Author: Julian Alejandro

Despite Malacañang’s declaration of a state of emergency and the announcement of the cancellation of all EDSA-related activities, as well as the police’s warning that they will arrest anyone who stages a rally without permit, former President Corazon Aquino said she will push through with a scheduled march to his husband’s monument in Ayala Avenue, Makati. Aquino also reiterated her call for Gloria Arroyo to make the ultimate sacrifice and resign.

Earlier this afternoon, the police dispersed a group of protesters who belong to the Bayan bloc and pro-Erap groups in EDSA Shrine. They also violently dispersed, chased, and arrested members of the Laban ng Masa/Akbayan-Sanlakas bloc near Santolan. UP Prof. Randy David and Atty. Argee Guevara were among those who were arrested.

As we commemorate the aniversary of EDSA People Power today, Arroyo signs Proclamation 1017 declaring s a state of emergency.

Below is the full text of PROCLAMATION NO. 1017 DECLARING A STATE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday, February 24, 2006 from the OPS website:

The Arroyo government is using the reported impending coup d’ etat that was supposedly quashed by the military this early morning to prevent her political foes from staging massive protest tallies today. It cancelled all rally permits, giving the police an excuse to suppress those who want to commemorate the 20th anniversary of EDSA People Power Revolution.

Arroyo indeed appears to be afraid of People Power. Recently, she’s been trying to downplay the very same force that catapulted her to power.

While the Muslim world is enraged over the publication of Muhammad cartoons parodying the prophet, a video depicting a Jesus Christ impersonator sashaying on the street while singing “I Will Survive” is circulating on the Web.

In this country populated mostly by Christians, I’d like to see our reaction to this video.

When I heard earlier this month that Gen. Angelo Reyes was appointed as the next environment secretary, my reaction was: “Hello?! Ok lang sila?!”

Read his profile from OPS website and tell me if his credentials could justify his appointment to the post of secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources:

Profile : The Honorable ANGELO REYES
Source: Office of the President
(www.op.gov.ph/profiles_reyes.asp)

GENERAL ANGELO TOMAS REYES (Ret.) is also the concurrent Anti-Kidnapping Presidential Adviser Office of the President, Malacañang SECRETARY Reyes, or “Angie” to friends, was born on March 17, 1945 in San Miguel, Manila to Pablo S Reyes of Binangonan, Rizal and Purificacion Tomas of Malate, Manila.

Angie spent most of his child days in San Miguel, Manila. He completed his secondary schooling at the Cubao High School in 1960 where he graduated as the class valedictorian. In 1966, he was among the top ten graduates of the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City. He then proceeded to acquire two masteral degrees, namely: Masters in Business Administration from Asian Institute of Management in 1973 and Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University in 1991.

Continue reading “Reyes at DENR? Hello… Garci!”

The Inquirer published today an AFP wire report on “deadly stampedes of the past two decades.”

Around 66 people were killed during a stampede at the ULTRA in Pasig City this morning, radio and television reports say.

The crowd reportedly gathered there to attend the anniversary celebration of ABS-CBN’s noontime show Wowowee.

Initial reports say the victims were mostly elderly women. It is not yet clear why the stampede occurred.