LAUGHABLE, DANGEROUS: MIKE A. HITS NOY'S NOVEMBER FILING OF GRAFT RAPS
MANILA, OCTOBER 1, 2011 (STAR) By Paolo Romero - Former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo yesterday slammed President Aquino for apparently imposing a deadline for filing the first corruption charges against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by November.
He described Aquino's statement as "laughable and dangerous."
"Because his spokesman admits that they have yet to find a single piece of evidence against her (Mrs. Arroyo), President Aquino is setting a dangerous precedent because he is giving the impression that he is dictating upon independent agencies to violate rules and rights just to get his way vs the Arroyos," he said in a text message to The STAR.
"P-Noy's dictatorial tendencies is showing," he added.
Arroyo went to Germany earlier this month in search of stem cell treatment for his heart ailment and for his wife. His critics, however, said he was just cleaning up possible evidence on the couple's alleged secret bank accounts stashed abroad.
Lawyer Raul Lambino, Mrs. Arroyo's legal spokesman, refused to comment on the issue as he has yet to meet with the former leader's lawyers.
The lawmaker is still recuperating in her home in La Vista, Quezon City after undergoing three surgeries on her cervical spine last month.
FROM ELLEN TORDESILLAS BLOG
Welcome!
I'm Ellen Tordesillas, a journalist. (Photo)
I will be posting in this blog my columns in Malaya and Abante as well as articles relevant to strengthening democracy and making life worth living.
Malaya (malaya.com.ph) is a daily (except Sunday) newspaper in English that has a courageous history in the Filipinos' fight against tyranny. Abante (abante.com.ph) is a Tagalog tabloid. Thank you. Ellen E-mail: ellentordesillas@gmail.com
Noynoy Aquino sets the pace
No doubt about it. With his declaration of his presidential bid in the 2010 elections, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, is dictating the agenda and pace of the campaign.
The issue has become character versus competence. This simplification, unfair it may be, reflects the people's frustration with Gloria Arroyo. People are willing to take the risk with someone without a track record of leadership as long as he is not corrupt.
It was the death of former President Cory Aquino which triggered the interest for Noynoy and advanced the timetable of the campaign.
Now that Noynoy has declared his candidacy, other presidential candidates cannot let Noynoy have a field day with media for weeks or else they would be swept into oblivion.
Chiz Escudero of the Nationalist People's Coalition cannot afford to wait for his Oct. 10 birthday while the camp of former President Estrada spread the rumor that he will be sliding down to be his running mate. NPC will be holding their convention next week to decide whether it's Chiz or Sen. Loren Legarda who will be carrying the banner for them in 2010. Most likely it would be Chiz.
Everybody is waiting for the next survey to see how much of the voting population has turned "yellow."
Here's a sampling of what I got from the internet:
Enchong: "With the acceptance of Noynoy for him to contest the presidency, I believe, we now have an alternative who is, at least, untainted and winnable.
"It has been said several times that Noynoy does not have any track record to back him up. I agree. But I would rather go for an unknown quantity than for anybody who has a track record of wrongdoings and among the wannabe's, who does not have any skeletons in the closet?
"Noynoy has been criticized for being so quiet during his entire public life. I agree. But, as the cliche goes, silent waters do run deep.
"I saw footages of his press conference. In one part, he sounded like laying down his platform. He talked about justice being for everybody and not just for the privileged class. He also talked about the current state of education under an 'uneducated' DepEd, citing the routinary mistakes in textbooks year in and year out. I believe that these two issues, justice and education, are good starting points.
"The issue now is not to look for democratic or political maturity. Not yet, at least. The more urgent issue is to bring back democratic space and political sanity. I do not expect Noynoy to do that. However, with Noynoy, I am praying that we can all make that happen."
Phil Cruz: "Noynoy has the integrity but his capability is doubtful. As for Noynoy being elite and therefore not masa, this is true. He is not masa but he could also be for the masa. Erap was elite but he was for the masa. Cory was elite but she was loved by the masa.
"So I guess time will tell. He just might surprise people by growing into the job. But I agree that he should not mention consulting with his sisters too much.
"But these are minor matters. What's important for me now is that there is now an honest man as an alternative to all the other presidentiables. An honest man that has the moral force to prevent or at least minimize graft and corruption. And as 40% of our budget is wasted on corruption, a moral leader can do much.
"Let us not forget that two of the biggest crooks in our nation's history were said to be the smartest and the most prepared. One was an outstanding lawyer. The other an economics professor."
Jet Hernandez: "If he wants to be president, all he needs to do is file his certificate of. Huwag yung magko-consult pa sa mga sisters niya at sa Dios. Kapag magkaproblema pala tayo sa bansa natin, magko-consult pa siya sa mga kapatid at sa Dios?"
Arlene de Guzman: "I agree with Noynoy consulting with his family because their lives would once again be changed by his candidacy. They had been through so much when their parents were in politics.
"Noynoy also was hesitant to join the presidential candidacy and chose to get affirmation from the people. It had been done by Cory and Fernando Poe."
Neil Papas: "How can Noynoy Aquino talk about law and order or peace and development as part of his platform of government when there was none at Hacienda Luisita?"
September 11, 2009 2:50 am Tags: Noynoy Aquino Posted in: Malaya, elections2010
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