But Manila sent 60 delegates
By Raïssa Robles
The recent hearing of the Arbitral Tribunal was supposed to be closed to the public.
“However,” according to an official press release from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague dated July 13, “after receiving written requests from interested States, and having sought the views of the Parties, the Arbitral Tribunal permitted the Governments of Malaysia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the Kingdom of Thailand and Japan, to send small delegations to attend the hearing as observers.”

The Arbitral Tribunal – L to R: Judge Jean-Pierre Cot, Judge Stanislaw Pawlak, Judge Thomas A. Mensah (President), Judge Rüdiger Wolfrum, Professor Alfred H. A. Soons
An international relations expert whom I asked about this and who declined to be identified, described the presence of representatives from the four countries as “unusual.”
“Because if hearings are not open to the public, representatives of other countries theoretically should not be allowed. Since the countries made a request to the tribunal, the tribunal consulted the Philippines and the Philippines agreed,” the expert said.
My source pointed out that except for Thailand, the other three observer countries also have overlapping claims with China. Malaysia and Vietnam have claims to an extended continental shelf, which in 2009 had prompted China to send a memorandum to the Secretary General of the United Nations that contained for the first time the nine-dash line.
“But we should be looking closely at Japan’s maritime dispute with China,” the expert also said.
What caught my source’s attention, though, was the excessively large delegation sent by the Philippine government. Local newspapers said they numbered around 35 in all. But the official press release issued by the Tribunal said:
“The Philippines’ delegation comprised some sixty attendees, including the Solicitor General as Agent for the Philippines, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of Justice, the Secretary of National Defense, members of the Supreme Court, members of the House of Representatives, Ambassadors, government lawyers, officials, legal counsel, advisors and technical experts and assistants.”
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that for her, it was like taking a crash course on international law. Her choice of words are unfortunate: it gives the impression she’s doing this using the people’s money.

L – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Middle – Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Antonio Carpio, R – Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs of the Philippines, Mr. Menardo I. Guevarra
International law expert Harry Roque pointed out that the presence of such a large number was really not necessary to argue the Philippine case before the tribunal. Strictly speaking, he’s right. (And by the way, he is not the expert I’m quoting here.) Because if you look at the press release, only four people were allowed to speak before the Tribunal: Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, counsel for the Philippines Paul Reichler and Professor Philippe Sands.
Should we be angry at government spending the people’s money this way?
From the legal standpoint, their presence was wasteful since they were not necessary for arguing the Philippine case. My source said the Philippines could have made do with a much smaller delegation consisting of senior Philippine government officials, the international counsel and their staff.

Counsel Team for the Philippines, including Professor Bernard H. Oxman, Professor Alan E. Boyle and Mr. Lawrence H. Martin
However, I can also understand why the government sent such a large delegation. It was meant for propaganda effect, to show that the case has the backing of the three branches of government.
The large crowd was intended to fill the room in the same manner that Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao flies a planeload of supporters to watch his boxing matches and cheer him on.
If the Philippines wins the case, government can claim the cost was worth it. But if it loses the case, there will be an outcry over the expense.
Personally, I wish the government had sent a smaller delegation befitting a third world country. But I cannot close my eyes to the propaganda value of showing a tribunal hearing the case in a roomful of Filipinos.
I just hope the delegates were not billeted in plush five-star hotels. And that they flew straight home after the event.
Below is the official press release from the Tribunal:
baycas says
A commenter over at PDI website, in a way, picked ‘Teodoro’ rather than ‘Korina.’
Will anyone choose ‘Elenita?’
baycas says
@Kan D. Dato over at PDI website, in a way, picked ‘Teodoro’ rather than ‘Korina.’
Will anyone choose ‘Elenita?’
Vhin AB says
To quote Yvonne (47.2.1.1.2).
“If there is anything I’m desperate about, I’m desperate to find a reason why a person who renounced her Filipino citizenship, and moves away, deserves a better shot at the Presidency that’s someone who remains in the homeland, and toils for the country, for better or for worse.”
To ang panunumpa na ginawa ni Grace Poe sa Amerika ng minsan niyang iwanan ang Pilipinas at ibigay ang buong katapatan upang ipagtanggol ang Konstitusyon ng Amerika. (Emphasis mine)
Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I ABSOLUTELY AND ENTIRELY RENOUNCE AND ABJURE ALL ALLEGIANCE AND FIDELITY to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will SUPPORT and DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will BEAR TRUE FAITH and allegiance to the same; that I will BEAR ARMS on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY , without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”
Sana ay hindi iwanang muli ang bayan ngayong naglilingkod sya sa publiko. Sana sa ngayon ay manatili siya sa Pilipinas, for better or worse.
http://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/naturalization-test/naturalization-oath-allegiance-united-states-america
yvonne says
Correction on my typo:
“I’m desperate to find a reason why a person who renounced her Filipino citizenship, and moves away, deserves a better shot at the Presidency THAN someone who remains in the homeland, and toils for the country, for better or for worse.”
vander says
ang totoong mukha ng mas nakararami nating citizenry: utang na loob at paghanga sa pinilakang tabing…at ang pinakamasaklap-kawalan ng pag-asa…
Vhin AB says
The people tried to rectify the situation when we put Pnoy in Malacanang. Without many accomplishments but definitely a politician who grew up under Martial Law where his father was the top opposition against Marcos regime. He learned the ropes and as a result jailing Enrile, the country’s rapist. Even ex-president Gloria. Impeached and convicted Chief Justice Corona. Mga taong mapang-abuso sa kapangyarihan. Mga nagpayaman kapalit ang pagkagutom ng maraming mamamayan.
Marami pang dapat gawin pero kahit papaano ay pwede pala. Pwede pa pala tayong mangarap na maipakulong ang malalaking isda. Sana lang ay maipagpatuloy ng susunod na pangulo. May pag-asa pa Vander. Tulungan at suportahan natin ang pangulo.
vander says
yes, @vhinAB.
may pag-asa ang tuwid na daan.
lalo na kung mas maitutuwid pa!
we are into it.
tooth and nail.
ang agam-agam ko, kapag si gp ay nakalusot.
imo, malulusaw ang sinimulan ni pnoy.
hindi makakayanan ni gp ang halimaw sa dibdib ng ating mga trapo.
malulupit sila.
walang puso sa tao at bansa.
kaylangan nating mailuklok ang magpapatuloy ng nasimulang pag-asa ng pangulo…
Vhin AB says
My position from the very beginning is that Grace Poe is a good person raised by Susan and FPJ. She will be guided by her parents’ pinciples in running the country in 2022 and NOT in 2016.
She is raw. Kulang pa sa karanasan sa pulitika. Sa betrayal, scandal, nakawan at makakapal na mukha na makakasama niya kung sakali. Isama mo pa ang isyu natin sa China and other foreign policies. Unlike PNoy, meron itong Ninoy na humasa sa kanya sa intelligence at Cory sa executive. May karanasan sa power play at si Grace ay wala. Nagsisimula pa lamang siya.
In fairness kay Grace, my source close to FPJ told me that she turned down billions of funds mula sa isang malaking negosyante noong malapit na ang presidential election noong 2004. Malaking bagay iyon sa pagkatalo ni FPJ but come to think of it ay hindi naman matatalo si GMA noong panahon na yon.
Vhin AB says
I’d like to emphasize here that Grace Poe was not a simple OFW who was looking to feed her family. Let’s be clear on that. NO comparison at all.
Grace has all the support of her parents and relatives in the US. She decided to renounce her Philippine citizenship for a reason that was personal to her. To build her own family away from limelight. Marahil ay gustong patunayan sa lahat at sa sarili na kaya niya tumayo sa sariling paa.
Grace is thinking of running for the highest post in the land at natural lang sa akin na kwestyunun ko ang lotalty nya dahil minsan na niyang tinalikuran ang bansa at nagdesisyon lang na itakwil ang Amerika at bumalik sa Pilipinas dahil may juicy position na naghihintay sa kanya.
Bukas tayo sa paliwanag niya. Kelan kaya?
kalakala says
@ vhin AB, i strongly agree with you.
moonie says
my secret fear is that in case of emergency, with grace as president, and when her favored bilateral talks with china failed, and suddenly we have chinese tanks and soldiers in our streets, grace will do a runner. save her own skin at lalayasan ang bayan, go and hide in her bolt hole in USA together with her american citizen husband and children that are probably american citizens too. grace’s vice president, escudero, will probably flee with her, saving his own skin as well.
our country will be left headless, there will be scramble for power, maybe a military coup. our senators, congressmen and women will be too stunned to do anything. and ever the opportunist, china will immediately put puppet government and subdue all.
I doubt if we are prepared for this sort of scenario, we do not have drills for this type of thing. presidents dont abandon their countries, but with grace, who knows? from tawi-tawi to sulo, our people are unprepared, there will be chaos.
vander says
“there will be chaos”
for the most years of gp’s life, she had spent in the usa.
fpj died after his bitter lost to big cheat gma.
not only susan call for “justice to fpj”.
and who doesn’t want it esp those who voted for him?
gp at a time, just recently, gave that spark of light for that justice.
presidency is one promising solution.
but sane people saw hints/clues through her eyes.
the intent.
the intensity.
do you think escuadero saw it too?
now both are waltzing together.
forging a pact, the inseparable duo, wow.
parang kristal, malinaw.
common botantetes what say you?
moonie says
vander, parang may blood lust yang dalawa.
Ancient Mariner says
@VhlnAB
A friend close to FPJ indeed.
You indeed have a very Smartphone.
Tehehe
kalakala says
business process outsourcing o call center is mar’s brain child during the term of erap as trade secretary. today, there are more than hundred of thousands employee at call centers that wise voters can think of to help communicate and educate the masa who mar roxas is.
VOTE FOR MARLEN RORO!
HighFive says
Conjugal property pa rin kaya na ituturing ng IRS ang property ng mag asawa kapag nag renounce na ng US citizenship ang isa sa kanila?
Kasi kung may bisnis sa foreign country ang isang US citizen, required pa rin na mag file ng taxes in the U.S. based on their worldwide income.
yvonne says
California is a community property state. Not all states in the US are community property states.
A community property state is one where a spousal property is automatically considered a community property, meaning it is owned by both spouses or it is conjugal property, regardless of whether the property is in the name of one spouse only.
So their residential property in California remains to be community property or “conjugal property”. The only way it will be a separate property of Neil is if Grace executed a “quit-claim” deed whereby the property becomes Neil’s separate property even if they were still married. Grace’s name would then be taken of as a property owner.
But because Grace’s name is still shown as a property owner, it remains to be her and Neil’s community property or “conjugal property” regardless that Grace already renounced her US citizenship and claims a domicile in the Philippines. And that is why in her SALN, Grace reported as having ownership of two properties in the US.
Pickers1368 says
I wonder what public records are available showing the US residential address of Neil Llamanzares? We hope it is not 112 Los Cerros Ave. Otherwise, this is one big distraction.
yvonne says
@Pickers1368
I beg to disagree that this is one big distraction. In you other post, you suggested that the more important issue is residence – would Grace meet the 10-year residency requirement to qualify as candidate for President or VP?
There is no question that when Grace became a US permanent resident, and later on as US citizen, there is no doubt that she changed her residence and domicile to the US. No question about that.
The question then is: when did Grace really decide to change her residence and domicile back to the Philippines? Even Grace herself is unsure of the answer – she listed the date as being 6 years and 6 months on her COC, and then later corrected herself and said that the date was in error.
Since there are obvious conflicts in the dates, her actions around those years will reveal her true intent at the time. If the intent was to change residence and domicile to the Philippines, why acquire some properties in the US? Why engage in a business in the US? Why use a US passport if a Philippine passport would serve her travel purpose?
These are all very relevant questions to create an overall picture of when did she re-establish residence and domicile in the Philippines.
pickers1368 says
@Yvonne, your response is under moderation. Wherever the evidence takes her is distinct and separate from what I want her candidacy to end up in. I would assume that the residency and citizenship issues are not important for the people as they are for the lawyers and politicians. Regardless, we should pursue the issue until finally resolved. I say, it is one big distraction without being sympathetic or emotional about it so don’t get me wrong.
If there are evidences that she was dishonest / not forthcoming, let it out in the open, and perhaps for the court to consider.
yvonne says
And regarding your question (in another post below), the IRS allows married couples to file joint income tax return, or separate income tax returns.
The most likely scenario is that Grace and Neil are filing separate income tax returns in the US, if Grace were still required to file income tax returns such as if her residential properties are held as rental-producing investments.
If those properties are not intended as rental-producing investments, then one may ask why is Grace still holding on to those residential properties? Does she still hold any plan to go back to the US after her political career in the Philippines is over?
Caliphman says
There is one huge hitch to that speculation. The renunciation is irrevocable and she would have great difficulty returning other than on a tourist visa and may not be able to reside or work in the US legally. One must be pretty desperate finding reasons to not vote for Poe if one has to conjure up this as a reason.
pickers1368 says
“One must be pretty desperate finding reasons not to vote for Poe…”
I think Yvonne already anticipated this snarky quip and the rhetorical answer is aptly put in bold letters of her post at 44. He he he.
pickers1368 says
ALL CAPS not bold letters.
Caliphman says
Its not a snarky quip at all, Pickers. Perhaps you should reread the post if you somehow miss the fact that it is a pretty farfetched theoretical hypothesis given its not a viable considering the extreme difficulty of residing legally in the US after Poe’s renunciation. But you can dwell in your fantasies instead of addressing the the triviality of this whole matter, but I just wish you would make more meaningful comments instead of being so superficially dismissive because at least that would merit a more serious response.
pickers1368 says
Well, unlike others, I am not consumed by the idea of putting somebody into office no matter what. I can answer Yvonne’s question. I can handle the truth. May I then politely ask, can you?
I am leaning towards Roxas but make your case – sans the SWS/AP poll numbers, why the country is better off with Poe, regardless or her residency and citizenship issues, and I can promise you that not only me but but a lot would take a long hard look at what you can come up with.
Caliphman says
If you are serious, we can have an extended discussion sometime about this, pickers. My position is basically this. I have always been antiBinay and his presidency is a doomsday scenario for me and the country as well. If you want a preview of my analyis of the situation, hike over to JoeAm’s Blog and checkout Johnny Lin’s take on the situtiion. Right now I don’t know enough about Poe or an of the other candidates to decide who to vote for. Johnny’s position is essentially similar to mine. And I can cover areas which he may not have in his posts. One thing we should cover is the validity of the AP/SWS polls and how much weight should be given them and granted that the numbers can change, to ignore them as Roxas did in the VP election is an invitation to disaster. I have links to show how he should have used them to avert Binay’s come from behind victory but this is for another time.This is as honest a response as I can give you at the moment. Happy blogging!
Pickers1368 says
So what you are saying is you don’t know much about Poe but you decide to adopt somebody else’s position that mirrors yours. Johnny Lin’s main argument is winnability over responsible and conscientious voting. I respect your point of view, but I will never agree to that premise. I believe in taking a stand based on informed decision.
Besides, proponents of that view anchor their position on the result of poll numbers, which are currently evolving anyway, and that is understandable. Are these straw numbers accurate predictors of the 2016 votes?
Roxas garnered 13,918,490 votes in 2010 and they did not mean anything? The 727,000 votes that separated him from Binay was nothing compared to the votes that went to Legarda of NPC (4,294,664). NPC has a well organized political machinery with countryside appeal comparable to PNP-Laban of Pimentel and Duterte, the party that carried Binay, which in tandem with Erap’s PMP, were mainly responsible for delivering the Binay votes. Now, let us remove PNP-Laban from the equation, put a question mark on Erap votes and curtail Binay’s financial capability to buy votes.
Now factor this. Between the two, it is the question of whose unfavorability rating is racing faster than the other. Binay’s unfavourable numbers are on the rise. Contrast that with Roxas’ favourable numbers in the uptick.
The 2016 landscape and dynamics are totally different from 2010. It is just too early to make a credible prediction particularly in terms of ruling out a Binay loss or Roxas’ chances.
Let us wait for Pinoy and LP to announce Roxas as their candidate and let us wait until the candidates have started articulating their records, qualifications, experiences and character. Let us hear them debate on critical issues particularly the SCS and economy why by far the most important among many. Let us ignore side issues such as residency and citizenship because that belong to the court.
Closer to election day, if there is a real prospect of a Binay win, let us put pressure on Poe and Roxas to sit down and reassess their position since both of them could lose. But if either of them is confident of a win, then nobody needs to bow out. The point is if nobody wants Poe to be the President, then she is equally no good to be the VP.
Caliphman says
Pickers, please choose your words carefully. I did not adopt Lin’s views even if both of ours coincide on very many points. As anyone who has been a regular here for a while, I have been anti-Binay here almost forever and certainly before Johnny and even before Poe emerged as as the only counter to Binay’s stratospheric lead in presidentiable and trust surveys.
I believe Roxas and Poe are basically honest people, speculation and rumors aside, and unless anomamies are uncovered in their use of their pork barrell funds or any sign of corruption in their role as publicly appointed officials. We can not possibly compare their policy platforms and priorities until they disclose these and without knowing them, its hard to decide or even premature who to vote for. Do you have this information for Mars? If so, you should share it since I dont and many people who are favoring Mars want it as well.
Sure, Mars lost by a negligible amount to Binay. But what you have not mentioned is how he lost. He had a huge lead over Binay a year and a half before the elections and the quarterly surveys show his numbers holding steady while Binay’s rose slowly and steadily. He just ignored the surveys or perhaps did not know how to counter Binay’s masa campaign but he had ample warning.
You can ignore the recent public surveys if you wish but if the election were to be held tomorrow he would lose badly. The key to the election is who will get the majority of the masa votes, the CDE segment comprises 2/3 of the electorate and whatever Binay has lost from the masa support due to the corruption news is going to Poe. Roxas simply is unable to make any headway in attracting masa support, which is what its going to take for him to even have any hope of a 3way race against Binay and Poe. This is just fact. Numbers dont lie whether we like the results or not.
You asked if these surveys are good predictors. I cannot speak for the private polls Osmena just had done which is reported and linked in the latest post at Raissa’s latest blog cposts. Osmena’s is interesting in that it is very recent and is a poll of a 3 way race and has Poe winning against Binay with Mar a distant third. The reliability of the PA/SWS in tracking election outcomes was analyzed last April in a Rappler article that tracked survey findings against results in the last 4 presidential and VP elections. There is some movement of course but the trends over time are quite reliable. If you need a link, Let me know.
I have tried to address most if not all of your points. But I have a heavy case load and need to run for now. I still recommend checking out Johnny Lin’s posts as he must be the only proPoe commenter in te other blogsite just as I am here. Laterz, Pickers.
moonie says
I look forward to reading caliphman’s reply why our country is better off with poe.
yvonne says
If there is anything I’m desperate about, I’m desperate to find a reason why a person who renounced her Filipino citizenship, and moves away, deserves a better shot at the Presidency that’s someone who remains in the homeland, and toils for the country, for better or for worse.
Ang mga batang iniwan ng kanyang ina ay may karapatang magtanong:
“Inay, iniwan mo na kami minsan kaya bigyan mo kami ng magandang dahilan kung bakit dapat kaming magtiwalang muli. At kung tatanggapin ka naming muli bilang aming ina, maipapangako mo bang hindi mo na kami muling iiwan?”
Yes, I’m desperate for answers.
BFD says
Valid questions, yvonne. I agree.
moonie says
yvonne is telling us buyer beware, better to scrutinize and not to buy a pig in a sack. dangerous yan, instead of pig, we might end up getting wolf – sigbin? I’m glad yvonne has foresight and questioning things. I would too.
BFD says
I’m getting an excerpt from a comment that Jameboy made on Joe’s blog, which I think is relevant in this context….
moonie says
I’m reminded of my teachers, they care enough to monitor performance and put students to the rigors. students who can follow through pass on to next level, allowed only to exit if all requirements are met.
those that dont go to school may escape teacher’s scrutiny and think they have it easy, but life dealt them harder lessons. jobs will be harder to find, and instead of teachers, they’ll be dealing with work bosses who are often harder to please and give no 2nd chances, plus they have to relate to co workers who could be hostile and just as hard to please.
in short, the easy way out maybe pain in the butt later.
I look forward to election campaign, see how the candidates stack up and how well they pass the rigors.
Caliphman says
Coming from someone who herself decided to be an OFW and if I remember correctly still hasn’t move back to the Philippines, thats a bit hypocritical don’t you think? There are millions of Filipinos who left and became naturalized citizens of the countries they work in, they deserve a chance to run for the highest public offices as long as they can legally comply with all the requirements for that office. Those OFW’s who seek this opportunity should not be at a moral disadvantage than those who were able to survive financially without having to leave the Philippines.
yvonne says
Firstly, I’m not running for any public office.
Secondly, I’m not questioning Grace’s right to run for public office, if she is qualified.
It just don’t feel right that Grace would feel entitled to lord it over Roxas or Escudero that she would not take a position other than the Presidency. The Vice-presidency is not good enough for her feeling of entitlement.
Caliphman says
Yvonne, its not at all about whether you are running for office or not. It’s about you judging millions of OFW’s who have been fueling the current PHILIPPINE economic boom as being less patriotic in leaving the homeland because that was the only way they could ensure financial survival for themselves and their families. There are many here at CPM that became OFW’that had to do the same. Maybe you did not have to as an OFW, Yvonne, but for those who did, you’ re judgmental attitude is nothing but pure hypocrisy.
yvonne says
Ah, but there are big differences between Grace Poe and the millions of OFWs that you were referring to.
Those OFWs did not renounce their Filipino citizenship, did not become foreign nationals, and did not revert back to Filipino citizenship when it become politically expedient to do.
The married OFW women who gladly took their husbands’ last names as the ultimate show of their love and affection, did not just drop their last names for political expediency. If I were a man and my wife decided to drop my last name after using it for years, I would probably file for divorce.
If I decided to renounce my US citizenship I would insist that my husband do the same as there should be no reason for him to keep his US citizenship unless he plans for us to live separately.
You see, I can go on and go, but I think the readers already know the gist of where I’m going.
Caliphman says
http://politics.com.ph/tell-that-to-ofws-binay-looks-down-on-pinoys-who-renounced-citizenship/
Yvonne, that really sounds like a palusot as my response was to your comment questioning the patriotism those who had to leave the homeland to seek better opportunities in favor of those who stayed. The truth is before 2002 and the Dual Citizens Act, OFWs had no choice but but to renounce their Filipino citizenship if they wanted to avail of the opportuities only citizens enjoyed in the coutries where they were working. Millions of OFW’know this even if you dont and took this route and instead of being haed as economic heroes for the billions of dollars they send home, they are instead being vilified.
This is exactly the line of attack Binay is now using against Poe. Hence the above link. Is this just mere coincidece, Babs? Hehehe
yvonne says
@Caliphman,
OK, I’ll humor you. My ipinaste ka, meron din ako:
…
Vhin AB says:
July 23, 2015 at 3:00 am
I’d like to emphasize here that Grace Poe was not a simple OFW who was looking to feed her family. Let’s be clear on that. NO comparison at all.
Grace has all the support of her parents and relatives in the US. She decided to renounce her Philippine citizenship for a reason that was personal to her. To build her own family away from limelight. Marahil ay gustong patunayan sa lahat at sa sarili na kaya niya tumayo sa sariling paa.
Grace is thinking of running for the highest post in the land at natural lang sa akin na kwestyunun ko ang lotalty nya dahil minsan na niyang tinalikuran ang bansa at nagdesisyon lang na itakwil ang Amerika at bumalik sa Pilipinas dahil may juicy position na naghihintay sa kanya.
Bukas tayo sa paliwanag niya. Kelan kaya?
Caliphman says
You dont get off that easy by changing the topic. How come you and Binay are so coordinated in attacking Poe simply because she was an OFW. That is so ucannily suspicious. Look at that link to Binay’s latest attack on OFWs and Poe, its identical to yours. C’mon admit it, Binayararan ka ba? Hehehe
yvonne says
@Caliphman
And who said about trying to get off? Keep it coming because the discussions will be very informative to the readers of this blog.
I’m glad to know that Raissa’s blog is being followed closely by the powers-that-be because it implies that the discussions here are no-nonsense and well thought of.
Maybe, just maybe, our politicians, and government officials, and justices of the court will learn to recognize that the people cannot tolerate anymore their non-disclosure and double-talk, and if they continue to do so they would have to deal with the power of social media.
In case anyone forgets, as I wrote in an earlier post, if Grace would come out and declare publicly that Neil will likewise renounce officially his US citizenship before she files her COC I will support her candidacy on that simple gesture that she listens to us.
And in case anyone forgets also, I still have pieces about the Binays that I intend to post in due time.
chit navarro says
@caliphman –
How in the world can you link Grace Poe to the OFW’s situation?
1. Grace Poe is adopted and raised by the #1 showbiz couple in the country – FPJ and Susan Roces; childless, very rich and definitely very caring and loving to their only child.
2. OFW’s are Filipinos who look for better opportunities overseas and send back their earnings here because their families are here. On the other hand, Grace Poe was sent overseas, to the United States, to study and ensure a better future for herself. Her parents sent her money from the Philippiens to America so she can support herself.
3. OFW’s are always hailed as heroes because of their remittances that prop up our inward funds. How do you call Filipinos who bring out their pesos and invest in another country? Especially when the country is in need of investors?
4. Filipinos who adopt the citizenship of the country they are in are called migrants – they migrate and settle in the country and so are not classified as Overseas Filipino Worker.
So, tell me, where is the LINK between Grace Poe and the Overseas Filipino Worker? Where is the patriotism there? Does it reside in the OFWs or in the one person who brings money out of the country and invest it overseas?
Rene-Ipil says
Yvonne & Chit
Chit’s comment has no reply provision. So I used Yvonne’s space to ensure that my comment comes through.
I agree, Chit.
RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 provides:
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. – For purposes of this Act:
(a) “Migrant worker” refers to a person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a renumerated activity in a state of which he or she is not a legal resident to be used interchangeably with overseas Filipino worker.
According to Wikipedia:
” Overseas Filipino Workers, also known as OFWs, are Filipinos working abroad that are expected to return permanently either upon the expiration of a work contract or upon retirement. Balikbayans are Filipinos who have become citizens of another country and return to the Philippines for temporary visits.
Until October 2010 when Poe poerpurtedly renounced her US citizenship before Philippine authorities, she was a Balikbayan on TEMPORARY VISIT to the Philippines. In fact, by Poe’s declaration, she stopped using a Balikbayan Visa only in October 2010. So, how could she, by any stretch of imagination, become a permanent resident of the Philippines before October 2010? Not to mention that there is no document showing that she reacquired Philippine nationality before she was elected as senator of the republic.
yvonne says
Correction: make that “…THAN someone who remains in the homeland, …”
Caliphman says
Jeebus Yvonne, it was Mar who yielded to Aquino because the latter was immensely popular as the presidential pick and he wasnt. The situation now is no different with Poe at the head of the pack and Mar way behind. It does not make any more sense then for Aquino to yeild to Mar than it does now for Poe to yield, right?
HighFive says
Thank you Yvonne for taking time to answer my question. I appreciate it. Mahalaga ang awareness para sa bawat mamamayan. Sana maging major national newspaper ang site ni Raissa at maka team work niya si Joeam at mga contributors ng blog para malawak na bahagi ng grassroot level ang nai educate.
Vhin AB says
@HighFive, I agree. Importante kasi na napapag-usapan ang ISYU. Mga mahahalagang ISYU na nabibigyan ng panahon na matalakay at mahimay lalo na kung para sa progreso ng bayan at lalo ng ating sarili.
Tayo nang makipagpalitan ng ideya at talakayin ang mga ISYU at mga taong gustong maglingkod sa bayan. Sana lamang sa anumang exchanges of IDEAS ay maiwasan na atakihin ang kadebate ng personal kapag di ka sumang-ayon sa opinyon mo. Worst ay mapagsabihan ka pa na nabayaran at kung anu-ano pa dahil personal kong naranasan yan. Ang pikon ay talo at walang karapatan na makipagdebate.
Vhin AB says
**Err: “.., kapag HINDI sumang-ayon sa opinyon mo.”
kalakala says
bakit pa ba hintayin na mag file ng coc si poe bago sampahan ng reklamo tungkol sa kanyang residency/ citizenship/citizenship ng kanyang asawa? puede naman magfile ng reklamo to unseat her as senador bago pa sya mag file ng coc. maliwanag na na mas mabangis ang kanyang vemon kaysa kay binay for she is the total mixture of MOST if not ALL the corrupt politicians and CAPITALIST.
kalakala says
i strongly agree @ Pickers1368 “If I were you, I would pursue the residency issue as it has a bearing on the Senate seat. It is more relevant now than after. The argument gets weaker once she files her Presidential COC”