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PHNO-OPINION: ANALYSIS: AQUINO'S DOUBLE KILL OF ARROYO SENDS CHILLS DOWN PUBLIC SPINE

ANALYSIS: AQUINO'S DOUBLE KILL OF ARROYO SENDS CHILLS DOWN
PUBLIC SPINE

MANILA, NOVEMBER 28, 2011 (INQUIRER) By: Amando
Doronila Philippine Daily Inquirer - Immediately after setting foot on
Philippine soil on Saturday from the Asean summit forum in Indonesia, President
Aquino plunged into a blistering action to deliver the coup de grace on his
arrested adversary, former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo.
On his arrival statement at Villamor Air Base, the impatient President didn't
allow the grass to grow under the feet.
Immediately following the filing of criminal charges against Arroyo for
alleged electoral sabotage, Mr. Aquino said the arrest "is just the start of the
process" of prosecuting the former President.
Arroyo became the second Philippine leader to be jailed after Joseph Estrada
who was arrested on charges of plunder in April 2001. This warning is ominous.

In an effort to rally public support for the swift incarceration of
Arroyo—after a day in which the process of filing charges and serving of the
arrest warrant on her was completed from dawn to dusk, a speed unprecedented in
the annals of the Philippine judicial system—Mr. Aquino promised to accord her
due process.
"She will have an equal opportunity to defend herself in court because that
is the right of every Filipino," he said. "That is the process that a vendor or
driver, teacher or garbage collector, cop or clerk, from the highest position
down to the ordinary person, should all go through, taking no sides, simply
focused on the search for truth and making the guilty accountable."
The President expressed confidence that the Filipino people were behind his
effort to prosecute those behind alleged election fraud in the past.
"And it is very good to know that even from the start, even while I was
outside the country, you are all behind me, especially on this issue," he said.
"I know that I am not alone. As I think about your welfare, you continue to give
me strength."
He added that the prosecution was the result of the "reform I have laid out
to combat corruption."
The core principle of this program is this, he said, "the guilty should be
made accountable because if not, it would be like we have kept the door open to
anyone who would want to abuse our people."
Public lynching
The impromptu speech served notice that the President, in kick-starting the
prosecution, has opened a new round of public lynching of Arroyo, aimed at
winning public opinion behind his actions intended to send her to jail
indefinitely by Christmas.
Following her arrest, Arroyo is languishing at St. Luke's Medical Center in
Taguig City, being treated for a bone disease, and awaiting to stand trial in
the Pasay City Regional Trial Court.
In a day, Friday's breathtaking developments unfolded, including:
(1) The government slammed the door shut on an attempt by Arroyo to fly out
to Hong Kong last Tuesday to seek medical treatment abroad in defiance of the
Supreme Court, which issued a TRO (temporary restraining order) which sought to
stop the justice department from implementing its directive that banned the
departure of Arroyo who was put on its watch-list order (WLO).
(2) In blocking the departure, the justice department, by disobeying the
execution of the TRO, put the administration on a head-on confrontation with the
high court.
(3) While the high court rejected the government's petition for
reconsideration of its TRO, the administration undercut the high tribunal by
rushing the criminal complaint against Arroyo within a day, to enable it to file
the case with the Pasay City RTC on Friday and consequently gave it an excuse to
stop her departure. The complaint handed the administration the key to arrest
Arroyo and hold her indefinitely on the grounds that electoral sabotage is a
crime that is nonbailable—with the effect that she would be under custody as a
government captive indefinitely.
De Lima's rule
While the justice department refused to implement the high court's TRO,
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima arbitrarily called the shots by interpreting the
court's order as a super-high court without a constitutional mandate, with its
own version of the rule of law and due process.
De Lima said the warrant for Arroyo's arrest had rendered "moot" the issues
arising from the high court's TRO. She claimed that with the warrant of arrest,
Arroyo "is compelled to stay in the country and face the charges of electoral
sabotage, bringing us closer to uncovering the truth behind the controversies
surrounding the 2007 elections."
De Lima gave assurance the government would uphold "every right that Arroyo
is entitled under the Constitution." This remains to be seen.
The arbitrary and summary manner in which the government rushed and abridged
legal procedures did not inspire confidence in the government's assurances of a
fair trial.
True, the issuance of the arrest order averted a damaging showdown between
the administration and the high court.
While the issue raged over the immediate compliance of the TRO, the
government was on a mode to disobey the court and the airport was barricaded
with the immigration and airport authorities acting like human Sherman tanks
that would have made it extremely impossible to crash through in Arroyo's state
of health. Authorities were taking orders from the justice department that was
fanning the flames of disobedience.
The police and the state's forces of coercion were arrayed to follow the
standing policy determined to prevent Arroyo from leaving at all cost so she
could face trial.
Mr. Aquino laid down the rule, saying, "We need her here for her arraignment
if this will be needed. If she won't return, how can she be made answerable?"

Hypocrisy
On Friday, De Lima said Mr. Aquino wanted Arroyo to be treated with "utmost
respect."
The hypocrisy of this statement stood out in bold relief against the
deployment of awesome state resources to deliver results on a government's
obsessive policy of accountability and transparency.
The rush to judgment in the preparation of the electoral sabotage complaint
is not a shining demonstration of the government's devotion to due process. It's
full of short-cuts.
Prior to the filing of the case, the target of the all-out offensive to bring
Arroyo to court had been subject to an intense trial by publicity.
The immediate consequence of the showdown between the President and the
Supreme Court is that it diminished the credibility of the high tribunal as an
independent institution.
The disobedience to the TRO reduced the court into a toothless arbiter of
justice.
The test of will between the court and Mr. Aquino highlights the President's
no-holds-barred approach in conflicts with other constitutional institutions.

It threw into bold relief a presidential tendency to follow a winner-take-all
course of action.
The winner determines all rules of justice and combat.
Mafiosi's final solution
This is why the new round of public campaign to get the people behind the
decision to arrest Arroyo and hold her indefinitely is sending chills down the
spine of the public.
It follows the pattern of ruthless retribution in the gangster underworld
when dealing with mobsters who betray their illegal operations to lawmen.
In the Mafia, the squealers are first battered to death with baseball bat at
dinner—and given the finishing touches. They are shot by the Mafiosi to make
sure they are dead.
The issues and context of the Mafia final solution are different from those
surrounding the campaign to bring the targets of the government's daang matuwid
crusade.
The President and his minions are not Mafiosi, but it's the "final solution"
method that leaves many Filipinos full of fears.
I am uncertain about how Arroyo would survive this new round of trial by
publicity—in captivity.

Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi

PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO-OPINION: PRES. BS AQUINO: TRIPLE SPEED JUSTICES TO ENEMIES, 30 TIMES SLOW ON KKKs

PRES. BS AQUINO: TRIPLE SPEED JUSTICES TO ENEMIES, 30 TIMES
SLOW ON KKKs
MANILA, NOVEMBER 28, 2011
(TRIBUNE) N.O . N.O.N.S.E.N.S.E Jacinto 'Jing' Paras -
President BS Aquino said the criticisms hurled against him is a lot of hogwash
(walang katuturang patutsada) against his handling of the Gloria Arroyo caper.

He said that his administration is only engaged in serving the ends of
justice against those who stole money from government and that they deserved to
be punished.
Well and good if the ends of justice that he talks about is treating everyone
fairly and equitably. But from his speech, which he delivered at the NBI's 76th
anniversary, he showed that his only concern is to persecute the officilas of
the previous government with former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the
number one culprit. He did not mention that justice must also be served against
his kaibigan, kaklase at kabarilan (KKK) who are involved in several offenses
during the incumbent BS Aquino administration.
Take for instance those involved in the bungling of the hostage incident.
Because of the death of several tourists from Hong Kong and the lone hostage
taker, in order to get to the bottom of the fiasco, BS Aquino created a task
force headed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to inquire who among the
government officials were responsible in allowing such to happen which resulted
in the death of several tourists.
The task force came up with the recommendation to file charges against the
perpetrators and several other officials who were identified as very close to
him, either as his kabarilan, kabarkada or kapartido. The report was turned over
to the office of the President for immediate action, however, nothing has been
heard of since.
People are asking, was justice served in the death of the Hong Kong hostages?
Of course not, because no one was haled to court. In fact one general who was
principally identified as responsible, was even promoted. And even the
eager-beaver Secretary of Justice did not even do anything about it when it was
her duty to bring the accused to court and prosecute them.
In another instance, a kabarilan of President BS, Virginia Torres, who heads
the LTO was caught tresspassing and taking over a private office owned by
Stradcom. Charges were filed against her and the Department of Justice (DoJ)
investigator found probable cause to charge Torres for criminal and
administrative offenses, but it seemed her kabarilan BS Aquino interceded and
prevented the prosecution of the case.
Why? Because Torres is a friend and his KKKs are sacred cows in his
administration. So was justice served in this case? Of course not. Torres is
back on her saddle and she's riding high.
What about the loss of about 3,000 container vans at the Port of Manila and
MICP. The loss of the said containers caused the non-collection of taxes in the
tune of hundreds of millions of pesos. BS removed Commissioner Lito Alvarez from
office, showing that he had committed offenses against the government together
with the other Custom officials.
But have you heard of cases filed against Alvarez and the other officials for
this smuggling? Of course not. Why? Alvarez is a friend and contributor to the
election kitty according to my source. He is a K member or kaibigan.
What about the loss of several hundred millions of pesos in Philippine
Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) due to cheating perpetrated by a gambling
syndicate headed by a Singaporean named Ben Lui.
During the investigation conducted by the House committee on games and
amusement, it was revealed and subsequently admitted by Pagcor officials that
they already knew about the cheatring but they did not stop it.
They even allowed Ben Lui at Hyatt Casino despite a standing ban disallowing
him to play at the Hyatt Casino, some conniving officials lifted the ban which
allowed Ben Lui to cheat and rob the Casino of almost P50 million.
It was very clear that several offenses were committed by Pagcor officials
who were clearly found in connivance with Ben Lui but nothing has been done.

In fact Pagcor and DoJ officials even helped him get away instead of
detaining him and issuing a watch list order, unlike GMA and Mike Arroyo.
So was justice served with triple speed against against Ben Lui and the
conniving Pagcor officials headed purportedly by a kaklase of his excellency?
Definitely not.
There you are. This is the kind of justice we have today in this pitiful
country of ours, BS Aquino style.
That is why GMA has to undergo the ordeal because she is not a member of the
KKK. Although she is also a K, as she is a kalaban and being an enemy of the BS
Aquino administration she has to taste a different kind of justice.
A justice system which means that no matter what the law or the legal order
coming from the highest court of the land says, and such order or decision is
not to the liking of BS, he is ready to defy such orders because he believes
that he is at the side of moral right and judgment, and the truth and more than
anything, the Filipino people are with him. What a megalomaniac.
Imagine, the President of the land disobeying the decision of the Supreme
Court.
Where is the Rule of Law now?
What happens to the separation of powers of the three co-equal branches of
government and the principles of check and balance which is the centerpiece of a
democratic and republican government enshrined in our Constitution.
Is he giving a bad example to our people in that whenever a court decision is
not in their favor, they will not obey?
If this happens, there will be great chaos and disaster to this country of
ours.

Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi

PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO-OPINION: ON WHOM WILL GLORIA ARROYO'S FATE REST?

ON WHOM WILL GLORIA ARROYO'S FATE REST?

MANILA, NOVEMBER 28, 2011
(INQUIRER) With Due Respect By: Artemio V. Panganiban -
Accountability: This one word sums up the Aquino administration's goal in
barring former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from leaving the country.
The administration wants to hold Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo accountable for
electoral sabotage — a case of which has been filed by the Commission on
Elections in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Pasay — and for corruption,
plunder and several other serious indictments pending in the Office of the
Ombudsman (OMB) and in the Department of Justice.
Out of reach. If allowed to leave, the former president — so the
administration fears — will not come back and thus frustrate our people's quest
for justice. At the very least, she would be able to delay the cases until the
term of President Aquino ends in 2016 and a more sympathetic president takes
over.
Once abroad, she would be beyond the reach of our courts. And if she manages
to fly prior to her arraignment, the criminal proceedings would be halted
indefinitely until she personally appears (or is somehow brought back here) and
pleads "guilty" or "not guilty" during her arraignment. Without such
arraignment, trial cannot proceed and justice cannot be served, so the
administration ratiocinates.
On the other hand, Arroyo, via her battery of lawyers, argues that her
constitutional and statutory rights, especially her rights to travel and to seek
medical attention, are being emaciated. At the Manila airport, Justice Secretary
Leila de Lima stopped her from leaving, even though the Supreme Court had issued
a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), thereby nearly precipitating a
constitutional crisis.
Arroyo's remedies. The focus now is on the electoral sabotage case filed by
the Comelec in the Pasay RTC, presided over by Judge Jesus Mupas, who issued a
warrant for Arroyo's arrest. Under our laws, the accused in capital offenses,
like electoral sabotage, are not entitled to bail and are detained during their
trial.
What are Arroyo's remedies to invalidate her arrest, to be freed of detention
and to be able to go abroad? And what are government's options to thwart her and
to keep her in jail?
First, Arroyo is now challenging the authority of the joint DoJ-Comelec panel
that conducted the preliminary investigation (PI) for electoral sabotage. She
claims that by partnering with the DoJ (a partisan political agency), the
Comelec's constitutional independence had been severely compromised.
Thus, the PI undertaken by the joint panel, including its recommendation to
the Comelec for Arroyo's prosecution, reeks with partisan bias. Lacking in
objectivity, the electoral sabotage charge later filed by the Comelec en banc
with the RTC is void and the warrant of arrest issued on the basis of these
proceedings is also invalid, so Arroyo claims.
The government counters that the DoJ was just assisting, not interfering,
with the Comelec. After all, under Republic Act 9369, the authority of the
Commission "to conduct preliminary investigation of all election offenses" is
"concurrent with the other prosecuting arms of the government," like the DoJ.
Instead of conducting a separate and repetitive PI, the DoJ was well within its
powers to conduct the said PI jointly with the Comelec.
Second, Arroyo's lawyers are also questioning the RTC's jurisdiction over the
sabotage suit, saying that cases against high public officials exclusively fall
on the Sandiganbayan. Hence, the RTC's warrant of arrest is void since it was
issued sans authority. Au contraire, the government posits that the Omnibus
Election Code gives the RTC exclusive jurisdiction over election offenses.
Third, Arroyo's legal eagles argue that Judge Mupas gravely abused his
authority because he could not have determined "personally," as required by law,
the existence of "probable cause" before issuing the warrant of arrest. It is
inconceivable, they say, that Judge Mupas could intelligently pass upon the
voluminous records of the DoJ-Comelec PI in just four hours.
Judged by our people. However, the government counters that precisely the
determination of probable cause was prioritized because Arroyo was all set to
fly and would have frustrated the quest for justice, if the RTC dilly-dallied.
So, instead of being vilified, Judge Mupas should be praised for speeding up the
case.
In addition to showing the legality of Arroyo's detention in the electoral
sabotage case, the government is probably speeding up also the PI of Arroyo's
other cases in the OMB and DoJ. After all, even if the Supreme Court quashes the
electoral sabotage case, the filing of another information for another capital
offense would effectively bar Arroyo's travel. Also, precedents repeatedly held
that all the above three issues should be addressed first to the RTC before
being elevated to the Supreme Court.
Many skirmishes, maneuverings and howling there will be but in the end, the
Supreme Court — not Malacañang — will rule on Arroyo's fate. The Palace can
investigate, prosecute, cite precedents, wail and huff, but the Supreme Court
can alter jurisprudence or create exceptions thereto.
If, after the oral argument this Tuesday, the Court should issue an order or
TRO allowing GMA to fly immediately, will the Palace dutifully follow? Or will
it do another Leila and precipitate another crisis? How will our people respond?

As I have always said, the might of the Supreme Court rests on its being
right. By its rulings on Arroyo, the high court's being right would be judged by
our people and by history.
That judgment could also come immediately via impeachment by their elected
alter egos.

Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi

PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO-OPINION: GOD'S WORD TODAY, FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: CAN CHANGE BE GOOD?

GOD'S WORD TODAY, FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: CAN CHANGE BE GOOD?

[The new English translation of the Roman Missal (Photos by CNS/Archbishop Terrence Prendergast) Among
changes in the congregational responses to the priest at Mass, perhaps the most
obvious will be "And with your spirit" as the people's response to the
celebrant's "The Lord be with you" and "The peace of the Lord be with you
always." The current response to both those invitations is, "And also with you."
Words in the Gloria, Creed and other significant parts of the Mass will also be
changed.]
MANILA, NOVEMBER 27, 2011
(PHILSTAR) GOD'S WORD TODAY By Francis Alvarez, S.J. -
"And with your spirit."
Though I am already trying to prepare for it, I know I will still be somewhat
surprised when I hear a churchful of the faithful say those words in December
2012. In the United States, Australia, and other English-speaking countries, the
new translation of the Mass will be implemented today. In the Philippines, we
still have one year to prepare. And hopefully, that will be enough.
"And with your spirit."
I will be taken aback for sure when I hear those words, but I think I will
also be taking a step back to tell myself: "I am not just a body that hungers
for food; I am not just flesh that desires other flesh. I am also a spirit that
hungers for Love; I am also a soul that desires intimacy with my Creator." Maybe
change can be good.
It will feel strange at first - like putting on a new pair of shoes, or
worse, wearing shoes made for someone else's feet. But maybe we need to limp a
while just to be more conscious of how we are walking and where we are going.

I have often wondered how we can have corrupt politicians when every morning,
as grade school and high school students, we began with "Aming ligaya… ang
mamatay nang dahil sa iyo" and "Sisikapin kong maging isang tunay na Pilipino sa
isip, sa salita, at sa gawa." I guess even powerful words can lose their meaning
when we become too familiar with them. They fade into the background as static
noise droned out by impersonal sound systems. Has the same thing happened to the
Mass? Maybe a change in translation can be good if it can make us more aware of
what we are actually saying when we pray.
"…that I have greatly sinned… through my fault, through my fault, through my
most grievous fault…"
The rebel in me asks, "Isn't this repetition a regression? Are we going back
to the time when we were more occupied with sin than we were with love?" But the
real rebels are those that are truly radical - in the original sense of that
word: not just pushing for something new but going back to the radix, the root
of the matter.
That reminds me of how I was when I first fell in love with God. I remember
that one of my greatest sources of sadness then was finding out how sinful I
was. The more I tried to get closer to God, the more I saw myself as unworthy. I
had no one to blame but myself. It was my fault, my fault, my most grievous
fault. Why did I seem to get worse and worse when I was sincerely trying to be
better?
A wise spiritual guide told me, "That is to be expected. The more you
approach Perfection, the more you see your brokenness in contrast. Surrounded by
white, even the tiniest black spots get magnified. But rather than discourage
you, this should tell you that you are on the right path. See the bigger
picture: You are being surrounded by white."
Growing awareness of one's sin can be a good sign. I look at myself now, a
religious since 1997, very much like a tired husband fourteen years married.
Have I grown more aware of my weaknesses since the time of my courtship? No.
Instead, I have learned how to rationalize my sinfulness and sweep my
shortcomings under the rug of "Well, generally, I'm still trying to follow the
Lord." Where is the romance of those first few years when I was smitten? I have
taken my Love for granted. In such a sorry state, maybe change can be good.
Those who have come to be so at home in the Mass will feel lost in the new
words for a while. But maybe feeling out of place can be good. Liturgy is
supposed to be a gateway to another world, and good liturgy should remind us
that the world we see is not the only world there is. Something better is
waiting for us. So maybe we should not be so at home in what we have. Maybe
change can be good if it can shake us up and wake us up to what we can expect.

I am not going to go through all the revisions in the Mass. We do not have
the time nor the space here. But today, with the First Sunday of Advent, we
begin a new liturgical year.
Perhaps a good New (Church) Year's resolution can be to start giving the new
translation time and space.
Let phrases like "consubstantial with the Father" begin to grow on you as you
prepare for December 2012.
Who knows? You may find yourself growing in the faith when you try to find
out what it really means. Then we can say that change can be good.
Fr. Francis was ordained in 2009 and served
in the PGH until May
2011. He is currently
taking further studies in Sacred Scripture.
For
feedback on this column, email tinigloyola@yahoo.com.

Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi

PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO-SB: LOVI POE: MOST CREDIBLE ACTRESS TODAY; 'DA KING' WOULD'VE BEEN PROUD

LOVI POE: MOST CREDIBLE ACTRESS
TODAY; 'DA KING' WOULD'VE BEEN PROUD

MANILA, NOVEMBER 28, 2011
(MALAYA) Sweet, sultry, spooky – Lovi
has played them all!
One of the busiest – and most credible – movie actresses today is Lovi Poe.
She's been in six movies this year, all noteworthy projects where she played a
lead character. That's proof of her box office pull as well as her impressive
acting capability.
She was outstanding in the recent Regal production, "My Neighbor's Wife,"
where she and the three other lead stars – Carla Abellana, Jake Cuenca and
Dennis Trillo – convincingly portrayed their roles in the steamy, chaotic
situation of two couple-friends who cheat on each other. Boosted by their
wonderful portrayal, "My Neighbor's Wife" helped bring the adult genre back to
mainstream recognition.
Most recently, Lovi proved her box-office clout with the success of her
solo-starrer "Aswang," which received glowing reviews.
Lovi was also exceptional in the "Temptation Island" remake and showed her
sweet and sultry side as leading lady in one of the episodes of "My Valentine
Girls." This December, she is part of the star-studded ensemble of Regal
Productions' Metro Manila Film Festival entry, "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,"
which features Maricel Soriano, Gabby Concepcion, Dennis Trillo, among others.

On TV, the GMA Artist Center talent is likewise on a roll. This year she
appeared as the leading lady in the latest installment of "Captain Barbell"
starring Richard Guttierez. She was also part of "Mistaken Identity," a
four-part light-hearted romance special where she shared the screen with
"Starstruck V's" Rocco Nacino.
Lovi was also one of the most-loved cover girls, gracing the pages of
Cosmopolitan, FHM, Rogue and Meg, to name just a few. And in the latest project
of GMAAC, the Profiles Magazine, she was also one of the nine covers.
As if her work for the year is not enough, Lovi has been cast as one of the
leads in a new soap titled "Legacy," where she'd be entangled in a love triangle
involving characters to be played by Heart Evangelista and Geoff Eigenmann.
Others in the project are Sid Lucero, Bela Padilla and Solenn Heussaff.
Last year, she acted in an independent film called "Mayohan" for which she
won her first Best Actress Award from the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.
She continued her winning streak this year by winning the Enpress Golden Screen
Awards for Best Actress for the same film.
Indeed it has been quite a journey for Lovi since she got the big break in
"Bakekang" in 2006. Her late father Fernando Poe Jr. would have been proud.

Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO-SB: WITCHING HOUR WITH PAULO & LOVI

WITCHING HOUR WITH PAULO &
LOVI

MANILA, NOVEMBER
28, 2011 (STAR) CONVERSATIONS With Ricky Lo - Love at first bite:
Lovi Poe as a witch about to give Paulo Avelino a killer kiss in Regal Films'
Aswang (photo).
What happened was what Paulo Avelino least expected.
When he sired a child out of wedlock, Paulo thought that his career had ended
(you know, how fans put so much premium on single-blessedness). It turned out
that it was just about to start. After lingering on the boy-next-door level,
Paulo reinvented himself (thanks to his manager Leo Dominguez's guidance) and
began projecting a daring (and "baring") image, starting with that
"come-and-get-me" pose for the Bench billboard and followed by derring-do in
tackling off-beat roles (such as the gay-friendly characters he and Rocco Nacino
play in Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa).
Now a Kapamilya (from being Kapuso), Paulo is, so to speak, spreading his
wings as an actor, getting flying colors for his performance (take note of his
effortless acting in a recent episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya with KC Concepcion in
a poor-boy-meets-rich-girl plot).
In his latest movie, Regal Films' Aswang (opening nationwide on Wednesday,
Nov. 2), he plays an assassin who finds himself in an aswang-infested village,
with the most beautiful aswang (played by Lovi Poe) falling for him. Love at
first bite.
Paulo is "attached" (to the mother of his child). If he were fancy-free,
would he fall for Lovi?
"Hindi siguro," said Paulo. "I treat her like a sister and she treats me like
a brother. We want to keep it that way, especially because we have the same
manager."
Asked the same question, Lovi gave the same answer. It's a brother-sister
thing between them.
Is she still "connected" with former Ilocos Rep. Ronald Singson (now serving
term at a Hong Kong prison)?
"Uhm, not really," said Lovi, despite rumors to the contrary.
Already with a Best Actress award to her name (for Sagrada Familia, as the
daughter molested by her own father while her mother works abroad), Lovi is
proving to be a good cut above her contemporaries, plucky enough to, yes, "dare
and bare" ("When the role calls for it") and posing in skimpy leotard with an
elephant in Thailand for the cover of FHM.
How does she think her father FPJ Da King would react if he were alive?
"He'd probably be happy for me but I don't know how he'd react to the things
that I've been doing."
Does she "talk" to Da King when she has to make a decision, especially if
it's a difficult one?
"Not really. I'm very spontaneous, somewhat impulsive, and it's after I make
a decision do I pause and wonder, 'Tama ba ang ginawa ko?' Always, tama naman."

Da King's widow, Susan Roces, said that she wouldn't really mind working with
Lovi who said that she felt "really honored," adding, "after all, Susan is the
Queen of Philippine Movies."
To find out how they jibe, Conversations decided to put Paulo and Lovi to the
"Who, What, Where, When, How" test.
Who
• Who is the biggest influence in your life?
Paulo: God. I ask for His guidance in making decisions.
Lovi: My mom (one-time actress Rowena Moran).
• Who would you rather be if you were somebody else?
Paulo: David Beckham. A great athlete with a beautiful wife (former Spice
Girl Victoria Adams). He has everything a man can dream of.
Lovi: An ordinary student taking up Medicine.
• Who's the most unforgettable character that you've ever met?
Paulo: Vice Ganda. He's very hilarious. I guested on his show (Gandang Gabi,
Vice, Sunday nights on ABS-CBN). Napakasaya! Has he ever made advances at me?
Never!
Lovi: My non-showbiz friend (unnamed) from grade school. Our friendship is
tried and tested. She's the friend who stands by me in anything I do.
• Who do you look up to as role model?
Paulo: Edward Norton.
Lovi: I haven't actually found one.
• Who do you consider your best friend?
Paulo: I have two, both non-showbiz. One is my dentist, Dr. Aaron Cabalu; and
the other is my climbing instructor, Iggy Deocareza.
Lovi: I have a lot of best friends.
What
• What makes you mad?
Paulo: I can't think of any. I'm cool, slow to anger.
Lovi: The smallest things, really. When things don't turn out the way that I
expect them to.
• What's your biggest fear?
Paulo: Losing a family member or a loved one.
Lovi: Heights. Yes, I have a phobia for heights.
• What's the most daring thing that you've done as an artist?
Paulo: When I posed in my underwear as a Bench endorser.
Lovi: So far, my love scenes with Jake (Cuenca) in My Neighbor's Wife.
• What do you like most about yourself?
Paulo (Thinks hard): Parang wala, eh! Oh wait, I think what I like about
myself is my perseverance to reach my goals.
Lovi: My being forgiving, to a point na minsan ay bad na.
• What don't you like about yourself?
Paulo: My inconsistency.
Lovi: My temper. I'm not the type who stores things up and then
mag-i-explode.
Where
• Where is your Achilles' Heel?
Paulo: I guess if my family is dragged into showbiz intrigues and
controversy. So far, it hasn't happened.
Lovi: When my private life is being intruded into.
• Where are you most comfortable?
Paulo: On the beach with friends. I can be myself and relax with the breeze.

Lovi: Anywhere as long as I am with the right company.
• Where do you think is the ideal, most livable place?
Paulo: Baguio City or Bontoc, Sagada (Mountain Province). That's where I
spent most of my childhood. My mom is from Bontoc.
Lovi: The Philippines, no contest.
• Where is your heart at the moment?
Paulo: With my family.
Lovi: With me. It's in the right place.
• Where do you want to go when you want to be alone?
Paulo: The beach.
Lovi: In my room, preferably with friends watching DVDs. Happy na ako sa
ganoon.
When
• When did you realize that you were famous?
Paulo: Parang hindi pa rin; parang wala pa rin, eh! Hindi ko pa maramdaman
talaga.
Lovi: Uhm, gosh, you know it has never gotten to me. I'm in the stage where
everything seems so surreal and I don't believe them.
• When are you in your best mood?
Paulo: When I get eight to 10 hours of sleep. Less than that, I'm medyo a bit
cranky…but only to my friends and people who really know and understand me.
Lovi: When I don't feel fat. There are times when I do and that's when I
panic.
• When did you first fall in love?
Paulo: When I was 14. I was in high school then. Sorry, but I have forgotten
what her name was.
Lovi: When I was in Grade 4. And then when I was in college — yes, with the
same guy. Yes, that long!
• When are you happiest?
Paulo: When I feel loved.
Lovi: When people appreciate the things that I do.
• When are you most vulnerable?
Paulo: When I'm very tired and things don't seem to work. Do I shout? No. I
just keep quiet. Or I pray.
Lovi: It just comes, especially when I least expect it.
How
• How has stardom changed you?
Paulo: In a lot of ways. I have matured considerably. I've been in this
business for only a few years and I've learned a lot of things, hindi lang
kalokohan kundi pati values that I will treasure for life.
Lovi: A lot! There are people who didn't really care about me before and they
do now. I have no more privacy.
• How do you pray?
Paulo: Most of the time, I just close my eyes, I meditate and I talk to God.

Lovi: I connect to God through my mind. A non-verbal way of praying.
• How do you deal with intrigues and tsismis?
Paulo: If the tsismis is true, being an honest person I always tell the truth
as much as possible. Otherwise, dedma lang; hinahayaan ko na lang.
Lovi: Before, I would get affected. Now, manhid na ako.
•How are you away from the limelight?
Paulo: I'm the same person that I am in public — quiet and shy.
Lovi: What you see is what you get. I am in private what I am in public. I
wear no mask at all.
• How do you see yourself 20 years from now?
Paulo: Hopefully, mayroon na ako maski man lang isang award. Sana maging
katulad ako ni Christopher de Leon, multi-awarded and a respected actor.
Lovi: You know what, 20 years from now I hope I should have achieved even
half of what my idols had. But you see, I'm not the type who plans way ahead.
Politics? I doubt it.

Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO-SB: GERMAN MORENO ON HIS 'DEVOTION' TO NORA AUNOR

GERMAN MORENO ON HIS 'DEVOTION' TO
NORA AUNOR

MANILA, NOVEMBER 28, 2011
(BULLETIN) A tearful German Moreno
publicly expressed gratitude for his good friend Nora Aunor at the recent 25th
Star Awards.
"Ito ang babaeng malawak na ang aming pinagsamahan," Moreno began his
introduction of Aunor on Nov. 22 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in
Resorts World Manila.
Among the special citations given by Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) to
honor the industry luminaries was the Longest-Running Musical Variety Show
Award, which went to "Superstar," a show co-hosted by Aunor and Moreno in RPN-9
that spanned 22 years.
An emotional Moreno continued by recounting an incident that happened years
back that solidified his love for the Superstar. According to Moreno, he can
still recall that as part of "Superstar" he was able to receive two letters from
the RPN-9 management.
The first he said contained best wishes for commendable ratings received by
the show and the steady support of the advertisers. The second was a letter
informing him that they are terminating his services from the program.
"Can you imagine ang experience ko sa show?" he said disbelievingly to the
crowd.
"Pero ipinagtanggol ako ng babaeng ito. Hindi siya pumayag," declared Kuya
Germs.
"'Hindi puwedeng mawala sa tabi ko si Kuya Germs...'" he said, quoting Aunor.

The Master Star Builder awardee concluded, "'Yun ang isang bagay na hindi ko
makakalimutan sa kanya."
A flood of awards
Since her comeback in the country, Aunor has been showered with
awards.
Prior to Star Awards' recognition, the Superstar has received honors from the
PMPC Star Awards for Music; recognized as one of the Icons of Original Pilipino
Music (OPM); and was among the Lifetime Achievement Awardees in the 13th
Cinemanila International Filmfest.
At the CinemaOne Originals Independent Film Festival, Aunor was given the
Honorary Originals of Philippine Cinema Award. She is slated to receive a
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences
(FAMAS) this December.
Overwhelmed with the high-honors given to her by the industry, she said,
"Hindi ko ini-expect, kasi nu'ng araw, wala akong feeling na magkakaroon ng
ganito. Basta, ginagawa ko lang ang trabaho ko."
In a report by PEP on Nov. 24 the celebrated star added, "Masayang-masaya po
ako ngayon. Halos lahat ng award-giving bodies, ang mga ibinibigay sa akin, mga
lifetime achievement awards. At parang ngayon lang nangyari 'yon.
"First time kong makaranas ng halos lahat nga puro lifetime achievement
awards. At isang napakalaking karangalan para sa akin iyon," said she.
Grateful to her fans
Since the '60s, Aunor has been nothing but grateful to her ever-supportive
and passionate fans, collectively known as the Noranians.
"Kulang ang pasasalamat, kahit ilang pasasalamat ang gawin ko, kulang pa
'yan.
"Kung hindi dahil sa kanila, na [mula] noon hanggang ngayon, talagang
nandiyan pa rin sila [patuloy ang pagsuporta]," she enthused.
"Hindi ko rin nga in-expect, na pag-uwi ko rito last August 2011, kung gaano
naman naging kasaya rin ang mga fans, ang kanilang pagmamahal at pagkasabik,"
added the Superstar.
In parting she said, "Sa mga pagkukulang ko po sa inyo, humihingi po ako ng
pang-unawa... ng mahabang pang-unawa, mahal na mahal ko po kayong lahat!"
Nora vs. Charo?
Still stunned with the unexpected downpour of blessings and
recognitions, one of the brightest TV5 talent quipped, "Sa tagal ko na rin sa
show business, bale naramdaman ko lang 'yong sincerity ng lahat ng mga boss,
'yong maganda nilang pakikisama, at 'yong kanilang pagpapakita sa kanilang mga
artista na talagang inaalagaan nila."
Speaking of TV5, a separate PEP report noted that there seems to be an
ongoing silent rift between the "Sa Ngalan ng Ina" lead star and the ABS-CBN
president and host-actress Charo Santos-Concio. It has been reported that Aunor
deliberately avoided the "Maaalala Mo Kaya" host at the recent Philippine
Advertising Congress in Camarines Sur.
The said tiff between the two industry veterans purportedly stemmed from
Aunor's words in a magazine feature wherein she lamented her frustration about
the heads of the Kapamilya network including Santos-Concio's sister, Malou
Santos, due to her "unpleasant working experiences" with the network in the
'90s.
The Kapamilya station, through its Entertainment Head Linggit Tan, issued a
statement to the magazine YES!, published in the same issue.
In the statement, Tan said that Aunor's "Star Drama Theater" stint, which was
supposedly for one season running for 13 weeks, "had to be cut short because of
her unprofessional working habits."
She likewise pointed out that Aunor exhibited the same behavior when she did
the 2002 teleserye "Bituin" with Cherie Gil, Carol Banawa and Desiree Del Valle.

"For a soap to work, it has to be consistent in terms of quality, acting,
production timetable... But the working habits of Nora, naulit-ulit..." said
Tan.
Tan also said that "certain quarters representing her (Aunor)" had "talks"
with ABS-CBN "prior to her much-talked about return to the Philippines."
"They came to us! In all fairness to the network, we never entertained any of
those offers. It's to our detriment naman to say hindi siya interesado sa amin.
We didn't respond to those feelers. It's not her option to choose us..." she
added.
Despite the apparent bad blood between the Superstar and ABS-CBN, Tan
concluded the statement with, "we wish her well." bit of advice helps.

Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO--P-NOY: PALACE AIDE: AQUINO NOT VINDICTIVE; GMA MUST ACCOUNT FOR HER ACTS

PALACE AIDE: AQUINO NOT VINDICTIVE;
GMA MUST ACCOUNT FOR HER ACTS

[PHOTO
- READY FOR JAIL? What will it be for Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?
Continued hospital arrest in a government military hospital or house arrest?
AP]
MANILA,
NOVEMBER 28,
2011 (INQUIRER) By Christian V. Esguerra - What drives
President Benigno Aquino in his effort to prosecute his immediate predecessor
for alleged corruption and election fraud?
Malacañang on Saturday defended the President against an impression he was
going after ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now a Pampanga congressional
representative, out of sheer "vindictiveness."
"This is not about vindictiveness. This is not about political persecution.
This is about accountability," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said in her weekly media forum aired over Radyo ng Bayan.
Valte reminded the President's critics that if his efforts against Arroyo
were borne out of spite, his administration should have filed a string of
charges against her "since day one."
"Government is in a position to do so many things to abuse power, but that is
not the style of President Aquino," she said. "We go through the right process."

Valte noted that no less than the camp of Arroyo had promised to face the
charges in the proper forum. "This is that day. They will have their day in
court," she said.
One of Arroyo's attending physicians on Friday all but ended speculation
about her real medical condition, testifying in court that she was now
"medically fit" to leave the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City.
"As far as my sub-specialty is concerned, she is fit to be treated as an
outpatient," Dr. Mario Ver, an orthopedic surgeon, told the court.
Valte said Arroyo's lawyers and spokespersons should now refrain from talking
about her medical condition in media and instead leave the matter to her
doctors.
"Have pity on the doctors. Don't issue your own medical bulletin because you
are not doctors," she said in Filipino. "Even I, when asked if President Aquino
has colds, don't respond because I am not a doctor."
Valte added: "When it comes to (Arroyo's) medical condition, let's just allow
her doctors to speak about it."
Senator Teofisto Guingona III, head of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee,
earlier announced that it would summon Arroyo's doctors to testify on her real
medical condition. His committee, along with the committee on electoral reforms,
is set to resume on Nov. 29 its inquiry into alleged election fraud under the
Arroyo administration.
Guingona said on Saturday that the committee would no longer summon the
doctors, saying their court testimony "clearly established the true and accurate
medical condition of Mrs. Arroyo."
"The committee has therefore decided that there is no more need to invite the
said doctors," he said in a statement.
INQUIRER
OPINION:
Aquino and Arroyo of the same mold By Ramon Tulfo
Philippine Daily Inquirer 11:13 pm | Monday, November 21st, 2011 17share474 453
President Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are of the same mold.
Both do not have the scruples to use the vast powers of government against
critics—in the case of Arroyo and her husband Mike—and people who have hurt him
and his family in the past, in the case of Aquino.
Aquino hates the Arroyos like the plague.
But hasn't P-Noy been told that his enemy complements the worse part of
himself?
The person we hate most has the traits we don't like in ourselves.
So the reason P-Noy hates GMA is because they are of the same character.
* * *
P-Noy hates Ferdinand Marcos for the same reason.
Both P-Noy and Marcos share one thing in common: One was a dictator and the
other is a budding dictator.
* * *
That's the reason why sages or spiritual masters of the ages, like Jesus of
Nazareth and Gautama Buddha, teach us to love our enemies.
Our enemies are ourselves.
We are also taught by spiritual masters to love our neighbor because you and
he come from the same source.
So when you hurt your neighbor, you hurt yourself in the long run, following
that line of teaching.
That's Buddha's Law of Karma.
That's Jesus' Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would want others to do unto
you.
* * *
What Gloria and Mike Arroyo did to their critics—using their vast powers to
harass them—is now being done to them by P-Noy.
Years from now when P-Noy is out of power, he will likewise experience what
he's now doing to Gloria and Mike.
The Law of Karma comes full circle.
* * *
What's this I heard from the Malacañang grapevine about a bad joke made by a
Cabinet official during a meeting that P-Noy had with his Cabinet over the
showdown between his government and the Supreme Court?
Budget Secretary Butch Abad allegedly butted in during a discussion on why
Gloria and her husband should not be allowed to leave the country: "Why don't we
just shoot her at the tarmac?"
Abad was referring to the assassination of Sen. Ninoy Aquino at the tarmac of
the then Manila International Airport (since then renamed after the martyr) as
he came down from a China Airlines jetliner.
In fairness to P-Noy, he glared at Abad.
"This is no laughing matter, Butch," P-Noy told Abad.
If this story is true, Abad typifies the kind of advisers P-Noy has in his
government.
Aquino missed his chance at greatness By Ramon
Tulfo Philippine Daily Inquirer 10:32 pm | Friday, November 25th, 2011 4share90
85
President Noy will go down in history as the chief executive who was defeated
and humiliated by the Supreme Court in a power struggle.
The President may have won in the first round of his fight with the high
tribunal when he disobeyed its order granting his predecessor, Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, permission to travel abroad to seek medical treatment.
He may have also won the second round when he and his minions suddenly
produced a warrant of arrest for GMA from a Pasay City court judge who was
notorious for taking his time in handling cases.
Although groggy from punches received from Malacañang, the high tribunal was
not knocked out.
It rallied on the third round and hit the President where it hurt
most—Hacienda Luisita.
The high court has ruled that the vast farmlands that P-Noy's Cojuangco clan
owns should be distributed to its workers.
The Cojuangcos continued to hold on to the land even after then President
Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, P-Noy's late mother, ordered all agricultural lands
distributed to tenant-farmers as mandated by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Law.
The Cojuangcos even ignored adverse public opinion when several farm workers
who picketed the gates of Hacienda Luisita were killed years ago in a clash with
police and the military.
* * *
If the President had foresight, he would have convinced relatives on his
mother's side to apportion the 6,000-hectare estate to its farm workers once he
got elected.
P-Noy missed his chance at greatness.
He will never be able to recover from the defeat he suffered in the hands of
the Supreme Court.
* * *
Mayor Rey Uy of Tagum City is showing his counterparts in other towns and
cities in the country how bayanihan, or team spirit, works.
Every day, city hall employees and private citizens work hand in hand at the
three-hectare city motor pool making chairs, tables and desks for
schoolchildren.
The furniture is distributed free to public elementary schools in the
provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley that do not have them.
The chairs, tables and desks are made from logs confiscated by the city from
illegal loggers.
Hundreds of confiscated logs are piled up in one corner of the city motor
pool.
The city hall employees and private citizens don't receive any pay for their
efforts.
They volunteer for the job.
Noemi Eugenio of the city's engineering office and Janet Ragos of the city's
architect office said they volunteered their time because Mayor Uy has set a
good example for others to follow.
The mayor himself spends a few hours each day to help paint the school
furniture.

Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved

PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO-HL: GOVT WANTS GMA MOVED TO SPD JAIL / DE LIMA: WEAK EXCUSE FOR HOUSE ARREST

GOVT WANTS GMA MOVED TO SPD JAIL / DE
LIMA: WEAK EXCUSE FOR HOUSE ARREST

MANILA, NOVEMBER 28,
2011 (STAR) By Perseus Echeminada [PHOTO - Doctors of
former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Dr. Mario Ver (front) Dr. Roberto
Mirasol (center) and Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes prepare to leave the court room
after a hearing in Pasay City yesterday. JONJON VICENCIO]
A government prosecutor moved yesterday for the immediate transfer
of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from St.
Luke's Medical Center (SLMC) to a local jail.
Defense lawyers withdrew their motion seeking hospital arrest after a doctor
testified that the accused is now fit to go home.
"I move for the immediate transfer of Congresswoman Arroyo to a jail facility
at Southern Police District (SPD)," said lawyer Maria Juana Valesa, lead
prosecutor of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the case, at the sala of
Judge Jesus Mupas of Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112 during the
hearing on the electoral sabotage charges filed against Arroyo.
Lawyer Joel Pelicano, clerk of court of RTC Branch 112, told The STAR after
the hearing that the court cannot immediately act on the motion to transfer
Arroyo to a detention cell since the defense panel will be given time to comment
on the motion.
He said all motions should be resolved before the judge issues a commitment
order on where the former president should be detained.
"We may inspect the jail facility at the Southern Police District but we are
not certain when," he said.
Pelicano said that the hospital arrest order at the SLMC in Taguig City that
was issued by Mupas stays until all motions are resolved.
He said both parties were given until Tuesday to submit their motions and
comments.
During the hearing, Valesa proposed the transfer of Arroyo to a government
hospital provided that her doctors, who were summoned and were present at the
hearing, would testify regarding the actual health condition of their patient.

She suggested that Arroyo be confined at the Philippine Orthopedic Center or
any government hospital at the discretion of the court.
However, defense lawyers withdrew the earlier motion for hospital arrest and
instead filed a new motion requesting house arrest for Arroyo.
Flaminiano cited the case of former President Joseph Estrada who was granted
hospital arrest by the Sandiganbayan.
Estrada was temporarily detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in
Quezon City pending the trial of the plunder charges filed against him.
To testify or not
Valesa said all three doctors of Arroyo should testify.
The defense lawyers argued that since they already withdrew their motion for
hospital arrest the issue on the medical condition of Arroyo has become moot and
academic and there is no need to hear Doctors Juliet Cervantes, Mario Ver, and
Roberto Mirasol.
The defense panel, headed by Flaminiano and assisted by his son Jay, opposed
the presentation of doctors that might violate the confidentiality of the
medical records of Arroyo.
"Congresswoman Arroyo does not want her medical condition made public,"
Flaminiano said.
Mupas, however, ruled that before the motions of both the prosecution and the
defense are tackled, the actual medical condition of Arroyo must be established.

Despite the strong opposition of defense lawyers, Mupas ruled that one of the
three doctors should testify on the condition of Arroyo.
The judge said the court would ask the questions, which will be limited only
to the current condition and not on the details of the other ailment of the
patient.
Dr. Ver, the orthopedic spine surgeon of Arroyo, testified that the
congresswoman is now recovering and could be treated as an outpatient and her
full recovery is expected after several weeks.
Valesa, however, insisted that doctors Cervantes and Mirasol should also
testify but the defense panel opposed this, saying that the testimony of the two
doctors might compromise the right of the patient from public disclosure of her
other ailments.
"We are treading on dangerous grounds, this may violate confidentially of
patient-doctor relationship," Flaminiano said.
Mupas agreed with the defense and deferred the presentation of Cervantes and
Mirasol, prompting the prosecutors to file an urgent motion for the immediate
transfer of Arroyo to a detention cell at the SPD in Parañaque.
Valesa argued that since the defense lawyers have already withdrawn their
motion for hospital arrest, and that one of the doctors had testified that
Arroyo could already be treated as an outpatient, there is no more reason for
the accused to stay in the hospital.
Defense lawyers asked the court to allow Arroyo to stay in the hospital
pending deliberations of the motions set before the court.
Mupas gave both the prosecution and defense panels until Monday to submit
their respective motions on the issue before a ruling could be rendered.
Flaminiano said that they are now leaving the fate of the former president to
the discretion of the court.
"It's up to court to decide, which facility to detain our client," he said.

DOJ opposes house arrest
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima opposed the bid of Arroyo yesterday to be
placed under house arrest.
De Lima urged Judge Mupas to be extra careful in granting Arroyo's
request for house arrest that might be construed as special treatment.
"This administration really wants to avoid that perception - that it
is giving special treatment to her (Arroyo)," she stressed.
De Lima called on Mupas to carefully weigh both sides before deciding on the
request, including the true medical condition of Arroyo.
The DOJ chief believes that the determination of the true health condition of
Arroyo was crucial not only to the issue of her detention but also to the
resolution of cases in the Supreme Court about the legality of her earlier order
preventing the former president to seek medical treatment abroad.
De Lima likewise welcomed the admission of a doctor of Arroyo before the
Pasay RTC that their patient was recovering already and
might be released from hospital.
"If doctors confirmed that her condition was not life-threatening, it will
prove that (Arroyo's) camp has been lying and that's not contemplated in the
rules. The act of lying then affects their reputation," she said.
The Comelec filed electoral sabotage charges against Arroyo, former
provincial elections supervisor Lintang Bedol, and former Maguindanao governor
Andal Ampatuan Sr. for allegedly rigging the senatorial elections in Maguindanao
in 2007.
The filing of information was approved by Comelec commissioners in session
last Nov. 18 upon recommendation of the joint DOJ-Comelec panel that conducted
the preliminary investigation.
The charges against Arroyo were based on the testimony of former provincial
administrator Norie Unas, who claimed that he had heard the former president
instruct Ampatuan to ensure the 12-0 victory of the administration Team Unity in
Maguindanao during an event at Malacañang days before the polls.
Arroyo failed to submit her answer during the two hearings conducted by the
joint panel that did not grant her plea to have more time to file a
counter-affidavit.
The joint panel chaired by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano likewise
recommended the indictment of Arroyo, former Comelec chairman Benjamin
Abalos, his chief-of-staff Jaime Paz, and Intelligence Service of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) Captain Peter Reyes for a
separate case of electoral sabotage in North and South Cotabato provinces also
in 2007.
The Comelec, however, was still readying the information for the
second case.
Ready for occupancy
Meanwhile, SPD spokesman Chief Inspector Jenny Tecson said the detention cell
of Arroyo is now ready for occupancy in case the Pasay RTC orders her transfer
to police headquarters.
Tecson said an air-conditioned room at the SPD public information office was
converted into what could be Arroyo's detention cell and the police assured her
of "utmost respect and dignity" befitting a former president.
The 4-meter by 10-meter room is located on the ground floor of the SPD main
building.
The room, recently painted blue and white, is furnished with a wooden bed
with foam, a desk, and a bamboo sala set. It is also located near a bathroom.

The SPD logistic division is also set to install a plywood division to
separate her bed and the receiving area.
Arroyo could have a good view of the SPD grandstand surrounded by trees. She,
however, might occasionally hear the sound of gunfire coming from a nearby
firing range.
"We just prepared it but our actions will still be based on the orders coming
from the court," Tecson said.
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo suggested that she be confined at the Armed
Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (formerly V. Luna Medical Center) in
Quezon City.
"If the court decides that she be in a government hospital then she will be
in a government hospital, but if the court says in a regular detention facility
then we will prepare a detention center for her," Robredo said.
Robredo said Arroyo will be treated the same way the government handled the
case of former president Estrada, who was arrested and detained for plunder
charges after his ouster in 2001.
Estrada was initially detained at the Veterans Hospital before he was
transferred to a military facility in Tanay, Rizal, and later to his rest house
also in Rizal.
Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said Arroyo should now be transferred to a jail.

"A house arrest at this time is unjust and constitutes special treatment.
What the court should do is transfer her from St. Luke's Medical Center to a
regular jail. From her cell, she can then argue her petition to be allowed to
stay in her La Vista, Quezon City mansion," he said.
He said the testimony of Arroyo's doctor that she can now be discharged from
hospital "means that she and her lawyers were deceiving the people, the Pasay
City Regional Trial Court and the Supreme Court about her true state of health."

"She's healthy and should be put behind bars," he added.
No knowledge
Resigned senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said he had no knowledge about the
alleged electoral sabotage of the 2007 elections.
Zubiri, who was in Bacolod last Wednesday, said that as far as he is
concerned, when Bedol and Ampatuan Sr. admitted that there was manipulation of
election returns in Mindanao, he conceded to Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, and
stepped down as the 12th elected senator.
"I told Koko it's your seat to take, not mine," Zubiri said.
He said he has no idea and had no part in the poll fraud.
"If I had, then why would I resign? Guilty parties usually do not run away
from their expensive operations," Zubiri said.
Zubiri refused to comment on the alleged speed in the filing of the electoral
sabotage charges and the issuance of the warrant of arrest against Arroyo, but
he warned the DOJ to make sure it has an airtight case.
"In a heinous crime such as electoral sabotage, the judge has to be sure 100
percent that you are guilty beyond reasonable doubt, there must be indisputable
evidence," he said. With Edu Punay, Jess Diaz, Cecille
Suerte Felipe, Danny Dangcalan, AP
De Lima: GMA's excuse for house arrest weak By
Reinir Padua (The Philippine Star) Updated November 26, 2011 05:00 PM Comments
(1)
MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima today said that the
lawyers of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have
not presented enough evidence to support her bid for house arrest.
"I think they have not cited sufficient reason for the house arrest," De Lima
told reporters at Camp Karingal in Quezon City.
De Lima said that the fact that the doctors of the Pampanga lawmaker have
manifested that she could be treated as out-patient shows that the house arrest
arrangement is no longer warranted.
"There is no basis anymore for her continuous hospital confinement. If there
is no basis for hospital arrest, there is less reason for house arrest," De Lima
said, stressing that it was still up to the court to decide on which detention
arrangement is better for the former president.
The prosecution panel from the Commission on Election (Comelec) on Friday
asked Judge Jesus Mupas of Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 for the
immediate transfer of the former president from the St. Luke's Medical Center in
Taguig City to the jail facility of the Southern Police District.
Mupas's branch is hearing the electoral sabotage case filed by the Comelec
against the former president on Friday last week.
The Comelec also filed electoral sabotage charges against former provincial
elections supervisor Lintang Bedol and former Maguindanao governor Andal
Ampatuan Sr. for allegedly rigging the senatorial elections in Maguindanao in
2007.
On the same day, Arroyo's lawyers withdrew their motion seeking continued
hospital arrest after a doctor testified that the former president was already
fit to go home.
Dr. Mario Ver, the orthopedic surgeon of Arroyo, testified that the
congresswoman is now recovering and could be treated as an outpatient and her
full recovery is expected after several weeks.
Mupas gave both the prosecution and defense panels until Monday to submit
their respective motions on the issue before a ruling could be rendered.
"They (Arroyo's lawyers) have not cited a reason yet (for house arrest)," De
Lima said. "They have to convince the court that the house arrest is the best
arrangement."
Lawyer Raul Lambino clarified in a radio interview this morning that the Mrs.
Arroyo's health condition remains severe. He said that what Ver was referring to
in his statement yesterday was the anorexia and back pain of the former
president.
Lambino said that Malacañang is insisting that Mrs. Arroyo is already well to
further shame the former president.
The lawyer is still hoping that Malacañang will keep its promise that it will
not object to the Arroyo camps plea for house arrest, referring to De Lima's
announcement after the issuance of the arrest warrant against Mrs. Arroyo.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte had clarified yesterday that
De Lima's promise was only good for the weekend after the arrest of the former
president.
She said that it's up to the Comelec whether it will push through with its
objection to the former president's plea for house arrest.
Noy: House arrest up to the courts By Delon
Porcalla (The Philippine Star) Updated November 26, 2011 12:00 AM
LEGASPI CITY, Philippines – President Aquino clarified yesterday that it is
up to the Pasay City Regional Trial Court to issue the order on whether to place
accused former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo under
hospital arrest or house arrest.
Aquino, who inaugurated the Climate Change Academy at the state-owned Bicol
University here, hinted that the administration would agree to hospital arrest
due to her medical condition, but house arrest would be the court's discretion.

"All of these are now in court. They are the only ones empowered to decide
where to incarcerate people that they ordered arrested. We in the executive, we
are tasked to follow the mandates of the court when it comes to the law," Aquino
said.
He also expressed gratitude to the doctor of Arroyo who declared in open
court that Arroyo could now go home, which is an implied admission that her
condition is not life-threatening.
A government medical team led by Health Secretary Enrique Ona had examined
the medical condition of Arroyo before the Supreme Court gave her the authority
to leave the country to seek medical treatment abroad.
Ona told the President there was no urgency for such medical treatment;
Arroyo's doctors also confirmed in a medical report they gave to the government
that her condition is improving.
Aquino also brushed aside criticisms the country is just like a police state
if the watchlist order is not lifted, saying he was just implementing the policy
Arroyo herself had imposed during her term.
The President was also guest speaker at the National Media Conference on
Climate Change Adaptation here, which is hosted by the province of Albay, headed
by Gov. Joey Salceda, a former classmate of Aquino at the Ateneo de Manila
University.
"We are very happy to note the improvement in (Arroyo's) condition. We will
leave it up to the sound discretion of the court as to the resolution of the
Arroyo camp's motion for house arrest," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail
Valte said yesterday.
Earlier, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said it would be best for the
doctors to narrate the situation of the former president "then and now."
"And let me state also, again, the medical certificate submitted by doctors
(Juliet) Cervantes and (Mario) Ver before the Supreme Court showed that the
(former) president was not under any threat of and was not under any
life-threatening condition. And that's why we have maintained that the (former)
president was not suffering from a life-threatening condition. In fact, in that
particular medical certificate, the doctors have said that her condition was
improving. And, hence, we don't understand why the Supreme Court failed to
realize that medical certificate — that particular content in that medical
certificate," Lacierda said.
Lacierda said the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and Health Secretary
Ona had declared that the former president's condition was not life threatening.

For humanitarian reasons, the PMA said Arroyo should not be sent to jail due
to her present health condition.
PMA governor Dr. Leo Olarte said Arroyo has not fully recovered from three
operations she underwent for cervical spondylosis.
"For me, she should stay in the hospital or in the house. Staying in jail
might delay the healing process," he added.
Olarte said it takes a longer time for a bone that had been operated on to
heal.
"According to her (camp), it may take six to eight months for her to
recover," he added.
Arroyo camp prefers house arrest
Arroyo's husband Jose Miguel rejected comments that placing the accused
former president under house arrest could be perceived as giving her special
treatment.
"A house arrest would be befitting her status as a former president of the
country. It's the same as the soldiers going back to the barracks," Arroyo said,
referring to the treatment accorded to troops arrested in the past for
attempting to stage coups.
Arroyo's lawyer Raul Lambino said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima claimed
that house arrest for the accused could be perceived by the public as giving
special treatment to the former president.
He said Arroyo accorded the same treatment to former President Joseph
Estrada, who was not suffering from any major ailment, when he was detained at
his rest house in Tanay, Rizal.
"I think the administration wants to put her in the company of hardened
criminals because they know that would be popular with the people since she is
unpopular," Lambino said.
He said while Arroyo is not very seriously ill, her condition could be
life-threatening if not treated on time.
San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito disagreed with the proposal of some
members of the House of Representatives to expel Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"There has to be a conviction before she can be expelled. She could remain as
a member of the House while she's on trial," said Ejercito, a son of former
President Estrada.
As to whether Arroyo's sickness is life-threatening or not, Ejercito said,
"She looks sick, but unfortunately, people don't believe she is sick."
"Her biggest problem is credibility. People don't believe her. People don't
trust her, and she has only herself to blame. Remember that she promised on
national television not to run in the 2004 elections, but she ran," he said.

He added that Arroyo, when she was president, had a track record of evading
issues.
Filipino workers abroad expressed support for calls for immediate detention
of Arroyo in a regular jail as soon as she is released from hospital.
John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator, said the
Aquino government, particularly the Justice department, should take immediate
action to ensure the transfer of Arroyo to a detention facility.
"She (Arroyo) must be transferred to a detention facility under the
supervision of the Southern Police District. We OFWs (overseas Filipino workers)
are more than happy to see Arroyo put behind bars," Monterona disclosed.
In a related development, Camarines Sur Rep. Dato Arroyo insisted that his
mother has no intention of escaping the criminal charges filed against her by
the government.
He said his mother only wanted to seek medical treatment abroad, not seek
political asylum.
Dato said if his mother wished to flee, she could have done it after she
stepped down from the presidency in 2010.With Aurea Calica,
Jess Diaz, Mayen Jaymalin, Aie Balagtas See

PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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PHNO-HL: SC: RIGHTS OF CITIZENS MUST PROTECTED / MIRIAM BLASTS ATTACKS VS CORONA

SC: RIGHTS OF CITIZENS MUST PROTECTED
/ MIRIAM BLASTS ATTACKS VS CORONA

MANILA, NOVEMBER 28,
2011 (STAR) By Edu Punay - Solicitor General Joel Cadiz
(photo) and other government lawyers were told to respect the
constitutional rights of citizens when they faced Supreme Court (SC) justices
during oral arguments on the petition of former President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo questioning the government's ban on her leaving the country.

On Thursday, the justices said it is the duty of the Office of the Solicitor
General to protect the rights of every citizen regardless of their stature in
society or political affiliation.
Chief Justice Renato Corona lectured Cadiz on the history of the Bill of
Rights, which guarantees the right of every citizen to travel.
"We are a court of law and that's our job here under the Constitution – to
protect the rights of the individual citizens," he said.
Corona said the SC's constitutional duty does not discriminate. "It can be
GMA (Arroyo's initials), Juan de la Cruz or it can be Mang Pandoy... I don't
know if you are still familiar with Mang Pandoy," he said.
Mang Pandoy, Felipe Natanio in real life, was used in the early 1990s by
President Fidel Ramos as the "face of the poor" for his administration's
anti-poverty campaign.
Corona said the SC's mandate to protect these rights should apply at all
times to everyone.
"Imagine six or seven years from now, if a person is being hounded by their
political enemies with the same vigor as you have, don't you think it would be
incumbent to this Court to give their constitutional right the same importance
we are giving them today," he said.
"In 40 years, when we have all been gone from the face of the Earth, when all
the passion and emotions of today will have been gone... and all that's left to
see are the facts as they occur, what do you think they ought to see about this
court... that society guided individual rights of people."
However, Cadiz insisted on the government's obligation to ensure successful
investigation of cases against Arroyo in issuing the questioned watchlist order
(WLO) through Department of Justice (DOJ) Circular No. 41.
"The DOJ wants to ensure preliminary investigation is properly conducted, and
this would not be possible if petitioners will be beyond jurisdiction of DOJ,"
he said.
Cadiz said allowing Arroyo to leave the country could cause irreparable
damage to government, which could be rendered powerless to compel her to answer
to criminal charges against her.
Associate Justice Roberto Abad told Cadiz the absence of a respondent during
preliminary investigation would not disable the DOJ from determining probable
cause.
"Not even the court can compel an accused to testify," he said.
However, Cadiz stood firm that Arroyo's constitutional right to travel "is
not absolute" as it was limited by Department Circular No. 41, which gives the
DOJ the power to issue WLOs and hold departure orders (HDOs) to respondents in
criminal cases.
The assailed DOJ circular enjoyed the presumption of validity, he added.
Cadiz invoked police power of the executive department as provided under the
Administrative Code.
However, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio asked him to name a law
required under the Constitution before the right to travel may be impaired.
"What you cited was just on general power to administer functions," he said.
"That's not the law required. Police power must be embodied by a law. Where is
that law?"
Carpio told Cadiz: "That's something novel. We're not in the same plane,"
when he insisted that the general provision of the Administrative Code
encompasses Circular No. 41.
Department Circular 41 was issued during the Arroyo administration by then
Justice secretary Alberto Agra.
Cadiz then proceeded to cite records showing the DOJ had issued WLOs and HDOs
against over 6,000 respondents during the Arroyo administration.
Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro told Cadiz to stop appealing to emotion
or extra-legal argument. "You should answer about what you learned about the
Constitution," she said. "We're talking about fine points of the law here."
Earlier, the SC heard the argument of former first gentleman Jose Miguel
Arroyo, who also questioned the WLO in a separate petition.
His lawyer Ferdinand Topacio reiterated their argument that the order has
violated his constitutional right to travel and freedom of movement.
He insisted that Circular 41 is not supported by any law and insisted that a
watchlist order "is actually a hold departure order," the issuance of which was
strictly reserved for the courts.
Topacio said the SC should be wary of a "creeping authoritarianism" evident
with Circular 41.
"There is a creeping authoritarianism which this court should address if we
want to remain a republican state," he said.
The oral arguments would continue on Thursday next week when Justice
Secretary Leila de Lima is set to face the justices to explain her action.
She was earlier ordered to explain why she should not be cited in contempt
for defying the temporary restraining order on the WLO.
Dangerous
Two lawmakers warned yesterday that calling for Corona's inhibition from
deliberations on Arroyo's petitions is dangerous for the country's democracy.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, an expert on constitutional law,
cautioned against publicly subjecting the Chief Justice to "unfounded
speculations."
"I strongly believe and trust that he (Corona) will always decide justice,"
he said.
"By asking him to inhibit, we might as well ask the justices appointed by the
President to inhibit as well following the logic of those wanting him to inhibit
and no one would be left behind on the bench.
"I think we should stop all these demands to inhibit. Let's trust and allow
the SC justices to do their jobs according to their conscience and the law."

Rodriguez warned against meddling in the affairs of the judiciary in the same
manner SC justices do not meddle in the affairs of the legislative and executive
branches of government.
Rodriguez said intruding into the affairs of the SC is both "disrespectful"
and "dangerous."
"We must maintain the rule of law," he said.
"If we mistreat the Supreme Court, whom do we now follow? That's the end of
democracy. The Supreme Court is the last bulwark of democracy. It is the final
arbiter between the government and the people, and among branches of
government."
Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay said those calling for Corona to inhibit
himself were already politicizing the judiciary.
"This is dangerous already," she said. "They have no more respect for our
justices. Just because they disagree with the decisions, they want him out.
"They are citing his voting record, following their logic, what about those
who consistently voted contrarily? They want to pressure the SC, this is like
mob rule or is this the start of a dictatorship?" – With
Paolo Romero
FROM THE DAILY TRIBUNE
AMID CALLS FOR CORONA TO INHIBIT SELF FROM ARROYO CASES
Miriam blasts Aquino allies' attacks on CJ By
Angie M. Rosales 11/28/2011
The attacks being launched by known Palace allies on Chief Justice
Renato Corona are apparently meant to pressure him into ruling in favor of the
interest of the administration, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said.
"These are attempts to dictate to a justice of the SC of the Philippines on
what he should be doing," Santiago said yesterday, noting the calls on Corona to
inhibit himself from participating in the hearing of cases of former President
and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo, which is now coupled with resignation
calls.
Santiago warned critics of Corona now egging him to resign that pursuing such
a call "will result in a damaged democracy."
"I am very fearful of the future of the judicial system because the SC is an
institution. It's not only the men and women (who constitute the high court), it
is an institution so we must protect always the institutions of our democracy
like the SC, the presidency, Congress, regardless of who is the sitting
official. We're talking of institutional stability," she said.
Recent actions by Palace political allies against Corona tend to indicate
vindictive moves on the SC chief who is being accused of being sympathetic to
Arroyo.
"We should be insulating our justice system from political comments. If we
will continue to allow that to happen, the judiciary will be under the Executive
and Legislative which are political branches of our judicial system. That's why
the independence of the judiciary is always a basic principle of a democratic
system," Santiago, a noted constitutionalist, emphasized.
"It borders as a political attack against a non-political institution of the
government. We politicians should refrain from politicizing issues of a
non-political institution," she added.
Santiago called on critics of the judiciary from making statements that could
only sow factionalism in the country since at the receiving end of all these are
the institutions of democracy, the justice system.
"It's not supposed to be politicized at all," she said.
Besides, the senator said, there is no provision in the law that allows
anyone to press for the resignation of the Chief Justice.
"No matter how loud you make your call for the resignation (of Corona), if
it's not in the law, it's a futile exercise. It's as if you are just calling
attention or you are just trying to humiliate the person. No provision in the
laws can compel him to resign," she said.
"We are making a history for our country and the history should show that the
president, if he misbehaved, then we are ready to try him before the court of
justice, but not necessarily humiliate him," she added.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, in turn, denied exerting undue pressure on
the Pasay judge handling the electoral sabotage case against Arroyo who she
warned earlier against granting a petition of the lawyers of Arroyo for a house
arrest on her.
Speaking to newsmen, the embattled justice secretary belied claims by defense
lawyer Ferdinand Topacio that she has sent Pasay City Regional Trial Court
Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas an ex parte letter warning against granting a house
arrest for the ailing former leader.
"That's not true at all. There's no such letter," she said in a text message.

Topacio said they were checking on an information that the Justice secretary
committed such a "highly improper" act that shows "the excutive bullying the
judiciary."
"It's either they're imagining things or deliberately foisting such a lie in
order to discredit me," De Lima said.
In an interview, she has advised Judge Mupas to be extra-careful in deciding
on the request.
"Is it not possible to have her detained in a facility with all needed
amenities and that's comfortable enough for her rather than house arrest? This
administration really wants to avoid that perception — that it is giving special
treatment to her (Arroyo)," she stressed.
De Lima asked Judge Mupas to carefully weigh both sides before deciding on
the request, including the "true medical condition" of Arroyo as a factor.
"That's really up to the decision of the court. The issue is really before
the RTC and it's the court's discretion already, but it should be based on
substantive consideration," she pointed out.
The RTC is expected to rule on this issue this week. Justice Sec. Leila de
Lima wants lawyers of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo investigated over reports that they harassed their client's
doctors just to try to win their battle in the legal front.
She said she supports a call of militant lawmakers for possible investigation
of the Supreme Court and Integrated Bar of the Philippines against Arroyo's
lawyers Jose Flaminiano, Raul Lambino and Ferdinand Topacio for the alleged
"grand deception to hide the real condition of Arroyo."
"The alleged harrassment of their own doctors is of course a very serious
matter that needs to be looked into," she said in a text message yesterday.
De Lima said what the lawyers alleged did to Arroyo's doctors — "smacks of
grave coercion, if not obstruction of justice."
"Their (doctors') rights are being grossly violated," she pointed out.
"If the doctors confirmed that her condition was not life-threatening, it
only proved that (Arroyo's) camp has been lying and that's not contemplated in
the rules. The act of lying then affects their reputation," she argued.
One of Arroyo's doctors from St. Luke's Medical Center, orthopedic surgeon
Mario Ver, told the court that Arroyo is now recovering and may be treated as an
outpatient. Arroyo's other doctors are Juliet Gopez-Cervantes and Roberto
Mirasol.
De Lima is expected to face the Supreme Court on Thursday on the third part
of the oral arguments on Arroyo's petition questioning her earlier watchlist
order that stopped them from leaving the country.
She said she would raise this issue on the real condition of Mrs. Arroyo to
justify her decision to deny the latter's request for an allow departure order.

Arroyo's counsel Ferdinand Topacio also took a swipe at Bayan Muna partylist
Rep. Teddy Casiño over his threat to file disbarment proceedings against him and
other lawyers of Arroyo for allegedly "misleading" statements about Arroyo's
state of health.
"Talk is cheap, Casino should put his money where his mouth is and
immediately file disbarment proceedings against the lawyers of the Arroyo family
so that we can see whether his hypothesis that we committed professional
misconduct, can be put to the test," Topacio said.
He added it is deplorable that Casiño is using the issue "in order to give
traction to his senatorial bid. He should instead put more energy into his
performance as a congressman to inspire popular support for his future electoral
plans, instead of using noise in the place of substantial achievements."
"The trouble with Casino and the so-called 'Makabayan block' is that they
sanctimoniously posture themselves as having a monopoly of patriotism. This is
miserable and hypocritical. I have also been at the forefront of giving free
legal services for the poor and downtrodden for almost two decades, but I never
invite publicity for it. In fact, twice I have approached Casiño for help for
clients who were oppressed, but he never lifted a finger to help them. Casiño is
also known in the past to have run scared to the halls of the legislature when a
warrant of arrest was issued against him in 2006. Is this the courage of a
nationalist crusader?" he added.
"Representative Casiño, if he has the courage of his convictions, should go

to court. He can even go to hell. At least he is going somewhere, instead of
misleading our people into thinking that blabbering one's mouth off is
equivalent to a legislative accomplishment," he said. Benjamin B. Pulta

PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE

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