Philippine Political Opinions

Francis Joseph "Chiz" Guevara Escudero was born on October 10, 1969 in Manila , Philippines , the middle child of the three children of former Agriculture Secretary Salvador "Sonny" H. Escudero III and educator Evelina B. Guevara. His father was elected in 2007 to the House seat vacated by his son. Escudero is married to the former Christine Elizabeth R. Flores who is a singer and stage actress. They have two children, fraternal twins, born September 7, 2007.

I got it from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091002-228033/Nograles-to-politicians-helping-Ondoy-victims-Just-help Speaker Prospero Nograles advised politicians to do just this, away from the glare of the media and devoid of publicity gimmicks when they engage in relief efforts for the flood victims of storm Ondoy (international codename: Ketsana).

Even if Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson dropped some bomb against resident Joseph "Erap" Estrada . The former president will still run for the presidency this incoming 2010. "For me, the prohibition (in running again) only applies to the incumbent President because of the undue advantage. (For example) She could use the fertilizer fund, the road user's tax and other government funds (in the campaign)," Estrada said in his usual slurred speech.

It was even March 11, 2009 that the Palace cheered for Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro to run for the presidency. Within last week, there was an election on who be the administration's presidential bet because Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando also wanted to become president. You guess it right, "Gibo" (as they call him) won.

We can remember that Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II gave way to Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and eventually Noynoy accepted it by declaring that he will run . Well now, on the 37th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law and the end of our Muslim brothers' Ramadan, Mar made the announcement at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City that he accepted Noynoy's offer to be his running mate this incoming 2010 election.

Former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada is set to file a libel case against tycoon Alfonso Yuchengco on Thursday, following the latter's claim that he was forced to sell his stake in a company that had shares in Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT).

We remember that it was Sen. Lacson vs. Former President Estrada . But this time, it's Senator Jinggoy Estrada who's defending his dad. During his privilege speech at the Senate today (Sept. 15), the younger Estrada accused Lacson of telling false and baseless statements against his father. "Mr. Lacson in desperation is now using the Senate floor to divert attention to Estrada and away from his forthcoming non-bailable murder charge that will be filed against him," he said. "Mr. Lacson is using the Senate floor... so he can lie to his teeth." he added. He also called Lacson ad "walang utang na loob". After the brief retort, Lacson stood up to interpolate his colleague but Estrada said the former police chief should just deliver another privilege speech to rebut the remarks. Lacson, with no chance to make the interpolation, merely made a manifestation, belying claims that the older Estrada did not know Lacson and just "plucked out from obs...

Sen. Panfilo Lacson made good yesterday his threat to expose former President Joseph Estrada’s “bad side” as he recited in a privilege speech a litany of the deposed leader’s alleged excesses and criminal activities, including smuggling and the shakedown of a businessman (that businessman is Alfonso Yuchengco). In his speech, he narrated how Estrada enriched himself while in power from 1998 to 2001. Lacson accused Estrada of involvement in the illegal numbers game jueteng, extortion and intimidation of businessmen, and of ordering the release of big shipments of smuggled dressed chicken and rice from the Bureau of Customs. Behind Estrada’s pro-poor posture was a man lusting for power and wealth, Lacson said.

This is a video of Noynoy Aquino in Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan where his mother and former president Tita Cory was sworn in as president in 1986 after leading the "people power" revolution. This video is from the morning program of Unang Hirit (GMA 7).

Deputy National Security Adviser Luis "Chavit" Singson virtually admitted last Wednesday over dzMM that he beat up his wife last month after discovering she had an affair, and added she should be thankful he didn't kill her. In an exclusive interview last week with ABS-CBN's Ces Oreña Drilon, Tiongson showed pictures of her badly-bruised face and arms allegedly caused by the beatings she suffered at the hands of Singson last August 22 after he found her with her boyfriend in an apartment.

Deputy National Security Adviser Luis "Chavit" Singson said he would not voluntarily go on leave as what Malacanang advices him to do out of delicadeza and denied he used government resources in his marital conflict. Singson said he has not spoken with Mrs. Arroyo since the wife battering and torture allegations against him came up last week. He said the Office of the President can fire him if it wants to. "Hindi ako magleleave dahil inosente ako diyan. Ako ang biktima rito. Hindi ako mag-leleave," Singson told dzMM in an interview with Vic Lima and Karen Davila.

This is the continuation of the first part of the interview of Presidential son and Pampanga representative Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo.

This is the first part of the interview of Presidential son and Pampanga representative Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo in a morning show (Unang Hirit) with hosts Arnold Clavio and Winnie Monsod.

Presidential son and Pampanga representative Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo failed to mention a property in his 2007 and 2008 Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networth (SALNs) and that property is a $1.32 million (P63.7-million) residential house which is located at 1655 Beach Park Blvd in Foster City in San Mateo County, California.

Before anything else, let me give you a little background about this. As we remember, days after the late President Corazon "Cory" Aquino laid to rest , her daughter, Kris Aquino said she will not run for a public office this incoming election and added that Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is not seeking higher office. But, time went by, people and groups are coming to Noynoy persuading him to run.

This one is taken from http://comelec.wordpress.com/ and http://pia.gov.ph/ The following are embodied in Resolution No. 8646, promulgated on July 14, 2009: So the people will know... August 17, 2009: Last day for filing of petitions for registration of political parties and for parties, organizations and coalitions under the Party-List system of representation. November 20, 2009 until November 30, 2009: The filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for all elective positions. During the same period, registered party-list groups may also file manifestations of intent to participate in the party-list elections. January 10, 2010 until June 9, 2010: Election period. Prohibited during this period are: * the alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct; * acts of bearing, carrying or transporting firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, buildings, streets, parks, private vehicles, even if licensed to possess the same, are prohibited, unless authori...

Together with complaints against the officials of ZTE namely Lorenzo Formoso, Elmer Soneja, Yu Yong, George Zhuying, Fan Yan, and Hou Wei, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo were dismissed yesterday. Also cleared in the case were Jose "Joey" de Venecia and Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza. But the Office of the Ombudsman charged former elections chief Benjamin Abalos and Social Security System president Romulo Neri guilty. Cases of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act will be filed against Abalos and Neri before the Sandiganbayan. Where also a separate case for “corruption of public officials,” or a violation of Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code, was likewise recommended against Abalos, which will be lodged before the Metropolitan Trial Court of Mandaluyong City. A 144-page joint resolution was dated April 21, 2009 but was approved only on Aug. 27 by overall deputy ombudsman Or...

Quezon 3rd District Rep. Danilo Suarez produced the receipt of the dinner of the President and her party at Washington DC's upscale Bobby Van's restaurant, which he claims he paid. The receipt Suarez showed that the total bill was around $15,000, and the itemized list showed various steaks, salads, drinks, and other food items the group ordered. "It so happened that we are such in a place na mataas ang standard of living. 'Wag na nating gawing issue na mahal, dahil talagang mahal doon," Suarez said. Meanwhile, Batangas 2nd district Rep. Hermilando Mandanas said he could not remember who footed the bill on two other meals the presidential entourage had while in the United States. In New York City, the group also dined at the Wolfgang Steakhouse for lunch and had dinner at the fine dining restaurant Bouley. Wolfgang's Steakhouse is associated with celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, while Bouley is owned by another star chef, David Bouley. Mandanas said he remembers t...

Note: this picture was just downloaded from the web. I didn't edit it. Malacañang admitted yesterday that the Office of the President had exceeded its budget allocation for travel expenses by over P1 billion from 2001 to 2009 but insisted that there was nothing wrong with it. Deputy Executive Secretary for administration and finance Susana Vargas presented figures showing the overspending at a press briefing in Malacañang yesterday. Vargas disclosed that P1.4 billion had been allocated for local and foreign trips of the Office of the President (OP) from 2001 to 2009 but the actual amount spent was close to P2.5 billion. Vargas noted that on a yearly basis, the OP received P130 million for travel expenses until 2007, when the figure was raised to P170 million and then to P244.6 million each for 2008 and this year. Malacañang’s disclosure came on the heels of an announcement by Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III that the OP exceeded its travel budget by P1.3 billion from 2002 to 200...

I thought that my last post about President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s state visit entourage dined at the cost of $20,000 (about P1 million) at Le Cirque Restaurant in the New York City was the LAST of her "simple dining", later did I know that I was wrong. Wait, I was partly right, they didn't dine again at Le Cirque and that was their last in their "simple dining" when they are at the United States for their visit. Certainly that was their last because they have eaten at Bobby Van's Steakhouse on 15th Street, Washington DC, hours after Ms. Arroyo's meeting with US President Barack Obama. With Ms. Arroyo is about 65 people, including security and food tasters. Where according to the Washington Post's Reliable Source column with the title of "Heartburn Over Two Big Meals": "The group took over one of the restaurant's private rooms and dined on lobster, steak and fine wines; at the conclusion of the meal, an unidentified woman open...

As the alleged $20,000 bill on a dinner held at the worlds famous Le Cirque in New York City circulating around the web and one of the hottest issues in politics. BUT Malacañang won't say sorry for that as Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said when asked if the palace would apologize. “If the dinner was really ostentatious, then there has to be an apology, but it wasn’t ostentatious and I stand by that”, he said pointing to Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as the guest who paid for the dinner that a New York tabloid said cost $20,000 (almost P1 million). “That is unfair. It was not FM (Ferdinand Martin Romualdez) but his brother Daniel who footed the bill,” lawyer Nick Esmale, the congressman’s legal and media liaison officer, said on the phone. Daniel is an architect living in New York since 1986, was among the most successful Filipinos working and among the highest paid in his field. Representative Romualdez is a nephew of former first lady Imelda Marcos, one of the richest mem...

She and James yap is focus on having another baby, a baby girl. As the rumors have it that she will run in 2010. The rumors started when her speech at the funeral mass of her late mother Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, included a statement that it is only through them (Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III) they can continue the fight their mom and dad had started. Even though she will not run for office this 2010, she will continue the legacy of her mom by continuing her charity works. "Maraming mga proyekto ang magbe-benefit doon sa mga scholars ng dad (former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.) doon sa Aquino Center sa Tarlac na tutulong doon sa microfinance at sa feeding program ng mom na talagang malapit sa puso niya. I feel na sa trabaho kong ito, I'll be in the best position to do that,” Kris said. "I want to have another baby. I talked to James about it… and sabi niya, 'Sigurado ka?' Kasi knowing me baka mga four months or five months bed rest yan. Sabi ko...

I think it is good to share the wonderful homily of Fr. Catalino Arevalo, S.J. at the funeral mass of the late former President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino. INTRODUCTION If I may first ask pardon for what might be an unseemly introduction. In the last days of President Cory’s illness, when it seemed inevitable that the end would come, the assignment to give this homily was given to me. By Ms Kris Aquino, in fact. She reminded me that many times and publicly, her mother had said she was asking me to preach at her funeral Mass. Always I told her I was years older, and would go ahead of her, but she would just smile at this. Those who knew Tita Cory knew that when she had made up her mind, she had made up her mind. What then is my task this morning? I know for certain that if liturgical rules were not what they are, she would have asked Congressman Ted Locsin to be here in my place. No one has it in him to speak as fittingly of Cory Aquino in the manner and measure of tribute she uniquely de...

This is taken from the blog of Mr. Ernesto Baconga Neri . A very good example of what you call a "student leader" which when I asked him about his credentials, he just said that he's just a "humble servant in the vineyard of the Lord". This morning as I was watching the live telecast of the funeral of President Corazon, I already prepared a reflection for this occasion, but after seeing the people and tears and hearing the messages, the eulogies of the closest people to President Cory, I realized that my written article never came close to fathom the great and gracious heart this woman had. Listening to Fr. Arevalo in his voice clearly drawing back tears while he recounts and fond memories with Pres. Cory , also listening to Cris crying over the loss of her very loving mother, or listening to Mel, Pres. Cory’s security detail share the generosity and the humility this woman possessed, always giving importance even to the lowly of people, with the hinidi kita mal...

The video below shows a relative story of my last post . Lumaki ba ang ulo ni Willie? Hindi ba niya ginalang ang libing ni Tita Cory? Ano ang nasa loob mo bilang isang pinoy? UPDATE: Willie Revillame is on leave “indefinitely” in the wake of the controversy generated by his order to cut the simultaneous live broadcast of the procession of President Corazon Aquino's remains from his noontime show last August 3. “Yes, naka-leave [siya]. From his (Revillame) own text [message] to me, indefinitely. Indefinitely, can be two days or three days,” Bong Osorio, head of ABS-CBN's corporate communications, told abs-cbnNEWS.com in a phone interview.

Another political opinion, did Willie Revillame violated the Code of Ethics of the KBP (Kaspisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas) and MTRCB's (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board) Section 3 of PD 1986 as what MTRCB chair Consoliza Laguardia said? How did it started? This video starts with a lady contestant dancing. Then host of Wowowee, Willie Revillame at 0:40 said that: “Hay nako. Pangit. Hindi maganda ho sa atin nagsasalita pinapakita yung kabaong ni Tita Cory. Di ba? Paano kami magkakapagsaya nahihirapan kami? I'm sorry ho ah pero ako totoo ako eh. ‘Wag niyo akong papagalitan ... Pagkatapos ng show pakita niyo ‘yung gusto niyong ipalabas. Kasi itong Wowowee gusto ko at alam din ni Tita Cory ‘yan kasi napasaya din siya ng show na ito na laging masaya dito. Okay?" As you can see, the inset video of Former President Cory Aquino's funeral was removed moments later after he asked to take it out. “Sa sitwasyon na ito, kung may nasaktan ako, I'm sorry. S...

Millions of Filipinos witnessed yesterday, Aug. 5, 2009, about nine hours of procession from the Manila Cathedral after the last Mass for her was held to the Manila Memorial Park where the democracy icon, a good mother and wife, a lady who's self-acclaimed to be just a "simple housewife", former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino laid to rest. Even during the mass, a heavy rainfall didn't stop her supporters who waited outside the Manila Cathedral to show their respect and love for their Tita Cory. Not just in the Manila Cathedral her supporters waited amidst the rainfall, but also in the streets (where and estimated of 300,000 people waited and watched) her flag-draped coffin at the top of a flatbed truck decorated with white and yellow flowers passed. The people eventually followed the truck until they reached Manila Memorial Park. Mrs. Aquino's remains reached the Manila Memorial Park about 8 o'clock in the evening where about 600 priests, nuns and s...

Another advertisement which I think is very scripted. From the way Senator Mar Roxas greeted the people to the end of the ad. I don't know if the little girl knows what she said " Hindi niya tayo pababayaan . He will not forsake us." I hope Mar will not REALLY forsake them.

In an interview on showbiz talk show The Buzz on Sunday, Kris said an emissary from Malacañang approached their family and offered a state funeral for the former president. "I said, 'I'm speaking on behalf of everybody. Malacañang doesn't have to say [na] bigyan ng honor ang Mom ko, dahil iyong honor nanggagaling sa bayan natin,'" Kris said. "Now she's dead, you want to give her honor, but when she was still alive, you want her powerless." she also added "It's not that we did not allow. We said: ‘don't offer na lang, para walang gulo.’ Ayaw namin ng gulo," she later added. In my opinion, the palace is in a dilemma right now, to add, Kris said that the emissary said that Malcañang is in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation wherein any move they make in offering a state funeral to Aquino could be misinterpreted. Maybe President Arroyo has a real intention in giving respect to the late former president ...

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo apologizes on Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco-Aquino's family about the said security detail pullout before their mom's death saying it's just a "bureaucratic slip-up". Press Secretary Cerge Remonde apologized to the Aquino family for their anguish over the incident and said the move was not intentional and even they (including the president) were shocked about the news. He also added that the President ordered the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police to extend all assistance to the Aquino family for the wake and burial of the country's first woman president. Asked if Mrs. Arroyo will still attend Aquino's wake, he said: "The President will do what she needs to do." He also appealed to the people in Manila not to put any political color to her action. Where Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, earlier said he is not keen on seeing Mrs. Arroyo at his mother's wake or funeral. He added, how...

Malacañang declared this Aug. 5 as a special non-working holiday for the Filipino to witness the late former President Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco-Aquino before she will laid to rest, beside her late husband, former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. A mass will be held at 9 a.m. at the Manila Cathedral before the burial. Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo earlier announced that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has cut short her United States trip in order to make it to Aquino’s funeral service on Wednesday. President Arroyo declared a 10-day period of national mourning (Aug. 1 to Aug. 10) over the death of Aquino through Proclamation No. 1850. Aquino, 76, succumbed to colon cancer on Saturday at 3:18 a.m. In my opinion, Mrs. Arroyo would like to show us that she respects the late former president but the Arroyo's action towards her contradicts everything. Not even with former Presidenr Aquino but also to her late husband. “Through the years, Mrs. Ar...

Mike Arroyo in an interview in Washington DC said that the issued about him not going to the US because he may be arrested because of money laundering are all lies. Kasinungalingan ho yon. Ilang beses na kong pumunta sa America. Ang bumabantay po sa akin...meron akong escort, [US] Secret Service, so walang nagaaresto sa akin. Puro malisyoso lang yung mga nagsasabi nun. Paninira lang yun," Mr. Arroyo said. "At saka wala akong bank account dito. So yung sinasabi nilang money laundering, hindi po totoo yon. Paano magma-money laundering ako, wala ako ni bank account dito. Wala kaming property, Wala kaming stocks. Wala maski ano. So how can that be? Saka hindi totoong iniimbestigahan kami ng FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)," he added. He said that it is former President Joseph Estrada and Senator Panfilo Lacson who can't go to the US because they have an espionage case involving Michael Ray Aquino, and Filipino-American Leandro Aragoncillo.

Finally Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and US President Barack Obama met on Thursday afternoon (early Friday morning in Manila time) at the White House. The meeting lasted for about 45 minutes and was held at the Oval Office. Ms. Arroyo was accompanied by several people: Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, House Speaker Prospero Nograles, presidential adviser on climate change Heherson Alvarez, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy Gaa. "We are proud to have 4 million persons of Filipino ancestry contributing to our country each and every day in all walks of life. The fact that we have Filipino veterans who have walked side by side with American soldiers on behalf of freedom, all those things that have strengthened the relations of our two countries," he said hailing the relationship between the two allies. "I am very pleased that President Arroyo has made such good progress on ...