SEES SELF MARRYING PNoy
MANILA, FEBRUARY 16,
2012 (ABS-CBN) President Benigno Aquino
III's continued insistence to dip his finger in the trial of Chief Justice
Renato Corona may just turn out to be his fall, according to former senator
Ernesto Maceda (photo at left).
In an interview with ANC, Maceda said Aquino is handling the situation "very
badly…he's now putting himself squarely on the line to a point where it could be
said rightly: If he loses this case, then he personally loses, and his
leadership weakens…"
He said that if Aquino's allies manage a Corona ouster, "he [will now]
control the Supreme Court, the Senate, the House. It will expose him to grave
temptations of being authoritarian if not a dictator, to say the least."
He said Aquino's government has been consistent in making statements day in
and day out about the trial, to the detriment of the whole well-being of the
country and the economy.
He added: "Considering the immaturity he is showing these days, it would be
very dangerous for an immature person to have so much power."
PNoy far from being a dictator: Palace
Malacañang refuted Maceda's statement that President Aquino is
showing signs of becoming a dictator in his alleged insistence to control
Congress and the judiciary.
"The last thing that people will believe about our President is that he is a
dictator. Very far from it," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said
when asked for comment.
"The President continues to do the work of governance. While he does from
time to time gets to see parts of the impeachment, he does not monitor it
obsessively as some people would like to propagate and in fact the President
continues to do his work," she added.
13-10 votes
Maceda, who was also United States ambassador during the time of President
Joseph Estrada, also said in the interview he does not see a "mistrial" as
claimed by Aquino's allies in the Senate.
Senator-judge Serge Osmeña said the Corona defense team is setting the stage
for a mistrial by claiming that Malacanang tried to bribe some of his colleagues
in exchange for snubbing a Supreme Court-issued halt order on the opening of
alleged dollar accounts.
Maceda said a "mistrial" is unlikely. He said the impeachment court, led by
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, will see the trial to its finish.
He also noted the 13-10 vote by senator-judges to respect the SC halt order
as indicative of things.
Besides avoiding a constitutional crisis, a lot of senators stood by Enrile.
"Remember there is a real attempt to oust him," he said.
The voting also showed the "leanings" of each senator-judge, he said.
"Assuming the 10 are solid [for the ouster]…the prosecution still lacks six."
The 13 senator-judges who voted to respect the SC temporary restraining order
(TRO) are: Joker Arroyo, Miriam Santiago, Manny Villar, Ralph Recto, Francis
Escudero, Aquilino Pimentel III, Loren Legarda, Gregorio Honasan, Bong Revilla,
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vicente Sotto III, Jinggoy Estrada, and Enrile himself.
The 10 senator-judges who voted otherwise are: Franklin Drilon, Alan
Cayetano, Serge Osmeña, Edgardo Angara, Panfilo Lacson, Pia Cayetano, Francis
Pangilinan, Antonio Trillanes, Lito Lapid, and TG Guingona.
Surprise, confirmation
Manny Villar's vote is already telling, Maceda said. "There is
sufficient ground that he is leaning towards an acquittal."
The surprise in the 13 is Recto, he said. Maceda said, however, that "Recto
is deep into Batangas politics [because of wife Vilma]."
The Coronas hail from Batangas. "You know the Batangueños, they close their
ranks if fellow Batangueño is [being attacked]."
Maneuvers
Maceda said the defense's accusation is only a "maneuvering" of sorts.
He said "the senators were forced to make denials, but then it's up to the
public to take a position whether to believe or not."
The same can be said for the supplemental motion of the defense before the
SC, where they named Osmeña, Drilon, Guingona, Alan Cayetano and Pangilinan as
helping the prosecution.
"The partiality is there, you can't deny that, basically all are Liberal
Party members. It goes without saying that they will support the President and
his stance."
He said the defense motion "is a maneuver to put a leash on senators who are
'leaning' [towards the prosecution]." -- with a report from
Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
FROM THE INQUIRER
GRACE LEE SEES SELF MARRYING PNoy By Ellen Tordesillas Philippine Daily Inquirer
The altar.
That's where Grace Lee says her relationship with President Benigno Aquino III
is headed.
In her morning show, "Good Times in the Morning," on Wednesday, the
Korean-born radio and TV personality was asked by her New York-based coanchor,
Mo Twister, how long their relationship would last.
She replied, "The full length."
Needled further on where she expected their dates would lead to, Lee
answered, "The altar." She added, "I'm praying for this."
Mr. Aquino celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, Feb. 8, the same day Lee
said they were destined for the altar.
Malacañang was mum on Lee's latest statements. "We do not comment on the
President's private life," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said
on Saturday.
Skepticism
The romance between the 29-year-old Lee and the 52-year-old Mr. Aquino has
been met with skepticism by many who have become used to the President's
short-lived romances.
Among those linked to him in his almost two-year presidency were Valenzuela
Councilor Shalani Soledad, who recently married Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo,
stylist Liz Uy, stockbroker Len Lopez and teacher Bunny Calica.
During the program, Mo Twister predicted the relationship to last until
August.
He then opened the phone lines to the question, "How long will this
(Aquino-Lee) relationship last?" One listener replied, "May."
Media interviews
The bachelor President admitted two weeks ago that he had been dating Lee.
While Mr. Aquino asked media to grant him the privacy that, he said, he was
entitled to, Lee was forthcoming in media interviews. She disclosed that she and
the President would talk animatedly for three to five hours.
"He's brilliant. He is the most intelligent man I've met in my life," an
obviously smitten Lee enthused, even describing the President as "a walking
encyclopedia."
Lee revealed in an off-camera talk with a TV host that the President had
offered to provide her security, courtesy of a team from the Presidential
Security Group (PSG). This prompted presidential deputy spokesperson Abigail
Valte to say that the Palace would still have to review whether the PSG mandate
could cover even persons outside the President's official family.
Lee's talent manager, Arnold Vegafria, said the radio and TV jockey first met
the President on June 27, 2011, at the inauguration of a plant of Korea Electric
Power Corp. in Barangay Colon in Naga, Cebu. Vegafria said the President was
heard to have remarked that Lee was guapa (pretty), mistaking her to be a
Cebuana.
Their second meeting took place during the state visit of Korean President
Lee Myung-bak in November, where Lee was in Malacañang as an interpreter and
host of the event.
Palace interview
Before the end of 2011, Vegafria said the President granted Lee an interview
in Malacañang for her radio show. "And that's it," he said.
In an earlier exclusive interview with TV5's Luchi Cruz-Valdes for the show
"Journo," Lee admitted that the 22-year age difference between them sometimes
bothered her. "But the more I get to know him, the less I feel the age
difference," she said.
Asked by Cruz-Valdes if she saw the relationship "pushing through already,"
Lee replied, "I don't think we're playing around. We're both not at the age to
be playing around."
In her radio show, Lee said she would try to convince the President to stop
smoking.
She has met with two of the President's elder sisters, Ballsy Cruz and Pinky
Abellada, but has yet to meet his movie-and-TV-star sister, Kris Aquino.
Lee denied earlier rumors linking her romantically to Kris' former husband,
basketball star James Yap. With a report from Christine O. Avendaño
(Editor's Note: VERA Files is put out by veteran
journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. "Vera" is Latin for true.)
FROM ABS-CBN
VERA files: Grace Lee didn't hint at marriage to PNoy
ABS-CBNnews.com Posted at 02/13/2012 12:33 PM | Updated as of
02/13/2012 4:59 PM
[PHOTO - Korean TV personality Grace Lee is surrounded by members of
the press in an event organized by a cosmetics company. Photo by Ricky Bautista for ABS-CBNnews.com]
MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATED) VERA Files issued a statement on Monday hours
after Korean television and radio personality Grace Lee cried foul over one of
its reports, which quoted her as saying that she sees herself marrying President
Benigno Aquino III.
Citing interviews conducted by the article's author, Ellen Tordesillas, via
phone and text message, VERA Files acknowledged that it was Lee's co-anchor, DJ
Suzy, who said that the relationship between the two was headed for the altar.
"The only points about your article I want to clarify is that I never uttered
the words 'altar' or anything that might hint to desiring marriage," Lee told
Tordesillas.
The 29-year-old Korean also denied saying "I'm praying for this" regarding
her blossoming relationship with the President. "What I said is that I pray
everything will go well," she said.
VERA Files said Tordesillas got the quotes in her story from Lee's radio show
on February 8, Aquino's 52nd birthday.
"She was listening to the program at the time," VERA Files said.
Earlier today, Lee demanded an apology from Tordesillas over the report,
which she called "an article of lies to sensationalize one's private life."
"I have never said anything remotely close to what her write up says I did. I
believe the public deserves an apology from her," she said on Twitter.
"Furthermore, I would like to request Ms. Ellen Tordesillas to name the
source who claims to have spoken to me regarding the PSG (Presidential Security
Group) issue as this is not to be taken lightly," she added.
The article quoted Lee as saying in her radio program that she is "praying"
that her dates with Aquino would lead to "the altar."
It also mentioned that Lee and the President "would talk animatedly for three
to five hours."
Lee has already denied that she is asking for her own PSG detail, or that
Aquino wants her to have one.
"I have never asked for PSG and no PSG has been offered to me by anyone," she
said in an interview last week. "The President never offered me PSG and no one
around him offered me any type of security. First of all, there's no reason to
give me security."
Lee also reiterated that she is not using Aquino to be famous.
Aquino, 52, earlier admitted that he is seeing Lee, who has already been
introduced to the President's family.
Lee has hinted that Aquino has a big chance of winning her heart, saying: "I
think he's in the forefront. He's first in the line."
No Grace Lee, no date for birthday boy President
By: Bayani San Diego Jr. Philippine Daily Inquirer February 9, 2012 |
1:57 am
[PHOTO - Grace Lee. From:
jmthebest.com]
Radio and television personality Grace Lee did not get to hang out with her
rumored suitor on his 52nd birthday Wednesday.
"I greeted him, but as we all know, he had to fly to the Visayas to visit the
victims of the earthquake," she said.
"I understand. He belongs to the people first," Lee said.
President Benigno Aquino III spent his birthday Wednesday visiting victims of
the deadly quake that rocked Negros and Cebu on Monday and inspecting damaged
areas.
Asked what she gave Mr. Aquino for a birthday present, she giggled and
demurred: "I don't know yet."
In spite of the undue media interest, Lee insisted that dating Mr. Aquino has
not really turned her world topsy-turvy.
"My life hasn't changed much," she said in an interview Wednesday.
"Aside from all the attention, I still have a normal life. I still have the
same job. I still have the same set of friends," she said.
The only difference is that the Korea-born Lee is dating a head of state and,
with it, comes certain realities, she said.
She also declined to divulge whether they would have time for a date after
his Visayan trip. She explained that she couldn't go into details because dating
the President comes with various limitations.
Lee said she was busy with work Wednesday, which marked her official launch
as endorser of a local beauty product, Ever Bilena.
If not on Mr. Aquino's birthday, would they be able to go on a romantic date
on Valentine's Day next week?
She wasn't too forthcoming either and stressed that everything is still up in
the air.
Dating a President
She has come to accept that you cannot "plan too far ahead" if you're dating
the President.
"I cannot make plans because the President's schedule is unpredictable. We
don't know what will happen tomorrow," she said.
Since she's also from media (as news presenter on GMA News TV's
"Balitanghali" and "24 Oras Weekend"), she said that she understands and
respects her colleagues' job and need to report and "satisfy the public's
curiosity."
"I'm learning a lot, too. I'm seeing a new side to this industry," she said.
As a result, she tries to be more careful now, especially since she's been
criticized for being too "open" and chatty—not just by the press but purportedly
even by people close to the President, according to one source.
"I know that criticisms are inevitable. I'd like to appeal to viewers to be
more discerning and sensitive. Unless they see me saying it on TV, they
shouldn't accept anything they hear or read at face value," Lee said.
She took pains to explain that she "didn't grant interviews left and right."
"I only gave four interviews and these were cut, spliced and aired on
different shows on all three networks, giving the impression that I've been all
over town," she said.
Misquoted
Being misquoted is an inevitability, too.
Case in point: She asserted that Malcañang never offered to provide her with
personal security.
"I was just asked by a reporter if I was scared (about possible security
risks)… and I answered that if he felt I needed a bodyguard and then he would
ask me about it," she recounted.
"Just to clarify, the President never offered me any type of security," she
said.
Her family has also learned to cope with the scrutiny. "Once, a reporter
suddenly showed up at my mom's grocery store. So she pretended to be a customer
and escaped through the backdoor."
Generally, her family has been shielded from all the fuss and frenzy so far.
"I'm not too worried about them because they have their own world in the Korean
community. I know my mom would be able to handle it well."
Now that she is in the middle of this media circus, she has grown a tad
wiser, she remarked.
"I thought I knew what I was getting into, but then I wasn't fully aware. I
didn't expect the magnitude (of the media attention). So we just take it one
step at a time," she said.
She recalled that GMA 7 anchor Pia Arcanghel, who works with Lee on
"Balitanghali," had given her a DVD of "The American President," a 1995
Hollywood movie that starred Michael Douglas as a bachelor politician who fell
for a lobbyist played by Annette Bening.
"I'm looking forward to watching it," she said.
The House minority meanwhile asked Mr. Aquino to come out with more
"meaningful comments" and not just flirt with Lee.
"But I think the President is entitled to his private life and considering
that he is a bachelor it is high time that he get married so at least we have a
First Lady," said House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez. With
reports from Jocelyn R. Uy and Gil Cabacungan
FROM MANILA BULLETIN
PNoy gifts newlyweds Shalani and Roman with wine glasses
By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ February 14, 2012, 9:29am
[PHOTO - PNoy says Shalani and Roman are 'right' for each other (Photo from noynoy-aquino.com]
MANILA, Philippines – Although he was a no-show at their wedding, President
Noynoy Aquino has gifted his ex-girlfriend Shalani Soledad and her now-husband
Rep. Roman Romulo with eight wine glasses.
The number eight is perceived not only as a lucky number but also a romantic
one. Nevertheless, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte deemed that
the number of wine glasses that the newlywed couple received from PNoy was
coincidental.
"Normally set po kasi 'yun talaga eh. Mayroon pong pagpipilian usually—parang
for a set of four, set of eight, or set of 12... So tingin ko, wala naman po
sigurong significance… Baka 'yun lang din po 'yung napili talaga na number," she
said in a recent radio interview.
Spokesperson Valte then seemingly suggested the usefulness of the eight wine
glasses.
"Just in case, baka naman may mga guests sila—'yung bagong mag-asawa—when
they entertain…" she said.
In early January, the chief executive related that his staff had brought the
gift for Shalani and Roman.
The couple invited PNoy to their wedding, which was held last Jan. 22 at the
St. Benedict Church in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The president is believed to have gone
to Baguio City that day.
Asked if PNoy's absence at the Roman-Shalani nuptials was intentional,
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda admitted in an interview last month
that he's clueless.
"I wouldn't know the schedule of the President over the weekend…" he was
quoted to have said.
In spite of his high-profile split with the pretty Valenzuela councilor in
late 2010, PNoy wished Shalani and Roman well in their journey together as
husband and wife. He also related in a previous interview that the two are
"right" for each other.
Shalani and Roman spent their honeymoon in Rome, Italy.
PNoy is currently dating Korean TV and radio personality Grace Lee.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved
PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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