SCAM SPAM

I have received this text message today and I cannot get over it. Usually scam texts that i get are from banks or ludicrous unknown companies that declare me as a winner or some imaginary prize.

Today however, it says that I have won Php 950,000, oddly enough from the Villar Foundation.

Is the Senator really giving away money???

I doubt ANY senator is.

I was dumb enough to try calling the contact number but was greeted by a person who did NOT sound at all like a lawyer (the text indicates that a certain Atty. Fajardo was to be contacted) and obviously a scam artist.

So again, I am a victim of this useless scam spam and I am embarrassed by this. I do not understand why people create such nonsense, I mean, do they really get to profit from fooling people? Shame on them for even using a respected politician's name for their scam texts.

Then again, it MIGHT just also be a scheme to ruin Villar's name for reasons I cannot think of.

Grace Period doesn't mean Screw-up Period... or does it?

A little over three weeks has already past and STILL, the new government, the P-Noy administration (sounds a little conceited doesn't it?) has been committing blunders left and right.

It started out with the focus on minor problems (wang-wang), to the fine-tune-needing Memorandum Circular #1, to the Corona snub, the to the Media seminars, RH Bill, Taxations, being late to appointments , the Cabinet members chosen, etc.

Whoa, come to think of it, minor problems tend to build up to HUGE problems.

Given, P-Noy has done several moves already, although these moves are merely on Congress level, I think P-Noy hasn't (or will he ever) grasped the FACT that he is the President of the entire Philippines. What of the great and upheaving promises that he has given the whole nation once he is seated in Malacanang? (or should I say Times Street?) Has he forgotten all his speeches and commercials?

From what I see, things are not going too well for the Filipinos let alone the country. It seems like P-Noy is making decisions that either benefit himself and his political party, Or making decisions that would let his supporters say, 'at least may ginagawa.'

People, we cannot have this kind of mentality towards the highest, most revered occupation in any country. We must have some objectivity in viewing out government, regardless of their celebrtity-like status, they ARE NOT CELEBRITIES. How can you celebrate a person who uses YOUR tax money for their monthly trips abroad, or their lavish mansions, or their children who would never have to work in their lives (and even become protected little crooks and addicts), or simply who lie directly to your face just so they can maintain their seats in government? HOW??

Anyway, back to the topic...

P-Noy called the DoJ to review the case of detained Senator Trillanes which is a big mistake especially because of timing and purpose. This is because the new Congress will open in a few weeks, the Senate Presidency is up for grabs and reports say that the LP bet in the race, Senator Kiko Pangilinan is trying to get as much votes as he can.

Sen. Pangilinan claimed that he has 10 sure votes already from his colleagues and Trillanes' vote would be a big contribution. Rumors are former Senate President Manny Villar is the man to beat for the Senate Presidency as he has been courting senators for votes since he conceded from the Presidential elections, way ahead of Pangilinan. Aside from this, Villar has solid allies in the Senate, namely from his own bloc and at least half of Ed Angara's bloc.

Another underlying notion of this petition for review of Trillanes' case is P-Noy's desire to 'have the Senate be in parallel to his platforms and advocacies' OR to simply say, P-Noy's desire to completely disregard the checks and balance of the branches of government and have evertyhing in his favor. How can one not see that once Kiko Pangilinan gets a hold of that Senate President seat, anything and everything P-Noy wants, he will get since Pangilinan ran under the Liberal Party, is close to P-Noy, and was even his campaign manager during his useless Congress/Senate days.

Talk about ignorance of law... tssss

Rumors: Miriam says Villar sure to be SP?

I have been hearing news that Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has been giving hints that the up-for-grabs Senate President seat is already in the bag for former presidential aspirant Manny Villar.

She said that Villar started talking to fellow Senators as soon as he conceded in the presidential race due to falling only third in the vote-count, behind former President Erap Estrada and now President Benigno Aquino.

The two other Senators who are trying to claim that coveted Senate Presidency are Sen. Kiko Pangilinan and Sen. Frank Drilon, who both won their re-elective posts during the election period.

Drilon however, is backing away from the picture since he has a tarnished reputation of being a former Arroyo supporter, with evidence that he even 'declared his love and loyalty' to then-president-now-Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her term.



It is notable that both Drilon and Pangilinan run under President Aquino's Liberal Party during the campaign period. Sen. Pangilinan is now said to be courting his fellow senators to give him their pledges that they will choose him as the next Senate President, and I am certain he is using his ties with P. Aquino as leverage for persuasion.

Sen. Santiago said that Pangilinan is wasting his time because Villar has already secured at least 12, 13 if including Villar, votes which would comprise of the majority of the Senate, and is enough to propell him to the Senate Presidency.


Come to think of it, Villar is a good choice for the Senate President seat not only because he is the most qualified (he is the only presidential-aspirant that is running for the post), and also because he is the least evil among the three (to put traditional Filipino thinking into place). And since Executive, Legislative and Judiciary responsibilities are supposed to be independent of each other, and doesn't favor each other, it is actually essential that a non-Aquino ally be the head of the Legislative department of government.



Could you imagine if Drilon or Pangilinan won? Everything that President Aquino wants, he will get. It is a unfair advantage that would simply demoralize the essence of democracy and the check-and-balance of government officials.

Having Villar as the Senate President would allow this so-called new government of the Philippines to have some balance between the avid, die-hard, blind faith-ed Yellow supporters and the rest of the Filipinos.

MY TOP POLITICAL SPOOFED PHOTOS

CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO VIEW FULL SIZE =)

Moms Know Best

Here is the Daily Manila Standard article, today is from my constant favorite, Jojo Robles.

Moms and Politicians

My mother turned 80 this month. And if I lose my mind and decide to run for office, I cannot promise that I will not to ask her to vouch for my fitness as a candidate.

At the very least, I think I can always rely on my own mother to defend me to people outside the family, no matter what. And I don’t even have to be Jason Ivler to know that to be true.

Still, Mother’s Day has come early to the campaign, after Manny Villar allowed his 86-year-old mother Aling Curing, formerly of the Divisoria Market’s fish section, to go before television cameras in his defense. The deployment of the former shrimp vendor in the campaign was roundly (and ironically) criticized by another candidate, Joseph Estrada, who used to be no slouch in the mom-using department himself when his own mother Doña Mary Ejercito was still alive.

It’s certainly a good thing that the candidate with the most famous mother in the current field was quiet about the matter, given his own exploitation of his parentage, even in death. Front-running bet Noynoy Aquino, after all, cannot speak for five minutes without referencing his politically sainted mother—almost always in the same breath that he mentions his equally venerated father.

Erap says he shielded his mother from bad news about his son, especially during the impeachment proceedings against him that led to his ouster and incarceration nearly a decade ago. But that did not stop him, once detained on plunder charges, from asking the Sandiganbayan to leave his cell to be by the side of his ailing mom on a regular basis.

“I have to get out of here to be with my sick mom,” Erap routinely pleaded the court hearing his case of plundering the public coffers. And he would return to jail a couple of days after, looking like he did more than just visit the terminally ill.

Doña Mary died last year at the age of 103. By that time, Erap was already long out of jail and was already making noises about running again for the presidency that he insists was grabbed from him by the Evil Society.

Assuming his mother was still alive, it’s quite possible that Estrada would still have shielded her from the bad news that he may never win his old post back again. But at least he won’t be invoking her name anymore in order to get out of detention.

All this talk about mothers reminds me of an oft-quoted line about Aquino, by the way. Many of the Yellow candidate’s supporters seem to take it as gospel that Noynoy will not steal, as he has repeatedly promised, because that would be an affront to his dearly departed mom and dad.

The way I see it, you don’t have to be born to Ninoy and Cory Aquino to disgrace your parents by stealing. And would that mean that people born to less illustrious parents are more likely to steal, simply because they came from people who are not nationally famous?

On the other hand, having been born to “good stock” has never been a guarantee that someone will not steal, especially once appointed to government. Unfortunately for the Noynoy fans, there is simply no way to tell that their candidate will not dip his hands in the public till, as well, simply because he is the son of Ninoy and Cory, if he becomes president.

Having said that, the farmers in Hacienda Luisita are already of the opinion that Noynoy and his forebears have been stealing from them for more than half a century. That’s because, since the Cojuangco family acquired the vast sugar-growing estate in the fifties using government funds, they have not delivered on their promise to distribute the plantation to the tillers there—which was a condition for the government loans that the family secured to buy the land in the first place.

All things considered, I think psychologists will not find an ounce of evidence to support Noynoy’s claim that he is genetically unpredisposed to thievery because of his supposedly unsullied parentage. Even all the Jesuit psychologists of Ateneo will be hard-pressed to back up that claim.

If anything, I’d wager that those born well are more prone to theft, especially if they have fallen on hard times and need to maintain the lifestyles that they’ve grown accustomed to. Assuming that the poor are more susceptible to crime simply because they do not have reputations to lose is not only elitist, but also unsupported by fact—and an insult to the millions of poor but morally upright parents who strive to bring up their children well.

But going back to Erap, it’s safe to say that Doña Mary was an upright woman who would never have allowed any of her children to steal. And yet a court of law has found her famous son guilty of plundering the country—no wonder he kept the news from his mom.

The fact is, while all politicians promise not to steal, once elected, they start doing just that. And it doesn’t matter who they’re born to.

Just don’t tell that to their moms, of course.

* * *

Sometimes, the reason an Internet fan page doesn’t get any new fans is because there aren’t any. But don’t tell this to the Aquino campaign.

The Noynoy camp is on the warpath once again, this time over the alleged hacking of his Internet Web site, which tracks supporters through the popular online social networking phenomenon called Facebook. The Aquino campaign says hackers in the employ of his rivals have caused his fan page to lose about 16,000 fans so far, possibly because they hacked into the candidate’s Facebook account.

Correct me if I’m wrong, Mr. Chin Wong, but why should it matter to anyone if people are being prevented from registering as the candidate’s supporters on Facebook, either intentionally or not? Unless the coming automated voting now also allows the denizens of Farmville and Mafia Wars to vote from their computers, the number of people who sign up as Noynoy fans through the Internet shouldn’t even be worth mentioning outside of the Yellow headquarters.

Understand, I get where these people are coming from: Not content with leading the survey wars, the Yellow horde also wants to make sure it wins the Battle for Facebook, as well. Or, relatedly, they are now foisting upon us a scenario of high-tech cheating, possibly as a dry run for the counting of the actual May 10 vote.

Aquino and his camp, after all, have repeatedly said that if the Liberal bet loses the election, he will have been cheated. Not only that, they repeatedly warn of a new “people power” uprising if their candidate is not declared the winner in the polls next month.

That’s why any dip in the number of people who sign up as Noynoy’s Facebook fans will always be construed by his camp as an attempt to rob him of his “mandate.” If he’s being cheated on Facebook, he will be cheated elsewhere, is how this twisted logic goes.

After all, what are the people already named to the new Aquino Cabinet going to do with their already-ordered formal wear if Noynoy doesn’t get to Malacañang? I’m not really sure, but I’ve heard that some of them will go back to tending their virtual farms and shooting virtual gangsters on, yes, Facebook.

Why the U.S. and China want NOY

Here is today's MS fix from the respectable Jojo Robles, it is a two-part article regarding the world's chosen presidential candidate of the Philippines... But most importantly, read on WHY:

The 'foreign' Candidate (1)

Because the presidential campaign seems to have degenerated almost permanently into a mudslinging contest, it’s hard to discern the positions of the candidates on various issues—assuming that they even remember them at this point. But some people, bless their non-showbiz souls, still hanker for more than discussions on the state of Noynoy Aquino’s mental health, say, or the financial health of Manny Villar when he still lived in Tondo.

It recently occurred to me that there has never been a real debate on foreign policy in the current campaign, for instance. While foreign policy, especially as it concerns the superpowers and our immediate neighbors, was once viewed as an important plank in any presidential candidate’s platform, any serious discussion about our relations with other countries has been drowned out by stuff like survey ratings and other political noises that used to be mere tangential concerns.

When we do hear about other countries these days, it’s often in the context of sending Filipinos to work there, which is really a discussion of labor policy, not foreign policy. While Filipinos in general have never really shown an interest in—or even a true aptitude for—geopolitical concerns, it’s fair to expect our candidates to at least talk about them once in a while even when they do not impact on the labor market.

So, I paid a visit to my favorite foreign-policy source, who has since retired from a lifelong academic and career involvement in foreign policy, even if he still advises key local players in government and business on the intricacies of geopolitics. Because he no longer has an official position (and because of his all-important and lucrative post-retirement consultancies), he now refuses to be identified—even if he will willingly discuss the lack of debate on what he calls “disturbing” foreign policy implications of the coming elections.

The first question I asked was, who is the American candidate in the coming elections? “Noynoy Aquino,” he replied. “And Noynoy is also the likely candidate of the other superpower, China.”

“In the end, both China and the US may well come to the conclusion that dealing with Noynoy is a better option than dealing with Manny, not because Noynoy is better but that he might be more pliable and susceptible to pressure and manipulation than Manny. If I read these countries probable interests in our country reasonably accurately, this conclusion seems rather appropriate,” he explained.

My source says the funding sources of both the Villar and the Aquino campaigns provide clues as to why both world powers would much rather support Noynoy instead of Manny, as well. “Does it not bother you that Noynoy seems to be spending as much as Manny? The question is, where did the money come from considering that everybody was saying there was little money to fund Noynoy’s campaign?” he asked.

But won’t others argue that because the popularity of Noynoy is attracting “smart” money to his campaign, all of it local? “To some extent, this is probably true. The whole point of campaign contributions is to be able to ensure access, so some local businessmen contribute to likely winners or else play safe by giving to two or three candidates if the survey numbers are close,” he said.

“On the other hand, considering that Manny financed his campaign virtually single-handedly, together with the fact that he might win this election, the whole question of being able to gain access becomes a questionable objective to some extent,” he added. “Obviously, the value of large contributions becomes questionable because Manny has in effect declared he does not want to be so beholden that his judgment while in office might be compromised.

“This is not to say that Manny will not accept contributions, but only that no one will own him so much that Manny will feel too beholden. But the issues in this election are not strictly local and such a posture of self-sufficiency would make even non-local interests concerned about his possible victory,” he explained. “And that means both the US and China.”

The 'foreign' Candidate (2)

Perhaps it’s true, as my source said, that Washington has found the supposed tractability of Noynoy Aquino appealing. Aquino, who can’t even speak publicly without reading from a page, will definitely be an easier Philippine president to deal with than someone else who may object to the imposition of American policy as it is dictated by whoever is chosen to be the White House’s messenger to Malacañang in a Noynoy administration.

If pet programs of the US do come to fruition under a new Aquino dispensation—like the revival of the jettisoned autonomous Bangsa Moro Juridical Entity and a permanent American military presence in geopolitically strategic Mindanao—we’ll know Noynoy is the new “Amboy.” But what about China, our northern neighbor, which presumably also likes Noynoy’s susceptibility to influence, given his lack of experience and his near-absolute dependence on his advisers?

How will Beijing try to influence Noynoy, and how is support from the mainland being funneled to him? To answer these questions, my source said he wanted to explain how Noynoy became the Chinese candidate, to begin with.

“You may call the Chinese decision to influence Noynoy an ethnic choice,” he said. “That’s because the other major candidate, Manny Villar, is about as Filipino as Filipino can be. Villar’s origins are undeniably indigenous and unfortunately for the Chinese or even the Americans, he succeeded in a business that does not rely on Chinese or American connections, so Manny is not beholden to either one or the other.

“Noynoy, on the other hand, traces his roots to the mainland [the Cojuangco side] and his mother made it very clear that her family has Chinese roots when she was president. You may have heard that Beijing is not really concerned with where an ethnic Chinese got his passport because to them, ‘Once a Chinese, always a Chinese, regardless of the number of generations [away from China].’

“China’s conduct of foreign policy acknowledges little principle other than loyalty to China and China’s self-interest, which is nothing new, save for the fact that China operates quietly and without ostentation. They are prepared to accommodate the corrupt demands of national leaders in the pursuit of large infrastructure projects, be it here, in South Asia, Africa and even Eastern Europe, this consideration being to them simply a fact of international life, a reality to be faced.

“China assiduously courts the African nations, the Eastern Europeans, the South Asian and Southeast Asian nations and South America with varying degrees of intensity based on how China sees her short- and long-term interests in the region; this, to ensure access to markets as well as to expand her influence in these nations. Her financial terms [for loans] are certainly far more generous than any other nation’s.

“The Chinese see these activities as a necessity to gaining favorable access to these nations in an effort to extend or deepen her suzerainty in the countries and regions she considers vital to her interests as part of China’s efforts to broaden her influence in world affairs. China is clearly seeking the full status of a major superpower which she is, if not in the same mold as the US or the former Soviet Union, then at least on par with them,” he added.

As to how Beijing’s support of Noynoy is manifested, my source was also clear. “The Chinese will likely not make direct contributions to Noynoy,” he explained. “The help extended is probably given through ‘influenced’ organizations and individuals. The likely sources of at least some of Noynoy’s campaign funds are the Filipino-Chinese organizations through their members, or big-time Filipino-Chinese businessmen with large investments in the mainland.”

Given the early talk about the Aquino campaign’s lack of resources, the reality that the Yellow camp is spending as least as much as Villar is and the Liberal candidate’s steadfast refusal to identify contributors to his war chest, my source believes that the Chinese funding may have already arrived. “Maybe all the talk of Noynoy’s campaign being short of funds was just a ploy to counter Manny’s campaign resources or at least the perception thereof, to make Noynoy seem like an underdog,” he said.

“Or else the foreign interests were watching [early] developments carefully and have only made their decision [to contribute] over the last few days, where we have seen rather dramatic developments and the escalation of dirty tricks and propaganda preying on fear and painting the opponent as an absolute disaster for the nation,” he added. “It’s telling that Noynoy recently announced that he has lately been turning down offers for help, especially if he is unsure of the motives of the contributor.”

* * *

The picture of a President Noynoy held hostage by either (or both) American and Chinese interests is not a pretty one. But it jibes with the portrait painted by his critics of an unprepared, inexperienced and ultimately clueless presidency that will be pulled this way and that by whichever interest has the presidential ear at the moment.

Unlike Ferdinand Marcos, who masterfully (at least for a time) played the China card when the Americans started breathing down too hard on his neck, we cannot reasonably expect Noynoy to stand his ground in the continuing geopolitical chess game between the two superpowers. And it’s quite possible that Washington will step into the picture once again if Aquino gets too cozy with the people who run the country where he traces his ethnic roots—just like they did when Washington helped install Cory Aquino in 1986 and when American “persuasion flights” fought back attempts to unseat her through those endless coup attempts during her administration.

What we can expect is a President Noynoy who may be paralyzed not only by his many competing advisers’ interests at home but also by the fear of incurring the ire of the big geopolitical dogs abroad. The same big dogs that will probably move to remove him—for corruption, insanity or whatever reason they may dream up—if he doesn’t follow their orders.

The last president who though he considered himself independent and who had an overwhelming and secure mandate from the people, after all, was Joseph Estrada. And we know what happened to him—sent to jail less than halfway into his six-year term.

Certainly, the current mudslinging that informs our presidential campaign is entertaining. But it would improve the quality of what passes these days for “issues” and “platforms” to look into how the candidates would tackle foreign relations, Philippine sovereignty and other matters that are swept aside by the noise of tabloid-oriented campaigning.

At the very least, we need to know who funds our candidates—especially those who claim that they will not steal. Perhaps they can make that claim because they’ve already received a lot of money, just by running a campaign that looks like it could win.

Tony Lopez speaks!

I know I have been raving about Manila Standard articles recently, particularly by the editorial columnists Emil Jurado and Jojo Robles.

Today's post however, comes from a man named Tony Lopez, publisher-editor of BizNewsAsia weekly newsmagazine and six-time president of the Manila Overseas Press Club or MOPC, founding member of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, and a long-time member of the National Press Club.

MANNY VILLAR CAN DO IT

Manila Times

Tony Lopez

April 20, 2010

For the first time, a certifiable tycoon is running for president, Senator Manuel Bamba Villar Jr.

Villar’s listed property holding company, Vista Land and Life-scapes, is worth P17.25 billion. He owns about 70 percent of that, or P12 billion.

Financing his own presidential campaign, the senator is his own vested interest. He is not beholden to various business vested interests and lords of all kinds—political lords, warlords or drug lords.

Among the nine presidential candidates, Villar is the only one with the track record and experience to fulfill what he vows to do. “What my opponents have been promising, I have done it,” he says without a touch of hyperbole. “Who can run this country better?” he asks his rapturous audience.

As for Noynoy Aquino, well, he has Time magazine and the description by the prestigious The Economist—“nondescript senator.” Time itself, despite a brave effort to portray him as the savior of the Philippines , concedes Aquino’s is an “a undistinguished political career.”

Villar in the late 1990s built a billion-dollar enterprise with only P10,000 in start-up money. He has built more houses—250,000 units by his own count—than any other developer. He has planted more trees—one million, by his own count—than any other environmentalist and green do-gooder. And in the sense that housing stimulates no less than 18 other industries, he has triggered more economic stimulus than any other CEO, in government or in private business.

Villar is the only prospective Chief Executive since the War to have been both speaker of the House of Representatives and president of the Senate. As speaker, the House received its highest approval rating. As Senate president, the Upper Chamber got its highest approval rating. That’s leadership.

“I am offering to our people my experience as speaker of the House, my experience as Senate president,” Villar told a group of businessmen, Filipino and Chinese, in Greenhills recently.

“I also want to share with you what none of them [the other presidential candidates] can offer,” he deadpanned, “my business experience.” “I know exactly what we, businessmen, want. I am offering you the excitement of living in a country with a very vibrant economy.”

“I make no guarantees,” he cautioned, “but I can tell you, I know how to do it.” “I have done many things in my life that a lot of people know could not be done.” “Gentlemen, ladies, I can do it,” he thundered. The crowd responded with a loud applause.

After his brief speech, Villar fluttered table-to-table, glad-handing and pumping hands. He sat down at the table reserved by juice and airline tycoon Alfred Yao and engaged the businessmen in can-do talk. They included the PCCI’s top brass Mike Varela, Donald Dee, Jun Ortiz Luis, Ed Lacson and Jess Varela. They seem to like Villar earnestly. Then he took his dinner at the table reserved by the Zamora brothers, congressman Ronaldo and businessman Manuel and property magnate Toti Cariño.

“Villar has a broad experience in getting things done,” says Ronnie Zamora. “He has achieved very difficult things.” “Compare him to Noynoy [Aquino, the Liberal Party frontrunner] . When you see him work or not work, you see that he [Aquino] cannot hack it,” the veteran legislator sneers. Ronnie and Noynoy were together in Congress.

“He has the strong will to do what he says he will do,” adds businessman Donald Dee. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, the nemesis of President Arroyo and First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo, believes that the Nacionalista Party standard-bearer will be a good president.

“Manny will be a very good president,” Cayetano asserts. “Unang-una may takot sa Diyos. He has a passion to get things done. By nature, ayaw niyang nagpapatalo, meaning if people tell him you cannot solve poverty or you cannot finish the land reform or you cannot irrigate this amount of, by nature hahanap ng paraan ‘yan.”

“I’ve seen him do that in the speakership fight—when they said don’t fight Erap because he is a sitting president. I’ve seen that when he appointed me blue ribbon chair despite the protests from Malacañang. And then, nag-aaral talaga siya.”

Cayetano says Villar’s fight to become president and deliver on his promises to the people “is all about legacy. He wants to leave his children a name that means excellence.”

“I don’t think he will be a corrupt president,” the neophyte senator notes. According to him, every person has either a passion, which is positive, or lust, which is negative. “Manny’s is not one of lust,” Cayetano says.

Alan adds: “He is in love with getting things done. He probably will be the only president in a long time that has more money than he will want to get when he becomes president . . . If Villar goes after money when he becomes president, he will only destroy his name, which he will never do.”

MS (Manila Standard) Fix of the Day

Here is today's Manila Standard fix of the day, from my favorites Emil Jurado and Jojo Robles.

Noynoy's Endorsements

Low Down

Jojo Robles

April 22, 2010

It may seem like a joke to Noynoy Aquino, but nobody finds it funny. Only someone with a really warped sense of humor, actually, would find levity in the endorsement of Andal Ampatuan Jr., the accused Butcher of Maguindanao.

On the other hand, Noynoy may find comfort in Ampatuan’s explanation that the decision to endorse his presidential bid was made by the entire family, according to the current poster boy of political warlordism. That’s what families do, after all; they stick together, hand down heirlooms like haciendas and political office to one another and sometimes even get accused of perpetrating (or at least tolerating) massacres together.

In fact, the closeness of the Ampatuan family is the main objection to the recent exoneration by the Department of Justice of two members of the clan in connection with the horrific killing of 57 journalists and other unarmed people in Maguindanao last November. And if the Ampatuans’ endorsement of Aquino was a family decision, pursuing this line of logic would mean that the massacre—which was a far more important political “statement” by the clan—must have required nothing less than the approval of all its members.

And endorse Noynoy was exactly what Ampatuan did: “We are supporting Noynoy because we believe he is the one who can expose the truth about what happened in the massacre,” Andal Jr. told reporters from his jail cell. “Noynoy would be our instrument to achieve justice.”

Will the next Noynoy campaign commercial now feature Andal Jr. flashing the “L” sign with one hand, garbed in yellow duds and baller while cradling Baby James with the other, flanked by a beaming Noynoy and Kris? Even the people who gave us Rapping Noynoy probably won’t be able to pull that off.

Naturally, Noynoy would have nothing to do with Ampatuan’s offer of support. “No, thank you,” he said, in response, while surmising that it was all a joke. “I am not running for their endorsement.”

But that was not the end of Noynoy’s day of unintended irony. While Andal Jr. was singing the praises of Noynoy and his family for defeating the Marcos dictatorship, as he described it, Aquino’s drum-beaters were pushing an endorsement of their candidate that they truly welcomed—that of the oppressed farmers of Sumilao, Bukidnon.

For those who may have forgotten, the indigenous farmers of the Higaonon tribe have been fighting private landowners and the government to get back their prime agricultural ancestral land spread over a flat upland area between Mount Sayawan and Mount Palaopao in Sumilao. Years back, they staged a long march from their hometown and a hunger strike at the offices of the Department of Agrarian Reform to dramatize their plight.

Without a tinge of irony, a press release from the Aquino camp said the Sumilao farmers, “known for their relentless pursuit for justice and advocacy for the reform and extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program... stand by Senator Aquino and will help carry him through his campaign against corruption and advocacy for reform.” “They trust that Senator Aquino, like his parents, will rise above personal and family interests and spearhead the completion of the agrarian reform program. They are confident that under Senator Aquino’s leadership, the government could effect land distribution, efficient delivery of support services,” the statement read.

It’s not known how Aquino could secure the endorsement of landless farmers in Bukidnon while failing to get the approval of his family’s equally long-suffering tenant-tillers over at Hacienda Luisita. Or why Noynoy’s camp would actually welcome the Sumilao farmers’ endorsement, when it would only highlight the continuing crisis in his inherited plantation.

If I were Noynoy, I’d wonder if the Sumilao statement was a joke, as well. But I’m not—and I certainly don’t find the ironic endorsement from Bukidnon funny, either.

* * *

Again, from the Noynoy camp, we hear this week of the unveiling of an Obama-like program of universal health care for all Filipinos by 2015 under a new Aquino administration. From someone who has never accomplished anything of national significance by himself heretofore, the Yellow candidate does promise a lot.

As far as we can tell, the only real commonality between Barack and Noynoy is a predisposition to light up cigarettes whenever they can. And we think Obama is way ahead of Aquino in their shared promise to kick the nicotine habit, as well.

But, since we already mentioned Luisita, it’s important to remember that Noynoy also famously promised that he would distribute the hacienda’s land to the farmers who have tilled it for generations in 2015. Only to be exposed as a liar by his own cousin Fernando Cojuangco who operates the agricultural estate in an interview by the New York Times.

Noynoy’s response to the NYT story that his cousin may have been “misquoted” only put him deeper in trouble after Carlos Conde, the Gray Lady’s Manila correspondent, threatened to make public the tape where Cojuangco blew his cousin’s promise to bits. In fact, before making his new universal health-care promise this week, Noynoy has conspicuously been avoiding making a promise to do anything big five years from now.

As is the case with most of Noynoy’s campaign promises, this one doesn’t go further than a press release simply because there is no way of judging if he can deliver, given the dearth of his past accomplishments. As far as health goes, in fact, Aquino has not even made it perfectly clear if he supports state programs to promote contraception or not.

Up to now, Noynoy has not even presented a detailed energy program, even as daily power outages and soaring electricity costs have returned with a vengeance. All we get from the supposed frontrunner, this late in the campaign, are motherhood statements, unthought-out programs and declarations of being unblemished (walang bahid).

Promises, promises, promises. These from the man who is supposed to be the antithesis of the traditional politician.

If Noynoy wins and his health-care program fails to materialize, who is to call him to account for lying? At least his cousins in Luisita have gone on the record to say that what this big-talking candidate promises isn’t always what’s going to come to pass.

* * *

Speaking of Luisita, the Web site Bulatlat.com has produced a short video that explodes the myth of Noynoy’s claim of being “walang bahid.” It’s an eye-opener—but only for those who haven’t been permanently blinded by the Yellow light.

Noy, the Cory Copycat

How arrogant can Noynoy get???

Apparently that question can be answered by simply listening to anything that comes out of his crooked, salivating mouth.

One example of it however, can be depicted in his response to his desired living in Times Street rather than Malacanang if ever he is elected president.

First of all, how arrogant can he get when he already made PERSONAL plans of being the president?? I mean, who the hell says this things??? The ONLY statements and plans that a presidential candidate should say and aspire for are plans FOR THE COUNTRY and not you own personal insecurities.

And also, didn't Noy mention that he will ONLY stop smoking once he is the president. So he assumes he will win already??? Thick faced if you ask me.. and so if he does not win?? I'm sure he'll ante the smoking up to two packs a day. Tsss...

I also am speculative that Noy's statement about the Times Street residency is a mere popularity vote scheme to gain more sympathy votes. Since Cory also requested to NOT reside in Malacanang during her administration, I guess Noynoy is simply trying to copy her and let the people know about it so they would remember Cory. Also, the notion of Cory not residing in Malacanang also shows how UNPROFESSIONAL she really was. I cannot argue about her effect on the Filipino people, but seriously, CORY IS HUMAN AND SHE MAKES MISTAKES. And there were plenty of them in fact.

What WE, as Filipino citizens, should get out of this is an awareness of these mistakes so as to not let it happen again. IF CORY'S INFLUENCE ON THE FILIPINO NATION IS SUPPOSEDLY A GOOD/HOLY THING, THEN THE PEOPLE SHOULD EMULATE THAT INFLUENCE AND ACT THE RIGHT WAY. AND IF IT WAS CORY'S INTENTION TO UPLIFT THE PHILIPPINES, THEN SHE WOULD WANT US TO DO WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY, AND NOT MERELY HER FAMILY/CLAN.

Of course, if anyone has the right to copy Cory's tactics, its her son. But come on, Noynoy is a grown man and he needs to take responsibilty for himself, that means being your own man.

A true statesman would put the country's interests above his/hers. Clearly, Noynoy is more concerned about himself rather than the country.

Here is an article I came across that would shed some light on this topic:

If elected, Noynoy would rather stay in Times Street

JOHANNA CAMILLE L. SISANTE, GMANews.TV

04/15/2010 | 05:47 PM

CABATUAN, Iloilo - If elected president, Liberal Party standard bearer Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino would rather stay in his humble abode on Times Street in Quezon City than in the Malacanang Palace.

But Aquino, the consistent front-runner in presidential preference surveys, acknowledged that such a set-up will likely prove difficult — particularly for his neighbors, who might be hassled by the huge number of people certain to seek the president's assistance.

"Yan inaambisyon ko talaga (That is my ambition). Kailangan at the end of the day kailangan may pakiramdam ka ng normalcy to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground," Aquino said when asked by reporters in Capiz where was campaigning whether he would still stay in Times Street if elected.

"Pero ganun nga ho, iniintindi ko kapitbahay ko. Paano kung napakaraming dadagsa, makikikape, makikibanyo, makikinood ng TV. Baka ako kalmado, normal buhay ko, naging abnormal naman po buhay ng aking mga kapitbahay (But I am concerned about my neighbors. What if many people will pay a visit, drink coffee, use the restroom, watch TV. My life might be calm and normal, but my neighbors' lives might be abnormal)," he said.

Aquino's mother, the late former president Corazon Aquino, lived in in the same Times Street home after her term.

During her presidency, she refused to stay in Malacañang and instead resided in the more modest Arlegui house nearby where windows were not even bullet-proof.

Still NOT Convinced Why HE is Running...

It is quite clear that Noynoy Aquino only joined the presidential race because his family, as well as the infamous Kamag Anak Inc., told him to do so.

Honestly, can ANYONE prove to me that Senator Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino is able, ready, determined, driven, and highly motivated to lead over 9 billion Filipino people?

Personally I have never heard of Noynoy Aquino up until Cory Aquino's passing away. Nothing against Cory, but her burial was a tad bit OVER THE TOP with all the media coverage and the procession rites. This makes me wonder what the motives of this grander than grandeur gesture could be... and soon after that event, I got my answer: NOYNOY

If an individual aspires to become the leader of a country, A COUNTRY, he/she should have been aspiring for that for as long as he/she remembers. Not an overnight decision.

Sure, Noynoy had his family recollection or retreat or whatever to really think about the situation, but really, doesn't that seem so impromptu as if Noynoy was choosing between black or white.

And it shows in his aura and personality that he is incapable of being a good president, or just a president for that matter. I am sick of reiterating what Noynoy lacks, so I'm telling you to simply view him or listen to him when he talks. Seriously.

Manila Standard Reports THE TRUTH

Yet again, after reading the TOMCAT article from Jojo Robles, I checked out the other articles in the MANILA STANDARD and came across two more editorials that is relevant to the recent election fever.

The first is from the column of Emil Jurado, 'To the Point'

And the second is from the column of Alvin Capino, 'Counterpoint'

ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL

This paper ran a front-page story a few days ago that the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN has become a kingmaker. People get most of their news and information about the forthcoming elections from the radio-television network.

I hate to admit it, but television especially is an impact medium that carries a lot of weight.

Since broadcast must have a franchise and permit to operate, because the airlanes form part of the state’s eminent domain, it’s mandated to be fair, balanced without fear or favor. That’s why broadcast media outfits are under the National Telecommunications Commission which grants them their frequencies.

Sadly enough, the Lopez network, with all its influence, has prostituted freedom of the press with its slanted broadcast. Even its anchors are blatantly biased in favor of Liberal Party candidate Senator Benigno Aquino III.

When columnists and opinion-writers take sides in an election, that’s only one man’s opinion. In the US, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The San Franciso Chronicle and The Los Angeles Examiner also take sides during an election, but they do so only editorially.

But, when news broadcasts and public affairs programs are clearly slanted by a television network, that’s already prostitution of press freedom.

I can understand the bias of the Lopezes for Noynoy. The late President Cory Aquino gave the network back on a silver platter to them after Edsa 1. No questions asked. Cory also handed over Meralco to the Lopezes in spite of the fact that the Lopezes already sold it to Kokoy Romualdez, as records show.

Gratitude is good but why prostitute press freedom in the process?

NOYNOY'S LOW ANTI-CORRUPTION STANDARDS

In, Capiz, the home province of Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Senator Mar Roxas, there is a popular movement called MAR.

No the group is not promoting the candidacy of Roxas. It’s surprising to know that its aim is the exact opposite. The Capiz-based MAR stands for Movement Against Roxas.

People behind MAR say that they want to send a message to Roxas that they’re unhappy with the way the Roxas family has treated Capiz. The province has not progressed much despite the fact that the Roxas family has been a force in national politics for a long, long time.

Among others, the Roxas family has produced a president, Pres. Manuel Roxas, an outstanding senator and one-time a leading presidential contender Senator Gerry Roxas, a congressman, Rep. Dinggoy Roxas and of course Sen. Mar Roxas who appears to be headed to be the next vice president based on surveys.

However, if the Movement Against Roxas is to be believed, Capiz has not profited much from the political success of the Roxas family.

Of course, Roxas’ people would probably dismiss MAR as the handiwork of former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante who is leading the gubernatorial race in Capiz and who apparently has no love lost for the senator who was one of the vocal critics of Bolante in the so-called fertilizer scam controversy.

Ultimately, however, it is the people of Capiz who would decide to vote for Sen. Mar Roxas or not. Whether he wins for the vice presidency or not, it would be embarrassing for the senator to lose in his own home province.

This is a ghost that will haunt him when he runs as president in 2016.

* * *

Roxas’ running mate, Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, is haunted by another ghost—the ghost of the security agency he put up shortly after his mother was installed by People Power in 1986.

It is indeed ironic that Aquino whose campaign is mainly fuelled by his anti-corruption stance is tainted by the accusations that he committed graft and corruption when he set up the Best Security Agency Inc. The company obtained contracts with a government agency and other enterprises vulnerable to government pressure.It might be coincidental or it might be deliberate but even the initials chosen for the security agency was intimidating. BSA, of course, is the initials of Senator Noynoy Aquino’s father, Senator Benigno Servillano Aquino Jr.

Noynoy is finding it difficult to exorcise the ghost of the BSA security agency and his attempt to explain his involvement only serves to underscore the fact that he is not “walang bahid” (untainted).

If you listen to his explanations on the BSA security agency, it would appear that Aquino has very low anti-corruption threshold.

His critics, of course, are making a big issue out of the fact that the security agency’s business address is no less than the Arlegui official residence of the President of the Philippines at that time.

And what was Noynoy’s response on why a security agency soliciting business with government agencies and sequestered government corporations is using Arlegui, the equivalent of the White House at that time?

The Manila Standard Today story by Christine Herrera which broke out this issue last March 26 quoted Aquino as saying: “What could I do? I lived in Arlegui at the time. What’s so illegal about that?”

If Aquino see nothing wrong with using the official residence of the Philippines as the official address of a security guard agency soliciting business with government agencies and sequestered companies, then we have to question his sense of propriety and delicadeza and more important his anti-corruption standards.

With an address like Arlegui and with the presidential son as one of the owners and vice president from 1986 to 1993, BSA did very well and had some 1,000 security guards in its employ. It serviced the government-owned Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) which at that time was the operator of the South Luzon Expressway and the North Luzon Expressway, the facilities and buildings of sequestered companies under the Presidential Commission on Good Government, as well as private clients like AsiaTrust, Tanduay Distillers of taipan Lucio Tan and Uniwide.

Aquino has admitted that he is an incorporator of BSA but said in a press conference in Baliuag the other week that he divested from the company when his mother became president.

This explanation is confusing especially in the light of the fact that BSA used the Arlegui address which became the official residence of the President of the Philippines during the time of President Aquino.

Of course this explanation evades the fact that Noynoy was vice president of BSA from 1986 to 1993 meaning that he was involved in the company during the whole term of his mother as president.

Aquino also tried to explain that if he really wanted to take advantage of the Aquino presidency to get rich, it would not be through a security agency where he said “we’d be lucky to get five percent from the gross profits.”

He said that after he divested his shares from BSA he became just an employee of the agency and that he worked in the backroom.

The owners and officers of BSA were Noynoy’s uncle Len Oreta who was chairman of the board and president, Cipriano Lacson was director-treasurer, while Aquino, George Gaddi, Bienvenido Reyes, Alexander Lopez and Jacob Acuna were directors.

This issue actually was raised as early as 1987 when Mrs. Aquino was still president. I was a Malacañang reporter at that time and if I remember correctly, the justification cited by the Palace at that time was that the agency was put up to help give jobs to those who approach the presidential son.

There were talks at that time that BSA was part of the rumored Yellow Army.

This was apparently confirmed by Aquino himself when he admitted in the press conference in Bulacan that BSA was put up as a response to the threats from forces still loyal to President Marcos.

Then as now, Senator Noynoy Aquino has failed to explain why no graft and corruption was committed when he was involved in a security agency which had contracts with the government.

His critics are saying that his involvement in BSA as owner-incorporator and as vice president which he has admitted having a conflict of interest and violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act of 1965, which made it “unlawful for any person having family or close personal relations with any public official to capitalize or exploit or rake advantage of such family or close personal relations...”

Here we have no less than the son of the President of the Philippines involved in a security agency doing business with the government.

Senator Aquino should give a clear answer to this issue. This way, we would know if he is sincere in his promise to fight graft and corruption.

TOMCAT RELEASED!

I was browsing through newspaper websites and I came across the MANILA STANDARD, editorial section, and this article by Jojo Robles caught my eye.

It is widely known that there have been reports about the medical reports about Noynoy Aquino having several disorders, most of them related to mental illnesses.

Of course the Yellow Camp (which consists of the Kamag anak Inc., Liberal Party, ABias-CBN, and the like) is calling it a fake and they blame their closest rival, the Nacionalista Party.

This article sheds some light on the authenticity of the said reports:

Readers of this column know that I rarely surrender my space to others in the form of extensive passages quoted verbatim. But today I willingly cede my allotted quota of words, editing only for style considerations, to someone who calls himself “Tomcat,” who recently wrote the following open letter (via Facebook) to leading presidential candidate Noynoy Aquino:

Dear Noynoy:

We were classmates at the Ateneo and I have no doubt that you would remember me even if we were not close. Hint: I was one of those who ribbed you about the low grade that Father Kreutz gave you in math because you could never seem to get your fractions right. Remember going ballistic over that ribbing? [Reverend Wiliam “Bill” Kreutz, SJ, is a long-time Ateneo teacher from New York who founded the Jesuit Volunteers of the Philippines—JR. All subsequent bracketed phrases are mine.]

Anyway, reading the psychological report that was posted on the Internet a few days ago certainly made me remember you. I heard you say on the news that the report was fake but you did admit that there were some things in it that were true. “Part truths” I think were your exact words. It fascinated me enough to want to read the report carefully to check out which were those things that were true.

Obvious things first, those facts that any of our classmates can confirm if asked. One of these is, as the report says, you have a labile disorder. This is whole truth. Even Father Gorospe would be distracted by your drooling during our oral exams. [The late Reverend Vitaliano Gorospe, SJ, was connected for a long time with the Ateneo Theology Department.] Father Ferriols, who made a point of showing he didn’t like you, would make side comments about it that led your classmates to give you the nickname “Cooper,” a reference to Cupertino school where we would teach Catechism to retarded children. I, however, never called you Cooper. [Reverend Roque Ferriols, SJ, taught Filipino Philosophy at Ateneo.]

The report says that you have a “major depressive disorder.” Well, I honestly don’t know if that is true. What I do know is that in school you were very temperamental and had sudden mood swings. Isang minuto, nakikikain ka kay Brudda Francis, maya’t maya nagagalit ka na. Many of our classmates can attest to witnessing scenes like this.

The report said that you used to go with your mom to see Dr. Manuel Escudero. That is a whole truth. I remember seeing you at Tito Maning’s high-rise apartment on Roxas Boulevard when we were still kids. Tito Maning was a consultant with the WHO here in Manila but he was also a psychiatrist who treated only the high society people in Manila. Even Imelda Marcos was his patient. Unfortunately, so was my mom who suffered from insecurities due to my dad’s numerous infidelities.

Tito Maning’s wife, Tita Jo, was a very good artist who had a couple of exhibits of her work before they left Manila for good a few years after martial law was declared. They lived in Topeka, Kansas. After they left, I kept a correspondence for a while with their very cute daughter Nina who I am sure you remember. I had such a crush on her. Maybe you did too. She used to talk to us “little folk” in the sala of their apartment while the “big folk” would lock themselves in the room and discuss “big folk” matters. She wanted to go to ballet school or some dance school which she did, I think, and I eventually lost track of her.

About your smoking marijuana, I also can’t say if that is wholly true. What I do know is that you would try to tag along with a group of students that would hang out with Ma’am Gloria Arroyo. [Yes, President Arroyo herself.] Mga students niya sa Economics. She was always surrounded by bright and handsome students kaya hindi ka pinapansin. Pati si Ma’am Placer, she never gave you the time of day kasi people said you were “medyo weird” and your grades were mababa per her standards.

Pero, you still tried to hang out with those guys. Trying hard to belong ba. I know those guys would drink na kasama pa si Miss Rosales na pag lasing na, kumakanta ng Spanish songs in Spanish. They would drink dozens of bottles of beer at Shakey’s Katipunan because Mrs. Ramos (our Spanish teacher in case you don’t remember) owned the restaurant. This group was also known to also smoke joints in the college auditorium, up in the closed space where the spotlights were. So, if you were hanging out with them then, you were probably also smoking marijuana too.

The report said you had a flight attendant girlfriend. This is another whole truth. I will not mention her name here to protect her but she was a PAL stewardess. I found out about this because I was on a flight with Father Samson [probably Ateneo de Davao president Reverend Antonio S. Samson] once and she was the one who seated us. When she found out we were from Ateneo, she introduced herself and said she was the girl friend of an Atenean and mentioned your name. Father Samson then asked jokingly if you were a good boyfriend to her. She shrugged and said you were “okay” but she was bothered because you were “too conservative.” You didn’t even like to kiss her daw because you were saving her for the wedding night. And you insisted that she dress very conservatively. Jealous boyfriend ka daw. No wonder that relationship ended. Maybe that’s why you got so depressed over it.

About the report. I know that [Ateneo-based Jesuit psychologist Reverend] Tito Caluag is one of your best friends. His group of “friends” are some of the richest and most influential people in the country today. I know that you used to frequently visit his home. He hosts get-togethers where things that are too esoteric for me are the subjects of discussion. At one time, this group of yours even discussed the ousting of [Ateneo president] Father [Bienvenido] Nebres because Tito Caluag had his own ideas on how Ateneo should be run. Maybe your closeness to him is why he was the one you went to when you were depressed and why he was the one who handled your case and signed your psychological report. To keep things quiet.

But I confess I actually don’t know. I do know that Tito Caluag was at one time your sister Kris’ father confessor. He may not be a very trustworthy father confessor, though, because many have heard him say aloud that “walang ginawa si Kris Aquino dito sa Ateneo kundi habulin si Alvin Patrimonio at mag-emote sa quadrangle”.

Anyway, yun muna. Good luck on your presidential run. If you become president of the Philippines, that would be really something, huh? From “Cooper” to “Mr. President” when brighter and more scheming Ateneans like Mar Roxas and Dick Gordon have not been able to make it is an achievement that Ripley should feature.

Your old friend,

Tomcat