Showing posts with label Erap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Erap. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon Presidential candidates accused of plunder and corruption

11/10/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


The circuitous trial and conviction of plunder and corruption of ex-pres. Joseph Estrada came to an abrupt end. The transcript of his trial was foul and sickening to read. He was hastily pardoned by his fellow politician Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo soon after his conviction. Arroyo used her executive power to give away clemency. Her decision jibed well with her striking corrupt reputation.

Though one of the stipulations in Arroyo's pardon was for him not to come back to politics---i.e. not run in the 2010 presidential election, Estrada was confident to defy the prohibition. The ex-president from San Juan, Metromanila got a sizeable backing in the old political machinery. Kicked out of Malacanang Palace, it didn’t matter if he was a convict and notorious womanizer who got away from serving jailtime. He wanted to the president again.

In next year's the presidential race, Estrada will face Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr, the former public works secretary who along with members of the Road Board are facing criminal charges of alleged misuse of P56.5 billion road user’s tax. Like Estrada, the former officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP,) is accused of plunder and graft.

Ebdane's corruption charges stem from the collection of the road user’s tax which is part of the vehicle’s annual registration fee. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago wants the road user’s tax, in the tune of billions of pesos deposited in the National Treasury and included in the National Budget. She asks Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, another controversial figure (criticized for failures to quickly investigate the corrupt contractor rigging of bids in highway projects) to probe Ebnane.

In Santiago’s recommendations, she wanted the former military officer to account for his money dealings as a public works and highway secretary and road board chairman. Doesn't this sound familiar? Cynical and disappointed Filipinos think the outcome of this investigation will end up empty. Like in the past, almost no one will be made accountable (even if the money loss in government is obviously staggering.)

“With Santiago's charge, speculations are rife that Ebdane, who proclaimed his bid for the presidency yesterday, is just making a mockery of justice. Ebdane, who resigned as DPWH secretary might have proclaimed the bid to skirt the corruption issue and prevent it from infecting the entire Arroyo administration. Others say that Ebdane should be prevented from running in the elections since it is now highly suspicious how he got the money to spend for his electoral bid. Many believe that Ebdane is now using those anomalous billions he got from the Road User's Tax and diverted it to fund his election machinery. Remember that election funds are still unaccountable.”---http://newphirevolution.blogspot.com (11/10/09, Mangubat, P.)

Though the 60-year old Ebnane who is a Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduate has not yet been tried, Filipinos rather have presidential candidates who do not have dubious integrity. The greed and insincerity of many influential government officers are legendary.

For many years, there are those who live discordant lives without regard of public opinion. They exploit the system to advance their personal ambition, warped morality, the power and money they want to exploit. (Photo Credit: Clipart.com) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Trapos declare presidential bid for 2010

10/22/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


Barely recovering from the effects of Typhoons Ondoy and Peping, the United Opposition (UNO) team declares its presidential plan for coming presidential election next year. Traditional politicians (trapos) led by ousted and convicted plunderer ex president Joseph Estrada announced his candidacy for president in front of 10,000 excited supporters in Plaza Hernandez in Tondo. He named Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as his running mate along with 4 of 11 senatorial candidates---among them, the aged Marcos political partner Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, a long-time trapo.

Present in the rally were Estrada’s son Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, lawyer Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and businessman Jose "Joey" de Venecia III. Expected the UNO party, but were not present were Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Reps. Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr., Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Rodolfo Plaza, and detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim. (Source: Malaya (10/22/09, Naval, G.)

Estrada’s candidacy brings recall the terms of the politically-motivated pardon quickly handed by Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo in October 2007. The controversial pardon which exonerated Estrada of corruption, thievery, and plunder stipulated that he, the movie actor, agreed not to run for public office.

It is expected that Estrada’s candidacy will stir a firestorm on the legality of his presidential ambition. Observers believe Estrada’s political maneuverings shows the persistently low-level state of politics in the country. (Photo Credit: Verongski4a) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Nasty politics & murders: digging old dirt against Erap Estrada & Ping Lacson

9/15/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


Sen. Panfilo Lacson, the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and head of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) accused ex-president Joseph Erap Estrada of being a protector of gambling operators, a godfather of smugglers and a bully in a privilege speech on Monday, September 14, 2009. What is new? Aren’t these the bases of why Estrada was driven out of Malacanang and subsequently convicted as a plunderer?

There was no surprise about the serious charges. Estrada, the felon had been ousted from presidency and disgracefully convicted of corruption after a tedious judicial process---only to be haphazardly pardoned by Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo.

“The rift between Lacson and Estrada started in 2004, when the ex-President picked his friend, late actor Fernando Poe Jr., over Lacson as the opposition's presidential bet in that year's elections. Lacson continued his presidential campaign that year. Both lost to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.”---GMA.News TV (09/14/09, Dedace, S.)

The renewed war between Lacson and Estrada can be traced to politics. As the election season starts, Erap wages a political come back desiring to broker or run in the May 2010 presidential race. As this develops, the double murder case of Dacer-Corbito is back---pointing to Erap and Lacson.

The former PNP chief and ex-president are among the main suspects of the killing of Salvador (Bubby) Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000. The new interest on the cold-blooded murders comes with additional testimonies against them. But te duo seem well ahead of the game.

Lacson’s charges are met with countercharges by Erap Estrada who denies all accusations. In his defense, Estrada's son Sen. Jinggoy joins to say that the accusation against his father are “pure” lies.

The people however watch in exasperation and incredulity. They are tired of these familiar political bickerings and unresolved hideous crimes involving top officials who bring the nation to nowhere.(Photo Credit: animationcomics) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Witness in the Dacer-Corbito case slain

9/03/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


The protracted prosecution of the Dacer-Corbito murders which occurred almost 10 years ago has claimed another victim. As the case hugged the headline anew, Jimmy Lopez, a former civilian agent of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) and his female companion were gunned down, an apparent move to silence them.

Lopez was scheduled to testify again in the Department of Justice prosecution of the Dacer-Corbito murders. He earlier served as a state witness detailing how publicist Salvador (Bubby) Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito went missing, hogtied in his home in Cavite before the victims were killed, burned, and disposed of in a shallow grave.

About a month before Dacer's death, he wrote Gen. Jose Almonte about threats to his life. Among the suspected masterminds of the killings are Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Prss. Joseph Estrada. Though claims and counterclaims in this double murder have muddled up the case, the culprit(s) is not hard find.

"In that letter, published by Newsbreak in Jan. 2001, Dacer told Almonte that he wrote “instead of calling (Almonte) to avoid being recorded by General (Panfilo) Lacson and President Estrada.” At that time, the impeachment complaint against Estrada had just been filed at the House of Representatives.

Dacer said he had been warned by concerned friends “that President Estrada has tagged me as the field officer in the alleged destabilization campaign against the administration.” A Manila police officer, he said, even suggested a safehouse. “While I appreciate all these concerns, I politely declined any offer of safehouses.”---ABSCBN (03/19/09, Rufo, A.C.)

The murder of Lopez shows how dangerous it is to be a witness to a crime in the Philippines especially if hoodlums, the military, and powerful persons are involved. Without protection and assurance of safety, many witnesses to a crime will be deterred from testifying.

Reprisal and intimidation stand as big obstacles in making justice work in the country. A clear assault against democratic process, the cold-blooded and dastardly murder of Lopez is contemptible and must be rejected. Authorities and society have the obligation to find the perpetrators and put criminals to justice. (Photo Credit www.eu2008si) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon As election nears, Mancao points to Estrada and Lacson in Dacer-Corbito murders

8/27/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


Philippines is again simmering with election fever. Among the contenders to run for president in 2010 is the disgraced ex-president Joseph Estrada. The aging actor-politician from San Juan, who was deposed by citizen's demand and haphazardly pardoned by Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo, is bent to come back to power.

Supported by an electorate that appears not to give much premium to competence, integrity, and moral qualifications, Estrada is confident to run for presidency again. Early on, the move to circumvent the laws against his disqualification is on-going. The “rehabilitated” convicted plunderer with meager qualifications, but with strong following is tagged as the mastermind with former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Sen. Panfilo Lacson of the death, 9 years ago, of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

Former police superintendent Cezar Mancao II, an accused witness, suddenly hugs the headlines again to rub salt on the double murder case which doesn’t get resolved. The players in the killing have muddled up the case. It is not unlikely that Estrada and Lacson are behind the murders, but nothing can be done against them unless they are proven guilty.

“The lawyer of three detained policemen who were also implicated in the crime, said Mancao had testified during the hearing yesterday that the order from Michael Ray Aquino came from Lacson, which in turn, he said came from Malacañang as part of an operation tagged as Oplan Delta. When the prosecution asked Mancao who in Malacañang gave the order, he replied "Estrada." whom he also indentified as "Bigote."---- Daily Tribune (08/27/09)

The renewed interest on Dacer-Corbito may well be connected with the election. This is another chapter in the soap-opera of corrupted politics that the public has been so tired of. On the side, politicians in Manila are busy drawing deals with other politicians in order to win---- rather than think of what they can do to advance the cause of the public good. How then can they focus on solving a sordid murder case?

The aggrieved families of Dacer and Corbito have to wait. With the sluggish court-system, Filipinos get distracted with candidates who have double faces and motives. The voters have been immensely disappointed by Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo. It’s time they focus on electing someone who is guileless and more competent. Otherwise, the cycle of political corruption will start again. (Photo Credit: Verongski4) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Emerging candidates for the 2010 presidential election

6/02/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


A year before the Philippine presidential election on May 2010, the Pulse Asia survey declared that the top contenders to replace Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo with almost equal nationwide public appeal are: vice president Noli de Castro (18 %,) Sen. Francis Chiz Escudero (17%) and former pres. Erap Estrada (14%). All three possible candidates haven’t officially expressed their plan to run.

Sen. Manuel Villar, Jr. and Sen. Manuel Roxas II, two hopefuls who have declared their intention to join the presidential race got 14% and 13% respectively.

“One of the administration’s probable standard bearer, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, got a measly one percent rating in the same survey. Sen. Richard Gordon obtained the same 1 percent score. All others, namely chief Justice Reynato Puno, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Bayani Fernando, Bro, Mike Velarde and Pampanga priest-governor “Among” Ed” Panlilio all scored with less than 1 percent.“----Daily Tribune (06/02/09)

For many Filipinos, what they seek is a president who can tackle the pernicious problem of corruption and the many challenges that go with widespread poverty. More challenging economic problems await the next president like the lack of employment, healthcare, pollution, sluggish tax collection, population explosion, and deteriorating standards of education among others.

With shaky political platforms to stand, warring parties form, merge, and dissolve at the whim of influential personalities not so much because they have something good to offer to the people, but more to strategize on winning (or rigging) the election. Groups like the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) notes how the country lags behind because of weak leadership compared to its neighbors. (Photo Credit: Storm Crypt) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Cory's Apology And Our Inutility

12/24/2008 | Posted by myty555 | Edit Post

When former President Cory Aquino apologized to former President Erap Estrada for her participation in the so-called EDSA II, which her spokesperson later said was made in jest, initially I cannot make heads or tails out of it. But mulling about it I think she was really serious about it and it seems the "clarification" of the spokesperson was just an attempt in damage control. Because mmediately after the apology, a firestorm of criticism emanating from former allies battered the former President who is not known for making jokes.

I cannot make sense of the criticism directed at Cory from the likes of Sen. Gordon, Archbishop Cruz and her own son Noynoy. First of all, if a person wants to issue a mea culpa it is his or her full right to do so. Anyway, nobody is yet suggesting that the former President's mental faculties are already impaired. And to me a person battling for her life (she is stricken with cancer) and who has no political ambitions is even more credible.

But maybe those who reacted are a bit insecure now about their historical role in EDSA II or simply they are being self-righteous about it.

There was a wide consensus among the educated then that Erap was a bit inept, obviously undisciplined and he lets some friends make deals when he was President. But to depose Erap in such a way when there were legal avenues open and there were no insinuations that Erap was throttling the legal remedies (unlike the current occupier of Malacanang) subsequently became the bone of contention.

EDSA II never really gained widespread acceptance (Erap still had a positive trust rating when he was deposed and the poor never really accepted his fall as evidenced by the so-called EDSA III; moreover, it was just a Manila event). Even in the international plane, world leaders and personalities never praised EDSA II and it even drew criticisms. Probably EDSA II even demeaned EDSA I. As evidences seeped out, more and more it looks liked a simple power grab by an oppurtunistic clique who was able to con the educated class and a the same time a mutiny on the part of the military.

The power grab resulted not in a better government but in a more corrupt, shameless and abusive regime. And a Pandora's box was opened--that extra-constitutional means of regime change is possible and can be legalized by a complicit Supreme Court. I think Cory is aware of this and I think this is the foundation of her change of heart regarding her EDSA II participation.

Most of the other political allies of Cory are still silent about her apology. Are they this deferent to Cory or is this silence a tacit admission that they themselves have already doubts about the rightness of their participation in EDSA II?

To widen the view, let us take note that notable ESDA II participants like former Senate President Villar and former Vice-President Guingona has already made peace with Erap. I think Cory's move is along this line. The only difference is that Cory has probably the guts to make her apologies public and for this she drew flak.

The ignominy right now is not Cory's apology. It is just like making a mountain out of a molehill. Our current ignominy resides in the situation where we have a regime geometrically worse than Erap's and yet we cannot do anything about it. And that "stellar" gathering where Cory made her apology is just the final proof of our current inutility.


[Photo credit:alaykayresilmojares]
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PostHeaderIcon I Was Not Surprised When Erap Was Deposed In 2001

11/28/2008 | Posted by myty555 | Edit Post

I was not surprised when Erap was deposed in 2001 by the supposed "EDSA II". I got an inkling of it way back in 2000.

Filipinos invariably talk about elections. In a gathering in Ibalon in 2000 there was a talk of who will probably succeed Erap after the 2004 elections. Of course the majority said that Gloria is the frontrunner being the sitting Vice-President and a former topnotcher in Senate elections. The somebody shot back, "What made you think Erap will finish his term".

The person was close to some powers as is some of the other members. "What is the lesson of EDSA?" The same person answered the question, "The military is pivotal".

That set me thinking. And watching.

Soon the "I Accuse" speech of Sen. Guinnago came out. Next came the Villar "touchdown". Afterwards, the impeachment melodramas in the Senate that was broadcast live nationwide. After that, "Itsa Dos".

A friend asked me why I was not high on Gloria (like most of the educated then). Told him I lived in Iligan City and "isinusuka sila doon ng tao". Gloria spent her early years there. It was the place where her mother practiced medicine and it is where their true ancestral house in located (not in Pampanga unlike what most people supposes).

I asked a relative why. "Masama ang ugali. Manggagamit". And it is said that the place where one came from knows the person best.

The person added, "Gloria never forgot the humiliation of her father. She idolized him." I didn't know then if the words were a warning to me.

And that got me thinking of the Harry Stonehill case and the subsequent canning of then Secretary of Justice Jose Diokno.

"Think of it, mga padi. If Gloria succeeds Erap in 2001 and wins in 2004, that is 10 years. Lot of time to really do something".

But I don't think now that the person really knew then how black Gloria's bones are.
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