So screw it I'm not putting anything substantial up tonight.
Besides what will be the point at the moment.
I mean the campaigns will still be there.
Villar will still keep on claiming he did not break any law concerning his sale of Vista Land shares.
Arroyo will still keep on doing those midnight appointments which seems to be contagious because now the Department of Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzalez has just confirmed that he's engaged in last minute groundwork to acquire new weapons for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He claims that it is imperative to modernize the AFP and besides which "Aren’t we, Filipinos, known to be good in the last two minutes?”
Erm no Mr. Secretary sir we're not known to be good in the last two minutes or any minutes of anything for that matter.
Those of us who have succeeded did not do it in the last two minutes. They worked hard to get where they are and it certainly did not take them only the last two minutes.
That just demeans hard and sincere work and give credence to those who only won because of the work of others.
Wait why am I reacting - I said I wasn't going to say anything tonight so I won't.
And to be the most sought after man like Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Unfortunately he is being sought only because of the number of potential votes he can bring as head of the sect The Kingdom Of Jesus Christ.
I wonder what Jesus Christ would say if he found out his name was being used to select the next president of the Philippines.
And Agra is still sticking to his guns BUT will potentially convene a fact finding panel to investigate himself.
Of course it makes sense. Because self convened panels to investigate one's self is unbiased and will "always" uncover the truth.
Yes because we believe in Agra's integrity and honesty and unbiased character that we will believe his panel, that he convened to investigate his decision, will "actually" find him of any wrong doing.
And I'm sure we will believe that Malacañang will not have a say in this panel.
The same way we believe that Arroyo is only doing all this for the good of the Filipino people.
. . . No wonder I did not feel like saying anything tonight
So outgoing (that I'm not so sure but we'll see) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did some (ok she did a lot) of midnight appointments not the latest of which were the appointments of her "manicurista" and her gardener.
Yes she did all that . . . as we stare in disbelief . . . or rather because it's her we should not even wonder anymore.
That being said, we do forget that while she appointed isn't it true that the next president can void them since after all they are presidential appointees and as such under the whim of the president - any president.
Presidential bet Senator Benigno "NoyNoy" Aquino III has already promised that should he win he will void those appointments.
In a wide-ranging speech at the Mandarin Oriental in Makati, Aquino said any “midnight deal” with the administration would be scrapped if proven to be disadvantageous to the government.
Good for him. That's what I would do because as president that is your prerogative.
And I'm sure he'll find a lot of appointments that are disadvantageous to the government and the people of the country
Speaking of presidential bets, Senator Manny Villar has denied allegations that he had pressured the Philippine Stock Exchange to allow the stock sale that was made by Vista Lands and Lifescapes, Inc, the real estate company that Villar owns a majority shares.
According to evidence presented by former president Joseph Estrada and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile because of Villar's presence and subsequent caucus meeting with the PSE Board, the board released the "lock-up" of the shares that Villar owns allowing him to sell it.
Villar has said that Vista Land should be the one to answer the issue not him. But Senator you have to answer the allegations because you were the one who went to the board meeting, had a caucus with them, and then all of a sudden the "lock-up" was released.
But then again the fact that it was Estrada and Enrile that made the accusations makes the motive and the truth something to be questioned.
And speaking of questions, presidential candidate Richard Gordon is suing survey firms Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia for what he says as misleading surveys.
Erm . . . earth to Gordon, ALL surveys are misleading!!!
I have yet to find a survey that is right on point. Case in point: One year they say eggs were bad in a survey, next year they say eggs are good, and still the next year they say the yellow was bad but the whites were good.
It came to the point that my breakfast got confused.
Back to what we're talking about. Surveys reflect people's perceptions, and people's perceptions reflect what is shown to them so in a way the surveys merely shows how effective the campaigns are for Aquino and Villar that's why they are in the top 2.
And let's face it you don't really have the same name pull as Aquino and Villar. Heck you don't have the same name pull as Estrada.
And just because you have been met “by huge and enthusiastic crowds who have expressed eager support” for your campaign doesn't mean you're popular.
Of course a lot of people come, they've been asked or bribed or something. And those same people will show up the next day for Villar, or Estrada, or for GIBO.
Or did you forget the Filipino mentality of being "balimbing?"
And another thing, if you're asking for P650,000 in damages why are you only donating part of it to the Red Cross?
Shouldn't you be giving it all to them - that is if you have no ulterior motive.
But what about the drivers, the maids, the cooks or even the washers?Shouldn't they get juicy government positions as well?Oh wait, I guess they can if only they work for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.No offense to all of the above mentioned jobs but what in the world . . . and I leave it at that.OK OK I actually have no problem with the appointment of Armando Macapagal (apparently no relation to the President) as an appointee with the Luneta Park Administration.After all he is a gardener in Malacañang so he knows what it takes to take care of park like vistas and all that. Whether or not he knows anything of administration is another thing altogether.As for manicurist Anita Capron that should not be the case. Granted I know not the academic background or experience of Ms. Capron but a manicurista to be a trustee of the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-ibig)?Give us a break. Loyalty is one thing and yes ordinary citizens should be given a chance whenever possible but seriously.I hope they prove me wrong. I hope that they are able to rise to the occasion and do something worthier than the person who appointed them or the other appointees who got there by political clout.Hmmmm maybe they know juicy tidbits that Arroyo doesn't want found so this is a way to assure their silence - other than making them disappear permanently of course.But then again this action is par for the course for Arroyo. She's already done midnight appointments to such government entity as the Supreme Court so who cares about this now.Well maybe the drivers, the maids, the cooks or the washers . . .
And it never should. Just because someone is silent does not mean he or she accepts a wrong decision.
You should know that Justice Secretary Alberto Agra.
How big headed of you to claim that just because Malacañang hasn't said anything means that they accept your decision.
That's just hubris, Mr. Secretary.
And for former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez to defend Agra just goes to show you that people who make stupid decisions do tend to stick together.
OK admittedly he did say that only the release of suspended Governor Zaldy Ampatuan was the correct and that the elder Andal Ampatuan Sr. should still be prosecuted.
In the case of Zaldy, Gonzalez said that there was lack of proof of a conspiracy because he saw the governor in Malacañang on the day of the massacre.
Erm . . . just because Zaldy was in Malacañang on the day of the event does not excuse him from being a conspirator. You can still be a conspirator even if you did not actually partake in the event, especially if you did it to have an alibi.
And yes I do agree that just because you belong to the same family or group or were present at a meeting, you cannot be automatically considered a conspirator (to a crime).
That being said isn't it up to the court to decide whether the evidence presented is enough to show guilt or not. Isn't that what the court is for. Let the court decide based on the totality of the evidence whether or not Zaldy was a conspirator or not.
To just summarily dismiss charges smells of bias despite strong arguments to the contrary.
Mr. Gonzalez stick to your losing campaign in Iloilo. You're already out of it. You've had your share of making stupid decisions, let Agra have his own.
At least Agra is making himself the scapegoat - taking all the blame for the decision, in his words, "(It’s) my name, my decision, my responsibility."
It certainly is Mr. Justice Secretary.
That you are offended by what the media has been saying against you does show you have feelings when it comes to you but apparently not when it comes to the victim's families.
You couldn't care less about them.
Proof?
When told that the victims’ families as well as the prosecutors feared for their lives once Zaldy Ampatuan is be released, Agra replied: “Then they have to face that.”
Wow how humane of you. The epitome of Justice indeed.
At least Malacañang has now ordered Agra to review his decision with the prosecutors handling the case - something he did not do before he handed his earlier decision.
Ah another had washing by the Arroyo regime. By saying review they are pretending to be on the side of the families so if Agra does not change his mind they can say they tried and move on.
What a tactic.
Will Agra change his mind. Depends. To do so would make him a fool, not after he bragged that he did the right thing and no political pressure was put to bear against him for him to make that decision.
We'll see but at least you're right about one thing Mr. Agra sir - you are indeed the scapegoat.
Pun intended, Justice Secretary Alberto Agra has already aggravated many with his controversial decision to drop murder charges against two members of the Ampatuan clan - Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Maguindanao Vice Gov. Akmad Ampatuan Sr.
Rumors and speculation abounds that it is all because of political pressure to release one of the best if not the best election rigging entities to assure a win for a certain Presidentiable - rumors say it's Villar but that remains to be seen.
How true? Well there have been hints and innuendos but no concrete proof as of yet. As to the political pressure there is no doubt that it has been brought to bear.
That the decision is disappointing is an understatement to say the least. After all, what was the need for Agra to intervene when the case against the two Ampatuans had already been filed in court.
The best body to determine whether there is probably cause to continue with the case should have been the courts since the ball was already on their court (this time no pun intended).
Witness or no witness, weak case or no weak case shouldn't it be up to the courts to decide the merits of the case not someone who hasn't even been a year on the job and wouldn't have had time to go over the records of the case against all of the accused.
That the family of those killed in the massacre are outrage is of no surprise. With that one decision their pain and anguish and calls for justice has been rudely cast aside.
As for the prosecutors who dared to stand up against their superior I say more power to them. Just because the top said this is how it should doesn't necessarily mean that they are correct.
That's why it is such a stupid thing to allow review all the way up to the secretary of justice. That's just moronic, a waste of time and resources, and circumvents due process of law.
The court in this case should stand firm and overturn the decision of Agra and continue on with the case against the Ampatuans.
If only to give a glimmer of hope of justice prevailing against all odds - politics or otherwise.
The rats ate my final year-end exam.
In Nepal university students awaiting results of end-of-year exams found out that they have to wait just a while longer because apparently many of their papers had been eaten by rats.
Maybe the rats didn't like the student's answers and gave them a chance for a do-over.
Or who knows maybe they figured if there's no papers the students get an automatic pass.
Whatever the case the students will just have to bear with it and wait. I'm sure the suspense isn't killing the rodents.
(From the AFP/File and Yahoo News)
We have probably one of the highest power rates in the world. And the service that we get for the amount that we pay is not really commensurate with the costs.
Meralco has again increased power rates amid rolling brown outs. They cite increase fuel costs as well as maintenance and repair costs as well.
Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar has defended the increase saying that "power shortage is usually accompanied by higher prices due to unplanned capital expenses when power plants break down."
That may be but in any business especially power generation shouldn't they have plans for such scenarios and the funding to take care of it without ramming the costs down our throats.
It's bad enough that now they transfer all the risks of electricity being stolen to the consumers but they also transfer their loss as well.
Olivar further added that "The power sector has to hold more repair and maintenance services of their power plants to accommodate high power demand during the summer months, he said. This meant additional expenses for power generating and distributing companies and more charges on electricity consumers. That’s the law of supply and demand."
Yes sir that may be the law of supply and demand but that is also the law of unpreparedness and Mr. Olivar sir, these companies are not prepared.
All of a sudden Malacañang is open to the suggestion of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to forego royalty taxes from indigenous energy sources, such as the Malampaya natural gas plant, to ease the burden of power consumers.
Wait! How come when Enrile proposed it it is taken as constructive but when activists and pro-people suggest it it is nothing more than un-supported ideals and is discarded?
When the people blame and call for the removal of royalties and the EVAT Malacañang balks but when it's known politicians it's acceptable.
Because if I remember before such a proposal was made but I believe was rebuffed as nonesense by Malacañang.
Ah politics indeed. Will something come out of this so called constructive proposal. I doubt it.
After all the government relies on Malampaya royalties and the EVAT to boost government revenues need to reduce its bloating budget deficit. I think the government gets over P9 billion from the Malampaya natural gas project on average.
That's a lot of money that they will lose (from their pockets) should they follow Enrile's recommendation and use the money to boost power distribution and maintenance instead.
There will be a lot of empty political pockets should that occur. And in our government loss of revenue (for their pockets) is a no no.
Why do you think we have a bloated budget deficit?
So screw it I'm not putting anything substantial up tonight.
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