You are currently browsing the daily archive for March 12th, 2007.
Posted: April 4, 2007
By Jay B. Rempillo
Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno urged today’s youth to not only exercise their voting rights in the coming May elections but to vote wisely, as well as to use their education in discerning the rightful candidates who should get their valuable votes.
Speaking before the 92nd Commencement Exercises of the University of Manila (UM) at the Dr. M.V. Delos Santos Campus, Sampaloc, Manila last March 31, Chief Justice Puno underscored the importance of the votes of the youth since these will help shape the country’s future. (More on Supreme Court)
Originally Posted at www.supremecourt.gov.ph
Posted by: Vinia D. Mukherjee on 12 March 2007 at 1:13 pm
THE Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) expressed confidence that the debates among senatorial candidates will stimulate education among the voters while extracting accountability from aspirants.
“We want to influence voters on whom to vote for based on the stand of the candidates on issues relevant to their lives, our country, and our democracy,” Tita De Villa, PPCRV chair, told ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC). At the same time, De Villa said, the public can use a Covenant — which participants will sign after each debate — to check whether or not the politicians will stand by what they promised, once elected. (More on Inside PCIJ)
(Originally posted at www.pcij.org/blog)
Camarine Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Villafuerte denied Monday reports that President Arroyo’s political party Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) wants to be declared the dominant minority party in the May elections.
Villafuerte, who is Kampi president, described the reports as nothing more than “speculation and intrigue.”
“As president of Kampi I can categorically claim that I will never authorize for an assertion to be made that Kampi should be declared as the dominant minority party. We do not belong to the minority…it wouldn’t be right for Kampi to make that claim,” Villafuerte said. (More on ABS-CBN Interactive)
(Originally posted at www.abs-cbnnews.com)
Posted March 12, 2007 17:40:00(Mla Time)
Maila Ager
MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate Prospero “Butch” Pichay said he would have been the head of the Department of National Defense had he lobbied for the position.
But at the same time, Pichay said he did not press for the defense portfolio because he was not used to having a boss.
“No, I never lobbied [for it]. If I did, I would have been the secretary of national defense,” Pichay told INQUIRER.net editors and reporters during an Eleksyon 2007 podcast interview. (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 12, 2007 16:52:00(Mla Time)
MANILA, Philippines — Jailed president Joseph Estrada has joined various sectors in calling for the immediate withdrawal of military troops in Metro Manila, saying it was a “very partisan electoral psy-war operation” to prevent the victory of left-leaning party-list groups in Congress this coming elections.
In a statement on Monday, Estrada urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to order the Armed Forces of the Philippines to stop its partisan electoral activities in urban and rural areas and to return its troops to their camps. (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 12, 2007 16:51:00(Mla Time)
Marlon Alexander Luistro
LIPA CITY — After a week of prayer and reflection, Mayor Vilma Santos finally confirmed on Monday what people had expected her to say all along: That she will run for governor in the vote-rich Batangas province, representing the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.
Ending weeks of intrigues and family in-fighting, Santos said, “I am a gracious lady but don’t push me too hard. But I have been pushed too hard. Now I am accepting the challenge… I am ready. I will file my candidacy for the governorship of the province of Batangas.” (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 12, 2007 16:50:00(Mla Time)
Julie Alipala
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A former Catholic priest is planning to join the mayoral race in Zamboanga City, and a Church-based poll watchdog is in a quandary if it can still freely perform its poll duties, an official said.
Monsignor David Alonso, spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, said former Catholic priest Crisanto dela Cruz had expressed plans to run for mayor. (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 12, 2007 14:21:00(Mla Time)
Maila Ager
MANILA, Philippines — The Genuine Opposition has announced 100 candidates who will be running for congressional seats in the May elections, including one who had been known as an administration ally at the House of Representatives.
A partial list of GO’s candidates for the House released to the media showed that Manila Representative Jaime “Jimmy” Lopez would be joining the opposition. (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 12, 2007 06:55:00(Mla Time)
Delfin Mallari Jr.
LUCENA CITY, Philippines — Like a protective mother, Lourdes “Bing” Pimentel has defended her family from charges of lack of morals and creating a dynasty after her son, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, joined the Senate race under the Genuine Opposition banner even as his father, Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., was already member of the chamber.
“Morally wrong? What would be immoral are those acts that violate the Ten Commandments. Nasa Ten Commandments ba na huwag tumakbo ang anak kung ang ama ay senador na ng bansa (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 12, 2007 06:37:00(Mla Time)
Cynthia Balana
TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — TEAM Unity senatorial candidate Tessie Aquino-Oreta bared her hurt feelings over the way she was cast aside by the Genuine Opposition (GO) in favor of her nephew, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, with whom her relations are now apparently strained.
In a candid tell-all with reporters during a lull in the administration team’s campaign sortie here, Oreta admitted she had felt bad seeing former President Joseph Estrada agonizing between choosing her or Noynoy for the senatorial lineup. (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 12, 2007 06:01:00(Mla Time)
Juan Escandor Jr.
SAN FERNANDO, Camarines Sur, Philippines — The mayor of a small town has shattered expectations here that Diosdado Ignacio “Dato” Arroyo, younger son of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, would run unopposed for congressman in Camarines Sur’s first district.
Former congressman and now Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. earlier called off a plan to field his wife Marisa in the congressional contest.
Mayor Sabas “Abang” Mabulo, 47, won the 2004 mayoral race unopposed but could not take it that no one in the first district has stood up to offer an “option” to Arroyo’s candidacy. (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 12, 2007 04:04:00(Mla Time)
Aquiles Zonio
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao believes this is the right time for him to run — at the peak of his career and popularity.
In an interview aired over a local TV station here on Friday, the Filipino ring idol said that if he wins, he could help his constituents because of his influence and popularity.
“Kailan pa ako tatakbo, pag laos na ako? May maniniwala pa ba sa akin? Mas advantage sa akin na tumakbo ngayon kasi sikat ako (When should I run for office — when I am a has-been? Who will believe in me? If I run now, I have the advantage because I am very popular),” he said. (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 11, 2007 20:56:00(Mla Time)
Cynthia Balana
TAGBILARAN CITY – Team Unity senatorial candidate Tessie Aquino-Oreta now wants all “Aquino” votes in the coming May senatorial elections to be counted in favor of her nephew, Tarlac Rep. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
Oreta made the decision after learning that Noynoy said he would ask the Commission on Elections to consider all “Aquino” votes as his.
Oreta said she would no longer contest Noynoy’s wish except if the ballots would contain the name “Tessie or Teresa Aquino.” (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 11, 2007 08:18:00(Mla Time)
Erwin Oliva
MANILA, Philippines — A major fire broke out at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters in historic Intramuros, Manila, early Sunday morning, barely two months before national elections.
No deaths or injuries have been reported and the fire that razed the old building housing some of the poll body’s offices will not affect preparations for the May elections, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez told INQUIRER.net.
National polls will be held on May 14 to elect the entire 250-member House of Representatives, half the 24-strong Senate and more than 17,000 public officials, including governors and mayors. (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 11, 2007 04:44:00(Mla Time)
DAGUPAN CITY—Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. is confident that the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), a party affiliated with the administration, will not field any candidate against him in the fourth congressional district race in Pangasinan.
De Venecia, president of the dominant administration party Lakas-CMD, said Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, Kampi president, has told him that Kampi has denied the application for membership of former Philippine National Police chief Arturo Lomibao, one of the two possible candidates that the Speaker would face in the race. (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 11, 2007 04:42:00(Mla Time)
Tonette Orejas
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—A Pampanga bishop on Friday took a strong stand against corruption and the illegal numbers game “jueteng,” and appealed to “respectable” Kapampangans to run as alternatives to two gubernatorial candidates linked to those issues.
“I am still hopeful that a decent and charismatic non-politician Kapampangan who can say no to jueteng and no to corrupt quarrying would come out before the end of March and give the Kapampangans… the alternative they deserve, win or lose,” said Bishop Virgilio David. (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 11, 2007 03:51:00(Mla Time)
Cynthia Balana
MANILA, Philippines — The 90-DAY campaign period for the May senatorial elections has taken its toll on independent candidate Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan’s daughter Frankie.
Pangilinan, who topped the Social Weather Stations’ latest survey on senatorial preferences, admitted that being No. 1 in the poll did not come easy, especially to members of his family.
He said the youngest “casualty” was six-year-old Frankie, who at first could not understand why he was often not around. (The child was only four months old when her father first ran for senator in 2001.) (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 10, 2007 18:21:00(Mla Time)
MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate and detained military officer Antonio Trillanes on Saturday said he will appeal the judge’s ruling barring reporters from interviewing him from his detention at the Marine Base in Fort Bonifacio.
In a statement released to media outfits Saturday, he admitted to being “greatly disappointed” by the ruling of Makati Regional Trial Court Judge Oscar Pimentel, who had earlier promised to grant him access to media once he files his certificate of candidacy. (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.com)
Posted March 10, 2007 04:05:00(Mla Time)
Juliet Labog-Javellana
MANILA, Philippines — Some governors are threatening to junk reelectionist Sen. Ralph Recto if his wife, popular actress Vilma Santos, runs for governor of Batangas.
Two governors told the Inquirer yesterday that this was the position taken by some members of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, the alliance of the country’s 81 governors, during their meeting on Wednesday. (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.com)
Posted March 10, 2007 04:04:00(Mla Time)
Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — Is Team Unity in denial about its chances in the May 14 elections?
Despite discouraging results from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which showed that only three—Ralph Recto, Tito Sotto III, and Joker Arroyo—are in the Magic 12, Team Unity members are hardly showing any signs of demoralization in their ranks as they continued their Pulong Sulong campaign sorties yesterday in Rizal province.
‘‘There’s no way to go but up,’’ said senatorial candidate Michael Defensor. ‘‘We had campaigned only for one week and a half when the survey was conducted and the Pulong Sulong was not in place. We expect to see a big leap in our ratings once the campaign season goes deeper. We’re in a good position considering there are still two months to go.’’ (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.com)
