Month: April 2009
Making a statement
Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, a star witness in the $329 million NBN/ZTE deal, could have easily paid the P6,000 bail in the perjury case filed by Gloria Arroyo’s former chief of staff, Mike Defensor and he would have avoided arrest.
But he did not, as a sign of protest. “This is the only way I can mount a protest that is not against the law,” he said.
Lozada is now confined in a small room, un-airconditioned at the second floor of the Manila Police headquarters on U.N Avenue. Judge Emmanuel Lorredo of the Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 26 who issued the arrest warrant suddenly went on leave yesterday so the arraignment was re-scheduled on May 7.
On May 7, Lorredo could either dismiss the case, order Lozada’s transfer to the city jail, or order further investigation. If it’s the third option, Lozada would be released.
Meanwhile, Lozada sleeps in a sofa in that room. His guardian angels, Sisters Mary John Mananzan and Estrella Castalone accompanied him.
A steady stream of visitors keep Lozada company. Among them Sen. Peter Cayetano, who was chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee that investigated the NBN/ZTE, Sen. Mar Roxas, Rep. TG Guingona,Akbayan Rep. Etta Rosales and former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay, Jr.
Defensor’s case against Lozada stemmed from the latter’s revelation during the Senate hearings that Arroyo’s former chief of staff gave him P50,000 bribe and told him to deny his own statement that he was kidnapped upon his arrival at the NAIA airport from Hong Kong where he went to evade appearance before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.
Defensor never denied giving Lozada P50,000 in cash although he said it was help for a beleaguered friend.
In a press conference that he called before he took off for a family vacation in the United States, Defensor said two of Arroyo’s men talked to him to withdraw the case. But he said he is determined to pursue the case all the way up to the Supreme Court. “I am doing this for my children because I do not want my name to appear in law books that I was a kidnapper.”
Too late for Defensor to worry about his “kidnapper” tag. He earned that a long time ago when, using a presidential plane, he abducted in Tagaytay Udong Mahusay, the messenger of Mike Arroyo, husband of Gloria Arroyo, who was giving Sen. Panfilo Lacson information about Jose Pidal accounts.
In fact, that’s not the only thing that Defensor is infamous for. He will always be remembered for his attempt to deceive the public with an alleged testimony by an audio expert discrediting the revelations in the “Hello Garci” tapes where Arroyo was heard talking to then Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano of manipulating the results of the election in Muslim Mindanao in her favor.
Two former presidents, Cory Aquino and Joseph Estrada, have issued statements of support.
Estrada said Lozada’s arrest affirms the policy of the Arroyo administration which is to punish those who expose the truth while the acts of the corrupt prevail.
One has simply to look at where the characters in the NBN/ZTE deal are . Former Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos, who brokered the deal that would have cost the Filipino people P14.8 billion. He resigned his post but was never punished.
Romy Neri, the NEDA chief, who preferred to keep quite about Gloria Arroyo’s role in the deal is now chair of the Social Security System. Manuel Gaite, deputy executive secretary who gave Lozada P500,000 shopping money in Hongkong, is now commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The police officers who were involved in Lozada’s kidnaping have been amply rewarded. Upon retirement, then PNP Chief Avelino Razon was named deputy national security adviser. He is now the presidential adviser on the peace process.
Then Chief Supt. Romeo Hilomen of the Police Security and Protection Office Hilomen was promoted to the position of Ilocos region police chief a few weeks after the kidnapping incident.
Four months after the abduction, Senior Supt. Paul Mascariñas was awarded his first star promoting him to chief superintendent. He is now deputy regional director for administration in MIMAROPA (Mindoro-Marinduque-Romblon-Palawan).
Under the PNP promotions system, an officer cannot be promoted to a higher rank if he/she has a pending criminal case. Lozada have filed kidnapping case against them, Many are wondering how Hilomen and Mascariñas were able to get a clearance from the Ombudsman.
Lozada said recently, a cabinet official delivered a message from Malacañang: retract everything that you said about the NBN/ZTE deal and you will be given a hefty compensation package.
Lozada told the cabinet official, “No way.”
He has also received offers from foreign governments for asylum if he decides to leave the country. But Lozada said he is not walking out on the Filipino people. He said, “If there is anyone who must be asked to leave this country, it is those who have caused its ruin. GMA must go first and the rest of her cabal.”
At this time, when Arroyo has fortified her grip on power, it takes a lot of guts to stand up to those who have no qualms of destroying the country’s democratic institutions.
That’s why I’m so disappointed that outgoing AFP Chief Alexander Yano allowed himself and the office of the AFP chief of staff to be treated shabbily by Arroyo. Yano’s term was abbreviated by 44 days to give way to his successor Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado.
Ibrado’s ascension to the top AFP post paves the way for Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit to be army chief. Arroyo needs Bangit to contain the 80,000 strong army as she intensifies moves to prolong her hold on power beyond 2010.
Yano was offered the ambassadorship to Brunei to make up for his shortened term. Had Yano declined the post, he would have made a powerful statement against, not only his shabby treatment but the undermining of the military.
By that single act, he would have done the Filipino people service much greater than what he could accomplish in Brunei.
Wait, there’s more!: Buy her a gift this Valentines! or send her flowers!
Corporate blogging 101: should your company engage in it? (Blog-O-Rama)
Note: This post is adapted from my Manila Bulletin Blog-O-Rama column for April 27, 2009.
Because of the popularity of blogs these days, some companies are joining the blog mob or the blog bandwagon. There’s really nothing wrong with this. A corporate blog, after all, is another way to connect with your customers or market on another level. And a blog, if put up well, can project more warmth and candidness than a generic press releases would. It is an affordable, high-impact way to get your message across without the expense of multi-million campaigns.
On the other hand, a corporation or company should also ask itself if a blog fits their marketing goals. It is really not for everybody. Sometimes, it can make a firm vulnerable to unwanted “blog storms” or security lapses and make its stand on certain matters open to interpretation. That’s why I’d suggest that entities think long and think hard before starting a blog. Here are some suggested things to do:
1. Get to know the bloggers and be acquainted with the blogosphere. Don’t go into it half-blind. Have a feel of its inner workings and familiarize yourself with basic netiquette. Make an effort to hobnob with chief influencers and walk their talk, if necessary. Find out how they’re talking and what their impressions are about YOU.
2. Write down your blog goals before stepping into the action. As every company has a business plan and feasibility study, so they should also treat their blogging venture like it was a real business. This includes mapping out what the introductory post would be, the overall thrust & tone of the articles to be written and how to go about making the blog a success.
PinayInAction.com
Pinay In Action was created primarily to uplift the lives of the Filipina. The aim is to empower women and girls in the country by providing venues for a healthier lifestyle and tools and information for a better future.
The main activities include all-women sports events, fitness clinics, inspirational talks and seminars on women’s health, anti-violence against women, breastfeeding.
Ang bagong direksyon ng Magdalo
Sa aking pag-uusap sa marami sa mga batang opisyal ng military na nakasama sa grupong Magdalo, nakikita ko and sinsero nilang pagmamahal sa bayan.
Napansin ko rin na malawak silang mag-isip at matatalino sila. Maari sigurong sabihin natin na nagkulang sila sa aspeto ng operasyon sa kanilang ginawang panindigan laban sa administrasyong Arroyo, ngunit handa silang magsakripisyo para sa ina-akala nilang tama.
Hindi naman lahat. Dahil mayroon din naman mga bumaligtad at mukhang namang ina-alagaan sila ng husto ng pamahalaang Arroyo.
Anim na taon na sila nakakulung at nakakahanga dahil buong-buo pa rin ang kanilang ideyalismo at interes para sa bayan. Hindi lang sa kanilang sarili.
Marami silang natutunan sa anim na taon na ito at iyon aygumagabay sa kanila a kanilang mga plano at Gawain. Isa na doon ang pagpalawak ng Samahang Magdalo para makasaliang hindi miyembro ng military.
Ang suporta na pinakita ng sambayanan kay Senador Trillanes noong nakaraang eleksyon ay nag-inspire sa ilan pang Magdalo officers na maninilbihan sa bayan sa paraan ng elected positions. Ang isa nilang panngunahin na programa ay labanan ang corruption sa pamahalaan. Kaya itong nakaraang eleksyon, nagparehistro ang ilan sa kanila sa kani-kanilang bayan bilang preparasyon sa kanilang kandidatura sa may 2010 na eleksyon.
Si Marine Capt. Gary Alejano ay tatakbong mayor sa Sipalay, Negros Occidental. Si Capt. James Layug ay tatakbo sa Taguig. Hindi ako sigurado kung mayor o congressman. Si Ashley Acedillo ay plano ring tumakbo sa Cebu.
Kaya nakakatawa ang balita noong isang araw na may nahuli raw na anim na Magdalo na tini-traning dawn g isang New Zealander at isang Australiano para itakas raw si Sen. Trillanes, Brig. Gen. Danny Lim at iba pang Magdalo officers sa kanilang kulungan sa Camp Crame.
Lumabas na pakulo lang pala yun ni Mariano “Bong” Villafuerte, executive director ng Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission. Anak siya ni Rep. Luis Villafuerte na nagsusulong ngayon ng charter change para mapalawig si Gloria Arroyo sa kapangyarihan.
Isa lang ang Magdalo doon sa anim na nagti-training para sa trabaho sa Afghanistan na mag-bigay ng security sa mga pribadong kumpanya na nagsi-serbisyo sa mga US military at kaalyado.
Interesado pala si Villafuerte sa lokasyon ng firing range kung saan nagti-training ang anim dahil meron din siyang kaparehong negosyo.
Sabi nga ni Tongue Twisted sa aking blog: “Kailangan pa ba ng anim na Magdalo para ilabas sila Trillanes at Lim sa kulungan? Magchacha via con-ass lang, siguradong yung bantay mismo ang magpapakawala sa lahat ng nakakulong.
“Gusto nilang subukan?”
Wait, there’s more!: Buy her a gift this Valentines! or send her flowers!