In an apparent jab at Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, actress-TV host Kris Aquino said her brother Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has an undefeated record in politics, while the "Pinoy sports icon" still has to prove that people want him in public office.
The actress, who is actively campaigning for her brother, said in her Twitter account that she has seen the TV endorsement of a “Pinoy sports icon” indirectly claiming her brother has not proven his real worth in politics.
Kris was referring to Pacquiao, who is endorsing Aquino’s rival, Sen. Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party.
“In politics, Noy has won 3 straight terms sa Congress and won almost 15 million votes sa senatorial [race] in 2007,” she Tweeted last Thursday.
“How sad na he didn't think na in politics, knock out nga s’ya,” she added.
Kris was referring to Pacquiao’s failed first attempt in politics, when he ran against Darlene Antonino-Custodio for a congressional seat in South Cotabato in May 2007.
Kris also said that unlike the “sports icon,” her brother has already proven that voters want him as a public servant by winning all the elections he has entered.
“In politics, si Noy ang may napatunayan because Noy has never lost an election! Ika nga, undefeated ang record n'ya,” said the actress.
Pacquiao, who is running against Roy Chiongbian, who, like Antonino-Custodio, comes from an influential political family, shrugged off Kris’ comment.
“Dapat hindi na siya maki-alam… dapat walang siraan,” he said.
The boxing superstar said that he is confident he will win this time around.
“Panatag ako na mananalo,” he said.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Pulse Asia's April 2010 Senatoriables Survey
Senators Ramon B. Revilla, Jr. and Jinggoy E. Estrada maintain their lead in the senatorial race; only 37% of Filipino registered voters have a complete senatorial line-up for the May 2010 elections
Of the 61 individuals running for senator, 18 have a statistical chance of winning if the May 2010 elections were held during the survey period. Five of the probable winners are from the Liberal Party (LP), three from either the Nacionalista Party (NP) or the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), and two are with the Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD). Four political parties have one probable winner each – Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), and People’s Reform Party (PRP) – while one probable winner is running as an independent candidate.
Two incumbent lawmakers – Senators Revilla and Estrada – continue to lead the senatorial race with 52.8% and 50.0% of Filipino registered voters favoring their re-election. These overall voter preferences translate to statistical rankings of 1st to 2nd places for Senator Revilla and 1st to 3rd places for Senator Estrada. Meanwhile, Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago lands in 2nd to 3rd places with 47.9% of registered voters supporting her re-election. Three candidates share 4th to 6th places – incumbent Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (40.6%), former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon (38.4%), and Senator Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano (38.1%). Ranked 7th to 9th are former Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairperson Vicente C. Sotto III (32.3%) and former Senator Sergio R. Osmeña (32.2%). With 30.1% of registered voters backing his candidacy, former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Ralph G. Recto lands in 7th to 10th places while Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. gets the support of 27.7% of registered voters for a statistical ranking of 9th to 10th places.
Completing the list of likely winners are Bukidnon Representative Teofisto D. Guingona III (23.0% and 11th to 15th), Senator Manuel M. Lapid (21.0% and 11th to 18th), Akbayan Party-List Representative Ana Theresia H. Hontiveros-Baraquel (20.2% and 11th to 18th), Mr. Jose P. de Venecia III (19.6% and 11th to 19th), Atty. Gwendolyn D. Pimentel (19.2% and 11th to 20th), former Cavite Representative Gilbert Cesar C. Remulla (18.7% and 12th to 20th), Colonel Ariel O. Querubin (17.5% and 12th to 20th), and Muntinlupa Representative Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon (17.3% and 12th to 20th).
Of the 61 individuals running for senator, 18 have a statistical chance of winning if the May 2010 elections were held during the survey period. Five of the probable winners are from the Liberal Party (LP), three from either the Nacionalista Party (NP) or the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), and two are with the Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD). Four political parties have one probable winner each – Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), and People’s Reform Party (PRP) – while one probable winner is running as an independent candidate.
Two incumbent lawmakers – Senators Revilla and Estrada – continue to lead the senatorial race with 52.8% and 50.0% of Filipino registered voters favoring their re-election. These overall voter preferences translate to statistical rankings of 1st to 2nd places for Senator Revilla and 1st to 3rd places for Senator Estrada. Meanwhile, Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago lands in 2nd to 3rd places with 47.9% of registered voters supporting her re-election. Three candidates share 4th to 6th places – incumbent Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (40.6%), former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon (38.4%), and Senator Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano (38.1%). Ranked 7th to 9th are former Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairperson Vicente C. Sotto III (32.3%) and former Senator Sergio R. Osmeña (32.2%). With 30.1% of registered voters backing his candidacy, former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Ralph G. Recto lands in 7th to 10th places while Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. gets the support of 27.7% of registered voters for a statistical ranking of 9th to 10th places.
Completing the list of likely winners are Bukidnon Representative Teofisto D. Guingona III (23.0% and 11th to 15th), Senator Manuel M. Lapid (21.0% and 11th to 18th), Akbayan Party-List Representative Ana Theresia H. Hontiveros-Baraquel (20.2% and 11th to 18th), Mr. Jose P. de Venecia III (19.6% and 11th to 19th), Atty. Gwendolyn D. Pimentel (19.2% and 11th to 20th), former Cavite Representative Gilbert Cesar C. Remulla (18.7% and 12th to 20th), Colonel Ariel O. Querubin (17.5% and 12th to 20th), and Muntinlupa Representative Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon (17.3% and 12th to 20th).
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Vice Presidentiables Pulse Asia April 2010 Pre-Election Survey
The vice-presidential race is now between Senator Manuel A. Roxas II and Makati City Mayor Jejomar C. Binay (37% versus 28%)
Despite a 6-percentage point decline in his overall voter preference during the period March to April 2010, Senator Roxas still has the lead in the vice-presidential race with 37% of registered voters supporting his candidacy. However, the 20-percentage point lead enjoyed by the latter over Senator Loren B. Legarda in March 2010 (43% versus 23%) has now been reduced to a 9-percentage point lead over Makati City Mayor Binay (37% versus 28%). Riding on a 9-percentage point gain in electoral support, the Makati City Mayor now finds himself in second place in the vice-presidential race. On the other hand, Senator Legarda, who is now ranked third, is supported by 20% of registered voters – slightly lower than her March 2010 voter preference (23%). The other vice-presidential candidates register voter preferences of at most 3% while 9% of registered voters do not have a preferred candidate for vice-president.
Across geographic areas, Senator Roxas is the leading candidate in Mindanao (38%) and the Visayas (44%). Practically the same voter preferences are recorded by Senator Roxas and Makati City Mayor Binay in Metro Manila (34% versus 38%) and the rest of Luzon (34% versus 29%). Meanwhile, a small majority of those in Class ABC (55%) favors Senator Roxas over the other vice-presidential bets while almost the same percentages of those in Class D support either Senator Roxas or Makati City Mayor Binay (36% versus 30%). Three candidates have the support of about the same percentages of those in Class E – Senator Roxas (32%), Makati City Mayor Binay (27%), and Senator Legarda (24%).
Despite a 6-percentage point decline in his overall voter preference during the period March to April 2010, Senator Roxas still has the lead in the vice-presidential race with 37% of registered voters supporting his candidacy. However, the 20-percentage point lead enjoyed by the latter over Senator Loren B. Legarda in March 2010 (43% versus 23%) has now been reduced to a 9-percentage point lead over Makati City Mayor Binay (37% versus 28%). Riding on a 9-percentage point gain in electoral support, the Makati City Mayor now finds himself in second place in the vice-presidential race. On the other hand, Senator Legarda, who is now ranked third, is supported by 20% of registered voters – slightly lower than her March 2010 voter preference (23%). The other vice-presidential candidates register voter preferences of at most 3% while 9% of registered voters do not have a preferred candidate for vice-president.
Across geographic areas, Senator Roxas is the leading candidate in Mindanao (38%) and the Visayas (44%). Practically the same voter preferences are recorded by Senator Roxas and Makati City Mayor Binay in Metro Manila (34% versus 38%) and the rest of Luzon (34% versus 29%). Meanwhile, a small majority of those in Class ABC (55%) favors Senator Roxas over the other vice-presidential bets while almost the same percentages of those in Class D support either Senator Roxas or Makati City Mayor Binay (36% versus 30%). Three candidates have the support of about the same percentages of those in Class E – Senator Roxas (32%), Makati City Mayor Binay (27%), and Senator Legarda (24%).
Pulse Asia April 2010 Pre-Election Survey for Presidentiables
Senator Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III continues to lead the presidential race (39%)
With almost four in ten Filipino registered voters (39%) supporting his presidential bid, Senator Aquino remains the leading presidential contender in the May 2010 elections. Tied for second place with an overall voter preference of 20% are former President Joseph M. Estrada Ejercito and Senator Manuel B. Villar, Jr. The other presidential hopefuls have the support of at most 7% of registered voters. Less than one in ten registered voters (9%) does not support any presidential candidate.
Senator Aquino leads the other presidential candidates in the rest of Luzon (37%), Metro Manila (39%), and the Visayas (47%), as well as all socio-economic classes (37% to 45%). In Mindanao, nearly the same percentages of registered voters support either Senator Aquino or former President Estrada (36% versus 34%).
Marginal gains in electoral support are enjoyed by Senator Aquino and former President Estrada between March and April 2010 (+2 percentage points). However, a significant decline in voter preference is experienced by Senator Villar during this period (-5 percentage points). The other presidential candidates register nominal/no changes in their respective voter preferences between March and April 2010.
With almost four in ten Filipino registered voters (39%) supporting his presidential bid, Senator Aquino remains the leading presidential contender in the May 2010 elections. Tied for second place with an overall voter preference of 20% are former President Joseph M. Estrada Ejercito and Senator Manuel B. Villar, Jr. The other presidential hopefuls have the support of at most 7% of registered voters. Less than one in ten registered voters (9%) does not support any presidential candidate.
Senator Aquino leads the other presidential candidates in the rest of Luzon (37%), Metro Manila (39%), and the Visayas (47%), as well as all socio-economic classes (37% to 45%). In Mindanao, nearly the same percentages of registered voters support either Senator Aquino or former President Estrada (36% versus 34%).
Marginal gains in electoral support are enjoyed by Senator Aquino and former President Estrada between March and April 2010 (+2 percentage points). However, a significant decline in voter preference is experienced by Senator Villar during this period (-5 percentage points). The other presidential candidates register nominal/no changes in their respective voter preferences between March and April 2010.
Lucy Torres replaces Goma in congressional race
Television host Lucy Torres is replacing her husband, Richard Gomez, following his disqualification in the congressional race in Leyte province.
“We have decided to substitute Lucy to replace me as candidate for congressman in Ormoc and 4th district of Leyte. We will not wait for en banc decision to come out,” said Gomez in a text message to ABS-CBN News.
“That way we will not have to go to the Supreme Court to fight another battle and spend more money, time and effort if we win this election,” he added.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified Gomez after he reportedly failed to establish his residency in Ormoc City, Leyte.
The poll body granted the petition for disqualification filed by Buenaventura Juntilla against Gomez.
Juntilla, a former barangay chairman, pointed out that Gomez did not fulfill the legal requirement that a candidate must be a resident in the area where he intends to run for at least one year.
Gomez, however, disputed Juntilla’s claims, saying he and his family have been living in Ormoc since 2007.
Gomez filed an appeal before the poll body, but the Comelec has yet to act on it.
“We have decided to substitute Lucy to replace me as candidate for congressman in Ormoc and 4th district of Leyte. We will not wait for en banc decision to come out,” said Gomez in a text message to ABS-CBN News.
“That way we will not have to go to the Supreme Court to fight another battle and spend more money, time and effort if we win this election,” he added.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified Gomez after he reportedly failed to establish his residency in Ormoc City, Leyte.
The poll body granted the petition for disqualification filed by Buenaventura Juntilla against Gomez.
Juntilla, a former barangay chairman, pointed out that Gomez did not fulfill the legal requirement that a candidate must be a resident in the area where he intends to run for at least one year.
Gomez, however, disputed Juntilla’s claims, saying he and his family have been living in Ormoc since 2007.
Gomez filed an appeal before the poll body, but the Comelec has yet to act on it.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
SWS: Businessmen want next president to fight corruption
With the election just 12 days away, Filipinos are looking for a president who can fight graft in government.
That and “creating jobs” are the top two criteria of both businessmen and the general public in choosing a president, according to a national survey on perceptions of corruption conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
The no. 3 criteria is fighting poverty - a choice of citizens - or “promoting a good business environment”, the preference of businessmen.
Highlights of the survey were discussed yesterday in a briefing hosted by the Cebu Business Club.
A random sample of 550 business managers, including 100 from Cebu, were interviewed between Nov. 3 and Dec. 5 last year.
“In voting for president, fighting corruption and creating jobs are the two priorities of managers and the public,” said SWS consultant Mahar Mangahas in a forum at the Marco Polo Plaza. (See table on this page)
In the survey, about 75 percent of business managers said they would choose a president who can fight corruption, while 53 percent gave weight to one who can generate jobs.
Gordon Alan “Dondi” Joseph, Cebu Business Club president, said they commissioned the survey before the elections so that candidates would know that the business sector was frustrated with the present system of governance.
“This is a political exercise (intended) to develop awareness (about corruption),” he said.
The 2009 SWS Survey of Enterprise on Corruption was sponsored by The Asia Foundation and covered National Capital Region (NCR), Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Cavite-Laguna-Batangas (CALABA) and Cagayan de Oro City– Iligan City (CDO-I).
Some two thirds of the respondents were from small and medium enterprises and one third from large enterprises.
Some 49 percent of the general public said they were looking for a president who can fight poverty. Some 42 percent of businessmen wanted a president who could promote a good business environment.
About 64 percent of businessmen believed that corruption was rampant in the public sector.
Guest speaker, former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo, said the next president should form a task force in the first 100 days of office to file cases in court to recover ill-gotten wealth of past and present administrations.
“Assuming that the automated elections will succeed, we can expect to have a new president proclaimed by the end of May. This new president and his administration will hopefully signal a fresh start in governance...We should choose a presidential candidate who is not only incorruptible but who will also robustly and vigorously prosecute corrupt government officials, regardless of their relationships to him or to those close to him,” said Marcelo.
With P434 billion lost to corruption every year, he said, that amount, if recovered, could forestall the need for government borrowing from foreign and local creditors and would free a third of the national budget set aside for debt payment.
Marcelo said the task force must have “competent, professional and idealistic investigators and prosecutors with adequate funding and resources”.
He recommended people he had worked with in the plunder case against former president Joseph Estrada - Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio and lawyers Arno Sanida, Alex Padilla, James Viernes and Manolo Mabini.
But any momentum to set reforms to eliminate graft will not succeed, he cautioned, unless the Office of the Ombudsman and other anti-graft bodies are “liberated” from partisan politics and appointees chosen based on their “loyalty” to the appointing power instead of merit.
He identified Commission on Audit (COA), Civil Service Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Sandiganbayan and the Supreme Court.
He said he was especially worried that the Supreme Court has been placed under the control of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who had appointed most of the justices during her nine-year tenure.
“The plan of several groups to file cases against the incumbent administration with the Office of the Ombudsman, immediately after the assumption of office of the new president, which I have previously stated, borders on naïveté. It will look good on TV, radio and newspapers but the complaints, unless the Office of the Ombudsman is liberated, will just be dismissed,” Marcelo said.
The survey showed corruption was perceived to be rampant at the national level compared to the local government units.
Some 91 percent of Cebu respondents said corruption happened at the national level, 65 percent believed that it happened at the provincial level and 57 percent, at the city level.
Some 48 percent believed that most companies give bribe to win public sector contracts.
Those who got a rating of “poor” (-10 to -29 percent) icnludes Department of Budget and Management, Philippine National Police, Deaprtment of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Presidential Commission on Good Government.
The Department of Transportation and Communication, Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, House of Representaives, Office of the President, and the Land Transportation Office received a bad rating (-30 to -49 percent).
That and “creating jobs” are the top two criteria of both businessmen and the general public in choosing a president, according to a national survey on perceptions of corruption conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
The no. 3 criteria is fighting poverty - a choice of citizens - or “promoting a good business environment”, the preference of businessmen.
Highlights of the survey were discussed yesterday in a briefing hosted by the Cebu Business Club.
A random sample of 550 business managers, including 100 from Cebu, were interviewed between Nov. 3 and Dec. 5 last year.
“In voting for president, fighting corruption and creating jobs are the two priorities of managers and the public,” said SWS consultant Mahar Mangahas in a forum at the Marco Polo Plaza. (See table on this page)
In the survey, about 75 percent of business managers said they would choose a president who can fight corruption, while 53 percent gave weight to one who can generate jobs.
Gordon Alan “Dondi” Joseph, Cebu Business Club president, said they commissioned the survey before the elections so that candidates would know that the business sector was frustrated with the present system of governance.
“This is a political exercise (intended) to develop awareness (about corruption),” he said.
The 2009 SWS Survey of Enterprise on Corruption was sponsored by The Asia Foundation and covered National Capital Region (NCR), Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Cavite-Laguna-Batangas (CALABA) and Cagayan de Oro City– Iligan City (CDO-I).
Some two thirds of the respondents were from small and medium enterprises and one third from large enterprises.
Some 49 percent of the general public said they were looking for a president who can fight poverty. Some 42 percent of businessmen wanted a president who could promote a good business environment.
About 64 percent of businessmen believed that corruption was rampant in the public sector.
Guest speaker, former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo, said the next president should form a task force in the first 100 days of office to file cases in court to recover ill-gotten wealth of past and present administrations.
“Assuming that the automated elections will succeed, we can expect to have a new president proclaimed by the end of May. This new president and his administration will hopefully signal a fresh start in governance...We should choose a presidential candidate who is not only incorruptible but who will also robustly and vigorously prosecute corrupt government officials, regardless of their relationships to him or to those close to him,” said Marcelo.
With P434 billion lost to corruption every year, he said, that amount, if recovered, could forestall the need for government borrowing from foreign and local creditors and would free a third of the national budget set aside for debt payment.
Marcelo said the task force must have “competent, professional and idealistic investigators and prosecutors with adequate funding and resources”.
He recommended people he had worked with in the plunder case against former president Joseph Estrada - Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio and lawyers Arno Sanida, Alex Padilla, James Viernes and Manolo Mabini.
But any momentum to set reforms to eliminate graft will not succeed, he cautioned, unless the Office of the Ombudsman and other anti-graft bodies are “liberated” from partisan politics and appointees chosen based on their “loyalty” to the appointing power instead of merit.
He identified Commission on Audit (COA), Civil Service Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Sandiganbayan and the Supreme Court.
He said he was especially worried that the Supreme Court has been placed under the control of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who had appointed most of the justices during her nine-year tenure.
“The plan of several groups to file cases against the incumbent administration with the Office of the Ombudsman, immediately after the assumption of office of the new president, which I have previously stated, borders on naïveté. It will look good on TV, radio and newspapers but the complaints, unless the Office of the Ombudsman is liberated, will just be dismissed,” Marcelo said.
The survey showed corruption was perceived to be rampant at the national level compared to the local government units.
Some 91 percent of Cebu respondents said corruption happened at the national level, 65 percent believed that it happened at the provincial level and 57 percent, at the city level.
Some 48 percent believed that most companies give bribe to win public sector contracts.
Those who got a rating of “poor” (-10 to -29 percent) icnludes Department of Budget and Management, Philippine National Police, Deaprtment of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Presidential Commission on Good Government.
The Department of Transportation and Communication, Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, House of Representaives, Office of the President, and the Land Transportation Office received a bad rating (-30 to -49 percent).
Namfrel now to tally, count, canvass votes
Good bye, quick count.
The name of the game for the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) is now tally, count and canvass.
Namfrel was not accredited by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as its citizen’s arm in the May 10 automated elections after the poll body ruled that its leaders were partisan.
The task was given to the Catholic Church-backed Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.
However, Namfrel announced Wednesday that it would still make an independent count of the votes.
Namfrel officials said they had advised their affiliated groups and volunteers to get a copy of the election returns (ER) before and after these are transmitted by the precinct count optical scan machines (PCOS) to the canvassing centers.
As the Comelec’s citizens’ arm in the past elections, Namfrel used to get the sixth copy of the ERs for its “operation quick count” that kept the nation informed of results way ahead of the Comelec tabulations.
Website
“We will tally the results on our website, www.namfrel.com.ph. We will be collecting data from the field,” Bill Luz, Namfrel council member, said.
Namfrel will tabulate the consolidated results for the presidential, vice presidential and senatorial races, he said. “It’s not quick count anymore. It’s tally, count and canvass.”
Luz said the Namfrel count will not depend on the data available on the Comelec website and can be compared by the public with the official results.
The Comelec has announced that results of voting at the precinct level will be posted immediately on the Comelec website. However, tabulated results in the national contests will be posted periodically and this is where Namfrel will have added value.
ER photograph
Because Namfrel is not accredited and will not get the ERs this time, its volunteers have been instructed to get a picture of the ERs that will be posted in the precinct immediately after the first eight copies of ERs are printed.
They will also have to secure an ER that will be printed after it had been transmitted to the canvassing centers.
The PCOS machine will print a total of 30 ERs after the close of the elections.
The first eight will be printed and given to various election authorities before transmission to the canvassing centers.
After the results had been sent to the canvassing centers, the PCOS will print 22 more ERs for the use of various local parties, media groups and poll watchdog organizations.
The name of the game for the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) is now tally, count and canvass.
Namfrel was not accredited by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as its citizen’s arm in the May 10 automated elections after the poll body ruled that its leaders were partisan.
The task was given to the Catholic Church-backed Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.
However, Namfrel announced Wednesday that it would still make an independent count of the votes.
Namfrel officials said they had advised their affiliated groups and volunteers to get a copy of the election returns (ER) before and after these are transmitted by the precinct count optical scan machines (PCOS) to the canvassing centers.
As the Comelec’s citizens’ arm in the past elections, Namfrel used to get the sixth copy of the ERs for its “operation quick count” that kept the nation informed of results way ahead of the Comelec tabulations.
Website
“We will tally the results on our website, www.namfrel.com.ph. We will be collecting data from the field,” Bill Luz, Namfrel council member, said.
Namfrel will tabulate the consolidated results for the presidential, vice presidential and senatorial races, he said. “It’s not quick count anymore. It’s tally, count and canvass.”
Luz said the Namfrel count will not depend on the data available on the Comelec website and can be compared by the public with the official results.
The Comelec has announced that results of voting at the precinct level will be posted immediately on the Comelec website. However, tabulated results in the national contests will be posted periodically and this is where Namfrel will have added value.
ER photograph
Because Namfrel is not accredited and will not get the ERs this time, its volunteers have been instructed to get a picture of the ERs that will be posted in the precinct immediately after the first eight copies of ERs are printed.
They will also have to secure an ER that will be printed after it had been transmitted to the canvassing centers.
The PCOS machine will print a total of 30 ERs after the close of the elections.
The first eight will be printed and given to various election authorities before transmission to the canvassing centers.
After the results had been sent to the canvassing centers, the PCOS will print 22 more ERs for the use of various local parties, media groups and poll watchdog organizations.
Cory generals vow to protect Noynoy's votes
Retired generals who joined the 1986 People Power revolution and served the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino have re-grouped to protect the votes of her son, Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
“We are prepared. Our group has prepared to protect and ensure that each of the Filipino voter's vote shall be counted,” said retired Major General Ramon Montaño in a press conference on Wednesday.
The former chief of the now defunct Philippine Constabulary, which was later absorbed into the integrated Philippine National Police (PNP), said Aquino is the clear choice of the Filipino people.
Ten retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) officers signed a manifesto, “The EDSA 1986 veterans support Senator Noynoy Aquino in his presidency of true people empowerment.”
Montaño said there are around 100 of them nationwide.
'Uphold the Constitution'
In the manifesto, they appealed to those in the active service to uphold the Constitution.
“We appeal to our comrades still serving the AFP and the PNP to join us in this crusade for reforms by remaining true to the Constitution and resist the pressure of the present cabal of political leaders and vested interests to frustrate the people’s will in the 2010 elections by use of guns, gold, and naked abuse of political power,” the retired soldiers and policemen said.
The other retired officers who signed are: Lt. Gen Voltaire Gazmin, Lt. Gen. Raul Urgello, Jaime Gopilan, Lt. Gen Eduardo Batenga, Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez, former PNP director-general Recaredo Sarmiento, Police Supt. Francisco Zubia, former police deputy director Reynaldo Acop, and Captain Jaime Balansay.
Still influential
Although retired, Montaño said they still have influence among soldiers and policemen, who are jointly responsible for the security of the May 10 polls.
“Being retired generals, most of those officers now in the active service have served under us,” Montaño said.
Montaño said electoral fraud is impossible without the help of the AFP and the PNP. “If the police and the armed forces will not allow it, no cheating can be done,” he said.
Montaño is particularly confident in the leadership of PNP chief Jesus Verzosa, whom he previously worked with. Both were together in the Philippine Constabulary Metropolitan Command. Montaño was chief of staff when Verzosa was still a junior officer.
No to parallel manual count
Montaño, who is convinced the poll automation system cannot be manipulated, opposed the parallel manual count demanded by business groups, information technology experts, and other civic organizations.
“It’s a stupid call. We have studied the voting now. No way can the machines cheat. Parallel counting is a waste of time,” he said.
What should be guarded are the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and the ballots, Montaño said.
“Gwardiyahan namin yan. From the Commission on Elections warehouse, we will escort it to the clustered precincts,” he said.
He said they will join other watchdog groups like the Parish Pastoral Council or Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in this endeavor.
New forms of cheating
“We have enough guards. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry will be there to guard the elections. No one will monkey around with the machines,” he said.
Sarmiento said they will they will also watch out for possible new forms of cheating.
“It’s the first [nationwide] automated elections that we are holding. Di pa natin alam kung ano pa yung ibang modus operandi ang gagawin ng mga nagbabalak mandaya. We will advise our people we organized to keep watch and be very vigilant on whatever actions that tend to alter the results of the elections,” he said.
The retired generals also appealed to the Comelec, the teachers who will serve in the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), and the Department of Justice to keep the polls orderly.
Why Noynoy?
In the manifesto, the retired generals said Aquino is the best among the 9 presidential candidates.
"We believe that Senator Aquino has the strength of character, the moral uprightness and the selfless love for the Filipino people to lead and unite all Filipinos in this crucial struggle for survival against the forces of evil and return dignity and honor to the public service," they said.
"We also believe that Senator Aquino has the courage and the unswerving determination to dislodge the well entrenched vested interest groups in our country now controlling our political leadership, and return real political power to the Filipino people," they added.
“We are prepared. Our group has prepared to protect and ensure that each of the Filipino voter's vote shall be counted,” said retired Major General Ramon Montaño in a press conference on Wednesday.
The former chief of the now defunct Philippine Constabulary, which was later absorbed into the integrated Philippine National Police (PNP), said Aquino is the clear choice of the Filipino people.
Ten retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) officers signed a manifesto, “The EDSA 1986 veterans support Senator Noynoy Aquino in his presidency of true people empowerment.”
Montaño said there are around 100 of them nationwide.
'Uphold the Constitution'
In the manifesto, they appealed to those in the active service to uphold the Constitution.
“We appeal to our comrades still serving the AFP and the PNP to join us in this crusade for reforms by remaining true to the Constitution and resist the pressure of the present cabal of political leaders and vested interests to frustrate the people’s will in the 2010 elections by use of guns, gold, and naked abuse of political power,” the retired soldiers and policemen said.
The other retired officers who signed are: Lt. Gen Voltaire Gazmin, Lt. Gen. Raul Urgello, Jaime Gopilan, Lt. Gen Eduardo Batenga, Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez, former PNP director-general Recaredo Sarmiento, Police Supt. Francisco Zubia, former police deputy director Reynaldo Acop, and Captain Jaime Balansay.
Still influential
Although retired, Montaño said they still have influence among soldiers and policemen, who are jointly responsible for the security of the May 10 polls.
“Being retired generals, most of those officers now in the active service have served under us,” Montaño said.
Montaño said electoral fraud is impossible without the help of the AFP and the PNP. “If the police and the armed forces will not allow it, no cheating can be done,” he said.
Montaño is particularly confident in the leadership of PNP chief Jesus Verzosa, whom he previously worked with. Both were together in the Philippine Constabulary Metropolitan Command. Montaño was chief of staff when Verzosa was still a junior officer.
No to parallel manual count
Montaño, who is convinced the poll automation system cannot be manipulated, opposed the parallel manual count demanded by business groups, information technology experts, and other civic organizations.
“It’s a stupid call. We have studied the voting now. No way can the machines cheat. Parallel counting is a waste of time,” he said.
What should be guarded are the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and the ballots, Montaño said.
“Gwardiyahan namin yan. From the Commission on Elections warehouse, we will escort it to the clustered precincts,” he said.
He said they will join other watchdog groups like the Parish Pastoral Council or Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in this endeavor.
New forms of cheating
“We have enough guards. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry will be there to guard the elections. No one will monkey around with the machines,” he said.
Sarmiento said they will they will also watch out for possible new forms of cheating.
“It’s the first [nationwide] automated elections that we are holding. Di pa natin alam kung ano pa yung ibang modus operandi ang gagawin ng mga nagbabalak mandaya. We will advise our people we organized to keep watch and be very vigilant on whatever actions that tend to alter the results of the elections,” he said.
The retired generals also appealed to the Comelec, the teachers who will serve in the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), and the Department of Justice to keep the polls orderly.
Why Noynoy?
In the manifesto, the retired generals said Aquino is the best among the 9 presidential candidates.
"We believe that Senator Aquino has the strength of character, the moral uprightness and the selfless love for the Filipino people to lead and unite all Filipinos in this crucial struggle for survival against the forces of evil and return dignity and honor to the public service," they said.
"We also believe that Senator Aquino has the courage and the unswerving determination to dislodge the well entrenched vested interest groups in our country now controlling our political leadership, and return real political power to the Filipino people," they added.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Villar denies knowing about mom’s press conference
Hours after his 86-year-old mother made a tearful public appeal, embattled presidential bet Manuel Villar said he had no idea his family had decided to face the media in his defense.
“'Di ko nga alam na in-interview ang mother ko eh. Ininterview ba ang mother ko? (I didn't know that my mother was interviewed. Was she interviewed?)” Villar asked reporters on the sidelines of a presidential forum Monday night.
Wheelchair-bound Curita Villar faced the media in her Las Piñas City home on Monday morning with daughters Lourdes, Cecille, Gloria V. Benedicto and Vicky V. Divinagracia by her side.
Recalling her struggle as a fish vendor at the Divisoria market in Manila, she said her eldest son helped the family get through hard times.
The Nacionalista Party standard-bearer, however, said he knew that his mother was hurt by recent reports that have been coming out against him.
Villar did not specify but the camp of his presidential rival, deposed President Joseph Estrada, last week came out with charges that the senator had earned an undeclared P26 billion by manipulating the stock exchange.
The senator has been struggling to belie charges that he had used his position in the Senate to divert the planned extension of C-5 Road to his property to make money. Doubts also surround his claim that he grew up in poverty in Moriones, Tondo and overcame through hard work, the thrust of his campaign.
“I've been getting too much negative news lately. It's like everything I say is always wrong, but everything I read is wrong. That's not me. How they describe me in the papers and television, that's not me,” Villar said.
He spoke to reporters just before taking the stage of a presidential forum at the Araneta Coliseum Monday night.
The demands of a nationwide campaign have been keeping him away from his mother but Villar said he knew that his mother has long been taking offense at attacks against him.
“Lately I haven't visited her because I'm very busy in the campaign. But I visit her often and I know that she feels very bad about what's happening,” he said.
“She can't see but she listens to the radio and hears TV reports. And she knows that [reports against me] are just lies,” Villar said.
Asked if his sisters spoke about plans to go public, Villar said: “No. But maybe they just can't take it anymore. We've been talking about it (accusations against him) for a long time.”
The senator also said he felt bad that the media has been giving him unfair treatment.
“Masama rin ang loob ko sa ibang kaibigan natin sa media. I see that what's been happening is not right anymore. I've been working all my life. I've been working since I was seven years old. It's not right that everything I do is wrong or that they will criticize me for everything I do,” Villar said.
While hounded by such issues, Villar said he would focus on the remaining days of the campaign and on keeping watch of the voting process and vote count come May 10.
Senators Richard Gordon and Jamby Madrigal meanwhile said Villar should not use his mother in his campaign.
“You know, I don't use my mother and father in my campaign,” said Gordon.
Madrigal said Villar should “not be such a coward.”
“Don't hide under the skirt of wife (Rep. Cynthia Villar) and now your mother. If you want to run for president, learn to defend yourself. That's the thing about Villar. He can't defend himself, he even uses his mother,” said the staunch Villar critic.
“'Di ko nga alam na in-interview ang mother ko eh. Ininterview ba ang mother ko? (I didn't know that my mother was interviewed. Was she interviewed?)” Villar asked reporters on the sidelines of a presidential forum Monday night.
Wheelchair-bound Curita Villar faced the media in her Las Piñas City home on Monday morning with daughters Lourdes, Cecille, Gloria V. Benedicto and Vicky V. Divinagracia by her side.
Recalling her struggle as a fish vendor at the Divisoria market in Manila, she said her eldest son helped the family get through hard times.
The Nacionalista Party standard-bearer, however, said he knew that his mother was hurt by recent reports that have been coming out against him.
Villar did not specify but the camp of his presidential rival, deposed President Joseph Estrada, last week came out with charges that the senator had earned an undeclared P26 billion by manipulating the stock exchange.
The senator has been struggling to belie charges that he had used his position in the Senate to divert the planned extension of C-5 Road to his property to make money. Doubts also surround his claim that he grew up in poverty in Moriones, Tondo and overcame through hard work, the thrust of his campaign.
“I've been getting too much negative news lately. It's like everything I say is always wrong, but everything I read is wrong. That's not me. How they describe me in the papers and television, that's not me,” Villar said.
He spoke to reporters just before taking the stage of a presidential forum at the Araneta Coliseum Monday night.
The demands of a nationwide campaign have been keeping him away from his mother but Villar said he knew that his mother has long been taking offense at attacks against him.
“Lately I haven't visited her because I'm very busy in the campaign. But I visit her often and I know that she feels very bad about what's happening,” he said.
“She can't see but she listens to the radio and hears TV reports. And she knows that [reports against me] are just lies,” Villar said.
Asked if his sisters spoke about plans to go public, Villar said: “No. But maybe they just can't take it anymore. We've been talking about it (accusations against him) for a long time.”
The senator also said he felt bad that the media has been giving him unfair treatment.
“Masama rin ang loob ko sa ibang kaibigan natin sa media. I see that what's been happening is not right anymore. I've been working all my life. I've been working since I was seven years old. It's not right that everything I do is wrong or that they will criticize me for everything I do,” Villar said.
While hounded by such issues, Villar said he would focus on the remaining days of the campaign and on keeping watch of the voting process and vote count come May 10.
Senators Richard Gordon and Jamby Madrigal meanwhile said Villar should not use his mother in his campaign.
“You know, I don't use my mother and father in my campaign,” said Gordon.
Madrigal said Villar should “not be such a coward.”
“Don't hide under the skirt of wife (Rep. Cynthia Villar) and now your mother. If you want to run for president, learn to defend yourself. That's the thing about Villar. He can't defend himself, he even uses his mother,” said the staunch Villar critic.
Villar woos Zamboanga City voters
Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Manuel Villar arrived here on Tuesday to campaign.
It was Villar's first time to woo the votes of residents here since the official campaign period began on February 9.
Supporters holding a big white banner with orange words printed on it: "3M, Mindanao Movement for Manny" waited outside the airport.
From the airport, Villar held a motorcade before attending a press conference at the Garden Orchid hotel.
The highlight of Villar's visit here would be a concert rally to be held at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex Grandstand in the evening.
A number of celebrities like Ara Mina, John Estrada, Randy Santiago and Joy Viado were spotted by reporters at the airport. They arrived ahead of the senator.
The celebrities will also grace the concert.
Some NP senatorial bets like Liza Maza and Susan Ople also joined Villar in the campaign in this southern Philippine city.
It was Villar's first time to woo the votes of residents here since the official campaign period began on February 9.
Supporters holding a big white banner with orange words printed on it: "3M, Mindanao Movement for Manny" waited outside the airport.
From the airport, Villar held a motorcade before attending a press conference at the Garden Orchid hotel.
The highlight of Villar's visit here would be a concert rally to be held at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex Grandstand in the evening.
A number of celebrities like Ara Mina, John Estrada, Randy Santiago and Joy Viado were spotted by reporters at the airport. They arrived ahead of the senator.
The celebrities will also grace the concert.
Some NP senatorial bets like Liza Maza and Susan Ople also joined Villar in the campaign in this southern Philippine city.
Madrigal spends birthday on poor ‘island in city’
“The rich are different from you and me,” said author F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Instead of throwing a big party, presidential candidate Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, a member of the old rich in the Philippines, celebrated her 52nd birthday Monday at Isla Pulo, a “very poor community, one without electricity and water source,” located in the middle of fishponds in Navotas, Metro Manila.
Madrigal not only treated its residents to a lunch of lechon (roasted pig), fried chicken, pork adobo and ice cream, she formally adopted Isla Pulo, which she called an “island in the city.”
She shared her birthday wish with the Philippine Daily Inquirer: “The perceived top contenders in the May presidential election may win the so-called surveys but I intend to win the votes of people’s hearts.”
She also had a birthday wish for the country: That “voters will support the candidate who will represent compassion and justice and who will fight for Philippine sovereignty.”
Free food, education
The independent presidential candidate expressed confidence that “the choice of the people will be the choice of the light... a person who is touched by God.”
She described Isla Pulo as a “symbol of 90 percent of Filipinos who have been forgotten by the present and past administrations. It’s just another neglected community. When you don’t see it, you don’t remember it.”
“Win or lose, the best thing I can do is to give them free education. One of my foundations will provide them with scholarship grants. I also plan to establish a feeding program for its malnourished kids. I will try to give each [of the 200 families] here enough capital [to start their own business],” Madrigal said.
First candidate to visit
Isla Pulo residents, mostly migrants from various provinces, are engaged in garbage scavenging and charcoal-making.
Madrigal is the “first presidential candidate” to have visited Isla Pulo, according to local leader Jesus Valderama.
“[Isla Pulo] is symbolic of the poor in the Philippines. If any of my opponents is elected president, he will continue the same neo-liberal policies of [President Macapagal-Arroyo]. And 90 percent of Filipinos will continue to be an island,” Madrigal said.
On Cloud 9
On Monday, Madrigal was on Cloud 9 after a “very encouraging” reception in her recent campaign sorties in Tagum City, Davao del Norte and Gen. Santos City.
With help from “Jamby bracelets,” her popular campaign giveaways, she was positively received by residents of Bataan, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Bohol and Batangas.
During the 2004 senatorial elections, the same bracelets, along with the endorsement of actress Judy Ann Santos “helped me get over 13.2 million votes,” Madrigal said.
She ranked No. 4 among the winning senators.
Homestretch
In the next two weeks, Madrigal is scheduled to barnstorm Albay, hometown of her late grandfather Sen. Vicente Madrigal and will visit other Bicol provinces. She will also go to Cebu, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental in the Visayas, as well as northwestern Mindanao, Cagayan Valley and Metro Manila.
“I’m not a trapo (traditional politician), so I do not only go to where there are many people. I go to reach the people. Fortunately, they come out when they see me,” she said.
Instead of throwing a big party, presidential candidate Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, a member of the old rich in the Philippines, celebrated her 52nd birthday Monday at Isla Pulo, a “very poor community, one without electricity and water source,” located in the middle of fishponds in Navotas, Metro Manila.
Madrigal not only treated its residents to a lunch of lechon (roasted pig), fried chicken, pork adobo and ice cream, she formally adopted Isla Pulo, which she called an “island in the city.”
She shared her birthday wish with the Philippine Daily Inquirer: “The perceived top contenders in the May presidential election may win the so-called surveys but I intend to win the votes of people’s hearts.”
She also had a birthday wish for the country: That “voters will support the candidate who will represent compassion and justice and who will fight for Philippine sovereignty.”
Free food, education
The independent presidential candidate expressed confidence that “the choice of the people will be the choice of the light... a person who is touched by God.”
She described Isla Pulo as a “symbol of 90 percent of Filipinos who have been forgotten by the present and past administrations. It’s just another neglected community. When you don’t see it, you don’t remember it.”
“Win or lose, the best thing I can do is to give them free education. One of my foundations will provide them with scholarship grants. I also plan to establish a feeding program for its malnourished kids. I will try to give each [of the 200 families] here enough capital [to start their own business],” Madrigal said.
First candidate to visit
Isla Pulo residents, mostly migrants from various provinces, are engaged in garbage scavenging and charcoal-making.
Madrigal is the “first presidential candidate” to have visited Isla Pulo, according to local leader Jesus Valderama.
“[Isla Pulo] is symbolic of the poor in the Philippines. If any of my opponents is elected president, he will continue the same neo-liberal policies of [President Macapagal-Arroyo]. And 90 percent of Filipinos will continue to be an island,” Madrigal said.
On Cloud 9
On Monday, Madrigal was on Cloud 9 after a “very encouraging” reception in her recent campaign sorties in Tagum City, Davao del Norte and Gen. Santos City.
With help from “Jamby bracelets,” her popular campaign giveaways, she was positively received by residents of Bataan, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Bohol and Batangas.
During the 2004 senatorial elections, the same bracelets, along with the endorsement of actress Judy Ann Santos “helped me get over 13.2 million votes,” Madrigal said.
She ranked No. 4 among the winning senators.
Homestretch
In the next two weeks, Madrigal is scheduled to barnstorm Albay, hometown of her late grandfather Sen. Vicente Madrigal and will visit other Bicol provinces. She will also go to Cebu, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental in the Visayas, as well as northwestern Mindanao, Cagayan Valley and Metro Manila.
“I’m not a trapo (traditional politician), so I do not only go to where there are many people. I go to reach the people. Fortunately, they come out when they see me,” she said.
'Noy-Bi' gets backing of another party-list
Yet another party-list group has thrown their support for the candidacies of Liberal Party standard-bearer Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino vice-presidential bet Jejomar Binay.
Bandila party-list first nominee Bishop Nilo Tayag said the group will release a TV ad this week that will show their support for Aquino and Binay. Bandila, which stands for Bagong Bayan na Nagtataguyod ng Demokratikong Ideolohiya at Layunin, seeks to represent construction workers and the urban poor in Congress.
Tayag said the TV ad will show a Rubik's cube that will show different facets until it completes the "combination" of Aquino and Binay.
The Aglipayan bishop said the group chose Aquino because he has "moral ascendancy" over the other presidential candidates. He added that the Liberal Party bet has the qualifications to push for the group's "anti-trapo" movement.
On the other hand, Tayag said the group chose Binay because of his experience as a local executive and his history as a defender of human rights during the Marcos regime.
For his part, actor and Bandila party-list second nominee Onemig Bondoc said Aquino is the lone presidential candidate who is not lusting after power but was only persuaded to run after the death of his mother, former president Corazon Aquino, last August 1, 2009.
He added that Binay's experience as mayor of Makati will be an asset under an Aquino presidency.
Bandila is the second party-list group to support an "Aquino-Binay" tandem in the May 10 elections.
Earlier, gay party-list group Ang Ladlad said it decided to support Aquino and Binay because they are the only candidates with a gender component in their individual platforms.
Ang Ladlad chairman Danton Remoto said the group, which has about 25,000 members, backed Aquino because he is considered the "Mr. Clean of Philippine politics." He added that Binay has a long record in fighting for human rights, and that Ang Ladlad is supporting human rights for gays.
Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero, who backed out of the presidential race, is also actively campaigning for Aquino and Binay. He earlier said Aquino's "good heart" and Binay's experience are just what the country needs to progress.
Bandila nominee linked to Arroyo
Election watchdog Kontra Daya earlier identified Bandila as one of 49 accredited party-list groups with alleged questionable nominees and strong links to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Kontra Daya identified Tayag as a former activist who went over to the Marcos regime after a short period in detention during Martial
Law. It said Tayag had organized support rallies for President Joseph Estrada and then switched to the Arroyo camp after Estrada's ouster.
"In 2006, [Tayag] was part of the 'people's initiative' Charter change campaign called Sigaw ng Bayan, which was orchestrated by Arroyo allies. Until September 2009, he was being considered for inclusion in the senatorial lineup of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, the political party of the Marcos family," the group said.
On the other hand, Kontra Daya said Bondoc hails from a family of wealthy businessmen and even owns several businesses including the Benedictine International School of Quezon City.
Bondoc, a former matinee idol, admitted that he comes from a rich family. He added, however, that he has always gone out of his way to help the poor. He said he previously served as spokesman of the Department of Education and the Philippine Red Cross and even donated 2 hectares of land for people in Quezon.
In the interview, Tayag admitted that he and the other Bandila nominees are Freemasonry brothers who left the group temporarily to join the politics.
The bishop said he is counting on his fellow Masons in the Philippines, allegedly numbering 500,000, to support the Bandila party-list. He said the group is also counting on the support of the Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Incorporated.
Bandila party-list first nominee Bishop Nilo Tayag said the group will release a TV ad this week that will show their support for Aquino and Binay. Bandila, which stands for Bagong Bayan na Nagtataguyod ng Demokratikong Ideolohiya at Layunin, seeks to represent construction workers and the urban poor in Congress.
Tayag said the TV ad will show a Rubik's cube that will show different facets until it completes the "combination" of Aquino and Binay.
The Aglipayan bishop said the group chose Aquino because he has "moral ascendancy" over the other presidential candidates. He added that the Liberal Party bet has the qualifications to push for the group's "anti-trapo" movement.
On the other hand, Tayag said the group chose Binay because of his experience as a local executive and his history as a defender of human rights during the Marcos regime.
For his part, actor and Bandila party-list second nominee Onemig Bondoc said Aquino is the lone presidential candidate who is not lusting after power but was only persuaded to run after the death of his mother, former president Corazon Aquino, last August 1, 2009.
He added that Binay's experience as mayor of Makati will be an asset under an Aquino presidency.
Bandila is the second party-list group to support an "Aquino-Binay" tandem in the May 10 elections.
Earlier, gay party-list group Ang Ladlad said it decided to support Aquino and Binay because they are the only candidates with a gender component in their individual platforms.
Ang Ladlad chairman Danton Remoto said the group, which has about 25,000 members, backed Aquino because he is considered the "Mr. Clean of Philippine politics." He added that Binay has a long record in fighting for human rights, and that Ang Ladlad is supporting human rights for gays.
Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero, who backed out of the presidential race, is also actively campaigning for Aquino and Binay. He earlier said Aquino's "good heart" and Binay's experience are just what the country needs to progress.
Bandila nominee linked to Arroyo
Election watchdog Kontra Daya earlier identified Bandila as one of 49 accredited party-list groups with alleged questionable nominees and strong links to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Kontra Daya identified Tayag as a former activist who went over to the Marcos regime after a short period in detention during Martial
Law. It said Tayag had organized support rallies for President Joseph Estrada and then switched to the Arroyo camp after Estrada's ouster.
"In 2006, [Tayag] was part of the 'people's initiative' Charter change campaign called Sigaw ng Bayan, which was orchestrated by Arroyo allies. Until September 2009, he was being considered for inclusion in the senatorial lineup of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, the political party of the Marcos family," the group said.
On the other hand, Kontra Daya said Bondoc hails from a family of wealthy businessmen and even owns several businesses including the Benedictine International School of Quezon City.
Bondoc, a former matinee idol, admitted that he comes from a rich family. He added, however, that he has always gone out of his way to help the poor. He said he previously served as spokesman of the Department of Education and the Philippine Red Cross and even donated 2 hectares of land for people in Quezon.
In the interview, Tayag admitted that he and the other Bandila nominees are Freemasonry brothers who left the group temporarily to join the politics.
The bishop said he is counting on his fellow Masons in the Philippines, allegedly numbering 500,000, to support the Bandila party-list. He said the group is also counting on the support of the Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Incorporated.
PCOS machines arrive in Batanes
A cargo ship carrying 36 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and other equipment for the automated elections is about to dock at the port of Basco, Batanes.
The ship MV Savers of the Batanes Multi-Purpose Cooperative sailed from Manila for two days, before it reached this island more than 800 kilometers away at past 11 am on Tuesday.
Local officials and representatives of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Smartmatic, the forwarding firm Ace Logistics, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police are expected to supervise the unloading of the machines and then escort them from the port to a temporary warehouse.
The equipment will be stored at a room in a local school before they are taken to polling centers three days before May 10. The provincial election supervisor of Batanes said the warehouse will be secured all day and night.
Security is not a problem, he said, because the town is small and all vital installations like the provincial police office, the municipal hall, and the provincial capitol are near the warehouse.
Out of the 36 machines, only 30 will actually be deployed. Six of them are emergency or spare machines which will be used if any of those deployed breaks down or malfunctions.
As of posting, the MV Savers was still queuing a couple of kilometers from the sea port, waiting for a ship ahead of it to unload its stuff before it unloads the machines and other cargo.
The ship MV Savers of the Batanes Multi-Purpose Cooperative sailed from Manila for two days, before it reached this island more than 800 kilometers away at past 11 am on Tuesday.
Local officials and representatives of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Smartmatic, the forwarding firm Ace Logistics, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police are expected to supervise the unloading of the machines and then escort them from the port to a temporary warehouse.
The equipment will be stored at a room in a local school before they are taken to polling centers three days before May 10. The provincial election supervisor of Batanes said the warehouse will be secured all day and night.
Security is not a problem, he said, because the town is small and all vital installations like the provincial police office, the municipal hall, and the provincial capitol are near the warehouse.
Out of the 36 machines, only 30 will actually be deployed. Six of them are emergency or spare machines which will be used if any of those deployed breaks down or malfunctions.
As of posting, the MV Savers was still queuing a couple of kilometers from the sea port, waiting for a ship ahead of it to unload its stuff before it unloads the machines and other cargo.
New psych report on Noynoy also fake
A new version of a report on Senator Benigno Aquino III's mental health, released on Tuesday by a supporter of Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential bet Sen. Manny Villar, is also fake.
Jesuit priest Jaime Bulatao, who supposedly signed the report, denied writing or signing such a report. (Click here for Fr. Bulatao's letter.)
The second fake report on Aquino's mental health was distributed at a press conference by former National Power Corp. President Guido Delgado. (Click here for story.)
"It has come to my attention that an unverified 'psychiatric evaluation' allegedly signed by me in 1979 about the mental condition of Senator Benigno C. Aquino III is currently circulating in the news. I categorically deny having written and signed that report," Bulatao said in the statement he signed at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
Bulatao is a professor at the Ateneo de Manila University's Department of Psychology.
He founded the psychology department and the central guidance bureau of Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) in 1961. He was also the president of the Psychological Association of the Philippines from 1979 to 1981.
Delgado, a supporter of Nacionalista Party (NP) bet Senator Manuel Villar Jr., distributed copies of the report on Tuesday morning but he stressed that he did not verify it.
“It is the media’s role to confirm its veracity,” he said in a press conference.
Delgado said his co-volunteer in the Villar camp received the Bulatao-signed second report in a packet last weekend. It had no return address.
The report, which was supposedly signed by Fr. Bulatao on August 9, 1979, claims that Aquino, who was then only a 19-year-old student of Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), was found to be “suffering from depression and melancholia," due partly to his father Ninoy's incarceration under the martial law regime of Ferdinand Marcos.
Previously, a bogus psychiatric report from the Ateneo psychology department on Aquino was circulated. It had factual errors, including the signatory, Fr. Carmelo “Tito” Caluag, who denied it as he was never a psychologist but a high school principal in the same school.
Caluag is also a Jesuit priest.
Desperate move?
Asked for comment, Aquino said Villar's camp is getting desperate because their survey ratings are going down.
Aquino also said Delgado could have verified the report before taking it to the media.
He admitted he knows Fr. Bulatao, who was his former professor at Ateneo, but said he has never gone through any such kind of psychiatric examination as alleged in the report.
Aquino’s campaign spokesman, Edwin Lacierda, said they have evidence that would show that the two reports were fabricated by the NP camp.
“Delgado simply cannot give the unverified documents that fell out of the sky to media then expect them to verify while the story is circulating the airwaves,” he said.
“He cannot just go to town and tell the public it is their obligation to verify his accusations. Villar and Delgado are making fools out of the media and the public. From the start, they have made moral and intellectual dishonesty the crux of their campaign. Are these the kind of people we would want to run our country?” he added.
LP campaign manager Florencio "Butch" Abad said it shows the NP’s desperation. But he’s confident that it will backfire on Villar.
“They’ve been throwing everything at Senator Aquino including the kitchen sink…Now they’ve brought out another kitchen…These are baseless accusations meant to counter the surging numbers of Aquino in all the pre-election surveys.”
“The public can see through these dirty tricks that Villar’s campaign has put out to the point of saturation. It reflects the sort of murky politics that has kept our country from progress,” Abad said. “We are confident that come May 10, the people will do what is right for our country."
Villar is trailing Aquino in pre-election surveys. In the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) pre-election survey conducted April 16 to 19, Aquino’s lead over Villar increased to 12 percentage points from just 9 points in March
Jesuit priest Jaime Bulatao, who supposedly signed the report, denied writing or signing such a report. (Click here for Fr. Bulatao's letter.)
The second fake report on Aquino's mental health was distributed at a press conference by former National Power Corp. President Guido Delgado. (Click here for story.)
"It has come to my attention that an unverified 'psychiatric evaluation' allegedly signed by me in 1979 about the mental condition of Senator Benigno C. Aquino III is currently circulating in the news. I categorically deny having written and signed that report," Bulatao said in the statement he signed at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
Bulatao is a professor at the Ateneo de Manila University's Department of Psychology.
He founded the psychology department and the central guidance bureau of Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) in 1961. He was also the president of the Psychological Association of the Philippines from 1979 to 1981.
Delgado, a supporter of Nacionalista Party (NP) bet Senator Manuel Villar Jr., distributed copies of the report on Tuesday morning but he stressed that he did not verify it.
“It is the media’s role to confirm its veracity,” he said in a press conference.
Delgado said his co-volunteer in the Villar camp received the Bulatao-signed second report in a packet last weekend. It had no return address.
The report, which was supposedly signed by Fr. Bulatao on August 9, 1979, claims that Aquino, who was then only a 19-year-old student of Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), was found to be “suffering from depression and melancholia," due partly to his father Ninoy's incarceration under the martial law regime of Ferdinand Marcos.
Previously, a bogus psychiatric report from the Ateneo psychology department on Aquino was circulated. It had factual errors, including the signatory, Fr. Carmelo “Tito” Caluag, who denied it as he was never a psychologist but a high school principal in the same school.
Caluag is also a Jesuit priest.
Desperate move?
Asked for comment, Aquino said Villar's camp is getting desperate because their survey ratings are going down.
Aquino also said Delgado could have verified the report before taking it to the media.
He admitted he knows Fr. Bulatao, who was his former professor at Ateneo, but said he has never gone through any such kind of psychiatric examination as alleged in the report.
Aquino’s campaign spokesman, Edwin Lacierda, said they have evidence that would show that the two reports were fabricated by the NP camp.
“Delgado simply cannot give the unverified documents that fell out of the sky to media then expect them to verify while the story is circulating the airwaves,” he said.
“He cannot just go to town and tell the public it is their obligation to verify his accusations. Villar and Delgado are making fools out of the media and the public. From the start, they have made moral and intellectual dishonesty the crux of their campaign. Are these the kind of people we would want to run our country?” he added.
LP campaign manager Florencio "Butch" Abad said it shows the NP’s desperation. But he’s confident that it will backfire on Villar.
“They’ve been throwing everything at Senator Aquino including the kitchen sink…Now they’ve brought out another kitchen…These are baseless accusations meant to counter the surging numbers of Aquino in all the pre-election surveys.”
“The public can see through these dirty tricks that Villar’s campaign has put out to the point of saturation. It reflects the sort of murky politics that has kept our country from progress,” Abad said. “We are confident that come May 10, the people will do what is right for our country."
Villar is trailing Aquino in pre-election surveys. In the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) pre-election survey conducted April 16 to 19, Aquino’s lead over Villar increased to 12 percentage points from just 9 points in March
Monday, April 26, 2010
Comelec whistleblower seeks refuge among nuns
A Commission on Elections (Comelec) employee who blew the whistle on the overpriced ballot secrecy folders contract and other irregular deals in Comelec is seeking sanctuary among nuns, similar to the fate of NBN-ZTE whistleblower Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada Jr.
Atty. Melchor Magdamo, who is assigned to the office of Comelec Chairman Jose Melo, visited Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines co-chairman Mary John Mananzan to seek spiritual guidance and sanctuary after exposing the botched P700-million ballot secrecy folder deal. He was accompanied by Dr. Arwind Serrano of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.
"My wife is asking me to request for sanctuary. Maliliit pa kasi mga anak ko," he told ABS-CBN News.
Magdamo earlier tipped off Serrano about the overpriced secrecy folders, which were priced at P380 each. The Comelec later placed the P690-million supply contract with OTC Paper Supply on hold because of the high price of the folders.
Magdamo also revealed that OTC Paper Supply bagged a Comelec contract to supply registration-record (VRR) binders and plastic fillers for the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao election in 2008.
The lawyer said he requested the poll body to remove Comelec Executive Director Jose Tolentino to prevent the official from committing sabotage on the May 10 elections.
No sanctions vs Comelec officers
Tolentino, the former Comelec bids and awards committee chairman, pushed through with the bidding of the 2008 VRR contract despite a Comelec decision to stop the bidding. Tolentino also presented the proposed design of the ballot secrecy folder to the Comelec.
Instead of suspending Tolentino, the Comelec extended the poll official's term as chief of the poll body's project management office until the end of the elections. The poll body also extended the terms of the BAC members who awarded the secrecy folder contract to OTC Paper Supply.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said BAC members cannot be sanctioned until an investigation is finished. "Ang importante nandiyan sila. Nababantayan naman. Yung pangamba na baka gamtin ang posisyon para impluwensyahan yung outcome ng probe, hindi mangyayari. Bantay sarado sila," he said.
The Comelec also criticized Magdamo for going to the media with his story instead of waiting for the poll body to finish with its investigation.
The religious order, meanwhile, said it is open to Magdamo's request that his family receive sanctuary among nuns. Sister Mananzan said the Comelec lawyer should take courage from the fact that he is doing the right thing.
"You are doing the right thing. I'm telling you. You have chosen the right path. It is a difficult path but it's the right path. That should keep your courage. Dapat katatagan ng loob dahil ang ginagawa mo ay tama," she said.
For his part, Magdamo said he does not expect to receive any reward for exposing alleged irregularities inside the Comelec. He said he made the disclosures to show that any person, no matter how small, can be an instrument for change.
Atty. Melchor Magdamo, who is assigned to the office of Comelec Chairman Jose Melo, visited Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines co-chairman Mary John Mananzan to seek spiritual guidance and sanctuary after exposing the botched P700-million ballot secrecy folder deal. He was accompanied by Dr. Arwind Serrano of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.
"My wife is asking me to request for sanctuary. Maliliit pa kasi mga anak ko," he told ABS-CBN News.
Magdamo earlier tipped off Serrano about the overpriced secrecy folders, which were priced at P380 each. The Comelec later placed the P690-million supply contract with OTC Paper Supply on hold because of the high price of the folders.
Magdamo also revealed that OTC Paper Supply bagged a Comelec contract to supply registration-record (VRR) binders and plastic fillers for the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao election in 2008.
The lawyer said he requested the poll body to remove Comelec Executive Director Jose Tolentino to prevent the official from committing sabotage on the May 10 elections.
No sanctions vs Comelec officers
Tolentino, the former Comelec bids and awards committee chairman, pushed through with the bidding of the 2008 VRR contract despite a Comelec decision to stop the bidding. Tolentino also presented the proposed design of the ballot secrecy folder to the Comelec.
Instead of suspending Tolentino, the Comelec extended the poll official's term as chief of the poll body's project management office until the end of the elections. The poll body also extended the terms of the BAC members who awarded the secrecy folder contract to OTC Paper Supply.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said BAC members cannot be sanctioned until an investigation is finished. "Ang importante nandiyan sila. Nababantayan naman. Yung pangamba na baka gamtin ang posisyon para impluwensyahan yung outcome ng probe, hindi mangyayari. Bantay sarado sila," he said.
The Comelec also criticized Magdamo for going to the media with his story instead of waiting for the poll body to finish with its investigation.
The religious order, meanwhile, said it is open to Magdamo's request that his family receive sanctuary among nuns. Sister Mananzan said the Comelec lawyer should take courage from the fact that he is doing the right thing.
"You are doing the right thing. I'm telling you. You have chosen the right path. It is a difficult path but it's the right path. That should keep your courage. Dapat katatagan ng loob dahil ang ginagawa mo ay tama," she said.
For his part, Magdamo said he does not expect to receive any reward for exposing alleged irregularities inside the Comelec. He said he made the disclosures to show that any person, no matter how small, can be an instrument for change.
Binay overtakes Legarda in VP race; Roxas still on top
Makati Mayor Jejomar "Jojo" C. Binay of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) has caught up with Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) bet Sen. Loren B. Legarda in the race for the vice-presidency but Liberal Party candidate Sen. Manuel "Mar" A. Roxas continues to enjoy a large, albeit narrower, lead.
The latest BusinessWorld-Social Weather Stations (SWS) Pre-Election Survey, conducted last April 16 to 19, saw Mr. Binay gaining four points to 25%, just edging out Ms. Legarda who lost a point to 24%.
Mr. Roxas's score, meanwhile, fell to below 40% for the first time: he was down three points to 39% with three weeks to go before the May 10 elections.
Mr. Roxas's score has been dropping since the start of the year, as has Ms. Legarda's although not to the same extent. Mr. Binay, meanwhile, has been gaining from last December's 10%.
The scores for the five remaining vice-presidential candidates barely changed: former Metro Manila Development Authority chief Bayani Fernando stayed at 3%; administration bet Eduardo "Edu" B. Manzano of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD lost a point to 2%; Bangon Pilipinas' Perfecto "Kidlat" R. Yasay was steady at 1%; Ang Kapatiran's Dominador "Jun" F. Chipeco, Jr. declined from 0.4% to 0.3%; and Kilusang Bagong Lipunan's Jose "Jay" Y. Sonza rose to 0.4% from 0.3%.
Reacting to the results, Mr. Roxas said: "I would like to express my gratitude despite the three-point decline. The results will serve as my inspiration to strive harder in campaigning…"
Joey Salgado, Mr. Binay's media officer, said the results showed momentum was on the PMP candidate's side. "There were political events that occurred after the survey period that were not captured. We believe that we have the momentum," he added.
Undaunted by their candidate's declining performance, NPC spokesman and Valenzuela Rep. Rexlon T. Gatchalian said surveys were not necessarily accurate.
"Surveys do not reflect what's happening on the ground. The support of the people to Ms. Legarda wherever she goes is overwhelming and that's what we believe," he said.
Ms. Legarda, he added, would eventually emerge strong in the polls. "Mr. Binay can have the second spot, while Mr. Roxas can have all the surveys. In the end, Ms. Legarda will emerge in the number one spot."
The SWS survey polled 2,400 registered voters, divided into random samples of 300 for Metro Manila, 900 in the Balance of Luzon, and 600 each in the Visayas and Mindanao. The error margins used were ±2% for national percentages, ±6% for Metro Manila, ±3% for the rest of Luzon, and ±4% for the Visayas and Mindanao.
As in the last two surveys, the respondents were asked to fill out ballots which were then dropped into sealed containers, mimicking the election experience.
"Five percent of the respondents voted for others or were undecided," the SWS said
The latest BusinessWorld-Social Weather Stations (SWS) Pre-Election Survey, conducted last April 16 to 19, saw Mr. Binay gaining four points to 25%, just edging out Ms. Legarda who lost a point to 24%.
Mr. Roxas's score, meanwhile, fell to below 40% for the first time: he was down three points to 39% with three weeks to go before the May 10 elections.
Mr. Roxas's score has been dropping since the start of the year, as has Ms. Legarda's although not to the same extent. Mr. Binay, meanwhile, has been gaining from last December's 10%.
The scores for the five remaining vice-presidential candidates barely changed: former Metro Manila Development Authority chief Bayani Fernando stayed at 3%; administration bet Eduardo "Edu" B. Manzano of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD lost a point to 2%; Bangon Pilipinas' Perfecto "Kidlat" R. Yasay was steady at 1%; Ang Kapatiran's Dominador "Jun" F. Chipeco, Jr. declined from 0.4% to 0.3%; and Kilusang Bagong Lipunan's Jose "Jay" Y. Sonza rose to 0.4% from 0.3%.
Reacting to the results, Mr. Roxas said: "I would like to express my gratitude despite the three-point decline. The results will serve as my inspiration to strive harder in campaigning…"
Joey Salgado, Mr. Binay's media officer, said the results showed momentum was on the PMP candidate's side. "There were political events that occurred after the survey period that were not captured. We believe that we have the momentum," he added.
Undaunted by their candidate's declining performance, NPC spokesman and Valenzuela Rep. Rexlon T. Gatchalian said surveys were not necessarily accurate.
"Surveys do not reflect what's happening on the ground. The support of the people to Ms. Legarda wherever she goes is overwhelming and that's what we believe," he said.
Ms. Legarda, he added, would eventually emerge strong in the polls. "Mr. Binay can have the second spot, while Mr. Roxas can have all the surveys. In the end, Ms. Legarda will emerge in the number one spot."
The SWS survey polled 2,400 registered voters, divided into random samples of 300 for Metro Manila, 900 in the Balance of Luzon, and 600 each in the Visayas and Mindanao. The error margins used were ±2% for national percentages, ±6% for Metro Manila, ±3% for the rest of Luzon, and ±4% for the Visayas and Mindanao.
As in the last two surveys, the respondents were asked to fill out ballots which were then dropped into sealed containers, mimicking the election experience.
"Five percent of the respondents voted for others or were undecided," the SWS said
BusinessWorld Social Weather Stations (SWS) Pre-Election April Latest Survey
Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino III has gained a double-digit lead over his fiercest rival, Nacionalista Party presidential bet Sen. Manuel “Manny” B. Villar, Jr., in the latest BusinessWorld-Social Weather Stations (SWS) Pre-Election Survey.
The April 16 to 19 nationwide poll, conducted three weeks before the May 10 elections, saw Aquino gaining a point to 38% compared to a two-point drop to 26% for the Nacionalista Party’s Mr. Villar.
The lead between the two opened up to 12 points from nine previously in the BW-SWS survey of March 19-22.
Six percent of the respondents were classed as “undecided/others” -- these included votes for disqualified bet Vetellano “Dodong” S. Acosta of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan and responses that could not be properly read.
As in two earlier surveys, the respondents were asked to fill out ballots. The SWS polled 2,400 registered voters, divided into random samples of 300 for Metro Manila, 900 in the Balance of Luzon, and 600 each in the Visayas and Mindanao. The error margins used were ±2% for national percentages, ±6% for Metro Manila, ±3% for the rest of Luzon, and ±4% for the Visayas and Mindanao.
The question was: “Kung ang eleksyon ay gaganapin ngayon, sino ang pinakamalamang ninyong iboboto bilang presidente, bise-presidente, mga senador at party list ng Pilipinas? Narito ang lista-han ng mga kandidato. Paki shade o itiman po ang naaangkop na oval katabi ng pangalan ng taong pina-kamalamang ninyong iboboto. (If the elections were held today, whom would you most probably vote for as president, vice-president, senator, and party list of the Philippines? Here is a list of candidates. Please shade the oval beside the name of the persons you would most likely vote for.)
Former President Joseph “Erap” M. Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino remained third with a two-point drop to 17%, while administration bet Gilberto “Gibo” C. Teodoro, Jr. of the Lakas-NUCD picked up three points during the month to 9%, still a distant fourth.
Bagumbayan’s Sen. Richard “Dick” J. Gordon -- who last week filed suit against the SWS and rival polling firm Pulse Asia over their presidential surveys -- lost a point to share fifth place, at 2% each, with evangelist Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva, the Bangon Pilipinas candidate.
Support for the remaining three presidentiables -- independents Sen. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” A.S. Madrigal and Jesus Nicanor “Nick” P. Perlas, and Ang Kapatiran’s John Carlos “JC” G. De Los Reyes -- basically stayed unchanged at less than half a percent each, although Ms. Madrigal is now sixth, from last previously, at 0.3%. Messrs. Perlas and De Los Reyes both scored 0.2%.
Taking into account a March 28-30 SWS survey commissioned by San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, Mr. Aquino’s score was also up a point while Mr. Villar’s loss was a slightly steeper three points. Mr. Estrada’ score was unchanged while Mr. Teodoro was up a point. Both Messrs. Gordon and Villar stayed steady, while the changes among Ms. Madrigal and Messrs. De Los Reyes and Perlas were a tenth to two-tenths of a percentage point.
The April 16-19 BW-SWS survey showed Mr. Aquino the frontrunner in terms of geographical area and socioeconomic classes. (The demographic details of the March 28-30 poll commissioned by Mr. Zamora remain under embargo.)
The LP candidate’s one-point improvement, said the SWS, was due to gains of two points in the Balance of Luzon (to 37%) and one point in Mindanao (33%) that were offset by a four-point loss in Metro Manila (to 35%) and a steady score in the Visayas (46%).
Mr. Villar’s two-point drop, meanwhile, was attributed to a four-point gain in Mindanao (to 31%) being offset by losses of two points in Metro Manila (18%) and five points each in the rest of Luzon (25%) and the Visayas (25%).
Mr. Estrada’s identical two-point fall was traced to losses in all four areas: one-point drops in both the Balance of Luzon (17%) and the Visayas (7%), two points in Metro Manila (25%), and four in Mindanao (22%).
Mr. Teodoro’s gains, meanwhile, came via a five-point improvement in Metro Manila (10%), an extra four points each in the Balance of Luzon (9%) and the Visayas (11%), and a point gain in Mindanao (8%).
Mr. Villanueva gained a point in the Visayas (2%), lost one in Metro Manila (3%), and stayed steady in the Balance of Luzon (3%) and the Mindanao (1%).
Mr. Gordon lost two points in the Balance of Luzon (2%) and one point each in the Visayas (1%) and Mindanao (0.4%), but stayed steady in Metro Manila (2%).
“The vote percentages of Madrigal, Perlas and De Los Reyes across major study areas hardly changed from March 19-22,” the SWS said.
By socioeconomic class, Mr. Aquino gained eight points (53%), Mr. Villar gained five (22%), Mr. Gordon gained one (3%), Mr. Villanueva stayed steady (3%), Mr. Teodoro lost one (11%), and Mr. Estrada dropped by five (6%) in the ABC category. As a result Mr. Aquino’s lead over Mr. Villar widened to 31 points.
Among the class D or masa, the gap between the two frontrunners widened to 13 by virtue of Messrs. Aquino and Villanueva staying steady (38% and 2%, respectively), Mr. Gordon dropping one (2%), Messrs. Villar and Estrada losing two points each (25% and 16%, respectively), and Mr. Teodoro gaining four (10%).
In class E the gap narrowed to just a point: Messrs. Estrada and Teodoro gained two each (23% and 6%, respectively), Mr. Aquino lost one (32%), Mr. Villar was steady (31%), Mr. Villanueva lost two (1%), and Mr. Gordon (0.1%) fell by three points.
Again, the SWS said the scores for the remaining candidates hardly changed.
Sought for comment, Aquino spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a telephone interview: “The Filipino people has identified the issue of character, and they think Noynoy is the best person to lead the country. The anti-corruption sentiment is resonating and Villar failed to address issues surrounding him. We hope that we will be able to convince more people in the upcoming surveys with our good news of anti-corruption and delivery of basic services.”
NP senatorial bet Gilbert C. Remulla, who also acts as Mr. Villar’s spokesperson, said a lot of things had taken place since the survey was conducted. The party, he said, believes that Mr. Aquino’s lead has gone back to the single-digit level with two weeks before the national elections.
“We recognize that it is an uphill battle but ... a lot has happened and a lot will still happen. By no measure is this a sure win by any party. We have suffered continued attacks by both contenders and we are wondering why the concentration is on us, the number two, and not on the number one. Despite all the attacks, we are still very much in the running and that our supporters’ resolve has only strengthened further,” Mr. Remulla said.
Margaux M. Salcedo, Mr. Estrada’s spokesperson, said: “It’s not what we were shooting for but at least the solid base has stayed. We will just have to triple time to the finish line.”
Lawyer Mike Toledo, Mr. Teodoro’s spokesman, received the improvement as good news but said the party would rather not depend on surveys.
“We welcome any rise in the ratings of Gibo as shown by SWS and other polling firms. But as far as we are concerned, what is important to us is the kind of support that we are getting from the ground,” he said
The April 16 to 19 nationwide poll, conducted three weeks before the May 10 elections, saw Aquino gaining a point to 38% compared to a two-point drop to 26% for the Nacionalista Party’s Mr. Villar.
The lead between the two opened up to 12 points from nine previously in the BW-SWS survey of March 19-22.
Six percent of the respondents were classed as “undecided/others” -- these included votes for disqualified bet Vetellano “Dodong” S. Acosta of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan and responses that could not be properly read.
As in two earlier surveys, the respondents were asked to fill out ballots. The SWS polled 2,400 registered voters, divided into random samples of 300 for Metro Manila, 900 in the Balance of Luzon, and 600 each in the Visayas and Mindanao. The error margins used were ±2% for national percentages, ±6% for Metro Manila, ±3% for the rest of Luzon, and ±4% for the Visayas and Mindanao.
The question was: “Kung ang eleksyon ay gaganapin ngayon, sino ang pinakamalamang ninyong iboboto bilang presidente, bise-presidente, mga senador at party list ng Pilipinas? Narito ang lista-han ng mga kandidato. Paki shade o itiman po ang naaangkop na oval katabi ng pangalan ng taong pina-kamalamang ninyong iboboto. (If the elections were held today, whom would you most probably vote for as president, vice-president, senator, and party list of the Philippines? Here is a list of candidates. Please shade the oval beside the name of the persons you would most likely vote for.)
Former President Joseph “Erap” M. Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino remained third with a two-point drop to 17%, while administration bet Gilberto “Gibo” C. Teodoro, Jr. of the Lakas-NUCD picked up three points during the month to 9%, still a distant fourth.
Bagumbayan’s Sen. Richard “Dick” J. Gordon -- who last week filed suit against the SWS and rival polling firm Pulse Asia over their presidential surveys -- lost a point to share fifth place, at 2% each, with evangelist Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva, the Bangon Pilipinas candidate.
Support for the remaining three presidentiables -- independents Sen. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” A.S. Madrigal and Jesus Nicanor “Nick” P. Perlas, and Ang Kapatiran’s John Carlos “JC” G. De Los Reyes -- basically stayed unchanged at less than half a percent each, although Ms. Madrigal is now sixth, from last previously, at 0.3%. Messrs. Perlas and De Los Reyes both scored 0.2%.
Taking into account a March 28-30 SWS survey commissioned by San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, Mr. Aquino’s score was also up a point while Mr. Villar’s loss was a slightly steeper three points. Mr. Estrada’ score was unchanged while Mr. Teodoro was up a point. Both Messrs. Gordon and Villar stayed steady, while the changes among Ms. Madrigal and Messrs. De Los Reyes and Perlas were a tenth to two-tenths of a percentage point.
The April 16-19 BW-SWS survey showed Mr. Aquino the frontrunner in terms of geographical area and socioeconomic classes. (The demographic details of the March 28-30 poll commissioned by Mr. Zamora remain under embargo.)
The LP candidate’s one-point improvement, said the SWS, was due to gains of two points in the Balance of Luzon (to 37%) and one point in Mindanao (33%) that were offset by a four-point loss in Metro Manila (to 35%) and a steady score in the Visayas (46%).
Mr. Villar’s two-point drop, meanwhile, was attributed to a four-point gain in Mindanao (to 31%) being offset by losses of two points in Metro Manila (18%) and five points each in the rest of Luzon (25%) and the Visayas (25%).
Mr. Estrada’s identical two-point fall was traced to losses in all four areas: one-point drops in both the Balance of Luzon (17%) and the Visayas (7%), two points in Metro Manila (25%), and four in Mindanao (22%).
Mr. Teodoro’s gains, meanwhile, came via a five-point improvement in Metro Manila (10%), an extra four points each in the Balance of Luzon (9%) and the Visayas (11%), and a point gain in Mindanao (8%).
Mr. Villanueva gained a point in the Visayas (2%), lost one in Metro Manila (3%), and stayed steady in the Balance of Luzon (3%) and the Mindanao (1%).
Mr. Gordon lost two points in the Balance of Luzon (2%) and one point each in the Visayas (1%) and Mindanao (0.4%), but stayed steady in Metro Manila (2%).
“The vote percentages of Madrigal, Perlas and De Los Reyes across major study areas hardly changed from March 19-22,” the SWS said.
By socioeconomic class, Mr. Aquino gained eight points (53%), Mr. Villar gained five (22%), Mr. Gordon gained one (3%), Mr. Villanueva stayed steady (3%), Mr. Teodoro lost one (11%), and Mr. Estrada dropped by five (6%) in the ABC category. As a result Mr. Aquino’s lead over Mr. Villar widened to 31 points.
Among the class D or masa, the gap between the two frontrunners widened to 13 by virtue of Messrs. Aquino and Villanueva staying steady (38% and 2%, respectively), Mr. Gordon dropping one (2%), Messrs. Villar and Estrada losing two points each (25% and 16%, respectively), and Mr. Teodoro gaining four (10%).
In class E the gap narrowed to just a point: Messrs. Estrada and Teodoro gained two each (23% and 6%, respectively), Mr. Aquino lost one (32%), Mr. Villar was steady (31%), Mr. Villanueva lost two (1%), and Mr. Gordon (0.1%) fell by three points.
Again, the SWS said the scores for the remaining candidates hardly changed.
Sought for comment, Aquino spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a telephone interview: “The Filipino people has identified the issue of character, and they think Noynoy is the best person to lead the country. The anti-corruption sentiment is resonating and Villar failed to address issues surrounding him. We hope that we will be able to convince more people in the upcoming surveys with our good news of anti-corruption and delivery of basic services.”
NP senatorial bet Gilbert C. Remulla, who also acts as Mr. Villar’s spokesperson, said a lot of things had taken place since the survey was conducted. The party, he said, believes that Mr. Aquino’s lead has gone back to the single-digit level with two weeks before the national elections.
“We recognize that it is an uphill battle but ... a lot has happened and a lot will still happen. By no measure is this a sure win by any party. We have suffered continued attacks by both contenders and we are wondering why the concentration is on us, the number two, and not on the number one. Despite all the attacks, we are still very much in the running and that our supporters’ resolve has only strengthened further,” Mr. Remulla said.
Margaux M. Salcedo, Mr. Estrada’s spokesperson, said: “It’s not what we were shooting for but at least the solid base has stayed. We will just have to triple time to the finish line.”
Lawyer Mike Toledo, Mr. Teodoro’s spokesman, received the improvement as good news but said the party would rather not depend on surveys.
“We welcome any rise in the ratings of Gibo as shown by SWS and other polling firms. But as far as we are concerned, what is important to us is the kind of support that we are getting from the ground,” he said
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Noynoy, Erap camps step up vote protection measures
Almost all political parties have stepped-up vote protection measures amid looming fears that widespread cheating could take place during next month's automated polls.
ANC's "The Rundown" on Thursday night took up the issue of how the country's political parties are securing the integrity of votes with political strategists of the Liberal Party (LP) and the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).
Learning from opposition presidential bet Fernando Poe Jr.'s experience with electoral fraud in 2004, former Ambassador Ernesto Maceda, also former President Joseph Estrada's campaign manager, said the PMP has tapped lawyers and volunteers to oversee the conduct of the elections in various election precincts and protect the votes of their candidates from cheating operations.
"Our mistake, principally, was that we didn't have watchers and lawyers on the ground. In Cebu, GMA piled up an unbelievable 1 million plus margin. But that's not going to happen in Cebu now. There are four strong contending parties, I think nobody will run away with elections in Cebu," he said.
Maceda said that although they have had problems mobilizing volunteers while operating on a shoestring budget, they have managed to complete their lawyers and poll watchers nationwide.
A manual audit of poll results
Former Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, the LP's Vote Protection Unit Head, said they have trained 8,000 lawyers and IT-capable personnel and 300,000 volunteers on how the automated polls work and what to look out for in the event of electoral cheating.
But having poll watchers to oversee the conduct of automated elections may not be enough.
Cruz admitted while it may be harder to cheat from the outside, it is easier to cheat from within the system.
"Garci might be inside the PCOS [Precinct Count Optical Scan] machine," Cruz quipped. "Comelec did not allow us to review the source code, they removed the ultraviolet safety measure of the ballot, they didn't allow Namfrel to do a parallel unofficial count. So we don't know if the PCOS will count correctly on May 10."
Cruz said that amid recent challenges posed by such problems, a manual audit of results of three selected positions--the presidential, vice-presidential and mayoralty race would be a good way to ensure fraud-free election results.
"What is important now is for Comelec to allow parallel manual count or 100% manual audit of 3 positions. This will take 3 hours and P400M. If Comelec can spend P680 million for plastic folders, why should it be expensive to spend to assure accuracy of results on May 10?"
Cruz compared it to withdrawing money from an ATM machine where one automatically counts the money after making the transaction, not wait two weeks later to do so like what the Comelec proposes to do.
"That's a ridiculous idea and that's against the law," Cruz said.
But Cruz added that Comelec agreeing to a 30% manual audit would be better than having none at all.
Cruz noted that while the manual audit is a good proposal, Comelec has not yet warmed up to it.
Partial manual audit
Maceda agreed with Cruz's call for a manual audit, but said expressed doubts that a 100% manual audit is realistic.
"I doubt if it will be practicable and cost-effective to have a 100% parallel audit. We'd be satisfied with at least a 30% provided we are informed where the audit will take place," he said.
Maceda said the manual audit could be conducted in places where cheating has been widely reported in the past, places like the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), particularly Maguindanao, Cotabato and other parts of Mindanao, as well as smaller provinces like Abra.
Both Cruz and Maceda noted it seems unusual that candidates believed to be the allied with the Arroyo Administration are not putting as much attention to vote protection.
"It's strange they don't have a vote protection unit because Comelec has removed the safeguards provided by law in the election automation system," Cruz said.
"If it's true they are administration candidates, they probably have no fear of being cheated because cheating will be done by other people for them," Maceda added.
Maceda and Cruz said that given the unpredictability of the election automation system, vote protection measures are essential to ensuring the integrity of the outcome of the polls.
ANC's "The Rundown" on Thursday night took up the issue of how the country's political parties are securing the integrity of votes with political strategists of the Liberal Party (LP) and the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).
Learning from opposition presidential bet Fernando Poe Jr.'s experience with electoral fraud in 2004, former Ambassador Ernesto Maceda, also former President Joseph Estrada's campaign manager, said the PMP has tapped lawyers and volunteers to oversee the conduct of the elections in various election precincts and protect the votes of their candidates from cheating operations.
"Our mistake, principally, was that we didn't have watchers and lawyers on the ground. In Cebu, GMA piled up an unbelievable 1 million plus margin. But that's not going to happen in Cebu now. There are four strong contending parties, I think nobody will run away with elections in Cebu," he said.
Maceda said that although they have had problems mobilizing volunteers while operating on a shoestring budget, they have managed to complete their lawyers and poll watchers nationwide.
A manual audit of poll results
Former Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, the LP's Vote Protection Unit Head, said they have trained 8,000 lawyers and IT-capable personnel and 300,000 volunteers on how the automated polls work and what to look out for in the event of electoral cheating.
But having poll watchers to oversee the conduct of automated elections may not be enough.
Cruz admitted while it may be harder to cheat from the outside, it is easier to cheat from within the system.
"Garci might be inside the PCOS [Precinct Count Optical Scan] machine," Cruz quipped. "Comelec did not allow us to review the source code, they removed the ultraviolet safety measure of the ballot, they didn't allow Namfrel to do a parallel unofficial count. So we don't know if the PCOS will count correctly on May 10."
Cruz said that amid recent challenges posed by such problems, a manual audit of results of three selected positions--the presidential, vice-presidential and mayoralty race would be a good way to ensure fraud-free election results.
"What is important now is for Comelec to allow parallel manual count or 100% manual audit of 3 positions. This will take 3 hours and P400M. If Comelec can spend P680 million for plastic folders, why should it be expensive to spend to assure accuracy of results on May 10?"
Cruz compared it to withdrawing money from an ATM machine where one automatically counts the money after making the transaction, not wait two weeks later to do so like what the Comelec proposes to do.
"That's a ridiculous idea and that's against the law," Cruz said.
But Cruz added that Comelec agreeing to a 30% manual audit would be better than having none at all.
Cruz noted that while the manual audit is a good proposal, Comelec has not yet warmed up to it.
Partial manual audit
Maceda agreed with Cruz's call for a manual audit, but said expressed doubts that a 100% manual audit is realistic.
"I doubt if it will be practicable and cost-effective to have a 100% parallel audit. We'd be satisfied with at least a 30% provided we are informed where the audit will take place," he said.
Maceda said the manual audit could be conducted in places where cheating has been widely reported in the past, places like the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), particularly Maguindanao, Cotabato and other parts of Mindanao, as well as smaller provinces like Abra.
Both Cruz and Maceda noted it seems unusual that candidates believed to be the allied with the Arroyo Administration are not putting as much attention to vote protection.
"It's strange they don't have a vote protection unit because Comelec has removed the safeguards provided by law in the election automation system," Cruz said.
"If it's true they are administration candidates, they probably have no fear of being cheated because cheating will be done by other people for them," Maceda added.
Maceda and Cruz said that given the unpredictability of the election automation system, vote protection measures are essential to ensuring the integrity of the outcome of the polls.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Bolante stays away from Teodoro rally in Capiz
Administration standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro invaded the province of Liberal Party’s vice presidential candidate, Senator Mar Roxas II, and got the support of many mayors allied with controversial Capiz gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante.
But while at least 12 mayors belonging to Bolante’s Uygon Kita Capiz (UKC) took part in Teodoro’s rally at the Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center here late Friday, Bolante himself was conspicuously absent from gathering, which was attended by some 5,000 Capiceños.
Bolante, a former agriculture undersecretary alleged to be the brains behind the P728-million fertilizer fund scam in which money intended to subsidize farmers was diverted to political supporters of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 elections, is running for governor with the support of 14 out of 17 mayors of Capiz, including Roxas City.
Bolante apparently had no choice but to stay away since he was not invited to the rally, according to mayors who took part in the rally but asked not to be identified by name for fear of the repercussions.
Teodoro arrived at 10:30 a.m. and was met by Representative Fredenil Castro of the second district of Capiz, Vice Governor Felipe Barredo and other UKC members at the Roxas City airport.
Mayors led by Vicente Bermejo of Roxas City welcomed Teodoro at the packed civic center.
In their speeches, Bermejo and Castro acknowledged Teodoro as the “most qualified presidential contender.”
The two former allies of Senator Roxas, however, avoided mentioning Roxas City in their speeches, saying only that Teodoro had the support of the people of "the city in Capiz."
Many political leaders had expected that Teodoro would raise the mayors’ hands including that of Castro, who is now in his last term and wants to be replaced by his wife Jane in the second congressional district.
Rumors have been circulating here that Castro and allied mayors will jump ship during the last days of the campaign and instead support Nacionalista Party’s standard-bearer Senator Manny Villar. But a member of Castro’s staff, Vicente Gonzales, vehemently denied the allegations.
But many pundits here have been wondering where Bermejo’s true support lies after he bolted the LP and joined Bolante.
During Villar’s visit here recently, he was accommodated by Bermejo and some mayors allied to Bolante. Bermejo and the same local leaders also accommodated former President Joseph Estrada when he visited here a month ago.
Meanwhile, the newest town chief executive to have joined Bolante was Mayor Katherine Dequiña-Belo of Panitan town, a former die-hard supporter of the LP.
Belo had been campaigning for Bolante in the past month and only confirmed recently.
The LP adopted Belo’s lone opponent, Richard “Bantit” Dadivas, head of Barangay Tincupon in Panitan who is running as an independent.
Mayors allied with Bolante who attended the rally of Teodoro were Felipe Neri Yap of Ivisan, Jose Alba of Mambusao, Ethel Jinon of Jamindan, Rosemarie Gardoce of Tapaz, Roger Flores of Cuartero, Leslie Warren Benjamin of Dumarao, Lilia Castro of Dumalag, Joselito Escutin of Dao, Dante Bermejo of Panay, Rosauro Buenafe of President Roxas, Mayor Vicente Bermejo of Roxas City.
Mayor Katherine Dequiña-Belo of Panitan was represented by town councilor Ricardo Araque.
Flores said there was no need for the mayors to formally endorse Teodoro in speeches or by raising the latter’s hand because they all belonged to the same party, Lakas-Kampi, which has affiliated with Bolante’s UKC.
But while at least 12 mayors belonging to Bolante’s Uygon Kita Capiz (UKC) took part in Teodoro’s rally at the Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center here late Friday, Bolante himself was conspicuously absent from gathering, which was attended by some 5,000 Capiceños.
Bolante, a former agriculture undersecretary alleged to be the brains behind the P728-million fertilizer fund scam in which money intended to subsidize farmers was diverted to political supporters of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 elections, is running for governor with the support of 14 out of 17 mayors of Capiz, including Roxas City.
Bolante apparently had no choice but to stay away since he was not invited to the rally, according to mayors who took part in the rally but asked not to be identified by name for fear of the repercussions.
Teodoro arrived at 10:30 a.m. and was met by Representative Fredenil Castro of the second district of Capiz, Vice Governor Felipe Barredo and other UKC members at the Roxas City airport.
Mayors led by Vicente Bermejo of Roxas City welcomed Teodoro at the packed civic center.
In their speeches, Bermejo and Castro acknowledged Teodoro as the “most qualified presidential contender.”
The two former allies of Senator Roxas, however, avoided mentioning Roxas City in their speeches, saying only that Teodoro had the support of the people of "the city in Capiz."
Many political leaders had expected that Teodoro would raise the mayors’ hands including that of Castro, who is now in his last term and wants to be replaced by his wife Jane in the second congressional district.
Rumors have been circulating here that Castro and allied mayors will jump ship during the last days of the campaign and instead support Nacionalista Party’s standard-bearer Senator Manny Villar. But a member of Castro’s staff, Vicente Gonzales, vehemently denied the allegations.
But many pundits here have been wondering where Bermejo’s true support lies after he bolted the LP and joined Bolante.
During Villar’s visit here recently, he was accommodated by Bermejo and some mayors allied to Bolante. Bermejo and the same local leaders also accommodated former President Joseph Estrada when he visited here a month ago.
Meanwhile, the newest town chief executive to have joined Bolante was Mayor Katherine Dequiña-Belo of Panitan town, a former die-hard supporter of the LP.
Belo had been campaigning for Bolante in the past month and only confirmed recently.
The LP adopted Belo’s lone opponent, Richard “Bantit” Dadivas, head of Barangay Tincupon in Panitan who is running as an independent.
Mayors allied with Bolante who attended the rally of Teodoro were Felipe Neri Yap of Ivisan, Jose Alba of Mambusao, Ethel Jinon of Jamindan, Rosemarie Gardoce of Tapaz, Roger Flores of Cuartero, Leslie Warren Benjamin of Dumarao, Lilia Castro of Dumalag, Joselito Escutin of Dao, Dante Bermejo of Panay, Rosauro Buenafe of President Roxas, Mayor Vicente Bermejo of Roxas City.
Mayor Katherine Dequiña-Belo of Panitan was represented by town councilor Ricardo Araque.
Flores said there was no need for the mayors to formally endorse Teodoro in speeches or by raising the latter’s hand because they all belonged to the same party, Lakas-Kampi, which has affiliated with Bolante’s UKC.
Aquino is first presidential bet to visit Batanes
When Liberal Party standard-bearer, Senator Benigno Aquino III, set foot on this northernmost Luzon province on Saturday, 76-year-old resident Aurora Ponce felt that the Ivatans were important.
"This was the first time that a presidential candidate visited the province during the campaign period," said Ponce, who joined those who welcomed Aquino and his running mate, Senator Manuel Roxas II, at the Basco Airport and later at the Aquino grandstand in this capital town.
It was exactly 21 years ago, on April 24, 1989, when Aquino's mother, the late former President Corazon Aquino, visited Batanes when she switched on electric power in the island province.
"With only 10,000 voters, a candidate can just skip the province and concentrate on campaigning in the big cities and provinces. But they gave importance to our province, which shows that Noynoy and Mar are sincere in reaching out even to the smallest province in the country," said Ponce.
Asked by the Inquirer if she would vote for Aquino and Roxas, she said: "With all my heart, yes. A dot on top of the map of the Philippines (referring to Batanes) represents a crown, which means Noynoy and Mar will become the next leaders in our country."
Older Ivatans observed that Aquino stood on the same spot where his mother stood at the Aquino grandstand when she addressed them 21 years ago.
Malou Cayco, president of the Batanes Chamber of Commerce, said the visit showed that Aquino and Roxas were sincere about the plight of Ivatans.
"Malaking bagay sa ating mga Ivatan ang pagpunta nila dito dahil nakita at naramdaman natin na sincere sila sa kanilang sinasabi dahil kahit maliit lang ang boto na makukuha niya dito, pinuntahan tayo (This visit is important for us, Ivatans, because we saw and felt their sincerity even though the province can deliver only a few votes)," she said.
Aquino told his audience how much his mother loved the Ivatans.
He related an incident when his mother bought damaged garlic grown by Ivatans because she wanted to help them.
He said despite his hectic campaign schedule, he made sure to reach the farthest province in Northern Luzon because he wanted to thank the Ivatans.
"This was the first time that a presidential candidate visited the province during the campaign period," said Ponce, who joined those who welcomed Aquino and his running mate, Senator Manuel Roxas II, at the Basco Airport and later at the Aquino grandstand in this capital town.
It was exactly 21 years ago, on April 24, 1989, when Aquino's mother, the late former President Corazon Aquino, visited Batanes when she switched on electric power in the island province.
"With only 10,000 voters, a candidate can just skip the province and concentrate on campaigning in the big cities and provinces. But they gave importance to our province, which shows that Noynoy and Mar are sincere in reaching out even to the smallest province in the country," said Ponce.
Asked by the Inquirer if she would vote for Aquino and Roxas, she said: "With all my heart, yes. A dot on top of the map of the Philippines (referring to Batanes) represents a crown, which means Noynoy and Mar will become the next leaders in our country."
Older Ivatans observed that Aquino stood on the same spot where his mother stood at the Aquino grandstand when she addressed them 21 years ago.
Malou Cayco, president of the Batanes Chamber of Commerce, said the visit showed that Aquino and Roxas were sincere about the plight of Ivatans.
"Malaking bagay sa ating mga Ivatan ang pagpunta nila dito dahil nakita at naramdaman natin na sincere sila sa kanilang sinasabi dahil kahit maliit lang ang boto na makukuha niya dito, pinuntahan tayo (This visit is important for us, Ivatans, because we saw and felt their sincerity even though the province can deliver only a few votes)," she said.
Aquino told his audience how much his mother loved the Ivatans.
He related an incident when his mother bought damaged garlic grown by Ivatans because she wanted to help them.
He said despite his hectic campaign schedule, he made sure to reach the farthest province in Northern Luzon because he wanted to thank the Ivatans.
The race for No. 2 shaping up: It’s Roxas vs Binay
Let them have a good fight for No. 2.”
This was the message of Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II to his rivals Sen. Loren Legarda of the Nacionalista Party (NP) and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).
Roxas has been at the forefront of the vice presidential race, according to surveys conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia, with Legarda occupying the second slot and Binay in third place.
“The numbers of my partner are consistent. He has a huge lead which will get bigger in the coming days,” LP standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III told reporters.
“They (Legarda and Binay) can fight for the No. 2 slot but what is important is being No. 1 and maintaining it,” Aquino added.
An SWS survey conducted March 19-22 showed Roxas with a 42 percent voter preference. Legarda, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition but running under the NP slate, was at 25 percent and Binay at 21 percent.
Roxas was also at the top of the Pulse Asia survey for the March 21-28 period with 43 percent. Legarda was second at 23 percent while Binay had 19 percent.
There was some chest thumping Friday in the camp of Binay, who has been endorsed by Sen. Francis Escudero, a former leader of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
A new survey carried out by a firm named LA Research showed that while Roxas was leading in the vice presidential contest with 41.4 percent, Binay had taken over second place with 27.3 percent while Legarda had dropped to third with 22.9 percent, a press release from the Binay camp said.
Registered with SEC
The Binay camp said the face-to-face survey was conducted on April 15 among 6,900 respondents and commissioned by radio network dzRH. It had a margin of error of plus-minus 1.1 percent.
The Binay camp described LA Research as a Manila-based group of pollsters that has been doing surveys for the radio station in the run-up to the May 10 elections.
A check by Inquirer Research shows that a company called LA Research Info Center is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to “undertake or engage in marketing and consumer research.”
Advice to Aquino
In its survey, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Bayani Fernando and ex-Optical Media Board Chair Edu Manzano were tied for fourth and fifth with 2.9 percent each.
Respondents representing 1.1 percent are undecided, according to the survey.
As the campaign headed into the homestretch, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s election lawyer had a piece of unsolicited advice for Aquino: Reject Escudero’s endorsement if it would hurt your running mate’s candidacy.
Lawyer Romeo Macalintal warned Aquino that he risked being called an “ingrate” and losing his friendship with Roxas if he accepted Escudero’s endorsement.
“If he’s a gentleman enough, he should not accept that kind of endorsement,” Macalintal said by phone. “That is a challenge to his leadership, as to whether he would abandon his running mate for his own political benefit.”
“If he (Aquino) could refuse an endorsement from the Ampatuans because it is disastrous to his career, why can’t he refuse an endorsement from Escudero, which is disastrous to the political stand of his running mate?” Macalintal said.
“An honorable man like Mar Roxas deserves to be respected and not deserted by his supposed partner,” he added.
Escudero has picked Aquino for president while supporting Binay for vice president. He says an Aquino-Binay tandem would provide a better balance of governance since one is from the legislature, while the other comes from the executive.
Macalintal reminded Aquino that it would be the “height of ingratitude” if he went along with Escudero’s endorsement given the “political sacrifice” made by Roxas in giving way to Aquino’s presidential aspirations.
Reciprocity among friends
“Noynoy’s acceptance of Escudero’s support (would) expose his low regard for friendship,” Macalintal said. “The reciprocity among friends should be preserved by the party.”
Roxas dropped his presidential ambitions and agreed to run for vice president after Aquino decided to take a crack at the No. 1 post.
This was the message of Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II to his rivals Sen. Loren Legarda of the Nacionalista Party (NP) and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).
Roxas has been at the forefront of the vice presidential race, according to surveys conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia, with Legarda occupying the second slot and Binay in third place.
“The numbers of my partner are consistent. He has a huge lead which will get bigger in the coming days,” LP standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III told reporters.
“They (Legarda and Binay) can fight for the No. 2 slot but what is important is being No. 1 and maintaining it,” Aquino added.
An SWS survey conducted March 19-22 showed Roxas with a 42 percent voter preference. Legarda, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition but running under the NP slate, was at 25 percent and Binay at 21 percent.
Roxas was also at the top of the Pulse Asia survey for the March 21-28 period with 43 percent. Legarda was second at 23 percent while Binay had 19 percent.
There was some chest thumping Friday in the camp of Binay, who has been endorsed by Sen. Francis Escudero, a former leader of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
A new survey carried out by a firm named LA Research showed that while Roxas was leading in the vice presidential contest with 41.4 percent, Binay had taken over second place with 27.3 percent while Legarda had dropped to third with 22.9 percent, a press release from the Binay camp said.
Registered with SEC
The Binay camp said the face-to-face survey was conducted on April 15 among 6,900 respondents and commissioned by radio network dzRH. It had a margin of error of plus-minus 1.1 percent.
The Binay camp described LA Research as a Manila-based group of pollsters that has been doing surveys for the radio station in the run-up to the May 10 elections.
A check by Inquirer Research shows that a company called LA Research Info Center is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to “undertake or engage in marketing and consumer research.”
Advice to Aquino
In its survey, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Bayani Fernando and ex-Optical Media Board Chair Edu Manzano were tied for fourth and fifth with 2.9 percent each.
Respondents representing 1.1 percent are undecided, according to the survey.
As the campaign headed into the homestretch, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s election lawyer had a piece of unsolicited advice for Aquino: Reject Escudero’s endorsement if it would hurt your running mate’s candidacy.
Lawyer Romeo Macalintal warned Aquino that he risked being called an “ingrate” and losing his friendship with Roxas if he accepted Escudero’s endorsement.
“If he’s a gentleman enough, he should not accept that kind of endorsement,” Macalintal said by phone. “That is a challenge to his leadership, as to whether he would abandon his running mate for his own political benefit.”
“If he (Aquino) could refuse an endorsement from the Ampatuans because it is disastrous to his career, why can’t he refuse an endorsement from Escudero, which is disastrous to the political stand of his running mate?” Macalintal said.
“An honorable man like Mar Roxas deserves to be respected and not deserted by his supposed partner,” he added.
Escudero has picked Aquino for president while supporting Binay for vice president. He says an Aquino-Binay tandem would provide a better balance of governance since one is from the legislature, while the other comes from the executive.
Macalintal reminded Aquino that it would be the “height of ingratitude” if he went along with Escudero’s endorsement given the “political sacrifice” made by Roxas in giving way to Aquino’s presidential aspirations.
Reciprocity among friends
“Noynoy’s acceptance of Escudero’s support (would) expose his low regard for friendship,” Macalintal said. “The reciprocity among friends should be preserved by the party.”
Roxas dropped his presidential ambitions and agreed to run for vice president after Aquino decided to take a crack at the No. 1 post.
Ang Presidente Ko, Chiz Escudero Noynoy Ads
Here is the TV Ads entitled "Ang Presidente Ko", the Chiz Escudero Noynoy Ads.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Why Escudero all the way for Binay, not Roxas
“Kulang sa kalyo,” Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero says of Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
In plain talk, Roxas is a spring chicken, rather than a fighting cock.
That’s why, Escudero said in a television interview Thursday, he had decided to support Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, running mate of ex-President Joseph Estrada.
Binay fits Escudero’s idea of a vice president.
“Not someone rich, not an ‘ilustrado,’ one who is courageous, a man of honor and a genuine member of the opposition,” he told ANC’s Karen Davila.
Asked if his support for Binay was aimed at thwarting Roxas’ anticipated run for the presidency in 2016, the 40-year-old Escudero said, “I am nearsighted.”
“Why should I be making enemies this early? It’s not in my interest to draw the line this early if indeed that is on my mind,” he said.
Besides, Escudero said, the Aquino-Binay tandem would provide a better balance of governance. “One is from the legislature, while the other is an executive official.”
“Everyone says Noynoy comes from a rich family so it might be a good thing if his running mate does not come from another rich family. And since Noynoy purportedly lacks experience, his vice president should have a background to make up for this. I think they will complement each other,” Escudero said.
He said he had nothing against Roxas, scion of one of the country’s wealthiest families.
Escudero disappeared from the May election arena after he announced late last year he no longer was pursuing his presidential ambitions.
That was after he had a falling out with tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco.
The scuttlebutt then was that Cojuangco, head of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and regarded as a kingmaker, wasn’t going to finance Escudero’s drive to the presidency that had a so-called “entry barrier” of P5 billion.
Like Icarus
Escudero then said that he wasn’t going to allow himself to be beholden to any political party and would await a ground swell that would catapult him to Malacañang.
The ground swell never happened and Escudero went into hibernation, reviled as a modern-day Icarus, the tragic Greek character who flew close to the sun on wings of wax and came crashing to earth a dead duck, sort of.
He had not been heard from since, until his communications team that was helping Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the Liberal Party presidential candidate, complained to media that it was having a hard time with Roxas.
The team had respectably handled Escudero’s campaign last year. He was among the favorites in the initial poll surveys of presidential wannabes. He had run away to fight another day—in the 2016 elections, possibly against Roxas.
Roxas leads poll surveys in the vice presidential race.
Essence of RP democracy
Last year, Roxas initiated moves to join the May 10 presidential race, but stepped aside for Aquino, who decided he wanted the presidency for himself after he saw the outpouring of grief upon the death of his mother, the former president Corazon Aquino.
Escudero said the TV ad, paid for by Binay’s friends, “should not be a cause for division or conflict within the LP.”
He said he had also taped another TV ad for Aquino that will be aired this week.
“There is no bloc voting in our laws. This is the essence of democracy; that each and every voter is allowed to choose who he wants to vote for for a particular office,” he said.
“I’m not saying that Senator Mar is not true opposition. I’m saying Mayor Binay has been with the opposition longer, has done many things and is not just a talker. Also he had not backed away from a fight as recent history had shown,” Escudero said in Filipino.
“Anyone who thinks that my ad is against a specific person, well, I do not spend all my waking hours just thinking about him,” said Escudero.
“There is no need for us to talk. I am not mad at him. I have no issues against him. Just because I do not support his candidacy does not mean I am mad at him,” Escudero said.
Not mad at Chiz
In an interview, Roxas also dismissed suggestions that Escudero’s endorsement had something to do with 2016.
“I’m not thinking about that,” Roxas said. “What I’m focusing on right now is how to ensure that Senator Noynoy wins so that we would get the chance to have real change in our country.”
Roxas said that Escudero had the right to endorse his choice of candidates. He also downplayed Escudero’s alleged dig against him in Escudero’s ad for Binay as “just politics.”
For united ticket
Sen. Francis Pangilinan, LP campaign manager, said:
“While we respect the decision of others to support a mixed ticket, we believe that for our nation to achieve real change we must have the strongest unity possible between the president and vice president.
“A united ticket is essential for us to effectively lead the nation out of the mess it is in. This is best served by ensuring the victory of both Noy and Mar in 2010.”
In plain talk, Roxas is a spring chicken, rather than a fighting cock.
That’s why, Escudero said in a television interview Thursday, he had decided to support Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, running mate of ex-President Joseph Estrada.
Binay fits Escudero’s idea of a vice president.
“Not someone rich, not an ‘ilustrado,’ one who is courageous, a man of honor and a genuine member of the opposition,” he told ANC’s Karen Davila.
Asked if his support for Binay was aimed at thwarting Roxas’ anticipated run for the presidency in 2016, the 40-year-old Escudero said, “I am nearsighted.”
“Why should I be making enemies this early? It’s not in my interest to draw the line this early if indeed that is on my mind,” he said.
Besides, Escudero said, the Aquino-Binay tandem would provide a better balance of governance. “One is from the legislature, while the other is an executive official.”
“Everyone says Noynoy comes from a rich family so it might be a good thing if his running mate does not come from another rich family. And since Noynoy purportedly lacks experience, his vice president should have a background to make up for this. I think they will complement each other,” Escudero said.
He said he had nothing against Roxas, scion of one of the country’s wealthiest families.
Escudero disappeared from the May election arena after he announced late last year he no longer was pursuing his presidential ambitions.
That was after he had a falling out with tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco.
The scuttlebutt then was that Cojuangco, head of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and regarded as a kingmaker, wasn’t going to finance Escudero’s drive to the presidency that had a so-called “entry barrier” of P5 billion.
Like Icarus
Escudero then said that he wasn’t going to allow himself to be beholden to any political party and would await a ground swell that would catapult him to Malacañang.
The ground swell never happened and Escudero went into hibernation, reviled as a modern-day Icarus, the tragic Greek character who flew close to the sun on wings of wax and came crashing to earth a dead duck, sort of.
He had not been heard from since, until his communications team that was helping Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the Liberal Party presidential candidate, complained to media that it was having a hard time with Roxas.
The team had respectably handled Escudero’s campaign last year. He was among the favorites in the initial poll surveys of presidential wannabes. He had run away to fight another day—in the 2016 elections, possibly against Roxas.
Roxas leads poll surveys in the vice presidential race.
Essence of RP democracy
Last year, Roxas initiated moves to join the May 10 presidential race, but stepped aside for Aquino, who decided he wanted the presidency for himself after he saw the outpouring of grief upon the death of his mother, the former president Corazon Aquino.
Escudero said the TV ad, paid for by Binay’s friends, “should not be a cause for division or conflict within the LP.”
He said he had also taped another TV ad for Aquino that will be aired this week.
“There is no bloc voting in our laws. This is the essence of democracy; that each and every voter is allowed to choose who he wants to vote for for a particular office,” he said.
“I’m not saying that Senator Mar is not true opposition. I’m saying Mayor Binay has been with the opposition longer, has done many things and is not just a talker. Also he had not backed away from a fight as recent history had shown,” Escudero said in Filipino.
“Anyone who thinks that my ad is against a specific person, well, I do not spend all my waking hours just thinking about him,” said Escudero.
“There is no need for us to talk. I am not mad at him. I have no issues against him. Just because I do not support his candidacy does not mean I am mad at him,” Escudero said.
Not mad at Chiz
In an interview, Roxas also dismissed suggestions that Escudero’s endorsement had something to do with 2016.
“I’m not thinking about that,” Roxas said. “What I’m focusing on right now is how to ensure that Senator Noynoy wins so that we would get the chance to have real change in our country.”
Roxas said that Escudero had the right to endorse his choice of candidates. He also downplayed Escudero’s alleged dig against him in Escudero’s ad for Binay as “just politics.”
For united ticket
Sen. Francis Pangilinan, LP campaign manager, said:
“While we respect the decision of others to support a mixed ticket, we believe that for our nation to achieve real change we must have the strongest unity possible between the president and vice president.
“A united ticket is essential for us to effectively lead the nation out of the mess it is in. This is best served by ensuring the victory of both Noy and Mar in 2010.”
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Binay leads pack of Makati bets in SWS survey
AS IF TO DISPROVE CLAIMS that the Binays were losing their grip on Makati City, the camp of mayoral bet Jejomar Erwin “Jun-jun” Binay Jr. announced Wednesday he was leading the pack of candidates according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
In a statement, Binay spokesperson Lito Anzures said the SWS survey conducted from April 7 to 9 among 600 Makati respondents showed Jun-jun Binay, son of outgoing Makati mayor and vice presidential candidate Jejomar Binay, having a 46 percent share of the votes.
The Makati survey was commissioned by Victor Limlingan, nephew of Binay’s senior adviser Gerardo Limlingan, who was injured in a shooting incident in Cainta, Rizal, last month.
According to the SWS, Binay has a commanding 22-percent lead over his nearest rival, Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, who got 24 percent. Erwin Genuino ranked third with 18 percent and former Sen. Agapito “Butz” Aquino was in fourth place, with 1 percent.
The younger Binay is leading in both first and second districts of Makati getting 51 percent and 41 percent, respectively.
He also leads in all socioeconomic classes, garnering a 51-percent approval rating from the ABC class, 44 percent from the D class, and 48 percent from the E class.
Anzures said the SWS survey, along with a recent Pulse Asia survey, disproved claims made by Mercado’s camp of a “close fight” in Makati.
“This shows the residents of Makati believe in the brand of service espoused by Jun-jun. They believe he is more than qualified to be mayor who can continue and expand the benefits they are already receiving,” he said.
In the Pulse Asia survey conducted Feb. 13-14, the younger Binay got 50 percent of the votes while the vice mayor was tailing with 20 percent, followed by Genuino with 17 percent.
In past interviews, Mercado told reporters that surveys were not reflections of the actual elections on May 10.
In a statement, Binay spokesperson Lito Anzures said the SWS survey conducted from April 7 to 9 among 600 Makati respondents showed Jun-jun Binay, son of outgoing Makati mayor and vice presidential candidate Jejomar Binay, having a 46 percent share of the votes.
The Makati survey was commissioned by Victor Limlingan, nephew of Binay’s senior adviser Gerardo Limlingan, who was injured in a shooting incident in Cainta, Rizal, last month.
According to the SWS, Binay has a commanding 22-percent lead over his nearest rival, Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, who got 24 percent. Erwin Genuino ranked third with 18 percent and former Sen. Agapito “Butz” Aquino was in fourth place, with 1 percent.
The younger Binay is leading in both first and second districts of Makati getting 51 percent and 41 percent, respectively.
He also leads in all socioeconomic classes, garnering a 51-percent approval rating from the ABC class, 44 percent from the D class, and 48 percent from the E class.
Anzures said the SWS survey, along with a recent Pulse Asia survey, disproved claims made by Mercado’s camp of a “close fight” in Makati.
“This shows the residents of Makati believe in the brand of service espoused by Jun-jun. They believe he is more than qualified to be mayor who can continue and expand the benefits they are already receiving,” he said.
In the Pulse Asia survey conducted Feb. 13-14, the younger Binay got 50 percent of the votes while the vice mayor was tailing with 20 percent, followed by Genuino with 17 percent.
In past interviews, Mercado told reporters that surveys were not reflections of the actual elections on May 10.
Razon thanks rivals Lim, Atienza for endorsement
DON’T LOOK NOW BUT AVELINO Razon, the dark horse in the race for Manila mayor, has been getting endorsements from his toughest rivals for the post—incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim and former Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.
Razon himself would not believe it at first but the stories about how Lim and Atienza, who have long been at odds with each other, would openly declare that they would rather see the former Philippine National Police chief win over the other have become too many to ignore.
“I was pleasantly surprised. At first I would not believe it but there have been too many occasions where different persons would tell me they heard Mayor Lim say, ‘If you don’t like me, don’t vote for Mayor Atienza. Vote for Razon,’” the Nationalist People’s Coalition bet told the Inquirer in a recent interview.
“Mayor Atienza was also heard saying, ‘To those who don’t like me, just don’t vote for Lim. I’d rather you go for Razon.’ I really want to thank both of them,” said Razon, erstwhile presidential adviser on the peace process.
He added that it was possible that he has remained in the good graces of the two politicians since he served them both as the city’s chief of police.
Razon headed the Western Police District (now known as the Manila Police District or MPD) during Lim’s second term as mayor from 1996 to 1998. When Atienza took over as mayor from 1998 to 2001, Razon was MPD director.
Razon lamented that his rivals’ campaigns have turned bloody following several instances of violence between their supporters.
“Because of this culture of political vengeance, the city has been left behind by Makati, Pasig, Pasay and even Taguig,” he said.
Should he be elected mayor, Razon said he would do away with “personal and political patronage.”
Razon himself would not believe it at first but the stories about how Lim and Atienza, who have long been at odds with each other, would openly declare that they would rather see the former Philippine National Police chief win over the other have become too many to ignore.
“I was pleasantly surprised. At first I would not believe it but there have been too many occasions where different persons would tell me they heard Mayor Lim say, ‘If you don’t like me, don’t vote for Mayor Atienza. Vote for Razon,’” the Nationalist People’s Coalition bet told the Inquirer in a recent interview.
“Mayor Atienza was also heard saying, ‘To those who don’t like me, just don’t vote for Lim. I’d rather you go for Razon.’ I really want to thank both of them,” said Razon, erstwhile presidential adviser on the peace process.
He added that it was possible that he has remained in the good graces of the two politicians since he served them both as the city’s chief of police.
Razon headed the Western Police District (now known as the Manila Police District or MPD) during Lim’s second term as mayor from 1996 to 1998. When Atienza took over as mayor from 1998 to 2001, Razon was MPD director.
Razon lamented that his rivals’ campaigns have turned bloody following several instances of violence between their supporters.
“Because of this culture of political vengeance, the city has been left behind by Makati, Pasig, Pasay and even Taguig,” he said.
Should he be elected mayor, Razon said he would do away with “personal and political patronage.”
Escudero all out for ‘Noy-Bi’
Roxas denies blocking Chiz ad on Binay
Ang Ladlad, which aspires to be the first gay group in Asia to hold a legislative office, on Wednesday endorsed Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, but not his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
Ladlad is supporting Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, vice presidential candidate of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).
The “Noy-Bi” combination is also being pushed by Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who earlier backed out of the presidential race.
Escudero was instrumental in securing Ang Ladlad’s support for Aquino and Binay, according to the group’s chair Danton Remoto.
Reached for comment in Cagayan de Oro City, Aquino said this was not the time to get jealous especially with interest groups endorsing candidates from different parties, such as the Noy-Bi pairing.
“We have to be more open-minded. This is not the time to harbor ill feelings. We can’t afford to be ill-tempered. There is no point in that. We have to be calm especially in the last few days when the nightmare scenarios could happen. We cannot be hotheaded,” Aquino said at a press conference.
He said he had assured supporters that Roxas remained his vice presidential candidate. “If I can’t convince (a supporter to back up Roxas), I told Mar he should look for others. In the same token, if there is someone who only likes Mar, I have to find others for me,” Aquino said.
The LP standard-bearer said he had taken up the matter with Roxas. “We are transparent on this,” he added.
‘That’s democracy’
Aquino said he asked Roxas if there was an issue on this about commitment. “There may be areas where Mar has a long-standing relationship (with somebody else) but I will never object to the support he is getting,” he said.
Roxas said he was cool to Ang Ladlad’s decision not to go solid LP. “That is the point of democracy.”
As to the similar endorsements made by Escudero, Roxas said: “I am friends with Senator Chiz. We have different political views. I am glad that he is supporting my candidate for president, and for me that is enough.”
“For me, what is most important is that all powers for Senator Noynoy will join forces,” Roxas added.
Aquino said Escudero was his kumpare and one of his closest friends. He said they have been together through many issues when they were both members of the House of the Representatives, including the impeachment case against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“It’s a huge thing to get an endorsement from a friend,” Aquino added. “But I’ve always asked the members of my coalition to focus on one goal and that is bringing about change after nine years of the Arroyo government.”
At a press conference in Quezon City, Remoto said Ang Ladlad considered Aquino the “Mr. Clean of Philippine politics.”
Remoto added that the group also admired Binay for his stand as a human rights lawyer during the Marcos dictatorship and for his pro-poor programs in Makati.
Remoto ran unsuccessfully for a seat in Congress under Binay’s PDP-Laban party and has been a card-carrying member of the party.
Binay was a loyal supporter of Noynoy’s mother, the late former President Cory Aquino. Both men had adopted her trademark campaign color, yellow, in casting their own political image.
Asked why the group did not pick Aquino’s running mate, Remoto said Roxas’ campaign was “too slow” in responding to Ang Ladlad’s request for support.
Remoto once worked for Roxas as a communications consultant. “Mar is a kind and decent man and we are still friends. But we had to make up for lost time,” he said.
Roxas blocking ad?
Binay does not mind if the TV ad showing Escudero endorsing his candidacy for vice president remains off the air. Roxas is reportedly blocking Escudero’s ad endorsing Binay.
As far as Binay is concerned, half the battle against Roxas, who has been leading poll surveys in the vice presidential race, is already won.
“They’re just making me even more popular,” the Makati mayor running with former President Joseph Estrada’s PMP told the Inquirer on the phone Wednesday.
“Are we upset? We’re not upset. We’re secretly happy that it has caused this furor,” Binay’s spokesperson Lito Anzures added.
Binay’s camp had apparently received reports that Roxas was keeping a TV station from airing the Escudero endorsement of the mayor.
In the 30-second ad, Escudero is shown “enumerating the good points of Jojo Binay,” such as his humble beginnings and his track record as a longtime local government official, according to Anzures.
Binay said he had not seen the ad, but was told about it by Escudero last week.
Roxas denies the accusation.
“Senator Escudero has every right to endorse any candidate he wants. He is not a member of LP and thus not bound by party discipline,” Roxas said in a text message.
Escudero has also been quietly working as a key member of Binay’s campaign team, which does not necessarily sit well with some supporters of Estrada.
Escudero is backing Aquino despite his being the spokesperson of the late Fernando Poe Jr. in the 2004 presidential election. Poe was a close friend of Estrada.
Asked about this arrangement in a recent interview, Estrada said: “That’s politics.”
Anzures said the attention being generated by the Escudero ad would only work to the advantage of Binay, who was locked in third place in surveys.
Major threat
“Even assuming the worst that the endorsement would never come out, at least, it has been talked about already, thanks to media people,” Anzures said. “It has done its damage already. But, of course, it would still be better if it would be aired.”
Assuming that Roxas and the LP were indeed blocking the ad, he said it would show that Binay was considered a major threat.
“It’s not surprising for them to try to stop it,” Binay’s spokesperson said. “They feel now who their real opponent is. We’re gaining ground.”
Ang Ladlad, which aspires to be the first gay group in Asia to hold a legislative office, on Wednesday endorsed Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, but not his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
Ladlad is supporting Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, vice presidential candidate of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).
The “Noy-Bi” combination is also being pushed by Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who earlier backed out of the presidential race.
Escudero was instrumental in securing Ang Ladlad’s support for Aquino and Binay, according to the group’s chair Danton Remoto.
Reached for comment in Cagayan de Oro City, Aquino said this was not the time to get jealous especially with interest groups endorsing candidates from different parties, such as the Noy-Bi pairing.
“We have to be more open-minded. This is not the time to harbor ill feelings. We can’t afford to be ill-tempered. There is no point in that. We have to be calm especially in the last few days when the nightmare scenarios could happen. We cannot be hotheaded,” Aquino said at a press conference.
He said he had assured supporters that Roxas remained his vice presidential candidate. “If I can’t convince (a supporter to back up Roxas), I told Mar he should look for others. In the same token, if there is someone who only likes Mar, I have to find others for me,” Aquino said.
The LP standard-bearer said he had taken up the matter with Roxas. “We are transparent on this,” he added.
‘That’s democracy’
Aquino said he asked Roxas if there was an issue on this about commitment. “There may be areas where Mar has a long-standing relationship (with somebody else) but I will never object to the support he is getting,” he said.
Roxas said he was cool to Ang Ladlad’s decision not to go solid LP. “That is the point of democracy.”
As to the similar endorsements made by Escudero, Roxas said: “I am friends with Senator Chiz. We have different political views. I am glad that he is supporting my candidate for president, and for me that is enough.”
“For me, what is most important is that all powers for Senator Noynoy will join forces,” Roxas added.
Aquino said Escudero was his kumpare and one of his closest friends. He said they have been together through many issues when they were both members of the House of the Representatives, including the impeachment case against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“It’s a huge thing to get an endorsement from a friend,” Aquino added. “But I’ve always asked the members of my coalition to focus on one goal and that is bringing about change after nine years of the Arroyo government.”
At a press conference in Quezon City, Remoto said Ang Ladlad considered Aquino the “Mr. Clean of Philippine politics.”
Remoto added that the group also admired Binay for his stand as a human rights lawyer during the Marcos dictatorship and for his pro-poor programs in Makati.
Remoto ran unsuccessfully for a seat in Congress under Binay’s PDP-Laban party and has been a card-carrying member of the party.
Binay was a loyal supporter of Noynoy’s mother, the late former President Cory Aquino. Both men had adopted her trademark campaign color, yellow, in casting their own political image.
Asked why the group did not pick Aquino’s running mate, Remoto said Roxas’ campaign was “too slow” in responding to Ang Ladlad’s request for support.
Remoto once worked for Roxas as a communications consultant. “Mar is a kind and decent man and we are still friends. But we had to make up for lost time,” he said.
Roxas blocking ad?
Binay does not mind if the TV ad showing Escudero endorsing his candidacy for vice president remains off the air. Roxas is reportedly blocking Escudero’s ad endorsing Binay.
As far as Binay is concerned, half the battle against Roxas, who has been leading poll surveys in the vice presidential race, is already won.
“They’re just making me even more popular,” the Makati mayor running with former President Joseph Estrada’s PMP told the Inquirer on the phone Wednesday.
“Are we upset? We’re not upset. We’re secretly happy that it has caused this furor,” Binay’s spokesperson Lito Anzures added.
Binay’s camp had apparently received reports that Roxas was keeping a TV station from airing the Escudero endorsement of the mayor.
In the 30-second ad, Escudero is shown “enumerating the good points of Jojo Binay,” such as his humble beginnings and his track record as a longtime local government official, according to Anzures.
Binay said he had not seen the ad, but was told about it by Escudero last week.
Roxas denies the accusation.
“Senator Escudero has every right to endorse any candidate he wants. He is not a member of LP and thus not bound by party discipline,” Roxas said in a text message.
Escudero has also been quietly working as a key member of Binay’s campaign team, which does not necessarily sit well with some supporters of Estrada.
Escudero is backing Aquino despite his being the spokesperson of the late Fernando Poe Jr. in the 2004 presidential election. Poe was a close friend of Estrada.
Asked about this arrangement in a recent interview, Estrada said: “That’s politics.”
Anzures said the attention being generated by the Escudero ad would only work to the advantage of Binay, who was locked in third place in surveys.
Major threat
“Even assuming the worst that the endorsement would never come out, at least, it has been talked about already, thanks to media people,” Anzures said. “It has done its damage already. But, of course, it would still be better if it would be aired.”
Assuming that Roxas and the LP were indeed blocking the ad, he said it would show that Binay was considered a major threat.
“It’s not surprising for them to try to stop it,” Binay’s spokesperson said. “They feel now who their real opponent is. We’re gaining ground.”
Ang Ladlad to add flavor, color in Congress
A party-list group, which promises to add color to the usually staid congressional proceedings, is going “yellow” in its choice for president and vice president in the May elections.
With expected gay flair, this was how Danton Remoto, chair of Ang Ladlad, described Aquino: “Walang bahid, walang mantsa. Hindi mo na kailangang magkuskos at magkula pa. (He’s without stain. No need to scrub or bleach.)
‘Golden Gays’ home
The group said that, if elected, it would propose laws that would criminalize discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBTs).
Ang Ladlad also vowed to provide livelihood programs and establish a home for elderly and abandoned members of the LGBT community. The home would be called “Golden Gays,” an apparent takeoff from the government-run Golden Acres.
“We will see all the colors of the rainbow in Congress,” said Naomi Fontanos, one of the group’s nominees. The others are Bernz Benedito, Germaine Leonin, Cris Lopera and Dexter Macaldo.
Ang Ladlad would add a “happy and gay” flavor to the party-list system, Fontanos said.
And even if mocked and bullied by other, more seasoned lawmakers, “like beauty queens we will come poised and diplomatic,” she added.
‘Outing’ not its business
“Our platform is based on dignity for all. We have concrete programs unlike other fake party-list groups which ... have yet to produce platforms and programs. We have a track record since 2003,” the group said in a statement in Filipino.
Fontanos said Ang Ladlad was “not in the business of outing people. If LGBTs refuse to come out of the closet, then that’s fine as long as they do some good for the communities they are in.”
On April 8, barely a month before the elections, the Supreme Court upheld with finality the accreditation of Ang Ladlad in the party-list race.
The group claims to have 16,000 members, but Remoto said it was banking on the estimated 5 million LGBT voters.
With expected gay flair, this was how Danton Remoto, chair of Ang Ladlad, described Aquino: “Walang bahid, walang mantsa. Hindi mo na kailangang magkuskos at magkula pa. (He’s without stain. No need to scrub or bleach.)
‘Golden Gays’ home
The group said that, if elected, it would propose laws that would criminalize discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBTs).
Ang Ladlad also vowed to provide livelihood programs and establish a home for elderly and abandoned members of the LGBT community. The home would be called “Golden Gays,” an apparent takeoff from the government-run Golden Acres.
“We will see all the colors of the rainbow in Congress,” said Naomi Fontanos, one of the group’s nominees. The others are Bernz Benedito, Germaine Leonin, Cris Lopera and Dexter Macaldo.
Ang Ladlad would add a “happy and gay” flavor to the party-list system, Fontanos said.
And even if mocked and bullied by other, more seasoned lawmakers, “like beauty queens we will come poised and diplomatic,” she added.
‘Outing’ not its business
“Our platform is based on dignity for all. We have concrete programs unlike other fake party-list groups which ... have yet to produce platforms and programs. We have a track record since 2003,” the group said in a statement in Filipino.
Fontanos said Ang Ladlad was “not in the business of outing people. If LGBTs refuse to come out of the closet, then that’s fine as long as they do some good for the communities they are in.”
On April 8, barely a month before the elections, the Supreme Court upheld with finality the accreditation of Ang Ladlad in the party-list race.
The group claims to have 16,000 members, but Remoto said it was banking on the estimated 5 million LGBT voters.
Poll authorities closely monitoring Padaca, Dy matchup
Police and poll authorities are closely monitoring the heated political rematch in Isabela province between incumbent Gov. Grace Padaca and 3rd District Rep. Faustino "Bojie" Dy III.
Win or lose, this will be the last political battle of Padaca, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee for good governance.
Faustino III, meanwhile, who comes from the influential political family in the province, will try to reclaim the gubernatorial post from Padaca.
The Dy family occupied the post for 34 years before losing it to Padaca in 2004.
It was Faustino III who defeated the former radio broadcaster during the 2001 congressional race. In 2004, Padaca made history by beating Faustino Jr. for governor.
She was reelected in 2007, this time winning against Faustino III and Faustino Jr.'s brother Benjamin Dy.
In all her political fights, Padaca admitted that the 2010 race is her toughest, saying her opponents are already desperate.
Faustino III, however, is unflappable.
Padaca is proud of her track record and even accumulated saving for the provincial government despite the huge debt incurred by her predecessors.
While the savings is good news, Faustino III countered Isabela folks were deprived of infrastructure projects like classrooms and farm-to-market roads.
Padaca focuses on irrigation project for the remainder of her 3-year term.
She warns that illegal logging and jueteng would resurface once the Dys return to power.
Although, Padaca thinks she somehow failed to totally eradicate jueteng as she alleged that police officers are supporting it.
Fautistno III laments he is also against illegal logging and jueteng, but there should be a clear-cut livelihood program for those who rely on these activities.
Win or lose, Faustino III extends a hand of reconciliation to Padaca, which the incumbent governor refuses to accept.
Padaca faces a tougher campaign now since her former influential political ally, Rodito Albano, has shifted his support for Faustino III.
Albano is running for vice governor to Faustino III.
Political observers believe no one between Padaca and Faustino III has the edge as this is seen as a battle between reform and patronage politics.
Win or lose, this will be the last political battle of Padaca, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee for good governance.
Faustino III, meanwhile, who comes from the influential political family in the province, will try to reclaim the gubernatorial post from Padaca.
The Dy family occupied the post for 34 years before losing it to Padaca in 2004.
It was Faustino III who defeated the former radio broadcaster during the 2001 congressional race. In 2004, Padaca made history by beating Faustino Jr. for governor.
She was reelected in 2007, this time winning against Faustino III and Faustino Jr.'s brother Benjamin Dy.
In all her political fights, Padaca admitted that the 2010 race is her toughest, saying her opponents are already desperate.
Faustino III, however, is unflappable.
Padaca is proud of her track record and even accumulated saving for the provincial government despite the huge debt incurred by her predecessors.
While the savings is good news, Faustino III countered Isabela folks were deprived of infrastructure projects like classrooms and farm-to-market roads.
Padaca focuses on irrigation project for the remainder of her 3-year term.
She warns that illegal logging and jueteng would resurface once the Dys return to power.
Although, Padaca thinks she somehow failed to totally eradicate jueteng as she alleged that police officers are supporting it.
Fautistno III laments he is also against illegal logging and jueteng, but there should be a clear-cut livelihood program for those who rely on these activities.
Win or lose, Faustino III extends a hand of reconciliation to Padaca, which the incumbent governor refuses to accept.
Padaca faces a tougher campaign now since her former influential political ally, Rodito Albano, has shifted his support for Faustino III.
Albano is running for vice governor to Faustino III.
Political observers believe no one between Padaca and Faustino III has the edge as this is seen as a battle between reform and patronage politics.
Cebu vice governor believes Garcias backing Villar
Is there an agreement between Nacionalista Party standard bearer Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President Winston Garcia?
Cebu Vice Governor Greg Sanchez, who is seeking reelection under the Liberal Party, believed that Winston and Villar had a secret deal. Winston is the brother of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia who has thrown her support to the Lakas-Kampi presidential bet Gilberto Teodoro.
“The way I look at it, Winston, I heard, is close to the First Gentleman (Jose Miguel Arroyo) so there really is a secret deal,” the vice governor said. (While President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s party, Lakas-Kampi, has officially endorsed Teodoro, the Arroyos are said to be secretly supporting Villar.)
But Villar denied the reported deal with Winston when interviewed over station dyLA before he left for his campaign sortie in Bohol.
However, when asked if Winston was helping his campaign, Villar refused to say anything, saying he would not want to claim anybody’s support, only to be denied later.
Despite Villar’s refusal to confirm anything, Sanchez said Winston’s role in convincing local officials to support Villar had a deeper meaning because of his reported closeness to the First Gentleman.
However, Villar who held rallies in Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay cities Tuesday evening, said his opponents were just sowing intrigues anew.
Meanwhile, a source said he was surprised when he learned that Winston had been trying to convince local officials to back Villar while remaining part of the administration of President Macapagal-Arroyo who is endorsing Teodoro.
“He should have been removed,” the source pointed out.
The source said Winston was instrumental in the signing of a manifesto of support for Villar by some mayors and local candidates last Sunday.
The source also said that Winston was inviting some mayors to another meeting this week, presumably to convince them to support Villar even if the mayors and the vice-mayors under One Cebu had signed a manifesto for support for Teodoro on Monday evening.
According to the source, the signatories of the One Cebu manifesto could shift their support to Villar if they did not receive any funding from Lakas-Kampi.
The source who knew about the meeting held last Sunday in Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa said Winston and his brother Byron, credited for the popular dancing inmates in Cebu, arrived separately during the meeting.
Winston allegedly told the mayors that Villar was the only presidential aspirant who could save the party.
Meanwhile, Malabuyoc Vice-Mayor Lito Creus who is running for mayor, was also quoted in a local newspaper as saying that Winston was the one who convinced them to support Villar.
Creus was the only one who admitted that he signed the manifesto of support for Villar.
When he refused to sign the new manifesto of support for Teodoro on Monday evening, Governor Garcia ordered the revocation of Creus’ certificate of nomination issued by Lakas and One Cebu.
On the other hand, Villar said that he should not be blamed if the Garcia family was divided over whom to support for president.
Reacting to the governor’s claim that he had split the Garcia family, he maintained that the family members themselves made the decision to support him.
Villar said he did not want to join in the family’s disagreement but he added that he would welcome anybody who would like to help his presidential campaign.
There have been reports that aside from the governor’s brothers Winston and Byron, their mother, retired judge Esperanza Garcia, has been campaigning for Villar.
Although Garcia’s father, 2nd district Representative Pablo Garcia and brother 3rd district Rep. Pablo John supported the governor’s decision to back Teodoro, Sanchez said the LP leaders reported that the older Garcia and his son did not seriously campaign for Teodoro in their respective districts.
The governor’s cousin, former Cebu city mayor Alvin Garcia who is running for mayor again, has entered into an alliance with Villar.
Cebu Vice Governor Greg Sanchez, who is seeking reelection under the Liberal Party, believed that Winston and Villar had a secret deal. Winston is the brother of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia who has thrown her support to the Lakas-Kampi presidential bet Gilberto Teodoro.
“The way I look at it, Winston, I heard, is close to the First Gentleman (Jose Miguel Arroyo) so there really is a secret deal,” the vice governor said. (While President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s party, Lakas-Kampi, has officially endorsed Teodoro, the Arroyos are said to be secretly supporting Villar.)
But Villar denied the reported deal with Winston when interviewed over station dyLA before he left for his campaign sortie in Bohol.
However, when asked if Winston was helping his campaign, Villar refused to say anything, saying he would not want to claim anybody’s support, only to be denied later.
Despite Villar’s refusal to confirm anything, Sanchez said Winston’s role in convincing local officials to support Villar had a deeper meaning because of his reported closeness to the First Gentleman.
However, Villar who held rallies in Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay cities Tuesday evening, said his opponents were just sowing intrigues anew.
Meanwhile, a source said he was surprised when he learned that Winston had been trying to convince local officials to back Villar while remaining part of the administration of President Macapagal-Arroyo who is endorsing Teodoro.
“He should have been removed,” the source pointed out.
The source said Winston was instrumental in the signing of a manifesto of support for Villar by some mayors and local candidates last Sunday.
The source also said that Winston was inviting some mayors to another meeting this week, presumably to convince them to support Villar even if the mayors and the vice-mayors under One Cebu had signed a manifesto for support for Teodoro on Monday evening.
According to the source, the signatories of the One Cebu manifesto could shift their support to Villar if they did not receive any funding from Lakas-Kampi.
The source who knew about the meeting held last Sunday in Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa said Winston and his brother Byron, credited for the popular dancing inmates in Cebu, arrived separately during the meeting.
Winston allegedly told the mayors that Villar was the only presidential aspirant who could save the party.
Meanwhile, Malabuyoc Vice-Mayor Lito Creus who is running for mayor, was also quoted in a local newspaper as saying that Winston was the one who convinced them to support Villar.
Creus was the only one who admitted that he signed the manifesto of support for Villar.
When he refused to sign the new manifesto of support for Teodoro on Monday evening, Governor Garcia ordered the revocation of Creus’ certificate of nomination issued by Lakas and One Cebu.
On the other hand, Villar said that he should not be blamed if the Garcia family was divided over whom to support for president.
Reacting to the governor’s claim that he had split the Garcia family, he maintained that the family members themselves made the decision to support him.
Villar said he did not want to join in the family’s disagreement but he added that he would welcome anybody who would like to help his presidential campaign.
There have been reports that aside from the governor’s brothers Winston and Byron, their mother, retired judge Esperanza Garcia, has been campaigning for Villar.
Although Garcia’s father, 2nd district Representative Pablo Garcia and brother 3rd district Rep. Pablo John supported the governor’s decision to back Teodoro, Sanchez said the LP leaders reported that the older Garcia and his son did not seriously campaign for Teodoro in their respective districts.
The governor’s cousin, former Cebu city mayor Alvin Garcia who is running for mayor again, has entered into an alliance with Villar.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Villar supporters infiltrate Noynoy website, fan page
The camp of Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has turned the table on Senator Manny Villar, saying it was the latter’s supporters who have “constantly infiltrated” Aquino’s website and fan page on Facebook.
“We bemoan the latest accusation thrown our way and would like to respectfully state that it has been Senator (Manny) Villar's supporters that have constantly infiltrated Senator Noynoy's website and Facebook fan page, infecting them with derogatory remarks unfit for print,” said Leah Navarro, content head of Aquino’s New Media Bureau.
Navarro was reacting to earlier statement by Villar’s Nacionalista Party, accusing Aquino’s supporters of trying to hack the party’s website.
In belying this accusation, Navarro pointed out that Aquino’s online presence has been consistently dominant attributing it to what she claimed as “our positive online campaign, which mirrors the principles of our principal,”
She even furnished a copy of their own monitoring of the candidates “fans” and online supporters, showing Aquino still keeping his lead over his rivals.
As of April 19, Aquino has further widened his lead over Villar on Facebook with 1,286,090 number of fans as against the Villar’s 1,209,108. Next is former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro with 263,640.
Aquino’s lead over Villar rose to 77,356 from 56,968 as of April 12.
Aquino also maintained his lead even on the number of followers on Twitter with 49,215, Teodoro with 14,856, Villar with only 2,028, Senator Richard Gordon with 1,278, and former president Joseph Estrada with 1,040 as of April 19.
“We bemoan the latest accusation thrown our way and would like to respectfully state that it has been Senator (Manny) Villar's supporters that have constantly infiltrated Senator Noynoy's website and Facebook fan page, infecting them with derogatory remarks unfit for print,” said Leah Navarro, content head of Aquino’s New Media Bureau.
Navarro was reacting to earlier statement by Villar’s Nacionalista Party, accusing Aquino’s supporters of trying to hack the party’s website.
In belying this accusation, Navarro pointed out that Aquino’s online presence has been consistently dominant attributing it to what she claimed as “our positive online campaign, which mirrors the principles of our principal,”
She even furnished a copy of their own monitoring of the candidates “fans” and online supporters, showing Aquino still keeping his lead over his rivals.
As of April 19, Aquino has further widened his lead over Villar on Facebook with 1,286,090 number of fans as against the Villar’s 1,209,108. Next is former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro with 263,640.
Aquino’s lead over Villar rose to 77,356 from 56,968 as of April 12.
Aquino also maintained his lead even on the number of followers on Twitter with 49,215, Teodoro with 14,856, Villar with only 2,028, Senator Richard Gordon with 1,278, and former president Joseph Estrada with 1,040 as of April 19.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Strictly Politics Miting de Avance Series
Once again, hard-hitting broadcast journalist Pia Hontiveros brings together a whole slate in her acclaimed weekly political talk show “Strictly Politics,” to give television viewers a broader look at the platforms and agenda of the country’s political parties heading to the May 10 national elections.
This Tuesday (April 20) at 7pm, former president Joseph Estrada and erstwhile Makati City mayor Jejomar Binay will lead the Partido ng Masang Pilipino in another “Miting-de-avance” episode of “Strictly Politics,” which airs on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel (SkyCable ch. 27).
Sen. Manuel Villar’s Nacionalista Party and Sen. Noynoy Aquino’s Liberal Party were also invited to have their turn in the show’s “Miting-de-avance” series on April 27 and May 4, respectively.
Hontiveros, who is one of the country’s most respected anchors, began featuring full slates of candidates in “Strictly Politics” six years ago for the 2004 Philippine national elections. She said with a miting-de-avance format, viewers will get a different look at the candidates as they get to see them interact with their supporters and hear them get into the details of their platforms.
“We are all bombarded by political ads with messages captured only in 30 seconds or less. ‘Strictly Politics’ gives the candidates an avenue to expound on their plans and more time to engage the people in a political discourse,” she said.
Previous guests in the award-winning program were Jamby Madrigal (Genuine Opposition), JC Delos Reyes (Ang Kapatiran), Bro. Eddie Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas), and Sen. Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan). Invited last week but eventually declined due to a conflict in schedule was the Lakas-Kampi-CMD slate led by standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr.
Catch Gawad Tanglaw’s Best Public Affairs show “Strictly Politics” on ANC (SkyCable ch. 27) this Tuesday (April 20) at 7pm, with a same day replay at 11pm. Watch it again on April 28 at 1pm, and April 24, 8pm on ANC. Visit http://teamkapamilya.multiply.com or follow abscbndotcom at www.twitter.com for other news on ABS-CBN programs, stars, and subsidiaries.
This Tuesday (April 20) at 7pm, former president Joseph Estrada and erstwhile Makati City mayor Jejomar Binay will lead the Partido ng Masang Pilipino in another “Miting-de-avance” episode of “Strictly Politics,” which airs on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel (SkyCable ch. 27).
Sen. Manuel Villar’s Nacionalista Party and Sen. Noynoy Aquino’s Liberal Party were also invited to have their turn in the show’s “Miting-de-avance” series on April 27 and May 4, respectively.
Hontiveros, who is one of the country’s most respected anchors, began featuring full slates of candidates in “Strictly Politics” six years ago for the 2004 Philippine national elections. She said with a miting-de-avance format, viewers will get a different look at the candidates as they get to see them interact with their supporters and hear them get into the details of their platforms.
“We are all bombarded by political ads with messages captured only in 30 seconds or less. ‘Strictly Politics’ gives the candidates an avenue to expound on their plans and more time to engage the people in a political discourse,” she said.
Previous guests in the award-winning program were Jamby Madrigal (Genuine Opposition), JC Delos Reyes (Ang Kapatiran), Bro. Eddie Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas), and Sen. Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan). Invited last week but eventually declined due to a conflict in schedule was the Lakas-Kampi-CMD slate led by standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr.
Catch Gawad Tanglaw’s Best Public Affairs show “Strictly Politics” on ANC (SkyCable ch. 27) this Tuesday (April 20) at 7pm, with a same day replay at 11pm. Watch it again on April 28 at 1pm, and April 24, 8pm on ANC. Visit http://teamkapamilya.multiply.com or follow abscbndotcom at www.twitter.com for other news on ABS-CBN programs, stars, and subsidiaries.
130 congressmen rally behind Gibo
Amid the defections and betrayals within the ruling party Lakas-Kampi-CMD, more than 130 congressional candidates and incumbent congressmen took time out from their campaign to express and sign a manifesto of support to prove their continued support for the Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet Gilbert Teodoro Jr..
In a meeting among members of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party at the Dusit Hotel in Makati Monday afternoon, ruling party chair Cong. Amelita Villarosa said that Lakas members will continue to campaign for Teodoro.
She also denied reports that members of the so-called Northern Alliance, a group of legislators from northern Luzon, had already bolted the ruling coalition and is supporting Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar.
Villarosa said the report was purely black propaganda since the supposed spokesman of the alliance--Ilocos Sur 2nd District Rep. Eric Singson--is not a member of Lakas but has been a member of the Liberal Party.
To prove her point, she called on the members of the Northern Alliance, headed by La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, to stand up and pose with Teodoro on Monday.
Rep. Villarosa also said that contrary to news reports, Quezon City Rep. Annie Susano is with the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) party, not with Lakas.
In a statement read during the meeting by Rep. Roger Mercado of Southern Leyte, the group promised to be true to their ideals and push for the candidacy of Teodoro.
During a photo opportunity, more than 100 incumbent and congressional candidates posed with Teodoro and the whole leadership of the Lakas party and made the thumbs-up sign.
For his part, Teodoro thanked the congressional candidates and incumbent congressman for their support, but he had to leave early because of a scheduled rally in Antipolo City.
Ten minutes after Teodoro left, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo joined the meeting and asked her party mates to stick together and remain united for Teodoro.
In a meeting among members of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party at the Dusit Hotel in Makati Monday afternoon, ruling party chair Cong. Amelita Villarosa said that Lakas members will continue to campaign for Teodoro.
She also denied reports that members of the so-called Northern Alliance, a group of legislators from northern Luzon, had already bolted the ruling coalition and is supporting Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar.
Villarosa said the report was purely black propaganda since the supposed spokesman of the alliance--Ilocos Sur 2nd District Rep. Eric Singson--is not a member of Lakas but has been a member of the Liberal Party.
To prove her point, she called on the members of the Northern Alliance, headed by La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, to stand up and pose with Teodoro on Monday.
Rep. Villarosa also said that contrary to news reports, Quezon City Rep. Annie Susano is with the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) party, not with Lakas.
In a statement read during the meeting by Rep. Roger Mercado of Southern Leyte, the group promised to be true to their ideals and push for the candidacy of Teodoro.
During a photo opportunity, more than 100 incumbent and congressional candidates posed with Teodoro and the whole leadership of the Lakas party and made the thumbs-up sign.
For his part, Teodoro thanked the congressional candidates and incumbent congressman for their support, but he had to leave early because of a scheduled rally in Antipolo City.
Ten minutes after Teodoro left, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo joined the meeting and asked her party mates to stick together and remain united for Teodoro.
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