tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19401879636963716992024-03-13T00:57:59.383-07:00Political Adobo, From Anything To EverythingA Political Blog With A Twist Of Delicious Adobo! Philippine 2010 elections is in the air. Join us as we discuss the latest political issues in the Philiipines.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-35018071795112918882010-09-06T18:15:00.001-07:002010-09-06T18:15:04.774-07:00<img border="0" height="0" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyODM4MjE4NjU3ODEmcHQ9MTI4MzgyMTk2MzkzNyZwPTM2MTk4MSZkPSZnPTEmbz1iNzY*MTFkZjM4YjE*MWMxYjNh/NTYzZTU*OTk1ZjE5NCZvZj*w.gif" style="height: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 0px;" width="0" /><br />
<div style="border: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: arial,serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; padding: 10px; text-align: left;"><div style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; vertical-align: middle;"><a href="http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/2631108/A+SIMPLE+GUIDE+TO+ONLINE+SUCCESS+++++REAL+EXPERIENCE+EXPOSED%21+How+to+earn+money+online+by+blogging%2C+selling%2C+writing+etc.+made+fast+and+easy%21"><img alt="A SIMPLE GUIDE TO ONLINE SUCCESS REAL EXPERIENCE EXPOSED! How to earn money online by blogging, selling, writing etc. made fast and easy!" border="0" src="http://st4.sulitstatic.com/images/2010/0906/200803930_thumbnailthesecret.jpg" /></a> </div><a href="http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/2631108/A+SIMPLE+GUIDE+TO+ONLINE+SUCCESS+++++REAL+EXPERIENCE+EXPOSED%21+How+to+earn+money+online+by+blogging%2C+selling%2C+writing+etc.+made+fast+and+easy%21">A SIMPLE GUIDE TO ONLINE SUCCESS REAL EXPERIENCE EXPOSED! How to earn money online by blogging, selling, writing etc. made fast and easy!</a> <br />
<div style="font-family: arial,serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://humarri.sulit.com.ph/">humarri.sulit.com.ph</a> - Tuesday, September 7, 2010 </div><br />
<div style="font-family: arial,serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; text-align: right;">2010 © <a href="http://www.sulit.com.ph/" title="Buy and Sell Philippines">Sulit.com.ph</a> </div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-76602027366075521182010-07-21T21:42:00.000-07:002010-07-21T21:42:59.836-07:00Philippine National Police Ate P21,000,000.00 worth of Burger and Fried Chicken<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsom5XRXE1yzCwGJv-mRZoG9gTRS-jfNVlOC4g7J-dpKddZ4GhrZHVkNmFBs1zUC2KCuNd4OcTfJmB2uD4TRDINojrWOMXN3r24zEERRqWRsHTVjJtmknysnrNFV2y92sBktJz-519fis/s1600/burger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsom5XRXE1yzCwGJv-mRZoG9gTRS-jfNVlOC4g7J-dpKddZ4GhrZHVkNmFBs1zUC2KCuNd4OcTfJmB2uD4TRDINojrWOMXN3r24zEERRqWRsHTVjJtmknysnrNFV2y92sBktJz-519fis/s320/burger.jpg" /></a></div>Regardless of reasons, it is just wrong and unhealthy to spend 21 million pesos on burgers and fried chicken for Police consumption. No wonder they are getting fatter. <br />
With that amount, PAGCOR and PNP can build a big building or rent a large space that can be used as “PNP Anti-Rally Kitchen” instead of buying unhealthy fastfood. There are so many policemen who can cook better and healthier food than fast food meals.<br />
Also, it is not fair to spend P21,000,000.00 on burger and fried chicken for Policemen while millions of Filipinos are living below a P100 daily food budget.<br />
Those who belong to the progressive groups, now you know, the more rally you do, the more money of the Filipino people “they” spend. At the end of the day, it is the common people who gets really affected. Their taxes is spent right under their noses (mouth).<br />
<br />
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) issued an official statement Tuesday on the investigation being made by the new management of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) on the supposed P21 million worth of food purchases for burgers and chicken. NCRPO chief Director Roberto Rosales denied involvement in the controversial purchases of millions of pesos worth of food items made by the PAGCOR, saying they did not handle cash or checks.<br />
Rosales, however, admitted that he issued a certification on June 28 attesting that they received and consumed the food provision given by PAGCOR intended for the food ration of 15,000 policemen deployed in various security operations, particularly in Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) operations during rallies and demonstrations. (mb.com.ph)<br />
The P21 million check was the total amount of 28 official receipts from McDonald’s issued on January 15, March 11, April 5, April 14, May 4, May 12, May 13 and June 3.<br />
The main office of the fastfood chain, meanwhile, confirmed the orders which it categorized as “large food orders.”<br />
Supposing that a 2-piece chicken and the most expensive hamburger were indeed ordered, this would amount to a budget of P250 per police officer or a total of 24,000 orders for both food items.<br />
The PNP has only 15,000 police officers, which means the orders are in excess of 9,000.<br />
New PAGCOR Chairman Cristino Naguiat earlier called for a probe into the P21 million check, which a resigned employee under former PAGCOR Chairman Ephraim Genuino had attempted to encash last July 1.<br />
The new PAGCOR board is also questioning why the check was issued on June 28, 2010 ahead of the certification from the PNP on June 29, 2010.<br />
“Titignan natin lahat ng anomalya na nangyayari, mga midnight contracts, at tignan kung nasa lugar ba ito. Kung kailangang ipagpatuloy o kailangang ilagay sa korte, kung may mga dokomento against people who ran the Pagcor previously,” Naguiat said.<br />
“I just can’t imagine how they ate P21 million worth of hamburgers,” he added. (abs-cbnnews.com)<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>With Excepts from: </em><br />
<em>NCRPO denies hand in P21-million Pagcor food bills – By JEAN FERNANDO, mb.com.ph, July 20, 2010, 6:27pm</em><br />
<em>NCR police chief welcomes probe into P21-M burger donations -abs-cbnNEWS.com,with a report from Jing Castaneda</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-38899078728987720502010-03-08T03:52:00.000-08:002010-03-08T03:52:04.531-08:00VILLAR MAY LOSE BECAUSE OF OVER SPENDING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9ra9xWUuibwhaqOhW5PKmpOKtlLcRVD5gQXps2LR0obq07ZBMUxfH5F-KXu978TW7W3jjdZK09Tb2U1bTeoKnc9CXlAXjoT0CTRslVKRT2UF_R8ZJIQozl_BeJHlKOE9XPH85naBnhY/s1600-h/manny-villar-500x474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9ra9xWUuibwhaqOhW5PKmpOKtlLcRVD5gQXps2LR0obq07ZBMUxfH5F-KXu978TW7W3jjdZK09Tb2U1bTeoKnc9CXlAXjoT0CTRslVKRT2UF_R8ZJIQozl_BeJHlKOE9XPH85naBnhY/s200/manny-villar-500x474.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
VILLAR MAY LOSE BECAUSE OF OVER SPENDING <br />
Political survey is a powerful tool especially when the results are overwhelming and almost the same. Villar’s camp may call this article baseless or bias, I don’t care. This simply serves as a wake up call to political candidates. I remember last year when Gilbert Remulla was interviewed regarding the TV ad campaigns of Villar, he said that it is the fastest way to bring the message to the people and they have to do it frequently because they do not have brothers or sisters who are actors or actresses. As far as three years ago, Senator Villar started the OFW strategy followed by a series of TRI-MEDIA ads. His latest commercial “nakaligo ka na ba sa bundok ng basura” is a major hit among children. <br />
Issues on how Senator Villar will recoup his campaign spending are pilling up. People say no person in his right mind would spend billions of pesos for a monthly salary of P100k/month. This question is legitimate. However, it is not the issue at hand. The real question is this: Is his spending billions of pesos worth of political commercials effective or detrimental?<br />
<br />
I believe Villars’ campaign was good at the start ( the OFW commercials). Even if he was allegedly spending more on showing his OFW campaigns on TV than the actual help given, the fact is, he helped some OFWs personally. This good deed however backfired when the TV and Radio aired. There was too much “commercialization” of helping OFWs and sooner than expected, the people noticed the silent political agenda behind.<br />
<br />
His latest commercial “nakaligo ka na ba” is an instant hit among children but to thinking adults, it is just too good and too promising to be true. To me, this particular Villar ads is overstatement and overkill. At first, it was entertaining, lately it became annoying and backfired again. I don’t know if Villar or the people around him notices this, but his too much spending on TV and Radio commercials are backfiring. Because of too much ads spending, his image of being portrayed as coming from the ranks of the poor is changing to an image of “elitist”. History will educate us that Filipinos will go for the underdog, Villar came out of the list.<br />
On a personal note, I believe Senator Villar is a good person and has achieved so much to deserve the right to become the Philippine president. His chances though is becoming slimmer because of his too much political advertisements. People are going for the “winnable underdogs” – Gibo Teodoro, Erap Estrada, Dick Gordon and surprisingly, Noynoy Aquino who managed to create an atmosphere of being the underdog of Villar. <br />
Political survey results “supposedly” conducted “nationwide” by survey firms such as Pulse Asia, SWS and others serve merely as guidelines. However, if the survey results are almost identical to the local and online survey results, then it now serves as a genuine guideline. As a political analyst, I can say this… looking at the survey results, people are going for the underdogs and Senator Villar is not on the list. His supposedly intelligent think tanks should learn to go down from their level and begin talking to real people and learning from them. <br />
<br />
In people oriented surveys ( those that are not commissioned or paid ) conducted in Colleges and Universities, organizations and associations as well as in online blogs, forums and groups, Aquino tops the list followed by Teodoro then Villar and Estrada. In this results, Gibo Teodoro is the fastest gainer.<br />
Today is March 05, 2010. I will say this, if Villar will not change his advertisement campaign style, he will end up like former congressman De Venecia. By April 05, 2010, the fight will be among Aquino, Teodoro, and Gordon. Among the presidentiables, Senator Villar will slide down as a preferred candidate. From Quezon city, to Divisoria in Manila, to Dagupan, to Baguio and La Trinidad, the word on the street is one and the same “nakakatakot magpresidente si Villar”. Indeed, his too much spending on commercials backfired. If only Villar could disguise and mingle with regular people in the streets up to the corporate offices, he will see that he has a big problem caused by his too much spending. And remember, it was word on the street that made Trillanes an underdog and later on a Philippine Senator.<br />
<br />
And so I say…<br />
.<br />
.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-27119375400957952982010-02-11T19:24:00.000-08:002010-02-11T19:24:58.473-08:00AMERICA'S SECRET WEAPON REVEALED!!! OMG!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJmTVuuXJBEX3Fj3nGdL1nfs6x9qlyqn-TkRBiadp4bwcV7m-VxeVdTA_dxDLcvVOeVfTry-9bpMTvZxZkyqGBib4mdaisBUGY4M4usjTK2aExy6jkl-tfcEv94A0aw3TS1lYNfnulFQ/s1600-h/hollywood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJmTVuuXJBEX3Fj3nGdL1nfs6x9qlyqn-TkRBiadp4bwcV7m-VxeVdTA_dxDLcvVOeVfTry-9bpMTvZxZkyqGBib4mdaisBUGY4M4usjTK2aExy6jkl-tfcEv94A0aw3TS1lYNfnulFQ/s320/hollywood.jpg" /></a></div>I have been wondering what makes the United States of America the most powerful nation on earth? After a decade, I finally know the answer and it is not their military force. America is the most powerful nation because of HOLLYWOOD.<br />
<br />
United States Hollywood movies control the world because of the mind set and influence it brings to the viewers. We are used to see Americans as heroes and saviors of the world. Also, most war movies and action films depict a "heroic" American saving the day. With this continuous psychological mind setting, people all over the world see the USof A as the land of promise, the greener pasture, the savior of the wold (although in reality, USA has one of the biggest debts in the world). With this in mind comes another question... what happens to the mighty United States of America if Hollywood will shutdown entirely? Will the western "heroic" influence still prevail? I guess not.<br />
<br />
Entertainment is a powerful tool to control people. Just like in the Philippines where so many Filipinos wanted to become Koreans because of the Korean tele-novelas shown in TV.<br />
<br />
Hollywood entertainment is the best that America has to offer. In times of economic crisis, making a very entertaining movie will cover the obvious and common thinking will be diverted to "heroism".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7SdKdPGo55Exrf-leiKvtBVwTNKBcLnNYO1gwX4vAbt9cnk3wdmv4k17xIm4-gdSkDF9sT0ZfzBFwb_AuHC0VWTZOE28IsvM9ttDOT8QtBZvVkNPObOLOZBHkYBti9-wg7LTgB0oQSA/s1600-h/rambo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7SdKdPGo55Exrf-leiKvtBVwTNKBcLnNYO1gwX4vAbt9cnk3wdmv4k17xIm4-gdSkDF9sT0ZfzBFwb_AuHC0VWTZOE28IsvM9ttDOT8QtBZvVkNPObOLOZBHkYBti9-wg7LTgB0oQSA/s320/rambo.jpg" /></a></div>During the cold war between USA and USSR, Hollywood played a big role in creating a worldwide mindset that the USSR is the cold blooded enemy. They made this worldwide influence in the movie series "Rambo" and "Rocky Balboa". Such movies uplifted the spirits of every American and its allies throughout the world.<br />
<br />
The music industry is also controlled if not influenced by Hollywood. Just look around, you can see Asian rappers and hiphops wearing over sized pajamas which was originally common only to western youths. Boy bands, County song, Rap music, Rock bands etc... name it, it all came from Hollywood.<br />
<br />
To become powerful, you must have two major things, the mind and the body. The United States Army is the body... strong and powerful... but the body is useless without the mind which is no other than Hollywood.<br />
<br />
And so I say this... the most powerful weapon is not arms but influence. I learn that from Jose Rizal!<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-5563562741622556652010-02-11T03:35:00.001-08:002010-02-11T03:35:58.353-08:00Philippine Political Theories, linkage, politics and Facebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDX6EXzPBVQi8r3BbzoUpsOYUN0eHKcd0QCJjI3Jzyssr36g_MU75Lp0SstTrTRh5BnoseXgXCqJ_FZkd7W2A6pUs-Nor1bWVK7dJAbKIJi9C1ULBrtap2Zdceq2ZHYJL-AlcPgC7dnTM/s1600-h/DEA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDX6EXzPBVQi8r3BbzoUpsOYUN0eHKcd0QCJjI3Jzyssr36g_MU75Lp0SstTrTRh5BnoseXgXCqJ_FZkd7W2A6pUs-Nor1bWVK7dJAbKIJi9C1ULBrtap2Zdceq2ZHYJL-AlcPgC7dnTM/s320/DEA.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">Political ideologies in the Philippines are dominated by two words, leftist or rightist. Depending on how a person was educated, trained and by personal experience, his ideology on how society, community and government differs from one another although at some issues a common ground is established.<br />
<br />
In the Philippines, we classify leftists and rightists according to how they will react on a certain issue. Let me give an example, I have been posting articles online for a couple of years now and the reactions I get depend on how the person is affected. If I write something against the construction of a Mall in a province, some will say “keep it up! We do not need too much commercialization” or “construction of a big mall is against the rights of the small businessmen” etc. But some will also say “we welcome development in the province” or “let us not be left behind, having a mall will encourage business growth” etc. Simply put, ideas and opinions of every person vary and there could be an unending debate on who has the better thought. <br />
<br />
Opinions are everybody’s right whether it is pro or anti-government. Taking away the right of one person to express his opinion is tantamount to over all chaos. If a person expresses his opinion on a certain issue, reactions should be based on the issue presented and NOT on the person who presented his opinion. However, in the Philippines, this is not the case. If you present your opinion in an issue, you will receive comments that are personal in nature such as “grow up” , “immature”, or “poor you”. Worst cases would be threats to you and your family.<br />
<br />
Rightists control business, economy and government. People in the right wing will do everything to remain in power and control and that means even using the military and police to achieve his interests. On the other hand, Leftists provide alternative suggestions against the control of the Rightists and addresses the issues and concerns involved in the control and implementation of rightist programs. Leftists are considered as pressure groups, branded as anti-government but seriously speaking, without them, there will be no balance at all.<br />
<br />
Leftists are oftentimes associated with the communist party of the Philippines and its branches. People see them rallying in the streets shouting their issues and concerns. They may look like the “contrabidas” in a an action movie but their sentiments and voices provide the much needed balance against a totalitarian rule. They have the balls to speak out when others prefer to keep quiet.<br />
<br />
But there is another form of ideology, much bigger and wider than what was presented above, and that is “CENTRIST”. This is the common people’s rational thinking. An independent analysis different from left or right thinking. <br />
As defined: <br />
“CENTRISTS espouse a "middle ground" regarding government control of the economy and personal behavior. Depending on the issue, they sometimes favor government intervention and sometimes support individual freedom of choice. Centrists pride themselves on keeping an open mind, tend to oppose "political extremes," and emphasize what they describe as "practical" solutions to problems.”<br />
– an example would be: A centrist may say something such as the following: Abortion should be legal, but only in certain situations such as the woman having conceived during rape or not having the financial ability to pay for the baby, as well as others.<br />
<br />
In certain aspects, many individuals are considered a centrist. Open minded to all issues and concerns but do not judge according to a political theory. They try to resolve issues and concerns according to what they believe is right and practical and if needed participate in government control or attend/organize street protests and rallies. It is an action involving the individuals free will and not dictated upon. This evolving theory is fast rising in the Philippines and it is considered as a threat in the bi-theory control in this country.<br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcc6OjmOlacQooBRORv4ilOB-8qgRABNR6Kf-Rtq4RADrGi1Fn_o5BhuyvGLtZZxIzaN21DrVfrVZnTK4oR4YimAWaHFlvyzBEnrz7YvBOHgRmdbHn6QeE70858j8i643Eg3BE6ten1s/s1600-h/burnham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcc6OjmOlacQooBRORv4ilOB-8qgRABNR6Kf-Rtq4RADrGi1Fn_o5BhuyvGLtZZxIzaN21DrVfrVZnTK4oR4YimAWaHFlvyzBEnrz7YvBOHgRmdbHn6QeE70858j8i643Eg3BE6ten1s/s320/burnham.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">Again, I consider the “Baguio City case” as a landmark case of “centrists” thinking. The strong opposition for the construction of a Korean project at the Athletic Bowl was started and supported by common people. With the help of technology, open information, participation and awareness, the common people of Baguio city showed support against the City Government’s MOA by participating in an online protest. A group was created at Facebook denouncing the said MOA and in a few weeks the number of members rose to more than 9,000. These supporters – oppositionists are the “silent voters”. They supported this opposition by free will, expressing their thoughts without fear and looking at no leaders but themselves so that their concerted efforts will bring forward a righteous concern to those who are in control. <br />
<br />
As I have been expressing years ago, technology will change the control of information and with such technology comes the fear of losing control especially on the part of politicians and their organizations because today their slightest moves are now in the publics’ scrutiny. Traditional politics is changing and the new battle ground is done online. Most of the voters in this generation are internet savvy. Information about a politician is traveling faster than the speed of light and even if politicians will use their money to buy votes, I believe the new generation of intelligent voters will decide according to what they think and how they feel and not because of any affiliation or influence. <br />
<br />
TRI Media is a thing of the past. Today, the fourth medium is bigger, faster and more people oriented because the internet provides a venue for people participation from all ages around the world. This new medium provides a free for all discussion. Recently, I came across a video clip in Facebook, it was discussing the CPP-NPA-NDF entering into the mainstream of Philippine politics by legal means. I knew at the first instance that it was a bad publicity campaign against those who are running in the party list system. I wanted to see how people will react on the video so I used the “share” button, after which I copied in toto the message of the original poster also emphasizing that it is a re-post. I was amazed when a good friend who is a lawyer instantly belittled me for posting the “anti-leftist” video telling me to grow up and calling me as immature. His reaction didn’t surprise me at all. However, a new comment was added praising the video as informative and should be shared. There was a clear difference in opinion but I decided to click on the “remove” post button to avoid an unending debate just like what happened months ago when I posted a Youtube video with the title “muslim demographics”. At first, there was a good discussion of opinions but later on turned into a bad personal debate between two persons. I had to delete the post. <br />
<br />
Clash of ideologies is now in the internet and unlike before, you can now say whatever you like online without the fear of being punched in the face or lambasted in a proceeding. This new found freedom is somewhat absolute since there is no government agency that can control the internet and the rich exchange of information found within. This freedom is now available to the employees working 8hours inside the office, students, laborers, teachers, ofws, etc who can now participate anytime in issues and concerns. This was the clear case in the “protect the Burnham park movement”. <br />
<br />
Today, I remain to be a centrist. I react against the lapses of government and its leaders if needed and I will not hesitate to voice out concerns against those who are claiming to be progressive. At the end of the day, my opinion remains to be my opinion and I am entitled to it without fear or favor. <br />
<br />
With the upcoming elections, social networking sites like Facebook will be flooded with political groups and organizations. Instead of shrugging them off, why not participate, learn and comment? You are free to say anything you want as long as you maintain a certain level of “professionalism”. You have no right to go personal only because the issue presented is against your thinking. Just avoid the “fan pages” since you cannot interact directly. Better join the “groups”, it is interactive.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Pahabol: I read a very long article about the new and unfamiliar trend of Facebook. It is now the largest social organization around the world and it is changing technology faster than we can cope up. According to the article, Google is leading in the world of online advertisements but this will soon be a thing of the past since more and more advertisers prefer Facebook advertising because of their direct target approach. This is why you keep seeing those unending political ads of candidates in your Facebook account and I’m sure those ads will double or triple in the coming months nearing the election date. Facebook will become a venue for Philippine political circus.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-24072737886450174632010-01-25T23:43:00.000-08:002010-01-25T23:43:35.662-08:00THE IRONY OF PHILIPPINE POLITICS<div style="color: red;"><b>CATEGORY: BLOG: POLITICAL ADOBO</b><br />
</div><div style="color: red;"><b>by: humarri, www.watwatworld.com</b><br />
</div><div style="color: red;"><br />
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</div>Philippine political elections is one of the most festive and expensive political events in the world. According to one politician, you need at least 3 billion pesos to run as the next Philippine president. Simply put, invest so much in the elections for a chance to earn a monthly salary of P100K. Do whatever mathematical calculations you can, it’s just impossible to earn 3 Billion pesos in six years with a monthly salary of 100K/month. So armed with a criminal mind, I can safely say the next president of the Philippines will have to do some magic tricks to earn more than the 3 Billion pesos he invested. There is no such thing as spending 3Billion for the sake of “public service” . It is plain and simple hypocrisy. <br />
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This is the happy days for ABS CBN, GMA, TV5, radio stations, print media and PR companies. They earn billions of pesos from the politicians. At the end of the political festival, the lowly Juan Dela Cruz was entertained but earned nothing and will suffer more.A question arises. How do politicians earn in the Philippines? My answer is simple, CONTRACTS, FAVORS and FRIENDS.<br />
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1. Contracts – every Filipino knows that politicians automatically earn 10-50% of every contract they facilitate or sign. This is a fact that is happening but nobody wants to talk about it. Even the most religious politician is not exempted. Ask any of the public or private contractors during coffee or drinking sessions and they will blatantly accept that fact. There is no clean contract. Every contract has some form of corruption in it either in the amount, form, materials, implementation and automatic deduction. As they say, everybody earns in a contract except the lowly Filipinos. Now, imagine this, the Philippine 2010 national budget is Trillions of pesos, that would mean so many thousands of billions at the mercy of the politicians. With contracts alone, any president can recover his election investment in less than a year.<br />
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2. Favors – every politician owes someone something, either monetary or in kind. Campaign funds does not come cheap or free, it always has a price and it is called political favors. One example of political favor is the right of a person or entity to solely operate the jueteng operation in the entire country.<br />
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3. Friends – the power to appoint people in administrative positions. I need not expand. You can see this even at the smallest political unit (barangay) in the country.<br />
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Having said this, I am disgusted with the political system we have. No amount of election promises can change the current system… BUT it can be ALTERED to benefit more Filipino people. This is happening now. Filipinos are becoming active and participative in political issues thanks to technology. One example of alteration is the active pressure of the common people who are not linked to any leftist, rightist or militant organization. My favorite example is the rescinded MOA to give Athletic bowl park in Baguio city to the Koreans. The deal between the Korean investors and the city government went on smoothly and silently until it was exposed. The people of Baguio got angry voicing out their sentiments in online forums. This pressured the politicians and now they are cleaning their hands from the dirt. Thing is, no amount of water can clean their hands. The people are watching you closely. Times has changed. They will listen to your political grandstanding, they will listen to your explanations but will not allow themselves to be influenced by your words. This is altering the traditional political system. <br />
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Filipinos today are more vigilant and active. They know that corruption is instituted in every politician that is why they will see to it that more Filipinos will earn and benefit from every political move. Those who say that <br />
they can stop corruption and initiate change are hypocrites to the highest level UNLESS they themselves accept that they will benefit from the position they are running and this includes those who are claiming to be progressive or militant in nature. Nobody is exempted.<br />
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The people of the Philippines are watching your every move and no amount of media publicity can save you from the watchful eyes of the public.<br />
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.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-66324451745346870352010-01-15T17:15:00.000-08:002010-01-15T17:15:13.707-08:00January 15 Poll Survey: Yangot, Molintas, Olowan leading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuwNYkkWh_HXv1Ntju8cWUD0MXzglrpaaTS-mzpGB1Uv51VK3lnNRVeoXsyGpepyEM5SyFLQqI1WFZFY2hlu1ANzYAyJIAZL0VsWBetmp2wlVlUwK5T6PbgqlrHYnt3ZlMZ51D3dzboM/s1600-h/no-vote_no-future.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuwNYkkWh_HXv1Ntju8cWUD0MXzglrpaaTS-mzpGB1Uv51VK3lnNRVeoXsyGpepyEM5SyFLQqI1WFZFY2hlu1ANzYAyJIAZL0VsWBetmp2wlVlUwK5T6PbgqlrHYnt3ZlMZ51D3dzboM/s200/no-vote_no-future.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><b>After almost a month of vacation, watwatworld is back! Let me start my blog with the latest result of the online poll survey we are conducting. I have spoken to some politicians, lawyers, followers and supporters about the poll survey of watwatworld.com and just like in most cases, their opinions vary depending on how they are affected by the survey. Let me put it this way... if you gather 100 bright and intelligent lawyers in one room and ask their opinion on a certain legal issue, you will get 100 different opinions unless it is favorable to some. It is simply hard to please everybody.<br />
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<b>Some traditional politicians and supporters dismiss online surveys as irrelevant and useless but they are dead wrong. There is a NEW sector of voters clustered on the freedom of technology. They are not as loudmouth as politicians or their supporters but they actively participate in the end results. One good example is the issue against the alleged MOA selling the Baguio Athletic Bowl to the Koreans. When journalist Pigeon Lobien made a post (article online) discussing the Athletic Bowl issue in Facebook, in less than a week, thousands of Baguio "onliners" commented and actively participated in forwarding the information to the Filipino people all over the world. And so with too much "online" pressure, the Baguio politicians who had something to do with the issue are now washing their hands. This "silent" online sector even helped in making a Senator in the last 2007 elections by the person of Sen. Trillanes. <br />
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<b>However, relevant as it may be, this poll survey does not determine the end results. It will surely vary and differ on the day of the election. To give chance to the other candidates who are running behind the survey, watwatworld will end this current survey at by January 30 and a new poll survey will be created for February until March.</b><br />
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<b>Watwatworld will also entertain political candidates who would like to be featured in the blog. Here, you can present your programs, ideas, and achievements. This will create your online presence faster and wider. Watwatworld has established its niche particularly Baguio City and the Cordillera Region with almost a thousand blog visitors per day. You can present yourself to a targeted audience. First come, first serve.</b><br />
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<b>Below is the latest poll survey result as of January 15, 2010.<br />
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FOR MAYOR</b><br />
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1. Barcelo, Ruben Liwanag – “Ben” – INDEPENDENT<br />
2. Busacay-Lazo, Erlinda Adan – “Erlinda Weir” – INDEPENDENT<br />
<span style="color: red;">3. Domogan, Mauricio Gambao – “Morris” – LAKAS-KAMPI CMD<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">-</span> 38%</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;">4. Go, Marquez Ocampo – “Mark” – PWERSA NG MASANG PILIPINO (PMP) - <span style="font-size: large;">3%</span></span><br />
5. Hernandez, Guillermo – “Willie” – INDEPENDENT<br />
<span style="color: red;">6. Labo, Ramon Lozano – “Jun” – INDEPENDENT - <span style="font-size: large;">1%</span></span><br />
7. Mandapat, Julius Javier – “Butch” – INDEPENDENT<br />
<span style="color: red;">8. Molintas, Jose Mencio – “Joe” – LIBERAL PARTY (LP) -<span style="font-size: large;"> 56%</span></span><br />
9. Puzon, Peter Dulay – “Terminator” – INDEPENDENT<br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: small;">10. Sembrano, Elaine Dominguez – “Kabsat” = INDEPENDENT - <span style="font-size: large;">1%</span></span><br />
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FOR VICE MAYOR<br />
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1. Domalsin, Carol Rosado – ” ” – LABAN NG DEMOKRATIKONG PILIPINO (LDP) - <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">16%</span><br />
2. Farinas, Danilo Tesaluna – “Danny” – NACIONALISTA PARTY (NP) - <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">36%</span></span><br />
3. Olowan, Faustino Atiwag – “Ulo” – LP & PHILIPPINE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST PARTY (PDSP) - <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">50%</span></span><br />
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FOR CONGRESSMAN<br />
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<span style="color: red;">1. Avila, Edgar Mendoza – “Ed” – PMP - <span style="font-size: large;">1%</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;">2. Balisong, Rocky Thomas Aseilan = “Rocky” – NP - <span style="font-size: large;">28%</span></span><br style="color: red;" /><span style="color: red;"> 3. Bautista, Reinaldo Jr. Asperin – “Peter Rey” – INDEPENDENT - <span style="font-size: large;">3%</span></span><br />
4. Bello III, Dwight Nicolas Advincula – “Ike-Kimat” – INDEPENDENT<br />
5. Quilala, Rabindranath Pablo – “Kabagis Abet” – PDP-LABAN<br />
6. Ramos, Felipe Tribonaldo – “Felipe” – INDEPENDENT<br />
<span style="color: red;">7. Vergara, Bernardo Mangacang – “Bernie” – LAKAS-KAMPI -<span style="font-size: large;"> 9%</span></span><br style="color: red;" /><span style="color: red;"> 8. Yangot, Leandro Jr. Bagto – ” ” – LP -<span style="font-size: large;"> 57%</span></span><br style="color: red;" /><span style="color: red;"> 9. Yaranon, Baraulio Dacanay – “Raul” – LDP - <span style="font-size: large;">2% </span></span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-56611171010326425502009-12-19T22:16:00.000-08:002009-12-19T22:17:59.207-08:00New Generation of online and inteligent voters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvtyatPMyv3rct5wk5GFvOe58IMzjm98dbPcdo-n5q1tsKN6SNKL9l17lnlLIVmJ52iSpXWl3CfA_MpWjopnHfTffRX4sUS7d7TQIMsWXhyphenhyphenSljceUw9RPDfxp2fCy33j68TqNWYQRkmE/s1600-h/your_community_is_your_brand_360px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvtyatPMyv3rct5wk5GFvOe58IMzjm98dbPcdo-n5q1tsKN6SNKL9l17lnlLIVmJ52iSpXWl3CfA_MpWjopnHfTffRX4sUS7d7TQIMsWXhyphenhyphenSljceUw9RPDfxp2fCy33j68TqNWYQRkmE/s320/your_community_is_your_brand_360px.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">Since 2007, I have been very vocal about a new trend when it comes to political issues. A trend that changes political situations in this country. I am talking about the new generation of intelligent onliners. Thanks to the fast advancement of technology, information nowadays is easy to gather and disseminate. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gone are the days where information is controlled by a few minds and entities. The traditional practice of controlled information is the cause why there is imbalance of power. Those who control the government and media oftentimes get what they want at the end of the day. But such practice is now limited because of the online generation. A recent example is the Ampatuan massacre. Normally, the government will release items for the media to feast or media companies will publish the story they wish. But that is not the case. The massacre was made known faster worldwide and the government and media cannot control the release of information to the worldwide audience. Simply put, hundreds of thousands if not millions of Filipinos are involved online and information is passed on faster than a blink of an eye.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMN0rNf-SLY5llVMAuudIEgbn0Jv3p31XCjNzZe7yCUzghVRGNxUigA54rz4lnASE7tqKNthBh5cOxj4AtC7WVtwtn1XKEGQrs0B0tt0PUg7EfH2EqPiFnfPJJJT5puIqRBC6TNGV4skg/s1600-h/iStock_000006197460Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMN0rNf-SLY5llVMAuudIEgbn0Jv3p31XCjNzZe7yCUzghVRGNxUigA54rz4lnASE7tqKNthBh5cOxj4AtC7WVtwtn1XKEGQrs0B0tt0PUg7EfH2EqPiFnfPJJJT5puIqRBC6TNGV4skg/s320/iStock_000006197460Small.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">Today, politicians try their best to gather as much supporters by creating their own websites that showcase their achievements, awards, projects etc etc etc. But the funny thing is that most of the online generation do not spend precious time visiting the politician's website. Why? Because its just a website full of texts, pictures and words. It's like an existing website with no contents at all. Onliners would rather watch videos at Youtube, search Google or do Facebook. The reason behind the online snub is the lack of interaction on the part of the politician. Setting up a website is not enough. Example, I have yet to see a politicians' website where the politician is featured in a video explaining and showing to his constituents the projects and the budget for it for transparency. The first Filipino politician who will do this will be rewarded the utmost respect from the online community. He or She might even become the President of the Philippines.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Politicians running for the 2010 elections should consider "the new generation of online voters" because thoughts, encouragements, ideas and issues are being discussed freely in the internet unlike five years ago. Today, everybody can express his opinion and influence others in a larger scale. Traditional tactics and even traditional politicians will not survive the race for the chair they are after if they will not act quickly to introduce themselves and what they stand for to the new generation of online voters. The mere formation of a group, associations, fans clubs, and volunteers in social networking sites like Friendster, Facebook and Twitter is not enough. Actual online interaction is needed.<br />
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I remember last 2007 wherein some forums I am active with were talking about Chiz Escudero and Senator Trillanes. There were so many ads, paid persons and groups posting articles about their candidates, etc but at the end of the day, the discussion about the two individuals mentioned above spilled over to the homes of the readers then later on to the community. They were voted by the people. Especially Trillanes. This will also show the political thinking of the Filipino people, they go for the underdog and despises the blatant use of money to campaign. <br />
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The rally for the expulsion of President Estrada grew to a very large crowd not because of the paid protesters or the "hakot" system but because people were talking through text and online. There was a free discussion of political sentiments. Those sentiments were brought home, shared to the community and spilled all over, thus the large rally against former president Estrada came through. It was not entirely the fault of Angelo Reyes turning against Estrada or the powerful Makati businessmen. The people's emotions, sentiments, feelings about dirty politics had something to do with the ouster and the meeting of the minds and free discussion online sparked a debate that was later on carried to the streets. Estrada, being a traditional politician did not see the relevance of "the new generation of online voters". </span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> This is a new generation, a new time, a new league of intelligent voters. The smallest contribution we could give to change the Philippine political system is one giant step towards fixing our future.<br />
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This is www.WatWatWorld.com...<br />
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And So I say<br />
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Copyright DMC, Quezon City<br />
<b>Political Scientist</b><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.watwatworld.com</span><br />
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-85389541658232566072009-12-19T21:34:00.000-08:002009-12-19T21:34:40.236-08:00Is Gibo Teodoro leading the "silent voters" and why politicians should look into the "new battle field"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4PQalYbenFDLucQS3QuEmRObsE8qcZQ4nPdXU1lv5BB01eSHc24HRYMaXQhdRUzU8BdCDXCyMCWBHMjzf-bAQ1QKQjPddPKig1OGkkF4CLob4pnN_ttwR7hRQIOuZj6qYqr61cz0UOs/s1600-h/vote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4PQalYbenFDLucQS3QuEmRObsE8qcZQ4nPdXU1lv5BB01eSHc24HRYMaXQhdRUzU8BdCDXCyMCWBHMjzf-bAQ1QKQjPddPKig1OGkkF4CLob4pnN_ttwR7hRQIOuZj6qYqr61cz0UOs/s320/vote.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">There's a lot of fuzz running around the online world. To start with, the largest chunk of voters are what I call "the new generation of online voters". As a problogger who practically spends 12-18 hours a day online, I see the presidentiables running their campaigns using different methods from social networks to advertisements. From the different online forums I visited, it seems that Gibo Teodoro has the lead when it comes to responses on posts about the presidential candidates followed by Noynoy Aquino and Manny Villar. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In summary, this is what I gathered from the different responses in online forums.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_3B5stA_rfbvkG-4ZmbguegvJJ1wgYgEy3-gcHKB0GzNhiGEv2XigjLghYs4NqqGnckwIAJgzgYjF1c-XCZo-NQ4NKotsW2p_OkC1Dz2QFnzyHdd89eioRZZgfCJ1P5ENzaJUsysLXM/s1600-h/gibo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_3B5stA_rfbvkG-4ZmbguegvJJ1wgYgEy3-gcHKB0GzNhiGEv2XigjLghYs4NqqGnckwIAJgzgYjF1c-XCZo-NQ4NKotsW2p_OkC1Dz2QFnzyHdd89eioRZZgfCJ1P5ENzaJUsysLXM/s320/gibo.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">Gibo - is relatively unknown and was oftentimes regarded as President Gloria Arroyo's pet. However, in the past weeks, he is ranking up as one of the favorites especially by the younger generation because of his wits and the intelligence he showed in answering questions during presidential debates and forums. He presented the better answers and in a straight forward delivery. If he keeps this up, he will win easily. I saw this happen in the 2007 elections where Senator Chiz Escudero was the talk of the youth and eventually spread to the family and then to the community. Gibo is now seen separately from President Arroyo. He no longer lurks behind the shadows of the present administration. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRwAX9zsJEoVDANQwa_FwkQL8XptKziyrWnfZLd-3c-fxoYNtGvEPqpUlPUVCbyu_MUgEHDuo_Km3Yhmwx6A49utAZ1tZNU_OQZ_nwn5grXQLB75bYZIPF2hhptkJnnxQYSZUipfUd7w/s1600-h/noynoy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRwAX9zsJEoVDANQwa_FwkQL8XptKziyrWnfZLd-3c-fxoYNtGvEPqpUlPUVCbyu_MUgEHDuo_Km3Yhmwx6A49utAZ1tZNU_OQZ_nwn5grXQLB75bYZIPF2hhptkJnnxQYSZUipfUd7w/s320/noynoy.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">Aquino - is already popular by birth and has served as a legislator for almost a decade. He is also a good talker and his answers in forums and debates hit a point. However, his popularity among the younger generation is slowly diminishing because he is too much associated with showbizness thus belittling his capacity to run a country. In a presidential "cooking" show hosted by Jessica Soho, all of the presidentiables personally cooked their favorite dish except Noynoy who needed the help of someone. The popularity of the celebrity in the presidential candidates cooking show didn't help, it was a disaster. Reading closely at different discussions in online forums, there are comments that Noynoy cannot move by himself and must need pushing or advices. Again, this is not my personal opinion. If Noynoy does not change his strategy, his cousin Gibo will overrun him by a mile. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIksYy-Qn733WAaudVPDcW4l59dC9F0Kni6HLAE77HZ4lGiH49jpMBvGd80eWNfnP18yDbk7ZBEhLVyJTdi9YS0YMt6a__oBS7cV1uUl29yLI4DgJX8FAciWY1GLsUhNRx_A0YwdAUYk/s1600-h/manny+v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIksYy-Qn733WAaudVPDcW4l59dC9F0Kni6HLAE77HZ4lGiH49jpMBvGd80eWNfnP18yDbk7ZBEhLVyJTdi9YS0YMt6a__oBS7cV1uUl29yLI4DgJX8FAciWY1GLsUhNRx_A0YwdAUYk/s320/manny+v.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">Villar - is the presidential favorite years ago since he started the "OFW ads". However, due to his numerous ads and campaigns, it is but obvious that the new generation of online voters is having an overkill thought. For example, this week (December 15-20), Villar's political ads in ABS CBN, TV5 and GMA are so overwhelming that one would think the hundreds of millions spent. This is so noticeable because there were no other political ads played 24 hours aside from some Eddie Villanueva ads. Villar's commercials are now becoming annoying and questionable at the tune of hundreds of millions. Mr. Remulla is wrong in saying that the commercials are the fastest way to deliver the message to the people. What is being delivered is a negative impression especially to the largest portion of voters. The thing is, the so called advisers and analysts of Villar are looking to spend more millions to get the sympathy of the voters. This is wrong. Villar should instead show more guts and intelligence by joining presidential forums, discussions and debates. Remember, the voters today are watching every move and every word. Commercials alone is a big joke. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As for the other presidentiables, I still have to review and digest the online forums to give readers a good impression on the thoughts of the online voters. But I will say this again and again and again... the politicians running for the 2010 elections should consider "the new generation of online voters" because thoughts, encouragements, ideas and issues are being discussed freely in the internet unlike five years ago. Today, everybody can express his opinion and influence others in a larger scale. Traditional tactics and even traditional politicians will not survive the race for the chair they are after if they will not act quickly to introduce themselves and what they stand for to the new generation of online voters. The mere formation of a group, associations, fans clubs, and volunteers in social networking sites like Friendster, Facebook and Twitter is not enough. Actual online interaction is needed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I remember last 2007 wherein some forums I am active with were talking about Chiz Escudero and Senator Trillanes. There were so many ads, paid persons and groups posting articles about their candidates, etc but at the end of the day, the discussion about the two individuals mentioned above spilled over to the homes of the readers then later on to the community. They were voted by the people. Especially Trillanes. This will also show the political thinking of the Filipino people, they go for the underdog and despises the blatant use of money to campaign. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The rally for the expulsion of President Estrada grew to a very large crowd not because of the paid protesters or the "hakot" system but because people were talking through text and online. There was a free discussion of political sentiments. Those sentiments were brought home, shared to the community and spilled all over, thus the large rally against former president Estrada came through. It was not entirely the fault of Angelo Reyes turning against Estrada or the powerful Makati businessmen. The people's emotions, sentiments, feelings about dirty politics had something to do with the ouster and the meeting of the minds and free discussion online sparked a debate that was later on carried to the streets. Estrada, being a traditional politician did not see the relevance of "the new generation of online voters".</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This is a new generation, a new time, a new league of intelligent voters. The smallest contribution we could give to change the Philippine political system is one giant step towards fixing our future.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This is www.WatWatWorld.com...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And So I say</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Copyright DMC, Quezon City<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">www.watwatworld.com<br />
</span><br />
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-87288019733276004752009-12-06T02:55:00.000-08:002009-12-06T02:55:15.228-08:00Martial Law In Maguindanao In Effect: 62 Arrested<div class="byline"><cite class="vcard"><b>Philippines arrests 62 after imposing martial law </b><br />
</cite><br />
</div><div class="byline"><cite class="vcard">by Cecil Morella </cite><br />
</div><div class="byline"><abbr class="recenttimedate" title="2009-12-06T00:40:51-0800">AFP</abbr><br />
</div><div class="byline"><abbr class="recenttimedate" title="2009-12-06T00:40:51-0800"><br />
</abbr><br />
</div><div class="yn-story-content"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E5HsHx1pPuYqpve4-5fdC5xLTJVmuvwmKw2H-vWsmPaGxSIhGQlJzY5g4eOSc2JJyd0Ll8w-9qvsDHJx4R6UMc4aUDtqVkvmE17SdrvtJMdRskQQjfd5HBIbvsXJn6tK4FtBLwMQJ2I/s1600-h/soldiersinmaguindanaocapitol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E5HsHx1pPuYqpve4-5fdC5xLTJVmuvwmKw2H-vWsmPaGxSIhGQlJzY5g4eOSc2JJyd0Ll8w-9qvsDHJx4R6UMc4aUDtqVkvmE17SdrvtJMdRskQQjfd5HBIbvsXJn6tK4FtBLwMQJ2I/s320/soldiersinmaguindanaocapitol.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>SHARIFF AGUAK, Philippines (AFP) – The Philippines said Sunday it had detained more than 60 people and seized a stunning array of weapons after imposing <span id="lw_1260089709_0" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">martial law</span> in a <span id="lw_1260089709_1" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer;">southern province</span> in the wake of a massacre.<br />
A total of 62 people were swept up in raids over the weekend, including 15 taken from a ranch owned by clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Snr where the military found a cache of powerful rifles buried in a grassy area, police said.<br />
Authorities said the decision to impose martial law in Maguindanao province from Friday night was needed to quell a rebellion by the clan, whose leaders were accused of being behind last month's massacre that left 57 people dead.<br />
"Martial law (allowed) the security forces to really go after these suspects who are part of the rebellion, maybe some of whom are possible suspects in the recent massacre," said Andres Caro, the national police chief of operations.<br />
The <span id="lw_1260089709_2">mass murders</span> occurred on November 23, when 100 Ampatuan gunmen allegedly abducted and shot dead female relatives of a rival politician, plus a group of journalists and civilians, in a remote farming area of <span id="lw_1260089709_3" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">Maguindanao</span>. Related article: Philippine massacre suspects rule over squalor<br />
Ampatuan Snr, the governor of Maguindanao, as well as four other family members were detained Saturday in the initial raids following the imposition of martial law.<br />
<span id="lw_1260089709_4" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera</span> said Sunday that leaders of the clan now in detention would be charged with rebellion.<br />
The rebellion charges are separate from murder cases being prepared against them over the massacre, she said.<br />
"We did not see them plotting against the government, we saw the deed done. They have usurped power from the government there," Devanadera told DZBB radio.<br />
"This is not ordinary chaos taking place in one area, this has an armed component. And there is removal of allegiance from the <span id="lw_1260089709_5">republic of the Philippines</span> by the leaders of this group."<br />
The Ampatuan family is a Muslim clan that had ruled the province for most of the decade with the backing of private armies and the suppport of President Gloria Arroyo's ruling coalition.<br />
Justifiying the controversial move to impose martial law, the government said large numbers of heavily armed gunmen loyal to the Ampatuans had threatened to attack if the clan chiefs were taken into custody.<br />
The government alleged the Ampatuans had illegally amassed a stunning array of military hardware that it was prepared to use in the rebellion.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7mUecVBmBwNeJNZ7xXVJFjs8UZLlopwFXt0BcW4in5WwaVygr7utkDipw9X6q87DSd3ivmvP-SKdo2anTwh5qM9R1cGpZ0ySZzKpE16M72YTdWVBG13UPBCXWwwhzh1PM6KQWOp75P0/s1600-h/soldiers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7mUecVBmBwNeJNZ7xXVJFjs8UZLlopwFXt0BcW4in5WwaVygr7utkDipw9X6q87DSd3ivmvP-SKdo2anTwh5qM9R1cGpZ0ySZzKpE16M72YTdWVBG13UPBCXWwwhzh1PM6KQWOp75P0/s320/soldiers.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Thousands of soldiers and police poured into the provincial capital, Shariff Aguak, and other Maguindanao towns after martial law was imposed to detain the Ampatuans and their militiamen, as well as find the weapons. Related article: Farmers flee over fears of violence<br />
On Saturday, security forces retrieved 340,000 rounds of ammunition, several <span id="lw_1260089709_6" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">assault rifles</span> and a home-made armoured car at a warehouse owned by the Ampatuans.<br />
On Sunday, about more 40 firearms, including M16 assault rifles, and dozens of boxes of ammunition were found on a property believed to be owned by Ampatuan Snr, the military said.<br />
"Our suspicions are proving right, we believe there are more weapons hidden," regional army commander Colonel Leo Ferrer said. "Our operations are continuing so we can limit the <span id="lw_1260089709_7">military capability</span> of those concerned."<br />
Ferrer said the army has not encountered any armed resistance so far. <br />
"But we are prepared to face these threats," he said. <br />
The biggest reported discovery came on Thursday when the military found what it said were enough weapons and ammunitions to arm two battalions, or 1,000 soldiers, buried in a vacant lot near the Ampatuans' compound of homes. <br />
The military said this finding was one of the triggers for it recommending to Arroyo that martial law be imposed. <br />
One of Ampatuan Snr's sons, Andal Ampatuan Jnr, has already been charged with 25 counts of murder over the massacre. Police last week filed indictments recommending the clan chief and other relatives also be charged. <br />
Police allege Ampatuan Jnr and his gunmen shot dead the occupants of a convoy that included female relatives of his rival for the post of governor in next year's elections, as well as about 30 journalists. <br />
Before the massacre, Arroyo's government had supported the Ampatuans as part of its campaign to use powerful local clans to contain Muslim rebels whose bloody insurgency since the 1970s has left over 150,000 dead.<br />
<br />
Source: <br />
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091206/ts_afp/philippinesmassacrepolitics <br />
Copyright belongs to the author <cite class="vcard">Cecil Morella </cite>and AFP (Agence France Presse)<br />
</div><div class="yn-story-content">.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">------------------------------------------<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Rumors are circulating around coffee shops and even in social networks and forums. The rumor is that the President Arroyo had to shut down the Ampatungans especially the two governors because they were allegedly threatening the current president to expose the alleged anomalies committed in the Certificate of Canvass last 2007 elections wherein the vote was 12-0 in favor of the administration candidates.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Accordingly, if the president will not support the Ampatungans, the latter will spill the beans about the election fraud that happened in Maguindanao. Maybe this was the initial reason why the government was relaxed in hunting down the murderers and when the suspected Mayor Andal Ampatungan Jr. "surrendered", we all saw the laxity as compared to those who committed petty crimes like simple theft. This was probably the initial gesture of political friendship that Malacanang had to offer.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">However, there is a big clamor for justice since 28 media practitioners were also killed in the massacre. The noise is too much for the Ampatungans so allegedly they again asked the President for support in exchange of keeping quiet on the past election issue. This time the president cannot give in to the favor since the whole world is looking at her and such actions may be detrimental to her career extension in congress. So allegedly, the plan was to shut down the voice of the Ampatungans and it can be done completely only if martial law was to be implemented and all the evidence sequestered.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This rumor maybe true or maybe not and there are so many questions yet to be answered. Clarity to this rumor will soon be available thanks to the wonderful world of social networking where you can find interesting answers to issues nowadays.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And so I say... <br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-65806170306771303262009-12-05T16:54:00.000-08:002009-12-05T16:54:13.467-08:00If you know you are right, fight for it! A Baguio City Market Example.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPWfGIOI5PMCov_TsbE9M3v5AlLz2PH66M2VtRt5R3ycuFhI9S23EIgy2tJ4f7TrvqsPf0Vhh_tfwvUdUvlTYfna5cfDkFqDnf6uu2uFQIHJd4GveSrViLG-46p_1MkqjQgAVaovUkWc/s1600-h/baguiomarketfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPWfGIOI5PMCov_TsbE9M3v5AlLz2PH66M2VtRt5R3ycuFhI9S23EIgy2tJ4f7TrvqsPf0Vhh_tfwvUdUvlTYfna5cfDkFqDnf6uu2uFQIHJd4GveSrViLG-46p_1MkqjQgAVaovUkWc/s400/baguiomarketfire.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">I recently came across a friend who had a story to tell. It was a long story and the details she shared are full of twists and turns. After learning of what happened and the steps they did, they got what they deserve. This story will remind us that if you stand for what is right, you will never lose. <br />
<br />
Below is the story:<br />
The Baguio sari-sari section market was struck by fire on April 11, 2008 at dawn time. Only half portion of the sari-sari burned and that was the area facing the Magsaysay road.<br />
The leaseholders then had to go on with their business thus they had to make temporary restorations after a week. They had to make use of the small area using sako (Rice bag ) that was given to them to make a living. After months of waiting, the city government expressed their side that they will restore the market together with the vegetable section that was also burned down last summer of 2009.<br />
Everybody was happy because finally, after 13 months (April 11,2008 to July 27,2009)of waiting for the sari-sari section, they will now start to restore it. <br />
The first clamor that time was for the old/original leaseholders to go back to their original places prior to fire. Mr. G , the sari sari section leader appointed Ms. G (daughter of a leaseholder) to represent the leaseholders without even informing the group but then everybody was silent about it.<br />
When the city government , through the citizens forum held during the city council session on Oct. 26, 2009, gave an approval, everybody was happy. When the Vice mayor asked if they have stall assignments, Ms. G brought out a piece of bond paper from her bag and presented it to the council. The group were asking each other if they had knowledge of that paper presented and they said none. <br />
One City Councilor even mentioned that "actually, this is the first time I was handed a copy of this stall assignments, that they have stalls already" as we read it in the minutes of the meeting. so when the presiding officer – Vice Mayor said, “okey let them sign already if walang conflict” and he assigned the market superintendent Mr. Tamayo to finalize the stall assignments.<br />
After the session, A leaseholder named Ms. J was able to read a copy of the said stall assignments and was shocked because it was not the original places prior to fire which was just been approved by the council. SWITCHING of stalls was done and she was affected. Having a question regarding that paper, . she went to Mr. Tamayo and told him about it and so with the others who had questions with that proposal He instructed them to go to his office first thing in the morning. Ms. J and those who were affected by the switching explained their sides and he too knows that upon reading it, switching was done. What they did was to make new stall assignments basing it on the original places prior to the fire. In effect, “kung sino and katabi mo noon, siya din katabi mo ngayon sa new building.” That was the majority agreement. <br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Everybody was listening and cooperating and Ms. G even helped when Mr. Tamayo was positioning the names in a cartolina with numbers on it basing it in the new structure. <br />
However, when Mrs. G, mother of Ms. G arrived, she wanted to be transferred to the stall across(stall #13) from the stall that was previously favored to her (stall #14). Mr. Tamayo didn't agree since in the first place, they should be in stall #17 and not #14. Mr. Tamayo said, BINIGAY KO NA NGA ITO (POINTING TO HIS WRIST) AT GUSTO MO NAMAN EH HANGANG DITO (POINTING TO HIS WHOLE ARM). Ms. G cried and said, sorry. After everything was done , Mr. Tamayo instructed his secretary to type the names and have them sign beside it in front of him to assure that they agree with what was given to them. Everybody who was present lined up to sign and majority already signed when Councilor S and Mrs. M, the city treasurer arrived. They were questioning Mr. Tamayo why he allowed to make a new proposal since the proposal of the “G’s”was already approved by the honorable in the city council. Mr. Tamayo defended his side but he can't compete with the 2 city officials so he kept quite. Councilor S then instructed him to follow the “G’s” proposal. Everybody was murmuring and asking each other if they could appeal and explain their side why they had to make a new proposal but councilor S did not give any of them a chance to explain.<br />
They then went back to Their temporary stalls and were asking each other if they can do something so that councilor S. will be able to listen their side. Some of them formed a group and decided to seek the advice of a media man Mr. P.L. He assisted them in making the letter addressed to councilor S and had the same received at the offices of the councilors, vice mayor, mayor and sangguniang panglungsod on October 28,2009. Time was so important so they went back again the next day to follow up the letter and luck was with them that day because there is a special session for garbage problem on Oct .30 and councilor C, R and A told them to attend so that they will have Vice mayor listen to their plight. they waited until it was their time to speak and so councilor C presented the problem to the council. The Vice Mayor was angry there was a misrepresentation of data and said “have this be investigated, baka akala nila may favoritism dito.” The group of 5 women were very happy because the city council approved the proposal that Mr. Tamayo<br />
We told the others and they were happy with the result but the next working day, Ms G appealed to city hall insisting that her proposal be followed since it was the first one that was approved. Councilor S and City Treasurer Mrs. M said they will follow Ms. G’s proposal since it is still under the Market Authority headed by councilor S. The resolution #450 and #450b is yet to be signed by the mayor who is always out of the country. When the group found out what Ms. G did, They asked the advice of the councilors and they were given another chance to be heard in a council session scheduled on NOv. 16,2009. They specifically approved the proposal that was done by Mr. Tamayo with the group and councilor R said that she wants the names of the stall owners be embodied in the resolution and not just an attachment. The Vice Mayor said, "motion as clarified is considered approved as presented".<br />
<br />
Watch the session that was posted in you tube "sari-sari proper baguio city council nov 16" <br />
<br />
When Mr G, the section chief, visited the market in the afternoon of oct 24, he said that it is Ms G’s proposal that will be followed then councilor S came to new market building at around 6:oopm telling those who were constructing their stores if they are sure of that stall since it is proposal A (Ms. G’s) that will be followed.<br />
The next day, they were told that they will follow the proposal of Ms. G because all the resolutions passéd by the city council were vetoed by the Honorable Mayor and a memorandum was made addressed to the city treasurer. Ms J , told herself to fight for the last time so Ms J and her sister went to city hall seeking for answer and thanks to councilor R, they were able to talk to Atty P, the city secretary, after all the political squabbles, they were granted their original places. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
The story above shows that if you are right and you fight for it, at the end of the day, victory will be yours.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Photo By: Carl Carino Taawan</i><br />
.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-33810596694881697642009-12-05T16:52:00.001-08:002009-12-05T16:52:33.184-08:00Martial Law Declared In The Philippines, Province of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat<em></em> <br />
<div class="post-body entry-content"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Martial Law Declared In The Philippines</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsJ75pr718RBG7FmiZ5i3Kr5qLVNpu9eiNWmyeUnXlI19EZR9IoDK2nhbvx0hHnovsN6RelrdJ7xrAoGtbQHTQkcScPQ5Snm5fe6HLMsdm1DE1r4eR0TVrCbOA2YfkZbjvO_cAZASYc8/s1600-h/Arroyo-at-National-Security-Council.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsJ75pr718RBG7FmiZ5i3Kr5qLVNpu9eiNWmyeUnXlI19EZR9IoDK2nhbvx0hHnovsN6RelrdJ7xrAoGtbQHTQkcScPQ5Snm5fe6HLMsdm1DE1r4eR0TVrCbOA2YfkZbjvO_cAZASYc8/s320/Arroyo-at-National-Security-Council.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">Just this morning, martial law was declared by the president to be effective at once covering the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and the City of Cotabato. This declaration was a result of the seizure of high powered automatic firearms in the said province. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The words "martial law" is somewhat scary because of the atrocities that were committed by the military and police during the latter part of the Marcos Era. But today, the declaration is generally accepted. Of course those who are allegedly involved in the massacre will cry out foul! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Taking into consideration that Maguindanao province is under control for at lest 60 days will give way to the arrest and prosecution of those who participated in the mass murder. I just hope that the declaration will be under control and closely monitored by the media so that no abuses will take place even for the Ampatungans who also deserve equal protection of the law</span>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Also, Secretary Dureza released his 'diary' of the 'Four Critical days in a document to try give his side of what government did in the hours after the crisis broke out. Read on.<br />
</span><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE: THE FOUR CRITICAL DAYS (A recollection of those four critical days ) by Secretary Jesus G. Dureza <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">DAY ONE ‐‐Nov 23 (Monday) – I was monitoring closely reports about a missing convoy in Maguindanao with media friends. Later in the day, reports of mass murder of the Mangudadatus were confirmed. Allegedly by Datu Unsay Ampatuan Jr. et al. My instincts told me this could very well be a very explosive situation. . When media called, I said I would recommend proclaiming a state of emergency. At 8 p.m. SND Bert Gonzales and I met. He told me the President had directed that I act as “crisis manager”. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">DAY TWO – Nov 24 (Tuesday) Bert and I took the earliest flight to Gen Santos City. At the 601st brigade in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, briefings were held. Initial photos of the carnage were flashed on the screen. Gruesome! Next we met with the Mangudadatus, many of them my personal friends. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">They were tense and angry. They wanted to retrieve the bodies immediately. They demanded justice, immediately. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">The Ampatuans did it, they said. After Bert and I expressed government’s resolve to do everything possible, Toto Mangudadatu said they will cooperate. No retaliatory action but government must give justice. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">12 NOON – A teleconferencing call connected Bert and me to the Palace where the President was presiding over a hastily called security meeting. We were getting specific instructions from her. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">So did Bert, PNP Chief Jess Versoza and AFP Vice CS Maclang who arrived with us. Her voice had that sense of urgency. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">Inputs from the other cabinet members were also relayed. 1:00 PM – The crisis management committee was activated. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">Assisting me were Eastmincom Gen Ferrer and PNP 12 Director Serapio. 2:00 PM – Bert left to fly back to Manila. Col Geslani, brigade commander assisted in setting up the command center. It was at this time that I operationalized an action plan I quietly formulated in my mind. It was a simple plan drawing lessons from past experiences. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">3:00PM – Having talked with the Mangudadatus, I decided to go see the Ampatuans in Shariff Aguak. I felt confident. Both families were my friends. And I had direct access to them. With my staff and without military escorts, except for one military officer, Col Macario as guide, I motored to the Ampatuan residence. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">3:45PM ‐‐I entered the Ampatuan fenced premises and the patriarch Gov. Andal Ampatuan, Sr was there waiting for me. With him seated in a “ bahay kubo” on the sprawling grounds were several ARMM and Maguindanao officials and relatives. Armed followers were everywhere. After informing Gov. Andal that my purpose in coming was because of the incident and that his son, Mayor Datu Unsay Ampatuan, Jr. was implicated , I told “Bapa” Andal that it would be best that the Ampatuans also “cooperate”. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">I said that Datu Unsay should submit to an investigation. He immediately said: “ OK. Kausapin mo sya. Ipatawag ko si Datu Unsay. Basta kayo secretary walang problema”. I told him I wanted to see Datu Unsay as I got reports that he was missing or had escaped. Bapa said: “Hindi yan totoo. Darating si Datu Unsay. Magpakita sya sayo secretary”. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">Bapa Andal as usual, was a man of few words. We then went inside the house to wait for the son’s arrival. In the meantime, ARMM Gov Zaldy Ampatuan and Cong. Digs Dilangalen arrived from the airport. Usec Zam Ampatuan, Atty Cynthia Guiani Sayadi, among others were there too. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">I felt a bit tense and uncomfortable. I did not want to start talking about the incident until Unsay would arrive. We were chatting for about an hour trying to divert the issue and loosen up. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">A lively conversation centered on how many children some of their relatives had. One relative had 70 children. Of course from several mothers. Etc. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">4:30PM – We waited. I noticed that Atty. Cynthia was using her cellphone and taking pictures while we were chatting. Unsay arrived and got seated on my left. We continued a bit about our light banter until Unsay settled down. (GMA7 later that same evening showed some pictures on TV. My wife Beth texted me and called my attention immediately when she saw it: “Bakit ka smile kasama mga Ampatuan. Not proper.” I agreed. But I was puzzled where the pictures came from and who sent them. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">There were no media people around. I surmised Cynthia did it.) <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">5:00PM. – I was becoming worried that darkness would overtake my return trip to Sultan Kudarat. Many armed and uniformed men on the highway. One could not tell what group or unit. So when Unsay got seated, I immediately told him that I came because of the serious incident and that initial reports mentioned his name as involved. I told him my purpose in coming was only to be assured that he would cooperate and submit himself to any investigation. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">He looked at the direction of Gov Andal who spoke first: “ Gaya ng sinabi ko sayo kanina, magcooperate kami, secretary”. Then Unsay himself echoed saying: “Mag cooperate po kami secretary”. I then stood up and said I would contact them again soon. We arrived in Marbel already dark and stayed there for the night. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">DAY THREE , Nov 25, (‐ Wednesday) – 830AM, I visited a funeral parlor in Marbel. Some bodies not identified yet. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">I then directed DSWD 12 to attend to the immediate needs of the families, and that DOH 12 and OCD 12 were to assist. I motored to Tacurong at 601st brigade and met the NBI team that just arrived from Manila. I reconvened the crisis committee and mapped up moves on how to fast track work . <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">A team of PNP investigators were sent to the residence of Buluan Vice Mayor Toto Mangudadatu to get statements but they were told that affidavits of their witnesses would be submitted instead perhaps the following day. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">I was already aware that the outrage over the killings mounted. And government was being criticized for slow action. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">12 NOON –Over lunch at the brigade, I consulted with the crisis committee on my plan: it was time to contact the Ampatuans and call in Datu Unsay to voluntarily surrender. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">As they committed to me yesterday. I was also quietly informed that an operational plan was underway to forcibly take custody of him. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">2:00PM – On my way to Marbel to dialogue with all the families of the victims, I made several calls. First with ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan. I told him it was time to bring in Datu Unsay. He told me he would consult the father, Gov. Andal. I said I had only until 5 pm that day to work on this plan. After 5pm, the scenario would no longer be the same, I told him. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">4:00PM – While meeting the families of victims in downtown Marbel, I got a call from the father, Gov Andal telling me that he would turnover to me Datu Unsay but requested that the deadline be moved from 5pm today to 10 AM, the following day. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">I immediately told him I could not guarantee things if the deadline was moved. He said the Ampatuan clan would meet that evening and discuss things and bid goodbye to Datu Unsay. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">I told him I would get back to him by phone. I made calls and informed some of my colleagues (with whom I had been consulting from the beginning) of the request. There were objections. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">Understandable reservations: what if the extension was a ruse to escape that evening? What were the guarantees that he would voluntarily surrender during the new deadline? People were becoming outraged not only on the crime but on the perceived slowness of government, so why waste more time? The forces were ready to strike, so why delay? <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">But I also reasoned back: How sure are we that we would get Datu Unsay in the operations? (From yesterday’s visit to the Ampatuans, I was certain that he was not there in the immediate vicinity but came from somewhere far.) <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">An assault would surely cost lives knowing the armaments, the culture and the situation. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">People were crying for swift action but I would not agree to precipitate action. I also said I believed Gov Andal was sincere when he told me he would bring out his son when needed. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">To wrap up my point, I said: I would take full responsibility for whatever outcome. My new timeline was adopted. I moved the deadline to 10:OO AM the following day. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">That night, we reviewed the “pickup” scenario several times and mapped out contingencies just in case things would not go as planned. In the meantime, government troops moved according to operational plans. That evening, <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">I got a call from Atty. Cynthia getting an assurance from me that nothing would be launched that evening until the 10 AM pickup time the following day. I told her if there were troop movements, these were in support of the 10 AM “pickup”. Later in the night, another complication suddenly arose. Gen Serapio and Col Geslani informed me that they got information that Toto Mangudadatu would motor with his followers to file his certificate of candidacy the following morning in Shariff Aguak. I immediately called Gov. Teng Mangudadatu. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">I told him that there was something afoot the following morning and that without disclosing what it was all about, I requested if he could convince Toto to move his filing to another day. A few minutes later, Gov Teng called and said the clan agreed. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">D‐DAY, Nov.26 (Thursday) 6:00AM–Early morning, government forces took over and occupied the ARMM facilities and other buildings and premises in Maguindanao province. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">Armed elements loyal to the Ampatuans were taken by surprise and gave up their firearms without resistance. I was nervous a bit but confident. The “what if” scenarios kept popping up in my mind. I motored to the 601st brigade for the final briefings. The choppers would pick me up from there. Gen Ferrer and I watched as more newly arrived troops were jumping off towards designated areas. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">9:00AM – I was informed that something went wrong with the Huey helicopters coming from Cotabato. The Davao choppers were instead dispatched but would not be able to arrive by 10AM. 9:55AM – I got a call from Col Geslani whom we tasked to liaison with the Ampatuans that they were requesting for a little time as they were waiting for their lawyer who was still on the road to arrive.<br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"> That was a break I needed. The 2 choppers arrived. We discussed with the pilot and crew contingencies and procedures. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">10:45AM, we were ready to jump off upon cue from Col Geslani. It would be a short 35 minute hop from the brigade to Shariff Aguak. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">My staff Cecil said she’s getting nervous but insisted on joining. My assistant, Yo was busy texting. But wait, another problem suddenly cropped up. As we were boarding, one the 2 PNP officers tasked to escort the suspect said they could not use the handcuff on Ampatuan as the KEY WAS MISSING! What about the other handcuff with your buddy, I asked. “Ganon din po sir”, he replied. “Sh_t!” I almost fell from my seat!.(”Sarap sapakin!”) But there was no more time. We then agreed that he would be strapped with the seat belt and the policemen would firmly clasp the buckles to prevent any unexpected situation while airborne. (When I was asked later by reporters why Ampatuan was not handcuffed, I had a ready curt answer with a straight face: “He is adequately restrained!”. Sec Agnes promptly responded with the same line when she was asked upon landing in Manila. ) <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">11:20AM Two Hueys landed on the Maguindanao province capitol grounds. The Huey engines were not shut off as agreed in case a sudden exit maneuver was necessary. I waited for 20 minutes on the ground. I was getting worried. Finally, I saw my staff Ollie with his thumbs up sign. Col Geslani signalled, they were on their way. My “what if” scare disappeared. The capitol gates opened. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">The Ampatuan family arrived on board vehicles from another location nearby. Gov Zaldy clasping my hand said: “Ipaubaya ni amah si Datu Unsay sayo” and turned over Datu Unsay to me. We boarded the aircraft with Atty. Cynthia , insisting she had to ride with him. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">11:40AM, Helis took off enroute Gen Santos City where Sec. Agnes and her crew were waiting for an inquest proceeding. But again something happened. About a few minutes airborne and while still climbing and gaining altitude, I first noticed some flapping sound outside. I thought, maybe some loose parts of the chopper. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">The noise kept coming, intermittent. I looked down and maybe I saw flashes but I was not sure. Suddenly the Huey banked sharply to the right and simultaneously, several short bursts from our two Huey gunners at the back. The bursts startled all of us. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">The evasive maneuver by the pilot also jarred us. All of us kept our heads low as the Huey steeply climbed. My staff Jerry and Col Mac who were seated beside the open Huey doors ducked. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">The soldier at the back shouted, “ground fire, sir”. We still climbed. The flapping sound from outside could not be heard anymore. The gunners later told me ground fire sounded like flapping from the air. The evasive action and the machinegun bursts were SOP. At 2,000 feet altitude, we cruised. That’s when I saw on the Huey floor an empty shell from the bursts of the M‐60 machinegun on board. <br />
</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">I picked up the empty shell, then pocketed it for good luck. At the Gensan airport, I called the Boss: “Mission accomplished, Mrs. President.” * * * </span><br />
</blockquote><blockquote>(Note: Dureza had successfully handled past crises situations notably the “detention” by MNLF Saber Malik of Marine Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino and OPAPP Usec Ramon Santos in Sulu in 2007; the handover of Misuari from Malaysian authorities to face rebellion charges in 2002; the surrender of convicted priestkiller escapee Manero in 2001; the release of Gen. Obillo and Capt. Montealto by NPA Commander Parago with the Capalla humanitarian team in 1999; the Cebu Pacific plane crash in Misamis Oriental in 1998; the Mindanao El Nino crisis in 1998; the Davao Penal Colony hostage situation in 1998.)</blockquote></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-27729769216869953932009-12-05T16:51:00.000-08:002009-12-05T16:51:15.316-08:00Philippine Government, AFP and DND are Accessories to the Crime of Maguindanao - Ampatuan Murder/Massacre . Some Highpowered Machine Guns Used in the Massacre are DND-Military issued.<em></em> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxlLrTEgj4y0b_U_Q0v4tP3dpfj1921ri0cKKA511qBQcWZcbAEICJ5RpRbQJFoCOOEMfXqPNvdYnFIJEId3w6-NCTMVL9ymSyjdlrP61ELVtUw7itOplLOP2LuHmwTpCsJT481LyYrw/s1600-h/philippine-army-cotabato-city-located-in-southern-island-of-mindanao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxlLrTEgj4y0b_U_Q0v4tP3dpfj1921ri0cKKA511qBQcWZcbAEICJ5RpRbQJFoCOOEMfXqPNvdYnFIJEId3w6-NCTMVL9ymSyjdlrP61ELVtUw7itOplLOP2LuHmwTpCsJT481LyYrw/s320/philippine-army-cotabato-city-located-in-southern-island-of-mindanao.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Today, hundreds of high powered and sophisticated guns, some made by Armscore - a major arms supplier to the AFP, that can arm 500 soldiers or militia men were recovered in a shallow hole near the residence of the Ampatuans in Maguindanao. The said weapons were said to be the same guns that was used to kill the 57 Ampatuan massacre victims. The source said that the weapons were buried one day after the mass killing.<br />
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The question we have now is this: why are the high powered guns in the possession of private individuals? I remember some issues a few months back that was well covered by the media. It involved a junior navy officer and some members of the military. They broke the chain of command and expressed their loss of faith in their superior officers and one issue brought to the media's attention is the sale of high powered guns to the highest bidders who happen to be influential politicians. I shrugged it off as a mere accusation. But after the Maguindanao massacre, it seems that the accusations were real and backed by convincing proof ( physical evidence recovered ).<br />
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I'm pretty sure the issue on the Department Of Defense issued high powered sophisticated automatic guns will just fade away. In the first place who in the Philippines has the balls to investigate or prosecute the high ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Defense? NOBODY! The best thing that the so called "investigators" can do is to play around with the media through "paid" press releases.<br />
<br />
This being said, it is better to concentrate on prosecuting the Ampatuan massacre killers today rather than diverting attention to the private arms confiscated. It's a hard decision and arguably debatable depending on your political linkage, but it is better to bring justice to the families of the victims by actively participating in the judicial proceedings. To follow the weapons used is useless. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-62221924042683567842009-12-05T16:49:00.001-08:002009-12-05T16:49:45.512-08:00WatWatWorld: Philippine Political Organization Mushroom (Lilitaw - Lulubog)<em></em> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqFOoZDgXtpS6QNwzxv3okAlACfrxqipFuHlBGeXa1BQNteWnE9nkInozRnKue2w8WQ5AeW2Pl4ib8H_pNLIXZzvbY4OJLvek4HdIJKyPidxyqOF-EO-_tOYaJ5ZYTQAX96Bg6wyOBo/s1600-h/bicentennial2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqFOoZDgXtpS6QNwzxv3okAlACfrxqipFuHlBGeXa1BQNteWnE9nkInozRnKue2w8WQ5AeW2Pl4ib8H_pNLIXZzvbY4OJLvek4HdIJKyPidxyqOF-EO-_tOYaJ5ZYTQAX96Bg6wyOBo/s200/bicentennial2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>As early as two years ago, I already noticed the formation of different organizations and associations geared towards the 2010 elections. Recently, Facebook, MySpace, Friendster and Twitter are commonly used to boost up their membership. Creating a political organization prior to an election is a common practice and just like mushrooms, many of this organizations disappear after the elections. Politicians commonly use the youth sector in mobilizing membership by promising a good platform and objectives. Fact is, every politician has his/her own platform to show during the campaign period but more often than not, the realization of the platforms presented remains to be seen. If you follow the history of Philippine elections, it maybe safe to say that after elections, the platforms earlier presented remains in the piece of paper where it was written. Only a few really practice what they are introducing during a campaign. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj8z10S8Svr3zHutL9UaQ9iNXkiyYfsymuDctU0jvmzEtBL73a-monGVaCYYVXJzOFqyrFEiqxcTlXdh2gMFYBXY6EnLIXcIy1uIzFXqcQjAqYYC78a2g1iQdY2EX_L86KuQ-8VZCjW0/s1600-h/filipino3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj8z10S8Svr3zHutL9UaQ9iNXkiyYfsymuDctU0jvmzEtBL73a-monGVaCYYVXJzOFqyrFEiqxcTlXdh2gMFYBXY6EnLIXcIy1uIzFXqcQjAqYYC78a2g1iQdY2EX_L86KuQ-8VZCjW0/s200/filipino3.JPG" /></a>Promises are also common in political organizations even if the members join as "volunteers", in many cases, these volunteers end up as cash cows or foot soldiers with a promise that if the candidate they are fighting for will win, they will receive some incentives either in form of grants, scholarships, positions, jobs or contracts. Allegedly, the political organizers also "earn" because they handle the channeled finances for the organization. However, we will not deny that there are also organizers and volunteers who really believes in what they are campaigning for thus doing it in their own free will and sacrifices. I have seen this before in our province wherein volunteers really used their own money, time and effort to campaign for a senatorial candidate. After the election was over, the volunteers where not even recognized. The organizers got all the thank you's and wishes. Soon after, the organization faded away.<br />
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The most common victims of political organization mushrooms are "promdi's" like me. All of a sudden organizations are mushrooming all over the provinces. Fact is, those people organizing are more often than not the same faces you saw organizing for another party or politician during previous elections. I call them "political dance instructors", and I will allege that they are earning a living or even more from what they are doing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphS_y2rhgnTDuYMyX_AKuUwQobtM0t8T6H1KGVM2mdxytCYn761LB4av2tYxrqecSygfjPn8CJOijtYswzDWhabRrG2jqkhQuhczLAmZiKw7f80Bh4XRDkAoOyVmhxyB7m0JNpC2Yf1Y/s1600-h/mushroom-plate1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphS_y2rhgnTDuYMyX_AKuUwQobtM0t8T6H1KGVM2mdxytCYn761LB4av2tYxrqecSygfjPn8CJOijtYswzDWhabRrG2jqkhQuhczLAmZiKw7f80Bh4XRDkAoOyVmhxyB7m0JNpC2Yf1Y/s200/mushroom-plate1.jpg" /></a>Political organization mushrooms maybe temporary in nature but they serve their purpose very well. I may not agree on how the organizers manipulate volunteers but at the end of the day, something is achieved and that is the spreading of political awareness from the national capital region to the far flung areas in the provinces. This is the only time where politics and politicians reach the ends of the provinces and the only time where "promdi's" like me can see our favorite actors and actresses in person.<br />
To illustrate, if there are 100 politicians running for President, there will be 100 or more political organizations that will mushroom up and each of these newly born mushroom will have their own programs, policies and platforms to show. Each mushroom will try to gather as mush volunteers and as history dictates, the volunteers will stand their ground for the candidate they are endorsing even if it means physically fighting with the other political mushrooms. Again, at the end of the day, whatever the result is, the political candidate may not even know what is happening in the field.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnplWgqUByEiC8fWC6qpgJxrL15tVslI3pdAx2QPjLWHZEeaYvBsjpvGdhMCURD93q5ctkN48HO-P6W_k0SvWnqaX1TKr_aqdDaaj8siF4lJF9cJLyFiDtT1ZeZG0oUhaSR37AGcCPzgI/s1600-h/danser11.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnplWgqUByEiC8fWC6qpgJxrL15tVslI3pdAx2QPjLWHZEeaYvBsjpvGdhMCURD93q5ctkN48HO-P6W_k0SvWnqaX1TKr_aqdDaaj8siF4lJF9cJLyFiDtT1ZeZG0oUhaSR37AGcCPzgI/s320/danser11.gif" /></a><br />
</div>All having said, even if these organizations are actually historical mushrooms, I believe they still serve the purpose even for a limited time. These purposes are:<br />
1. To spread political awareness up to the ends of each province and islands in the Philippines;<br />
2. To gather the sentiments and needs of the people;<br />
3. To bring medical missions and a plastic of goods containing 1 kilo of rice, two noodles and 2 cans of sardines to the poor communities;<br />
4. To give a sense of power or control to the ordinary people; and<br />
5. To bring actors, actresses, comedians, dancers and singers to entertain the people in the province for free!<br />
What can you say? </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-80063618708046224622009-12-05T16:48:00.000-08:002009-12-05T16:48:09.490-08:00ALMOST FREE SEX IN THE PHILIPPINES: THE TRUTH BEHIND.Sex in the Philippines is a catchy title rather than using the word prostitution which has worsened to the highest level. I have been staying in Manila for almost five years now and I had my share of ups and downs. Living in this part of the country made me realize the difference on cost of living, it is indeed expensive to live here in the National Capital Region. Without a stable source of income is suicide. Better go home to the province. This is my introduction because I have seen bad consequences in trying to live it out in the Metro especially on the subject sex and prostitution.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZs58CV-4eggyUNQQig65Ati4zEJOslGP4Iic0rtCW81QHkzf58pDlrO4WfxLRSW4-JHbj9xWFbxj0FUtcK4gX6jovJD6WsN4KUFCY92A5v33Gph_LseApKNHJHuD9DQel0yHgKK-ld0/s1600-h/prostitutes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZs58CV-4eggyUNQQig65Ati4zEJOslGP4Iic0rtCW81QHkzf58pDlrO4WfxLRSW4-JHbj9xWFbxj0FUtcK4gX6jovJD6WsN4KUFCY92A5v33Gph_LseApKNHJHuD9DQel0yHgKK-ld0/s200/prostitutes.jpg" width="134" /></a><br />
</div>For two years I had worked in the Cubao, Quezon City area and every night when I go home I had to pass by the intersection overpass at Aurora Boulevard. I can't believe it but there are young ladies I think as young as 14 years old standing at the side while a pimp, either an old lady or a gay transacts business with passersby. Accordingly, the rate is P500 but it can go down to P300. Half goes to the pimp, half goes to the young girl. This sight is familiar along the main road and the dark alleys of Aurora Blvd.<br />
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You can also see the same sight along Quezon Ave, Quiapo a night, Malate and Taft Ave. So sad that you can see in the faces of the girls that they do it so that they could eat. I have also seen a couple having sex in a street sidewalk at the back of Malate church. All they had to cover their lower part of the body where the action is going is a big refrigirator box.<br />
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It is said that sex is the oldest profession and as long as there are men, it will never die. This maybe a fact and not even the most religious can stop the proliferation of this trade. However, seeing young children, kids getting into this sex trade is something I strongly reject. Some tricycle drivers even joke that they can have sex for a kilo of rice! Imagine that!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdiG_EceQeNFjpjaqLObngSvyHnO9FMx3BUd6vngAzIGXXoeuYUoObvIV_N6Ud7sqSt1_dYcJycYp8EOMaBlwm2HN4tBRWufO_ngNxPq3T-nrlh1hMN8JwGG4I2t0zX2ZiVDcloIo27g/s1600-h/imbestigador.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdiG_EceQeNFjpjaqLObngSvyHnO9FMx3BUd6vngAzIGXXoeuYUoObvIV_N6Ud7sqSt1_dYcJycYp8EOMaBlwm2HN4tBRWufO_ngNxPq3T-nrlh1hMN8JwGG4I2t0zX2ZiVDcloIo27g/s200/imbestigador.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Then I saw the episode of Imbestigador hosted by Mike Enriquez. There was a feature were old men can have sex with children and teenagers in a scale of "three girls for P100". I was shocked. The modus was to pay the owner of the house so that the customers ( mostly tricycle drivers and bystanders ) can use it as a drinking space. Then the young girls will be lured to join them in the drinking spree and after a few drinks, sex begins. It's a god thing that Imbestigador was able to catch the perpetrators of that sex house.<br />
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Yet there is another story. I'm sure by now you are aware of the sudden growth of teenage gangs all around the country. Ganghood is only one of the negative influences adopted by Filipinos from the Americans. Many teenagers are now active on this and they employ the harshest bullying using guns and weapons to scare other kids. So many stories have been told but I will use a particular example in Baguio City where two highschool girls from prominent families were given to a gang leader as a gift in exchange for their membership. The two highschool girls got pregnant. This created an outrage in Baguio City but still it ganghood remains. In Metro Manila, you can see teenage gangs in every corner of this metropolitan city and the word sex comes out of their mouth just as fast as they sing their rap songs. It seems sex trade amongst gang members is a free trade under what they call "hirap o sarap".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKVGkvM6wDXDj92yzP8WRrKV-8YQa2mT601Jswy0yMVk_HsjmywN43n1ainiIZZfspqW5PyuuGC6wyiNgcGR-lbnpF1ZftqGFVW4nNEjjbRYhZleUG-5KZuQC1zVRttU67jE9-U4OI5g/s1600-h/prosti2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKVGkvM6wDXDj92yzP8WRrKV-8YQa2mT601Jswy0yMVk_HsjmywN43n1ainiIZZfspqW5PyuuGC6wyiNgcGR-lbnpF1ZftqGFVW4nNEjjbRYhZleUG-5KZuQC1zVRttU67jE9-U4OI5g/s320/prosti2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Sex in the Philippines is not limited to the girls or gangs in the streets. In fact, it is only a small portion of the industry. Most of the sex trade comes with a price and the people involved are the persons you would not want to mess with. How many stories have you heard about politicians, policemen etc having more than one wife and more than two homes? Funny thing is, they are the people who ought to implement the law.<br />
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We will have a hard time admitting this, but despite the Philippines being known as the only christian majority based country in South East Asia, many foreigners, especially the males, come to the Philippines because sex is cheap. In an article written by <i>ilovephilippinestoo.blogspot.com </i>he said that<i> "</i>Philippine tourism, has proven to be helpful to sex workers in the country. There are at least 100, 000 women in the country, both young and a bit older trying their luck to have a fair share of income in the tourism industry of the Philippines. In the country (Philippines) sex is priced more or less at Php 2,500 an hour. Not really bad considering the minimum wage is too less! Who does not want to earn this amount in an hour anyway? It is more wage than the salary of some CEO's!"<br />
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Then he follows it up with hard truth. He said "there are laws against this, against that but these laws are never working nor implemented! Although illegal in the Philippines, prostitution is still a very good industry. It is being boosted by dollars brought in by foreign tourists, who are most likely to be male, aged 38 years or older and in the country for pleasure. The government actually has enough laws against prostitution, I have to mention again." <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVoOhA-jddrNPabHymYtrF3QAShLcG93YvuQOhEpxtKN-QzweDEh3qgEAVS6wcb21vfG1o2BtE9kh4aWk1dkSKcC1dKPDGbjWYtl3AUrFuv6Cors_4ayod7UltSsZfL5PjqXZrJLO4d4/s1600-h/prosti3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVoOhA-jddrNPabHymYtrF3QAShLcG93YvuQOhEpxtKN-QzweDEh3qgEAVS6wcb21vfG1o2BtE9kh4aWk1dkSKcC1dKPDGbjWYtl3AUrFuv6Cors_4ayod7UltSsZfL5PjqXZrJLO4d4/s200/prosti3.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>He quoted some laws. "Among these Anti-prostituion laws is Republic Act 9208, otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, which seeks to save women and children from falling into prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude or debt bondage. Unfortunately, the law does not save them from poverty and lack of livelihood opportunities, which force thousands of women to prostitution. The fact that some Filipinos are very rich and others are very poor breeds the exploitation and abuse of poor women. As I may tell you, there can be no other law more beautifully phrased than Philippine laws... really! But all these, are all drops of ink and nothing more. I don't even think most law-makes are aware that they have passed these laws! In 2005, some 2.6 million foreign tourists infused about $2.4 billion into the country, the highest in history. This year, the Department of Tourism (DoT) expects between $2.8 and $2.9 billion from the influx of about three million visitors. Another 3.4 million visitors are expected in 2007, 3.88 million by 2008, 4.42 million by 2009 and five million by 2010. And of course, the tourism industry has computed it in the premise that there are always be prostitutions to help foreigners to come by." <br />
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Indeed, many male tourists come to the Philippines because of the cheap sex it offers. It is hard to accept especially to those who are un-exposed but it is true.<br />
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Lastly, sex in the Philippines is almost tantamount to scandal. In Fact, if you say Philippine sex you are actually saying sex scandal. If you do not believe me than just type the word sex scandal in Yahoo or Google and you will see almost all articles provided are Filipinos. Maybe this is one reason why our country is one of the targets of foreigners looking for sex. Why don't you try it yourself, just type "sex scandal" in Google and you will see thousands of websites all over the world featuring sex scandals in the Philippines. Sad to say, it's a reality we have to live with. REMEMBER: whatever you post (pictures or videos), upload or write online becomes part of the history because it can never be erased even if you deleted it from your account! Always remember that when putting something online.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-32509361880348657102009-11-30T20:29:00.000-08:002009-11-30T20:29:15.234-08:00LATEST AND MOST GRUESOME MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE PICS RELEASED. (www.watwatworld.com last and final video on this issue)<i></i> <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqyCTpGBbw5Cj-ekC7WXPc4cxA400FtMQN0pZVVrXnkeoHjCXCqeEHWPJ5-eulHSlRC5JGX54opvESIZEWnwm8lg9Q6mxGy8oh4ULfi3uM4V-eDopgZocqRBxEjCMrTIJX-UTHoHXC18/s1600/killing+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqyCTpGBbw5Cj-ekC7WXPc4cxA400FtMQN0pZVVrXnkeoHjCXCqeEHWPJ5-eulHSlRC5JGX54opvESIZEWnwm8lg9Q6mxGy8oh4ULfi3uM4V-eDopgZocqRBxEjCMrTIJX-UTHoHXC18/s200/killing+woman.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>This Final Video released by watwatworld.com contains the most gruesome, barbaric and violent pictures related to the Maguindanao Massacre. This video will remind us all on the evil effect of Warlordism and lack of political will on the part of the government. Nobody is above the law. No person can take away a man's life as he pleases.<br />
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This video will remind the government that having too much power in the hands of a few is dangerous.<br />
This will remind the lawmakers - legislators - congressmen - that laws are more important than pork barrels..<br />
This will remind the judiciary that justice is applicable to both rich and poor.<br />
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This will remind the world that tolerating the existence of warlords, political dynasties, and private armies are not in any way helping the common people and that they have their own personal laws over and above the constitution.<br />
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In sad times like this, the people rely on the equal protection and application of the laws. I just hope that the privileges like hospital arrests cannot be extended in gruesome cases like this.<br />
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Please be advised when watching. Do not let your children watch this video.<br />
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<b>Latest news on the witnesses: </b><br />
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At least three witnesses in the mass killing of 57 people in Maguindanao have pointed to Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. as one of the armed men that intercepted the convoy of the Mangudadatus last November 23. They claimed that they were on board the cars that had been trailing the convoy led by the Mangudadatu women on that fateful day.But when they entered Ampatuan town, the convoy was flagged down by gunmen in what seemed to be a checkpoint. The witnesses saw “many police cars.".<br />
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<b>Philippines: The Maguindanao Massacre<br />
Monday, 30 November 2009, 1:02 pm<br />
Press Release: Asian Human Rights Commission</b><br />
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<b style="color: red;">Philippines: How Could The 'Maguindanao Massacre' Been Allowed To Happen?</b><br />
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">("We don’t care about it, we don’t know about it" – the Acting Head of the Provincial Police)</span><br />
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As it has been widely reported, 57 people-including two human rights lawyers and 30 journalists - were slaughtered on November 23 in Maguindanao, a province in central Mindanao. While much of the stories and worldwide condemnation focused on the number of, and manner of the deaths - describing them as gruesome, barbaric and animalistic amongst others things, the Filipino people, even in this country's war-torn southern part, still grapple in disbelief as to how it could have happened. <br />
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It is incomprehensible, not only to the Filipino people, but the international community as to how, in an area with a modicum of governance and law enforcement and the right to the protection of life could have been so easily dismissed in a democratic state. How is it possible that a group of over 100 armed men, reportedly led by a scion of a powerful political clan, the Ampatuans, blocked a convoy of vehicles of over 50 people in broad daylight, took them to a remote hilly area, executed them and then buried them in shallow graves?<br />
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There were indications that the massacre was premeditated and thoroughly planned; for example, the graves where the 57 dead bodies had been buried had already been excavated using a government-owned backhoe. Its engine was still running when the soldiers arrived at the scene of the massacre after they had received reports of the incident. When the soldiers arrived, dead bodies littered the scene, vehicles used in the convoy were riddled with bullets and three of the vehicles had been flattened and buried together with the dead bodies. (Photo: Concepcion “Connie” Brizuela, lawyer, victim; source: Inqiurer.net)<br />
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Before the massacre happened, some journalists had already received information that should they persist in covering the filing of Certificates of Candidacy of (CoC) of Esmael Mangudadatu, they would be killed and buried. However, because they were given assurance by Alfredo Cayton, commanding general of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, that they could push through telling them that area is safe, the group decided to proceed. The group also had seriously discussed matters on security arrangements for two hours before leaving. It was unfortunate though that organisers and the group of journalists may have underestimated the situation. Threats of this nature are common in this part of the country.<br />
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Mangudadatu is a bitter political rival of one of Ampatuan's scions, Andal Ampatuan Jr, incumbent town mayor of Datu Unsay, a town named after him by his father, Andal Ampatuan Sr., who is also the incumbent provincial governor of Maguindanao. The younger Ampatuan is now considered the prime suspect in the slaughter, according to witnesses. After his arrest on Thursday, November 26, he is being held in detention at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Manila.<br />
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The carnage left Esmael's wife, Genalyn; his two sisters, Eden and Farida Sabdula; several of his political supporters; two human rights lawyers, Concepcion Brizuela and Cynthia Oquendo; and 30 journalists dead. Brizuela and Oquendo were assisting Mangudadatus' wife, Genalyn, to file the CoC on behalf of her husband at the provincial election office in Maguindanao while the journalists were covering the would-be filing. The event, in the local context, would have been a big story for local journalists as the filing was an act upon which the Mangudadatus, also a powerful political clan in the adjacent province, Sultan Kudarat, would be challenging the Ampatuans for a gubernatorial post.<br />
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The younger Ampatuan is reported to have been groomed by his father to run as governor for the May 2010 general elections. The elder Ampatuan is the close ally of the Philippine President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her party; and had served as the governor of Maguindanao, a province under the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), for three consecutive terms as governor. Three of Ampatuans’ political leaders were expelled from the President's political party because of the massacre.<br />
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The Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus are bitter rivals and powerful political clans in the local politics. In this southern part of the country, the notion of governing for the 'common good of constituents, good governance, rule of law and human rights and democracy' has hardly ever existed. The politicians' motivation in running for public office is for protecting their territory, expanding their influence and cementing their de facto absolute control into the affairs of the local government--from the civilian administration, to the security forces. The security forces were there to serve the local political elite, rather than enforcing law and order.<br />
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In Shariff Aguak, the capital of Maguindanao, the display of wealth and power can be illustrated by the huge palaces that these political leaders of the province have built, dwarfing the town and shanties of their constituents. The province is one of the poorest in Mindanao, and is a long term recipient of foreign development aid. The constituents in remote municipalities have been for decades victims of massive protracted displacements, killings and abductions and summary executions either by the government or military forces in the decades-old conflict in Mindanao. Thus, the people's threshold to violence is higher than other place, but the extent of this massacre is, even for them difficult to comprehend.<br />
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That the alleged mastermind, the younger Ampatuan, was reported to have been able to command and have given the order to kill the victims is well established and illustrates the local government's policy in funding, training and recruiting militia forces. The Civilian Volunteer Organisation (CVO) is one of the government's militia forces and is also accused of having been involved in the Maguindanao massacre. The functioning of the CVO should have been under the control and oversight of the Philippine National Police (PNP); however, the existing system is so heavily politicized, effectively making the police authorities underdogs of the politicians.<br />
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The top local executive has the authority to expel, appoint and recommend, for example, who should be the head of the provincial police and the head of the town police. The local executives also decide whether or not the local police and its security unit should be given budget allocations from the local government's coffer for their operation. This deliberately brings the policemen and security units under the politician's control and influence. The extent of the policemen's control by the politicians has been affirmed and shown when Esmael, upon learning of the massacre, was told by the acting head of the Maguindanao provincial police when he sought his assistance that: "Wala kaming paki-alam d'yan, hindi namin alam 'yan (“We don’t care about it, we don’t know it”).<br />
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After the massacre, the PNP had to relieve six of its top officials in Maguindanao for their alleged complicity--the chief of police of Shariff Aguak and Ampatuan towns and three other police inspectors from their position. According to the PNP though, they are not yet considered as suspects, but reports indicate that one of them, was seen by the witnesses to be present at the scene when the victims were executed. Also, it would be difficult to accept that these top policemen would not know of the presence of heavily armed men in their area of jurisdiction. The national highways of these towns where the convoy passed also had check points of only few hundred meter distance from one place to the other - either set up by soldiers, policemen or militia forces - thus, it is hard to believe that they would not know of the movement of armed men, unless they were complicit or had been co-opted.<br />
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When the convoy was blocked and the victims subsequently executed, reason dictates that the victims may have thought the perpetrators would not do such horrendous acts. They unfortunately walked to the grave virtually blindfolded for reasons that their numbers and composition - there were over 50 of them mostly women – that the town mayor who was the prime suspect, the government's militia forces and armed civilians; and the policemen, who were seen by witnesses at the crime scene were all present.<br />
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The killing of 30 journalists, mostly local journalists, is the largest number of deaths in a single incident in the Philippines' recent history. It has virtually crippled the press freedom in this part of the country. The fight for press freedom and right to information itself is a notion that local journalists had struggled to fight for. Before the massacre, some of the journalists who were reporting on the corrupt practices of the government officials in these provinces were themselves subjected to threats. At least two journalists had already been killed in the past, one of whom was Marlene Esperat in October 2006 in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat. (Photo: journalist victims, from left to right: Marites Cablitas, Gina Dela Cruz and Marife Montaño; source MindaNews)<br />
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As one of the eyewitnesses to the massacre said, they were just following orders when the alleged mastermind ordered them to shoot and kill not only the relatives of the Mangudadatus but also the human rights lawyers, the journalist; and all of those who had joined the convoy. This eyewitness had come out in an exclusive television interview but is said to have gone into hiding. There are also several other persons who had witnessed and survived the massacre but are too frightened to come forward.<br />
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The plight of the witnesses and the survivors also exposed the realities of the absence of any protection mechanism within the country. At least three of the journalists who survived the massacre sent feelers out to the Department of Justice (DoJ) informing them of what information they had to help the investigation and prosecution of the case, but they (the DoJ) paid no attention, according to the survivor's family. Like the eyewitness, these survivors too had to take their own security measures to protect themselves. It is also not practical to seek for a police escort since one of the policemen relieved from his post was once assigned in the survivors' hometown; and given the small community of journalists there--who often covers the police and military beats--even without exposing their names, those who want them dead know where they can be located.<br />
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Also, how could the survivors consider asking for police protection when, in fact, prior to covering the filing of CoCs the Mangudadatus, had already sought police and military protection. Such request was rejected. The military had to excuse themselves saying they were unable to provide escorts because their troops were deployed somewhere and that providing escorts is primarily a police duty; while the policemen to whom the group had sought security escort for the convoy turned out to have reportedly were complicit or had taken part to the massacre.<br />
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<i>About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984. </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-49243409977135948442009-11-29T20:52:00.000-08:002009-11-29T21:02:43.847-08:00WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOUR PRESIDENT-CANDIDATE WILL WIN?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<b>2010 Philippine elections presidential candidates</b>What will happen if a particular candidate will become the next President of the Philippines? If this is YOUR president, then you are responsible for whatever actions and decisions that he makes.<br />
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This is an article from a critique point of view.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88mSHZJvCAxUMbFIHMszcN_SWEqDzahlQc6BfgAPqV7DRt-rWdhXFdQ9bOEYVoFIdRAjAhyphenhyphenI1PN702u1619sYWQ_5t8WTJgfrrhayraUmZoKy4UQEOFIaJCTdDtaiiq-nJibIU_Xyq8s/s1600/126px-Php_coin_1_obv.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88mSHZJvCAxUMbFIHMszcN_SWEqDzahlQc6BfgAPqV7DRt-rWdhXFdQ9bOEYVoFIdRAjAhyphenhyphenI1PN702u1619sYWQ_5t8WTJgfrrhayraUmZoKy4UQEOFIaJCTdDtaiiq-nJibIU_Xyq8s/s320/126px-Php_coin_1_obv.png" /></a><br />
</div>To start with, there is this question: why will a candidate spend millions and even billions for an elective position that has a standard salary and will not recover the spent amount during election campaigns? In short, will you spend for example 1billion pesos for a salary of P50K a month? No politician is that stupid. Religious or not, there's always a catch no matter who that politician is. Sorry.<br />
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</div>President JC Delos Reyes, the youngest presidential candidate under the Kapatiran party. Principled and has a platform to follow. However, sticking too much to the Catholic religion during forums is a minus factor. So called Christians, Muslims and other religious sects will find it hard to vote for JC. Of all the presidential wannabees, JC Delos Reyes has the cleanest background. But, if he wins as the president, at least I can see a new reform from a principled of politician.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLcZsA5N8mTP7o76c_xkbstoDDIgPLLhyv1nqOEtC9cvdV-LrHH6dkD3a50Q3xFgpC_W1PxefoLCh4S7Rk0uEepfTUEBHlucpnJAq-aWsx1poIX5BtzUKf6fxTzoNkoE_PRxEo6BXdJ0/s1600/bro.-eddie-villanueva-3-300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLcZsA5N8mTP7o76c_xkbstoDDIgPLLhyv1nqOEtC9cvdV-LrHH6dkD3a50Q3xFgpC_W1PxefoLCh4S7Rk0uEepfTUEBHlucpnJAq-aWsx1poIX5BtzUKf6fxTzoNkoE_PRxEo6BXdJ0/s200/bro.-eddie-villanueva-3-300x200.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
</div>President Eddie Villanueva, a political professor turned religious leader. Has a solid background on Philippine political studies and a huge religious following under the Jesus Is Lord movement. Just like JC Delos Reyes, Villanueva is associated closely to a religious movement, so no matter how good his platform is, his chances of winning is slim. The Philippines is a country somewhat controlled by religious leaders and by such having a dominance over a certain sector of the society is a must. Therefore, no religious denomination will let itself be under the control of another. It a matter of pride and numbers. In Villanueva's case, he may have a good program, but he must first please other religious communities. But if he will win as the president, I don't know... maybe this country will turn into a God fearing nation.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrGiFPx7Wi2aiEgtBSTiJ9PrWG3Ff9pAhuq0bNcx1PRpNRGQ4QK8BNrmk8PeyaZevz4wPkBM5Vlf9zqM1-VDxWtXH3Wkv-CGdfaOITRzPOdQWGT16MQ3YpfCNyZDcrkO5RM4YbKH2Gtc/s1600/bayani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrGiFPx7Wi2aiEgtBSTiJ9PrWG3Ff9pAhuq0bNcx1PRpNRGQ4QK8BNrmk8PeyaZevz4wPkBM5Vlf9zqM1-VDxWtXH3Wkv-CGdfaOITRzPOdQWGT16MQ3YpfCNyZDcrkO5RM4YbKH2Gtc/s200/bayani.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>President Bayani Fernando, has always used the words "political will" as a campaign slogan. He has done some changes in Metropolitan Manila as the former MMDA chairman. Often times, misunderstandings with the city mayors come up because his decisions are unpopular. However, he implemented his projects regardless of its unpopularity. Unless he gets help from the "new generation", his chances of winning is slim. Having a following in Metro Manila alone will not ensure him of a presidential seat. But if he wins as the president, there will be control and chaos at the same time. Practicing the power of political will has its own downsides.<br />
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</div>President Noynoy Aquino, is considered the big name to beat in the race for that presidential seat. Regardless of how he or his sister defends his rise to popularity, the fact remains that he became a presidential candidate out of the popular shadows of his parents. He can win any seat aside from presidency using his family name alone. He has a large arsenal of yellow followers and a party with numerous political turncoats. He may stand a chance in the race. However, a question remains on his capacity to run a country. But if he will win as the president, I see no major change. Same old politicians with new party alliance is not a solution and oftentimes party objectives become a mere piece of paper. Also, there is a big possibility that showbiz personalities end up in key government positions instead of those who are learned and qualified. But then again, maybe Noynoy can deliver a change outside of the box that we see, Obama style.<br />
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</div>President Erap Estrada, is old news with new partners. He has the biggest legal battle to face if he wins as president. Relying too much on the "masa power" today may not deliver the desired number of votes. But if he wins as the president, his time will be divided in taking care of the country and attending to the legal cases filed against him. Also, he has to guard his vice president 25hours /day.<br />
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</div>President Manny Villar, is the big spender. Allegedly, he already spent close to a billion pesos on TV, radio and print ads. More often than not, during interview, all you can hear from him is his story from being poor in the market and streets of Tondo to becoming rich due to Real Estate and Development Contracts. He has a strong following and party affiliates. Considering his money and machinery, he maybe able to pull this off. However, the question on "ROI" is running along his side. Some say that since he is a contractor and developer, all contracts will run a tele novela bidding and contracts will be awarded to his favor. His intentions maybe good, but it remains to be seen. But if he wins as the president, there maybe some advantages because for one, development will surely be on the upswing. Roads and bridges will be concreted, big buildings, real estate developments. The downside is that he is not seen as pro agriculture, in fact he does not discuss pro-agriculture issues. Between a pro developer and a pro-agriculture, which will you choose?<br />
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</div>President Gilbert Teodoro, called as "mr. dapat" because of his political commercials. He has the backing of the present government and the powerful machinery of the largest Philippine political party. His intentions to become the president maybe good but it seems he is having a hard time shaking off his closeness with the current and unpopular president. It's like new cover for an old news. In the election field, it is a minus minus. However, of all the presidential candidates, I believe that his wits and intelligence is useful in running a country. He answers questions intelligently and has ready answers even for the difficult ones. It's just so sad he is running under the unpopular party. But if he will become the next president, he may do fine so long as he does not have to pay so much political debts just like the present one.<br />
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AT THE END OF THE DAY, if your president will win and he acts not according to your expectations... you will be the one to be blamed. If the country falls apart, you blame yourself. Remember, in this election period, NOTHING SEEMS TO BE TRUE and EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE RIGHT. In tagalog: Lahat ng kadidato mabait kasi may kailangan sila sa iyo, pero pagkatapos ng election, hinde ka nila kilala.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-35234728440700096512009-11-29T15:37:00.000-08:002009-11-29T15:37:43.841-08:00Young guns, young terror, ( PCIJ investigation in Maguindanao )<span class="prehead">Sidebar</span><br />
<h1><span style="font-size: large;">Young guns, young terror</span></h1><div class="byline">by Jaileen F. Jimeno</div>Thursday, September 4th, 2008<br />
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism<br />
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</div><strong>ALL OVER</strong> the world, the practice of engaging children and teenagers in criminal gangs and private armies continues unabated. The Philippines is no exception.<br />
A little-known academic study documents how minors are being recruited down south in private armies better known as civilian volunteers organizations or CVOs. These groups help keep village adults in a perpetual state of fear and obeisance, even if some of the “volunteers” have not moved past puberty.<br />
The 80-page study was conducted across a five-month period in 2003 by researchers led by Agnes Zenaida Camacho of the University Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UCIDS) at the University of the Philippines.<br />
It focused on three towns of Maguindanao and the use of minors by the <em>pagali</em> or clan to keep itself in power. The researchers interviewed 10 young CVO members, who had to be assigned pseudonyms in the report, for their own protection.<br />
Most of the young CVO members were recruited into the armed group as replacement for their fathers who had been killed in action, the researchers learned. Of the 10 interviewees, only two were 18 years old at the time they started working for a <em>pagali</em>. One interviewee was drafted into CVO service when he was only 10 years old, and the seven others, in their early teens.<br />
UCIDS noted that while the CVOs were organized to assist in defending towns against insurgents, “in certain parts of the Philippines, local politicians are reportedly heavily arming and using members of CVOs in their respective localities as private armies.”<br />
An unpaid family loan to the <em>pagali</em> compelled one child to join the CVO. Yet when he was ready to pay, the <em>pagali</em> head, a mayor, gave the child a gun and ordered him to kill someone before his payment would be accepted. Left with no choice, the child said he did as he was told.<br />
Disobedience entails serious punishment. “Failing to follow orders to murder a pagali enemy is punishable by death,” the researchers said.<br />
For most of the interviewees, however, conscription into the CVO unfolds as a slow process. The new entrants are given small jobs at first, like escorting members of the clan when they venture outside their homes. The recruits do this with issued firearms in tow. Once their loyalty and adherence to the code of silence is proven, they are inducted into “<em>malalaking lakad</em> (big jobs),” mainly involving crime, the researchers said.<br />
“From the interviews with the children, these range from kidnapping, extortion, instigating displacement, murder, torture, and drug trafficking,” the report said.<br />
Among the most benign activities that the CVO members said they did was to collect P20 from vehicles passing the highway. There are other tasks. An interviewee said he was assigned to a <em>pagali</em>’s marijuana plantation near the province’s marshlands.<br />
Others said they served in the <em>pagali</em>’s “business” ventures, including dealing in <em>shabu</em> or metamphetamine hydrochloride, and doubled as dealers. The report said the illegal trade reached as far as General Santos City, Davao City, and Manila, the report revealed.<br />
To one interviewee, these transactions explain how a <em>pagali</em> could afford to live it up. “How do you think they are able to afford a mansion or luxury cars?” the interviewee asked.<br />
The report unravelled more details. “Another child interviewee said that the <em>pagali</em> in his area, a mayor, conducted ‘operations’ or raids against selected areas particularly after the rice harvesting season — to steal the crops after the residents of the target areas had evacuated their homes and farms.”<br />
“I guess that’s why some CVOs have gotten used to stealing,” the researchers said, quoting one of the interviewees as saying. “When you think about it, the mayor is really behind everything.”<br />
The UCIDS study abound with even more gruesome stories, notably one told by “Rudy,” who was recruited into a CVO unit when he was 17.<br />
A scion of the <em>pagali</em> had been killed in a bomb blast, and soon after, three teenagers suspected of involvement were brought to the compound of another son of the clan’s chief.<br />
The three suspects met tragic deaths. “One was killed using machetes, while another was peppered with bullets,” the UCIDS report said Rudy had recounted. “The eldest of the youths suffered the worst: his limbs were cut off using a chain saw.”<br />
The CVO members were directed to put salt in the suspect’s wounds and then “(they) cut parts of his body with a chain saw while he was still alive,” Rudy had narrated. The CVO members present were later instructed to dump the suspects’ bodies in a nearby river.<br />
What might well pass for a culture of keeping armed men could be likened to “<em>pagali</em> dictatorship,” according to the researchers. Apart from ensuring the clan’s dominance, it accords a <em>pagali</em> an aura of machismo.<br />
By their reckoning, the researchers said that the higher the position of an official, the more armed men he commands, but most especially if he is the leader of the clan or occupies an important position in the <em>pagali</em>.<br />
Yet for all the unwholesome duties they perform for the <em>pagali</em>, CVO members collect paltry pay. Their salaries vary, with some receiving P1,000 a month, and others, P3,000.<br />
On occasion, when the <em>pagali</em> boss is feeling generous, they get a bonus of rice and clothes.<br />
Rudy, however, has not been as blessed with such windfall. In fact, he said that for a long time, he did not get whatever benefits he was supposed to. And months after he was interviewed by the UCIDS researchers, Rudy was killed in a encounter between soldiers and separatist rebels. He was 25.<br />
Still and all, the “chainsaw story” he told the researchers has somehow outlived Rudy. By all indications, he had evolved into a legend of sort in Maguindanao.<br />
When the PCIJ visited recently, some village folk said they know who were behind the gruesome murders and where these happened. Advisedly, they said that they are too scared to go on record on this story or they might be the next ones to hear the buzz of a chain saw.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-89285289610513106402009-11-29T15:29:00.000-08:002009-11-29T15:29:46.833-08:00Why Andal Ampatuan Jr. Thought He Could Get Away With It<span class="prehead">The Maguindanao Massacre</span><br />
<h1><span style="font-size: large;">Why Andal Ampatuan Jr. Thought<br />
He Could Get Away With It</span></h1><div class="byline">by Alex Tizon, Knight International Journalism Fellow</div><div class="byline"></div>Sunday, November 29th, 2009<br />
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THE BODY count of the Maguindanao Massacre has gone up each of the past five days. The count is now at 57, with authorities continuing to sift through the blood-soaked dirt just outside the town of Shariff Aguak. Thirty of the victims were journalists and at least twenty-two were women. The women were raped and their genitals shot at close range.<br />
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</div>Expect the numbers to change in the coming days. What will likely not change is the identity of the accused mastermind of the killings: a smug, round-faced blip of a man named Andal Ampatuan Jr., a local mayor and the son of a powerful political patriarch who is allied with no less than the president of the Philippines.<br />
The suspect reportedly ordered the massacre to prevent a rival politician from challenging him in the upcoming gubernatorial election. According to at least twenty eyewitnesses who have testified to the Department of Justice, it was Ampatuan’s plan to ambush the caravan of six cars, kill all the occupants and then bury the victims and their vehicles in large pre-dug pits. Burying the victims, he thought, would erase the evidence.<br />
Ampatuan actually believed he could get away with it. But the plan went awry when word spread that army soldiers were in the area and the attackers panicked, leaving a half-buried massacre scene. So frenzied were those last moments that even the operator of the government backhoe used to dig the pits was reportedly killed to minimize witnesses.<br />
Word trickled out and by Tuesday the whole world knew about the Nov. 23 massacre. For the rest of the week officials have filled the airwaves and front pages with their horrified reactions but it doesn’t take a telepath to know that some of the “horror” was for the benefit of the international audience.<br />
For those not familiar with contemporary life in the Philippines, it must be pointed out that political violence here is a norm, and that people like Andal Ampatuan Jr. are no aberration. There are many more like him scattered like vermin droppings throughout the country. The system creates Ampatuans.<br />
The reason Monday’s incident became international news is because of the high number of victims killed all at once and because so many were journalists and women. Had the killings been spread out over weeks and months, very few outside of the province would have heard of it.<br />
“The massacre in Maguindanao may stand out for a long time for its brazenness, but the forces that shaped it are by no means isolated or peculiar to Muslim Mindanao,” writes <a href="http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20091127-238822/Warlords-in-a-weak-state">Randy David in the Philippine Daily Inquirer</a>. David is a sociology professor at the University of the Philippines. “These forces lurk in many regions of our country….”<br />
I’m in the Philippines to work on a poverty-related media project called <a href="http://www.i-site.ph/povertyaudit/"><em>Suriin Ang Kahirapan</em></a> or Audit of Poverty. One of the aims is to create a network of citizen journalists in the country’s five poorest provinces. Maguindanao is one of the <em>Suriin </em>provinces.<br />
In all five of the <em>Suriin </em> provinces, there is a dynastic political family like the Ampatuans and a hatchet man – or two or three – like Andal Ampatuan Jr. Until Monday, none have been foolhardy enough to slay all their enemies in one fell swoop. The usual modus operandi is to knock them off one at a time and as quietly as possible.<br />
For instance, in the <em>Suriin</em> province of Masbate, an island north of Mindanao, there have reportedly been as many as 30 politically related murders over the past year, and many of the killings can be tied to one family that has been in power for years. All know the name but no one will say it out loud. Who would dare? Like in Maguindanao, most of the local police and military take their orders from the ruling family. Those who have dared cross family members end up shot on some lonely stretch of gravel, their corpses no more than road kill. Hardly anyone on the outside knows – or cares – about the killings in Masbate.<br />
In Maguindanao, the Ampatuans have controlled local politics for most of the decade, and the current governor, Andal Ampatuan Sr., had been grooming his son to take over his post. The Ampatuans had grown accustomed to running unopposed in local elections, so terrified were potential opponents.<br />
So when one rival announced he would oppose Ampatuan for the governorship, the clan was incensed. The heretic, a local vice mayor named Esmael Mangudadatu, sent his wife and two sisters – accompanied by a retinue of lawyers and journalists – to the county seat to file his certificate of candidacy, apparently believing that not even the Ampatuans would murder women in cold blood. It was this caravan that was intercepted and massacred. Some of the victims reportedly were forced to eat filing documents before they were shot.<br />
Ampatuan family members “act like gods” in Maguindanao, Leila de Lima told the Armed Forces of the Philippines. De Lima, chairwoman of the Philippines Commission on Human Rights, said there have been similar, but smaller-scale killings, linked to the Ampatuan family, but up until now witnesses have been afraid to come forward.<br />
Today, Ampatuan sits in a Manila jail awaiting further proceedings. He was persuaded to turn himself in on Thursday by an emissary sent by President Gloria Arroyo herself. Many believe the administration was forced to act because of overwhelming international pressure. The emissary, special advisor Jesus Dureza, accompanied Ampatuan on government aircraft all the way to Manila where, upon parting, Dureza and Ampatuan shook hands and hugged.<br />
Can you imagine the president of the United States sending an ambassador to negotiate with a man suspected of wiping out 64 people, and then having that ambassador accompany the suspect on private aircraft to the nation’s Capitol where they say good-bye with a hug? A hug!? Can you imagine President Clinton providing red-carpet treatment to Branch Davidian leader David Koresh or Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh?<br />
The Ampatuans have long been coddled by officials high in government. The Ampatuans were well-known allies of Arroyo, and have been photographed together with the president in various locations including Malacanang (the equivalent of the White House). The Ampatuans “delivered” Maguindanao province to Arroyo in the last election, and did so with frightening efficacy, signing up entire towns and villages – often with not a single dissenting vote.<br />
The administration, in return, has taken a hands-off approach to Maguindanao. Provincial officials, for example, can choose their own police chiefs and officers, many of whom end up as bodyguards or hitmen. These officials also end up using taxpayer money, intended for anti-terrorist programs, to deputize and arm groups of mercenaries officially known as Civilian Volunteer Officers, or CVOs. The end result is that people like Ampatuan have created their own private armies and rule their territories like warlords.<br />
It came as a surprise to no one that among those implicated in Monday’s massacre are all of Ampatuan’s CVOs, and nearly all of the highest ranking police and military officers in the province. Already their courtroom defenses have become apparent in the few interview snippets that have gone public: They were only following orders. Of course.<br />
Ampatuan and his family hobnobbed with the president. His father was a three-term governor and his brother a governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, of which Maguindanao is a part; his relatives were mayors of half the towns; he was insulated and protected by local police, and he had his own mercenary army to do his bidding in a far-flung region populated by poor and illiterate farmers. Ampatuan believed he could get away with it because he’d been groomed all his life to think so.<br />
There are many others like him in the country’s 83 provinces, rogues with government titles who believe they’ll never be caught. And most of them will be right. <strong><em>– PCIJ, November 2009</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Alex Tizon</em></strong><em> is working with the PCIJ on a crowd-sourcing project that will help media track government efforts to alleviate poverty in the country’s five poorest provinces, including Maguindanao. As national correspondent of The Los Angeles Times, he has reported on the war in Iraq and Hurricane Katrina, and as staff writer for The Seattle Times from 1986 to 2003, received the 1997 Pulitzer Prize in investigative journalism for a series on corruption in the federal Indian Housing Program.</em><br />
<em>- </em>Philippine Center for Investigative JournalismUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-48825320232942900172009-11-29T15:24:00.000-08:002009-11-29T15:24:59.075-08:00Amid the fighting, the Ampatuan clan rules in Maguindanao<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<b>Public Eye</b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Amid the fighting, the clan rules in Maguindanao</b></span><br />
<i>by Jaileen F. Jimeno, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism<br />
Thursday, September 4th, 2008</i><br />
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MAGUINDANAO — The sound of sirens precedes the passing of a long convoy of 4×4 sport utility vehicles. As if on cue, jeepneys and private vehicles begin moving to the right side of the street, where they all then ground to halt.<br />
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“Kailangan tumabi ka, kasi babanggain ka nila. Palalabasin nilang kaaway ka (You have to get out of their way, otherwise they’ll hit your car. And then they’ll make it appear you’re one of their enemies),” explains an old man watching the scene by the roadside.<br />
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Asked if he knows whose convoy of black, heavily tinted vehicles is whizzing by, the man replies without hesitation: “Si Governor. Ganyan ang mga sasakyan niya (That’s how his vehicles look like).”<br />
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In the last two weeks, this southern province has become one of the sites of a serial cat-and-mouse battle between soldiers and rebels from a faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), displacing thousands of people. But the armed clashes aside, residents here know that only one family wields real power in Maguindanao: the Ampatuans, led by its acknowledged patriarch, Governor Andal Ampatuan.<br />
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It may not only be peace between combatants but respite from political clans that Maguindanao needs.<br />
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The Ampatuans are just the latest in a long line of political dynasties that have endured in Mindanao. Yet while the Ampatuan clan has lorded over Maguindanao only since 2001, several of its members have already managed to grab key government positions, elective and appointive, and not only in the province itself. (see Table)<br />
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In 2005, Andal Ampatuan’s son Zaldy, then 38 years old, became the governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the youngest ever to head the regional government.<br />
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And if the results of the recent AMMM polls are any indication, the Ampatuans seem to be digging in for the long haul. The baby-faced Zaldy took more than 90 percent of the votes among seven candidates in the ARMM elections held just a few weeks ago. His closest rival Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji got just a tad over two percent of the votes.<br />
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It did not help Isnaji any that he was battling kidnapping charges filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) against him and his son Haider, midway through the campaign. But Ma. Krizna Gomez of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) observes: “We were all surprised to not see any election campaign materials (other than Zaldy Ampatuan’s) around the province. The dynasty runs deep into the entire political set-up and this is capped by the election result itself.”<br />
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Guns, Palace blessing<br />
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Andal Ampatuan has four wives and over 30 children, and intermarriages with other political clans have made his political stock stronger. But political analysts trace the clan’s formidable clout to two main factors: guns and the blessings of Malacanang. They even note that no less than the Palace made it legal for the Ampatuans to have hundreds of armed men and women under their employ.<br />
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The 1987 Constitution bans private armed groups. In July 2006, however, the Arroyo administration issued Executive Order 546, allowing local officials and the PNP to deputize barangay tanods as “force multipliers” in the fight against insurgents. In practice, the EO allows local officials to convert their private armed groups into legal entities with a fancy name: civilian volunteer organizations (CVO).<br />
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Interestingly, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued the EO just weeks after a bombing in the Shariff Aguak public market that killed five people. Andal Ampatuan, who has survived several other ambushes, was said to have been the target.<br />
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According to a military officer who served for 16 years in ARMM — five of them in Maguindanao — Andal Ampatuan employs about 200 CVO members. The officer adds that Ampatuan’s sons and relatives maintain armed men, supposedly for their protection. (Andal’s eldest son Saudi was killed in a bomb blast in Shariff Aguak 2002.)<br />
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“Everybody carries firearms, mga paltik (homemade guns),” says the military officer. “Or (they) either borrow from the military or the PNP, or they buy.”<br />
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A soldier who spent five years on assignment in Maguindanao says of the CVOs here: “They support the internal security requirement of the capitol or the municipio.” He adds that while some of the CVOs are paid by the local government in areas where they serve, they are often “borrowed” for personal use by local officials.<br />
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And whenever they board the back of spiffy pickups that are staples of Ampatuan convoys, these CVO members typically lug long firearms. At times, the convoys of 20 vehicles or more also begin and end with pickups mounted with big machine guns.<br />
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Indeed, long before the military resumed chasing the MILF in earnest across the region, Maguindanao was already dotted with checkpoints. Soldiers manned entrances to municipal halls, and armored vehicles hogged major road networks.<br />
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PCIJ tried for months to interview Andal Ampatuan here and during his visits in Manila, but Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas repeatedly said the governor does not grant interviews. Instead, it has been Unas who has fielded questions from PCIJ.<br />
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In an interview with PCIJ late last year, Unas said that the older Ampatuan’s political stance has earned his clan several enemies, hence the need for heightened security. Unas explained that while previous Maguindanao leaders played footsies with secessionist forces, “Governor Ampatuan is not really sympathetic to the MILF or other forces wishing for a separatist Muslim state.”<br />
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But Datu Michael Mastura, former congressman of Maguindanao’s first district, seems less than convinced by the argument. “I will tell you, the word ‘impunity’ does not even suit it. It’s inappropriate,” he says, referring to the Ampatuans’ chronic show of force. Pointing to the clan’s numerous bodyguards and vehicles, Mastura wonders aloud: “Just imagine, how do you maintain them? How do you house them?”<br />
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No one here is ready to come forward with any answers to that, but at the very least, the presence of armed men and women helps explain why residents would rather not do anything to cross an Ampatuan. One journalist who unwittingly did is certainly thankful that all he got was a dressing-down from the provincial governor.<br />
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The journalist had helped a colleague get in touch with the Ampatuans for an article that the governor apparently perceived to be unflattering. The helpful journalist says he was summoned to the governor’s mansion and there received a tongue-lashing. “I just sat there,” he recalls, “and took it, not saying a word.”<br />
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‘Hello, Garci’ then 12-0 in ‘07<br />
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To some political analysts, it is easy to explain why the Ampatuans command solid hold on Maguindanao: The clan enjoys close ties with the Palace in faraway Manila, simply because the clan has managed to deliver the votes for administration candidates.<br />
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In its 2007 Elections Forensics Report, the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) noted: “The Ampatuan dynasty based in Maguindanao province is Arroyo’s present conduit in helping ensure her influence over the whole of Mindanao, which hosts many of the country’s grizzled but otherwise powerful political clans.”<br />
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During the 2004 presidential elections, “(Governor Andal) Ampatuan addressed the political requirement of Arroyo,” says Bobby Tuazon, CenPEG’s director for policy study, publication, and advocacy. “She needed somebody to control the votes.”<br />
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In the controversial “Hello Garci” recordings, then elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano was heard saying that Maguindanao would not be “much of a problem” for President Arroyo. His words turned out to be more than prophetic, with Maguindanao giving Arroyo 193,938 votes, against the 59,892 votes obtained by popular action film star Fernando Poe Jr. In Ampatuan and Datu Piang towns, Poe even scored zero, and in the capital Shariff Aguak and other Maguindanao towns, received just a handful of votes.<br />
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In the 2007 congressional and local elections, the 12 senatorial candidates of the administration’s Team Unity slate made a clean sweep of the polls in Maguindanao, or scored 12-0, to be exact. Family members and allies of the Ampatuans who ran for local positions also clinched wins.<br />
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Maguindanao officials have since brushed off suspicions of election fraud, saying local candidates did not bother campaigning for their own seats. They say that “negotiations” were held before the elections to “amicably” settle the battle for positions. Besides, they note, many of the Ampatuan candidates had run unopposed and thus had devoted time to campaign for the administration’s senatorial slate.<br />
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In his interview with PCIJ last year, Maguindanao provincial administrator Unas said political contests here are settled even before any balloting through “consultation and consensus-building.”<br />
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“People are critical of our system and ridicule us for the manner by which we choose our leaders,” he said. But, he asserted, it is a system that works for the province, “not that demo-democracy.”<br />
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“We know that the Manila system does not fit us,” Unas said. “We have stabilized the political landscape because there’s no contest every election. This is one better way for us Muslims coming out with our leaders.”<br />
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CenPEG fellow Ely H. Manalansan Jr., however, insists that shura or the Islamic practice of consultation was not a factor in Team Unity’s 12-0 win in Maguindanao. He says that even Islamic experts dismiss such an assertion, adding, “(It) merely serves as a justification for the widespread and systematic fraud perpetrated by the administration during elections in Mindanao.”<br />
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Last year, public schoolteacher Musa Dimasidsing had also revealed that days before the 2007 vote, he had seen teachers and students writing and then putting their thumbmarks on ballots. Days after he spoke up, Dimasidsing was shot dead; his murder remains unsolved.<br />
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No ‘Big Man’ monopoly<br />
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CenPEG’s Tuazon, though, cautions against stereotyping this conduct of elections as unique to Maguindanao and ARMM. “Oligarchs also rule in Luzon and Visayas, and you will see a lot of similarities in what is happening there in the Moro homeland,” he says.<br />
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“Ampatuan is no different from (Luis) Chavit Singson,” points out Fr. Eliseo Mercado Jr., who briefly chaired the government peace panel with the MILF. Singson, former governor of Ilocos Sur in northern Luzon, has built a reputation for keeping an iron grip on his home province.<br />
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Unas himself acknowledges the perception that Ampatuan is a warlord. Reached by phone by PCIJ recently, he said, “May katotohanan din siguro. The same way na may perception na warlord sina Joson (of Nueva Ecija) at Singson, (Probably there’s truth to that. The same way there is a perception that the Josons and the Singsons are warlords).”<br />
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But the provincial administrator denied that the capitol pays for the CVOs protecting Ampatuan and his clan. He said that the CVOs are hired and funded by town mayors, while those who guard the governor are made up of soldiers, policemen, and civilians “who, as Muslims, will die for their leader.”<br />
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This relationship between leaders and the governed, said Unas, has its roots in the history of Muslim communities down south, and is found not only in Maguindanao.<br />
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Poverty, mega projects<br />
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In Mercado’s view, the resiliency of the Ampatuan clan will rest mainly on its ability to deliver the needs of its constituents. Then again, if Mercado is right, the Ampatuans’ days in power may be numbered, based on the province’s sorry showing in several sectors.<br />
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For one, despite the Ampatuans’ expanded powerbase, Maguindanao’s poverty numbers are worsening. In 2000, the poverty incidence was recorded at 59.3 percent. It grew to 60.4 percent in 2003, and rose further to 62 percent in 2006, turning Maguindanao into the third poorest province in the country.<br />
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For another, Maguindanao’s spending for education remains low, even as the elementary teacher-to-pupil ratio has worsened to 51 in school year 2005-06, from 43.9 in school year 2000-01.<br />
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These bad statistics are among the reasons why, according to the Philippine Human Development Report (PHDR) of 2005, only 39.7 percent of adults in Maguindanao have six years of basic education, compared with the national average of 84 percent.<br />
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Too, the PHDR reveals that Maguindanao has the second lowest life expectancy in the Philippines at 52 years, edged out only by Tawi-Tawi’s 51.2 years. The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) reports as well that the number of health stations in the province has remained stagnant at 163, from 2000 to 2006.<br />
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Amid worsening poverty and education services for its population of 600,000 as of last year, Maguindanao has been pouring money into new town halls and a bigger capitol. The latter is now estimated to cost the province about P116 million, or nearly twice as much as the original price tag of P60 million.<br />
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According to Unas, Andal Ampatuan had asked President Arroyo for help in funding the new capitol project. Arroyo, Unas said, committed an initial P20 million, paving the way for construction work to start.<br />
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The renovation project has since evolved into a government center that will feature other huge structures, including a sports-and-culture center that would cost P80 million.<br />
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Maguindanao is not lacking in funds. On top of benefiting from foreign and ARMM-funded projects, it received an internal revenue allotment (IRA) of P555 million in 2005, which grew to P633 million the following year.<br />
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Yet of the P590 million budget the capitol lined up for 2006, P124 million or 21 percent was set aside for the provincial governor’s office alone. Over P185 million or 31 percent, meanwhile, went to the salaries and benefits of the capitol’s 587 employees.<br />
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The people’s view<br />
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The people in Maguindanao offer a common opinion of Andal Ampatuan as “mabait (a good person).” One resident says, “If you need a job, he’ll provide one for you.” Another intones, “We don’t say no to him because he takes care of us.”<br />
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But such positive comments almost always come with a caveat: “Basta sundin mo ang gusto niya (As long as you do as he says).”<br />
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“He is like a pharaoh, that’s what people call him,” says Mastura, himself a member of one of Mindanao’s prominent families. “You don’t go against his wishes.”<br />
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The one person who has tried to keep the Ampatuans in check, albeit in his own turf, is Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.<br />
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Over the years, Duterte, who is known for his tough stance against crime, has repeatedly warned various clans — not only the Ampatuans, to be sure — against “misbehaving” in Davao City. But Duterte has also zeroed in on younger Ampatuan scions for using sirens whenever they drive around Davao. In 2006, Duterte let it rip when three Ampatuan youths were arrested in his city for possession of high-powered firearms, including rifles fitted with telescopic sights, and rounds of ammunition.<br />
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“Davao City is not your kingdom,” a fuming Duterte had reportedly said. “If you want to show off, you better do it in your place, not here.”<br />
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Unfortunately for Duterte, Maguindanao has no known nightlife to keep privileged youths entertained and occupied.<br />
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Once the sun sets in this province, the roads turn empty, save for one or two vehicles rushing to their destinations, and the occasional convoy of huge, black cars and pickups flashing their lights and sounding their sirens. Invariably, the convoy carries an Ampatuan as passenger.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-56562102486613596692009-11-28T05:03:00.000-08:002009-11-28T05:03:04.580-08:00Maguindanao Massacre ( Ampatuan Massacre ), Philippine Election Violence. Part I of IIA video showing the story behind the massacre. The killing and the arrest of the alleged mastermind. WARNING: VERY GRAPHIC AND DISTURBING VIDEO PHOTOS. Do not let your kids see the pictures. Part I of II. Visit www.watwatworld.com<br />
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</div>Cadaver hunt in Maguindanao massacre ends<br />
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MANILA, November 28, 2009 (AFP) - Police have ended a grisly search for corpses and mass graves from an election-linked massacre in the southern Philippines, with the known death toll standing at 57, officials said Saturday.<br />
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The authorities dismissed several news reports that quoted a police official saying he had counted 64 bodies from the slaughter just off a farming road in the province of Maguindanao on Mindanao island.<br />
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"We ended the search yesterday," Senior Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, the police chief of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, told reporters by telephone.<br />
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"We have 57 bodies in our official list. Of course we are still checking and if there are reports of more bodies we will verify those. But so far, the information that we have is that the total has not changed."<br />
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Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluna, the police chief of central Mindanao, also confirmed the toll.<br />
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The last 11 were pulled out from two adjacent mass graves on Wednesday, including five who were entombed along with three vehicles, police said.<br />
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The government has charged a local official in the area, Andal Ampatuan Jr., with ordering and taking part in the killings. He surrendered to police Thursday and has been flown to Manila where he was detained.<br />
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On Friday Ampatuan Jr. was indicted of ordering his private militia of more than 100 gunmen to open fire on the group, which included relatives of rival Muslim politician, Esmael Mangudadatu, some journalists and passing motorists who had no known quarrel with the gunmen.<br />
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Ampatuan Jr. is a mayor in the southern Philippines who until this week was an ally of President Gloria Arroyo and a member of her ruling coalition.<br />
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Eight other members of the powerful Ampatuan clan have been invited for police questioning after witnesses also linked them to the killings.<br />
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The relatives and the journalists had been travelling to an election office to nominate Mangudadatu to run against Ampatuan Jr. for the post of provincial governor in next year's elections.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-35824923528673483562009-11-28T04:56:00.000-08:002009-11-28T04:56:06.483-08:00Maguindanao Massacre ( Ampatuan Massacre ), Phillipine Election Violence Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><br />
A video showing the story behind the massacre. The killing and the arrest of the alleged mastermind. WARNING: VERY GRAPHIC AND DISTURBING VIDEO PHOTOS. Do not let your kids see the pictures. Part II<br />
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The alleged mastermind is locked up at the NBI detention center. However, Almost all Filipinos are looking forward to the arrest of the other culprits. Accordingly, there were more than 100 men who participated in the mass murder, they should all be arrested and face charges. No man can just kill someone even at the orders of a superior unless otherwise justified by law. If we allow ruthless killings on orders of mere individuals trying to play the role of god, then this world we live in will crumble down back to the dark ages.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGVCTNJRiAPSVd5ZohzrfqslOiGfoJlkQluez_wTITuVpibeMHWQnvALwDhbp_JAMyhxCv4xPfdy6xVDbmwHRHYwXB_6qEABOLrdzEcUEyapmeDTXWQCU8XFPCEZ-4ok7E2qxPlO0BMk/s1600/71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGVCTNJRiAPSVd5ZohzrfqslOiGfoJlkQluez_wTITuVpibeMHWQnvALwDhbp_JAMyhxCv4xPfdy6xVDbmwHRHYwXB_6qEABOLrdzEcUEyapmeDTXWQCU8XFPCEZ-4ok7E2qxPlO0BMk/s200/71.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-17097538922547868202009-11-27T17:06:00.000-08:002009-11-27T17:06:12.089-08:00Maguindanao Massacre News: Philippine mayor ordered massacre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBX_HY87w2Ceyjp7N-klfh4fl2A52TOilFvY5ZXNDzBd2xfSlb3Iz1a0Viwl9ROG-RFdtvqDp8TwVP6Zzhyphenhyphenp75Qe89SIouAZpXfQUq9oQA-xOgfuYd6jjGp6pKE7FpenENgoKtFFJdRk/s1600/78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBX_HY87w2Ceyjp7N-klfh4fl2A52TOilFvY5ZXNDzBd2xfSlb3Iz1a0Viwl9ROG-RFdtvqDp8TwVP6Zzhyphenhyphenp75Qe89SIouAZpXfQUq9oQA-xOgfuYd6jjGp6pKE7FpenENgoKtFFJdRk/s200/78.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>MANILA (AFP) - – A Philippine politician was on Friday charged with murder after authorities accused him of ordering soldiers, police and other gunmen to kill at least 57 defenceless people in an organised slaughter.<br />
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Andal Ampatuan Jnr, a mayor in the lawless southern Philippines who until this week was an ally of President Gloria Arroyo and a member of her ruling coalition, was charged with seven counts of murder, the government said.<br />
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"He was the one who gave the instructions. He was among those... who killed the victims," Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera told reporters as she outlined the case against Ampatuan Jnr.<br />
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She indicated more charges would likely be laid against him and others, saying the process of filing cases had only just begun.<br />
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Devanadera also revealed the suspect's father, the leader of the Ampatuan clan and governor of Maguindanao province, was among eight other members of the powerful family under investigation and not allowed to leave the country.<br />
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An emotional Devanadera earlier on Friday gave the most detailed official account yet of Monday's election-linked massacre, saying the female victims may have also been raped.<br />
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"It was horrible. I cannot begin to describe it," Devanadera told the GMA television network, recounting what she had seen of the bodies as well as the testimony of many of those who had taken part in the killings.<br />
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Devanadera said the witnesses told prosecutors that Ampatuan Jnr ordered his private militia of more than 100 gunmen to open fire on the group of people on a remote farming area in Maguindanao province.<br />
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The gunmen had a short time earlier abducted a convoy of aides and relatives of a rival Muslim politician, Esmael Mangudadatu, plus a batch of local journalists.<br />
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The group had been travelling to an election office so Mangudadatu's wife could nominate him to run against Ampatuan Jnr for the post of provincial governor in next year's elections.<br />
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Fifty-seven bodies have since been recovered from shallow graves in the killing fields close to a town bearing the Ampatuan name.<br />
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At least 22 of the victims were women, police said earlier.<br />
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Twenty-seven victims were journalists and 15 were motorists who were driving past the area at the wrong time, all of whom were apparently killed to elimEinate witnesses.<br />
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Ampatuan Jnr, who surrendered to authorities on Thursday, has denied any involvement and blamed Muslim rebels for the killings. Aged in his 40s, he faces life in jail as the Philippines does not have the death penalty.<br />
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Devanadera said many of those who took part in the massacre were clear that Ampatuan Jnr was at the scene of the murders, ordered them to open fire and even shot people himself.<br />
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Devanadera said some of those who took part in the killings had come forward because of the guilt they felt.<br />
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"They were bothered by their conscience," she said, while emphasising many had given testimony against their former boss and not just one.<br />
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She said the group of more than 100 gunmen included soldiers and policemen.<br />
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Devanadera painted a gruesome picture of the fate of the women at the hands of the marauding militia.<br />
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"Even the private parts of the women were shot at. It was horrible. It was not done to just one. It was done practically to all the women," she said.<br />
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"All the women had their zippers undone. The pants of some were pulled down... We have yet to determine whether they were raped. But it is certain that something bad was done to them."<br />
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Maguindanao is part of Mindanao island, where Muslim clans rule vast areas backed by their own private armies, often out of the national government's control.<br />
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Ampatuan Snr had been grooming his son to take over as governor of Maguindanao. The victims' relatives alleged the Ampatuans organised the murders so that Mangudadatu would not run for that post.<br />
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Mangudadatu, whose wife and pregnant sister were murdered in the massacre, on Friday lodged his nomination for governor, ironically for Arroyo's ruling coalition just two days after the Ampatuans had been expelled by the coalition.<br />
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"Only death can stop me from running," Mangudadatu told reportersUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-89443759990767433492009-11-13T22:54:00.000-08:002009-11-13T23:07:09.614-08:00Edu Manzano is Gibo's Vice President<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtHdNyESzlwZB52arheTicpH6AT19cKoWj_akH0fVfwZ9Qh01ZCfv4xxQb81rRVDZScG3sTYe8AwOBuFYS4CPyq4WsaqmOHAyoPPPgbXvREIVQhMtUp90zLBKFbomhgSQWuLCrZ36lxM/s1600-h/edu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtHdNyESzlwZB52arheTicpH6AT19cKoWj_akH0fVfwZ9Qh01ZCfv4xxQb81rRVDZScG3sTYe8AwOBuFYS4CPyq4WsaqmOHAyoPPPgbXvREIVQhMtUp90zLBKFbomhgSQWuLCrZ36lxM/s320/edu.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Just recently, former OMB chairman Edu Manzano accepted the challenge to be Gibo Teodoro's Vice President for the 2010 Presidential elections. Edu said that the macinery of Gibo's party is a big factor aside from his belief that Gibo will do good as a president. To be fare, Edu maybe an actor, a showbiz personality, a political nobody. But in the field of politics we can never be sure on the outcome or performance of an elected politician. Look at former Senator Flavier, he is a medical doctor, first time politician when he ran as senator, but in the end, he did well. On the contrary, those who are into politics for decades have a questionable motive in running. The point is, we can never tell the performance of each politician after they get the votes needed. However, at this early stage, we have the power to chose the better candidates. Edu is being belittled because he is considered as "only" an actor. But if he wins, we can never tell his performance. This is true with the other vice presidential candidates. We can never tell how they will perform. So consider this, if you will vote for a certain candidate, what benefits will he get from it? If you think the position will benefit the candidate more than the expected public service, then drop that candidate out of your list.<br />
Here are some comments on Edu as a vice presidential bet:<br />
<blockquote><i>"Pilipinas! game ka na ba? ha? ha? ha? ha?" - nanie</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"haaaa????? I'm veeeeery surprised!!!!!" - maridon</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"Lights!!!! Camera!!! Action..... Take.. 1 lols" - clarrence</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"Edu Manzano's record in as optical media board chief speaks for itself. wala syang karapatan na tumakbo bilang pangalawang pangulo. he should stick to what he does best... do movies and host game shows." - jonathan</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"Oh c'mon. Kinda big joke huh. "- connie</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"It's funny, I think he's desperate to find someone who would help him build up his name. They're not even known by old folks in the cordillerans." - lydia</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"why n0t!give him a chance(edu manzan0)dats ol." - melow</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"not much is know of Edu's leadership I guess...and so is Gibo's except for his DND sec stint" - chris</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"This coming election is lacking in well-rounded leaders to vote for. I don't mind a leader that get's rich, just as long as he/she gets the Job done right." - ben</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"sabi ni gibo magaling at matalino xa then why Edu...desperate move by the admin or a dangerous move to place in puppets?" - edmarie</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"definitely NO..we can't just let them play the game coz the future of our country is at stake..it's too much to take the risk..we've been through a lot and we all know the consequences..we, the people, have the power to make things right so i say we should use it wisely and responsibly.." - emanon</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"The trouble about actors is they don't live in the real world, they live in the fantasy world of coocoo land. So..... how do we know for sure! they are capable of running a country?! This is not a game! This is not a movie! This is real! This are people's live we're talking about.! OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE!!!!" - flora</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"This is a losing alternative that would pull Gibo lower... Sayang si Gibo kung ang vice niya is somebody like Edu only. Come on admin, is this all you can get/offer for the Filipinos at a time we need really judicious leaders, come onnnnnnn!! "- benny</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"its not about competency (in choosing edu). its more on choosing someone who can increase the popularity of gibo who is languishing at the bottom ratings. just like in choosing de castro as gma's running mate in 2004." - percival</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"Wow. Everybody has a point here and i do agree! I dont reside in Phils anymore but its still my homeland and care about wellbeing of its citizen. Sad to think that these politicians use all kinds of strategy to gain people's votes.For Edu, No, he doesnt have a business running for VP period! What does he know?" - daisy</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"sayang naman si Gibo! id go for him sana, but i dont like edu for vp "- crystal</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"This is some sort of insurance against impeachment, similar to Gloria picking Nol. Some people are hesitant to impeach Gloria as they don't want Noli to take over" - noehl</i><br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"no kidding... to balance the tandem, gibo's vice should be a woman or at least come from the visiyas or mindanao." - ruth <br />
</i><br />
</blockquote>Even in other forums and social networking sites, Edu is belittled as a person. I pity the guy but he said he's up for the challenge. This will be a very interesting election.<br />
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</script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1940187963696371699.post-31443639827906846372009-11-10T17:28:00.000-08:002009-11-10T17:28:09.214-08:00What Does It Take To Be The President Of The Philippines?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3Bqlos6ExcssA9lIxCmzD_M5USrxrUxsUp2Tuj_FOWretZ9Owon0IVXhzVSbFYpys0bON2sttZ23spvcLKcfvCIrpXsJzQOyxqhxyEuOZgR45yKZNmCqL57CLglmOvvvayeiKH4w888/s1600-h/new-breed-of-product-endorsers.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3Bqlos6ExcssA9lIxCmzD_M5USrxrUxsUp2Tuj_FOWretZ9Owon0IVXhzVSbFYpys0bON2sttZ23spvcLKcfvCIrpXsJzQOyxqhxyEuOZgR45yKZNmCqL57CLglmOvvvayeiKH4w888/s200/new-breed-of-product-endorsers.png" /></a><br />
</div>After a series of posts in social networking websites, most of the replies that I got were on the negative. Also, some were just tired and joked around but some answered seriously. In general, it seems that to become a president, it has always something to do with money and machinery.<br />
Here are some comments on the question raised above: <br />
<blockquote><i>"I think the proper question should be, what does it take to be a great president for the Philippines. Just a thought." - rachel </i></blockquote><blockquote><i>"The President is not the question. The question is, the family background" - genevieve<br />
</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>"it doesn't have to be a son or a daughter of a former president" - pocahontas<br />
</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>"it takes intelligence, patience, will power, courage to say "NO" to all temptation, courage to bypass "utang na loob", political will, honesty, sincerity and, most of all, true passion to serve - religion, social orientation or heritage should not be a measuring stick" - gigi m.</i> <br />
</blockquote><blockquote><i>"well u have to be in showbiz... Hahaha.. Because that's the truth... It's happening in the Phils.. Lolz" - ble s. <br />
</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>"it takes a crap load of money and a bunch of half truths and a good rep works as well" - michael<br />
</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>"popularity.... in reality" - anthony</i><br />
</blockquote><i></i><br />
<blockquote><i>"sweet tongue... to deceive the ignorant and the innocent..." - hethang</i><br />
</blockquote><i></i><br />
<blockquote><i>"agpaytruew!!!!! ngem nu local met, if you got the money, you'll get power.." - anthony</i><br />
</blockquote><i></i><br />
<blockquote><i>"mass appeal and at least P200 million pesos." - ruth</i><br />
</blockquote><i></i><br />
<blockquote><i>"just choose the lesser of all evils. hmm.. define jaded and cynical" - jeng</i><br />
</blockquote><i></i><br />
<blockquote><i>"i know it's hard to take care of the nation's problem. i just don't see why these people would want to be in that position. dunno! just an opinion. okay....this is the bottom line. Presidency is a crappy job and who fills it better than foriegners like, maybe ,angelina jolie? no? oh....okay." - maridon</i><br />
</blockquote><i></i><br />
<blockquote><i>"you should have confidence...dapat may tiwala ka sa sarili mu na kaya mung pamunuan ang buong bansa...pero dapat din makuha mu ang tiwala ng tao sayo...isa pa is he/she have fear in GOD..ung totoo ah..indi lng pkitang tao...ewan...bsta" - danston</i><br />
</blockquote><i></i><br />
<blockquote><i>"It takes the most number of votes... and the proclamation of the poll body to be come president... may utak man o wala, may k man o wala... mabait o masama... artista man o simpleng fan lang... of course, mas notoriously known lang ang magnanakaw at sinungaling... he he" - jonathan</i><br />
</blockquote><i></i><br />
To become the President, it takes a lot of money in billions, a machinery of hungry leeches, a very good political advertisement in tv, radio, print and a legion of rats... Sorry to say. Almost all of us think the same. We are dismayed with the system and we despise politicians.<br />
<blockquote>It is safe to say that 70% of the new generation of voters are more<span class="text_exposed_hide"><span class="text_exposed_link"> </span></span><span class="text_exposed_show"><span>aware, rebellious against the system, more intelligent and more exposed thanks to technology. Old politicking tactics and ads does not work the same way as before. Blogs, forums, organizations, online media etc are working their way to awareness. To become a President, some may think that they will need billions, leeches and rats... maybe, but it will not be the same as before. Today, remember this day, <b><i>I will strongly shout to the world that the Filipino voters of this young-new-aware-intelligen</i></b></span><wbr></wbr><b><i><span class="word_break"></span>t-exposed generation will make a difference all throughout!</i></b> Sadly, we have to choose a President regardless of our negative thoughts, I have no candidate in mind, however, each and every vote is important so choose wisely and vote with honor. la lang.....</span></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1