The Supreme Court, acting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, today struck down Susan Roces’ petition to substitute her husband, the late Fernando Poe Jr., in his election protest against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The decision said Roces is not a direct party in the case. At the same time, the High Court also dismissed the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino’s standard bearer’s electoral protest since the accuser is already dead.
Some sectors are indeed bent on wiping out the activists in this country. Read Rep. Teddy Casino’s press release below:
Death toll rises
Killing of activists, party-list leaders continue during Holy WeekThe killing of activists and party-list officers did not stop even during the Holy Week.
Prominent human rights lawyer Atty. Charles Juloya took 8 bullets while inside his office at McArthur Hi-Way, Aringay La Union at around 12:30 p.m. today. But unlike the 7 other activists who were gunned down this month, Atty. Juloya was lucky to live and is now in intensive care at La Union Medical Center in Agoo. Colleagues immediately point to the military as the perpetrators.
Even just for a day, the Filipino nation was once again united last Sunday– this time, in cheering for boxer Manny Pacquiao. Government leaders, common people, and rebels were one in hoping that “Pacman” would deliver a victory for the country in that fight against Mexican Erik “El Terrible” Morales.
But it was a terrible day for us. Pacquaio lost the bout.
Twenty-two Muslim prisoners, including top Abu Sayyaf leaders, and a policeman were killed during the recent siege at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig. Many people are now wondering: other than the lives of 23 people, what else was lost in that incident?
There are theories and talks that some important people planned the jailbreak attempt by imprisoned Abu Sayyaf leaders so that they could eliminate the rebels. This was done, according to some, to prevent the prisoners from revealing what they know about the alleged collusion betwen the Abu Sayyaf and the military.
We cannot blame them for believing such theories. It is of course expected from those implicated in the “sabwatan” to do everything to save their asses.
“As you sow so shall you reap.” We are now again reaping the fruits of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s support for the illegal and immoral United States war in Iraq.
After the Angelo dela Cruz episode, Arroyo’s government is again on the rush to save overseas Filipino worker Roberto Tarongoy, who was hostaged in by anti-occupation forces in Iraq last November.
The first issue of Manila Standard Today came out Monday. This paper is a result of the merger between Manila Standard–a daily that looks like a lifestyle magazine— and Today, which recently transformed itself into a business daily.
The result of the merger looks like Manila Standard with additional Today logo and content. Blogger jEn says the “‘new’ name really bothers…and annoys” her. As for me, I miss the clean, formal, and intelligent look of Today.
I think they should have just launched an entirely new paper with a new name and a new look.
I’m also wondering how this development will affect abs-cbnNEWS.com Today’s joint project with ABS-CBN. At present, there is still no mention of Manila Standard on the site’s front page. It uses Manila Standard Today’s news articles but publishes only columns by Today columnists like Prof. Luis Teodoro.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan yesterday declared he wants a law that would punish media organizations that would interview “known terrorists”.
“They kill and bomb then [the media] give them the opportunity to talk. It’s stupidity on the part of some media to allow these terrorists or people identified with terrorist groups to air their complaints,” he was quoted as saying.
We don’t know if we could also say that it’s stupid not to know that such a law would violate Article 3, Section 4 of the Philippine Constitution, which says:
No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.
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