candidate for senator in 2016. nakakailabot at nakakasuka. binay has absolutely no respect for the filipino nation and people.

    • for senator si pacman, magiging congresswoman si jingky aba malaking posibilidad na magiging vice gob muna si mommy d at baka puede na maging councilor panganay ni pacman. ganito na ang takbo pag si B ang presidente. isang pamilya pa lang yan… kawawang mga pinoy na hindi marunong bumuto. hu hu hu

      • He he ,,, only in the Philippine’s ba @kalakala…. Wala tayong magawa , if somebody wins an international competitions , either they will become an ARTISTA sa puting tabing or congressman , mayor , governor or commisioners or director if qualified ng kaunti he he… Only in RP …. He he

      • In fairnes kay Paquiao , at least sya ay hindi NINAKAW ang PERA nya at ito ay pinaghirapan nya , buhay nya ang kanyang itinaya sa pakikipagsuntukan sa ring na pwede syang mamatay pag nagkataon AND ito ay ipinababahagi nya sa mga kapwa nyang Filipino laong lao na sa mga mahihirap… Stil nagagampanan o magagampanan naman nya itong pagtulong sa kapwa kahit sya ay hindi SENADOR…..kaso mga GAGO mga si CHAVIT at si ATIENZA at mga iba nyang kaibigan na sinulsulan na pumasok si PACMAN sa politika… So wala na tayong magagawa nyan kung iboto sya sa pagka Senador at Presidente balang araw… He he…kung noong kasikatan ni Nora Aunor tumakbo ng pagka Senador , tiyak panalo po sya he he.. Only in RP…

      • @ kalahari,

        Idol ko si Pacquiao pero ano naman gagawin nito sa senado? Saka si bise presidente Binay bakit ipinagyayabang nito na kasama sa ticket nito ang hindi karapatdapat sa senado nakakatawa at nakakalungkot na balita…

    • @ Binay No No,

      l like what you said, Nakakakilabot at Nakakasuka, Binay has absolutely no respect for the filipino nation and people.. dagdagan ko lang, kasi parang ipinagmamalaki pa ni Binay na tatakbo sa senado si Pacquiao sa ticket nito. Para ano? at ano naman gagawin nang isang boxing star, artista,at ni hindi nga yata nakatapos nang highschool si Pacquiao? Sana inisip ni vice president Binay kong ano maitutulong nang isang gaya ni Pacquiao sa senado… Nakakakilabot at Nakakasuka nga na si bise presidente Binay ay ipinagyayabang ang hindi karapat dapat sa senado…idol ko po si Pacquiao pero hindi siya bagay sa senado at sana maawa siya sa Mamamayan dahil tingnan natin nangyari nang makaupo sa senado sina revilla, lapit, jinggoy, nancy parang mga walang nagawa…

  9. Ok CPMERs mukhang may basihan na galing sa Marcos blood din si GRACE…until proven NOT… payag ba tayo na if HE will be endorse by PNOY or the AQUINOs , true or false then are we going with GRACE sa Presidency or VP?

    • for me, it will be a big NO. an uncleared baggage is an achilles heal, a target and a vulnerable point for those people who have shown no remorse for the bad deeds they have done in the past

      • I agree with @Vibora but for a different reason: the country has hard and difficult problems. A woman, very fresh at the senate post at that, to run for president and if she’s in winning-lucky, the odds to be able to deal with the problems is and will be a nightmare…for the country and people.

        …endorse her…not my choice. A man, A male is needed. Hard tissue. Hard nerves. Hard and not soft.

        We need a hardy man for the job.

        • Grace herself added spice to the rumor

          “During the senate first session, Poe greeted bongbong using the rumor as ice-breaker. Recalled the senate topnotcher “I told him, Senator Marcos, ang tsismis kapatid daw kita. He replied, “Oo nga, narinig ko rin sa kampanya. And they both cracked up, Poe added.”

          “Later, whenever the senator would visit Marcos’ office, she would tell his staff, “wow, ang ganda ng office ng kapatid ko.” (PDI 2/4/14 by Fe B. Zamora)

        • “Later, whenever the senator would visit Marcos’ office, she would tell his staff, “wow, ang ganda ng office ng kapatid ko.” (PDI 2/4/14 by Fe B. Zamora)

          adding spice to the rumor or confirming the rumor during her unguarded moment? just asking…

        • @kalakala…i think with that article you had with FE,,, shows hindi totoo ang balita … Nonody will joke like that if they were really of same blood… If proven that Grace is not related to the Marcoses , i will vouch for her, rather than Roxas, Binay, Alllan ,Estrada’s , Villar and the likes…

        • @ Vibora,

          I rather like Sen.Merriam Santiago or Mayor Duterte nang Davao para may TALINO, TAPANG at LIDERATO….or Cayetano, Trillanes and Robredo huwag lang ang mga may bahid…

  10. Joe America wrote “Poe’s File: A Little Matter of Parentage” in his blog “Society of Honor” which is now published in Raissa’s blog – Our Plaza Miranda. A portion reads:

    “Ah, well, that perplexed me again because I did not see why a child (baby Grace) should have to bear punishment for the wayward ways of her biological parents. Those parents contributed nothing to her development except an exceptionally good brain.”

    “EXCEPT AN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD BRAIN.”

    There is the scuttlebutt that Grace has been endowed not only with “exceptionally good brain” but also a chunk of Marcos wealth. According to the scuttlebutt, Marcos placed a portion of his wealth in trust which could be withdrawn by Grace only at the proper time. I am reminded of Analisa Josefa Hegyesi who is Ferdinand Marcos’ Australian daughter.

    http://getitfromboy.net/analisa-hegyesi-marcos-australian-daughter/

    The scuttlebutt says also that when FPJ became the clear winner in the 2004 presidential elections unofficially, lots of money from GMA and FG started to flow not only in Mindanao but also in Luzon. Having spent his hard earned money almost to the bottom, FPJ and Susan turned to Grace. Grace willingly provided the needed financial support. FPJ handed the money to his prominent political lieutenants for distribution to concerned areas. Unfortunately the same money did not reach the intended beneficiaries for obvious reasons. The treachery made FPJ heartbroken aggravated by shame of putting Grace’s expectations down. And the rest is history.

    IMO such scuttlebutt could be easily dispelled by a DNA test. If the scuttlebutt were true, it would put a highly significant concern to Filipinos when Grace aimed for the presidency. Because this would place Grace, FPJ and Susan in the same mold as Bongbong. And God save my country!!!

    • that’s the problem with joe, he keeps calling grace “baby”.

      grace was baby decades ago, she is adult now, and no longer sucking her mother’s milk.

      if grace becomes president, many are afraid she will put the interests of the marcoses above that of the nation and heap favors on them. let them get away with anything they want, her blood kins, return to them what the current government has confiscated, overturn decisions found not to be in their favor. sa ngayon, she seems to be favoring pork scammer jinggoy estrada, and hostile to witnesses against pork scam. I used to like grace, but with her animosity shown towards the witnesses, I’m having 2nd thoughts about her.

      • @Moonie, I don’t keep calling Grace baby. I make the point that a child is innocent, and ought to be given the right to develop as an individual, and respected as an individual, not painted as deficient because a parent was deficient.

        It is a bit like racial discrimination, or gender discrimination. It takes the behavior of someone else and overlays it onto the subject. No no no. The subject is entitled to be an individual, to work diligently, to prove competence, and to be recognized and respected for his or her own values and effort.

        @Rene, thanks for the plug, and for adding intrigue to the story.

        • having been repeated many times, I’m inclined to believe that grace is a marcos clone and poses a clear and present danger to the country

        • [email protected]

          Yes, Joe. I really wanted to intrigue (verb) or arouse the interest of CPMers but it was not meant to be an intrigue (noun) or a scheme to merely put someone down.

          Indeed, I voted for Grace as senator. It is not that I love Grace less. But that I love my motherland more.

        • Thanks. I understand from the above comment that there could be some considerations outside of birth that may exist . . . like bank accounts for kids sired by Marcos . . . that would take the matter into Grace Poe’s adulthood, and her responsibility for those monies. I can understand how that could happen, although I don’t know how it could be investigated. I don’t think DNA is the proof of that.

          I appreciate that we can continue to argue on an issues basis, not personal. :)

          And we both have the same top priority.

        • @ Rene-Ipil

          My sentiments, exactly… I also voted for her and want this rumor put to rest, since it’s unfair to her and to us who are confused, we want to give her a chance but…..I need to stand back and get a clear perspective, don’t want to judge or indulge in prejudice but we have valid issues which need to be discussed, sorted and resolved, in a respectful way of course so as not to offend.

        • isnt it that every single politicians asked for is a “CHANCE”, but very few delivered. Top post candidate should be transparent, mahusay, at matino. I know Leni Robredo does not come up easily, but why are we leaning to Grace? Just because she graduated in US univerisity, or she inherited FPJ charmed towards the voters. In reality we dont know FPJ in real life. Kasabihan, “in every man good success there is a good woman behind”, and I’m sure she has that.

        • Leni , is good @clearpasig … CPMERs will not contest that , but for President parang kulang pa IMHO, like her political machineries medyo add some more IMHO…

        • Dear Joe and other CPMers,
          It doesnt really matter to me if she is Marcos’ daughter. Because if she is, the probability is high that she indeed was the product of rape.

          Even that to me is inconsequential.

          What matters is whether she is keeping all these a secret. Whether she is being honest with the Filipino people.

          If all these are true, perhaps she and her mom are protecting her real mom from the shame.

          I want to tell her, if this is true, there is no shame attached to it. Her family is the victim.

          If this is true it is the late dictator snd his wife who should be ashamed.

          That is all.

        • Well I thank you for providing the forum for thought. It has helped me immensely to understand the principle of “togetherness” that promotes dynasties and group-thinking in the Philippines, and has led me to believe this place is one huge termite colony where people are not seen as individuals but are categorized as workers or (dynastic) leaders. Or villains.

        • pinoy din ang makakapagbigay ng accurate na pananaw sa ikinikilos o ginagawi ng isang pinoy.
          sa pinoy kahit na anong naging kasalanan ng kadugo ay nakakalimutan kapagdaka lalo na kung ang nakagawa niyon ay may-sakit, nakaratay o namatay na. kinakalimutan na ang lahat ng pagkakasala nito.
          nag-iiba ang usapan kapag kamag-anak na o kadugo ang nasasangkot.
          magsasawalang-kibo na lang ang isang tao kaysa magsalita ito nang laban sa kamag-anak lalo na kung siya ay paninikluhuran ng nagkasala o gumamit siya ng padrino upang ilapit ang isang kahilingan.
          kumplikado ngunit ito ay nananalaytay sa ating mga ugat.
          katulad na lang ng nangyari sa senate trial ni TJ na kung saan ang magkakagalit na Basa Families ay nagkabati-bati at nagyakapan/nag-iyakan sa bandang huli. isang indikasyong ang nalikhang sugat ng mga akusasyon at kontra-akusasyon napaghilom na ng isang iglap na pagkikita-kita sa araw na niyaon.
          at iyan ang ikinakatakot ko kung anak nga si GP ni FM.
          may mga indikasyon na tayong nakikita ng kanyang pagkiling.
          sana po ay mali ang aking obserbasyon.
          i hope and i pray that joam is correct on his theory of individualism.
          add the patriotism and we might as well have a great future president in her.

      • @ Moonie and @ Joe America

        “return to them what the current government has confiscated, overturn decisions found not to be in their favor.

        What if this is done as Joe proposes: a journalist poses that questions of possibility to Grace in an interview together with Bongbong…

        “sa ngayon, she seems to be favoring pork scammer jinggoy estrada, and hostile to witnesses against pork scam. I used to like grace, but with her animosity shown towards the witnesses, I’m having 2nd thoughts about her.”

        I was a bit uncomfortable when he continued grilling Cunanan in the Senate hearing yesterday, but got comfy again when she explained clearly why she is doing it, she is giving Cunanan the chance to prove the critics wrong that he has a mansion and a number of cars not commensurate to his salary, a lifestyle check if you will… after all, Luy is insisting that he gave 960 million pesos to DECU, (Dennis Cunanan).. since both of them are being presented as state witnesses, one already under WPP and DECU a provisional SW, their testimonies should be clarified so as to strengthen the case against the alleged plunderers and not muddle it. I agree with her and she has done a good job yesterday, she was not arrogant like Estrada and Trillanes during the days of Gen. Reyes.

        • Decu still has time to admit his wrongdoing (P960K) and to return the same – otherwise his credibility is questionable and he probably won’t be accepted as WPP. In that scenario, mag sama na silang lahat sa bilibid.

        • decu could be in trouble, grace poe is not finish with him yet. in focus at abs-cbnnews.com dated 7 feb, when interviewed, grace theorized that decus was lying about not receiving the 960k and keeping it for himself. apparently, according to grace, decu has applied for jaycee job overseas and keen to be seen to be doing the right thing so he will ge the job. that decu will not admit wrongdoing so he will be seen to be squeaky clean and not dirty, therefore, worthy candidate of the job he has applied.

          I think, grace is waffling. we are not really after decu, but after the pork scammer who had stolen billions. that 960k does not even equate to a million. and decu is a witness.

          miriam said 3/4 truth from decu is acceptable, the 1/4 lie can be wriiten off as people tell lies all the time. self preservation is people’s 1st job after all. miriam is right, we have to concentrate of the bigger issue, not the smaller, niggly bits. go after the 10billion that was scammed, the 960k is pittance.

          last I heard, decu has been accepted to wpp.

        • I am not a lawyer so with many of us here,,,but how about lawyer’s terminology that you must be CONVICTED if there was a PROOF BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT….if 1/4 of Cunanan’s statement are FALSE then how can the court convict the THREE KINGs of GRAFT-PDAF then? …if you are lying then you are cheating and if the Ombudsman will allow those kind of affidavits,, then can the Supreme Court arrive to a fair decisionn? Definitetly ” hindi na tuwid na daan ang tinatahak natin nyan ” ano iyan prosecute some and then free some…or..forget some stolen money and prosecute the bigger amount…akala ko ba a couple of pesos stolen compared to millions of pesos taken are both THIEF and as the TEN COMMANDMENT command us thou shall not steal….Palagay ko tama si Grace sa ginagawa nya….

        • @Mary…’she seems to be favoring pork scammer jinggoy estrada, and hostile to witnesses against pork scam.’

          …she must be either not sympathetic to them pork witnesses. Very new indeed in the Senate but if she’s behaving like that, better don’t ask questions or show manifestations of favoring the suspects, Bad for her, Bad on her…or

          …is she being ‘updated’ on the facts-info or being ‘feed with wrong facts-info’?

          …very possible.

    • I beg to disagree that a mere scuttlebutt, as you call it, justifies demanding DNA test from anyone, Senator or not. Worse, this scuttlebutt is premised on the completely unfounded innuendo that Senator Poe was sired by FM sometime around Xmas of 1967. I think it is very irresponsible for anyone to use chismis to malign and destroy others.

      Your story that Grace, from her immense fortune given to her by Papa FM, provided FPJ (who at the time already run out if money) ” the needed financial support. FPJ handed the money to his prominent political lieutenants for distribution to concerned areas. Unfortunately the same money did not reach the intended beneficiaries for obvious reasons.” is shameless fiction.

      Firstly, I know for a fact (I have “personal knowledge”, as you lawyers would term it) that FPJ rejected many really substantial campaign contributions.

      Secondly, it was not FPJ’s style to hand out money to his political lieutenants as a trapo would.

      The lady has done no wrong to the people to deserve this awful disrespect.

      • [email protected]

        I respect your right to disagree. And you have articulated well your reasons. I understand though that you are biased per your admission. But I think it would be better not to resort to name calling. In the first place Grace is a public servant. Secondly, I am just relaying to CPMers what I said as merely a rumor without any malice in my mind. Thirdly, I think it my responsibility to share such raw information for discernment by whoever cares. And I believe that one should not be ashamed or afraid to speak his mind on relevant issues without resorting to personal attack on the discussants.

        Someone told me that in any discussion I should pound on my reasons, if any. If none, I could pound on the table.

        • You categorized my post as “name calling”. How do you classify your post that I termed “shameless fiction”? How about the accusation that the lady senator is lying about her parentage? Direct to the point answers, please.

        • I am referring to name-calling on commenters. Grace Poe is not a commenter. I and you are. Grace here is the subject of our comments. Calling the commenter as shameless, irresponsible and disrespectful does not have a place in a sober discussion. Otherwise, please consider me out of your loop.

        • You gotta walk your talk.

          Btw, I have no great interest in having you in my loop. However, I find it funny that you are asking not to call out your post that was entirely based on chismis.

        • Calling out or commenting on the post is entirely different from calling the commenter as shameless, irresponsible and disrespectful.

          Gotta mean what you say and say what you mean.

    • Insofar as the anti-Marcos forces are concerned, Grace Poe’s suspected paternity by dictator Macoy is not only the thing going against her if she aims for the presidency. Her adoptive father, FPJ, was also a dyed-in-the-wool Marcos loyalist. Shortly after the EDSA Revolution, FPJ hogged the dailies for engaging in a drinking and shooting spree in a Makati resto which resulted to considerable damage to property. Cause of FPJ’s rampage? The ouster of his ninong Macoy. I didn’t vote for FPJ in 2004 but I voted for Grace in 2013 because she was endorsed by President Aquino. But if she seeks the presidency, that would be an entirely different story. Patunayan muna nya na hindi siya kadugo ng diktador.

      • Interesting background, John. I would cite that Grace Poe is wholly her own woman, and does not bend to the ways of either her natural father or FPJ. She went to the United States to in fact establish her independence from her parents, and returned only after FPJ died.

        Essentially what we are dealing with here is the humanitarian principle that each individual ought to be free to be respected as an individual. Now if you tell me that establishing movie and radio ratings is a bad thing, or school lunches are a bad thing, or FOI is a bad thing, then we have a basis of saying this is the wrong woman for greater responsibility because she makes bad decisions. The problem is, she makes good decisions, and says good things, and holds others up for respect.

        This notion of tight ties and no separation of the umbilical cord is EXACTLY the same thing that drives dynasties their success. To break the dynasties, we have to start looking at people as individuals, on the merits of their deeds and thoughts.

      • May we please see such news reports which hogged the dailies about FPJ …
        ” engaging in a drinking and shooting spree in a Makati resto which resulted to considerable damage to property. Cause of FPJ’s rampage? The ouster of his ninong Macoy.”?

    • If there is a serious doubt [unknown as no DNA test] on Grace’s alleged ‘a chunk of M,’ the safe rule is do not vote for her if he runs for P.

      Vote for someone else or do not vote for anybody for P. Vote for a VP, P=PNoy!

      But if [heavens!] she wins, non-voters can roll-up their sleeping mats and move to another place….to be safe[?]

      Me, ain’t voting for any F, just nailing my mat unto the floor.

      • DNA….puede pero kanino bang dapat i match if the rumor is true that bongbong & aimee are not the biological children of macoy? how about irene, papayag ba sya? birth certificate is futile evidence… naisip na yan ni macoy to register the birth certificate of his love child few years before or after the actual birth to mislead information.

        VP B is just testing the water. first kay vilma but her husband already aired his/their side, then nancy was open about jinggoy. what if their next target is g. poe..poe is more popular than robledo. people need “solomonic” decision about proposing the candidacy of g. poe as vp.

        • @kala….there’s still some small tissue inside that WAX-corpse! How about it?

          …hahaha

          …and we’ll also find if it’s total wax or not!

        • @leona,
          parffin na lang yun.
          or traces of raffinate.
          who knows, nasa LNB na pala ang pinagkopyahan…

        • @leona …”and we’ll also find if it’s total wax or not!”……..another masterpiece/ one of the collections in madam tussauds’ museum….now in the philippines???!.

        • it seems, the plot is getting thicker. Aimee and Bongbong not children of Macoy? the only chismis i heard when i was in college is that Aimee is from a former Manila Mayor (L.) and that Bongbong is not the original Bongbong anymore. but as everyone can see, Bongbong is the splitting image of the real McCoy and the daughter in Australia looks similar to Aimee.

      • It is good to be in an honest open forum, well this is seriously a food for thought if this scenario happens. Although she seems a good person that is only one of the qualities that will closed the deal. Isn’t that giving us a feeling of anxiety? That is the bloodline that even in books we are trying to remove the nobleness and trying to shape the real story and events of that era. Why,,, she is already being boastful of her blood relations instead of being a little coy about it, oh no, is it because money attracts money and power realigning beckons when the time comes, wow oh wow, I ‘m having the chills.

        In connection, see the story about the recent trouble in Thailand.

        1) “Thai PM under fire after exiled brother joins ministers’ meeting via webcam
        Yingluck Shinawatra accused of being a puppet after allowing former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to ‘lecture’ ministers”… and most of you are right… just think about…. 2) the Bloodline.

        • I agree, @netty,, maybe somebody close to Rosemarie there in USA might know or must have notice Rosemarie’s feelings with all this news… Kayo dyan na malapit sa kanya, maybe you can trace some people..

        • victin, maybe rosemarie is constantly sending e-mails, texting grace and wishing her well. maybe they spoke to each other on the phone.

        • Life of Rosemarie was not so secret before like , the hiwalayan blues nila ni Ricky so as her husband na sya ay silahis at namatay sa AIDs daw… Maybe along the way mayroon at mayroon syang kaibigan na napag sabihan kung totooo o hindi na anak nya si Grace atbang ama ay si APO Maccoy…kalakalin nyo dyan sa AEMRICA, para mapatunayan natin ang totooo,,,,kahit sayang sya pag nagkataon…a potential presidentiable pa naman.

        • yes, netty. that’s what we have been saying, blood is thicker than water. yingluck was given the benifit of a doubt, that she is her own person, intelligent, eloquent and well educated and only have the interest of thailand at heart. but look what she did after winning the election? she opened the back door and let her brother in. and instead of correcting her mistake and apologizing to the people of thailand for what she has done, but what mistake? apparently, she has done nothing wrong daw, did not think it was mistake to let her brother in.

          and then the thais rebelled. they dont want her brother around, influencing the people of thailand and propagating his beliefs, free to dip his hands into the wealth thailand. like what he had done before. complain to yingluck and she would just demand her decision be respected, she listens more to her brother than to her ministers.

        • …@moonie…what’s thicker than blood?

          …mooney! …siblings fighting over it…trapos too!

          hahaha

        • money in bags. always money in bags. big wads of money. they’ll even sell their grandmothers for it, ha, ha, ha. siblings fighting over money like the revillas.

        • @netty,
          you are 100% correct on the shinawatra siblings.
          modesty aside nasabi ko na rin na magkapatid sila.
          hindi kailanman kayang saktan ni Yingluck si Thaksin.
          ang hula ko pa nga dati ay pakawala siya ni Thaksin.
          moro-moro.
          Thais are not far from Pinoys…

  11. Sorry guys.

    Im a bit under the weather.

    Will update as soon as Im feeling better.

    • Please get well soon, take that much needed rest from work and stress.. we need you.

      • Indeed, please be well, Ms. Raissa. We need a rational observer to make sense of these attacks which, without any iota of credence, are extremely vicious, not only to Grace Poe, but to her adoptive relatives. I did hear rumors of numerous rapes by Marcos. Almost all the beauties were rumored to have been victimized. Now one of those rumors has been promoted to a liaison. The maligned biological mother is an extremely busy movie actress in the year she was supposed to have given birth. Where did she find the time?

        This may be another case of a presidential pretender making sure all alternatives are hobbled with stigma, valid or not.

        • i wonder where Johnny Lin is. Hello! we want to hear from you, medyo mainit ang topic namin. and you too, Mr. Baycas. matagal ka na ring silent night diyan.

  12. Cunanan at the crossroads of hell:

    Benhur Luy stares at cunanan at today’s senate hearing, as cunanan denies receiving money from napoles staff, contrary to Luy’s statement. (PDI 3/6/14)

    In his voluminous statement, Benhur said cunanan visited the JLN Group of Companies to receive money from napoles. This was when cunanan was still the TRC deputy director-general. On the instruction of napoles, Benhur prepared P960,000 for cunanan. Luy said he handed the money to his superior, evelyn de leon.

    For his part, cunanan said any monies handed to him could not be equivalent to the amounts given to the agency heads. He also said that if he receives bribes, he would not verify or validate any documents in the napoles transactions.

    It could be remembered that on 9/23/13, TRC chief dennis cunanan, during a presscon in his office, denies any involvement in pork scam projects processed by the TRC from 2007-2009.

    QUO VADIZ, DECO?

    • @Kalahari, , , Normally, one who ‘works’ for the success of a crime doing, isn’t doing it for nothing! One must be getting something in return for working with that.

      It is so abnormal or very unbelievable that he didn’t get money for himself. It’s either his story is only to benefit some suspects or he’s crazy to be wasted or salvaged at that but projecting himself as Mr. Clean? Which?

      Be careful with co-conspirators! Nine out of ten, their stories are tainted with guilt.

      • @Kalahari & @ Leona,

        Mahirap nga paniwalaan na wala sya napakinabangan sa “business” na naging monkey business.

        Kasi kung yan ay straight ay bakit may pera (na libo-libo) nakalagay sa bag? At kailangan pa pick-up sa opisina ni jln?

        Hindi ba dapat naka-tseke yan? Para may paper trail kung baga? Bakit cash? Bakit personal na bigayan/abutan?

        Sa mga ganitong kalakaran, malamang sinabihan sya na umayon ka na lang at manahimik meron ka pakinabang dito. Kasi lahat ng dinaanan ng papel (PDAF) na yun ay nagkaroon ng “bonus”. Lagay naman sya lang ang wala?

        O kung ayaw mo sumakay talsik ka sa trabaho mo, o hanapan ka namin ng kasalanan mo.

        Ano ang choice nya?

        • @curveb…kukupit rin! …a nice choice indeed! decu’s is a self-serving buffet statement!

          …indeed – who will know he did or didn’t but he was into it

          …many ways of kupitin’ a cat!

  13. How can TG be sure it was Gunggong Revilla who wrote and send those questions. He could just deny these questions easily just as he deny his accusers. If he was man enough portraying himself in the movies then he should have face the witness personally. Bakl_!, bakl_!

    • Agree. Isinulat ng abugado ni Revilla siguro since under oath si Cunanan. They are using it to find loopholes in his testimonies so Revilla can use for his defense when the actual hearing in Sandiganbayan comes.

    • nagpalit na pala ng host ang Kap’s Amazing stories.
      at sikat pa ang writer.
      a new-found profession at that for him.
      pag nag-boomeerang ang mga binasang tanong.
      ang puputukan ay ang bumasa.
      sasabihin ng writer, pineke ang idea niya. LOL…

  14. Yan ang problema sa isang senator na palaging late sa hearing at obvious na hindi nakikinig ng maigi kaya hindi niya alam yung WLO or HDO.

    Nagtataka ako sa line of questioning ni nancy bakit ang tanong niya ay kung may security ba si Ruby Ruason o Wala. Kahit na paulit ulit ng sinabi ni Sec. De Lima that she defers to answer it because it will pose as a security risk.

    Bakit masyado ang pagpupumilit niya sa pagtatanong kung may security o wala si R. Tuason?

      • please naman, walang personalan… you cannot blame here anak siya ng maligno eh as per Korina Sanchez yan ha not mine. Just to make you all laugh sometimes ug dili kanunay seryoso kay ma hospital ka. he he he

    • Hindi ko nga alam o maintindihan kung nagtatangahan o sadyang tanga nga lamang itong si taong grasa. Nakakasuka ang mga tanong niya, bakit hindi na lang mag-sangkap ng kape nina Benhur Luy at Dennis Cunanan para may magawa iya.

      • Isapang nakakahigh-blood sa hearing na ito is last week ang tatapang nila Jinggoy at Revilla na gusto nilang magkaharap ni Cunanan, ngayon ni isa sa kanila wala, no show sa hearing.

        Ang lakas manghamon tapos wala naman palang bayag. Dapat siguro baguhin na yung rules ng mga hearing sa senado at congresso. Tanggalin na yung “Parliamentary Courtesy”.

        If you guys remember the hearing of Ligot, Garcia, Rabusa, Corona etc. on how this senators want the spotlight and media attention. The senators should be grilled in the same way with media coverage para patas.

        Call the security and drag them out of their offices, take their oath para patas sa mga whistle-blowers.

        Note:@Raissa
        Kung libre po kayo paki post po yung 2 comments ko before this. Baka napunta po sa spam. Salamat :)

    • Maaring wala siyang ibang maisip na itanong. What can we expect to her? Anyway, hindi ko sinasabing baka wala siyang alam!

    • gusto kasi malaman ni nancy kung walang security na kasama si R. Tuason, madaling ligpitin.

  15. @atty leona….read the EQUIVOCATION on their WEST POINTs HONOR CODE System in relation to the ” INTENT ” ..it should be a DELIBERATELY DECEIVE another person…..it is safe to say the INTENT must be DELIBERATE also…

    ” OUR CLASS ” ……When Cudia speak of ” our class was dismissed a little bit late ” ……

    LYING is when a vague and an ambigous information WITH ( coupled ) deliberately deceive , mislead his MISTAHs……. ahhh …How can the Honor Committee said that ” our class ” by Cudia was to deliberately deceive and intent THEM , when INFACT CUDIA and all of his/her classmates KNEW , they were not all ” a little bit late ” …..DELIBERATELY if none of the HC members are his classmates……

    We , as none members of Cudias class ” OUR CLASS ” at first instance such word is vague and ambigous …BUT, BUT,..with regards to the DELIBERATENESS to DECEIVE and to MISLEAD his MISTAHs, it was not.. AND EVEN supported by the CERTIFICATION of Dr. Costales….

    WILLFUL intent was lacking when the HC arrived on convicting Cudia of lying……

    Alam na alam naman ng mga classmates nya na nasa HC that Cudia was referring ” our class ” not to all of them ( because 5 cadets only were late before ) ang it was even Corrected by Hindang and @Sir baycas comments ,, kung singular sana wala nang problema…..just to prove that the ” vagueness or ambiguosness ” of the word/information ” OUR CLASS ” lacked DELIBERATENESS to mislead the HC for them that there is LYING ….

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