Mar’s hopes

Ruffa wants to leave all the
pains of 2007 behind – GMA TV News

Would that include leaving the Turkish pain in the neck?

*    *    *

31 M employees, officials
return to work today – Manila Bulletin

This item was actually on MB’s front page yesterday . . . as if there was any doubt that people would go back to work the day after New Years’s Day.

*    *    *

More Chinese tourists seen – Philippine Star

Practically unseen are countless Chinese tourists that have set up retail stores . . . mainly in Divisoria . . . in unfair competition with the locals.

*    *    *

Roxas pushes 3 bills’ passage to
fulfill Pinoys’ hopes in 2008 – Daily Tribune

These are the affordable medicines bill; the suspension in the collection of e-VAT; and the exemption of minimum wage earners from paying income tax . . . which could allow Sen. Mar to fulfill his presidential hopes in 2010.

*    *    *

Church lands covered by agrarian
reform law – Manila Standard Today

Which creates a new perspective for the expression “level playing field”.

*    *    *

Bill seeks publication of officials’
tax payments – Manila Standard Today

Expect the bill to be paid no better than lip service in Congress.

*    *    *

Jalosjos' release revoked, reset
to June 2010 – Philippine Daily Inquirer

All because time off that he insists he earned for good behavior has been cancelled . . . primarily because of his recent bad behavior.

*    *    *

Military to probe US troops interference
on Sulu hospital – ABS-CBN News

It would be interesting to find out why an American grunt thought he could order the locals around . . . other than his total unfamiliarity with the word ‘sovereignty’.

*    *    *

Customs deal with oil firms
questioned – Manila Standard Today

Technical smuggling has become so brazen and rampant under the watch of Commissioner Napoleon Morales that one begins to wonder if somebody who’s bigger than him is really calling the shots at Customs.

*     *    *

Jinggoy has most number of bills
likely to be approved – Manila Times

And Lito Lapid . . . another actor in the Senate . . . seems content in being just a member of the silent majority.

*    *    *

E-Cane of US eyes partner for
$168-M ethanol project – Philippine Star

It should not be too difficult to get the likes of Danding Cojuangco or Manny Pangilinan to put up some $30 million out of the $56 equity required by the venture . . . whose green technology fully complies with the Kyoto Protocol.

*    *    *

Erap told: Run, let lawyers do the talking – Malaya

Erap should be told: Let younger leaders like Loren, Chiz, Ping, Manny, Jojo, and Mar do the running.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Judiciousness sans expeditiousness

Razon to Ayala: Where’s proof bomb caused blast? – Malaya

In other words, Ayala’s theory bombs unless they can present actual bomb fragments taken from Glorietta.

*    *    *

Estrada writing tell-all book on his life – Philippine Daily Inquirer

The gentleman is not the ‘kiss and tell’ type so the book is instead expected to spotlight sensational cases of graft and corruption . . . especially during FVR’s watch when Erap was VP.

*    *    *

‘3 Kings’ ends Christmas season – Manila Bulletin

But no end is in sight for this paper’s predictable . . . and sometimes downright inane . . . headlines like this one.

*    *    *

Monsanto corn gets clearance – Manila Standard Today

The Bureau of Plant Industry has extended for another five years the commercial propagation of a genetically modified seed variety developed by Monsanto Philippines.

Another variety of corn propagated in this space has the same planning horizon.

*    *    *

Biazon confirms Roxas-Pangilinan
problem in LP – Philippine Daily Inquirer

The problem is Sen. Pangilinan who thinks he’s also in the running to be the LP standard bearer . . . perhaps purely on the ‘strength’ that he’s the husband of megastar Sharon Cuneta.

*    *    *

Escudero warns of ‘overnight’ deals – Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sen. Chiz also calls ‘em ‘retirement funds’ . . . a quick way for crooked administration officials to get their hands on tons of money in kickbacks before they step aside in 2010.

*    *    *

Comelec explains slow pace of
electoral cases – Philippine Daily Inquirer

Its spokesman insists the commissioners have to balance “judiciousness and expeditiousness” but I’ve been told that the slow pace is in stark contrast to a rather expeditious ‘bidding’ at the outset of each important case.

*    *    *

Lacson says 'Jeep ni Erap' now overcrowded – ABS-CBN News

Sen. Ping is right . . . and oddly enough, it’s Erap who’s taking the most space.

*    *    *

BuCor execs: Shortcuts done on
Jalosjos release order – ABS-CBN News

To make a long story longer, it now looks like the convicted child rapist followed this advice: “Buy low” and must have paid off some Bureau of Corrections officials but did not (could not?) buy his early freedom from ‘higher ups’ at DOJ.

*    *    *

Gunman kills suspected drug dealer in Pangasinan – GMA News

But there’s no proof that it was a ‘sample’ by the Davao Death Squad.

*    *    *

Senators say GMA can’t be trusted on ID revival – Malaya

In fact, there are quite a few senators who would say that GMA can’t be trusted . . . period!

*    *    *

Ombudsman sues GSIS officials – Manila Standard Today

The problem was, something must have been lost in translation of bidding guidelines from English to Ilongo because the construction of the GSIS Iloilo field office was awarded to the contractor that submitted the highest bid . . . not to the lowest bidder.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Gonzalez4Gonzalez

Jinggoy denies report linking
him to Sunshine Cruz – GMA News

And probably would also deny that he ever sang “You are my Sunshine”.

*    *    *

Lung Center workers seek exec’s ouster – Philippine Daily Inquirer

They have reason to hold their breath: The Palace has already announced a successor to erring LC executive director Dr. Juanito Rubio . . . who’s still trying to hang on.

*    *    *

President’s son on ‘indefinite leave’
from Lakas party – Philippine Daily Inquirer

A definite sign from Cong. Mikey that ousting Speaker Joe . . . who’s president of Lakas . . . is just a matter of time.

*    *    *

44% believe GMA, admin lying to people – Daily Tribune

Time for GMA to hire ‘better’ liars than Bunye, Remonde, et. al.?

*    *    *

Gonzalez: GMA, not foreign media, is my boss – Malaya

But it’s starting to look like Raul Gonzalez is really working for Raul Gonzalez.

*    *    *

‘Plot’ seen as ploy to extend Esperon – Malaya

And that’s why it’s easy to agree with Sen. Pong Biazon that the supposed impending coup is just another ‘moro-moro’.

*    *    *

US aviation agency tags RP
unsafe port of origin – Daily Tribune

One cited problem: “The CAA does not provide adequate inspector guidance to ensure enforcement of, and compliance with, minimum international standards.” Add to that our propensity to say “Yes” to friends and relatives who request us to carry packages . . . that often pass still wrapped and uninspected through airport pre-departure security . . . for mutual friends and relatives in the US.

*    *    *

Zubiri: Oil firms funding drive vs biofuels – Philippine Daily Inquirer

Quite understandably . . . as they have reportedly funded opposition to fuel cells and other non-fossil fuel sources in the past.

*    *    *

Razon: Arroyo will finish her
term despite destab effort – Malaya

An unabashed signal from the top cop that he wishes to be ‘extended’ until GMA finishes her term . . . if that’s at all possible.

*    *    *

Commissioner on Human Rights
questions DoJ guidelines for media – Manila Bulletin

CHR Commissioner Wilhelm Soriano makes a good point: Sec. Raul Gonzalez’s plan to impose guidelines on media coverage during emergency situations is ‘prior restraint’ that violates freedom of the press as embodied in the Constitution . . . which is lost on the DoJ sec whose ignorance of the law is getting more noticeable by the week.

*    *    *

Erap: Not my intention to run but
to unite opposition – Manila Bulletin

Not to be believed because Erap’s actions in recent weeks are pointing to the contrary.

*    *    *

Poll: Admin good on foreign affairs,
poor on corruption – Philippine Star

So, is Lulli doing a better job of overseeing DFA than her mom running the whole country?

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Same banana from China

Palace to question two Cebu
luxury-car dealers – Manila Standard Today

The interrogation could dwell on questions like, “How’s the weather in Cebu?” . . . what with the Arroyo clan reportedly owning some 20 of those luxury vehicles.

*     *    *

Chinatown makeover set to begin – Manila Times

Expect Binondo to regain its old glory, especially after Mayor Lim’s brilliant move to effectively grant total autonomy to the Chinatown Development Authority that will henceforth be composed of and managed by highly regarded Pilipino-Chinese business leaders.

*    *    *

“So what?”, JDV says of Mikey’s leave – Philippine Star

The ‘what?’ part simply means that JdV should be stepping aside very soon . . . whether he likes it or not.

*    *    *

CSC: 40% of govt officials unqualified for posts – ABS-CBN News

That includes cabinet members . . . although Civil Service Commission boss Karina David stopped short of naming certain ex-military men.

*    *    *

Govt orders pullout of mislabeled
male sex pill – Manila Standard Today

Joshua Ramos, deputy director of the Bureau of Food and Drugs, warns: “Your whole body could stiffen taking it” . . . which is not hard to swallow if what you bought was advertised merely as a food supplement.

*    *    *

GMA off to Switzerland, UAE – Manila Bulletin

There’s no telling whether a certain gentleman in her entourage will don his ‘Jose Pidal’ hat at some juncture during the trip.

*    *    *

DOJ mulls rebellion raps
versus mystery reporter ABS-CBN News

Since Ces Drilon and Ellen Tordesillas have been effectively ruled out and the mystery newshen is not Pinky Webb, she could be a local stringer for a foreign news organization.

*    *    *

Govt dangles exile to Nur – Manila Times

It should be a no-brainer for Misuari: Ship out and hang out in Libya with his benefactor Khaddafi . . . or stay around while his fate is kept hanging indefinitely.

*    *    *

Bishops, Cabinet hold secret meeting – Philippine Star

The secret could not be kept under wraps for too long because . . . just between us girls . . . more than 10 cabinet members and almost a dozen CBCP starwarts were in attendance.

*    *    *

‘Biofuels not a question between food vs fuel’ – Philippine Star

That’s according to DOST usec for research and development Graciano Yumul . . . echoing a point I made in last week’s piece.

*    *    *

DOTC pushes ‘broadband’ – Manila Times

New partners, new name . . . same banana.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

‘Hello and goodbye, Garci’

Chief Justice Puno: Fine will
do for libel – Philippine Daily Inquirer

Fine . . . but you know what’ll happen if you don’t pay the fine.

*    *    *

Ex-town mayor killed in Manila court shooting – Philippine Star

You can see things have gone from bad to worse when the execution precedes the sentencing.

*    *    *

Bishop assails healing priest – Malaya

Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros should just allow Fr. Fernando Suarez to do his healing masses whenever and wherever he wants in his archdiocese, lest the bishop’s flock notice that the old prelate himself needs emergency healing for talking too much . . . which is also known as ‘diarrhea of the mouth’.

*    *    *

Court rules Erap assets exempt
from garnishment – Manila Standard Today

The Sandiganbayan’s Special Division rendered a fair decision, considering that the assets in question were acquired during Erap’s years as an actor . . . long before he became President Estrada.

*    *    *

Bill Gates gives US$19.9 million grant to
Philippine-based rice research facility – Philippine Star

The grant to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Laguna will be utilized to develop and distribute rice varieties that can withstand drought, floods and salty water . . . and it’s a good thing Gates picked IRRI instead of the Department of Agriculture, where the funds could dry up before it accomplishes its intended goals.

*    *    *

New Comelec chief urged to
revive ‘Hello Garci’ probe – Daily Tribune

It’s wishful thinking for CBCP and the political opposition not to expect incoming Chairman Melo to say ‘Goodbye, Garci’ . . . as expected by the Palace.

*    *    *

JdV ouster plot still on – Daily Tribune

And it will remain on the table . . . if only to discourage JdV’s son from making any further charges beyond that ‘Back off!’ thing.

*    *    *

ZTE-NBN key witness gets
Palace threats; backs out – Daily Tribune

Even without the alleged death threats, the Palace is expected to invoke ‘executive privilege’ to prevent Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. . . . who’s currently president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Forest Corporation, a subsidiary of the government-owned Natural Resources Development Corp.. . . from spilling the beans on Arroyo, Abalos, Arroyo, et.al.

*    *    *

Palace downplays US journal’s
charges vs GMA – Daily Tribune

Unfortunately for chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Apostol, you can read the full text of ‘The Arroyo Imbroglio in the Philippines’ in the current issue of Journal of Democracy and judge for yourself if the sources for the well-documented article can be lumped together as downright ‘leftists’.

*    *    *

Senate offers witness protection to Lozada – Philippine Star

If Lozada decides to show up at the NBN probe at the Senate, what he would really need is ‘wetness protection’ because those reported death threats and intense intimidation from unnamed Palace functionaries would be enough for him to pee in his pants.

*    *    *

Loren: I don’t need a husband to run in 2010 – Philippine Star

Loren is absolutely right. The country won’t miss a First Gentleman . . . certainly not another one like the current FG.

By L. ‘ManongNoy’ Seņeres    Wednesday, February 6, 2008

The three behind The Tree

Mike Arroyo denies pushing for JDV ouster – ABS-CBN News

Big Mike can’t possibly be expected to admit that it was all about the Arroyo clan punishing the father of a son with a big mouth.

*     *    *

JDV pals: Puno behind ex-speaker's ouster – ABS-CBN News

And behind The Tree were three you-know-whos.

*    *    *

Neri: Run after the big persons,
deal makers, not me – Philippine Star

Talk like that can provoke one really big person to spit on Neri’s face also . . . and tell him to “Back off!”, too.

*    *    *

My wife is as moral as any bishop,
says Enrile – Philippine Daily Inquirer

Any bishop? Like Crisostomo Yalung, who was sacked as Antipolo bishop after he got his lover pregnant . . . or Teodoro Bacani, who was charged with sexual harassment by his secretary?

*    *    *

Papal Nuncio: Promote what’s good
& true, denounce the false – Manila Bulletin

The Pope’s rep should be careful whom he’s calling ‘false’ . . . somebody in the Palace might think he’s a destabilizer!

*    *    *

Archbishop bans Suarez’s healing
sessions in Pangasinan – Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz complains that the “Healing Priest”s masses are “open to abuses, like superstition, hysteria, fanaticism, and money” . . . issues that could miraculously vanish if Fr. Suarez would make prior arrangements with Archbishop Cruz for a nice cut of the collection money.

*    *    *

Villar: De Venecia’s ouster had
Palace’s obvious hand – Philippine Daily Inquirer

What was even more obvious was the Palace’s devious hand.

*    *    *

Gov't workers slams JDV’s moral revolution – Philippine Star

Ne details were available if the ‘never heard’ Convergence of Vigilant, Empowered and Responsible Government Employees (CONVERGE) was actually in existence earlier than yesterday.

*    *    *

Lozada arrives from HK, but vanishes at airport – ABS-CBN News

Retired general Angel Atutubo, who used to work directly under GMA, has reportedly admitted that he escorted Jun Lozada as he emerged from the aircraft and handed him over to a certain SPO4 Roger Valeroso . . . who diverted him to the tarmac.and whisked him away to parts unknown.

*    *    *

Palace: We don't know where Jun Lozada is – ABS-CBN News

Better to appear clueless than be seen as co-conspirator in Lozada’s ‘detour’.

*    *    *

De Venecia: FG, Razon financed my ouster – Philippine Star

Ricky Razon ranks 11^th on Forbes Magazine’s list of the Philippines’ 40 Richest but the FG is not on it . . . not yet . . . until Forbes finds a way to count what I would call ‘sub-surface’ assets.

*    *    *

PAL embarks on P3.5-B fleet renovation program – Philippine Star

Extremely smart thinking by PAL to phase out First Class and enhance its Mabuhay (Business) Class on its wide-body aircraft . . . complete with luxurious “cocoon” seats supplied by Recaro of Germany that enables one to enjoy utmost privacy while an ergonomic design transforms it into a lie-flat bed.

Previous heads&tales are here

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