United States Elections, US 2010 Elections

The 2010 United States midterm elections will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 37 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate will be contested in this election along with 38 state and territorial governorships, many state legislatures, four territorial legislatures and numerous state and local races.

The GOP lost heavily in the 2006 and 2008 elections, giving up Congress and the White House. Congressional Republicans were almost unanimous in opposing the key elements of the Obama administration domestic policy in 2009-2010, while generally supporting its foreign policy in Afghanistan and Iraq.

With the economy continuing to falter, support for Obama and the Democrats has suffered significantly. Political analysts in October 2010 predict sweeping Republican gains in the 2010 midterm elections, pointing to the swing that would be generated on current polling, and an "enthusiasm gap" that measures Republican voters to be significantly more engaged than Democratic voters.

Pacquiao vs Margarito Live Stream Online

Ten-time world champions CONGRESSMAN MANNY PACQUIAO and ANTONIO MARGARITO, of the Philippines and México, respectively, collide in the most exciting and intriguing fight of the year with the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight championship and the No. 1 pound for pound title at stake.

Pacquiao and Margarito boast a combined record of 89-9-2 (65 KOs) -- a winning percentage of 89% and a victory by knockout ratio of 73%..

Jerry Jones and Bob Arum, owner of the Dallas Cowboys and chairman of Top Rank, respectively, announced today that Cowboys Stadium would be the site of MANNY PACQUIAO vs. ANTONIO MARGARITO, World Super Welterweight Championship. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Cowboys Stadium, and MP Promotions, Pacquiao vs. Margarito will take place Saturday, November 13 and will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Tickets to Pacquiao vs. Margarito, priced at $700, $500, $300, $200, $100, and $50, go on sale Saturday, September 18 and can be purchased in-person at the Cowboys Stadium ticket office in Arlington, or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.

This marks Pacquiao’s second world championship headlining appearance at Cowboys Stadium. On March 13, professional boxing made its debut at Cowboys Stadium where close to 51,000 fans watched Pacquiao successfully defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against former world champion Joshua Clottey. Call it Mannyfist Destiny, Pacquiao, no stranger to making history, will not only be looking to expand his trophy case by winning an unprecedented eighth world title in as many different weight divisions, but he will also be the first elected official to fight for a world championship, much less headline a major international pay-per-view promotion. He won a seat in his country’s Congress, winning the lone seat from the province of Sarangani, in a landslide in the May 10 election.

“It was an honor to fight in the first world championship held at Cowboys Stadium. Jerry Jones was a wonderful host,” said Pacquiao. “I look forward to returning to Cowboys Stadium and fighting before the wonderful fans in North Texas. I know Antonio Margarito poses great challenges for me but Freddie Roach and I will train our hardest to win. I am fighting for more than pride or history. I am fighting for the glory of the Philippines.”

For Margarito, a three-time world welterweight champion, this will be his second attempt at a world super welterweight title. Margarito’s resume includes victories over six former or current world champions. Known as the “Tijuana Tornado,” the hard-hitting Margarito is the WBC’s International super welterweight champion and its No. 1 super welterweight contender.

"I look forward to this fight with Manny Pacquiao to prove once again that I am one of the best fighters in the world," said Margarito. “Pacquiao has stopped some of the best Mexican fighters in the world, but he won't be able to stop this Mexican."

“Cowboys Stadium was built for Super Bowls and super fights. Pacquiao vs. Margarito combines the best elements of both,” said Jones. “The fans of North Texas embraced Manny Pacquiao as boxing’s No. 1 pound for pound attraction when he fought here in March and we cannot wait to extend our hospitality to him again and to

fellow world champion Antonio Margarito. This is a great fight, and it is one we can showcase to the fullest in Cowboys Stadium.”

Cowboys Stadium will be configured for over 50,000 fans for Pacquiao vs. Margarito, with elevated floor seating similar to NBA games.

“Jerry Jones has ushered in a new era in boxing as 51,000 fans witnessed at Cowboys Stadium last March when Manny defended his welterweight title,” said Arum. “Jerry knows exactly how to present an event of this magnitude which is why it is so easy to work together again. Manny and Antonio have never backed away from a challenge. They don’t go around obstacles they meet them head-on, which is exactly what they will do on November 13 when they face each other in the ring for the world title. It’s going to be a night to remember for the fans in North Texas and those watching on pay-per-view around the world.

"Manny Pacquiao is a boxing superstar and a world figure,” said Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View. “Cowboy Stadium is a world-class venue. We look forward to bringing sports fans another big night with the Pacquiao-Margarito telecast on November 13."

Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines, returns to the ring after successfully defending his WBO welterweight title via a dominant unanimous decision over former International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion Clottey. Pacquiao captured the WBO welterweight title last November with a brilliant 12th round knockout of four-time world champion Miguel Cotto. Pacquiao’s victory made him the first man to win seven titles in as many different weight divisions, with his last three world championships coming by way of knockout. The consensus Fighter of the Year for the third time in the past four years and the Boxing Writers Association of America’s “Fighter of the Decade,” Pacquiao’s resume features victories over future Hall of Famers, including Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez and Cotto. His knockout victories over Cotto and Hatton made him the 2009 pay-per-view king, exceeding two million buys combined, while no boxer has sold more live tickets than Pacquiao in 2010.

Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs), a native of Tijuana, México, captured his first world title in 2002, winning the vacant WBO welterweight title with a tenth-round TKO of Antonio Diaz. He reigned as WBO champion for five years, successfully defending his title seven times – five by knockout – including victories over world champions Kermit Cintron, Andrew Lewis and Clottey. After losing the title to Paul Williams in 2007, Margarito dethroned IBF welterweight champion Cintron in a rematch, knocking him out in their 2008 fight. Margarito claimed his third welterweight title when he stopped undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in the eleventh round of their July 2008 battle, arguably the fight of the year.

The Pacquiao vs. Margarito pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT,.
The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD.

Watch Pacquiao vs Margarito Live Stream Online

2010 US Senate Election Results

Odds are that Democrats will maintain control of the U.S. Senate in the November 2, 2010 elections, but by the slimmest of margins... say, two votes.

But if the political gods are smiling down on Republicans next Tuesday, conservatives could still win enough toss-up races to take the reins of the U.S. Senate in January 2011.

Fact is that a remarkable number of Senate races remain in flux just five days before voters go to the polls, including five races that are entirely unpredictable with polling differences well within the margin of statistical error:

* Colorado, where appointed incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet is narrowly trailing Republican Ken Buck, an attorney and avid subscriber to Tea Party stances on economic issues
* Illinois, where the choice between candidates is admittedly dismal
* Nevada, where media-avoiding, gun-toting, racially-confused Tea Partier Sharron Angle is leading Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid by a couple points
* Pennsylvania, where Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak, retired Rear Admiral and 30-year Navy veteran, has found traction against perennial Senate candidate Pat Toomey, a leader of the conservative slash-government movement
* West Virginia, where Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin has gained momentum against the very wealthy Republican owner of Chairman of the Board of West Virginia Radio Corporation.

But a handful of other Senate races could also unexpectedly put long-time Democratic senators out of office, including:

* California's Sen. Barbara Boxer, running for a fourth term after ten years in the House
* Washington's Sen. Patty Murray, running for fourth term
* Wisconsin's Sen. Russ Feingold, member of the both the Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees and possibly the senator most respected by progressives, running for a fourth term

What to Expect in 2010 Senate Elections Results
Here's what to firmly expect as you watch Senate election returns next Tuesday evening:

* 1. Expect a few bona fide shocker results.
* 2. Expect results from the raucous Alaska Senate race to not be finalized for days.
* 3. Expect Sharron Angle to claim the election was stolen from her if Harry Reid prevails in Nevada.
* 4. Expect Arkansas, Indiana and North Dakota to elect Republicans to replace Democrats now holding those seats.
* 5. 2. Expect gloating Republicans to declare it a glorious night for conservatives, no matter the results.

And in the 112th U.S. Senate that takes office a bit more than two months from now, expect partisan polarization, legislative gridlock, and ugly rancor the likes of which our country may never have before seen.

My fervent prayer is that these 100 elected leaders will coalesce as patriots who love their country, and lead us back to rational dialog and sensible governance.

My nervous fear is that if the Senate continues on its path of shameful (and apparently shameless) dereliction of duties to the American people, that our great country could be irreparably damaged and even seriously destabilized.

source: Deborah's US Liberal Politics Blog

United States Senate Elections 2010

Elections to the United States Senate are scheduled to be held on November 2, 2010, for 37 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate. A special election for a 38th seat was held in Massachusetts on January 19, 2010, for a term that ends in January 2013.

Thirty-four of the seats are for six-year terms, beginning January 3, 2011, and ending January 2017. They will join Senate Class III, which traces its roots back to the senators who served full six-year terms from March 4, 1789 to March 3, 1795. The other three races are for shorter terms: Delaware ending January 2015, New York ending January 2013 and West Virginia ending January 2013.

After the 2008 elections and their subsequent events, the Senate is composed of 57 Democrats, 41 Republicans, and two independents who caucus with the Democrats. Of the remaining seats up for election in 2010, 19 are held by Democrats (seven of whom are retiring or were defeated in the primary) and 18 are held by Republicans (eight of whom are retiring or were defeated in the primary).

Continuing Incumbents (63)

Senators are elected for six year terms. Roughly one-third of the seats are up for election with each two-year cycle. The following seats are not up in the 2010 election cycle.

Continuing Democrats (40)		Continuing Republicans (23)
Alaska--Mark Begich Arkansas--Mark L. Pryor California--Dianne Feinstein Colorado--Mark Udall Connecticut--Joseph I. Lieberman Delaware--Thomas R. Carper Florida--Bill Nelson Hawaii--Daniel K. Akaka Illinois--Richard J. Durbin Iowa--Tom Harkin Louisiana--Mary L. Landrieu Maryland--Benjamin L. Cardin Massachusetts--John F. Kerry Michigan--Carl Levin Michigan--Debbie Stabenow Minnesota--Al Franken Minnesota--Amy Klobuchar Missouri--Claire McCaskill Montana--Jon Tester Montana--Max Baucus	Nebraska--Ben Nelson New Hampshire--Jeanne Shaheen New Jersey--Frank R. Lautenberg New Jersey--Robert Menendez New Mexico--Jeff Bingaman New Mexico--Tom Udall North Carolina--Kay R. Hagan North Dakota--Kent Conrad Ohio--Sherrod Brown Oregon--Jeff Merkley Pennsylvania--Robert P., Jr. Casey Rhode Island--Jack Reed Rhode Island--Sheldon Whitehouse South Dakota--Tim Johnson Vermont--Bernard Sanders Virginia--Jim Webb Virginia--Mark R. Warner Washington--Maria Cantwell West Virginia--John D., IV Rockefeller Wisconsin--Herb Kohl	Alabama--Jeff Sessions Arizona--Jon Kyl Georgia--Saxby Chambliss Idaho--James E. Risch Indiana--Richard G. Lugar Kansas--Pat Roberts Kentucky--Mitch McConnell Maine--Olympia J. Snowe Maine--Susan M. Collins Massachusetts--Scott P. Brown Mississippi--Roger F. Wicker Mississippi--Thad Cochran Nebraska--Mike Johanns Nevada--John Ensign Oklahoma--James M. Inhofe South Carolina--Lindsey Graham Tennessee--Bob Corker Tennessee--Lamar Alexander Texas--John Cornyn Texas--Kay Bailey Hutchison Utah--Orrin G. Hatch Wyoming--John Barrasso Wyoming--Michael B. Enzi

Retiring Senators (14)

The following Senators either chose not to run for re-election, or were defeated in the primary in their bid for re-election.

Retiring Democrats (7)	Retiring Republicans (7)
Connecticut--Christopher Dodd Delaware--Ted Kaufman (special election) Illinois--Roland Burris Indiana--Evan Bayh North Dakota--Byron Dorgan Pennsylvania--Arlen Spector (defeated in primary) West Virginia--Carte Goodwin (special election)	Florida--George LeMieux Kansas--Sam Brownback Kentucky--Jim Bunning Missouri--Kit Bond New Hampshire--Judd Gregg Ohio--George Voinovich Utah--Bob Bennett (defeated in primary)

Incumbents Seeking Re-Election (23)

The following incumbent Senators are seeking re-election.

Democrats (12)	Republicans (11)
Arkansas--Blanche Lincoln California--Barbara Boxer Colorado--Michael Bennet Hawaii--Daniel Inouye Maryland--Barbara Mikulski Nevada--Harry Reid New York--Chuck Schumer New York--Kirsten Gillibrand (special election) Oregon--Ron Wyden Vermont--Patrick Leahy Washington--Patty Murray Wisconsin--Russ Feingold	Alabama--Richard Shelby Alaska--Lisa Murkowski (defeated in primary, running as write-in) Arizona--John McCain Georgia--Johnny Isakson Idaho--Mike Crapo Iowa--Chuck Grassley Louisiana--David Vitter North Carolina--Richard Burr Oklahoma--Tom Coburn South Carolina--Jim DeMint South Dakota--John Thune

Winning, losing celebrity candidates in barangay, SK Election

While other votes are still being canvassed, there are already winners and losers among the movie and television stars who ran in barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls held on Monday.

Young actor Jolo Revilla, son of action star Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., also a senator, and actress Lani Mercado, a congresswoman, won as barangay captain in Bacoor, Cavite.

“Responsibilidad ko ito at haharapin ko,” promised Jolo after his victory.

Jeremy Marquez, one of the sons of comedian and former Parañaque City mayor Joey Marquez, was re-elected barangay chairman of Barangay BF Homes in Parañaque City.

Meanwhile, Jeremy's half-sister, Wynwyn Marquez, one of the daughters of ex-couple Joey and Alma Moreno, was proclaimed SK chairwoman also in Parañaque City.

Asia's Sentimental Songstress and erstwhile Camarines Sur vice-governor Imelda Papin's younger brother, Bobby Papin, won as kagawad of Barangay North Fairview in Quezon City, according to Quezon City Commission on Elections' officials Yvonne Bayog and Marilyn Jose.

Dagul, dubbed as “Little Man With a Big Heart,” also won as kagawad in Rodriguez, Rizal after receiving more than 11,000 votes.

Other winners were former matinee idol Jigo Garcia (chairman, Dona Josefa, QC), diretor Lino Cayetano (chairman, Barangay Fort Bonifacio, Taguig), and basketball player Chris Tiu (kagawad, Urdaneta, Makati).

Unfortunately, one of Barangay North Fairview's board member aspirants, Phillip Supnet, popularly known as Kuhol, television icon Jun Urbano's Mr. Shooli's gag sidekick, lost in the elections.

Action superstar Dan Alvaro also didn't make it as kagawad of Barangay San Agustin in Novaliches.

“Better luck next time. Hindi pa rin ako susuko sa paglilingkod sa aking mga ka-barangay. Okay lang sa akin na matalo,” exclaimed Alvaro, who was also defeated in the Quezon City council race last May elections.

Despite his second political debacle, he plans to continue acting as well as serving the public because his wife is the secretary of the barangay hall.

Matutina, who ran for barangay chairman of Bagong Pag-Asa in QC, was also beaten as well as Brylle Mondejar (kagawad, Obrero, QC).

Gun ban to continue, checkpoints to stay until after polls—PNP

The ban against firearms will continue and checkpoints will remain as the barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections resumed Tuesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced in a press briefing at the national police headquarters.

The police force is "under strict instructions to remain in their posts...until after all election activities had been completed," said Police Deputy Director General Benjamin Belarmino, Task Force Hope "Bravo" commander.

At least 671 gun ban violators have been arrested and 558 weapons confiscated during the election period, Belarmino said, adding that the ban will continue until November 10.

"Elections are being held in 2,183 areas where elections had been postponed yesterday [Monday]," Belarmino said.

Belarmino said the 78 election-related incidents (ERIs) recorded by the National Election Monitoring and Action Center (NEMAC) from September 25 until Monday, October 25, was higher than the 70 incidents recorded in the same period in 2007.

The task force commander said that out of the 78 ERIs, only 20% happened in election hotspots that were identified by the police.

Barangay, SK Election Result in Cebu successful

The Commission on Election (Comelec) said that even with the delays in distributing election paraphernalia, the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections were held successfully in Cebu province on Monday.

The provincial police office also said that the elections were generally peaceful, despite election-related incidents in some areas.

Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, provincial Comelec supervisor, said that most of the polling precincts opened past 7 a.m. while voting ended at 3 p.m.

There were a few polling precincts that had to extend their voting hours.

Castillano also said that some of the polling centers had to use improvised official ballots.

In Carcar City, 7,000 official ballots were lacking while in Mandaue City, 10 precincts did not have official ballots.

Castillano, however, said voting continued despite minor problems. He did not yet disclose the total turnout of voters.

Police,meanwhile, received reports of shooting incidents in San Remegio town a few hours before election day.

In Barangay Luyang, a voter was allegedly shot by an incumbent barangay councilor after the victim refused to promise that their family will be voting for the suspect’s re-election.

In Barangay Bagtik, a candidate for councilor was also shot allegedly by a supporter of the rival party.

The victims of the 2 incidents only sustained minor injuries. The suspects also fled after the incidents.

Senior Superintendent Erson Digal, Cebu provincial director, said that the incidents were isolated.

Elections in 1,732 villages postponed

Village and youth council elections were postponed in 1,732 barangay (villages) Monday after the majority of them failed to receive ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia, the Commission on Elections said Monday.

Comelec Elections and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD) director Teopisto Elnas told a news conference that this number constitutes 4.12 percent of the total 42,025 villages nationwide.

Elections Commissioner Rene Sarmiento attributed the failure to hold elections in these villages to either the late delivery of ballot boxes and election paraphernalia or to the onslaught of typhoon Juan (international name: Megi).

Earlier in a separate news conference, police Director Benjamin Belarmino, chairman of the national task force HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections), said the majority of the villages that postponed elections were in the Bicol Region, namely: Masbate (551), Albay (321 villages), Catanduanes (315) and Sorsogon (246).

Other provinces that postponed their elections are: Pangasinan (19 villages), Isabela (87), Nueva Vizcaya (16), Cagayan (20), Tarlac (2), Capiz (20) and Aklan (2).

Elnas said that in Marawi City, 23 villages failed to conduct elections. Based on reports reaching the Comelec, the boards of election inspectors in these villages failed to go to the polling centers as they were barricaded and prevented from leaving.

Areas that failed to conduct elections on Monday will do so either on Tuesday or Wednesday, according to a resolution issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Comelec Resolution 9078, issued on October 24, states that if election paraphernalia and other forms do not arrive by 12 noon on Election Day at the polling centers, voting should be moved to Tuesday, October 26, or even on Wednesday, October 27.

“The Election Officer shall announce the postponement of elections in the polling centers affected and the date of resetting of elections,” the resolution stated.

Reports of postponed elections came Monday from several towns across the country. But Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body was still verifying these reports at the main Comelec headquarters in Manila.

Based on the Comelec official announcement, Jimenez said areas where there were postponed elections included Palanan, Divilacan, Maconacon, and two villages in Paniqui, Tarlac (San Isidro and Sumalague).

The same resolution also stated that in areas where election paraphernalia arrive before 12 noon, voting should proceed and continue up to 5 p.m.

“If after 5 p.m. there are still voters present who have not yet cast their votes…the poll clerk shall, without delay, list the names of said voters consecutively numbered.

“The voters listed shall be called to vote by the poll clerk by announcing each name three times in the order in which they are listed. Any voter in the list who is not present when called shall not be permitted to vote at any later time. The said list shall be submitted to the Election Officer,” the resolution said.

Despite the generally peaceful local elections so far, police noted incidents of vote-buying, vote snatching and alleged presence of armed groups.

Belarmino said reports of incidents of vote-buying and snatching took place in Abra. There were also reports of armed men in polling precincts in Antipolo City.

The incidents of election-related violence also went up to 47, where 32 people died in these attacks. Most of the attacks occurred in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“Compared with the 2007 [local] election, we still consider this as peaceful in the sense that the incidents of violence are fewer. In 2007, there were 67 ERVIs (election-related violent incidents),” Belarmino said.

Low election-related violent incidents

he Philippine National Police (PNP) reported low incidents of election-related violence as voting for village and youth council representatives officially began Monday, with the national police chief attributing the low number to increase police and community vigilance.

In a press conference, PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo said there were 40 incidents of election-related violence (ERV) noted in this year’s grassroots elections, with 41 recorded deaths. This was “very low” compared to the 67 incidents of ERV noted in similar elections in 2007 when 69 people died.

“We can attribute this to increased vigilance and community participation. The public listened to our announcement that during election period, carrying of firearms is prohibited. We can also attribute the low incidents to our Comelec checkpoints manned by security forces,” Bacalzo said.

Regions 12 (Soccsksargen) and ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) noted the most number of ERVIs, with eight incidents in Region 12 and four incidents in ARMM.

Correspondingly, police confiscated 523 firearms and arrested 623 persons in relation to the Comelec gun ban. A total of 223 people were also arrested overnight in violation of the liquor ban, Bacalzo said.

While the PNP is expecting generally peaceful local elections, Bacalzo said police are still bracing for possible violence that will spark on election day itself.

“Based on our experience, violent incidents always occur on election day itself. But with the help of our community and with police and military forces, we hope that the incidents will not be as violent as they are,” Bacalzo said.

Meanwhile, the PNP also fielded 1,023 police trainees to the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao to serve as board of election tellers. The trainees will serve in nine towns in Lanao del Sur and 20 towns in Maguindanao.

But Bacalzo clarified that this was not due to violence but mainly to the lack of teachers in these villages.

“Based on the reports of Comelec, a lot of teachers in those areas could not serve as board of election tellers because these teachers have relatives that are either running for village chief or village councilor. This is not allowed,” he added.

The elections on Monday are expected to fill 672,400 elective posts in 42,025 barangays across the country.

Sixteen positions are to be filled in each barangay (village)—eight in the barangay council (one barangay chair and seven council members) and eight in the youth (one chair and seven council members).

More than 50 million Filipinos (18 and above) are eligible to vote in the village elections and 2.46 million (15 to 17 years old) in the Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) balloting.

Barangays are authorized by law to disburse some P53 billion for local economic development projects and services under the 1991 Local Government Code. Their leaders act as judges in domestic disputes, supervise delivery of basic services and secure neighborhoods.

Unlike in last May’s automated national elections, voting and counting of ballots in Monday’s polls will be done manually.

SK polls Monday may be the last

The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK, Youth Council) elections on Monday may be the country’s last if senators will have their way.

They claim that these youth councils have become a drain on government resources and a breeding ground for bad politics.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Edgardo Angara said Congress would push for the “removal” of the SK after Monday’s elections.

“Having too many elections is costly. Let’s economize. The President wanted to continue with the elections but there was a consensus to synchronize it afterwards, including removal of SK elections,” Enrile said on dzBB’s Nimfa Rogado.

Enrile pointed out that youth leaders were introduced to illicit political activities through the SK based on controversies hounding the youth councils.

Angara said the SK leaders could be “folded into” the barangay council which will have youth representatives.

“This way we can do away with having a separate election for SK leaders and save money,” he said.

Enrile said a number of local government leaders had suggested that the SK be abolished and replaced by youth representatives elected in the provincial, city and municipal boards.

Enrile has taken the idea further by suggesting that barangay elections be abolished with the mayors tasked with designating their own leaders for each barangay.

“The barangay elections have shattered the unity of our communities. You compound the peace and order problem, create more partisanship and social disunity in every nook and corner of the country with this system,” Enrile said.

Comelec: All systems go for barangay, SK elections

Despite earlier hitches, all materials related to Monday's elections will be delivered to all barangays across the country on Sunday, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez said.

In an interview with ANC, Jimenez said “there’s a bit of good news there. A lot of deliveries that we were running late on, left Manila [Saturday] night…So, it looks like by 2:00 p.m. [today], we’ll be a hundred percent.”

The poll body has been working nonstop during the last few days for the printing of ballots and management of other paraphernalia for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

The delivery of some of the election-related materials, however, was hampered by the onslaught of typhoon Juan.

“In some cases, some ballots that were sent were damaged in transit. Some of them arrived in the wrong places. We have those little things that fall through the cracks. We started replacing them last night and today,” he said.

Jimenez noted that Comelec employees even had to work all throughout Saturday night.

“So the strategy is this: We had lot of shipments go out last night by sea and by air this very very early morning. We've arranged some flights direct to some places,” he said.

He said the Comelec hopes that the polls tomorrow will be 90% to 95% successful.

Postponement

The Comelec has already decided to suspend the elections in 3 areas in Isabela: Divilacan, Maconacon and Palanan. These 3 were badly hit by typhoon Juan.

“We’re also looking at several other places in Abra, Mountain Province and Batanes,” he said.

The decision will be released later Sunday.

“It all really depends on how quickly reconstruction efforts can proceed, but there are some places where storm damage is so really bad,” he said.

Some schools, which are used during elections, have been transformed into evacuation centers.

“Gymnasiums have been offered to us, but again not all of them are fit for election purposes. In a lot of places also, the major concern is lack of power…but we've moved up the election hours from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” he said.

Comelec is also looking at postponing elections in certain parts of Mindanao because of the violence there, he added.

“We have some issues in the south about teachers being afraid to serve. We have some contingency measures for that but of course we can't totally shut out the possibility of some places having failure of elections,” he said.

Police cadets as BEIs

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has already offered its services to man violence-prone areas.

Some cadets will even be used as board of election inspectors (BEIs).

In a separate interview with ANC, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz, Jr. said “we have prepared enough personnel to man all the security assistance desks in all the barangays to secure the polling centers in the different provinces.”

Police are specifically monitoring Maguindanao and Lanao.

“Historically, we always see to it that we are more prepared for the barangay and SK elections because these elections are more personal in terms of the proximity of the contending political factions,” Cruz said.

However, the 2010 elections are relatively more peaceful compared to previous ones, he said.

Disqualification cases

Meanwhile, the poll body has ordered the filing of disqualification cases against more than 4,000 candidates in the barangay elections found to have already served 4 to 5 terms.

In Resolution 9077, the Comelec en banc ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to submit a list of the names of these candidates.

The Comelec will then refer the names to its Law department, which will file the proper cases.

In a separate press conference, Jimenez said hearings will be conducted immediately. These would be summary in nature, meaning a case would only be heard through pleadings and position papers.

Each division handling a case will only be given three days to come up with a decision.

Jimenez said the erring candidates may also face criminal charges of perjury and material misrepresentation.

Names of suspected multiple termers will be forwarded to the election officers who will place an asterisk on their names to inform voters of their pending disqualification cases.

Their votes, however, would only be considered stray votes in the event that these candidates are officially disqualified.

If a multiple termer wins, his or her proclamation will be suspended pending the resolution of his or her disqualification case.

Comelec issues guidelines for delayed Barangay and SK Election

The Commission on Elections issued Monday a resolution to address the delays in the delivery of election paraphernalia to the country's 40,000 barangays.

Resolution No. 9078 states that barangay and Sangguniang Kabtaan elections can continue until 5 p.m. if the official ballots, accountable forms and other election paraphernalia for a particular precinct will arrive at its designated polling center before noon of October 25.

It states that if after 5 p.m., there are still voters present who have not yet cast their votes, "The poll clerk shall, without delay, list the names of said voters consecutively numbered. The voters listed shall be called to vote by the poll clerk by announcing each name three times in the order in which they are listed. Any voter in the list who is not present when called shall not be permitted to vote at any later time."

The Comelec said barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will be postponed to the following day, October 26, or on the next day, October 27, if the official ballots, accountable forms and other election paraphernalia for a particular precinct arrive after 12 noon.

The poll body has been working nonstop during the last few days for the printing of ballots and management of other paraphernalia for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

The delivery of some of the election-related materials, however, was hampered by the onslaught of typhoon Juan.

The Comelec has already decided to suspend the elections in 3 areas in Isabela: Divilacan, Maconacon and Palanan. These 3 were badly hit by typhoon Juan.

The poll body also postponed elections in San Isidro and Salumague in Paniqui, Tarlac due to floods.

On the other hand, elections were also postponed in the following areas due to lack of elections materials. These are: Talalora, Daram, Zumarraga, San Jose de Buan Tagapulaan, Almagro, Santo Niño, Pagsanghan, Matuguinao and 7 remote barangays in Calbayog City.


Disqualification cases

Meanwhile, the poll body has ordered the filing of disqualification cases against more than 4,000 candidates in the barangay elections found to have already served 4 to 5 terms.

In Resolution 9077, the Comelec en banc ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to submit a list of the names of these candidates.

The Comelec will then refer the names to its Law department, which will file the proper cases.

In a separate press conference, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said hearings will be conducted immediately. These would be summary in nature, meaning a case would only be heard through pleadings and position papers.

Each division handling a case will only be given three days to come up with a decision.

Jimenez said the erring candidates may also face criminal charges of perjury and material misrepresentation.

Names of suspected multiple termers will be forwarded to the election officers who will place an asterisk on their names to inform voters of their pending disqualification cases.

Their votes, however, would only be considered stray votes in the event that these candidates are officially disqualified.

If a multiple termer wins, his or her proclamation will be suspended pending the resolution of his or her disqualification case.

President Noynoy Aquino's First 100 Days

Barangay and SK Election Guidelines on the Filing of Certificates of Candidacy

The Commission on Elections, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 9164, and other election laws, RESOLVED,as it hereby RESOLVES,to promulgate the following guidelines on the filing of certificates of candidacy in connection with the October 25, 2010 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

SECTION 1. Officials to be elected. - The officials to be elected in each barangay are the following:

• For the Barangay Elections:
  One (1) Punong Barangay and seven (7) Sangguniang Barangay Kagawad.
• For the Sangguniang Kabataan Elections:
  One (1) Chairman and seven (7) Sangguniang Kabataan Kagawad.

SECTION 2. Qualifications.

• Candidates for Punong Barangay and Sangguniang Barangay Kagawad must be:
  
  1. Filipino citizens;
  2. At least 18 years old on election day;
  3. Able to read and write Filipino or any local language or dialect; and
  4. Registered voters of the barangay where they intend to run for office and residents thereof for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the election.

• Candidates for Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman and Sanggguniang Kabataan Kagawad must be:
  1. Filipino citizens;
  2. At least fifteen (15) years old but less than eighteen (18) years old on election day;
  3. Able to read and write Filipino, English or the local dialect;
  4. Qualified members of the Katipunan ng Kabataan of the barangay where they intend to run for office and residents thereof at least one (1) year immediately preceding the election; and
  5. Must not have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.

SECTION 3. Disqualifications. - The following are disqualified from running for any elective barangay and sangguniang kabataan positions:

• Those sentenced by final judgment for an offense involving moral turpitude or for an offense punishable by one (1) year or more of imprisonment, and within two (2) years after service of sentence;
• Those removed from office as a result of an administrative case;
• Those convicted by final judgment for violating the oath of allegiance to the Republic;
• Those with dual citizenship unless at the time of filing of the certificate of candidacy, he makes a personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign citizenship before any public officer authorized to administer an oath;
• Fugitives from justice in criminal or nonpolitical cases here or abroad. A fugitive from justice includes not only those who flee after conviction to avoid punishment but likewise those who, after being charged, flee to avoid prosecution;
• Permanent residents in a foreign country or those who have acquired the right to reside abroad and continue to avail themselves of the same right after the effectivity of the Local Government Code;
• The insane or feeble-minded;
• Any candidate who, in an action or protest in which he is a party, is declared by final decision of a competent court to be guilty of having, or is found by the Commission to have committed the following acts shall be disqualified from continuing as a candidate or, if already elected, from holding office:
  1. Given money or other material consideration to influence or induce voters to vote for or against a candidate, or to abstain from voting, or to corrupt government officials and employees performing election functions;
  2. Committed acts of terrorism to enhance his candidacy;
  3. Spent in his election campaign an amount in excess of that allowed by law;
  4. Solicited, received, or made any contribution prohibited under Secs. 89, 95, 96, 97 and 104 of the Omnibus Election Code;
  5. Violated any of Secs. 83, 86 and 261 (pars. e, k, v and cc, sub par. 6) of the same Code; or
  6. Those who have been elected and served for three (3) consecutive terms in the same position. Voluntary renunciation of office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term for which the elective official was elected.

SECTION 4. Candidates holding appointive or elective office. - Appointive barangay, city/municipal, provincial, regional, or national officials or employees, or those in the civil or military service, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations, shall be considered ipso facto resigned from office and must vacate the same at the start of the day of filing of his certificate of candidacy for a barangay or sangguniang kabataan office.

For incumbent municipal, city, provincial and national elective officials running for any barangay elective position shall also be considered ipso facto resigned upon the filing of their certificates of candidacy.

SECTION 5. Certificate of candidacy. - Any person running as candidate for Punong Barangay, Sangguniang Barangay Kagawad, Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman or Sangguniang Kabataan Kagawad shall file a sworn certificate of candidacy in triplicate in the form attached herein as Annexes "A", "A-1", "B" and "B-1" respectively. The format of the certificate of candidacy may be obtained from the Election Officer, free of charge or may be downloaded from the Comelec website at www.comelec.gov.ph.

The certificate of candidacy shall be filed during regular working hours, from 8:00 o'clock in the morning to 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon, from October 1, 2010 to October 13, 2010, inclusive, with the Office of the Election Officer of the city/municipality concerned. However, on the last day of filing, the Office of the Election Officer shall receive the certificates of candidacy until 12:00 o'clock midnight.

Certificates of candidacy shall be filed personally or through a duly authorized representative who must present a written authorization under oath. No certificate of candidacy shall be filed or accepted by mail, telegram or facsimile.

No person shall be eligible to run for more than one office, that is, Punong Barangay and Barangay Kagawad, and if he files his certificate of candidacy for more than one office, he shall not be eligible for any one of them. However, before the expiration of the period for the filing of certificate of candidacy, the person who has filed a certificate of candidacy for more than one office may declare under oath the office for which he desires to be elected and cancel the certificate of candidacy for the other office.

In cities/municipalities where there are two or more Election Officers, the certificate of calididacy shall be filed with the Office of the Election Officer having jurisdiction over the barangay where he is a candidate.

The Election Officer or any authorized employee receiving the certificate shall record in separate logbooks, the date and time of receipt of the certificates of candidacy of barangay and sangguniang kabataan candidates. The date and time of receipt shall also be indicated in each copy of the certificate of candidacy.

SECTION 6. Contents of certificate of candidacy. - The certificate of candidacy shall contain the following:

• A statement announcing the candidacy of the person filing it;
• The position for which he is a candidate;
• A statement that he is eligible for said position;
• His citizenship, residence and date of birth;
• His post office address for election purpose;
• His profession or occupation;
• A statement that he is eligible for the office he is running for;
• A statement that he will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and maintain true faith and allegiance thereto, and that he will obey the laws and legal orders promulgated by the duly-constituted authorities;
• A declaration that he is not a permanent resident of, or an immigrant to, a foreign country;
• That he assumes the obligations imposed by his oath voluntarily, without mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that the facts stated in the certificate of candidacy are true to the best of his knowledge; and
• Such other data as may be required by the Commission.

Unless a candidate has officially changed his name through a court approved proceeding, a candidate shall use in his certificate of candidacy the name by which he has been baptized, or if he has not been baptized in any church or religion, the name registered in the office of the local civil registrar or any other name allowed under the provisions of existing law or, in the case of a Muslim, his Hadj name after performing the prescribed religious pilgrimage. However, when there are two (2) or more candidates for the same office with the same name and surname, each candidate, upon being made aware of such fact, shall state his paternal and maternal surnames, except an incumbent who may continue to use the name and surname stated in his certificate of candidacy when he was elected. He may also include one (1) nickname or stage name by which he is generally or popularly known in the locality. Titles such as Don, Hadji, Datu, Atty., Dr. or other words of similar import shall not be allowed.

SECTION 7. Certificates of candidacy filed by persons who are not registered voters or those filed through mail, telegram, facsimile. Effect. - Certificates of candidacy of persons who are not registered voters in the barangay where they intend to run; or those filed through mail, telegram or facsimile shall not be accepted. For this purpose, the Election Officer shall issue a Certification to the persons whose certificate of candidacy has not been accepted.

SECTION 8. Distribution of certificates of candidacy and preparation of list of candidates.

• Copies of the certificate of candidacy shall be distributed by the Election Officer as follows:
  1. For Barangay Officials:
     1. First Copy, to the Election Records and Statistics Department, Commission on Elections, Manila;
     2. Second Copy, to be retained by the Election Officer for his file; and
     3. Third Copy, to be retained by the candidate concerned.
  2. For Sangguniang Kabataan Officials:
     1. First copy, to the Election Records and Statistics Department, Commission on Elections, Manila;
     2. Second copy, to be retained by the Election Officer for his file; and
     3. Third copy, to be retained by the candidate concerned.

• Immediately after the last day for the filling of certificates of candidacy, the Election Officer shall prepare a certified consolidated list of all candidates for elective Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials per barangay.
  
• Within two (2) days after the last day for the filing of certificates of candidacy, the Election Officer shall transmit to the Election Records and Statistics Department, Commission on Elections, Manila the following:
  1. a copy of the said list of candidates together with the first copy of the certificates of candidacy of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan candidates; and
  2. a list of persons whose certificates of candidacy were not accepted and the reason/s for non-acceptance.
• At least seven (7) days before election day or not later than October 18, 2010, the Election Officer shall post copies of said lists in the barangay hall and in three, (3) other conspicuous places in the barangay.
• The Election Records and Statistics Department shall acknowledge receipt of said copies and list within two (2) days from receipt thereof.

SECTION 9. Withdrawal of certificate of candidacy. - Any person who has filed a certificate of candidacy may withdraw it at any time before election day. A sworn declaration of withdrawal shall be filed personally, in triplicate with the Office of the Election Officer where the certificate of candidacy was filed. The certificate of candidacy shall be deemed withdrawn upon filing of the sworn declaration of withdrawal.

The declaration of withdrawal shall be distributed in the same manner as the certificates of candidacy, furnishing a copy or copies thereof to the Board(s) of Election Tellers concerned.

The copy for the Election Records and Statistics Department, Commission on Elections, Manila shall be transmitted within twenty-four (24) hours from the filing of the declaration. The Election Records and Statistics Department shall immediately acknowledge receipt thereof.

The filing or withdrawal of a certificate of candidacy shall not affect any civil, criminal or administrative liabilities of the candidate concerned.

SECTION 10. Substitution of candidates. - There shall be no substitution of candidates for sangguniang kabataan elections, but substitution by the spouse shall be allowed for candidates for barangay elections.

The substitute for a candidate who died or suffered permanent incapacity or disqualified by final judgment, may file his certificate of candidacy up to mid-day of election day, 12 o'clock noon of October 25, 2010. If the death or permanent disability should occur between the day before the election and mid-day of election day, the substitute candidate may file the certificate with any Board of Election Tellers (BET) in the political subdivision where he is a candidate.

SECTION 11. Authority of the Election Officer to administer oath. - For purposes of the barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections the Election Officer shall be authorized to administer oaths, free of charge, on all matters related to the conduct of said elections, including the administration of oath to certificates of candidacy.

SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Resolution shall take effect on the seventh day after its publication in two (2) daily newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

SECTION 13. Dissemination. - The Education and Information Department shall cause the immediate publication of this resolution, give the same the widest dissemination possible and furnish copies thereof to all Regional Election Directors, Provincial Election Supervisors and Election Officers.

SO ORDERED

source: comelec.gov.ph

Barangay and SK Election 2010 Calendar of Activities

DATE/PERIOD	ACTIVITIES
Aug 25 - Sep 5	Inspecting of Polling Place.
Aug 31	Last day to file petitions for inclusion or exclusion with proper municipal / metropolitan trial court.
Sep 10	Submission to the Commission by the heads of reaction/ strike forces or similar forces of a complete list of all its members.
Sep 25	Last day to constitute the members of the Board of Election Tellers and members of the Barangay Boards of Canvassers.
Sep 25	Last day of posting the Computerized Voter's List (CVL) for purposes of the Synchronized Elections of Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay Officials.
Sep 25 - Oct 25	Issuance of appointments, promotions, creation of new positions, or giving salary increases in government offices, agencies or instrumentalities.
Sep 25 - Oct 25	Raising of funds thru dances, lotteries, cockfights, etc.
Sep 25 - Nov 10 (30 days before the date of the election and 15 days after)	Alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct.
Oct 1 - Oct 13	Filing of Certificates of Candidacy
Oct 1 - Oct 4	Issuance of notice of inspection and verification of the completeness of the Voters' Registration Records compiled in the Book of Voters for each barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan precinct.
Oct 5 - Oct 10	Inspection and verification of completeness of the Voters' Registration record and sealing of the Book of Voters for each barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan precinct.
Oct 14 - Oct 23	Holding of barangay assemblies and candidates fora.
Oct 18	Last day of filing of disqualification cases against a candidates.
Oct 24	Campaigning
Oct 25	Election Day
	Casting of votes (7:00 AM - 3:00 PM)
	Counting and canvassing of votes (after 3:00 PM)
Oct 30	Filing of sworn statements of election contribution and expenditures.

PNP reminds public election gun ban starts Sept 25

The police are on alert for fake permits to carry firearms as they prepare for the start of the gun ban on Saturday, September 25, exactly a month before the October 25 barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said the gun ban for the October 25 elections will last from September 25 to November 10.

He said only law enforcement agencies in uniform and on duty will be allowed to carry firearms.

Cruz reminded PNP personnel not to take the firearm ban for granted because they will face penalties if they are caught carrying their firearms when they are not in uniform or on duty.

Radio dzBB on Friday said the Philippine National Police advised the public to be wary of fake certifications and fake permits to carry weapons in public.

The PNP reiterated it will strictly implement the gun ban to minimize election-related violence.

The police said the gun ban greatly helped minimize violent incidents related to the May 2010 elections.

Filing of COC's for Barangay and SK Election Starts October 1 to October 13, 2010

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Northeastern Mindanao on Friday announced that the filing of candidacy for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections will run from October 1 to October 13, 2010.

In a command conference with other law enforcement agencies here, the Comelec also announced that the election 45-day gun ban will start on Saturday (Sept. 25).

The Omnibus Election Code mandates that during said period, no person shall bear, carry, or transport firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, including any building, street, park, private vehicle, or public conveyance, even if licensed to possess or carry the same, unless authorized in writing by the Comelec.

The issuance of firearms licenses is also suspended during the election period.

Only regular members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) and other law enforcement agencies of the Government who are duly deputized in writing by the Comelec for election duty may be authorized to carry and possess firearms during the election period, the Election Omnibus Election Code said.

Comelec officials in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region) led by Director Francisco Pobe said city, provincial and municipal Comelec registrars will start accepting the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of applicants aspiring for Barangay and SK seats from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on said dates.

The officials to be elected on October 25 for the Barangay polls include a Punong Barangay and 7 Barangay Kagawads while a Chairman and seven 7 Kagawads for the SK polls.

Under Comelec Resolution 9029, candidates for the Barangay elections must be: Filipino citizens; at least 18 years old on election day; able to read and write Filipino or any local language or dialect; and registered voters of the Barangay where they intend to run for office and residents thereof for at least 1 year immediately preceding the day of the election.

On the other hand, qualified to run for the SK polls are: Filipino citizens, at least 15 years old but less than 18 years old on Election Day; able to read and write Filipino, English or the local dialect; qualified voters of the Katipunan ng Kabataan of the Barangay where they intend to run for office and residents thereof at least 1 year immediately preceding the election; and must not have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.

Meanwhile, the Comelec slated October 14 until October 23, 2010 as the campaign period.

According to the poll body, voters can cast their votes from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 25, 2010 while the counting and canvassing of votes will immediately start after the casting of votes.

He said the government has contingency plans in the event of any untoward incident during the election day and assured that the "peace and order in this region is manageable.”

The region’s poll official added that government security forces are set to be deployed in certain areas considered as “immediate concern”, particularly in Surigao.

In a related development, top police and military commanders in Northeastern Mindanao pledged on Friday to closely coordinate each other to help the Comelec in the implementation of the election laws, rules and regulations.

The AFP and PNP are both tasked to assist the Comelec on election duties.

Chief Supt. Reynaldo S. Rafal, regional director of PRO 13 and Brig. Gen. Emiliano R. Gupana ll, commanding general of the Army’s 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade to strictly enforce the “gun ban” drive and continue dismantling crime group in the area to maintain peaceful and orderly election in the forth-coming barangay and SK elections.

Comelec Accredits PPCRV as Citizens Arm for Barangay and SK Election

Catholic Church-backed poll watchdog group Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) will again serve as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) official citizens’ arm in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls on October 25.

This following the approval of the PPCRV’s petition for accreditation by the Comelec last September 21, 2010.

“The petitioner’s participation during the past electoral exercises, including the recently concluded May 10, 2010 Automated National and Local Elections, and its commitment towards honest, clean, credible and peaceful elections are commendable,” the Comelec resolution read.

“Much more commendable are its present efforts to provide assistance to voters with disabilities in connection with the upcoming Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections set on October 25, 2010,” it furthered.

As the Comelec’s citizens’ arm, the PPCRV must perform the following duties: conduct poll watching in various precincts and provide voter’s assistance, including assistance to Persons with Disability (PWD) and assist the Commission in voter’s information and values education in every municipality, province and city including highly urbanized cities.

The Commission, on the other hand, will furnish PPCRV with a soft copy of the Computerized Voter’s List (CVLs) for the effective discharge of its responsibility, particularly on the aspect of Voter’s Assistance; furnish PPCRV free of charge with the fourth (4th) copy of the Election Return for the conduct of an internal unofficial count; authorize PPCRV to undertake a widespread stakeholder education and training program to educate the public and fully inform the electorate about the forthcoming October 25, 2010 Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections and inculcate values on honest, peaceful, orderly and informed elections.

Statement of President Aquino on the Quirino Grandstand hostage taking incident

STATEMENT of His Excellency BENIGNO S. AQUINO III President of the Philippines

On the hostage-taking incident at the Quirino Grandstand
With the rest of the Filipino people, I wish to offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims whose lives were lost in the hostage situation at the Quirino Grandstand. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs has conveyed our deep feelings of sorrow to the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China and the people of Hong Kong through Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang. I have tasked Secretaries Soliman and Lim to provide everything necessary for the recovery and return home of the survivors. I have directed the fullest cooperation with the Hong Kong authorities on the part of our officials.

From the onset of this incident, the hostage-taker seemed to not be belligerent, as shown by the release of hostages. These were encouraging signs.

We were going to wait him out. The idea was to let the ground commanders who are the experts in this field handle the operation with minimal interference from people who are less expert.

But the situation deteriorated rapidly when, during the course of the negotiations, he was given the letter of the Ombudsman in which she promised to personally review his case. As he was reading the contents of the letter, while talking to an unknown individual on the phone, he became increasingly agitated.

The presence of his brother also added to the tension.

At this point, he threatened to kill a hostage. The police decided to remove the brother from the scene. As the negotiators were departing, the negotiators were shot at.

Media coverage of his brother being taken into custody further agitated the hostage-taker.

Shots were fired. They seemed to be warning shots, as there was no audible indication of tumult or chaos to show that the hostages were in immediate danger.

Nonetheless, the negotiators tried to reestablish contact the hostage-taker but they were unsuccessful as the cellphone of the hostage-taker was continuously busy. He also refused to answer the throw-phone provided for him by the authorities.

The escape of the driver, combined with his reports that the hostages were being harmed, forced the assault to happen. When the vehicle began to move, and with reports that he had hand grenades, a decision was made to immobilize the vehicle as it would have made the situation even more dangerous.

As we know, the incident tragically ended in the deaths of eight innocent civilians.

We expect more of the facts to come to light and I have ordered Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to thoroughly lead this review.

Filipinos mark momentous death of Cory Aquino

The Philippines will mark on Sunday one year since the death of democracy heroine Corazon Aquino, a momentous event that is still being felt as it propelled her son to the presidency.

The massive outpouring of sympathy after Aquino died from colon cancer at 76 prompted her son, Benigno, who was then an undistinguished legislator, to run for the nation's top job and ultimately win elections in a landslide.

"We have felt the impact of her death. The entire nation united to vote for President Noynoy Aquino," said current Vice President Jejomar Binay, a longtime supporter of Corazon Aquino who was popularly known by her nickname, Cory.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, another follower of the late president, said her trademark characteristics of honesty and simplicity were guiding the new administration in its infancy.

"She is a large part of our history, not just for what she did for us but for where she is leading us. Her example and legacy are what we are continuing today," Robredo said.

Sunday's anniversary will be marked with a mass and tribute at a Catholic school where Aquino's wake was held last year, and thousands of people lined up in the hot sun for hours to pay their last respects to her.

A giant television screen will be set up so more supporters can witness the ceremony, dubbed: "Her Legacy, Our Promise".

It will include a short program on her life and a speech by her son, who took office on June 30 replacing the highly unpopular Gloria Arroyo.

From housewife to democracy icon

Cory Aquino had no political ambitions and was happy just to play housewife for Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino -- father and namesake of the new president.

But when then-president Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in 1972, he cracked down on all opposition figures including Ninoy Aquino. This culminated in Ninoy Aquino's assassination by Marcos troops in 1983.

In the wake of the killing, the fragmented opposition finally united behind the widow of the martyred Ninoy, and she reluctantly agreed to lead them.

She ran for president against Marcos in the 1986 elections, campaigning to end his one-man rule and the widespread corruption of his regime.

Rampant election cheating by Marcos forces triggered a popular revolt that toppled him from power and installed the housewife as president.

During her 6 years in office, Aquino restored democracy and earned a reputation for personal honesty and modesty.

"There is genuine affection by the people for her. Among all the past presidents... Cory is best remembered. She was a housewife who had the courage to stand up to Marcos," said business leader Alberto Fenix.

Her death changed the political landscape, said Prospero de Vera, political analyst at the state-run University of the Philippines.

"It was a major turning point in the viability of a Noynoy candidacy," he told AFP, referring to the current president by his nickname.

After her death, surveys found skyrocketing support for Noynoy Aquino to run for president. Before that, he was not even considered a contender.

While Noynoy Aquino may owe much of his presidency to his mother, de Vera said the widespread reverence for her would not protect him if he stumbled as leader.

"People are slowly differentiating between Cory and Noynoy as the current administration begins its term," de Vera said.

"Even if Corazon Aquino remains popular, if Noynoy Aquino does not deliver, you will see a decline in the ratings of the new president."

(SONA) State of the Nation Address of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III (transcript)

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Vice President Jejomar Binay; Chief Justice Renato Corona; Former Presidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; distinguished members of the diplomatic corps; my fellow workers in government;

Mga minamahal kong kababayan:

Sa bawat sandali po ng pamamahala ay nahaharap tayo sa isang sangandaan.

Sa isang banda po ay ang pagpili para sa ikabubuti ng taumbayan. Ang pagtanaw sa interes ng nakakarami; at pagkapit sa prinsipyo; at ang pagiging tapat sa sinumpaan nating tungkulin bilang lingkod-bayan. Ito po ang tuwid na daan.

Sa kabilang banda ay ang pag-una sa pansariling interes. Ang pagpapaalipin sa pulitikal na konsiderasyon, at pagsasakripisyo ng kapakanan ng taumbayan. Ito po ang baluktot na daan.

Matagal pong naligaw ang pamahalaan sa daang baluktot. Araw-araw po, lalong lumilinaw sa akin ang lawak ng problemang ating namana. Damang-dama ko ang bigat ng aking responsibilidad.

Sa unang tatlong linggo ng aming panunungkulan, marami po kaming natuklasan. Nais ko pong ipahayag sa inyo ang iilan lamang sa mga namana nating suliranin at ang ginagawa naming hakbang para lutasin ang mga ito.

Sulyap lamang po ito; hindi pa ito ang lahat ng problemang haharapin natin. Inilihim at sadyang iniligaw ang sambayanan sa totoong kalagayan ng ating bansa.

Sa unang anim na buwan ng taon, mas malaki ang ginastos ng gobyerno kaysa sa pumasok na kita. Lalong lumaki ang deficit natin, na umakyat na sa 196.7 billion pesos. Sa target na kuleksyon, kinapos tayo ng 23.8 billion pesos; ang tinataya namang gastos, nalagpasan lang natin ng 45.1 billion pesos.

Ang budget po sa 2010 ay 1.54 trillion pesos.

Nasa isandaang bilyong piso o anim at kalahating porsyento na lang ng kabuuan ang malaya nating magagamit para sa nalalabing anim na buwan ng taong ito.

Halos isang porsyento na lang po ng kabuuang budget ang natitira para sa bawat buwan.

Saan naman po dinala ang pera?

Naglaan ng dalawang bilyong piso na Calamity Fund bilang paghahanda para sa mga kalamidad na hindi pa nangyayari. Napakaliit na nga ng pondong ito, ngunit kapapasok pa lang natin sa panahon ng baha at bagyo, 1.4 billion pesos o sitenta porsyento (70%) na ang nagastos.

Sa kabuuan ng 108 million pesos para sa lalawigan ng Pampanga, 105 million pesos nito ay napunta sa iisang distrito lamang.

Samantala, ang lalawigan ng Pangasinan na sinalanta ng Pepeng ay nakatanggap ng limang milyong piso (P5M) lamang para sa pinsalang idinulot ng bagyong Cosme, na nangyari noong 2008 pa.

Ibinigay po ang pondo ng Pampanga sa buwan ng eleksyon, pitong buwan pagkatapos ng Ondoy at Pepeng. Paano kung bumagyo bukas? Inubos na ang pondo nito para sa bagyong nangyari noong isang taon pa. Pagbabayaran ng kinabukasan ang kasakiman ng nakaraan.

Ganyan din po ang nangyari sa pondo ng MWSS. Kamakailan lamang, pumipila ang mga tao para lang makakuha ng tubig. Sa kabila nito, minabuti pa ng liderato ng MWSS na magbigay ng gantimpala sa sarili kahit hindi pa nababayaran ang pensyon ng mga retiradong empleyado.

Noong 2009, ang buong payroll ng MWSS ay 51.4 million pesos. Pero hindi lang naman po ito ang sahod nila; may mga additional allowances at benefits pa sila na aabot sa 160.1 million pesos.

Sa madaling sabi, nakatanggap sila ng 211.5 million pesos noong nakaraang taon.

Beinte-kuwatro porsyento (24%) lang nito ang normal na sahod, at sitenta'y sais porsyento ang dagdag.

Ang karaniwang manggagawa hanggang 13th month pay plus cash gift lang ang nakukuha.

Sa MWSS, aabot sa katumbas ng mahigit sa tatlumpung buwan ang sahod kasama na ang lahat ng mga bonuses at allowances na nakuha nila.

Mas matindi po ang natuklasan natin sa pasahod ng kanilang Board of Trustees. Tingnan po natin ang mga allowances na tinatanggap nila:

Umupo ka lang sa Board of Trustees at Board Committee meeting, katorse mil na. Aabot ng nobenta'y otso mil ito kada buwan. May grocery incentive pa sila na otsenta mil kada taon.

Hindi lang iyon: may mid-year bonus, productivity bonus, anniversary bonus, year-end bonus, at Financial Assistance. May Christmas bonus na, may Additional Christmas Package pa. Kada isa sa mga ito, nobenta'y otso mil.

Sa suma total po, aabot ang lahat ng dalawa't kalahating milyong piso kada taon sa bawat miyembro ng Board maliban sa pakotse, technical assistance, at pautang. Uulitin ko po. Lahat ng ito ay ibinibigay nila sa kanilang mga sarili habang hindi pa nababayaran ang mga pensyon ng kanilang mga retirees.

Pati po ang La Mesa Watershed ay hindi nila pinatawad. Para magkaroon ng tamang supply ng tubig, kailangang alagaan ang mga watershed. Sa watershed, puno ang kailangan.

Pati po iyon na dapat puno ang nakatayo, tinayuan nila ng bahay para sa matataas na opisyal ng MWSS.

Hindi naman sila agad maaalis sa puwesto dahil kabilang sila sa mga Midnight Appointees ni dating Pangulong Arroyo.

Iniimbestigahan na natin ang lahat nang ito. Kung mayroon pa silang kahit kaunting hiya na natitira - sana kusa na lang silang magbitiw sa puwesto.

Pag-usapan naman po natin ang pondo para sa imprastruktura. Tumukoy ang DPWH ng dalawandaan apatnapu't anim na priority safety projects na popondohan ng Motor Vehicle Users Charge. Mangangailangan po ito ng budget na 425 million pesos.

Ang pinondohan po, dalawampu't walong proyekto lang. Kinalimutan po ang dalawandaan at labing walong proyekto at pinalitan ng pitumpung proyekto na wala naman sa plano. Ang hininging 425 million pesos, naging 480 million pesos pa, lumaki lalo dahil sa mga proyektong sa piling-piling mga benepisyaryo lang napunta.

Mga proyekto po itong walang saysay, hindi pinag-aralan at hindi pinaghandaan, kaya parang kabuteng sumusulpot.

Tapos na po ang panahon para dito. Sa administrasyon po natin, walang kota-kota, walang tongpats, ang pera ng taumbayan ay gagastusin para sa taumbayan lamang.

Meron pa po tayong natuklasan. Limang araw bago matapos ang termino ng nakaraang administrasyon, nagpautos silang maglabas ng 3.5 billion pesos para sa rehabilitasyon ng mga nasalanta nina Ondoy at Pepeng.

Walumpu't anim na proyekto ang paglalaanan dapat nito na hindi na sana idadaan sa public bidding. Labingsiyam sa mga ito na nagkakahalaga ng 981 million pesos ang muntik nang makalusot. Hindi pa nailalabas ang Special Allotment Release Order ay pirmado na ang mga kontrata.

Buti na lang po ay natuklasan at pinigilan ito ni Secretary Rogelio Singson ng DPWH. Ngayon po ay dadaan na ang kabuuan ng 3.5 billion pesos sa tapat na bidding, at magagamit na ang pondo na ito sa pagbibigay ng lingap sa mga nawalan ng tahanan dahil kina Ondoy at Pepeng.

Pag-usapan naman natin ang nangyari sa NAPOCOR. Noong 2001 hanggang 2004, pinilit ng gobyerno ang NAPOCOR na magbenta ng kuryente nang palugi para hindi tumaas ang presyo. Tila ang dahilan: pinaghahandaan na nila ang eleksyon.

Dahil dito, noong 2004, sumagad ang pagkakabaon sa utang ng NAPOCOR. Napilitan ang pambansang gobyerno na sagutin ang dalawandaang bilyong pisong utang nito.

Ang inakala ng taumbayan na natipid nila sa kuryente ay binabayaran din natin mula sa kaban ng bayan. May gastos na tayo sa kuryente, binabayaran pa natin ang dagdag na pagkakautang ng gobyerno.

Kung naging matino ang pag-utang, sana'y nadagdagan ang ating kasiguruhan sa supply ng kuryente. Pero ang desisyon ay ibinatay sa maling pulitika, at hindi sa pangangailangan ng taumbayan. Ang taumbayan, matapos pinagsakripisyo ay lalo pang pinahihirapan.

Ganito rin po ang nangyari sa MRT. Sinubukan na namang bilhin ang ating pagmamahal. Pinilit ang operator na panatilihing mababa ang pamasahe.

Hindi tuloy nagampanan ang garantiyang ibinigay sa operator na mababawi nila ang kanilang puhunan. Dahil dito, inutusan ang Landbank at Development Bank of the Philippines na bilhin ang MRT.

Ang pera ng taumbayan, ipinagpalit sa isang naluluging operasyon.

Dumako naman po tayo sa pondo ng NFA.

Noong 2004: 117,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply ng Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 900,000 metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit pitong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra pa rin ang binili nila.

Noong 2007: 589,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply sa Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 1.827 million metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit tatlong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra na naman ang binili nila.

Ang masakit nito, dahil sobra-sobra ang binibili nila taun-taon, nabubulok lang pala sa mga kamalig ang bigas, kagaya ng nangyari noong 2008.

Hindi po ba krimen ito, na hinahayaan nilang mabulok ang bigas, sa kabila ng apat na milyong Pilipinong hindi kumakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw?

Ang resulta nito, umabot na sa 171.6 billion pesos ang utang ng NFA noong Mayo ng taong ito.

Ang tinapon na ito, halos puwede na sanang pondohan ang mga sumusunod:

Ang budget ng buong Hudikatura, na 12.7 billion pesos sa taong ito.

Ang Conditional Cash Transfers para sa susunod na taon, na nagkakahalaga ng 29.6 billion pesos.

Ang lahat ng classroom na kailangan ng ating bansa, na nagkakahalaga ng 130 billion pesos.

Kasuklam-suklam ang kalakarang ito. Pera na, naging bato pa.

Narinig po ninyo kung paano nilustay ang kaban ng bayan. Ang malinaw po sa ngayon: ang anumang pagbabago ay magmumula sa pagsiguro natin na magwawakas na ang pagiging maluho at pagwawaldas.

Kaya nga po mula ngayon: ititigil na natin ang paglulustay sa salapi ng bayan.

Tatanggalin natin ang mga proyektong mali.

Ito po ang punto ng tinatawag nating zero-based approach sa ating budget. Ang naging kalakaran po, taun-taon ay inuulit lamang ang budget na puno ng tagas. Dadagdagan lang nang konti, puwede na.

Sa susunod na buwan ay maghahain tayo ng budget na kumikilala nang tama sa mga problema, at magtutuon din ng pansin sa tamang solusyon.

Ilan lang ito sa mga natuklasan nating problema. Heto naman po ang ilang halimbawa ng mga hakbang na ginagawa natin.

Nandiyan po ang kaso ng isang may-ari ng sanglaan. Bumili siya ng sasakyang tinatayang nasa dalawampu't anim na milyong piso ang halaga.

Kung kaya mong bumili ng Lamborghini, bakit hindi mo kayang magbayad ng buwis?

Nasampahan na po ito ng kaso. Sa pangunguna nina Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares at Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez, bawat linggo po ay may bago tayong kasong isinasampa kontra sa mga smuggler at sa mga hindi nagbabayad ng tamang buwis.

Natukoy na rin po ang salarin sa mga kaso nina Francisco Baldomero, Jose Daguio at Miguel Belen, tatlo sa anim na insidente ng extralegal killings mula nang umupo tayo.

Singkuwenta porsyento po ng mga insidente ng extralegal killings na nangyari sa maikling taon ng ating panunungkulan ang patungo na sa kanilang resolusyon.

Ang natitira pong kalahati ay hindi natin tatantanan ang pag-usig hanggang makamit ang katarungan.

Pananagutin natin ang mga mamamatay-tao. Pananagutin din natin ang mga corrupt sa gobyerno.

Nagsimula nang mabuo ang ating Truth Commission, sa pangunguna ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide. Hahanapin natin ang katotohanan sa mga nangyari diumanong katiwalian noong nakaraang siyam na taon.

Sa loob ng linggong ito, pipirmahan ko ang kauna-unahang Executive Order na nagtatalaga sa pagbuo nitong Truth Commission.

Kung ang sagot sa kawalan ng katarungan ay pananagutan, ang sagot naman sa kakulangan natin sa pondo ay mga makabago at malikhaing paraan para tugunan ang mga pagkatagal-tagal nang problema.

Napakarami po ng ating pangangailangan: mula sa edukasyon, imprastruktura, pangkalusugan, pangangailangan ng militar at kapulisan, at marami pang iba. Hindi kakasya ang pondo para mapunan ang lahat ng ito.

Kahit gaano po kalaki ang kakulangan para mapunuan ang mga listahan ng ating pangangailangan, ganado pa rin ako dahil marami nang nagpakita ng panibagong interes at kumpyansa sa Pilipinas.

Ito ang magiging solusyon: mga Public-Private Partnerships. Kahit wala pa pong pirmahang nangyayari dito, masasabi kong maganda ang magiging bunga ng maraming usapin (ukol ditto).

May mga nagpakita na po ng interes, gustong magtayo ng expressway na mula Maynila, tatahak ng Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, hanggang sa dulo ng Cagayan Valley nang hindi gugugol ang estado kahit na po piso.

Sa larangan ng ating Sandatahang Lakas:

Mayroon po tayong 36,000 nautical miles na baybayin. Ang mayroon lamang tayo: tatlumpu't dalawang barko. Itong mga barkong ito, panahon pa ni General MacArthur.

May nagmungkahi sa atin, ito ang proposisyon: uupahan po nila ang headquarters ng Navy sa Roxas Boulevard at ang Naval Station sa Fort Bonifacio.

Sagot po nila ang paglipat ng Navy Headquarters sa Camp Aguinaldo. Agaran, bibigyan tayo ng isandaang milyong dolyar. At dagdag pa sa lahat nang iyan, magsusubi pa sila sa atin ng kita mula sa mga negosyong itatayo nila sa uupahan nilang lupa.

Sa madali pong sabi: Makukuha natin ang kailangan natin, hindi tatayo gagastos, kikita pa tayo.

Marami na pong nag-alok at nagmungkahi sa atin, mula lokal hanggang dayuhang negosyante, na magpuno ng iba't ibang pangangailangan.

Mula sa mga public-private partnerships na ito, lalago ang ating ekonomiya, at bawat Pilipino makikinabang. Napakaraming sektor na matutulungan nito.

Maipapatayo na po ang imprastrukturang kailangan natin para palaguin ang turismo.

Sa agrikultura, makapagtatayo na tayo ng mga grains terminals, refrigeration facilities, maayos na road networks at post-harvest facilities.

Kung maisasaayos natin ang ating food supply chain sa tulong ng pribadong sektor, sa halip na mag-angkat tayo ay maari na sana tayong mangarap na mag-supply sa pandaigdigang merkado.

Kung maitatayo ang minumungkahi sa ating mga railway system, bababa ang presyo ng bilihin. Mas mura, mas mabilis, mas maginhawa, at makakaiwas pa sa kotong cops at mga kumokotong na rebelde ang mga bumibiyahe.

Paalala lang po: una sa ating plataporma ang paglikha ng mga trabaho, at nanggagaling ang trabaho sa paglago ng industriya. Lalago lamang ang industriya kung gagawin nating mas malinis, mas mabilis, at mas maginhawa ang proseso para sa mga gustong magnegosyo.

Pabibilisin natin ang proseso ng mga proyektong sumasailalim sa Build-Operate-Transfer. Sa tulong ng lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno at ng mga mamamayan, pabababain natin sa anim na buwan ang proseso na noon ay inaabot ng taon kung hindi dekada.

May mga hakbang na rin pong sinisimulan ang DTI, sa pamumuno ni Secretary Gregory Domingo:

Ang walang-katapusang pabalik-balik sa proseso ng pagrehistro ng pangalan ng kumpanya, na kada dalaw ay umaabot ng apat hanggang walong oras, ibababa na natin sa labinlimang minuto.

Ang dating listahan ng tatlumpu't anim na dokumento, ibababa natin sa anim. Ang dating walong pahinang application form, ibababa natin sa isang pahina.

Nananawagan ako sa ating mga LGUs. Habang naghahanap tayo ng paraan para gawing mas mabilis ang pagbubukas ng mga negosyo, pag-aralan din sana nila ang kanilang mga proseso. Kailangan itong gawing mas mabilis, at kailangan itong itugma sa mga sinisumulan nating reporma.

Negosyante, sundalo, rebelde, at karaniwang Pilipino, lahat po makikinabang dito. Basta po hindi dehado ang Pilipino, papasukin po natin lahat iyan.

Kailangan na po nating simulan ang pagtutulungan para makamit ito. Huwag nating pahirapan ang isa't isa.

Parating na po ang panahon na hindi na natin kailangang mamili sa pagitan ng seguridad ng ating mamamayan o sa kinabukasan ng inyong mga anak.

Oras na maipatupad ang public-private partnerships na ito, mapopondohan ang mga serbisyong panlipunan, alinsunod sa ating plataporma.

Magkakapondo na po para maipatupad ang mga plano natin sa edukasyon.

Mapapalawak natin ang basic education cycle mula sa napakaikling sampung taon tungo sa global standard na labindalawang taon.

Madadagdagan natin ang mga classroom. Mapopondohan natin ang service contracting sa ilalim ng GASTPE.

Pati ang conditional cash transfers, na magbabawas ng pabigat sa bulsa ng mga pamilya, madadagdan na rin ng pondo.

Maipapatupad ang plano natin sa PhilHealth.

Una, tutukuyin natin ang tunay na bilang ng mga nangangailangan nito. Sa ngayon, hindi magkakatugma ang datos. Sabi ng PhilHealth sa isang bibig, walumpu't pitong porsyento na raw ang merong coverage. Sa kabilang bibig naman, singkuwenta'y tres porsyento. Ayon naman sa National Statistics Office, tatlumpu't walong porsyento ang may coverage.

Ngayon pa lang, kumikilos na si Secretary Dinky Soliman at ang DSWD upang ipatupad ang National Household Targetting System, na magtutukoy sa mga pamilyang higit na nagangailangan ng tulong. Tinatayang siyam na bilyon ang kailangan para mabigyan ng PhilHealth ang limang milyong pinakamaralitang pamilyang Pilipino.

Napakaganda po ng hinaharap natin. Kasama na po natin ang pribadong sektor, at kasama na rin natin ang League of Provinces, sa pangunguna nina Governor Alfonso Umali kasama sina Governor L-Ray Villafuerte at Governor Icot Petilla. Handa na pong makipagtulungan para makibahagi sa pagtustos ng mga gastusin. Alam ko rin pong hindi magpapahuli ang League of Cities sa pangunguna ni Mayor Oscar Rodriguez.

Kung ang mga gobyernong lokal ay nakikiramay na sa ating mga adhikain, ang Kongreso namang pinanggalingan ko, siguro naman maasahan ko din.

Nagpakitang-gilas na po ang gabinete sa pagtukoy ng ating mga problema at sa paglulunsad ng mga solusyon sa loob lamang ng tatlong linggo.

Nang bagyo pong Basyang, ang sabi sa atin ng mga may prangkisa sa kuryente, apat na araw na walang kuryente. Dahil sa mabilis na pagkilos ni Secretary Rene Almendras at ng Department of Energy, naibalik ang kuryente sa halos lahat sa loob lamang ng beinte-kwatro oras.

Ito pong sinasabing kakulangan sa tubig sa Metro Manila, kinilusan agad ni Secretary Rogelio Singson at ng DPWH. Hindi na siya naghintay ng utos, kaya nabawasan ang perwisyo.

Nakita na rin natin ang gilas ng mga hinirang nating makatulong sa Gabinete. Makatuwiran naman po sigurong umasa na hindi na sila padadaanin sa butas ng karayom para makumpirma ng Commission on Appointments. Kung mangyayari po ito, marami pa sa mga mahuhusay na Pilipino ang maeengganyong magsilbi sa gobyerno.

Sa lalong madaling panahon po, uupo na tayo sa LEDAC at pag-uusapan ang mga mahahalagang batas na kailangan nating ipasa. Makakaasa kayo na mananatiling bukas ang aking isipan, at ang ating ugnayan ay mananatiling tapat.

Isinusulong po natin ang Fiscal Responsibility Bill, kung saan hindi tayo magpapasa ng batas na mangangailangan ng pondo kung hindi pa natukoy ang panggagalingan nito. May 104.1 billion pesos tayong kailangan para pondohan ang mga batas na naipasa na, ngunit hindi maipatupad.

Kailangan din nating isaayos ang mga insentibong piskal na ibinigay noong nakaraan. Ngayong naghihigpit tayo ng sinturon, kailangang balikan kung alin sa mga ito ang dapat manatili at kung ano ang dapat nang itigil.

Huwag po tayong pumayag na magkaroon ng isa pang NBN-ZTE. Sa lokal man o dayuhan manggagaling ang pondo, dapat dumaan ito sa tamang proseso. Hinihingi ko po ang tulong ninyo upang amiyendahan ang ating Procurement Law.

Ayon po sa Saligang Batas, tungkulin ng estado ang siguruhing walang lamangan sa merkado. Bawal ang monopolya, bawal ang mga cartel na sasakal sa kumpetisyon. Kailangan po natin ng isang Anti-Trust Law na magbibigay-buhay sa mga prinsipyong ito. Ito ang magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga Small- at Medium-scale Enterprises na makilahok at tumulong sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya.

Ipasa na po natin ang National Land Use Bill.

Una rin pong naging batas ng Commonwealth ang National Defense Act, na ipinasa noon pang 1935. Kailangan nang palitan ito ng batas na tutugon sa pangangailangan ng pambansang seguridad sa kasalukuyan.

Nakikiusap po akong isulong ang Whistleblower's Bill upang patuloy nang iwaksi ang kultura ng takot at pananahimik.

Palalakasin pa lalo ang Witness Protection Program. Alalahanin po natin na noong taong 2009 hanggang 2010, may nahatulan sa 95% ng mga kaso kung saan may witness na sumailalim sa programang ito.
Kailangang repasuhin ang ating mga batas. Nanawagan po akong umpisahan na ang rekodipikasyon ng ating mga batas, upang siguruhing magkakatugma sila at hindi salu-salungat.

Ito pong mga batas na ito ang batayan ng kaayusan, ngunit ang pundasyon ng lahat ng ginagawa natin ay ang prinsipyong wala tayong mararating kung walang kapayapaan at katahimikan.

Dalawa ang hinaharap nating suliranin sa usapin ng kapayapaan: ang situwasyon sa Mindanao, at ang patuloy na pag-aaklas ng CPP-NPA-NDF.

Tungkol sa situwasyon sa Mindanao: Hindi po nagbabago ang ating pananaw. Mararating lamang ang kapayapaan at katahimikan kung mag-uusap ang lahat ng apektado: Moro, Lumad, at Kristiyano. Inatasan na natin si Dean Marvic Leonen na mangasiwa sa ginagawa nating pakikipag-usap sa MILF.

Iiwasan natin ang mga pagkakamaling nangyari sa nakaraang administrasyon, kung saan binulaga na lang ang mga mamamayan ng Mindanao. Hindi tayo puwedeng magbulag-bulagan sa mga dudang may kulay ng pulitika ang proseso, at hindi ang kapakanan ng taumbayan ang tanging interes.

Kinikilala natin ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng MILF sa pamamagitan ng pagdidisplina sa kanilang hanay. Inaasahan natin na muling magsisimula ang negosasyon pagkatapos ng Ramadan.

Tungkol naman po sa CPP-NPA-NDF: handa na ba kayong maglaan ng kongkretong mungkahi, sa halip na pawang batikos lamang?

Kung kapayapaan din ang hangad ninyo, handa po kami sa malawakang tigil-putukan. Kayo po ba ay handa na din? Mag-usap tayo.

Mahirap magsimula ang usapan habang mayroon pang amoy ng pulbura sa hangin. Nananawagan ako: huwag po natin hayaang masayang ang napakagandang pagkakataong ito upang magtipon sa ilalim ng iisang adhikain.

Kapayapaan at katahimikan po ang pundasyon ng kaunlaran. Habang nagpapatuloy ang barilan, patuloy din ang pagkakagapos natin sa kahirapan.

Dapat din po nating mabatid: ito ay panahon ng sakripisyo. At ang sakripisyong ito ay magiging puhunan para sa ating kinabukasan. Kaakibat ng ating mga karapatan at kalayaan ay ang tungkulin natin sa kapwa at sa bayan.

Inaasahan ko po ang ating mga kaibigan sa media, lalo na sa radyo at sa print, sa mga nagbablock-time, at sa community newspapers, kayo na po mismo ang magbantay sa inyong hanay.

Mabigyang-buhay sana ang mga batayang prinsipyo ng inyong bokasyon: ang magbigay-linaw sa mahahalagang isyu; ang maging patas at makatotohanan, at ang itaas ang antas ng pampublikong diskurso.

Tungkulin po ng bawat Pilipino na tutukan ang mga pinunong tayo rin naman ang nagluklok sa puwesto. Humakbang mula sa pakikialam tungo sa pakikilahok. Dahil ang nakikialam, walang-hanggan ang reklamo.

Ang nakikilahok, nakikibahagi sa solusyon.

Napakatagal na pong namamayani ang pananaw na ang susi sa asenso ay ang intindihin ang sarili kaysa intindihin ang kapwa. Malinaw po sa akin: paano tayo aasenso habang nilalamangan ang kapwa?

Ang hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataong mag-aral, paanong makakakuha ng trabaho? Kung walang trabaho, paanong magiging konsumer? Paanong mag-iimpok sa bangko?

Ngunit kung babaliktarin natin ang pananaw-kung iisipin nating "Dadagdagan ko ang kakayahan ng aking kapwa"-magbubunga po ito, at ang lahat ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataon.

Maganda na po ang nasimulan natin. At mas lalong maganda po ang mararating natin. Ngunit huwag nating kalimutan na mayroong mga nagnanasang hindi tayo magtagumpay. Dahil kapag hindi tayo
nagtagumpay, makakabalik na naman sila sa kapangyarihan, at sa pagsasamantala sa taumbayan.

Akin pong paniwala na Diyos at taumbayan ang nagdala sa ating kinalalagyan ngayon. Habang nakatutok tayo sa kapakanan ng ating kapwa, bendisyon at patnubay ay tiyak na maaasahan natin sa Poong Maykapal. At kapag nanalig tayo na ang kasangga natin ay ang Diyos, mayroon ba tayong hindi kakayanin?

Ang mandato nating nakuha sa huling eleksyon ay patunay na umaasa pa rin ang Pilipino sa pagbabago. Iba na talaga ang situwasyon. Puwede na muling mangarap. Tayo nang tumungo sa katuparan ng ating mga pinangarap.

Maraming salamat po.