JOKE THAT TURNED INTO A 'COUP PLOT'
MANILA, DECEMBER
21, 2011 (INQUIRER) By
Christine O. Avendaño, Marlon Ramos- In the wake of Tropical Storm
"Sendong," President Benigno Aquino III has found himself in the eye of another
storm.
Users of social networking sites slammed the President after sexy television
host Valerie Concepcion revealed in her Twitter account that she performed in a
Christmas party of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) at Malacañang Park on
Sunday night, which was attended by Mr. Aquino.
The party took place as thousands of people in Northern Mindanao were
struggling to cope with the aftermath of the storm's wrath.
The criticisms of the President came after Concepcion tweeted: "Done w/
work…Tnx for having me..:) It was nice to see Pres. P-Noy laughing at my jokes
& enjoying my performance…#Malacanang #PSGNight."
Many users took the President's presence at the party as a sign of
insensitivity to the plight of Sendong victims. Others defended Mr. Aquino. The
flurry of reactions catapulted the term "PSG" to the list of trending topics on
Twitter Philippines.
Concepcion later deleted her entry concerning Mr. Aquino's presence at the
party. She also issued an apology to those offended by her tweets and defended
the President against the criticisms.
Criticized, defended
The swell of criticisms included one from user Mang Pandoy who said:
"Apparently, he was just being heartless, callous and cruel."
"Noynoy can cancel an Asean meeting, but can't cancel a PSG party to attend
to CDO disaster," said user benigno, apparently referring to an occasion when
Mr. Aquino missed one day of a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations in Indonesia because of problems at home.
Others said it was understandable for Mr. Aquino to be at the party of his
security aides.
User rootech said there was nothing wrong going to the party because it was
for people who were "handang mamatay para sa'yo" (ready to die for you).
No impropriety
Malacañang denied Mr. Aquino committed an impropriety.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that Mr. Aquino stayed at the
party just long enough to "say hello" to the PSG members and their families,
most of whom had flown in from the provinces.
"The President mentioned to (PSG chief) Colonel Ramon 'Chito' Dizon that he
wouldn't be staying long in deference to the Mindanao flood," Lacierda said.
He said Mr. Aquino "just sat and watched for a few minutes…and then he left
immediately."
Proper context
Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said the PSG had considered
canceling the party owing to the Mindanao tragedy but it was too late because
family members had already arrived.
He said reports about the President's presence at the party were
"exaggerated" and "taken out of context."
Both Carandang and Lacierda said Mr. Aquino had in fact canceled Monday
night's Christmas party for his Cabinet "in deference to the Mindanao flooding
and Mindanao casualties."
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., head of the Presidential
Communications and Operations Office, said: "Yes, it's true the President was
there but let us place it in the proper context. It was a celebration by the
PSG, by soldiers whose role is to protect the life of the President 365 days a
year…It was to give them a bit of morale and welfare."
Speaking at the Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel forum, Coloma said: "It was a simple
Christmas celebration of soldiers. It was not the President who was celebrating.
It was just his expression of solidarity and thanks."
Coloma appealed to the public for understanding. "It was maybe just two hours
or an hour of his time. He only listened to two or three songs performed by
Valerie (Concepcion). Maybe we can give the President a break," he said.
Mr. Aquino is due to visit storm-ravaged areas in the cities of Cagayan de
Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete Tuesday. With a report from Jaymee
T. Gamil and AFP
A joke that turned into a Senate 'coup' plot By
Cathy Yamsuan Philippine Daily Inquirer
[PHOTO FROM LIBERALPARTYPHILIPPINES.ORG]
MANILA, Philippines—Could it be that a salutation made in jest during a
Liberal Party gathering sparked the rumors of a Senate coup now shaking the
chamber?
An LP insider who attended the party's oath-taking ceremony cum Christmas
party two weeks ago recalled that President Aquino and Transportation and
Communications Secretary Mar Roxas kept addressing Sen. Franklin Drilon as "SP,"
a reference to whoever was the Senate President.
"Senator Drilon appeared amused. He was smiling then," the witness said.
The incident occurred at the Balay residence, a landmark in Cubao owned by
the Araneta clan, on the night of December 5, Monday.
Roxas is a scion of the wealthy Araneta family.
Drilon failed to attend another Christmas party that LP and other
administration-friendly senators hosted for Senate reporters that night because
of this.
Asked to comment on the account given by the witness, Drilon immediately
dismissed it saying the President and Roxas have been calling him SP "for
(years) now as a sign of cariño as I held that post for over five (years)."
"Don't give it any meaning. Nothing to it," he added.
Drilon also requested a stop to talks of a Senate coup "as there is
absolutely no basis."
Drilon was Senate President from April to November 2000, during the entire
12th Congress.
He was also Senate President for most part of the 13th Congress from July
2004 to July 2006.
Roxas was a senator during the 13th and 14th Congresses while President
Aquino spent three years in the Senate during the 14th Congress from 2007 to
2010.
The current Senate President, Juan Ponce Enrile, hinted late last week that
some quarters have been apparently interested in his position and that he has
been training his Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on the rules of evidence "if
something happens to me."
Enrile made this statement in another Christmas party, which he and Estrada
hosted along with Senator Gregorio Honasan for Senate reporters on the night of
December 15, Thursday.
When Estrada took the microphone after Enrile, he said there have indeed been
"reports that many senators want to become Senate President, but they will not
get the position."
There are speculations that Malacañang wants to replace Enrile to ensure that
a political ally would preside over the impeachment trial of Chief Justice
Renato Corona and ensure his conviction. The Senate president has the power to
rule on questions of procedure during the trial and can even issue contempt
citations on the conduct of people involved in the process.
The trial starts in January.
But in a subsequent interview on Sunday, Estrada distanced Malacañang from
the alleged effort to replace Enrile.
"Malacañang would not do that, believe me. I don't think those in the Palace
are that narrow-minded," he said.
According to Estrada, there is no plot against Enrile for now.
"I did not say anything about a plot to remove Manong Johnny (a reference to
Enrile). What I said was that in case he is replaced as Senate President, I will
join him and also relinquish my post as Senate President Pro Tempore. I will not
leave his side," Estrada explained.
The senator also said he has not heard of an "actual recruitment" for a new
Senate majority block that would replace the one Enrile has been heading.
Enrile leads the Senate as a compromise between the group of Sen. Manuel
Villar, also a former Senate President, and Sen. Francis Pangilinan who sought
to create a new majority at the start of the Aquino administration but failed.
Villar heads the Nacionalista Party while Pangilinan belongs to the LP.
"But there will always be rumors ('lagi na lang may ugong')," Estrada warned.
"Besides, anyone who can gather 13 signatures in support of a new Senate
President can always have the post…Many of our colleagues are really interested
in becoming Senate President," he added.
Estrada has clarified that despite the apparent anointment from Enrile, he
has "no ambitions to become the next Senate President, okay?"
The only reason Estrada said he has been constantly seen at the rostrum
subbing for Enrile is because "Manong Johnny is active in interpellating and
debating. I already told him that once the impeachment court is in session, I
would not have any interest in presiding because I am not a lawyer. I was a law
student for four years but that was a long time ago."
Meanwhile, Sen. Edgardo Angara warned of the potential political and economic
backlash that a leadership overhaul in the Senate would result in.
"Given the economic consequences to us of the European crisis, the US
recession and the slowdown in China, we are such a small economy that if we do
not pull our acts together (in the Senate), we would only be creating more
internal problems," Angara said in an interview.
"The first casualty would be the Senate's own credibility. Consequences go
down the line. A Senate coup at this time would be too disturbing politically
and economically. Plotters would be heartless and without conscience if they
only think of themselves," he added.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved
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