Author: Julian Alejandro

Issues

Erap’s ‘Readiness’

Banco de Oro, which bought Equitable PCI Bank this year, has already forwarded to the Sandiganbayan P215 million from the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation. The court earlier ordered the forfeiture of the foundation’s funds, which were sourced from ousted President Joseph Estrada’s jueteng collections.

Interviewed on television about the forfeiture of his assets, Estrada said he’s ready get jailed in Munti if proven guilty of violating anything in connection with this forfeiture issue.

Funny how he seems to have chosen to forget how he eventually gave in to the executive pardon offer that was so excitedly given to him by the Palace people. To think he had spent most of the past six years in his rest house and in a hospital. And now he’s saying that he’s ready to go to a real prison. Bagay nga sila ni Arroyo!

Tags Erap Muslim Youth Foundation, Estrada

Issues

Batasan Bombing

Weird thought on the explosion at the House of Representatives tonight: is this meant to divert the people’s attention from the administration congressmen’s bastardization of the impeachment process?

Could it be that the powerful will use this as an excuse to repress the people some more? GMANews.tv quoted Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros as saying: “We cannot help but fear that this would lead to the declaration of Martial Law or a state of emergency to give way to repressive acts. We caution the government against using the bombing to institute repressive measures.”

Or is blaming You-Know-Who getting for every tragedy in the country just becoming a bad habit?

It could also be a protest, ala-Light A Fire Movement, against the kakapalan of the bribees in Batasan.

De Venecia reportedly described the bombing as “a terror attack on the House.”

Tags Batasan bombing, blast, explosion, House of Representatives, terrorist attack

Human Rights Issues People Politics and Elections

Alioden Dalaig, 63

When I heard the news about the killing of Atty. Alioden D. Dalaig of the Commission on Elections last Saturday, my first reaction was revulsion at how killers in the Philippines continue to be so brazen.

More than 800 activists and journalists have been killed since the start of the Arroyo administration in 2001. The killers have also targeted lawyers and judges–and now, even civil servants like Dalaig. As long as the culture of impunity remains, this series of violence will most likely not be broken.

Tags alioden dalaig, Comelec, james jimenez, Moslemen Macarambon

Issues

Bring Them to Arroyo

An Inquirer report today said the Bureau of Corrections is forwarding to the Board of Pardons and Parole cases of around 200 prisoners aged 70 years and above for review.

What review is the BuCor talking about? I say bring the elder prisoners’ documents to the Palace and have President Arroyo sign their release papers.

If she could grant executive clemency to a former president and convicted plunder only a few weeks after promulgation of judgment, why can’t she do the same to ordinary inmates? Estrada never stepped foot in Bilibid even for a minute while these oldies have been in prison for many years. Their papers say they are over 70. That’s the same supposed reason Gloria freed Erap. If she believes in justice for all, she should also free these old inmates without delay!

Issues Media Politics and Elections

Time Magazine on Arroyo

Time.com–and probably its print version, too–has again featured alleged Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. A November 1 article entitled “Crisis â€” Again â€” for the Philippines’ Arroyo” by Peter Ritter discusses the various issues Arroyo faces these days.

The Glorietta bombing, the bribery in MalacaÃ±ang, the bishops’ call for her resignation, the ZTE broadband deal, and the Estrada pardon were among the recent issues touched by the article. It also mentioned the Hello Garci controversy to substantiate its statement that almost since Arroyo became president, “her administration has been buffeted by allegations of corruption every bit as audacious as Estrada’s.”

The article also quoted fellow blogger and Inquirer columnist Manolo Quezon as saying Arroyo may be able to finish her term due to people’s apathy.

Read the article here: “Crisis â€” Again â€” for the Philippines’ Arroyo”

Tags Arroyo, bribery, crisis, Gloria, Hello Garci, Philippines, Time, ZTE

People

Moslemen T. Macarambon, Sr.

Post author By Julian Alejandro
Post date 11/1/2007
2 Comments on Moslemen T. Macarambon, Sr.

Update: WyzeMoro has posted a CV of his father here.

Moslemen T. Macarambon Sr. has been appointed a new Commission on Elections Commissioner.

Not much is known about him at this time, except that he is a former RTC Judge in Iligan City and father of fellow blogger Moslemen Macarambon Jr , a.k.a. WyzeMoro.

There are reports linking Macarambon to former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio “Hello Garci” Garcillano. We asked Wyzemoro if his father is the same person as a certain Renault or Lou Macarambon, who was mentioned in the “Hello Garci” tapes.

This is his reply:

Human Rights World