Political News April 11, 2013

[lotis soriano]

11 April 2013

 

LP NEWS

 

Aquino still hoping for 12-0 win in May polls - Inquirer A month before voters go to the polls, President Aquino remains confident of a 12-0 win for his senatorial ticket.
Related News		PNoy’s 12-0 unrealistic — Osmeña – Manila Standard
7 candidates in PDI forum vow to back antidynasty bill - Inquirer Senatorial candidates who participated in the First Inquirer Senate Forum on Wednesday vowed not to oppose an antidynasty bill should the measure be considered in the next Congress.
Related News		‘Kristel’ lives on, challenges poll bets - Inquirer Senatorial bets vow to give anti-dynasty bill a hearing in Congress - Inquirer Gov’t should invest on teachers, Senate bets urge - Inquirer 3 senatorial bets seek to strengthen political dynasty provision in Constitution - Inquirer Political dynasties flourishing – Manila Times Most Senate bets want law vs political dynasties – GMA News
Aquino to campaign for LP’s Maguindanao, ARMM candidates Friday - Inquirer President Aquino is scheduled to proclaim on Friday the candidates of the ruling Liberal Party, led by incumbent Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu in Buluan town.
Team PNoy counts on ‘Mar magic’ in W. Visayas - Inquirer Administration candidates are confident that the influence of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas among his province mates as well as those from nearby provinces in Western Visayas will deliver votes for the Team PNoy senatorial candidates on election day.
Aquino brings projects, backs Laguna lawmaker for governor - Inquirer A congressman from Laguna welcomed the national government’s projects for the province, especially those concerning flood mitigation and the rehabilitation of the Laguna de Bay.
Senators dance to different beats of Cha-cha - Inquirer Reelectionist senators who joined the First Inquirer Senate Forum on “How does the Senate really work” expressed varying degrees of openness to the proposal to amend the Constitution.
Related News		Should PH open its land to foreigners? Maceda, Escudero think so - Inquirer Senatorial bets weigh in on Cha-cha, pol dynasties – ABS-CBN News
Cynthia Villar sees El Shaddai support for her and 2 other admin bets - Inquirer The Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai is expected to support six senatorial candidates, former Las Pinas Representative Cynthia Villar, an administration candidate,  told reporters here Wednesday.
Related News		Cynthia Villar unfazed by black propaganda - Inquirer Villar: Mike Velarde to endorse six Senate bets - Star Shaddai, Church to support 6 to 8 mixed anti-RH bets – Tribune
Legarda claims rival bet spreading false text blast to pull her down - Inquirer A rival senatorial candidate was allegedly spreading black propaganda text message against reelectionist Loren Legarda apparently in a bid to dislodge her from top spot in the surveys, she disclosed Wednesday during a senatorial forum hosted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Related News		Loren decries black propaganda – ABS-CBN News
Aquino takes swipe at foes over ‘right path’ promise - Inquirer President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday took a swipe at his political opponents promising a “right path” for Filipinos in 2016.
Related News		PNoy blasts critics of 'tuwid na daan' – ABS-CBN News
Aquino leads Team PNoy campaign in Capiz - Inquirer President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday led the campaign of Team PNoy here attended by only three senatorial candidates.
Escudero seeks transparency in ‘pork barrel’, posts on site where funds are spent - Inquirer Senator Francis Escudero wants all senators to be more transparent in the use of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) more commonly known as “Pork Barrel”.
Poe defends Nancy Binay - Star Team PNoy senatorial candidate Grace Poe yesterday defended United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) bet Nancy Binay from accusations that her only qualification is her having served as personal assistant to her father and mother.
Campaign profiles: Bam cites work with the poor, entrepreneurship in Senate bid - Star Critics have observed that the Aquinos are historically elected to public office after a family member dies either through sickness or assassination.
Lim’s camp hits back at Erap, Isko - Star The poll battle in Manila continues to heat up as the camp of Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday slammed his rival, former President Joseph Estrada, and his running mate Vice Mayor Isko Moreno for spreading lies that he ordered the arrest of Moreno and five councilors over a bingo game last February.
Related News		Lim: illegal gambling issue used to drown offshore account report - Bulletin
Malaysia nabs LP bet - Bulletin The Liberal Party (LP) candidates for mayor and vice mayor in Languyan, Tawi-Tawi, and 30 supporters were arrested Monday by Malaysian authorities on suspicion they were reinforcing the Sultanate of Sulu’s Royal Security Force (RSF) in Sabah.
Related News		Sortie gone awry; LP bets hauled to Sabah – Tribune LP candidates ‘campaign’ in Sabah, get arrested – Business Mirror
Antique governor faces disqualification – Tribune Antique Gov. Exequiel Javier and nine members of the administration Liberal Party (LP) in Antique are facing disqualification cases for violating the ban on the suspension of public official during the election period.
Jamby in yet more bloopers – Tribune Administration senatorial candidate Jamby Madrigal addressed the crowd who attended the Team PNoy campaign rally in public plaza yesterday morning as residents of “Mamburao.”
Aquino reminds LP candidates they aren't exempt from the law – GMA News President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday took the time to remind Team PNoy bets that while they are running under the administration ticket, they aren’t exempt from being charged with election code violations.
Senatoriables start to woo religious groups – People’s Journal Team PNoy senatorial candidates have sought the endorsement of different religious groups -- individually.
Mar: UNA shows signs of desperation – People’s Journal Interior Sec. Mar Roxas said the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is showing signs of desperation on their allegations of vote-buying against President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s Liberal Party (LP).
Related News	Desperado sa alegasyon ng malawakang vote-buying – Abante Tonite

 

 

UNA STORIES

 

‘Outgunned,’ but UNA sure of Binay win in 2016 polls - Inquirer Leaders of the United Nationalist Alliance concede that the coalition is thoroughly outgunned by President Aquino’s Liberal Party in the local elections in May based on the number of candidates.
UNA running low on funds, says JV - Inquirer Senatorial candidate JV Ejercito Estrada said funding had become a problem for the United Nationalist Alliance.
UNA ally in Leyte won’t back sortie no-shows - Inquirer A local ally of the United Nationalist Alliance in Baybay, Leyte has decided to support only four senatorial bets from the group during the campaign.
Related News	UNA candidates skip rally, shun Leyte political clash – Manila Times
Gordon: ‘I am not immodest. I just teach people to be assertive’ - Inquirer Former senator Richard Gordon’s patience will be tried in the Senate should he be re-elected in May – a characteristic that he admits he has little to spare.
JV: Focus on job creation, education - Star United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidate JV Ejercito Estrada urged the Aquino administration yesterday to focus on job creation and implement much-needed reforms in education in Mindanao
Enrile pushes aid for land reform beneficiaries - Star United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidate Jack Enrile has challenged the Aquino administration to help farmer-beneficiaries of the land reform program make the land they till productive.
UNA backtracks on vote buying claim, clears Banal – Manila Times   Even as allegations of Liberal Party (LP) vote-buying continued to heat up, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) said LP stalwart and Quezon City Third District Rep. Jorge “Bolet” Banal, had nothing to do with the alleged massive vote-buying.
Nancy Binay: I have no time to debate Risa – GMA News With Election Day just a month away, senatorial aspirant Nancy Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Wednesday said she has no time for debates.
Filipinos abroad urged to exercise voting right – People’s Journal Senatorial candidate Jack Enrile yesterday urged Filipinos overseas who are eligible to vote to exercise their right in choosing their representatives in Congress as the overseas absentee voting (OAV) starts on April 13.

 

 

OTHER STORIES

 

Bishops on Church survey: Unbelievable - Inquirer Disbelief. This was the reaction of the communications chief of the Archdiocese of Manila and several Catholic bishops to a finding of a recent survey that there was a huge drop in the percentage of Filipinos going to Mass.
Related News	Churchgoers increasing – Bishops - Bulletin
Teachers on election duties to be insured, secured - Inquirer Some 240,000 public school teachers who will serve as election inspectors in the May 13 elections have been assured that they will be insured, secured and assisted by lawyers from “harassment suits.”
Poll winners known in 48 hours–Comelec - Inquirer The winners in the May 13 elections will likely be known within 48 hours after the close of voting, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Related News	Election results known in 48 hours or less - Star
Comelec to appeal SC’s party-list ruling - Inquirer The Commission on Elections (Comelec) may still consider filing an appeal against a Supreme Court decision remanding to the poll body the cases of party-list groups that the Comelec earlier disqualified.
Related News	Comelec wants ‘total overhaul’ of party-list law - Inquirer
Comelec may limit amount of poll freebies - Inquirer The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is considering setting an allowable threshold amount for campaign giveaways following reports that candidates have been giving away freebies during campaign activities.
Related News	Rules on campaign giveaways not clear, says Comelec - Inquirer
Palace has plan vs smuggling - Inquirer President Aquino on Wednesday disclosed the existence of a Palace “action plan” that could rid the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of scalawags and smugglers, but he kept mum on the fate of Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon.
High QC tax, fees sent ex-pilot on lonely flight to be next mayor - Inquirer Retired airline pilot Henry Samonte recalled how his “one-man crusade for good governance” in Quezon City became his most challenging solo flight.
Cebu mayoral candidates bare plans - Inquirer Four mayoral candidates from Cebu’s first district took the center stage on Wednesday to present their vision for Cebu during the first of the series of Mega Cebu Candidates forums, which are being sponsored by various groups, including the Cebu Daily News.
PNP eyeing 4 more provinces for its election ‘high risk’ list - Inquirer The Philippine National Police said Wednesday that it is looking into placing four more provinces in PNP’s list of areas of concern for the upcoming midterm elections in May.
Comelec: 22 major thoroughfares off limits to political motorcades - Inquirer The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has increased the number of major thoroughfares where motorcades will be totally banned from 18 to 22, Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Wednesday.
Meralco hikes generation charge this month - Star Households in Metro Manila and nearby areas are expected to pay more for electricity this month as power consumption and cost went up last month, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said yesterday.
Garcia plea deal upheld - Inquirer Former military comptroller Carlos Garcia’s plea bargaining agreement with the Office of the Ombudsman was declared legal yesterday.
Absentee voting in Riyadh likely to be delayed - Star The conduct of overseas absentee voting (OAV) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will likely be delayed for a few days as the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines are still being held by Saudi Customs authorities in Riyadh, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes reported yesterday.
SC asked to reaffirm ruling on forfeiture of $40-M Arelma funds - Star The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) is urging the Supreme Court (SC) to reaffirm a 2009 Sandiganbayan ruling allowing the forfeiture of the $40-million so-called Arelma funds in the United States in favor of the Philippine government.
6,000 undocumented Pinoys in Saudi seek repatriation - Star Over 6,000 undocumented Filipinos, including children, in Saudi Arabia are seeking immediate repatriation.

 

 

EDITORIAL

 

A mission hospital in Samar by Ma. Ceres Doyo, Inquirer While the election campaign noise rises to a deafening level all over the country, somewhere a quiet miracle unfolds without much fanfare, without the cackle of do-gooders aka politicians, but accompanied by humble appeals that this worthwhile endeavor will see completion.

Why political families are more brazen today by Randy David, Inquirer There’s no hard evidence to confirm it.  But the growing perception is that at no other time in our nation’s political history have political families become more brazen in promoting their interests than in this year’s elections.  One quickly notes this in the senatorial slates of the two dominant coalitions.  The opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) slate is led by the children of the three key figures who formed the coalition, namely the son of former President Joseph Estrada, the daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, and the son of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.  The administration’s Team PNoy is not any different.  Two-thirds of its 12 candidates belong to political families.

Why Legarda remains No. 1 by Domini Torrevillas, Star A fascinating political history is that of senatorial candidate Loren Legarda. A popular broadcast journalist, she ran, and emerged No.1 winner in the 1998 senatorial elections. She could have been vice-president in 2004, but…. She was again No. 1 in the next (2007) senatorial elections, and the CURRENT poll surveys say she’s No. 1 among the 2013 senatorial candidates.

PCOS exposed: But Comelec has lost its tongue by Bobit Avila, Star But then again, we already know what lurks ahead, it is the use or the misuse of the PCOS machines. We were the first to write about the trouble of the PCOS in the town of Compostela, 25 kilometers north of Cebu City.

Calling a dare – Editorial, Tribune It was a simple enough exchange of accusations and dares among candidates in the Manila City elections.

All for Malaysia and the MILF by Ninez Cacho Olivares, Tribune From a Wikileaks cable on declassified diplomatic documents that have  been released, it was stated that Kuala Lumpur sought the help of the United States by way of its intervening in its dispute with the Philippines over Sabah sometime in 1973.