By: Paul Farol
(Victorina collaborator from pinoybiz.blogspot.com)
The launch of the Moral Force Movement may be the catalyst for a much needed social change in our country. In yet another bold move, Chief Justice Reynato Puno called on the government to exercise autonomy and not surrender to the dictates of Oligarchs. Puno adds “otherwise, we will have a few oligarchs running the country.”
Meanwhile in the Senate, there seems like a boxing match going on between the Oligarchs. Senator Jamby Madrigal's (from the wealthy Madrigal clan) fight for “truth” seems to be getting somewhere fast.
Months after filing a complaint against Senator Manuel Villar (one of the richest men in the Philippines) at the Senate Ethics Committee, evidence for alleged acts committed by Villar to benefit from the construction of the C-5 road extension project in Parañaque have finally been submitted and will be scrutinized in the coming days. After funding Senator Antonio Trillanes' candidacy and footing the bill for Jun Lozada, this early she may be counting Villar's anticipated conviction as another notch in her wide belt!
Just last week, the Senate, convened as a committee of the whole, formally heard the charges levied against Senator Manny Villar. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile heard and ruled out all points raised against holding the preliminary inquiry. Charges were presented, reports on the charges were ordered to be submitted on Saturday, and a hearing was scheduled on Monday next week.
Who would have thought that Jamby would find favor in a virtual court presided over by Senate President Enrile? Politics makes fast friends out of two senators who were on several occasions hurling allegations at one another. I still remember Jamby crying when Enrile produced a picture of Jamby's parents rubbing elbows with the Marcoses.
Still another barb hurled by Enrile was the allegation that Jamby cheated in the 2004 elections -- when votes were being sold at wholesale rates.
And this gives an ominous tinge to what may happen in the coming days. And Jamby's joy at seeing Villar being either reprimanded, suspended, or expelled by his peers in the senate may be short lived. Despite present contentions that Enrile's committee of the whole is a Kangaroo Court, there is no denying that Enrile is one of the country's best legal minds to date and certainly, he'll render a decision based on evidence presented as well as the rules and laws applicable to the case.
Billy Esposo, columnist of the Philippine Star, made a great point for how Enrile might rule on Jamby's case. He pointed out that Senator Panfilo Lacson failed to prove his case against Villar when presented the case of the C-5 double insertion case before Enrile, when he was still the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
Assuming partisan politics will not be a factor contrary to what is alleged by Esposo, the senators participating and voting for motions in the committee of the whole will have to look at the evidence and challenge it as best as they can. Already, there is indication that the evidence Jamby and her lawyer has submitted will not pass muster.
There are 24 senatorial seats and a two thirds vote would translate to 16 senators. Of the thirteen left, three are swing voters: Senator Edgardo Angara, Senator Loren Legarda, and Senator NoyNoy Aquino. So, minus these three, you still have just ten senators who may actually vote to suspend or expel Senator Villar.
So, if Villar's case is decided on the merit of evidence presented, he still has a chance of going scot-free.
Jamby will probably receive the embarrassment of her life when the senate trial ends with Villar being thoroughly humiliated but not at all punished. And I guess, humiliation is the real objective here for Jamby -- hers and Villars.
My guess is she'll probably end up on her haunches or hunch again and howl at the injustice of it all.
FUCK TRILLANES!
I remember Sen. Madrigal invoked Article 20, thus preventing the promotion of 24 ranking officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
THIS IS HOW we know that ANTONIO TRILLANES IS A FUCKING SELL-OUT!
It was her way of getting back at her colleagues who did not go along with her two weeks ago when she tried to block the promotion of a general who had a run-in with jailed Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th, another Jamby favorite.
That's why Sen. Biazon and his right hand Gen. Cabanlig fumed after Madrigal invoked Section 20.
The 2 former Marine Commandants, who took up the cudgels for the officers affected by Jamby’s stunt, moved to amend the CA rules if only to PREVENT her from repeating it in the future!
Trillanes, Lacson and Madrigal are NO GOOD SENTORS!!!
Trillanes and Madrigal are probably the worst Senators in this country!
I remember this that's why I HATE SONNY "KALBO" TRILLANES!
"That's why Sen. Biazon and his right hand Gen. Cabanlig fumed after Madrigal invoked Section 20.
The 2 former Marine Commandants, who took up the cudgels for the officers affected by Jamby’s stunt, moved to amend the CA rules if only to PREVENT her from repeating it in the future!"
YES Trillanes and Querubin should ROT in JAIL FOREVER...
Sila a SALOT ng BAYAN!
agree!
YES Trillanes and Querubin should ROT in JAIL FOREVER...
The 2 former Marine Commandants, who took up the cudgels for the officers affected by Jamby’s stunt, moved to amend the CA rules if only to PREVENT her from repeating it in the future!
Jamby Madrigal and Sonny Trillanes are the twin evils the Senate!
Sen. Biazon is leaving the Senate by 2010 and I think Danny Lim would be best to carry the baton of Biazon whose record in the Senate is impeccable... kahit sobrang sungit ni tatang biazon- hehehe!
personalan talaga si Jamby and Sonny... no dignity, no honor!
let's go marines... The 2 former Marine Commandants, who took up the cudgels for the officers affected by Jamby’s stunt, moved to amend the CA rules if only to PREVENT her from repeating it in the future!
survey says top 10 worst politicians
1. Lito Lapid
2. Luis Chavit Singson
3. Jinggoy Estrada
4. Ted Casino
5. Ronnie Puno
6. Jamby Madrigal
7. Joe De Venecia
8. Raul Gonzalez
9. Greg Honasan
10.Antonio Trillianes
Even Sen. Richard Gordon summed up the annoyance with Madrigal and Trillanes when he said: “She must explain to everyone and to every individual here that has earned star rank through blood and guts that she is using it fairly—without whim, caprice or arbitrariness.”
Trillanes has never experience combat operations. He has a very bad record in the Philippines Navy just like his father!
the FUNNIEST comment ever!
haha...the saga continues in Victorina
amiel as Lloydy
trixie as Ruffa
and
rain as mama dionisya- ang nanay ni pacquiao na biglang yaman!
Everybody seems to have their way of electioneering and alliance development...
Probably, the lesser evil will be elected...
I really perceive that a significant number of Filipinos are not educated about their voting rights.
I am mixed when the masses complain about poor leadership but at the same time many among us have sold their voting rights, which is a big factor of the cheating process.
It's very tricky to take sides when we got unfit leaders and compromised voters... so this story appears to be the clash of the rent-seekers.
johnonymous' observation is correct. beware of people who claim to be anti-gloria but has an agenda that could prove to be disastrous to our country... Vote for anyone except rent-seekers!
be careful with the declarations of demagogues like sen. sonny trillanes and his ilk!
look at your candidates 1. integrity 2. moral character 3. love for country 4. education.
yun lang... thanks!
Trillanes, Lacson and Madrigal are NO GOOD SENTORS!!!
totally agree
Chief Justice Reynato Puno called on the government to exercise autonomy and not surrender to the dictates of Oligarchs...ONE WAY TO DO THIS IS SHUT DOWN MAGAZINES LIKE TATLER, METRO SOCIETY, LIFESTYLE ASIA that do nothing but put the Oligarchs in the limelight!
mensa said...
look at your candidates 1. integrity 2. moral character 3. love for country 4. education.
________________________
i totally agree with this. unfortunately, the educated and enlightened are outnumbered. i also agree with what johnonymous was saying...the majority of the public STILL DO NOT KNOW how to choose their candidates based on the criteria above. chances are, opinions (even those among us) will differ on who the lesser evil is.
assuming we'll actually have an election, i don't think it'll be different from any we've had in the past. you know something's not right everytime you see the list of candidates and you feel deep-down inside that "none-of-the-above" is your first choice.
we ALL know that we need to break-away from this never-ending circus...YET, we can't seem to do that. it's always the same movie with a different cast...makes us kinda wonder, doesn't it?
lemme just ask (to play devil's advocate): is it possible that "outside forces" within/beyond our shores are REALLY the ones who actually decide on who our leaders will be?...and that the elections are just a "formality"?
since elections always involve lots of $$$, we also gotta wonder where ALL the funding comes from...not only for certain candidates, but also for various civil-society groups and other so-called "movements" with all sorts of different agendas. who's aligned and/or associated with who? methinks THE BIG PICTURE lies somewhere within the answers to these questions.
What does Jamby knows about ethics? Ilang seaman ba sinampal nya dun sa shipping line nila? Ask any old timer seamen, they will attest on Jamby's sense of ethics.
lesbiana!
three are swing voters: Senator Edgardo Angara, Senator Loren Legarda, and Senator NoyNoy Aquino.
are you sure they are swinging paul?
katsky_ph888 said...
What does Jamby knows about ethics? Ilang seaman ba sinampal nya dun sa shipping line nila?
AGREE ask her maids!
these are the same old moneid families fighting each other for more power and money.
Trillanes, Madrigal, at Lacson ay mga salot nga.
Mabuhay si John Martir! Mabuhay si Bangit! Yes, this blog will support these upright men of honor! John Martir for president!
To Anonymous,
"three are swing voters: Senator Edgardo Angara, Senator Loren Legarda, and Senator NoyNoy Aquino."
"are you sure they are swinging paul?"
Even granting that I am wrong about this and the three senators mentioned will not be swing votes,
you will still have just 13 votes.
You still need three more to get 16 votes to get Villar suspended or expelled.
Jamby Madrigal is fighting for relevance and she is losing.
It is a known fact that her family, including Chito Madrigal, her aunt, contributed 500million pesos to get Jamby to the senate so that the Madrigals will reclaim their place as a prime mover in this country in politics and in culture.
That was the worst business decision the madrigals made.
Jamby made the family name synonymous with stupid antics and desperate attempts at hugging the headlines.
The country would have been better if her endorser - Judy Ann Santos - was the one who became a senator. And that is not even an endorsement of Juday
"Mabuhay si John Martir! Mabuhay si Bangit! Yes, this blog will support these upright men of honor! John Martir for president"
Hahaha nag-react naman kaagad si BATO!
I like this blog... Each member has a different opinion on the WORLD.
No Political affiliation- only for REAL change!
Trixie Angeles for Senator!
I concur!
The senate will loose Pong Biazon and the best man to take his job is Danny Lim.
Taken from a kapamilya news article today:
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Tuesday that people should not be surprised with Chief Justice Reynato Puno's declaration that the Philippines is being ruled by oligarchs.
"It's not news anymore. It's a historical fact that started since the Spanish colony era," Remonde told ABS-CBN's morning show, "Umagang Kay Ganda."
Remonde was reacting to Puno's statement that the "wealth of the country" is being controlled by a "very few people."
Puno made the statement during the launch of the Moral Force Movement in Davao City last Friday.
Mrs. Arroyo's spokesman admitted that there is no political democracy in the country "because we do not have real economic democracy."
He added that the wealth demographics of the poor and the rich have been a "socio-economic and political reality."
"There is a need for genuine social transformation, especially with the middle class, because it's only with the middle class that we can have genuine democracy," Remonde said.
The Palace spokesman, meanwhile, denied that Malacañang has reacted negatively to Puno's statement. He also denied that Malacañang told Puno to clean his own backyard in reaction to the Supreme Court chief's statement.
At the launch of the Moral Force Movement, Puno said the moral transformation efforts would not move forward if the government will remain beholden to the few powerful people.
"If you have that kind of predicament, we will never have a healthy democratic system. The rich are very few and the poor are the multitude," Puno said.
SC spokesman Midas Marquez, meanwhile, said Puno does not need to name the Filipino oligarchs. He said the few oligarchic families in the country "are influential. They have the money. They bring the votes."
Marquez urged voters to investigate and choose their candidate in 2010. He said voters should know who are the candidates being supported by the rich people.
"Let's look at the traits of [the candidates]. Will they bring good to our country? We should vote for a transformational leader, just what like the Chief Justice is saying," he said.
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LET US KEEP OUR EYE ON THOSE CANDIDATES THE OLIGARCHS ARE SUPPORTING. FOR THE SAKE OF TRANSPARENCY (and for the education of others), LET'S NAME THEM AND THEIR SUPPORTERS (and not just based on hearsay, mind you).
GO DV!!!
LET US KEEP OUR EYE ON THOSE CANDIDATES THE OLIGARCHS ARE SUPPORTING. FOR THE SAKE OF TRANSPARENCY (and for the education of others), LET'S NAME THEM AND THEIR SUPPORTERS (and not just based on hearsay, mind you).
YES DOWN WITH THE OLIGARCHS! DOWN WITH LOPEZ!
Every people has the government (politicians) it deserves.
As sad and desperate as the situation seems to be right now, there is still hope out there just looking at blogs like Victorina and others.
Let us get our asses up and do something and let us not leave our country to the oligarchs and trapos.