Fw: Political News April 15, 2013

[lotis soriano]

15 April 2013

 

LP NEWS

 

Palace: Voters should not pick candidates based on one issue alone - Inquirer Reacting to the White Vote Movement’s recent endorsement of senatorial candidates supportive of the Catholic Church’s opposition to the reproductive health (RH) law, Malacañang said it was leaving it to the voters to elect candidates over a range of issues.
Related News	El Shaddai group backs 6 senatorial bets who voted against RH bill - Inquirer Local church starts anti-dynasty signature drive in CamSur - Inquirer El Shaddai leader backed on electoral endorsement - Bulletin Palace downplays Catholic vote anew – ABS-CBN News El Shaddai-led group backs anti-RH senatorial bets – ABS-CBN News Palace unfazed by El Shaddai's endorsement of anti-RH bets – GMA News Vote, campaign for pro-life bets – Manila Standard
Legarda bats for ‘bibingka economics’ - Inquirer Reelectionist Senator Loren Legarda has urged full implementation of laws that will spur economic growth from the grassroots through the development of small and medium enterprises.
Madrigal seeks Aquino’s help to release funds to police protected areas - Inquirer Team Pnoy senatorial bet Jamby Madrigal on Sunday urged Malacañang to prioritize the release of P150 million earmarked for government agencies tasked to keep watch over the country’s protected areas, including Tubbataha Reef.
Related News	Dagdag pondo sa protected areas hinirit ni Jamby sa Malacañang – Abante Tonite
Support for ‘Jun’ Magsaysay snowballs - Bulletin  Four more accredited party-list groups, fellow senatorial candidates, and professional organizations have added to the list of Liberal Party candidate Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay Jr.’s supporters in this year’s midterm polls.
Chiz pushes probe on grounding of USS Guardian  - Manila Times Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, on Sunday asked the Foreign Affairs department and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to compel the US Navy to shed light on the true mission of grounded minesweeper USS Guardian in sailing to Tubbataha Reef.
Angara urges review of PCG functions after incursions – Tribune The recent incursions and intrusions of foreign vessels in the country’s territorial boundaries should compel the government to seriously consider the idea of returning the Coast Guard under the command of the Philippine Navy as its civilian functions has proven to be more than a handicap in its operations.
9 Antique Liberal bets facing ouster – Manila Standard The entire provincial slate of President Benigno Aquino III, led by Antique Governor Exequiel Javier, are facing disqualification for grave abuse of power and election offenses.
Legarda sa mga OFW: Bumoto kayo! – Abante Tonite Iinikayat ni reelectionist Sen. Loren Legarda ang mga overseas Filipino worker (OFWs) na i-exercise ang kanilang karapatan na bumoto at pumili ng susunod na lider ng bansa.
Magna Carta for the Poor gustong isulong ni Bam – Abante Tonite Maaari pang isulong ang naunsyaming Magna Carta for the Poor dahil kayang ipatupad ang mga angkop na reporma nito ayon sa kagyat na pangangailangan at kakayahan ng pamahalaan. Ito ang binitawang paniniwala kahapon ni Team PNoy senatoriable Benigno 'Bam' Aquino.
Related News	Bam Aquino gustong isulong ang Magna Carta for the Poor – People’s Journal Magna Carta for the Poor ‘di isusuko – Pilipino Star Ngayon

 

 

UNA STORIES

 

UNA: Potential campaign donors fear being tagged as anti-Aquino - Inquirer Candidates want to ramp up their game as the elections are just four weeks away. But the United Nationalist Alliance has been struggling to saturate the airwaves with the group’s TV commercials due to lack of funds and reluctant donors, according to campaign manager Toby Tiangco.
Binay: Team Pnoy winning? Look back to 2010 – ABS-CBN News President Benigno Aquino III’s visit to Iloilo twice in two months could mean his team is already “running scared,” Vice President Jejomar Binay said.
UNA bets cite role of seamen’s wives – Tribune Instead of being contented as passive partner to a hardworking seafarer-husband, seafarer wives can do more to ensure the financial sustainability not only of their respective families but also their communities.
Related News	UNA bets encourage seafarer’s wives to empower themselves – People’s Journal
Magsaysay thanks Romualdez – People’s Journal Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay yesterday thanked House Deputy Minority Leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin “FM” Romualdez and the entire Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) for supporting her senatorial bid.
Biazon urged to investigate P1.2-B rice smuggling in Cebu – People’s Journal United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial bet Mitos Magsaysay called for a total overhaul in the Port of Cebu and urged Commissioner Ruffy Biazon to launch an investigation into the 1,000 containers of allegedly smuggled rice from Vietnam that arrived in the port.

 

 OTHER STORIES

 

Imus mayoral row: NP bet says LP using delay tactic - Inquirer Nacionalista Party member Homer Saquilayan cried foul over what he said was “dilatory tactic” by his political opponent and incumbent Imus City Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi, after the Supreme Court on Thursday reversed its earlier ruling that declared Saquilayan winner in the 2010 mayoral elections.
Test case on campaign laws filed in Cebu - Inquirer A resident here sued two candidates for city councilor for illegally posting campaign materials on the fence of his truck yard in what could be considered a test case on the enforcement of election rules.
Trader runs for Davao City’s House seat, goes against Garcia dynasty - Inquirer “It’s like fighting the Gods of Olympus,” businesswoman Joji Ilagan-Bian describes how it is to run against an established political family who dominated the city’s second district— the area stretching from Agdao, Buhangin to Bunawan —in the last 21 years.
Moro splinter group takes non-partisan stance in polls, but welcomes poll candidates - Inquirer The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) has assured election candidates that it is safe to campaign in rebel territories.
SC ruling on party-list system backed - Star A former magistrate yesterday expressed his support for the Supreme Court’s recent ruling revising standards in the country’s party-list system.
Related News	SC Party-List Parameters Defended - Bulletin Party-list system not only for militant groups, says former justice – Manila Times Group rallies behind SC in party-list ruling – Business Mirror
Comelec eyes improvement of overseas absentee voting system - Star Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. is looking at improving the system of overseas absentee voting (OAV) in preparation for the 2016 presidential elections.
Comelec: No 12-0 for Team PNoy - Star The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday dismissed as unlikely the forecast of a 12-0 victory for the senatorial candidates of the administration coalition Team PNoy in the May 13 polls.
No immediate plans on US base – Palace - Bulletin There are no immediate plans to allow the United States to open a temporary military base in the country, Malacañang clarified yesterday.
Related News	Relax, it’ll take very much more to host US bases anew - Malaya Palace: Return of US bases not in the near future – ABS-CBN News Casiño to Malacañang: Don’t play dumb - Remate
MMDA: report motorcade, caravan violators - Bulletin The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday called on the public to report to the agency any politician or parties that violate the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) prohibition on motorcades and caravans along major thoroughfares.
Philippine army renews apolitical vows - Bulletin The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) has renewed its vow to stay apolitical for the May, 2013 midterm elections.
Palace exec defends DILG chief's joining campaign sorties – GMA News A Malacañang executive on Sunday defended Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II's joining the campaign sorties of administration senatorial bets despite his memo to Interior Department officials not to campaign.
SC set to release decision on Cybercrime Law this week - Remate The Supreme Court is set to release its decision on the assailed Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 this week, according to several sources in the SC who asked not to be identified for lack of authority to speak on the matter.

 

EDITORIAL

 

Conscience vote – Editorial, Inquirer In a pastoral letter read Sunday in the churches of the archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, Archbishop Socrates Villegas made a forceful argument for a conscience vote in the May 13 elections. Unlike his pastoral letter last December equating contraception with corruption, Sunday’s epistle used premises and reached conclusions which we could agree with almost entirely. There was only one, but significant, exception.

Party-list system is being abused by Neal Cruz, Inquirer The party-list system should not be expanded, as the recent majority decision of the Supreme Court did in effect; it should be diminished and even abolished instead. As anybody with common sense can see, it is being abused.

The new party-list decision by Fr. Joaquin Bernas,  S.J., Inquirer If I approached the Supreme Court’s recent decision on the party-list system by way merely of a mechanical exercise in statutory construction, I might conclude that the Court has stripped the party-list system of its soul. The party-list system is not merely a restructuring of the membership of the House of Representatives.

Image laundering by Ana Marie Pamintuan, Star It’s dismaying to learn that the Ampatuan clan continues to dominate the race for the May elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), with other clans including the Mangudadatus also building their own dynasties.

Poll surveys, campaign propaganda by Jose Sison, Star Every election time, the issue on poll surveys comes up. During this election it has become more controversial mainly because the two major pollsters, SWS and Pulse Asia have not been transparent enough in telling us their clients who commissioned those polls. Hence they have been accused of being used as means to promote the candidacies of aspirants for various positions up for grabs in the coming elections.

The power crisis in Mindanao by Sara Soliven de Guzman, Star The summer heat has reached an all time high hitting the mid-30’s last week. Just stand outside of your home (in a park or in the street) and you will feel like there isn’t enough air to breathe in  not to mention the pollution. Susmariosep! Heaven help us!

Urban renewal by Floro Mercene, Bulletin After decades avoiding the church following his quarrel with the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, former President Joseph Estrada said he will go to church again, especially now that the country has Antonio Cardinal Tagle, an apolitical prelate to lead the 80-million member Catholic flock.

Food plan by Elinando Cinco, Bulletin Judging from his radio and television commercials, plus his pronouncements on various issues quoted by media, this candidate is visibly the only Senate aspirant who knows his product (his campaign platform) and how to make it acceptable to his market (the voters).

Mindanao power by Melito Salazar Jr., Bulletin In previous elections, the power of the Mindanao votes could make one a president or a senator even if the national trend was not for the candidate.

Bam Aquino by Ducky Paredes, Malaya Bam is the nephew of Sen. Ninoy, President Cory, Senators Butz and Tessie and is, thus, a first cousin of President Noynoy. Some people think that he is the best of the Aquinos. (A priest at the Ateneo could not believe that their top graduate was related to all the Aquinos who did not do too well in their studies, although they performed well as public servants.) Bam was valedictorian  from grade school and from high school. Bam earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Engineering, summa cum laude from the Ateneo de Manila University.

Inconsistency by Benjamin Diokno, Malaya Two legislative bills -- one of major significance (Magna Carta for the Poor), the other of inconsequential importance (relaxing the height requirements for police, jail, and fire personnel) reached Malacanang and were promptly vetoed by President Aquino.

A general pardon – Editorial, Tribune The anti-graft agencies Sandiganbayan and the Office of the Ombudsman have been carving their names lately as the last refuge of corrupt generals, as a result of a mass absolution of a veritable list of the brass in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) implicated in the fund mess.

Why all the fuss? by Ninez Cacho Olivares, Tribune Frankly, some bishops are making too big a deal over the so-called “white vote,” with one, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, saying that endorsing candidates is not a good idea, adding that the candidates who voted against the Reproductive Health (RH) bill should be elected, but the Church must guide, and not dictate.

A crisis in the making – Editorial, Manila Times That the country faces an impending water shortage is hard to deny. Specifically, the National Capital Region may soon find itself with an insufficient supply of that most precious of all commodities—potable water.

Double standards everywhere – Editorial, Manila Standard No amount of prevarication by the Palace can cover up the glaring double standard that the Aquino administration has applied to the Tubbataha Reef protected marine reserve.

Ipaglaban ang kandidato! by Rey Marfil, Abante Tonite Noong nakaraang Sabado, Abril 13, maaari nang bumoto ang ating mga kababayang nasa abroad ng mga napipisil nilang kandidato sa darating na midterm election sa Mayo sa pamamagitan ng Overseas Absentee Voting.

.