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Panicking into the arms of defeat

September 25, 2007 by mlq3  
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Headlines today: Even as Kickback blow to Arroyo ratings.

Flailing in the Palace: It was miscommunication, not a flip-flop – Palace on Neri (blogger Uniffors points to a news report that the flip-flopping was due to Us Embassy intervention: which only goes to show, if you’re going to play the China card, better make sure your whole hand is strong).

The Palace version? Arroyo: Bribery talk over ZTE deal was ‘uncorroborated’

But there’s more. President knew Abalos involved in deal—JdV: for details, see Ricky Carandang:

As JDV tells it, he and his president were on a bus from Hong Kong to Shenzhen when she had a phone conversation with Abalos. Apparently Abalos had flown ahead to China and was waiting for them there so they could all play golf.  During the phone conversation, Arroyo asked Abalos why he couldn’t tweak ZTE’s broadband proposal so that there would be no need for the government to borrow money or issue a sovereign guarantee for the project.  In the presence of the Speaker, she asked Abalos why he couldn’t get ZTE to submit a proposal similar to the one submitted by Joey De Venecia’s company, Amsterdam Holdings, which had no up front cost for the government.

JDV says he didn’t know how Abalos replied to the President because she was speaking to him on the phone. He said that they only met with Abalos after they arrived in Shenzhen.

What does this tell us?

First, that President Arroyo knew that Abalos was pushing the ZTE proposal.  Based on what the president said, she not only knew that Abalos was involved in the ZTE proposal but assumed that he had enough influence over ZTE to get them to materially modify their proposal.

Second, that the president knew that the ZTE proposal did not conform to her own policy and guidelines about how a broadband deal should be done. She knew that, contrary to her stated policy, the ZTE proposal would require the government to borrow the money to fund the project.  And yet, she approved the deal later on anyway.

This is not an unsubstantiated claim by some oppositionist trying to oust the president. This is the Speaker of the House talking about something he had direct knowledge of.  The fourth highest offical in the country and a loyal ally of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  Whether he meant to or not, the Speaker may have just implicated the President in the ZTE Broadband scandal.

As for Neri himself: Neri on NBN probe: I’ll try to answer ‘truthfully’

Got this text message from Atenean friends (I’m not from the Ateneo), who asked me to post it in my blog:

Time to show the world Ateneans are not buzzards in Blue Eagle’s clothing! Attend Senate hearing tomorrow, 9:30 am to boost morale of Romy Neri, HS ‘66, to tell the truth. Wear blue or your homecoming uniform.

So in solidarity with the concerned alumni, here’s an inspirational song (click on it to play it): Blue_Eagle_The_King.mp3

See the Action for Economic Reforms statement, too.

So why did I title this entry panicking into the arms of defeat? After gambling on playing it cool last week, the administration has engaged in one clumsy ploy after another, not even including the clumsy tactic of having the President’s husband fly off to parts unknown on the eve of Joey de Venecia’s testimony. The President’s instructions last Saturday seemed to lay the basis for stonewalling on the basis of executive privilege; but rather than play that card, the administration then spent Monday seesawing between confirming or denying that Neri would be made to accompany the President to New York. In the end, the President caved, told Neri to go, and has made it even harder for the executive privilege card to be played. The President’s proven herself easily spooked, with a tendency to be fickle, which can only demoralize her lieutenants.

In Inquirer Current, John Nery points to criticism of fatuous questions, and asks, what questions should the senators ask? The Business Mirror editorial says the questions should include probing into the CyberEd project, too.

In other news, Gov’t places more China deals on hold. Puno: Estrada could get to keep P1B of ill-gotten assets (update: Estrada nixes Arroyo pardon for now–Puno)

In Publius Pundit, the underwhelming response to the “one laptop per child” effort.

Just on a housekeeping note (the need to dot our i’s and cross our t’s) we should cover all bases and with this in mind, let me reiterate the points I raised on June 7, 2007 in A way forward:

1. Creation of a Special Independent Prosecutor’s office to undertake preliminary investigation for possible cases of impeachment.

2. For the House of Representatives to junk the flawed 13th Congress’ rules on impeachment and adopt the more traditional, and fairer ones, of past Congresses. See my August 17, 2006 column, Motive.

Overseas, thrilling news of goings-on in Burma. See Monks and the military:As more monks and laymen join protests in Myanmar, what will the junta do? And the editorial Burma needs the world’s help. Blogger Center Sight says Pakistan Approaches the Boiling Point.

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Comments

77 Comments on "Panicking into the arms of defeat"

  1. manuelbuencamino on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 4:21 pm 

    Miscommunication? Of course.

    GMA kept changing her mind, kept giving out conflicting orders!

  2. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 4:35 pm 

    I must admit it’s hard to fathom the mind of Gloria Pidal.
    However,she inevitably follows this sequence: “Move on,Back Off,Fly”.

    All very opportunistic and all very suspicious. Also very counter productive

  3. tonio on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 4:50 pm 

    hmmm… anything can still happen at this point.

  4. cvj on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 4:53 pm 

    How do you define ‘defeat’?

  5. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 4:55 pm 

    tonio:I think that Abalos will be sacrificed…

  6. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 4:58 pm 

    cvj:To Gloria I think defeat is the temporary time period between two money-making scandals….

    she remembers what her day said to her:

    “I have sat at the sumptuous tables of power, but I have not run away with the silverware.”
    Diosdado Macapagal

    Gloria Pidal:Dad,just China!

  7. tonio on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 4:59 pm 

    tdc:

    pretty much plausible at this point. after all when the shite hits the fan… to use a phrase from a previous regime… “walang pamilya, walang kaibigan”

  8. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 5:09 pm 

    Tonio:she might be bite size but she is incredibly ruthless.To protect herself,she can even resort to sending her Fat Guy to “exile” again and proclaim to the nation with dolorous eyes “I’m married to the country…”

  9. cvj on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 5:12 pm 

    tonio:I think that Abalos will be sacrificed… – TDC

    I agree, which is why i titled my own blog’s series of ZTE-related post under ‘Abalos Political Deathwatch’. I can’t see how he could not be anything but toast.

    cvj:To Gloria I think defeat is the temporary time period between two money-making scandals…. – tdc

    lol.

  10. Jeg on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 5:22 pm 

    Yes it is quite plausible that the Chairman will be sacrificed. But it will probably be done in such a way that he will not be liable for anything indictable, and Im sure lawyers will find ways to do that–lack of admissible evidence and all that. And perhaps he will be amply rewarded. He will be allowed to resign in peace and relative luxury. ;-)

  11. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 5:24 pm 

    “Time to show the world Ateneans are not buzzards in Blue Eagle’s clothing! Attend Senate hearing tomorrow, 9:30 am to boost morale of Romy Neri, HS ‘66, to tell the truth. Wear blue or your homecoming uniform.text to MLQ3″

    Ateneo has the home to our great heroes..Jose Rizal,Ninoy Aquino,Ed Jopspn and many others.

    BUT,remember also where Ronnie Puno,Joseph Estrada and MIKE ARROYO also studied…

    Ateno has been the homw to bothe GREAT heroes and also sadly,scoundrels!!

    Let’s see in what category of Blue Eagles doese Neri belong to… abangan..

  12. Geo on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 5:35 pm 

    Same old thing — Lots of words, lots of hype…little if no relevant facts. Round and round the political players go, in a ceaseless self-absorbed dance…like Ecstasy-impaired partiers at an all-night rave.

    It’s sad that the media plays right along; it is incapapble of independent and original thinking…it just adds to the confusion and hot air. I really wish a major news organization could step up and start being un-aligned and truly professional.

    The Senate deserves a lot of the original blame, though. The way they conducted themselves today (Wiretapping) — both pro- and anti-admin types — was appaling. They need to prepare themselves much better.

    I hope the NBN inquiry will suddenly become better managed by all parties. I doubt it will be.

  13. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 5:40 pm 

    “Who am I to do that? This was supposed to be a government-to-government contract. Ambassadors are the ones who should be doing this,” Abalos said.”

    I boldly predict “Daddy Chair” Abalos will be rewarded with the ambassador’s post to China after either his retirement or his “forced resignation”.That’s always the reward of Gloria Pidal(remember Ambassador DAVIDE)

  14. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 5:43 pm 

    GEO: you are 100% right about today’s Senate hearing on wiretapping.All senators(admin and opposition) acted like “palengkeras” on national TV.

    That’s why it is easy for the bite site Pidal to question the real need for this once sacred institution!

  15. Geo on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 6:06 pm 

    Yeah, TDC — the Senate sucks. It’s been ineffective for years. How many laws have been passed??? And with so many “Presidentiables” jostling for the 2010 elections, I can’t imagine it will improve this time around.

    Meanwhile, I think the Executive will walk away from this NBN thing with nary a scratch. There’s was no infraction! (None that could ever be proven, that is.)

    If JDV3 wanted to really bust someone (ZTE, Abalos, FG allegedly), he should have gone to his lawyers/confidantes and prepped his case well…springing it on the public once the bad deals were actually consumated. Instead, he sounds like Lacson, Cayetano, et al — Lots of explosive accusations, zero hard proof.

    Now I know what Lacson and Catyetano’s ulterior goals are…but what was JDV3 possibly thinking? That’s the part I don’t get. What result was he shooting for??? I’m guessing that he’ll get absolutely nothing out of all of this. His hand has been totally misplayed…or it was totally bogus from the beginning.

  16. peter on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 6:06 pm 

    tdc, cvj,

    Near retirement Abalos is a lameduck chairman of comelec. The ZTE fiasco’a heat is gonna cook this lameduck into adobong itik a la pateros.

  17. peter on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 6:20 pm 

    mlq3,

    re “Gov’t places more China deals on hold”

    an off-shoot of the Senate’s ZTE investigation, the creation of the Philippine-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

    To monitor, investigate, and submit to congress an annual report on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the Phillippines and the People’s Republic of China, and to provide recommendations, where appropriate, to Congress for legislative and administrative action.

  18. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 6:24 pm 

    PETER:I boldly predicted that NERI was going to attend the Senate hearings in spite of all that buzz that he was going to fly the coop…

    Let me make some more wild predictions:

    1)Neri will implicate Daddy Chair but defend the Queen.

    2)Abalos will resign but take a self-righteous stance and sue the people who “unjustly” maligned him.

    3)The ZTE will push through when the political noise goes down several decibels.(Hard to return the advances…)

    4)The ZTE DEPT ED project will also push through.

    5)This is the most obvious:there will be more Mega Deals with China(until 2010)

    remember:“I have sat at the sumptuous tables of power, but I have not run away with the silverware.”
    Diosdado Macapagal

  19. Geo on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 6:24 pm 

    Here’s a backwards way to look at everything:

    If Abalos has been dirty all along, he has a lot of dirt on many politicians…from all the different parties. They don’t want him getting trapped like a rat…and singing like one, too.

    If Abalos was getting — and sharing/spreading around — a big bounty from ZTE…he can point fingers at many powerful people and corroborate/expand JDV3’s story. They don’t want him turning disloyal…and will thus protect him.

    If Abalos is clean, THEN he can be made a scapegoat. No one will care; they’ll let him swing in the wind on the end of a noose…..

  20. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 6:36 pm 

    CHINA SCANDALS

    The ruling Communist Party is intensifying its campaign to shore up the reputation of China as a trading powerhouse following a spate of embarrassing product recalls, contamination scandals and ZTE Bribery scandals.

    As China feverishly prepares to play host to the Olympic Games next year, the Chinese government is becoming alarmed
    at the spate of bad news.

    WE have this small window of opportunity (until the 2008 Olympics) to keep blogging and telling our countrymen and the world about the ZTE scandals with the collaboration of GMA in the Philippines!

  21. Manila Bay Watch on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 6:45 pm 

    My advice to Mr Neri:

    If your captain can’t decide whether to steer the ship away from the eye of the storm and the ship will be pooped anytime, better watch out. You may have to jump ship – not good trying to stand by your captain and to be so stubbornly obedient, difficult to save a ship that has three sheets to the wind.

    When that happens Ex-Os are allowed to take a stand – either to assume control and command or failing that, to go down with the captain and the ship.

  22. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 6:46 pm 

    ANA:They’re crying wolf again!

    http://www.gmanews.tv/story/61902/Assassination-threat-vs-Arroyo-bared

  23. koolit on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 6:47 pm 

    Grant of Pardon

    In the name of millions of Filipinos who did not vote for me to be president and in the name of millions more who want me ousted from office, I, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, by the powers vested in me by Davide, hereby grant unto you, Joseph Ejercito Estrada, who was elected as president by more than 11M Filipinos, ousted by a few thousands at EDSA Dos, and deprived of freedom for six years, ABSOLUTE PARDON.

  24. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 6:54 pm 

    The President’s Resignation Letter

    Good evening.

    This is the 37th time I have spoken to you from this office, where so many decisions have been made that shaped the history of this Nation. Each time I have done so to discuss with you some matter that I believe affected the national interest.

    In all the decisions I have made in my public life, I have always tried to do what was best for the Nation. Throughout the long and difficult period of Presidency, I have felt it was my duty to persevere, to make every possible effort to complete the term of office to which you elected me.

    In the past few days, however, it has become evident to me that I no longer have a strong enough political base in the Congress to justify continuing that effort. As long as there was such a base, I felt strongly that it was necessary to see the constitutional process through to its conclusion, that to do otherwise would be unfaithful to the spirit of that deliberately difficult process and a dangerously destabilizing precedent for the future.

    But with the disappearance of that base, I now believe that the constitutional purpose has been served, and there is no longer a need for the process to be prolonged.

    I would have preferred to carry through to the finish whatever the personal agony it would have involved, and my family unanimously urged me to do so. But the interests of the Nation must always come before any personal considerations.

    From the discussions I have had with Congressional and other leaders, I have concluded that because of the Scandals I might not have the support of the Congress that I would consider necessary to back the very difficult decisions and carry out the duties of this office in the way the interests of the Nation would require.

    I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as President, I must put the interest of the country first. The country needs a full-time President and a full-time Congress, particularly at this time with problems we face at home and abroad.

    To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would almost totally absorb the time and attention of both the President and the Congress in a period when our entire focus should be on the great issues of peace abroad and prosperity without inflation at home.

    Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow. The Vice President will be sworn in as President at that hour in this office.

    Richard M.Nixon

    Sayang,Mrs.Pidal does not have the “delicadeza “of Richard M.Nixon.

  25. Manila Bay Watch on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 7:50 pm 

    Ooops, I meant, “you may have TO ABANDON SHIP…”

  26. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 7:52 pm 

    Wish ko lang.Sana after tomorrow’s hearing,my Blue Eagles honor roll will look like this:

    Blue Eagles Heroes:Jose Rizal,Ninoy Aquino,Ed Jopson,Romy Neri and countless men and women serving this country!

    Excluded from the above list:Ronnie Puno,Erap,FG Mike Pidal,etc…

  27. Geo on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 8:13 pm 

    Regardless of whatever happens to GMA, how would that influence the fact that Erap got caught red-handed…and was credibly convicted?

    Catch the bad guys (and gals) and imprison them…regardless of socio-eco-politico status. Right?

    Right? Right????

    Isn’t the only valid argument about due process? Erap may not have been properly impeached, but the eventual evidence was irrefutable. Even Gloria-haters know this.

    If one wants to now catch Gloria, they must follow due process…or complete a successful revolution (as some on this board suggest).

    My guess is that respecting due process is the better option for this country…..

    I’d also refuse to give either Erap or Gloria a pardon. But that’s me…..

  28. cvj on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 8:33 pm 

    Geo, i guess your saying that because you’re concerned that all the good things that are happening over at the Business Process Outsourcing and IT Services sector might be put in peril by any civil disturbance.

  29. Geo on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 8:44 pm 

    cvj –

    Civil disturbance? No problem. Stay within the boundaries of the law, though.

    Yes, I’m concerned about keeping the positives going in outsourcing. Oh, and in IT, too. Oh yeah, and in manufacturing, tourism, consumer spending, capital spending, GDP, GNP too. And I think further strengthening the country’s institutions and the respect for the law and civic duty is a good thing.

    You disagree???

  30. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 9:15 pm 

    God writes straight with crooked lines!

    Let’s pray for Romy Neri for him to have the courage to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth…

    Romy:Fly high!

  31. justice in waiting on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 9:22 pm 

    “Neri on NBN probe: I’ll try to answer ‘truthfully’”..

    No mr. Neri trying is not good enough, you MUST Tell the Truth…

  32. cvj on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 9:22 pm 

    Geo, how can i? We’re in the same field so your pain is my pain. I’m also hoping this long running hostage situation in Malacanang would be concluded peacefully.

  33. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 9:29 pm 

    “Neri conceded he could be removed from his government post after his testimony.

    He acknowledged that Arroyo may have to consider his trustworthiness after his Senate appearance and that he was prepared for the possibility of being removed from CHEd.”

    “Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.”

    ~ Saint Ignatius of Loyola

  34. frombelow on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 9:49 pm 

    what truth neri will tell that will revulse this nation? If the Garci wiretapping and the accompnying fraud in the election, the Joc-joc caper and other scandals, failed to do it, what else will?
    NBN deal can be quantififed, and, can be understood by the people. Pera lang yan eh. Principles? Eh dinaanan na nga natin yun kay Garci at yung dayaan sa eleksyon. Ok ok lang sa tao. May gumalaw ba. Hanapbuhay na lang tayo.

  35. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 10:04 pm 

    NERI can reveal four important points:

    1)How to reform the graft-ridden government procurement system.

    2)Did Daddy Chair try to bribe him?

    3)Did he report the attempted Daddy Chair bribery to Gloria Pidal? What did she do with report?

    4)Who is the big-time business man who tried to pressure him to approve the deal to help finance the May 2007 elections?(I understand that he is involved in pier operations and publishing)

  36. clawyer on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 10:08 pm 

    Sure, lets dot our “i”s and cross our “t”s. But, given the wimpy nature of our “representatives” the chances of impeachment rival only those of a snowballs in hell. The mere mention of impeachment is demoralizing, because, even as we can see the good grounds for doing so, the new Lozano complaint filed in the House that encompasses Abalos’ shenanigans has been rejected even by a so-called opposition congressman. Ronnie Zamora, I think. So much for that idea.

  37. DevilsAdvc8 on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 10:25 pm 

    Geo, it’s the more reason to believe JDV3 then. you’re wondering why he didn’t wait and jz let ZTE, Abalos and Malacanang get themselves caught red handed – he gave the reason: i can’t just stand by and watch the country’s treasury looted (he said it in one of his interviews)

    your idea, though really great for building air tight cases, leave much to be desired for people who want to prevent damages BEFORE they can be made.

    I guess if you discover a plot to rape a loved one of yours, you’d wait till they do the deed, and videotape it to boot! (jz to make convicting them of rape stronger)

    I agree with you though abt the NO PARDON thingy. Kaya lang wag ka na umasa. GMA is laying the groundwork for her own pardon. And they’re even hinting Erap doesn’t have to return what he stole. Isn’t that great? Crime does pay in this land!

    To ERAP: kapal ng mukha mo! san ka nakakita ng CONDITIONAL PARDON? amfufu ka!

    ERAP: sige magso sori na ako! pero aminin nyo muna na wala ako kasalanan! saka akin pa rin tong perang to ha?

    di ko kayo kakalimutan. Ikaw, Si Gloria, ang buong COMELEC, Osmena (marami pa) darating din ang araw nyo. at pag ako na ang nakatingin sa bitayan nyo, walang awa ko kayong pahihirapan bago patayin. love – ang inyong masang Pilipino

    senseless to worry abt the country taking off. it can’t even get off the ground with all the dead weight pushing their dumb asses around. see you in the gallows in 3 yrs time, assholes!

  38. TDC on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 10:29 pm 

    “To ERAP: kapal ng mukha mo! san ka nakakita ng CONDITIONAL PARDON? amfufu ka!Devil aDV8″

    Only in the Philippines!

  39. DevilsAdvc8 on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 10:34 pm 

    erratum: CONDITIONAL PARDON “dictated by the convicted”

  40. Bencard on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 10:40 pm 

    “estrada nixes pardon for now” – how ironic! what kind of hubris for a convicted criminal to treat accepting a proposed pardon like a a gift from him. i wonder what the so-called “plunder watch” rant club is doing vis a vis this pardon proposal for estrada. their silence is deafening. is this group really watching all corruption in government or is it only watching pgma and her administration. who could be financing them?

  41. Bencard on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 11:34 pm 

    what would happen should estrada be pardoned? gen carlos garcia, manalili, et al. should be pardoned and allowed to enjoy their loot under the equal protection clause of the constitution; ricaforte and the other co-indictees in the estrada plunder, who are still at-large, need not even be arrested and prosecuted; and all these bellyaching about graft and corruption in the philippines should just stop and treated as mere “political noise”. i have already been wondering why the self-anointed civil rights ngos and mouthpieces have not raised a self-righteous finger to protest estrada’s detention in luxury and almost regular time-off for personal business, while ordinary poor criminals languish in crowded, filthy, vermin-infested cells, hardly able to visit and see their loved ones. are we living in a democracy, or under a selective “rule of law” and double standard of justice?

  42. Manila Bay Watch on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 11:37 pm 

    Is gen carlos garcia already in prison?

  43. Manila Bay Watch on Tue, 25th Sep 2007 11:39 pm 

    “estrada nixes pardon for now” may be just media hype, maybe it ain’t true. just like what you say, bencard, we gotta hear it from the horse’s mouth to have proof.

  44. grd on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 12:49 am 

    bencard, are you a republican or a democrat?

  45. Manila Bay Watch on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 1:01 am 

    TDC,

    re “ANA:They’re crying wolf again!”

    Again? That’s why nobody believes them anymore.

  46. Bencard on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 1:36 am 

    mbw, i’m not sure garcia has been convicted and sentenced but i’m pretty sure he is in detention.i just saw and heard erap on tv. insisting he could not accept pardon unless he is deemed innocent, and therefore would only consider absolute (unconditional) pardon. that was as straight from the horse’s mouth as you can get. the man is really clueless, he obviously thinks stealing multi-million of people’s money is not wrong. the biggest enigma is that he was supposed to have authored/sponsored what is now the plunder law while a senator. he thinks and rationalizes like a 5-year old juvenile, no wonder he now holds the distinction of being the first convicted president of graft and corruption.

    as if to underscore his cluelessness, he seems to justify his demand for unconditional pardon by citing the previous “offers” supposedly made to him to go on exile and enjoy his loot, then fade into the sunset. even if true, he should know, as a gambling man, that a rejection of an offer means as if no offer had ever been made. at that point, all bets were off.

  47. Bencard on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 1:42 am 

    grd, you can consider me a social conservative but a political democrat. at any rate, i call it as i see it – i try to, anyway.

  48. Manila Bay Watch on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 1:43 am 

    Oh? Is that so. OK. If I were him (thank goodness I’m not), I’d “take the money and run” … but as you say, Erap is not exactly the epitome of genius.

  49. grd on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 3:39 am 

    “selective “rule of law” and double standard of justice.”

    it happens in america too.

    http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/data%3Fpid%3Davimage%26iid%3DiQahsiJqgXIg&imgrefurl=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3Fpid%3D20601087%26sid%3DaxD6DtytHWSc%26refer%3Dhome&h=360&w=488&sz=21&hl=en&start=9&tbnid=lAy2AIcGrEkKQM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbush%2Bpardons%2BSCOoter%2BLIBBY%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

    bencard, i presume you are equally outrage by your president’s act in commuting (almost close to being pardoned) the sentence of former white house aide “scooter” libby after his conviction.

    bush justified his act by saying “the reputation Libby earned as a lawyer and government official was “forever damaged” by the conviction.

    surprisingly, not many people i think were outraged by this act save for the democrats while republicans are rejoicing saying the decision was correct.

    anyway, what happened to that fundamental rule of law that all citizens stand before the bar of justice as equals?

    no illegal act was committed though. it’s within the power of the president and we can only be outraged.

  50. baycas on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 4:34 am 

    i wouldn’t exactly pin my hopes on mr. romulo l. neri. this way i won’t get disappointed (devastated, more apt?).

    if he talks, i’d be delighted (ecstatic, should be).

    …lowered expectation…

    —–

    to hell with pardon, but leave the money behind…

    no sense in money burnt…(hmmm, like smoking?)

  51. pete m. on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 6:31 am 

    mlq3,

    defeat could mean GMA will resign, why not interview Noli on ANC about his views on the matter ?

  52. justice in waiting on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 7:19 am 

    Pardoning convicts by the Head of State could be just as selective as the justice system of a given country. President George W. just pardon White House aid Libby immediately after his conviction..If we follow bencard assertion that all other plunderers can be granted pardon as Estrada’s pardon (if granted and accepted) as precedent, then every one convicted of obstruction (was that Libby’s Crime?) should be pardoned by George W. Now please don’t try to say that George W. and America have nothing to do with Gloria’s Justice…

  53. Bencard on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 9:08 am 

    justice in waiting, you know pardon is a prerogative of a president. no question about its legality so long as no constitutional requirement is violated, e.g., final and executory conviction. therefore, any precedent set by a pardon is political, not legal in nature and, therefore, not obligatory. a pardon of estrada, who is convicted of plundering about a billion pesos, would set a political firestorm for those serving time, or indicted, for plundering a few hundred million pesos. unless the ‘nobodies’ get the same treatment as estrada, how do you think pgma would look to the general public? what kind of message is she conveying to the nation? that the biggest of the big scoundrels are immune from retribution for their misdeeds, while the smaller fries deserve the full force of the law? whoever is advising gma to grant such a pardon is doing her a great disservice. her popularity is not enhanced by it, and her place in history is darkened because of it. if the proposed pardon is motivated by a need for reconciliation, it is wishful thinking. the chasm is unbridgeable, so much hostility and harm have been inflicted, the only remaining sentiment is revenge. i think, the net effect of such a pardon is more loss of popularity for gma among the true enemies of corruption without gaining anything from the estrada loyalists who, instead, would use the double standard as fodder for their cannons against her. i fervently pray for her enlightenment.

  54. Karl Garcia on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 9:51 am 

    Will the Enrique Razon Jr. fund raising angle,be ever mentioned at all.

    Maybe Neri would make it La Salle vs. Ateneo

    pero kahit na saan mo paikutin ke Abalos pa din ang bagsak, para saan ba yung fund raising?

  55. Karl Garcia on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 9:55 am 

    Geo,

    About the number of laws has the senate passed, if there are a multiple supplier driven contracts like these, there could also be multiple lobbyist driven bills proposed.

    I would rather have less laws,than so many laws, that are overtaken by obsolescence and some even unenforceable and unimplematable.

  56. Karl Garcia on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 10:27 am 

    Gloria is on her own now,
    the us has problems of its own.

    I guess in the 2008 elections bush will lobby for zte and its rival(hard to spell) to merge with its telcos for fund raising ala jocjoc and razon.

  57. grd on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 10:52 am 

    i posted this earlier but until now still awaiting moderation due to the attached link i think.

    “selective “rule of law” and double standard of justice.”

    it happens in america too.

    bencard, i presume you are equally outrage by your president’s act in commuting (almost close to being pardoned) the sentence of former white house aide “scooter” libby after his conviction.

    bush justified his act by saying, “the reputation Libby earned as a lawyer and government official was “forever damaged” by the conviction.

    surprisingly, not many people i think were outraged by this act save for the democrats while republicans are rejoicing saying the decision was correct.

    anyway, what happened to that fundamental rule of law that all citizens stand before the bar of justice as equals?

    no illegal act was committed though. it’s within the power of the president and we can only be outraged.

  58. Geo on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 12:09 pm 

    karl –

    I respect your opinion, but mine is that the Senate has been awful. They have not passed many laws…including important ones.

    Meanwhile, am I the only one who thinks Joker is becoming senile? During both yesterday’s wiretapping and today’s NBN hearings, Joker had trouble making any clear points or statements. He went around in circles and couldn’t seem to understand basic statements. Weird. I was embarrassed for him (I don’t dislike him or anything, btw).

  59. Karl Garcia on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 2:57 pm 

    “Meanwhile, am I the only one who thinks Joker is becoming senile” GEO

    Joker and enrile

  60. spiderman on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 4:19 pm 

    hello,

    Neri’s numbers on cost/mbps is too weird.
    a simple google gives this page of cost of OECD. our costs are not that out of line. I estimate $20 (P999 for zpdee
    500mbps).

    It is indeed GIGO. garbage in garbage out.

  61. spiderman on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 4:20 pm 

    oops,

    sorry omitted the website

    http://www.dvd-intelligence.com/main_sections/news_archive/2003_free/7_cost_of_broadband.htm

  62. grd on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 4:53 pm 

    “Meanwhile, am I the only one who thinks Joker is becoming senile” GEO

    “Joker and enrile.”

    and maid miriam.

    where’s angara by the way?

  63. TDC on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 4:57 pm 

    Karl:As I expected ,Abalos was used as the “fall guy ” to save the Queen and the FG.

  64. Geo on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 6:25 pm 

    OK, what is Mar Roxas’ excuse for his utter lack of comprehension? That long run around about the cost of financing was ridiculous.

    “Why don’t we get a 3% finance rate and then get interested parties to bid?”

    Because no one will give a 3% rate, sir. Not without strings attached (like the contract itself). It’s that simple. For a guy who constantly touts his experience on Wall St, he’s being either ignorant or disingenuous.

    Anyway, this sure makes for good tv….! :-)

  65. Geo on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 7:03 pm 

    Gosh, Biazon ran off the tracks, too (ha-ha…Northrail, etc…get it?). It’s amazing that these Senators dare raise issues that they are incapable of discussing with expertise or solid knowledge.

    The good news was that the one girl seen over his shoulder (and earlier behing Peter Cayetano’s shoulder) is a welcome distraction. Best looking woman all day.

    There were some good avenues of inquiry earlier in the day. Unfortunately, it’s more like drunk cowboys shooting wildly in the air at this point. The session really deteriorated today. The late-comer Senators were especially bad — they would have done better to just read the record and get caught up.

    Give merit to Lacson, though…nice move with using Bondoc to try to dig under Neri’s skin. Neri held firm though.

  66. Manila Bay Watch on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 7:05 pm 

    Re: “Because no one will give a 3% rate, sir. Not without strings attached (like the contract itself).”

    That’s true.

  67. Manila Bay Watch on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 7:27 pm 

    A foreign govt loan at 3% is a giveaway particularly if there’s a 4 or 5 grace period. Would even be better if RP could negotiate a 20 year loan… At 3%? That will be just superb for RP.

    Very possible.

    Problem is Philippines doesn’t have credible credit rating status.

    France’s own official govt foreign credit rating agency rates Philippines way below the ladder.

  68. Geo on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 7:45 pm 

    Escudero once again looks professional and intelligent. I’d give him the best score today for the Senators. I may not agree with him on many fronts, but I respect his work in both houses.

  69. Geo on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 8:10 pm 

    Senators now beating a dead horse. Neri is going to evoke 464 no matter what. The Senate will have to take up this issue in another venue/session; they are just wasting time now.

    Edit: Here’s Joker saying the same thing: Challenge this later.

    The Senate has really blown this today. A disappointing performance and an indication that the next three years will be meaningless in this “august” chamber.

  70. Geo on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 8:33 pm 

    Geez, I take it back re: Escudero. Add Cayetano to the “got no clue” department. Goodness, it’s like these guys have no knowledge whatsoever about simple economic basics…don’t they know the effects of inflation on long term loans?

    And now the old Jamby vs Enrile hate-fest.

    They need to stop this show. This is falling apart and making everyone look bad.

  71. TDC on Wed, 26th Sep 2007 9:30 pm 

    Neri is a wimp.He simply was used by GMA to expose Abalos as the fall guy (fg) to protect the the big FG!

  72. manuelbuencamino on Thu, 27th Sep 2007 2:36 am 

    Now Gloria has her own little turd blossom to match Dubya’s dearly departed.

  73. Karl Garcia on Thu, 27th Sep 2007 8:46 am 

    So better abalos than FG

    I get it. me masisira pa ke abalos, ke fg wala na.

  74. Karl Garcia on Thu, 27th Sep 2007 9:08 am 

    bago maoperahan si fg
    hawak nya lahat ng imports,so hawak nya customs at pier.
    kaibigan niya sina aboitiz,razon at madami pang iba syempre….

    walang sinabi yung fertilizer scam ni JocJoc, sa fund efforts ni ricky razon,of course sino partner si Fg.

    di pwede galawin si razon dahil masyado syang malaki ,his father has been a big name in the port services,now he is even expanding globally.

    oo nabanggit ni neri si razon, pero calculated ang mga sinabi nya na huwag pahawakin ng container ang harbour centre…over my dead body!.

    ok,so that is one story.

    good luck na lang ke abalos sa impeachment nya,malas nya kilala nya yung zte vp,kaya laglag sya.

  75. sheila marie on Sun, 10th Feb 2008 4:22 pm 

    KAPAL NG MUKHA NI PGMA SAMPU NG KANYANG MGA ANGKAN…MGA PUTANG INA NYO!HINDI KAYO ANG MAY ARI NG PILIPINAS!AT HUWAG NYONG ISIPING MGA TANGA ANG PILIPINO NA HINDI NAIINTINDIHAN ANG MGA KAHAYUPANG GINAGAWA NYO SA BANSA….HINDI BA KAYO NAHIHIYA SA MGA SARILI NYO ANG PINAKAKAIN NYO SA PAMILYA NYO GALING SA NAKAW!NAKUKUHA NYO PA BANG MAGDASAL?NAKAKA2LOG PA BA KAYO NG MAHIMBING?LUMINGON KAYO SA PALIGID NYO…NAPAKARAMING PILIPINONG NAGHIHIRAP DAHIL SA PAGIGING GANID NYO…YANG MGA PINAGNANAKAW NYO SA BANSA DI NYO MADADALA SA KABILANG BUHAY…BAGKUS ISASABIT PA KAYO NYAN SA IMPYERNO!DUN KAYO BAGAY….DI PA KAYO MAGKANDAMATAY!

  76. Jake on Thu, 6th Mar 2008 5:21 pm 

    “Time to show the world Ateneans are not buzzards in Blue Eagle’s clothing! Attend Senate hearing tomorrow, 9:30 am to boost morale of Romy Neri, HS ‘66, to tell the truth. Wear blue or your homecoming uniform.text to MLQ3″

    Funny. Some Ateneans are posturing as if they will change the system for the people. “Men for Others” is just a propaganda. You are part of the reactionary cabal that supports the rule of the oligarchs in this country.

    Revolution? You are reactionaries to the bone.

    Get real.

  77. Jake on Thu, 6th Mar 2008 5:25 pm 

    “Neri is a wimp.He simply was used by GMA to expose Abalos as the fall guy (fg) to protect the the big FG!”

    Of course he’s a wimp. What do you expect?

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